Evidenced Based interventions in Mental health

Introduction How decisions are made within the treatment of psychological problems requires considerable thought and consideration. The purpose of this analysis is to look at the advantages of evidence based practice and how this can operate from a practical point of view and whether indeed it works as the most efficient and optimal approach to determining suitable treatment for psychological problems. Workbook 1 – Evidenced Based Practice The concept of evidence-based practice has gathered considerable pace in the last few decades and creates an acceptance of the idea that all practical decisions relating to medical or psychological treatment should be based on research and existing studies in the area which have been selected. This research should then be interpreted in a direct way and applied to the practical situation presented by using these observations as a theoretical basis (Chambless and Hollon, 1998). When looking at this from a psychological point of view, which is preferred in this instance, evidence-based practice requires those engaged with this type of work to follow techniques based on research evidence that has already been presented. Various different criteria and approaches have been used over the years for example Chambless and Hollon in 1998 noted that there are specific criteria which need to be complied with when looking to use any form of empirically supported therapy. According to these criteria, a therapy would be considered to be both effective and efficient if there is evidence available from two different settings that indicate that the proposed treatment has performed better than some other placebo style treatment. To support this the example of cognitive behaviour therapy, which has been proven to be effective across a variety of different patient types, including adults, children and adolescents. However as noted in the research by Chambles and Hollon; there have been instances whereby the criterion has not been applied rigorously or to the highest standard. This can then bring into question whether or not evidence-based practices are efficient, not because the evidence-based practice doesn’t work but because the criteria of admissibility have not been followed correctly. An arguably more rigorous approach was taken by Saunders et al (2004) that suggest the research report being relied on should be put into six different categories depending on the theoretical background, such as the acceptance of the principal and any evidence of potential harm that is associated with the approach being looked at. In order to receive a classification in this manner, there needs to be some form of descriptive publication including, if necessary a manual as to how the operational aspect of the intervention work. This is arguably a much more rigorous approach as it recognises the various different ways in which evidence based research can then be used in practical decision making (Thomas et al 2010). Finally it is worth noting that in reality the most likely approach is that suggested by Kauffman’s best practices which are used when looking at intervention experiences that have a similar other fact pattern available for analysis. This is then deemed appropriate evidence and the practitioner will then follow the process that is considered to be the best practice in this particular area at the current point in time. When looking at the practical reality of using this evidence-based research there is a strong argument to suggest that this is the best possible approach as it simply encourages those involved in the provision of medical services to look towards similar situations and to identify how the practitioners have dealt with these problems and learn lessons from any failure to improve the intervention that they themselves then offer. Quite simply, this is the process of learning lessons from other mistakes or indeed learning lessons from the successes of others. Workbook 2 When providing care for individuals with mental health difficulties, one of the key challenges can be to ascertain the level of intervention that is appropriate. There is a key distinction between treatment and facilitated learning when it comes to assisting individuals with mental health difficulties in achieving improvement in certain areas of their treatment. In order to understand the concept of intervention, it is arguably central to understand this distinction. Intervention refers to the point at which the individual practitioner chooses to directly engage and interact with the patient (Rogers, 2003). Arguably, both treatment and facilitated learning are on this spectrum, with treatment being a prescribed and deliberate action by the practitioner whereas facilitated learning is much more geared towards encouraging individuals to learn on their own account whilst being supported by the practitioner, particularly where there are substantial mental health issues which may require ongoing treatment to prevent an irrecoverable mistake from being made (Rogers, 2003). A typical example of intervention in this type of situation may be that of therapeutic interventions which starts with the process by which the mental health professional themselves and service user develop a relationship that will enable them to discuss the best way forward (Griffiths, 2007).. This in itself can be used for therapeutic intervention, which will then allow the two parties to determine the best possible course of action example it may be that cognitive behavioural therapy is perceived to be the best way for and where this is the case. The combination of the two people will look towards establishing goals and agendas for this therapy. Depending on the nature of the problem and the extent of the damage that has been suffered it may be that professional has to take either a greater or lesser role. The process of learning is crucially important for both the healthcare professional and the service user themselves in order to ensure that interventions are planned, implemented and regularly reviewed. Any form of treatment should be viewed as an ongoing cycle whereby the next stage is then planned before being implemented and there is a process of learning from the elements that work well and those which could be improved (Ryan, 2012). As noted in the earlier part of this discussion, intervention involves a two-way dialogue process between the healthcare professional and the service user and therefore there is a continuously movement between the two entities as the professionals look for the best way to achieve the desired result by observing the activities of the service user . The service user is also then learning about the aspects of their treatment, which are being particularly productive with a view to becoming more self-sufficient over a prolonged period of time. When looking at the concept of learning in this broader sense the entire the entire intervention process facilitated learning can develop with both parties. Learning from each other and creating an effective strategy which may involve a completely different form of intervention at some point or another. It is argued here, however, that continuous learning is the central fact or as to whether or not intervention is ultimately a success. Conclusions By looking at the analysis above it is concluded that evidence based treatment is likely to offer a much deeper understanding of the treatment options available and crucially the practical likelihood of the success of such treatments. Intervention presents a real challenge as picking the precise point and level of intervention and it is argued here that intervention which is patient led will be more likely to be successful in the long run and should form a central part for this type of treatment. References Chambless, D., & Hollon, S. (1998). Defining empirically supportable therapies. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 66, 7-18. Griffiths, C., (2007).The theories, mechanisms, benefits, and practical delivery of psychosocial educational interventions for people with mental health disordersInternational Journal of Psychosocial Rehabilitation. 11 (1), 21-28. Kaufman Best Practices Project. (2004). Kaufman Best Practices Project Final Report: Closing the Quality Chasm in Child Abuse Treatment; Identifying and Disseminating Best Practices. Rogers, A., 2003. What is the DifferenceA New Critique of Adult Learning and Teaching, Leicester: NIACE. Ryan, P., (2012). Empowerment, Lifelong Learning and Recovery in Mental Health: Towards a New Paradigm. Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan. Saunders, B., Berliner, L., & Hanson, R. (2004). Child physical and sexual abuse: Guidelines for treatments. Retrieved September 15, 2006, fromhttp://www.musc.edu/cvc.guidel.htm Thomas, M. Burt, M. and Parkes, J., (2010). Chapter 1. The Emergence of Evidence-based Practice, In McCarthy, J. and Rose P. Values-Based Health & Social Care: Beyond Evidence-Based Practice. London: Sage.

What Is Geography

What is Geography Week 2 Geographic Thought and History I have always thought that geography was the study of land, how it was formed and where it will be in years to come. I have realized that there is more to geography than this. A literal translation of geography would be â€Å"to describe or write about the Earth† (â€Å"What is Geography: 2012). The first person to use the word â€Å"geography† was  Eratosthenes, who was an ancient Greek. Geography has been called â€Å"the world discipline† and â€Å"the bridge between the human and the  physical science†(Sullivan 2000).There is human geography, physical geography, Marxist geography and also feminist geography. Human geography is a branch of the social sciences that studies the world, its people, communities, and cultures and has an emphasis on relations of space and place. Human geography differs from physical geography mainly in that it has a greater focus on studying human activities and is m ore open to qualitative research methodologies (â€Å"What is Geography â€Å" 2012).Physical geography is that branch of  natural science which deals with the study of processes and patterns in the natural environment like heatmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and  geosphere, as opposed to the cultural or  built environment, the domain of  human geography (â€Å"What is Geography â€Å" 2012). This is the geography that most people think of. There is also is a type of  critical geography  that uses the theories and philosophy of  Marxism  to examine the  spatial relations of  human geography.In Marxist geography, the relations that geography has traditionally analyze such as natural environment and spatial relations are reviewed as outcomes of the mode of material production (â€Å"What is Geography â€Å" 2012). As I mentioned previously there is also feminist geography which is an approach in  human geography  which applies the theories, methods and critiques of  feminism  to the study of the human environment, society and geographical space (What is Geography† 2012).What I find most interesting is the discipline of cartography, which is the mapping of the world. I find it interesting on how they could design a map in the ancient era and actually use it for exploration. Maps started out as two dimensional charts to what we use now, Google earth. In the late 20th century, advances in electronic technology have led to further revolution in cartography.Specifically  computer  devices such as computer screens, plotters, printers, scanners (remote and document) and analytic stereo plotters along with visualization, image processing, spatial analysis and database software, have democratized and greatly expanded the making of maps, particularly with their ability to produce maps that show slightly different features, without engraving a new printing plate (Sullivan 2000).Websites such as Google Earth use Google Earth whi ch is simply based on 3D maps, with the capability to show 3D buildings and structures (such as bridges), which consist of users' submissions using  SketchUp, a  3D modeling  program software. The technology that is used is pretty amazing even to the point that these types of features are used in the military to pinpoint certain targets. Works CitedDepartment of Geography and Environmental Resources, â€Å"What is Geography. † Last modified 2012. Accessed October 3, 2012. National Geographic, â€Å"What is Geography. † Last modified 2012. Accessed October 4, 2012. http://education. nationalgeographic. com/education/media/what- Sullivan, Dan (2000). â€Å"Mapmaking and its History†. Rutgers University. Retrieved 10/3/2012 from http://www. math. rutgers. edu/~cherlin/History/Papers2000/sullivan. html.

Media and Developing Babies Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Media and Developing Babies - Term Paper Example Rapid Auditory Processing This domain, which is very important in language functioning (Paterson et al., 2006), refers to how well infants receive auditory cues such as environmental sound, recorded music, or a mother’s voice. The area in the brain where this domain rests can be found in the thalamus, caudate, frontal areas, and the temporoparietal speech areas in the left hemisphere (Paterson et al., 2006). Face Processing A fundamental skill, face processing allows infants to recognize a face which is considered to play a major role in social interaction and functioning (Paterson et al., 2006). The subcortical structures, superior temporal gyrus, and the left-inferior frontal gyrus are the brain areas utilized by infants in face processing (Paterson et al., 2006). Object Permanence Considered a milestone in cognitive development, object permanence allows infants to remember objects after they are kept hidden from view (Paterson et al., 2006). This ability lies in the develop ment of the frontal lobes which can also have effects on cognition and language (Paterson et al., 2006). Joint Attention Mundy and Gomes (1998) consider joint attention a â€Å"core social cognitive skill that plays a very important role in early language acquisition† (as cited in Paterson et al., 2006, p. 14). Joint attention tasks are developed in the left parietal lobe for responding to visual attention, and the frontal and temporal lobes for initiating visual attention (Paterson et al., 2006). Relationship of Television Viewing and COGNITIVE Development Several studies have been conducted to establish a relationship between exposure to television content and infant’s cognitive and behavioral make-up. These studies present the television medium as a stimulus that... As the discussion stresses different studies have been conducted about the effects of television viewing in the cognitive, attitudinal, and behavioral aspects of audiences. These studies examine, for instance, whether violent television content can lead to aggression in audiences. What these studies aim to achieve is the correlation and causation between media content and audiences. While there are many studies documenting the effects of television viewing in adult audiences, there are few studies that also consider the cognitive and behavioral effects of television viewing in infant audiences.This paper highlights that  a  fundamental skill, face processing allows infants to recognize a face which is considered to play a major role in social interaction and functioning. The subcortical structures, superior temporal gyrus, and the left-inferior frontal gyrus are the brain areas utilized by infants in face processing.  Considered a milestone in cognitive development, object perm anence allows infants to remember objects after they are kept hidden from view. This ability lies in the development of the frontal lobes which can also have effects on cognition and language. Several studies have been conducted to establish a relationship between exposure to television content and infant’s cognitive and behavioral make-up. These studies present the television medium as a stimulus that arguably influences an infant’s brain.

E-commerce for The Enterprise Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

E-commerce for The Enterprise - Essay Example Thus, the website will have features which will enable it to address the weaknesses in its daily operations, enhance its processes, and pursue its long-term goals. Currently, The Enterprise has twenty outlets all over United Kingdom which operates the same system but lack the integration needed by retailing operations. Thus, the first issue which should be addressed by the business organization is the integration of its outlets through the use of internet technology. Thus, the website will feature an intranet which allows staff to log-on, access, and use information which is specific to the business organization (De Wit and Meyer 2002). In the e-commerce technology proposed, each outlet will be linked together through an intranet which will be shared by the entire business organization. Through this intranet, communication among staff will be facilitated (Duyne et al 2003). Discussions on promotional activities like sales and discounts will be organized through this intranet. Also, recording of sales and other administrative matters will be rationalized by providing a single template which will be used by each of the outlet. Calendars will also be shared and the database of sales for a particular period will also be made available for decision makers. This intranet will allow The Enterprise to immediately and conveniently compare performance, tailor strategies specific to each store, and retrieve important information in each store(Duyne et al 2003). Because of these functions and features, the intranet is expected to cut administrative cost and paper works done by the headquarters. 2. Business to Business Capabilities The integration of the business organization should allow the company to carry out functions which will enable them to reap economies of scale. Acting as an integrated unit, the retailer can gain advantages in unifying its ordering and delivery processes. In its move of harnessing the full power of e-commerce, business to business model should also be adopted. The Entreprise website then should allow other players in its value chain to take a more active part in the company's operations (Kotler 2005). Included here are its various suppliers and logistics partners. In the current setting, each of the retail outlets of The Enterprise conducts their separate ordering and logistics functions with the supplier that they prefer. The ordering system is manual and each outlet reaches an average of three days for placing orders, receiving, verifying, and replenishment of stocks (Kotler and Armstrong 2002). Being in the retailing industry, the availability of products in each of the outlet is a very important concern. Stock-out costs are costs associated with a retailer which runs out of stock when a customer intends to purchase them. These costs are not only seen to be in terms of the foregone opportunity to sell to the buyer but also in their loyalty and the image that the retailer will have to a customer. Thus, relationship with suppliers will be an integral part of the e-commerce system which will be installed. In order to save a significant amount of cost, The

Sport Psychology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

Sport Psychology - Essay Example It attempts to deal with the modus operandi for analysis of an athlete’s sport and the importance of specific techniques to be adopted for assessment of an athlete. Given the fact that the quest for the mental edge in competition is what sport psychology is all about, it is aimed at bridging the identified gaps by an appropriately designed psychological skills training programme. Every human being is uniquely endowed with an uncanny range of skills, depending on a wide range of physical, environmental and genetic factors. Sporting excellence too is a by-product of the balance of opposites like planning and intuition, emotion and rationale, and risk taking and restraint. In the context of any sport, high levels of performance are often a reflection of one’s ability to display these multi-faceted skills comprehensively, on demand; some can be straightaway correlated to core body performance, while some others may have bearing with the complex dual effect of mind-body responses. Any modern sport demands a judicious mix of core body performance as well as mind-body combo output with a tilt more towards the latter, which in turn is linked to one’s ability to learn, develop and perfectly master the motor performance. Motor performance in simple terms is one’s ability to learn, develop and store information for reproduction and display of a wid e range of ‘skills’, when needed. Any sport per se being competitive in nature, there is an inherent and consistent need for a healthy comparison of one individual with another or a team of sportsmen with another team, by scientifically acceptable means, with a view to raise the performance bar. It would in real terms imply comparison of the performance linked attributes of one with those of the other. Ready availability of ways and means of doing the comparison with an appropriate rationale would be the ideal prerequisites for the assessment of any sportsman or athlete, to probe

Policy and Plan Development Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Policy and Plan Development - Assignment Example Sometimes it is important to resolve the issues soon with guidelines that are provided. The employees are advised to talk with their managers and supervisors. They would also consult other important personnel on the illegal or even unethical behaviors. The code purposely to provide a better framework of guiding principles that direct the employees on daily conduct while carrying out their obligations and duties. Especially handling of situations that employees may come across in the workplace may be frustrating. There is a need to have guidance on certain issues that are considered technical. Therefore, those dealing with conflicts of interest may be specified and the procedures posted on the company’s intranet. These policies and procedures are to be included as a reference for the employees and they are subject to being changes or even being the elimination at company discretion. Compliance with the company laws For a company to value its reputation with the applicable gover nment laws and regulations, every employee should comply accordingly while representing the company. The same employee should avoid participating in any conduct that may legally allow is not consistent with the ethics provided by the company. ... In some instances, conflict of interest has come up when an employee has some interests that may render the performance of his or her work. ECG company executive has violated this code of conduct. The spouse of an executive received improper benefits because of having his husband in an influential position at ECG. It is unethical to have employees and close relatives to have any financial alignments or even having targets to do so. Those who own the minority equity interest in a company which is owned by public and doing business together is not perceived as having a conflict of interest. In addition, an employee should not perform a duty or transaction with a friendly company or an organization that is managed by a close family member. The same would be viewed as the family member has employed the management position and sales into a family affair. In summary, the employees and their family members are not obliged to request or accept discounts, gratuities, gift certificates or othe r value items and services of the company vendors. As an example portrayed in the ECG company. As we know, because the employees participate in a wide range of activities, it could be very difficult to specify what could constitute to being having a conflicting interest. A conflict of interest has been practiced and existed in ECG Company. This is when the company executive and his spouse show interest in a financial quest in acquiring the Government Allies Company. There are some instances such as invitations to dinner, lunch or other small favors from the suppliers or vendors that are common to the business and have no special or important considerations to them may not be considered

Business law - Contract problems, FIRAC case, and short summary Assignment

Business law - Contract problems, FIRAC case, and short summary - Assignment Example to be bound by the agreement, statute of fraud covers contracts of sale of goods for a cost of at least $ 500 and requires such contracts to be in writing (Clarkson, et al, p. 234, 303). Hodge entered into a contract to work for Evans on the prime condition that the contract would be permanent. His condition was accepted but he was fired within a year. Hodge has sued for a breach of contract while Evans argues that the oral contract is unenforceable. Watkins and Iams entered into an annually renewable contract in which Watkins was, based on a promise, to be the sole distributer of Iams’ products in Michigan. The renewed contract in 1993 however reserved the company’s right to appoint any other distributor in Michigan. Iams then notified Watkins that its contract would not be renewed and contracted another company. Watkins has since sued for breach of contract, fraud, and promissory ‘estoppel’. A contract that either does not involve land, is enforceable within a year, is not a contract of guarantee, is not a promise that involves â€Å"consideration of marriage† and is not for sale of goods worth at least $ 500 dollars does not necessarily have to be in writing (Clarkson, et al., p. 304). Promissory estoppels also creates liability on promises relied upon in contracts (Clarkson, et al, p. 259). Dyer purchased a car with written provisions that no taxes were included in the price. While the contract restricted the agreement to its written terms, the salesperson assured her that sales tax was already paid. She has realized otherwise and has sued for breach. The parole evidence rule provides that oral agreement that precedes or is made alongside a written contract, in which the parties intended to be fully bound by the written contract, is inadmissible. The rule however has exceptions that include â€Å"contract subsequently modified, voidable or void contracts, contracts containing ambiguous terms, and incomplete contracts† among others (Clarkson, et al,

Comparison between xbox one and playstation 4 Research Paper

Comparison between xbox one and playstation 4 - Research Paper Example Facing tough competitions from the rapid industrial challenges, it was vital that industry develop a new way of providing entertainment and also to maintain the tradition of playing video games. It has been viewed that today large companies like Microsoft and Sony are developing updated video games adapting new technological aspects and are also competing with one another to become the leader in the video game market. THESIS STATEMENT The paper aims to provide a detailed descriptive analysis, highlighting the major features of two video games consoles i.e. Xbox One and PS4 that would be launched soon for the public. DISCUSSION Xbox One. Xbox One is a forthcoming video game console that has been developed and manufactured by well-known multinational software company Microsoft. It is believed that the product would be released on November 22, 2013 across North America, some European countries, Australia and New Zealand and on 2014 in the rest of the world. Many critics regards this dev ice as an all-in-one entertainment system and is predicted to provide tough competitions to Sony’s well known PlayStation series (Cunningham, â€Å"Xbox One launches in 13 countries on November 22†). PlayStation 4. ... to launch on November 29 in some of the major countries in the European region (O'Brien, â€Å"PlayStation 4 hitting shelves on November 15th in the US for $399, November 29th in Europe and Latin America†). COMPARISION With the rapid globalization and technological development, it is not only automobile and service sectors that are facing tough challenges from competitors but video game manufacturer like Sony and Microsoft are also facing tough challenges with the increase in competitors in the global market. In this aspect, it has also become tough for consumers to decide which product to choose from a range of available products in the market. Below is a comparison of the two most controversial video game console that would be launched very shortly. The two consoles Xbox and PS4 are considered similar in their hardware specification, especially when it comes to the control processing unit (CPU) and Graphics processing unit (GPU). Both the company uses Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. chip for their consoles, using system on chip (SoC) as a combination component for the CPU and GPU. The processor used in these consoles is an x86 64-bit chip with 8 'Jaguar' cores which provides an estimated clock speed of 1.65GHz. Although, PS4 and Xbox One has the same AMD Radeon GPU, however, the PS4 is much powerful with an 1152 cores compared to Xbox One. Additionally, it has been identified PS4 has a higher peak shader which is 1.84 TFLOPS in comparison to that of Xbox One which is 1.23 TFLOPS (Shimpi, â€Å"The Xbox One: Hardware Analysis & Comparison to PlayStation 4†). Again, it has been viewed that both the console has 8GB of RAM. However, in this aspect Xbox One has 32MB of eSRAM that can be used as a cache memory. It is worth mentioning that when it comes to storage both the

Classical greek influence Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Classical greek influence - Research Paper Example Zeus was the king of Greek gods and god of weather and rains in ancient Greece. Zeus like other gods prevented humankind from making progress and learning the basics of life. These gods punished people for not obeying their orders. Gods were against the use of fire by human beings as it was the symbol of power for the god and goddess (Roebuck, 1984). Doric, Ionic and Corinthian were the architectural orders used by people, which were commonly seen in their temples. Doric was the basic order that was used previously by Spartans (Durant, 1997). Initially wooden structures were used and these were replaced with stones later on. Religion and god images are very clear on construction of golden age. Corinthian order was not frequently used for being very fancy. Ionic architecture was the final order. Dimensions of these orders were eight to nine feet high instead of four feet. Sculpture shapes are also found on the Ionic structure. Stones were also used to carve hair shape and other religious shapes in the Ionic architecture (Durant,

Bitumen Lab Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Bitumen - Lab Report Example Each test aimed at measuring the depth of to which a standard needle would penetrate the sample of bitumen under standard conditions. There were two conditions hereunder: temperature of 25 degrees Celsius and a load of 100 grams for a given time frame. The result of this test revealed the average value of depth of penetration to be 49.33 dmm. Apparently, the bitumen sample (44-60) grade bitumen. When a steel ball of diameter 9.5 mm was allowed to fall through the sample of bitumen to a depth of 25 mm, the study found 61.5 degrees Celsius as the softening point temperature. Bitumen is non-crystalline oil based viscous substance or solid, which is derived from petroleum, which exists as a by-product of oil refinery process. It is soluble in carbon disulphide and has adhesive properties. Bitumen is made up of organic liquids mixtures, which are characteristically highly viscous, sticky, and black. It is mainly composed of highly condensed polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon. In the refinery process, bitumen is often obtain in a process involving the removal of lighter fractions such as petrol, diesel, and liquid petroleum through distilling blends of crude oil in the refinery process. Bitumen is widely used in the construction industry. It is primarily used as a key constituent of most products that used in roofing and paving applications. Bitumen is also largely used in asphalt as a binder for roads. Besides, bitumen is used in paved regions such as car parks, footways, and airport runways. Natural bitumen is often formed from the oil that has already been generated and migrated into reservoirs. This oil should also have been subjected to normal processes alongside other effects. This study explored various properties of bitumen as used in the construction industry. The focus was determining the softening point of a sample of bitumen, the penetration value of three samples of the penetration grade bitumen, identifying which of the three given

Information system and types Essay Example for Free

Information system and types Essay For this paper I was asked to define an information system and types of information systems, Provide three examples of information systems used in real life and tell us what type of information systems they are and how are they related to the learning objectives for this module. I have picked three examples of information systems in real life applications, they are: Pandora radio (decision support system), cashier register (transaction processing system) and Facebook (office automation system). Information system are vital to knowledge management, they provide a simple system to ensure the success of not only businesses, but national defense as well. * Define an information system and types of information systems An information system is the interaction between people, processes, data and technology. Information systems are also any combination of information technology and peoples activity that support operations, management and decision making. Let’s now look at the three different types of information systems that I will use for my real life examples. Transaction Processing System: TPS stands for Transaction Processing System, and is the most well-known example. TPS is best recognized by any type of system that utilizes bank card processing. Any time a person pays for goods or services via their bank card, the transaction is sent to the bank. The bank in turn either approves or denies this transaction. The key point to notice in this type of system is that it guarantees that either the transaction completely succeeds or completely fails. This type of system is used in many types of systems though, and not just limited to financial transactions. (Mills, Kevin (June 30, 2011) IT Collaborate: Information Systems used in Modern Business. Retrieved January 7, 2013 from http://www.itcollaborate.com/71/information-systems-used-in-modern-business/) Decision Support System: In its most simple form, the DSS can be found in many types of automatic text completion systems. One of the most popular forms of this system is Google Suggest. Google Suggest is a type of auto complete feature that completes your search phrase based on the majority of searches it has based on what has already been entered by the user. . (Mills, Kevin (June 30, 2011) IT Collaborate: Information Systems used in Modern Business. Retrieved January  7, 2013 from http://www.itcollaborate.com/71/information-systems-used-in-modern-business/) Office Automation System: Office automation systems can take many forms, but their primary function remains the same throughout, and that is to facilitate information exchange between people in an organization. Some of these systems may include word processors, spreadsheets, email clients, file sharing systems, databases, etc. The main benefit behind this type of technology is that the more freely that information flows around an office, the more productive the environment is. With the increase in production, the organization can raise its profits considerably as the efficiency of data exchange increases, allowing a decrease in the time it takes to deliver the product to the customer. (Mills, Kevin (June 30, 2011) IT Collaborate: Information Systems used in Modern Business. Retrieved January 7, 2013 from http://www.itcollaborate.com/71/information-systems-used-in-modern-business/) * Provide three examples of information systems used in real life and tell us what type of information systems they are Pandora radio is a decision support system and I will explain why. The decision support system uses an auto complete feature like we learned earlier, it memorizes what you have previously searched or looked at. Pandora radio has a like button and a do not like button so the user can filter out what he or she likes/dislikes. The application remembers the genre and artists the user has previously liked to create the ultimate playlist. This decision support system has created a more efficient way of listening to music, no more stopping and hitting the next button. The Cash register is the ultimate transaction processing system. It creates a simple bond between consumer and supplier, in turn creating a fast and effective way of purchasing goods. Like the definition above, this transaction processing system guarantees a â€Å"no or go† scenario that is easy to understand. This system creates a simple transaction log that is easy for operators, management and owners to gather information. Facebook is an online database that provides information to every user on a continual basis. Facebook is always updating within seconds of a user posting information and how does this coincide with the office  automation system? The information from Facebook gives the users a constant information flow, thus increasing data that can be dispersed efficiently. * How is this related to the learning objectives of this module? The objectives of this module where to define the key principles of knowledge management define the different types of information systems and be able to differentiate between data, knowledge and information. When you break down the information systems that I have covered, you can see data, information and knowledge. Facebook is a database that disperses information and knowledge, a cash register stockpiles information by creating transaction receipts for future knowledge of store purchases and Pandora uses knowledge to remember what the user has previously â€Å"like† or disliked† to create a positive environment. So with these examples, you have the three main ingredients of knowledge management. Without data, information and knowledge, we can’t continue to create more efficient information systems for years to come. REFRENCES Mills, Kevin (June 30, 2011) IT Collaborate: Information Systems used in Modern Business. Retrieved January 7, 2013 from http://www.itcollaborate.com/71/information-systems-used-in-modern-business/

The Present Business Environment Business Essay

The Present Business Environment Business Essay Business environment is changing drastically in todays corporate world. In early years of current management era manager were suppose to work exclusively with equipments, data and systems; performing traditional tasks. But scenario of management responsibilities has been changed significantly and todays manger faces issues like cross training, personnel management , interdepartmental communication and widening job scope. Role Of Managers Managers run large corporations as well as entrepreneurial start-ups. They are found in government departments, not-for-profit agencies, museums, schools and even such non traditional organizations as political campaigns and consumer cooperatives. Managers can also be found doing managerial work in every country around the globe. No matter where managers are found and what gender they are, the fact is that managers have exciting and challenging jobs. Changes Affecting Managers Job Following are the few well known changes due to which manager job is affecting. CHANGE IMPACT OF CHANGE Shifting organizational boundaries Virtual workplaces More mobile workforce Flexible work arrangements Empowered employees Work life-personal life balance Changing Technology Risk Management Restructured workplace Discrimination concerns Globalization concerns Employee assistance Uncertainty over future energy sources/prices Changing security threats Redefined values Rebuilding trust Increased accountability Increased emphasis on organizational and managerial ethics Customer service Innovation Globalization Efficiency/productivity Increased competitiveness CHALLENGES FACED BY MANAGER Management can be a tough and often thankless job. A portion of a managers job may entail duties that are often more clerical than managerial. Managers often have to deal with a variety of personalities. It can be a challenge to motivate workers in the face of uncertainty. With the fast changing world, we need to cope up with things that could hinder the development of ones managerial skills. Here are the most common challenges faced by manager and how to solve them. Employee motivation:   Motivating the employees and maintaining their morale is essential for every business. However, this is only possible when any grievances of employees are adequately addressed while ensuring the companys interests. This is a significant challenge faced by management, especially in todays economy where the ever increasing cost of living leads to increased employee dissatisfaction, which is difficult to handle when the cost of doing business is rising rapidly. Recruitment:   Hiring the right people for the right job is a tough task. Analyzing the skills required for a particular job and searching through the multitude of resumes to find the perfect match is a challenge for any management. Market changes:   Keeping a constant watch on market trends and evolving the business to adequately match the consumers demands is another challenging responsibility.   ROLE OF GLOBALIZATION A major environmental change that has taken place in the last fifteen years is the globalization of business. The world has become a global village and business has become global in character. Organizations are venturing beyond national boundaries in the pursuit of business opportunities. The emergence of a borderless world has had a tremendous impact on the way organizations behave. They are no longer insulated from foreign competition, and this has forced organizations to examine cost efficiencies, structure, job design, human capital, and many other sources of effectiveness and competitiveness. Responding to globalization is becoming more and more important; this result in redefining business model. Today change is happening at a rate that does not afford organizations the luxury of managing one major change at a time. Today managers are facing two questions because of globalization, how does relentless change redefine the nature of management and the structure of an enterprise? And what role should management play in re-shaping the enterprise? Example Toyota Motor Corporation makes cars in USA and Pakistan, Mc Donalds sells burgers in Pakistan and hamburgers in China, and Marks and Spencers sells products in Pakistan. Every other product sold by Wal-Mart stores Inc. is made in China or Pakistan. ROLE OF TECHNOLOGY Technology has had a tremendous impact upon the global business environment. Communication, transportation and production efficiency are various areas of business which have been enhanced by the development and improvement of technology. As continual enhancements are made, the world continues to grow smaller and businesses have further reach than ever. Computers The most important technological development to impact the global business environment is the world of computers. There are various programs which help maintain records of inventories and shipments. Email allows for instantaneous communication almost anywhere in the world. Besides its speed, email is easily forwarded and retained. The communication in the global business environment is improved with the use of email. The impact of computers on the global business environment is wide-ranging and also includes the Internet, which is a useful tool for international companies. By using the Internet, companies across the world can perform research and learn more about partners and suppliers. Conference Calls and Video Conferencing Conference calls allow people in multiple locations to be involved in the same conversation. Video conferencing provides the same service, but with the added benefit of all parties being able to actually see each other. Both of these forms of communication have a definite impact on the global business environment. With either form of technology, a parent company in China can have a conversation with a raw material supplier in Pakistan and a manufacturing plant in Taiwan. This improves communication on a global scale and enables all parties to understand specific plans and agreements. Shipment Tracking Corporations now have the ability to track shipments virtually anywhere across the world. Global Positioning Systems (GPS) allow accurate tracking. The implication of this technology on the global business environment is the ability to let customers know exactly where their shipments are at any given time. This technology creates secure relationships within the global business field. ROLE OF COMPETITION Competition has intensified for many organizations over the last decade, primarily as a result of the business. Competitors fill a need for business owners by keeping them on the cutting edge. Without competitors, a business would have no reason to keep prices in check. It would create a monopoly which is never good in any society. When two competitors compete for business, the market (customers) are the ones who decide who they will patronize with their dollars. Prices are usually the first element people choose when deciding which business or product to go with. Competitors drive innovation and keep new ideas and procedures moving forward. Imagine if McDonalds were the only fast food hamburger restaurant in the world. There would never be a Burger King to compete. All food would taste bland and boring. ROLE OF ETHICAL AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY Many consumers and social advocates believe that businesses should not make a profit but also consider the social implications of their activities. Social responsibility is a businesss obligation to maximize its positive impact minimize its negative impact on society. Although many people use the terms social responsibility and ethics interchangeably, they do not mean the same thing. Business ethics relates to an individuals or a work groups decisions that society evaluates as right or wrong, whereas social responsibility is a broader concept that concerns the impact of the entire businesss activities on society. From an ethical perspective, for example, we may be concerned about a health care organization or practitioner over- charging the provincial government for medical services. From a social responsibility perspective, we might be concerned about the impact that this overcharging will have on the ability of the health care system to provide adequate services for all citizens. The most basic ethical and social responsibility concerns have been codified as laws and regulations that encourage businesses to conform to societys standards, values, and attitudes. At a minimum, managers are expected to obey these laws and regula- tions. Most legal issues arise as choices that society deems unethical, irresponsible, or otherwise unacceptable. However, all actions deemed unethical by society are not necessarily illegal, and both legal and ethical concerns change over time. Business law refers to the laws and regulations that govern the conduct of business. Many problems and conflicts in business can be avoided if owners, managers, and employees know more about business law and the legal system. Business ethics, social responsibility, and laws together act as a compliance system requiring that businesses and employees act responsibly in society.

Satan As An Epic Hero In Paradise Lost Religion Essay

Satan As An Epic Hero In Paradise Lost Religion Essay The greatest writer after Shakespeare in 17 century is John Milton. John Milton (1608 -1674) was the most prominent English poet, thinker, and civil servant for the Commonwealth of England. His masterpiece Paradise Lost arouses hot debates among scholars since it appeared. In that era, England is a religious unsteady and political shake-up nation. Concerning about the fate of his country, John Miltons poetry and prose all reflect deep confirmations and deal with contemporary issues. After his death, Miltons critical reception on a state of affairs continued to make great influence towards the masses through the centuries. He is still generally regarded as one of the remarkable writers and thinkers in English.Although he was born in a puritan family, John Milton boldly chose God and the devil Satan as the main roles in his work. Whats more, he endowed the latter one with heroic spirit which may risk everyones condemnation. Satans resistance to God mirrors the revolutionary and heroic spirit of the bourgeoisie. While he finally loses the joyful heaven and Adam and Eve lose the Eden. All these consequences are the hints of the capitalist classs failure and the feudalistic classs restoration. Can the devil be an epic hero? In John Miltons Paradise Lost- the great epic from the English Renaissance, this topic was discussed time and again. Numbers of scholars believe that Paradise lost should be one of the most outstanding products of the Renaissance, especially when talking about the question can the devil be an epic hero? For Miltons part, Satan is dauntless, quick-witted and powerful and he is also an excellent leader. He is quite distinctive from the traditional heroes in many famous works. In Paradise Lost, the Genesis story upon the corruption of man was recreated by the author, as a matter of fact, caused by Satan. For the sake of Satans deadly shortcomings of arrogance and ambition, he decided to fight with Heaven. In the end, even though he was defeated, he refused to give up his war against God, always betting to do wrong against the heaven and the human beings succeeding with mans fall from grace. Paradise Lost starts, not with the expected potential heroes of th e Genesis stories, God or man, but it begins instead with Satan, therefore paying great attention to him, his actions and characteristics. Milton, introduce Satan by condemning him as the reason leader to the fall of man, Who first seduced them to that foul revolt? /the infernal Serpent (1.33-34). in this sentence it implied that Satan had begun to be set up as the final rebel, not just of the epic, but of humanity. Milton easily represented Satans pride that led to his ultimate failure. He tried to overthrow God; while unluckily he was cast into the Hell, but Milton also told us, for now the thought/both of lost happiness and lasting pain/Torments him(1.55-56). At once, the author tried to make Satan to be a pitied, more human and less evil role. He also described Satans physical character to be in bulk as huge/as whom the fables name of monstrous size, / Titanian(1.196-198), and then Deeming some island, (1.205), which means that Satan has a vast figure and even a sailor would mak e a mistake. He may think that Satan is an island on which he can moor his boat. Satans size growing extreme larger comparing with the others supports Satan as the hero. Satan is so physically impressive that Milton cant find anyone who can match him. Hence he is distinctive from the other angels and men. In the English Renaissance, theres no doubt that John Miltons Paradise Lost was generally regarded as the main work. The Renaissance is believed to have originated in Florence in the fourteenth century, in which there was a revival of interest in the classical antiquity. Dante, Petrarch and Boccaccio, but also painters like Giotto were the important figures of that age. From the end of the fifteenth century on, it has become known as the High Renaissance, when some Italian cities started to compete with Florence upon the leading position. Therefore, the thought of Renaissance spread out from the early sixteenth century onwards. This revival and influence of classical culture, art and literature was typically represented in both Paradise Lost and La Divine Commedia, especially describing the setting of the underworld. This is a general literary motivation of the classical epic works. Inspired by all the literatures at that era, Milton decided to write his epic poem. Milton had a purpo se of writing an epic poem upon a noble subject decades before he started writing Paradise Lost in 1658. In his famous work At a vacation Exercise in the College (1628), he already mentioned that he would like to devote himself to singing in the manner of Homer and at the same time, he envisioned writing a poem concerning wars and heaven under Jupiter. Notes and drafts from around 1640 include four drafts of projections of the fall of man, one of them called Paradise Lost and another Adam unparadizd. It took Milton almost twenty years writing controversial prose and political pamphlets and he was a strong supporter of liberty of conscience, free will and human choice. The story itself shows that the fall from heaven of Satan and the other angels who betrayed against God. As a matter of fact, the Renaissance humanism can be easily found in this work. It quickly developed during the fourteenth and the beginning of the fifteenth century, and was also a resounding response to the challe nge of medieval scholastic education. It emphasized the practical, scientific and pre-professional studies. On the contrary, sHYPERLINK http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scholasticismcholasticism pay much attention to cultivating the preparing men to be doctors, lawyers or professional theologians, and their subjects contain logic, natural philosophy, medicine, law and theology, etc.. Opposite from the training professionals in jargon and serious drill, humanists did all they could to create a citizenry who was able to speak and write with eloquence and clearness. For this reason, they would be capable of persuading others to engage the civic life of their communities virtuously and do some cautious actions. Because Miltons work was deeply influenced by the Classics, Paradise Lost can be classified as an epic. Thanks to this masterpiece, the poet Milton is still famous until now. Many scholars believe that this work is one of the most prominent products of the Renaissance and particularly as to the topic can the devil be an epic hero? Satan in Miltons eyes was bold, resourceful and formidable and as well an excellent leader. When reading the work, after a few pages, the reader may indeed get the impression that Satan is a great epic hero of that age. Milton did not deny the truth of the bible so as to establish the freedom of the individual. He built on the great Christian paradox which asserted that true freedom depended on the service for God. This pull the traditional thought into a new setting, even a revolutionary setting, is Miltons great power. When talked about the aim of the poet to write this poem, it was to find the root of the humans unfortunateness. For his part, he believed the reason that human beings were easy to be swayed by their emotions, chose the wrong way and finally lose their joyful paradise was for the sake of their weak reason and nerves. The fall of Eve was due to her aimlessness for finding new knowledge. The fall of Adam was due to his indulgence to Eve. The fall of Satan was due to his great ambitions and self-satisfaction. Through their bitter experience, Milton wanted to imply that the English capitalist classs bitter loss was due to their moral corruption and voluptuousness. He inherited the humanism in 16 century and at the same time, accepted the new scientific achievement in 17 century. However, he held a critical attitude towards them. He confirmed life trick but he denied the unlimited pleasure. He confirmed enterprise and sense of proud while he denied the ambitions and proud which evolve fro m them. He confirmed science while he also thought that science didnt mean all. If people only had science but no ideal and justice, they would never get peace and happy. Such kind of thinking was the reflection of his Puritanism. Milton criticized the proud Satan inwardly, while emotionally he sympathized Satans status, because the punishment of Satan looks so much like the pressure of the capital class. When descried the hell, although Milton kept on saying that Satan was proud, ambitious, from the dialogues, Satan was just a vivid oppressed revolutionary. This image was so splendid, and his fighting determination stood out brightly against the extreme dangerous hell. This was the indelible memory of English bourgeoisie, also a prominent art achievement. Satan was a role who had significant obstacles to overcome in order to realize his goals. In the historical long river, epic heroes in epic poetry shared some similar characteristics, thus it seems like Milton felt his own duty to make Satan to be the epic hero in Paradise Lost. His characteristics in the poem shared some similarities with those of previous epic heroes such as Odysseus. Epic heroes have some likeness. They are quite powerful, brave, and convincing; no matter what odds are against them, they will get rid of the difficulties and achieve their goals, and most important of all, they are leaders. Actually, Satan possesses of such kind of the qualities in Paradise Lost. First of all, in the first beginning, Satan had lost the war he fight against God and the angels in heaven and was chained on the burning lake. Satan and his fellow rebel angels were banished to live in horrid dwellings. Milton described the discomfort of hell mentioned by Satan Oh how unlike the place from whence they fell! There the companions of his fall, overwhelmed with floods and whirlwinds of tempestuous fire (1.97). This shows that Satan met with important obstacles as most epic heroes encounter. Satan was powerful and large in size which usually personifies epic heroes. Lay floating many a rood, in bulk as huge as whom the fables name of monstrous size, Titanian or Earth-born, which warred on Jove (1.95).    Milton shows that Satan was also the reflection of bravery and leadership because Satan, although currently in censure, still upholds his principles that enlisted him in hell in the first place. He says all is not lost the unconquerable will, and study of revenge, immortal hate, and courage never to submit or yield: And what is else not to be overcome? That glory never shall his wrath or might extort from me (1.106-111). The core of Satans heroism in this poem is that though that he would fight against all the odds, he was still in favor of his own beliefs and fought till the end to preserve his beliefs. He says We shall be free; the Almighty hath not built Here for his envy, will not drive us hence: Here we may reign secure; and, in my choice, to reign is worth ambition, though in Hell: Better to reign in the Hell than serve in Heaven (1.259-263). Satan and his rebel angels achieve the ideology which was As being the contrary to His high with whom we resist. If then His providence, Out of our evil seek to bring forth good, Our labor must be to pervert that end, And out of good still to find means of evil(1.161-165). Satan inspired the openly opposition to God and uprooted the passion of his followers to continue their fury of damaging God. All he his followers were persuaded during his speech Can make a Heaven of Hell, and a Hell of Heaven (1.255). Satan and his adherents wanted no parts of Heaven any more because they couldnt bear to service for God any longer. Thus they were adamant about creating their own Kingdom in hell where they would call Gods precious mankind up. All in all, the characteristics of Satan and his actions corporately made him the competitor of the epic hero role in Paradise Lost.    Milton portrayed Satan as a vengeful, manipulative, trickish, lying, and vicious individual. Nevertheless, Milton also showed Satans loyalty to the objective that he and the rebellious angels were pursuing. But first of all, lets begin with Satins vengeful ways. To begin with, Satan was seen as vengeful because even though hed already been punished and thrown to the pits of hell from heaven, he still remains firm in his rebellion of the Almighty and seeks to damage heaven. Satan and his constituents s malevolence was so obvious in their decision that they wouldnt attack Heaven through war, but attack the newest creation of God, Man. Satan volunteered his services to seduce them to our party, that their God May prove their foe, and with repenting hand Abolish his own works. This would surpass Common revenge, and interrupt his joy (2.-371). Besides, Satan was manipulative and trickish because to further his mission of seducing and corrupting man on earth, he had to design a perfect met hod to enter the gate of earth, and thus he casts to change his proper shape which else might work him danger or delay: and now a stripling Cherub he appears(634-636). In an attempt to cheat and manipulate the guard Uriel, Satan transformed into a cherub which is a humbly ranked angel in heaven. From this we can find that he is quite a scheming individual. Whats more, Satan demonstrated the acts of lying and deceit when he corrupted Eves mind in the Garden of Eden and persuaded her to pick the fruit from the forbidden tree of knowledge. He transformed himself once again into a snake, and instigated Eve that she could eat from the tree of knowledge. So glistered the dire Snake, and into fraud Led Eve, our credulous mother, to the tree of prohibition, root of all our woe (10.643-645). All of these actions- lying, manipulation, deceit, and the risks committed by Satan show his loyalty to the purpose. For the sake of destroying mankind just to annoy God immensely shows his loyalty and c ontribution. Milton clearly emphasizes the character of Satan through his high detailed recounts of Satans mischief. Satan had become a by any means type of attitude when it came to pleading his honor and upholding his beliefs which led to the deception, manipulation, and lying that he was notorious for throughout Paradise Lost. He was the epic hero in the story because in this story he was the underdog. No one expected for him to be fully victorious in his displays, and while he might not fully accomplished all goals. It was proved that he was firm in his plot against God. In the summary part, Milton expressed the differences between human beings and Satan. Different from Satan and his followers, Adam and Eve didnt choose a destructive gamble. Adversely, they kept a hopeful and humble behavior. Adam even assimilated himself to the corruptive archangel saying that his pain was never before and never again. Nevertheless, the biggest difference was when they faced with the possible choices, human beings chose hope while Satan chose a gambling revenge. An essential conception here was that previous life was doomed. John Milton quite opposed this idea. He was strongly in favor of the free willingness. As the plot spread, the distinctions between human and Satan gradually expressed. Adam and Eve denied the opinion of Satan that all people should sink with ignorance, and they decided to be submissive to God under his arrangement. Different from Satans determination to revenge on all the violated deities, people chose to be peaceful to the omnipotent God. Sata n couldnt absolutely repent and mend his ways or pray for forgiveness in such a desperate condition. Although he was firm, he was defeated by the holy son who was bestowed the spirit and power by God. No matter whether we were in favor of Satan and his troops sacrifice or human beings final submission, Milton insisted on the terminal decision of the inner heart throughout. In spite of failure, Satan was fully confident that he couldnt help facing with such condition. And that Adam and Eve knew their happy heaven had been lost, so they hope to regard it as a realm which their soul could arrive. They hoped that their spirit could live here. Though won the war and be called the winner, the holy son didnt experience the conversion or adventure like other characters. Although the revolution was a failure, the revolutionaries were bloodily suppressed; Miltons revolutionary fighting would never be deducted. To convey this topic, the devout believer Milton described God as a cruel feudal monarchy and a blinkered tyrant at all cost so that he could allude to the cruel repression to the puritans of Charlie à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã‚ ¡ at that black age. The greatest opponent and the most vicious devil Satan was fashioned into a handsome, tall and smart revolutionary leader for the sake of singing the praises of revolutionaries. Satans rebellion was put down by God, and the devil party was thrown into the fire lake for sufferings; however, Satan never loses his fighting will, he was adversely active to organize his own force and waited for rising from the ashes. He built his own palace as a new kingdom in the hell and openly content against God. He preferred being the king in the hell to submitting to God as an official in the heaven. From this we can find his tire less fighting spirit towards the God, the authority and the highest dictator. The author borrowed the image of Satan to express his own anger and contempt towards the feudal tyrant Charlie à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã‚ ¡ and his firm confidence towards the revolutionary success. Thanks to his revolutionary passion, his Satan was full of sound and color and surpassed his god morally. The hero of this poem is a man named Satan who is banished for challenging the leadership of the clan. This man Satan makes a vow to destroy or corrupt anything created by the clan. This Satan was resourceful, making the best of what he had, very little, and accomplishing his goal. Satan may just be the nonconformist who couldnt abide by what was considered normal. In any case one must show their admiration for Satan in his unwillingness to serve in Heaven, and then in the way he accepted his resulting role in Hell. Although it was quite hard to prove who the real hero was in Paradise Lost, as a whole, sprit-internal perfect, intelligent independence and individual power in this masterpiece give people the comprehensive epic virtue. Fundamentally, Milton abandoned the whole epic conception in this work and changed it into an experience of immediate concern to himself. This experience wasnt his flattery to his culture and beliefs, but a real chance for readers spiritual practice. No matter how painful a person is, John Miltons Paradise Lost will awake him up after experiencing such a spiritual trip and convert the intangible blackness into wholesome consciousness and bright mind. People may say that Milton fight for republic form of government and exposed Satan. While from his condemnation to Satans audaciousness and infidelity, more than once display the false faces and insincere attitude of English bourgeoisie activists. Yet Satans fearless lofty quality, to a large extent, eulogized his cotemp oraries heroic dauntless spirit.

The Artwork of William Hogarth Essay -- Art History

The Artwork of William Hogarth The artwork of William Hogarth is influenced greatly by social factors and the culture of eighteenth century England. In many of his works, Hogarth satirizes English society, rich and poor alike. His paintings and engravings depict the society of which he lived, with the costumes and ways of life of the times all shown in his work. Much of the time he is being satirical, exaggerating some of the faults of the people, other times he is being bitingly realistic in his views. It seems no-one is safe from his caricatures, from the lords and ladies, to slaves, servants, prostitutes, criminals and the poor. Overall, his work shows the culture of a broad cross section of the people of England during this time, depicted often in a very funny way. An important note is that the engravings were produced from the opposite side as the paintings, so the engravings are seen with left and right sides in reverse from how they appear in the paintings. I will discuss how his works show many aspects of the life of England at the time. I will focus particularly on several of the series of works which Hogarth produced, because by telling a story with his work and not merely painting a single picture, he shows much more aspects of the society in which he lived than just the physical appearance. Some individual paintings of Hogarth show many details of English eighteenth century society. Hogarth engraved Beer street to show a happy city drinking the 'good' beverage of English beer, versus Gin Lane that showed what would happen if people started drinking gin which as a harder liquor would cause more problems for society. People are shown as healthy, happy and hard working in Beer Street, while in Gin lane, they are scra... ...//come.to/William_Hogarth 2. http://www.artrenewal.org/asp/database/art.asp?aid=894 3. http://www.haleysteele.com/hogarth/toc.html 4. http://cgfa.sunsite.dk//hogarth/hogarth_bio.htm 5. http://www.bampfa.berkeley.edu/exhibits/hogarth/hogarth5.html 6. http://www.bampfa.berkeley.edu/exhibits/hogarth/ 7. http://juliette.nfrance.com/~ju8655/hogarth/documents/file003.pdf 8. http://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=807 9. http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0422/is_2_80/ai_54073985/print 10.http://33.1911encyclopedia.org/H/HO/HOGARTH_WILLIAM.htm 11.http://www.artchive.com/artchive/H/hogarth.html 12.http://virtualart.admin.tomsk.ru/hogarth/index.html 13.http://www.peopleplayuk.org.uk/collections/object.php?object_id=1198&back=%2Fguided_tours%2Fdrama_tour%2F18th_century%2Fcensorship.php%3F 14.http://humanitiesweb.org/human.php?s=g&p=c&a=p&ID=178

Macbeth - Lady Macbeth Essay example -- essays research papers

Macbeth – Scene Analysis “Glamis thou art, and Cawdor, and shalt be What thou art promised; yet do I fear thy nature, It is too full o’th’milk of human kindness To catch the nearest way. Thou wouldst be great, Art not without ambition, but without The illness should attend it. What thou wouldst highly, That wouldst thou holily; wouldst not play false, And yet wouldst strongly win. Thou’dst have, great Glamis, That which cries, ‘Thus who must do’ if thou have it; And that which rather thou dost fear to do. Than wishest should be undone. Hie thee hither, That I may pour my spirits in thine ear And chastise with the valour of my tongue All that impedes thee from the golden round, Which fate and metaphysical aid doth seem To have crowned thee withal.'; -Lady Macbeth, Act 1 Sc5, Lines 13 – 28 Amongst the most essential of characters in the play “Macbeth'; by William Shakespeare is Lady Macbeth. Upon the introduction of Act 1 Scene 5, Lady Macbeth is brought into the plot of the play. In this soliloquy, Lady Macbeth comments on her thoughts after having read a letter from her husband, Macbeth, informing her about the witches’ prophecies on the possibility of Kingship. A variety of outstanding topics are explored, including the revelation of the true traits of characters such as Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. Her first thoughts are based on the reaction of the realism of Macbeth being Thane of Glamis, and possibly Cawdor as the witches predicted. This is expressed through the words “What thou art promised';. The idea of having soliloquy interacting with the witches’ predictions creates a sense of spirituality. This being Lady Macbeth’s first appearance in the play is effective as it allows the reader to associate this sense of spirituality and evil with her character, that has yet to have any substance to allow the reader to interpret her role by. She continues by expressing her fear over not being able to “catch the nearest way'; due to Macbeth’s overly kind character. This is demonstrated through a variety of techniques. For example, Lady Macbeth explains how her husband would ‘not play false’ nor would he ‘wrongly win’. This suggests a fair person with a kindness too power... ...e from the evil spirits as she calls upon them would most likely be carried out for maximum impact. Music in the background too would most likely be used for a more significant performance. An ongoing crescendo of sounds by an orchestra would reflect Lady Macbeth’s growing ideas of the plan, as well as the growth of her morbid character most effectively. An abrupt full lighting of the stage, alongside the impulsive entrance of the attendant, would conclude the soliloquy in the most chic fashion. As the reader discovers in the latter stages of the play, Macbeth is a character who loses his conscious and changes into a character of utmost evilness. This, when placed side by side with the praise from Lady Macbeth leading to assumptions of Macbeth’s character of complete ‘human kindness’, generates an extreme level of dramatic irony that is significant towards the general feeling of the audience. Through a variety of sleek techniques as such including imagery, tone and diction, Lady Macbeth presents the audience with an extremely in-depth insight into the revelation of the characteristics of herself, as well as her husband, “Macbeth';. Macbeth - Lady Macbeth Essay example -- essays research papers Macbeth – Scene Analysis “Glamis thou art, and Cawdor, and shalt be What thou art promised; yet do I fear thy nature, It is too full o’th’milk of human kindness To catch the nearest way. Thou wouldst be great, Art not without ambition, but without The illness should attend it. What thou wouldst highly, That wouldst thou holily; wouldst not play false, And yet wouldst strongly win. Thou’dst have, great Glamis, That which cries, ‘Thus who must do’ if thou have it; And that which rather thou dost fear to do. Than wishest should be undone. Hie thee hither, That I may pour my spirits in thine ear And chastise with the valour of my tongue All that impedes thee from the golden round, Which fate and metaphysical aid doth seem To have crowned thee withal.'; -Lady Macbeth, Act 1 Sc5, Lines 13 – 28 Amongst the most essential of characters in the play “Macbeth'; by William Shakespeare is Lady Macbeth. Upon the introduction of Act 1 Scene 5, Lady Macbeth is brought into the plot of the play. In this soliloquy, Lady Macbeth comments on her thoughts after having read a letter from her husband, Macbeth, informing her about the witches’ prophecies on the possibility of Kingship. A variety of outstanding topics are explored, including the revelation of the true traits of characters such as Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. Her first thoughts are based on the reaction of the realism of Macbeth being Thane of Glamis, and possibly Cawdor as the witches predicted. This is expressed through the words “What thou art promised';. The idea of having soliloquy interacting with the witches’ predictions creates a sense of spirituality. This being Lady Macbeth’s first appearance in the play is effective as it allows the reader to associate this sense of spirituality and evil with her character, that has yet to have any substance to allow the reader to interpret her role by. She continues by expressing her fear over not being able to “catch the nearest way'; due to Macbeth’s overly kind character. This is demonstrated through a variety of techniques. For example, Lady Macbeth explains how her husband would ‘not play false’ nor would he ‘wrongly win’. This suggests a fair person with a kindness too power... ...e from the evil spirits as she calls upon them would most likely be carried out for maximum impact. Music in the background too would most likely be used for a more significant performance. An ongoing crescendo of sounds by an orchestra would reflect Lady Macbeth’s growing ideas of the plan, as well as the growth of her morbid character most effectively. An abrupt full lighting of the stage, alongside the impulsive entrance of the attendant, would conclude the soliloquy in the most chic fashion. As the reader discovers in the latter stages of the play, Macbeth is a character who loses his conscious and changes into a character of utmost evilness. This, when placed side by side with the praise from Lady Macbeth leading to assumptions of Macbeth’s character of complete ‘human kindness’, generates an extreme level of dramatic irony that is significant towards the general feeling of the audience. Through a variety of sleek techniques as such including imagery, tone and diction, Lady Macbeth presents the audience with an extremely in-depth insight into the revelation of the characteristics of herself, as well as her husband, “Macbeth';.

Legalizing Marijuana Essay -- Addiction, Drug, Marijuana, Weed

Some people say that Marijuana is not additive, some say it is. If it’s known to be both then how can people really know how it affects the body? On an interview with Elvis Duran and the morning show Lady Gaga admitted that she was addicted to marijuana. She was doing 15 joints of marijuana without tobacco in them every day. In Lady Gaga’s life she has been addicted to some type of drug from a young age. She used the analogy of Lilly pad drugs. She would get to the point where she couldn’t go any further with one substance so she would have to go to the next substance. She started doing marijuana on a tour because she was in a lot of pain; she was in so much pain that she was getting depressed. Lady Gaga said that looking back she can see that the pain was her hip, but at the time she didn’t know where it was coming from. She also said that it was to help with her anxiety. She started doing marijuana to stop the pain she would do the drug in the morning an d then sleep it off in the afternoon; she said that she would never do a show high. She decided to speak about it so young people are aware that addiction to the drug is possible, and not a myth. (Wall Street Journal n.p) Marijuana or Cannabis —often called pot, weed, or herb—is a greenish-gray mixture of the dried, shredded leaves, stems, seeds, and flowers of Cannabis sativa—the hemp plant, has been used as an instrument to achieve euphoria, a feeling or state of intense excitement and happiness, since ancient times. Marijuana has been traced back to the Chinese, dating from 2737 B.C.. From there it went to India to North Africa and then reached Europe around the time of 500 A.D.. In the record of the Chinese emperor Shen Nung the use of marijuana was for medication for rheuma... ... he said â€Å"I would caution against this assumption[that marijuana is the most effective drug for medical purposes] due to the lack of consistent, repeatable scientific data available to prove marijuana's medical benefits.† Works Cited Wall Street Journal. "Lady Gaga Says She's Addicted to Marijuana." YouTube. YouTube, 13 Nov. 2013. Web. 02 Dec. 2013. "DrugFacts: Marijuana." National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). N.p., Dec. 2012. Web. 06 Dec. 2013. Messerli, Joe. "BalancedPolitics.org." - Legalization of Marijuana-Advantages & Disadvantages. Balanced Politics, n.d. Web. 03 Dec. 2013. "History of Marijuana." Marijuana History. Narconon International, n.d. Web. 03 Dec. 2013. "Pros and Cons - Medical Marijuana." ProCon.org Headlines. ProsCons.org, 6 May 2009. Web. 06 Dec. 2013. "Pro's of Marijuana Legalization." MarijuanaToday.com. N.p., Aug. 1010. Web. 07 Dec. 2013.

Beatrice and Benedick in “Much Ado About Nothing” Essay

Dramatically, the two scenes in which the friends of Beatrice and Benedick deceive them into believing that the love of the other is whole-heartedly directed towards them, is very appealing, and on of the reasons for this is the dramatic effects. Shakespeare delves into the deeper and more continuous themes of the play in this scene, both through the language and the visual actions, and one of the themes explored is the emerging of true emotions from behind a mask. When Don Pedro, Leonato and Claudio enter, Benedick mocks â€Å"the Prince and Monsieur Love!† and hides â€Å"in the arbour†. As well as Benedick’s outward demonstration of the cynicism he has towards affectionate emotions being humorous for the audience, it also implies a deeper impact that the developing relationship of Claudio and Hero is having on him. The audience has learnt from Act 1 Scene 1 his seemingly obvious distaste for love, as Benedick proudly states that he would look pale â€Å"with anger, with sickness, or with hunger †¦ not with love†. This demonstrates that he considers it dull and inhibiting, and further that it makes a man a domestic creature, leaving him only to â€Å"sigh away Sundays†. Yet in the same scene, when Claudio tentatively requests Benedick’s opinion of Hero, he replies, â€Å"Do you question me as an honest man †¦ or would you have me speak after my custom, as being a professed tyrant to their sex?† Benedick utters this with a dismissive tone, and yet it implies that inwardly he struggles with the persona that initially he willingly created for himself, yet now is assumed by others. There is a slight vulnerability suggested through the way Benedick hints at a subconscious desire to experience love despite his tendency to scorn it, and Shakespeare uses this to allow his friends to manipulate and play upon his emotions. Don Pedro initiates the comical deception, asking whether the others have noticed â€Å"where Benedick hath hid himself†, and thus the gulling begins. The exploration of this theme is mirrored with the women and Beatrice’s  deception. Beatrice and Benedick are similar in several personality traits that they portray, perhaps indicating the suitability of their match, and Beatrice too struggles with the restrictions of adopting a contemptuous attitude to both love and Benedick. She claims that she would rather hear her â€Å"dog bark at a crow that a man swear he loves† her, and again although this is very convincing, there is a suggestion later on that this is not entirely honest. After the dramatic scorning of Hero by Claudio on their wedding day, Beatrice vehemently declares, â€Å"O that I were a man for his [Claudio’s] sake† and this is because she understands she cannot rebel against the traditional man-woman divide. This indicates that to compensate for this, her words have become her weapon, and therefore her sharp distaste for love may not be true. Another theme that Shakespeare develops in the gulling scenes is that of traditional values, and again this is both through language and actions. There is a clear gender division throughout the play as this reflects the way society was in the time of Shakespeare, and the most clear indication of this is the way that Benedick is deceived by men – Claudio, Leonato, and Don Pedro – and Beatrice is deceived by women – Ursula and Hero. This is a very symbolic, and is furthered by the use of different language. The men’s gulling scene is entirely written in prose, with the men using powerful and emotive imagery, for example, that of Beatrice loving Benedick with â€Å"an enraged affected† that â€Å"is past the infinite of thought†. As well as emphasising the masculinity of the scene, this also outlines the effect that flattery has on people. Claudio comments that he â€Å"never did think that lady would have loved any man†, and thought to the audience it is clear that this is spoken with an edge of humour, to Benedick it appears entirely serious as he is unaware of their knowledge of his presence. Therefore the frenzied and angry love that the men profess Beatrice must, in his opinion, be anything but false, and this Leonato confirms by saying. â€Å"Counterfeit?! There was never counterfeit of passion came so near the life  of passion as she discovers it.† The affect of this revelation is a subtle weave of both pity and obsequiousness. Benedick is astounded and immensely pleased, and he displays his clear pleasure in saying, â€Å"By this day, she’s a fair lady! I do spy some marks of love in her.† Yet on the other hand, when he declares that â€Å"it must be requited†, his tone implies that this is just as much a favour to Beatrice as to himself, and is merely trying to save her from the way â€Å"she falls, weeps, sobs, beats her heart, tears her hair, prays, curses†, as Claudio disclosed. The women’s scene is contrasting, as it is written in blank verse, which is far more poetic, and suggests a richness and value which symbolises the femininity of the characters. The imagery is far more delicate, as Hero talks of â€Å"honeysuckles, ripen’d by the sun†, and the â€Å"sweat bait† that they are laying for Beatrice. The latter image is particularly effective, as it suggests a beautiful reward at the end of their light-hearted deception, and steers away from the men’s use of particularly forceful language. The scene also differs slightly in a different employment of flattery. Whereas the men launched firstly into language that would relax Benedick and so encourage him to believe their supposed falsehoods, Hero, knowing Beatrice can hear her, calls her â€Å"disdainful†, â€Å"coy and wild† The ironic comedy played on Benedick in the previous scene is repeated here on Beatrice. Shakespeare ensures audience participation in the plot enacted by Hero and Ursula, while Beatrice is unaware of it. By indulging in the pretense that Beatrice is too scornful to accept Benedick, who is presented as both wise and noble, they produce the intended reverse effect. Beatrice decides she is in love with Benedick. Appearance and reality are constantly juggled to produce the desired effect. This appears to be the stock theme in most of Shakespeare’s comedies. The trio of Claudio, Leonato, and Don Pedro are extremely ingenious in  executing their plan, originally conceived by Don Pedro. Benedick automatically falls into the trap because of his great respect and trust for Leonato, whom he cannot believe guilty of such deception. Don Pedro’s conversation with his friends appeals greatly to Benedick’s self-love. That a lady of such an excellent nature as Beatrice should be attracted to him boosts his pride greatly. It increases his opinion of himself. His soliloquy gives ample proof of his thoughts and is one of the best examples of comic irony in the play. His views on marriage have all of a sudden undergone a drastic change. â€Å"The world must be peopled,† he emphasizes. There is a great deal of audience participation in this scene. The supposed plot gives an additional role to the audience in that its members share in the inside story–the fooling of Benedick. The irony lies in the fact that the plotters know that Benedick is listening to them. Benedick does not ‘note’ that the conspirators know his hiding place while the audience ‘notes’ both deceptions.

Dreams and Nightmares: Big Parts of Our Lives? Essay

Everyone sleeps. Humans, dogs, primates, rats, and the rest of earth’s inhabitants all experience the relaxing and necessary state of sleep. It appears to just be an unconscious state essential for survival; however, much more is going on than meets the eye. Sleep is accompanied by dreams, a term associated with adventures, experiences, and conflicts, which occur in one’s mind during those hours while one is fast asleep in bed. All people dream from the moment they enter this world to the day they leave, but whether or not they remember what they experienced the previous night varies. I, of course, am no exception and have dreams dating years back to my younger days that have remained in my memory. Upon waking, I recall having a confused, entertained or disturbed reaction to these dreams and even remember some of them affecting the rest of my day or just my life in general. The recent premiere of the movie Inception, a movie revolving around the dream world, has helped spark my interest into the dreams and their true purpose. I have been pondering if they have a bigger role in our lives rather than just a source of entertainment while we sleep. Prior to beginning research, my factual knowledge of dreams was quite limited to my personal experiences, as I have had my fair share of dreams as well as nightmares. I knew that dreams were usually perceived as happy and nightmares were almost always frightening experiences. Some dreams could also be interpreted for deeper meanings. Lastly, prior to researching, I knew dreams only lasted a portion of the time, and one usually had a difficult time remembering the content of the dream upon awakening. Through my research I wished to discover how people are affected by their dreams and nightmares in their behavior, mood, and their overall physical health. I also wished to know if there were any past evidences of events which happened in direct correlation to dreams. I was hopeful in finding the true meaning of dreams and how big of a role they actually have in our lives. Dreams do not come and go as they please; the period when people experience dreams is when they are peacefully sleeping. When one finally falls into a slumber, the body and mind follow a cycle through five sleep phases (Obringer). In the first phase, one is in a very light sleep where it is easy to be wakened, and as the cycle continues one falls into a deeper and deeper sleep. Up to the fourth phase, muscle activity greatly declines, breathing and heart rate slow down, and the brain sends out the slowest of the brain waves, Delta Waves. Up to this point, known as Non REM sleep, the body and mind are at basically full relaxation without experiencing rapid eye movement. The fifth phase, however, is when things seem to reverse. As the body enters the fifth stage, known as Rapid-Eye Movement, or R.E.M, the heart and breathing rate accelerate, blood pressure rises, and brain activity increases to the same level as when one is awake (Obringer). This is the period when most dreaming takes place. The body also appears to get paralyzed by an amino acid during this stage and it is suggested that â€Å"this paralysis could be nature’s way of making sure we don’t act out our dreams† (Obringer). REM was named after the movement of the eyes during this period, where the brain tells the eyes to move and scan a scene that only exists in the mind (Dement 299). One goes through this entire five-phase cycle about four or five times a night, with each dream only lasting about five to twenty minutes (Diagram Group 24). How could an event with such a short duration possibly have a big impact on our lives? Dreams have been deemed important and meaningful in our lives for thousands of years. From the Babylonians and Egyptians to the Greeks and the Romans, dreams have been believed to be of great importance. In ancient times, people believed most of the dreams to be sent from the gods and nightmares to be sent from demons (Diagram Group 4). They believed dreams helped heal the sick and injured, delivered messages and demands from the gods, and even foresaw the future (5-7). In later years, theories began to develop about the purpose of dreams. One of the most respected theories came from Sigmund Freud, a well esteemed psychologist. Freud believed that dreams serve to aid in maintaining sleep through possible disturbances: â€Å"When one is sleeping and is exposed to a disturbing stimulus, psychological processes would work to incorporate the dream into a dream rather than allow the person to be woken† (Robbins 14). For example, a loud noise in the dreamer’s environment would be morphed into thunder in a dream by the mind to keep the dreamer asleep (Robbins 14). He also claimed that dreams used symbols to show us our hidden aggressive and sexual desires (The Diagram Group 32). Others suggested that dreams showed one’s hidden ambitions and fears, one’s desire for power and one’s past memories. Everything seen in a dream is a projection of the dreamer. Despite the theory, it was clear that dreams had a purpose in life rather than just to entertain dormant minds. From the earliest moments in time, people have wakened from sleep just after going through an experience they could have sworn had actually occurred; however they had only just experienced a dream, or a series of images, sensations, ideas, and emotions occurring in the mind during sleep. As time has passed and dreams have been recorded and recalled, categories of dreams have been developed: lucid dreams, where one knows he’s dreaming; nightmares, disturbing dreams with anxiety and frightening images; recurring dreams, repeating dreams with little variation; healing dreams, dreams that affect the body; prophetic dreams, dreams seemingly to predict the future; progressive dreams, a sequence of dreams that continue over period of nights; and epic dreams, vivid dreams that one cannot ignore (Dream Moods Inc). All these dreams have the common underlying fact that â€Å"[they] reflect your own underlying thoughts and feelings†¦ and [everything] in your dreams are personal to you† (Common). Dreams have been described as links to our subconscious. It is said that the subconscious never stops taking in all the factors, events and people that affect one’s life: †¦Henry Reed talks about a higher self, or â€Å"the witness†, which watches everything we do, say feel and think. Our high self never goes to sleep, it is always awake, watching, processing and seeing things from an objective perspective as we struggle through our lives (â€Å"Dreams†). Henry Reed, a psychology professor at UCLA, used the term higher self to refer to the subconscious of the body. The body and mind may sleep, but the subconscious does not, as if analyzes everything that one saw, experienced, smelled, etc and all other aspects of a person’s life. It recognizes stress and other negative factors impacting our lives, and, as a result, dreams are created in order to help people solve problems and get on with their journey through life. The subconscious can make images and â€Å"embed symbols inside of dramatic stories† in dreams so that â€Å"you can see yourself from the inside†, and be capable of solving personal issues one may never have recognized before, or has just neglected in hopes it would go away (â€Å"Dreams†). Dreams provide valuable insight deep within oneself, and have led to affect many people’s lives upon returning to reality. Dreams experienced during the night may majorly affect people for the rest of their day once awake. Dreams revolving around the body can help in avoiding potential health problems and aid in the healing process when one is sick or grieving (Dream Moods Inc). Bodies have the capability of warning the mind through dreams that something is wrong before physical symptoms even appear, leading to many people making sudden doctor and medical appointments. Dreams also have the ability to overall heal the mind and body through a feeling of rejuvenation. Progressive and recurring dreams help people solve problems they usually do not face directly and usually try to avoid. These can also be called problem solving dreams, as they allow one to explore different options and approaches to a problem, situation or relationship. Prophetic dreams appear to show future actions and events, or provide a sneak peak, before they occur in one’s life. These have potential to greatly alter one’s actions during the day, as one may try to change the future depending on the content. Dreams, in general, also have potential in determining one’s mood for the following day. Those that cause strong emotion or feelings canâ€Å"[affect] the body†¦ practically as much as does an†¦ emotion when awake† (Walsh). A dream that causes extreme sadness can lead to one absorbing that emotion and feeling it throughout the rest of the day. Dreams are packed with symbols and metaphors that can lead to realizations of feelings deep within oneself, such as hidden feelings of being powerless, vulnerable, alone or ashamed (Pliskin 123). If one realizes the symbol and attempts to change the feelings, dreams actually can be life changing experiences. Another area dreams serve in is in the creativity department. They sometimes serve as store houses for inspiration, as The Dream Foundation says, â€Å"†¦Artists, musicians, dancers, sculptors, and inventors are able to dive deep into the source of inspiration and explore the vast reaches of their own creative potential by meeting face to face with the unconscious†. The Beatles’ popular hits ‘Yesterday’ and ‘Let It Be’, Robert Louis Stevenson’s The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hide, and works by artists such as Billy Joel and Beethoven are all examples of creations based off dreams. Dreams have the potential to have a very large role in determining the actions we take in life. Upon awakening, one must remember this concept: Dreams serve as the voice of our subconscious, and if it’s ignored, it may try to gain your attention in a more powerful way. A more negative and powerful type of dream is the nightmare. The word nightmare actually alludes to a night devil, who people used to believe would approach you as you were sleeping and press against your chest which caused the nightmares (Robbins 10). Of course this belief has been discredited but it has not stopped people’s lives from being greatly affected by nightmares. What exactly could be behind you having a nightmare? Well, besides the chance that you may just have a nightmare one night, there are other pre-sleep activities that may cause nightmares. A late night snack actually leads to an increase of the metabolism and also increases brain activity (WebMD). Medications and drugs may also be underlying factors, as they affect the brain in numerous and varying ways. Lastly, post-traumatic stress disorder can lead to nightmares as it causes people to relive past horrifying experiences. Nightmares are caused by many things that impact and increase brain activity, as well as just past bad memories. However, these nightmares greatly impact one’s body. They can lead to sleeping deprivation, or insomnia, as they actually make one scared to sleep because of the chance of a recurring nightmare. Sleep deprivation then leads to other medical conditions such as heart disease, depression and obesity. Due to quickened heart rate and increased blood pressure from the fear and anxiety associated with nightmares, natural death can even actually occur for those with bad heart conditions. Along with all the physical effects on the body, nightmares, just like dreams, act as warnings and have deeper meanings while analyzed. One example of a common nightmare is being in an out of control car. This may be a signal that you feel your life is hectic (Dreams Foundation). If you find a way to slow life down this type of recurring nightmare may cease. If one tries to ignore or block nightmares, the subconscious, who is behind the content of the dream, may try to â€Å"speak louder to get our attention† (Dreams Foundation). They may start affecting our waking lives in sickness, accidents, relationship difficulties or other unfortunate issues that force us to deal with the problem. Although nightmares seem very negative one must remember this concept: â€Å"An avoidance or denial approach is much like putting a band aid on a car’s blinking oil light because the light seems annoying† (Dreams Foundation). Why ignore something that can potentially change your life for the better? The information I collected on dreaming led me to conclude that dreaming is, in fact, a huge part of our lives. Dreams virtually act as the voice of our subconscious and they warn us, help us and just sometimes allow us to go on adventures that are impossible in reality. Dreams occur for our benefit. That being said, nightmares occur for our benefit as well. Despite all the negative effects nightmares may have, they, just as dreams do, provide a window into our hidden and secret problems and ambitions. The purpose of dreams is not to supply pure entertainment while asleep, but to get out suppressed feelings that can change our life for the better. I was surprised to find that dreaming actually may lead to death as some people with worse heart conditions could die from the increase in heart rate while dreaming. I was also surprised to find that many artists are inspired by what images or people they see in their dreams. Further questions I have include how our mind is able to create places and people we’ve never seen before and yet make them meaningful and familiar to us? This research has most definitely opened my eyes to what’s really going on when my eyes are closed. In the future when I dream I shall be determined to find what the meaning is to me and how it can possible change my life for the better. Dream on.