Performing Arts Events

Introduction McCarthy (2001) notes that the performing arts consists of â€Å"theatre, opera, dance and music†(p.1). Over the years, there has been rapid development in the performing arts sector.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Performing Arts Events specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Historical Background McCarthy (2001) notes that â€Å"during the 19th century, commercial artists and organizations were the major providers of performing arts in America†(p.6). Most of the performances by then were managed by individuals and were staged in large cities and small towns and were entirely for business. McCarthy (2001) notes that the individual owners made no distinction between â€Å"high and popular arts in terms of either programming or audiences†(p.16). University Microfilms (1982) explain that by the end of the 19th century, new technologies which included radio, recorded music, films, radio, and television were introduced, and this led to reduction in the number of live performing arts organizations. All these were important tools for leisure and recreation. During this period, a lot of customers diverted from the live propriety arts which marked the first major shift in the performing arts. The live high arts were presented in the nonprofit sector while the most popular arts that were both live and recorded fell mainly into the commercial sector. By mid century, McCarthy (2001) notes that there were live professional performing arts that were supported by nonprofit arts institutions that were centered in major metropolitan areas. McCarthy (2001) explains that on the other hand, â€Å"in the late 1950s and early 1960s, there was an increased growth of funders in performing arts due to the introduction of the new financing technique that was initiated by the Ford Foundation†(p.38). During this period, there was a lot of expansion and geographic dispersion of organ izations of nonprofit arts in the country (McCarthy, 2001) By the year 1980, much expansion in the performing arts sector was experienced (University Microfilms, 1982). It’s quite clear that growth from leveraged funding will not live long. In addition, the live performing arts are dying due to the preferred use of broadcast and recorded media to experience the performing arts.Advertising Looking for essay on art? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More These developments have impacted both the profit and the non-profit organizations strategies, which in turn have changed the performing arts system with regard to what is performed and the manner in which it is delivered. A study carried out by Godfrey Urice (1999) indicates that there has been increase in the number of people purchasing recorded performances and going to watch live performances. However, Godfrey Urice (1999) explains that â€Å"much growth has been experienc ed in the market for the non-live arts inclusive of the recorded and broadcast performances†(p.45). Godfrey Urice (1999) notes that the demand for the non-live performances has risen due to the increased costs of live performances, the need for people to have leisure while at home as well as the improved quality of recorded live performances On the other hand McCarthy (2001) notes that Americans attendance of live performances increased slightly over the ten years from 1982 to 1992 while more recent findings from the year 1992 to the year 1997 indicate â€Å"the number of people attending live performances going up by four percent (opera) to sixteen percent (musicals).† Analysis of Factors in Performing Arts A study by University Microfilms(1982) notes â€Å"social factors largely affect the performing arts industry†(p.38). For instance, more Americans want leisure activities that are flexible enough, thus the demand for recorded work has increased. In addition, the younger generation to come is predicted that it will enjoy use of internet and other technological tools than attending live performances. The second issue is the artists. The number of artists has been growing rapidly over the years. McCarthy (2001)notes that â€Å"the increase in both nonprofit and commercial arts organizations between 1970 and 1990 led to a doubling in the number of professional artists over that period to 1.6 million, about 261,000 who were performing artists†(p.20).The number of performing artists who pursue performing arts with no expectations of pay is also increasing. Despite the fact that the job security of performing artists has largely declined, the artists continue to be dedicated to their work. Performing artists usually earn less amount of pay than other professionals. McCarthy (2001) notes that â€Å"the median annual salary of professional and technical workers in 1989 was 10 percent higher than the median salary of professional actors and directors, and more than twice as high as the median salary of musicians, composers and dancers†(p.30).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Performing Arts Events specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The other factor affecting the performing artists is that the presence of superstars makes people to concentrate on only a few artists. These superstars use internet for marketing themselves directly to their audience. Thus, a few top performing artists are paid almost all the wages, thus leaving the upcoming artists with very less amount. McCarthy(2001) notes that â€Å" the number of nonprofit performing arts organizations increased by over eighty percent between 1982 and 1997, whereas the number of commercial performing arts organizations increased by over forty percent† (p.32).`In addition, revenues for nonprofit performing groups have gone down for all performing arts except in opera, indicating that t he new nonprofit organizations are not big. Tyler (2010) explains that most performing arts venues were built in the years between 1980 and 1993.These organizations are usually exempted from tax while others are funded by the local government. These are the key indicators of economic benefits of arts. Many theater halls for instance are funded by the community organizations. On the other hand, commercial organizations in the recording and broadcasting industries are increasingly organized globally. McCarthy notes that between 1977 and 1997, the revenue that was received from â€Å"earned income, contributions and government remained steady as the total average annual revenues for performing arts organizations rose steadily†(p.35).Though performing groups have tried a lot to market themselves so as to develop audience, they still mainly rely on the market. Gregory Arthur (2005) explains that â€Å"frequently, the states and local governments seem to focus more on awarding gr ants to social and economic benefits and less on arts although private contributions increased steadily between the years 1977 and 1997, though in form of small donations†(p.76). A study by Tyler (2003) indicates that the performing arts sector has come up with several strategies to cater for its financial needs for instance, â€Å"strategies for cutting costs, developing revenues, and developing revenues†(p.39). Future trends and Challenges in Performing Arts. In future, small firms will try to capture the audience by use of recorded work including the classical recordings unlike the large firms. Small for- profit performing arts firms will make use of technological tools like e-commerce and internet to boost their programming so as to serve a wider and more specialized market. It is also predicted that in future, the nonprofit sector will be divided between the large and small nonprofits, when it comes to programming, type of audience, and the professionalism of most of the artists.Advertising Looking for essay on art? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Sheehy (1994) also notes that there will be â€Å"deviations of interest in the nonprofit firms, whereby these firms will lay more emphasis on local and ethnic communities, specialized budgets, low budget, low-tech productions and will rely on volunteers as well as providing opportunities for hand-on participation for non professional artists in traditional –arts forms†(p.33). McCarthy (2001) explains that â€Å"the biggest change that will be experienced will be the opera companies, symphony orchestras, ballet companies and theatre groups in the middle nonprofit organizations†(p.13). Rowe (2004) adds that â€Å"probable decrease in demand, costs, and the decreasing funding streams will either make these institutions either larger, though they are likely to lack resources, or smaller so as to keep the costs down and to rely on local talent and in severe cases, some will close down†(p.34). The major shift in the performing arts events as noted by McCarthy (2001) are in the structure of the system of performing arts. McCarthy (2001) notes that â€Å"while the commercial recorded and broadcast performing arts industry is growing more and more concentrated globally, live performances are proliferating at the local level, typically in very small organizations with low operating budgets and a mix of paid and unpaid performers and staff† (p.14). On the other hand, the middle- sized nonprofit organizations have faced lots of difficulties in getting the public to cater for their costs. Many of these middle-sized nonprofit organizations are likely to vanish (McCarthy, 2001). McCarthy (2001) explains that â€Å"going by the issues that we have discussed, the number of performances will either increase or decrease depending on whether they are recorded or presented as live performances, or whether they involve the high, folk or popular arts†(p.78). For instance, high arts professional performances will be saturated in large cities and will be provided by nonprofit firms that are well financially. McCarthy (2001) also explains that â€Å"in smaller cities and towns, the touring artists and performing groups will present live performances to audiences since they are unable to provide the top performing artists†(p.47). Rowe (2004) also notes that â€Å"small performing arts groups will be in a position to come up with active loyal audiences and small organizations in the nonprofit sector will go on providing low-budget productions with lots of diversity since they will be performed mostly by artists who do not do craft as a vocation†(p 35). There will be trends that are mostly likely to arrest the development of young talented performing artists (Rowe, 2004). This is because if the phenomenon of superstars goes on and both the number of large and middle sized organizations decreases, then young artists will not have a room to gain experience. Rowe (2004) explains that in addition, â€Å"the press ure on these organizations to earn great revenues will end up producing programming that is appealing to mass audiences†(p.40). If successful market categories are let to determine what is recorded or performed, then there will be less innovation. In the case of use of internet for marketing work, when so many artists use internet to attract the audience, it will be impossible for the audience to recognize the unique talent. Finally, changes in accessibility of performing arts will have a great impact. McCarthy (2001) explains that â€Å"despite the fact that the number of live professional performances will go down in parts of the country, performances that are community-based and recorded performances will take the part of live performances†(p.48). Careers and Guidance on Working as a Performing Artist. There are various careers that exist in the performing arts industry. Some of these careers include; dance therapist, dancer, singer, music director and story teller ( University Microfilms, 1982). A dance therapist is a person who uses dance movements and observations in assessing people. He or she is entrusted with the role of ensuring that clients improve their self confidence by using body movements. A dance therapist can work in rehabilitation centers, nursing homes and special education schools among other places. A dancer is a person who is able to express him self or stories by use of body movements. For one to become a dancer, one must be flexible and have good body coordination. Dancers can work in shows, can do television commercials, and work in movie theatres among other places. The other type of career is a singer. A singer is a person who can use his vocals to produce music. A singer is supposed to be able to vary his tone depending with the key of the song. Singers can work in music shows, in the television for commercials, in bands as well as in movie theatres. The fourth type of career for performing artists is a music director. A music director is a person who directs a group of musicians, a film or an orchestra. A music director can work in schools that recognize the need to develop the musical skills of their talented learners and in orchestra bands. A music director is entrusted with the role of choosing the performers, selecting music, hiring professionals in music as well as supervising the rehearsals and organizing the actual performance. Finally, a story teller is a person who is able to create and tell stories. He must be very creative and charming person. He must know how to read the gestures of the audience so as to know what story to tell and when. A story teller can work in an auditorium; can tell stories in the television, and can work in big entertainment shows. While Working as a performing artists, one should know that time is of essence. This means that one should maximize the available time. The other important thing to note is that a performing artist should be someone who can imagine an d visualize things. This will enable you to come up with items that are unique. As a performing artist, it’s important that you utilize the knowledge that you have to come up with items that are able to capture people’s attention. At the same time, it’s important for one to be fully aware of him self or her self even as one takes up a career in performing arts. This will in turn enable an individual to work hard towards the realization of goal. Finally, there is need for one to follow his passion in making career choices and when one decides on the career choice, and then one should be persistent in the career. By following all these, then one will be successful in his career as performing artists. Key Impacts and Ethical concerns of hosting a performing arts event. In a study by Rowe (2004), integrating arts in schools generally improves the learner’s performance and discipline. Sheehy (1994) explains that hosting performance arts events improve the gene ral well being of a person and promotes economy and good neighborhood. Rowe (2004) also explains that hosting performance events increases capital and leads to the realization of certain community goals. McCarthy (2001) explains that hosting performing arts events strengthens the performers economically since they are usually paid when they perform .The economy of the country is also boosted in cases whereby tourists are present in the performing arts events (Heibrain Gray, 2001). By hosting performing arts events, the community gets to experience the world of the arts and eventually, many community members find themselves participating in the arts. The growth of arts industries is also stimulated when such events are hosted. Politicians can use the well organized performing arts events to familiarize themselves with citizens. Hosting performing arts events also creates good relationships between countries, especially when the performing arts events are international. Hosting perfo rming arts also has cultural value. To start with, it creates a sense of collective identity, leading to development of community norms which include tolerance and freedom of expression, and at the same time, it improves the community’s image. Finally, hosting performing arts events has social value as people come together so as to organize the events and by doing so, a lot of interactions take place between various stakeholders and among people in general. There are limitations that are usually associated with hosting performing arts events. For instance, the arts events may not always impact on the economy of the likely, like in cases whereby high schools are holding performing arts events. The second limitation is that hosting performing arts events more often than not tends to favor more interaction among organizations than among individuals. Finally, hosting performing arts events usually impacts negatively to the environment as it causes noise pollution. Conclusion In c onclusion, the field of performing arts has grown widely over the years. There are several factors that are responsible for shaping the performing arts among them being political, social, cultural, and technological factors. Among the careers in performing arts include: dance therapist, music director, story teller, singer and dancer. One of the key things in pursuing a career in performing arts is that one should have a passion for it and be ready to persevere. Some of the future trends of performing arts include: there will be improved changes in recording and broadcasting, a great difference between the large and small performing arts organizations and that the young talents may not have a chance to acquire the required experience in performing arts, References Gregory, B Arthur, C. (2005) A question of morality: artists values and public funding. Wales, University of Cardiff. Godfrey, M. Urice, S. (1999) The performing arts in a new era. London, Routledge. Heibrun, J. Gray, C . (2001) The economics of art and culture. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press. McCarthy, K.F. (2001) The performing arts in a new era. London, Oxford University Press. Rowe, M. (2004) Arts education partnerships: lessons learnt. New York, Rand Corporation. Sheehy, C. (1994) Managing performing arts collections in academic and public libraries. London: Libraries Unlimited. Tyler, C. (2010) Good and plenty: the creative successes of American arts funding. New York, Sage. University Microfilms (1982) Dissertation abstracts international: the humanities and social sciences. London, University Microfilms International. This essay on Performing Arts Events was written and submitted by user Ezequiel Colon to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

How Simone de Beauvoir Inspired Second Wave Feminism

How Simone de Beauvoir Inspired Second Wave Feminism â€Å"One is not born, but rather becomes, a woman.† - Simone de Beauvoir, in The Second Sex Was Simone de Beauvoir a feminist? Her landmark book The Second Sex was one of the first inspirations to the activists of the Womens Liberation Movement, even before Betty Friedan wrote The Feminine Mystique. However, Simone de Beauvoir did not at first define herself as a feminist. Liberation Through Socialist Struggle In The Second Sex, published in 1949, Simone de Beauvoir downplayed her association with feminism as she then knew it. Like many of her associates, she believed that socialist development and class struggle were needed to solve societys problems, not a womens movement. When 1960s feminists approached her, she did not rush to enthusiastically join their cause. As the resurgence and reinvention of feminism spread during the 1960s, Simone de Beauvoir noted that socialist development had not left women better off in the USSR or in China than they were in capitalist countries. Soviet women had jobs and government positions but were still unfailingly the ones attending to the housework and children at the end of the workday. This, she recognized, mirrored the problems being discussed by feminists in the United States about housewives and womens roles. The Need for a Womens Movement In a 1972 interview with Alice Schwarzer, Simone de Beauvoir declared that she really was a feminist. She called her rejection of a womens movement a shortcoming of The Second Sex. She also said the most important thing women can do in their lives is work, so they can be independent. Work was not perfect, nor was it a solution to all problems, but it was the first condition for womens independence, according to Simone de Beauvoir. She lived in France, but Simone de Beauvoir continued to read and examine the writings of prominent U.S. feminist theorists such as Shulamith Firestone and Kate Millett. Simone de Beauvoir also theorized that women could not be truly liberated until the system of patriarchal society itself was overthrown. Yes, women needed to be liberated individually, but they also needed to fight in solidarity with the political left and the working classes. Her ideas were compatible with the belief that the personal is political. No Separate Womens Nature Later in the 1970s, Simone de Beauvoir, as a feminist, was dismayed by the idea of a separate, mystical feminine nature, a New Age concept that seemed to be gaining popularity. Just as I do not believe that women are inferior to men by nature, nor do I believe that they are their natural superiors either.- Simone de Beauvoir, in 1976 In The Second Sex, Simone de Beauvoir had famously stated, One is not born, but rather becomes, a woman. Women are different from men because of what they have been taught and socialized to do and be. It was dangerous, she said, to imagine an eternal feminine nature, in which women were more in touch with the earth and the cycles of the moon. According to Simone de Beauvoir, this was just another way for men to control women, by telling women they are better off in their cosmic, spiritual eternal feminine, kept away from mens knowledge and left without all the mens concerns like work, careers, and power. A Return to Enslavement The notion of a womans nature struck Simone de Beauvoir as further oppression. She called motherhood a way of turning women into slaves. It did not have to be that way, but it usually ended up that way in society precisely because women were told to concern themselves with their divine nature. They were forced to focus on motherhood and femininity instead of politics, technology or anything else outside of home and family. Given that one can hardly tell women that washing up saucepans is their divine mission, they are told that bringing up children is their divine mission.- Simone de Beauvoir, in 1982 This was a way of rendering women second-class citizens: the second sex. Transformation of Society The Womens Liberation Movement helped Simone de Beauvoir become more attuned to the day-to-day sexism women experienced. Yet, she did not think it was beneficial for women to refuse to do anything the mans way or refuse to take on qualities deemed masculine. Some radical feminist organizations rejected leadership hierarchy as a reflection of masculine authority and said no single person was in charge. Some feminist artists declared they could never truly create unless they were completely separate from male-dominated art. Simone de Beauvoir recognized that Womens Liberation had done some good, but she said feminists should not utterly reject being a part of the mans world, whether in organizational power or with their creative work. From Simone de Beauvoirs point of view, the work of feminism was to transform society and womens place in it. Read more of Alice Schwarzers interviews with Simone de Beauvoir in her book After the Second Sex: Conversations With Simone de Beauvoir, published by Pantheon Books in 1984.)

Frida Kahlo Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Frida Kahlo - Essay Example The paper "Frida Kahlo" analyzes the life and art of Frida Kahlo. Her father was German, however, his true nationality was Jewish. While his life he was a photographer. Her mother used to be an America originated Spaniard. At the age of six years old, the artist used to suffer from polio. This determined the reason why since then the right leg became shorter and thinner than the left one. At the age of eighteen, Kahlo survived in a car accident: a broken iron rod collector tram stuck in the stomach and left groin, shattering the hipbone. The still painful months of inactivity began. It was that time when Kahlo asked her father for a brush and paint. There was a special frame made for Frida in order to allow her to paint lying. 1929 was an important year for the artist. She enters the National Institute of Mexico. For the year, held in almost total immobility, Kahlo obtained a serious passion for painting. Again, start walking, she attended art school and in 1928 joined the Communist Party. Her work has been praised by the time by the famous artist Diego Rivera of Communist era. When Frida was twenty-two years old, she married him. Their family life is seething passions. They could not always be together, but never – apart. They tied relationship which could be characterized as passionate, obsessive, and sometimes painful. In 1953, Mexico City is hosting the first solo exhibition of Frida Kahlo. None of self-portrait of Frida Kahlo smiles: serious, even mournful face, bushy eyebrows grown together.

Diversity Consciousnesses development Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Diversity Consciousnesses development - Essay Example In the past, there has been a high level of exclusion in the work force. Such exclusion has been defined by discrimination by some minority groups as well as women in the work place. Minority groups in the United States exhibit racial differences from the mainstream population comprising of the white Americans (Dayer-Berenson, 2010). After immense research concerning diversity, it has emerged that it can be a source of a high level of creativity as well as innovation. Such realization has compelled and motivated American organizations to view diversity in a positive way. Many organizations are struggling to embrace diversity and utilize the potential of diversity in a bid to register growth in their organizations. As Americans become more accommodating of the minority groups, and as civil right movements place emphasis on the need for inclusion, a salient need for diversity consciousness has emerged. This paper will analyze diversity practices evident at the union county college as the focus organization in this study. Moreover, the paper will analyze the findings from two other organizations considering whether they have embraced diversity and whether the employers exhibit diversity consciousness. It is critical to understand the theories and perspectives that define the workforce diversity. With an increasing emphasis on the need for employers to develop diversity consciousness during the hiring process, there is a need to understand the relevant diversity practices that exhibit the presence of diversity consciousness. Evidently, the American workforce comprises of individuals from different backgrounds and personalities. Organizations that have embraced diversity usually benefit from such efforts as a diverse workforce exhibits more core competencies. In a bid to evaluate the modern theories that govern the workforce diversity, it is critical to consider the practices of a specified organization and evaluate the views of the employers concerning the issue

Iran and Iraeli Current Situation Research Paper

Iran and Iraeli Current Situation - Research Paper Example Iranian Nuclear Program - Historical Background Being launched in the 1970s under the Shah, the series of Iran’s ambitious nuclear projects heavily relied on the U.S. and European assistance – Iran had struck a deal with the West-German company, KWU, to build two 1Â  200 megawatt reactors and negotiated the construction of another two 900 megawatt reactors with the French ‘Framatome’ (Iran Watch, 2012). The goal set by the Shah had been for the country to produce over 20Â  000 megawatts of electricity from nuclear power stations within the next twenty years (Iran Watch, 2012). Following the revolution in 1979 and the war with Iraq that started in 1980, the nuclear energy program had been abandoned and the existing infrastructure – considerably damaged. However, since the late 1980s, Iran’s nuclear program had been revived and given a fresh impetus via the assistance from Russia and China (Iran Watch, 2012). ... Q. Khan (Iran Watch, 2012; Cronin, Kronstadt and Squassoni, 2005). Both actual progress and probable scope of Iran’s nuclear program became clear, to a degree or another, in 2003, when the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) conducted a series of safeguards inspections, along with verification of Iran’s activities in the area of uranium enrichment, intended to set off implementation of the NPT Safeguards Agreement in the country (IAEA, 2003). Having found no evidence of activities related to development of nuclear weapons by then, the Agency emphasized the necessity of further inspections, enough time and Iran’s full cooperation, in order to be able to conclude that Iran’ nuclear program is exclusively for peaceful purposes (IAEA, 2003). In 2004, however, Iran was rebuked for failing to cooperate with IAEA’s inquiry and agreed to suspend most of its uranium enrichment activity under a deal with the EU; nevertheless, uranium conversion was resu med at Isfahan plant in 2005, and Iran was accused of violation of NPT (Aljazeera, 2012). From 2005 to 2009, there were a series of breaches in Iran’s promises and the agreements with IAEA concerning the uranium enrichment activities, accompanied by sweeping U.S sanctions against the country, Iran’s rocket-test launches, including such of a of a long-range missile capable of reaching Israel, and a UN Security Council resolution on Iran’s uranium enrichment program (Aljazeera, 2012). Following the new disclosure of an underground enrichment facility at Fordow, nearby Qom, and Iran’s rejection of the international demand for freezing the project, several important developments took place in 2009, including an IAEA report that suggested for the first time Iran might be chasing

Why International Business Differs from Domestic Business

Why International Business Differs from Domestic Business It is almost common place today to find businesses venturing into international markets. Thanks to advancement in communication and information technology, this trend will most certainly persist for the predictable future. Most domestic organisations when considering expansion will usually look outside their geographical location. This usually means looking at opportunities in international markets. It is believed that managing and running a domestic business is less complex than undertaking international business for a number of reasons. Nation states typically have unique laws governing trade and investment, variations in business ethics and culture, different political systems, monetary policies, currencies and so on. And these are all possible factors that could make international business more complicated and therefore, riskier than doing business at home. In discussing the differences between international business and domestic business, it will make sense to discuss issues involved in doing business internationally which will not otherwise be present or prove as complicated as when doing business at home. International business could range from the smallest of firms with the smallest possible activities with just a single country, to a much larger world-wide organisation with more interconnected operations and strategic alliances all over the globe. Comparison are frequently made within this range, alongside other forms of international business, and these differentiations make it easier to comprehend an organisations strategy, structure, and decision making processes. A notable comparison is that between nation-wide operations, and standalone subsidiary companies which act basically as domestic organisations, and global organisations, with subsidiaries which are tightly integrated and interconnected; like double ends of a band, with multiple openings in the middle. However, it will be less likely that you will find organisations at any one end of the band because, nowadays, companies frequently mix elements of domestic activities with those of global operations. Domestic versus international business All enterprise, whether domestic or international, and in all sector, have the same business aims; which is to be successful in its functions in order to be able to stay operational. In what ways, can we say that international business is distinguishable from domestic business? One can say loosely that the difference is mainly about location; domestic businesses exist and do business within a nation while international businesses exist and do business beyond those national boundaries. Typically, most countries have unique systems of government, laws, monetary policies, cultural differences, etc. For example, someone travelling to a new place on a visit will be required to be in possession of the right travel documents, have the appropriate foreign currency, some basic understanding of the local language (or device a way to interact with people),etc. Similarly, an individual or organisation going to do business in a different land will be faced with many such issues, making it potenti ally more difficult if he was to stay domestic. I am going to spend the next few sections of this essay comparatively discussing some of these issues which makes doing business internationally different from doing it domestically . International trade and investment theories A good place to start painting a picture of international business is to have a general conception of why business takes place beyond national borders. We can examine trade and investment as an expression of the comparative advantage of nations. That is, to suggest that every nation will usually be exceptionally excellent at producing some sort of goods or services or both. This is what is known as a countrys comparative advantage and it is based on a nations ample factors of production, such as land, labour, and capital. A country will therefore export such products and services that draw more on its rich factors of production. Take for example, labour and capital, two factors of production, and two countries, A and B. Country A may have a wealth of human resources and country B, a comparative richness in capital. It will therefore make sense for country A to export products or services that draw on labour intensively. Country B on the other hand, could export products or services t hat require a lot of capital. This is a rather one-dimensional way of looking at it. Many factors of production abound and in varying amount and will usually have more impact on trade. However, this is a an ideal point to start to get a clearer picture of what countries need in exchange for what they might in turn be able to supply to other countries. The flow of investment, one of the most versatile and mobile of all factors of production, can also be better explained by this comparative advantage concept. So, a country rich in capital but not enough labour force may want to invest in another country with abundance of labour but less capital to take advantage of that countryà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s richness in labour. Differences in business environment When a business takes its operations outside its national borders, the business environment changes. Clearly, an organisation will haveà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Å"inside-outà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ knowledge of its domestic environment, but this will rarely be the case when it decides to go international. Understanding the business environment of the foreign country is crucial to the successful launch of an international firm. Therefore, organisations must commit to a greater extent, time and resources in order to understand the new environment. Below are some of the business environments that may affect international business, their complexity are the main distinction between international and domestic operations. Economic environment The economic environment changes as you move from country to another. There are generally three main categories of world economies; the developed nations, the developing or third world nations and the emerging economies. These classifications are usually based on the gross domestic product per capital (GDP) income of the nations. Within these economies exist huge gaps in the standard of living, educational standards, health care provision (from excellent health care system in a developed country, for example, to a complete lack of such facilities in a developing or poor country), trade standards and culture. Additionally, one could also classify nation states by such activities as: Free-market economies; those markets where there is very little or no interference from the central government and demand and supply determines whats produced and sold for what price. Centrally planned economies; where government controls production and price. or Mixed market economies; where some activities are determined by market forces and some controlled by government. Since the last part of the 20th century we have seen significant move to free-market economies globally. However, countries like China, Russia and a few other communist inclined societies, have maintained mostly centrally projected economies, with most business activities remaining under the direct influence of the government. The level of government control of the market, available infrastructure, political climate, etc, impacts the business environment and organisations venturing into international market will need to be aware of this to be effective. Political environment Different types of government, the relationship between government and business, and the political hazard in a country all impact the environment in which people do business. Organisations doing business internationally will have to deal with different types of political authority, one that may be radically different from its home country, with varied legislation and different degrees of risk. The political system of one country may be different from that of another; unilateral states, multi-party republics, monarchies, dictatorships, etc exist in various forms from place to place. There are also differences in the way power changes among countries worldwide. Some happen through some sort of democratic election process, military coups, regime change through war, and so on. The relationship between government and businesses also varies from country to country. Some countries favour capitalism, and business may be seen as a positive catalyst for development. It may also have a negative outlook in some places where it may be seen as exploitative particularly when firms from rich countries takes advantage of cheap labour in disadvantaged countries. The biggest issue that international business needs to grapple with in terms of the political environment is the level of political risk. Some countries have unstable government, uncertain legislation, occasional or frequent social unrest, high level of corruption, acts of terrorism, war, etc, which could make doing business very difficult and dangerous. However, some organisation may particularly find it more attractive to do business in high risk zones as the financial rewards will usually be exceptionally high. For example a firm supplying security personnel may see a country at war an opportunity despite the high risk. An international organisation therefore needs to be aware of the political environment in the foreign country order to function successfully. Cultural environment Culture is one crucial and complex part of the international business environment. The complexity of culture lies in its abstract nature. According to Kluchohn and Strodtbeck (1961), culture can be conceptualised as a body of general beliefs, values shared by a group of people. Common beliefs and values shared by a people are usually as a result of common history, religious beliefs, educational background, geography, etc. International businesses therefore will seek to understand these elements that make up peoples beliefs and values in the foreign location. Some scholars have proposed various models of culture. Hofstede (1980), developed one of such models. He posited a four dimensional cultural values which included masculinity, power distance, avoidance of uncertainty and individualism. According to Hofstede (1980), masculinity refers to the extent to which a country consents to traditional male or female values. Power distance means the extent to which a society acknowledges differences in power. Avoidance of uncertainty is the extent to which society shows willingness to acknowledge and handle uncertainty. And individualism refers to the level to which a country respects and promotes individual action. The application of this model by Hofstede has been extensive in its use as it makes available data for a range of countries. It has also proved popular among academics and managers who find it useful in researching management styles that may be suitable in a number of cultures. Competitive environment The cultural, political and economic environment affects in part the changes in competitive environment from one nation to another. One can say that the environmental elements collectively determines to a large extent the level of competition that exist within a nation or internationally Competition may have different roots. It could come from small or large companies, operating in both private and public sectors, domestic or global, and so on. Organisations may find it easier to understand their competition when operating domestically as opposed to when operating in foreign territory. In the UK for instance, most businesses are owned privately and competition is usually among companies in this sector. Countries like china on the other hand have mostly state-owned companies. Therefore, a UK company doing business in China may end up with competition from state-owned organisation which could lead to tremendous change in the competitive environment. Types of competition faced by businesses will change according to location. Some countries may encourage competition or discourage it in order to favour some sort of cooperation, state legislations in some societies may allow or forbid certain competitive activities. International firms will therefore, need to grasp these issues that can affect the business competitive environment. Technological advancement and innovation has helped create more competitive advantage in today business, as a result, companies are increasingly vying for access to latest technological development. The internet has made it easier for businesses of all sizes to gain global exposure and expand their market. Nevertheless, it is worth noting that some countries are more receptive than others when it comes to technological innovations. Differences in modes of entry There are different ways that organisations can do business internationally. It could be through exports, outsourcing, joint ventures, franchising and so on. Exports are probably the most common form of entry option for organisations considering international business. Outsourcing on the other hand has also become very popular in the last couple of decades particularly in the technology sector. Effective outsourcing requires careful consideration and concise definition of the terms of the contract. For example both parties to the outsourcing agreement need to be clear as to what is expected of them right from the onset. Outsourcing are used frequently by organisations that provide specialised services, such as management, technical knowledge, engineering, information technology, education, and so on, usually for a contractual period of time and fee. Outsourcing contracts are particularly appealing for firms as it allows the opportunity to provided services utilising talents that they would otherwise not have. Contracts maybe long-term or short-term, leaving room for flexibility and because the cost of the contract are usually fixed, income forecasts are easier to make. One shortcoming however, is that, due to the short-term nature of the contracts, organisations utilising outsourcing will constantly need to be involved new business negotiation which are usually a many month process and often requires more money and specialist negotiation skill. Another issue international business need to consider is that of licensing. Different countries have different rules governing such things as patents, copyrights, trademarks, etc. Organisations need to be aware of the various licensing laws in the country they operate in. Franchising involves selling or buying whole business operational rights. What makes a franchise valuable is typically the name, product and perhaps a tradition. Most franchises will usually have set requirements, terms and conditions for granting a franchise license. This could be a very complicated process when been considered outside national borders. Joint ventures are about partnerships. It enables a firm to invest in another country with only a share of the responsibility. The amount of responsibility will usually depend on the level of investment. For instance, there could more organisations involved in a single venture where they are all partners. The level of responsibility will be determined by their stake. Deciding on whom to go into partnership with is very crucial. Agreement need to be struck at the onset on such issues as what the objectives of the venture will be and how conflicts will be resolved. Joint ventures can be a great entry choice for international business if done properly. Conclusion Doing business is a lot more complex when in foreign land than when at home as we can see from the discussions above. There is no doubt that entry into international business has become easier for organisations due to a more wide spread liberalisation and relaxation of trade laws, and of course, immense advancement in high tech. However, an organisation desirous of entering into international business has more environmental issues to contend with in addition to issues of actually running the business. Treading into international market is very delicate and organisations will need to take into consideration virtually all issues in their desired location. In other words, no stone can left unturned or ignored as doing so will jeopardise their chances of success.

Nick Carraways Epiphany in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby Essa

Nick’s Epiphany in The Great Gatsby A soft breeze lifts off the Sound and brushes Nick Carraway’s face as he emerges from the shadows into the moonlight. His eyes first gaze across the bay to the house of Tom and Daisy where Nick sees past the walls to people who â€Å"...smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back to their money or their vast carelessness or whatever it was that kept them together...† (Fitzgerald: 187- 188). Nick’s head then turns to his side where he views Gatsby’ s mansion. His heart swells for the man who was unable to let go of the past, and move toward his future. With the two houses juxtaposed in his mind’s eye, Nick ponders his experiences in the East, and enters the car to take him home with a new perspective on life. Nick’s maturity becomes evident as his perspective of society becomes more realistic as a result of his observing the consequences which occur in unhealthy relationships. Nick observes many relationships during his stay in New York, and looks upon these relationships with a perceptive eye. He sees that relationships which lack mutual feelings are destined for failure. Nick watches as Tom Buchanan meets with his mistress, Myrtle, and Nick notices the disparity in the respect that Tom and Myrtle have for each other. Myrtle appears to follow Tom’ s each and every demand, as if she were at the end of a tightly held rope, which Nick compares to the â€Å"...small expensive dog leash made of leather and braided silver† (166) which was found in Myrtle’ s drawer at her house. Myrtle’ s leash, one that could be used to control and manipulate every action of a person’s pet, is representative of Myrtle’ s willingness to subordinate her will to accommodate Tom’s demands. Myrtle’ s absolute de... ...e Novel, The   Critics, The Background.   Ed. Henry D. Piper.   Charles Schribner's Sons, New York: 1970. Fitzgerald, F. Scott.   The Great Gatsby.   Simon and Schuster Inc., New York: 1991. Hooper, Osman C.   "Fitzgerald's ‘The Great Gatsby'," The Critical Reputation of F. Scott   Fitzgerald.   Article A353.   Ed. Jackson Bryer.   Archon Books, Maryland: 1967. Samuels, Charles T.   "The Greatness of ‘Gatsby'." Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby: The Novel,   The Critics, The Background.   Ed. Henry D. Piper. Charles Schribner's Sons, New York: 1970. Trask, David F.   "The End of the American Dream," Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby: The Novel, The Critics, The Background.   Ed. Henry D. Piper. Charles Schribner's Sons, New York: 1970. Trilling, Lionel. "F. Scott Fitzgerald." Critical Essays on Scott Fitzgerald's "Great Gatsby." Ed. Scott Donaldson. Boston: Hall, 1984. 13-20.