Wednesday, May 6, 2020
How to Plan an Event Free Essays
10 STEPS TO PLAN AN EVENT A BASIC PROCEDURAL OUTLINE TO CONSIDER WHEN PLANNING AN EVENT OR ACTIVITY STEP 1 STEP 2 Identify what type of event/activity you would like to do. Determine the goals of the event and what you would like to accomplish. Define your objectives and outcomes of the event or activity. We will write a custom essay sample on How to Plan an Event or any similar topic only for you Order Now Identify the target audience and event emphasis: Education, Health etc. STEP 3 STEP 4 Decide on a date and time for the event or activity. Consider locations and types of facilities to host event. Determine the use of space and or seating arrangement and capacity required for the event or activity. Decide who will be responsible to secure the facility and be the event coordinator. STEP 5 Consider establishing partnerships with other organizations or people to assist with the execution of the event. Identify their role when determining key decisions. STEP 6 Create an event/program budget. Identify the sources and amounts of potential revenue and expenses. Revise for realistic and necessary true cost and revenue updates. STEP 7 Create an event timeline. Outline all essential decisions/activities in a time sequential order from the point of initial consideration to decision being finalized and decisions being executed. Document who is responsible for each function. Communicate the timeline to everyone involved in the planning or fulfillment of the event. STEP 8 Determine Key Decisions: Program Determine the order of activities that need to occur at the event or activity. 1 Determine who will perform or execute the agenda items. Determine if a published program is necessary. If so decide who will create and print the program. Presentation(s)/ Speakers Identify the topics of information to be shared. Determine if presenters/speakers are needed. If so identify potential presenters or speakers to invite to participate. Decide on the time frame for each presentation or speech. Decide the type of communication that should transpire with the presenters/speaker, when it should occur and who will be responsible to execute and follow-up. Equipment Identify what equipment is necessary for the event or activity. Identify potential sources to secure needed equipment. Evaluate the cost of the equipment. Decide who will be responsible for the pick up and return of the equipment. Materials Determine what materials are needed, and identify potential sources to purchase them. Decide who will be responsible for purchasing, preparing and storing the materials. Awards Determine who will receive awards ââ¬â presenters/speakers. Decide on awards items and identify sources to purchase them. Decide who will be responsible for purchasing awards and presenting them. Public Relations Identify the method(s) which will be used to publicize the event or activity. Decide who will be responsible for the development of invitations, flyers, press releases, emails, etc. Decide who will be the contact for public inquires on the event or activity. 2 Decide who will be responsible to disseminate the types of information on the event or activity. Internal Communication Determine the method of communication to the people within the organization to inform them, include them and encourage them to participate. For instance communicating by email, newsletter etc. STEP 9 Take into consideration these special additions/items if needed: Food Music Decorations Flowers Photography/video Clean up STEP 10 You have planned well and are ready to go. Have a Successful Event! 3 How to cite How to Plan an Event, Essay examples
Saturday, May 2, 2020
Reflection on Business Management-Free-Samples-Myassignmenthelp.com
Question: Write a reflection on Business Management. Answer: Introduction: Students who like developing their understanding of the international markets and different parts of the world should study international business. As the global economy is expanding, taking courses on international business will help the individual to gain knowledge not only on the global economics but also on the business climates. As a result, demand is continuously growing for individuals who will be capable of understanding the global context of business which would start from logistics of global trade to that of cross border investments (Anderson and Anderson 2017). This may also include various ethical and cultural issues that remains intricately inculcated in the business systems globally. I believe that by studying international business, I will be able to learn about the different societies and cultures and how to handle challenges that come from different practices. In my classes, I had learnt a number of different topics in my MBA classes which would help me in properly a pproaching different situation while working in a global environment. In this assignment, I would be particularly, reflecting on the subjects I had learnt in my course. Reflection writing procedure, if used purposefully and effectively, can reflect ongoing personal and professional learning. This would thereby make students develop a professional capability to demonstrate their progression towards learning outcomes and required standard. It ill thereby provide a structure to me by embedding concepts and theories in practice. Along with that, constant thought and innovation are also simultaneously fostered. Different subjects studied: While studying through the different subjects, I found that international strategy to be one of the most crucial subjects which would be extremely useful while dealing as a manager in the international business fields. This strategy actually provides the procedures by which the organization sells its goods and services outside its domestic market (Priem, Wenzel and Cork 2017). One of the most important rationales that multinational companies provide while conducting overseas ventures is that such market provides new potential opportunities for expansion, making profits and establishing itself on a global scale (Li et al., 2017). I believe that if managers of the international companies provide correct international strategies, they would be able to get a number of advantages. I believe that it would successfully help in increasing the market size and getting a competitive advantage through the location. This may include accessing to low cost, labor, critical resources or customers. S uch strategies would also involve greater returns on the major capital investments and also ensuring greater economies of scale, learning and scope. However, I must also remember another aspect that intricately remains associated with business management is the implementation and management of the business through dynamic strategies. I, as a manager, cannot celebrate success after immediately implementing international strategies. This is because in a constantly changing business environment, there might arise many challenges like new competitors, lack of funds, loss due to other natural factors and many others. Therefore, in such a scenario, dynamic strategies are extremely important which will help me as a manager to develop the ability to modify and implement new strategies in the business fields so that losses can be met (Bharadwaj et al. 2013). I will properly develop and implement dynamic strategies in order to make sure that the organization is properly being able to respond to different changes which might act as both potential threats and opportunities for the company. This can be explained with the help of an example; it might happen that the global organization where I had been given the responsibility to manage the marketing ventures; economic pressures, industry changes, regulatory pressures and other changes in consumer preferences can take place. All these would impact the ability of the global organization to function properly and sell its products to different services and products. Thereby by providing dynamic strategies, I will be able to handle the situation effectively. Now coming aside from the strategic aspects which are very important for the growth of the company, development of the profit margins, establishment in international markets and others, other aspects should also be developed by the manager. These are cultural intelligence and emotional intelligence. I believe that I have to be culturally competent so that not only I can han dle and deal with my overseas clients successfully but also manages employees coming from diverse backgrounds and cultures. Different countries have different cultures of working and every employee has their own cultural preferences and inhibitions which I need to develop knowledge on and respect for. Moreover, I also need to utilize proper emotional intelligence like social skills, motivation, proper communication skills and others so that business partners from other cultures do not feel disrespected or humiliated. For example, if I am meeting up with business partners of a multinational company of Japan for making a deal as a representative of my own company I need to know the cultural preferences of the business experts of that country and what they like. Bowing down heads as an initial gesture of meeting and respectfully taking their business cards are some of the steps I need to know while working with Japanese firms. Therefore cultural intelligence and emotional intelligence are extremely important. At the same time, business ethics which have been taught to us would also help me in handling different moral or ethical situations which arise in business environment (Engle and Crown 2014). Learning them would help me not only to resolve moral and ethical issues internally but would also ensure that business is done with overseas company with proper ethical and moral principles. Theories which can be involved: After going through the theories of international strategy, I have learnt that there are different types of international strategies which are applied to different scenarios to make them successful. There is one type of international strategy called the multi-domestic strategy. In this type of strategy, decision making authority is given to the different local business units in each of the countries in order to develop and thereby maximize local responsiveness. This would help the local bodies to create products and also services which would be customized for the demands of customers of the area or the country. Most of the global food industries usually follow these strategies as customers are found to have food products according with a mix of their own regional food style and that with the continental styles. Again there is another form of international strategy which is called global strategy which is mainly centralized and controlled by the home offices thereby seeking to maximiz e global efficiency (Pagani 2013). The electronics industry can be taken here where a company likes the Sony when producing televisions would maintain a global strategy and not modifying them according to the regional demands. Another international strategy that I can undertake is the translational strategy which combines both global efficiency as well as the local responsiveness. Clothing industries can take such international strategies which I believe could lead them to higher profits. In such a situation where an organization has adapted international strategy and working successfully threats may arise from new competitors who have entered the market or due to natural calamities or changing styles of consumer needs and others. In such a situation, dynamic strategies need to be properly planned and implemented by the organization to overcome the threats (Ott et al. 2016). Three main steps are incorporated in dynamic strategy planning and implementation. The first step is the tran slation of the strategy which is mainly done by investing significantly on up front to understand and share the strategic ambition (Mahmood, /chung and Mitchell 2017). This should also accompany staffing people who thinks strategically and operationally. The second step is the adaptation of the strategy. In this step, individuals need to adapt during strategy implementation by course effectively and then by building in mechanism of learning. The last step is the sustaining of the strategy which mainly consist the sustenance of the strategies by building organizational capabilities and demonstrating impacts. While going through the strategies in details I have understood that many failures may result which include failures to translate strategy, to adapt strategy and to system them. Therefore I personally feel that I should follow five important steps for dynamic strategy management. Strategic management mainly comprises of 5 important steps which I believe if followed properly will assure best implementation of the strategy. These are alignment, agility, employee buy in, clearing accountabilities and knowledge capital. Besides all these, I believe that cultural intelligence is yet another important aspect which would help me to be successfully conducting effective business globally. There are a number of models of cultural intelligence that I can apply successfully in my global business ventures as a manager. One of the most comprehensive models which I personally like and would want to apply is the Global leadership competency model which has 17 dimensions that can be broadly organized into three factors like self management, perceptions and relationships. Other models which I can also follow are the Global mindset model. This model mainly acts as cognitive filter (Caroll et al. 2014). It mainly embraces the complexity and paradoxes inherent in global interactions. The multicultural personality model mainly comprises of emotional stability, social initiative, open mindedness, cultural empathy, and flexibility (Chell et al. 2016). I believe that if I am able to follow these traits effectively and develop cultural intelligence I would be able to successfully conduct intercultural communication and enhance profit margins. While maintaining the cultural intelligence, another aspect that comes hand in hand, is the business ethics. Six important pillars of business ethics need to be maintained by every profession. I believe that each and every of my activities, trustworthiness; respect, caring, citizenship, responsibility and fairness are the main ethical values that I will harbor as effective managers. Besides, utilitarianism, justice, rights and egoism should also be known by me. However, I believe that the most important business ethics which is very important and should be fort prioritized by me is corporate social responsibility ensuring that the organization where I will work makes sure that they contribute enough for such purpose both strategically and financially. Reflection: The subjects whom I have learnt in my academic courses would be indeed very much helpful not only if I get a job in the national sector but also in the international sectors. Studying international business is helping me to be an effective professional for positions across public, private as well as in non profit sectors. I have become quite comfortable in the topics that revolve around international trade, global business operations, planning or industrial development. I have developed a detailed knowledge and therefore in whichever industry I get placed, I will be comfortable and will allocate international strategies which will align with the requirement of the situations. Moreover, the ideas about dynamic strategies will help me to understand how to cope up with new competitions in the fields or other challenges in the fields with the help of dynamic strategy models, their planning and implementations. However, while going through all these activities, I must also keep in mind th at I have to culturally sensitive and should possess cultural intelligence which will help me to successfully communicate and crack deals with overseas organizations or overseas branches of a multinational companies. Lack of cultural intelligence may result in development of negative feelings and distrust in the teams which will hamper productivity. Moreover, maintaining basic business ethics will help me to keep away different ethical, moral and legal obligations and will help in creating a working environment which will be stable and bring out best productivity. Conclusion: In the academic course, I have been fortunate to learn about many aspects of international and national business which would be very helpful for me. I believe the in-depth knowledge gained by me in the topics like international strategy and dynamic strategy would be extremely essential for me to effectively perform my managerial role in my future organizations. I also believe that cultural intelligence is one of the most critical aspects that every global organization has to successfully establish in their organization among every member. This would help the employees not only to effectively communicate within diverse teams but also with their overseas members of their branches so that miscommunication, development of negative feelings and lack of trust do not occur among themselves. All the subjects would ultimately help me to be an effective professional in the future. References: Andersen, T.J. and Andersson, U., 2017. Multinational Corporate Strategy-Making: Integrating International Business and Strategic Management. InThe Responsive Global Organization: New Insights from Global Strategy and International Business(pp. 13-34). Emerald Publishing Limited. Bharadwaj, A., El Sawy, O.A., Pavlou, P.A. and Venkatraman, N.V., 2013. Digital business strategy: toward a next generation of insights. Carroll, A. and Buchholtz, A., 2014.Business and society: Ethics, sustainability, and stakeholder management. Nelson Education. Chell, E., Spence, L.J., Perrini, F. and Harris, J.D., 2016. Social entrepreneurship and business ethics: does social equal ethical?.Journal of Business Ethics,133(4), pp.619-625. Engle, R.L. and Crowne, K.A., 2014. The impact of international experience on cultural intelligence: an application of contact theory in a structured short-term programme.Human Resource Development International,17(1), pp.30-46. Li, C., Brodbeck, F.C., Shenkar, O., Ponzi, L.J. and Fisch, J.H., 2017. Embracing the foreign: Cultural attractiveness and international strategy.Strategic Management Journal,38(4), pp.950-971. Mahmood, I., Chung, C.N. and Mitchell, W., 2017. Political connections and business strategy in dynamic environments: How types and destinations of political ties affect business diversification in closed and open political economic contexts.Global Strategy Journal. Ott, D.L. and Michailova, S., 2016. Cultural intelligence: A review and new research avenues.International Journal of Management Reviews. Pagani, M., 2013. Digital business strategy and value creation: Framing the dynamic cycle of control points.Mis Quarterly,37(2). Priem, R.L., Wenzel, M. and Koch, J., 2017. Demand-side strategy and business models: Putting value creation for consumers center stage.Long Range Planning
Tuesday, March 24, 2020
Healthy Living Essay Example
Healthy Living Essay Ms. Black Anat-6 21 March 15, 2013 Healthy Living Many factors affect your health. Some you cannot control, such as your genetic makeup or your age, but you can make changes to your lifestyle. This book includes a population health approach and focuses on the various environments and settings which influence healthy living, such as nutrition, personal care and hygiene, physical fitness home environments. Both physical activity and healthy eating are essential to good health throughout life, to increase resiliency and to protect against disease and disability. They are needed to lower the risk of chronic diseases and promote optimal health. In children, sufficient levels of physical activity and healthy eating are essential for healthy growth and development. Firstly, by choosing healthy eating habit, people will gain many rewards. To have good nutrition, people should reduce the amount of fat and in particular, the amount of saturated fat. People should increase the intake of fibre-rich, starchy foods, such as bread, potatoes, pasta and rice by half as much again, reduce the average salt intake by around one-third, and increase the amount of fish eaten to at least two portions each week, one of which should be an oily fish. Besides that, practicing good personal hygiene is smart for two reasons. First, it helps to prevent people from catching and spreading illness and disease. Second, it helps people feel good about themselves and their body. We will write a custom essay sample on Healthy Living specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Healthy Living specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Healthy Living specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Then, being physically fitness not only helps people live healthy in lives, it also helps people live longer. The best way to keep physical activity and exercise a permanent part of oneââ¬â¢s life is to make it fun and enjoyable. Finally, all of the issues that evolve out of the interaction between people and the environment fall under the umbrella of environment health. This book discusses the many different risks that threaten the environment as well as ways to protect the environment and those who live in it.
Friday, March 6, 2020
History of Punk Rock Essay Example
History of Punk Rock Essay Example History of Punk Rock Essay History of Punk Rock Essay Punk Rock, which began in the mid 1970ââ¬â¢s, began as a fad and quickly became a phenomenon that changed the music industry forever. Punk Rock was a new sound that came from a combination of rock and pop music. Punk was very different from mainstream music and along with this new sound, an entire subculture started to form. The focus of this paper is on the early development of punk rock, the bands and musicians who started the new sound, the subculture that was influenced by the punk rock movement, the evolution of punk and the state of punk rock music today. Punk rock got its name from the slang word ââ¬Å"punkâ⬠, meaning rotten and worthless (Maser 10). The term was used to describe this new type of music that was very different from mainstream pop and rock music. These new bands ââ¬Å"had very little talent, wore crazy clothes, had outrageous hairstyles and carried with them a message of anti-authorityâ⬠(Shively). There is no exact date for the birth of punk rock, though it has been around since the sixties. Most agree that it was sometime around 1974 when punk rock really began to develop into a music genre of its own (Black and Kismet). Some say punk rock began in New York City, while others believe it started in London. Punk rock bands were emerging in both places. By late 1976 ââ¬Å"bands such as the Ramones in New York and the Sex pistols and the Clash, in London, were recognized as the vanguard of a new musical movementâ⬠(Jaffe). The following year punk rock began to spread around the world. Punk music was mostly being played in small local bars and nightclubs. Punk music ââ¬Å"did not get much support from mainstream record labels and most music stores wanted nothing to do with itâ⬠(Maser 12). Punk rock fans and musicians tended to stick together and support each other. It was not uncommon for one band to borrow musicians from another. One very popular club in New York City that became a popular place for punk artists to meet and play was CBGBââ¬â¢s. The clubââ¬â¢s owner, Hilly Kristal had a rule: ââ¬Å"only rock bands with original music could play at his clubâ⬠(Maser 30). Soon, hundreds of local bands from all around the area came to play. The New York scene was made up mostly of musicians with very little money who were ââ¬Å"bored with pop music and wanted to make an artistic changeâ⬠(Black and Kismet). The Ramones are generally considered to be the first band to play this new type of music. They were tired of music that they considered boring, so they began to put their own sound together. As Johnny Ramone, the guitarist for the Ramones, stated, ââ¬Å"We were new at writing songs and new at playing our instruments, so we couldnââ¬â¢t write anything too complicated, reallyâ⬠(Leopold). Other bands that were emerging from the New York Punk scene also in the mid-seventies included The Velvet Underground, Patti Smith, The New York Dolls, and Iggy Pop. The Ramones directly influenced British punk and helped to start the punk rock scene in London (Jaffe). The Ramones played a fourth of July concert in London, which was attended by many members of future punk bands such as the Clash, the Damned, Generation X, Souxsie and the Banshees, and the very successful Sex Pistols. Sid Vicious and Johnny Rotten, two members of the Sex Pistols, are often refereed to as the ââ¬Å"all time greatest punks, contributing not only to punkââ¬â¢s music, but to its fashion and style alsoâ⬠(Jaffe). Punk rock is really creative Rock and Roll music that is fun and upbeat. It is in-your-face music, but at the same time there is intelligence behind it (Jaffe). The instruments that were typically used to play early punk rock music included one or two electric guitars, an electric bass, and a drum. In the beginning, punk music usually only used a few chords per song. Many popular punk bands were often referred to as ââ¬Å"three chord wondersâ⬠(Maser 15). Punk rock songs tended to be short. Most of the early punk rock songs were under two minutes long. The lyrics were usually shouted instead of being sung and were usually repetitions of short phrases. The lyrics were often blunt and to the point. They dealt with real-life issues such as government, crime, poverty and other social problems. ââ¬Å"Punk rock redefined the music scene, and people who didnt have bands to identify with before, now had several that spoke to the reality of the worlds issuesâ⬠(McCain, Legs and McNeil 25). By the late seventies and early eighties, punk rock had become a solid musical genre. The ââ¬Å"punk subculture is often seen as a rebellious group of youngsters who often come from lower class dwellings and havenââ¬â¢t gotten the attention that they needed so they dye their hair, dress differently, and act differentlyâ⬠(Mazer 50). Actually, being punk is about being your own person. The ââ¬Å"outrageous clothing and hairstyles were indicative of the youthful rebellion at the time, and stood as a way for punks to differentiate themselves from the massesâ⬠(Shively). Early punk fashion included ripped clothing held together by safety pins or tape. Over time tattoos, piercings, and metal studded accessories were also common for the musicians and their fans (McCain, Legs and McNeil 30). The style was about individual freedom and represented anti-authority. Punk viewpoints included a ââ¬Å"do it yourself ethic, non-conformity, direct action, and not selling outâ⬠(McCain, Legs and McNeil 31). It was not about labels, getting attention, or trying to look cool in front of your friends. Punk rock continued through the eighties and influenced many other types of music genres, including ââ¬Å"gothic rock, grunge, metal, and new waveâ⬠among others (McCain, Legs and McNeil 43). In 1989, a band called the Sweet Children appeared. They would soon change their name to Green Day, and start a new wave of music called pop punk (Cooper). Other bands included in this movement were blink-182, Eve 6, and the Offspring. It was the ââ¬Å"pop punk explosion of the nineties that saw punk rock achieve its largest audience and most lucrative record salesâ⬠(Maser 10). The original punk musicians did not sell many records because they preferred to remain loyal to small labels. This was one of the first major differences between the new pop punk bands and the original punk rock bands. By the mid nineties the ideas that punk rock originally stood for were nearly gone. People began to lose sight of what the original movement meant to begin with. The newer more mainstream punk bands changed their image. The pop punk bands ââ¬Å"focused their energy into positive topics, rather than using obscenities and shock technique to gain attentionâ⬠(Maser 66). The musicians were also more musically talented in that they actually knew how to play their instruments. There were only a few true hardcore punk bands left. Punk rock finally gained acceptance by the world at large when punk bands began to gain admittance to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (Cooper). The first bands to enter the Hall of Fame were the Talking Heads and Ramones in 2002. The Clash was accepted in 2003 followed by The Sex Pistols in 2006. Punk rock started with just a few bands playing in a few small clubs. Musicians who were fed up with the rock and roll industry started looking for ways to get their music heard. The music was very simple and easy to play. It attracted fans that were rebellious and looking for ways to express themselves also. ââ¬Å"The raw simplicity and honesty of punk rock makes it what it isâ⬠(Black and Kismet). Punk was not just a movement in music, but as a statement in fashion, art and politics. Punk rock has been forever changing and growing, and continues to influence new music genres today.
Tuesday, February 18, 2020
Rist in Financial Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words
Rist in Financial Management - Essay Example Many methods have been developed over the years to effectively appraise the investment proposals. These methods have been broadly bifurcated into two, namely Non- Discounting Method and Discounting Method. The main difference between these two is that discounting methods applies the concept of time value of money for the evaluation of proposals whereas the non-discounting methods do not. However, all methods primarily rely on the future cash flows of project/proposal, which are compared with the initial investment to carry out a cost benefit analysis. In the cost benefit analysis of a project, the cash outflows incurred in connection with the project including working capital is compared with cash inflows to ascertain whether inflows outweigh outflows and vice versa. If the inflows exceed the outflows of a project, then the project will be suggested for acceptance, provided all other parameters are acceptable. But, there is a crucial issue in evaluating the project proposal which is not given much importance in any of the two mentioned methods. This is related to the risks involved in the future cash flows on the basis of project selection/rejection is made. It is known for all that future cash flows from a project can be expected, but the question is how much or what is the volume of cash flows that are likely to be received from a project. There is an uncertainty in this regard and such an uncertainty is called risk in capital budgeting. Therefore, it is necessary to incorporate the risks involved in each project by certain methods. Usually, the future cash flows are adjusted for the risks to incorporate the uncertainty with regard to its availability. The most commonly used three methods are: 1. Scenario Analysis 2. Break-even Analysis 3. Decision Tree Analysis Scenario Analysis: "Scenario analysis is a method of assessing probable future occurrences by taking into account alternate probable consequences or scenarios. Scenario analysis was planned to enable quality decision making by appropriating more comprehensive conditions of results and what they entail." (Scenario Analysis. 2008). In scenario analysis, several variables are varied at a time. Most commonly three scenarios are considered: expected (normal) scenario, pessimistic scenario and optimistic scenario. In the normal scenario, all variables expect assume their expected values; in the pessimistic scenario, all variables value their pessimistic values; and in the optimistic scenario all variables assume their optimistic values. "The process of estimating the expected value of a portfolio after a given period of time, assuming specific changes in the values of the portfolio's securities or key factors that would affect security values, such as changes in the interest rate." (Scenario Analysis: What d oes Scenario Analysis Mean 2008). Break-even Analysis: "A break even analysis is a method, which denotes what is the ideal quantity of production and the minimal amount of sales to guarantee that there is no monetary loss of a project. Break even analysis forms an integral part of capital budgeting." (Break Even Analysis. 2008). In break-even analysis, the most important thing for the project appraiser is how much should be produced and sold at a minimum to ensure that the
Tuesday, February 4, 2020
Plato Republic (Translated by G.M.A GRUBE) Revised by C.D.C REEVE Essay
Plato Republic (Translated by G.M.A GRUBE) Revised by C.D.C REEVE - Essay Example Furthermore, Socrates thought that this was the only way to properly live, to live the examined life. If the ruler of a nation lead the examined life, then this would be an example to the citizens to do the same. However, the problem is that sometimes rulers might have to make decisions which are not philosophically sound. If every single ruler in the world was a philosopher, this might work, but one philosopher king in the midst of a world of regular kings wouldnââ¬â¢t stand a chance. Rulers have to be more utilitarian in function; they have to think about what is best for the largest amount of people under their rule. What happens when a decision that must be made is in the best interests of the country, but it is not exactly philosophically sound? A philosopher like Kant stated that the only philosophically sound decision in regards to telling the truth was to never lie. But we can all think of situations under which we can think that it would be less moral to lie than to consider the alternative. The only way that philosophers could be effective kings is if we lived in a Utopia, but then how do we reach Utopia without philosopher
Sunday, January 26, 2020
Orwells Animal Farm Genre Untangled English Literature Essay
Orwells Animal Farm Genre Untangled English Literature Essay Out of George Orwells repertoire many of his works can be described as somewhat ambiguous in terms of genre. For instance, Down and Out in Paris and London is a recount of his personal experiences flavoured with fictional elements, a semi-autobiography, but it is written in the objective voice of a report, article or documentary with additional sociographic speculations. Many of his essays linger on the boundaries of the short story, as well. Animal Farm is no exception of this Orwellian tendency to fuse different genres. It is often labelled as a dystopian allegorical novella or satire, but has been called a fable in the Aesopian tradition as well. In the present paper I will analyse Orwells work from the viewpoint of all these genres separately keeping in mind of course, that the genres themselves overlap each other in some characteristics and examine how Animal Farm functions as a dystopia, a satire and a fable. While Animal Farm fits some of these characteristics it also lacks in others. It certainly portrays oppression in the form of a totalitarian centralized power, however, in contrast with some well known works strongly associated with the genre including Orwells Nineteen Eighty-Four as well it describes the process of how the utopian dream develops into the dystopian nightmare. Considering displacement it is not really in line with the dystopian trait either. It is for certain that the story takes place somewhere in the English countryside, we are even given the name of Willingdon and The Red Lion, an existing village and pub in East Sussex. Otherwise there is no special importance in the geographical location of the Farm, suggesting that it is not important where it takes place, and consequently, that it could happen anywhere. As for temporal coordinates they are even less specified or notable; the story is not tied to, and thus not untied from any particular date or era. The story could have taken place yesterday just as well as a hundred years ago or in the distant future; it is not dissociated or displaced from either Orwells or todays readers time. (Of course depending on the interpretation of the story, it does allude to the Stalinist regime and the Russian revolution but only externally as its mere allegory not internally to the novellas fictional universe.) However, it could be argued that there is some kind of displacement, not in spatial or temporal terms but in the very nature of the story as a fantastic beast fable or fairy story as Orwell called it. Its characters of talking animals who read and write and manage a farm on their own is surely not a picture of our everyday life. The feature Animal Farm most clearly adopts from the dystopian genre is the intention of warning. It warns of the danger of communist dictatorship and raises the attention as well of the existing conditions present at the time in the Soviet Union; or in a more general interpr etation the corrupting effect of power when exercised by anybodyà [1]à . However, the element of warning or at least criticism of human vices or follies with the intention of improvementà [2]à is also representative of the satire. Although it is usually meant to be funny, its purpose is not just humor for its own sake but an attack on something the satirist strongly disapproves of and to persuade the reader (or viewer depending on the medium) to strive for a solution to the problem presented, using the weapon of wit, irony, and caricature.à [3]à In Animal Farm the satirical irony emerges from Orwells style of narration and his use of the animal allegory. The narrative style he employs is characterized by simple language and light, objective even impersonal voice with the limited point of view of the enslaved animals. The plain language on the one hand is to reflect the naÃÆ'à ¯ve perception of the animalsà [4]à , on the other this terse phrasing is set in ironic juxtaposition[to] the crassly elitist, manipulative, unintelligible, and circumlocutory discourse of the pigs, through which the fictitious passes off as factitious.à [5]à Samir Elbarbary in his essay Language as Theme in Animal Farm even argues that the conscious derangement of language, and linguistic superiority which sustain the assumption of power, is one of the novellas fundamental thematic concerns. Language and how language can influence or even determine the way people think is often a recurring theme in Orwells works, for example the idea of Newsp eak in Nineteen Eighty-Four, and he even addresses the problem directly in essays, such as Politics And The English Language, in which he attests for simple uncomplicated language in scholarly and especially in political contexts. According to Elbarbary, in Animal Farm the revolution is, in a sense a language-focused enterprise, a product of specifically aggressive linguistic energy, and languageà [6]à , which can efficiently control reality, is the source of the tragic outcome rather than its mere reflection. Those animals who have an underdeveloped language, are compleatly overpowered by the linguistic skill of the pigs; their ensnarement is less a matter substance than of generic linguistic impotence and deficient semantic memory.à [7]à Even thought the point of view of the narrator is limited (or at least it is more distant from the feelings or thoughts of the pigs than that of the other animals), the narration still implies more to the reader than the animals themselves are aware of. We understand the difference between the truth of a situation and what the characters know about it, while the characters remain ignorant of the discrepancy, which creates dramatic irony. For example when Squealer explains that the van in which Boxer was taken to the hospital formerly belonged to a horse slaughterer and that the veterinarian who now uses it did not have the time to paint over the horse slaughterers sign on its side, the narrator says: The animals were enormously relieved to hear this.à [8]à The reader however, can assume the truth right when the van appeared to carry the horse away. Another level of satire is in the characterization. Orwell attributes easily recognisable human traits to animals, which remain absolute, that is they are character types rather than fully developed characters, without the ability to grow or change, the animals shall stay both animal and human. It removes the possibility of very complex characterization.à [9]à In the light of the parallel that can be drawn between the story and the Russian revolution, some characters are clear caricatures of exact historical figures (like Napoleon-Stalin, Snowball-Lenin) others of specific social groups or classes or even tools used to uphold dictatorship (e.g. Boxer-working class, Squealer-propaganda), creating a grotesque mirror image not just of the events but the figures involved in it, enhancing the validity of the satirical parallel. The third genre considered here is the already mentioned beast fable. It is usually a brief tale that conveys a moral lesson, usually by giving human speech and manners to animals. It is a very old form of story related to folklore and proverbs, the fables in Europe descends from tales attributed to Aesop, a Greek slave in the 6th century BCE. The French fabulist La Fontaine revived the form in the 17th century with his witty verse adaptations of Greek fables.à [10]à The form can be associated with the satire as well as the beast fable is also used as a culturally universal satirical technique. It is basically the dramatic realization of a metaphor and satirists have always found this translation of metaphor to dramatic fact an extremely effective way of portraying the true nature of vice and folly. As far as characters, style and language (its simplicity thus serving double causes) Animal Farm fits the criteria of the genre. According to Christopher Hollis the writer of the beast fable must throughout be successful in preserving a delicate and whimsical balance due to the overall absurdity of animals behaving and talking like humans and discussing complicated intellectual problems. He argues that Orwell is able to maintain this balance by avoiding any unnecessary explanation of the fantastic elements of the story in an otherwise realistic setting.à [11]à However if we take into account its length it is considerably longer than the traditional fable. In addition, some point out that its moral lesson is questionable or nonexistent as it is impossible to attach a moral to any familiar sense to Animal Farm, where wickedness ends in triumph and virtue is utterly crushed.à [12]à I do agree that there is no lesson to be learned in the fashion of for example The Tortoise and the Hare, however I believe that there are moral undertones embedded in the overall message of the novella, like power corrupts; it is a moral lesson without answers, or a moral tragedy of humankind. In conclusion, Orwells Animal Farm seems to function best as a satire but he consciously incorporated techniques and elements of other literary forms, most elaborately of the beast fable, to use it as his satirical vehicle. As for the dystopia genre it seems to be a little farfetched to attach the term to Orwells novella, it is more like a loud hee-haw at all who yearn for Utopia.à [13]Ã
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)