Free Essays on The Library Card

Responding to Reading In the story, â€Å"The library Card,† Richard Wright took one step closer to achieving the American dream. However, in order to fully understand how he did so, one must first understand exactly what the American Dream is. I asked a few of my closest friends what their best definition of the American Dream was. They all came up with fairly similar answers to this question. The American Dream is having a good job, good family, and just pretty much well off. It is being wealthy and the best at what you do. It is being knowledgeable. The books that Richard Wright tried so desperately to attain helped him to get a better handle on the American dream. If Richard Wright had never read those books, chances are, he would never have made the effort to pick up his life and move it along. Upon reading Mencken and other great authors, he found out more about why white people acted the way that they had. He had a better grasp on why they treated him the way that they had. Wright then became more knowledgeable. In order to attain the American dream, you must have knowledge because knowledge is power. The books that Wright read introduced new obstacles in his life. The major one that he had to overcome was the fact that he knew what people thought of him, yet he was still unable to say anything about it. He had to live his life the exact same way and it killed him inside. He longed to say something to the white men, but knew better. Sometimes, silence kills. In this case, it was a huge obstacle that Richard Wright may never have overcome.... Free Essays on The Library Card Free Essays on The Library Card Responding to Reading In the story, â€Å"The library Card,† Richard Wright took one step closer to achieving the American dream. However, in order to fully understand how he did so, one must first understand exactly what the American Dream is. I asked a few of my closest friends what their best definition of the American Dream was. They all came up with fairly similar answers to this question. The American Dream is having a good job, good family, and just pretty much well off. It is being wealthy and the best at what you do. It is being knowledgeable. The books that Richard Wright tried so desperately to attain helped him to get a better handle on the American dream. If Richard Wright had never read those books, chances are, he would never have made the effort to pick up his life and move it along. Upon reading Mencken and other great authors, he found out more about why white people acted the way that they had. He had a better grasp on why they treated him the way that they had. Wright then became more knowledgeable. In order to attain the American dream, you must have knowledge because knowledge is power. The books that Wright read introduced new obstacles in his life. The major one that he had to overcome was the fact that he knew what people thought of him, yet he was still unable to say anything about it. He had to live his life the exact same way and it killed him inside. He longed to say something to the white men, but knew better. Sometimes, silence kills. In this case, it was a huge obstacle that Richard Wright may never have overcome....

An Introduction to Cultural Anthropology

An Introduction to Cultural Anthropology Cultural anthropology, also known as sociocultural anthropology, is the study of cultures around the world. It is one of four subfields of the academic discipline of anthropology. While anthropology is the study of human diversity, cultural anthropology focuses on cultural systems, beliefs, practices, and expressions. Did You Know? Cultural anthropology is one of the four subfields of anthropology. The other subfields are archaeology, physical (or biological) anthropology, and linguistic anthropology. Areas of Study and Research Questions Cultural anthropologists use anthropological theories and methods to study culture. They study a wide variety of topics, including identity, religion, kinship, art, race, gender, class, immigration, diaspora, sexuality, globalization, social movements, and many more. Regardless of their specific topic of study, however, cultural anthropologists focus on patterns and systems of belief, social organization, and cultural practice. Some of the research questions considered by cultural anthropologists include: How do different cultures understand universal aspects of the human experience, and how are these understandings expressed?How do understandings of gender, race, sexuality, and disability vary across cultural groups?What cultural phenomena emerge when different groups come into contact, such as through migration and globalization?How do systems of kinship and family vary among different cultures?How do various groups distinguish between taboo practices and mainstream norms?How do different cultures use ritual to mark transitions and life stages? History and Key Figures Cultural anthropology’s roots date back to the 1800s, when early scholars like Lewis Henry Morgan and Edward Tylor became interested in the comparative study of cultural systems. This generation drew on the theories of Charles Darwin, attempting to apply his concept of evolution to human culture. They were later dismissed as so-called â€Å"armchair anthropologists,† since they based their ideas on data collected by others and did not personally engage first-hand with the groups they claimed to study. These ideas were later refuted by Franz Boas, who is widely hailed as the father of anthropology in the U.S. Boas strongly denounced the armchair anthropologists’ belief in cultural evolution, arguing instead that all cultures had to be considered on their own terms and not as part of a progress model. An expert in the indigenous cultures of the Pacific Northwest, where he participated in expeditions, he taught what would become the first generation of American anthropologists as a professor at Columbia University. His students included Margaret Mead, Alfred Kroeber, Zora Neale Hurston, and Ruth Benedict. Boas’ influence continues in cultural anthropology’s focus on race and, more broadly, identity as forces that are social constructed and not biologically based. Boas fought staunchly against the ideas of scientific racism that were popular in his day, such as phrenology and eugenics. Instead, he attributed differences between racial and ethnic groups to social factors. After Boas, anthropology departments became the norm in U.S. colleges and universities, and cultural anthropology was a central aspect of study. Students of Boas went on to establish anthropology departments across the country, including Melville Herskovits, who launched the program at Northwestern University, and Alfred Kroeber, the first professor of anthropology at the University of California at Berkeley. Margaret Mead went on to become internationally famous, both as an anthropologist and scholar. The field grew in popularity in the U.S. and elsewhere, giving way to new generations of highly influential anthropologists like Claude Là ©vi-Strauss and Clifford Geertz. Together, these early leaders in cultural anthropology helped solidify a discipline focused explicitly on the comparative study of world cultures. Their work was animated by a commitment to true understanding of different systems of beliefs, practice, and social organization. As a field of scholarship, anthropology was committed to the concept of cultural relativism, which held that all cultures were fundamentally equal and simply needed to be analyzed according to their own norms and values. The main professional organization for cultural anthropologists in North America is the Society for Cultural Anthropology, which publishes the journal Cultural Anthropology. Methods Ethnographic research, also known as ethnography, is the primary method used by cultural anthropologists.  The hallmark component of ethnography is participant observation, an approach often attributed to Bronislaw Malinowski. Malinowski was one of the most influential early anthropologists, and he pre-dated Boas and the early American anthropologists of the 20th century. For Malinowski, the anthropologist’s task is to focus on the details of everyday life. This necessitated living within the community being studied- known as the fieldsite- and fully immersing oneself in the local context, culture, and practices. According to Malinowski, the anthropologist gains data by both participating and observing, hence the term participant observation. Malinowski formulated this methodology during his early research in the Trobriand Islands and continued to develop and implement it throughout his career. The methods were subsequently adopted by Boas and, later, Boas’ students. This methodology became one of the defining characteristics of contemporary cultural anthropology. Contemporary Issues in Cultural Anthropology While the traditional image of cultural anthropologists involves researchers studying remote communities in faraway lands, the reality is far more varied. Cultural anthropologists in the twenty-first century conduct research in all types of settings, and can potentially work anywhere that humans live. Some even specialize in digital (or online) worlds, adapting ethnographic methods for today’s virtual domains. Anthropologists conduct fieldwork all around the world, some even in their home countries. Many cultural anthropologists remain committed to the discipline’s history of examining power, inequality, and social organization. Contemporary research topics include the influence of historical patterns of migration and colonialism on cultural expression (e.g. art or music) and the role of art in challenging the status quo and effecting social change. Where Do Cultural Anthropologists Work? Cultural anthropologists are trained to examine patterns in daily life, which is a useful skill in a wide range of professions. Accordingly, cultural anthropologists work in a variety of fields. Some are researchers and professors in universities, whether in anthropology departments or other disciplines like ethnic studies, women’s studies, disability studies, or social work. Others work in technology companies, where there is an increasing demand for experts in the field of user experience research. Additional common possibilities for anthropologists include nonprofits, market research, consulting, or government jobs. With broad training in qualitative methods and data analysis, cultural anthropologists bring a unique and diverse skill set to a variety of fields. Sources McGranahan, Carol. On Training Anthropologists Rather Than Professors Dialogs, Cultural Anthropology website, 2018.Social and Cultural Anthropology Discover Anthropology UK, The Royal Anthropological Institute, 2018.What is Anthropology? American Anthropological Association, 2018.

Saving Starbucks' Soul Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Saving Starbucks' Soul - Essay Example Starbucks was one of the Fortune Top 100 Companies to Work For in 2005(Marketing teacher, 2010). Its global reputation and brand name has immense effects on global custoemrs.The immense resources are the major strength of Starbucks. The ability to forecast the market climate is another major strength of Starbucks. Most of the decisions taken by Starbucks during the last decade brought dividends to the company. Not even a single decision went wrong for Starbucks during this period. They were able to analyse the market opportunities and challenges provided by globalization and moreover they were able to redefine their strategies to make them suitable to meet the challenges and opportunities. They have adopted custom made strategies for each market as they realised that even for the same product, different marketing strategies required at different places. (BusineeWeek, 2009, p.3).This program was aimed at teaching the staff about the regional preferences. Commitment towards the environment made Starbucks one of the highly reputed companies in the world. They are keen protecting the environment by recycling all the industrial waste produced by their activities.Good customer relationships, good suppliers, leadership in the market, talented employees are some other major strengths of Starbucks. Starbucks tried to do too many things at a time. They have changed the romantic La Marzocca machines and introduced automatic espresso machines, in order to solve the major problem in terms of speed of service and efficiency (BusineeWeek, 2009, p.1). They failed to recognize the emotions the customers have on the earlier machine. Moreover the current machines are too big in size and small persons find difficulties in using it. The new machine also prevents the customers from enjoying the preparation of the drink. Flavor locked packaging helped the company in providing the fresh roasted bagged coffee, but, the loss of aroma,

Organizational Culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Organizational Culture - Essay Example And that it is the informal "backstage" or company policies, and culture embodied by these policies that determine the values and assumptions of all employees, and their subsequent performance. In the following paper I am taking a reflective approach to concepts discussed in class, and using them as a filter to interpret organizational practices of the organization that I work for, that is NESMA. Organizational leadership. culture and human resource management at NESMA shall be presented and interpreted through he theories presented in contemporary management literature. Throughout this reflective process, I remind myself and the reader of Lewin's (1951) comment that to understand any organization we do by virtue change it, and so any diagnosis that I make will also be an intervention on my part. What a responsibility! [background of me : ) you!! How old, gender, how long been with company, duties within the organization, why taking this management course, what hope to get from it, how is the course relevant to being a manager]. I am inspired in the knowledge that leaders can be developed. Policies implemented within my organization (generic skills training, progression of responsibilities) provide me with opportunities to develop more as a person, and as a contributing member of NESMA. It would be great if my company adopted a more formal mentoring program, as advocated by Buchanan and Huczynski (2004) in their text Organizational Behaviour (5th ed.). I have an informal mentor, however, I would like to see more support from management towards a mentoring program for all levels of our organization. Bennis and Thomas (2002), in their book, Geeks and Geezers: How Era, Values and Defining Moments Shape Leaders, identify factors that are shared across leaders of all cultures. It made a lot of sense to me to view leadership through a filter such as era. Post World War II "geezer" organizations were very military styled, leaders having a commanding or controlling style. Modern organizations are a lot more team-fo cused, with leaders acting as facilitators and encouragers. I can relate to the "geeks" of today, who want a life, not just a career. We accept that diversity is necessary for an organization to grow, and for ourselves to grow as a people. Diversity of thought should be encouraged so as to cultivate personal characteristics that contribute to the organization, and to the employees that make up that organization (Wickenberg & Kylen, 2004). Collaborative problem solving is a much more feasible style of leadership, that enables leaders at all levels of an organization. Service and production can only be enhanced when all employees realize that the sum of their organization can be so much more than the sum of its parts. Bennis and Thomas (2002) also note that geeks want to believe they can contribute, and that they can make a difference in the world. However, this is interesting I think, as the authors point out that contemporary employees have less company loyalty and are becoming entrepreneurs in their wok life. I am one of those employees who are curious, adventurous and experimental in my approach to my working goals, and the goals of my organization. I am willing to try different methods and techniques to lead myself, and to learn to lead others. I understand that change is a necessary part of life, including

Some Esential Points in Reading The Critique of Pure Reason :: Modern Philosophy Research Papers

Some Esential Points in Reading The Critique of Pure Reason ABSTRACT: (1) Things are not to be found in the Critique (real things also called physical objects-an epochà © 'avant la lettre' as in Husserl). The things as appearances are only Vorstellungen (representatio, B376). Confusion arrives because Kant calls these objects with the same names employed in the language of common sense for designating the things. (2) Due to the absence of these things, nothing is said concerning the relation between things and empirical objects (things as appearances, Erscheinungen). (3) Things in themselves, considered in the abstraction of sensible receptivity, are for this very abstraction, unknowable. Consequently, they cannot be considered as the origin of appearances. (4) I propose an explanation of the relation mentioned in (2). (5) What is the use of the Critique of so strange a conception as the thing in itself instead of simply mentioning real things and their representations in the subject? (6) Mind is not an adequate translation of the German gem à ¼t. I think subject is better. At this paper I shall limit myself to expose only two items as possible themes of an adequate reading of the Critique. (1a) According to the imposed extension of the paper a detailed treatment is not to be found here. These two themes are: the first one, things and things in themselves. The other one, the translation of the German word Gemà ¼t as subject and not as mind or spirit. Previous Definitions Two languages will be used: one of them it's Kant's exposition of his sistem, the transcendental idealism (TI) and the other one, designated as the common sense language (CSL), the colloquial language concerning Husserl's natural actitude. (1) In this later one, the things are the so called real things or physical objects, things we can see, touch and handle and modify them according to determinate purposes In this paper I shall refer only to this kind of things, simply calling them things. It is no necessary, I think to mention each time that Aristoteles defines these things as being in the mode of fusis and techne. (2) Heidegger also defines them as the natural things (3) When we are looking at something — a state of things — in this same action a representation appears in conscience of that we are looking at. We erroneously believe that we truly see things directly, but instead what we really do is to become conscious of the representation of the thing.

No Dogs Allowed Essay

1. Who benefits from the construction of the park? How should the park be distributed? What feedback will the citizens reciprocate? Will management of the park promote progress and inspire future projects? 2. The town would likely need all factors of production; raw materials, human labor, and machinery to construct and maintain the park. 3. The town’s resources are limited. The land value is priced around $125,000 per acre. Limited resources include natural resources, raw material, renewable resources, and actual resources. 4. The consumers using the park will probably be pet owners. 7,000 residents, whom own dogs, are currently registered by the town council. 5. The benefit forgone is the benefit of constructing a dog park. The gross benefit of having the park built is $125,000 per acre; so the net benefit is $625,000. The opportunity cost of not building the park is $3,625,000. Despite holding the largest sum of money, the alternate decision to not build the park leaves les s space and recreation. The majority of residents in town are registered pet owners. Leaving the land undeveloped will waste the opportunity to provide the citizens with free recreation. The only local park that exists in town is not pet-friendly. On the other hand, limiting open space eliminates the burden of management and developing infrastructure. Selling the land to real estate developers to build homes benefits the luxury develops and possible buyers. However, selling the land does nothing to help with the current repairs of the school. This decision might even upset the citizens who want a recreational park instead of a dog park. There is little space available from the natural environment. Market failures depend on the distribution of the goods. Possible market failures could stem from underinvestment and non-excludability. There are always gains and losses when a public good/service is exchanged. The possible externalities that may produce if the park is built could include noise pollution and visual pollution. The cost used to produce landscape architecture may also exceed the private cost. The town’s government could substitute some decisions for an environmentally appropriate solution. As the town council already suggested, charging a yearly fee to citizens that use the park. Littering and polluting will result in a double-fee. Lisa Mullinax, a certified professional dog trainer, fondly remembers taking her canine pal to the park for the first time. She gripped the leash and wandered into the crowd, toward the jubilant cries of a playful pup. Her giddy companion was bound up with energy; she needed to run free amongst the others. â€Å"It dramatically improved our bond,† says Mullinax, now teaching group class seminars at 4Paws University. As pointed out above, the lack of recreational dog parks is detrimental because it encourages urbanism over environmentalism. Martinsville has little space for forty new luxury townhouses. The decision to construct a recreational dog park for 7000 of the 100,000 residents implements competitive market equilibrium. With no negative or positive externalities, the consumers and producers are able to benefit from economical efficiency. Dedicating at least one park to the pet owners enables private benefit. The residents may be considered free-riders at the behest of ur banites. Comparatively, Martinsville is a flourishing town. The recent developments are highly valued and consumers are offered great public services. Even local gyms and country clubs provide recreational opportunities. With a budget surplus, the town can afford the proposal cost, as well as any externalities. However, eliminating an externality is not economically beneficial. With exclusive property rights, comes responsibility. It is a pet owner’s responsibility to ensure the park is clean and manageable. These are the private costs borne of the producers and handled by society at large. The social cost represents the total sum of production, including externalities and privacy costs. Hence, the exclusive right to pet owners in the park privately benefits them. The lack of dog parks reduces opportunity cost; whilst an increase in constructing these parks greatly influences a more holistic view of a company. Not only does the surrounding environment become included in business operations, but ecosystem services as well! Unlike the negative externalities an industrial  park may produce (pollution); dog parks are essential ly eco-friendly. The proposed location is only slightly wooded and would not require much management. The majority of the townsfolk would likely use the park for its private benefits.

Love And Hate By Raymond Carver - 955 Words

The notion of Love and hate is a complicated idea. They can be experienced and explained differently depending on who is answering. In the short story, â€Å"What We Talk About When We Talk About Love,† by Raymond Carver, love is portrayed through three different lenses: Terri’s, Mel’s, and Nick’s perspective. Correspondingly, in William Shakespeare’s poem, â€Å"Sonnet 130,† the speaker has a unique way of describing his mistress, for most people would believe this to be hate, not love. The theme of love and hate are uniquely represented in â€Å"Sonnet 130† and â€Å"What We Talk About When We Talk About Love,† in which love and hate are shown in its reality. In many cases, love is misrepresented and not shown in its reality. According to The Human Experience, by Richard Abcarian, Marvin Klotz, and Samuel Cohen, â€Å"The rosy conception of love presented in many popular and sentimental stories does not prepare us for the complicated reality we face† (859). Thus in many stories and poems, love is not truly portrayed for what it really is. However, in â€Å"Sonnet 130,† Shakespeare does the opposite of this. The speaker states, â€Å"I have seen roses damasked, red and white / But no such roses see I in her cheeks† (5-6). In most love poems, the speaker would be stating that his lover’s cheeks are as red as roses. Despite this, Shakespeare is basically poking fun at those poems due to the fact that it is not normal for a woman to have bright red cheeks. Another example of this can be shown when the speakerShow MoreRelatedEssay about Raymond Carver (what We Talk About When We Talk About Love)892 Words   |  4 PagesMcGinnis of â€Å"What We Talk About When We Talk About Love† seems like that one guy that everyone seems to know. He stands out from others; he’s unique. You either love him or hate him. Mel is very much like one of my good friends. They are both very individualistic and hey are both annoying drunks. They are both interesting characters though. I think the author Raymond Carver created the character Mel based off someone he knew. Carver created Mel for one reason or another. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;MelRead More What We Talk About When We Talk About Love by Raymond Carver968 Words   |  4 PagesWhat We Talk About When We Talk About Love by Raymond Carver The short story What We Talk About When We Talk About Love, by Raymond Carver, is about two married couples drinking gin and having a talk about the nature of love. The conversation is a little sloppy, and the characters make some comments which could either be meaningless because of excessive alcohol in the bloodstream, or could be the characters true feelings because of excessive alcohol in the bloodstream. Overall, the author usesRead MoreHow Exactly Do You Know What Love Is Or If You Are Receiving1698 Words   |  7 Pagesknow what love is or if you are receiving and giving the right kind of love. When we are first born we experience love from our mother and our father. As one grows up we feel the love of our friends until we experience our first â€Å"love.† As humans we all wish to find that special someone who will be by our side till our last day. Whether we find love or not it is nice to know that there is someone there for you. In the poem â€Å"What We Talk About When We Talk About Love† by Raymond Carver and the artworkRead MoreThe Many Sides of Dr. Melvin R. McGinnis1475 Words   |  6 PagesRaymond Carvers short story â€Å"What We Talk About When We Talk About Love† leaves the reader feeling as if they have sat down at the table with a bottle of Gin and experienced first hand the effects of alcoholism and depression. In the original version of this story the â€Å"Beginners† Carver carefully crafts the many sides of an alcoholic personality developing strong knowable characters. The fundamental personalities are left fairly intact from the original version. It should be noted that the feelingsRead More Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Birth-Mark, Raymond Carver’s Cathedral, and Randall Kenan’s The Foundations of the Earth1370 Words   |  6 Pages Nathaniel Hawthorne’s â€Å"The Birth-Mark†, Raymond Carver’s â€Å"Cathedral†, and Randall Kenan’s â€Å"The Foundations of the Earth† illustrate how arrogance undermines knowledge and individual power and humility enhances those qualities. In each story, characters with parochial worldviews encounter people who challenge them to change. Other perspectives are available if they are able to let go of their superior attitudes. For example, Hawthorne’s protagonist, Aylmer, believes he has the ability and rightRead MoreWhen We Talk About Love Short Story1459 Words   |  6 Pagesone’s affection towards another person, yet it is still difficult to convey the true meaning of love. The short story â€Å"What We Talk About When We Talk About Love† by Raymond Carver signifies through sharing vastly different experiences, that language is inadequate in communicating a clear definition of love. Each of the four characters in the short story explain to the group their own meaning of love while striving to come to a coherent conclusion. The first exp erience brought upon to the conversationRead MoreThe Sojourner And What We Talking About When We Talk About Love By Carson Mccullers And Raymond Carver1291 Words   |  6 Pagesthe short stories title The Sojourner and What We Talk About When We Talk About Love, written by Carson McCullers and Raymond Carver respectively, the writers tell a story about love and its changing attitudes. The main characters in these stories all vary in regard to their personalities and their individual idiosyncrasies, however, the message being conveyed by McCullers and Carver is that of the changing nature of love, and how it can impact an individual’s sense of self in respect to how one definesRead More Contrasting Responsibility in Carvers Fever and Baldwins Sonnys Blues1546 Words   |  7 Pagesschool? What makes a person wake up every morning to go to a job he or she hates, come home, and begin the whole process the following morning? Is it responsibility that makes a person do what they have to do, or rather is it fearing the consequence? Truthfully, this would depend on the situation. Parents would most likely fulfill their responsibility towards their child or children because of love; but a person who hates his or her job probably continues to do it fearing the consequence of unemploymentRead MoreWhat Is True Love?1377 Words   |  6 PagesWhat is True Love? Looking at the world today, it can be hard to recognize love. There is anger all over the world ranging from the government to terrorists. America’s news feed is filled with events of hate and devastation. CNN’s top stories include events of bombing and shootings on top of many different acts of hate. A most recent incident on CNN’s top stories list, is the Ohio nightclub shooting that took place on March 26th, killing one (Croft et. al). These reported incidents make it difficultRead More`` What We Talk About When We Talking About Love `` By Raymond Carver2397 Words   |  10 PagesWhat is love? Love can come from that of a friendship, a romantic relationship, the unconditional love that God has for one, or simply one person adoring another. These are all considered, in one form or another, love. However, as Mel McGinnis has asked: â€Å"what do any of us really know about love?† (333). Is love real, or is it just a figment of our imagination? What does the word LOVE even mean? The indefinability of love is the overlaying theme in the story â€Å"What We Talk About When We Talk About