Essential Foundations of the Public Relations

Introduction Over the last three decades, a lot of scholarly research has been accomplished in the field of public relations. The framework under which the early researches were based on has, however, in the modern day, faced a lot of criticism with the majority of the critics claiming that the PR model of communication presents a two way communication, which stands out as utterly symmetrical (Karla 177).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Essential Foundations of the Public Relations specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Early scholars set subtle grounds for the subsequent researches. In their natures, these foundations have taken rigid dominance in the theorization of the public relations’ scholarly researches. This dominance has served to give rise to pros and cons of the initial and hence the traditional theories of public relations. One specified pro of the theories stems from the fact that, over the years su ch theories have undergone numerous tests, with most of the scholars confirming their claims. Consequently, the theories have remained in force and viable within a wider public spectra. In line with this argument, Karla claims that, â€Å"dominant research theories are furthered and new theories emerge† (178). If, an organization has to excel in its public relations endeavours, a prerequisite is placed on it to change its behaviours and approaches to the discipline so as to become part and parcel of the organization’s â€Å"dominant coalition or decision making body† (Karla 179). In this context, therefore, a magnificent endeavour of the early, PR theorist was to enhance professionalization of the PR (Grunig 29). Conflicting roles of the PR professional have also been registered with some scholars claiming that, PR managers have, at times, concentrated in execution of duties, which could have otherwise been delegated to the technical PR staff. As a repercussion, the PR concerns may be argued as a represented differently in theory and actual practice. More recently a lot of enthusiasm has emerged especially in attempts to scrutinize the position of PR in an organization as part of the management function. According to Curtin and Gaither, there exists four main criticisms of the paradigm of the public relations: â€Å"the definition of public relations as a management function; the reliance on functional, transmission models of communication; the emphasis on organizational-level theory; and the failure to recognize the primacy of power in relationships† (110).Advertising Looking for essay on communications media? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The emerging perspectives about the new media have given rise to lots of enthusiasm in some quarters. This paper seeks to scrutinize whether the existing enthusiasm to the new media is justifiable, explore the various implications, on th e one hand, public relations practice relating to traditional media and on the other for, long term future of those media. However, to explore this topic, endeavours are made to unveil whether, if anything is distinctive about new media technologies from a PR practitioner’s perspective and what benefits to PR practice they bring. The critics of the PR are also essential to be given a glance especially those which attribute it to profit making endeavours. New media technologies from a PR practitioner’s perspective and the benefits they bring to PR practice From a wider perspective, there exist no broad distinctions between traditional media and the new media (social media) in terms of relations. In case of traditional media, â€Å"practitioners identify reporters and editors and build relationships with them in order to get client news disseminated† (Horton 5). On the other hand, in the social media, the main objective of the practitioner is to identify likely in fluential participants and the rest of the approach is just like in the traditional media: build relationships for the purposes enhancing communication. Opposed to the old media technologies such as the newspaper, radio or television, the emerging technologies such as face book or twitter are more essentially social based. Horton posits that, â€Å"newspapers are withering; net work television has watched audiences decline, radio is splintered and magazines are shrinking† (1). On the other hand, more human traffic in social networks is on the rise. Consequently, with this form of trends in communication, PR practitioners have no choice other than shifting to new media means of communication, particularly with the number of the reporters of the traditional medial escaping from their traditional occupations. Despite incredible call for change with time, the new media pose lots of challenges especially in terms of effectiveness and efficacy in communication. One evident challeng e is that, the initial attempts to departmentalize communication have altogether been eroded. In fact, â€Å" the public and the universal nature of social media means that all the audiences can read communication intended for any one communication† (Horton 1). As a way of compounding this problem, practitioners are always unsure that the communication reaches all the intended audiences.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Essential Foundations of the Public Relations specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This is perhaps due to existences of communication fragmentations in case the practitioner opts for the new media to deliver messages. As Horton observes, â€Å"social media are so fragmented that an individual may not see the information in a blog or a face book page or tweet† (1). In actual sense the new media, serves to disperse information just like some traditional media for instance newspapers and ma gazines would do. The fact that some information was posted in a newspaper does not guarantee that the target audience would read it. This is what new media serves to propagate on a large scale globally. However, through perhaps deployment of mathematical concepts of probability, it standouts more likely to read some article in a newspaper than it would to read it in a social media carrying millions of blogs. Consequently, it may be argued that, the new media worsen the problem of information dispersion. Furthermore, new media ensures information accessibility, but does not provide a warrant that the information will be viewed. In actual sense, an immense effort by a practitioner to reach a wide range of audiences turns out as of little results due to the evident communication fragmentation in the new media. Despite the existence of technologies that permit an individual to determine the influence of a certain blog posted on a social media site, such techniques are been argued as no t straight forward. Such technologies enable one to determine the nature of friends who are subscribed to a new media site such as face book or twitter. Unfortunately, none of such technologies provide a warrant that one would reach the audience that he or she is targeting. Worse still, there exists no bureau that can carry out auditing of the information under circulation through the social networks. Additionally, social media present a challenge in terms of information distribution time. According to Horton, â€Å" to use social media effectively requires learning ones way into each medium and building trust with participants, do campaigns and clients allow one to spend that form of time† (2). Social media demands the practitioner to have established a relationship with the audience. Unless the practitioner had had communicated with such audience for some time before, to orient the audience so as to embrace his or her attention, it would clearly call for commitment of a lot of time: something that may not be so desirable from the practitioner’s perspective point of view.Advertising Looking for essay on communications media? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More As Horton comments, â€Å"agency practitioners especially face the challenge of communication timing because they often work on multiple accounts in different industries† (4). However, such challenges need not make a practitioner rule out the possibilities of using social media in communication since rewards exists in employment of the new media in communication. As Spicer notes, â€Å"Facebook users build audiences of like minds and interests and thus one can reach these self-identified audiences with a laser-like focus to communicate client messages effectively and efficiently† (115). New media circulates information without an individual’s knowledge, something that serves as an additional advantage especially bearing in mind that the message sent will not require the practitioner to pay for such circulations. Critique of public relations Over the years, several critiques have been advanced in relation to public relations. Many of these critiques see public re lations as a profit making administrative endeavour opposed to the perceived intents of improvement of the service delivery. Miller and Dinan see public relations as, â€Å"a means of taking risks out of democracy† (11). To them the perceived risks entail seeking a mechanism of taking full control of a pool of workers. The modern public relations consequently, seems to stem from the need to extend such functions of the public relations in an attempt to constitute â€Å" a cutting edge of campaigns to ensure liberal democratic societies do not respond to the will of people and the vested interests prevail† (Miller and Dinan 12). In this context, PR is depicted as propaganda oriented form of democracy. New media technologies may not thus escape criticism especially when PR concerns are incorporated into it. Somewhat some of the criticism that is crucial to consider includes the ones raised by Carl Byoirs. Carl Byoirs was particularly interested in adoption of third parti es techniques deemed subtle for the manipulation of the public debates. â€Å"Front groups could be created by influencing the leaders of the co-placement group and by forming new fronts† (Grunig White 57). In this context, media is viewed as a tool of manipulation and subversion of the reality. Unfortunately, Byoirs’ practices were nothing to be acceptable before the eyes of the law, and when the whistle was blown on his activities between n 1930 and 1940s, his firm was convicted and charged $5,000. Since the times of Byoirs, according to Miller and Dinan, â€Å"manipulation and deceit have been the defining characteristics of the public relation s industry† (12). Conventionally, many critics of the PR are inclined to the opinion that PR is executed for some vested interests mainly by large corporations of which media may not be segregated from them. Scrutinizing the clientele of any successful PR firm reveals that the majority of its clients are the large cor porations. This has consequences of creation of imbalances between the citizens and the tools of the propulsion of the economies through production: corporations. Its practice â€Å"is not open and transparent about its means or even about its clients and interests it is working for† (Miller and Dinan 13). However, it needs not be taken that all PR practitioners consciously lie despite the fact that PR calls for some means of the management of cognitive dissonance (Miller and Dinan 13). More importantly, in as much as the association of PR with desires to lie, it is evident that public interests and the private interests hardly get directly congruent. As Maloney observes, â€Å" corporate spin doctors and agencies consequently have no choices rather than lying unconsciously since their job entangles at the most basic level, an attempt to align the sectional interests of their principles (employers or clients) with general interests† (30). The idea here is not to arrive at the conclusion that PR endeavours are geared toward conspiracy. The argument is all about the ideas of the PR firms to equate the private and public interests, which result to negative repercussions to the public interests aspects, since by the fact that this two interests are not similar, more often than not, public interests get undermined. PR also is considered by its critiques as aimed at subversion of the clients interests opposed to its disguised intents of promotion of democratic debates. On the other hand, Bernays feels that, PR faces a given draw back since, â€Å"corporate social responsibility and other ethical activities are all subordinates to the corporate strategy, and that it has played a crucial role at the cutting edge of corporate power in the neoliberal revolution† (67). In this context, it may be argued that in as much as corporations may be doing marvellous from one front, in some other front, it may stand out evident that they are attempting to safe guard their vested interests which do not necessarily conform to the interests of the public. As a way of example, during the case of involvement of the shell corporation in the international chamber of commerce, â€Å"mantra heard from devotees about building the business case for CSR is about more than making money out of ethical and green activities as a tool to ensure binding regulation is resisted and indeed rolled back† (Miller Dinan 10). Corporations, on the other hand, have proactively involved themselves in campaigning for the media and political partisans giving rise to neoliberal concerns. New media, despite its illustrious championed efforts to make sure that it provides a better representation of the public concerns through refraining from political partisans and campaigning for political elites, suffers from the need to protect and quest for some of its own vested interests. Such vested interests with political attachments ensure the continued presence of a fir m in the communications market, since political institutions contribute, by far, in promotions of those firms that are inclined to their affiliations. It is particularly intriguing for media to take opposing stands to the political regimes which by far will affect their future performance. This reason may perhaps prompt the PR approached in the management of the new media to borrow widely from the traditional media practices and carry on the attempts to maintain public in some form of disguised lies: all with the intent to protect the firm’s own vested interests. New media concerns are more driven by the spirit of change. Given that PR plays pivotal roles in the management of the human resource, the inclusion of PR â€Å" as a communicative consequence of business, interests and case group activity â€Å" (Miller Dinan 25) may not be isolated from such endeavours. However, communication acts a vital tool available to the PR to enhance inculcation of spirit of fame in an at tempt to get things done. Look, for instance, the main responsibilities of PR in any organization. It is charged with conflicts resolution, motivation and handling of disputes emanating from the firm and the worker’s unions of the organization in question. Through its well organized structures of communication, the PR has to ensure that its strategies gets a competitive advantage amongst the parties involved in conflict if at all it has to provide foundations, which are vital to ensure the problem being handled will not repeat itself in future. This approach is widely criticized as geared towards prejudicing the spirit of democracy among the workers since, it seeks to convince perhaps without adequate grounds on why such solutions are necessary. According to Miller and Dinan, â€Å"†¦..International communication is another activity that fits only partially within the definition of PR as a measure to ensure competitive communication advantage† (25). Some of the in clusions comprise internal communications, workers motivations, and reward systems among others. Majority of these tasks are constructed by two main interests: employer and the employees. The question remains; what side is more favoured. Is firm in question; created to make profits for the benefit of the employer or to make a profit for the purposes of provision of employment opportunities to the employees? According to Bernays â€Å" public opinion, narrowly defined is the thought of a society at any given time toward a given object; broadly conceived, it is the power of a group to sway the larger public in its altitude† (p.1). Given the ability of the PR to accomplish swaying action to the general workforce, it is evident that claims that the PR is responsible for manipulation bear substance. Aims and objectives of PR and media industries in the wider media landscape Just like any other professional discipline, public relation has a specified scope of tasks. In a broader se nse, public relations practitioners fall into two categories. The first category is dominated by those practitioners who see themselves as communication managers, and the other sphere being constructed by PR practitioners who see themselves as technicians of the communication. As Berkowitz and Ilias lament, â€Å" within these two groups, the managers role has been broken down into two subgroups related to how a communication manager fits into organizational process† (102). Some studies such the one conducted in 1989 by Belz et al reveal that journalistic roles are evident in both the public relations practitioners and the journalists. However, the other hand both the journalists and the public relations practitioners held a different opinion on matters concerning roles, aims, and responsibilities of public relations (130). From a wider perspective, the differences are traceable from existing socialization and the education between the two practices. â€Å"Some studies have found that media organizations and the journalistic practices taking place are linked to journalists perceived roles† (Berkowitz Ilias 104). Furthermore, Berkowitz and Ilias are to the opinion that, â€Å"the actual differences among journalists are likely much smaller than the differences among public relations practitioners subscribing to mangers or technician roles† (104). As priory mentioned, public relations practitioners essentially assume the roles of communication managers and communication technicians. However, Leichty and Springston perceive this as a traditional dichotomy of PR roles and alternatively proposes four roles accorded to the PR practitioners: â€Å" generalists, the internals, the outliers and traditional managers† (467). However, by careful scrutiny of these four roles, it is evident that the traditional managers’ roles assume remarkably little technical roles and hence it can remain as a significant sub division of the roles of th e PR by its own. On the other hand, the other three roles are more of technical oriented. Consequently, their classification into one group: technical roles are perhaps still valid. As a result, the classification of roles of the PR following the Leichty and Springston criteria is barely a further division of the original traditional PR dichotomy into some further categories. Managerial roles are more of affiliated to making of decisions and policies within an organization that houses the practitioners. According to Berkowitz Ilias, â€Å" practitioners enacting the managers roles predominantly make policy decisions and are held accountable for the program success or failure† (111). Such practitioners are charged with the responsibilities of arriving at decisions that have long term repercussions to a firm as opposed to short term solution of problems, which are predominantly technical in nature. In addition, such roles entangle analysis, anticipations coupled with clarifica tion and attachment of meanings to the public opinions, issues and altitudes which are subtle tools for cute departmental and overall performance of an organization. Managers are charged with the responsibility of ensuring that objectives and the goals of an organization are set appropriately in direct congruence with the organizations long term philosophies. Within, the peripheral departments of a firm, encounters are made of PR practitioners charged with the enactment of technical PR roles. According to Dozier, â€Å" technicians do not participate in management decision making but only make program decisions necessary to internal functioning of their departments† (76). In fact, the widest spectra of responsibilities entail conduction of low level organizational operational matters aimed at ensuring cute implementation of policies and decisions stemming from the management team. More often than not, technical practitioners are engaged in activities such as provision of serv ices like media contracting, writing, publications productions and photocopying among other roles that do not involve long term decision making tasks. Perhaps a different aspect of the PR practitioner’s roles vital to consider, are those roles stemming from the practitioners’ education and organizational environment (Dozier 1992; Ehling 1992). On his part, Dozier strongly believes that PR practitioners may be in a large part lack and fail, to fulfil their professional roles as anticipated with consequences of some of the practitioners likely to be characterized by semi professionalism (45). Such professionals are more likely to be worse affected by bureaucratic norms. In most of the situation they evidently lack professional autonomy in the execution of their duties partly due to dwindled endowment with supervisory powers. To this end, Ryan and Martinson think that lack of clarity in terms of roles anticipations is fuelled by the practitioners lack of common agreement of what the PR profession is all about and perhaps what it needs to embrace (91). Conclusion Over the years, especially in the last three decades, a lot research has been done in the subject of the public relations. The paper characteristically identifies these researches as essential foundations of the public relation concerns, which, in fact, have formed the basis of the existing modern criticisms of the profession. The criticisms in turn, have given rise to an immense enthusiasm to scrutinize the roles of the public relations especially when the other spectrum of the inputs of the new media is incorporated. In as much as the new media is beneficial in terms of promotion of ease of information accessibility, the paper claims that information accessibility does not necessarily translate to practical information viewing. The demerits of the new media have consequently been addressed by asserting that the new media has a specified challenge in terms of ensuring effective and efficien t communication, has time limitations and departmentalization or rather information flow regulation. Amid these limitations, new media has been discussed as a vital tool for practitioners communication particularly where relationships with the target audience is priory established. The paper also has also made some attempts to introspect the various criticisms of the public relations. Finally, the roles and objectives of public relations have been given a through treat by dividing the entire sphere of public relation roles into two broad groups: managerial and technical roles. Through observation of differences in the scholar’s perceptions of the roles and practices of the public relations, which stem right from the traditional approaches to the modern hefty criticisms, evidently, subtle information is available to justify the existing enthusiasm for new media evident in some quarters. Works Cited Belz, Arthur et al. â€Å"Using role theory to study cross perceptions of jour nalists and public relations practitioners.† Public relations research annual 1.1 (1989): 125-139. Berkowitz, Dan Ilias, Hristodoulakis. â€Å"Practitioner Roles, Public Relations Education, and Professional Socialization: An Exploratory Study.† Journal of Public Relations Research 11:1 (1999): 91-103. Bernays, Edward. Manipulating public opinion: the way and the how. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum, 2000. Curtin, Arthur, Gaither, Kenneth. Privileging identity, difference, and power: The circuit of culture as a basis for public relations theory. Journal of Public Relations Research 17.3 (2005): 91–115. Dozier, Douglas. The organizational roles of communications and public relations practitioners. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc, 1992. Ehling, Walter. â€Å"Public relations education and professionalism.† In James. Grunig (Ed.), Excellence in public relations and communication management (pp. 439-464). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Assoc iates, 1992. Grunig, James. â€Å"Two-way symmetrical public relations: Past, present and future.† In Lawrence Heath (Ed.), Handbook of Public Relations. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 2001. Grunig, James White Jon. The Effect of World Views on Public Relations Theory and Practice: Excellence in Public Relations and Communication Management. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum, 1992. Horton, James. â€Å"Public Relations and Social Communication.† Journal of Public Relations 31.7 (2009) 1-6. Karla, Gower. â€Å"Public Relations Research at the Crossroads.† Journal of Public Relations Research 18.2 (2006): 177-190. Leichty, Gabriel, Springston, Johnson. â€Å"Elaborating public relations roles.† Journalism and Mass Communication Quarterly 73.5(1996): 467-477. Maloney, Kelvin. Rethinking Public Relations: PR, Propaganda and Democracy. London: Routledge, 2006. Miller, David, Dinan, William. Thinker, faker, spinner, spy: corporate PR and the assault on democracy. Lo ndon: Pluto press, 2007. Ryan, Martins, Martinson, Leonard. (1988). â€Å"Journalists and public relations practitioners: Why the antagonism?† Journalism Quarterly 64.13 (1988): 1-140. Spicer, Charles. â€Å"Public relations in a democratic society: Value and values.† Journal of Public Relations Research 12.4 (2000):115–130. This essay on Essential Foundations of the Public Relations was written and submitted by user Guillermo Y. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

hmm essays

hmm essays This year as a member of the Rondell Robins 4-H club was very hectic. This summer I worked at Beverly Health Care in Groton between work and 4-H meetings I had to miss one or the other. I was the Secretary of the 4-H club. I enjoyed being the secretary because I like to write even if I didnt have much time to write the reports I still enjoyed it. After 9 years as a member this is my first time being secretary. I was a little nervous at first speaking in front of the club, but after the first couple meetings I got more comfortable speaking in front of everyone. The year went by so fast, when it got time to have projects judged, I was disappointed in myself that I hadnt made as many projects that I had done in the past. I only made 3 projects this year. I placed 2 purples and 1 red. However this year I am happy to admit that I helped in my community as much as a could. We cleaned the road ditches around Stratford. The day before Easter we put on an Easter egg hunt for the kids in ou r community. I really enjoy seeing the smiles on the little kids faces when they found the prize eggs hidden in the sneakiest hiding spot. Also I helped with the Halloween party, I remember when I was younger being so excited to go to the party and getting candy with out going door to door to get it. At the Halloween party they also had fun games where you could win prizes. It made me feel good knowing I was part of that. I really enjoy doing what I can when I can for the community thats why I love being part of the Rondell Robins 4-H club. Unfortunately with the busy schedule this will be my last years as a member. I had many years of fun times as a member of the club. ...

Advertising Strategy Used by Old Navy to Target Young Male Customers Essay

Advertising Strategy Used by Old Navy to Target Young Male Customers - Essay Example With the suggested demographics, psychographics and lifestyle elements already selected for this targeted consumer, it appears that you have decided that he is young and virile, has changing tastes and is very much into fashion trends, is a typical metro-sexual living a college life on campus or off it. As members of this young community, the minds of people like Mike are always changing as they are swayed by the latest trends on the move, with the I-Phone, the Internet and the I-Pad very much a part of their lives. With opinions on social media dominating their tastes and choices, it is a wise move to have targeted the bulk of your advertising budget towards the Internet and social media network advertising. Opening pages on Facebook and Twitter has become a necessity now rather than an exception. With millions of users not only in the USA but right across the world, social media pages, opinions and advertising is the way to go nowadays and I commend the new advertising agency for r ecognizing and helping you capitalize on this trend. I noticed that the new advertising campaign makes use of online video instead of television. This would be in line with the viewing habits of the young teenagers and adolescent group that the company wants to target for increased business. I might add that this is a very good strategy and is well timed too, as industry analysts have noted that the market for men’s apparel was up 3.3 percent last year, compared to the average rise of 1.9 percent in shopping for clothes for both sexes. It was also seen that in the three months of the year ending February 2011, the sales in men’s apparel was 12 percent higher than last year. Consumer analysts have also noticed that as men are taking more and more interest in their wardrobes, they tend to order similar pieces in a variety of colors if a style and a cut suits them. This is what is likely to boost men’s clothing sales even in a recession. The only thing that I do no t like about the present advertising strategy for men’s clothing is that the ads have not been tastefully made. Of course I understand that they are meant to be humorous, but as any sane person and especially a stand-up comedian can tell you, it is really hard to make people laugh. In fact it is an art form that the likes of Eddie Murphy, Danny Kaye, Buster Keaton, Robin Williams and even Charles Chaplin took years to perfect. No one finds the same things funny, and most of us laugh at different things at different times. When you make an ad for young men’s clothing and want to connect it to humor, there is a danger that your product too will not be taken seriously at all. The ad for Super Tool is really pathetic and needs to be taken off the air immediately. Frankly I fail to see the humor in it at all! Some scenes are images have decidedly religious inferences-like the man with the sheep that reminded me that Christ was the Paschal Lamb of God or the papal style head gear that is worn by the model in the beginning of the advertisement. The entire ad consists of disjointed scenes and elements that are intriguing but have no connection and no purpose. A very disappointing ad if I may say so, in fact disgusting and easily forgettable (Advertising Age, 2011). I would suggest a complete remake from scratch and more cleverly made.

First Contact, or How I had Acquired a Grown-up Friend Essay

First Contact, or How I had Acquired a Grown-up Friend - Essay Example I loved television because it introduced new ideas, new imagery, new places, new people. My parents firmly believed that home should be both the center and periphery of a child’s life and that television is an unhealthy distraction. I was kept busy in the house, or hanging out laundry in the backyard, and television was regulated at one or two hours each month. Consequently, my world stayed very small, for many years. When I came to realize that resistance was futile, I cooperated with my assimilation to this Borg-type collective, in the interest of survival. My longing for unrestricted access to a window was hidden inside me, waiting to be awakened. The day of my awakening was a summer scorcher, I dressed in the shortest shorts and the thinnest T-shirt my mother would allow, and wiggled around on a sticky kitchen chair, staring at my pancakes and syrup, looking for images and the suggestion of something more than here. Eventually, they tired of me and I was dismissed to do ch ores, I watered the potted plants, checked on the slimy avocado pit I was sprouting in the windowsill, straightened up the surfaces of my bedroom, dusted our living room bookshelf and the barely-ever-used television screen, and washed the breakfast dishes. I relieved the washing machine of its load of floral sheets and bath towels, cycled the night before. I had done my homework to its rhythm. They had a faint overnight musty smell. I wrinkled my sunburned nose and placed the laundry in the red plastic tub, which still had the sticky adhesive residue that originally held its price in place. Using dishwater-shriveled, white, poufy-fingered hands, and a skinny pre-pubescent hip to wedge the tub against, I carried the sheets and towels to the backyard, to hang on the clothesline. The birds had left white pasty souvenirs of their digestive adventures again. After washing away the abstract deposits, I looked around the backyard with some satisfaction. Hanging laundry was, by far, my favo rite chore. It provided a private world, in which I could day-dream to my heart’s content. Day-dreaming is like television, except you get to write your own story and choose your own characters and even be the star actress if you want. The best thing going for it is that nobody could see it except me, so there was no one reacting to my watching it, or lecturing me on how it’s unhealthy and ruining my mind. Sometimes I would indulge myself in repetitive plots. I had crash-landed on a remote island, with no parents at all. There was a cave with a stream running through it and lots of berries and zucchini and tomatoes and a chocolate tree outside. A lifetime supply of pasta and meat sauce had crash-landed there with me, along with cases of sliced processed cheese, so I was happy. There were many rooms in the cave and each held new wonders to explore, things like chests of jewelry and exotic costumes, boxes of books, endless art supplies, a music box.

The case of John du point Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

The case of John du point - Essay Example Upon arrival at Schultz’s residence, he found Schultz training at the wrestling facilities that du Pont had set up in his estate. Schultz greeted his boss from where du Pont returned by asking him whether he had any problem with him. After this brief exchange, it is reported that du Pont pointed his 44-caliber revolver towards Schultz and shot him thrice, once at the arm and twice at his chest. This resulted in the instant death of David Schultz. A key witness to this act was Schultz wife, Nancy Schultz, who rushed out of the house upon hearing the first gun shot and upon arrival at the scene, she saw du Pont trigger his last shot at the already lying Schultz. It is also reported that du Pont also pointed the gun at her as well as at his bodyguard, Patrick Goodale after the shoot-out (Fersch, 2005, p. 151). After John du Pont had completed the act, he retreated to his large mansion where he spent the next 48 hours in an attempt to avoid being caught by the police. Inside his mansion, he had access to his large gun collection and other armories that he had acquired over his powerful years. The two-day standoff at his â€Å"Foxcatcher Farm† ended after he was lured outside by the police in order to make amends to the houses heating system which had tactically been switched off by the police. John du Pont was finally apprehended on 28 January, 1996, and his case opened in order to pave a way for investigations and subsequent trial. The case implicating John du Pont to the murder of David Schultz started on 9 February, 1996 after the trial court ordered a competency examination of the appellant. The competency examination was completed on 9 September 1996 concluding that John du Pont was incompetent to proceed with the trial. This resulted in John du Pont being remanded to the Norristown State Hospital where he underwent treatment. John du Pont was found to be competent for procession to trial in December, 1996, and thus his trial

Conventions of Representation in Art

Conventions of Representation in Art Conventions in Art Throughout time, conventions of representation in portraiture dynamically transformed throughout history, considerably changing each artists genre of work supporting personal conventions portrayed in the time periods heavily varied. To an extent understanding, the change of convention in portraiture is crucial, allowing the society to move forward from all limitation from the past and extend its news innovation. Conventions of representation define as a set of a regulation of undertaking something. This allow the human society are signified in the art movement between intervals of time and places further describing an accepted way of representing something in a symbolic representation. Many periods of art depicted conventions of representations. The Renaissance; exemplified through the work of Leonardo da Vinci Vitruvian Man during the Renaissance period, portrayed the rebirth of Classical Greek and Roman ideas, Modernism; Neo-Expressionism, Edvard Munch The Scream thrived from the Modernist period of Neo-Expressionism primarily adapting the world solely from a subjective perspective evoking moods. and contemporary art; Feminism; the work of Barbara Kruger accentuates the conventions of Feminist movement conveyed through post-modern techniques. Thus, through the adaptions of conventions of representations in portraiture, it dynamically altered through history in works of these artists. Portraiture has changed throughout history simply the wide range of materials utilised in the early years of art throughout the contemporary society thus changing the conventions of representation. This is described through the imperative notions of culture depicted in Renaissance Greek era which was extensively prevalent and mastered with the widespread forms of art during the periods of Renaissance, Modernism and contemporary. Representations in Egyptian shadowed strict traditions Frontalism. Every example of Egyptian art strictly highlighted in this style. This is portrayed where the head of the character is always symbolised to the side, a right angle to the body, while the body is perceived from the front. The eyes are portrayed in the front side perspective as Egyptians valued the eyes more than anything else, valued in highly on prosperity, adolescence and well-being. Ancient Greeks also had a fascination with portraiture, mostly in its sculpted form. This is indicated by the Golden Ratio used to create aesthetics and visual harmony, based on the idea of mathematical equations and science to create perfected, idealised proportions. This can be demonstrated through The Parthenon of a mathematical approach. The creations of Greeks strongly portrayed the success of their society; strong athleticism, philosophy or power. The Renaissance between 1400-1600 revamped portraiture in its modern sense and is an essential. Predominately portraying nobles, and religious figures. This was a period of the Rebirth of Classical Greek and Roman ideals. Also, utilising the idea of perfect and idealised proportion, adapting to the convention of maths and science to create beauty, perfection and religious ideals. Conventions of representations were highly significant in Renaissance art. The conventions during Renaissance represented their way of life, this was often portrayed in many religious paintings. It was a way to characterise of cultural traits. The idea of the concept is signified in the convention of oil painting. Oil painting was extremely implemented in Northern Europe during the early fifteenth century, later becoming popular in the late century. A slow drying process, allowing modification while its drying procedure. This allowed an artist to create luminous effects because oil could be applied lightly. Oil painting allowed the ability to paint with a more dominant variety of colours which allowed to further explore and visualise human figures, architecture and natural environment in a realist aspect. This was often utilised with well-known Renaissance artists such as Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo. Renaissance artist also had a volume of knowledge on the fundamentals, anatomy, composition, line, light and shadow as well as having the artistic mind of creating a scene to emphasise the perfection and beauty. The optical linear perspective was exceedingly used to create a high central depth by shadows and interposition, and a depth of emotion which suggests human feeling instead of static and passive icons. The Renaissance brought back the idea of figures being realistic, using new ideas about maths and science to these realistic figures. More so, It also represented idealised figures such the work of Michelangelo The Creation of Adam demonstrating strength and power of society, often embodying religious figures and ideals. Major issues occurred during the Renaissance period. A factor was the Protestant Reformation throughout the 16th century in Europe removing its tradition of Catholic art. A new artistic practice developed, followed Protestant tradition and divided drastically from the southern European tradition and art produced during the High Renaissance. More so, the Catholic Counter-Reformation both reacted against and responded to Protestant reproaches of art in Roman Catholicism to produce style of Catholic art. Both countries later expanded into secular forms of art, history, landscape, portraiture and still life. Through the influence of this concern, this created massive tension between notions of art. The influence of the Wars of Religion transformed the way of Renaissance artist viewed their religious ideals. In the work of Leonardo da Vinci Vitruvian Man the pen and ink illustration, exemplifies this concern representing the conventions of the Renaissance period. Famous artwork portraying the study of the male human proportions. Da Vinci symbolises the combination of science, mathematics and art to represent of his vision of the world attempting to create perfect proportions of the male in myriad forms of geometric shapes. The Golden Ratio and Fibonacci is both a mathematician concept to contributing to the perfect ratios and proportional sizes of the human body. This concept represents the conventions as during this period many artist and audience viewed their perfections in the anatomy and perfect idealised body. For many this, many of high class religious patrons highly valued the satisfactory of these works paying high amounts of money to be displayed in religious areas (churches, chapel). Thus, through this idea it significantly demonstrates the conventions of representation in port raiture. Furthermore, during the modernist period, Neo-Expressionism was a modernist movement, initially in poetry and painting, originating in Germany at the beginning of the 20th century. An idea to present the world exclusively from an independent perception, distorting it radically for emotionally effect to evoke attitudes or idea. Neo-Expressionist artists sough to express denotation or emotional experience rather than physical authenticity. An inspired movement by the Symbolist currents in late 19th century. Fin de Siecle was a major influenced on the way he views the world trailing his downfall. A period of degeneration but also of a new beginning of new global economic and political system. This movement affected many European countries and artist. More so, The Industrial Revolution Turn of the Century in Europe, shifted in artistic styles and create major changes of the society. Innovative technologies and immense urbanisation efforts reformed the individuals perspective, and artists replicated the psychosomatic impact of these developments rendering into artworks. The work of Edvard Munch Scream exemplifies fin-de-siecle feels of remoteness, disillusionment and phycological anguish conveyed through distorted forms. An icon and a metaphor of mans existential loneliness and angst. Throughout his life, Edvard Munch struggled with anxiety through personal levels. His mentally ill sister was hospitalised during The Scream was painted in 1893. This damaged Munch in myriad of individual ways, undergoing both physical and mental suffering in the modern age and thus representing his ideas through this painting. This sparked the emotions demonstrated in this work executed with pastel and crayons to create these exaggerated, harsh, gloomy colours highlighted in the rough expressionistic lines and swirling, swaying and exaggerated brushstrokes. Thus, through this work supports the idea of conventions of representations are significant in different periods of time and events occurring. In addition, contemporary arts conventions are significant. Contemporary art is the art of today, the twenty-first century. The change of innovations allows artist to move on from the past and allow new technology to create new styles. Feminist art, an aim to make the audience question the social rules of society hoping to make a change to women society, Womens Right Movement. This statement can be reflected upon all the audiences of men and still today this has not been achieved. If often use Post-modern techniques; humour, appropriation, parody, sarcasm and a unique political statement. Barbara Kruger, Untitled (Your Body is a Battleground) demonstrates this concept, conveying a political message. The two halves of the image, the negative and the positive interpretation, emphasise the dual nature underlying of matter. The feminine figure becomes a combat zone that women both struggle for. The advancement of technology in the contemporary society allowed Kruger to create a graphic design, phrases to catch the viewers attention using the language of contemporary publications. Kruger changes the way women have been traditionally depicted for centuries by artists as sex symbols who are dominated by men.ÂÂ   The message addresses the issue of the continued feminist struggle, connecting the physical body of female views necessitate the feminist demand. Kruger utilises the appropriation of images from their original context in magazines and sets them as the background against which she illustrates expressive phrases. The use confronting of red, white, and black, each element of the final artwork is crucial to its effectiveness as a significant protest. Through this artwork, Kruger evoke an immediate response for the audience highly from the opposite gender. The creation of digital art conjures a larger audience to create an implication, expanding the demand shared in social media platforms to a larger social and cultural response. In conclusion, each phase of historical period exerted distinctive styles of work. The change of convention in portraiture is vital, consenting humanity to advance from all constraints from the past and outspread its innovation. Through the artworks of Vitruvian Man, Scream, and Untitled (Your Body is a Battleground) it demonstrates a clear understanding of the difference of convention utilised between the unique eras. Each era had a distinctive philosophy. Different problematic concerns continued to influenced society influencing artists whether its emotionally or physically, thus rendering into paintings to explore notions. Conventions of representation in portraiture vigorously reformed, as the world is constantly is changing mythology, hence conventions modify.

Essay --

Late 2010, early 2011, a series of demonstrations and protests began to rise in the Arab world. These protests have become known as the "Arab Spring†, or, as someone else called it, the â€Å"Arab awakening†. Those Arab uprisings had removed many authoritarian leaders from their positions; on the other hand, some governments faced this problem using repression and some fake promises toward their people. The Arab world was living a difficult economic and social situation as in Europe in 1848. Poverty, rising food prices, inflation, human rights violation, and high unemployment were the main phenomena the Arabs were facing. In addition there was much corruption of Arab leaders as shown by some of the WikiLeaks diplomatic cables. The main reasons of the Arab revolts are not limited to internal causes, so it is important to analyze the international causes such as the failure of the war on terror, the Iraqi war and the U.S.A - European strategy of the imported democracy. The protests witnessed in some of the Arab countries are somehow an expression of dissatisfaction with the economic situation. This also creates a political tension resulting from the absence of people say in power. The Tunisian revolution that took place in the self-immolation of Mohamad Bouazizi on 18 December 2010 in protest of police corruption and ill treatment, has shaken authoritarian leaders across the Arab world in areas such as Egypt, Libya, Yemen, and Bahrain. The article, which appeared under the title "A prayer for the health of the rais," began by stating that "of all the world's statesmen, the one closest to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak". Thanks to Mubarak, Egypt became a strategic ally of Israel, as well as Israel'... ...opean origins. The important fact is that the way Islamism, communism and secularism have experienced many various signification with its national, regional and religious context. Applying this to secularism, Jakobsen and Pellegrini Fenella cannel have suggested to talk about secular traditions rather than secularism, secularization, or â€Å"the secular† in india, turkey, france, and many other countries with more or less homogenous histories of secularizations and debates about secularism. If we apply this approach to the Arab Region, it might be possible to identify some interconnected secular traditions in the Levant, the gulf, and North Africa. Reactions on the need for a secular state firstly appeared in the late ottoman period, or in the arab cultural movement known as the Nahda. In the early 20th century, many ideological currents influenced Arab intelligentsias.