Saturday, September 7, 2019

Marriage in Other Countries Essay Example for Free

Marriage in Other Countries Essay This paper will be about a traditional dress from my native land and other countries. The traditional dress I will be writing about is called a wedding dress. A wedding dress is used throughout the world in various countries including China, Japan, India, and Vietnam. This paper will also detail different cultures, religions, types and colors of wedding gowns that symbolize the bride or groom wealth, occupation and or belief. In the Americas, weddings performed during and immediately following the middle ages were often more than just a union between two people. They could be a union between two families, two businesses or even two countries. Many weddings were more a matter of business than love, particularly among the wealthy people. Brides were therefore expected to dress in a manner that made their family seem more presentable, for they were not representing only themselves during the ceremony. Brides from wealthy families often wore rich colors and exclusive fabrics. The amount of material a wedding dress contained also was a reflection of the brides social standing and indicated the extent of the familys wealth to wedding guests. In the 1920s, wedding dresses were typically short in the front with a longer train in the back and were worn with cloche-style wedding veils. Today, Americas traditional wedding color is white because of the marriage of Queen Victoria to Albert of Saxe-Coburg. Victoria wore a white gown for the event to incorporate some lace she prized. Before then, white was a mourning color, it represented a bride whom had recently lost a loved one. Black was actually a color that was worn by the lower class because it was more favorable and could be worn again on many occasions. In the eastern cultures, the traditional wedding color was red, the color red symbolizes good luck and favorable. In modern Chinese weddings, the bride will opt for Western style dresses and traditional costumes for the official tea ceremony. In India a choice for a bride is a wedding sari, which is a traditional garment for Indian women. Over time color options and wedding fabrics have changed throughout the eastern countries. Fabrics have expanded and today, fabrics like crepe, georgette, tissue, silk, and satin have been used. Colors such as gold, pink, maroon, brown and yellow have also expanded. It seems as if the other countries around the world are starting to adopt the western tradition. At Japanese weddings, brides will often wear three or more dresses throughout the ceremony and subsequent celebrations with a traditional kimono, white and color dress combination being popular. The Javanese people of Indonesia wear a kebaya, a traditional kind of blouse, along with batik. The Native Americans have traditions different from most other countries. A Hopi (A Native American tribe) bride traditionally would have her garments woven by the groom and any men in the village who wished to participate. The garments consisted of a large belt, two all-white wedding robes, a white wedding robe with red stripes at top and bottom, white buckskin leggings and moccasins, a string for tying the hair, and a reed mat in which to wrap the outfit. A Pueblo bride wore a cotton garment tied above the right shoulder, secured with a belt around the waist. In the traditions of the Delaware, a bride would wear a knee-length skirt of deerskin and a band of wampum beads around her forehead. Wedding dresses are very diverse and unique. There are a few things that all weddings dresses have in common among all cultures. The most important thing is that bride’s want to look and feel beautiful. The wedding dress is plays a significant part in the wedding ceremony. The wedding dress gives the bride the opportunity to stand out. A wedding dress represents one of the most precious garments that a woman will wear in her lifetime. It represents religions, cultures and family traditions. Although it’s just material, the wedding dress is very important because it symbolize marriage, the union of two people who love each other.

Friday, September 6, 2019

A Remake Play of Oedipus Essay Example for Free

A Remake Play of Oedipus Essay Oedipus Rex has always been one of the most intriguing and interesting plays that William Shakespeare has ever written. By combining a tragic with complex plots, the legendary playwright was able to establish himself as a classic poet known for psychological tragedies. A modern version of Shakespeare’s plays always produces an equally intriguing curiosity from contemporary audiences. Setting and Milieu If given a chance to produce a remake of this play, I would prefer transforming this play to a modern one. This method would provide the audiences a much convenient way of absorbing the message of the story. By means of using the present and commonly used language, audiences can easily relate with the events pertaining to the story of Oedipus. The lyrical and archaic lines would have to be dropped to achieve modernity and represent a younger generation. It would be set in present New York where the busiest streets and cities can be found. Characterization Since this is a modern remake of the original Oedipus Rex, King Laius and Queen Jocasta would be an overly superstitious couple who reigns in the city of New York as the state’s richest business tycoons. It is still the same plot, though. Fortune-tellers warned of a son who would later murder his father and marry his mother. A high school teacher who saw him abandoned in the woods near the school would raise Oedipus. He would grow up as an educated man who fights for what he believes is right. All of the original characters would be transformed into other characters which can represent the present time and eliminate the Shakespearean era of the story. It would be entirely based on modern events. Props and Prosthetics Clearly, the characters would be using casual clothing which is common to what they represent. The character of Oedipus is most likely to wear plain and casual clothes while Laius and Jocasta are more fitting to wear highly corporate attires. Masks are definitely out of the picture and the facial expressions and gestures would solely rely on the actors’ skills in acting. Stage props include various equipment and tools which are necessary to the backdrop of each scene. It would include materials which can produce a picture of living room, streets, bedroom, and other equipment necessary. Conclusion Modern versions are not always as successful as the original. However, creating a contemporary remake of something very classic is always convenient for audiences who seek to understand more about a specific classic. Language and differences in poetry interpretation are always a major hindrance in achieving the primary message of a certain literature; but if a person wants to understand the deeper meaning of that classic, it is always productive to turn into modern remakes. They give easy-to-understand insights which are simplified versions of the originals.

Thursday, September 5, 2019

Arguments For And Against Organic Food Environmental Sciences Essay

Arguments For And Against Organic Food Environmental Sciences Essay The organic industry has grown rapidly over the last decade particularly in the agricultural sector; today, over thirty million hectares are being organically managed in 118 countries (Yusuf Wilber, 2007). Organic products are made using biological and ecological farming techniques which exclude the use of pesticides and fertilizers; in addition, these products are characterized by a strong brand image which means that they command higher prices among retailers. On the other hand, inorganic products are characterized by monocultures, mechanization, and extensive use of chemical compounds in order to produce them. The inorganic product industry developed primarily as a consequence of technological advancement the Second World War; during this period, major breakthroughs such as the Haber Bosch process were used to promote the development of organic produce. The organic industry has many benefits over its inorganic counterpart; research published by the Journal of Applied Nutrition (2001) revealed that organic food products have more nutrients than inorganic foods this is due to the fact that organically grown food contains sixty three percent more calcium, seventy three percent more iron, eighteen percent more magnesium and ninety eight percent more zinc minerals. According to the Journal of Food and Agricultural Chemistry (2003), organically grown strawberry, corn and marionberries have considerably greater levels of anti cancer oxidants than inorganically grown food products. The research further suggests that inorganic methods such as the use of herbicides and pesticides inhibit the growth of natural protective compounds in food such as anti ageing, anti immune, and anti cancer properties. The European Clinical Nutrition Journal (2008) found that the average level of nutrients in eleven organically produced products was almost twice as high compared to inorganically produced products. Therefore in the long run if the country chooses to enhance and promote the organic industry it will lead to several benefits such as reduced fertilizer, machinery and fuel cost; organic practices will also earn the industry a significant amount of carbon credits which they can trade in the carbon credit market (Kipper, 2001). The endorsement of organic industry in the economy will also encourage organic labeling. This kind of certification will enable consumers to have confidence in organic products; improve record-keeping in order to maintain organic certification and create an opportunity for both producers and consumers to understand organic certification standards. Unlike inorganic products which lack clear accreditation standards, organic certification and accreditation ensure that the organic industry adheres to high quality product standards. This certification system has two major components: 1.A code of conduct, standards, criteria and guidelines for product certification. 2. Monitoring mechanism which assures that inorganic products are produced in accordance with certification principles. Organic industries also prevent long distant transportation of food; the average distance covered in transporting organically produced products is over 1800 miles while that of transporting inorganic products is 2500 miles Therefore inorganic industries consume a lot of energy and fossil fuels which leads to high carbon dioxide emissions. (FAO, 2002), on the other hand, ità ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢s relatively cheap to transport organic products since they are often produced near the consumers. The endorsement of organic industry and organic products will lead to three forms of biodiversity i.e. genetic diversity, ecosystem diversity and species diversity. This will dramatically improve the environment. According to Evans and Grice (2005) organic industries reduce green house emissions by over forty percent which slows down global warming effects. Another benefit which will result in supporting organic industries is long term productivity and food security. According to FAO (2003), organic farming has a higher potential of ensuring food security in both developed and developing countries. Rundgren (2006) published an objective analysis of the contribution of organic industries to food security. He summarized that although inorganic industries can be used to solve food insecurity issues, its capital intensive and depends on chemical inputs which tend to reduce biodiversity. On the other hand, organic industries can tremendously increase food production without causing environmental degradation or loss of biodiversity. A study conducted by The Centre for Disease Control (2009) revealed that inorganic industries produce many toxic chemicals which often result to contamination of water supplies. These toxins have tested positive in blood and urine test of most citizens. In addition, the Centre for Disease Control found a cocktail of toxins and synthetic chemicals in most living organisms. Peer reviewed research has proven that most of these chemicals can disrupt nervous and immune systems, as well as disruption of hormone levels. The FAO report (2002) clearly states, à ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"It has been proven that foods produced using organic methods have lesser levels of synthetic chemicals, lower nitrate content and lower veterinary drug residue. Animal feeding practices used in organic livestock production drastically decreases contamination of animal origin products.à ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ã‚  p .119 . In light of these facts, promoting the growth of organic industries will prevent these problems as well as curb the escalating rise in cancers such as leukemia, lymphorma, uterine and breast cancers which are linked to synthetic chemical use. Similarly, the advancement of organic industries and products will curb the spread of autoimmune industries caused by inorganic chemical compounds. Surveys conducted in regions which undertake intensive organic practices have found that cases of Hodgkinà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢s lymphoma disease are almost inexistent on the other hand cases of the same disease is fast growing in regions which have many inorganic industries as well as regions undertaking inorganic practices. Another benefit of adopting organic industries is the development of diversified landscapes as well as aesthetic values (Haltom Scalia, 2002). These industries also encourage the creation of semi natural habitats by maintaining biological connectivity which benefits both nature and agricultural conservation while still pursuing economic objectives. Its can therefore be accurately concluded that organic industries lead to greater aesthetic gains when compare to inorganic industries. Adoption of organic practices and industries offer greater social benefits than inorganic ones. For example, all organic products which have been certified meet International Organic Federation standards. These industries also conform to UN charter of human rights thus they ensure that they have safe working environments; abide by International Labor Organization laws; provide essential social security needs to employees and offer equal opportunities as well as adequate wages regardless of gender, creed and color. Accredited organic industries ensure the rights of indigenous people are respected and rarely are they involved in lawsuits due to exploitation of inhabitants, in the long run these industries provide a lot of social benefits. According to FAO (2002) the general social benefits which are directly linked to organic production systems are: First, tendency for these industries to align to traditions of inhabitants and less motivation to follow production paradigm i.e. increasing output via artificial inputs. Secondly, they depend on local knowledge of intricate interactions of conditions from place to place; this usually makes it unfavorable to use large production areas. This encourages reduced land and farm sizes thus enhance equitable access to land. The endorsement of organic industry in the economy also promotes social justice and fair trade products this is particularly done through fair trade certification of organic produce. Organic certification considers reasonable wage in its standards thus ensuring that all certified organic industries are aligned with principles of fair trade. Furthermore, research conducted by the US bureau of Labor Statistics reveals that eighty six percent of firms in the organic industry have favorable gender distribution as well as promote women representation in senior management positions. Organic industries also stimulate the local economy by using local inputs and reduce the purchase of inputs on credit; this is in sharp contrast to inorganic industries which use imported inputs. Many firms in the organic agricultural industry use crop diversification, different harvesting and planning schedules related to crop rotation practices which evenly distribute labor demand throughout the year. They also ensure stability in employment, reduce labor migration problems, spread the costs incurred per employee throughout the year and reduce turnover. Finally, diversity in production created by organic industries and value added products boost income generating opportunities; they also spread the odds of failure over a broad range of products and crops. The US Society for Cultural Development, a private nonprofit organization conducted research and noted that over seventy certified organic firms had were members of democratic cooperatives and adhered to fair trade requirements. The study revealed that over eighty six percent of the firms paid employees salaries which had social premiums in order to improve quality of life. In addition, the organic movement has a consensus in support of the fact that social requirements are necessary even though many critics argue that pursuing these social standards impose trade barriers and restrictions to organic exports. Loir (2002) studied forty indicators of benefits of organic industry and products in US counties. A statistical comparison and analysis showed that twenty six indicators were in favor of organic systems while eight favored organic systems, six were neutral. The studies suggest that regions with organic farms have better farm economies and add more to county economies through net revenue, total sales, maintenance services, repair, payroll and taxes paid. Additionally, counties with many organic farms have better rural development support with greater direct consumer sales, higher worker pay and greater direct-customer sales. Organic industries also provide a mechanism for generating foreign exchange. Unlike inorganic industries which tend to import inputs, organic industries export more of their produce especially when they are internationally certified. In addition, international organic markets such as the European Union, Switzerland and Japan have well developed infrastructure and channels for successful exportation. Unlike inorganic products which usually have one channel of selling distribution, inorganic industries have many players such as foreign offices, foreign retail supermarket chains, organic marketing organizations etc. The premium connected to organic farming greatly benefits the economy as a whole. This premium has been estimated to as much as twenty percent above that of inorganic products. In conclusion, the growth of organic industries and products will continue to outpace that of its inorganic counterpart. Attractive premium prices in the lucrative export market, social and environmental benefits will continue to boost organic firms. Governments and state support are also likely to promote organic systems through legislating certification, export and market advice, development and research. State institutions and private corporations are increasingly admitting that it might be more cost effective to promote and encourage organic systems rather than rectify problems caused by inorganic industries e.g. environmental degradation.

Wednesday, September 4, 2019

The Democratic Symbol Essay -- Politics Government Symbolism Essays

The Democratic Symbol The word â€Å"donkey† has come to have a negative connotation in today’s society. In Webster’s Handy College Dictionary, the definition for a donkey is â€Å"an ass† or â€Å"a stupid or obstinate person†. One would presume that with such a meaning, the Democratic Party, one of the main political parties in the United States, would not be associating itself with such a negative symbol. The first use of the â€Å"donkey† as the Democratic symbol occurred during Andrew Jackson’s run for president in 1828. Because of his populist views and the slogan, â€Å"Let the people rule†, his opponents tried to label him as a â€Å"jackass†, but Jackson used the name-calling and turned it into his advantage by placing the donkey on his campaign posters (The Democratic). Since its first application in 1828 the â€Å"donkey† is a symbol that is now clearly associated with the Democratic Party. This association is present because the attributes that complement this symbol are some of the many attributes that characterize and define the Democratic Party. Although the masses might view the â€Å"donkey† as a representation of something stupid, or silly, the Democratic Party, on the other hand, has come to view the â€Å"donkey† as a symbol that stands for intelligence, courage, and humility (The Democratic). One of many important characteristics that define the Democratic Party is its member’s ability to solve issues that affects the party or the nation in an intelligent manner. This ability came into play on October 29, 1929, at the start of the Great Depression (â€Å"New Deal†). The inherent instability of the market brought about the Great Depression in 1929, and to resolve this instability, government intervention was necessary t... ...eal.† Wikipedia. 22 Nov. 2004. . Robinson, Dan. â€Å"108th U.S. Congress Nears End of Its Term.† Voice of America. 22 Nov. 2004, Washington, D.C. 22 Nov. 2004. . Rosembaum, David E. â€Å"As standoff ends, Clinton is seeking the high ground†. New York Times. 21 Nov. 1995, New York, NY: A1. ProQuest. George Mason University, Fenwick Library. 22 Nov. 2004. Stinnett, Ronald F. Democrats, Dinners, & Dollars: A History of the Democratic Party, its Dinners, its Rituals. Ames, IA: The Iowa State University Press, 1967. â€Å"The Democratic Donkey.† DNC: The Democratic National Committee. 14 Nov. 2004. . The President, The Public, and The Parties. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly Inc., 1997: 30.

Tuesday, September 3, 2019

A Character Analysis of James Joyces The Dubliners Essay -- Literary

In the collection of short stories in â€Å"Dubliners,† James Joyce introduces a mosaic of the day-to-day lives of working class Irishmen and their personal struggles with the pre-independent societal and personal restrictions of Victorian England. The characters of Little Chandler, Eveline, Maria, and Farrington symbolize the specific components of the kaleidoscopic Irish population and their universal tendency to stay contained within the limits of the current time period and within the limitations of their society. Despite life presenting them with opportunities to improve or change their living conditions, these people are not ready to move on and are suffocated by their ambiguity, their belief system, and their stereotypes. Joyce’s characters illustrate multiple stereotypes and also a variety of beliefs that Irish people followed, which influenced their behavior and their choices. Some literary critics recognize the reason for the paralysis of Dubliners as being the society as a whole with its pervasive moral conditions (Bloom 90-91). One of the most significant stereotypes, described by Phillip F. Herring, was the misleading belief among the Irish population that the improvement of their lives comes â€Å"only through death or emigration† (Bloom 91). This false conviction is presented in at least two Joyce’s characters; Eveline and Tom Chandler. Eveline is a nineteen year old girl from the book of the same name. Although still very young, she is taking care of her abusive father and two siblings in return for having a roof over her head. She is employed in â€Å"stores† under the supervision of Miss Hill, who, similarly to her father, does not show any fondness f or and kindness to Eveline. However, there might be a light at th... ...guage 51.1 (2009): 1-16. Academic Search Premier. Web. 10 Apr. 2012. de Voogd, Peter. â€Å"Imaging Eveline, Visualised Focalisations In James Joyce’s Dubliners.† European Journal of English Studies 4.1 (2000): 39-48. Academic Search Premier. Web. 10 Apr. 2012 Goldberg, S.L. â€Å"Virtues and Limitations In James Joyce’s ‘Dubliners’: A Critical Handbook.† Eds. James R. Baker and Thomas F. Staley. Belmont: Wadsworth Publishing Company, Inc. (1969): 29–35. Print. Herring, Philip F. â€Å"‘Dubliners’: The Trials Of Adolescence In James Joyce: A Collection of Critical Essays.† Ed. Mary T. Reynold. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall, Inc. (1993): 67-80. Print. Kelly, Joseph. â€Å"Our Joyce: From Outcast To Icon†. University of Texas Press, 1998. eBook Collection (EBSCOhost). Web. 10 Apr. 2012. Joyce, James. â€Å"Dubliners†. Ed. Margot Norris.1st ed. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2006. Print A Character Analysis of James Joyce's The Dubliners Essay -- Literary In the collection of short stories in â€Å"Dubliners,† James Joyce introduces a mosaic of the day-to-day lives of working class Irishmen and their personal struggles with the pre-independent societal and personal restrictions of Victorian England. The characters of Little Chandler, Eveline, Maria, and Farrington symbolize the specific components of the kaleidoscopic Irish population and their universal tendency to stay contained within the limits of the current time period and within the limitations of their society. Despite life presenting them with opportunities to improve or change their living conditions, these people are not ready to move on and are suffocated by their ambiguity, their belief system, and their stereotypes. Joyce’s characters illustrate multiple stereotypes and also a variety of beliefs that Irish people followed, which influenced their behavior and their choices. Some literary critics recognize the reason for the paralysis of Dubliners as being the society as a whole with its pervasive moral conditions (Bloom 90-91). One of the most significant stereotypes, described by Phillip F. Herring, was the misleading belief among the Irish population that the improvement of their lives comes â€Å"only through death or emigration† (Bloom 91). This false conviction is presented in at least two Joyce’s characters; Eveline and Tom Chandler. Eveline is a nineteen year old girl from the book of the same name. Although still very young, she is taking care of her abusive father and two siblings in return for having a roof over her head. She is employed in â€Å"stores† under the supervision of Miss Hill, who, similarly to her father, does not show any fondness f or and kindness to Eveline. However, there might be a light at th... ...guage 51.1 (2009): 1-16. Academic Search Premier. Web. 10 Apr. 2012. de Voogd, Peter. â€Å"Imaging Eveline, Visualised Focalisations In James Joyce’s Dubliners.† European Journal of English Studies 4.1 (2000): 39-48. Academic Search Premier. Web. 10 Apr. 2012 Goldberg, S.L. â€Å"Virtues and Limitations In James Joyce’s ‘Dubliners’: A Critical Handbook.† Eds. James R. Baker and Thomas F. Staley. Belmont: Wadsworth Publishing Company, Inc. (1969): 29–35. Print. Herring, Philip F. â€Å"‘Dubliners’: The Trials Of Adolescence In James Joyce: A Collection of Critical Essays.† Ed. Mary T. Reynold. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall, Inc. (1993): 67-80. Print. Kelly, Joseph. â€Å"Our Joyce: From Outcast To Icon†. University of Texas Press, 1998. eBook Collection (EBSCOhost). Web. 10 Apr. 2012. Joyce, James. â€Å"Dubliners†. Ed. Margot Norris.1st ed. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2006. Print

Monday, September 2, 2019

How to Beg for Money :: essays research papers

Abe’s Poverty Guide to Table of Contents Introduction†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..2 General Advice Why?............................................................3 Cheapest Route...........................................4 Begging Tips†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.............................5 Begging vs. Borrowing...............................6 Specific Advice Begging from Parents................................7 Begging from Friends†¦.............................9 Introduction Danger Signals You NEED this guide, if you have ever experienced one of the following... †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  You can’t scrape together the $20 minimum credit card payment each month. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  That great outfit you bought last week went out of style exactly three seconds after you paid for it and is now lying on your closet floor. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  You’re using a credit card for necessities like hair gel and snacks because you have no cash. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  You have to avoid your friends at school because you owe them money. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  You’ve been reduced to begging your parents for chores in order to make money to pay off your bills. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  You had to pawn your CD player to pay for all those cool CDs you bought last month. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Your parents give you funny looks when you leave for school wearing a $500 leather jacket, but ask them for lunch money. Warning Signals You SHOULD have this guide, if you have ever experienced one of these: †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  You’ve really really wanted to go out one night, but simply couldn’t find the money. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The above, but you couldn’t even afford to rent a movie, instead. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  You’ve ever given rolled coins to a gas attendant. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Someone has asked you for a dollar, and you turned and said, â€Å"No, but can I have the quarter in your hand?† It is because of the poor misfortunate folks who have dealt with these symptoms, and the terrible image that they are portraying to the rest of the world that I have chosen to do a manual on how to live rich without money. I, myself, am always broke. Never do I have money, but I still manage to make the world think that I have all the money I want. Today, I am going to share my secrets with you. Remember, though, this is not a step-by-step tutorial, as there is no possible way I could predict every incident and all people are different when it comes to their money. This is just a guide, a helper, to help you be well on your way to free success. Please use the convenient table of contents to help you find exactly what you need for the situation you find yourself in. Carry this manual everywhere you go, and if you are ever about to make any monetary transactions, stop, take a deep breath, and double check that you are doing the right thing.

Sunday, September 1, 2019

Controversial ad

Written Task 2 – A Critical response Advertisements are a specific kind of media which have the aim to sell an idea or a product to the audience they are directed at. Very often, this Idea or product is not sold in a direct way but through the use of a metaphor or another stylistic device. This leaves the reader a lot of room for interpretation about what the Idea behind the advertisement is. Often, depending on the cultural background/context of the reader, the interpretation can be very different.In the ad that will be analyzed in this response, two maln groups might have different Interpretations of the message of he ad. One of these groups is non-religious people, and the other one is religious people. The ad that will be discussed Is a poster or picture by â€Å"Antonio Federicl Gelato Italiano†. The company produced this specific ad, which was then banned for being too offensive. This already shows that there will be a group for which the ad Is too offensive, but for other people who will have a dfferent interpretation it won't.Using the big 5 tools of analysis, will give a quite general Idea of the meaning of the ad, and this idea will be close to the one in the mind of non-religious people, however or a religious audience there will be more to It. To start, one thing that can be looked at is the structure and content of the ad. There is a nun holding a pack of Antonio Federici ice cream and she is wearing quite a lot of make up. Also, there is a priest who seems to be taking his clothes off and has a very muscular body.The priest and the nun are looking at each other in a seductive manner, and the background is dark. It seems like they are in a church. Right next to the nun's hand (holding the Ice cream) there Is a piece of text made of light letters, which stands out, saying â€Å"Submit to temptation†. The main focus in the picture is on the priest's body (since everything around It Is black) and on him and the nun being together in a, what seems to be, sexual way. The tone of the picture is very seductive, because of words such as â€Å"Resist to temptation† and the exposed body of the priest.Also the colour black and the candles of the church in the background add on to this. And the mood that Is created Is very Intriguing and sexual. Clearly the audience of this advertisement does not include children, as one main tool to attract audience in this case is sex. Different interpretation of the ad come In once analysing what the purpose and meaning/theme of it might be. For a nonrellglous group of readers (who are not offended In general by sex as a tool to sell) this ad will be nothing more than another way of using sex and prohibition to sell and attract.A reader who Is not religious will not feel personally offended by seeing religion being associated with sex nor by seeing a main rule of religion being diminished for the purposes of selling. Just as a girl who Is skinny will not feel offended by an ad that makes fun of fat girls. In the case of this ad, a non-religious eader will Interpret It as yet another example of using sex and â€Å"taboos† to sell a 1 OF2 product. I nls Interpretatlon Is Oue to tne cultural DacKgrouna 0T tne reader.A non- religious individual who has not had religion as part of his education, society or as a main part of his life will not consider some aspects of this ad, as it isn't part of her/his life. This is the importance of the context of interpretation of any text, because it will completely change whether the reader will feel personally attacked or directed to when reading the text. In the case of a non-religious group there is nothing more to he interpretation of this text. On the other hand, for a religious audience this ad has an entirely different meaning.In the case of a religious individual, different factors will be considered than those a non-religious group will consider, also due to her/his cultural background. First of all, th is ad openly diminishes religion by associating it with sex and ice cream. On the picture it is clear that there is sexual tension between a priest and a nun, the priest has a muscular body, they are in a church and it's all because of ice cream. Someone who has had religion as part of their education, society or every day life will feel ffended by this, because the ad is diminishing something that is a big part of their life.Also the religious group will feel that religion is being diminished by the words â€Å"Submit to temptation† because it seems that submitting to temptation (engaging in sexual activity as a priest or nun) is being promoted, or not being taken seriously. Secondly, this ad also is not respecting (or again, diminishing) an important rule of some religions: celibacy of priests and nuns. The ad is using it to create a prohibitive mood that together with sex will sell a product. The religious audience will see this as sing something sacred to them for commerc ial purposes.So the interpretation of the religious group will be, that this ad is not only selling ice cream but also diminishing religion and trivializing important religious rules. To conclude, it is clear that the cultural context of an audience will give rise to different interpretations of an ad such as this one, and will sometimes have such a big influence that the ad will be banned. It is always important to consider different possible interpretations of a text because if one group is big enough it will have a significance impact on the way it will be treated. Word count: 996