Othello protagonist Essay Example for Free

Othello protagonist Essay The protagonist of the play, Othello is a man trapped by his own weaknesses rather than a victim of circumstance. Even though the situations that Othello finds himself in are not ideal and contribute to his downfall, it is his own fatal flaws that end up destroying him. In act 3 scene 3 Iago starts to plant a seed of doubt in Othello’s mind about his wife Desdemona and her infidelity. Iago proceeds to ask Othello, â€Å"Did Michael Cassio, when you wooed my lady, know of you love? † This question immediately causes Othello to become suspicious. Iago then follows with a series of rhetorical questions that enrage Othello as well increase the doubt that is building up in his mind. By the end of this scene we see one of Othello’s weaknesses present itself, jealousy. This particular flaw becomes one of the major contributions to Othello’s downfall. By the end of the play jealousy has clouded his judgment and taken over his perspective on everything. At first Othello insists that he needs proof of the alleged affair but quickly changes his mind. â€Å"Must be to loathe her. O curse of marriage. Act 4 scene 1, Iago informs Othello that Desdemona and Cassio have slept together and he has seen that she has given Cassio the handkerchief Othello gave her when they first fell in love. All this news that Iago keeps telling him sends Othello off into a rant, â€Å"Is’t possible? Confess? Handkerchief? O devil! † After this his falls into a trance. This is the moment when all Othello’s insecurities, fears and aversions as well as the obvious lack of judgment that a leader is assumed to have combine to create this kind of epileptic fit. In this scene stage directions are used to help the reader understand what is going on for a dramatic effect. Two of Othello’s flaws that cause this downfall are passion and gullibility. These feelings enabled Iago fill his head with lies that caused him to get so worked up that he lost control. In act 5 scene 1 Iago had convinced Othello that he would kill Cassio and that Othello had to kill Desdemona. Othello begins this scene with a soliloquy, reflecting and attempting to justify his decision to kill her. Othello refers to Desdemona as light. â€Å"Put out the light and then put out he light†. So sweet we ne’er so fatal. † Othello describes how she was so sweet but her actions caused so much pain. Before he kills her, Othello makes sure she has prayed or confessed so that she will go to heaven. â€Å"I will not kill thy unprepared spirit. † Othello’s blind faith in Iago is the flaw that leads all his other weaknesses to rise to the surfac e and in the end the inevitable happens. Othello, once a great man, falls. Desdemona speak for one last time in the play. â€Å"A guiltless death I die. † This quote enforces the reality of what has just taken place. This innocent woman was a victim because of another man’s weakness. In this play it is clear what jealousy and misguided trust can do to a person. These weaknesses, along with others, are the reason for Othello’s downfall. Each flaw produced another weakness or doubt. The fact that Othello was manipulated to be part of Iago’s plan for revenge only accelerated the speed of his demise. The fatal mix of passion, jealousy, insecurity as well as how easily he could be manipulated caused Othello to be a man snared by his own weaknesses.

Male Representation In Soap Operas Media Essay

Male Representation In Soap Operas Media Essay The purpose of the following research paper is to present the Male Representation in Soap Operas and the understanding that the audience has of the male characters in this genre. In order to do so the first step was Literature Review, so I have read books and e-books which concerned the audience attitudes in television in general and the representation of masculinity in television. From each book have been selected carefully the chapters that were relevant with the topic, in order to create an idea in relation with the topic. Articles and periodicals had been read in relation to the topic. In this paper I have discussed three research methods. Two methodologies have been discussed hypothetically, questionnaires and intensive interview. As a pilot methodology I used focus groups, that I tested in real and provided findings for this paper. The findings from the focus groups were that the audience understands the two types of male characters and shows their preference in the traditional Man who represents power. They dont prefer the sensitive man who isnt in control. The audience prefers to see unrealistic situation of a social class they can never be a part of rather than watch the life of everyday people. Introduction Soap Opera was originally introduced in the American audience in the 1930s in the radio. It was dramatized series. The name of it was given due to the sponsors and the commercial presented by detergent companies. It has been present in programs ever since, it has spread worldwide and followed a remarkable development of characters situations and relationships. We witness the development of male and female characters and their course throughout the decades. The male representation in Soap Operas is very important as well as the development of society and the way men are involved. We notice at first the typical father in the 1950s who gradually turns into a rich, successful smart businessman who is surrounded by pretty, kind and evil women and men. Also he becomes a sensitive man who isnt afraid anymore to express fear, anger of love. The male role model changes according to the needs and demands of the society. This project will focus on how man is present in Soap Operas and how the audience follows their presence. Literature Review Rethinking the Media Audience By Pertti Alasutari In order to create an idea about how to approach my topic Male Representation in Soap Operas, I should begin with finding what actual audience is. In chapter 9 it is mentioned that four (4) criteria must be followed so as to characterize someone as an audience member, Firstly, the exposure of an individual or group of individuals to a particular message of any mass medium. Secondly, the writer considers the attention given to the message and if it is decoded. Thirdly, the ability of the group to retain the information and store for the future. Fourthly, Alasuutari mentions the shaping of the individual or group perceptions and beliefs concerning a subject. Another chapter which helped me to establish a thorough image about audience in Soap Operas is chapter 8. In chapter 8 John Tullach, mentions that even though the majority of Soap Operas follow the popular topics, there are other as well which follow less expected frames such as cultural topics. Thats how I realize that the audienc e could be broader and different of what I had in mind. So, I found the information I read very helpful as I understand that, not only women of all ages are the audience of Soap Operas but also men should be considered as viewers as well. Serial Monogamy: Soap Opera, Lifespan and the Gender Politics of Fantasy By Christine Scodari This book provides me with many details about relationships among families, men, women, children, friendship. But especially in chapter 4 which gave me information about older woman, younger man relationship and the opposite, older man, younger woman. As we know from our own experience as television viewers mass media has created the image of the old rich man that has all the power, no matter how this power is portrayed (ex: beautiful young woman, expensive car, mansionsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦). Traditionally older rich men have young attractive women authority, power, wealth-are framed as sexually appealing, Scodari,(2004). On the other hand older women over 40 simply do not appear as romantic leads, Scodari,(2004). In other words Soap Operas are based on the standard theme of love but in variations having to do with age, status, money and appearance. So, we see the appearance of the young kind, poor man and the old rich, bad man, the two classic versions of Soap Opera male characters. Chri stine Scodaris book successfully confirmed my observation through personal experience the standard characters of men in Soap Operas. Screen Tastes, Soap Opera to satellite Dishes By Charlotte Brunsdon Having read Screen Tastes, Soap Opera to satellite Dishes by Charlotte Brunsdon I realized that Soap Operas are the reflection of our society. Soap Operas are not only an important part of television history but also the representation of the contemporary society. In other words at some point women become as important and influential as men. So, men are sometimes even behind women in jobs and even in families. Precisely in the sixth chapter through the series Widows that focuses on the influences men may have on women in order for them to be stronger and smarter. The series also provokes questions about whether we can speak of masculinity and femininity in relation to practices of television viewing Brunsdon,(1997). In other words even though Soap Operas are originally viewed by female audience only, eventually gain male viewers as well. That is even if men are not present the masculine model influence women and leads their way. We see then another side of male representation in Soap Operas. This book gave me good information about my topic. Even though it is written in 1997, the data provided can be used even todays research. Masculinity and Popular Television By Rebecca Feasey This particular book deals exclusively with the topic of this Research Paper Male Representation in Soap Operas. Rebecca Feasey author of this book examines the theme of masculinity in television. A lot of studies have been done on TV as the history of it and its pervasiveness present a lot of interest .Furthermore the practically unlimited number of programs makes the  field of research practically endless. Also the easy access to the medium should be taken into consideration. Finally the existence of previous texts makes TV welcome by everyone. Masculinity presented is rather fixed, stable and unalterable ,Feasey(2008). Men are formed by the cultural environment that makes their masculinity available to study. Hegemonic masculinity: this term is used in the book to define white, heterosexual, competitive, individualist and aggressive men, Feasey(2008) who are present everywhere. This male is strong, successful, capable and authoritative, Feasey(2008). Man represents power. This is the ideal image of men. A standard idea of man having dominance over woman. Therefore masculinity is a set of exterior and interior features followed by men in all aspects of their lives. In all Soap Operas men are presented as friends, fathers, heroes and martyrs, Feasey(2008). All types are set in social and sexual debates of the period. Having read the second chapter of the book I noticed that hegemonic masculinity type and the dominant male role co-exist. There seems to be a representation of men in domestic drama and the status of men in the broader population. In the history of Soap Opera we see the focus on family, relationships and friendships. This creates the following male characters: the sensitive new man, the decent husband, the hero and of course the villain. When the woman has problems with her husband, there comes the Sensitive New Man who will listen to her, give advice and be supportive. There is also the Decent Husband who will not cheat on his wife and he will be good and kind. Another type is the Hero who sees life in a romantic way that makes him attractive to women. Finally, there is the Villain how always souses troubles and manipulates men and women. Another characteristic on male characters in Soap Operas is that men start expressing their feelings. They are no longer as hard as rocks but they start to express emotions to other men. They have intimate, deep conversations. According to a research conducted by psychopathologist Simon Baron- Cohen men have got pathological difference with women. We must mention that due to their brains inability to use the emotional activity in the right hemisphere men are at a disadvantage compared to women. Women have emotion in both hemispheres thats why they are more emotional. Men are brought up to be hard and not showing feelings. So men expressing feelings and emotions and showing sensitivity are opposed to stereotypes existing so far and introduce a new type of man. We see that there is no privacy for the Soap Opera characters as all conversations happen in a big range of places. So, everything can be witnessed by everyone so no secrets are kept in the long term. Another conclusion I have made after reading this book is that men fear the presence of a stronger man who will question their authority and try to take over him and his belongings. What used to be seen as a way of keeping femininity could now easily show how men take over private sphere. This way the public and the personal field are somehow mixed. Fatherhood and paternity are largely debated in Soap Operas. Fathers are important; they strive for their children wellbeing. They can even be single fathers so in total control of their upbringing. The paternity of children is often questioned in Soap Operas. This makes women having control over men as only they know the actual truth. The first Soap Operas  such as Dallas (1978-91) and Dynasty (1981-9) revolved around the central male protagonist who owned a business and tried to keep the balance between job, family, love and friends. The patriarchal American hero would often fail in order to regain more strength after suffering and adventures. To summarize this book offers information about the Male Representation in Soap Operas. On one hand we see that a man having a Hegemonic Masculinity has power, wealth and brains but, on the other hand se we that men start to express their feelings and emotions. Masculinity and Popular Television by Rebecca Feasey, has been very useful as it provided me with a lot of figures about my topic. It also helped me make a clear image about how to conduct my methodology about designing the questions which will complete my project. Academic Journal Soap Operas men in the 90s By Carol Traynor Williams This article focuses only on male representation in Soap Operas in the 90s. Mainly mentioning General Hospital and the Bold and The Beautiful we see the presence of men in them and their interaction with women and other men. It is clearly stated that men are manipulated by women in all aspects of life: their jobs, their families, their friendships. Men seem to be in control of things but there is always a woman pulling the strings. In The Bold and The Beautiful Ridge Forrester is loved by Brooke who is always influencing him and makes him agree with her by use of her femininity. Eric Forrester his father alike is influenced by Stephanie in all his decisions. Also is The Young and The Restless we see that men come from one woman to another, changing them without hesitation in order to have more money or more fame. I have realized that Soap Opera writers who were asked about their inspiration concerning male characters they answered that the formation was based on womens desire to be with a stronger, rather villain man who would sweep women off their feet and run away with. This helped me a lot with my task as it gave me information about Soap Opera that was really famous in Greece in the past. I had a clear idea about male characters their thoughts, their incentives and I will use it in my focus group. Periodical Hard Work Always Pays Off: Jobs, Families, and the Evolution of a TV Myth By Mary Ann Watson In this periodical article by Mary Ann Watson, there is information about male, representation in TV series since the 1950s. The development of male characters through the decades, helped me in better understanding the presence of men in the Soap Operas. At first, the male character was the typical representative of the contemporary society as well. He was a father, who followed the motto Hard Work Always Pays Off. This meant that if a man worked hard, his efforts would have positive results for himself and his children. As decades passed, we see that the male stereotypes changed as women start having active roles and are not happy with only being mothers and housewives. The course of male characters justified the present of men in the Soap Operas in the 80s and the 90s. They have evolved from ordinary everyday men to rich, handsome, smart men who are ready for everything but are influenced at some level by a pretty, smart woman. As this task focuses only on male representation in Soap Operas, this article was useful in order to see how male characters developed and so understand better the reason why writers present men in Soap Operas this way. Web Why Do Men Watch Soaps? By John Beadle John Beable in January 12, 2010 was the news columnist of www.Soaps.com . The title of his article attracted my attention in a way that after all the several book and articles that I read in order to build the basic knowledge for this topic, the same question was raised. Because in general, the Soap Opera focuses on and deals only with women. This is not entirely true and the representation of male characters in Soaps proves that they created their own history and their own development based on the changes of our society. So, Beadle in his article sets the question of Why do men watch Soaps? and gives his explanations about the reasons. One reason why the men watch soaps is that at first they were trapped in this because their wives were viewers. He characterizes this process slow, in other words they didnt even realize how this happened. Second, John Beable sets the Myth that only gay men watch Soap Operas. He doesnt reject this Myth. He makes clear that not only gay people watch Soaps but straight men as well, with the small difference that straight men dont admit it. Third, the writer of this article confirms that his mother was viewer of Soap Opera and points out that this activity of watching soaps was something normal. Finally, in the college they started watching unwillingly but eventually were introduced in the plot and need to know how it goes. This statement confirms also what Rebecca Feasey says in her book, Masculinity and Popular Television, that the majority of the male audience starts w atching Soap Operas while they are in College. This article was pleasant to read because it was in some point of view, a confession by a man who admitted openly watching Soaps as everyone else. The criteria for watching werent based on gender or other factors. It didnt provide with new information about Soaps, but by the use of humor he expressed what urges men as well to watch Soaps. Methodology Questionnaire The first research method that seemed appropriate for this topic was questionnaires, so it would be one of the two hypothetical methods. Soap Operas even in our days are surrounded by fame almost as it happened ten (10) years ago. One very typical example of fame and continuity is that The Bold and The Beautiful is a Soap Opera show that even today is broadcasted and has numerous viewers. Taking the opportunity of that , this Soap Opera was welcome by the Greek Television in the early 90s.It became popular very quickly and soon everyone talked about Ridge and Caroline. If carefully planned and prepared a questionnaire, it would be a good way to examine how the audience were understanding the representation of male characters through this particular Soap Opera. By using this method I would have the opportunity to capture the participants attitude towards the representation of man and more specific the focus would be of two main characters of The Bold and The Beautiful Ridge and Thorne. This quantitative method of research and gathering information is a good opportunity to get answers about how the audience understands male characters from Soap Operas. The method of questionnaire is structured and conducted, it has numerous advantages and disadvantages. The cost of conducting a questionnaire as research method is significantly low and the process is straightforward if we compare it with other methods of research and in relation to the important information we can collect. Furthermore, this method gives to the researcher and the participant a geographical independence because the only equipment that is necessary for the completion of this research, are only paper, pens and the participant of course. Moreover, a lot of studies have been done beforehand. So I can easily acquire material to help me work with. Opposing the advantages of this methodology, a questionnaire may have number of limitations. First of all and the most important disadvantage of the questionnaires is that, the independent variables cannot be controlled or manipulated. Second, the wrong use of word and questions by the researcher can make the content unclear to the participant with the result of not collecting the right answers. Closing one more disadvantage of survey methodology is the response of the participant to the researcher with fake data or fiction answers. This option can destroy the result of the survey by the time that the data that are gathered are not true and would be able to form different/ false findings of the research. This is the questionnaire that I would give to the participants about the Representation of Male Characters in Soap Operas. The purpose of the questionnaire is the method of research and it was designed to identity if The Bold and The Beautiful viewers can identify the male representation. Questionnaire Please choose the answer that that corresponds to your viewpoints. Please specify your sex. Male Female Please specify the age group that you belong. 18-25 26-35 36-45 45+ Did you watched any Soap Opera Yes No If yes, which one? The Bold and The Beautiful General Hospital Other Did you watch it every day or occasionally? Daily Occasionally Did you find the time the Soap Opera was aired convenient for you? Convenient I missed it sometimes What did you like the most of these Soap Operas? Plot Characters Actors/ Actresses Did you usually watch the episodes alone or this company? Alone With company ( Family, friends ) Did you discuss the plot, the characters or any other aspect of the Soap Opera episodes with others? Yes No Sometimes With whom did you usually discuss it? Family Friends How did you find the depiction of male characters? Realistic Unrealistic Interesting What characteristics of male characters attracted you most? Appearance Power Brain Sensitivity How similar are Soap Operas male characters with person of real life? Very A little At all Did you like watching a sensitive side of men in Soap Opera? Yes No How realistic was it to watch sensitive men in Soap Opera? Very Little At all Intensive Interviews The case of the Male Representation in Soap Operas is an issue that has not received a lot of attention, because Soap Opera as a genre originally focuses on women audience who were the first audience through the history of TV. Because of that, male characters were originally supportive (secondary) characters on the plot and they were less memorable to the viewers. But this is not a fact because several Soap Operas based their success on their male characters, for example, Ridge for The Bold and The Beautiful who was the object of pleasure for the female audience. This example will lead the second hypothetical methodology into the Intensive Interviews. I decided to use Intensive Interviews as the second methodology. One-on-one interviews would be able to provide detailed background about the reasons respondents give specific answers. (Wimmer and Dominick(2011)) . From this method the researcher can collect data from the interviewer that regard opinions, motivations, feelings and experiences. Also allows the observation of nonverbal responses and furthermore allows to the interviewer to form the questions based on the response of the interviewee. Of course this method has advantages and disadvantages. Intensive interviews or in-depth interviews provide the advantage based on the freedom that provides to extract information form the participant about the specific topic and gain accurate answers of sensitive issues. Also the Body language, the tone of voice and gestures would give the advantage to the researcher to form the questions according to the feedback received from the participant. The disadvantages of Intensive interview are quite a few. Generalizability is one of the negative aspects. It has to do with nonrandom sample that is used from the researcher. Questions that do not follow a certain pattern can provide answers very differentiated than the question. Second, interviewer bias, is another disadvantage of this method. Because of the personal contact that the researcher has with the interviewer, they can come up with in a dialogue. In that case the researcher is very likely to share information and opinions with the interviewers and vice versa. In this case the answers o f the intensive interview will not be accurate and would not be considered as correct data. Taking into account this risk, the researcher should be careful and avoid sharing information with the participants in order to control the interview. Finally, the researcher should keep the duration of the interview as short as possible in order to avoid having a tired participant who most probably will not answer honestly and will only want to end the interview. The Actual Interview After the participant and the interviewer shake hands and formally introduce their selves, in order to form a comfortable atmosphere, the questions which are designed based on the theory about Intensive interviews will go on: You are familiar with the Soap Opera as a television genre? Have you watched The Bold and The Beautiful? Since you are familiar with this Soap Opera, can you tell me why you watched it? Could you tell me what the plot of this Soap Opera was about? Do you remember any male character? And why? Could you describe Ridge and Thorne? Cloud you say the main characteristics of those two characters? What was their main difference? Could you choose which one of those two characters was more representative male character in real life? What makes you, remember those characters at the most? Pilot Focus Groups The research method that will be discussed and be actually tested is Focus Groups. The reason is because by definition The focus group, or group interviewing, is a research strategy for understanding peoples attitudes and behavior. (Wimmer and Dominick,(2011)). I decide to apply this methodology in the pilot study of this Research paper because of the four (4) characteristics of this technique. First, the focus groups involve participants (people) and second those people share the same characteristics and interest to this particular Soap Opera topic. Third, focus groups give the opportunity of qualitative data collection. The data would be able to present an image about the better understanding of the topic and to reveal a greater collection of opinions about the specific topic of the focus group. Fourth characteristic is that the focus group gives a flexibility on the questions the majority of which are planned to be asked are predetermined but they can provided further questions to the participants in order to reach the goal of this research. The Focus Groups methodology would be the pilot method of this Research paper but before we have to point out the advantages and disadvantages of this method. There are five (5) advantages. The first is that the Focus Groups allows the collection of preliminary information about the topic or a phenomenon (Wimmer and Dominick,(2011)). The preliminary information could be used in the pilot study in order to have the formation of the idea that would lead the research in clearer results and might be used for future researches. Second advantage of this method is that a focus group can be conducted very fast. Third, is the cost of a focus group which is very attractive for the researchers and the participants. Fourth, the flexibility in the questions is one big advantage. The follow-up question which would be created by the moderator to the participants gives the opportunity to focus on the important points that come up from the conversation. Also the researcher can provide to the participants before the focus Group, to complete a written questionnaire that covers the material of the focus group. Final advantage is the dynamics that a group can offer, because the questions would be formed based on the peoples spontaneous answers in a sense that the data collected would be more complete and less inhabited than the data that individual interviews can provide. On the other hand, the disadvantages are a few. First the group leader, one of the participant who would take the role of the leader in the group in a sense that he/she would try to attract the attention and monopolize the conversation. Also this participant would try to force his/her opinion to the other participants. If the researcher faces a situation like that, he should be able to control this kind of situation by motivating the other participant to express their opinion. Second, groups of 4-6 persons is not recommended for gathering quantitative data, because the aim of the focus group is to collect qualitative data such as why? and how?. Third, the researcher who would monitor the focus group should be skilful in order to identify and puss the participants with further questions for further information. Fourth, is the weakness which small groups have that there are no representative population samples. Fifth, the researcher in order to take the data from the focus group so as to examine and document it is recommended to use technological equipment such as recording equipments( tape recorders, video camera). Those might distract participants attention and make them not act normally in the group. Finally, if the participants of the group are allowed to lose or be confused on the topic, then the data would not be useful. The procedure In order to pilot focus group for my research about Male representation in soap operas I have to follow a number of methodological steps of preparation in the conduction of focus group. 1) I have to define the precise topic of the research, 2) I have to choose samples that represent my topic in the best possible way, 3) I have to determine the number of the group necessary, 4) I have to prepare the mechanism ( the room that the research would take place, the video wall and other required equipments), 5) I have to prepare the materials for the research, such as video clips to be shown, photographs, recording machines and the questions that would lead the groups based on the materials. 6) I have to conduct the session, 7) after the end of the focus group I will have to go though the answers and the findings and conduct the results. Material The material that will be presented to the participants of the focus group would be from the Soap Opera The Bold and The Beautiful. The series was showing on Greek television and during the 90s it had a great success and many loyal viewers. In the materials there will be two (2) photos of the male characters Ridge Forrester (Ronn Moss) and Thorne Forrester (Wilson Harmon). The characters are chosen because of their being lead characters in this Soap Opera for more than 16 years. More precisely Ronn Moss has been the protagonist since 1987until even today, and Wilson Harmon has been a protagonist since 1996 until today as well. Also they are chosen because of their different characters. The first is a representative example of the Man with power, money and the second is the example of the New Man, the sensitive, the supportive male character in the soap opera. The material will be only photos because of the participants of the focus group which I will explain further down. The Group The group is designed specifically about this specific Soap Opera. It consists of women who are engaged with the topic and will provide with information about those two characters and how they understand the masculinity of their characters. All those 6 women belong on the age group of 30-45. All of the participants were watching these Soap Opera during the 90s as college students. The Questions The questions that I asked the participants in order to make the conversion are the following: Did you watch Soap Operas? Do you remember The Bold and The Beautiful? What was all about? (in terms of plot) Can you identify this man? Which was the character that he played? Could you characterize him in one word? What did you like on him? Please notice that those questions were only in order to motivate the conversation and show to the participants what I want them to recall from their memories and discuss about. There is the possibility of not using all of them. Findings The findings of the focus group were at the very first point very clear, without the researcher trying to categorize the two characters into power and sensitive. The group expressed very clearly their favor about the Man of power instead of the New man. As Rebecca Feasey points out in her book those characteristics given to male characters are usually represented in Soap Operas and they serve women. So, in the findings the focus group confirmed that there are two types of characters in soap operas and the classic Man still attracts women. Women like to see a man in control who can take care of every situation. Conclusion   Male Representation in Soap Operas   was a topic very close to me, as it has interest and provides informational background. It was an ideal topic for my fist contact with actual research. Based on curiosity at the beginning, of why men are not a popular research topic, especially since   the world is created by them, for them. This research experience came to change this stereotypical idea. During the whole process of this research, from the day that I started thinking about the topic, the literature review which created another dimension about television in general, what it was in the 30s an

Analysing factors influencing customer satisfaction

Analysing factors influencing customer satisfaction For this study, literature review will be based on several theoretical concepts such as discusses the relationship between, perceived quality, perceived value, customer expectation and corporate image that affects the customer satisfaction. 2.1 Customer satisfaction: The increase in technology has imposed mobile operators to provide customers with new features in their connection so that save existing customers. The relationship between service quality and perceived value should be freely brought to a focus by the service provider in curiosity with satisfaction. Customer satisfaction is there in general, appraisal after using a service for a stage set a time. Different factors have different influence on customers, these factors should be taken in order to account while making a strategy for customer satisfaction Heejin(2006). Heejin Lim A1 and Archana Kumar A2 http://inderscience.metapress.com/app/home/contribution.asp?referrer=parentbackto=issue,4,8;journal,11,39;linkingpublicationresults,1:110880,1 The most common interpretations obtained from various authors reflect the notion that satisfaction is a feeling which results from a process of evaluating what has been received against what was expected, including the purchase decision itself and the needs and wants associated with the purchase (Armstrong Kotler, 1996). Bitner Zeithaml (2003) stated that satisfaction is the customers evaluation of a product or service in terms of whether that product or service has met their needs and expectations. According to Boselie, Hesselink, and Wiele (2002) satisfaction is a positive, affective state resulting from the appraisal of all aspects of a partys working relationship with another. The definition provided by Boselie et al. (2002) has been used for this study.(Øلن¦ÃƒËœÃ‚ ±ÃƒËœÃ‚ ¬ÃƒËœÃ‚ ¹ Ù Ãƒâ„¢Ã…   Ù†¦ÃƒËœÃ‚ ¬Ãƒâ„¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾ÃƒËœÃ‚ ¯ Øلن¦Ãƒâ„¢Ã‹â€ ÃƒËœÃ‚ ¨ÃƒËœÃƒâ„¢Ã…  Ãƒâ„¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾ article02_JanApr2009 ) Introduction In each company, customers are the most important element and are required to be handled and managed properly. The customers are satisfied when their expectations are fulfilled and delighted when their expectations are exceeded. Contented customers remain loyal buy more are less sensitive and speak positively about the company (Brown et al., 1992). Customer satisfaction normally indicates customer response to the state of fulfillment, and customer opinion of the fulfilled condition (Oliver, 1997). Kotler (1997) defines customer satisfaction as: Satisfaction is a persons feelings of pleasure or disappointment resulting from comparing a products perceived performance (or outcome) in relation to his or her expectations. Recently the concept of customer satisfaction has received much attention. Satisfaction may be defined as a consumers post-purchase evaluation of a product or service (Zeithaml Bitner, 2003). In the past, many businesses took their customers for granted. Brown, T.J., Churchill, G.A. Peter, J.P. (1992). Improving the measurement of service quality; School of Business, University of Wisconsin-Madison. Oliver, C. (1997). Sustainable competitive advantage: Combining institutional and resource-based views. Strategic Management Journal, 18(9), 697-713. Kotler, P. (1997). Marketing management: Analysis, planning, implementation, and control. New Jersey: Prentice Hall. Ziethaml, V.A. Bitner, M.J. (2003). Services marketing: Integrating customer focus across the firm. Boston, MA: McGraw-Hill. In the business when debating factors for service provider quality of service, customer value and customer satisfaction are becoming important. That is why high service quality should be focused for greater user loyalty to achieve higher customer satisfaction and to profit exceptional competitive advantage, keep for the future customer satisfaction the operator should not disregard reliability and assurance because there is a positive effect of reliability, pledge, and network quality on their satisfaction (Hing-Po 2002). Yonggui Wang, Hing-Po Lo, (2002) Service quality, customer satisfaction and behavior intentions: Evidence from Chinas telecommunication industry, info, Vol. 4 Iss: 6, pp.50 60 Whereas both service quality and customer satisfaction have certain things in common, satisfaction is widely viewed as a broader concept than service quality consideration thus; perceived service quality is a component of customer satisfaction (Zeithaml and Bitner, 1996). Attempts to understand customer satisfaction structure have produced several important insights. For example, disinformation and perceived quality were found to affect customer satisfaction more than expectations (Churchill and Surprenant, 1982) and expectancy-disinformation (Oliver and DeSarbo, 1988; Yi, 1990). Anderson and Sullivan (1993) also showed satisfaction to be a division of disinformation and perceived quality. Accordingly, customer satisfaction programs were praised as important implements that can increase profits by averting customers from deserting (Reichheld and Sasser, 1990). Customer satisfaction usually considered as customer reaction to the state of gratification and customer mind of the performed state (Oliver, 1997). Customer satisfaction is totally anxious with the services provided to and perceived by the customers, if there is high similar between perceived and provided services than the customer satisfaction level is very high that directly leads to high customer loyalty for mobile service providers (MSP) and the opposite. There are many benefits for a firm from a high customer satisfaction level, they imprison a high market share and capable of keep and maintain it: a essential and core policy of every business that heightens customer loyalty and prevents customer switching costs, increases customer price endurance, reduces marketing cost (Fornell, 1992). Customer satisfaction The index indicates how much customers are satisfied and how well their expectations are met. This construct evaluates overall satisfaction level of customers, fulfillment of their expectations, and companys performance versus the ideal provider. Customer satisfaction Several studies have shown that it costs about five times to gain a new customer as it does to keep an existing customer (Naumann, 1995) and these results into more interest in customer relationships. Thus, several companies are adopting customer satisfaction as their operational goal with a carefully designed framework. Hill and Alexander (2000) wrote in their book that companies now have big investment in database marketing, relationship management and customer planning to move closer to their customers. Jones and Sasser (1995) wrote that achieving customer satisfaction is the main goal for most service firms today. Increasing customer satisfaction has been shown to directly affect companies market share, which leads to improved profits, positive recommendation, lower marketing expenditures (Reichheld, 1996; Heskett et al., 1997), and greatly impact the corporate image and survival (Pizam and Ellis, 1999). Studies that supported the notion that expectations precede satisfaction include: Anderson, Fornell and Lehmann (1994), who conducted investigation on Swedish firms and reported that there is a positive and significant relationship between expectations and customer satisfaction. Definition Customer satisfaction as a process is defined as an evaluation between what was received and what was expected (Oliver, 1977, 1981; Olson and Dover, 1979; Tse and Wilton, 1988), emphasizing the perceptual, evaluative and psychological processes that contribute to customer satisfaction (Vavra, 1997, p. 4). Parker and Mathews (2001) however noted that the process of satisfaction definitions concentrates on the antecedents to satisfaction rather than satisfaction itself. Satisfaction as a process is the most widely adopted description of customer satisfaction and a lot of research efforts have been directed at understanding the process approach of satisfaction evaluations (Parker and Mathews, 2001). This approach has its origin in the discrepancy theory (Porter, 1961), which argued that satisfaction is determined by the perception of a difference between some standard and actual performance. Customer satisfaction to some organizations is a key to success; the reason here is to check the ability of their product to satisfy as much customers as they can, so that they can be the market leaders in their field. Many organizations followed the strategy of customer satisfaction and became the living legends e.g. Coke, Nestle, Shell Petroleum, Nokia, Sony and the list goes on and on. Every company mentioned here are an innovator and a market leader in any one or two of their products. Customer Satisfaction in Telecommunications The academic literature on customer satisfaction in telecommunications is relatively scattered and primarily concerned with mobile telecommunications customers (Woo and Fock 1999; Lee ct al. 2001). In particular, Woo and Fock (1999) examined the behavior of mobile telecommunication customers in Hong Kong. Transmission quality and network coverage were found to be the most important factors driving customer satisfaction in their study giving, therefore, high priority to product functionality in assessing the satisfaction of individual customers. In a similar vein, Lee et al. (2001) have examined the interaction between customer satisfaction, switching costs and loyalty behavior in mobile telecommunications in France. Schul and Schiff (1993), studying the satisfaction function of telecommunications customers in Israel, examined the impact of different research strategies on customer satisfaction ratings. That is, they examined the impact of placing the question of overall customer sati sfaction either at the beginning or at the end of the customer satisfaction questionnaire. It was found that placing the overall customer satisfaction question at the end of the questionnaire increases the correlation between the partial satisfaction coefficients and the overall customer satisfaction ratings. The current literature, however, addresses specific aspects of telecommunications but docs not provide an overall understanding of the dynamics of customer satisfaction. In a series of articles Finkelman et al. (1992a, 1992b) sought to address the problem of how customer satisfaction systems should be designed on behalf of telecommunications providers. They propose customer satisfaction measures focusing on experience from sales, installation, product usage, repair, and billing. All different aspects of customer-provider contacts require a customer satisfaction framework that will facilitate the selection of unbiased customer opinion about their experience with the telecommunication operator. This research, along side the consulting contributions of Gale (1994) are among the first public material concerning the transaction-specific customer satisfaction measurement in telecommunications.(Ù†¦ÃƒËœÃ‚ ¬Ãƒâ„¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾ÃƒËœÃ‚ ¯ Ù†¦Ãƒâ„¢Ã‹â€ ÃƒËœÃ‚ ¨ÃƒËœÃƒâ„¢Ã…  Ãƒâ„¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾ وؠ±ÃƒËœÃ‚ ¯ ) 2.2 perceived quality: In recent years, there was the growing importance of service quality and customer satisfaction in business and academia alike. Sureshchandar et al, (2003) and determined that the balance of power between service quality and customer satisfaction with an emphasis on these two constructs is the concept differs from the view of customers. According to customer perception Kim et al, 2004) Perceived quality depends on the combination of experience, word of mouth and the future intuition of quality of the mobile service. Every mobile customer requires best quality accordingly. Since companies are going on continuous improvement in quality through the latest technology, installing costly equipments, trying to improve call clarity and coverage. It is also observed that customer satisfaction is as well dependent on perceived quality and has the positive role towards the dependent. Similarly, user loyalty equally important has the stronger link with user satisfaction. Hence, proper care should be taken while formulating any long term policy for customer satisfaction. At last for building, customer satisfaction is a main determinant (Serkan 2005). Perceived quality is the limit up to which the product or service provided the necessary needs of users with more satisfaction. They were seen consumer expectations and services to be main precedents for the perceived service quality Measures the quality of service that focuses on a variety of such physical aspects, reliability and speed of response, and to ensure sympathy (Parasuraman et al, 1985). (Zeithaml and Bitner, 1996) said both service quality and customer satisfaction has convinced things in common, satisfaction is generally observed as a broader concept than service quality assessment; thus, perceived service quality is a component of customer satisfaction. Service quality was defined as the difference between the dimensions in customers perceived service and expectations of service (Parasuraman et al., 1988). Service quality is usually defined as the customers impression of the relative inferiority/superiority of a service provider and its services (Bitner and Hubert,1994) and is often considered similar to the customers overall attitude towards the company (Parasuraman et al., 1988; Zeithaml, 1988; Bitner, 1990). Perceived service quality (Parasuraman et al., 1985, 1988). Gro ¨nroos (1982) suggests that the consumers expectations are also influenced by marketing activities, external influences and word-of-mouth. He identifies two types of service quality; technical, related to what the customer gets from a service and functional, associated with how the service is delivered. Perceived quality is the served markets evaluation of recent consumption experience. This construct evaluates customization and reliability of a given product or service. Customization is the degree to which a product or service meets a customers requirements, and reliability is the degree to which  ¬Ã‚ rms offering is reliable, standardized, and free from decencies.PQ is expected to have a positive effect on PV and customer satisfaction (Fornell et al., 1996), and to be positively affected by image (Andreassen and Lindestad, 1998). SERVICE QUALITY Another factor that contributes to satisfaction is service quality. Service quality is defined as the difference between customer expectations and perceptions of service or as the customers satisfaction or dissatisfaction formed by their experience of purchase and use of the service (Gronroos, 1984 and Parasuraman et al.1988). Oliver (1993) reported that service quality is a casual antecedent of customer satisfaction, due to the fact that service quality is viewed at transactional level and satisfaction is viewed to be an attitude. Dabholkar et al. (1996) and Zeithaml et al. (1996) reported that the service quality divisions are related to overall service quality and or customer satisfaction. Fornell et al., (1996) expressed that satisfaction is a consequence of service quality. Hurley and Estelami (1998) argued that there is causal relationship between service quality and satisfaction, and that the perceptions of service quality affect the feelings of satisfaction. Pizam and Ellis (1999) stated that the gap that may exist between the customers expected and perceived service quality is a vital determinant of customer satisfaction or dissatisfaction, and not just only a measure of the quality of the service. Previous studies on mobile telecommunication services, measured services quality by call quality, pricing structure, mobile devices, value-added services, convenience in procedures, and customer support (Kim, 2000; Gerpott et al., 2001; Lee, Lee, Freick, 2001). Perceived quality is measured through three questions: overall quality, reliability, and the extent to which a product or service meets the customers needs. Satisfaction Measurement: Perceived Quality Measures Perceived quality is often measured through three measures: overall quality, perceived reliability, and the extent to which a product or service meets the customers needs. Customer perceptions of quality are the single greatest predictor of customer satisfaction. 2.3 perceived value: According to Heinonen (2004) defined perceived value as the consumers overall assessment of the usefulness of a product based on perceptions on what is received and what is given. Companies are able to increase customer satisfaction by creating customer value through a lot of means such as providing customers with the comparative net value, the effectiveness, efficiency, and differentiation of services, which can be delivered via logistics (Langley Holcomb 1992). Both time and place of service delivery are indicated to be important dimensions of customer perceived value, and when or where the service is delivered should be determined by consumers rather than by companies. Perceived value is related to the price extent of mobile services. Because all the businesses in the world are done for profit so investment in mobile industry is also for some advantage in terms of profits. So those gratify the basic and awaited customer value companies do not have to put so much effort into what they are doing (Gunnar Malin, 2006). On the assumption, that everyone in the world is seeking his/her benefits so customers are also expecting benefits in terms of values. Intentions to adopt or reject a mobile service seem to be determined to a greater degree by perceived benefits than by a perceived limit (Ancker et al, 2003). As MSPs are investing a lot but still there are much badly in the real and perceived value of the customers, latest survey by Barnhoorn (2006) show that although there is progress but still perceived value from the telecom players has the lowest achieve, this is risen from 71% in 2005 to 76% in 2006. However, how and to which extent MSPs are chargi ng their customers and give the value to the customers. MSPs have to increase the switching cost in order to increase natural life customer value and customer retention by implementing relationship-oriented marketing strategies (Hankel et al, 2006). As the companies give high value to customers in terms of charges than a satisfaction level gets high that leads to customer loyalty. The impact of value on customer satisfaction is studied by Cottet, Lichtlà ©, and Plichon (2006). By adopting the definition suggested by Holbrook (1996, 1999), they defined customer perceived value as an interactive, preferential and relative experience. Results of their research reveal that both utilitarian and hedonic values are positively related with customer satisfaction, and further, hedonic value is suggested to be more important for customer satisfaction than a utilitarian value. PV Perceived value is measured through two questions: overall price given quality and overall quality given price. Although perceived value is of great importance for the (first) purchase decision, it usually has somewhat less impact on satisfaction and repeat purchase. Satisfaction Measurement: Perceived Value Measures Perceived value may conceptually refer to the overall price divided by quality or the overall quality divided by price. Perceived value is measured in many ways including overall evaluation of value, expectations of price that would be paid, and more rigorous methodologies including the Van Westendorp pricing analysis, and conjoint analysis (other Qualtrics white papers and tutorials are available on these topics). Perceived value PV is the perceived level of product quality relative to the price paid by customers. PV is the rating of the price paid for the quality perceived and a rating of the quality perceived for the price paid (Fornell et al., 1996). PV structure provides an opportunity for comparison of the  ¬Ã‚ rms according their price-value ratio (Anderson et al., 1994). In the CSI-TMPS model, PV is expected to be positively affected by PQ, and it has a positive impact on satisfaction. Perceived value is defined as the results or benefits customers receive in relation to total costs (which include the price paid plus other costs associated with the purchase) or the consumers overall assessment of what is received relative to what is given (Holbrook,1994 and Zeithaml, 1988). Additionally, Zeithaml (1988) found out that customers who perceive that they receive value for money are more satisfied than customers who do not perceive they receive value for money. Several studies have shown that perceived value is significant determinant of customer satisfaction (Anderson et al. (1994); Ravald and Gronroos (1996); and McDougall and Levesque, 2000). Turel and Serenko (2006) in their investigation of mobile services in Canada suggested that the degree of perceived value is a key factor affecting customer satisfaction. Past research studies suggested that there are four features, which are key drivers of the customer value of cellular services: network quality, price, customer care, and personal benefits (Booz, Allen Hamilton, 1995, Danaher Rust, 1996; Bolton, 1998; Gerpott, 1998; Wilfert, 1999). The network quality refers to excellent indoor and outdoor coverage, voice clarity, and no connection breakdowns. Price refers to what is paid to obtain access to use the network. Customer care refers to the quality of the information exchanged between customer and supplier or network provider in response to enquiries and other activities initiated by the network provider, for example presentation of invoices. Personal benefits refer to the level of perception of the benefits of mobile communications services by individual customers. It is apparent from this review that one of the factors customers use to determine satisfaction level is the benefits received from a product or service in comparison with what is spent. Perceived value is not a focus of this study (however customer satisfaction evaluation captures perceived value; the assessment shows what consumers value in the service received). The suggested mobile services attributes (features) will be used to assess customer satisfaction in this study. 2.4 Customer Expectation Expectations are the consequences of previous experience with the companys products. This erected appraises customer expectations for overall quality, for product and service quality, and for ful ¬Ã‚ llment of personal needs. Customer expectations construct is anticipated to have a direct and positive relationship with customer satisfaction (Anderson et al., 1994). Customer expectations Expectations are the results of prior experience with the companys products. This construct evaluates customer expectations for overall quality, for product and service quality, and for fulfillment of personal needs. Customer expectations construct is expected to have a direct and positive relationship with customer satisfaction (Anderson et al., 1994). In the ACSI and ECSI, it is assumed that customer expectations have a direct effect on perceived value. Customer Expectations Expectations combine customers experiences with a product or service and information about it via media, advertising, salespersons, and word-of-mouth from, other customers. Customer expectations influence the evaluation of quality and forecast (from. customers pre-purchase perspective) how well the product or service will perform. 2.5 Corporate Image The image constructed appraises the fundamental image of the company. Image applied to the brand name, and the type of association customers get from the product/company (Andreassen and Lindestad, 1998). Martensen et al. (2000) indicates that image is an important component of the customer satisfaction model. For the companies, image is a result of being reliable, professional and inventive, having contributions to society, and adding good reputation to its user. It is expected that image has a positive effect on customer expectations, customer satisfaction and loyalty. Corporate Image The image constructs evaluates the fundamental image of the company. Image refers to the brand name and the kind of association customers get from the product or service /company (Andreassen and Lindestad, 1998). Martensen et al. (2000) indicates that image is an important component of the customer satisfaction model. For the companies, image is a result of being reliable, qualified and innovative, having contributions to society, and adding reputation to its customers. It is expected that image has a positive effect on customer satisfaction. Corporate image Andreassen and Lindestad (1998) posit that corporate image, through a filtering effect, impacts a customers evaluation of service quality, value, and satisfaction. In other words, corporate image creates a halo effect on customer satisfaction. In this study, a cumulative or relational level measure reflecting a customers overall impression and mental picture of the firm represents corporate image (Bloemer et al., 1998; Zimmer and Golden, 1988). Consumers who develop a positive mental schema of a brand will tend toward high customer satisfaction through a halo effect where all things associated with the brand are similarly valence. As such ( Ù†¦ÃƒËœÃ‚ ¬Ãƒâ„¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾ÃƒËœÃ‚ ¯ Ù†¦Ãƒâ„¢Ã‹â€ ÃƒËœÃ‚ ¨ÃƒËœÃƒâ„¢Ã…  Ãƒâ„¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾ corporate image ) H 5 . Corporate image has a significant, positive effect on customer satisfaction. Corporate image is a result of a customers overall consumption experiences (Nguyen and Leblanc, 2001). The same mechanism is available for overall satisfaction. Since customer satisfaction and corporate image measures are collected simultaneously, customers consumption experiences, which can be summarized as satisfaction, naturally affect the evaluations of corporate image (Johnson et al., 2001). For this reason, it is proposed that satisfaction positively affects corporate image in Turkish customer satisfaction index model. (National customer) Concerning the role emotions play in customer evaluations, there is the indication shows that customer satisfaction is influenced by both perceptive and affective constituents (Homburg et al., 2006; Liljander and Strandvik, 1997; Westbrook and Oliver, 1991). In fact, recently there has been growing interest in studying the affective nature of satisfaction (Smith and Bolton, 2002; Zeelenberg and Pieters, 2004). Emotions experienced by individuals may leave affective follow in their memory associated with their experience with the service, and these people may admission them when judging their satisfaction level (MacInnis and de Mello, 2005). As emotions predict satisfaction, the positive and negative emotions experienced by customers after complaint handling will impact their level of satisfaction with the service (Liljander and Strandvik, 1997; Mano and Oliver, 1993; Szymanski and Henard, 2001; Westbrook and Oliver, 1991). Consumer behavior literature defends a valence congruent rela tionship between emotions and satisfaction (Dube ´ and Menon, 2000), The CSI model is a structural model based on the assumptions that customer satisfaction is caused by some factors such as perceived quality (PQ), perceived value (PV), expectations of customers, and image of a firm. These factors are the antecedents of overall customer satisfaction. one of the more commonly cited definitions is that supplied by Zeithaml (1988: 14), who defined value as: the consumers overall assessment of the utility of a product based on perceptions of what is received and what is given. This view posits perceived value as a uni-dimensional construct that can be measured simply by asking respondents to rate the value that they received in making their purchases. Woodruff (1997: 142) defined perceived value as:[a] customers perceived preference for an evaluation of those product attributes, attribute performances, and consequences arising from use that facilitate (or block) achieving the customers goals and purposes in use situations. Woodruff, R.B. (1997) Customer Value: The Next Source for Competitive Advantage,Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science 25(2): 139-53. Holbrooks typology of perceived value Holbrook (1994: 22, 1996: 138, 1999: 5) defined perceived value as an interactive relativistic preference experience. Customers determine satisfaction level of any purchased service by the perceptions of quality received. The American Customer Satisfaction Model According to the model, there exists a positive association between perceived customer expectations (PE) and perceived quality (PQ), perceived value (PV) and satisfaction. Canada. H 1 . Service quality has a significant, positive effect on customer satisfaction. In addition to the studies above, Fornell et al., (1996) report that the top two determinants of customer satisfaction are perceived quality and perceived value. Thus, the second hypothesis is: H 2. Perceived value has a significant, positive effect on customer satisfaction.

The Value of Possessions Examined in Guy de Maupassants The Necklace E

The Value of Possessions Examined in Guy de Maupassant's Short Story, "The Necklace" The late Irish poet Oscar Wilde once stated, "In the world there are only two tragedies. One is not getting what one wants, and the other is getting it" (qtd. in The Quotations Page). This quote accurately describes human nature to the extent that man is never fully satisfied with his current possessions. In fact, most people who rely on materialistic items for happiness are typically desolated and miserable. Guy de Maupassant enlivens these assertions in his short story, "The Necklace." Maupassant reveals his ingenious style through a portrayal of a battle with morality, in which the central character, Mathilde Loisel, struggles with excessive wants that ultimately doom her to perpetual despair. In the beginning of "The Necklace," the reader can clearly distinguish Madame Loisel's immense need for luxurious items. Maupassant describes Madame Loisel as somewhat miserable due to her ordinary standard of living: "She was simple since she could not be adorned; but she was unhappy as though kept out of her own class...She suffered intensely, feeling herself born for every delicacy and every luxury" (Par. 3). Madame Loisel complains about her husband and his common profession, feeling as though she should be "married by a man rich and distinguished" (Par. 1). She knows that her husband can not provide the luxuries which she so desperately desires. These lingering feelings cause Madame Loisel to undervalue the nonmaterial importance of life. All the while, the reader must consider the significant aspect of Madame Loisel's misleading view about her social class. Although Madame Loisel feels unfit and tortured to be of her econom... ...han before, she and her husband own nothing at all. At this point of the story, the reader assumes that Madame Loisel has suffered intensely enough to understand the underlying value of materialistic items. Unfortunately, Madame Loisel does not take the suffering as a learning experience. Even still, she continues to daydream of owning luxury items, accepting admiration from the higher class, and living the life of a dream. Consequently, Madame Loisel will also continue to live in misery due to her endless dissatisfaction. Perhaps, one may assert that Madame Loisel is the type of person that will never quite be satisfied enough, no matter how much or how little she may have. Works Cited Wilde, Oscar. "Cole's Quotables." 2004. The Quotations Page. Ed. M. Shawn Cole and Michael Moncur. 05 March 2006. de Maupaussant, Guy. "The Necklace."

Latino Assimilation Essay -- Culture

Immigration has always been an issue in the United States, which is often portrayed as harmful and as major threat to American culture. As a result, various anti immigration policies have been aimed against immigrants in order to prevent and preserve the miscegenation of American culture, such as English only policies. Among the largest minority groups in the U.S, are Latinos who currently compose of 15% of the U.S population (Delgado and Stefancic 3). Unfortunately, Latinos have been accused of taking American benefits, jobs, and have wrongfully been depicted as a result of not assimilating to American culture. Latinos are often accused of resisting assimilation, but what has failed to be acknowledged is that there are obstacles set in place that are preventing Latinos from completely assimilating. Among those greatest obstacles there is discrimination. Institutional as well as individual discrimination have prevented many Latinos from feeling a sense of belonging. As a result Lati nos have been reluctant to assimilate. Another major component is proximity. Many Latinos are native to nearby countries, which allows for easy communication with family members as well as their culture. Moreover, it also allows for a constant influx of immigrants that replenish and preserve Latino cultures and traditions in the U.S. Lastly, Latino movements are working diligently to promote unity among communities for the purpose of creating a sense of identity and pride amongst Latinos, such as the Chicano movement. In comparison to other migrating groups, Latinos have had different experiences that have prevented them from completely assimilating into American society. Throughout our history and presently, Latinos continue to face acts of cruelty... ... English 583. Delgado, Richard and Stefancic Jean. â€Å"The Shape of the Latino Group: Who Are We and What Are We Talking About Anyway.† Richard and Jean 3. Feagin, Joe R. â€Å"The First U.S Latinos: White Wealth and Mexican Labor.† Richard and Jean 67. Hartley, George. â€Å"I Am Joaquin: Rodolfo â€Å"Corky† Gonzales and the Retroactive Construction of Chicanismo.† Richard and Jean 241-242. Johnson, Kevin R. â€Å"No Poor Need Apply.† Richard and Jean 98-100. Lopez, Ian F, Haney. â€Å"Legal Violence and the Chicano Movement.† Richard and Jean 308-309. Mendoza, Gustavo Chacon. â€Å"Gateway to Whiteness: The Census and Hispanic/Latino Identity.† Richard and Jean 49. Perea, Juan F. â€Å"Buscando America: Why Integration and Equal Protection Fail to Protect Latinos.† Richard and Jean 601-602. Waters, Mary. â€Å"Assimilation and Demographic Replenishment.† Richard and Jean 409-410.

Oscar Wilde’s Aestheticism Essay

Though Oscar Wilde is the incarnation of the aestheticism schools, we can’t afford to ignore the other artists of the aesthetes. It is imperative that we should give a general introduction to aestheticism in the following paragraphs. Aesthetics is a branch of philosophy that studies the principles of beauty especially in art. Aestheticism is the collection of all the fruits of aesthetics. â€Å"The word ‘aesthetic’ was first found in Aesthetica, appearing as a Latin word, which is the name of two books written by Alexander Baumgarten, 1714—1762. †(Williams, 2005: 31) Baumgarten believes beauty can be defined as aesthetic, but when it is related to art, the most important part of Baumgarten’s translation of beauty is that beauty is not abstract but can be felt by people through their senses. This translation is the same as the Greek word â€Å"aisthesis†, the original meaning of which is the power of uniting mentally the impressions conveyed by the five physical senses. And in the middle of the 19th century, aesthetic is understood as â€Å"the beautiful†, which is generally related to art. In 1880, the word â€Å"aesthete† was used in a wide range, but contained a derogatory sense. Both the principle and the practice of the aesthetic movement led by Walter Pater were criticized at that time. But the British decadent writers were deeply influenced by Walter Pater. The artists and writers of the aesthetic movement held the view that sensuous pleasure should be provided by arts, not moral or sentimental messages. As a consequence, they did not accept John Ruskin and Matthew Arnold’s utilitarian conception of art as something moral or useful. Instead, they believed that art did not have any didactic purpose; it needed only be beautiful. The aesthetes developed the cult of beauty, which they considered the basic factor in art. In Britain, Oscar Wilde is famous as one of the best representatives of the aesthetes. He believes that art represents nothing but itself, and that art has its own life just as thoughts do.

Bead Bar Network Paper

Bead bar specializes in making beads jewellery for the customers. They have three divisions’ namely studios, franchises and bead bar on board that requires to be connected for synchronization of activities. It is required to create a network design and the appropriate topology which would be of good to the company for communicating the requirements and sharing information to keep in synchronization with the current state of the business.The network topology would be discussed which would make the communication feasible and possible with regard to all the physical and network barriers.The network design is the architecture which would give a clear picture of the interconnection of devices and the departments to facilitate the sharing of business information. The final section discusses the pros and cons of the proposed topology in question. Background information of Bead Bar: Bead Bar as an organization is departmentalized into three divisions namely studios, franchises and bea d bar on board. The present situation does not create a network among the divisions and thus creates inconsistencies in information sharing and knowledge about the company as a whole, at any given point of time.A computer network would facilitate the process of getting the entire job done for every customer at a lesser time than usual. It would make sure that information regarding ones choice and preferences would be catered and stored for future benefits. The network would enrich the communication among the divisions which in turn would facilitate greater workability and functionality in operation. Recommendation overview: The network recommendation for the Bead Bar could be capitulated into LAN and WAN.The internal network within the divisions would have a LAN network; however the inter-department communication would be made possible using WAN. Creating a LAN would create an internal network which can be made possible for connecting the personnel in the very department itself. For the LAN network, switches and hubs are used for connecting the sole division itself and for WAN routers are used for interconnecting each other. Explanation of the Network Design: All the three divisions of the company are interconnected using the network cable in a wired network using both LAN and WAN.Using LAN the computers are interconnected within the office or building premises so that all the employees are able to get information on demand. The head office has a central server where all the information us stored in the database. The other offices are also networked using the LAN technologies. The switch is two layered and used to take care of the storing and forwarding mechanism as stated in Tanenbaum (2003). Using WAN the network connections are using the public data services and get connect to internet and using VPN technology, using login credentials.Network Topology: The LAN technology follows a star topology with hubs. The interconnecting devices used facilitate the use and share of information. The hubs are used to store and forward the information. Star topology is used which would facilitate the efficient use of network resources (Star Topology). Advantages of the architecture: †¢ Having a star topology would make it less expensive in relation to mesh topology. †¢ In a star, each device needs only one link and one I/O port to connect it to any number of other devices (Forouzan, 2003).†¢ It makes the star topology easy to install and reconfigure with time and need. †¢ Star topology requires far less cabling and any additions, deletions and moves involve only one connection between that device and hub. †¢ It is quite robust in nature; if one link fails the others do not cease to operate. This factor also enhances the fault identification and fault isolation. †¢ As long as the hub is in working condition, it is quite easy to monitor link problems and bypass defective links. †¢ A WAN is used for connecting to the i nternet so as to get connected with the other departments across geographic locations.†¢ VPN technology is used to validate the user of the network so that the connection established is secure in nature. It would use the login name and password facilities to enable a secure way of handling data. †¢ A database server is used so that all the information is stored centrally and all the users access the information using their credentials. †¢ The VPN also makes sure that not all users would be able to access all for ms of data an data security and integrity is restricted using the login credentials. Drawbacks of the architecture:†¢ The VPN technology would be quite expensive to implement (VPN). †¢ The cost of switches and hubs would be costly. †¢ The use of websites where all the computers are used for accessing directly the internet would have made the architecture more accessible but security would have been less. Even the cost of web server would be incu rred quite high. Conclusion The primary objective to connect has been taken into account and the network topology has been discussed to give shape to the entire network for interconnecting with the various divisions in the company.The network architecture and the drawbacks associated with it are thoroughly examined for its feasibility and communication. The network topology would have an upper hand on the drawbacks and is quite sufficient to inter-connect the enterprise to capitalize on its resources. References/ Bibliography Forouzan A. Behrouz (2003). TCP/IP Protocol Suite, second edition. Tata McGraw Hill. Physinfo (2006). Network Topologies. Retrieved October 26, 2007 from http://physinfo. ulb. ac. be/cit_courseware/networks/pt2_1. htm