Organisational behaviour assessment at Abercrombie & Fitch Assignment

Hierarchical conduct evaluation at Abercrombie and Fitch - Assignment Example This paper shows how the business capacities as a worldwide association rely upon the between associations among deals and promoting, in-store salesmen, and premium estimating strategies. Utilizing the McKinsey 7-S model as the suitable model, A&F focuses its whole key business methodology on the mutual qualities that drive the association, these being youth and magnificence, with every single other angle worked around the way of life of youth, vanity and excellence. Its technique, structure, frameworks, abilities, staff, and style are worked around these guiding principle. The mutual qualities that drive the hierarchical culture at Abercrombie and Fitch are identified with sex claim and youth way of life. The entirety of the store’s marked product is centered around these perspectives just as the visual index advertising portraying youthful and appealing models so as to pick up consideration from its ideal youth target markets. Offers the CEO of A&F: â€Å"We pursue the cool children. Many individuals don’t have a place in our garments and they can’t have a place. It is safe to say that we are exclusionary? Absolutely†. This expression from the official level demonstrates the significance of the way of life of restrictiveness that lives at this young arranged business, in this way all components of business improvement are revolved around keeping up this appearance to the general expending open. The objective of A&F is to strengthen that solitary particular sorts of clients have a place with its marked product assortment and this is obvious in the preparation given to its staff just as how the business showcases its image name over the world. One of its rivals is Victoria’s Secret, a high-volume undergarments organization (Talley, 2008), which further fortifies the degree of culture that lives at the association. â€Å"Great organizations depend intensely on their societies to help improvement and growth† (Want, 2009, p.10). This is totally evident with Abercrombie and Fitch as so as to guarantee that methodology is connected with the way of life, the entirety of the in-store agents must keep up this quality of youth and restrictiveness so as to legitimize its higher-than-normal estimating arrangements and guarantee client devotion against all other comparable retail rivalry. Its best methodology is the advancement of the store’s deals inventory which represents 45.2 percent of development in deals (A&F, 2009, p.9). The index, delineating youth entertainers with fit and smooth bodies gives the vital deals medium that keeps on speaking to people who discover personality through Abercrombie and Fitch marked product. â€Å"Strategic the board depends on the conviction that an association ought to continually screen inward and outside occasions and patterns with the goal that auspicious changes can be made as needed† (Aluko, Odugbesan, Gbadamosi and Osuagwu, 2004, p.56). Abercrombie faces two difficulties, in any case, in distinguishing proper methodology. To start with, the business gets positive notion and higher deals development from its

Free Online UC Sample Essay

Free Online UC Sample EssayIf you are interested in taking a free online UC sample essay, then here is the information you need to know. It will give you a head start on the first steps of writing your essay and writing a quality, high-quality essay for a particular college.The first thing you must remember when reading the terms used on a free UC sample essay, is that it is not supposed to be used as a checklist or an outline. If you are finding yourself needing to use it that way, keep in mind that the best form of outlining is to simply stick to your ideas, stories, facts, and quotations as you write.Make sure to see what happens if you apply the free UC samples essay template to a term paper. You might not get it all down, but you may have a good idea of how to structure your essay. What you are looking for is the points of which you will need to offer a logical argument.When you find yourself going over what you have written, then it might be time to go back and rewrite it from scratch. Now, if you decide to go the easy route, then do not just jot it down like a child without any regard. You will want to organize, and then put it into words.Writing the essay for college can sometimes be daunting. In fact, sometimes it can be almost too much for even a seasoned writer. With a little practice, you will soon be writing essays that will blow away your friend and even graduate school professors!Free UC samples essays are designed to help you begin your essay writing. As you work through them, you will find yourself learning some basic tips and techniques for writing your own essays.Keep these tips in mind when writing your UC free samples essay. When you really get comfortable with them, you will find yourself spending less time going back over what you wrote and more time focusing on your topic and your essay content.

High School Science Fair Projects

Coming up with high school science fair project ideas can be challenging. There is fierce competition for the coolest project, and students need a topic appropriate for their educational level. Youll find science fair project ideas arranged by topic below, but first, take a look at ideas listed according to the students level of education, and consider a summer science program, as well. Elementary school projectsMiddle school projects9th-grade projects10th-grade projects11th-grade projects12th-grade projectsCollege projects High School Projects While you might have been able to get by making posters and models in earlier grades, the bar is higher for high school science fair projects. The basis for your scientific exploration should be the scientific method: forming a hypothesis and then testing it with an experiment. Youll want to pick a topic that makes the judges take notice. Consider issues addressed by others and ask yourself what questions are left unanswered. How could they be tested? Look for problems in the world around you and try to explain or solve them. The following categories should help you come up with some great project ideas: Household Items These are projects involving items around the house: How safe is your microwave oven? Compare the growth of a plant or germination of seeds placed near the oven with those grown under the same light/temperature conditions farther from the appliance.Will bottled water turn green (grow algae) if you leave unopened bottles in the sun? Does it matter which brand you use?Do all dishwashing detergents produce the same amount of bubbles? Do they clean the same number of dishes?Do consumers prefer bleached paper products or natural-color paper products? Why?Is laundry detergent as effective if you use less than the recommended amount? More?How permanent are permanent markers? What solvents (e.g., water, alcohol, vinegar, detergent solution) will remove permanent marker ink? Do different brands/types of markers produce the same results?Can you make a musical instrument that can play a complete scale? (Examples might include a rubber band harp or a flute made from clay, wood, or plastic.) Personal Hygiene and Grooming Here are projects affecting health and appearance: Do all hairsprays hold equally well? Equally long? Does the  type of hair affect the results?How sterile is contact lens solution and how long does it stay sterile? See how long it takes for mold, fungi, and bacteria to culture saline. How sterile is the inside of a persons contact lens case?How long do home hair-coloring products hold their color? Does brand matter? Does the type of hair coloring is used on affect colorfastness? How does previous treatment (perming, previous coloring, straightening) affect initial color intensity and colorfastness? Botany/Biology These projects involve the natural world: Are night insects attracted to lamps because of heat or light?How effective are natural mosquito repellents?Does magnetism affect the growth of plants?How are plants affected by the distance between them? Look into the concept of allelopathy. Sweet potatoes release chemicals (allelochemicals) that can inhibit the growth of plants near them. How close can another plant grow to a sweet potato? What effects does an allelochemical have on a plant?Is a seeds growth potential affected by its size? Do different size seeds have different germination rates or percentages? Does seed size affect the growth rate or final size of a plant?How does cold storage affect the germination of seeds? Factors you can control include the type of seeds, the  length of storage, the  temperature of storage, and other variables, such as light and humidity.How close does a plant have to be to a pesticide for it to work? What factors influence the effectiveness of a pesticide (rain/light/wind)? How much can y ou dilute a pesticide while retaining its effectiveness? How effective are natural pest deterrents?What is the effect of a chemical on a plant? Factors that you can measure include rate of plant growth, leaf size, life/death of the plant, color, and ability to flower/bear fruitHow do different fertilizers affect the way plants grow? There are lots of different types of fertilizers containing varying amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in addition to other ingredients. You can test different fertilizers to see how they affect the height of a plant, the number or size of its leaves, the number of flowers, time until blooming, branching of stems, root development, or other factors.Does using colored mulch have an effect on a plant? You can look at its height, fruitfulness, the  number of flowers, overall plant size, the  rate of growth, or other factors as compared to plants mulched with non-colored mulch or not mulched at all.How do different factors affect seed germina tion? Factors that you could test include the intensity, duration, or type of light, the temperature, the amount of water, the presence/absence of certain chemicals, or the presence/absence of soil. You can look at the percentage of seeds that germinate or the rate at which seeds germinate.Do plant-based insect repellents work as well as synthesized chemical repellents?Does the presence of cigarette smoke affect the growth rate of plants? Food These are projects involving what we eat: What type of plastic wrap best prevents evaporation?What plastic wrap best prevents oxidation?Do different brands of orange juice contain different levels of vitamin C?Does the level of vitamin C in orange juice change over time?Do oranges gain or lose vitamin C after being picked?How does sugar concentration vary in different brands of apple juice?Does storage temperature affect the pH of juice?How does the pH of juice change with time? How does temperature affect the rate of chemical changes?Does eating breakfast have an effect on school performance? Does it matter what you eat?Do the same types of mold grow on all types of bread?Does light affect the rate at which foods spoil?Do foods containing preservatives stay fresh longer than foods without them? Under what conditions?How does time or season of harvest affect the chemistry and nutritional content of food?Is the nutritional content of different brands of a vegetable (e.g., canned peas) the same?What conditions affect the ripen ing of fruit? Look at ethylene and enclosing a fruit in a sealed bag, or at temperature, light, or nearness to other pieces of fruit.Is bottled water purer than tap water? Miscellaneous These projects are more generally focused: How much is the interior of a car cooled if a light-blocking windshield cover is used?Can you use a black light to detect invisible stains?What type of car antifreeze is safest for the environment?How does the rate of evaporation of the crystal-growing medium affect the final size of the crystals?You usually heat water or another liquid to dissolve a solid to grow crystals. Does the rate at which this liquid is cooled affect the way the crystals grow? What effect do additives have on the crystals?How are different soils affected by erosion? You can make your own wind and use water to evaluate the effects on soil. If you have access to a very cold freezer, you can look at the effects of freeze-and-thaw cycles.How does the pH of soil relate to the pH of the water around the soil? You can make your own pH paper, test the pH of the soil, add water, and then test the pH of the water. Are the two values the same? If not, is there a relationship between them?

Mental Health The Wondrous Woo - 1843 Words

Mental Health in Carrianne K.Y Leung’s The Wondrous Woo In Carrianne K.Y. Leung’s The Wondrous Woo a large majority of the characters are affected by psychological problems and encounter mental breakdowns. Certain mental health issues are portrayed more openly than others, while others are hinted at, but never entirely developed. Leung’s protagonist Miramar is challenged by eating disorders and her mental health in general, Sophia lies compulsively to make her life seem more appealing to others, while their mother suffers from attacks of paranoia, for which she is hospitalized. Miramar’s love interest in the novel, Mouse, also struggles with his mental health and complex family dynamics. Secondary characters as well suffer from mental†¦show more content†¦Ba’s death may have cause Ma to stop taking her medications regularly, as her caregiver died with Ba, and the children were unaware of the mothers true mental state. Dr. Pang notifies Miramar of her mother’s condition, saying, â€Å"She suffe rs from episodes of panic attacks and depression. The hallucinations may be related to some kind of trauma† (116). It is reasonable to assume that Ma’s hallucinations stem from the death of Ba, which is solidified in the ending of the novel when she visits the intersection where her husband was killed. Although Ma’s mental health issues had been present for longer than her husbands passing, his death definitely amplified her already unstable mental state. Despite the negative aspects of Ba’s death, his love for Chinese New Year brought the family together as a new tradition. However, these New Years celebrations would often end in tension and fights between the children and Ma. Miramar, Sophia and Darwin all lost their father, yet the repercussions seem to more greatly affect Sophia and Miramar, not so much Darwin. All of the children deal with Ba’s death differently, although Sophia and Darwin are given â€Å"gifts† to help them with the process. With Darwin’s gift of music, he is able to travel to London, England and avoid truly grieving his father’s death. Sophia becomes a math genius at McGill, but still struggles with the loss of her father and acts out by fighting with MaShow MoreRelatedIn Carrianne K.Y. Leung’S The Wondrous Woo A Large Majority1991 Words   |  8 PagesIn Carrianne K.Y. Leung’s The Wondrous Woo a large majority of the characters are affected by psychological pro blems and encounter mental breakdowns. Certain mental health issues are portrayed more openly than others, while others are hinted at, but never entirely developed. Leung’s protagonist Miramar is challenged by eating disorders and her mental health in general, Sophia lies compulsively to make her life seem more appealing to others, while their mother suffers from attacks of paranoia andRead MoreReading Has Many Benefits1604 Words   |  7 Pagescollection - book are a source of knowledge, spending money to acquire them is not a waste, it is a form of investment EXAMPLE 2 Good Health The one thing everybody should value the most is good health. No matter how rich, intelligent and powerful a man is, he cannot be happy if his health is poor. Good health is the best wealth. In order to keep ourselves in good health, we should eat balanced meals, maintain cleanliness, exercise regularly and keep away from unhealthy habits. What are balanced meals

Performance and Bonus Systems

Question: Discuss about SWOT analysis and identification of HRM issues, comparison of incentive schemes and dispute resolution. Answer: Introduction The aim of this paper is to implement human resource practices for resolving disputes in Foundry AB Ltd. The organization is located in Dunedin of New Zealand. The organization has taken a strategic decision of introducing a bonus scheme for the manufacture of a high-quality, high-value product. However, the organization faces negotiation from both management and the Engineers Union. AB Ltd was formed as a merger between Foundry A Ltd and Foundry B Ltd. Both the companies continued manufacturing their own products such as rollers for generators and conveyor belts with iron casting. Both markets experienced recession but there were no redundancies. Both organizations have different working culture due to which Company A was in constant conflict with the unions. White-collar staffs in both plants are not paid bonuses. The management pointed out that the productivity increased by 110 percent, wage increased by 30 percent and no employee lost their job due to changed working practices. T he company introduced two incentive schemes namely, 75/100 Straight Proportional Incentive Scheme for Repair Welders and 50/100 Geared Incentive Scheme for Fabrication welders. However, the management intended that the fabrication welders would be paid only the basic rate for working on rejected castings. There was a conflict in the organization as the welders received a temporary fixed rate of $20 per hour and they wanted a fixed rate of $25 per hour. The employees wanted to negotiate and commented that all incentive schemes in both works should operate on an individual basis. Firstly, this paper conducts internal analysis and identifies human resource management issues. Then, a discussion is made for a comparison between 75/100 Straight Proportional Incentive Scheme and 50/100 Geared Incentive Scheme. Lastly, strategies that could help in resolving disputes are determined. SWOT Analysis and Identification of HRM Issues Strengths Foundry A Ltd and B Ltd merged together to for Foundry AB Ltd. The company went through change management but they did not experience any redundancies from the merger despite poor market structure and recession. It can be inferred that the management structure of the organization is well-managed and stable as it stayed profitable even in recession. Sometimes redundancy leads to reduction in pay, unemployment and various other challenges. But, the management frequently pointed out that productivity had increased by 110 per cent, wages had risen by 30 per cent, and no one lost their job, as a result of the changed working practices. Weaknesses The production-process faced defects and the castings required rectification. The rectification could be achieved through repair welding. All repair welders, in common with the other production operators, are paid a basic rate per hour excluding bonus payments, and cannot be lowered under the existing employment contract. The two companies have different working cultures even though they formed a merger. Foundry A Ltd production employees had operated under bonus incentive conditions for many years, both prior to and since the merger. Bs management ran a family-style of operation, whereas As executives were in constant conflict with the unions. Opportunities A lucrative opportunity has emerged for B in the shape of high-quality fabricated castings. There is a new demand for fabricated products that can only be produced by welding castings together. There is a great demand for their high-quality welding skills in the North Island and Australia. The company can gain competitive advantage by meeting the demands of consumers. The fabrication castings can be exported and excellent profitability can be earned if the rejection rate is below 2 per cent and welders achieve standard performance. With greater profitability, the market share and financial structure of the company can be improved. Threats Due to market fluctuations and recession, the demand in North Island and Australia could decline. The company could go into losses as the purchasing power of the clients in these countries shall be reduced. There is a chance of over-production (Elsby, Hobijn and Ã…Å ¾ahin 2015). There is a threat of strike or lockout by the employees (Lee 2011). The HRM director informed the Engineers Union yesterday that he was giving the fabrication welders four weeks notice of termination of their temporary fixed rate of $20 per hour: they would revert to their basic rate of $15 and not get bonuses until the incentive scheme was up and running. District basic rates for repair welders varied between $12 and $19 per hour. In an immediate reaction, the Engineers Union called a mass meeting of workers in both plants, which intimated to management that industrial action would commence in all production areas, unless the welders demands were met. HRM Issues The organization faces conflict as the Engineers Union and the management want negotiation for incentive scheme. The management introduced incentive schemes into all production areas in B, despite much strife. There is strong support among the workforce for the Union. The Engineers Union proved an able negotiator in the past, particularly in the B plant. Fabrication welders told their union officials they were rejecting the fabrication welding incentive scheme, and instead wanted a fixed rate of $25 per hour. They further commented that all incentive schemes in both works should operate on an individual basis. There is a great demand for their high-quality welding skills in the North Island and Australia. District basic rates for repair welders varied between $12 and $19 per hour. Therefore, the HRM director informed the Engineers Union yesterday that he was giving the fabrication welders four weeks notice of termination of their temporary fixed rate of $20 per hour: they would revert to their basic rate of $15 and not get bonuses until the incentive scheme was up and running. In an immediate reaction, the Engineers Union called a mass meeting of workers in both plants, which intimated to management that industrial action would commence in all production areas, unless the welders demands were met. Comparison of Incentive Schemes According to the case study, Foundry AB Ltd made a strategic decision to introduce a bonus incentive scheme for the manufacture of a high-quality, high-value product. Standard performance is known as the level of performance in which a qualified worker who is suitably trained and motivated, taking appropriate rest would work for a shift of eight hours without over-exertion. The standard time involves an allowance for rest and relaxation. Two schemes were introduced known as the 75/100 Straight Proportional Incentive Scheme and 50/100 Geared Incentive Scheme. The bonus in both the schemes shall be supplemented above the basic rate. In the 75/100 Straight Proportional Incentive Scheme, the minimum wage is paid to the workers up to 75 percent of the standard performance. They are also paid for the unmeasured portion of the time. The incentive increases on a linear basis or proportionate to the performance for more than 75 per cent performance level (Singh 2016). The incentive payment is directly proportional to the performance. There is no ceiling limit on the bonus earning potential of employees. For instance, if basic rate is paid at 75 percent performance, then the earnings shall be calculated on a pro-rata basis for other levels of performance. The minimum earning level is considered as a fall- back at performance (Acas.org.uk 2016). According to the human resources, this scheme is beneficial for the employees (Singh 2016). Foundry AB Ltd provisionally agreed with the Engineers Union that fabrication welding would carry a temporary fixed-rate pay rate of $20 per hour, irrespective of output, pending work measurement times becoming available for use in the introduction of a 50/100 Geared Incentive Scheme. This scheme is different from the 75/100 Straight Proportional Incentive Scheme as this arrangement is not directly related to the results achieved (Singh 2016). A proportionate increase in performance shall give a less than a proportionate increase in pay, subject to a bonus starting performance of above 50. The basic rate is paid up to performance and standard performance gives 33.33 per cent increase in pay (Singh 2016). As seen in the 75/100 Straight Proportional Incentive Scheme, in this arrangement too there is no ceiling limit on the bonus earnings potential of employees. This scheme may give relief to low performance worker but the high performance workers would receive less incentive (Acas.org. uk 2016). Dispute Resolution As stated in the case study, the organization has reached impasse. Impasse is a stage in which the situation to progress is impossible. An impasse occurs when it is impossible to reach an agreement on all of some of the bargaining proposals because the parties are so far apart in their expectations and requests. There is resistance between the Union and management as the Engineers Union called a mass meeting of workers in both plants, which intimated to management that industrial action would commence in all production areas, unless the welders demands were met (Hrcouncil.ca 2016). As a human resource manager, I would look things from a different perspective. Firstly, I shall ask the parties to set the issue aside and focus on work. As the employees are not ready to commence production, they shall be convinced to not stop production. Both the parties must be asked to explain their perspective (Hrcouncil.ca 2016). Collective bargaining can be used as a strategy to resolve dispute. The employer must respect the statutory freeze period and cannot change the terms and conditions of employment for its employees until an agreement has been reached voluntarily, until there is a lockout or strike, or pursuant to the arbitration provisions in the legislation (Hrcouncil.ca 2016). As soon as a union represents the employee, the employee and the employer cannot negotiate with each other over individual terms and conditions of employment. The union is the sole and exclusive bargaining agent for the employees it represents. The employer must deal with the appointed union rep resentatives. The parties should be aware that, even though the collective agreement is silent about a legal right or obligation, that right or obligation is not eliminated (Hrcouncil.ca 2016). Respect is the key to successful relationship between the union and employer. The management must understand the needs of employees. Both the parties must acknowledge the rights and obligations. The management must understand that the employees have the right to call out for strikes without getting influenced by the employer. The management must treat all employees fairly (Hrcouncil.ca 2016). As the matter has reached an impasse, then third parties can be used for help. Both parties should work toward establishing and fostering a two-way communication system. They should not only come together to resolve a dispute (Hrcouncil.ca 2016). Conclusion The above report implements human resource practices for resolving disputes in Foundry AB Ltd. Both organizations have different working culture due to which Company A was in constant conflict with the unions. The production-process faced defects and the castings required rectification. The rectification could be achieved through repair welding. Bs management ran a family-style of operation, whereas As executives were in constant conflict with the unions. A lucrative opportunity has emerged for B in the shape of high-quality fabricated castings. Standard performance is known as the level of performance in which a qualified worker who is suitably trained and motivated, taking appropriate rest would work for a shift of eight hours without over-exertion. There is a great demand for their high-quality welding skills in the North Island and Australia. The company can gain competitive advantage by meeting the demands of consumers. As seen in the 75/100 Straight Proportional Incentive Schem e, in this arrangement too there is no ceiling limit on the bonus earnings potential of employees. A proportionate increase in performance shall give a less than a proportionate increase in pay, subject to a bonus starting performance of above 50. This scheme may give relief to low performance worker but the high performance workers would receive less incentive. There is resistance between the Union and management as the Engineers Union called a mass meeting of workers in both plants, which intimated to management that industrial action would commence in all production areas, unless the welders demands were met. References Acas.org.uk, 2016.Pay systems - Appendix: Examples of some commonly used schemes | Acas. [online] Acas.org.uk. Available at: https://www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=740 [Accessed 23 May 2016]. Elsby, M., Hobijn, B. and Ã…Å ¾ahin, A., 2015. On the importance of the participation margin for labor market fluctuations.Journal of Monetary Economics, 72, pp.64-82. Hrcouncil.ca, 2016.HR in a Unionized Workplace | HR Policies Employment Legislation | HR Toolkit | hrcouncil.ca. [online] Hrcouncil.ca. Available at: https://hrcouncil.ca/hr-toolkit/policies-unionized-environment.cfm [Accessed 23 May 2016]. Lee, G., 2011.Labor relations. New York: Avalon Books. Singh, L., 2016.Work study and ergonomics. Delhi: Cambridge University Press.

Battleship Potemkin

Battleship Potemkin Introduction Sergei Eisenstein’s 1925 film Battleship Potemkin represents a classical example of formalist editing in cinematography. According to most well-known enthusiasts of this style of editing, such as Pudovkin and Eisenstein himself, the semantic significance of film’s mise en scene should not be dialectically explored but rather constructed.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Battleship Potemkin specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Both individuals tended to perceive the process of movie’s editing as being similar to the process of composing music – just as composer constructs a melody out of individually sounding and often dissonant musical notes, film’s director endows a particular scene with semiotic significance by the mean of providing scene’s takes with contextual wholesomeness. While outlining the essence of formalist editing, Gianetti (2001) states: â€Å"The envir onment of the scene is the source of the images. Long shots are rare. Instead, a barrage of close-ups (often of objects) provides the audience with the necessary associations to link together the meaning† (p. 157). Given the fact that Eisenstein never ceased being closely affiliated with promotion of Communist agenda, it comes as not a particular surprise that he had chosen in favor of formalist editing – by juxtaposing scenes’ seemingly unrelated shots, he was able to endow his films with clearly defined ideological sounding. In the same book from which we have already quoted, Gianetti provides us with the insight onto the actual technique of Eisenstein’s style of editing: â€Å"The conflict of two shots (thesis and antithesis) produces a wholly new idea (synthesis). Thus, in film terms, the conflict between shot A and shot B is not AB but a qualitatively new factor- C† (p. 158). In the next part of this paper, we will explore how Eisenstein went a bout applying the methods of formalist editing in Battleship Potemkin at length. Analytical part Even the very beginning of Battleship Potemkin is being perfectly illustrative of how the utilization of formalist editing in film can achieve a strong dramatic effect. At first, there is a take of battleship’s physician wearing a monocle, meant to emphasize his association with the class of bourgeoisie (00.05.43). After that, follows the shot of maggots crawling all over the piece of meat, which was supposed to serve ship’s sailors as food (00.05.45). After having exposed viewers to this take for a while, Eisenstein sharply replaces it with the shot of angry expression on sailors’ faces (00.05.60). It is needless to mention, of course, that from purely semantic perspective, the sequence of these shots does not make much of a sense.Advertising Looking for essay on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn Mo re Nevertheless, after having watched this particular scene, viewers quite unintentionally get to absorb the idea that Eisenstein wanted them to absorb – namely, the fact that, while serving in Russian Imperial Fleet, sailors used to be subjected to a number of different abuses, which had prompted them to revolt. Just as it is being often the case with today’s TV commercials, the main idea that combined earlier mentioned shots into something that conveyed cognitively recognizable ideological message, only existed in director’s imagination. And, it is namely the fact that Eisenstein was a master of psychological manipulation, which had allowed him to impose his obscure and morally repugnant ideas upon viewers as representing some objective value. Another clue as to the actual essence of Eisenstein’s formalist editing can be found in the scene where revolutionary speakers address angry mob (00.41.32 – 00.42.19). Given the fact that Battleship Potemkin is a silent movie, exposing viewers to the sight of crazed revolutionaries encouraging marginalized crowds to kill nobles, while intensely gesturing, making angry faces and spewing saliva, during the course of the process, does not appear rationally motivated – after all, there is no sound in the movie. Nevertheless, by having this particular scene presented in his film, Eisenstein did not aim at subjecting viewers to Communist propaganda per se, but rather at making them cognitively comfortable with this propaganda as a concept, because on subconscious level, people tend to associate emotional intensity with intellectual honesty. In other words, just as it is being the case with the shots of maggots crawling over the piece of meat, the shots of hook-nosed political activists instigating ‘proletarians’ to overthrow Czar had served the cause of psychological manipulation, on director’s part – a clearly formalist editing technique. Neverthel ess, it is specifically the scene of czarist police shooting at civilians in Odessa, which provides us with the full understanding of how the utilization of formalist editing had helped Battleship Potemkin to attain a cult status. After police fires a salvo at demonstrators, we get to watch the following sequence of structurally unrelated takes: people running down the ‘Potemkin stairs’ (00.49.23), some kids laying on these stairs and crying, while being stepped upon (00.50.08), a bug-eyed woman experiencing an emotional distress (00.50.12), the older woman making jesters with her hands (00.51.18), one-legged man maneuvering through the running people on his crutches (00.51.48), police officers firing another salvo (00.51.51), woman with a baby in her hands catching the bullet (00.52.53), people running again in a chaotic manner (00.53.07), and finally the baby-carriage with a baby rolling down the stairs on its own (00.54.57), with this shot climaxing the whole scene.A dvertising We will write a custom essay sample on Battleship Potemkin specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Apparently, Einstein was well aware of the fact that, even though the scenes of police shooting at civilians do not occur very often in reality, his depiction of such a scene nevertheless would be perceived by viewers as perfectly plausible, due to its strongly defined emotional undertones. In their turn, these undertones had been brought about by director’s mastery in utilization of formalist editing. Conclusion Even though that in ‘artsy’ circles, the application of formalist editing in cinematography is being often considered as the only appropriate, due to such editing’s ‘sophistication’, the majority of movie goers do not subscribe to this point of view. And, this has nothing to do with their lessened intellectual abilities, as is being implied by enthusiasts of ‘auteur’ genr e in cinematography, but simply with the fact that this style of editing does not correspond to the linearly defined workings of Westerners’ psyche. In formalistically edited movie, there is very little of an actual movie, but mostly theory. The watching of Einstein’s Battleship Potemkin is like observing Malevich’s Black Square painting – without having been introduced to both individuals’ highly irrational and superficially sophisticate life-philosophies, it would prove quite impossible to define the actual significance of their cinematographic/artistic creations’ themes and motifs, if we assume that they do exist. As Gianetti had put it: â€Å"Eisensteins theories of collision montage have been explored primarily in the avant-garde cinema, music videos, and TV commercials. Most fiction film ­makers have found them too intrusive and heavy-handed† (p. 168). Thus, even though in Battleship Potemkin Einstein did succeed with providin g an emotional appeal to the Communist cause, he nevertheless had failed in making this particular movie watchable – after all, viewers do not particularly enjoy the feeling of being intellectually manipulated by the mean of being forced to accept director’s own ideological agenda as representing an undeniable truth-value. References Gianetti, L. (2001). Understanding movies. 9th ed. Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall.

Biography of Numa Pompilius, Roman King

Biography of Numa Pompilius, Roman King Numa Pompilius (c. 753–673 BCE) was the second king of Rome. He is credited with establishing a number of notable institutions, including the temple of Janus. Numas predecessor was Romulus, the legendary founder of Rome. Fast Facts: Numa Pompilius Known For: According to legend, Numa was the second king of Rome.Born: c. 753 BCEDied: c. 673 BCE Early Life According to ancient scholars, Numa Pompilius was born on the very day that Rome was founded- April 21, 753 BCE. Little else is known about his early life. Some 37 years after the founding of Rome, Romulus- the kingdoms first ruler- disappeared in a thunderstorm. The patricians, the Roman nobility, were suspected of having murdered him until Julius Proculus informed the people that he had had a vision of Romulus, who said that he had been taken up to join the gods and was to be worshiped under the name Quirinus. Rise to Power There was considerable unrest between the original Romans and the Sabines- who had joined them after the city was founded- over who would be the next king. For the time being, it was arranged that the senators should each rule with the kings powers for a period of 12 hours until some more permanent solution could be found. Eventually, they decided that the Romans and Sabines should each elect a king from the other group, i.e., the Romans would elect a Sabine and the Sabines a Roman. The Romans were to choose first, and their choice was the Sabine Numa Pompilius. The Sabines agreed to accept Numa as the king without bothering to elect anyone else, and a deputation from both Romans and Sabines went off to tell Numa of his election. Numa did not even live in Rome; he resided in a nearby town called Cures. He was the son-in-law of Tatius, a Sabine who had ruled Rome as joint king with Romulus for a period of five years. After Numas wife died, he had become something of a recluse and was believed to have been taken by a nymph or nature spirit as a lover. When the delegation from Rome came, Numa refused the position of king at first but was later talked into accepting it by his father and Marcius, a relative, and some of the local people from Cures. They argued that left to themselves the Romans would continue to be just as warlike as they had been under Romulus and it would be better if the Romans had a more peace-loving king who could moderate their bellicosity or, if that proved to be impossible, at least direct it away from Cures and the other Sabine communities. Kingship Having agreed to accept the position, Numa left for Rome, where his election as king was confirmed by the people. Before he finally accepted, however, he insisted on watching the sky for a sign in the flight of birds that his kingship would be acceptable to the gods. Numas first act as king was to dismiss the guards Romulus had always kept around. To achieve his aim of making the Romans less bellicose, he diverted the peoples attention by leading religious spetacles- processions and sacrifices- and by terrifying them with accounts of strange sights and sounds, which were supposedly signs from the gods. Numa instituted priests (flamines) of Mars, of Jupiter, and of Romulus under his heavenly name of Quirinus. He also added other orders of priests: the pontifices, the salii, and the fetiales, and the vestals. The pontifices were responsible for public sacrifices and funerals. The salii were responsible for the safety of a shield which had allegedly fallen from the sky and was paraded around the city each year accompanied by the salii dancing in armor. The fetiales were peacemakers. Until they agreed that it was a just war, no war could be declared. Originally Numa instituted two vestals, but he later increased the number to four. The main duty of the vestals, or vestal virgins, was to keep the sacred flame alight and to prepare the mixture of grain and salt used in public sacrifices. Reforms Numa distributed the land conquered by Romulus to poor citizens, hoping that an agricultural way of life would make the Romans more peaceful. He would inspect the farms himself, promoting those whose farms looked well cared for and admonishing those whose farms showed signs of laziness. People still thought of themselves first as original Romans or Sabines, rather than citizens of Rome. To overcome this division, Numa organized the people into guilds based on the occupations of their members. In Romulus time, the calendar had been fixed at 360 days to the year, but the number of days in a month greatly varied. Numa estimated the solar year at 365 days and the lunar year at 354 days. He doubled the difference of eleven days and instituted a leap month of 22 days to come between February and March (which was originally the first month of the year). Numa made January the first month, and he may have added the months of January and February to the calendar as well. The month of January is associated with the god Janus, the doors of whose temple were left open in times of war and closed in times of peace. In Numas reign of 43 years, the doors remained closed, a record for Rome. Death When Numa died at over the age of 80 he left a daughter, Pompilia, who was married to Marcius, the son of the Marcius who had persuaded Numa to accept the throne. Their son, Ancus Marcius, was 5 years old when Numa died, and he later became the fourth king of Rome. Numa was buried under the Janiculum together with his religious books. In 181 BCE, his grave was uncovered in a flood but his coffin was found to be empty. Only the books, which had been buried in a second coffin, remained. They were burnt on the recommendation of the praetor. Legacy Much of the story of Numas life is pure legend. Still, it seems likely that there was a monarchical period in early Rome, with the kings coming from different groups: Romans, Sabines, and Etruscans. It is rather less likely that there were seven kings who reigned in a monarchical period of approximately 250 years. One of the kings may have been a Sabine called Numa Pompilius, though we may doubt that he instituted so many features of the Roman religion and calendar or that his reign was a golden age free from strife and warfare. But that the Romans believed that it was so is a historical fact. The story of Numa was part of the founding myth of Rome. Sources Grandazzi, Alexandre.  The Foundation of Rome: Myth and History. Cornell University Press, 1997.Macgregor, Mary.  The Story of Rome, from the Earliest Times to the Death of Augustus. T. Nelson, 1967.