Chapters 1 and 2 Amusing Ourselves to Death by Neil...

Summary Essay of Amusing Ourselves to Death This is a breakdown of Neil Postmans Amusing ourselves to death(1985), which must be written to explain the effects that high volume of emails, text messages, video games, and internet television has on the human race and the way we think. In the first chapter of the book The Medium is the Metaphor Postman (1985) begins his argument that he presents through out the book. Postman (1985) explains how knowledge is no longer gained from print, but from visual. This change is dramatic and irreversibly and the two print and visual can not accommodate one another. In chapter 2 Postman (1985) lays out a plan for the book. Postman (1985) rants and raves about how television is evil and has†¦show more content†¦Backing up his attestations, he gives several examples. Native Americans communicating long distances using smoke signals, they could likely not have had philosophical communication. The limitations of the form affect what can be realistically communicated. As another example President Taft was a fat man, one who would more than likely not be elected today because of his appearance. However, in a world without television he would be elected due to his intelligence and political arguments which held more clout than appearance. Postmans (1985) most important example the news of the day could not exist without proper media to give it expression (p.7). Even though corruption has always occurred amongst the human race, it was not as bearing on a persons everyday life until media made it possible for them to be communicated at a faster pace. In this chapter Postman explains how we have turned from the Age of Typography to the Age of Television and how the young require all communication to be in the form of entertainment (p.8). He implies that our form of speaking works through media-metaphors which do not tell us what the world is like, but instead tells us what it is like without telling us anything. They limit and regulate what the world must be (p.10). Postman (1985) then speaks about the clock and how it serves as a metaphor for the way we look at the world, moments turning into other moments. The clock serves as a conversation man hasShow MoreRelatedNewspaper And Other Traditional Sources Of Journalism1379 Words   |  6 Pagesused for social networking), as well as news sources that can be accessed on the Internet. Before the internet was popular Neil Postman said â€Å"Most of our daily news is inert, consisting of information that gives us something to talk about but cannot lead to any meaningful action.† (Neil postman, amusing ourselves to death: Public Discourse in the Age of show business.) Neil wanted people to know that nowadays to get information is no big issues, information in this world is second difference withRead MoreRupert Murdoch ¬Ã‚ ¥S Media Monopoly5481 Words   |  22 Pagesmany power is concentrated in just a few hands, and how our perception of reality can be manipulated by the selection and manipulation of information presented on TV. Table of Contents Introduction Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…..Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â… p. 3 1. The development of television Â…Â…Â….. p. 4 2. Globalisation of the TV market and its effects Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…. p. 5 3. How legislation can influence the quality of journalism Â…Â…Â…Â…Â….. p. 6 4. How television can be abusedÂ…Â….Â…Â…p. 8 5. Rupert Murdoch ´s media monopoly Read More Public Opinion and Television Essay5264 Words   |  22 PagesOutlining the success story of this important means of mass media at the beginning of the first chapter, I will then explain the effects of globalisation on the TV market. Considering the example of commercialised American television, I will demonstrate in which ways the extreme competition between TV companies and their struggle for the top ratings has influenced the quality of TV programs. In the second chapter I will deal with media control and show how television can be abused by political powersRead MoreInnovators Dna84615 Words   |  339 PagesW P R E S S BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 100092 00 i-vi r1 rr.qxp 5/13/11 6:52 PM Page iv Copyright 2011 Jeff Dyer, Hal Gregersen, and Clayton M. Christensen All rights reserved Printed in the United States of America 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise), without the prior permission of the publisher

The Presentation of Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman by...

The Presentation of Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller Willy Loman is presented as both a tragic hero and an unconscious victim in Death of a Salesman. Death of a Salesman is very much based upon the American Dream, and whether we are slaves or conquerors of this dream. This is an idea that the playwright Arthur Miller has very passionately pursued both through Willys own eyes, and through his interaction with the different characters in the play. Firstly, the definitions of a hero and a victim very much influence the way that Willy is viewed by the audience. Miller has not used the play to suggest that Willy Loman is an ordinary hero, but more a tragic hero. A tragic hero,†¦show more content†¦On the contrary, we are not immediately introduced to this delusional, flaky character. At the beginning of scene one, we see the more assertive side of Willy as he discusses business possibilities with his wife Willy. Miller balances out the audiences perception of Willy towards the end of the act where the more vulnerable side of Willy is illustrated, with the use of his behaviour and the response of others to his attitude. An example of this would be Linda diligently agreeing with Willys strange statements. One of Willys traits which qualify him as a hero is his eternal sacrifice, and the way that he throws everything into the balance in order to secure his rightful place in society, and to live the American Dream. These sacrifices are perfectly illustrated by the long distance that Willy travels in order to sell his stock. At the start of the play, Linda comments on his driving up to New England to which Willy responds: Im the New England man. Im vital in New England. Miller makes clever use of the language here, in order to present quite a heroic view ofShow MoreRelatedDeath of a Salesman - Materialism Alienation1696 Words   |  7 PagesModern Tragedies deal with modern issues such as materialism, consumerism, procrastination and alienation. To what extent does Death of a Salesman show evidence of at least two of these issues, and how does Miller present them? Arthur Miller’s ‘Death of a Salesman’ is a modern tragedy; one that incorporates both the tragic genre presented in theatres for centuries as well as essences of the modern world we live in. Materialism is a modern phenomenon, something which possibly began due to the AmericanRead MorePoem : The American Dream1037 Words   |  5 Pagesoutcome. In the play Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller, Willy Loman believes that if a person has the right personality and is well liked, it is easy to achieve success rather than hard work and innovation. Willy sees only the superficial qualities of the American dream. He views success solely as likeability, linked with attractiveness, and wealth. Personal magnetism, making an impression, having contacts, being well liked made up the â€Å"secret† of success to Loman. Willy ignored all the methodsRead MoreAnalysis Of The Appearance Theme By T. S. Eliot, Tennessee Williams, And Arthur Miller2539 Words   |  11 PagesSydney DeBerry Motlow English 2130 Mrs. Lockhart 20 November 2014 An Analysis of the Appearance Theme in Three Works by T. S. Eliot, Tennessee Williams, and Arthur Miller â€Å"Once you allow yourself to identify with the people in a story, then you might begin to see yourself in that story even if on the surface it s far removed from your situation. This is what I try to tell my students: this is one great thing that literature can do -- it can make us identify with situations and people far away.Read MoreDeath Of A Salesman And The Novel Of America2331 Words   |  10 PagesThroughout the play Death of a Salesman and the novella Of Mice and Men, both Miller and Steinbeck make very clear what each of their characters’ hopes, aspirations and dreams are in life. By doing so, both writers are able to shed light on their own critical views of the â€Å"American Dream†. The term â€Å"American Dream† was coined by the American historian J.T. Adams in his book â€Å"The Epic of America†, published in 1931, at the time of the Great Depression in the USA. He used the term to try and encapsulate

The Messenger †the Joker Free Essays

JASON S. It’s almost like an essay. I swear this was not intentional (might have been out of habit). We will write a custom essay sample on The Messenger – the Joker or any similar topic only for you Order Now On a side note I learned everything I know about the Major Arcana from a game I played two years ago. This is addressing both the actual ‘Joker’ and the events of the book. JOKER THE FOOL ‘What’s in it for Ed Kennedy? ’(p 222) It’s not hard to see that the Joker is the most unique of a full set of playing cards. The Aces all had their own meanings but the Joker is much more symbolic and ambiguous in meaning. Born from the concept of a ‘wild card’ that could beat even the highest values of deck, the Joker originated from a tarot card of the Major Arcana. This card is known as the Fool (or the Jester). The Major Arcana consists of 22 trump cards used by fortune tellers to tell your fortune. Though all other cards in the Arcana are numbered from 1-21, the Fool never took on its own number. This is similar to how the Joker is not shown to belong to any suit. Later editions of the Fool shows it with the number 0 or 22; the beginning and the end, the first and the last. This may be representative of Ed’s initial incompetence, and his self-improvement as the story went on and his messages were delivered. The true worth of the Joker only arises in the event of challenge. Ed’s journey only consists of challenge after challenge. The true meaning of the Joker is summed up in a single quote near the end of the book. If a guy like you can stand up and do what you did, then maybe everyone can. Maybe everyone can live beyond what they’re capable of. † (p 382) The Joker and the Fool are symbolic of having infinite possibilities. Throughout the text this is in the form of Ed’s personal growth. Ultimately, Ed realizes that this entire time he wasn’t just fixing other people’s lives and helping them. The only person who needed help was him. â€Å"I’m not the messenger at all. I’m the messag e. † (p 386) How to cite The Messenger – the Joker, Essay examples

Job Satisfaction in the Workplace free essay sample

Brent Meyers stated, as employees demand increases in salary, the cost of producing goods or services also increases. With the unemployment rate where it is today and was, company owners can remain stagnant with his/her current work force as it pertains to wage increases. I believe employees understand that finding employment in this economy can be daunting, and business owners are educated to these thoughts. Another element that plays into job satisfaction is management strategies and personal interaction between managers and company personnel. I recently read an article about new managers and ten mistakes he/she may make. Management: Top 10 New Manager Mistakes. In this article, John F. Reh points out ten critical mistakes new manager make. I believe he is spot on due to shifts in management personnel here at Nypro, my current employer. The first mistake on Johns list is thinking he/she knows everything. Most managers I have come across micromanage his/her team due to lack of trust and believing his/her knowledge is far superior to those working under them. This in turn leaves little room for a team to develop because lack of communication is there between parties. The second leading mistake new managers make is showing everyone whos in charge. With the shift in new management personnel, Im sure everyone knows who the new boss is. Pushing ones weight around, and showing your egos true colors will only lead to resentment and failure to cooperate. This in-turn leads to employee dissatisfaction and most likely, a lack in quality produced products. Third on this list is change everything. Trying to re-invent the wheel will most likely lead to the discomfort of employees. Most people find it hard to change with the times. Most feel comfortable by staying with routine and what he/she knows. Moving individuals out of his/her comfort zone can have a negative impact on performance. With that said though, sometimes change is necessary, considering that our economic system is financially unstable, which in turn is effecting the way companies are doing business in this globalized business world. This list does continues on with negatives that impact job satisfaction, but I would also like to take the time to point out the positive influences managers can have as well. Bauer, T. , amp; Erdogan, B. Organizational Behavior. chapter 12. Throughout this course we have learned the behaviors of individuals in the work place, motivation, stress, communication, etc. Chapter 12, Leading People Within Organizations was an eye opener for me. Some of the most fundamental aspects of managing a team or company has been forgot in my eyes by most managers in this current job market. I believe today, employees are missing the People orientated leaders. By definition, People Orientated Leaders are those that show concern for employee feelings and treating employees with respect and consideration. Bauer amp; Erdogan pg. 290. ) Managers of today in my mind follow Theory X which states employees are lazy, do not enjoy working, and will avoid expending energy on work whenever possible. ( Bauer amp; Erdogan pg. 291. ) I clearly stated earlier that companies are struggling to return to a high standing in profitability due to a failing economy. By saying this, managers need to find ways to justify c uts and spending within an organization. So how do they go about making such cut? By having an assertive attitude and pointing the finger at employees. I dont believe theory X is completely wrong, some workers in our companies are indeed lazy and do not want to expend energy on task provided, but I think if the managers of today were just as concerned with his/her workforce by being Open, Conscientious, Sociable, and Agreeable, as he/she is about profits and the stakeholders, the organizational environment may have a more fruitful existence along with a boost in productivity. [Bauer, T. , amp; Erdogan pg. 286. ] Lisa M. Saari amp; Timothy a. Judge Case study Employee Attitudes And Job Satisfaction. s an analysis of three major gaps between HR practice and scientific research in the area of employee attitudes in general and the most focal employee attitude in particular- job satisfaction: 1) the cause of employee attitudes, 2) the result of positive or negative job satisfaction, and 3) how to measure and influence employee attitudes. [Saari amp; Judge] Gap-1 The Cause of Employee Attitudes The first gap focuses on employee persona lities, cultural influences, and work situation influences. A study on dispositional influences found that childhood temperament was statistically related to adult job satisfaction up to 40 years later. (Staw, Bell, amp; Clausen, 1986) Further studies have shown that job satisfaction stems from a individuals disposition or temperament. (Shane, amp; Herald, 1996) Despite the findings of these individuals Erez states that one of the limitations in this literature is that it is not yet informative as to how exactly dispositions affect job satisfaction. Erez, 1994) The researchers do say there is a correlation between job satisfaction, but know that organizations cannot directly impact employee personalities. So companies take different measures by placing employee into jobs that best suit him/her, and in-turn, improve employee attitudes. Cultural influences is another hot topic in this globalized job market. With the United States being the melting pot of the world, cross cultural workforces are inevitable. A study performed by Hofstede stated that there are four cross-cultural dimensions, (1) Individualism- collectivism; (2) uncertainty avoidance versus risk taking; (3) Power distance; (4) masculinity/femininity. (Hofstede, 1980) The importance of HR to understand these four cross-cultural factors is detrimental to the adjustment of different cultural attitudes within an organization. [Hofstede] The last portions of gap-1 is Work Situation Influence. This to me is one if not the most important factor of job satisfaction, is the nature of the work itself satisfying. Also, these surveys provide data that a company can use to pinpoint problem areas within the organization. Nypro uses such surveys via internet to determine employee job satisfaction, would you recommend a relative or friend to work at Nypro, and are you satisfied with the work provided, question like that. This case study concludes its research with the view that more in-depth study is needed to measure the impact that employee attitudes have on an organization. Furthermore, this research will dive deeper into the understanding of relationships between employee attitudes and business performance. This in-turn will Assist HR professionals as they strive to enhance the essential people side of the business in a highly competitive, global arena. Lisa M. [Saari amp; Timothy a. Judge] I believe this case study pointed out some very strong facts that dictate a positive or negative attitude as it pertains to job satisfaction. Although the work performed was a focal point for this research and how it plays into a fruitful work environment. Managers attitude, friendship in the workplace, and economic stability, should have been focal points too of their research. I believe these three key factors play just as much a role in job satisfaction and employee attitudes as any other facet of a work environment. Understanding not just the employee and his/her personality, but the scope of the work environment, and management personnel that govern action among employees, will surely improve employee performance, attitude, and overall wellbeing of a companys workforce. In conclusion, I chose this topic out of the many provided because job satisfaction in the work place has become a sore subject to discuss among co-workers in recent years. Since I have been in the manufacturing industry, I have heard talk of the business not being what it used to be. Employees are dissatisfied with the way companies in the manufacturing sector of business treat their employees. People dont feel a sense of job security, are overworked, understaffed, and underpaid. In this declining economy, companies that once saw rising profits, now find themselves making cut anywhere they can. This of course will impact the companys workforce itself. My degree pertains to management, and although there is areas of the business that are hard to control at the time, price of natural resources, conomic stability of the firm, competitors prices, and wages for employees, does not mean that managers have to forget fundamental areas he/she can control, company functions for staff members, personal interaction with the workforce, and letters or emails of praise to employees. I understand the financial collapse of the economy in 2008-2009 hurt a lot of firms, and those firms are still recovering from unethical acts performed by banks, wall street, and government personnel, but lets not forget that the way we treat our employees has a huge impact on, production, employee morals, customer satisfaction, and the firm itself. I hope to one day be in a management position so that I can make a difference in employees lives as it pertains to his/her work environment. I want to lend an ear, be open, be passive and assertive to get task done, and most importantly, understand that the backbone of the organization lies within a happy and productive employee. During my journey through this course, Organizational Behavior, I have learned the importance of understanding people from the standpoint of work ethic, cultural differences, and how different personalities play into how a organization blends its population and functions as a team. Although the book covers managing and leading people within organizations, proper decision making skills, and the political aspect of power within companies. I believe an effective manager that is trying to create job satisfaction for his/her workforce needs personal people skill, and an understanding of cultural differences. I believe these fundamental characteristics, especially people skill, are sorely lacking in todays job market of managers. The main focus of most managers today seems to lie with the financial wellbeing of the company rather than having a balance between finances and employee welfare. This course has taught me how to interact with people on a professional level. Sure, I may not get along with everyone and may not have all the answers when I am a manager, but treating everyone with dignity and respect far outweighs ones ability to make the bottom line look good. Besides, without a mentally healthy workforce, profits and success could be far out