Communication Skills and Professionalism - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 2 Words: 656 Downloads: 1 Date added: 2019/04/12 Category Career Essay Level High school Tags: Professionalism Essay Did you like this example? Having the ability to have superior communication skills plays a large role throughout a school and work setting. Along with communication, it is vital to understand that being in a professional state can help a student stand out above the rest. These two traits tie in together because in order to be professional, there needs to be an understanding of the right and wrong ways to communicate with those around you. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Communication Skills and Professionalism" essay for you Create order It is very important to know the types of communication and how to handle or react to certain situations. When both of these traits are being used on a daily basis in these settings, there is no telling of how endless a persons opportunities really are. Throughout a school or work day, verbal communication is one of the most common ways of communication. Having outstanding communication skills in a classroom setting can be beneficial in many ways, for both the teacher and the apprentice. Verbal communication allows for a better understanding, a better learning experience, goals can be achieved in an effective way, strengthens connections between the students and teachers, and overall expands a students learning opportunities. Not to mention, if the same professional attitude is brought into a work setting, it will be a very understanding yet productive environment. Verbal communication in a workplace is very crucial because it allows the company function in a very productive way. Therefor, having good communication skills in a workplace clears doubts and uncertainties between the employees. Did you know that facial expressions are the most common nonverbal behavior used all throughout the world today? It is not only important to know the meaning of verbal communication, it is crucial to understand the nature behind nonverbal communication and the results that can accumulate if it is related wrong without the proper explanation. According to Dr. Carol Morgan from Huffing Post, approximately eighty to ninety percent of the meaning of the message lies in the nonverbal part. (Morgan 2016). It is very easy for the look on our face to relay a message that could possibly be taken the wrong way. Being professional and always understanding that communication is key for both verbal and nonverbal communication can take an apprentice or an employee to a very high position in their classroom or workplace. Another key aspect to be discussed is how important communication is during the hiring process. Superior communication should be shown all throughout the process. It is key to have a good understanding between you and those of a higher position. According to Research and Insights, studies have shown that having clear and ambiguous communication throughout the hiring process means that even if a candidate does not get the job, they still remain a positive experience for the company. Always being seen as a positive impact towards companies can also lead to other job opportunities of they chose to refer you if wanted or needed. Companies today get a lot of applicants who want to work with them, but may not have the professional state that they are looking for. That is why it is key to always remain professional, have strong communication skills, an to stand out above the rest. Lastly, having these strong communication skills can take an apprentice very far in their career. Having strong verbal and nonverbal skills especially during the hiring process can really make an individual an ideal employee especially in a professional workplace. Also, having the the strength to communicate effectively ensures a person that they can achieve their goals in a productive and effective way inside a classroom or workplace. Therefore, carrying on with these strengths will better the relations between classmates, teachers, and other employees throughout a persons job, career, or education on a daily basis. Communication, professionalism, and knowing how to react to situations is a key to having a successful course in education or a strong and healthy career that will follow a person throughout their life.

The Feminist Movement Of The Twentieth Century - 2029 Words

The Feminist Awakening Women’s rights have evolved over time; beginning with being homemakers and evolving to obtaining professions, acquiring an education, and gaining the right to vote. The movement that created all these revolutionary changes was called the feminist movement. The feminist movement occurred in the twentieth century. Many people are not aware of the purpose of the feminist movement. The movement was political and social and it sought to set up equality for women. Women’s groups in the United States worked together to win women’s suffrage and later to create and support the Equal Rights Amendment. The economic boom between 1917 and the early 1960s brought many American women into the workplace. As women began to join the workplace they became progressively more aware of their unequal economic and social status. Homemakers, many of whom who had previously obtained college educations, began to voice their lack of personal fulfillment. They had an a wakening, they realized their lives were not fulfilled and wanted more than what the restraints of society would offer them. Many literary works were born from the feminist movement; each enabling women to achieve more than what society expected of them and to push the societal limits. The Awakening is a prototype of the feminist movement. Kate Chopin’s novel The Awakening follows a common theme in literature. She uses the novel as a way to demonstrate the emancipation of women. Peggy Skaggs believesShow MoreRelatedThe Feminist Movement Of The Twentieth Century2026 Words   |  9 Pagesover time; beginning with being homemakers and evolving to obtaining professions, acquiring an education, and gaining the right to vote. The movement that created all these revolutionary changes was called the feminist movement. The feminist movement occurred in the twentieth century. Many people are not aware of the purpose of the feminist movement. The movement was political and social and it sought to set up equality for women. Women’s groups in the United States worked together to win women’s suffrageRead MoreWomens Suffrage Movement Essay1559 Words   |  7 PagesFrom the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848 to Betty Friedman and her bestselling book, The Feminine Mystique, the women’s suffrage m ovement advocated for equality between men and women. Throughout the years, there were many women that fought for the rights they have today. Susan B. Anthony along with a colleague formed the National Woman Suffrage Association that served to gain women the right to vote. In 1920, women were granted the right to vote by the 19th amendment of the constitution. At thisRead MoreUnequal Rights For Women And Gender Inequality1732 Words   |  7 Pageswomen and gender inequality have been a plague across European society since the dawn of time. It was not until the late eighteenth century that women’s rights activists, such as Mary Wollstonecraft, began to take action against this inequality. Through the perseverance of these activists, major reforms for equality began to arise during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, both being time periods that marked a profound era for women and the progression of women’s rights. During this time women’s rightsRead More The Woman Suffrage Movement809 Words   |  4 PagesDuBois, in The Radicalism of the Woman Suffrage Movement, argue that the vote was a complete necessity in order for women to assert their own foothold in the public sphere, defined by DuBois as â€Å"operating in the public world of work and politics.† Opposing this position, William O’Neill argued that the vote would provide no advance in the woman condition and that when the vote was gained, â€Å"feminists were in the same place they were before the movement even began.† Heidi Williamson does not necessarilyRead MoreResearch Paper on Black Feminists1307 Words   |  6 PagesResearch Paper: Black Feminist Movement Different movements went on through segregation days where blacks and whites were separated. Some movements led to another. Such movements became very popular, and were moving fast towards freedom. However, some movements were not taking as serious as others. Such movements like the Black Feminist Movement, was not looked at as a major aspect to their black nation. Many had fail to realize that even women have strong voices to be heard in social, politicalRead MoreThe Feminist Manifesto, And Susan Glaspell s Trifles1257 Words   |  6 PagesThe feminist movement lays claim to a history of both victorious struggle and violent controversy. As women fought for equality with men in the early twentieth century, literature was inspired by this movement. Modernist writers used their artform to provide social commentary in similar ways to realistic writers of the nineteenth century. However, modernist thought allows a much more obvious agenda to be presented through literature. Mina Loy, i n â€Å"Feminist Manifesto,† and Susan Glaspell, in â€Å"TriflesRead MoreThe Fight For Women s Rights1359 Words   |  6 PagesThe fight for women’s rights has been a long and ongoing battle. It was not until the twentieth century that the majority of women demanded legal and social rights for themselves. Society’s way of thinking in the eighteenth century was a patriarchal and conservative one. Women stayed at home and took care of the family while the men went to work, and while there was some opposition to this, the majority of men and women did not mind. This can be seen in the formation and vast acceptance of the CultRead MoreA Timeline of Gendered Movements849 Words   |  3 Pages Gendered Movements 1. Timeline 1869 Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton create the National Woman Suffrage Association. They intend that the institution would change the way that the masses perceive women in general. The main purpose of the group is to relate to the Constitution as one of the documents emphasizing that Congress should allow women to be provided with voting rights. 1890 The National Woman Suffrage Association becomes more powerful as it merges with the American WomenRead MoreWomen Role in Christianity and Islam996 Words   |  4 Pageswho prays for her family, her church, her government and her country. She is a woman who reads Gods Word and puts Him first in her life. From the beginning of the early Christian church, starting with Jesus, women were important members of the movement. The examples of the manner of Jesus reveal his attitudes toward women and show repeatedly how he liberated and affirmed women. Both complementarians and egalitarians see Jesus as treating women with compassion, grace and dignity.[2] The gospelsRead MoreFeminism And The Feminist Movement Essay1292 Words   |  6 PagesThe feminist movement came to fruition during the early 20th century. Over all, the push for women s suffrage and rights was strong, but further enhanced by leaders like Alice Paul and Jane Addams. The idea of equal rights for all was further scrutinized and contested after civil rights were granted to former slaves. Women began to push for similar equality as illustrated through the feminist movement. The feminist movement became very large and sprouted subsections, one being a subsection

The Fall of West Rome Free Essays

The Roman Empire was attacked by the Goths and the Vandals during 190 AD which started the fall of Ancient Rome wherein different parts of the empire had civil wars that caused further deteriorating of Rome. Different tribes like Goths invaded the country since they want to move south to experienced better climate condition that is helpful to their farming. During this time Rome also has poor emperors that cannot handle the job properly. We will write a custom essay sample on The Fall of West Rome or any similar topic only for you Order Now When Emperor Diocletian ruled Rome, he decided that the Empire should be divided into two so that it will be easier to rule, the Western and Eastern Empire was established in which it has its own leader. The problem that Diocletian faced was that more military barrier had to be created in which the Empire cannot support its cost. The taxes were increased which leads to inflation causing the rise of the prices of commodity which causes the leaders to become unfavorable to the people. The Role of Constantine in the Fall of Rome Constantine became Emperor from AD 307 to AD 337 and he tolerated religion in the Roman Empire although he was not a Christian himself, he gave rights to the Christians. He did not taken into consideration that the new monotheistic religion was at odds with the pagan cults of the emperors. He also moved the capital to a new city Constantinople since he believed that Rome as a city was to far from the fundamental areas from a government level, this move was a bad one since it left the western empire vulnerable. The western empire was attacked by the Ostrogoths thru the eastern empire and the western Empire was attacked by the Goths, Franks, Visigoths and Burgundians. The Germanic Barbarians The Germans were exposed to the Roman world by border trade and serving as support to the Roman legions of the empire. The admittance of the barbarians in the army gave way for the complete â€Å"germanization† of the Roman army. The internal crisis of the Roman Empire makes the things worst and the barbarians realized it and defeated the Romans in the battle of Adrianople in 378 where the Roman Empire fell. The Franks, Angles, and Saxons which are all German tribes have established their agricultural life, the other tribes like the Goths, Vandals, and Lombards were nomadic but compared to the Romans they were less advanced. Romulus Augustulus was the last Roman emperor in the west and was replaced by the leader of Goths, Odoacer in AD 476 which was also the end of the Roman Empire. How to cite The Fall of West Rome, Papers

Shifting Goalposts Skill Migration Program â€Myassignmenthelp.Com

Question: Discuss About The Shifting Goalposts Skill Migration Program? Answer: Introducation It is on the Medium to Long Term Strategic Skills List or MLTSSL[1]. Under the MLTSSL the occupations are regarded for the in demand for the longer term. The person or the applicant who will have the occupation under this skill list has the rights to apply for skilled visa with r without the help of the sponsorship occupations. It is also recognized as the Skilled Occupations List (SOL)[2]. Under the IMMI 17/072 the MLTSSL occupation holders who have application form of 19th April 2017 the applicants who are able to apply are Independent applicants who can apply for the 189 subclasses visa under the Schedule 6D. The applicants who are sponsored by Australian relative and applying in First Provisional Stream apply for 489 subclass visa under the Schedule 6D. The applicants who are Temporary Graduates (Graduate Work Stream) can apply for the 485 sub class visa. The applicants who are nominated by State/Territory government can apply for 190 subclass visa under the Schedule 6D. The applicants who are Nominated by a State or Territory government, and applying in First Provisional Stream can apply for the 489 subclass visa under the Schedule 6D. Angela can apply for the skilled visa of subclass 190, subclass 189 and 489[3]. For the application under the Skilled Independent Visa of Subclass 189[4] she needs to fulfill some requirements which are: The application should have skilled and habituated with English The applicants age should be under 50 years. The applicant must require having experience with at least one of the occupations based on the Skilled Occupation List. The application should be related with the suitable skills assessment for the specific occupations. The applicant must submit their expression of interest through online portal using their skills where they receive an invitation to apply for the visa. For applying the visa applicant can have 60 days. Therefore the applicant should provide valid details in the EOI. For the application under the Skilled Independent Visa of Subclass 190[5] she needs to fulfill some requirements which are: The application should have skilled and habituated with English. The applicants age should be under 45 years. The application should be related with the suitable skills assessment for the specific occupations. The applicant should pass with 60 point. The applicant must be nominated by a state or territory government agency. The good character and health certificate also needed. The applicant must submit their expression of interest through online portal using their skills where they receive an invitation to apply for the visa. For applying the visa EOIs are kept for two years. Therefore the applicant should provide valid details in the EOI[6]. For the application under the Skilled Independent Visa of Subclass 489[7] she needs to fulfill some requirements which are: The applicant should hold a subclass 475, 487, 495 or 496 visa and must be nominated by a state or territory government agency or be sponsored by an eligible relative. The application should have skilled and habituated with English. The applicants age should be under 45 years The applicant should pass with 60 point in the test. The good character and health certificate also needed. The Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) occupation holders can apply for the visa. Under the Medium to Long Term Strategic Skills List or MLTSSL[8] Angela should given points test under the Schedule 6D which has been lodged after 1 July 2012 under SkillSelect. Under the SkillSelect the applicant who are applying for the skilled visa of 189, 190 and 489 need to submit first an Expression of Interest (EOI) online where they can receive an invitation to apply for the visa process. After receiving the invitation the applicant is required to give points test in the EOI but there is no need to actually submit any statement or supporting documents. The EOI will have 2 years of validity where For GSM the score should be not less than that actually scored in the application. If it is breached then the Fraud (4020) condition will be recorded against the applicant. Before 1 July 2017, an applicant may be aged up to 49 at time of invitation to apply. This has been reduced to 44 as from 1 July 2017. As being a 25 years old woman, Angela needs to score 30 points in the test. Angela has completed a Bachelor of Science/ Doctor of Veterinary Science degrees at the University of Melbourne. She has her aunt in Australia who is prepared to sponsor her. Therefore she can apply for the Skilled Independent Visa of Subclass 489[9]. Under the IMMI 16/059 (SOL) the applicant can be Independent applicants or Sponsored by Australian relative, and applying in First Provisional Stream or Temporary Graduates[10]. Therefore as she has her aunt in Australia she can apply for the Skilled Independent Visa of Subclass 489 under Schedule 6D. The procedures of the visa are: The applicant should hold a subclass 475, 487, 495 or 496 visa and must be nominated by a state or territory government agency or be sponsored by an eligible relative. The application should have skilled and habituated with English. The applicants age should be under 45 years The applicant should pass with 60 point in the test. The good character and health certificate also needed. The Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) occupation holders can apply for the visa. The applicant able to stay in Australia for up to 4 years. Through the submission under the expression of interest (EOI) the applicant should submit the details of nominated occupation, skills and qualifications along with the details of sponsored by a family member or wish to be nominated by an Australian state or territory. Reference "Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189) (Points-Tested) Stream." Border.Gov.Au, 2017, https://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Visa-1/189-. "Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190)." Border.Gov.Au, 2017, https://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Visa-1/190-. "Skilled Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 489)." Border.Gov.Au, 2017, https://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Visa-1/489-. Akbari, Ather H., and Martha MacDonald. "Immigration policy in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States: An overview of recent trends." International Migration Review 48.3 (2014): 801-822. Ferguson, Stephen, Carol Giuseppi, and Tourism Accommodation Australia. "Submission to the Department of Immigration Border Protection." (2017). Papadopoulos, Peter, and Kathryn Viegas. "Migration: Shifting goalposts in Australia's skilled migration program." LSJ: Law Society of NSW Journal 36 (2017): 75.

The Problem with Horror Movies Essay Example

The Problem with Horror Movies Essay In a world where the entertainment industry is at an all-time high with television and film mediums, with programs being demanded at such a high rate people have to rapidly make movies regularly. In the genre of Horror, industries nowadays only make a handful amount of good movies per year, while the rest of them in the majority of all of them turn out to be commercial failures, as well as unimaginative films in overall. For a genre where it is widely varied in film with so many sub-genres within itself, there should, at least, be more than just a handful of movies each year that are actually original and imaginative. However, with studio interference into films and lack of pure creativity allowed in films, horror movies today are only meant to make a quick buck for the studio that funds them, since people today will see any horror movie that is pretty much in theater, and simple films will be cheaper to make. People today dont come to grasp with what the genre is supposed to do to the audience. Many believe that all you need is just jump scares, and cliched situations with movies and that would make a perfect horror film, but when these types of films come out, people immediately hate them. The biggest part about this is that this issue isnt just with all American-made horror films, but that it is a rampant occurrence throughout many different foreign films as well. As stated in the film journal Euro Horror: Classic European Horror Cinema in Contemporary American Culture, From a present-day perspective, Euro horror is woefully dated. Beholden to the exploitation film market, its makers aggressively exploited once-popular narrative themes and filmmaking techniques in an attempt to increase its appeal at the box office. Horror movies arent just supposed to scare someone for a brief second, or try and attempt fake-out scares the whole movie; they are meant to frighten and terrify the viewer to the point where the movie sticks with We will write a custom essay sample on The Problem with Horror Movies specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The Problem with Horror Movies specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The Problem with Horror Movies specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer

Decision Making Process Essay examples

Decision Making Process Essay examples Decision Making Process Essay examples Decision- Making Process One of the personal decisions that I had to take and that wasn’t easy was enrolling in school. First of all I had to take the decision to go to the school and talk with the academic adviser to see what was best for my career. I had to check my schedule to see when I had time, then I called the consoler and made an appointment. Once I was there I check for all the opportunities that I had, and I made the decision based on the career path I wanted to take. My carrier advisor talked to me about the two differences options that were best for my career and my goals. Finally I made the decision of what and how I wanted to study, we then made the schedule and the final point was to start school. Until now that was the best decision I ever made. My decision making- process was very similar to the one that was described in the text because it followed a series of steps of which you had to take in order to reach your goals. The book said that the steps in the decision making process are identifying and diagnosing the Problem, Generating alternative solutions, evaluating alternatives, making the choice, implementing the decision, and finally evaluating the decision. As you can see in the first paragraph where I was talking about the decision making process I order to start school was the same process as the one describe in the book. Every decision starts with the collection of information, alternatives, values and the preferences available at the time of the decision. I think my decision wouldn’t change if I used the same steps because the decision making process that the book

Should embryos be treated as human lives Assignment

Should embryos be treated as human lives - Assignment Example However contemporary views on the subject are changing to favor of pro-choice, today more people advocate and are tolerant of abortion than ever before and in majority of states, it is allowed as long as it is carried out safely in a hospital. Several factors have contributed to this change, among them is the empowering of women which made the idea of giving them choice over their reproduction become something of a right. In addition the increased secularism of society has contributed a great deal since the church and other religious organizations were key opponents of the practice. From a sociological perspective, abortion is viewed in numerous ways but the most overt as through the conflict theory. It embodies the underlying and overlying conflict between different opinions guided by either religion or morality. From a psychological point of view there is a contradiction of opinions since on one hand abortion is seen as a potential cause of psychological trauma on the mother while on the other not procuring one could also result in psychological problems especially if the mother is in distress or was raped (Sedgh et al, 2007). Anthropologist are even more divided because from a cultural perspective, abortion evokes a range of mixed reactions with some people advocating for it but majority decrying it as inhuman and immoral, many traditional cultures are against it and they have had to contend with contemporary acceptance of the practice. The functionalist theory is based on the interdependence of the various factions of society and it does not promote the changing of social environments simply for the sake of benefiting individuals. Functionalist hold that societal change always results in compensating change in other parts of society, in regard to abortion, the functionalist view is that when social change occurs as a result of its practice other aspects of society will make appropriate shifts

Systems Analysis, Design and Development (Object Oriented using UML) Term Paper

Systems Analysis, Design and Development (Object Oriented using UML) - Term Paper Example Resources The resources that need to be made available to the analyst are a separate secluded environment with an up-to-date computing system that is connected to the rest of the computing devices of the organization. The computing system needs to be equipped with the latest and most comprehensive analytical software that would enable the provision of precise and timely analytical assessment as and when required. The time given to the analyst for conducting his assessment should be ample so that the process gets done in its due time thus guaranteeing its error freeness. 1 SUMMARY The current report is intended to be a feasibility report for the development of the online auction system for vehicle selling and purchase. The vehicles purchase/selling system will work on the basis of online auctions. Bidders of the vehicles will gradually increase the bid cost for a specific time period. The system will monitor the auction end time. At the end of auction period highest bidder will be the winner of the bid. Subsequent notifications to the respective seller and highest bidder will be generated by the system automatically. Since it would be online and less cumbersome than a real world vehicle auction scenario, the online auction management system will attract both purchasers and sellers to use it. The system would, in turn, get benefited from both the participants. The proposed system will not only provide an operational platform for such convenient buying, but would also maintain the bidder and seller profiles in order to produce future follow ups. The system will comprise of the following core modules a brief summary of which is provided as follows: Customer (Seller/Bidder) Profiling: This module maintains and manages the details of each purchaser (bidder) and... The paper tells that an online auction mechanism is intended which attracts sellers and buyers of vehicles. The system will be a reliable e-commerce system and will provide opportunity for online sales through auctions. Both the seller and the buyers will be the customers of the system. The system will maintain the personal information of both participants. After registering a vehicle by a seller the bidder will be able to bid on it until the bidding time expires. All bidders will have equal opportunity to increase the bid with equal rate, that is, 100 $ for car and 50 $ for motorcycle. After ending the bidding process, the bids will be evaluated and decision will be made accordingly. The bidder with highest bid among all the other bidders will win the vehicle auction; however, the biding price must be greater than the base price as provided by the seller. The successful bidder will be notified by the system automatically then he has to perform personal visit to the vehicle and payme nt will be made. In case of the failure of the auction i.e. the highest bid could not cross the minimum price of the vehicle or in case of no bid, the system will automatically notify the seller about the situation and the vehicle information will be removed in both cases. Such system will allow purchasers to have a fair market survey and will provide ample vehicle selection opportunities. Due to the effectiveness of system both the purchaser and seller would not be able to acquire undue benefits in any case. With the optimized vehicle price (as desired by the seller) the bidder will not have to pay exorbitantly.

Summary Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 171

Summary - Essay Example Books that have been published on food matters have impacted greatly on how people contemplate about food and their lives. Writers like Tracie McMillan, Rowen Jacobsen and others have influenced on how food is cooked, distributed, grown and bought. Monica Bhide a food writer once posed a question asking if food writing really matters and got many views and comments. Among those who commented was a writer of a book named Day of Honey who argues that changes of religion are not as significant as changes in diet. She adds that it is questioning how rarely the significance of food is renowned. Statuses on bishops, politicians are trending nowadays but none about market gardeners and bacon-curers are seen (Ruhlman, 1). People do not take food matters seriously since it is cheap and easily available around them. But in times when they don’t have food is when they think about it. In addition, we only tend think about food when it makes us sick. There are many food related sicknesses in this times. Children have diabetes that can only be seen on adulthood. Obesity also is common and it develops due to eating all kinds of food without knowing their constituents. In my opinion, I agree that food writing is essential for our continued existence. It enables us to understand how food is important and various effects that they have to our body. Lastly, by writing about food, people will demonstrate awareness on how to produce, consume and how to distribute it in ways that do not affect our

The Opera Singer As An Actor Music Essay

The Opera Singer As An Actor Music Essay In this dissertation emphasis will be placed on the marriage of three concepts namely: good voice singing technique, musicality and acting for opera (building the character) in the training of a successful opera singer hereafter referred to as the singer-actor. The purpose of the study was to explore and describe the essential skills that needed to be acquired by the modern opera singer. The rationale therefore, is to provide guidelines for the minimum requirements for the training of the opera singer as singer-actor. Taking into consideration the demands on opera singers when taking part in an opera, the study was guided by the following question: How does the knowledge of good voice (a sound singing technique), musicality and building a character role benefit the opera singers performance? Evolving from the main research question, the following sub questions were formulated: What is a good voice within classical voice training methods? How can musicality contribute to an opera singers performance? What are the demands to build a character role? General and specific aims: The general aim of this study was to determine how the knowledge of a good voice, musicality and building a character role, benefit the opera singers performance. Specific aims: The specific aims of this study are: to define a good voice To define musicality to determine how building a character role contribute to an opera singers performance. Due to the limited nature of this study, only a literature study will be done. As an extension of this study, the researcher would follow an interpretivist paradigm with a qualitative approach which strives to comprehend the important skills an opera singer should have according to contemporary South African opera singers and their view of the importance of acting ability for successful opera. The study will be conceptualised in terms of and based on the following frameworks: The voice Musicality Acting ability Relationship between music and text For opera to retain its artistic relevance to, and impact on, the fabric of arts and culture, it can be argued that there are three fundamental elements to the performance of opera which need to be addressed, and which require academic input (herformulering), discipline regarding musicality as well as focussed tuition and practise (sweeping statement. Wie se so?). In a world of ever-increasing media coverage of artistic and musical artists and events, together with an ever-increasing sophistication of a wider audience, it is becoming increasingly challenging for the artist, and in particular, the opera singer, to be successful in his career. Key to this challenge is that the opera singer is left with no choice other than to develop skills beyond the purely technical expertise. It is imperative that, in order to be extraordinary and thereby successful, the opera singer has to master three co-functioning disciplines, namely the good voice, musicianship and acting ability (sit bronne in). Singers tend to take acting classes separate from their vocal training in order to improve their acting skills. However, they mostly discover that taking classes in spoken drama and dialogue helps up to a certain point, but when going back to singing opera, the acting strategies learnt in the drama class do not always migrate to the performance of the aria (cf. Bean: 2007:167). This lack of transition is a result of the unique relationship between the music and the stage character in opera, which is not taken into account in the training of purely spoken (non-musical) drama. Thus, the one aspect that separates the acting of a spoken drama from that of opera is the music that is performed by instruments and the human voice. (Bron) (Prof. Jak: kommentaar is dat dit self evident is, of vroeà «r genoem moet word). The argument specific to this dissertation is that the preparation and development of the opera singer (or singer-actor) has to facilitate three equally important, inter-linked and overlapping platforms of the Good Voice (singing technique), the discipline of musicianship and The Ability to Act (building the character). ( dink dit is aan die begin gesà ª) In order to deliver a masterful opera performance, the singer actor needs to depict a character successfully. The opera singer needs to be a singer-actor who has mastered the following three pillars (Good Voice, Musicianship and Acting Ability) of the craft and art of Opera Performance. Each of these pillars deserves equal attention with particular reference to the input, mentoring/development and training curriculum of the opera singer (Bron) Further to the intention of the dissertation, it will be important that there are appropriate and comprehensive definitions of these three equally important elements that are based on the relevant literature and which build on the existing body of knowledge in this field. Specifically, this study will integrate the definitions of A Good Voice, Musicianship and Acting Ability in terms applicable to the Singer-Actors optimal performance of Opera. Furthermore, in this dissertation emphasis will be placed on singing techniques, the elements of musicianship, and various relevant acting strategies in the training of a successful opera singer. This dissertation will also include the identification of relevant areas of scholarly attention and future academic research that will add to the existing body of knowledge in this arena. An in-depth literature study of relevant and contemporary sources on these topics have been done to guide the research. Method of research The following methods of research were used to answer the research questions: Consulting of the following databases: JSTOR, Google Scholar, Periodical archive online and IIMP; Literature study Interpretation of information and conclusions A study of Largo al factotum from Puccinis Il Barbiere di Seviglia on the basis of the score and recordings, in order to ensure a common understanding of how the study could apply to the aria Before the conceptualized terms will be discussed, a concept clarification of the relevant issues at hand, will be provided. 1.1 Concept clarification The Good Voice / The self-amplified singing voice The good voice can be defined as the ability of the opera singer to project the voice in a way that its heard over and above the full orchestra accompanying the singers. This view correlates with the description of Gilfrey (2007:1) who describes the voice as a classical technique, a manner of singing that projects the voice over a large orchestra in a large theatre. Four elements are essential to produce a sound, namely a vibrating object, a power source to make the object vibrate, a medium through which the vibrations are transmitted and apparatus to receive the vibrations (McKinney,1999:20). The self-amplified singing voice as described by Gilfrey (2007:1) is the single most important element of opera; the one that distinguishes opera not only from spoken drama, but also from rock and pop music, from jazz and from musical theatre (as it is performed today). Optimal Acoustic Output Acoustic output refers to the optimal projection of the voice to enhance the correct and optimal usage of the voice as an instrument. According to Titze (2002: 367 376) mean glottal airflow (or, alternatively, glottal resistance) has been a target for optimising vocal output power in voice therapy and singing training. Glottal airflow refers to the space between the vocal cords (the fleshly parts of the air passage inside the throat) which produce the sound of the voice by fast or slow moments, in which this space is repeatedly opened and closed (Longman, 1980:484). Generator / Breath Management / Breath Breathing is a natural process which begins at birth an ends with death. This is a natural process for which no training is acquired. The rate of breathing is governed by the bodys need for oxygen and needs no conscious controls. The essential difference between breathing to live and breathing to sing, lies in the amount of conscious control exerted (McKinney, 1994: 46). In other words, the breathing process is a spontaneous event for the normal person, but a skill that needs to be mastered by the opera singer to optimise breath control and support for the voice. Vibrator The word vibration of the voice refers to The function of the vibrator is to set the column of still air in the throat and also that in the windpipe in vibration. The vibratory element of the larynx consists of a highly skilful compromise on the part of nature which enable the opera singer to phonate without interfering with the breathing capacity (Kelsey, 1950: 66). This vibration is a function of the larynx; a device similar to the diaphragm of a sound-system speaker, is the anatomical device through which the sound is created while simultaneously allowing the singer to continue breathing through the same gap (or slit) by which the airflow is controlled. This control is the output of extensive skill learning, disciplined practise and deliberate conscious control (Kelsey, 1950: 66-67). Structure and Function Resonator / Supraglottic Activity The word resonator refers to an apparatus for increasing the resonance of sound (Longman, 1980:942). For the purpose of this study, the word resonance can be defined as secondary vibrations produced by sound waves from another vibrating body (Lessac, 1997:13). He also distinguishes between two types of resonance, namely direct or enforsed resonance and indirect or sympathetic resonance. Direct resonance occurs when a vibrating body is placed in direct physical contact with another substance. For the opera singer direct resonance could be the sound resonating with the outer surfaces of your teeth. Indirect resonance occurs when the sound waves of a vibrating body set up vibrations in a substance some distance away. Sympathetic resonance occurs as the vocal sound waves, travelling through air space from the vocal folds, make contact with the hard pallet and then with the nasal bone (Lessac, 1997:13). The ability to resonate can therefore be described as the amplifying of the human voic e. This amplifying can be divided into three sections, including the air contained in the lungs and windpipe, the air contained in the throat and, that contained in the suprapalatal cavity. Each of these can be seen an air-conditioner. Classical Technique (sit nog iets in of haal uit, PL) In popular usage, art or serious music as opposed popular music The Harvard Concise Dictionary of Music and Musicians. CHAPTER 2: The Good Voice in Classical Singing Before the good voice can be discussed, the anatomy of voice production needs to be clarified in short. Lessac (1997:14) defines the term voice box of human sound box as the cavity or enclosure where the tone is strengthened, amplified and enriched by resonance and wave reflection. According to Lessac, the voice box comprise two areas: a major adjustable area right above the larynx and the oral cavity and nondadjastable area in the pharynx, the nose, the forehead and adjacent structures. This soundbox can be describe as the singing meganism of which all the parts interdependent of each other, eah of which plays a crucial role in producing the good voice. The good voice as defined in par 1.1 takes years of concentrated training. This focus on singing technique is the primary focus of most singers studies (Gilfrey, 2007:1). A whole voice approach is beneficial for both singer and actor; however actor training programs dont include singing, and vice versa. Acting is becoming increasingly important for the opera singer, but is seldom supported by the prerequisites of theatre voice and movement (Melton Tom, 2003:135). Sà ª nog iets oor hoekom training belangrik is. Singing is both a science and an art. Most teachers have at least some appreciation for a scientific singing method and those who dont often claim to have discovered some long-lost piece of wisdom. This wisdom is generally already incorporated in the teachings of a well-trained singer. There are some fads that come and go but a singer with good technique and access to his or her emotions will please any audience and have a much broader career with greater longevity (Brown, 2004: 97-104). Technique is central to singing opera, but singing is also an art form, and no art form can be realised by the use of technique alone. Merging voice technique, musicality and emotion through competent acting skill is something that must be taught from the very beginning of the Opera Singers development of his/her career. This is because, when occupied in the emotion of the moment, the good voice will acquire nuances that are quintessentially important to conveying the emotional elements of the opera and will thus elevate the singer to a higher level of performance and riveting engagement with the audience. Gebruik onderstaande as daar nog inligting daaroor is, anders voeg saam, PL Every aspect of the voice, used directly of indirectly affects the whole mechanism. For example alignment and breathing are integrally connected to the performers range, resonance and articulation. For this reason, some of the relevant aspects affecting the good voice, will be discussed below. 2.1 Vowel modification Vowel Modification and Primal Sound Christy (1961) means that an important criteria for good singing habits is the homogenic shaping of vowels, in other words, they should sound as if they fit together, the vowels must be consistent with each other. Many professional singers never master the art of even vocal production. This can be ascribed to vocal coaches not fully grasping the concept of vowel placement. When this concept is fully understood it is impossible for a singer to not produce vowels freely and comfortably. In the first volume Christy states that once a single vowel is mastered the singer must focus on uniting the remaining vowels in accordance with that of the first. He means that the different vowels should attain a similar sound without losing its distinctive character. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦this is another way of saying vowels have to be equalized by having a common, fundamental tonal characteristic. The fundamental tone of the human voice is the huh sound. According to Christy this sound should be considered the basic reference to vowel placing because the uh sound is the most natural sound that can be produced, as the pharynx is relaxed and in its natural position. Oren C. Brown concurs with Christy, but describes the uh sound as the primal sound: Primal sounds are involuntary. They are the sounds you were born with. In Beijing , Basel or Boston, a babys cry at birth is his primal sound. In 1963, Peter F. Oswald mad a phonetic analysis of the babys cry. He labeled the initial sound as a schwa [Éâ„ ¢], (uh as in about), which linked the cry to a babys first word, mama [mÉâ„ ¢mÉâ„ ¢]. Mama is the first word spoken by babies throughout the whole world. In Korea the word is ama, with the vowel preceding the consonant. (Brown 1998) p. 1 The sound identified by both Brown and Christy can therefore be described as the primal- or natural relaxed sound. As practical advice Brown suggest testing the sound through a range of exploratory exercises: making the huh sound in a short repetitive sequence (as if laughing), or a long relaxed sustained huh (like a sigh). He also suggests sliding the huh up and down the vocal range noting that the sound becomes lighter in the higher range and darker in the lower range. He means that this is natural and advises the singer to note his or her voices natural inclinations. Judith Litante also mentions in Natural Approach to Singing (p32) that the vowels used in Italian forms a basis for the study of vowels in singing. She believes that they are pure. The reason for this is that Italian vowels are a compact basis for both English and other non Latin based languages. In English one finds many diphthongs. She means that employing these pure vowels or primal sound, as previously mentioned would eliminate the distorted pronunciation of diphthongs; for example extending the last syllable when singing say, it becomes sayee or kind becomes kieend. When the vowels are aligned and the vocal structures are in a natural posision, these kinds of distortion is eradicated. 2.2 Breath management Breathing techniques need to be considered holistically and consciously controlled until it becomes an unconscious competence. Sufficient and natural supply of air is needed for voice production. A good posture is an essential part of breathing and should be developed to support the opera singer in his breath management (Brown, 2004:17). This view is supported by Mckinney (1994:46-64) who state that there is a direct and positive correlation between correct posture (diaphragm control, and muscular movements of the chest, back and abdomen) and effective breathing in singing. According to McKinney (1994:48) breathing has four stages, namely a breathing-in period (inhalation), a setting-up-controls period (suspension), a controlled-exhalation period (phonation) and a recovery period. These stages should be repeated till the opera singer has the ability to go through the stages unconsciously. This process can be compared to the person who learns to drive a motorcar and has to concentrate on each step till he gets the ability to perform all the steps automatically. For the opera singer this refers to preparing to breathe, preparing for the phrase, physically singing the phrase and recovering in order for the process to repeat. 2.3 The vibrator 2.4 The resonator 2.5 The articulator Classical Opera training and singing versus Singing pop or secular music The single most important element of opera, the one that distinguishes opera not only from spoken drama, but also from rock and pop music, from jazz and from musical theatre (as it is performed today), is the self-amplified singing voice. This is a voice produced with a classical technique, a manner of singing that projects the voice over a large orchestra in a large theatre. The learning of the singing technique this voice requires, takes years of concentrated training. This focus on singing technique is the primary focus of most singers studies. CHAPTER 3: Musicianship How the Classical Singer Accesses Demonstrates Musicianship To acquire musicianship a high level of artistic interpretation of songs and knowledge of repertoire is required through years of training. One can not over emphasize the importance of musicianship. It is simply not suffice for a musician to have a musical ear, theoretical and musical knowledge, play an instrument or respond emotionally to music. The artist must be a musician i.e. a singer (Christy Vol 1: 7). According to Miller (Principles of singing p1) a singer can acquire musicianship through classes, studying an instrument (ex. Piano), performing in choirs or through private study and the self-exploration of music. Even though a singer that has exceptional vocal talent, he should receive professional music training and the participation in solo or choral ensembles especially in the first year of study. Many vocal teachers might disagree with this statementà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ A singer with a natural talent and an ear for music must be able to imitate sounds and pitches and not just h ear this internally, for example; in a singing lesson the student listens to the vocal teacher and then imitates the vocal sound of the teacher. The same principle applies with rhythm. A sound inner sense of rhythm will contribute to the holistic musicianship of the singer. Besides musicianship, there is also the interpretation of music. According to Christy (1961: Vol 2:110) Interpretation is the emotional and artistic portrayal; the summation of all music. According to Christy (1961:Vol2:110) Musicianship is the science of music and interpretation . A good singer should be familiar with all styles of music and song literature. The singer must be trained in a style and in the interpretation of songs in a particular style. A song has a style that must be established and followed through to the end. It is possible for a singer to become comfortable with a particular style that he can do well in, but he will not realise that what he steers clear of could be very valuable for his musical development. Therefore the teacher should analyse, guide and discuss the songs with the singer, in order to identify the accompanying details of expression. (Christy 1961:Vol2:110-111). The basis of musicianship include the abilities to read and interpret rhythms and intervals, playing the piano accompaniments, acquiring knowledge of the basics of theory and harmony, music and musicians in terms of vocal and instrumental style, schools and song literature. (Christy 1961:Vol1:7) According to Christy 1961:Vol:109, (quoting Curt Atler in the art of accompanying and coaching: 1965: 219) interpretation may be defined as the singers act of expressing and communicating meaning, mood and epic, a comedy, or just an expression set to music all in capsule form. To interpret music is to express or reproduce it intrinsically by the singer, in the score. Due to the limitations in music notation, it is the responsibility of the singer to interpret and express the fine distinction between tonal colour, tempo and intensity of the composers interpretation. The expression can be found in the text and in the setting. According to Christy 1961:Vol2:112, when the same song is sung by two sensitive artists, it is highly unlikely that the general style, tone, colour and mood will be markedly different; however, dynamics, tempo, word accentuation, and innumerable details often are. Thus, the keys must be studied by the singer in order to express and keep the interpretation on trac k. The two requirements for interpretation include the fidelity to the composers intent and that it must contain an essentially creative element of the interpreters own making, illuminating the subject with fresh light. (Christy 1961:Vol1:190). Furthermore, the expression must be honest, sincere, simple and direct, which means that nothing must be added or placed over the music that will distract attention from the work itself. Also, the singer must reproduce the music with insight, imagination and vitality in his own unique way it must not be copied from others. Interpretation has four main factors including appropriate and fervent mood or emotion, eloquent diction, adequate technique and a natural, sincere stage presence. (Christy 1961:Vol1:190). EMBELLISHMENTS Embellishments comprise of, but are not limited to the appoggiatura, acciaccatura, mordent, gruppetto or turn, trill and the portamento. These are techniques that are of vital importance in the interpretation of music. In the appoggiatura, the singer usually has to apply his own taste due to its indeterminate value. There are some accented notes in a melody that form the bass of the intervals since they lean on the next note to which they descend. The appoggiatura was used by singers long before it was written down, because of the enjoyable sound and is often absent in the score. (Shakespeare: 115). The acciaccatura and mordent is different from the appoggiatura as it is written with a stroke through the stem and tail. This does not have an affect on the value of the next note but it is sung much quicker. The acciaccatura is usually a small note where as the appoggiatura is written as a whole note. (Shakespeare: 115). The gruppetto or turn is a group of three or four notes. If the higher interval is a tone, the lower tone is a semitone and if both intervals are semitones it is known as a chromatic turn. (Shakespeare: 115). Sung in rapid alternation with the note of the scale above it, the trill is an embellishment that has a principle note that belongs to the harmony of the composition. A trill is usually finished with a turn. (Shakespeare: 115). The portamento carries the voice from one interval to the next, then passing lightly through the intervening tones. It also indicates a phrase and the Legato rendering of a passage. (Behnke: The technique of singing: 99) Legato Slur Intonation Colour in the voice timbre (emotion) Following the conductor Discuss the concept of DISCIPLINE Technical aspects According to Hayward (see 1994:205) style can be interpreted in many different ways. Interpretation can be defined as communicating understanding. Interpretation can best be expressed in a persons own language according to James Nolan in his book Interpretation, Techniques and exercises. Expression and conveying of meaning, feeling and idea through sound can be defined as interpretation (Christy 1967:109). CHAPTER 4: Acting Within the South African context, this integration of The Good Voice, Musicianship and Acting is deficient. There are various reasons for this lack of attention given to the development of acting skills with singer-actors. One is that there are not many qualified tutors in South African institutions that combine the field of acting and musical performance. Another reason is the absence of appropriate development programs and relevant material in curriculums. As a result, there is less interest from students to pursue a career as a singer-actor. In support of this argument, Knobel and Steinert (2002:155) claim that the acting teacher should be just as important to you as your singing teacher and can be of great help to you throughout your singing career. Interestingly enough, contrary to this understanding are the arguments of authors such as Bean, Goldovsky and Balk, who posit that acting classes à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ are very often of little benefit to the singing actor Bean (2007:167). These two opposing views illustrate that there are no consensus among academics about the importance of acting skills (al dan nie) of the opera singer. This statement is underpinned by the neglect of some higher education institutions offering voice training, where little or no training in acting is provided. In the quotation below, Bandelj truly captures the spontaneous physiological, psychological and emotional reactions which authentic acting can bring about in the actors performance. When a singer acts and sings in a mechanical way, it often comes across as disjointed or in some cases ridiculous. It is the emotion that breathes life into the song and makes it relevant, connecting with the audience and transcending facial contortions (Bandelj, 2003:393-394). To avoid that, an actor should utilise the all the involuntary muscle contractions that emotions evoke in the body, either by recalling their own past experiences or imagining themselves personally going through what the character is experiencing. This makes the whole action more believable. Gilfrey, Bonavia agrees that the ability to act, though considerably under-estimated, is not the only or the most necessary qualification for the operatic stage. Acting in opera is a comparatively modern accomplishment (Bonavia, 1915:79). This observation, by Bonavia, pays homage to the deeply rooted tradition of well-respected opera singers being famous for their magnificence of voice; but of their skill in acting there is hardly any mention to be found anywhere (Bonavia, 1915:79). ( Dink hier aan enige ou opera wat opgevoer is en waar daar slegs aandag aan die sang gegee is) Ultimately, Bonavia contradicts (to some extent) the previous argument by identifying an exception. That is Chaliapin who, according to Bonavia, provides the audience with ever-changing shades of facial expression à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ the whole character left vividly impressed à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Chaliapin is the ideal actor (Bonavia, 1915:80). In terms of the attempts made at acting within the Opera world, there is a history and tradition of operatic gesture and the surprising persistence of melodramatic effects and gestural overstatement (Smart, 2004:26). While this is certainly applicable to the Nineteenth Century, we need to be cognisant of how this tradition of gestural overstatement may be (erroneously) assumed to be the only acting required of the singer actor in the twenty-first Century. That is, even in the times of Verdi, the role of gesture à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ (grew) à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ as formal conventions loosened (Smart, 2004:136). The appropriate question therefore is, to what extent have formal conventions loosened further, particularly in a world hallmarked by electronic media and social networking? As indicated in the introduction, Television and DVDs, have provided unrestricted access to Opera to an ever-increasing sophisticated and demanding audience in the entertainment space. This view is further reinforced by the writing of RePass (1953:10-18) who states that à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦(PL). Building the Character The creation of a character role by the singer-actor is the basis and starting-point of the combination of singing and acting. While it cannot be doubted that an excellent singing technique à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ (viz., The Good Voice and Musicianship) à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ is essential to the success of any opera singer, other skills required for a convincing performance, among them acting, are often given less attention by singers and their teachers (Gilfrey, 2007:1). Innate talent is not the sole factor as the ability of a singer-actor to create a character role is severely impacted by the cultural beliefs of what acting is and also how it is measured. When keeping this in mind it becomes evident that the creation of a character, especially in the case of singer-actors, are based on the teachings of Konstantin Stanislavsky better known as the method acting technique. The method acting technique is an approach that the Russian actor developed to whose approach stresses the internal preparation of actors (Bandelj, 2003:393). This focus differs from that of the other schools of acting namely The English School of Acting, The Bertold Brechts epic theatre and Japanese Noh Drama. The interaction experienced by the singer-actors on stage and the director with the constant feedback assures a more lifelike portrayal. The fundamental driver of method acting is the wish to reproduce reality. All (acted) behaviours and interactions need to be seen to be psychologically, emotionally and socially authentic and plausible, while concurrently acting as an integrating mechanism to the plot and to the other cast members. Drawing on his/her own experiences and observations the actor needs to appear spontaneous while using objects in both a symbolic (or metaphorical way) and a literal way (Bandelj, 2003:393). This, and the additional use of props to facilitate the portrayal of the situation, are all tied together by the passion of the actor and the pursuit of truth as art imitates life or indeed verisimilitude (Bandelj, 2003:394). The quality of the voice has much more to do with the correct training and technique, rather than the singers natural endowment, especially later in life as the singer ages. *The W questions to build a character role (also mentioned in the PowerPoint) Who? What? Where? When? Why? And HOW? Contributing Elements to Building a

Jungian Psychology and Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness Essay

As the Heart of Darkness snakes its way into the savage shadows of the African continent, Joseph Conrad exposes a psycho-geography of the collective unconscious in the entangling metaphoric realities of the serpentine Congo. Conrad’s novella descends into the unknowable darkness at the heart of Africa, taking its narrator, Marlow, on an underworld journey of individuation, a modern odyssey toward the center of the Self and the center of the Earth. Ego dissolves into soul as, in the interior, Marlow encounters his double in the powerful image of ivory-obsessed Kurtz, the dark shadow of European imperialism. The dark meditation is graced by personifications of anima in Kurtz’ black goddess, the savagely magnificent consort of the underworld, and in his porcelain -skinned Persephone, innocent intended of the upperworld. Though â€Å"Dr. Jung’s discoveries were not known to Conrad, â€Å" (Hayes, 43) who wrote this master work between 1898 and 1899, Heart of Darkne ss presents a literary metaphor of Jungian psychology. This paper explores the dark territory of Conrad’s Heart of Darkness as metaphor for the Jungian concepts of the personal and the collective unconscious, as a journey of individuation, a meeting with the anima, an encounter with the shadow, and a descent into the mythic underworld. Like Conrad’s Marlow, who is propelled toward his African destiny despite ample warning and foreboding, I have been drawn beyond the classic analysis of the Heart of Darkness, embarking down an uncharted tributary, scouting parallels between Marlow’s tale and Jung’s own journeys to Africa, and seeking murky insight into the physical and the metaphorical impact of the dark continent on the language and the landscape of depth psychology. â€Å"Africa,†... ...Aniela Jaffe. New York: Random House, 1989. Jung, C.G. Two Essays on Analytical Psychology. R.F.C. Hull. Bollingen Series XX. Princeton: Princeton U. Press, 1977. Lord, George de Forest. Trials of the Self: Heroic Ordeals in the Epic Tradition Hamden, Conn.: Archon Books, 1983. McLynn, Frank. Hearts of Darkness: The European Exploration of Africa. New York: Carol & Gey, 1992. Mellard, James. "Myth and Archetype in Heart of Darkness," Tennessee Studies in Literature 13 (1968): 1-15. Miller, David. Hells and Holy Ghosts: A Theopoetics of Christian Belief. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1989. Smith, Evans Lansing. Rape and Revelation: The Descent to the Underworld in Modernism. Lanham, Maryland: University Press of America, 1990. Spivack, Charlotte. "The Journey to Hell: Satan, The Shadow, and the Self." Centennial Review 9:4 (1965): 420 - 437.

Gender Inequality Essay

It is not up for debate whether women are discriminated against in the workplace it is evident in census data; in 1998 women made 73 cents to the dollar paid to men. Even today, there is still a pay gap that exists between women and men. It is said that the organizations that are pro-equal pay, including some unions, support the idea that the government should set wages for all jobs. To the contrary, the organizations that are proponents of equal pay are not for job wages being set by the government-they wish to have the discrimination taken out of pay scales from within the company. Commonly, this pay gap is attributed to the fact that women in the United States are still expected to attend to familial obligations over work. Data shows that women do attend to family obligations, like having a child, caring for a sick family member, or caring for an elder; but they also do not give up on work. Yes, women often chose lower paying jobs in exchange for flexible hours and do spend a lower number of hours per week long-term at their jobs than their male counterparts. Because women are socialized to be the primary care givers they are kept at these lower paying jobs that are more flexible, the jobs allow them to care for their family yet still retain an income (possibly a second income for the household). Women’s changing roles in society has resulted in this workplace problem. Women are allowed and often encouraged to work but they are not rewarded or compensated at the same level, for their efforts, that men in the work force are. The pay gap would be narrowed if companies were more conducive to family schedules. Men and women would receive equal pay for the same job. Companies would benefit by retaining quality employees. Men and women need to start out making the same amount of money for the same job, companies need to offer women ample maternity leave, families need to be offered childcare (or childcare compensation), there needs to be a flexible work environment, and men should never be discouraged from taking paternity leave. It seems that women workers have reached a plateau in society. In order for women to be respected as men are) in the workplace there needs to be a redistribution of domestic and family work. It’s acceptable now for women to work; but this acceptance into the workforce has not drastically changed what they, women, are expected to perform at home. There is no way for women to move forward to equality in pay if they are not recognized as contributors to their job (i.e. women are still expected to perform outside of work in the family setting as well in a way that men are only expected to perform at work and not at home). As soon as more domestic and family work is allocated to men than women will be able to attain equal pay. Women, with less work at home, will be able to commit to full time jobs, have to leave the workforce less, take less leave, and be able to climb the corporate ladder just as men are today. Since 1942, gender inequality, at least in pay, can be traced. In 1942 the National War Labor Board issued a general order that authorized employers to make voluntary adjustments in salaries or pay in order to demonstrate gender equality (at least in jobs were women and men worked the exact same job and had comparable quality and quantity of work) (CNN). Rates of women in labor unions has been increasing since they have entered the workforce. Even with the increase of women union numbers this inequality of pay still exists. Women are encouraged by unions and other organizations to sue their employer if they are being treated unfairly in the workplace. Women are unlikely to pursue this option against their employers because of limited resources, i.e. money and time. Gender discrimination in the workplace is not only evident in the pay gap but also in sexual harassment and the â€Å"glass ceiling† in organizations. The term glass ceiling began as a reference to discrimination against women in the work force. â€Å"Glass ceiling† encompasses many different kinds of discrimination against women workers including but not limited to: differences in pay for comparable work, sexual harassment in the workplace, and companies that do not have family-friendly policies. The glass ceiling is an unwritten rule in many businesses. The ceiling is an invisible barrier that usually affects minorities and women. This barrier is extremely debilitating for women in their job because it makes them feel inferior and that their bosses do not take them seriously because of their sex. Women feel that their bosses aren’t taking them seriously because the bosses do not view them as potential candidates for the most prestigious positions in the establishment. The glass ceiling is another oppressive means used by corporate America to keep women out of powerful positions and keep them from raking in a lot of money; in terms of their gross income. A study done by the U.S Department of Labor in 1991 reviewed nine Fortune 500 companies and the results confirmed that workers in these companies, minorities and women especially, came into contact with the invisible barrier, â€Å"the glass ceiling†, very early on in their careers. The U.S. Supreme Court has designated two different types of sexual harassment in workplaces: Type 1 and Type 2. Type 1 is harassment that directly results in an employment outcome (ex. the harasser would say that if you don’t do X you will lose your job). Sexual harassment of Type 2 is not nearly as direct but creates a hostile work environment for the harassed worker. This hostile in environment can be created by rude gestures, sabotaged work, inappropriate name calling, vulgar jokes, unnecessary touching, comment on the appearance of others (physical attributes), etc. Women are now surpassing men in the amount of education, in years and higher degrees, they have. If the workforce does not allow them to pursue executive career options then they will find themselves unable to fill these positions. Women in 1996 earned 1,255,057 college degrees as compared to men who earned 992,638 degrees (Career Planning). The ever increasing amount of women furthering their education makes them more likely to want to enter the job market. Also, the longer a woman is in school the longer she will be in the workforce, when she enters it, because it is likely that she will delay childbearing. Even though female graduates may be even more qualified for a position than her male counterpart the woman will be much more likely to be recommended for a job as an assistant or secretary job than the man. She will be told that this assistant or secretarial job is her way to get her foot in the door at the company. The employers will act like this is a typical entry-level position when in fact a man in the same situation will immediately begin at a much higher level in the company. Women are over represented in the lower paying jobs in the company- almost all assistants and secretarial positions are filled by women while men crowd the top and fill the most prestigious positions in the company. This concentration of men at the top and women at the bottom is called â€Å"occupational segregation†. I began the Intro to Critical Feminist Studies course with a very clear idea of what feminism is yet I was hesitant to call myself a feminist. A feminist, to me, is someone who advocates for women’s rights and their equality as compared to men. Women and men are equal yet both are very different. A feminist is someone who capitalizes on and embraces the differences between men and women. Anyone can be a feminist but feminism, to me, means only advocating for women’s issues like gender discrimination in the workplace. Through the semester my definition of feminism has not changed drastically; yet I am much more willing to associate myself with this movement/name. My hesitation in calling myself a feminist was based on worries about the social implications of the word â€Å"feminist†. I don’t judge people merely because they attach this label to themselves or associate with other â€Å"feminists† so there must have been some deeper concern about the social implications of being one, a feminist. I don’t think that individuals necessarily associate being a feminist with negative things but that socially, in group situations and in the larger context of society and politics, being labeled as a feminist will limit your options. Specifically, I am concerned with the implications of being a â€Å"feminist† in the workplace. The workplace, to me, is the center of the politically correct and somehow labeling yourself a feminist makes you politically incorrect and socially awkward. Labeling yourself a feminist, ironically, attributes a male characteristic to you, i.e. confidence. Because feminists are labeled with this confidence and that they have such a clear idea of what injustices against women are they are outcasts. This topic, gender discrimination in the workplace, is related to a topic in my previous papers, women and healthcare. The job market is probably the most influential factor in an individual’s ability to obtain health insurance. This job-place discrimination against women indirectly affects the quality of healthcare available to most American women. It’s important to me to have equality in the workplace because I am a women and I don’t deserve to make less money than a male-counterpart just because of my sex. Even if it is the case that women are in and out of the labor force (more than men) because of familial obligations there is no cause for this discrimination in the workplace. Women are in and out of the labor market caring for men, men’s children, and men’s relatives yet women get paid less than men for the same job. There is even more cause for the wage gap to be closed because women’s roles are changing; many women are both mothers an d workers. In the past, maybe it was OK (not just but socially acceptable) for women to make less money than men because men were the providers and the woman’s income was play money. This is no longer the case. Women are now equal providers for their family, possibly the bigger earner, and frequently the sole provider for their household (single moms etc.). A female that just graduated from college with a major in marketing calls an agency to schedule an interview. She gets to the interview on time, well dressed, and ready to be hired. The interview proceeds and the interviewer is impressed with her resume; but is very interested in her typing speed. The interviewer takes the recent grad to another room, a computer lab, where she is sat down and prepared to take a typing test-to determine her words per minute. While typing, she sees an acquaintance of hers from school and he is applying to work for the agency as well. Her male acquaintance is interviewed by the same person yet he is immediately suggested for a position in the company without taking a typing test. The interviewer suggested the taping test for the female grad because having good typing skills would help her get her â€Å"foot in the door†, i.e. she could start out as an assistant or secretary. Even though both prospective employees, the woman and the man, had equit able educations the woman was not encouraged/allowed by the interviewer to enter the ranks of the business as anyone but a secretary (Career Planning). Some examples of gender discrimination in the workplace are: women not being hired for a position (which they are qualified for) because the company’s long-time clients feel more comfortable dealing with men, during company cutbacks men with the same job with less seniority keep their job over a woman who has been working for the company for a long time, and women not being able to attain a promotion even though they qualify for it (the woman has exemplary reviews and has earned many awards in her position (like employee of the year, etc.) the promotion is given to a less qualified male). After the National War Labor Board issued general order sixteen the fight for equal pay continues. President John F. Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act in 1963. This Act signed by JFK applied to 27.5 million workers (both men and women) and required â€Å"employees doing work requiring equal skill, effort and responsibility- and work performed under similar working conditions-be paid equal wages† (CNN). In subsequent years, following both the general order sixteen and the Equal Pay Act, numerous bills and acts have been passed to guarantee women and men equal pay for the same job; yet the pay gap still exists today. A more recent statistic on the pay difference, from 2000, found that women still make .80 cents to the dollar that’s paid to their male counterparts (GAO). A few women have been compensated for their lost wages. The Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, OFCCP, began reviewing corporate management systems in 1993. The OFCCP began the review process after President Bill Clinton signed the Family and Medical Leave Act. This Act protects workers jobs guaranteeing them at least twelve months of unpaid leave due to the birth of a child or extreme family circumstances (someone is very ill, etc.). These reviews of corporate management systems has been instrumental in paying back wages to women. One of the OFCCP’s reviews included an evaluation of Fairfax Hospital in Virginia. The hospital, as a result of its preliminary review by the OFCCP, agreed to pay over $425,000 in back wages to 52 female workers ; these workers were â€Å"employed in the top six grades of the hospital’s personnel structure† (CNN). Also, after the hospital’s review they gave 44 out of the 52 women pay raises, which gave these individuals more than $178,000 (extra) in total. These raises account for more than $4,000 a year extra income for each woman. Out of all the corporate reviews by OFCCP, the largest settlement was with CoreStates Financial Institution in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As a result of their review CoreStates paid more than 1.5 million dollars to women and minorities to compensate them for (past) pay discrimination. In addition to paying the 1.5 million dollars to workers CoreStates paid more than â€Å"334,000†, in salary adjustments to 76 women and 66 members of minorities† (CNN). The monetary compensation does not address the root of why women are paid less than men. If companies are willing to settle with the OFCCP and pay lost wages to female workers then they obviously recognize the injustice they are committing in the pay scales. Even with the passage of numerous acts that require employers to give equal pay the gap still continues between women and men’s salaries. From the 1960’s when JFK signed the Equal Pay Act the number of women workers was at an all-time high. From the beginning of the 60’s to the mid 70’s more than half the increase in the amount of workers in the labor force was made up of women. Most of these women were married and delayed having children so they could stay in the labor force longer. Even though women’s primary obligations are to their families they still do remain in the workforce after having children. Families can’t make it without the second income provided by the female. Women are in and out of the labor force but only to recover from childbirth; the number of working moms in 2006 was over 2.6 million. More than 72 percent of mothers in the Unites States, with children under the age of 18, are either employed part or full-time. Women are in hostile environments at home and at work. Women are paid less than men for the same job, are sexually harassed at work, and are cornered into low paying demeaning work. Even though women are expected to be equal providers for their family they are also expected to be the primary caretaker of their family. It is impossible for women to excel in both arenas if they are not granted equality. This equality would include either redistribution of domestic and family work (while women continue to work in the office) or equal respect for â€Å"women’s work† (women staying at home while men work in the office).

Battle of Big Bethel - American Civil War

Battle of Big Bethel - American Civil War The Battle of Big Bethel was fought June 10, 1861, during the American Civil War (1861-1865). Following the Confederate attack on Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861, President Abraham Lincoln called for 75,000 men to aid in putting down the rebellion. Unwilling to provide soldiers, Virginia instead elected to leave the Union and join the Confederacy. As Virginia mobilized its state forces, Colonel Justin Dimick prepared to defend Fort Monroe at the tip of the peninsula between the York and James Rivers. Situated on Old Point Comfort, the fort commanded Hampton Roads and part of the Chesapeake Bay. Easily resupplied by water, its land approaches consisted of a narrow causeway and isthmus which were covered by the forts guns. After refusing an early surrender request from the Virginia militia, Dimicks situation became stronger after April 20 when two Massachusetts militia regiments arrived as reinforcements. These forces continued to be augmented over the next month and on May 23 Major General Benjamin F. Butler assumed command. As the garrison swelled, the forts grounds were no longer sufficient to encamp the Union forces. While Dimick had established Camp Hamilton outside the forts walls, Butler sent a force eight miles northwest to Newport News on May 27. Taking the town, the Union troops constructed fortifications which were dubbed Camp Butler. Guns were soon emplaced which covered the James River and the mouth of the Nansemond River. Over the following days, both Camps Hamilton and Butler continued to be enlarged. In Richmond, Major General Robert E. Lee, commanding the Virginia forces, increasingly became concerned regarding Butlers activity. In an effort to contain and push back Union forces, he directed Colonel John B. Magruder take troops down the Peninsula. Establishing his headquarters at Yorktown on May 24, he commanded around 1,500 men including some troops from North Carolina. Armies Commanders: Union Major General Benjamin ButlerBrigadier General Ebenezer Peirce Confederate Colonel John B. MagruderColonel Daniel H. Hill Magruder Moves South On June 6, Magruder sent a force under Colonel D.H. Hill south to Big Bethel Church which was approximately eight miles from the Union camps. Assuming a position on the heights north of the west branch of the Back River, he commenced building a series of fortifications across the road between Yorktown and Hampton including a bridge over the river. To support this position, Hill built a redoubt across the river on his right as well as works covering a ford to his left. As construction moved along at Big Bethel, he pushed a small force of around 50 men south to Little Bethel Church where an outpost was established. Having assumed these positions, Magruder began harassing Union patrols. Butler Responds Aware that Magruder had a substantial force at Big Bethel, Butler wrongly assumed that the garrison at Little Bethel was of a similar size. Desiring to push the Confederates back, he directed Major Theodore Winthrop of his staff to devise an attack plan. Calling for converging columns from Camps Butler and Hamilton, Winthrop intended to mount a night assault on Little Bethel before pushing on to Big Bethel. On the night of June 9-10, Butler put 3,500 men in motion under the overall command of Brigadier General Ebenezer W. Peirce of the Massachusetts militia. The plan called for Colonel Abram Duryees 5th New York Volunteer Infantry to leave Camp Hamilton and sever the road between Big and Little Bethel before attacking the latter. They were to be followed by Colonel Frederick Townsends 3rd New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment which would provide support. As troops were departing Camp Hamilton, detachments of the 1st Vermont and 4th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, under Lieutenant Colonel Peter T. Washburn, and Colonel John A. Bendixs 7th New York Volunteer were to advance from Camp Butler. These were to meet Townsends regiment and form a reserve. Concerned about the green nature of his men and confusion at night, Butler directed that Union troops wear a white band on their left arm and use the password Boston. Unfortunately, Butlers messenger to Camp Butler failed to pass on this information. Around 4:00 AM, Duryees men were in position and Captain Judson Kilpatrick captured the Confederate pickets. Before the 5th New York could attack they heard gunfire in their rear. This proved to be Bendixs men accidentally firing on Townsends regiment as they approached. As the Union had yet to standardize its uniforms, the situation was increasingly confused as the 3rd New York wore gray. Pushing On Restoring order, Duryee and Washburn recommended that the operation be canceled. Unwilling to do so, Peirce elected to continue the advance. The friendly fire incident alerted Magruders men to the Union attack and the men at Little Bethel withdrew. Pushing on with Duryees Regiment in the lead, Peirce occupied and burned Little Bethel Church before marching north towards Big Bethel. As the Union troops approached, Magruder had just settled his men into their lines having aborted a movement against Hampton. Having lost the element of surprise, Kilpatrick further alerted the enemy to the Union approach when he shot at the Confederate pickets. Partially screened by trees and buildings, Peirces men began to arrive on the field. Duryees regiment was the first to attack and was turned back by heavy enemy fire. Union Failure Deploying his troops astride the Hampton Road, Peirce also brought up three guns overseen by Lieutenant John T. Greble. Around noon, the 3rd New York advanced and attacked the forward Confederate position. This proved unsuccessful and Townsends men sought cover before withdrawing. In the earthworks, Colonel W.D. Stuart feared that he was being outflanked and withdrew to the main Confederate line. This allowed the 5th New York, which had been supporting Townsends regiment to capture the redoubt. Unwilling to cede this position, Magruder directed reinforcements forward. Left unsupported, the 5th New York was forced to retreat. With this setback, Peirce directed attempts to turn the Confederate flanks. These too proved unsuccessful and Winthrop was killed. With the battle becoming a stalemate, Union troops and artillery continued firing on Magruders men from building on the south side of the creek. When a sortie to burn these structures was forced back, he directed his artillery to destroy them. Successful, the effort exposed Grebles guns which continued firing. As the Confederate artillery concentrated on this position, Greble was struck down. Seeing that no advantage could be gained, Peirce ordered his men to begin leaving the field. Aftermath Though pursued by a small force of Confederate cavalry, the Union troops reached their camps by 5:00 PM. In the fighting at Big Bethel, Peirce sustained 18 killed, 53 wounded, and 5 missing while Magruders command incurred 1 killed and 7 wounded. One of the first Civil War battles to be fought in Virginia, Big Bethel led Union troops to halt their advance up the Peninsula. Though victorious, Magruder also withdrew to a new, stronger line near Yorktown. Following the Union defeat at First Bull Run the following month, Butlers forces were reduced which further hampered operations. This would change the following spring when Major General George B. McClellan arrived with the Army of the Potomac at the start of the Peninsula Campaign. As Union troops moved north, Magruder slowed their advance using a variety of tricks during the Siege of Yorktown.

Fish Characteristics and Differences From Other Animals

Fish Characteristics and Differences From Other Animals Fish - that word may conjure up a variety of images, from colorful animals swimming peacefully around a reef to brightly-colored fish in an aquarium to something white and flaky on your dinner plate. What is a fish? Here you can learn more about the characteristics of fish, and what sets them apart from other animals. Fish come in a wide variety of colors, shapes, and sizes - theres the largest fish, the 60 foot long whale shark, popular seafood fish such as cod and tuna, and completely different-looking animals such as seahorses, sea dragons, and pipefish. In all, about 20,000 species of marine fish have been identified. Anatomy Fish swim by flexing their bodies, forming waves of contractions along their muscles. These waves push water backward and move the fish forward. One of the most notable features of fish are their fins - many fish have a dorsal fin and anal fin (near the tail, on the underside of the fish) that provide stability. They may have one, two or even three dorsal fins. They may also have pectoral and pelvic (ventral) fins to help with propulsion and steering. They also have a caudal fin or tail. Most fish have scales covered with a slimy mucus that helps protect them. They have three main types of scales: Cycloid (roundish, thin and flat), ctenoid (scales that have tiny teeth on their edges),  and ganoid (thick scales that are rhomboid in shape).   Fish have gills for breathing - the fish inhales water through its mouth, which passes over the gills, where hemoglobin in the fishs blood absorbs oxygen. Fish may also have a lateral line system, which detects movement in the water, and a swim bladder, which the fish uses for buoyancy.   Classification Kingdom: AnimaliaPhylum: Chordata The fishes are divided into two superclasses: Gnathostomata, or vertebrates with jaws, and the Agnatha, or jawless fishes. Jawed fishes: Class Elasmobranchii, the elasmobranchs: Sharks and rays, who have a skeleton made of cartilageClass Actinopterygii, the ray-finned fishes: fish with skeletons made of bone, and spines in their fins (e.g., cod, bass, clownfish/anemonefish, seahorses)Class Holocephali, the chimerasClass Sarcopterygii, the lobe-finned fish, the coelacanth and lungfishes. Jawless fishes: Class Cephalaspidomorphi, the lampreysClass Myxini, the hagfishes Reproduction With thousands of species, reproduction in fish can be remarkably different. Theres the seahorse - the only species in which the male gives birth. And then there are species like cod, in which females release 3-9 million eggs into the water column. And then there are sharks. Some shark species are oviparous, meaning they lay eggs. Others are viviparous and give birth to live young. Within these live-bearing species, some have placenta-like human babies and others do not. Habitat and Distribution Fish are distributed in a wide variety of habitats, both marine, and freshwater, throughout the world. Fish have even been found as deep as 4.8 miles beneath the ocean surface.

Can one teach people to be good Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Can one teach people to be good - Essay Example Education philosophy helps the student to develop himself into a good human, in addition to acquiring the required skills to solve the present day problems. Education is a process of inculturation, into some specific culture. This process transpires, informally in the family, church, media, government and the press. Educational institutions enable formal enculturation. Thus, interaction between the people and society is of great significance. People share values and behaviour, and education transmits values to the succeeding generations(Kritsonis). In general, the good inherent in a society is transmitted to the pupils. The long established philosophies serve to influence the perceptions of the people, and education transmits these philosophies. There are several factors that determine the effectiveness of education. These include instruction, curriculum, role of the teacher, role of the student, and the commitment of the school to effect change(Kritsonis). Educational philosophy nurtures the character of individuals, helps them to gain knowledge, and makes them ready to undertake responsibility in each and every aspect of their life. Teenagers are enabled to obtain the elements of mankind, and this places them in a better position to circumvent social problems (Hassan, 2009, p. 466). Through educational philosophy, one can teach good things to others in a much simpler manner. Educational philosophy consists of some important factors. These are based on the manner in which children acquire knowledge, the objective behind education and schools, and the function of the teacher. These elements permit one to assess the subjects to be taught and the procedure to be adopted in such teaching. Moreover, classroom management and discipline techniques have a direct bearing on the elements of educational philosophy(Widick). Philosophy of education emerged predominantly from the analytical efforts of the English thinkers. However, education issues were not strangers to the classical philosophers, such as Plato, Aristotle and Socrates, and the more recent stalwarts, like Kant and Dewey. Nevertheless, the pioneering work in this genre has been deemed to be that of C. D. Hardy(Seshadri, 2008). From the perspective of Emotional Literacy Education, it is incumbent upon every individual to comprehend himself and other individuals. On the other hand, the extant education system is founded on the belief that every person should acquire the ability to perform arithmetical calculations, read and write(Zimmerman, 2005). These latter accomplishments enable the student to obtain a certain degree of economic capability. Mere economic capability cannot enable a man to attain knowledge that is useful for leading a happy and productive life. Despite the seemingly pragmatic approach of the existing educational system, there are quite a few drawbacks. For instance, no method is taught by means of which the pupil can achieve happiness, which has been described as an emotional and economic state. This resulted in the emergence of Emotional Literacy Education, which employ terms that enable a student to evaluate his emotional beliefs(Zimmerman, 2005). Emotional beliefs cannot resolve problems in a meaningful manner. This is the major drawback with the present educational system. The stalwarts of education philosophy, of the ilk of Prof. R.S. Peters have declared that

Strategic Management and Strategic Competitiveness Essay - 9

Strategic Management and Strategic Competitiveness - Essay Example Having being founded in 1984, the company has extensively invested in geothermal energy under the leadership of John Watson, the current chairman and CEO. Chevron success has not only been based on the product diversification but also due to merger and acquisition strategies that it has adopted. Some of the notable companies that Chevron has acquired include Texaco in 2000, GM Ovonics, Unocal Corporation and ATLAS Energy Incorporation among others. Chevron Corporation is an international company that has established outlets in many countries that includes Angola, Australia, Azerbaijan, Brazil, Cambodia, Liberia, Kuwait, Russia, Thailand, Ukraine and Malaysia among may other countries. In this way, the company has been able to effectively distribute its brands resulting to high sales and sustainable profit. In order to ensure that the company meets the needs of all its stakeholders, Chevron supports diversity while at the same time it fosters inclusion. The company has rich diversity of ideas that has been generated by experienced and skilled workforce. Most importantly, the company has maintained The Chevron Way, which indicates that Chevron learns from and respect the cultures in which it operates. Additionally, the company is committed to being recognized as a global leader that backs its strategies with quantifiable results. During its operations, Chevron undertakes its operations in a way that indicates respect for its emp loyees as well as the world community. One of the company achievements is that it was the first major energy firm to involve sexual orientation in its nondiscriminatory working policies. In 2012, Chevron was honored as the top corporation by Women Business Enterprise National Council due to its ability to provide adequate opportunities to women entrepreneurs. Similarly, the company was recognized in 2012 and was awarded Diversity Leader Award due to it commitment to diversity as well