Modified Food Essay

The fact of the matter remains, there is potential for an amazing breakthrough in modifying the genetic components of our foods. If such a breakthrough were to come about, it could lead to a promising future of provisions for people who may not currently receive the benefits of a direct agricultural provider. There are current efforts to achieve insect, herbicide, and disease resistant crops of which could grow faster and in less fertile regions. In addition, these crop varieties could also pack in extra nutrients, take longer to ripen (extending their shelf life), and even contain essential vaccines for specific regions of the Earth. These predicted ‘super-crops’ could potentially put a large dent in the world issues of starvation, malnutrition, and disease. Obviously the future prospects of genetically modified foods are very exciting, and should continue to be explored. In my opinion, the money spent now researching and applying genetic theory could bring these possibilities to fruition and ultimately make a much larger impact then would allocating that money elsewhere. All things considered, there will always be the unknown and uncertain; in this case that remains the extension of genetically modified food use over time. Lab rat testing has warranted varying results of cancer and sickness on a minuscule level. Looking at this, we can surmise that the possibility of repercussions stemming from a continual and consistent diet of food that has been genetically tinkered with remains small. With this in mind, I would venture to guess that if we continued with the current implementation of genetically modified food into society, as well as the continual research into their future possibilities, it will end up benefiting us far beyond the influence of these negative implications. I agree that GE foods are not a direct solution to world hunger, malnutrition, and starvation; and I agree that alternative solutions should continue to be explored. Therefore, I entirely support the further investigation of genetically modified foods with the hope that it will not only lighten these societal burdens but potentially put a large dent in them. Anything will help at this point, considering how well the current system of resource distribution is working. All in all, with the prospects of what could be a fruitful future coming from genetically engineering and modifying our food, I’m all for it. BMJ 1999;318:581-584 ( 27 February ), Clinical review, Science, medicine, and the future, Genetically modified foods, Editorial by Dixon: (http://www. bmj. com/cgi/content/full/318/7183/581). Wikipedia! (of course†¦): (http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Genetically_modified_food) GM Food, Controversies Surrounding the Risks and Benefits of Genetically Modified Food: (http://scope. educ. washington. edu/gmfood/).

Hualapai Language Revitalization and Literacy

Conner Kolter Hualapai Language Revitalization and Literacy The Hualapai Indians, like many other indigenous societies, have faced the continuing threat of losing their culture. For this particular society, through perseverance, hard work and a helping hand from many people outside the Native American community, the Hualapai’s have been able to provide a writing system for their endangered language. This step has proven to be crucial in keeping the language and has also become an example for other Native American tribes who worry about their mother language becoming extinct.This success story has become a symbol that not all is lost if effort is put into something that is deeply cared about. A culture and society’s language is one of, if not the most, important aspects to what makes them different from everyone else. Without that attribute, the people that belong to that language can feel lost and lose a sense of who they are. In the Hualapai culture, members who were i n school in the 1930’s were forced to attend an English-only speaking school where the Hualapai language would be physically beaten out of them.Those children, who are now the grandparents of the present children of the small tribe, stress the importance of learning their native language considering how large a presence English has around them. With the new writing system, the members of the Hualapai tribe can keep their language and have it passed down from generation to generation. Learning more than one linguistic system is a challenge and when teaching the mother language at home is its only exposure, it becomes harder to develop those multilingual skills.With the difficulties that come with learning two languages, some children give up learning one, usually the native tongue and with advancing languages such as English in the business and political world, children might not even learn their cultural language at home. Just as quickly as these dominant languages have been growing, indigenous tongues have been disappearing. A major portion of why native languages become extinct is because of schools. A majority of schools are taught only in English but it doesn’t end there.Parents at home may not want to teach their children to speak the native tongue because of the fear that they will be behind everyone else and not have an equal opportunity to become successful in the outside world because of a language barrier (Lavenda and Schultz 2013, 49-50). This is exactly the case with the Hualapai Indians. In a day where you must be fluent in English, parents have realized that the sacrifice of not choosing to teach their language would be worth it, if their children got a full education out of it. In this case however, the Hualapai’s had unconditional support from the outside community.In the public schools, now that there was a written language for these Native Americans, people fought for classrooms to be bilingual. Without the invention of t he written form of this language, this innovative idea would not have been possible. The Hualapai language underwent language revitalization; â€Å"creating grammars, dictionaries and archival and educational materials designed to teach and preserve these languages for the future† (Lavenda and Schultz 2013, 50). This creation is extremely important to their society because is a new way for the Hualapai’s to express their language and allows them to expand and solidify their cultural too.The writing system for this language was a new concept to everyone, even to the speakers themselves. Because it is something that has to be learned socially, it has become a part of their culture now. Now that they are able to write their spoken language, they are better suited to adapt to the changing world. They can carry on learning in English, but now they can also enjoy learning about their culture while adding on to it without the stress of falling behind in the outside world (cla ss notes, September 7, 2012).There are many advantages that are to be considered now that the Hualapai language has caught up with other languages in the sense of how they can be expressed. Because, the public high school where the teenage Hualapai Indians attend now teach courses in both languages, members from the tribe are coming forward asking to have their skills taught to the students so that the information they know can be passed down. This is a gain for both the natives and for community members outside the tribe.For example, a daughter of a medicine man came to the school wanting to teach about the different plants that can be used for medical uses. This is a perfect instance where cultural borrowing is taking place. A natural tendency that occurs when two or more cultures come in contact with each other and borrow ideas and practices is known as acculturation (Lavenda and Schultz 2012, 185). This process is not a bad habit either. Each culture doesn’t just take the ideas and practices as they are but change them and incorporate them into their own culture so that there is meaning and importance behind them.For the Palm Springs, Arizona community learning about the Hualapai practices of ethnobotany expands their awareness of the tribe and is also helpful for learning new ways to treat suffering. Due to this new writing system brought forth for the Hualapai Indians, many opportunities came into the light for them. Incorporating a writing system allowed the tribe to keep their language alive and thriving. Now that their language is being taught and freely spoken outside the reservation, members don’t have to worry about children not gaining their place in the world for the fear of falling behind if they only spoke their native tongue.Most of the tribe members are becoming more in touch with their heritage and new culture now that there is a writing system that needs to be learned. It has given the small population pride of who they are an d they are able to further their history by means of writing down their cultural traditions, practices, vocabulary. Because there is a physical form of their language, the Hualapai Indians can keep their language and pass it down to the next generations. They can inform others about who they are, what they believe.They have finally made a place in the world for themselves because of the radical progress they made for themselves and hopefully can make the same positive change for other indigenous tribes on the brink of losing their language and culture. Bibliography Martin del Campo, Edgar. â€Å"Defining â€Å"Culture†. † Class lecture, Core Concepts in Anthropology from University of New Hampshire, Durham, September 7, 2012. Lavenda, Robert H.. , and Emily Ann Schultz. Core concepts in cultural anthropology. 5th ed. Mountain View, Calif. : Mayfield, 2013.

The Third and Final Continent Essay

Joel Wilson Wilson1 Ms. Lewis English 112 (3) 17 October 2012 Critical Response Throughout â€Å"The Third and final continent† by Jhumpa Lahiri, arranged marriage can be the best thing that can happen to some people, but sometimes in another case it might not be the best idea, in the â€Å"The third and final continent, the arranged marriage was a good idea because at the end they fall in love with each other and make a good family after all.The man might not be thinking about getting married because he will be preoccupied by other thing like getting a job or taking of he’s mother and maybe little brothers. â€Å"It was a duty expected of me† (Lahiri, P. 181) He did what he’s family wanted him to do, or maybe the woman’s family might be concern about the daughter getting married, â€Å" †¦Had begun to fear that she would never marry†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Lahiri, P. 181) The narrator did what he’s family’s wanted him to do, not only be cause it’s a family duty, but the wife’s family has begun to worry about her getting married.Arranged marriage can make a happy family just as normal marriages, the narrator and he’s wife live a happy life after getting adapter to each other’s presence. The arranged marriage in â€Å"The third and final continent† was a successful, they even â€Å"†¦ had a son who attend Harvard University† (Lahiri, P. 197) arranged marriages are not the worst thing that can happen it just need to people to love each other and get adapter to the new situation.

Marketing Ying Yang iPhone Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Marketing Ying Yang iPhone - Essay Example Hence, it has a wider market target. This paper will seek to market the Ying Yang iPhone to small business and other target segments. In doing this it will address itself to the listed market aspects as well as the Ying Yang iPhone SWOT analysis. The Ying Yang iPhone will considerably, but not exclusively, target small businesspersons and consumers who want to communicate and get entertained at the same time. Currently the market for this phone is relatively small because it is new in the market and is not available in all countries. The high cost of the phone is also another limiting factor to the market penetration of this classy phone. However, its strengths and opportunities coupled with a good market plan will ensure that this product penetrates the market. The Ying Yang iPhone target segments will consist of small entrepreneurs, medical users, professionals, students, and other probable users. However, as technology advances and competition rises from other smart phones, there is need to increase demand and expand the target segments. To achieve this we will seek to differentiate the Ying Yang iPhone from other PDA’s on the market as well as collaborating with large cell phone service providers and large enterprise software firms (Maxwell et al Web). This will effectively reduce the costs in marketing and increase sales turnover. This will ensure that the phone is available in the market for corporations, entrepreneurs, and small business owners. By differentiating the product from other possible competitors, we will position and promote the Ying Yang iPhone as a value-added and more convenient product for both personal and business use (Maxwell et al Web). In addition, we will package the phone in a beautiful pack for advertisement purposes. A full year warranty on the product will be given to attract more customers. We will use the iPhone business brand name for businesspeople in marketing Ying Yang iPhone (Maxwell et al Web). We will also divers ify the product into different levels of affordability and for special seasons. This will ensure that a wide range of Ying Yang iPhones is available and affordable. It will also serve the purpose of product-person attraction hence increasing sales. Regarding the pricing of the product, we will consider introducing the cheaper less advanced and the expensive more advanced Ying yang iPhone to accommodate the purchasing power of all consumers. However, in due time, we may consider lowering the price to quickly establish a market dominance that lacks now. In distributing the product, clear logistics are very important. We will focus on rollouts worldwide at all reputable retailers online and cellular phone providers. This will make sure that the product is available with all phone providers and online marketers. We will collaborate with major electronics retailers and Apple to provide product demonstrations in an eye-catching manner. We will additionally put a good number of products on display to lure customers. Consequently we will use the social media, E-mail marketing, Application updates, blog reviews, joining newsgroups and online forums to advertise the product (Maxwell et al Web). This is sure way of marketing the product to our online friends who will in turn market it to their friend, hence creating a marketing network that will promote the product sales. Press release on major

Art and Architecture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Art and Architecture - Essay Example The whole cathedral together with its supplementary buildings occupies a whole block. The outside of the church is decorated with white marble making it to have a shiny and beautiful surface. The parish is about four hundred feet in length and its width is approximately more than seventy feet wide. Standing at the entrance of the cathedral are two spires decorated in gothic curved architecture. At the center of the two spires is the cathedral entrance. On the western vestibule, towers and a gallery above it border the cathedral. The vaulting of the main roof is made of brick. The cathedral takes the form of gothic revival architecture, with important parts taking forms of medieval French gothic and British gothic architecture. Some of the most important features of the architect are the facades, the spires and the windows when viewed from the exterior. The spires provide proportionality in the architecture. The entrance of the cathedral is between the two spires that are a bit taller than the roofing at about 330 feet high. This provides balance and harmonizes proportionality in the architecture, making it an admirable aspect as a piece of art. The use of stained windows is a functional to provide the serene atmosphere inside the cathedral for the purposes of peace during prayer. The stained windows mimic other gothic designs that were common in Europe (Janaro & Altusher, 2009, Ch. 5). The inside of the cathedral is made with perfect proportional arrangement. The nave of the cathedral attains the balance that most cathedrals do through proportional arrangement of the rows where worshippers sit. Light is spread throughout the church through the highly placed windows that ensure there is enough light during the day. However, during the night, three chalices that hang perfectly through the center of the nave provide enough illumination. The curved faà §ade of the church at the exterior provides ample decorations of the cathedral while

Critical Thinking Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Critical Thinking - Assignment Example There are also some disadvantages to relying solely on this method for research. Certain databases specialize in only certain disciplines. ERIC, for example, might not have some relevant research articles about a given topic in one area that another database might have. As a consequence, the researcher will need to locate several different databases in an effort to ensure they are getting the most quality and accurate research available (Ashford University Library, 2013). In addition, relying solely on computer databases negates being able to find some sources that might not be digitized yet. There is still value in printed work, so rely exclusively on the computer might be counterproductive in some cases. When locating sources, it is often important to not rely solely on information contained in the abstracts. In such cases, it is wise to go back to the original source as referenced in the article. This is due largely to the idea that abstracts often contain the author’s poin t of view, or opinion, about what they have researched. This is great, as that the basis behind primary and peer-reviewed sources, yet they may not be interpreting the original source the same way another person would. ... Some examples of secondary sources include diaries, interview, pamphlets, and personal narratives. While these are not necessarily considered scholarly sources, they do give the researcher a deeper and more informed perspective of the topic being studied. In addition, such secondary sources can lead to a primary source. In essence, secondary sources can be seen as a springboard to the project. They guide the researcher and can se him or her on the correct path in terms of looking for reliable information that can greatly assist in the note-taking process. A major limitation of secondary sources is that they can be full of bias. It is often to discern fact from opinion when examining such sources, as the author does not always support the findings contained in the report. In addition, some secondary sources are merely one person’s account of certain events, and they might not take into consideration an opposing viewpoint (Mertler and Charles, 2011). The majority of research inf ormation will likely come from a primary source. Such references are studies or works that were actually completed during the time period under study. These can include replicated research projects, or entirely new studies, designed to expound on earlier research. The key component to a primary source is that that writing contained in the material is new information and draws conclusion not previously published. These can include diaries that are first-hand eyewitness accounts of certain events, historical documents, and journal articles that point out new research or findings (Salilnas, Bellows, and Liaw, 2011, p. 185). Technology has certainly made our lives easier in many respects, and this includes the research process. It

RFID in Business Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

RFID in Business - Research Paper Example This research paper seeks to investigate and explore RFID and its application in business field. The first section of the essay seeks to illustrate and describe RFID. This will be helpful in presenting constructive and significant insight for the reader regarding the introduction and background of RFID. Other sections of the essay offer comprehensive review and analysis concerning the advantages of RFID technology in business field. The usage of RFID is traced back in the early twentieth century when Leon Theremin invented an espionage tool for the Soviet Union. This device was a passive secret listening device and is considered to be the forerunner of RFID technology (Landt, 8). The roots of radio frequency identification technology can be tracked back to World War II where the usage of radar was common in order to warn of forthcoming planes. An IFF transponder was developed in Britain which also utilized RFID technology in order to identify unidentified aircrafts. Advancements in radar and RD communication systems persisted throughout the 1950s and 1960s. Mario W. Cardullo claims to be the first person who had received a patent for RFID tag with rewritable memory in 1973. In the same year, Charles Walton obtained a patent for a passive transponder which was used to open a door without using a key (Landt, 9). Los Alamos National Laboratory had also worked on RFID systems in the 1970s. A group of scientists has developed RFID transponder embedded in a truck which was used to identify the driver. This system gained popularity in the 1980s and was installed in entire transportation network. Los Alamos also introduced the passive RFID tags to track cows. IBM engineers had developed RFID system in 1990s and had sold its patents to Intermec which has applied it in several different applications ranging from warehouse tracking to farming. The concept of low cost RFID tags on all products was experimented in late

MOD 5 Discussion Determining Which Agency Should Command an ICS Post Essay

MOD 5 Discussion Determining Which Agency Should Command an ICS Post - Essay Example The infectious disease and chemical contamination are both hazardous to public health and require emergency response based on specialized tactics and strategic planning so that they do not threaten public safety or danger to public property. The ICS personal are specially trained for such events and therefore they should take over the command of the situation once the public announcement is made on the issue. Non-medical personnel/ managers often have make important decisions during a bio-terrorist attack because it involves integrated disaster response which also makes it necessary for them to develop quick networked solution that also includes close coordination of other agencies and volunteers to tackle the situation. Medical professionals are focused on the diseases and its impact on people but lack the managerial leadership to develop a networked approach that would expedite the process of early evacuation and treatment of victims/ patients (Ness, 2006). Most importantly, the expertise of ICS in disaster situation fundamentally relies on their abilities to coordinate different agencies and programs into a single agency for fast and efficient response to the crisis (Greene, 2002). They also have necessary skills, techniques and tools that can be deployed quickly for rescuing victims. (words:

Traffic management, Public transport, Pedestrian and Disabled access Assignment

Traffic management, Public transport, Pedestrian and Disabled access - Assignment Example For the people without any form of disability, the gaps and loopholes that exist within the transport network can be filled by driving cars, cycling, walking or using the most appropriate mode of public transport (Rickert, 2006). For the people with disability, any gap in connectivity which may include factors such as lack of ramps, safe crossings and lack of properly designed paths may only be filled through seeking assistance from the able people so as to reach their destination (Oxley, 2002). Traffic management takes into consideration all the network users and comes up with a proper layout that can best accommodate both the people with disability and those without. Fundamentally, traffic management involves measures taken by responsible authorities to alleviate or reduce traffic congestion at all possible costs, increase safety for both traffic flow and pedestrians and utilization of other relevant mode of transport in an effective and efficient way (COST, 2013). Traffic management involves route suitability analysis to ensure excess traffic in a certain roads is diverted into less congested areas, selecting the most appropriate mode and means of transport to ensure a free flow of traffic. Pertinent aspects of traffic management should be considered in order to facilitate an effective traffic. They are the traffic information, driver monitoring with up-to-date information. The latest information is very crucial in traffic management because it gives a clear condition of roads in terms of weather patterns, maintenance, incidences on roads, situations and a possible alternative route (DFID, 2004). Many research articles have stressed the importa nce of traffic management due to its benefits. Traffic management is only possible and achievable under certain conditions. They go hand in hand with a good transportation system with good roads, operational traffic lights, well maintained roads and driver monitoring to ensure

Expatriate Failure And Cross Cultural Communication Essay Example for Free

Expatriate Failure And Cross Cultural Communication Essay It is essential for businesses that are sending expatriate overseas to take precautions to ensure the success of the expatriate in effectively reaching his/her assigned goals. Expatriate failure rate is very high amongst U.S. managers (50%, APG Class Session #13) for many reasons. The failure of an expatriate can be very costly and time consuming for the companies who employ them. The question that needs to be answered is why expatriates fail so frequently and what can MNCs do to lower this failure rate and produce effective expatriate managers. Yet, another reason that companies fail when doing business overseas is the lack of emphasis placed on communication. In all areas of the world communication is done in many different ways. In order to effectively do business in Israel we must learn and understand the diverse ways that their culture must learn and understand the diverse ways that we communicate on a business as well as a social level. If RL Furniture Company can effectively choose or train an adaptive and knowledgeable employee who understands culture and its effects on business and can accompany that along with excellent communication skills, MNCs can directly lower the failure rate amongst expatriates. Expatriates Expatriate Failure There are several reasons why our expatriate may fail in Israel. Expatriate failure can be very costly and can turn a possibly successful business venture into a disaster. The first reason for expatriate failure stems from adaptation problems with the physical and social environments. (Rodrigues pg. 264) This holds especially true when these environments are especially at odds with those of the expatriates home country. We have an advantage in sending our expat, Israelis cultural dimension similarities outweigh their differences, this will make it easier for us to understand their negotiating style before arriving. Some expatriates feel separation anxiety and isolation (culture shock) when they are working in countries with a very different social and values system than their own. (APG Class Session #13) These situations lower the expatriate morale and affect his/her ability to do their job effectively. Differences in technical sophistication also present problems with expats. (Rodrigues pg. 265) The problems lie with conflicts in expectations and when the expat views these problems as insurmountable. Conflicts in this situation also occur in when the expatriate manager tries to apply home country managerial  and organizational techniques to a culture not used to these concepts. This leads to poor implementation of strategies and goals. Expatriate managers also find that carrying out objectives and implementing home country strategies to be very difficult decisions about policies and management style. Expatriates often deal with the conflict of operating within the constraints of the local government and satisfying the home country objectives. Country conflicting policies and objectives present very serious problems with the decision making of expatriate managers. (Rodrigues pg. 265) Expatriate managers are responsible for carrying out orders and guidelines established by home corporate headquarters. The problems arise when the expatriate manager has local constraints placed on him and he/she must find ways to carry out the home country orders while operating under constrained conditions. The home country often does not realize or understand situations the expatriate manager must deal with and this can lead to very tough decisions for the expatriate. Overcentralization is also a problem that may lead to expatriate failure. (Rodrigues pg. 265) If the expatriate managers authority is visibly constrained by Israel or by local governments than his/her authority is jeopardized and he or she loses control and credibility in the eyes of the locals. Gender issues are not problems in many industrialized nations, such as the U.S., but in many nations, there are cultural biases against women, which prevent them from gaining the respect they need to effectively manage. (Rodrigues pg. 265) If a company mistakenly places a woman in charge of operations in a female biased country it can be viewed as disrespectful and show no care for the success OT the subsidiary. In many nations females have no power to make decision and women expats will find it difficult to lent credibility to the decision she makes. This is not the case in Israel they are a feminine culture similar to the U.S. Yet, another reason for expat failure is the lack of companies to consider family needs when moving family overseas to a new and unfamiliar country and culture. (Rodrigues pg. 269) It is more important for ss to prepare the expats family for their journey than it is to prepare the expatriate manager. A family can easily become unhappy and this can lead to poor job performance of the expatriate manager and high levels of stress. These high levels of stress make it difficult for managers to effectively do their job and live an enjoyable life in Israel. Communication Communications when doing business in Israel is an essential key to success. How business dealings are conveyed is very important. If translation is off or inaccurate than the success of the business venture can be seriously jeopardized. This applies not only to verbal communication, but with body language as well. (Rodrigues pg. 314) Body language in some countries is very important and the wrong body language can easily anger foreign business and steer them away from a possible business venture. In countries with language barrier companies must take measure to ensure that proper translation is used. If translation is off than it could mean that the wrong message is being conveyed. Although English is fluent in Israel, we should print our business cards in Hebrew on one side as a sign of respect for Israeli language and way of life. In countries where the same language is spoken body language becomes important. The wrong gesture could spell disaster for an expatriate manager. In order to avoid this problem companies should train and prepare a manager by training them on culture and communications and the possible and negative impact that it can have on the success of a business venture. In Israel business moves at a slower pace than in the United States. We need to build a strong relationship with our business partner before any deal can be made. Summary We can see that the success in a foreign business venture can depend heavily on expatriate preparation and communication skills. RL furniture Co. will be sending one expatriate to Israel to manage an overseas operation. We have discovered that there could be many problems that could lead to our expatriate failing and in turn out companys business venture failing too. To avoid these problems we plan to set up evaluations to determine who would  be the best expatriate manager we will send to Israel. Once we have found the right person for the job, we will set up an intensive training program that will prepare him/her to do their job as effectively as possible. In this training, we will ensure the expat understands Israeli culture and how to effectively adjust to it. In understanding the culture and by developing essential communication skills we are sure that our expatriate manager will be able to carry out company goals while effectively managing operations. Key aspects in cultural dimensions of Power Distance and Uncertainty Avoidance, established by Geert Hofstede. (Hofstede pg. 14-17) In sending an expatriate that possesses this knowledge and know how we are sure that the venture will be a success.

The Background Of Nationalism Theology Religion Essay

The Background Of Nationalism Theology Religion Essay Fr. Horacio Dela Costa, in his work The Background of Nationalism and Other Essays, made an effort to help the Filipino find strengthen his own sense of identity, questioning the shallowness of the usual Filipinos claim for national identity. He says, It is easy enough to say, I am Filipino. but then asks what saying it means when the very word itself is a foreign derivative with no exact indigenous equivalent. The truth is that, as Father Dela Costa says, we do not even have a name we can call our own. Father Dela Costas essays in this text concerns to clarify the Filipinos sense of identity and purpose as a nation.(p. vii) In this text, Father Dela Costa gave light on the responsibility of the writer in contemporary Philippine society. Here he writes about the concerns the writer must keep in mind. The writer as an artist, he says, is responsible for conveying the right memorable experience in his text. The writer must be aware of the Filipinos sense of identity. Startling, in fact, that Father Dela Costa started proving the Filipinos cultural identity by doubting it. He asks, Do we have a cultural identity? (p.83) He wonders because what is apparent is that Filipinos have cultural diversity far more pronounced than any other Asian nation. He recognizes that our neighboring Asian nations have been subjected to Western cultural influence but he observes that none of them have experienced such interpenetration as the Filipino. This is the reason why he questions the Filipino identity. The influence of the West have seemingly been so much mixed with the Filipinos own that it might, in a way, have dominated what remains to be originally Filipino. Father Dela Costa contends that Filipinos cannot just accept it as a given that the Filipino is culturally diverse, a mix of Asian and Western. He wants the Filipino to be aware of his own and claim just one, it cannot be both. So much of the culture may be influenced by the West such as the constitution and religion but Father Dela Costa contends that still, we cannot be both. We must be one or the other, Asian or Western. He says that the Filipino who accepts both might be accepting so because he subscribes to the Aristotelian concept of orderliness wherein he likes to see things fit neatly in categories. To those who accept both, the Filipino is Asian because he is geographically from Asia but also Western because of so much Western things he does culturally. However, this new category of being both might be disorderly after all. Father Dela Costa suspects a rough kind of unity here. (p.84) All in all, Father Dela Costa encourages the Filipino writer to be aware of his identity thru enlarged consciousness and refined sensibility of the present and past. This work of his aims to empower the Filipino to be aware of what he truly is and truthfully claims his culture as his own. The Rizal Bill of 1956 Horacio dela Costa was asked to draft for the Church a pastoral letter on the writings of Jose Rizal (particularly Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo) being included in the reading curriculum of students in the Philippines. It is not something many know, but he actually expressed a positive view of Rizal, hailing Rizal as builder of a nation. In draft A, he reinforced that Rizal was not someone with an unthinking love for the country, meaning that the Filipinos suffered under colonial rule but this was not the only cause of their suffering. He went on to say that Rizals books, contrary to popular belief, were in fact not looked upon unfavorably by the Catholic Church since the Church would never get in the way of the legitimate political and social aspirations of any people (Schumacher), which were expressed in Rizals novels. However, a closer inspection of the novels reveals that his writing did not lambast the Church but rather brought attention to the abuses and issues surrounding the institution such as the reality of unfaithful priests and excessive veneration of saints. Though it must be realized that these issues do not in any way render Catholic doctrine as a whole null and void. Therefore, in Dela Costas view, it can be seen that Rizal was not targeting the Catholic Church with his novels but the crimes that its members commit in order to tarnish its principles. The way of Jesuit Education entails that a person has morality closely intertwined with intellect, an integral relationship between the life of faith and the life of the mind. (Donahue 1992) This therefore implies that one may display the values of his Jesuit education by making sure that his sense of morality permeates his intellectual endeavors, that he is able to discern well with reason but also able to see goodness, to see God in all things, no matter how difficult it might seem to be. In this case, Horacio Dela Costa incorporated morality into his analysis of Rizal and his two novels by discerning Rizals motives through his writing. It would be all too easy to go with the opinion of the majority of the bishops who hired him to write the pastoral letter by just condemning the inclusion of Rizals novels in the reading curriculum of schools. However, Dela Costa wrote out a letter with a more positive view of Rizal according to what his intellect, as well as his sense of morality and goodness told him, which in turn gauged the morality that he could see in Rizal and his writings. Rizals novels tell of some negative aspects of religion, such as corruption in the character of Fr. Damaso and Salvi or even the religious complacency of Tiago, who prayed as much as a saint in the story but might not have reflected this religious sense in terms of his actions. It would have been all too easy for Dela Costa, or for anyone, for that matter, to dismiss these examples as plain criticisms of the Church, aimed at providing those who do not support the Church as an institution with the fuel to rip them apart. However, Dela Costa was able to use his keen intellect and sense of morality and goodness on Rizals writings in order to pinpoint insights that went much deeper. He was able to surmise that Rizal was not anti-Church; his writings did not reflect a negative image of Catholic doctrine, but rather revealed the abuses and crimes being committed by the members of the Church, whether these be in the higher ranks such as the priests or ordinary laymen. Dela Costa was able to recognize Rizals examples of excessive veneration of saints, malicious behavior of religious figures, and other such unholy matters as expressing a stand against how religion was presented to people during his time; how religion existed in peoples lives back then. Dela Costa was able to recognize Rizals morality and sense of goodness through his writing when others could only see bald-faced accusations and criticisms of a powerful institution. It is important to possess a realistic picture of the world, a world where suffering exists. In the world today, it would be so easy for a person to block things out if they should find something unpleasant. However, a Jesuit education, in order to let people see that there is goodness and God in everything must also groom people to accept and face the reality of a suffering world. Dela Costa would not have taken Rizals exposure of the negative aspects of the Church as he did, if he did not choose to see the world for what it is, negative aspects and all. He was also able to understand Rizals intentions to tackle suffering at its source because he was also able to take the time to discern the dirty, painful picture of reality and avoid putting blame and accusations on Rizal, who the bishops thought had a negative view of the Church itself. On Free Trade and Poverty Free trade between an industrial country and an agricultural country is to the detriment of the agricultural country à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Our negotiating position à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ cannot be other than based on our national interest à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ and at the same time, on social justice. (Trade between the unequal, lecture 30 August 1968). According to Gatdula these assertions made by Fr. De La Costa, based on recent findings by several international organizations, were deemed correct and still very much relevant in todays free trade market. His works from the past are still some of the main frameworks of todays society. On poverty this is Fr. Dela Costas perspective: We must now make our own decisions and must take the full consequences of the decisions we wrongly make, or weakly make, or cravenly fail to make. We no longer have a mother country or a colonial master to blame for our shortcomings; we only have ourselves. (Philippine Economic Development, 27 January 1966) Although not specifically directed towards the poor and impoverished, Fr. Dela Costa believes that we have full control over our lives and he wants the poor to take control to try to get themselves out of the hole they are currently in. They have to make a stand and not just blame whomever for their situation. Another insight is that this phrase was written forty years ago for it most likely was a problem back then that Fr. Dela Costa saw, truly enough this is still applicable in our lives today, especially with our Filipino culture of blaming others for the shortcomings or negative outcomes in our lives. Clearly seen in our electoral system wherein we are the ones who vote for and decide who our government officials are but when they dont perform up to par we blame them but in reality the one to blame is us, for we are the ones who voted for them. Fr. Dela Costa also asserts that for our country to gain economic development all the people must contribute, it must be a joint effort. Undoubtedly this is true but the question that he raises is that are we all willing to do this?

The Industrial Revolution Of Mass Media Media Essay

The Industrial Revolution Of Mass Media Media Essay More than half of the worlds population is under 30-years-old and only 4 of them have not joined a social network yet. It took 38 years for Radio to reach 50 million users and 13 years for TV. Facebook reported a rise of 200 million users in less than a year (Social Media Revolution, 2010). 48 hours of video will be uploaded to Youtube in the next two minutes (Youtube Fact Sheet, 2010). Media consumption takes up almost a half of an average individuals time and, although live TV remains the favourite channel in most peoples media diets, new medias popularity is growing at an incredible rate (Ofcom, 2010). One quarter of the search results for the worlds largest brands are links to user-generated content and 78 of consumers trust the online peer reviews recommendations of a product or service (Qualman, 2010). In this context, it is no longer a choice, but a necessity, for PR professionals today to consider the numerous Web 2.0 tools and technologies and redesign their communication strategies around customers social activity. In order to adapt to the current media trends, most newspapers today are developing blogs, uploading video content to their website, offer e-newsletter subscription and so on. This may indicate that the channel is not as important to the media consumer as the content is. The combination between the old media of broadcasting and newspapers and the new one, of data communications, delivered on a single device, is referred to, by most analysts, as media convergence. A recent example of old-new media convergence is represented by the merger between the US magazine Newsweek and the news and blogs website The Daily Beast into a new entity named The Newsweek Daily Beast(Media Week, 2010). In his book Convergence culture: where old and new media collide Jenkins (2006:2) uses three different concepts media convergence, participatory culture, and collective intelligence to describe the convergence culture; in other words, it is the flow of information across a myriad of media industries, the collaboration between these media and the nomadic behaviour of media consumers in search of their desired kinds of entertainment, that define the term of convergence culture. The author implies that convergence is not just a technological concept, unifying various media in a single device, but a cultural and social one, encouraging consumers to act as communities, rather than individuals. Jenkins (2006) states that convergence culture impacts both the way media is produced and the way it is consumed, highlighting the changing relationships between media producers and consumers in todays online environment, sometimes their efforts reinforcing each other, other times conflicting with each other. He shows that convergence is driven by corporations (on a top-down level) when media companies are speeding up the flow of information to increase consumer involvement and hence revenues, and also by consumers (on a bottom-up level), who are demanding more and more control over the media content, the right to take part in the creation of it and the ability to access it wherever they go (Jenkins, 2006). Internet has changed the entire PR industry: the way PR professionals view their roles, the delivery of effective communication and the way a brand interacts with its customers (Solis Breakenridge, 2009). Unlike the old, traditional media consumers, the new consumers are active, migratory between different networks or media, socially connected and noisy, and media producers who fail to respond adequately to this new culture may encounter a loss of goodwill and decrease in revenues (Jenkins, 2006). With the democratization of media, monologue becomes dialogue and people are complementing the existence of PR professionals, becoming the main influencers (Breakenridge, 2008). Breakenridge (2008) draws attention on the importance of constant and targeted research during the whole lifecycle of a brand, highlighting the multiple opportunities available in the 2.0 world. Among these, there is the ability to monitor and analyse customer behaviour and determine how well is the brand received in the market. Furthermore, businesses can keep themselves informed and up-to-date on their competitors, but also understand their main influencers, such as the media, using a wide array of research tools available on the Internet, from the free search engines to the paid service providers. The convergence of the Internet and the public relations profession into PR 2.0 opened new doors for business communicators, who can now reach their customers directly, in ways PR pros have not experienced before: through blogs, social networking, Really Simple Syndication (RSS) technology, webcasts or podcasts.

Euthanasia: The Right Choice Essay -- Argumentative Persuasive Papers

Euthanasia: The Right Choice Works Cited Missing Dr. Kevorkian is a physician in Michigan. He is a well-known physician, although to some, he is known for the wrong reasons. He is known to most for assisting in the suicide of those who ask for help in their deaths. He has assisted in the suicide of over 140 people. This essay will discuss the financial benefits of allowing physician assisted suicide and euthanasia, doctors’ opinions on euthanasia, the consequences of Dr. Kevorkian’s actions, and why assisted suicide is the right choice for terminally ill people. Euthanasia is the patients’ choice and should be made legal in the United States and Dr. Kevorkian should not be sent to prison. When someone has no value of life, is miserable and suffering, and does not want to live that way anymore, should it not be their choice to end their life? The argument has been made that no one who is in any pain or suffering, has the right to end their life because â€Å"they don’t know what they’re saying,† but is that always the case? According to Somerville, â€Å"Western societies have rejected euthanasia as a solution for over two thousand years. Why, then, are we considering legalizing it now, especially when we can do so much more than in the past to relieve suffering?† (438). Most can understand the argument Somerville is making, however, if their pain and suffering was being taken care of, what reason would they have for death? According to Zyl, â€Å"Perhaps the most frequently heard argument in favor of legalizing active voluntary euthanasia is based upon the notion of patient autonomy and the right to self-determination† (11). The author argues that people have the right to make their own decisions and are capable of maki... ...port because they are a vegetable and can not do anything to live another day, is different. Physicians can not be allowed to kill someone who does not want to deal with life, suffering, and pain. New flash: Suffering and Pain are part of life and society today. Yes, it may seem like the easiest way out is to die, but death comes in time. If one has no value of life, it is their decision to die or to fight through their pain and continue life. If they choose to die, PAS should not be an option. Why make it easier on people, more will die. Suicide takes courage, many are too coward to do it, PAS allows cowards to say â€Å"Hey, I have no value of life; I know I could never kill myself, but someone else will, so I can be put out of my misery.† Physicians like Dr. Kevorkian allow these people to take the easy way out, they commit murder. There is no other way to express it.

ARSON :: essays research papers

U.S. FIRE ADMINISTRATION COMBATS NATION'S ARSON PROBLEM Arson Awareness Week Targets Juvenile Firesetting WASHINGTON (FEMA) -- Everyday brings news of a serious national problem - arson. This year, Arson Awareness Week, May 5-12, focuses on juvenile firesetting because young people currently represent about 55 percent of arson arrests, according to the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), a part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). "Arson is not a hidden crime. It's murder by fire, a violent crime against property and people. Every year arson kills 700 people, destroys 100,000 buildings and costs more than $1.4 billion," U.S. Fire Administrator Carrye Brown said. "There are, however, effective ways citizens, along with law enforcement and the fire service, can ensure the culprits are brought to justice." Brown said that everyone should take steps to prevent arson in their communities. Arson exists in various forms -- juvenile firesetting, vandalism, pyromania, a murder weapon, and concealment of a crime. "We must identify the faces of arson. In addition to kids setting fires, incidents of adult firesetting are increasing, " she said. Charles Evancho, national arson expert and chief of arson, Detroit Fire Department said, "Arson is one of the most difficult crimes to prosecute successfully. Often the criminal justice system does not view arson as a serious crime. The challenge is to develop sentencing for adults and juveniles." Last year, USFA, provided $2 million to 12 states to develop anti-arson programs. In Colorado, for example, USFA grants support a juvenile firesetter prevention program in partnership with a treatment center for abused children. "We need grant programs and partnerships like this," Brown said. "Arson must be tackled on several fronts and people must protect themselves by strengthening prevention and apprehension efforts." Brown offered the following advice: -- Ask local law enforcement and fire officials to identify buildings at risk for arson. -- Organize arson block watches to monitor run-down and vacant buildings, and report suspicious activity. -- Keep boxes, trash, wood and other combustibles away from buildings. -- Make sure everyone in the family knows two ways to escape from their home. Install smoke detectors on each level of your home and check the batteries every month. Seconds count in any fire. USFA supports the nation's firefighters with training, fire data analysis, public education and research in fire protection technologies. For more information about arson and other fire issues, call FEMA's Fax-On-Demand at (202) 646-FEMA. For Internet users, arson facts are available on the World Wide Web at: http://www.fema.gov/usfa/usfa.htm. Jump to the U.S. Fire Administration

Promotional Strategies of Idbi Federal Life Insurance Essay

The paper deals with the study of the promotional strategies of IDBI federal life insurance co ltd vis-à  -vis its various competitors like LIC, SBI life, ICICI prudential, etc. The paper aims at the various promotional strategies adopted by the company to make information available, about its products, to its potential customers. The primary objective of the paper is to find out whether the current promotional strategies are effective enough in attracting customers, to find out what customers look for in a life insurance advertisement and to suggest the company as to what are the new sources through which it can advertise its products. The secondary objective is to find out whether the current marketing strategies are sufficient enough to capture the current market in the face of rising competition. The research methodology includes collection of primary data from people by interviewing them over phone, meeting them, getting their opinion through questionnaires, etc. as well as col lection of secondary data from internet, published articles, books, research reports and other sources. A Questionnaire was designed to collect information from the respondents about the awareness of the brand IDBI Federal and the data analysis was based on the information collected through the questionnaire. Data analyses were done through graphical representation and excel tools. The limitation faced was that it was confined to one area due to travelling constraints and time constraints. Overall the project has tried to maintain an accuracy of data so that unbiased responses may be recorded which will give a true picture of the respondents’ opinion and help the company in taking a proper decision as to the promotional strategies of the company. 2. Company profile IDBI Federal Life Insurance co Ltd (formerly known as IDBI Fortis Life Insurance) is a joint venture between three financial companies – development and commercial bank, IDBI Bank, India’s private sector bank, Federal Bank and European insurer Ageas (formerly Fortis), which was formed on March 2008 In this venture, IDBI Bank owns 48% equity while  Federal Bank and Ageas own 26% equity IDBI Federal Life Insurance Co. Ltd.,(formerly IDBI Fortis Life Insurance) is a joint venture each. IDBI bank is a government owned bank started in 1964 as a subsidiary of RBI for providing institutional credit. It is known to be a bank for high end customers. In 2008 it changed its name to IDBI bank ltd. and entered into the retail segment. IDBI has more than 1500 branches across India. Federal bank is a scheduled commercial bank which was started in 1931. It has a strong base of NRI customers. It has a presence in both south and west. It was one of the first banks to start core banking. Federal bank has 1200 branches across India. Ageas is a Belgium-Dutch multinational insurance company. After its creation in 1990, Fortis expanded its offerings to include private and investment banking and asset management, establishing subsidiaries around the world. 3. Introduction 4.1 Introduction to the problem In the current scenario, Indian insurance companies have become competitive in nature and are providing appropriate distribution channels to get the maximum benefit and serve customers in manifold ways. Indian Insurance industry has big opportunity to expand, given the large population and untapped potential. The insurance market in India has witnessed dynamic changes including entry of a number of global insurers. Most of the private insurance companies are joint ventures with recognized foreign institutions across the globe. Saturation of markets in many developed economies has made the Indian market even more attractive for global insurance majors. The US$ 41 billion Indian industry is considered the fifth largest life insurance market, and is growing at a rapid pace of 32-34% annually, according to the Life Insurance Council. Innovative products, smart marketing, and aggressive distribution have enabled fledging private insurance companies to sign up Indian customers faster than anyone expected. Insurance products come in a variety of forms and are advertised and marketed using a variety of methods to entice customers. Thus insurance companies need to market their products because they are in competition with other insurers for the same customers. The only thing that distinguishes an insurance company’s products is the  price as well as the advertising message that it sends across to its customers. Thus the major area of concern of the study is how IDBI federal should distinguish itself in terms of reaching customers through various promotional strategies so that customers respond to the promotional strategies of the company Vis-à  -vis those of competitors. 4.2 Significance of the problem There are many players in the Indian Insurance Industry, each capturing sufficient market share of the total industry. In the Indian insurance sector, the market position of the incumbent, LIC, continues to dominate even 10 years after the opening up of the sector for private players. This puts the onus on the private sector players to differentiate themselves in terms of product innovation and customer servicing, so that they could grab a bigger share of the Indian insurance pie. As insurance is a ‘push’ rather than a ‘pull’ product, it is a big challenge for the companies to make their products meaningful to prospective customers. Companies should simplify insurance products and design the benefits so as to suit the specific needs of policyholders. A higher degree of transparency on policy terms will ensure that the customer understands the product and its benefits, minimizing fears of being cheated. It is therefore important for the industry to invest not just in expansion and distribution but also in client servicing and processing. Many customers are discouraged from buying insurance due to the anticipated complexity involved in settlement of claims. Insurance companies do assert that the competition in the industry is forcing them to speed up their claim processes, but the fact remains that a lot more needs to be done to make general insurance a hassle-free experience for the customers. Such things are very important to be communicated to the prospective customers so that they understand the products of the company and the benefits and features of the products. Thus promotion becomes very important for any IDBI federal to stand ahead of other players. 4.3 Important Observations IDBI Federal Life Insurance already has a strong distribution network of over 1477 branches through their partner banks. IDBI Federal has adopted various promotional strategies like commercial ads, print ads, events, personnel  selling, word of mouth, viral marketing, etc. The advertising focus of the company has therefore been the product rather than the corporate brand. TVC’s- The major promotion of IDBI federal is done through television commercials on sports channels. The TVC’s for IDBI Federal have been designed by Ogilvy and Mather. January, 2011: IDBI Federal Life recently launched three clutter breaking television commercials focusing on its frontline products – Wealthsurance and Incomesurance. The first advertisement reflects that the product is so great that whoever hears about it, buys it instantly and the second advertisement promises to be clear and transparent on the issue of returns in the investment product. IDBI Federal has also introduced two animation characters by the name of Happy and Lucky to promote the brand. The campaign revolves around the immense strength of the products and conveys the message: Anyone who hears about it buys it. The story board revolves around the most unexpected people in the most unexpected situations, hear about the product and buy it. * March, 2011: Through the example of a 60-year-old-son and his 90-year-old father, the insurance company, in its new campaign, reinforces the need to be financially secure post-retirement. Through the TVC, they wanted to explain the benefit of a tension-free life thanks to the pension plan. * August, 2011: The incomesurance TVC adds a comic touch to a series situation of family interview. The strategy for them was to drive home a practical and relevant message to the viewers. After sifting through many auditions, they singled out on a non-model/ non-celebrity talent to ensure that the slice-of-life situation came across as genuine and credible. The TVC went on air on 15th Aug, on the eve of Independence Day. The company’s fil ms are based on simple consumer insights that bring alive the core product benefits. * January, 2012: IDBI Federal Life Insurance has come up with a new campaign to promote its child insurance plans. The head of the Ad agency commented that in a world of goody-goody child plan advertising, they wanted to ensure that IDBI Federal’s Childsurance stood out. The senior vice-president of IDBI Federal said that choosing the right plan is very important today, given the rising inflation in education. Childsurance, with five unique features, can be the strong partner that parents seek to ensure that their children’s dreams come true, which has been captured in the ad campaign. Distributors- IDBI Federal has a strong network of distributors  who contribute a lot to the promotion of the products by word of mouth promotion. IDBI Federal has Bancassurance partnership with IDBI Bank and the Federal Bank and also distributes its products through its own network. To further diversify its distribution base, it has set up an Alternate & Direct Distribution channel. Management- IDBI federal life insurance co ltd leverages on its strong distribution network of promoters and advisors who have constantly revised the company’s product portfolio by adding on new products from time to time depending on the environment and needs of the customers. Partnerships- IDBI Federal Life Insurance, in partnership with SAMHITA Community Development Services, is engaged in financial literacy programs for the urban and rural poor in MP since 2011. The company has participated in a felicitating program organized by SAMHITA for women from slum dwelling households in Bhopal, who have successfully completed this financial literacy program in 2008, when it tied up with SAMHITA for providing low cost group coverage to the female members of SAMHITA under Group Microsurance. So far it has covered over 86,721 lives for a sum insured of Rs.66.7crores. IDBI Federal Life Insurance also offers the protection of Termsurance Grameen Suraksha to the family members of these people. Thus, this was a major step taken by IDBI federal for promoting its products in the rural areas. Web promotion- The TVC’s are uploaded in you tube. They have launched microsites for their ads. In addition, IDBI federal also planned to launch a viral in the digital space to create awareness about its products. Events- IDBI federal has tried to promote its products by conducting certain events. They organized the event Spelling Bee, which was a specially created spelling contest arranged to connect with children. The event was organized on children’s day, 2010 to coincide with the launch of childsurance. The spellings to be completed revolved around visual and verbal cues to words related to savings, money and finance. Viral marketing- â€Å"Boss-ka-Boss†, the viral flash film launched by IDBI federal for marketing its product online, made it very popular and was a good way to reach customers which could be viewed through You-tube. The film had also been adjudged for a special award under animation film category at the PR Council of India (PRCI). 4.4 Comments by the experts in the area Mr. Amish Tripathi, National Head – Marketing & Product Management, IDBI Federal Life Insurance said that â€Å"the critical objective for IDBI Federal is name recognition and a strong differentiator, and each of their products is designed to be unique and offer great value to the customers† He also said that, â€Å"they are happy to have a creative partner like Ogilvy & Mather that has been able to successfully convey the message.† According to Mr. Aneesh Khanna, Senior Vice President – Head – Marketing & Product Management, IDBI Federal Life Insurance, â€Å"the strategy for them was to drive home a practical and relevant message to the viewers. ‘Humoring’ the customer with a convincing, rational appeal has been the insurance venture’s style. Their films are based on simple consumer insights that bring alive the core product benefits. According to Amish Tripathi, there were clear guidelines that the commercials have to be funny and clutter-breaking when it comes to campaigns, as every second company sells the same proposition in the insurance sector. â€Å"Therefore, it is important to stand out from the rest,† according to Mr. Tripathi. Nitin Pradhan, executive creative director, Leo Burnett, says, â€Å"It’s a tongue-in-cheek take on retired life† which meant that it was very common for IDBI Federal to take old people in the retirement term advertisement. In 2010, when private life insurance companies were facing a decline in sales, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer GV Nageshwara Rao said that the company is in in the process of adjusting the products. They expected to plan a few revised guidelines on pension products, which they hoped would revive pension plans again. He said that the long-term solution is to increase productivity in a sustained manner. He also quoted that going ahead; the company would consider three segments — children, retirement and health. And the company kept up to its promises by coming up with childsurance, healthsurance and the retirement plans. Acknowledging the viral flash film awards, Mr. Amish Tripathi, National Head – Marketing and Product, IDBI Fortis, said that â€Å"it was a great honour for them for being bestowed with the special award. He also said that at IDBI Fortis, they believe in innovation and delivering unique and distinct  offerings. The company has tried to follow the same in their communication through the films. The prestigious awards were an encouragement for the team and they hope to get many more of these in the future†. 4.5 Previous work According to a journal, written by professors of VIT University, Vellore on the promotional strategies adopted by IDBI Federal life insurance co ltd, for the South- Asian journal of marketing and management research, we find the following recommendations given by them After analysis of data, they suggested the following points * Television is the best source for entertainment and gaining information. So it is the best media for promotion * People don’t give more importance to the advertisements while compared to brand name * Tax benefit, death benefit, security and low premium are the important components which people look for in an insurance product * The message and creativity is important for insurance product * The promotional efforts and word of mouth is most influencing while compared to internet * Advertisements play a major role in influencing a person to buy an insurance policy * Insurance companies don’t need a brand ambassador to endorse the product 4.6 Gaps in the problem of interest 4.7 Proposed Work * Amazing customer experiences are one of the most powerful tools in marketing strategy. In today’s market, when a company treats its clients better than kings and queens they will tell the whole world about the company through social networking sites or through word of mouth. * There are many opportunities for growing business. The company can get great PR in the newspaper, meet other local community members and business owners, and educate people about the values and benefits of insurance. * The company can promote its products through social networking sites such as Facebook, twitter and linked in or other popular sites where potential customers visit frequently like news channel sites. Customers who prefer to read news online will be able to notice the ads if the ads are put in such sites. * The best television marketing opportunities would be during programs  specifically aimed at the target prospects. The company can aim those channels which potential customers see reg ularly such as news channels or sports channels. * An important promotional strategy would be to roll out advertisements during cricket matches such as IPL or one day series which will gain a lot of popularity for the products as well as the company. * Another strategy is to host networking events so businesspeople can meet other businesspeople. Making as many contacts as possible and following up with people will assist insurance marketing with the help of referrals. * Online E-mail newsletters should be sent to customers on a regular basis so as to attract potential customers and retain existing clients. The newsletters will constantly remind the clients about the products and they will re-think over their decisions while investing in insurance products and will keep IDBI federal in mind. * The company can host seminars about financial planning, understanding insurance, saving money on insurance etc. * IDBI Federal’s sales people can go door to door talking about their products to potential customers. Many sales people can convince about their products to customers in such a way. * One more promotional strategy is advertising through hoardings and billboards in important public places like railway stations, airports, bus stands, restaurants, etc. * The last IDBI federal ad was released in 2012 and the frequency of the ads were also less. To increase visibility of the products, the company should advertise more frequently so that customers notice their products vis-à  -vis its competitors. * They can also advertise through various radio channels as more and more people are shifting from television to radio channels * The company can also go for celebrity endorsements as customers go for celebrity endorsed brands as they attach some value to the product when it is endorsed by any celebrity. 4. Objectives and importance of the study Product promotion is one of the major necessities for getting a company’s brand in front of the public and attracting new customers. Companies use different promotional strategies for different marketing purposes. The importance of the study lies in studying all promotional and marketing strategies followed by IDBI Federal, how effective are the strategies in  maintaining the existing customer base and attracting new customers, what do customers look for in the advertisements to go for a particular product, and are the promotional strategies effective as compared to other insurance companies. Primary objective * To find out whether the current promotional strategies are effective in attracting customers. * To find out what customers look for in a life insurance advertisement. * To suggest a new concept of promotion for the company depending on people’s awareness about the brand IDBI Federal life insurance co ltd Secondary objective * To find out the level of awareness of the brand IDBI Federal among people * To find out whether the current marketing strategies are sufficient or the company needs to increase promotion in order to capture market. 5. Methodology Primary data: collecting data from people by interviewing them through phone, meeting them through questionnaires, during the time of sales etc. Secondary data: gathering data from internet and television, published articles, books, research reports and other sources. The sample size is 100 and the sampling unit is office going people who have either joined recently or who have been working for quite a few years. The research is carried out in Cuttack, Orissa where the sample is a representative portion of the population of the state. Both open ended and close ended questions are used in the design of the questionnaire so as to know the opinion of customers relating to insurance and awareness about the brand IDBI federal and how they respond to the marketing stimuli adopted by the company. The type of questionnaire used in this project is structured. The questions are listed in a prearranged order and respondents are informed about the purpose of collecting information. The type of sampling is convenient sampling. The methodology adopted for sales was to visit office going people with a  permanent income and explain them about the products of IDBI Federal life insurance co ltd.

How can buyer attitudes about products country of origin affect marketing strategy Essay

A number of researches have been done on the effect of the county of origin (COO) on the acceptance of a product.   There has been close related studies examining attitudes within a country towards imported goods based on the evaluation of their country of origin.   Although most of the studies have focused on  Ã‚   consumer from the developed country, it has been shown that even consumers in the developing nations have developed certain attitudes on products based on their country of origin. There are some countries which are associated with high quality products while there are others which are associated with low quality products.   The attitude of the consumers about a product based on their country of origin affect the marketing strategy of the commodity since the marketing strategy will concentrate on creating a positive attitude on the products in the markets where customers have a negative attitude.   Compared to other marketing influences, country-of-origin has a lesser effect on the process of consumer decision making but it affects the overall acceptance of the products depending on the level of influence in the market. (Daser 1997, p.53) The concept of Country-of-origin Country of origin is an important factor that affects the consumer purchasing decision making and industry purchases.   The country of origin in combination with other marketing characteristics has great influences on the perception of the product in the market.   This is  Ã‚   based on the concept o superiority or inferiority. Most of the studies conducted on the issue assert there are few stereotypical images that are consisted across a number of nations.   For example the image of robustness of Gernamn products, the luxurious products from France,   the cheap products from Korea, the substandard products from china, and many others.   There are also positive stereotypical images that have also been upheld. For example the Iranian pistachios and rugs, vegetable from Poland, Oranges from Israel, Coffee form Columbia, French perfume, Silk from china,   Leather from Italy, electronics from Japan, and Rum from Jamaica. (Cattin 1992, p. 244) These stereotypes have not been based on emptiness. They have either been based on  Ã‚   hearsay, experience or just a myth. At the same time is has been shown that customers will react different from country of origin cues.   For example, Japanese goods are highly rated by consumers all over the world.,   in china western products which retail   at more than three times the domestic products are   in   relatively high demand, in Russia the country of origin of the product is more important than then the brand name of the product which   pus product from Malaysia, Hong Kong, Thailand and others still suspicious in the country,   Australian like French perfume but   thy will not buy French cameras of French wine, and   others Most of the studies conducted on the evaluation of the Japanese and American consumers have shown that Japanese products are considered to be of high quality  Ã‚   and therefore they are  Ã‚   preferred by the consumer to product from other countries.   This same effect has also been found in studies conducted in several other areas on the world.   Studies conducted in other areas in the world like Saudi Arabia and Bahaarian, Nova Sotia, Finland, South East Asia, Peoples Republic of China, Hong Kong, and other have all rated Japanese products as superior to other product in the world as far as it relates to service, promotion, and delivery. With the increasing presence of  Ã‚   foreign products in the domestic markets,  Ã‚   there have been increase studies in the last one decade about the perception of these productions the market and the preference of consumers when purchasing them.   The country of origin cue has become an important factor in the market as consumer tend to evaluate imported goods   differently than the way they   evaluate domestic produced goods. Most of the studies have been carried out in American and have shown that American consumes have a preference to certain products from some countries. They tend to purchase products from  Ã‚   some countries as compared to others.   This has shown a national stereotyping phenomena which is not limited to the US only but has been observed in other countries. The same findings have been found in England, Finland, Canada, New Zealand, France, and Singapore. (Howard 1994, p. 92) Consumer attitudes and perception of  Ã‚   important from various countries usually vary from one country to another. What the consumers of country A will perceive product from country X is not the same way consumer in Country B will view the same products.   Although it has been shown that the relationship between  Ã‚   the two countries  Ã‚   is an important factor, the overall reputation of the production the market is a major factor affecting the consumer perception. It has also been found out that even consumers writing the same country may have different views of the same product with show individual variance within the same country.   Consumers’ attitude about the product from a particular country can also vary with time as the rate of development and pace of industrialization changes.   Change in market development in the culture and  Ã‚   lifestyle in that particular country can also affect the perception of the product. (Akaah 2003, p. 78) A  Ã‚   country at its initial pace of development may accept cheap product from a country while this may change rapidly as the country develops its own industries. This varies with the levels of disposable income which signify the rise of a middle class in any country. As a middle class emerge in a country, it may have an influence in the perception of a product from country which may influence market trends. Early studies on consumer attitudes and preference of domestic and imported produces tend to focus on  Ã‚   just one cue instead of a number of cues that could show the market influences. However the trend have chanced in the last three decades with most studies focusing on multiple cues which   have been designed to use tangible products   rather that  Ã‚  Ã‚   description of the   products. According to these early studies,  Ã‚   the effects of Country of origin were shown to have a direct effect on the existing beliefs of eh consumers. The past experience on the product is also an import factors that influence the attitude that a consumer may have on the product from a certain country. Other studies have shown that it may necessarily be the same product that the consumer may have had an earlier experience with but it may be another product which will affect the construction about the product from that particular country. (Loureiro and Umberger 2002, p. 59) To create a certain perception about products from a certain country, consumer use  Ã‚   evaluation based inference to reason about the image of that product.   This means that it will evaluate factor of quality value, styling, and others and correlate them with  Ã‚   the country of origin.   This is known as the halo effect where a belief about a trait of a certain products which in this case is the country of origin of the product produces a certain belief structure on traits that are not known to the customer but which are congruent with the traits that have already been experienced by the consumer.   The willingness of any consumer to purchase a product is based on the  Ã‚   characteristics of the country of origin of the product and its people.   The perception about the country of origin may also be affected by the comparison that the consumer makes about the similarities and differences between their country and the country of origin of the product.   This comparison may be made in terms of the economic development, political status, the social culture climate, and other factors which may crate differences and similarities between the two nations. (Dougla and Nonaka 1995, p. 350) Therefore it shows the  Ã‚   country of origin is one factor that embraces so many other factors inside it.   There are other market considerations that are made about the country of origin that ultimately determine consumer perception of the  Ã‚   products.   In this case there are several factors that we can identify that influence the overall consumer perception of the country and the products. Some of these factors include the following: †¢ Quality †¢ Technology †¢ Features of the product †¢ Brand recognition †¢ Perception of value †¢ Advertising images †¢ Perception of retailers and distribution These are some of the factors that may affect consumer perceptions of the products based on the country of origin.   There are many other factors that a customer takes into considerations but these are the main ones. Let us look closely at each of these factors. (i) Perception of quality The quality of the product is important to the consumer as it is used to develop descriptive and inferential beliefs about the product and service.   The  Ã‚   actual consumer choice of a product can be as a direct function  Ã‚   based on these medicating beliefs.   This shows the  Ã‚   quality evaluation is important factor in the overall decision making process of the consumers.   If the consumer develops a positive quality attitude towards the product, they are likely to increase  Ã‚   their confidence on the  Ã‚   product evaluation before giving their final choice.   There are several studies that have documented that quality is second to price in the consumer choice of product from foreign countries. (ii) Technology sophistication perception Sophisticated technology can be defined as technology which involves a high level of  Ã‚   operation using complex material and equipment.   It is also as production process that uses high level of skills to formulate and develop products. In this case we can take the examples we had given earlier bout Japan. It ahs been argued that   products from Japan have been receiving a high   rating and   increased preference in different parts of the world owing to the   high level of   technology that is used to produce them.   It has also been shown that American consumers have shown increased preference to German made products owing the capability of German to produce high technology products.   Contrary to this   a study carried out in Austria showed that   they preferred products from   Euro pan compared to other products outside Europe due to the high level of technology used to produce   goods in Europe. (Crodel 2003, p. 53) (iii) Features of a   product as suited to the market The features of a product compared to other in the market are an important factor that determines the overall product perception and choice preference.   Simple features like colour of the product, has been shown to be an import factor in the purchase of product like bread as compared to  Ã‚   price and nutritional aspect of the bread.  Ã‚   Yellow coloured bread which appears to have been prepared with a lot of eggs is mostly preferred compared to white bread by consumers in the market.   A study carried out in New Zealand showed the colour of the automobiles was important in the overall effect of purchase of automobiles. (iv) Recognition of the brand   Consumers have shown increased preference of  Ã‚   well known brands compared to unknown brands owing to its prestige. It has also been shown that preference of favourite brands is a way of  Ã‚   reducing risk in the purchase decision.   Brand recognition is an important factor that helps the consumer confidence in the purchase of branded products.   A country with a portfolio of well known brands will create a positive attitude towards the consumers and they are likely to purchase other products from the same country event without  Ã‚   preference to quality of the product. In this case country branding is very important in influences the overall consumer perception of products from that country.   If we take a contemporary example of Japan and China, we will find the both of them are emerging markets in the world.   While Japan is reputed for its quality in and durable products, china on the other hand is known for  Ã‚   cheap low quality products.   Apparently china accounts for more than 70% of all the counterfeited products in the world.  Ã‚   Therefore it would be difficult to convince a consumer from a country that china which is reputed with cheap low quality products can actually produce high quality products. It has also been found out that consumer have an increased preference toward branded produces rather than unbranded products. A study carried out in Britain showed the American and French brands were preferred by British retail managers as they were more recognized compared to the domestic brands. (Bannister and Saundrsm 1998, p. 60) (v) Perception of values The perception of values involves the overall consumer assessment of the use of a product  Ã‚   based on the   consumer will give in monetary values and what they expect to receive in terms of  Ã‚   quality. This is a kind of a balance equation that the consumer makes regarding the products that they wish to purchase.   The past research that have been carried out on the perception of values have shown that compared to all countries in the world, Japanese products were low priced while at the same time they were considered to be of high values and therefore the consumes preferred to buy them because they got an acceptable product values for the amount of monetary sacrifice they made for that particular product.  Ã‚   A recent study has also shown that Japanese products are likely to be preferred to the US products even without so much concession on the price of the products. (vi) Advertising image The adverting strategies that are used in the market can improve the image of the products and therefore increase the consumer preference of the product.   There has been a reported relationship between advertising influence, that attitude toward a brand, and consumer preference in the marketing  Ã‚  Ã‚   of the product.   In the early emergence of the Japanese products, they were shown to receive a low key in the market  Ã‚  Ã‚   because they were not well advertised and their low prices  Ã‚   created a negative consumer perception.   After some years, Japanese product recorded increased sales in Canada, US, Britain, Hungary, and others where they had recorded low sales after an aggressive and competent advertising that changes consumer perception. (vii) Distribution and retailing perception   The realties influence the consumer preference and decision to purchase a product through their promotional efforts.   Retailers makes particular efforts to promote the products to in the market  Ã‚   through merchandise offering, merchandise display, reliable dissemination of information, and through many other efforts.   The retailer can also influence the consumers by presenting a higher credibility for a product and an apparent warranty and guarantees which increase consumer confidence in that particular product.   Consumer perception of a products has partly been linked to various level of activities carried out by the retailers in creating their awareness about that product in the market. Weak promotion activities have a negative effect on the consumer perception of quality and  Ã‚   preferences to purchase that particular product. (Cheung and Dention 1995, p. 55) There are the main factors that influence the perception of a product from a country.   This shows that  Ã‚   country of origin is influenced by the above  Ã‚   factors.  Ã‚   Consumer perception is not a  Ã‚   condition that is created at once but it is an after thought  Ã‚   which comes after interplay of the above factors.   Country of origin perception is not a condition that is crated overnight and does not evaporate overnight but it is a perception that may last for some time and may be difficult to deconstruct.

How Much Ado About Nothing uses the comic genre to allow Shakespeare to expose and criticise Human Flaws

When Benedict states that ‘happy are they that hear their distractions and can put them to mending’, he is stating that characters are able to recognise flaws within their own character and, more importantly, are able to fix them. One conventional aspect of Elizabethan society, that is very much evident within ‘Much Ado’ About Nothing’, is social inequality. â€Å"In Shakespeare’s play, women are portrayed as being powerless in their own lives and in everything around them. † In Elizabethan society, men were dominant over women and made all the important decisions. In ‘Much Ado’ About Nothing’, the men frequently make bad decisions, and is a recurring theme throughout the play. Although Shakespeare was a product of his time, and accepted social norms and values, he demonstrated an understanding of women’s subjection by men in his work. The comic genre allows Shakespeare to push the boundaries when challenging social conventions. For example, Shakespeare is able to portray Beatrice as a feisty, sharp, intelligent woman. The audience are naturally, more open-minded because they realise that the play is a comedy and they're suppose to find it funny. As a consequence, this gives Shakespeare more freedom to create comedy within the play. In Shakespeare’s Much Ado’ About Nothing, Claudio is flawed character, although not appearing so initially: he is shown as a distinguished soldier under the command of Don Pedro, Prince of Arragon. In the first act, Claudio is introduced to the audience via a discussion between Leonato and a messenger in the presence of Leonato’s daughter, Hero, and his niece Beatrice, whereby the audience hear of Claudio’s heroism and admirability during the war and that Don Pedro regards him highly and has, â€Å"bestowed much honor† upon him. The messenger also suggests that Claudio has done tremendously well, as â€Å"He hath borne himself beyond the promise of his age†, suggesting Claudio is a mature character. The absence of Claudio from this scene means that the audience judge him based on what they have heard about him, as a consequence their first impression of Claudio is very positive. However, throughout the play the audience are introduced to his flaws of immaturity, haste and pride which all contradict with their first impression of him. Although the audience’s introduction to Claudio suggests maturity, this is proven to be false throughout the play. In a discussion between Claudio and Benedick, Claudio recognises that falling in love too quickly is a mark of immaturity, concerned that â€Å"liking might too sudden seem†. However, after one silent get-together of characters, Claudio finds himself in love with Hero and immediately talks longing that, â€Å"Hero would be my wife†. Therefore, Claudio seems to do the exact opposite to the statement in the question and adopts a distraction that he has already heard, acting in a contradictory manner and emphasises his immaturity. As well as this, Claudio is gullible, and allows he to be deceived by Don John into believing that Don Pedro has wooed Hero for himself, â€Å"my brother is amorous on Hero, and hath withdrawn her father to break with him about it. † Through Shakespeare’s use of dramatic irony, the audience feel frustrated with Claudio, as he instantly believes this false allegation without question, â€Å"Tis certain so, the prince woos for himself†. Furthermore, Claudio lacks the courage to confront Don Pedro about the allegation, hence choosing to blindly believe Don John over Don Pedro and Benedick, without seeking the truth, â€Å"Ho now you strike like the blind man. The audience feel frustrated because they know that Don Pedro is innocent, however they can't pass this information onto Claudio and are forced to watch the consequences unfold. Additionally, the audience feel frustrated with Claudio because it doesn’t seem likely that Don Pedro would betray Claudio due to the fact they have fought alongside each other at war and share a good relationship. However, the audience can sympathise with Claudio because his encounter with Don John at the masked ball was a setup in order to trick him. Due to the theme of the ball, whereby everyone had to wear masks and conceal their identity, Claudio thought that by pretending to be Benedick, he could deceive Don John and Borachio. By way of contrast, the opposite happens as Claudio believes that Don John thinks he is speaking with Benedick, â€Å"Are not you Signor Benedick†, â€Å"You know me well, I am he†. As a consequence, Don John finds it much easier to deceive Claudio. When Don Pedro asks Claudio, â€Å"wherefore are you sad†, Claudio intentionally replies with very brief, indirect responses that forces Don Pedro to investigate into the matter further. I believe by doing this, Claudio fulfils his need for attention, which in itself is a sign of immaturity. For example, Claudio replies with â€Å"Not sad, my lord†, stopping to allow Don Pedro to continue asking questions. As expected, Don Pedro replies, â€Å"How then? Sick? † In which Claudio replies â€Å"Neither, my lord†, again, allowing room for Don Pedro to investigate. However, Beatrice who allows the conversation to carry on, interrupts this process, â€Å"The count is neither sad, nor sick, nor merry, nor well: but civil†. After Claudio realises that Don John has deceived him at the masked ball, the audience expect Claudio to put his flaw ‘to mending’. However, Claudio fails to do this and allows himself to be deceived by Don John once again. The night before the wedding, Don John deceives both Don Pedro and Claudio into believing that Hero â€Å"is disloyal† and has slept with another man. Don Pedro questions the allegation at first â€Å"I will not think it† whereas Claudio is quick to believe it to an extent â€Å"May this be so? The fact Don Pedro is able to question the allegation shines a negative light upon Claudio who should not question Hero’s dishonesty. The audience feel frustrated with Claudio through Shakespeare’s use of dramatic irony, allowing the audience to know the truth that Hero is innocent, especially when Claudio rushes to plan his revenge, whereby he will â€Å"wed, there will I shame her. † Women in Elizabethan times were objectif ied and became possessions of their husbands. They would not have attended school and their â€Å"education would have been purely of domestic nature† in preparation for marriage. As men were seen as the superior figure that provided for him and his family, their pride and dignity meant the world to them. Therefore, to be a cuckold (a man married to an unfaithful wife) associated much shame and brought down the male’s social standing. Baring this in mind, a contemporary audience would be more sympathetic with Claudio’s rash decision as they would share a better understanding of Claudio’s fear of shame. On the other hand, a modern audience would not be as sympathetic because social norms and values, especially gender inequality, has changed. However, the audience cannot entirely blame Claudio because he believes that he actually witnessed the supposed affair. On the other hand, the audience blame him for not confronting Hero, just like he failed to confront Don Pedro after the masked ball. Evidently, Claudio has not recognised his flaw of being deceptable to lies and failing to confront them, therefore failing to fix it. Through dramatic irony, the audience know that Hero is completely innocent. In addition to this, they also know that Claudio intends to publically humiliate her at the wedding. The audience sympathise with Hero, especially when they see how excited she is before the wedding, â€Å"God give me joy to wear it! for my heart is exceeding heavy. † On the day of the wedding ceremony, Leonato shows that he shares the tendency to rush into conclusions like Claudio. When Claudio publicly shames Hero, â€Å"Not to be married, not to knit my soul to an approved wanton†. Leonato at first defends Hero’s honor, â€Å"Dear my lord, if you in your own proof†¦ made defeat of her virginity. It’s only when Don Pedro supports the claim made by Claudio that his daughter has slept with another man that Leonato suddenly believes the claims made and turns against his own daughter. Leonato even goes as far as saying that he regrets having a daughter, and â€Å"Death is the fairest cover for her shame†. Leonato understands that no other man will marry Hero because they will become a cuckold, bringing shame to himself; therefore Hero has nobod y to support her, as she is unable to support herself due to the conventional norms of the Elizabethan period. The audience are shocked by Leonato’s reaction because through dramatic irony, they know Hero is innocent. However, the audience also know that by comparing the ending of a comedy to a tragedy, that no serious consequences will be inflicted upon her. It is not until Friar Francis is introduced that Leonato seems like a failed father, because Friar Francis doubts Hero’s disloyalty and so offers a chance of redemption, with a practical plan to prove her honesty. Leonato is unable to believe his own daughter over the Prince and Claudio whereas a stranger can, emphasising his failure as a father. It is also arguable that Leonato’s pride clouded his judgement when choosing to believe his daughter’s innocence and is the reason why he was quick to believe the allegation when Don Pedro supported it, suggesting that â€Å"maturity is the trait most lacking in all of the play’s characters†; their susceptibility to pride and deception, and their â€Å"inability to think before drawing their conclusions†, are more about immaturity than any other quality. However, towards the end of the play Leonato loses interest in pride, replacing it with the determination to be a better father. Leonato confronts Don Pedro and Claudio with resentment, whilst trying to remain courteous, over publicly shaming his daughter whilst she was innocent. In confrontation, Leonato addresses Claudio as immature, stating that â€Å"If thou kill’st me, boy, thou shalt kill a man. † Leonato reminds Claudio that â€Å"thou hast kill'd my child†, and expresses that if he kills Leonato, he will at least kill a man and not an innocent child. Similarly, Leonato isn’t the only character in the play to call Claudio a ‘boy’, for example Antonio calls Claudio a ‘boy’ a few times when he demands Claudio to â€Å"come, follow me, boy; come, sir boy, come, follow me†. As well as this, Benedick later on says to Claudio, â€Å"Fare you well, boy†¦ I will leave you now to your gossip-like humour. † This evidence suggests that many other characters, as well as the audience see Claudio as an immature character. Although Leonato must talk with respect to the Prince, he speaks with sarcasm, â€Å"Are you so hasty now? well, all is one†. Therefore, it’s evident that Leonato has learned his lesson that his pride and loyalty to the Prince can turn him against his own family and that he shouldn’t let anyone influence his own judgment. Additionally, the view of ‘susceptibility to pride and deception’ is strengthened from the point of view of a modern audie nce, because to criticise the characters on the grounds of being susceptible to pride is contradictory to the social norms of the Elizabethan period. For example, an Elizabethan man’s good name was of considerable worth to him and any action that tarnished it, would affect his social standing. However, Shakespeare highlights that ‘susceptibility to pride and deception’ and ‘the inability to think before drawing conclusions’ are major flaws found within the play and within Shakespearean society. It is through the comic genre that Shakespeare is able to portray his message that all of us, to some extent, have our own character-flaw(s) and it’s those who can fix them that benefit – like Leonato. Furthermore, as the audience watch ‘Much Ado’ About Nothing’ and laugh at the character-flaws found within it, it makes them realise that their own character flaws can just as easily, be made fun of, as â€Å"Comedy is intimidating and encourages complacency in those who laugh†. Many people have a fear of being laughed at because it makes them feel inferior. This is known as superiority theory, whereby people laugh at something or someone to make themselves seem superior. Due to this fear of being laughed at, people are more encouraged to fix the things that are comical, such as their human flaws.