Examples Of Art And Renaissance Art - 1115 Words

Art can be classified into different eras by their similar and distinguishing subjects and methods. They show the progression and timeline for different standards of art and the point of views and values for the people of the time. For example, the Renaissance art period, was an art period in which religious authority figures sought to beautify their cities and palaces with artworks detailing religious themes. Renaissance art was also commissioned by wealthy bankers, and churches. What is usually seen in artworks of the time are elegant and detail-oriented work influencing the sense perception of what one visualizes of the time period to be as, grand and sophisticated. They represent the high esteem that was held by the commissioners of†¦show more content†¦In regards to art being defined by having the ability to evoke emotions from an audience, it should be recognized that art can still be shaped by the values of today. Art isn’t a concrete concept and varies among p erson to person regarding the ways they see art, and how it is portrayed. Therefore, there is still a lot more to be learned about art and it’s meanings. Art in the form of literature, like Candide by Voltaire, written in the 17th and 18th century still holds implications and universal themes that can be seen in life in the 21st century. In relation to Candide itself, there are occurrences of the themes of negative impacts of greed, views on man-made philosophy, and the harms of oppression. All of these topics are prevalent in current society even though they may not be seen in the exact forms seen in the 18th century. Despite it being written to comment on the society of the Enlightenment era, it also transcends through multiple eras, as each student or person who reads it can take away a new interpretation of it. With the background of the culture and society one grows up in, different responses can add new emotion and meaning than originally intended and therefore develops a story beyond it’s literal meaning. Same can be said for other artworks of the past.Show MoreRelatedEssay on Renaissance vs Neoclassicism1295 Words   |  6 PagesTrefren, D Renaissance VS Neoclassicism How could two periods such as the Neoclassicism and the Renaissance be so successful and be focused on very different things? Neoclassicism and the Renaissance are two major periods in the history of art during which different forms of art including architecture, painting, music and visual arts, significantly advanced. It was during these periods, different artists became very famous as a result of the masterpieces reflecting how the ideologies and artisticRead MoreArt in the Middle Ages and The Renaissance and Its Effect in Society1017 Words   |  5 Pagesthe period of time between the demise of the Roman Empire and the Renaissance era; this was the period from the 5th century to the 17th century in Europe. During this time, society conformed to the feudal system which was based on the hierarchy approach which upper class had control over the lower class. Included in this class structure were kings, lords, neighboring kings, peasants and church leaders. In the Middle Ages, art evolves as humans continue addressing the traditional and the new,Read MoreArt and Architecture in the Middle Ages and Renaissance Essay949 Words   |  4 PagesThe difference between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance is most visible through art and architecture, demonstrated specifically through an emphasis on religion or classical antiquity, and humanity. During the Middle Ages, art was more religious because it had a very religious influence from the church having such great power in the community. When the Renaissance started, art became more focused on ancient Greece. The Greek influence was because scholars were broadly studying the revival of classicalRead MoreDbq the Renaissance818 Words   |  4 PagesThe Renaissance was primarily thought of as being a period in which the revival of learning flourished, and the arts changed for the better and ideas became more focused life on earth. It was a time when new ideas of individualism, the thought of s ecularism and the interest in human ideas jumpstarted a new and freer lifestyle for everyone. The new ideas formed in the renaissance made enough impact on the world them and ever since that it deserves to be called its own era. The medieval timesRead MoreRenaissance Art By Leonardo Da Vinci888 Words   |  4 Pageswe talk Renaissance art, we’re talking about a period of art that has a plentiful amount of innovation and creation within the time period. Its artists are innovative, highly devoted to the work of art their working on, and above all else committed to the recreation of a different style of art following the Middle Ages. Having to decide on a piece of art from the Renaissance period to write about is tougher than one would think. There are so many great artist and so many great pieces of art to chooseRead MoreArt Of The Renaissance : Questions And Vocabulary1283 Words   |  6 PagesAssignment 12.5 (Art in the Renaissance) Assignment- Questions and Vocabulary Terms: Giotto, Masaccio, Botticelli, Perspective, Guild, Artisan, Apprentice, Patron, High Renaissance, Pope Julius II, Michelangelo, Northern Renaissance, madrigal. 1) Giotti di Bondone (1266-1337) was an Italian artist and architect from Florence in the very late Middle Ages. He is considered to be one of the most important artists in Italy because he contributed greatly to the Renaissance style of painting and art in generalRead MoreDbq Renaissance Essay847 Words   |  4 PagesThe Renaissance has Changed Man’s View of Man The Renaissance challenged the status quo of the Middle Ages. During the Middle Ages, the Church had authority over most people. These people also had limited rights. All of this changed during the Renaissance. This period of time focused on the philosophy of humanism, which embodied the idea that humans were a significant part of the world. The Renaissance changed man’s view of man through the institutions of literature, astronomy, anatomy, andRead MoreComparing Art And The Baroque Eras989 Words   |  4 PagesComparing Art of the Renaissance and the Baroque Eras The Renaissance and the Baroque eras created some of the most famous works of art produced in the world. The two eras expressed differences in style and theme, but they also have many characteristics in common. To better understand the similarities of the eras it will be described by the characteristics, styles and the influences of each; Renaissance and Baroque works of art. Famous artist from the Renaissance era were Leonard da Vinci and MichelangeloRead MoreEssay about Early Renaissance Art918 Words   |  4 Pages Art has gone through many significant developments throughout history. The most important turning point was the renaissance. Art took a huge turn before the 1500’s and even after. The Renaissance has assisted the world of art in breaking away from a classic structure and shaping it to what it is day. Prior to this cultural rebirth, artworks were mostly not made to scale. Paintings were unrealistic and disproportionate. Religious figures seemed to be the focu s of many works. The Renaissance changedRead MoreRenaissance Art : A Rebirth Of Classical Learning And The Rediscovery Of Greece862 Words   |  4 PagesRenaissance Art The Renaissance art reflected a rebirth of classical learning and the rediscovery of Greece and Ancient Rome. The Renaissance began in Northern Italy right after the Black Death which was also known as the Plague, a disease that had occurred killing almost half of the Europe’s population. The only way to avoid the disease was to leave the city to a country, however, only the rich were able to afford the trip verses the poor. The plague had led to an economic depression, there were

The Confessional Mode Of Poetry Essay - 1454 Words

During the late 1950s and early 1960s, the confessional mode of poetry, coined by M.L. Rosenthal in 1959, emerged in the United States as a reaction to New criticism and Modernism, the dominant literary theories at that time. This mode of writing worked as â€Å"a model for poets who chose to reject modernist difficulty and new critical complexity in favor of a more relaxed or personal voice† and gave them the opportunity to â€Å"articulate feelings , thoughts and emotions that challenged the decorum of an era marked by its containment of psychic needs and desires†(Beach, 255). Some critics have asserted that confessional poetry was compromised by emotions and was just â€Å"not poetry†. Some others have praised it for its authentic exploration of authors’ repressed anguish or deepest feelings and a faithful reflection of life. Although, confessional poetry highlighted poetry of self-revelation characterized by extreme exposure of private and intimate au tobiographical material, it attempts to â€Å"transcend the self† and expose collective experience and embody the world outside the self (Waggoner, 506 qted in Lynn p43), a melting and â€Å"fusion of the private and the culturally symbolic† ( Rosanthal , 80 qted in Lynn p 43) . Anne Sexton (1928–1974) is one of the major American poets who had successfully achieved that sense of â€Å"fusion† while handling themes and issues that were perceived, at that time, as social taboos. Sexton’s epoch-echoing poem, â€Å"Her Kind† published in 1960, exploresShow MoreRelatedConfessional Mode in Poetry of Kamala Das3267 Words   |  14 PagesCONFESSIONAL MODE IN POETRY OF KAMALA DAS Confessional mode of writing has its virtual origin in the mid50s in America. It is hybrid mode of poetry which means objective, analytical or even clinical observation of incidents from one’s own life. Confessional poems are intensely personal and highly subjective. There is no ‘persona’ in the poems. ‘I’ in the poems is the poet and nobody else. The themes are nakedly embarrassing and focus too exclusively upon the pain, anguish and ugliness of life atRead MoreMy Grandmothers House by Kamla Das1143 Words   |  5 PagesMadhavikkutty. Her poetry is an exploration of the geography of her own mind, and the lyric is an instance of such self-exploration. Through images of repulsion and horror, she brings out the emotional emptiness and sterility of her married life, and the intensity of her misery as a wife who had to submit to her husband whom she found repulsive, and with whom she had no emotional contact at all. She has won many prizes for her work . some of them being the P. E. N. Asian Poetry Prize, Kerala SahityaRead MoreDickinson and Plath Comparative Analysis Essay example1530 Words   |  7 PagesPoetry is an intense expression of feelings and ideas which reflect the joys and struggles of the person writing it. We use it to convey love, to mourn a loss, tell a story, or to say the things we are afraid to tell an actual person. Emily Dickinson and Sylvia Plath dont write sonnets. These two poets clearly used poetry as a cathartic release for the troubles of their lives. Their struggles with even the rudimentary, plagued them throughout their short lifetime. Life and death being in constantRead MoreAnalysis Of Hughes s Poem Light Of This 1977 Words   |  8 Pages However, the ambiguity of Hughes s poetry may be derived not so much from a desire to obscure truthful representation, but from the inherently traumatic impact of this act of writing. In light of this, Hughes s fragmentary syntax and the episodic construction of the Birthday Letters sequence, may well be understood as a literal manifestation of his attempt to pull together a scattered, dispersed, or lost series of recollections (Freeman, 30); the trauma of which constantly resists any easy assimilationRead MoreKerrinie Broussard. Professor Christian Faught. American1800 Words   |  8 PagesKerrinie Broussard Professor Christian Faught American Literature since the Civil War March 26, 2017 Sharon Olds Confessional Poetry Confessional poetry came about around the late 1950s and between the early 1960s in which it was a new style of writing that writers had not come across before. This type of poetry gave the writer or author the freedom to write about personal experiences, emotions, and certain feelings about dark things such as depression and harsh relationships. Sharon Olds was anRead MoreBiography of Sylvia Plath1452 Words   |  6 PagesCritical Analysis Sylvia Plath, a great American author, focuses mostly on actual experiences. Plath’s poetry displays feelings and emotions. Plath had the ability to transform everyday happenings into poems or diary entries. Plath had a passion for poetry and her work was valued. She was inspired by novelists and her own skills. Her poetry was also very important to readers and critics. Sylvia Plath’s work shows change throughout her lifetime, relates to feelings and emotions, and focuses on dayRead MoreKamala Das3523 Words   |  15 PagesIN THE POETRY OF KAMALA DAS * Dr. Bhosale B. S. The poetry of Kamala Das has the unique place in Indian poetry in English particularly written by women poets. She has developed the feminine poetic sensibility. There is an expression of her personal and public experiences in her poetry. The ideas, which she has expressed in her poems and in her autobiography, My Story, appear to be similar. She has written a great deal of inward - looking or ‘confessional poetry’. Her poetry is confessional becauseRead MoreThemes and Values of the Beat Generation as Expressed in Allen Ginsbergs Poetry1400 Words   |  6 PagesThemes and Values of the Beat Generation as Expressed in Allen Ginsbergs Poetry Perhaps one of the most well known authors of the Beat Generation is a man we call Allen Ginsberg, who expresses the themes and values in his poetry. He was, in fact, the first Beat Writer to gain popular notice when he delivered a performance of his now famous poem, #61505;Howl#61504;, in October of 1955. The Beat Generation is typically described as a vision, not an idea and being hard to define. It isRead MoreEssay on The Role of the Reflexive Ethnographer1252 Words   |  6 PagesRabinow, Jean-Paul Dumont and Vincent Crapanzano† (Visweswaran 22) but began with women who, because of societal constraints, could not be anthropologists. These women’s writings, she claims, have been â€Å"dismissed as ‘popularized accounts’ or as ‘confessional field literature’† (Visweswaran 21). These ethnographies have been also called â€Å"inadequate science† (Visweswaran 21); this is in relation to Malinowski’s belief that anthropology is a structured and scientific method. It is ironic then thatRead MoreMutilating Self Into Spirit: Sylvia Plaths Poems.4131 Words   |  17 Pagesmetaphors and irony in literature. He has highlighted the use and importance of irony in a very impressive and literary way. His article Irony as a Principle of Structure is an excellent piece that stresses and underlines the importance of irony in poetry. According to Brooks, this was one way to visualize the impact of the context in regards to the literary techniques. The backbone of his article is the irony used in any literary work. He believes that this is the key technique to make the poetic

Social Responsibility Theory Free Essays

Social Responsibility Theory To combat the pressures that threatened freedom of the press, this theory was first introduced in 1947 and was recommended by the Hutchins Commission on Freedom of the Press. It stated that the media should serve the public, and in order to do so, should remain free of government interference. It defined guidelines that the media should follow in order to fulfill its obligation of serving the public. We will write a custom essay sample on Social Responsibility Theory or any similar topic only for you Order Now Ethics and the Media The Social Responsibility Theory claimed that the media could be self-regulating by adhering to the following precepts: †¢ Media has obligations to fulfill to a democratic society in order to preserve freedom. †¢ Media should be self-regulated. †¢ Media should have high standards for professionalism and objectivity, as well as truth and accuracy. †¢ Media should reflect the diversity of the cultures they represent. †¢ The public has a right to expect professional performance. The proponents of this theory had strong faith in the public’s ability to determine right and wrong, and take action to preserve the public good when necessary. ) The social responsibility does not only fall upon the reporters and producers of media. The responsibility also falls to the consumers to become media literate and maintain high, yet reasonable expectations of the media. In theory, if these things happen, there will be no need for government intervention. The Social Resp onsibility Theory was set forth as the ideal way for the media to conduct business. Over the years since its introduction, this theory has met with much criticism as well as support. It has become the standard for United States media practices. It has also set the standards for much of the currently accepted media ethics. [pic] [pic]Since the Hutchins Commission produced its famous theory, the United States has developed better educated journalists, seen a reduction in news sensationalism and enjoyed more accuracy in reporting. Many journalists are now also advocates for the public and for social issues and reform, getting heir messages out through the media. Read more at Suite101: What is the Social Responsibility Theory? : Written by the Hutchins Commission on Freedom of the Press http://press-freedom. suite101. com/article. cfm/what_is_the_social_responsibility_theory#ixzz0hYd9u8dH Social responsibility Social responsibility is an ethical or ideological theory that an entity whether it is a government, corporation, organization or individual has a responsibility to society at large. This responsibility can be â€Å"negative†, meaning there is exemption from blame or liability, or it can be â€Å"positive,† meaning there is a responsibility to act beneficently (proactive stance). Businesses can use ethical decision making to secure their businesses by making decisions that allow for government agencies to minimize their involvement with the corporation. (Kaliski, 2001) For instance if a company is proactive and follows the United States Environmental Protection Agency? EPA) guidelines for emissions on dangerous pollutants and even goes an extra step to get involved in the community and address those concerns that the public might have; they would be less likely to have the EPA investigate them for environmental concerns. â€Å"A significant element of current thinking about privacy, however, stresses â€Å"self-regulation† rather than market or government mechanisms for protecting personal information† (Swire , 1997) Most rules and reg ulations are formed due to public outcry, if there is not outcry there often will be limited regulation. Critics argue that Corporate social responsibility (CSR) distracts from the fundamental economic role of businesses; others argue that it is nothing more than superficial window-dressing; others argue that it is an attempt to pre-empt the role of governments as a watchdog over powerful multinational corporations (Carpenter, Bauer, Erdogan, 2009). Socially responsible Corporate social responsibility (CSR), also known as corporate responsibility, corporate citizenship, responsible business, sustainable responsible (SRB), or corporate social performance,[1] is a form of corporate self-regulation integrated into a business model. Ideally, CSR policy would function as a built-in, self-regulating mechanism whereby business would monitor and ensure their adherence to law, ethical standards, and international norms. Business would embrace responsibility for the impact of their activities on the environment, consumers, employees, communities, stockholders and all other members of the public sphere For each business, different measures are taken in consideration to classify a business as â€Å"socially responsible†. Each business attempts to reach different goals. There are four areas that should be measured regardless of the outcome needed: Economic function, Quality of life, Social investment and Problem solving. [citation needed] that is trying to be achieved should be measured to see if it meets with the cost guidelines that the business is willing to contribute. [edit] Emerging Normative Status of Social Responsibility Social responsibility as a non-binding, or soft law principle has received some normative status in relation to private and public corporations in the United Nations Educational, Social and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Universal Declation on Bioethics and Human Rights developed by the UNESCO International Bioethics Committee particularly in relation to child and maternal welfare. (Faunce and Nasu 2009) The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is developing an international standard to provide guidelines for adopting and disseminating social responsibility: ISO 26000 – Social Responsibility. Due for publication in 2010, this standard will â€Å"encourage voluntary commitment to social responsibility and will lead to common guidance on concepts, definitions and methods of evaluation. † (ISO, 2009) The standard describes itself as a guide for dialogue and action, not a constraining or certifiable management standard. Social Responsibility |[pi|Practiced in the US in the 20th century | |c] | |[pi|Purpose is to inform, entertain, sell, but also to raise conflict to the plane of discussion | |c] | | |[pi|Ownership is private | |c] | | The social responsibility theory is an outgrowth of the libertarian theory. However, social responsibility goes beyond â€Å"objective† reporting to â€Å"interpretive† reporting. A truthful, complete account of the news is not necessarily enough today, notes the Commission on the Freedom of the Press: â€Å"It is no longer enough to report the fact [pic]truthfully. It is now necessary to report the truth about the fact. † Today’s complex world often necessitates analysis, explanation, and interpretation. As the Commission stated in 1940: The emerging theory does not deny the rationality of man, although it puts far less confidence in it than the libertarian theory, but it does seem to deny that man is innately motivated to search for truth and to accept it as his guide. Under the social responsibility theory, man is viewed not so much irrational as lethargic. He is capable of using his reason but he is loath to do so. If man is to remain free, he must live by reason instead of passively accepting what he sees, hears, and feels. Therefore, the more alert elements of the community must goad him into the exercise of his reason. Without such goading man is not likely to be moved to seek truth. The languor which keeps him from using his gift of reason extends to all public discussion. Man’s aim is not to find truth but to satisfy his immediate needs and desires. It is the press, therefore, that must be the â€Å"more alert element† and keep the public informed, for an informed populace is the cornerstone of democracy. Today’s large media conglomerates, however, may not function naturally as a public forum, where all ideas are shared and available. â€Å"The owners and managers of the press determine which persons, which facts, which versions of these facts, shall reach the public,† writes the Commission. In this same light, Siebert, Peterson and Schramm warn: †¦ he power and near monopoly position of the media impose on them an obligation to be socially responsible, to see that all sides are fairly presented and that the public has enough information to decide; and that if the media do not take on themselves such responsibility it may be necessary for some other agency of the public to enforce it. The Canons of Journalism, adopted by the American Society of Newspaper Editors addresses these same obligations when it calls on newspapers to practice responsibility to the general welfare, sincerity, truthfulness, impartiality, fair play, decency, and respect for the individual’s privacy. Siebert, Peterson and Schramm also note that â€Å"freedom of expression under the social responsibility theory is not an absolute right, as under pure libertarian theory†¦. One’s right to free expression must be balanced against the private rights of others and against vital social interests. † For example, it likely would not be socially responsible to report how the terrorist, using some new method, evaded security measures and smuggled a bomb onto a commercial airline. How to cite Social Responsibility Theory, Papers

Cronon Worksheet free essay sample

1. How did the Native Americans occupy the land? What did they do to take possession and mark ownership? They occupied the land by moving with the seasons. They made temporary settlements around whatever resource they were needed an when that season changed or they no longer needed the resource or it was depleted they would move on and do the same thing elsewhere. 2. How did their â€Å"occupation† influence the natural development of the landscape? How did they change the land they occupied? The Indians would cooperate with the seasons instead of trying to do something that they couldn’t during the season. Therefore, by working with instead of against the seasons they didn’t have a large influence on the landscape. Since they worked with the seasons they would move whenever the resource they needed was not in season. Therefore they wouldn’t stay in one place too long to create a large impact. 3. Did the Native Americans have a concept of land ownership? If so, what was it? What did it mean to own the land for a Native American? For the most part Native Americans didn’t have a concept of land ownership. The tribes were very mobile and didn’t stay in one place. They moved from place to place along with the seasons so everything was made so that it could be mobile and could be moved when needed. They did not believe in owning the land however they believe that they should live off of the land. 4. How did the Native Americans use the land they occupied? What did they consider good use for land? Bad use? Native Americans used the land that they had to survive. They moved around seasons to season in order to get the resources that they needed. They would fish if there was a water source around or if there were a lot of land or a forest they would hunt. They considered food and home a good use for land; anywhere they could live. Europeans 1. How did the European Colonists occupy the land in New England? The European colonists came to New England and started raping the land almost immediately. The consensus was to take as much as they could and use it since most of what they took was going back to Europe regardless. However with that being said; they struggled when it came to living off of the land and sustaining them. They also forced many Native Americans off of their land and used it for commercial reasons. 2. How did their â€Å"occupation† influence the natural development of the landscape? How did they alter the landscape? The main export to Europe was Tobacco. The Tobacco plant would drain the soil of nutrients and leave it barren. This would leave an area unsustainable for the growth of anything else. The animals that they brought would graze further out because the Europeans had no way to keep up the food for the animals. This would allow them to expand and spread out and develop even more land therefore their presence was great. 3. Did the European Colonists have a concept of land ownership? If so, what was it? What did it mean to own the land for a European Colonist? The Europeans definitely had a concept of land ownership. The land that they took or occupied would be theirs and they could do with it what they wished. The more land the merrier. In England land was very scarce however it wasn’t in New England. Owning land gave Europeans the power to vote and make influence changes around them. It allowed them to feel as if they were important in changing the world around them. 4. How did the Europeans use the land they occupied? What did they consider good use for land? Bad use? They used the land to grow crops and create a functional society. They used the land to create a way of life, which they were unable to do in England. They used it for infrastructure; building homes, churches and businesses. Interactions 1. In what ways did the European colonists view natural resources as commodities? Identify a four items European colonists commodified, then explain the value of these items for colonists? a. Wood a. They used wood for homes and shelter. They also burned it to keep warm. A lot of wood in England was already cleared and gone so it was a scarcity in England but not the New World. This was a tremendous commodity to the colonists. b. Birds a. The birds that the colonists were used to back in Europe were smaller and less tasteful than these new fowl that was found in the New World. Also there was a bountiful amount in New England. c. Fish a. They used fish for food. There are a lot of nutrients in fish and are considered easy to digest. The abundance of fish in the new world was considered a commodity. d. Beasts (Mammals) a. In the forest they had many beasts such as bears and moose. The meat from these creatures were more plentiful and delicious than fish and bird therefore could feed more people. They also used their pelts to warm themselves in the cold. A lot of these creatures were not in England and were there year round in the New World. 2. How did the European attempts at commodifying (viewing natural resources as items to be bought and sold) the environment influence their interactions with the Native Americans? Did the Native Americans commodify natural resources things? The Europeans bucked heads many times with the Native Americans over their treatment of the land. The colonists would abuse the land and ended up killing a lot of vegetation and trees. This was due to the way that they would burn. Their way was different from the Native Americans whose idea was to spare as much as they could of the land. It was the Europeans disrespect for the land, which angered the Native Americans. 3. How did the differing ideas of land ownership that existed between European Colonists and Native Americans lead to trouble between the two cultures? The Native Americans didn’t have any concept of land ownership due to them moving around constantly where as the Europeans brought over the thought of living someplace permanently and using it as private property and doing what they wanted. This angered the Native Americans because they were happy with their way of living and thought that the Europeans were in excess and wondered why the Europeans would want so much. It was also the disrespect of the land that the Europeans seemed to have that angered the Native Americans. 4. In what ways did the Native Americans alter their own culture in order to adapt to the European ideas of land ownership, land occupation, and the commodification of natural resources? The Native Americans responded with hostility towards the Europeans simply because they were confused at their way of life and thought it was different so they didn’t condone what was happening. Eventually, however, they started doing trade with the Europeans. This trade gave the Europeans a different lookout on the Europeans and gave them things that they otherwise would have been unable to obtain.

Child Prostitution in Thailand

Abstract This project is going to examine ways through which the problem of child prostitution in Thailand can be addressed. Child prostitution is one of the major issues, which have continued to violate the rights of children. The practice is common in South East Asia, and catastrophic in Thailand. Popular education as advocated by Freire (2000) will be used in addressing this problem.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Child Prostitution in Thailand specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Target Rights Issue This project is aimed at addressing the problem of child prostitution in Thailand. Child prostitution in Thailand is a problem that has attracted international attention because of its infringement of the rights of the girl child. Underage girls in Thailand have been sold to brothels by their relatives, or abducted. In these brothels, these underage girls are subjected to sexual abuse. In addition, they are normally prohibited from leaving these brothels, a factor that violates their freedom of movement. These girls also suffer other abuses such as beatings, which are normally done in order to coerce them to comply with the demands of clients. Child prostitution in Thailand also thrives because of western pedophiles who normally offer hundreds of dollars in order to have sex with these girls. The perpetrators of this trade normally sell the virginity of these children to the highest bidder. Objectives: Goals of the project The aims of this project are two: firstly, this project is aimed at sensitizing families, children, authorities, the general public and all other people involved in child prostitution, about its negative impacts on the rights and health of children. Secondly, the project aims at putting to end child prostitution in Thailand. Reports have indicated that some families in Thailand sell their underage daughters to brothels. In order to end this vice, families who engage in this practice should be educated on the health consequences and children rights violations brought by the practice. Authorities in Thailand will also be sensitized because they have the legal means of protecting the rights of children in the country. The general public also needs to know about the negative impacts of child prostitution to enable them to condemn the vice and report incidents of child prostitution to the authorities. Legislative Authority This initiative is mandated by the fact that it is illegal to subject children to prostitution. Children’s rights are universally protected, and protection of children from sexual abuse or exploitation is one of the core values of universal children rights. From a moral perspective, it is wrong for adults to defile children by subjecting them to prostitution.Advertising Looking for report on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Adults should protect children and s afeguard their rights. It is therefore unethical for adults to violate children’s rights. In addition, the united nation through UNICEF, advocates for universal children rights that protect them from child labor, sexual abuse and other forms of abuse in the society. Therefore, everyone is legally and morally obliged to advocate for the ending of child prostitution in Thailand. Scope The initiative to sensitize the public and end child prostitution in Thailand will be a nationwide program. This program will target communities and the relevant institutions in Thailand. The program will be rolled out in different communities across Thailand. The institutions that will be targeted in this program will be the police and the ministry of tourism. Being a nationwide initiative, one of the major limitations to the implementation of this project is finances. Other limitations may be lack of support from the communities in Thailand, and sabotage from parties, which have certain interest s, or benefits from child prostitution in the country. Approach This project will adopt a popular education approach as advocated by Paulo Freire. Popular education according Freire (2002) is a type of education that is aimed at empowering individuals who are politically and socially marginalized by enabling them to embrace ideas that will bring social change. This type of education is different from formal learning in that everyone involved needs to participate effectively. In popular education there is no demarcation between students and the teacher, instead everybody plays the role of a teacher and student simultaneously. In popular education, knowledge is generated through group activities. This group activity normally enables individuals to evaluate their life situations together. This will make individuals realize their true position in the word (Freire, 2000, p. 133). According to Freire (2000), no type of education is neutral. Education has the potential of either making peo ple to accept the status quo, or encourage them to think independently in order to bring the desired change. Popular education is a liberation type of learning in that it has the potential of inculcating independent thinking among people enabling them to challenge the status quo. Use of popular education to sensitize people in Thailand about the negative impacts of child prostitution, will enable them to reject the current status that permit child prostitution.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Child Prostitution in Thailand specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Popular education also encourages mutual learning and dialogue. Dialogue serves in the process of learning by enabling individuals who are learning to have confidence that they can solve the challenges they face (Freire, 2000, p. 135). In sensitizing the public to end child prostitution in Thailand, constant dialogue will be used to make those who have been af fected by children prostitution to realize that they are not alone. Dialogue will also enable people who have been affected by child prostitution or those who have undergone through this vice to realize that it is not their fault. Popular learning also requires that the facilitator identifies the differences in the group that can generate conflict in the learning process. In dealing with this problem, the facilitator should seek a common ground (Freire, 2000, p. 136). Basically, popular education aims at empowering individuals who are socially and politically marginalized. Children subjected to prostitution in Thailand are socially and politically marginalized (Freire, 2000, p. 48). The oppressors in this project are the perpetrators of child prostitution, while the oppressed are the victims of this vice. In liberating these children from child prostitution, the program will encourage communities to confront the perpetrators of this vice and stop them from continuing with the trade. Participants The participants in this project will include families, communities and institutions like ministry of tourism and the police. Families and communities will participate because they are affected by child prostitution, while at the same time they help in the propagation of this vice. Families and communities have sold their own daughters to brothels. Therefore, the popular education and the sensitization process should begin with them because empowering them will be crucial in ending child prostitution. The ministry of tourism is included as a participant because foreigners who pose as tourists are also involved in child prostitution. These foreigners, who mainly hail from the west, provide the money that is needed to sustain child prostitution in Thailand. If the ministry is sensitized to abolish sex tourism, incidents of child prostitution will drastically reduce, or end due to lack of finances. The police are included as participants because they safeguard laws, and t hey have a responsibility in ensuring that the rights of children are not violated. The police are crucial as participants because they have the authority of confronting the perpetrators of child prostitution and bringing them to justice. Partners The partners in this project will be the government of Thailand, UNICEF and other international NGOs that are interested in ending child prostitution in the country, and south East Asia in general. The government of Thailand will grant the project managers the permission for the implementation of the project. In addition, the government will provide the security that will be needed because the issue addressed by the project is sensitive, and individuals with vested interests may seek to sabotage it.Advertising Looking for report on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The government will also provide logistical support. UNICEF and other international NGOs will be approached to partially fund the project. They can also provide the capacity required to implement the project in terms of personnel and teaching resources. Communities in Thailand will also be partners in the project because they are the people who will determine the success or failure of the project. Evaluation The project will be evaluated through surveys that will be conducted in different stages to determine whether it is effective. Some of the indicators that will be examined to determine the effectiveness of the project include the attitude of the general public towards child prostitution, number of brothels, which will still be operating after the project, and the number of perpetrators brought to justice during and after the project. Whether families will stop or continue the practice of selling their own daughters to prostitution, will also be used as a measure of evaluating th e project. The success or failure of the project will simply be indicated by a reduction of child prostitution, an end to it, or its persistence. Reference Freire, P. (2000). Pedagogy of the oppressed. New York, NY: Continuum. This report on Child Prostitution in Thailand was written and submitted by user Cayson Nolan to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Alcohol Proof Definition and Examples

Alcohol Proof Definition and Examples Grain alcohol or spirits may be labeled using proof rather than percent alcohol. Heres what proof means and an explanation of why its used and how its determined. Alcohol  Proof Definition Alcohol proof is twice the  volume  percentage of  ethyl alcohol  (ethanol) in an alcoholic beverage. It is a measure of the ethanol (a specific type of alcohol) content of an alcoholic beverage. The term originated in the United Kingdom and was defined as 7/4 the alcohol by volume (ABV). However, the UK now uses ABV as the standard to express alcohol concentration, rather than the original definition of proof. In the United States, the modern definition of alcohol proof is twice the percentage of ABV. Alcohol Proof Example:  An alcoholic beverage that is 40%  ethyl alcohol  by volume is referred to as being 80 proof. 100-proof whiskey is 50% alcohol by volume. 86-proof whiskey is 43% alcohol by volume. Pure alcohol or absolute alcohol is 200 proof. However, because alcohol and water form an azeotropic mixture, this purity level cannot be obtained using simple distillation. Determining ABV Since ABV is the basis for calculated alcohol proof, its useful to know how alcohol by volume is determined. There are two methods: measuring alcohol by volume and measuring alcohol by mass. The mass determination does not depend on temperature, but the more common percent (%) of total volume is temperature dependent. The International Organization of Legal Metrology (OIML) requires volume percent (v/v%) measurements be performed at 20  Ã‚ °C (68  Ã‚ °F). Countries belonging to the European Union may measure ABV using either mass percent or volume percent. The United States measures alcohol content in terms of alcohol percent by volume. The percentage of alcohol by volume must be labelled, although most liquors also state proof. Alcohol content may vary within 0.15% of ABV stated on the label, for spirits containing no solids and over 100 ml in volume. Officially, Canada uses US labeling stating percent alcohol by volume, although the UK proof standard may still be seen and heard. Common spirits at 40% ABV are called 70 ° proof, while 57% ABV is 100 proof. Over-proof rum is rum containing greater than 57% ABV or exceeding 100 ° UK proof. Older Versions of Proof The UK used to measure alcohol content using proof spirit. The term came from the 16th century when British sailors were given rations of rum. In order to demonstrate the rum hadnt been watered down, it was proved by covering it with gunpowder and igniting it. If the rum didnt burn, it contained too much water and was under proof, while if it burned, this meant at least 57.17% ABV was present. Rum with this alcohol percentage was defined to be 100 ° or one hundred degrees proof. In 1816, the specific gravity test replaced the gunpowder test. Until January 1, 1980, the UK measured alcohol content using proof spirit, which was equivalent to 57.15% ABV and defined to be spirit with a specific gravity 12/13 that of water or 923 kg/m3. Reference Jensen, William.  The Origin of Alcohol Proof(PDF). Retrieved November 10, 2015.

My negotiating skills Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

My negotiating skills - Essay Example The first scenario involved employee recruitment in which the employee offered a 20000-pound remuneration rate while the employee wanted a 25000-pound rate. The second scenario involved an employee seeking a pay rise against the employer’s will. I assumed both employer and employee situation in both cases in alternation. Each of the scenarios in the negotiation exercise involved persuasive discussions for each party. I used several negotiations skills such as asking questions, good listening ability, focusing on my relevant values to the topic of discussion, and being flexible. These skills were successful, as I won in all roles that I played. As a recruit and an employee seeking pay rise, I managed to convince the employer who agreed to my request. As an employer however, I only managed to reduce the amount that employee wanted by significant percentages, more that 75 % in each case (Pannett, et al. 2013, p. 168). I have learnt, from the simulation, that am good in negotiation and that I can incorporate different negotiation skills to win in negotiations. Negotiating for better offers as an employee was the easier aspect of the simulation because of available proofs for the desired position. Negotiating against realistic facts such as disputing an employee’s potentials and experience towards desired remuneration amount was however difficult. Ability to verify offered information is the negotiation skill that I need to develop in order to become a better negotiator. My goal for developing the skill is to be able to verify validity of offered information in a negotiation. I will measure progress by simulating negotiation scenarios, validating offered information in the scenarios, and then comparing my validation results with reality. Achieving the goal will require published resources on psychological intelligence and sensitivity, together with time and a tutor on human psychology. Being able to

Da Vinci's The Last Supper - Image Analysis Assignment

Da Vinci's The Last Supper - Image Analysis - Assignment Example When one examines the work it is fairly simple to understand how the apostles’ reactions to Jesus depict their astonishment at his words. Da Vinci depicts them as astonished, crystallized in a performative, nearly ironic state of shock. Symbolically the image groups the apostles in groups of three, with each different group reacting to Jesus’ announcement in subtle yet pronounced ways. The groupings of three hold obvious religious significance as the number is echoed throughout the Bible in a number of incarnations. Perhaps the most relevant such incarnation in the context of this work is that which refers to Jesus’ resurrection after three days, as a direct result of his betrayal that led to his eventual crucifixion at the hands of the Romans. In one grouping, Bartholomew, James, son of Alphaeus and Andrew are depicted together as simple surprised. In another grouping, Judas Iscariot, Peter, and John are depicted together. In terms of Biblical significance this last grouping is the most relevant in terms of relation to Christ, as well as narrative significance within the painting. Peter and John represent two of the closet and Biblically significant disciples; also, as is well understood, Judas Iscariot is the one that would eventually betray Jesus.

BUDWEISER Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

BUDWEISER - Term Paper Example Anheuser -Busch is a brewing company in America that was started in 19th century. The present company name was adopted in 2004 after a successful merger of the company with Ambev. One of the beer brands that have giant global recognition is Budweiser. The revenues earned from main brands are found to be growing at a rate of 7.8% in each hectoliter. The company produces other 200 brands that are sold locally, internationally and worldwide. It is one among the largest companies in beer industry globally; also Budweiser is popular in United States and other parts in the world. In 20th century, alcohol products were prohibited in America, and this was one challenge that this company faced. This made the founder of this brewing company embark on alcoholic drinks up to 1933 when the prohibition ended. World war contributed to the reduction in performance of the beer firm as it led to economic recession. In strategizing to get back market for Budweiser beer brand, the company argued the customers to dare take this beer for five days. In testing the quality of the brand, the customers were promised that if their test did not shift from the other beers, then they can disregard Budweiser as the best beer. The company management team focuses to ensure the brands meet the consumers’ interests and expectations. The company initiated procedures used in getting customers for company’s brands. In 1936, this brand started being packaged in metallic cans, which made many consumers prefer this beer to others. While most of the brewing companies were collapsing due to competition, this brand was able to bear the situation. Although the sales reduced significantly, Budweiser Company remained to be a leading company in the beer industry. , and it brand has for years maintained lead in the markets although there was competition. Industry Structure and Global Market AB InBev Company gets a lot of competition in the industry from other competing firms that are coming up. Because of rich history of its operation, the well known company’s brands enjoys monopoly although partially. Beer industry is open despite huge costs of operations especially advertising that constrain new investors. This means only the company that are competitive can survive the market conditions, because beer industry has risen by 41% in the world as compared to other sectors. This can be attributed to people’s change of tests in which today people need high quality beer and not just alcohol, because alcohol drinks stock sales are rising at 4.8% rate annually. In this industry, most of the brewing companies are merging with others to form a stronger footprint to get larger market command. Budweiser is one of main alcohol brands with re cognition all over the world (Bamforth & Bamforth 2011). In international market arena, the company has 25% of total world market portion, while in United States, AB InBev company accounts for 48% of the total market in brewing sector. Apart from Budweiser brand, Anheuser –Busch inBev has other 200 types of brews. AB InBev Company is main brewery in United States but it possesses outlets across the world. The company has outlets open in more than twenty countries across the world, thus company can employ over 100, 000 people for different job positions. Three company’s brands get market recognition in various regions of the world globally. Most company’

Facebook: Motives for Use and Effects on Personality

Facebook: Motives for Use and Effects on Personality The current study investigated the motives for using Facebook from the uses and gratifications perspectives and personality as predictors of Facebook addiction among the Mauritian university students. It also explored the relationship of motives and personality with attitudinal/ behavioral outcomes of the participants’ Facebook use. It was found that certain prevalent motives and extraversion trait were strongly associated with the Facebook variables studied and significantly predicted addiction to the site as expected. Relationship between Facebook and motives The study found 8 motives for Mauritian youths for using Facebook, the most popular social networking site. These motives include passing time, education, political, social interaction, entertainment, network surveillance, information seeking and relationship maintenance. Preceding studies found similar motives for using the site. For instance Dhaha et al (2014) found that entertainment, social interaction, political and education motivated Somali youths to use Facebook. Hart (2011) found that four motives for using the site among undergraduates, namely information seeking, passing time, relationship maintenance and entertainment significantly predicted amount of Facebook use, frequency of Facebook use and number of Facebook friends. Zhang et al (2011) found that network surveillance significantly predicted time spent on Facebook per day and number of Facebook friends. In this study a bivariate correlation has revealed that there was a moderate and significant positive relationship o f amount of time spent per day, number of friends and login frequency with all the motives except education and political which showed no relationship with these Facebook usage variables. The study enquired the intensity of Facebook addiction among Mauritian youths. The Facebook addiction instrument was divided into 4 dimensions namely salience, loss of control, mood modification and conflict. The results confirmed addictive tendencies among 27.2% of the sample as they rated high on overall Facebook addiction scale. It was found that the site was incorporated in their daily lives (salience), many spend more than 3 hours per day on it (38.2%), they often lose sleep due to late night logins, have a constant urge to check Facebook (loss of control), neglect responsibilities such as academic performance (conflict) and often use Facebook to reduce feelings of anxiety (mood modification). These findings corroborate with previous studies. For instance Zaremohzzabieh et al (2014) and Balakrishinan Shamim (2013) found similar outcomes of addictive behaviors towards the use of Facebook, namely salience, loss of control, mood modification, withdrawal and conflict. In terms of the relationship between Facebook motives and Facebook addiction, the study shown a significant positive correlation between Facebook addiction and the 8 motives components studied. Facebook addiction was more closely related to passing time motive followed by entertainment, social interaction and relationship maintenance. These findings are consistent with previous studies of Facebook addiction from uses gratifications perspectives. For instance Dhaha et al. (2014) and Kavitha (2013) found that entertainment, communication, passing time, social interaction and companionship were correlated with Facebook addiction. The study also investigated specific motives as predictors of Facebook addiction to test the hypotheses. The analysis of the multiple regression revealed that the four motives namely passing time, entertainment, social interaction and relationship maintenance significantly predicted Facebook addiction. Passing time motive emerged as the best predictor of Facebook addiction, followed by entertainment and relationship maintenance. These findings are supported by previous studies. For instance (Kavitha, 2013) also identified passing time as the best predictor of Facebook addiction. In the same line a systematic review that examined Facebook addiction and motives has revealed that for 14 out of 16 studies, the components explaining the majority of the variance relate to either passing time or relationship maintenance (Ryan et al, 2014). With regard to the prevalent gratification of passing time, findings seem to reflect the usual use of Facebook to occupy time when bored, to procrastinat e from other activities or task avoidance (Foregger, 2008; Sheldon, 2008). The researchers also found that entertainment (e.g. playing games) was a popular motive for engaging in Facebook appearing across 15 studies (Ryan et al, 2014). It is associated with pleasure seeking. Dhaha et al (2014) and Sofiah et al (2011) also found that entertainment, social interaction (e.g. making new friends) and communication significantly predicted Facebook addiction. These findings are consistent with those of Ryan et al, (2014) which reported that motives can be related to Facebook addiction through use that is habitual, excessive or a desire for mood modification. The findings reflect both the benefits and downside of Facebook use. The uses and gratifications of Facebook use operate to satisfy the social and psychological needs of a large number of internet users but at the same contributing to addiction to the site (Ryan et al, 2014). As the findings indicate, excessive use result in negative life outcomes such as neglecting significant activities e.g. school and significant relationships. For instance this paradox can be illustrated in terms of the Stimulation Hypothesis and Displacement Hypothesis since findings of this study have revealed that social interaction is related to Facebook addiction. The former supports the positive effects of social interaction via Facebook. It argues that online interaction complements existing social interact ion and can extend new cyber relationships to offline interaction thereby improving social relationships and relieved from loneliness (Valkenburg, 2007). But paradoxically the displacement hypothesis suggests that the time and psychic energy spent on Facebook with weak ties or virtual characters replaces real world interaction and is harming significant relationships (Valkenburg, 2007). Similarly (Sheldon et al, 2011) found that spending a lot of time on Facebook correlated with both high levels of feeling connected to other people and with high levels of disconnection. Moreover Facebook addiction is found to be with associated depression, anxiety disorders, aggressive tendencies and decreased productivity (Rosen et al, 2014) Relationship between Facebook and personality This study analyzed the attitudinal and behavioral outcomes of the respondents’ Facebook use from a personality trait approach involving extraversion, openness to experience, agreeableness, conscientiousness, emotional stability and narcissism. The study also posits that certain of these personality traits predict Facebook addiction. Results indicate that extraversion significantly and positively correlated with amount of time spent on Facebook per day, login frequency, number of friends and Facebook addiction. Regression analysis has revealed that extraversion significantly predicts Facebook addiction. These findings are in line with other studies. For instance Amichai-Hamburger et al (2010) and Kosinski et al 2013 found that Extroversion was positively related with amount of time spend on Facebook and number of friends. Wilson et al (2010) reported that extraversion was related to higher levels of Facebook use and predicts addictive tendencies to the site. The researchersâ⠂¬â„¢ findings suggest that extroverts are over reliant on SNSs as they require a higher level of stimulation and a large social network. In the same line the current study found that there was a positive significant correlation between extraversion and social interaction motive consistent with the rich-get-richer approach which claims that extraverts gain more benefits through SNSs as they can enlarge their social relationships (Kuss Griffiths, 2011). This is to contrast with Moore McElroy, (2012) who found that those who score low on extraversion i.e. introverts positively correlated with Facebook use to stay in touch with friends. With respect to narcissism this study found that narcissism significantly and positively correlated with amount of time spent on Facebook per day, login frequency, number of friends and Facebook addiction. Carpenter et al (2012) and Rosen (2014) also found that users who score high on narcissism spend a lot of time on Facebook; they depict addictive symptoms to the site and have many Facebook friends. Moreover the current study revealed there was a high and positive significant correlation of narcissism with the frequency of posting updates and changing profile pictures. Similarly Alloway et al (2014) found that frequency of posting status updates was related to narcissism. Individuals scoring high on narcissism are more active on social network sites as these sites represent an opportunity to present themselves in a self-promoting way which is in line with their ideal self by frequently posting glorifying pictures and updates about them (C. S. Andreassen, et al, 2012). On the other hand this study revealed that conscientiousness was negatively related to amount of time spent on Facebook and login frequency and low scores on conscientiousness predicted Facebook addiction. These findings are consistent with Wilson et al (2010) which showed low scores on conscientiousness was related to higher levels of SNSs use and significantly predicted addictive tendencies to SNSs. It was hypothesized that unconscientious young adults exhibit addictive tendencies towards the use of SNSs as they lack self-discipline and tend to use these sites as way of procrastinating (Wilson et al 2010). However these findings differ from that of Marcus et al (2006) who found that conscientiousness was positively related to self-monitoring and presentation, suggesting that those who rated high on conscientiousness engage on social-networking sites to gain social appreciation. Alternatively this study found there was no relationship of openness to experience with amount time spends per day, number of friends and login frequency. Openness to experience did not predict Facebook addiction. These findings are supported by Wilson et al (2010) which also revealed that openness trait has no impact on SNSs use. The researchers believe that this is due to the fact that Facebook is no longer being a new creation and thus has lost some of its appeal for those with openness characteristic who are keen to experience newer activities (Wilson et al, 2010). However this study’s finding do not link with those of Ross et al (2009) which showed that higher levels of openness to experience was associated with greater online sociability. Conversely this study found that there was no relationship between openness to experience and social interaction motive for using Facebook. This study revealed that there was no relationship of agreeableness personality trait with amount of time spends per day on Facebook, how often participants login to Facebook, number of Facebook friends and Facebook addiction. These results correspond with those of Wilson et al (2010) which showed that the agreeableness trait has no influence on SNS use. This is also in line with Duff (2012) which found that there was no significant relationship between agreeableness and frequency of Facebook use. Neuroticism was negatively related to amount of time spend on Facebook per day, login frequency and Facebook addiction. These results indicate that participants scoring low on neuroticism spend more time on Facebook and depict addictive tendencies to the site. Conversely high scores on neuroticism is associated with less time spend on Facebook. These findings are in contrast with those of Wilson et al (2010) who found that neuroticism was not associated with addictive tendencies to SNS. Likewise Duff (20..) found that neuroticism was not related to frequency of Facebook use. The current findings do not link also with other studies which reported that high scores on neuroticism was positively associated with social media use where it was assumed that neurotics use social media as a way of seeking support. Moreover another plausible reason reported for this positive relationship was that online social networks give those who are high on neuroticism more time for scrutiny before acting unlike face-to-face interactions (C. S. Andreassen, et al, 2012). However this study’s findings are indirectly supported by those of Marcus et al (2006), which indicated a significant negative correlation between neuroticism and self-monitoring (Duff..). Marcus et al (2006) argued that these results indicated that those higher in neuroticism show a lack of ability in changing their behavior to gain social approval from others. Thus this may indirectly explain why neurotics spend less time on Facebook. In the same line the current study has revealed that neuroticism is negatively related to social interaction implying that those who are high on neuroticism are less likely to engage in social interactions. Relationship between self-esteem and Facebook This study reported a significant negative correlation between self-esteem and amount of time spent on Facebook per day. This indicates that those who score low on self-esteem spend more time on Facebook. These findings are supported by previous studies. For instance Kalpidou et al 2011 found there was a negative correlation between self-esteem and time spent on Facebook. In the same line Mehdizadeh’s (2010) findings revealed that lower levels of self-esteem correlated with greater amount of time spent on Facebook. The current study also revealed that self-esteem was negatively related to number of friends suggesting that low self-esteem participants have more friends. These findings are consistent with Zywica Danowski’s (2008) findings which reported that low self-esteem users have many Facebook friends as they strived more to increase their Facebook popularity to compensate for inadequate offline popularity, consistent with the social compensation hypothesis. Moreover having many Facebook friends implies performing for a bigger audience which is associated with enhancing in self-esteem. Another plausible explanation for these results interlink with Ellison et al, 2007 study which stated that low self-esteem users reap more benefits from Facebook than their high self-esteem counterparts as Facebook affordances mitigate fear of rejection and enable them to enlarge their social capital in a way more rewarding for them than face to face interaction. Since low self-esteem involves poor self-perception, social anxiety and shyness, features such as wall posting, messaging, poking, tagging and display of users’ personal information encouraged low self-esteem users to improve social relationships. (Steinfield et al, 2008). Hence as Facebook is related to bounding and bridging of social capital it can be deduced that those with low self-esteem spend more time on Facebook to boost their self-esteem (Steinfield et al, 2008). Furthermore, viewing one’s own Facebook profile, editing Facebook profile and receiving positive feedback from others were found to enhance self-esteem (Gonzales Hancock 2011; Valkenburg et al, 2006). Gonzales Hancock 2011 stated that Facebook is related to self-presentation. Thus it can be said that those with low self-esteem spend more time on Facebook than those with high self-esteem in order to optimize their self-presentation such as posting information about themselves so as to gain more popularity and altogether boost their social self-esteem. The present findings indicate that low self-esteem users may be over reliant on Facebook to reap these benefits. Indeed this study has revealed a significant correlation between self-esteem and Facebook addiction. Correspondingly Denti et al (2012) also found that low self-esteem was associated with Facebook addiction. The researcher found that Women Facebook addicts with low self-esteem use Facebook more to report negative information about their lives (Denti et al 2012). However the results do not link with those of Wilson et al (2010) which indicated that there was no relationship between self-esteem and social networking sites. Correlation Between Crime and Poverty: Sociological Critique Correlation Between Crime and Poverty: Sociological Critique Introduction Jock Young once said: â€Å"At heart, the extent of crime is a political as well [1]as a behavioural matter †¦ The figures for crime †¦ are not hard facts in the sense that this is true of the height and weight of physical bodies. They are moral not physical statistics†. It is apparent from this statement that there are inherent flaws in all types of theories of crime causation whether these derive form the sociological, psychological or biological traditions. Nevertheless, crime causation theories form a significant part of modern criminology and have been used extensively to form policy and legislation. Bearing in mind the limitation of these theories, this essay will try to address the question why sociological theories of criminality suggest that social deprivation and poverty are two of the most significant factors that lead to criminality when two of the most poverty stricken groups, women and the elderly, have low rates of crime. Crime and poverty: A sociological approach There are many schools of thought that deal with crime causation. Sociological theories of crime focus on the social dimension of criminality, trying to analyse the sociological reasons that push individuals to commit crime e.g. poverty, shaming, social deprivation, fear etc. Sociology, in general is â€Å"the study of social organisation and institutions and of collective behaviour and interaction, including the individual’s relationship to the group†[2]. As early as 1893, criminologists such as Durkheim asserted that social deprivation and the division of labour in society puts disadvantaged groups in need, often leaving them with no other option but to resort to crime[3]. Very close to this analysis is the approach of Radical Criminology. This uses Marx’s ideas of capitalist society and social classes claiming that â€Å"much proletarian offending could be redefined as a form of redistributive class justice or as a sign of the possessive individualism which resided in the core values of capitalist society†[4]. Radical Criminology went a step further by arguing that individuals from working classes who resort to crime are in reality victims of a false consciousness that turns proletarian against proletarian. The ultimate goal is to preserve unequal class relations, masking the real nature of crime and repression in capitalist society[5]. Irrespective of whether we adopt the sociological explanation of the Traditional or Radical Criminology, there is still a paradox that both theories seem to overlook. If crime is closely related to class, social deprivation and poverty – regardless of whether this is a construct of capitalism or simply a means to survival – there is still not an adequate explanation as to why the female and older groups that form great part of poor classes render very low criminality rates. The correlation between, crime, poverty and gender/age The two most powerful demographic features that discriminate between offenders and non-offenders but at same time provide a good explanation of criminal behaviour are gender and age. At one time there was so little criminality from female and older groups that criminologists turned their attention to it. John Hagan justified the low crime levels within female groups by saying that male groups often see crime as a source of fun and excitement, which is not often the case with female groups which are more family-oriented due to the maternity role they carry[6]. Moreover, daughters are believed to be more frequently subject to intense, continual and diffuse family control in the private and domestic environments and this gradually develops among female groups a stronger feeling of emotional sanctions than physical or custodial controls. Therefore, shaming methodologies and the withdrawn of love and affection have greater impact on female groups than incapacitation. This system does not need the intervention of the criminal justice system but of close family guidance. Finally, this close family control also encourages female groups to stay away from the â€Å"purview of agents of formal social control†[7]. Carlen’s findings reinforce this theory as he collected evidence that showed â€Å"female criminals were most likely to emerge when domestic family controls were removed altogether†[8]. With minor exceptions the crimes of the elderly have not been in the focus of criminological attention[9]. Stephens argues that older people who belong to poor classes are more concerned with survival issues and do not feel empowered to resort to crime apart from occasional petty offences. They also lack the physical and psychological motivation to commit serious crimes such as murder or robbery. However, this is not the case with older people from wealthy classes as these groups are most often characterised by power, greed. They also carry the advantage of experience. However, again, they lack the physical energy to commit violent crimes and that is why they tend to focus on financial offences. Conclusion It is apparent from the above analysis that sociological theories that use poverty and social deprivation to explain crime do not clash with the low levels of criminality within female and older groups. Male groups from poor classes render higher rates because they do not experience the same control mechanisms that female and older groups receive. When these mechanisms are lifted (e.g. because there is no close family control or because the feeling of survival is not that evident), then the risk is the same. Bibliography Box S (1983) Power, Crime and Mystification, London: Tavistock. Carlen P (1988) Women, Crime and Poverty, Milton Keynes: Open University Press. Durkheim E (1953) The Division of Labour in Society, Oxford: Oxford University Press Rock P (1997) â€Å"Sociological Theories of Crime† The Oxford Handbook of Criminology, Oxford: Oxford University Press. Haggan J (1979) â€Å"The Sexual Stratification of Social Control† 30 British Journal of Sociology. Stephens J (1976) Loners, Losers and Lovers. Seattle, Washington: University of Washington. Young J (1988) â€Å"Radical Criminology in Britain: The Emergence of a Competing Paradigm† 28 British Journal of Criminology 1 Footnotes [1] Young J (1988) â€Å"Radical Criminology in Britain: The Emergence of a Competing Paradigm† 28 British Journal of Criminology, page 175. [2] The Oxford English Dictionary [3] Durkheim E (1893) The Division of Labour in Society, later reprinted as Durkheim E (1953) The Division of Labour in Society, Oxford: Oxford University Press [4] Rock P (1997) â€Å"Sociological Theories of Crime† The Oxford Handbook of Criminology, Oxford: Oxford University Press. [5] Box S (1983) Power, Crime and Mystification, London: Tavistock. [6] Haggan J (1979) â€Å"The Sexual Stratification of Social Control† 30 British Journal of Sociology. [7] Loc cit supra note 4 page 243. [8] Carlen P (1988) Women, Crime and Poverty, Milton Keynes: Open University Press. [9] One exception is Stephens J (1976) Loners, Losers and Lovers. Seattle, Washington: University of Washington.

The Philippine Party-List System: Absence of a Clear Seat Allocation Fo

The Party-List System of proportional representation is a relatively new addition to Philippine politics and specifically in the electoral system of the country. It was only introduced in 1987, by then, the new constitution and formalized by R.A. 7941 (The Party-list System Act) in 1995, to open the legislature to marginalized and underrepresented sectors or groups without a well-defined political constituencies but who could contribute to policy formulation beneficial to the nation. (R.A. 7941 1995, Sec. 2) Since then there had been various problems in implementing the statutory law and the principles of the constitutional provision on the party-list system. Rodriguez and Velasco (1998, 36-48) and Tangkia and Habaradas (2001) enumerated some of them: low voter turnout, COMELEC inefficiency in public information dissemination, and confusing instructions in explaining a new ballot structure. However, one of its longest standing issues is the seat allocation since R.A. 7941 does not provide a clear formula for translating votes into seats. (Rodriguez 2002, 25 and Rodriguez and Velasco 1998, 39) An allocation formula is one of the basic and most fundamental requisites of a party-list system. Yet ironically, the authors of the governing law seemed to have forgotten to include a clear allocation formula even though it was tackled during the deliberations of R.A. 7941’s origin bills. The effects of its absence were most evident during the 1998 and 2007 elections. In 1998, 14 party-list seats were already filled with finality using the â€Å"2-4-6 COMELEC formula.† The said formula apportioned a seat for every 2% a party garnered in the party-list votes. For example, APEC was given two seats with its 5.5% but ABA (second... .... 2007. â€Å"The Party-List System in the Philippines: Proportional Representation and Seat Allocation Errors.† Discussion Paper. QC: Center for People Empowerment in Governance/University of the Philippines. Republic Act 7941. 1995. â€Å"The Party-list System Act.† Rodriguez, Agustin Martin G. and Djorina Velasco. 1998. Democracy Rising? The Trials and Triumphs of the 1998 Party-List Elections. QC: Institute of Politics and Governance and Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung. Rodriguez, Agustin Martin G. 2002. The Winding Road to Representation: The Philippine Party-List Experience. Makati: Ateneo School of Government and Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung. Tangkia, Fritzie Palma and Ma.AraceliBascoHabaradas. 2001.â€Å"Party-List System: The Philippine Experience. Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Philippines.http://www.library.fes.de/pdffiles/bueros/philippinen/50076.pdf. (November 27, 2011).

IPL Ruining Cricket Stars

Indian Premier League destroying International Cricket Money, fame, and power are the liberties that cricket players have nowadays. In India where cricket is consider a religion and cricket players are considered Gods. Mohammed Azharuddin was the captain of Indian cricket team in 1985 and he is now an Indian politician. He is the member of the Indian National Congress, which is the major political party in India. He is also the member of parliament of house in India. In India cricket was first played in 1932, but it wasn't until 1983 when cricket drew approximately million fans.India won its first World Cup in 1983, beating West Indies, a team who was considered favorites to win the tournament. India's proudest captain Kapil Dev lifted the World Cup trophy for the first time in front of thousands of people at one of the historic Cricket ground at Lords in England. This was Just the beginning of new cricket era in India. After almost two decades, Indian cricket was in threat of losing its fame due to few players and the captain itself was involved in match-fixing.This made entire nation angry and it drew fewer crowds, however when â€Å"Saurav Ganguly took the captaincy for the team in 2000 he changed the face of Cricket in India† (Empire of Cricket-India). He made everyone believe that no one should take Indian team lightly in international cricket; soon cricket began to take its peak by producing some of the finest players for India such as Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid. When India won its first inaugural Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa, it created a new taste in Indian Cricket.People began to like twenty20 cricket, because it was quick and results were faster. The BCCI (Board of Cricket Control in India) created IPL known as Indian Premier League, but they ignored the fact that by oing so they are destroying the international cricket. Lots of cricket is being played around the world such as test, one-day, twenty20, and domestic cricket. Cricket matches is affecting players' performances and encouraging them to retire from one or more format of the game due to their tight schedule.Indian Premier League is consider as one of the prestigious domestic league in cricket and it attracts players from international cricket by offering mouthwatering salary of million dollars to the players to play in their league. India stuns the world in 1983 by winning the World Cup. No one had expected or even dreamed about India qualifying for finals and that too facing West Indies who won consecutive World Cup in 1975 and 1979. When India qualified for the semi-final many people were satisfy by India's performance, but India wasn't so they went onto the final by beating England.During early 1970's and 1980's West Indies was the toughest opponent to face and most batsman from other country feared to face West Indies bowlers. â€Å"West Indies possessed the most fearsome bowling attack and possibly the most brutal batting line-up that anybody h ad ever witnessed† (Abbasi 1). Facing West Indies was the nightmare for any team in early 1970's and 1980's. There was a big hand of Kapil Dev in India's win over West Indies in World Cup. Kapil Dev became hero in minutes after taking a stunning match winning catch of Viv Richards, the catch gave â€Å"India belief.And West Indies panicked† (Bal 1). Viv Richards was the only player who would have help West Indies to make it hat-trick tor the number ot wins in World Cup. W n him gone West Indies dream faded away to put their hands on third World Cup title. â€Å"In hindsight it can also be said that the catch changed the way cricket would be played, for it awoke India to the possibilities to win the World Cup† (Bal 1). The catch from Kapil Dev brought India closer to the victory and with that 1983 World Cup belongs to India. It all came out in 1999 when cricket in India was in threat.India went through dark days in 1999 and it wasn't the great year for the cricket players and especially for the cricket fans. Leading cricketers were accused of match-fixing and then a police report proved that there was a direct link between cricketers and illegal book makers. Former Indian Cricketer Bishan Bedi once said, â€Å"Sickening absolutely sickening and hen some of the players were found to be indulging in that kind of nonsense, cricket died for many days† (Empire of Cricket-India). People lost faith in everything they had seen and they no longer trusted the results.India's cricket captain Mohammad Azharuddin was involved in match-fixing with many other players such as Ajay Sharma, Ajay JadeJa, Manoj Prabhakar, and Dr. Ali Iran', a physiotherapist. â€Å"The Indian government orders the Central Bureau of Investigation to probe the match-fixing allegations and to find out whether any Indian cricketer or official was involved† (Ravindran 2). This event was eye opening for many fans and the government itself felt that they need to take act ion to provide Justice for the millions of cricket fans in India.When CBI released the report on match-fixing in November it accused those players of having links with bookies and of under-performing in return for huge sums of money. â€Å"Manoj Prabhakar told CBI that he was offered 2. 5 million rupees ($53,000) by a teammate to underperform in a match against Pakistan in 1994† (Magazine 2). â€Å"Titan Cup in 1996 between India and South Africa was fixed, Pepsi Asia Cup in Sri Lanka in 1997 was fixed, and Pepsi Cup between India and Pakistan in 1999 was also fixed† (Ganapathy 1). Mohammed Azharuddin and Alay Sharma were involved in the following fixed matches.Based on the evidence each time the match was fixed players received from â€Å"$19,000 to $400,000†³ (Ganapathy 1). People were in shock for years when they realized their cricket God cheated on them. These led to a public outcry demanding punishment for the players. Mohammed Azharuddin and Ajay JadeJa we re banned from the cricket for life time and few players took retirement from cricket due to their shameful act. To take Indian cricket out of darkness and into the light India needed a new leader. Saurav Ganguly known as Bengal Tiger of Kolkata was named captain of the Indian cricket team in 2000. Now, under Saurav Ganguly, Indians always such bad travelers, had begun to win abroad† (Bose 242). He made every Indians proud and made cricket more loveable. He began well as a captain leading India to the final of ICC Knockout Trophy in 2000 and ICC Cricket World Cup in 2003. Unfortunately India lost both these finals; one against New Zealand in 2000 and Australia in 2003. When India toured England during the summer of 2002 there were big expectations on the shoulder of the young kipper with India not able to secure a series win in England since 1990.During the final match of the 2002 Natwest Trophy between India and England held in Lords, Ganguly took off his shirt in public and brandished it in the air to celebrate India's stunning win of the series. Harsha Bhogle a cricket commentator said, â€Å"India was a great talking nation, but wasn't great doing nation and they found that when Saurav came along and ne actually took that shirt ott, people said an nn someone's nas actually done it. Someone has done what we wanted to do and there wasn't any script written he Just did it† (Empire of Cricket-India). Ganguly had the vision that we can do it.And that's what it made a difference. Former Pakistani cricketer Ramiz Raja once said â€Å"India vs. Pakistan this is what cricket is all about. It's the contest that people look forward to. † Cricket played between India and Pakistan is often considered war than a match. There is always pressure on 11 players from both the nation when they face off. The reason why a match between India and Pakistan makes so much exciting and thrilling is because India's independence from Britain in 1947, both countries have fought three wars and they are still in disputes over Kashmir.During India's tour of Pakistan in 2004 the tension across the border was enormous. When India beat Pakistan in test series after 50 years it was a great gift for the people in India and people serving in Indian Army. This was by far the greatest achievement for team India under the captaincy of Ganguly. Intikhab Alam Pakistan team manager said, â€Å"Both teams cannot win, and somebody has to lose. Let it remain a cricket match and don't make us feel like we are standing on a warfront† (Doherty 3). The word defeat is not accepted to the fans from both the countries.Defeat to the ans means that they have been slapped on their face. India Pakistan cricket is considered as one of the prestigious cricket rivalry. It is the competition that even different international team such as Australia and England look forward to. During the 1996 World Cup India and Pakistan played in quarter-final match for the spot in sem i-final, two Pakistani fans died. â€Å"One had a heart attack and the other reportedly turned his gun on himself after shooting his TV in disgust at Pakistan's 39-run loss to India† (Doherty 2). Cricket played between India and Pakistan is the battle of do or die.India is a cricket crazy country where cricket runs in the blood of every Indian on the planet. There is an old saying that â€Å"Cricket is an Indian game accidentally discovered by the English† (Gopalan et al. 1). This is so true, because cricket in Indian culture is so popular that every child that is born in India wants to play cricket. It is the sport that unite entire nation together. Cricket has the unique ability to unite all of India over and above its diversities. â€Å"Inspiration, Passion, Obsession, Devotion, cricket evokes myriad responses across India.India rejoices every time team India ins and despairs at every loss† (Gopalan et al. 1). During the 1996 World Cup when India lost to Sri Lanka for the spot in final, fans erupted in Kolkata cricket stadium. At the scent of a defeat Indian fans started â€Å"throwing empty bottles; burning newspaper which is symptomatic of the growing intolerance and fanaticism of the Indian crowds† (Gopalan et al. 2). Indians fans react to the team lose very quickly and they want their team to win every single game which is impossible. â€Å"Perhaps the problem is that Indians expect too much from their cricketer† (Bose 240).Indians fans are Just aiting for the opportunity to show their anger towards their team when India loses. â€Å"For the large numbers of urban middle class Indians who embraced the game, it was a case of encountering a new and exciting sport, one that was far more interesting than the Indian options that existed at the time such as gilli danda, hockey' (Kasbekar 269). Cricket is more popular in India, because India doesn't have too many sports unlike the United States where they have hockey, basket ball, baseball, soccer, and football.The fans are evenly distributed when they have more choice available in ports while in India there is only one way ot tan tollowing which is Cricket. During the high profile match or tournaments Indian crowds are like ants and the cricket match is like sugar. Crowds are so glued to their seats or television set that they forget their problems in their life. The recent World Cup held in India, was big success for team India as they won their second title after 28 years. â€Å"India vs. Pakistan World Cup 2011 semi-final was watched by 67. 3 million people, India vs.Sri Lanka World Cup Final was watched by 68 million people† (Dhawan et al. 1). Cricket is ery popular and it draws more fans when India is performing at its best during bigger tournament. â€Å"There is no doubt that what made cricket so popular in India was nationalism. Cricket had become a reflection, a focus, and an instrument of Indian nationalism† (Kasbekar 269). Cric ket is the only sport that gives fans a chance to show their love and support towards their nation. When India plays against England or Pakistan it is the great atmosphere for the fans to support their team.The other reason cricket is so popular is because there is no caste system in India when it omes to cricket. People from any caste can play cricket for his national team. Indian cricket team is a big example of diversity there are players from different religions such as Guajarati, Muslim, Marathi, South Indian, and Punjabi. A person from different religions unites team India and it makes cricket more lovable. India's current cricket captain M. S. Dhoni comes from the lower caste. Now comes the new generation of cricket. The Indian Primer League also known as Indian Paisa League. Paisa in India means money.IPL's power is taking over the world. â€Å"The survey ndicated that 54 percent of the players would retire from one or more formats of the game because of too much internatio nal cricket† (Magotra 2). Sri Lankan player Lasith Malinga retires from test cricket to focus on IPL and Australia Player Adam Gilchrist retires from all the format of the cricket such as test, one-day, and twenty20 to play in ‘PL. â€Å"The money has made many international cricketers choose IPL over their countries† (Magotra 1). Virender Sehwag from India decided not to tour the West Indies series, because he wanted to play in ‘PL.Few Indian players decided not to tart their treatment on their injuries, because they did not wanted to miss out from ‘PL. According to the DNA: Daily News &Analysis former Sri Lankan cricketer Arjuna Ranatunga said, â€Å"IPL is the monster that will go on to destroy international cricket. † I agree with the former captain of Sri Lanka, because if the youngsters gets the chance to play in IPL and if he starts to make millions of dollar than why would he want to play for his national team if he can make a good livin g out of ‘PL. Bishan Bedi once said, â€Å"l find it suffocating honestly. I find it the most vulgar expression of cricket.It's not cricket, No† (Empire of Cricket-India). Few former cricketers find IPL as one of the destructive tournament that will affect the real cricket and its taste. But IPL is so much popular in India that even women are interested in watching IPL games. â€Å"Inspired by the English Premier League city based franchises has been created and sold for over 500 million pound. Players from all over the world are auction for sums beyond one million pound† (Empire of Cricket-India). Harsha Bhogle a cricket commentator said, â€Å"History will record 20 years from now as IPL as the greatest urning point ever in history of the game† (Empire of Cricket-India).The way IPL is going it will affect the international cricket by having few players retiring from their national team; this affects the fans that are true cricket lover towards their nati on. From the success ot I PL other countries such as Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka are considering to create their own twenty20 domestic league such as Sri Lankan Premier League, Pakistan Premier League and Bangladesh Premier League. With all this domestic cricket being played it will go on to destroy the real meat of cricket which is ne-day and test cricket.People have to remember that Indian Premier League is dessert and people cannot live on dessert forever they have to respect the real meat of cricket by banning the domestic twenty20 league. India is very rich cricketing nation where lot of people looking to make investment in cricket. â€Å"But there are fears that this big hitting twenty20 cricket will end up destroying traditions of ancient and modern in India and wider empire of cricket† (Empire of Cricket-India). All eyes are on India as they became the superior governing cricket nation. International Cricket Council should intervene in domestic cricket by banning twenty20 cricket league.The way there is demand for the players in IPL I think it is going to be very difficult to put restriction on the international players to not allow them to play in IPL, but for the sake of cricket and preserving the ancient culture ICC and BCCI should take this action and stop IPL from further destruction. International players have earned fame and popularity by playing for their national team not by the ‘PL. IPL is playing with fans emotion by encouraging players to play in their team and the downside of this is hat those players are taking retirement from other format of the cricket due to too much cricket matches.

Black American Studies Final Essays

Black American Studies Final Essays Black American Studies Final Essays African American music is a large recognized and acknowledged attribute to world culture by being created from unity from enslavement, and creativity. There are several different types of music genres that are under the umbrella term African American music. These types include blues, jazz, spirituals and gospel. They reflect the attitudes and concerns of both the performers and their culture at a specific time and place in history. Eddie Meadows explains that Ethnomusicologists espouse the generally accepted view that music is more fully explained and understood relative to the culture of which it is an outgrowth, without understanding the cultural significance of the event in which music is performed by analyzing the music alone. In history the people who study the evolution of music are called historical musicologists. When historical musicologists Nketia described music as : The aggregate of cultural traditions associated with music which becomes evident at the juncture of the social and the musical traditions that are learned in the social process or in special learning situations. Traditions that are cultivated, practiced, and recreated by members of a society in the different roles they assume as music makers, instrument makers, and audiences in different contexts of the situation. She also adds that s musical culture maintains distinct identity not only through the musical but also the social sphere of culture, for the socio-musical juncture admits only forms of behavior, status and structural relationships, expressions and roles which are idiomatic to it. When culture varies so does the music. African retentions in blues and jazz play a significant part in African American music. African retentions in African American musical genres vary in depth, transformation, and reinterpretation, depending upon the traceable contact between cultures. Jazz is a very broad genre. Jazz originated in African American community where it is defined as a genre that incorporates improvising, swing, phrasing, and articulation into one individual performance. Throughout the history of jazz it has dominated the culture of African Americans. In the 1950s the male was the dominant one in the musical aspect that wasn’t focused on vocals, which the women usually did. In jazz music you have certain roles of the instruments. The two roles are five man group and seven man group. Five man groups consisted of the cornet, clarinet, trombone, sousaphone/tuba, and drums. The cornet played the melody, was allowed to decorate the melody but not the extent that one could not recognize the melody. The cl arinet had three roles; played obbligato parts to complement the melody, play the harmony above the melody, and to double the medley on occasion. The Trombone is to outline the most important notes in the cord played. Sousaphone also known as the tuba is to play the background, tow

The Mystery of North Americas Black Wolves

The Mystery of North America's Black Wolves Despite their name, gray wolves (Canis lupus) are not always just gray. These canids  can also have black or white coats; the ones with black coats are referred to, logically enough, as black wolves. The frequencies of the various coat shades and colors prevailing within  a wolf population often vary with habitat. For example, wolf packs that live in open tundra  consist mostly of  light-colored individuals; the pale coats of these wolves allow them to blend in with their surroundings and conceal themselves when pursuing caribou, their primary prey. On the other hand, wolf packs living in boreal forests contain higher proportions of dark-colored individuals, as their murky habitat enables darker-colored individuals to blend in. Of all the color variations in Canis lupus, the black individuals are the most intriguing. Black wolves are so colored because of a genetic mutation in their K locus gene. This mutation causes a condition known as melanism, an increased presence of dark pigmentation which causes an individual to be colored black (or nearly black). Black wolves are also intriguing because of their distribution; there are significantly more black wolves in North America than there are in Europe.   To better understand the genetic underpinnings of black wolves, a team of scientists from Stanford University, UCLA, Sweden, Canada, and Italy recently assembled under the leadership of Stanfords Dr. Gregory Barsh; this group analyzed the DNA sequences of 150 wolves (about half of which were black) from Yellowstone National Park. They wound up piecing together a surprising genetic story, stretching back tens of thousands of years to a time when early humans were breeding domestic canines in favor of darker varieties. It turns out that the presence of black individuals in Yellowstones wolf packs is the result of deep historical mating between black domestic dogs and gray wolves. In the distant past, humans bred dogs in favor of darker, melanistic individuals, thus increasing the abundance of melanism in domestic dog populations. When domestic dogs interbred with wild wolves, they helped to bolster melanism in wolf populations as well. Unraveling the deep genetic past of any animal is a tricky business. Molecular analysis provides scientists with a way to estimate when genetic shifts could have occurred in the past, but its usually impossible to attach a firm date to such events. Based on genetic analysis, Dr. Barshs team estimated that the melanism mutation in canids arose sometime between 13,000 and 120,00 years ago (with the most likely date being about 47,000 years ago). Since dogs were domesticated around 40,000 years ago, this evidence fails to confirm whether the melanism mutation arose first in wolves or domestic dogs. But the story does not end there. Because melanism is far more prevalent in North American wolf populations than it is in European wolf populations, this  suggests that the cross between domestic dogs populations (rich in melanistic forms) likely occurred in North America. Using the data collected, study co-author Dr. Robert Wayne has dated the presence of domestic dogs in Alaska to about 14,000 years ago. He and his colleagues are now investigating ancient dog remains from that time and location to determine whether (and to what degree) melanism was present in those ancient domestic dogs. Edited on February 7, 2017, by Bob Strauss