Thursday, August 13, 2020

What Makes Your Corporate Identity Unique (Hint Its Not What You Think)

What Makes Your Corporate Identity Unique (Hint It’s Not What You Think) How many logos of famous companies are you able to draw? Probably quite a few since these visual representations of the company have become a core part of our daily lives as the products themselves. We are constantly surrounded with different visual cues about businesses â€" videos, images and website templates are part of our lives.But how do companies ensure their corporate identities or these visual representations of their business are correct and authentic? Let’s explore what corporate identity is, the biggest mistake you can make thinking what separates the best from the rest, and what is actually behind a strong and unique corporate identity. WHAT IS CORPORATE IDENTITY?Let’s first be clear what corporate identity is before we start analyzing how it can be unique. You can’t truly create something unique unless you know what you’re creating in the first place. If you look up ‘corporate identity’ in the Business Dictionary, you find the following description:“Combination of color schemes, designs, words, etc., that a firm employs to make a visual statement about itself and to communicate its business philosophy.”Quite simply, your corporate identity tells you and others what your business is all about â€" the specifics that make you different from all the other businesses out there. The dictionary definition goes on to state,“corporate identity is ‘out there’ sensory-experience conveyed by things such as buildings, décor, logo, name, slogan, stationary, uniforms, and is largely unaffected by its financial performance and ups and downs in its fortune”Your corporate identity can essentially be either a s trong on â€" creating instant recognition among consumers â€" or a weak one. However, as the above suggest, this doesn’t necessarily always mean your business itself is doing bad or well in terms of its profit-making ability. Corporate identity is a physical expression of the essence of the company.However, as I’ll explain later, it shouldn’t see completely separate from the other representations of the idea of the business â€" what the company is about should also be highlighted through the communication and behavior of the business.Furthermore, corporate identity shouldn’t be seen as a layered structure. The internal and external representations of what the philosophy must be same â€" the customers have to experience the same corporate identity to the employees and other stakeholders.The idea of corporate identity and the need for businesses to develop their own unique voices is not a recent phenomenon. It developed as a concept in the 1960s when the corporate landscape ch anged from individual industrial companies to multi-national corporations on a global scale. It became more important for a business to stand out from competition â€" there had to be identities that told consumers the kind of story or business ethos they are buying into.By the 1970s, the concept of corporate identity was on everyone’s lips and advertising consultants became a core part of business development. The idea of a strong and unique corporate identity became central to corporate planning and successful implementation of corporate identity strategy was considered a major reason some companies succeeded while others failed.Below is a video of how Virgin developed its corporate identity under Richard Branson. This is great for getting a grasp of what corporate identity is and prepares you well for what I’m about to say in the following chapters. THE SINGLE REASONS YOU SHOULD CARE ABOUT ITSo, why does corporate identity have such a hold on people’s imaginations? Why are b usinesses willing to spend money on creating a corporate identity?There is essentially only one reason a business should care about corporate identity and that’s performance. A Strategy survey back in 2013 peered into the world of corporate identity and made a series of interesting findings. For instance, according to the respondents, developing corporate identity strategy is problematic because most companies have too many strategic objectives. But the key finding in terms of corporate identity was how companies with a strong corporate identity outperform those without one by 25%.While your financial performance isn’t always directly linked to your corporate identity, by ensuring you have a clear identity, you create a strong base for succeeding and growing.If you think of the biggest and most successful companies, you instantly think about their strong corporate identities â€" Apple, Coca-Cola and Google have all been rather good at creating a visual representation of their bu siness philosophy and made it stick with us.When you scratch deeper, you notice that the ability to outperform comes from the three big advantages a strong corporate identity will provide for a business. These can be divided into three key benefits:Enhanced consumer loyalty â€" A good corporate identity boosts performance because it can keep customers more engaged with your business. Customers have their own identities and a good corporate identity speaks to those in a way that aligns these two separate stories or philosophies together. The corporate’s emphasis on sustainability in a sea of other identities that are about something else can help consumers with like-minded ideas to stick with them. Customers who subscribe to your corporate identity will feel part of the story â€" they don’t want to conduct business elsewhere.Strengthened corporate experienceâ€"There is also an emphasis on the whole corporate experience when companies focus on building strong identities. You align not just the external images with the company philosophy, but also the behavior and communication of the message. The consumer doesn’t just experience the identity by looking at the logo but also feels the identity when shopping the products, contacting customer service or using the product or service. Corporate identity can help create a strong and strategic approach to conducting business.Structured corporate personaâ€" Every business benefits from having a specific corporate person, which is essentially what corporate identity is about. It’s the impression we have when we hear about a business â€" shaped by what we’ve experienced and what we’ve heard. Just like you have an impression and persona build about your friends and family, you’ll also have corporate personas in mind when you think about your favorite brands.It is these three building blocks that help a business compete and to stand out in the crowd. By creating a strategic approach to implementing your busines s ethos, you strengthen the areas that contribute to performance â€" you obtain and retain customers better, you streamline your services to provide better service, and you help build a reputation.THE BIG MISTAKE TO AVOID WITH CORPORATE IDENTITY Source: Gismodo blog postWhy is it then that businesses often fail in creating successful corporate identities? It happens when the definition of corporate identity is taken to mean purely the visual statement of the business philosophy and most importantly purely equated with the logo. Too often businesses are transfixed with the logo, with purely the visual design and feel of the logo at the core of their attempt to be unique.What’s forgotten is the core message â€" the reason why your logo represents your business. If you’re doing corporate identity right, you will always align your behavior and communication, together with the visual representations, with your business philosophy. You need to have the “what we are” sorted before you can move on to “how we look visually”. By focusing on the logo, you’re not focusing on ensuring the corporate identity tells the story of your business â€" you’re just creating an image without a story or behavior.Furthermore, it’s a lso harmful to focus purely on the logo when your business will be represented visually in so many more ways. When you visit Apple’s website, the corporate identity isn’t just evident in the logo â€" in fact, you don’t really even encounter the logo as a focus point on the pages. The corporate identity of Apple is much more than just a logo.Think, for example, how TV shows sometimes need to remove logos from laptops for sponsorship reasons. When you tape out the image of the half-bitten apple, you don’t forget the computer is an Apple product. You can see it from the way the product is designed.The same applies to most businesses with a strong corporate identity. You could remove Coca-Cola’s logos from its bottles, website and even ads, yet you’d still know it’s that specific brand and you’d know the story, the philosophy. If I put a blindfold on you and take you to a fast-food joint, you’d know we’re at McDonald’s even if the traditional logo of the golden M o n a red background is removed.Corporate identity goes wrong when people simplify it to a single image â€" when we compress identities into a single representation. But you can’t and you shouldn’t narrow an identity, right? Businesses are a bit like people; we couldn’t create a stamp of our identity and think it’s going to work every time.A logo alone is insufficient in telling a story and representing our corporate ethos â€" identity is about how we look (not just our clothes, but also our makeup), how we talk, how we behave and how we align all of these.The big mistake to avoid with corporate identity is treating these three things as separate and hoping to create an identity simply through a single representation: a logo.HERE’S WHAT ACTUALLY MAKES YOUR CORPORATE IDENTITY UNIQUEIf you want to create a unique corporate identity, then you must focus on aligning the three key areas of corporate design, corporate behavior and corporate communication together â€" you need to e ssentially create a package of visual statements that are sprung from the business philosophy and which relate to the other aspects of your company. You move on from staring at the logo, to truly realizing what your identity is about.To nail down your corporate identity and to find the authentic voice that tells and visualizes your business idea, you need to ensure the three areas are not in conflict with each other. Now, let’s look at each area closer and see how each aspect helps build your authentic voice:Corporate designCorporate design is exactly what most people mistakenly equate with corporate identity. It is about the logo â€" the visual images you use for your business. Corporate design deals with business cards, website templates, font colors and other such visual representations of your business. It is crucial for corporate identity because it is often the first thing people see and interact with. When you search for shoe retailers, you click on the website and the logo is often the first thing that stares back at you.It is the immediate part of corporate identity and it does have a huge impact on how customers view your business. While the logos and other visual images are crucial in creating this first impression, they aren’t the only things that you should focus on, as the above has hopefully highlighted. Nonetheless, a corporate design is the core of your corporate identity and the starting point for creating the visual image for your business.Corporate behaviorHowever, your corporate identity is also strengthened through your behavior. Corporate behavior includes things like how employees are treated and the leadership styles the management uses. These and others like that refer to the internal behaviors, but corporate behavior can also be driven by external behaviors such as how you treat customers, what is your relationship with the media and so on.These behaviors can impact your corporate identity and help the corporate design have an im pact. For example, if you maintain an open and honest relationship with the media, you can strengthen your corporate identity and create a brand based on transparency and communication.When the stories people read about your business are highlighting this image, the actual visual representation â€" your logos, your colors and your fonts â€" becomes associated with the behaviors. Your solid corporate design links with corporate behavior, creating a unique experience of your identity.Corporate communicationSimilarly to the above, your corporate communication â€" the way you speak to customers, advertise your business and interact with the media â€" has a strengthening impact on corporate identity. Your advertising slogan can enhance this transparent behavior â€" We believe in your right to know! â€" and be perfectly aligned with your clear logo.Communication will also happen in the form of your press releases or internally through things like staff meetings. If you can have these comm unication channels represent your business philosophy and deepen the behaviors within your organization, you have a direct impact on the identity.Essentially, you can’t just talk the talk; you also need to walk the walk. Communication must match your behavior and both of these have to match your corporate design. By aligning these three aspects together and linking them with your business philosophy, you can enjoy from a strong and unique corporate identity.You’re not doing something visually that you think appeals to customers, but rather representing your authentic voice as a business. You’re creating a more fulfilled representation of your business â€" the way it looks, behaves and communicates.HOW TO CREATE A UNIQUE CORPORATE IDENTITYSo, when you are looking to create a unique corporate identity that will stand out from the rest, you must focus on four key steps. These will help you align the three building blocks of a strong corporate identity and they ensure your focus i s on authentic and representative identity â€" not just a flashy logo.Step 1: Establish your unique value propositionThe first step deals with your business’ unique value proposition. It’s the most important question any business will ever be asked about: What is your company about? If you’re not quite sure how to answer that, then you definitely need to do a lot more soul-searching. You can’t start to run a successful business or form your own unique identity if you don’t know your brand.You definitely need to have a business plan, a mission statement and a vision for future. If these things are still lacking, you should get started by watching the below video and start finding the underlying cause and objective of your business. The whole idea of this first step is to identify the reason you’re unique. Not just in terms of how you differ from competition, but in your story and objective. A business hardly has the same objective as another business in the same industry â€" there is something there in your product, your service and your objectives that separate you from the rest.Before you can start building your corporate identity and begin the visualization of your business idea, you must be clear what this unique value proposition is about.Step 2: Establish your unique value propositionAfter you’ve cleared the basics, you must move deeper into understanding your business and the brand. You need to determine what’s your spot in the marketplace and who are the people that use your product and service.If you can analyze the most important drivers for growth, you can start identifying the ways in which your customers currently view your business.Knowing your brand will reveal your competitive edge â€" it will deepen your understanding of the current corporate identity and how it aligns with your business philosophy.Step 3: Set the correct toneNow that you have the building blocks for your identity, you start to visualize it â€" you find the voic e that represents your brand and your unique value proposition. Remember the following:Your brand’s voice must be distinctive from the competitors, it must resonate with your customers, and it has to be consistent in terms of your business values and objectives.Since you are now focusing on the corporate design â€" the logos, the colors, the social media templates and so on â€" your focus must be on finding the design that keeps the above in mind. You want to think about your customers and consider the kind of images, colors and fonts they would find visually attractive.These must be then considered in relation to your business philosophy â€" does it all fit together and create an authentic look and feel of your business?Step 4: Be prepared to analyze and refine your identityI was kind of lying earlier when I said there is one big mistake companies make with their corporate identity. There are actually two major issues businesses. The other, i.e. relying just on your logo, has now hopefully been solved with the tips above.However, the second is something different. It is about the failure to change or refine your brand identity. Businesses are terrified of this mainly due to a few famous examples of re-branding that didn’t work. Nonetheless, corporate identity shouldn’t be considered something set in stone and irreplaceable. Corporate identity develops over time, just like the competition around you.Just like you must be constantly looking to refine your products or service, you naturally also need to analyze and refine your brand. Since corporate identity is a culmination of the three elements, design, behavior and communication, changes in one of these means that there needs to be adjustments in the other two.Remember to constantly revisit your corporate identity and its building blocks to ensure your message is still aligned, it still resonated with the consumer, and it has stayed true to your business philosophy.As an example of small refining, look at the three logos. They have all held on to the distinct identity and feel, while still updating the look to something a bit more modern and perhaps refined in terms of what customers are looking for in today’s day and age. Source: Brand Matters websiteTHE KEY TAKEAWAYAfter you’re finished reading this post, you should have taken in the following information: your corporate identity does not equal to your logo. Unique corporate identity is much more basic than that â€" it’s the alignment of your business idea with how it behaves and communicates and represents itself visually.It’s about putting your business’ unique value proposition at the centre of everything you do. A good corporate identity is one where the visual statements tell the same story as the way the business behaves and communicates with its customers, stakeholders and employees.

Sunday, May 24, 2020

Essay Webers Approach to Religion and Sociology - 1706 Words

Webers Approach to Religion and Sociology Webers general approach to sociology is known as verstehen sociology; that human action is directed by meaning and that action can only be understood by appreciating the world-view of the social actor concerned. Since religion is an important component of the social actors world-view, religious beliefs can direct social action, and hence bring about social change. In The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism, Weber explores the relationship between religious ideas and social change, attempting to show how the ideas and beliefs of†¦show more content†¦Another factor, more emphasised by Troeltsch was the rejection of the canonical veto on usury. These characteristics were also important factors in the development of business. The Protestant Ethic matched the Spirit of Capitalism. Thus, the religious beliefs of Protes tantism coupled with the presence of the necessary economic conditions resulted in the development of the capitalist system. The importance of Webers work is its recognition of the importance of ideas and beliefs in the process of social change. He is not saying that religion always causes change, simply that it can be an important factor. This is a position that will be developed further, and in terms of a rounded position of the role of religion, is the most tenable - the answer about the role is most likely to always be; it depends! Webers theory has been subject to considerable criticism, indeed it is a classic dispute in sociology. The main criticisms are that Weber mislocated capitalism (historically); misinterpreted protestantism; misunderstood catholicism and misplaced causality. What it is important to remember however is that the criticisms apply to the example that Weber uses - protestant belief/capitalism. There are numerous other examples that can demonstrate the usefulness of his idea. The It depends approach It would seem clear that there can be noShow MoreRelatedIs Weber s Idea Of Economic Traditionalism1189 Words   |  5 PagesIs weber’s idea of economic traditionalism analysis relevant to the study of religion? Introduction The core of research on religion at present is of no doubt touching Max Weber’s ideas on economic traditionalism. Weber in Solimano (2012: 42) talked about â€Å"the importance of religion, especially the Protestant ethic† in economic life. By venturing into the field of sociology of religion, Weber further succeeded in arousing many scholars’ interest in the study of different religions in the contemporaryRead MoreAnalysis Of Max Weber s The Protestant Ethic And His Ideas On Bureaucracy920 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"Sociology is the science whose object is to interpret the meaning of social action and thereby give a causal explanation of the way in which the action proceeds and the effects which it produces.† (Weber et al., 1978) These are words said by Max Weber, a German sociologist and political economist who is best known for his thesis of the â€Å"Protestant ethic† and his ideas on bureaucracy. At the start of Weber’s career, year 1882, he left home to enroll into the University of Heidelberg. After twoRead MoreKarl Marx And Max Weber1324 Words   |  6 Pagesfoundation of sociology. Without their contributions sociology would not be as prominent as it is today. 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Furthermore, the relevance of the early work of the above to modern sociology willRead MorePioneers of Sociology812 Words   |  4 PagesPioneers of Sociology * Karl Marx He said that the working class will defeat the ownership class, and result in a utopia where government will wither away to nothing and the principle of economics will be based on For each according to his needs, and from each according to his ability. His contribution to thinking in sociology is mainly in a perspective called Conflict Theory in which social organisation and change is based upon conflicts built into society. Many people see this as havingRead MoreSociology and Other Sciences7090 Words   |  29 PagesSOCIOLOGY AND OTHER SCIENCES Sociology deals with society [people];how people interact, their culture, norms, values just like other social sciences like psychology, economics, psychology which also deal with people and how they behave, their mental processes. 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The fact that Weber’s definition does appear to be more relevant to today s society in terms of reflecting todays social class fluidity and ability to change ones status, it could be used to argue that Marx’s views on the causes of inequality are simply no longer relevantRead MoreSociology and Emile Durkheim2640 Words   |  11 PagesCompare and contrast the theories and methods of Emile Durkheim and Max Weber regarding social behavior. 1.Introduction Emile Durkheim and Max Weber are founding fathers of sociology and outstanding sociologists who made great contributions to the development of sociology and progress of human beings. Previous studies have been done about the theories and methods of Durkheim and Weber, and their works have also been studied for many times from different viewpoints, such as the nature of humanRead MoreEssay on Marx, Weber and their Critique of Global Capitalism1756 Words   |  8 Pagesstrongly anti-capitalist. Like Marx, Weber had a variety of interests, including politics, history, religion, law, administration, politics, sociology and economics. His analysis of capitalism is not as systematic or intricate as Marx, but his scope is more esoteric. He views capitalism from the social, political and economic viewpoints, using concepts and approaches avoided by Marx, including religion, political ideas, values, meaning and social action. Many say that Weber spent his life havingRead MoreThe Theory Of The Functionalist Paradigm869 Words   |  4 Pagescivilization in question. This type of theory was made majorly successful by Emile Durkheim and is at a macro level of analysis due to its broad spectrum of focus. Durkheim was the first professor of sociology to ever occupy France in the 1880’s and spent what little free time he had left studying religion. As a matter of fact, it was his religious studies that would eventually hold the key to his discovery of social integration. Research conducted through observation is likely what would be used to

Tuesday, May 12, 2020

Psy/230 Personal Narrative Essay - 803 Words

Final Project Personal Narrative PSY/230 September 23, 2012 Rehema Underwood Final Project Personal Narrative I would have to say looing back over the last five years my life has developed in to exactly what I have always wanted it to be. After going through a nasty divorce about eight years ago I went on a path of self destruction. I started drinking heavily and using drugs and a way to numb the pain I was going through. Finally after doing a few things that I’m really not proud of I had a wake up call. I got in to some legal trouble which opened my eyes to all the things I may have lost if I continued living my life that way. I then decided it was time to make some changes, I went back to school and obtained my G.E.D. and then†¦show more content†¦My parents sat me down and went over with me again the family values that they wanted to instill in my sibling and myself. They brought back our religious beliefs that we have also grown up with and we may not chose to live our life by all the ways of the Catholic faith but to live a humble and honest life is what my parents have wanted for us. I do feel that even though I may not go to church every Sunday, I do believe in the ways of the lord now. I have asked for forgiveness and try to make sure that I live the type of life that makes god and my family proud of me. I can truly say I would not change any choices or experiences that I have had in my life. I take every experience as a learning experiences and I do believe each and every one has made me the person I am today. When I got my divorce although the single life started out rocky I did find my independence again. I took the time to find out all things I wanted out of life and how I was not settling for anything less. They choices I made during this time made me value family a whole lot more. It brought me closer to my Children and made me appreciate them more also. My life experiences have taught me who I want to become and how I plan on getting there. Going back to college at the age of 39 as scary as it was has been on of the greatest experiences that I have done. I know that I am one step closer in becoming a sexual assault support counselor and making a positive difference inShow MoreRelatedPsy230 Final1203 Words   |  5 PagesPersonal Narrative Michelle Yates PSY 230 February 9, 2014 Aaron Thompson, MRC,  CRC, LVRC, CPM In 1979 Douglas Adams wrote in his book, The Hitchhikers’ Guide to the Universe, â€Å"The answer to life, the universe and everything, is 42† (Adams 1979). Of course we all know that the answers do not come quite so easily. Really, forget the answer; the question is what the meaning ofRead MoreMetamorphoses Within Frankenstein14861 Words   |  60 Pagesof ‘the vitalist deb ate’ over the years of the novel’s intellectual gestation, concentrating on the Shelleys’ r elationship w ith on e of its more articu late p articipants, William Lawren ce, and showing how the v ery language of th is of ten personal and 18 alw ays political deb ate enters the novel. One th ing th at beco mes incr easingly appar ent the closer th at scholar ship brings us to Regency Britain, especially to the h ybrid ‘scien ce’ of medical pr actice and its day to d ay, ofRead MoreMetz Film Language a Semiotics of the Cinema PDF100902 Words   |  316 Pagesstarted. CONTENTS A Note on the Translation by Bertrand Augst, ix Preface, xi A Note on Terminology, xiii I Phenomenological Approaches to Film Chapter I. On the Impression of Reality in the Cinema, 3 Chapter 2. Notes Toward a Phenomenology of the Narrative, 16 II Problems of Film Semiotics Chapter 3. Chapter 4. Chapter 5. The Cinema: Language or Language System? 31 Some Points in the Semiotics of the Cinema, 92 Problems of Denotation in the Fiction Film, 108 III Syntagmatic Analysis of the Image

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

A Brief Analysis on the Film King of Masks Free Essays

The film King of Masks deals with and challenges the feudal idea that men are superior to women; this ideology, as the film portrays, results in alienation, tragedy and bitterness for girls in Chinese society and particularly the protagonist Doggie. In contrast, out of darkness, corruption, and poverty, the goodness of humanity and the human love sprung up from the master-apprentice relationship between Wang and Doggie will ultimately reign over narrow and backward traditional notions. Evidence that everyone desires a boy can be found throughout the film. We will write a custom essay sample on A Brief Analysis on the Film King of Masks or any similar topic only for you Order Now In fact, preference for boys over girls is not just a fad but rather deep-rooted in Chinese society. Feudal ideas that men superior to women is embedded and prevails in Chinese culture as early as the end of the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 B. C. ) during which Confucian teachings advocates and fosters gender inequality (Jiang 229). Under influence of Confucianism, women are given low status and expected to be obedient to husband. This produces a sequence of expectations for men and women: men are expected to work outside and support family living while women only stays home and take care of family and household. This is also the reality in King of Masks, in which almost every man has a job: Wang is a street performer; Master Liang is an opera performer; Wang’s friend is a liquor dealer. However, the occupation of women is not clearly revealed. Notable examples are the crowds of women joining the parade and women from TianCi’s family whose main role is taking care of the child. It is worth noting that Master Liang plays as a female impersonator. Despite its name, a female impersonator is played by a male in traditional Chinese opera because women are believed to corrupt men on stage and thus banned from performing (Johnson 380). The storyline of the film is triggered by Wang’s quest for a male heir to pass on his secret ancestral art of BianLian or its literally meaning of changing faces. In Wang’s conversation with Master Liang, he firmly states,† only a son may inherit [the skills]. It is an ancient rule. In fact, only son has the right inherit property including all Chinese secret skills and medical prescription. Also, in Chinese tradition, boys are expected to carry on the family line and occupation whereas girls leave and separate from the family after marriage. It is then not surprising that Wang worries that his secret skill may leak out and insist on passing it to a boy. The gender inequality that feudal and Confucian ideas bring about and gender biased Chinese traditions underlies the cruelty and unfair treatment from which girls and particularly Doggie suffer. In the opening scene, the background music immediately creates a strong sense of melancholy and sadness. As Master Liang boldly admits that â€Å"no one values girls†, the society undeniably treats girls harshly. In the back alley black market, desperate parents beg to sell their daughters for very little value and yet still no one wants them. The fact that Wang paid ten dollars for Doggie is because he craves for a boy. When Doggie confesses that she was abused and sold seven times by different owners because they don’t like girls, audience can feel the bitterness and sympathize with her. Indeed, girls like Doggie experience alienation and estrangement from society and its people, including the protagonist Wang. To further illuminate, we observe a sharp change in Wang’s attitude towards Doggie after he finds out that she doesn’t have â€Å"a little tea spout! † Since their encounter, Wang enjoys being called â€Å"grandpa†; however, he asks Doggie to call him â€Å"Boss† when he feels betrayed by her. The intimacy between them dissolves; instead, emotional alienation and detachment begin to emerge. Doggie’s status changes from a beloved grandson to whom Wang determines to inherit his skill to a servant who only does housekeeping. Also, the pitiless gender inequality contrasts strongly with the colorful and joyful settings like opera, firework, festival, and pipe-smoking ceremony. Aside from the pain that Chinese girls bear, King of Masks also reveals poverty, hardship, corruption, and darkness that Wang and Doggie experience in the world that they live in. The mist in opening scene and overall color tone of grey suggests that Wang is paddling into a world of dullness. With his houseboat- his only sanctuary- Wang travels around to make a living by performing Bianlian in return of donation from people who appreciate his art on the street. Desperation and poverty are not only accompanying people in the slave market but also Wang: his wife left him after the death of his son; his only companion is not a human but a monkey. Master Liang’s confession that â€Å" we all have our own sorrows† reflects the folk artists fate of twists and turns and bitterness. During one performance, Wang is intimidated and oppressed by soldiers, but he can only chant woefully â€Å"The dragon in the shallows is toyed with by the shrimp†. Many proverbs like this in the film convey to audiences his hardship and helplessness. Government corruption is also disclosed in the movie when Wang is falsely charged of all kidnap cases and imprisoned. In his quest for an heir, Wang visits Buddhist temple to pray and buys a Buddha to worship in the hope that it may gift him a son. All Wang’s spiritual sustenance is on the Buddha body. This showed Wang’s inner weakness and helplessness towards his own destiny. Nevertheless, out of the darkness in this world, we witness the goodness of human nature. When Master Liang invites Wang into his theater troupe, Wang excuses himself from joining. This shows that Wang is man of independence and principle. Besides, Wang scolds Doggie for stealing a bottle of wine, also showing his integrity. In the film, Master Liang is a popular opera star cherished by his followers; nevertheless, he upholds humbleness, and just like his stage name, Master Liang is indeed a â€Å"Living Buddha† with kindness and sympathy to Wang and Doggie throughout. It is also him who offers help and plays a key role in rescuing Wang out of prison. Even some insignificant character shows the goodness of human nature: the liquor dealer offers alcohol when Wang wounds; the prison guard allows Doggie to visit Wang. King of Mask also portrays the sentimental love between an unrelated grandpa and unwanted child. In their early encounter, Wang treats Doggie as a treasure by buying new clothes, performing BianLian to entertain her, and telling her that â€Å"this is all yours† during a meal. We can also feel the sorrow and anguish in Wang’s heart when he knows that Doggie is abused by her previous owners. Along with the soothing music, when Doggie first attempts to scratch Grandpa’s back, the goodness of relationship immediately manifested. At the same time, Wang shows his commitment to love as he throws his scratcher into water. In fact, their relationship develops not without some complications of the storyline. This initial intimacy between grandpa and grandson almost breaks when he feels betrayed by Doggie’s lying as a boy. Despite this, he jumps into the freezing water without hesitation to save Doggie and allows her to stay. While he trains Doggie of aerobics and Doggie does the housekeeping, he gradually learns that Doggie- without â€Å"a teapot spout†- is as competent as boys. However, as one film reviewer describes, â€Å"throughout, sadness permeates [Doggie]’s every move, a reminder that acrobatic flexibility means nothing to a child throughout, sadness permeates. † Indeed, what Doggie longs for is love and recognition. Throughout, Doggie wholeheartedly tries to please Wang. Even though there is some misunderstanding in place, she appreciates Wang’s love and caring by bringing the boy TianCi for him. As for Wang, he also cannot hide his missing of Doggie. He runs out immediately searching for Doggie. When Wang is put into jail, Doggie is panicked and desperate, she begs for help by kneeling down in front of Master Liang’s house all night long. The film reaches its climax when Doggie ventures to sacrifice herself by performing an acrobatic feat that finally touched the heart of the military official. When Wang is condemned to death, Doggie comes to visit him in prison. In that scene, Wang and Doggie are physically separated by bars between them, but the camera moves closer to doggie as if death cannot separate them now. This is soon followed by a touching moment when Wang and Doggie cries and hugs each other. It is not surprising that King of Masks finish with happy ending in which Wang inherits BianLian to Doggie and they live happily after. Beyond the surface, King of Masks reveals both the dullness and the goodness of human nature. Through the interaction between characters, audience can truly appreciate Master Liang’s saying â€Å"the world is a cold place but we can bring warmth to it†. Last but not least, the film praises the sentimental love between Wang and Doggie that touches the heart of every audience. How to cite A Brief Analysis on the Film King of Masks, Essay examples

Sunday, May 3, 2020

Stress at Workplace - Research Methodology free essay sample

Some functions of stress and here are some recent definitions of work-related stress: Job stress can be defined as the harmful physical and emotional responses that occur when the requirements of the job do not match the capabilities, resources, or needs of the worker. Job stress can lead to poor health and even injury. [Stress at work (United States National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, 1999. In order to carry out Its functions, the Election Commission has formulated the following strategies: ) To identify and collect data and information on newly developed areas to ensure a fair representation of voters in each constituency. It) To promote public awareness on the importance of registering as an elector. Iii) To promote awareness amongst the electors on the importance of voting during both the general and by-elections. Lb) To undertake a systematic and continuous education programmer to Increase public awareness on the rights and responsibilities of the citizens during elections and to safe-guard parliamentary democracy. We will write a custom essay sample on Stress at Workplace Research Methodology or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Problem Statement At the Election Commission of Malaysia (Headquarters, Pituitary) the causes of stress emanate from the amount of workload, lack of associated with health, In-conducive working environment (noise, temperature, space of working cubicles) and stress due to financial problems. 3. General Objectives This research Investigates the causes and Impacts of stress at the workplace and to suggest measures and actions to mitigate and reduce the level of stress.This research serves three main purposes which are: ) to identify the causes of stress at the workplace; II) to identify the effects and Impacts of stress at the workplace to the staff; I) to provide a generic definition of stress at the workplace; it) to identify the types of stress available/occurring at the workplace; iii) to identify the reasons of stress due to financial problem; 5. Research Questions I) Why do stress happen at the workplace? It) What are the sources and causes of stress at the workplace? The effects and impacts of stress on the staff? 6.Significance of Study iii) What are ) The findings of this study will assist the Election Commission of Malaysia in identifying the availability and occurrences of stress at the workplace. 2) The study is intended in suggesting measures and remedy in mitigating the level of stress occurring at the Election Commission of Malaysia. 7. Limitations of study This study has been conducted at the Election Commission of Malaysia Headquarters which is in Pituitary. The research conclusions consider the relevance of the findings to be in practical and applicable to all of Acmes State Election Offices.

Thursday, March 26, 2020

The History Of Sexuality ( Michel Foucault ) free essay sample

Analyzes the authors feminist perspective on sexual liberation and repression, Freud and talking about sex vs. enjoying sex. Michel Foucault, in The History of Sexuality, can definitely be considered a feminist, if one sees feminism as a search for truth about human nature, relationships, and the role and function of power in defining ones identity (including ones sexuality). Foucault argues that since the eighteenth century Western civilization has increasingly become obsessed with talking and thinking about sex as a subject, rather than partaking of bodies and pleasures (157). Feminism certainly posits that a woman to be authentically alive must overcome alienation from her body, whether that alienation is imposed upon her by an individual male or by power as it is exercised by the entire structure of society. This generalized sense of power is what Foucault posits as the controlling force behind the history of sexuality and the accompanying increase in public discourse

Friday, March 6, 2020

Johannes Gutenberg, Inventor of the Printing Press

Johannes Gutenberg, Inventor of the Printing Press Johannes Gutenberg (c. 1398–February 3, 1468) was the inventor of a movable-type printing press, based on a Rhenish wine press and using ink that clung to the metal type and produced color fonts. His technological innovations, which included punch-cutting, matrix-fitting, type-casting, composing, and printing, was used nearly unchanged for three centuries after his death.   Fast Facts: Johannes Gutenberg Known For: Invention of several technologies surrounding the printing pressBorn: c. 1394–1404 in Mainz, GermanyParents: Friele Gensfleisch and Else WirichDied: February 3, 1468 in Mainz, GermanyEducation: Apprentice to a goldsmith, possibly enrolled at the University of ErfurtPublished Works: 42-Line Bible (The Gutenberg Bible), a Book of Psalter, and the  Sibyls ProphecySpouse(s): None knownChildren: None known Early Life Johannes Gensfleisch zum Gutenberg was born between 1394 and 1404 in Mainz, in what is today Germany. An official birthday of June 24, 1400, was chosen at the time of a 500th Anniversary Festival held in Mainz in 1900, but that is symbolic. What information about his early life is limited to court documents- and sources are limited in usefulness because his surname, like many people of the time, was a reference to the building or property he lived in, and so changed according to his residence.  As a young child and adult, he lived in the Gutenberg house in Mainz. Johannes was the second of three children of Friele Gensfleisch and Else Wirich. Else Wirich was the daughter of a shopkeeper, whose family had once been of the noble classes. Friele Gensfleisch was a member of the aristocracy and worked in the ecclesiastical mint, the place that supplied gold and other metals for coins, minted the coins, changed the species of coins when needed, and testified in forgery cases. Education Johannes worked with his father in the mint, which is where he learned and may have been a goldsmiths apprentice. As a young man, he may have also worked in the clothing trade in Mainz until 1411, when a craftsmans revolt against the noble classes occurred, and Johann and his family were forced to flee Mainz. They may have gone to Eltville am Rhein, where his mother had an inherited estate. In 1418, a student named Johannes de Altavilla enrolled at the University of Erfurt- Altavilla is the Latin form of Eltville am Rhein.  By 1434, they were in Strasbourg. Wherever he was educated, Johannes learned reading and writing in German and Latin, the language of scholars and churchmen. Books have been around for nearly 3,000 years, but until Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press in the mid-1400s they were rare and hard to produce. Text and illustrations were done by hand, a very time-consuming process, and only the wealthy and educated could afford them. But within a few decades of Gutenbergs innovation, printing presses were operating in England, France, Germany, Holland, Spain, and elsewhere. More presses meant more (and cheaper) books, allowing literacy to flourish across Europe.   Books Before Gutenberg British Library / Wikimedia Commons / CC0 Although historians cant pinpoint when the first book was created, the oldest known book in existence was printed in China in 868 CE. Called The Diamond Sutra, it was a copy of a sacred Buddhist text, in a 17-foot-long scroll printed with wooden blocks. It was commissioned by a man named  Wang Jie to honor his parents, according to an inscription on the scroll, though little else is known about who Wang was or who created the scroll. Today, it is in the collection of the British Museum in London. By 932 CE, Chinese printers regularly were using carved wooden blocks to print scrolls. But these wooden blocks wore out quickly, and a new block had to be carved for each character, word, or image that was used. The next revolution in printing occurred in 1041 when Chinese printers began using movable type, individual characters made of clay that could be chained together to form words and sentences. Printing Comes to Europe By the early 1400s, European metalsmiths also had adopted wood-block printing and engraving. One of those metalsmiths was Johannes Gutenberg, who began experimenting with printing work during his exile in Strasbourg- at the time, there were metalsmiths in Avignon, Bruges, and Bologna who were also experimenting with presses. By 1438, Gutenberg had begun experimenting with printing techniques using metal movable type and had secured funding from a wealthy businessman named  Andreas Dritzehn; between 1444 and 1448 he returned to Mainz. An illustration of Gutenbergs printing press. ilbusca / Getty Images It is unclear when Gutenberg began publishing with his metal type, but by 1450 he had made sufficient progress to seek additional funds from another investor,  Johannes Fust. Using a modified wine press, Gutenberg  created his printing press. The ink was rolled over the raised surfaces of movable handset block letters held within a wooden form, and the form was then pressed against a sheet of paper. Gutenbergs Bible A copy of Gutenbergs Bible. NYC Wanderer / Kevin Eng / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0 By 1452, Gutenberg entered into a business partnership with Fust in order to continue funding his printing experiments. Gutenberg continued to refine his printing process and by 1455 had printed several copies of the Bible. Consisting of three volumes of text in Latin, Gutenbergs Bibles had 42 lines of type per page with color illustrations. But Gutenberg didnt enjoy his innovation for long. Fust sued him for repayment, something Gutenberg was unable to do, and Fust seized the press as collateral. The bulk of Gutenbergs presses and types went to Peter Schà ¶ffer of Gernsheim, an employee and later son-in-law of Fust.  Fust continued printing the Bibles, eventually publishing about 200 copies, of which only 22 exist today. In addition to the 42-Line Bible, Gutenberg is credited by some historians with a Book of Psalter, published by Fust and Schà ¶ffer but using fonts and innovative techniques generally attributed to Gutenberg. The oldest surviving manuscript from the early Gutenburg press is that of a fragment of the poem The Sibyls Prophecy, the German text of which was made using Gutenbergs earliest typeface between 1452–1453. The page, which includes a planetary table for astrologers, was found in the late 19th century and donated to the Gutenberg museum in 1903. Legacy and Death Few details are known about Gutenbergs life after the lawsuit. According to some historians, Gutenberg continued to work with Fust, while other scholars say Fust drove Gutenberg out of business. After 1460, he seems to have abandoned printing entirely, perhaps as a result of blindness. He survived on a pension from the archbishop of Mainz known as a Hoffman, a gentleman of the court. Gutenberg died on February 3, 1468, and was buried in a Franciscan church in Eltville, Germany that was torn down in 1742. Sources Daley, Jason. Five Things to Know About the Diamond Sutra, the World’s Oldest Dated Printed Book. Smithsonian Magazine. 11 May 2016.Garner, April, project coordinator.  Teaching Gutenberg. Harry Ransom Center, The University of Texas at Austin. Accessed 6 March 2018.Green, Jonathan. Printing and Prophecy: Prognostication and Media Change 1450–1550. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 2012.Kapr, Albert. Johann Gutenberg: The Man and his Invention. Trans. Martin, Douglas. Scolar Press, 1996.Man, John. The Gutenberg Revolution: How Printing Changed the Course of History. London: Bantam Books, 2009.  Steinberg, S. H. Five Hundred Years of Printing. New York: Dover Publications, 2017.