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Shooting an Elephant

George Orwell’s story “Shooting an Elephant” is a potent illustration of the problematic relationship between the colonists and the colonized and the psychological battles that the defenders of the empire had to endure in the discharge of their duties. As a young officer in the British colony in Burma, the narrator incurs the daily torments of native displeasure and the strain of his duties. Privately, he sympathizes with the plight of the colonized, particularly on the account of the brutality, which is meted to them daily by the colonial establishment.

The narrator’s difficult condition stems from his divided world, which, on the one hand identifies him and his work with the oppressor, while on the other hand portrays him as a man of conscience. Additionally, he is bogged down with guilt and a feeling of helplessness against the hard realities, “cowed faces of the long-term convicts, the scarred buttocks of the men who had been Bogged with bamboos – all these oppressed me with an intolerable sense of guilt,” (Orwell a).

The result of this mental division is brought out more clearly in his remorse for the brutality meted out by the natives and his desire to kill the monks who torment him occasionally in their jeers. For him, the hard decision he makes about killing the elephant against his will provides some opportunity to even the odds of his divided world, which made him succumb to the pressure to act, “I could feel their two thousand wills pressing me forward, irresistibly,” (Orwell a).

The primary audience of this story is the British populations and the colony in general. The secondary audience comprises of colonized people, or those who have had the experiences of colonization. This story forms a kind of psychological bridge that allows the opposite ends of the colonized and the colonizer to access the rare glimpse of the deeper recesses of each other’s mentality. As a result, both parties are able to come to terms with their own weaknesses and the excesses of their attitudes and responses to the discourse of colonialism. In some sense, the story is cathartic because it opens up the mentality of an unwilling oppressor.

By narrating this story in first person, the author makes vivid some of the emotional and psychological turmoil at the heart of the narrator. It helps the reader identify with the conditions of the unwilling oppressor. The story of the elephant is exploited in a metaphoric way that highlights the enormous damage of colonialism at the individual level, “It was a tiny incident in itself, but it gave me a better glimpse than I had had before of the real nature of imperialism,” (Orwell a).

Marrakech

Orwell’s second story Marrakech is a moving description of the nearly unbelievable squalor that afflicts the Moroccan colony. Adverse poverty, dehumanized populations and the desolate physical environment are described in ways that portray possibly the worst levels that humanity could sink under conditions of colonialism and adversity. The purpose of this story weaves around the themes of adversity, poverty, gender inequalities, and colonialism. To a significant degree, this short story reads like a horrifying indictment to colonial oppression, which systematically lowers the lives of the conquered to ignoble depths. The very beginning of the story prepares the reader to the grim reality of death and suffering as it afflicts the local population, “As the corpse went past the flies left the restaurant table in a cloud and rushed after it, (Orwell b). The lives of the natives are shown as short, hopeless, and horrific.

The author uses the technique of contrast to capture the real enormity of human suffering. For instance, animals such as donkeys and dogs are presented as occupying some higher levels of existence as compared to the dehumanized people of the colony. In the same sense, the question of gender is brought out to illustrate the double suffering of women in an oppressive society. Women are not visible except through their roles. They are oppressed by the patriarchal society, which assigns them to arduous roles while the men in the impoverished society seek out ways to take advantage of gender power. For instance, it is argued, “When a family is travelling it is quite usual to see a father and a grown-up son riding ahead on donkeys, and an old woman following on foot, carrying the baggage,” (Orwell b).

The primary audience of this story is the colonial masters. The story directs their collective conscience to the pain and suffering that their system imparts on the oppressed subjects. Orwell also warns them of the possibility of eventual resistance as the colonized comes to terms with his reality of the oppressive system, “How much longer can we go on kidding these people? How long before they turn their guns in the other direction?” (Orwell b). This story is rendered effectively through the reliance of vivid description and anecdotes, which help to illustrate the extent of suffering and desolation of the colonial situation. The narrative techniques employed by the author are meant to mock at the oppressive edifice of colonialism and racism by questioning the moral structures on which they are founded.

 

 

Works Cited

Orwell, George. Shooting an Elephant. Literature Network, 2012, Web. 9 Oct. 2012, a.

Orwell, George. Marrakech. George Orwell.org, 2012, Web. 9 Oct. 2012, b.

 
 

 

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Review of Reservoir Dogs

Introduction

Reservoir Dogs is a movie written and directed by Quentin Tarantino. The movie revolves around crime and involves a lot of brutality. In the movie, a tough mob decides to rob a jewelry store in Los Angeles. However, one of the robberies goes sour and most member of the gang is killed. It turns out that one of the gang members had tipped the police. The movie reveals the events that transpired before and after the robbery but does not depict the event itself. The writer makes use of flash backs to ensure continuity of the movie. The themes in the movie include violent crime and trust. The actors featured in the movie include Mr. Blonde, Mr. Blue, Mr. Brown, Mr. Orange, Mr. Pink, and Mr. White. This paper focuses on the theme of trust as depicted in the movie Reservoir Dogs. The paper will discuss how Mr. Orange breaches the trust that the gang members especially Mr. White, have on him. Additionally, the paper will

The theme of trust is one of the major themes in the movie. Mr. Orange joins the gang as an undercover police. He is deceitful and manages to make the gang members trust him. Mr. White trusts Mr. Orange largely and reveals his identity to him. Even when Joe suspects that Mr. Orange is a police informant, Mr. White defends him and even threatens to kill Joe if he executes Mr. Orange. Mr. White kills Joe eventually (Tarantino 4-9, 106-110).

Another incidence where trust is breached emanates when Mr. Orange betrays Mr. White. Mr. White trusted Mr. Orange to an extent of revealing his identity to him even though it was against the rules of the gang. All through the movie, Mr. White defends Mr. Orange even when others doubt him. He even tries to justify anything Mr. Orange does. However, Mr. Orange does nothing to defend Mr. White when the police storm the warehouse. On the contrary, he is the one who had informed them of the robbery. Mr. Orange gets himself shot so that he can deceive the rest of the gang that he was a victim just like them (Tarantino 75-81).

Another character who breaches the trust is Mr. Pink. When he manages to escape with the diamonds, he hides under the stairs. He eventually escapes with the diamonds. This is irrespective of the fact that other gang members had participated in the robbery. Although he reveals that he had managed to steal the diamonds, he does not reveal where he had hidden them. He waits until the gang members fight each other and finds a chance to escape. The team members loss trust on each other and they end up killing each other since they cannot agree on who had betrayed them (Tarantino 100-105).

Conclusion

The movie, Reservoir Dogs, revolves around a gang comprising of professionals and attempt to rob a jewelry store. However, one member of the gang was an undercover police and had tipped the police. Mr. Orange turns out to be the undercover police who betray the gang members who trusted him. Mr. White betrays the team reader, Joe when he reveals his identity to Mr. Orange whom he trusted. Eventually, Mr. Pink betrays the rest of the gang when he escapes with all the jewelry irrespective of the great suffering the team members had undergone during the robbery.

 

Works Cited

Tarantino, Quentin. Eventually. New York: Grove Press, 1994. Print.

 

 

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Response to ” Oliver Sacks:  An Anthropologist on Mars”

Oliver Sack’s book An Anthropologist on Mars is a compilation of seven paradoxical stories dealing with neurobiology. The stories explore cases of patients with neurological conditions, which they are attempting to cope with. Most of the cases deal with vision, blindness of different types such as color blindness as well as total blindness. Additionally, he explores other forms of blindness such as loss of photographic sight and sight in the brain. Furthermore, he explores a case on restoration of sight. He examines how different neurological conditions may affect an individual’s understanding about self and the universe. Sacks is able to experience the distress in his patients by working with them. Additionally, he suffers from prosopagnosia and is in a better position to understand what being deficient of a sense means. The stories examine discernments about oneself as well as those about the world. This response paper examines Sack’s method of investigation, the reasons Sack takes a unique investigative approach and how he discovers the individuals discussed in the essays. The paper will also analyze how disease affects the way individuals understand themselves and how reading these essay has enable me understand concepts such as normality and handicap.

Sacks’ Method of Investigation

To come up with these stories, Dr. Sacks associates closely with the subjects in the stories. His insights are stimulating and provide an insight on neurological conditions and the manner in which the brain functions. He investigates the altered self-opening the mind of the reader to experiences and perceptions witnessed by people with disorders such as autism, blindness, amnesia, and Tourette’s syndrome among others. He views the ailments not as disorders but deviation from norm. However, he still manages to explore the distress and challenges faced by persons with these disorders. Instead of analyzing the various conditions and organizing them into chapters, he organizes the conditions into narrative essays. This is a different but interesting way to learn neurobiology. Sack follows his patients from their loss of sense though their distress to their liberation. He empathizes with the patients after their loss of sense and reveals to the reader the struggle that they go through to cope with the deviations that result from the losses (Sacks 12-15).

Sack makes use of literature references to support his arguments. His investigative style is captivating and the reader is able to experience the terror that comes with the neurological disorders. When  he narrated The Last Hippie, the reader get to experience the fragility of our brains. The reader does not just empathize with the individuals with disorders but gets to understand how such conditions can be detected early. Instead of patronizing his patients or person who may have such neurological deviations, Sack instills hope in them. His work enlarges the view on what a human being is (Sacks 112-115). However, Sacks manages to change the perspective on how brains work. He incites the reader to adopt a new sense of who they are. Additionally, he enlightens us on the significance of abilities such as being able to see, memory, notion, and differentiating color, which we sometimes take for granted. He inspires us to appreciate our sense and use them appropriately. Additionally, he demonstrates that loss of a sense such as sight is not the end of life (Sacks 161-165).

Sack essays are written in a clear, empathetic, yet humorous tone. However, the concise nature does not prevent him from clearly explaining how each of the different disorders tampers with the brain, and their historical background. The language used is simple for different kind of readers to understand. However, the scientific details given in the footnotes give more insights to persons who may wish to explore the matter further (Sacks 92-95). There are different reasons why Sacks approaches his investigations in a different manner from the normal scientific methodologies. One of the reasons is to make it easy and interesting for his readers to understand. Instead of writing the essays as case studies or scientific articles, he takes an approach of writing the cases as stories about people. By avoiding treating the essays as case studies his respect for the individuals involved is depicted.  Additonally, Sacks wants to involve the readers more closely by making them understand the historical background of the conditions of his patients. This makes the readers experience the distress of suffering from neurological disorder. However, he goes further, to explore how his patients cope with their deviations. This inspires the reader to stop viewing the disorders as some sort of disorder but to consider them as deviations that one can learn to live with (Sacks 76-81).

In each essay, Sack choose individual with a neurological disorder that tampers with their work. The stories are constructed from some of the cases he has dealt with in his work as a biologist and psychologist. Other than sitting in the office, Sacks joins his subjects and explores other aspect of their life other than focusing on their conditions only. By being with his patients, he is able to discover their inner self and potentials in them. In The Case of the Colorblind Painter the artist’s condition affects the part of brain he needs most such that he has to adapt to black and white. A Surgeons Life is a tale of a surgeon who is determined enough to continue practicing surgery irrespective of suffering from Gilles de la Tourette syndrome. To See and Not See where a man regains sight in his 50’s after spending all his childhood as a blind person show how deviation from the norm can affect how we perceive things. An Anthropologist on Mars clearly demonstrates how people with deviations are able to adapt to adversities.

Sacks treats the people he studies as “patients” and not “subjects.” As opposed to other approaches where the authors focus on the condition, Sacks discusses the person as a whole. He does not analyze the various parts making the individuals. Sack tries to avoid treating the individuals in the book as subjects but prefers viewing them as different or deviating from the norm. Sacks places himself in his patients’ position and is able to view the world differently or in the way, his patients view it. By so doing, he empathizes with them but does not pity them. However, this enables him to explain and demonstrate the complexity of human mind. In all the cases, the patients suffer from what we call ‘disabilities’. However, they demonstrate an unusual way of coping with the condition and the side effects associated. The essays explore the coping abilities that our brains have (Sacks 145-151).

Reading these essays, I was able to recognize the importance of the human brain in determining such concepts as “normality.” Additionally, I was able to understand how the human brain works. However, I realized that we should never underestimate those who are neurologically different from us. Each story on a neurological deficit is a lesson on how people with different neurological condition learn to adapt. After reading the essay, my view on what handicap is changed. Instead of viewing the persons in the stories as lesser like I have always done in the past I was able to appreciate the strength within them. In The Case of the Colorblind Painter, I was able to see how we can derive strength from our weaknesses.

“Disease” affects the ways in which individuals know and understand themselves in different way. In addition, diseases affect our sense of self as well as the ways in which we relate to others. In case of individual in Sack’s essay, they find different ways of adapting to their conditions. Some like autistic professor develops her career out of her instinctive understanding of the behaviors displayed by animals. However, some people may respond negatively to the people’s way of thinking, which makes them feel handicapped.

After reading Sack’s essays, I was able to realize that neurological disorders can help unveil creative potential of an individual. Depending on how one perceives a condition he or she is able to develop virtues or beauties of their own or feel sorry for themselves. Those who feel sorry for themselves will not achieve much. Additionally, peoples view about neurological conditions affects how persons with such conditions perceive themselves. However, some are still able to succeed in their lives irrespective of how abnormal they may appear to our way of thinking.

In conclusion, Sacks essays explore the great capacity of brains to adapt to different capacity. He uses some of the cases on his patients with neurological disorders and explores the case by giving historical as well as medical description of different condition. His manner of investigation makes his work interesting and makes the readers more involved. Each of the patient losses a certain sense but learn to cope with it. The patients eventually develop a different way of perceiving themselves and the world, which liberates them from their distress. However, he is able to make the reader understand the difficulties of adapting to a new sense or to loss of a sense. After reading Sacks essays, I developed a different perception toward neurological condition, which we often refer to as ‘disability.’ In fact, they are not really disability but deviations that people can adapt and cope with. Sacks inspires us to start viewing the world in different perspectives.

 

Works Cited

Sacks, Oliver. An Anthropologist on Mars. New York: Pan Macmillan, 2011. Print.

 

 

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Research Proposal

ORGANIC FOOD IS NO BETTER THAN CONVENTIONALLY PRODUCED FOOD

Introduction

Quintessentially, some people assume that, organic food does not provide a significant nutritional benefit than conventionally produced food. With an increasing concern about the dangers of food we consume, there has been an increase of organic food in an alarming rate. Conventional farming has been in existence for more than 100 centuries, and up-to-date it has been the most prosperous industries globally. After researching on studies published in the last 50years, this paper concludes that, there are no adequate evidences that consumption of organic food is beneficial with nutrient content.

Background information

The problem discussed in this study is the health effects of organic food and conventional food. While there are many researches that highlight the benefits of organic food, there are no clear evidences of whether eating organic food is beneficial. It said that, many people opt for conventional food because they enhanced with nutrients that many organic products miss. Organic food grows from pure soil and instead of using insecticides or pesticides, organic farmers utilize helpful insects, birds, and fungicides to decrease pests and diseases. Conventional farming authorizes farmers to use precise chemical products to deter waste pollutants. Farmers use chemical fertilizers to increase plant growth and protect crops from mold, insects, and diseases. In the article, no health benefits from organic food, Dr Dangour argue that, there is a slight distinction in nutrient content that exist between organic food and conventional food. The article continues to affirm that, the use of pesticides does not cause unacceptable risks and effects to human health. Instead, it easily increase health benefits as pesticides are assessed and monitored. The findings of the article were further criticized in that; conventional crops contain a high amount of nitrogen that is a public health hazard for cancer. In response to this, the International Centre for research in organic food affirms that organic diet may enhance health benefits attributed by the findings of the study on rats that organic food alters the immune status. With these remarks, this paper reflects on giving accurate information about organic food and conventional food.

Research questions and Rationale

1. Is Organic food no better than conventionally produced food?

This is a weighty question to pursue because it will help us understand the important differences between conventional and organic produced food.

Methodology

This research requires gathering appropriate data from compiling literature review to analyze and arrive at a complete understanding on health effects of organic and conventional produced food. The research hopes to shed light on the fact that; organic food is no better than conventionally produced food. The research will utilize both qualitative and quantitative data collections. However, the research will be rooted on qualitative data position that affirms that, there are no evidence to prove that organic food is healthier and better than conventional food. The final essay will be developed by compiling the health benefits of conventional with organic food, and later evaluate, which has more health benefits.

Expected goals

The research will investigate the effects of organic food products and compare with conventional food. The expected goal of the project will be to provide a discussion about organic and conventional food that in turn, will provide facts on the most preferable in enhancing health benefits.

Conclusion

The implication of this study will be wide reaching. Based on previous studies done, I expect to make a conclusion that, there are no evidences to prove that organic food is healthier and better than conventional food. Therefore, the research will conclude that there is a slight difference between the two farming.

 

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RICE

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Research on Rice

Introduction

Rice is one of the most common foods across the globe (Rost, 1997). Nearly all civilizations on the planet use or have used rice as a form of food at one point or another. The use of rice varies from part of the globe to another, with some groups, countries and communities using it as a staple food while others use it sparingly in their diet. One of the characteristics of rice is that it has often been used to define the cultural aspects of some people. The Middle East and the Arab world have used rice as a staple meal besides attaching some cultural and ceremonial qualities to the substance (Rost, 1997).

Rice is one of the foods that unite various communities, ethnicities, and nationalities in terms of its usage. Rice is found in different varieties, with each variety responding to certain specific of weather and climate. In essence, rice has often been used by different civilizations to determine their degree of cultural influence over others. In the course of history, some communities have used Rice as a means of exchange by trading it with other material goods and services with other communities (Rost, 1997).

For instance, the long distance traders in West Africa and Central Africa relied on rice as a means of exchange during the Trans-Saharan trade. In terms of nutrition, rice is a carbohydrate that nourishes the energy requirement of humans at all ages. Its consumption varies in terms of accompaniments just as the cooking methods vary across communities and individuals. Modern agricultural systems have engaged in value addition practices meant to increase the nutritional value of rice. However, nutritionists have linked unbalanced consumption of rice to diseases such as pellagra and other diseases of malnutrition. Nevertheless, rice remains one of the most common and most important foods for the global population across, times, cultures, and geographical spaces.

Discussion

The earliest consumption and cultivation of rice has been traced to the year 2500 B.C., (Chang, 2001). Historians have explored multiple sources of evidence, which show that rice was first cultivated and consumed in China. It was from China that this food commodity found its ways to places such as Sri Lanka and India (Rost, 1997). It remains imprecise as to the exact nature of influence and contacts that contributed to the spread of Rice from its original land to other geographical regions of the world. However, processes of migration, cultural contacts and barter trade have been linked to the growth in the spread of rice from one place to another. In general terms, people who professed a common cultural heritage and were bound by cultural norms and traditions to align to the same kind of diet-consumed rice.

Historians have also linked the spread of rice to the armies of Alexander the Great (Chang, 2001). According to those who hold onto this view, the plundering armies brought rice to Greece and parts of West Asia. During that period, it was common practice for armies to conquer and plunder new territories for food and other precious items. Other schools of thought link the spread of rice to the development of interest in new lands and products in the spirit of discovery. In America, historians believe that rice came through merchant shipped that occasionally docked for repairs and rest on their voyage of the high seas. It is also believed that African slaves who were forced out of their original homes by the slave masters introduced the commodity. Today rice if cultivated in places such as California, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Texas.

The consumption of rice is defined by varied geographical patterns which show evidence of its abundance use and popularity. Different geographical areas have shown variations in the cultivation and consumption of rice. Around the globe rice is cultivated and consumed more extensively in Asia than any other parts of the world. Countries like India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and China are the leading cultivators, exporters and consumers of rice (Chang, 2001). However, rice is also cultivates in Western and Eastern Europe for trade and subsistence. Rice fields in the United Kingdom account for some of the most dominant cereal products in the region. Similarly, the cultivation and consumption of rice in Eastern Europe comprises of one the mostly practiced cash crop activities in the region.

In some areas of Europe, rice is the mainstay of the agriculture industry and determines the trends in agriculture production across the times. In the Middle East, rice farming is practiced in various countries including Jordan, Israel, Palestine, Iran and other places. Irrigation projects in such regions are mainly directed towards the cultivation of rice. On the African continent, rice is also produced in many countries including Kenya, South Africa, Botswana, and other places across the continent. Geographically, some countries have been classified as net producers of rice while others are categorized under the net producers of the commodity. As a result, it becomes necessary to measure the availability and value of rice by the patterns of production and production across the geographical space.

Culture

Rice manifests various cultural values in the different places where it is cultivated and consumed. In places such as the United States, the use and consumption of rice does not elicit any cultural qualities. It is simply regarded as a ready meal for consumption. In Asia, rice is considered as part of the material aspects of their cultural lives (Chang, 2001). In some countries such as Japan, rice is used for ceremonial significance during coronation ceremonies. In West Africa, rice is usually used in the making of bridal ornaments. It is also used in sprinkling the paths of brides as they walk towards the isle. Other countries also use rice as a symbol of certain values such as harmony, unity, and industry.

Some communities tend to articulate their cultural lives through the kind of foods they eat and the levels of attachment, which they place on these foods. As such, many people in Asia and the Arab world consider rice as part and parcel of their culture. It is a unifying aspect and symbolizes their cultural heritage across geographical spaces and times (Chang, 2001). Exhibitionists and cultural exchanges on a global scale have often associated rice within the oriental discourses. It represents a manifestation of culture across different geographical and cultural contacts. On the African continent, rice is particularly regarded as a staple for the Islamic culture.

In East Africa, the consumption and production of rice is often associated with the Swahili speaking communities. This is especially evident along the East coast of Africa. It is regarded as a ceremonial meal and a symbol of the rich cultural heritage of the Swahili communities. It is important to consider some of the issues that tie within the discourse of culture as understood within the context of diet and nutrition. The expression of culture is often brought on the level of food and has expanded to include discourses of cultural tourism and other elements of collective cultural worldviews.

Change Agents

Various change agents have affected the cultivation and consumption of rice. Some of these agents of change include discourses of globalization, global food security, migration, cultural interaction, cultural tourism, and innovations in agricultural processes. Globalization has erased the rigid boundaries that separated communities and cultures. As the world increasingly opens up to intercultural discourses and contacts, the material aspects of culture shift from the rigid patterns of cultural exclusiveness to an element of cultural pluralism. These changes allow people to explore different practices, which include food and nutrition. Adjustments in lifestyles occasioned by global food insecurity, cultural tourism, and cultural interactions have had tremendous impact on the consumption and production patterns of rice.

Innovations, Use and Resource

The production and consumptions of rice have undergone various innovations in the recent past. Generally, people have tended to develop methods meant to increase the elements of efficiency in the production and preparation of rice (Chang, 2001). These strategies cut into the processes of value addition, competitive marketing strategies, adoption of technology in production, and the adoption of scientific improvements in the production processes. These innovations have had both positive and negative consequences on the production debate. One of the most problematic developments that have attended to the production of rice is the introduction of genetically modified rice.

Experts and scientists remain divided as to the viability and the longevity of this product (Chang, 2001). Matters of safety have also been drawn into the debate. Few studies have explored with precision the exact nature of impacts, whether positive or negative, that attends to the question of genetically modified rice. Other innovative endeavors include the development of irrigation schemes in dry areas for the cultivation of rice. Countries in the Middle East and other dry areas of the globe have managed to produce high yields of rice by relying on irrigation schemes. Other countries have developed various agricultural practices that are meant to minimize adverse elements of weather.

Technique, Technology, and Future Use in Hospitality

Reliance on mechanized agriculture has enabled some countries to produce higher yields of rice than those, which rely on human labor. The use of combined harvesters in place of human labor has increased the efficiency in tending for the product. A major challenge that afflicts the production of rice is the shrinking of land in some areas due to industrialization and human settlement (Chang, 2001). Many countries continue to invest heavily in agricultural research, which are aimed at producing the kind of hybrid rice that is resistant to pests and diseases. Such efforts have made it possible for the world to attain relatively high yields of rice, which has often been used in protecting the famine stricken areas of the world.

Drought and pest resistant rice species have been developed and introduced to dry areas as a replacement to previous species that was significantly dependent on rain-fed agriculture (Chang, 2001). As a result of these changes, countries in Sub-Saharan Africa have managed to engage in high level rice production. Rice has become one of the leading substitutes to maize and wheat for populations that are perennially threatened by famine. Past studies have shown that the consumption of rice is likely to increase particularly due to improvements in systems of farming and the reliance on technology. Increased production of rice and its widespread acceptance will make it the most appropriate food in hospitality use. Current statistics have shown string indications of its increased consumption across cultures, races, times, and geographical spaces.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Works Cited

Chang, T 2001, Economical and Biological Importance of Rice, The Cambridge World History of Food, Retrieved http://www.cambridge.org/us/books/kiple/rice.htm

Rost, T, L 1997, Rice Anatomy, Plant Biology Division of Biological Sciences, Retrieved http://www-plb.ucdavis.edu/labs/rost/Rice/introduction/intro.html

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Representation of Specific Groups in Scripted TV Shows

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Representation of Specific Groups in Scripted TV Shows

Acceptability, fan support, sponsorship, content, and creativity are some of the major factors that determine the kind of representation of specific groups in scripted television shows. This representation must be brought out in ways that are unique and authentically peculiar to the image, lives, challenges, aspirations, and worldview of the group. In order for such groups to be appropriately represented, the support of the fans is necessary both for popularity ratings and for financial support. It is important for such representation to adopt strategies that would help in the dismantling of misrepresentations, which have always been propagated with regard to some specific groups. Such specific groups could include gay groups, African Americans, women, immigrants, and others, which have attracted conflicting perspectives in the various attempts to access the inner patterns and rhythms of their world view.

One potent illustration is the representation of the African American woman in “Awkward Black Girl” by Issa Rac (Christian, 2011). One of the underlying objectives of this show is to provide alternative portrayal of the African American woman. The creator emphasizes on the need to develop a product that would capture the real lives of the African Americans (Christian, 2011). She argues that the subject has been misrepresented in a variety of discourses across time and history. The aspect of creativity is equally important as it helps to instil the proper aesthetics in the subject as portrayed in a completely new dimension. When properly represented, such strategies help in redeeming the special groups from the injustices of negative or inaccurate representations, which are mainly guided by misconceptions, stereotypes, and untruths as understood within the mentalities of the superior groups.

Consistently, many special groups have lost favour in the cable television networks and must find alternative forms of media in order to reach their target audiences. Web series have become one of readily available and most resourceful solutions to such groups (Christian, 2010). However, this alternative features multiple opportunities and challenges. Web is slow and compares poorly to cable networks. As an alternative to cable television, web does not attract large audiences and does not have a determinate and visible physical presence on the market. By its very nature, it is fluid and variable, which denies it the advantage of stability and popularity.

These same qualities also lock it out from lucrative segments of the market such as older audiences who are less likely to consume web-based products. Such audiences are conservative in nature are more likely to stick with the tried and tested methods (Siapera, 2010). Statistics from comparative analyses between web series and cable television show that the consumption of web series products is likely to correspond with the patterns of internet use. Past studies on internet usage have shown significant variations in the patterns and trends of internet consumption across the variables of gender, race, social status, levels of income, and other demographics that are to be found within the American population (Fourie, 2010; Hammer & Keller, 2009).

Web has not built stable and reliable clientele that would shore up the ratings and performance of the upstart networks. Some media scholars have explained it as being at an evolutionary stage and that it may take some time for it to be embraced wholly by larger segments of the society. Web is still a new invention in the media world and has not built reliable metrics that would help to even the odds faced by minority shows (Christian, 2010). Even then, web series remains some of the most convenient escapes onto the wider market by programs and shows run by minorities and which have been affected by structural and systematic challenges of survival. Studies have also shown that the web-based media still faces challenges of profitability that often threaten their very survival (Christian, 2010). On this score, it becomes problematic to engage projects that could stifle their survival in the competitive media world.

Representation of difference is determined, to a significant degree by the type and nature of content. According to media analysts, it is possible for the different groups within the dominant society to eat into the market by creating specific programs that nourish the tastes of the minority groups. For instance, GLO TV network, which is managed by a gay packages programs that highlight on the challenges of HIV/Aids and issues of relating to transgender individuals in the society (Christian, 2010). Such strategies based on the content are important when it comes to breaking onto the market segments that are rarely explored by dominant media.

Essentially, the survival of web series will be determined partly by the need for developers to harness the synergies of cultural diversity in a strategic way that would attract the interests of the market. On this score, it becomes important for the developers of web series to look out for the unexplored fields with the objective of establishing alternative fields of operation. On this score, it becomes important to consider some of the fundamental weaknesses that have stifled the growth of cable television within some specific segments of the market. Stringent conditions and logistical challenges are often cited as some of the drawbacks that affect the growth of the industry.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References

Christian, A., J. (2010). Rise of the Black (Web Video) Network? Televisual. Retrieved http://blog.ajchristian.org/2010/10/15/rise-of-the-black-network/http://blog.ajchristian.org/2010/10/15/rise-of-the-black-network/

Christian, A., J. (2011). ‘Awkward Black Girl’ Creator Issa Rae Talks Crowdfunding, Indie Production and Moving From Web to TV. Televisual. Retrieved http://blog.ajchristian.org/2011/08/10/awkward-black-girl-creator-issa-rae-talks-crowdfunding-indie-production-and-moving-from-web-to-tv/

Fourie, P., J. (2010). Media Studies: Media History, Media and Society. New York: Juta and Company Ltd.

Hammer, R., & Keller, D. (2009). Media/Cultural Studies: Critical Approaches. New York: Peter Lang.

Siapera, E. (2010). Cultural Diversity and Global Media: The Mediation of Difference. New York: John Wiley & Sons.

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QUALITATIVE REVIEW

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Qualitative Review

Introduction

Manthorpe, Goodman, Harari, Swift, and Iliffe’s article Smarter Working in Social and Health Care: Professional Perspectives on a New Technology for Risk Appraisal with Older People focuses on a report by Smarter Working in Social care and Health (SWISH). The report was a feedback on how an information technology system for assessment of old people in the society can be improved. The report suggested that it would be more appropriate to use feedback information obtained from the old people themselves to develop health and social programs for them. The research involved two qualitative studies done in different regions within London that aimed at developing a method that would enable assessment of the information regarding old people to determine those who were at risk. Additionally, the study intended to investigate the applicability of such a method in enriching public sector information and empower the local communities report cases of old people at risk. This paper is a qualitative analysis of Smarter Working in Social and Health Care: Professional Perspectives on a New Technology for Risk Appraisal with Older People. The paper will critically discuss how the research was undertaken (methodology) and what the research found out (findings). Additionally, the paper will include a critical review or appraisal that will systematically and logically give a balanced assessment on strengths, weaknesses, and limitations and give an informed opinion on the methods and findings.

The study involved several approaches and entailed obtaining data from focus groups as well as interview in which old people and professional dealing with the old people were interviewed. Manthorpe, Goodman, Harari, Swift, and Illife (2009) found out that the existing health risk assessments are comprehensive particularly in identifying the risks facing the old but burdensome. However, they found out that social workers as well as the managers are unaware of how they can make use of data on the local population to meet the information needs of the old people. The study also aimed at exploring practicality of HRAO technology in determining the needs of the old people and informing social care and health commissioners of such need for effective planning. This would ensure the needs are addressed. The study was credible because it has been peer reviewed which validates the truthfulness of the data presented. Additionally, the study was based on a report prepared by Smarter Working in Social and Health Care.

The article met the conditions of a good research article sine it had an abstract or summary of the methods and findings, background to the study in terms of aims/objectives and justification or rationale for the study. Additionally, he article included a literature review stating what is already known about the topic and gaps in knowledge. Another aspect that distinguished the study as dependable was the explanation on how the research was undertaken in the methodology section. The findings of the study were explained in the findings or results. A section on discussion of the findings that also linked them to existing literature was available. The article made the conclusion and at the same time highlighted the limitations and recommendations of the study together with a way forward for future research. Finally, the authors acknowledged the works of other researchers used in the article, which was done using a reference list.

The abstract gave an overview of the paper. It summarized the method used in the study, the study results, and the findings. This provided an insight on the significance of the study. The literature review was evident throughout the paper. The article kept referring to previous studies done on perspectives regarding use of technology in risk appraisal with older people. The methods used enhanced coverage of different perspectives. The study findings were consistent and addressed the research question. Another aspect that made the study credible was its objectivity. The analysis was done qualitatively and the study involved a large number of participants. Additionally, the research questions enhanced objectivity. The participants volunteered to participate and answered the question they wanted to without being forced.

The study was significant since it addressed an issue that has been under discussion for quite some time. In England, there has been ongoing discussion on how the health and social well-being of the old can be improved. Organizations such as National service Framework for Older People have been searching for a policy that would enhance social care for the old. This study was thus crucial in that it provided some foundation on how a platform that addresses the needs of the old people can be initiated. Additionally, the issue on how independent living amongst the old can be enhanced has been seriously debated in UK (Law et al., 1998).

The study, recommended use of Health Risk Appraisal for Older people (HRAO), which makes use of questionnaires as the tools to assess the health need of the old people. The study was extensive and different research methodologies were used. The participants included focus, groups, individual interviews that were conducted on old people as well as professions (Hannes, 2011). Qualitative analysis was the most applicable since it enable wide coverage. By collecting data extensively, the precision of the study was increased. The extensive nature of data could not have allowed quantitative analysis. Additionally, it enabled assessment of aspects such as the history of the use of information technology amongst the old (Mitchell et al., 2012). Qualitative analysis enabled subjectivity since it reflected the views of the majority. The issues of factors affecting the health of the old people in the society is quite complex. Use of qualitative analysis was appropriate since it enabled interpretation of the data using different (Sharland, 2006).

The study was conducted at two local authorities, which were NHS Primary Care Trusts (PCTs), and Smarter Working in Social and Health Care 1833. It entailed use of technology development approach to establish the modifications that required to be done on the existing programs. The sampling was done in a way that ensured that the participatory group was representative of the old people. This is because it involved use of purposive approach where 52, older person selected from the two areas under study were selected. Additionally, 78 professional dealing with the older people were interviewed. This was insightful since it ensured that the study provided informed findings since professional would understand the health and social well-being of the old. Using the local authorities, NHS, and focus groups to aid in identifying the older people in the society made the study findings more effective (Rabinowitz, 2012).

Several reasons made the research methodology effective. One such reason was that the participants were allowed to choose whether to use face-to-face interview, over the phone, or through their focus groups. This ensured that they gave the information freely and voluntarily since they were not forced. The individual interviews were organized beforehand and the research questions were clear and addressed the research question. Additionally, the interviewees were allowed to pursue topics that were not directly related to the study. Use of group interviews in addition to the individual ones was advantageous since it enabled the participants to stimulate each other’s thinking (Rabinowitz, 2012; Shaw & Gould, 2002).

To conduct the study, permission was obtained from the local authorities. This ensured that the research was ethical since it was in line with the requirements of the authorities. For participating employees, the heads of the organizations were involved in the study. The study question was on the views of the participants on the value, usability, and appropriateness of HRAO in assessing the need of the older. The participants were requires to rate the benefit of such data and how the local authorities applied such information in planning the interventions (Illife et al., 2000).

The data was analyzed qualitatively to enable consideration of multiple perspectives from the different unrelated groups of participants. This enabled the researchers to analyze view as well as experiences from varying groups and individuals. The analysis was descriptive and three members of the research team were involved in the analysis of the data. Use of discussion amongst the analyzers ensured that different perspectives were included. The study ensured that the data was correct by further analysis of the results by the other members of the research team (Manthorpe et al., 2009). The analysis was extensive since the researchers aimed at reaching a point of saturation whereby, they would have analyzed all the data and further analysis produced no new results (Manthorpe et al., 2009). The findings were presented appropriately and in a manner that could be easily understood (McLaughlin, 2012). The researchers found out that technologies such as HRAO enabled the older people to participate in the society welfare since they could access information. Additionally, HRAO enabled reporting of social factors determining health of the older persons. Some of the factors mentioned were bereavement, retirement, injuries, accidents, and divorce.

The article had some limitations. One of the limitations is its failure to address the shortcomings of the existing programs. Though it mentioned that the existing programs do not state how leaders in the society should deal with reported information on the problems face by the old at risk, it failed to provide evidence on this. Additionally, the methods used in conducting the study have not been clearly explained. Another limitation of the study is on the analysis (Becker et al., 2012). Though a brief description on how the data was analyzed has been given, the analysis is not properly presented.

Conclusion

Manthorpe, Goodman, Harari, Swift, and Iliffe article was extensive and addressed the objectives of the study. The data reflected the situation for the target population since it entailed interviewing individual as well as groups. The sample was large and thus meaningful inferences on the target population were obtained. The article was organized and easy to understand. It covered all the features of a research article.

The article was present in a clear and interesting way. The objective and the findings were clearly explained. However, the research methodologies as well as the data analysis sections were not very clear. The study was consistent and addressed the research question. The findings were useful to social workers since they addressed the issue of health and social factors affecting the old, a subject that has been debated in the field of social studies. The information flowed appositely and was continuous. The article was timely since it came at a time when the government of the UK was seeking for a way to address the health and social matters affecting the older people. His also makes the article worthwhile since it will enable the social workers address the issues affecting the old effectively. There are no serious omissions and the research question was addressed appropriately. It provided new insight on issues affecting the older people. It contributed to the existing knowledge by pointing out at the issues that needed to be addressed to make HRAO more incorporative. The study contributed to existing knowledge by providing measures that can be taken to refine HRAO method and improve access of information and services by the old people. Additionally, it provided ways of identifying older people at risk, and examined the potential of HRAO in enriching public sector.

 

Works Cited

Becker , S., Bryman Alan & Ferguson , H., 2012. Understanding research for social policy and social work. New York: The Policy Press.

Hannes K. Chapter 4: Critical appraisal of qualitative research. In: Noyes J, Booth A, Hannes K, Harden a, Harris J, Lewin S, Lockwood C (editors), Supplementary Guidance for Inclusion of Qualitative Research in Cochrane Systematic Reviews of Interventions. Version 1 (updated August 2011). Cochrane Collaboration Qualitative Methods Group, 2011. Available from URL http://cqrmg.cochrane.org/supplemental-handbook-guidance

Illife, S. et al., 2000. Smarter Working in Social and Health care (SWISH). Quality in Ageing and Older Adults, 6(4), pp. 4-11.

Law, M. et al., 1998. Guidelines for Critical Review of Qualitative Studies. Qualitative Studies, pp. 357-362.

Manthorpe, J. et al., 2009. Smarter Working in Social and Health Care: Professional Perspectives on a New Technology for Risk Appraisal with Older People. Oxford Journals, Vol 40(Issue 6), pp. 1829-1846.

McLaughlin, H., 2012. Understanding Social Work Research. 2nd Edition ed. New York: SAGE Publications Ltd .

Mitchell, W., Baxter, K. & Glendinning, C., 2012. UPDATED REVIEW OF RESEARCH on the Risk and Adult Social Care in England. JRF Programme Paper, pp. 1-45.

Rabinowitz, P., 2012. Qualitative Methods to Assess Community Issues. The Community Tool Box, p. http://ctb.ku.edu/en/tablecontents/sub_section_main_1050.aspx.

Sharland, E., 2006. Young People, Risk Taking and Risk Making: Some Thoughts for Social Work. Open Journal Systems, Vol 7(No 1), pp. Art. 23, http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0114-fqs0601230..

Shaw, I. & Gould, N., 2002. Qualitative Research in Social Work. New York: SAGE.

 

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Putting violent felons in a gladiatorial match to the death for Reduction of Violent Crimes, this would be of Economic Benefits to the People and Prison Systems

Introduction

Dealing with violent crimes is expensive. Violent crime such as murder, robberies, rapes, and assaults, which often result in imprisonment, impose economic cost on the US government due to the great costs of running prison systems. The victims of such crime also incur losses, which could be through loss of property physical or emotional tolls. In areas with high level of crimes, the value of property is lowered, insurance of premiums increase and people fear investing in crime torn areas. Violent crimes impose great cost on taxpayer who has to pay the cost of maintaining the police and fund the operation conducted by the police while fighting crimes. Additionally, taxpayers bear the costs of maintaining courts, jails, prisons that are created for fighting crimes. This paper focuses on the economic benefits of crime reduction to the people and the prison systems.

One of the reasons felons should be put in a gladiatorial match to death is to reduce the cost they impose on the taxpayers. Currently, taxpayer bears the cost of protection crimes by funding police operations. Additionally, the taxpayers have to bear the burden of maintaining the prisoners. The annual cost of maintaining a single inmate in a California prison is approximately $22, 000. Additionally, thousands of dollars requires to be set aside to expand this prison to reduce overcrowding. The prison budget for Californian prison is approximately $8.2 billion in addition to approximately $4 billion that is required for expansion process. This cost is higher than the cash spent on higher education. If the violent felons were put in a gladiatorial match to the death, the above cost would not be incurred. The above scenario is not just in the Californian State but also in most of the prisons in United States and in many parts of the word. The scenario is even worse in urban areas developing countries where the crime rates are high and taxpayers can hardly maintain the correctional facilities and fund the operation of the police and justice system. The taxpayers’ money is being spent in dealing with crimes at the expense of other public services such as education and health. The taxpayers’ money is being spent in dealing with crimes at the expense of other public services such as education and health (Kirchhoff 1-6).

Another reason why violent felons should be put in a gladiatorial match to the death is to reduce the level of crime. There has been an alarming increase in the number of crimes within United States. This is because most felons get back in crime life after serving their imprisonment. Previously, prisons acted as rehabilitation centers where criminals were given a chance to reform. However, overcrowding in the prisons has transformed prisons into more of imprisonment facilities than correctional ones. Most violent felons do not reform while in prison and go back to crime after completing their sentence. However, if the violent felons were put in a gladiatorial match to the death they would have no chance of getting back into crimes, which would lead to reduced crime rates. Incarceration has not reduced the crime rates in United States and thus not a solution to crime reduction. Currently, about 500,000 prisoners have been incarcerated due to violent crimes such as murder, armed robbery, and sex offences. Though the criminals are removed from the society for some time, the issue is not resolved since the penalties are not harsh enough. The cases of incarceration are even higher in countries such as Jamaica where violent cases associated with drug dealers are high (Kirchhoff 4-8).

Putting violent felons in a gladiatorial match to the death would help improve the community by making it safe. Gladiatorial match to death would be a good penalty that would help instill fear in persons planning to commit crime. The existing punishments are not harsh enough to prevent prospective felons from committing crimes. In United State, most prisons have registered rapid increase in crimes over the recent past. In 1980, US prisons held less than 500,000 prisoners. However, the number has increased dramatically with about 500,000 persons being incarcerated annually. This demonstrates that existing penalties are not serious enough to deter crime. However, punishments such as putting violent felons in a gladiatorial match to the death will discourage people from committing crime, which will lead to reduction in the prison populations. This would lead to restoration of safety in the society. Additionally, the expenses use in maintenance of law will be reduced. The same case of increased crime irrespective of increased imprisonment has been observed in Canada (Kirchhoff 5-9).

Conclusion

The existing punishments are not harsh enough to deter felons from engaging in violent crimes. This has led to increased incarceration, which has resulted in overcrowding in the prisons. Billions of taxpayer money is being spent to maintain law enforcement police and the just system. It would thus be appropriate to put violent felons in a gladiatorial match to the death to reduce violent crimes, which would be of economic benefits to the people and prison systems. Additionally, the funds spent in curbing crimes would be used to fund other services.

 

Works Cited

Kirchhoff, Suzanne. “Economic Impacts of Prison Growth.” Congressional Research Service (2010): 1-39.

 

 

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Pros and Cons of Bank Regulation and Deregulation and their Effects on Global Economy

Introduction

Banks play an important role in economic growth, which is mainly through their contribution in payment and credit systems. Across the globe, banks are closely regulated to ensure continuity in financial flow. Banks require to be regulated since they finance their operations using government-insured deposits. If not regulated, bank managers could get involved in too risky deals since losses can be governed using public funds. Capital regulation ensures that banks internalize losses. This helps guard deposit insurance fund reducing chances of losses by the deposit insurer. The recent economic crisis, which was associate with credit crunch started with the melt down of subprime mortgage, which is directly dependent on how banks are regulated. In the United States, the move by Clinton and Republican congress to deregulate the banking sector is liable for igniting the 2008 crisis. This paper focuses on the pros and cons of bank regulation and how it relates with global economics. The paper will also address the pros and cons of deregulation in the banking sector as well as how it relates with global economics. Additionally, the paper will analyze the effects of bank regulation and deregulation on and the financial crisis of 2008.

Pros and Cons of Regulation in the Banking Sector

The regulation process in US is such that a bank is supposed to take immediate moves to reinstate its capital ratio in case Losses occur. In case of losses, banks restore their capital by raising fresh capital or shrinking their asset base. The regulators force the banks to take either of the steps, which prevents instances of failure (Roubini 1-3; Delaney Web). Since United States resulted from confederation of states, there exist dual regulatory systems where banks are regulated by both the state as well as the federal government (Barthy, Liy and Lu 1-5).

The 2008 economic crisis triggered numerous changes in bank regulation within United States. The bank regulators increased their inspection on banks particularly on capital and reserves. Additionally, the congress is expected to implement reforms aimed at increasing regulation and make changes on the regulatory systems (Pellerin, Walter and Wescott 1-4). Bank regulation entails chartering and authorizing banks to start business and examination of the activities of the banks through frequent auditing. The banks regulators in United States include Comptroller of the currency, State Banking Authority, Federal Reserve, and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) (Pellerin, Walter and Wescott 6-7; Roubini 6-8).

Pros of Bank Regulation

Like mentioned above, banks regulate their capital by asset shrinkage or raising fresh capital. Each of these moves has its pros and cons. In case of asset shrinkage, the effect could be either credit crunch or fire sale. Shrinking of assets through reducing lending, the interest rate increases, which make it hard for firms to borrow money for investments. This results in eventual decrease in employment, which is detriment to the economy (Pellerin, Walter and Wescott 10). Bank regulation helps in protection customers and the taxpayer. The government agencies concerned with regulation of banks supervise the operations of financial institutions preventing them from abusing taxpayers. They ensure that taxpayers are not denied access to deposit insurance as well as loans (Roubini 7). The Federal Reserve ensures that the central bank provides loans to banks. In case of financial crisis, the Federal Reserve inflates the safety net or increases the ease with which banks can access loans from the central bank. Therefore, safety net help to safeguard banks from bank runs reduces systemic risk in addition to reducing the cost of evaluating the health of financial institutions (Pellerin, Walter and Wescott 11-13).

Another importance of bank regulation is to ensure safety and soundness regulation. The regulation agencies ensure that banks do not engage in extremely risky deals. The regulation agencies thus decide the appropriate risk, which banks cannot go beyond. Depending on the bank’s capital, the regulatory agencies decide the undertakings of the bank preventing them from unusually risky actions. The agencies limit banks with weak capital from giving large loans to single borrower and restrict the banks from investing in stock, which is considered a risky undertaking for failing banks (Pellerin, Walter and Wescott 15-16; Caruana 2-4).

Additionally, the legislature ensures that the regulation agencies play the role of consumer and investor protection (Alamos Alliance Web). This requires agencies to protect consumers from deceitful behavior by firms. Additionally, the firms are obligated to provide dependable accounting information on their financial situation to enable investors make apposite decisions (Caruana 16-20). Having a decentralized regulatory system like in US ensures that there are different viewpoints such that the decisions made on financial regulation are not abused. A decentralized regulatory system enables consolidation and effective execution of lender of last resort function (Alamos Alliance Web). Bank regulation helps reduce systemic risks. Government intervention in protecting liability holders particularly in large financial institutions reduces the probability of the spreading of financial difficulties to other financial institutions. This is because financial institutions tend to be interconnected such that failure of one institution may result in failure or difficulties in other connected institutions. A good example happened in 2008 when Lehman Brothers’ failed and affected numerous financial institutions that were exposed to its mutual funds. Therefore, bank regulation agencies prevent failing of interconnected financial institutions by monitoring the level of risk that large financial institutions undertake (Tran Web).

The regulation agencies and deposit insurance aid the small savers monitor their savings. It would be hard and expensive for small savers to evaluate performance of banks they have invested in. Most of the small savers do not have the relevant skills to monitor the financial situations in banks where they hold deposits. The presence of the bank regulation system and the regulation agencies is advantageous since the small savers can rely on them for accurate evaluation of the banks (Alamos Alliance Web; Barthy, Liy and Lu 16-18).

Another benefit of bank regulation is the protection of the investors and the investors. Regulators of financial firms ensure that financial institutions offer beneficial products. The Truth in Lending and Truth in Savings Acts aid the regulator in ensuring investors and customers get truthful information regarding financial situations of banks. Additionally, the regulation process obligates banks to disclose terms of transactions such as the interest rates. Truth and Lending Act enables regulation such that customers can cancel loans after agreeing to it if they feel it may affect them negatively. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ensures that financial institutions and other firm provide trustworthy information to enable investors make sound decisions. Additionally, the commission can sue firms that fail to do so. This enhances the regulation process since failing institution can be detected early (Alamos Alliance Web; Tran Web).

The Cons of Regulation in Banking Sector

There are advantages associated with Bank regulation. One of the disadvantage or con is that it encourages banks to engage in wicked practices. The safety net provided by the Federal Reserve is that it encourages banks to engage in riskier deal than they would without it. This is because insured depositor such as Federal Reserve offers loans to financial institutions without considering the level of riskiness of the institution. US banks are thus likely to engage in extremely risky deal since they are assured of access to loans from Federal Reserve. This leaves the taxpayers vulnerable (Tran Web).

The asset shrinkage by several bank greatly contributed to the 2008 economic crisis. This is because the shrinkage affected illiquid securities such as mortgage-backed securities. Rapid decline in such securities results in fire sale. Fall in mortgage securities results in increased returns to potential buyers which results in increased borrowing. Fire fall manifest themselves by causing deterioration in credit crunch. The regulation process is disadvantageous since it leads to loss of privacy of the financial institutions. The institutions are obligated to report their financial statements and other operation to the regulation agencies. The regulators are non-affiliate and are thus equivalent to third parties. If other parties access the data through the regulatory agencies, they may use it to conduct activities that are against the banks (Delaney Web; “Financial crisis shows bank regulation is broken” Web).

The Models of securitization that govern the regulation process diminishes the incentive for financial institutions to assess the creditworthiness of borrowers. This results in transfer of credit risk to individuals with less capability of understanding the credit risks. A good example is the mortgage credits where the originator of the mortgages repackages the MBSs into CDOs, CDO-cubed, and CDOs of CDOs before transferring the risk to investors. All the intermediaries involved earn some income but the investor ends up bearing the risk. Regulation of banks is minimal while that of non-bank financial institutions such as broker dealers and hedge funds results in regulatory arbitrage. Such institutions are at a risk of bank-like runs and are likely to face the difficulties similar to those faced by banks. The regulation process thus does not prevent banks from possible difficulties since they are interconnected with non-bank financial institutions (Delaney Web; “Financial crisis shows bank regulation is broken” Web).

Another con of the regulation process is duplication of the supervisory activities, which results in misuse of resources. The supervisory is done by six regulatory agencies, which include the Federal Reserve, Commodity Futures Trading commission, Securities and Exchange Commission, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the financial consumer Protection Bureau and Financial Stability Oversight Council. The regulation process is poorly defined and the regulators lack a specified pattern of supervisory process. This results in jurisdictional conflicts. Additionally, there is a lot of overlapping in the supervision resulting in duplication or negligence in some instances. Many financial institution are likely to take advantage of the Federal Reserve may use it as a safety net and undertake greater risk (“Financial crisis shows bank regulation is broken” Web.)

Regulation of Banks and the 2008 Economic Crisis

            Banks play a major role in reducing transaction costs, providing liquidity in addition to monitoring investors. The 2008 economic crisis resulted in question on the role of bank regulating agencies in the crisis. This crisis started in the banking sector when the prices of houses went down. The banks started offering extremely risky mortgages even to person who were incapable of repaying the loans. The risk spread through the entire financial system and the financial system could not regulate itself. This resulted in instabilities in the financial market. The financial crisis in Citigroup can be attributed to inappropriate regulation system since the system had identified Citigroup as financially stable a month before the crisis. The government had relaxed the regulation process in the 1970s. Additionally, the regulatory system failed to conform to changes in the mortgage industry (“Financial crisis shows bank regulation is broken” Web).

Like mentioned earlier, the regulatory system does not regulate non-bank financial systems such as mortgage brokers. This results in possibility of an individual borrowing from multiple lenders. Since brokers are connected to banks, crisis in their systems are often reflected in the banking sector. This was the case in 2008 crisis when brokers submitted applications that were misleading to help their clients obtain loans. Additionally, the regulatory agencies failed to regulate the mortgage backed securities appropriately. In 2007, most banks were reported to have lent more money than their deposits allowed them to. The regulatory system failed to take precautions and banks continued with this risky process resulting in collapse of several of them. Due to the interconnection between financial institutions, the crisis spread rapidly to the entire financial market. Since the global economy, depend on the US economy, the crisis in the United States eventually spread across the globe (Delaney Web; “Financial crisis shows bank regulation is broken” Web).

The Pros And Cons Of Deregulation In The Banking Sector As It Deals With Global Economics And The Financial Crisis Of 2008.

In 1980, President Jimmy Carter, signed the Depository Institutions Deregulation and Monetary Act which paved the way for the deregulation process. Deregulation is the process by which the government removes barrier or relates the control systems enhancing competition in resource regulation across the banking system. The deregulation process was enhanced by Clinton’s government and resulted in lifting of almost all restraints on operation of monopolies, which control the financial system. Clinton administration and the congressional Republicans proposed the Financial Services Modernization Act that was aimed at removing all the existing barriers on banking, insurance as well as stock trading. The restrictions had been enforced by Glass-Steagall Act of 1933, which separated brokerages, insurance, and banks into different sectors. The three were prevented from venturing into each other’s industry. Across the globe, deregulation has been witnessed in European financial sector especially from 1980s. Deregulation takes different forms but results in reduced control of the financial system.

The Pros of Deregulation in the Banking Sector

The deregulation enabled commercial banks, brokerage firms, pension funds, institutional investors, insurance companies, and hedge funds to intermix such that they could invest in each other’s business. Additionally, the different institutions were free to integrate their financial operations. This benefitted the institution since they could assess each other performance, which resulted in increased competition (Murphy Web).

Deregulation leads to moderation of rules governing companies. The companies can easily break down business that are not doing well and expand those that are successful. Unsuccessful businesses are eliminated from the market leaving the prosperous ones. This results in efficiency and a more productive economy (Sherman 2-4). Another advantage of deregulation is that it ensures that banks make their own decisions depending on their plans. The financial institution thus makes decision that benefits them and their shareholder increasing the chances of success. The institutions are more likely to work towards their success. This is different from cases where there is regulation since institutions have less freedom to decide on their operations (Swift and Hopkins 539-541).

Deregulation increases competition, which results in more contests. For institution to succeed, it has to be very efficient (Berlau Web).

Deregulation is beneficial in that it increases opportunities. Deregulation results in removal of controls, which opens up new opportunities for creation of new businesses, increases competition. This results in eventual decrease in the prices of commodities. Deregulation results in a more proficient apportionment of resources. This results in increased economic growth. In case of bank deregulation, the restrictions are removed (Sherman 6-11). Additionally, the interest rates are reduced allowing banks to expand their operations and lend anywhere. Banks can also open up braches in other regions of the world resulting in increased growth. In United States, bank regulation prevented banks from expanding to other states. However, deregulation allowed banks to operate across different states (Berlau Web; Swift and Hopkins 540-544).

The Cons of Deregulation in the Banking Sector

Banking deregulation entails allowing large financial institutions to take over the finance industry since they are capable of handling several facets in the financial industry. The deregulation process increased the poser of the financial giants at the expense of the small financial institutions. The deregulation exposed financial institutions to financial manipulation. If not regulated, giant financial institutions end up strangling the small businesses, which can lead to overshadowing of the economy (Barker Web). Through deregulation, the Wall Street giants eliminated the competing banking institutions. Deregulation results in displacement of State level banks, which are often bought. This results in eventual collapse of smaller financial institutions. In the 2008, the banking deregulation resulted in overtaking of small companies by the large ones (Barker Web).

Deregulation result in weakening of the powers of regulation agencies. In the United States, the deregulation resulted in reduction of the powers of the Federal Reserve Board. Without any form of regulation, financial institutions are likely to engage in illegal and risky operations with the aim of maximizing their profits. Additionally, the completion between companies results in rivalry as they try to outdo each other. This is unlike the case of regulation where the small institutions are protected from extreme rivalry (Berlau Web; Sherman 7-11).

Deregulation results in instability in the banking sector by increasing risks and volatility. In case of regulation, banks bailout failing financial institutions, however, in deregulated system, government intervention is minimal and activities such as bailing out of financial institutions are almost non-existent. With deregulation, most banks are likely to fail in case of economic crisis. If a crisis occurred in a deregulated banking system, most banks would collapse resulting in loss of jobs. Loss of jobs results in poor livelihood (Barker Web; Murphy Web).

Another disadvantage of deregulation of the banking system is degradation of the quality of services. Reduced government results in increased number of competitors. Increased number of competitors results in reduced quality of services since there are several service providers. Cases of corruptions are likely to increase. In case of banking, several banks will open up and will involve themselves in extremely risky actions. This can result in losses of the customers’ money. The deregulation process resulted in lessening of the requirements for acquisition of funds from the Federal Reserve banks. This is partly to blame for the 2008 crisis that was partially caused by increased borrowing of banks from the Federal Reserve (Barker Web).

Supporters of deregulation argue that it lead to increased competition which is advantageous in the economy. Additionally, deregulation results in increased interest rate by banks, which encourages investors. In addition, competition results in reduction on the conditions imposed on borrowers enabling small businesspersons to borrow (Barker Web).

Deregulation and the 2008 Economic Crisis

Deregulation played a major role in the 2008 economic crisis. United States financial regulatory authorities relaxed their laws to an extent that deregulation seemed to have taken over. Mortgages prices decreased which were somehow under the government’s regulation. The recent financial crisis was triggered by what can be considered as deregulation. This was because it resulted due to reduced control of financial systems by the financial regulators (Berlau Web; Murphy Web).

During the 2008 economic crisis, most banks in US were unregulated. This is due to the notion by most banks that they did not require to be regulated in order to operate efficiently. They engaged in dangerous deals by using their uninsured deposits in the stock market. Eventually, the stock market collapsed which resulted in great losses by the bank (Murphy Web).

Deregulation and Financial Derivatives

Financial derivatives are agreements between two parties that are based on financial tools such as stock or commodities. Derivative help in hedging risks in addition to being helpful in speculating the prices of securities. Financial derivatives are quite risky and can result in loses if executed inappropriately. In deregulated financial system, the level of risks is quite high. Investors make use of derivatives to ensure they maximize on their profits and manage the level of risk. Financial derivatives may include stocks, bonds, and futures contracts. (Barker Web; Sherman 6-10).

Conclusion

Banks play a critical role in the economy. There is thus need to regulate their operation to ensure that they do not engage in risky operation leading to losses. The bank regulation system supervises and examines the operation of the bank ensuring their activities are genuine. The United States regulatory system comprises of six agencies that oversee the operations of the banks ensuring that they report their activities. Bank regulation is advantageous since it ensures that investors are informed of the financial status of banks they may want to invest. Additionally, it ensures that banks do not collapse since their failure is detected earlier and amended. However, the regulation system fails to supervise non-bank institution, which exposes banks to possible failure since such institutions obtain funds from bank. Poor regulation of banks contributed to the 2008 crisis since banks engaged in risky lending resulting in bankruptcy.

Financial deregulation, results in reduced control of banking institutions enabling them to operate freely. Deregulation was implemented during Clinton’s governance and resulted in reduced control of the government over financial institutions. This resulted in removal of barriers and different financial institutions such as banks and brokers could invest in each other’s business. Additionally, the giant financial system started dominating over the smaller ones and became manipulative. Banks started engaging in risky operation since they were not been regulated which resulted in financial difficulties that culminated in the 2008n financial crisis.

The recent financial crisis is partly attributed to financial deregulation. When the price of the houses declined, banks started offering highly risky loans, which resulted in eventual collapse of the banks since most of the borrower could not repay their loans. Most people defaulted paying their loans when mortgages were reset higher. This resulted in spread of mortgage-backed securities to other financial sectors affecting the entire financial system.
Works Cited

“Financial crisis shows bank regulation is broken.” The Telegraph (2008). Web.  <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/telegraph-view/3902959/Financial-crisis-shows-bank-regulation-is-broken.html.>

Alamos Alliance. “Banking Regulation after the Global Financial Crisis.” Don Brash (2010). Web. <http://www.donbrash.com/banking-regulation-after-the-global-financial-crisis/.>

Barker, David. Is deregulation to blame for the financial crisis? 7 Feb 2012. Web. <http://newsandinsight.thomsonreuters.com/Legal/Insight/2012/07_-_July/Is_deregulation_to_blame_for_the_financial_crisis_/>. 18 Oct 2012.

Barthy, James, Tong Liy and Wenling Lu. “Bank Regulation in the United States.” CESifo Economic Studies (2009): 1-29.

Berlau, John. “To save Obama, Clinton ignores his own deregulation moves.” Fox News 5 Sep 2012. Web. <http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2012/09/05/to-save-obama-clinton-ignores-his-own-deregulation-moves/.>

Caruana, Jaime. “Lessons of the Financial Crisis for Future Regulation of Financial Institutions and Markets and for Liquidity Management.” INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND (2009): 1-27.

Delaney, Patrick. “Pros and cons of financial regulatory reform.” StarTribune (2010). Web. <http://www.startribune.com/business/105063754.html?refer=y.>

Murphy , Robert. “Did Deregulated Derivatives Cause the Financial Crisis?” Freeman, Vol 59, Iss. 2 (2009). Web. < http://www.thefreemanonline.org/features/did-deregulated-derivatives-cause-the-financial-crisis/.>

Pellerin, Sabrina, John Walter and Patricia Wescott. The Consolidation of Financial Market Regualtion: Pros, Cons, and Implications for the United States. Working Paper Series No. 09-08. Baltimore: The Federal Resrve Bank of Richmond, 2009. Print.

Roubini, Nouriel. “Ten Fundamental Issues in Reforming Financial Regulation and Supervision in a World of Financial Innovation and Globalization.” RGE Monitor (2008): 1-10.

Sherman, Matthew. “A Short History of Financial Deregulation in the United States.” Center for Economic and Policy Research (2009): 1-17.

Swift, Tim and Donald Hopkins. “Banking Deregulation, Punctuated Equilibrium & Early-Mover Advantage.” European Journal of Scientific Research, Vol.22 No.4 (2008): 539-552.

Tran, Mark. “Wall Street crisis: time to turn back the clock on financial regulation.” theguardian (2008). Web. <http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/sep/15/lehmanbrothers.marketturmoil1.>

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Political Science

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Institution

            The essence of this paper is to analyze how many contemporary theorists and researchers understand that modern political communication needs to transcend a narrow preoccupation with the formal institutions of government. There is need to recognize that politics has a sense of becoming a form of popular culture and entertainment. With reference to the early campaign strategy of Obama we can critically examine how popular culture utilized as a strategic communication resource.

In facts, the key question that republicans pose is whether Obama will emerge as a winner in the 2012 election. Obama has understood that the best approach to reach out to Americans is through culture. He utilizes celebrities in campaign for money and Obama has bank on elite entertainers who have participated in his campaign. He has embraced a culture that portrays celebrity thus, attracting people to his campaign strategies. The president comprehends that politics has a sense of becoming a form of entertainment and popular culture as the strategic communication resource. This strategy holds the potential for attracting many particularly during economic hardship. President Obama looks to the entertainment world for distraction to what’s happening in the economy. The article outline that, most celebrities surround Obama in his campaigns such as Julia Roberts, Spike Lee, Reese Witherspoon, Oprah Winfrey, Cher, George Clooney, and Ellen DeGeneres. Similarly, he has had most popular musicians performing at his campaigns such as Dave Matthew, Alicia Keys, Foo Fighters, and Cee Lo Green. Following this, one can argue that, Obama comprehends that most Americans are in what we call celebrity culture, which enhance many benefits. For instance, the Obama campaign entices donors who may not be involved in politics. The president is utilizing social media and web ads using celebrity to raise money from people. His campaign has motivated people to give small to medium donations. Reports indicate that, 98% of the received donations in May amounted to $250 (  ). Obama’s 2012 major campaign strategy is to use celebrities to raise big funds that would in turn, transform the American economy.

Signifying the essential of internet political campaign, Obama presidential campaign heavily relies on social media to engage voters and raise campaign funds. The campaign has brought spotlight on the importance of using modern forms of social media such as Face book and You tube to reach new target populations. The campaign website, BarackObama.com has been an efficient method of reaching a younger population while mobilizing voters to promote action that would transform the American nation.  This has incredibly increase participation in various voter populations while presenting information on why Obama should be re-elected. With this in mind, one can evaluate that, Obama establishes the need of using modern technology with internet as the core element of his political campaign. In the 21^st Century, communication technologies such as web sites, podcasts, and e-mail for activism augment faster communication to a large audience. In this regard, engaging people into discussion via websites create a platform to grasp that politics has a sense of becoming a form of culture.

In the article, Obama’s Campaign strategy 2012, Morris is on the view that President Obama offers a ken insight of his 2012 re-election strategy. Morris continues to affirm that, Obama’s campaign takes some decoding aspect of running as a non-incumbent. The president wants the election to resemble that of 2008 where he will be free to bring ideas without taking responsibility for his performance in the office. In this case, the president has evaluated the power of persuasion whereby he evaluates the need of suing a different election strategy that would transform the American nation. He has evaluated the consequences of incumbency election such as eradication of corruption. When incumbents have a tendency of staying longer as politicians, they may engage into moral hazard thus creating a tendency of doing ethical behaviors. Although it is not guarantee, President Obama persuades people that such election would transform the American economy. To some extent, non-incumbent election would increase corruption, as politicians stay longer in parliament. Despite this in mind, Obama understands that the modern political communication needs to transcend a narrow preoccupation with the formal institutions of government. It requires one to convince the republicans of the impact of the idea or concept laid in the ground.

Following the above campaign strategies, one can affirm that, Obama shrouded with effective plans to win the 2012 election. As discussed, he utilized the essential of internet political campaign, using celebrities in campaign to raise money, and persuading people of how he will effectively enhance change in 2012. The three strategies are perfect example of how modern political communication needs to transcend a narrow preoccupation with the formal institutions of government. It create a platform to grasp that, politics has a sense of becoming a form of popular culture and entertainment as explored in Obama campaign strategies. Therefore this paper has effectively discussed how politicians have utilized a form of popular culture and entertainment in their campaign.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References

Morris, D. (2012). Obama’s Campaign strategy. Retrieved from: http://www.rightwingnews.com/column-2/obamas-campaign-strategy/

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