Thursday, October 31, 2019
Migrating Servers to Virtual Machines Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words
Migrating Servers to Virtual Machines - Essay Example This requires using of multiple hardware systems to manage and store the information in an easy to retrieve way. Hence, virtual machines come in to provide saving of space used for multiple hardware and easy access to information since it can set up several servers on one hardware. Data management is an essential part of modern organization since they have to deal with huge loads of information. Thus moving of physical servers to virtual machines, virtualization has increased in the recent past since virtual machines help in managing data through shared hardware. It has become a mainstream operation in the organization due to its ability in, â€Å"helping provide consolidation savings, workload migration capabilities, reduced deployment times and a variety of other benefits,†(Schmidt & Rispoli, 2009, p. 42). The advantage of virtualization is that one can set up several servers on the same hardware box, rather than having to pay for many hardware servers. This has the benefit of saving costs of running multiple hardware servers such as power used when there are several servers, space for putting up the hardware as well as financial costs.  Recently, information has become the main tool for organization in competing, thus, management of information is most crucial. Sharing of information is yet another requirement in the organization. Thus, a tool that can help in sharing of information is welcome in organization. More so, cost saving is among the most emphasized issues in many organizations of the current times. Virtual machines provide these benefits, making it a key tool for organizations. Many organizations have realized this, and are virtualizing their physical servers to enjoy the differences. Review of Other Work    The number of organizations using virtual machines has grown tremendously in the recent past. Many of these organizations are virtualizing with an aim of achieving several goals that are reducing of costs of running physi cal servers, enhancing efficiency, achieving flexibility with information, and improving operations within the organization. Le Bourget Communaute provides a good illustration of virtualization at work. The company has virtualized its servers and desktops with vSphere virtualization from the VMware and the Cisco Nexus 1000V virtual switch (Cisco, 2010). The company has all the efforts of 2500 employees supported by 1000 desktop computers that deliver quite a big range of services. Its PCs are located in various places such as city halls, self-service kiosks, libraries, schools and among other places for providing services to the public (Cisco, 2010). The company has good control of this infrastructure after it was able to virtualize. The company started the virtualization project in 2008, with an objective to save space. However, the company realized other benefits such as servers that were dedicated to specific tasks and the ability to clone servers for testing purposes. The compan y was able to virtualize 27 physical servers, and it is currently running 70 virtual servers. The company
Tuesday, October 29, 2019
Fin hw1 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words
Fin hw1 - Assignment Example lobalization and International Business, Johan asserts that indeed, sweatshops are an essential stepping stone if a developing country is to achieve economic progression. I fully concur with the statement for several reasons. In the documentary, Taiwan is presented as one of the countries that has seen the fastest economic growth rate in the last four decades. The same thing has also been seen more recently with the adoption of sweatshops in Vietnam, another country showing signs of gradual economic progress. Looking at these two examples, it is easy to tell that the countries in question had to endure the awful working conditions that come with the sweatshops for a short time in order to gain the economic progression at the end of it. Countries such as Kenya which declined to open up to the foreign â€Å"exploitation†have been forced to lag behind economically since little foreign investment made way into the country due to its restrictions towards adopting the sweatshops. In conclusion, it is true that sweatshops do a substantial harm to a country in terms of environmental deterioration and advancement of poor working conditions. However, it is important to understand that in most cases, the conditions provided in these sweatshops could be even better than those currently in place in that country. The baseline of it all is that sweatshops are key in stimulating the growth of a country through the creation of jobs and provision of skills that ultimately form the basis of development after the short stint of
Sunday, October 27, 2019
The Global Market Entry Strategies Of Banks Commerce Essay
The Global Market Entry Strategies Of Banks Commerce Essay The PESTLE analysis was enunciated to ascertain the levels of the effects the external environment plays in the global market arena. The global market entry strategy remains an important focal point in global marketing as banks in an effort to enhance growth and survival expand to other foreign markets to remain competitive in a turbulent and ever changing business environment. This research took a cursory look at the various elements that determines the options available to financial institutions especially banks as the mode of entry varies based on different criteria and how such decisions are made, the advantages and disadvantages of joint ventures, strategic alliances and mergers acquisition were appropriately considered. These elements also includes the focal theories of marketing strategic environment, the eclectic, the business network, the institutionalization and the resource based theories of foreign direct investment, the different market entry choice open for banks was a nalysed. The market conditions that influences the decision of banks in selecting markets are analysed (the internal and external conditions), the market entry partner selection criteria was enunciated. Guaranty Trust Bank Plc. has taken a look at the disadvantages of the partnership style and hence opted for the choice of not adopting these styles of market entry as the countries it is participating in had not stringent protectionist regulation, all these countries of Gambia, Ghana, Sierra Leone and Liberia all needed the influx of foreign direct investment from neighbour nations. GTBank however opted for the establishment of subsidiaries in these countries by taking the grow brand straight into the markets of its choice, the branded products were internationalized. This gives it the leverage to make definite decisions and determine the steps, pace and determine the direction in which it decides to operate. This mode of market entry strategy enhanced GTBanks chances of being innovative and to compete favourably in its continuous drive to attain maximum height in the global business environment it finds itself. This has contributed to the successive growth of the bank in the West African sub-region. Had it opted for the partnership strategy, it would have been restricted from undertaken and exploring the market as much as necessary the partial if not, total control of the principal it so attached itself to. This limits its capabilities and strides to the views and acceptance of the principal partner in the host country and this weakens its innovative drive. GTBank plc. in an effort to seek expansion has subsidiaries in emerging financial markets of Sierra-Leone, Liberia, Ghana and Gambia with a correspondent outlet in United Kingdom. This has brought in a revolutionary trend in the style and system of conducting banking business in the West African sub-region. It is along this line that this research examines the entries style and strategies employed and other considerations by the bank. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to extend my gratitude to the following for giving me full support through the course of this project.  Many thanks to the branch manager of GTB, and other department heads that helped me with my study. I would also like to thank my supervisor, Barny Morris for providing support and guidance whenever I needed it. Lastly, I would like to give special thanks to my father Mr Barda, and my sister Fatima Barda for supporting me throughout my years of study.                                                                                                                 CHAPTER ONE 2.0.        INTRODUCTION The global financial meltdown has necessitated the re-strategizing of different financial institutions with Guaranty Trust Bank Plc Nigeria having to change its marketing strategies continuously and seek to internationalize by going into different foreign markets. There are two advantages that necessitated firms involving in global marketing, the idea of sustainable growth and expansion and a tacit route for survival in the ever competitive financial business environment (Buckley and Carson 1996). Guaranty Trust Bank Plc was incorporated as a limited liability company licensed to provide commercial and other banking services to the Nigerian public in 1990, commenced operations in February 1991and became publicly quoted company on the Nigerian stock exchange in September 1996, In February 2002, GTBank was granted a universal banking license and later appointed a settlement bank by the Central Bank of Nigeria in 2003. Guaranty Trust Bank undertook its second share offering in 2004 and successfully raised over N11 billion from Nigerian Investors to expand its operations and favourably compete with other global financial institutions. The Central Bank of Nigeria raised the minimum capital base of banks operating in Nigeria to N25 billion in 2005 as part of the regulating bodys efforts to sanitize and strengthen the financial institutions in Nigerian, GTBank subsequently met this criteria(CBN bulletin, 2006), in post-consolidation, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc made a strategic decision to actively pursue retail banking. A major rebranding exercise followed in June 2005, and GTBank began an aggressive expansion strategy and taking the product brand to Ghana, Gambia, Liberia, Sierra Leon, and a correspondence outlet in United Kingdom (GTB Home 2011) What are the Research Questions? 1      What is the foreign market entry strategy that GTBank used in its quest for global expansion and growth? Did the choices of foreign market entry option work for Guaranty Trust Bank in its quest for global expansion and growth? Did the Market entry option strategy contribute to Guaranty Trust Bank competitiveness? Global marketing entry strategies has [BM1] been an underlining factor towards sustainable growth, expansion and survival of all financial institutions in the w[BM2] orld, the rationale behind this research is to ascertain the importance financial institutions like GTBank derive from their global entry strategies[BM3] in the bid for competitiveness in the global financial markets. The last global financial crisis that led to several multi-global financial institutions like Goldman Sachs and Lehmann Brothers went bust and how a financial institution like GTbank may use its market entry strategies to effect and continue its quest for sustainable growth and continuous expansion Sceptics believe the doomsday was just postponed and not averted entirely [BM4] hence there is still a continued global feeling of another more clinical meltdown envisaged in the nearest future. For its continuing sustainability and expansions, GTBank choice of market entry strategy is vital so as to consolidate or plan its exit strategy as well. Financial institutions are said to be the engine room of all economic activities such as borrowing, investments, consumption spending, net exports, net government spending, and foreign exchange. This research will shed light on how Guaranty Trust Bank Plc stimulated these economic activities in different countries and enhances its growth by its choice of market entry options The aims and objectives of this Research The aim of this research is to look into the global market entry strategies, and how invaluable these strategies are to the overall theme of guaranty trust bank market entry strategy as it seek to expand into other territories.  Objectives of this research are; To review the global market entry strategies. Examine the actual and potential effects of global market entry strategies on Guaranty Trust Bank.  Examine the extent to which Global market entry strategy improves growth and sustainable expansion of Guaranty Trust Bank Methodology This research is based on a case study approach and is largely qualitative and primary data will be used as interviews will be conducted of six person in different departments of GTBank and data from educational Journals, periodical, educational Textbooks, Studies and Reports of institutions, Newsletters, internet sources in addition to erstwhile various related published educational sources will be extensively used. Organization of this Research          This Research is organized as follows: Chapter one contains the introduction to the study, which incorporates:  ·Ã‚      Aims/objectives of the study  ·Ã‚      An outline of the research methodology to be used in satisfying the aims  ·Ã‚      Research questions  ·Ã‚      A brief outline of the subsequent chapters Chapter two consists of literature review and theoretical framework  ·Ã‚      This chapter Summarise what other studies have done, their methods their results, and case studies  Chapter three contains methodology of Research  ·Ã‚      Describing the data, providing descriptive statistics about the data (charts and tables), explain data collection, explain the analysis of the data. Chapter four is the discussion of findings. Chapter five contains recommendations and conclusion                                                      CHAPTER TWO[BM5] INTRODUCTION Rugman (1996) noted that global market entry strategic decisions are taken by firms due to economic reasons either for the purposes of expansion and sustainable growth or for the purpose of survival in a volatile competitive market environment [BM6] In the last decade there has been a large significant [BM7] increase in cross-border entries [BM8] by banks, it has been acknowledged that inter in [BM9] recent years has exceeded the combined total of numbers of partnership[BM10]  formed in decades (Aimin 2001, et al). [BM11] The over saturation of financial institutions in Nigeria led to [BM12] several banking groups to attempt expanding in provision of services to neighbouring countries and beyond. Craig and Douglas., [BM13] (2006[BM14] ) argued that market entry strategies are shaped by the dynamic interplay of the driving and restraining forces of globalization, with increasing and rapid technological advancement, the market need of the local economy, the firms seeking leverage, the quality of product introduced and the world economic trend while the restraining forces are organizational culture, market difference, management myopia, barriers and national control.[BM15] As banks seek fast growth globally, the choice of market entry strategic mode became an issue, as it is an important decision for banks seeking global participation and competitiveness (Buckley and Carson 1996). The selection of an appropriate market entry mode in a foreign market may have considerable effect on a firm either it necessitates growth or causes extensive damage to a firms sustainable growth and survival (Davidson, 1982[BM16] ; Gatignon and Anderson, 1988[BM17] ; Root, 1994; Terpstra and Sarathy, 1994[BM18] ). The subsequent selection of an unsuitable entry mode may block opportunities and hinder growth by limiting the array of strategic market entry options available to the firm (Alderson[BM19] , 1957); This could result in considerable financial losses to the firm, including the firms exit from the foreign market, an example is the Merrill Lynch failure in Japan in the 1980s, in its attempt to enter the private client services market, the mode of market entry was at variance with the Japanese protectionist foreign firm regulations at that time which was highly restrictive of foreign firms (Hill, 2002).[BM20] GTB plc. in its quest for global expansion and sustainable growth must undertake an extensive market research analysis to [BM21] study the foreign business environment it intends operating in as Scott[BM22] (1981) observed that the best way to organize a firm depends on the nature of the environment to which the firm operates. A PESTLE analysis is done to ascertain the viability and profitability of the intended local market before choosing an appropriate market entry mode based on that. Kotler (1998) [BM23] defined PESTLE Analysis as a useful strategic tool for understanding market growth or decline, business position and direction for Operations. Williams and Green (1997) suggested that the PESTEL Analysis also allows an Organisation to have a competitive advantage over other firms in the industry and this technique is used to evaluate and identify the Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Legal and Environmental factors in a given economy that would affect the operation of an organization. Source: Johnson  scholes[BM24]  (2008) The political factor is always necessary to be evaluated, in order to know the favourability of the political climate to market growth and development in a particular country, as the stability of government, its Taxation Policies, and Attitude towards foreign investment is crucial to the survival of the firm. The foreign governments economic framework is accessed to measure the state of the economy by considering the GDP statistical growth, the wage level, the disposable income, Unemployment rate, business cycle and viability of participating in the country. The rate and growth of population is also measured to determine changes in the taste [BM25] and preferences of consumers, changes in the lifestyle of consumers and the level of education of the populace, which would have a great effect on the demand of the products or services provided by GTB plc. The laws and regulations that exist in the foreign business environment is gauged to ascertain the legislative constraints or changes, such as health and safety legislation, working regulations or restrictions on company mergers and acquisitions, minimum wage cap. Porter (1996[BM26] ) believed environmental laws and regulation help push firms towards innovation that will reduce their cost against the cost of keeping to the regulation. The PESTEL analysis is a very relevant and useful tool in analysing the external business environment as Henry. (2008) posited that it allows the firm full and informed knowledge of the foreign business environment the firm intends entering, and contributes to the proper understanding of the competitive nature of the business environment that may affect the firm. Hiebing[BM27]  et al (2011) advanced that, the nature of the competitors in the market, the consumers and government actions contributes in the development of a sustainable competitive advantage over its competitors. From researching the business environment, the firm might be able to see disguised opportunities (Zheng,.2009) Other scholars Williams and Green (1997) considers PESTLE analysis as a waste of time since the business environment is unpredictable; such analysis might become needless, as the business environment is considered uncertain. The business environment is uncontrollable hence the probability of situations arising that cannot be controlled[BM28] FOCAL THEORIES OF MARKET ENTRY STRATEGIES There have been different debates on the best entry mode option firms should use to enter foreign markets; most of these theories are focused on the manufacturing sectors with a peripheral research done on the services sector (Ekeledo and Sivakumar 1998[BM29] ).  A financial institution like GTBank Plc offers products as well as services. There are several theories of foreign direct investment as it relates to the market entry strategies of firms and financial institutions, but for the purpose of this research 3 related theories will be analysed. The Business Network theory [BM30] as the business environment is crucial for the banks strategic participation, the institutionalization theory [BM31] that focuses on the difference between the institutional laws, culture of the home or host country, the Eclectic theory [BM32] as this looked at the concept of determining factors that categorized a firm as a host or source firm, and the resource based theory that look at resources as the main reason firm enter new foreign markets. The joint venture market entry mode, the strategic alliance market entry mode and the mergers and acquisition entry mode is also reviewed[BM33] . Carson (1993) opined the conceptualization of the business network theory is primed that the business market environment focuses on specific relationships between suppliers and the consumers as the two actors in business. At the heart of this approach lies the assumption that suppliers and customers are engaged in long-lasting relationships that they consider to be important for their business as empirical data related to some one thousand business relationships in European markets showed that most firms operate in markets where a limited number of customers account for a considerable proportion of the firms sales (Hakansson 1982; Turnbull and Valla 1986). The institutionalization theory deals with the difference between the institutions in the country of origin and in the receiving subsidiarys country by understanding the complex differences between national business systems through gaining an understanding of institutions governing the way product labour and financial markets work and the way institutional sectors relate to one another ( Baptista, 2009) Such cross-national differences place various degrees of constraints on the international dissemination of practices within multinational firms (Fermer et al 2005). It has been proposed that the key variable in this context is institutional distance (Kostova and Zaheer 1999). This comprises the differences in the regulation, normative and cognitive institutions between countries, for example corporate tax policy, peoples attitude to gender issues, and knowledge about possible environmental threats. Dunning (1980) introduced the concept of an eclectic theory of foreign direct investments often referred to as the OLI paradigm, which refers to the determining conditions for a firm to be a source or a host, these acronyms stands for Ownership advantages which allows a firm to overcome the disadvantages of a foreign location, this can be a product, or a production process to which other firms do not have access, such as patent or trademark, Location considerations such as input costs, strategic interaction or trade policy which make it more profitable to produce in a country than to export to it and Internalization gains which makes it more profitable for a firm to undertake foreign production itself rather than dealing with a foreign partner more familiar with the local environment (Sodersten, Reed 1994). Markusen (1995, 1998) reviewed the OLI paradigm by listing major characteristics of firms as, that multinational firms are associated with high ratios of research development relative to sales, employ large number of scientific, technical workers as a percentage of total work-force, tend to have a high value of intangible assets, are associated with new and technically complex products, are negatively associated with plant level scale economies, are associated with product differentiation variables such as advertising to sale ratios, that the size of a firm is minimally unimportant to be considered a multinational and that multinational firms tend to be older more established firms ([BM34] Marrewijk, 2002). Itaki (1991) argued that the concept of the eclectic theory is however flawed, as a result of the redundancy of the concept of ownership advantage, it is assumed redundant because it originates from the internalization and integration theories and that firms tend to acquire and exploit the ownership advantages and that the ownership advantage includes the cost of its acquisition and that after paying for the contribution of all the factor inputs, the firm makes super-normal profit that remains in the final results simply from the firms organizational power in various departments or sub units and the issue of the inseparability of the ownership advantage from the location advantage is another matter of note. The resource-based theory of foreign direct investments views firm-specific resources such as assets capabilities, as the focal drivers of a firms international business strategy, scholars such as Barney (1991), Bharadwaj et al, 1993, and Grant (1991) even though affirming the theory as the most effective theory of international business strategy considers the theory as largely conceptual and descriptive. Root, (1994) urged financial institutions and Banks entering foreign markets to decide on the most suitable entry strategy, the market entry option selection is interpreted to mean an appropriate means for firms to enter foreign markets to participate in international businesses by exploiting their advantages. Banks also need to arrange ownership, either as a wholly owned subsidiary, in a joint venture, or in strategic alliance. There are several mode of market entry strategy adopted by banks when[BM35] entering a new market as the entry mode choice is not necessarily straightforward. A bank may pursue different market entry routes in different foreign markets for different banking reasons.  There are often constraints to foreign entry in the banking sector which home governments try to regulate in other to protect the home banks, which add to the complexity of choice of market entry strategy.[BM36] Joint ventures are considered as the best global market entry strategy and the most cost effective means of expanding to foreign business environment (Hunt and Morgan.,1995) It has been suggested that joint ventures occur as a result of the perceived insistence of nation government to encourage international firms for the purposes of foreign direct investments (Buckley and Carson 1996). Firms ordinarily though form alliances for the singular reasons of value chains and different product offerings. Joint equity are basically the type of joint venture nations governments do encourage because of the gains that can be offered in terms of shared technological advancements to the local firms. The advantages of joint venture to banks is that it addresses the issue of uncertainty by the combined creation of monitoring mechanism that could align such uncertainties for the partners, to reveal information, share technology, make decisions together and pursue certain goals collectively Vernon (1983). This assertion was agreed upon by Pfeffer and Salancik(1978) who noted then that if the problems firms face are competitive and symbiotic, then it can be presumed that joint ventures are undertaken to reduce uncertainties and promote stability in the business environment. Gringer (1991), Beamish and Danks(1987) noted that globally majority of banks establishes business partnerships when the perceived additional benefits outweighs the expected extra cost after undertaken a cost-benefit analysis. It was established by Harigan (1988) that firms form partnership for strategic reasons and argued that joint ventures can exacerbate competition, stabilize profit level, and precipitate in structural changes in vertical integration, technological scale of economies or industry traits. Blodgett (1991) noted that joint venture market entry strategic option could be advantageous in form
Friday, October 25, 2019
Healthcare and Drugs in America Essay -- Research Papers Health Medici
Healthcare and Drugs in America It is no secret that the cost of American healthcare is on the rise. Already the nation is spending about $1.65 trillion a year on healthcare. That represents 15 percent of gross domestic product, the total output of goods and services. It consumes one-fourth of the federal budget, more than defense. (Allan Rubin) This is due to the factors of expensive technology, less stringent HMO cost management, and more specifically to this paper, rapidly rising drug costs. Surveying nearly 3,000 employers, Mercer Human Resource Consulting finds that their health-benefit costs rose 10.1 percent this year, while inflation hovered around 2 percent. And as the research and development of these drugs continue to outpace inflation, most Americans will continue to pay for this trend. How so? There are two main reasons for this phenomenon. First of all the U.S has highly favorable patent laws toward these drug companies, prohibiting normal market competition for long periods of time. These monopolies allow manufacturers to charge several hundred percent above (world) market prices. (Dean Baker and Noriko Chatani) Some pharmaceutical companies have even been accused of delaying generic drug patents through litigation, even bribery in order to keep their drug prices high. It encourages a behavior of rent seekers. And these tactics prove highly lucrative. For example the drug Cardizem, used for blood pressure and hypertension reduction, had $700 million in sales in the 11 months the generic drug was kept off the market. This also causes generic brands to rise in cost. According to IMS Health, pharmaceutical information companies, the price for generic drugs are increasing almost twice as fast as prices f... ...Noriko (2002) Promoting Good Ideas on Drugs: The Relative Efficiency of Patent and Public Support for Bio-Medical Research October 11, 2002, http://www.cepr.net/promoting_good_ideas_on_drugs.htm â€Å"Buying prescription Medicines Online: A Consumer Safety Guide,†available online at http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/consumer/buyonline/guide.htm Francis, David R. (2003) Healthcare costs are up. Here are the culprits. http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/1215/p21s01-coop.html Haislmaier, Edmund F. (2004) Compromising Quality: The High Cost of Government Drug Purchasing. The Heritage Foundation. May 25, 2004 Meadows, Michelle (2002) Imported Drugs Raise Safety Concerns. U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA Consumer magazine, September-October 2002 Rubin, Allan and Rubin, Harold (2004) Patents and Prescription Drugs-Part I. http://www.therubins.com/legal/patext.htm
Thursday, October 24, 2019
The Tyra Banks Show and Diversity in the Media
Among the most popular among current TV programs is the Tyra Banks Show which is taped live in front of a live audience in New York. The show, which lasts for an hour and is aired in syndication by Warner Bros., debuted in September 2005. Currently running in its third season, the Emmy Award-winning show has aired over 357 episodes and is set to run for at least two more seasons.(www.wikipedia.com) The Tyra Banks Show is a talk-show fashioned after Oprah Winfrey’s Oprah, which banks on its anchor/creator’s celebrity and fame to draw viewers. The show itself is named after the celebrity who lends credibility and ensures a captive audience from the ranks of millions of adoring fans. The show’s main target, however, are women or specifically, young African-American women who can easily identify with or who wish to emulate its host, Tyra Banks. As a talk-show, the Tyra Banks Show is packaged by its producers to provide an equal dose of information and entertainment to its audience, covering a wide variety of topics from beauty to women’s issues and concerns. Among the notable episodes, however, are the ones where the former supermodel goes on undercover missions to reveal to the viewers the experiences of women in vulnerable situations from Tyra’s own first hand accounts (e.g. women who suffer from weight discrimination, women in prison, and women working in strip clubs). The show also tackles the issue of racial discrimination.(www.tyrashow.com) Interestingly, the Tyra Banks’ success is resoundingly similar to Oprah Winfrey’s own success as a celebrity-host due to the fact that each episode of her TV show puts her in unique situations. For instance, Tyra is made to put on heaps of prosthetics to become a 350-pound woman so she can feel how it feels to be discriminated against because of her weight. She also spent a day in prison to better understand the reasons of women’s incarceration. Clearly, the Tyra Banks Show is an attempt at addressing the diversity in American culture and identity. It was created to provide women, especially African-American women, in response to the growth of the African American population which was seen by advertisers as a â€Å"profitable base for sustaining minority media.†(Dickson 2) Consequently, there has been an observable increase not only in the number of African-American actors, actresses, and TV hosts as the demand for African American-oriented television programs have risen. Undeniably, Tyra’s success in breaking through the male-dominated Hollywood talk show industry is a feat in itself and her being African-American at the same time makes it even more tempting to view her as the epitome of empowerment. Her success in The Tyra Banks Show parallels her success as a runway model at a time when White was the ultimate symbol of beauty and the public was reluctant to widen its standards. Tyra Banks is therefore the perfect representation of a woman who broke through stereotypes, which adds gravity to her capacity and credibility to discuss issues and problems that women and African-American populations confront. However, Tyra’s own identity as a media-invented stereotype of beauty for African-Americans (waif-thin, tall, flawless skin, perfect white teeth) has the ability to contradict the causes she supports. Tyra’s background as a supermodel, coupled with segments in the show featuring beauty tips and â€Å"Tailored by Tyra makeovers†also negate her advocacy for a beauty ideal that goes beyond physical appearance. Nevertheless, the Tyra Banks show fosters a better understanding of diversity and multi-culturalism. Despite its limitations, its success is a revealing indication that African-American representation is slowly but surely gaining ground in the mainstream media. The show is also a reflection on the lives and culture of African-American communities, which makes it an important source of knowledge for understanding and appreciating the diversity in American society. Works Cited: Dickson, J. (2006). The representation of African-American women in television advertisements. McNair Scholars’ Journal, 1: 1-12. The Tyra Banks Show website accessed on 03/15/2008 from Wikipedia.com accessed on 03/15/2008 from  Â
Wednesday, October 23, 2019
Christian Israelite community Essay
The first main event that we learn of is the moment when the prophet informs the Christian Israelite community in Ashton that, â€Å"The Lord has instructed me to take of your number, seven virgins for comfort and succour†. Leah is the first girl who speaks to us, and the reader can find a somewhat humorous side to the event. Leah’s language in this, her first time of talking to us, makes her seem younger than she is; as she tries, â€Å"not to giggle†, she takes the information, and reacts to it as though it were gossip. Leah writes in the present tense; this gives the reader insight into her feelings at the very moment that she felt them, rather than looking back detachedly on what she felt. It is from Leah that we gain the first view of Mr Wroe who is â€Å"powerful†, at this point we do not know just how powerful, but later events give more supporting evidence of this comment. Leah also shows the reader how religious the sect was; she is unsure as to whether or not they would â€Å"make us pray all day†. Also we learn of how women were treated, Leah is locked in her room and guarded, and the girls do not have a choice over whether to go to Southgate – their parents offer them to the prophet. Joanna gives us a very religious view of the calling of the virgins, and other people may have also felt the same as she did about Mr Wroe and the sect. Joanna shows us that at this time in history, women were not really involved in religion, particularly within the Christian Israelites; she is thankful that â€Å"this is the sign the women are not forgot†. The event of selection shows that the women were indeed not forgotten, but being women they were forced to attend, and some â€Å"had to be clasped and held secure†. The severity of the women’s reactions to this event was great, and Ann Taylor (one who was chosen), tried to kill herself because she did not wish to join the Prophet’s household. Hannah sees this event differently to the others as she is an outsider, and unaccustomed to the rituals and beliefs of the Christian Israelites. However, both she and Leah show us that at this time, daughters were seen as a burden to their parents because they had to be married off and of course could not carry on the family name. Leah recognises that the girls’ parents would not â€Å"give the prophet a pretty daughter†who could easily be married, and Hannah feels as though she has been â€Å"handed over†to a crazy sect predicting the end of he world, with â€Å"less heart searching than they would undergo in parting with crust to a beggar†. Hannah is non-religious and also gives us a detached view of the prophet – whom she dislikes at first. She feels he’s rude and that the sect is primitive in their customs, particularly the elders who â€Å"resemble tribesman†. Hannah feels that she has been given â€Å"into the care of a lunati c band of would -be ancient Jews†. Rogers also goes into some detail about how Wroe spread the word about the Christian Israelites to the surrounding areas of Ashton. He used the girls to draw attention by their strange dress and, Hannah shows the reader how much power and influence he had on people. Rogers probably could not have known whether he had a deep attractive voice or not but she would have known that many converts joined the Christian Israelites and it was his charismatic leadership that caused this. Rogers gave Wroe characteristics that she felt would fit this role and make him seem (as far as possible), as he probably would have been. These views give us a good idea of what was involved at the beginning of this historical event. Although Wroe may have completely believed that what he was doing had religious significance, but we also see that his ideas, particularly around the seven virgins were verging on the surreal. Rogers uses this event to create literature by using both fact and fiction, bringing events in history into view and giving the reader a greater understanding of them. Like Rogers, Miller focuses on certain characters, as there are many characters in ‘The Crucible’ some play a larger parts in disclosing the events than others. Abigail seems to begin the hysteria by leading the girls into the forest and causing Betty to become â€Å"frightened and then she fainted†. John Proctor, Tituba, and Rebecca Nurse give evidence of three different views on the threat and outcome of being arrested. Also Reverend John Hale, who changes his mind about the alleged witchcraft in Salem. The other characters also give the reader information about events throughout the play; they show the reader how people were affected by the event. Lives stopped with the number of people in prison; land was going to waste and people found excuses not to work. For example Mary Warren, who neglects her duties to the Proctors claiming that she is â€Å"an official of the court†. Reverend Parris has a breakdown, and there is doubt as to who owns what because so many were dead. This was dire for the people of Salem, as due to the time, their survival leaned on that which grew on the land. With everything neglected, people were worried; rumours of rioting were spread to help to discontinue the court’s dictatorship. The three characters mentioned earlier as giving the reader an impression of the events, show three different reactions. Rebecca Nurse is very faithful to her religion, but will not become caught up in the hysteria; and when she herself is accused, she will not confess, â€Å"It is a lie; how may I damn myself? I cannot†. Rebecca Nurse is one of the most respected members of the community and her execution is part of the final crescendo in the play. Tituba takes a different viewpoint. She does not want to be punished or executed, and finds that pleading innocence only worsens her situation. She accepts the accusations and confesses, realising that lying would be the only escape, â€Å"I tell him I don’t desire to work for him†. Tituba may have been blamed for the girls’ behaviour because she was black, and a slave. An easy target for blame; black people were not socially accepted except as slaves, and were considered untrustworthy. John Proctor is probably the central character in the play, particularly in the fourth act, in which he attempts confession, but cannot name his friends; he is loyal and won’t lie to hurt them. This shows a view that is more sensible and although he is executed, Proctor tries to stop the court by admitting to his adultery with Abigail. But what really causes him to decide to give his life is that when the judges make him sign his confession they will publicise it. Proctor is distressed by this as, â€Å"I have given you my soul; leave me my name!â€
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