Dingo Makes Us Human: Life and Land in an Australian Aboriginal Culture: A Book Review

â€Å"Dingo Makes Us Human: Life and Land in an Australian Aboriginal Culture† written by Deborah Rose Bird (1990) is considered to be the first in a probable series of three books regarding the Australian aboriginal people of Lingara and Yarralin. These places are both from the Victoria River valley in the Northern Territory of Australia. Bird lived for two years in these communities. Bird’s work is an original ethnography that indigenous people's experiences into conversations about disturbing issues of environmental care and social justice.The author’s involvement with the people's experiences and their action in the world brings her to this examination of a multi-centred poetics of land and life. The Research Bird undertook the research because she wanted to share her experiences and contemplations with the Australian aboriginal people of Lingara and Yarralin on – a two-year period, from 1980 to 1982. Theoretical/Practical Impetus to the Research Birdà ¢â‚¬â„¢s work is practically significant due to its social and environmental applications. Moreover, Bird has also discussed in detail the Dreamings.According to Penrith (1996), the Dreaming has diverse meanings for various Aboriginal people. She asserted that Dreamings is a multifaceted system of knowledge, practices and faith that originate from stories of creation, and that controls every physical and spiritual facet of Aboriginal life. Moreover, the Dreaming embarks the rules for social behaviour, the structures of society, and the ceremonies carried out so as to preserve the life of the land (Morny, 1995). The Dreaming directed the manner people lived and how they must conduct themselves since those who defy the rules were penalized.According to Penrith (1996), the Dreaming is frequently utilized to portray the time when the earth, humans and animals were formed or created. In addition, the Dreaming is likewise employed by people to talk about their personal dreaming or their c ommunity's dreaming. Penrith (1996) claimed that during the Dreaming, ancestral spirits came to earth and formed the landforms, plants, and the animals. The stories portray how the ancestral spirits moved through the land forming mountains, lakes, and rivers.Nowadays, we are already aware regarding the places where the ancestral spirits have been and where they came to rest. I think that there are reasons of how people came to Australia and the connections between the groups all over Australia. Furthermore, there are also reasons concerning how people learnt languages and dance and how they came to know regarding fire. Essentially, as what we will learn from Bird’s work, the Dreaming originates from the land. This means that in Aboriginal society people did not own the land it was part of them and it was part of their duty to esteem and take care of mother earth.Upon reading Bird’s work, I can say that the Dreaming did not end with the arrival of Europeans but basicall y entered a new phase. I think that it is an influential living force that should be cared for and maintained. Approach in doing the research and presentation of the results of the study The book is not simply a typical anthropological reading for specialists. Bird wrote this account in an appealing and handy manner such that it can be read and enjoyed by scholars specializing or interested in other fields.Apart from her anthropological studies, the author imparts knowledge and experiences from ecology and religion and provides references to the concepts of Paul Ricoeur, Stanley Diamond, and Gregory Bateson. Nevertheless, this is not to say that anthropologists themselves will not discover much interesting material here as well. In her work, the anthropologists Bird mentions as important and powerful are Marcus, Fisher, and Geertz, Tedlock, Rabinow, Fabian, and Clifford. Mainly important in Bird’s work is the figure or role of the anthropologist as the narrator.In my opinion, Bird seems to be self-conscious regarding her role as spokesperson and interpreter for the people she has examined and with whom she has lived. I think that Bird’s general purpose that evades needless idealization or proselytizing is nevertheless to persuade the reader to contemplate on the tangled nature of ecological justice and social justices Bird depicts as reflected in the lives of these people. She believes readers can learn from this. Nevertheless, I can say that Bird is no starry-eyed romantic.Furthermore, she is not a follower of New Age philosophies, nor does she suppose that a structure of interrelationship necessarily instills peace, harmony and caring creatures. Personally, I can say that Bird does not waver to portray the personal abuse, beatings, malign sorcery and murder that happen. In fact, Bird even narrates her personal vulnerability in one such condition. Nevertheless, Bird does not pursue in detail how far European power could have worsened such behavi or. In her work, a quote from Stanner would appear to signify that Bird considers some conflict as an intrinsic part of the human situation in any quest for balance (p. 24). I also think that Bird hopes to encourage thought and reasonable discussion concerning what kind of system can best generate ecological justice. I believe that this is not merely an anthropological issue, but one of tremendous significance to all concerned life on this earth. All in all, I think that Bird’s book has a boldly direct and personal approach that is illuminating to general readers, while also of great value to knowledgeable and skilled anthropologists. Ethical Issues in the research â€Å"Dingo Makes us Human† is about concerns that are of pressing concern today.This includes kinship between humans and other living things, customary ecological knowledge, sacred geography, environmental history, and colonising history. According to Bird (1990), the question of how I, or we, or all of us in the world, rely on Victoria River Aborigines concerns. She said that from a professional viewpoint, it matters to her for the reason that what she learn is intensely reliant on who I am. In her work, she tackled the American facet of her identity. She emphasizes that it matters more significantly, though, since these people have a great many things of importance to articulate.Michaels (1986) claimed that eversince the year 1883 when Europeans first established the Victoria River district, a huge part of their historical conditions and environmental facts have been decided by others. Bird (1990) said in her book that their own construction of intersubjectivity, grounded in multi-centred systems, and their survival within a system of extreme domination have provided them unique understandings. Bird said that Yarralin people categorised or labeled her as an American mainly because of her accent and her personal declaration of her nationality.She added that it took some time for her to realise that this categorisation brought an extremely exact moral valence and that in marking this characteristic of her identity they were making several determinations regarding the kind of person they expected or hoped her to be. Bird said that the confirmation was there long before she became completely aware of it. In the book, Bird said that during the first week or so of her two year residence at Yarralin one of the old men asked her to write to the President of America and tell him to send him some forty-four gallon drums of mange soap for his dogs.When Bird said that she didn't know the President, the man told her to write to her father. Then when she said that she didn't know what mange soap was, the man said to her that even if she was unaware, other Americans would know how to heal or treat dog mange. Significance of the study to the community In writing the book, Bird surveyed the system in the communities and she emphasized the focal nature of relationships – cultural, spiritual, physical, and genealogical– that pervade every aspect of aboriginal life.These intricate patterns indicate an interconnecting worldview in which time combines and the ideal is balance instead of truth or goodness. In her work, the organizing matrix upholding the concepts of knowledge, identity, and practice which are vital to this system is that of country. The standard that informs the proper relationship to country is that of â€Å"care. † â€Å"To take care of country is to be responsible for that country. And country has an obligation in return- to nourish and sustain its people† (p. 109). In her book, it was Dreaming beings who initiated these concepts that are essential to supporting the balance of life.In my opinion, when she talked about Dreaming, Bird is predominantly grateful to the work of Stanner, quoting with approval his terms of reference: â€Å"a kind of logos or principle of order† (p. 44); â€Å"a poetic key to rea lity† (p. 44); and â€Å"every when† (p. 205). These are predominantly all-inclusive terms, talking about the original beings, their excellent acts, and the period of their existence. However, this time is coterminous with the present, and access offers a synchronous corroboration of that which must endure. Aboriginal culture is nevertheless not confined to rigid replicas of an aboriginal blueprint.The aboriginal world is not static but dynamic. There are various types of adaptations that take place. One of the most interesting discussions in this regard concerns the inroads of Christianity and the fate of the High God hypothesis, here place in the context of Otherness (pp. 229-232). Stories regarding Dreamings derive from Victoria River peoples' experience of being invaded, conquered, and massively controlled. It is important to remember that until the 1967 referendum which allowed Aboriginal people unrestrictedly to become citizens in their own country, people on catt le stations were classed as inmates of institutions.The institutions were the stations, and within that circumscribed world European managers and owners enforced a reign of terror through the massive and brutal excercise of power (Berndt & Berndt, 1987). It is also important to remember that millions of dollars have been ‘made' over the years from these peoples' land and labour, and through an indifference to government regulations and a manipulation of government subsidies which is best labelled criminal (Stevens, 1974).According to Bird (1984), all over the Victoria River district Aboriginal people identify the source of the injustices under which they have lived, and continue to live, in the personage of Captain Cook, and more generally with English people. Yarralin people also tell stories that place the kinds of power they are seeking to understand right in Australia. Some stories indicate in passing that the Unions were here before Captain Cook ever came, and that Europe an settlers followed the wrong book or law. The stories of Ned Kelly's travels in the Victoria River district tell of an indigenous European passion for justice (Bird, 1988).The power to dominate includes, and may be dependent upon, the power to construct living subjects as objects. It is a distancing that takes a dual form; people come from the outside in order to kill and steal, and they deny that this is what they are doing. And while the killing and stealing have been moderated (not eradicated) over the past two centuries, denial persists in a particularly pungent form: the successors to the invaders can and do refuse to listen. They turn stories back on the speakers, not by denying them for that would at least be a form of engagement, but more simply and with greater devastation, by not listening.The most important of the reflexive relationships essential for life is that between people and country (Morny, 1995). The Yarralin people inherit cognatic (non-gender-specific) rights to country both by birth and by marriage. Because a person’s Dream countries come separately from both father and mother, there are thus two lines of descent that establish identity: patrilineal (kuning) and matrilineal (ngurlu). Kuning also designates Dreaming beings associated with one’s father’s country, while ngurlu indicates one or several plant species or animals.Marriage can also confer other rights. All these relationships are played out by means of an intricate system of social categories, most specifically those of subsections (pp. 75-79) and generation moieties (pp. 79-89). Bird does not view her exploration as providing a solution to the definitional debate surrounding term kinship (p. 117)); her aim is instead to describe the purpose and meaning of families against the backdrop of the country as the â€Å"nexus of individuals, social groups, Dreamings, nourishings, relationships, birth and death† (p. 119).In turn, country, posited as a self- enclosed system, provides a model of singular instances that are part of an interlocking process where each part is simultaneously unique and yet necessarily interconnected (p. 223). Dualism as a modality of imposing hierarchical order is thus eliminated; each part can be appreciated as both similar and different. This lack of preferential distinction is best illustrated by the relationships between men and women, which Bird depicts in various contexts. It is characterized in the rituals, laws, and Dreamings as one of â€Å"symmetrical complementarity† (p. 21).Like the sun and rain, both men and women are vital for life. At times one will supplant the other, but the destruction of one results in the destruction of the other and, by implication, of the cosmos. Summary All in all, it is the enormous perspective that I believe represents the major interest of Bird’s study. It provides the basis of an ecological system or web of relationships that, if maintained, reinforce s a state of self-sustaining, self-corrective balance. There is no omnipotent or centralized force in control. There are instead, many centers, none of which dominates.Bird does not explicitly state her preference for this worldview, but both in her allusions to monism and monocentrism as a less than flattering Western proclivity (p. 219) and in her use of an aboriginal’s assessment that â€Å"Europeans have constructed relationships such that different types of beings, and different categories of people, live under different laws, and the laws are altered to suit the winners† (p. 221), her implications are clear. Her invocation in the final chapter, titled â€Å"This Earth,† suggests that â€Å"it is a matter of life† and leaves no doubt about where her symphaties lie.Lastly, who is Dingo referred to in the title? Dingo is the wild dog of Australia. His primordial battle was with the moon. He lost, forfeited eternal life, and was condemned to a life that must inevitably end. We are in Dingo’s image, full of erratic desires. Yet the moon who dies but revives with each passing month is caught in a sterile pattern. Therefore, to be alive as Dingo, even if the lifespan is limited, gives access to that dynamic force which makes life worth living in all its complexity of disruptive and generative energies

Racism in Football Essay

Throughout the 231 years football has been in existence, we are at the most critical era of football. In the last 10 years , the sport which had been invented to unite people of different colours , countries and religions .Has become a word which excruciates my heart . Racist. Racism was first encountered by the world in 1891 in a pub, full of intoxicated minds , the same act was discovered on a pitch full of sober men who get more than a soldier for being on the pitch. Racism itself means prejudice or discrimination directed against someone of a different race .Is It that footballer have developed this malicious habit of saying derogatory terms – then obviously not remembering it in a court room . There however has been more then a dozen cases reported of the years ( from maradona to suarez ) . Yet 77% of these cases have not been taken action on but the 33% which have been recognised only 11% have been taken to the high court and found justice . this does leave a controversi al question in our mind is it the F.A ( Football Association ) behind this ? A more recent case on racism and football is the Blackburn skipper Jason Robert’s decision to boycott wearing the ‘kick racism out of football’ t-shirt, for Saturdays pre-match warm up against Swansea . This is because the Reading striker believes there is a lack of commitment from the F.A and football in progressing and until he is satisfied more has been done to address racism in football he will not wear the t-shirt again . Also as A number of black players – Rio fernidad and brother Anton fernidad , Ashley Cole , Raheem sterling have all joined Roberts with the decision of boycotting the t-shirt because they also believe there is insufficient progress . Conversely there are some footballers that do follow the F.A code of conduct , and also do that little bit of an extra aid , such as craig bellamy who has opened his own academy in Zambia . However there is always that small minority in every population , that weigh the majority of people down . Also most racist incidents occur between player of rival teams – but this is no excuse for racism . As a result of this barbaric culture of using racist terminology , the sport has began to suffer verbally from various organisations .The sport which was made to unite people of different colours , countries and religions is becoming segregated . I know your thinking â€Å" I cant make a difference â€Å" . But I can , you can and we can .

Opportunistic Smoking Cessation Intervention Health And Social Care Essay

This essay provides a brooding history of the bringing of an timeserving smoke surcease intercession. In building this history, Gibbs ( 1988 ) theoretical account of contemplation has been utilised, which incorporates the undermentioned constituents: description ; feelings ; rating ; analysis ; decision ; and action program. Whilst shadowing a pattern nurse, I was provided with the chance to implement a brief smoke surcease intercession with a patient. The patients name will non be used, in regard of confidentiality ( NMC Code, 2008 ; NHS Confidentiality Code of Practice, DH 2003 ) , nevertheless, for the intent of this contemplation she will be referred to by the anonym Sarah. Sarah is a 65-year old female presenting with a figure of wellness issues. She is an fleshy tobacco user who has late been diagnosed with chronic clogging pneumonic disease ( COPD ) , a lung disease characterised by the narrowing of the air passages. COPD besides refers to chronic bronchitis and emphysema, the latter of which Sarah has been diagnosed with. It is emphysema that is Sarah ‘s primary wellness job at nowadays. The wellness publicity scheme adopted was a brief intercession consisting motivational interviewing ( Rollnick, Miller and Butler, 2007 ) , which took topographic point within the pattern surgery as portion of Sarah ‘s audience. Motivational Interviewing is a directing patient-centered manner of reding designed to assist people decide ambivalency about behavior alteration, such as smoking surcease. Alongside motivational interviewing, some specific props and learning AIDSs were utilized, including the proviso of evidence-based information, the creative activity of a COPD self-management program ( British Lung Foundation, 2010 ) , and inside informations of helpful resources Sarah could use for farther support. This included the Surrey NHS Stop Smoking Service ( www.surreyquit.net ) , which offers free NHS support tailored to the person ( i.e. hebdomadal clinic visits or telephone contact ) .FeelingssI was ab initio rather dying about this wellness publicity chance, as I was non confident in my ability to supply constructive support in the limited clip we had. However, on originating a conversation with Sarah, utilizing unfastened inquiries as recommended within motivational interviewing, the anxiousness disappeared as I listened to Sarah ‘s narrative. Active hearing requires concentration, which in bend focused me on how I might be able to assist Sarah. In set uping that Sarah was concerned for her grandchildren, who stayed with her quite often and were therefore around 2nd manus fume, this provided an ground tackle to ease the development of Sarah ‘s motive to alter. In bend, this ground tackle besides provided me with a patient-centred method for alleviating my frights, since I had found a manner of prosecuting Sarah in the procedure. Interestingly, as Sarah ‘s motive grew, so did my ain motive to guarantee that Sarah gained every bit much from this brief intercession as possible. With every inquiry that I could reply, I gained in assurance and enjoyed my function as ‘educator ‘ and ‘learner ‘ within the collaborative partnership between myself and Sarah. In this sense, the collaborative attack that underlies motivational interviewing and much of health care pattern today can profit both the patient and health care supplier. My overall feelings sing the interaction with Sarah are one of fulfillment. I feel I positively contributed to this patients increased decide to halt smoke for both herself and her household.EvaluationMotivational interviewing was selected as the most appropriate wellness publicity intercession for Sarah for a figure of grounds. First, grounds sing behaviors alteration and, in peculiar, smoking surcease, shows that degree of motive is an of import factor in inventing the best wellness publicity method or instruction program for a patient ( Prochaska, DiClemente, and Norcross, 1993 ) . This attack takes into consideration humanist larning theory and the rules of autonomous acquisition. Harmonizing to Prochaska et Al. ‘s ( 1983 ) five phases of behavior alteration, Sarah presently resides in phase 2 of the undermentioned phases: Phase 1 ( pre-contemplation ) is when the person does non mean to alter behavior ; Stage 2 ( contemplation ) is when an person is sing alteration ; Stage 3 ( readying ) is serious resoluteness to ship on smoking surcease ; Stage 4 ( action phase ) is the first few important hebdomads and months where an person is actively taking positive actions towards smoking surcease ; and Stage 5 ( care ) is about 6-months to 5-years after the induction of the smoke surcease determination, where behavior alteration has been sustained. Bing in the contemplation phase suggests that Sarah still has some unsolved ambivalency about alteration and therefore demands help traveling to present 3, where she can get down to fix for smoking surcease. If I had started to assist Sarah program for smoking surcease before she was ready, this could hold been damaging in both the short- and long-run. For illustration, it has been shown that get the better ofing the hurdlings associated with smoking surcease can increase an person ‘s self-efficacy ( i.e. assurance ) in their ability to win at their quit effort, which in bend Acts of the Apostless to cut down the likeliness of a backsliding and increase the likeliness of long-run sustained smoke surcease ( Schnoll et al. , 2010 ) . If Sarah was pushed towards a quit effort before prepared, her hazard of backsliding would hold been high ; this would hold finally reduced her assurance to seek once more. The passage from the contemplation phase to the readying phase has been cited as being critically of import to the result of quit efforts ( Prochaska, DiClemente, and Norcross, 1993 ) , as has the fact that healthcare professionals can be highly influential at this phase Long et al. , 1996 ) . I considered motivational interviewing to be cardinal to act uponing Sarah ‘s determinations sing smoke surcease since it was designed specifically to assist people decide ambivalency about behavior alteration, which is the chief feature of people in the contemplation phase of motive. Motivational interviewing can accomplish the resoluteness of ambivalency by avoiding confrontation and steering people towards taking to alter their behaviour themselves. I was cognizant that motivational interviewing would necessitate to be accompanied by elaborate instruction about smoke-related wellness issues and the likely class of COPD, together with possible complications and its association with increased morbidity and mortality. Sarah is an intelligent person and lament to have such information and reading stuff. Unfortunately, nevertheless, I was unable to reply all of her inquiries. In peculiar, I could non reply her inquiries sing the pathophysiology of smoke. Unanswered inquiries can move as a barrier to come on, something which I do non wish to bring forth in a patient who requires such barriers taking. Fortunately, I was able to reply Sarah ‘s inquiries whilst mentioning to an educational information cusp. I do, nevertheless, feel that I would hold been able to prosecute with Sarah more efficaciously if it had non been necessary for me to concentrate my attending on the cusp before me. It became evident throughout the audience that although Sarah was most surely sing discontinuing smoke, she possessed some traits that might impede her attempts. In peculiar, Sarah appeared to hold an external wellness venue of control. This means that she attributes control over her behavior to external factors as opposed to internal factors. It is good documented within the literature that an internal venue of control is more productive to behaviour alteration and healthier lifestyle picks ( Wallston and Wallston, 1978 ; Tones et al. , 1992 ) . Taking this into consideration, I was aware to admit Sarah ‘s control over her picks. In one case, I used her hubby as an illustration since Sarah had informed me that her hubby had quit smoke. I asked her how he managed to accomplish this and in recognizing her hubby ‘s function in his ain smoke surcease, Sarah appeared to be seting her venue of control towards a more internal one. However, Sarah ‘s self-efficacy remained low throughout the audience despite efforts to hike her assurance. It is believed that increased self-efficacy, which can be achieved via motivational interviewing, is an of import factor involved in the success of smoking surcease ( Brown et al. , 2003 ; Karatay et al. , 2010 ) , therefore I felt this was an of import facet to include in Sarah ‘s self-management attention program – to put herself an accomplishable end each hebdomad that would bit by bit construct her assurance.AnalysisThe Department of Health have been working with the NHS, patients, and health care professionals since 2005 to develop a scheme to better the attention and results of people with COPD ( DH, 2010 ) . This scheme places a big focal point on the bar and intervention of smoke, every bit good as the importance of supplying patients who have COPD with behavioral support and entree to halt smoke services. The Department of Health ( 2009 ) have produced counsel on effectual halt smoke services, offering three degrees of behavioral intercession: brief intercessions ( level one ) ; intensive one-to-one support and advice ( flat two ) ; and group intercessions ( flat three ) . In footings of degree one, brief intercessions, the National Institute of Clinical Excellent ( NICE ) have published guidelines and recommendations for smoking surcease ( NICE, 2004 ) . Furthermore, old UK counsel has emphasised the importance of offering timeserving, brief advice to promote all tobacco users to discontinue and to signpost them to resources and interventions that might assist them ( West, 2005 ) . They Department of Health counsel provinces that all tobacco users should be advised to discontinue and asked if they are interested in discontinuing ; this is unless there are exceeding fortunes such as other medical conditions that might impede smoking surcease. Those who are interested in discontinuing should so be offered a referral to an intensive, flat two, support service such as NHS Stop Smoking Services. Sarah was referred to the Surrey service and informed of the success rates found for NHS Stop Smoking Services. There is grounds that such services are effectual in the short-run ( 4-weeks ) and the long-run ( 52-weeks ) ; so, between 13-23 % of successful short-run quitters remain abstentious at 52-weeks ( NICE, 2007 ) . Approximately 900,000 people in England and Wales have been diagnosed with COPD ( NICE, 2004 ) and it is the 5th most common cause of decease in the UK, ensuing in over 30,000 deceases yearly ( National Statistics, 2006 ) . By 2020, it is estimated that COPD will be the 3rd most common cause of mortality worldwide ( Lopez et al. , 2006 ) . Smoke is the largest hazard factor for developing COPD, with 20 % of long-run tobacco users finally developing clinically important degrees of the disease and 80 % developing lung harm ( Garcia-Aymerich et al. , 2003 ) . These statistics highlight the urgency of hold oning timeserving wellness publicity and utilising brief intercession accomplishments to assist present the DH scheme and better the attention and outcomes provided to people with COPD. Delivering brief timeserving intercessions for smoking surcease requires an attack that does non make defensiveness but develops a patient/provider partnership conductive of the patient doing their ain determinations, with support, as to their life style. Motivational interviewing and consideration of single patient features and traits ( i.e. venue of control, phase of preparedness to alter, etc. ) provides a method of accomplishing this partnership within limited clip and resources, as is frequently the instance in busy health care environments. Learning the accomplishments within motivational interviewing will add to a healthcare professional ‘s repertory of techniques for back uping patients through behaviour alteration, as I found in the instance reflected upon within this essay.Action PlanThe UKCC Code of Professional Conduct ( 1992 ) proposes that nurses should â€Å" keep and better her professional cognition and competency. † In relation to my ain cognition and c ompetency in timeserving wellness publicity, I have recognised that I need to increase my accomplishments for fostering patient self-efficacy. Patient assurance is cardinal to successful behavior alteration and although I feel satisfied with my attack to Sarah, it would hold been utile to hold possessed a larger repertory of techniques for heightening self-efficacy. I could besides profit from a greater apprehension of the pathophysiological mechanisms by which smoking causes COPD. Sarah was peculiarly interested in the physiological effects of smoke and whilst I could offer her basic information verbally, I needed to mention to information cusps for more elaborate penetration, which disrupted the ‘flow ‘ of conversation. I have started to research these issues via a hunt of the literature on behavior alteration and wellness publicity. As portion of this hunt, I have come across the construct of ‘implementation purpose ‘ ( Gollwitzer, 1999 ) . The theory behind this construct is that in order for person to implement a coveted behavior, it is necessary for them to invent a specific program that will increase their purpose to prosecute that behavior ( Gollwitzer and Sheeran, 2006 ) . This is an interesting technique that could be integrated into motivational interviewing and wellness publicity via the self-management attention programs presently provided. I intend to research this farther and to discourse it with a superior. Using Gibb ‘s brooding theoretical account to construction this history has helped me to recognize my strongest accomplishments and those that require farther development. I will endeavor to take a proactive attack to using this greater penetration into my professional abilities.

Geology Volcanoes&Earthquake Assignment8 Assignment

Geology Volcanoes&Earthquake Assignment8 - Assignment Example An inevitable tide was moving red-hot lava onshore and people watched helplessly. However, a small crew led by Thorbjorn Sigurgeirsson squirted the lava in the front with fire hoses producing vapors of steam (John A. McPhee. 102). The courageously watered and cooled the advancing lava until they stopped the lava flow (John A. McPhee. 107) The gas content in magma or lava determines whether a volcanic eruption will be explosive or effusive. These gases include sulfur dioxide, water vapor and carbon dioxide. A gas highly dissolves in magma that is situated deep underground, where pressure is very high. The rate of dissolution decreases as the lava moves up to the earth’s surface due to reducing pressure, thus, the gas form bubbles that drag magma to the surface. The eruption is explosive if more bubbles form and effusive when there are few bubbles. A cinder cone forms when lava with more bubbles is expelled and cools in the air (Gates and Ritchie p.157). Magma comprises of solid minerals, liquid rocks and gas. The amount of the silica mineral in lava or magma determines a volcanic rock to be formed. The mafic rocks include all basalts and some andesites: have lower silica content, intermediate rocks such as some dacites and most andesites with intermediate silica content, and silicic rocks. Silicic rocks have higher silica content and include all rhyolites and some dacites. Apart from silica, volcanic rocks have other minerals such as titanium, aluminum, iron, manganese, magnesium, calcium, sodium, potassium, and phosphorus. These chemicals are mix with oxygen to form their respective chemical compounds (Park, 2001, p. p.177). A magma viscosity determines a volcano shape, texture and shape of lava, and whether a volcano erupts effusively or explosively. A less viscous lava forms shield volcanoes with wide sloping sides while more viscous lava builds conical volcanoes with steep sides.

Personal Computer, Desired Requirements Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Personal Computer, Desired Requirements - Essay Example He can buy a powerful computer now or buy an inexpensive computer and plan for its upgrade in the future. Some computer vendors offer leasing programs that allows upgrade of the computer every 2 to3 years. It is also worthwhile to browse the website of large computer manufacturers to see the latest technology and the price. He can also ask friends, fellow students or co-workers in similar line of work as to what computer are they using, where they bought them, if there were any problems, and whether they are happy with their choices. One can buy a top-of-the-line model with an eye towards keeping the computer for years. Some buy the basic version of the fastest computer they can afford, and add extra memory, a sound card and speakers, a DVD drive, a larger monitor, and/or a printer over time. More sophisticated applications require faster computers, more memory, more disk space, and other resources. In general, the newer the computer, the better for the owner to take advantage of the new programs, internet resources, and the latest computing and presentation applications. In the case of laptop computers, newer models are faster and lighter, in addition to offering better displays, more memory, and more disk storage. Be prepared to spend at least $1,000 to $2,000 for a general-purpose computer. There are desktop computers whose price range for anywhere from $400 to $10,000. One should budget for hardware and software such as Microsoft and Adobe products. Word processing and spreadsheet software can be purchased with most systems. There may also be need for other software for communications, graphics, and specialized projects. The mostly widely used operating systems are Windows 2000 or Macintosh. Apple computers run using Macintosh. Other brands run on Windows 2000. Macintosh is easier to set up, learn, and to use because it has more easy-to-use built-in software. DOS/Windows systems are less expensive for similar processing speed. Windows 2000, together with Linux and Unix, are more flexible as it can allow multiple users to use the same computer at the same time and/or different times; capable of supporting and utilizing more than one computer processor; capable of allowing multiple software processes to run at the same time; and allow different parts of a software program to run concurrently. The choice of the operating system and software will depend on the use of the computer - will the computer be used for basic tasks or to meet special requirements Do you intend to connect the computer to the office or school server Decide if you are better served by the PC/Windows platform or the Macintosh. Look at the system components and determine if they will suit your needs. When buying a new computer, look for a system with a Pentium 2.8 to 3.2 gigahertz (GHz) processor. The processor is considered the brain of the computer the most important part of a computer and its speed determines how quickly the processor can execute computer code. The amount of random-access memory (RAM) or system memory is another very important part of a computer system because it has the largest influence on performance of the new operating systems. One can buy as much RAM that one can afford. At the minimum, it is preferable to buy not less that 256 megabytes (MB) or 512 MB. For a Macintosh, it should be at least 256 MB. The hard drive space required is dependent on the types of installed applications. General

Service-dominant logic and customer satisfaction Term Paper

Service-dominant logic and customer satisfaction - Term Paper Example On the other hand, creation of value actualization is a vital role taken by the customers, and this may require contacting suppliers through their own individual ways. Nevertheless, numerous dimensions can be applied to approach through which new logic and value; in fact, there are critical issues rose relating to services-dominant (Achrol & Kotler, 2006, 320). Client expectations concerning value and satisfaction are based on three-concept quality with core factors for differentiating them. However, the disparities among these concepts are vague and overlapping (Bebko, 2000, 26). Expectations held by customers regard the quality of services and products encountered, which is similar to the expectations held about the entire firm, which offered the service. Moreover, there are situations that regard the expectations of individual services experienced by customers. This increase chances for them to be specific and concrete; for instance, time consumed while waiting for a receptionist, which is more of to their expectations than the entire quality of the services offered by the company. 1. Analyse and respond to the explicit expectations and implicit expectations of core clients at the start of the project front-end. Client’s expectations refer to the beliefs concerning delivery of services, which considered the standards and reference point for evaluating the performance. Customers are fond of making comparison of their perceptions concerning performance of the firms, which is evaluated through references of the point’s evaluation such as the level of quality, knowledge and their expectations (Gummesson, 2006, 239). In fact, identification of clients’ expectations is vital to the marketers and the entire company due to their critical aspect of seeking to deliver good quality service to them. On the other hand, lack of understanding of the customer services can result to a loss of customer’s business, while the competitors are gaining market share (Porter, 1985, 30). Explicit expectations of the core clients at the start of the project are based on the promises made through personal and non-personal statements concerning the services made by the company to the customer (Graf & Maas, 2008, 20). In this case, personal statements require communication through salespeople, services, or repair personnel. However, this promises become non-personal in situation when they are acquired through advertisements, brochures and other publications (Hubbert, Sehorn & Brown, 1995, 21). Therefore, logic is established through promises made concerning the exact quality of services that will be delivered in a way that manages client expectations. In this case, this guarantees that the promises made will meet the expectation of the client concerning a certain service. There are company representative, who are over-promising due to lack of knowledge regarding the necessary promise that can be made. However, confusion is caused by fail ing to consider that services are customized; thus, this lead to lack of ease in definition and repetition. In other instances, company representatives lack the knowledge concerning the nature of the final form of the service that will be delivered. Explicit services have a substantial influence on customers’ expectations based on the desires of the services and their speculations. In fact, this is due to the way these services alter customer’s desires in general based on their prediction concerning the experience

Disciplinary Procedures Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Disciplinary Procedures - Essay Example To begin with, the procedures offer a framework for conducting investigations to establish the key facts regarding the case or grievances forwarded. The employer, therefore, collects the available evidence through series of hearings and disciplinary meetings. Nevertheless, the procedures dictate that facts ought to be established within a reasonable time after a complaint is forwarded. Secondly, the disciplinary procedures allow the employer to inform formally the employee under investigation about the problem. More so, this should be done in writing with attached pieces of evidence for the purpose of record keeping an avoiding inconsistency (Antcliff & Saundry 2009). Thirdly, the procedures aim at incorporating the views of the employee in the entire process of finding a solution. This is enhanced through hearings in which the employee responds to allegations and asks questions to seek clarification by presented evidence. Furthermore, the discipline procedures give employers the bas ic structure of arriving at decisions. Three major decisions can be made founded on the strength of the evidence presented in the employment tribunal. The employer may decide to write warning letters in case of gross misconduct whose extent may have threatened the operations of the organization. The letter should comprise of the mistakes done and recommended improvements. If the tribunal finds it fit to dismiss the employee, the responsible manager should do so within the legal system of termination of employment.

Long day's journey into night Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Long day's journey into night - Essay Example The writer depicts a family that is in jeopardy in all spheres and only has themselves to blame for the problems they are facing. The play, however, does not cover well the theme of gender. The writer has not used the characters effectively to cover this theme. It presents a family of three men and one woman who is the mother of the family. The play did not do well in including one woman in the play. It makes Mary oblivious of most of the things that happen in the family. When she comes home from the hospital, Tyrone receives her at the door with an embrace. Mary hears a cough from the other room, and she concludes that Edmund is having mere cold (O’Neill &King, 15). Tyrone nods in agreement with her conclusion but the actual problem is Tuberculosis. The other members of the family deny Mary access to information about the health of her son. Therefore, the writer has failed in the gender balance in the whole play. The play also fails in addressing the space for women in the characters. In act three, Mary and Cathleen come from the store, where they went to purchase morphine. They come home, and Mary is lonely because there is no company. She even stops Cathleen from going to prepare dinner because she does not want to be alone (O’Neill &King, 112). Mary also goes to get her drugs without the knowledge of the rest of the family. This is because the society views women as a group that should not find themselves in Mary’s condition. The boys on the other hand are alcoholics; they take alcohol and go home drunk just like James. This society denies the women the chance to make mistakes that happen but it is comfortable if men make the same mistakes. The issue of gender roles also is not addressed in a manner that presents the contemporary world. In the play, Cathleen prepares the meals of the family. This character eliminates the men from such roles, and this contradicts the actual

Answer and Question Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Answer and Question - Essay Example On the other hand, plot is basically an ordered narration of the story but there is no chronological manner present in it (Nodelman & Reimer, 2003). The reason behind setting up a plot is to make the audiences and readers curious about the questions that are not-elaborated. This may also increase the excitement of the reader with the story. This is also regarded as suspense because the answers are provided in a surprising manner with the story (Genette, 1983). Distinguishing factors of plot and story are also interrelated with discourse and story. In easier terms, plot and discourse are considered as similar but there is a slight difference between them. Discourse is mainly a sequence of a conversation revealing significant knowledge. It is also referred to debated account during a story or plot depiction. Discourse allows reporting of the reason behind events in the story (Nodelman & Reimer, 2003). Painter (2007) has written an in-depth account regarding the role of images in children’s picture books to slow down the pace of narratives. Picture books have limited text as images present in the book also convey the message (meaning) of the story. Dialogues are given much importance in the picture books so that children can think of the scenic projections (Painter, 2007). Sometimes there would also be a number of repetitions made to put stress on a particular action. The repetition of dialogues and images allows narration to become fast paced when more than one dialogue are aligned with the images (Kress & Leeuwen, 2006). It should also be noted that the visual narration can be distributed depending upon the alignment with the images. However, there is no investigation found out to back up the aspect of distribution of visual narration (Kress & Leeuwen, 2006). When the pace of narration is speeded up then many events can be shown to introduce sequences which may not be very important to the stories. Speedy and repetitive dialogues along with the images

Pros and Cons of Genetically Modified Foods Essay Example for Free

Pros and Cons of Genetically Modified Foods Essay Our ancestors first cultivated plants some ten thousand years ago. They domesticated animals later and then selectively bred both plants and animals to meet various requirements for human food. Humans discovered natural biological processes such as fermentation of fruits and grains to make wine and beer, and yeast for baking bread. Manipulation of foods is not a new story, therefore. The latest agricultural discovery uses genetic engineering technology to modify foods. Farmers and plant breeders have been changing crop plants to improve characteristics such as size, resistance to disease and taste. Plants which grow well, have a higher yield or taste better are selected and bred from. This is still the most widely used technique for developing new varieties of a crop, and is limited by natural barriers which stop different species of organisms from breeding with each other. Genetic modification is very different to these traditional plant breeding techniques. Genetic modification is the insertion of DNA from one organism to another, usually by molecular technologies. Genetically Modified Foods (GMF) are animals or plants that have had genetic modification. This changes the characteristics of the organism, or the way it grows and develops. Jim Maryanski from the U. S. Food and Drug Administration, had the following to say in an interview published on the FDAs website. ?There are hundreds of new plant varieties introduced every year in the United States, and all have been genetically modified through traditional plant breeding techniquessuch as cross-fertilization of selected plantsto produce desired traits.? (Robin)Current and future GM products include:a)Food that can deliver vaccines bananas that produce hepatitis B vaccineb)More nutritious foods rice with increased iron and vitaminsc)Faster growing fish, fruit and nut treesd)Plants producing new plasticsIn so many respects, genetic modification is perfect for todays society. It would help agriculturalists overcome all headaches associated with growing large crops, and basically tailor the food growth industry to mass consumption by the general population. The famous frost-resistant tomato example is perfect in illustrating this point. With a tomato that resists frost, the season for growing them would be longer and therefore a farmer would be able to produce more tomatoes in one year than they were able to do in the past. Gene technology not only gives us the potential to select the exact characteristics we want in an organism, but it also enables us to cross species barriers. For example, we can take an insecticide-producing gene from a bacterium and insert it into a plant, making the plant resistant to insect attack. This new-found ability to cross species barriers is what makes gene technology such a powerful tool. Producing enough food for the worlds population without using up all the available land is an enormous challenge. One solution is to develop crops that yield more with fewer inputs; that are more resistant to diseases; that spoil less during storage and transport; that contain more useful nutrients; and that can grow in agricultural land that has been degraded. Gene technology gives us the potential to do this. Genetically modified foods have been available since the 1990s. The principal ingredients of GM foods currently available are derived from genetically modified soybean, maize and canola. The first commercially grown genetically modified food crop was a tomato created by Calgene called the FlavrSavr. Calgene submitted it to the U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for assessment in 1992; following the FDAs determination that the FlavrSavr was, in fact, a tomato, did not constitute a health hazard, and did not need to be labeled to indicate it was genetically modified, Calgene released it into the market in 1994, where it met with little public comment. Considered to have a poor flavor, it never sold well and was off the market by 1997. However, it had improved solids contents which made it an attractive new variety for canned tomatoes. Transgenic crops are grown commercially or in field trials in over 40 countries and on 6 continents. In 2000, about 109. 2 million acres (442,000 km? ) were planted with transgenic crops, the principal ones being herbicide- and insecticide-resistant soybeans, corn, cotton, and canola. Other crops grown commercially or field-tested are a sweet potato resistant to a US strain of a virus that affects one out of the more than 89 different varieties of sweet potato grown in Africa, rice with increased iron and vitamins such as golden rice, and a variety of plants able to survive extreme weather. Between 1996 and 2001, the total surface area of land cultivated with GMOs had increased by a factor of 30, from 17,000 km? (4. 2 million acres) to 520,000 km? (128 million acres). The value for 2002 was 145 million acres (587,000 km? ) and for 2003 was 167 million acres (676,000 km? ). Soybean crop represented 63% of total surface in 2001, maize 19%, cotton 13% and canola 5%. In 2004, the value was about 200 million acres (809,000 km? ) of which 2/3 were in the United States. In particular, Bt corn is widely grown, as are soybeans genetically designed to tolerate glyphosate herbicides. Future applications of GMOs include bananas that produce human vaccines against infectious diseases such as Hepatitis B, fish that mature more quickly, fruit and nut trees that yield years earlier, and plants that produce new plastics with unique properties. The next decade will see exponential progress in GM product development as researchers gain increasing and unprecedented access to genomic resources that are applicable to organisms beyond the scope of individual projects. Biologist Stephen Nottingham explains the risks of GMF:? Experimental trials with transgenic organisms are usually conducted strict regulations to minimize the potential spread of genetic material? Even given these regulations, however, no field trial can be said to be 100% secure. This was illustrated when flooding struck the American Midwest in July 1993 and an entire field of experimental insect-resistant maize was swept away in Iowa. ?once released accidentally into the environment, plant material may prove difficult to recover. (Bragi)Unique ecological risks have been associated with virus-resistant transgenic crop plants?leaving crops more vulnerable to virus attack and risking the spread of virus susceptibility to other plants. Genetically modified foods are unlikely to present direct risks to human health. There are two main areas of concern:a)The possibility of allergic reactions to genetically modified foods, andb) The possibility that bacteria living in the human gut may acquire resistance to antibiotics from marker genes present in transgenic plants. Proponents claim that a genetically-modified potato is as safe as one modified the old-fashioned way, through generations of selective breeding; biotechnology just gets the job done more quickly. Critics are concerned that mixing together genetic material from different species might produce unexpected allergic reactions in the person who eats or drinks it. For instance, if an individual consumer who is allergic to broccoli eats a banana that just happens to have a little broccoli DNA under the peel, that person might get sick. Some studies on animals indicate that consuming genetically-modified foods may cause allergic responses, compromise immune systems and inhibit organ growth, although no proven cases of widespread reactions have been definitively documented. Opponents of biotech foods want other questions answered, as well. Will re-engineering a plant or animal to serve a specific end, such as improving taste, decrease its nutritional value? Will consuming genetically-modified food products make a person more resistant to antibiotics, which are widely used to treat bacterial infections? Does consuming milk or meat from livestock that has been injected with growth hormones (a form of biotechnology that is different from genetic modification) subject consumers to early puberty, cancer, and other ailments? Since neither side has been able to provide definitive answers, the jury is still out on food safety; after all, genetic technology itself is barely decades old. So one can condense the issue into a single question: should we move forward with new technologies that might help provide higher crop yields, new and interesting types of food products, and more profits for the companies that own the technology; or play it safe and wait until we better understand the health and environmental consequences of manipulating life forms that took generations to develop? Multinational Corporations benefit because GMF can be very profitable. GMF have taken hold quickly because multinational corporations with the resources to make large financial investments in research and development can profit directly. Multinational companies can spread out the benefit and profit to many branches of their businesses. Many such corporations combine the following: an agrochemical company, a seed company, a pharmaceutical company, a food processing company and sometimes businesses involved with veterinary products. Developments in one part of the corporation can be used to sell products in another branch. Farmers benefit in the short term because they can grow and sell more crops with fewer problems due to weeds, pests, fungi or frost. The genetically modified seed is designed to resist these traditional enemies. Food processing companies benefit from a ready supply of raw food ingredients designed for specific processing needs. Genetically modified tomatoes and potatoes, for instance, have higher solid contents and yield more sauces and French fries. These foods take longer to ripen and rot. Thus less food is spoiled and more gets processed. Supermarkets benefit for the same reasons. The fresh produce lasts longer on the shelves and is more profitable. Consumers, to date, havent benefited. GMF have been developed for the convenience of the producer and processor. Yet they cost more to produce and the costs get passed along to the consumer. Eventually there will be some kind of designer novelty foods for shoppers to try. Nottingham adds that there are many other concerns including ethical questions involving animal welfare, whether DNA is actual life, and intellectual property rights and genetic resources from the Third World. (Bragi)The worlds poorest nations account for around 95. 7% of the worlds genetic resources. Traditional farming practices involve farmers retaining seeds, from the harvest of one years crop, for planting in the following year. This practice saves money on buying seed and in itself represents a continuous selection for yield and resistance to pests and diseases. However, with genetically modified seed, royalties are payable to the companies holding the patent for the seed. Under world trade agreement rulings, farmers have to make substantial royalty payments to multinational companies if they keep seed for replanting, even if the crop happens to be native to their particular country. Genetic engineering is a valuable new technology that can develop more plentiful and nutritious foods, with great potential benefits for humanity and the environment, and this new scientific discovery needs to be implemented as quickly as possible for humanitarian reasons. As with every new scientific technology, harmful side effects of genetic engineering are inevitable and great care should be taken in its implementation, including carefully controlled long-term tests on human health and environmental impacts. All genetically engineered foods have been thoroughly tested and demonstrated to be safe before they are released into the marketplace. However, this testing is typically conducted only on rats and other animals, by the companies involved. Very little of this research has been reviewed by independent scientists and then published in scientific journals. Genetically engineered foods are usually substantially equivalent to other foods, with no increased risk to human health, and no need for the lengthy and expensive human testing demanded of, for example, new food additives. However, the unpredictable disruptions in normal DNA functioning caused by genetic engineering can produce unanticipated and unknown side effects for human health, including unknown and unpredictable toxins and allergens, and these possibilities can only be definitively assessed through human testing. Genetic engineering is a scientific and technological process, and its evaluation and governmental regulation should be based on purely scientific and objective criteria. To have a purely scientific evaluation of genetically engineered foods, we need more science, especially human studies and environmental studies. Moreover, purely scientific assessment of genetic engineering ignores the fact that, for many people, food has cultural, ethical and religious dimensions that must also be considered. Alan McHughen, author of Pandoras Picnic Basket: The Potential and Hazards of Genetically Modified Foods, in the introduction he states:Make no mistake: I am in favor of an orderly and appropriately regulated introduction of some GMOs into the environment and marketplace, and I adamantly oppose others. There are good reasons to ban certain products of genetic technology, and good reasons to allow, with management, certain others; some may require no extraordinary regulation at all. If your opinion differs from mine after reading this book, I hope you will be able to justify, if only to yourself, why we disagree. My philosophy is to be skeptical, be critical, even cynical of claims by business interests, government agencies, and activist groups. But also keep an open mind and then decide for yourself. (Internet 7)There? s no doubt that the GM food supply should be closely monitored and regulated, but that doesn? t mean it should all be banned. I believe that genetic engineering of plants, animals, and humans has much to offer as long as we are aware of potential benefits and side effects. And that? s true even for more traditional methods of farming, animal husbandry, and medicine. Work Sited:1. Cummings, Michael R. , and Williams S. Klug. Concepts of Genetics. New Delhi: Pearson Education, 2004. 2. Dubey, R. C. A Textbook of Biotechnology. New Delhi: S. Chand, 20063. Kumar, H. D. Modern Concepts of Biotechnology. New Delhi: Vikash Publishing House, 20034. Purohit, S. Agricultural Biotechnology. India: Agrobios, 20055. Purohit, S. Biotechnology: Fundamental and Applications. India: Agrobios, 2004Internet. Reference:1. Bragi, David. ?Food Savior Or Frankenfood? The Debate Over Genetically Modified Foods?. http://www. sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article. cgi? f=/gate/archive/2001/06/25/healthwatch. DTL2. Robbin, Adria. ?What Are We Eating http://serendip. brynmawr. edu/biology/b103/f00/web1/robbin. html3. Schultz, Norman. http://www. beyondintractability. org/essay/fact_finding_limits/. 4. Wikipedia Online Encyclopedia. http://www. wikipedia. org/wiki/genetic_engineering5. Wikipedia Online Encyclopedia. http://www. wikipedia. org/wiki/genetically_modified_food6.? Genetic Engineering: The Controversy?. http://www. genetic-id. com/prosncons/index. htm7. http://www. foodmuseum. com/issues. html.

Verbal And Nonverbal Communication

Verbal And Nonverbal Communication When we pursue to convey our thoughts to another person, we use three different modes, methods, or channels to transmit our intentions. These modes are important to let people know who we are, how we view and experience the world, and how we describe our experiences. This communication is done verbally and non-verbally, and sometimes with varied signals or noise. When two people, A and B, are trying to communicate with each other, their communication somehow becomes distorted or altered. This could be due to an assortment of things such personalities, attitudes, values, belief systems, biases, assumptions, experience, background, and so on. We put in our own thoughts to what we hear, we disregard or overlook what we hear, and we alter messages according to the modes that are used to convey messages. As a society, we say a lot to each other about who we are and how we portray each other and the rest of the world through symbolic ways. The symbolic communication mode is basically unreceptive, and messages transmitted in this way are very effortlessly misunderstood. There are a variety of symbols that we use as a form of communication (Hybels Weaver, 2007). First, our selection of clothes can enlighten an enormous amount about who we are, what our values are, what our status is, how traditional or open-minded we are. We link differences in occupational categories with different uniforms. An example would be the banker wearing a suit or the farmer wearing overalls, and so on (Blatner, 1985). The second set of symbols is hair, which for some people can have a lot of meaning. This type of communication is shown through the type of hairdo, length and color of hair, and the existence or nonexistence of facial hair. They can say a great deal about who we are. Nonetheless, these signals are often extremely vague (Blatner, 1985). A third symbolic type of communication is jewelry. Married people regularly wear wedding rings, some people do not wear a watch, and some people wear exceedingly expensive jewelry, and so on. These are inert messages that are given out constantly to other people. Such things as wearing a flag pin on the collar, a red ribbon, an earring in one ear or in the nose say loads of things to other people (Blatner, 1985). A fourth type of symbolic statement to other people is cosmetics a.k.a makeup. We connect meanings with the different ways women apply makeup to their bodies. Prostitutes have been known to wear heavier makeup than other women. Even a man who uses cosmetics is giving out a lot of symbolic message about the meaning that his world has for him (Blatner, 1985). What a person drives or their choice of vehicles is the fifth symbolic mode. There are different sets of messages between a business executive who drives a sports car to his colleague who drives a luxury sedan or an ordinary family car. The sixth symbolic mode is the selection and locality of our houses. Social status is openly associated with the kind of home one lives in and its location (Blatner, 1985). The seventh and final form of symbolic communication is the layout of our living or working spaces. An example of this would be how an interview would be laid out. In one instance, the interviewer and interviewee have a desk in between them. The next instance would place the two sitting face to face with nothing in between them. Both of these give out a primarily different set of messages (Blatner, 1985). During communication, people are continuously giving out signals. These signals entail the meaning that we want others to understand using the symbols that we opt to enclose ourselves and devote ourselves with. These symbols are basically passive, but are a genuine part of our communication. In all aspects of life, talking, not talking, even sleeping, we send out passive symbolic signals (Blatner, 1985). The technical term for nonverbal communication is called kinesis. This type of communication or body language is typically involuntary, and the nonverbal signals are expressed through behavior as well as verbally and also have symbolic meaning. There are many diverse forms of body language. The first one is ambulation. We relate different meanings to different ways people carry their bodies from one place to another. The way a person carries their body, whether they glide, stride, stomp, etc. says a lot about who they are and how they experience their surroundings (Fast, 1971). One of the most dominant forms of nonverbal communication is touching (Jones, 1994). Due to it being the largest organ in the body, the skin can receive a variety of stimuli. From a simple touch, we can communicate such feelings as anger, interest, trust, tenderness, warmth, and many other emotions. People are different in their keenness to touch and be touched. Several people give away nonverbal body signals that state that they do not want to be touched, and there are other people who describe themselves and are described by others as touchy feely. There are many taboos related to this form of communication. A person can realize a lot about their own personalities and self concepts studying their reactions to touching and being touched. A next type of nonverbal communication is eye contact. As humans, we are inclined to size each other up and determine their trustworthiness through reactions to each others eye contact. Consider the last time you were driving down the road and passed a hitch-hiker. The chances are that you did not look him in the eye if you passed him up. Con artists and salespeople identify with the power of eye contact and use it to their advantage. Counselors understand that eye contact is a very influential way of communicating understanding and recognition. Speakers understand that eye contact is essential in making sure that an audience stays interested in ones subject (Hickson III Stacks, 1985). Posturing is another form of nonverbal communication. The way a person sits, stands, and postures themselves relays a number of possible signals that may communicate how one is experiencing their environment. An example would be a person folding their arms and legs, which is a defensive signal. It has at times been observed that a person who is a severe psychological threat will lay in a fetal position. A person who is seductive in nature postures themselves so that their body is exposed to other people (Fast, 1971). The fifth types of nonverbal communication are known as tics. The unconscious nervous spasms of the body can be a key to ones being threatened. There are a lot of people that stammer or jerk when they feel like they are being threatened. When it comes to communication, these mannerisms can be easily misinterpreted. Sub-vocals make up the sixth type of nonverbal communication. We say uh, uh, uh, when we are trying to find the right word to say in a conversation. We say a lot of words or sounds such as these in order to get the meaning to another person. In conversations, some of us may stammer, hum, grunt, groan and so on. Some of these sub-vocal sounds or noises are not actual words, but they do carry meaning. The next, seventh, type of nonverbal communication is called distancing. It has been said that each individual person has their own psychological space. When and if another person intrudes on that space, a person may become somewhat tense, alert, or jammed up. We have a tendency to place distance between ourselves and others based on the kinds of relationships that we have and what our motives are toward each other. These reasons for creating distances are often not visible to others, but the behavior is, nonetheless, interpreted. The eighth way to communicate non-verbally is with gesturing. There is a joke that says that if we bind a Frenchmans hands, he is voiceless. As we communicate with each other, there is a enormous amount of definition in our use of gestures. However, some of these gestures have different meanings to different people. At times people place different meanings to the hand signals that we give out. An example would be the A-OK sign, in which the thumb and first forefinger is placed together forming a circle. This sign is considered very obscene in some other countries. Another potentially obscene gestures in some cultures is the were number one signal. We put a lot of importance in our words and we try to make clear our meaning through the use of gestures (Maginnis, 1958). Vocalism or inflection makes up the ninth way to communicate non-verbally. An example of this would be the sentence I love my children. This is a sentence that could be insincere unless it is pronounced. The way that sentence is spoken vocally determines the idea that another person gets from it. For example, if the emphasis is on the first word, I love my children, it says that somebody else doesnt. If the emphasis is on the second word, I love my children, it has a different meaning. With this inflection, it is possibly saying that some of their behavior gets on my nerves. If more inflection is placed on the third word, I love my children, it says that someone elses children do not get the same affection. Finally, if more stress is in the last word, I love my children, it could be implied that there are other people whom I do not love. So the way we speak our words vocally often decides the meaning that another person is likely to gather from our message (Fast, 1971). The communication style that we use most frequently to send meaning from one person to another is the verbal style. However, anyone who has ever thought about it has come to the conclusion that there are huge difficulties in sole reliance on this style of communication. History is full of examples of misunderstandings between people who were relying on just the spoken words to carry meaning. Possibly the most important knowledge that has come out of this experience has been that words themselves do not have meaning. People have meaning, and words are merely tools that we use for trying to express meaning that is characteristic to one person into the individual meaning system of the other person (Bonvillain, 2007). One of the problems with words is that we attach to them different practical and emotional implications. Words are not always connected with related experiences or related feelings on the part of the listener and speaker. Other problems involved in using the verbal mode include the use of jargon, the use of clichà ©s, and the use of particular vocabularies. It is time and again said that words have meaning only in circumstance. It is easier to say that words only have meaning when they are associated with people in context (Hybels Weaver, 2007). It is not unusual to watch people trying to find the right words to say what they mean. There is a myth that there is a certain approach to say it right. If we conclude from that observable fact, it is easy to assume that there are some people who, instead of experiencing feelings and sensations, more frequently experience language. Specifically, their experience parameters are made clear by their vocabularies and their ability to be expressive (Bonvillain, 2007). The trouble with adults, evidently, is that frequently we are not aware of the physical feelings which we experience. We habitually doubt our fantasy lives and are likely to be afraid to allow ourselves to dream. We deal with the world in an intangible way rather than in a physical way. The definitions and ideas that we allow ourselves to be conscious of are verbal and intangible. What we get from the physical stimuli which we experience is reliant on our vocabularies and our reckoning abilities. However those three layers of experience concrete, image, and abstract are going on endlessly. People understand concretely, understand image, and understand the abstracting development which they carry out when they are awake and applying meaning to what they see, hear, feel, taste, and touch; and of course, many of these meanings cannot be passed from one person to another through just the verbal mode only (Bonvillain, 2007). The assumptions are obvious. For communication to take place there needs to be a two-way exchange of feelings, standards and values. One-way communication is vastly unproductive in that there is no way to decide whether what is heard is what is projected. The office memo is a type of one-way communication which is possibly the least helpful standard for transmitting meaning. A second suggestion is that for proper communication to be practiced, it is essential that there be a response process built in to the communication effort. There needs to be a nonstop flow back and forth between the people trying to communicate, sharing what they heard from each other. The third suggestion is that the individual person wishes to become intensely conscious of the series of signals which they are giving at any given moment. They can become skilled at that by requesting opinion from the people that they are attempting to share ideas. Nonverbal and verbal communication work as one to express and make clear messages sent between people. Jointly they sustain the feelings and ideas of the speaker. We employ nonverbal communication to demonstrate the verbal communication. If it wasnt for both types of communication we would not be able to completely comprehend each other. In conclusion, there is one question left to answer: With all these habits and methods of communication (verbal and non-verbal, internal and external) that we are able to utilize, why is it that the majority of the time we misunderstand each other?

Study of Impact Shocks in Fencing

Study of Impact Shocks in Fencing Abstract Fencing is a high intensity sport involving dynamic movements which expose the musculoskeletal system to high impact forces that may lead to overuse injuries. One of the most frequently used high impact movements is the lunge. With many different types of sports footwear available providing different levels of midsole cushioning, selecting the most suitable for a sport may be a factor in preventing the onset of injury. The aim of this study was to investigate the magnitudes of the transient axial impact shock experienced at the tibia between traditional fencing shoes and standard athletic footwear during the impact phase of the fencing lunge. Peak tibial shock was measured in 19 male fencers in 4 different footwear conditions using an accelerometer placed on the distal aspect of the tibia. The standard footwear resulted in significant reductions in peak impact shock in comparison to the traditional fencing shoes. Thus the reduction in impact shock found suggests that running or squas h specific footwear may reduce overuse injury occurrence. However, despite this, the majority of participants indicated that they preferred fencing specific footwear for fencing. The results of this study suggest that there is justification for a re-design of fencing shoes. Introduction Competitive fencing (foil, sabre and epee) has experienced a rapid increase in participation rates during the past decade (Harmer, 2008). The sport places unique demands on the athlete and is characterised by asymmetry and the incidence of rapid motions which have the potential to generate large forces (Geil, 2002). In particular, the frequently used lunge which is the basis of most attacking motions is a high impact movement (Kopetka Stewart, 2005). The expansion in participation combined with the biomechanical demands of the sport has led to enhanced awareness of the incidence of injuries associated with fencing. Nonetheless, prospective, epidemiological studies of the incidence of repetitive strain and overuse injuries in fencing are scarce. As a result, it is difficult to draw dependable conclusions regarding the etiology of fencing injuries and their prevention based on impartial information (Roi Bianchedi, 2008). However existing studies indicate that overuse injuries account for approximately 30% of injuries that interfere with training (Carter et al., 1993). The majority of injuries are confined to the lower extremities (e.g., stress fractures, impingement enthesopathies of the patellar tendon and tibia and plantar fascia) associated with fencing (Harmer, 2008, Wild et al., 2001; Zemper Harmer, 1996) characteristic of dynamic activities involving high velocity change in momentum actions (Harmer, 2008). No apparent data has been published providing information regarding the total number of lunges executed during a competitive bout. However, Roi and Bianchedi (2008) suggest that there are anywhere between 66 and 210 attacks (depending on the weapon) during a competition, which given the lunges function as the most common attacking mechanism, it appears that fencers will be regularly subjected to the impact forces imposed by the lunge. One of the characteristics of the foot impacting the surface during a lunge is a rapid change in velocity of the foot and this velocity reaches zero upon foot placement in a short period of time (Whittle, 1999). This impact leads to the transmission of an axial transient shock wave through the body and carries with it the potential for injury. It is important to recognise that loading is necessary for maintenance of cartilage, bone, and muscle health (Stone, 1988). An optimal loading window for tissue strength can be characterized by frequent impacts of certain magnitude, duration, and frequency. Movements beyond the optimal loading window can lead to the breakdown of body tissue and overuse injuries (Hardin et al., 2003). The magnitude of the impact shock is commonly measured using accelerometers. Accelerometers are traditionally placed onto the skin overlying the tibia to quantify the transient impact shockwave during motion. Despite the consensus that soft tissue interferes with the acceleration recording of underlying bone, the utilization of skin mounted devices is considered appropriate provided they are lightweight and rigidly attached to the overlying skin (Shorten and Windslow, 1992). This method has been used to examine the cushioning properties of athletic footwear (Lake Greenhalgh, 2005) and better differentiates between impact conditions compared to data acquired using a force platform (Lafortune Hennig, 1992). The high impact nature of the lunge implies that the lower extremities may be at risk from overuse injuries. To date there is no information available regarding the potentially detrimental effect of the impact accelerations experienced during this movement. However, epidemiological studies suggest that a relationship exists between the magnitude of the transient shockwave and the etiology of a number of lower extremity overuse injuries (Nigg Segesser, 1992). Therefore with a significant number of lunges being undertaken by a fencer and the potential connection between the magnitude of the impact shockwave and the incidence of overuse injuries makes it important to investigate the shock attenuation properties of fencing footwear. The 1992 U.S Fencing Association review of the factors that may contribute to fencing injuries indicates that of the three primary areas for prevention, deficient equipment and facilities may be responsible for as many as 28% of the injuries associated with fencing, with ineffective footwear forming a significant component (Carter et al., 1993). The review noted problems with fencing shoes citing inadequate cushioning as well as the lack of footwear designs that could shield against the high impact nature of the sport, particularly lunging. To reduce injury, Zemper and Harmer (1996) have suggested a redesign of fencing shoes. The primary function of athletic footwear as described by Stacoff et al., (1988) is to provide shock attenuation. The properties of athletic footwear have been linked to the prevention of overuse injuries. With many different types of sports footwear available providing different levels of midsole cushioning, selecting the most suitable for a sport can be vital in preventing the onset of injury. Fencing equipment retailers in the UK offer very few options for specific footwear, with only 2 major brands on offer (Adidas and Hi Tec). It also appears that the fencing shoe has been more specifically designed for the function of the trail foot to enable good grip on the piste as well as maximising the life span of the shoe if dragging the back foot, which is common in fencing. The limited availability of specific shock attenuating footwear to the fencer may predispose fencers to overuse injuries. The majority of studies analyzing the influence of different footwear conditions on impact kinetics have focused on running. Therefore, the aim of the present study was twofold. First, to assess the magnitude of the peak axial tibial transient accelerations associated with the lunge in fencing to provide practitioners with information regarding the potential causes of injury. Secondly, to compare two specific fencing shoes with two standard sports shoes (running and squash) with regards to their shock attenuating properties during the lunge movement. In particular, it was predicted that peak axial transient accelerations were lower in shoes which have been particularly developed for shock absorbing qualities (running and squash shoes) in comparison to fencing shoes during the stance phase of the fencing lunge. Methods Participants Nineteen male (17 right handed and 2 left handed) competitive fencers with a minimum of 2 years experience (Age 25.6 + 8.3 years; Height 1.78 + 0.5 m; Weight 76.8 + 9.0 kg) comprising a mixture of the foil (n=2), epee (n=15) and sabre (n=1) disciplines, volunteered to take part in this study. All were injury free at the time of data collection and completed an informed consent form. The procedure was approved by a university ethical board. Materials Each participant was fitted with four pairs of shoes for the study. The shoes were the same for each participant; they differed in size only (sizes 9 and 10 mens UK sizes) and consisted of a conventional running shoe (Saucony Grid forum), squash shoe (Hi-Tec squash indoor) and fencing shoes (Hi-Tec blade) and (Adidas en guard). A tri-axial (Biometircs ACL 300) accelerometer sampling at 1000Hz was utilized to measure axial accelerations at the tibia. The device was mounted on a piece of lightweight carbon-fibre material. The combined weight of the accelerometer and mounting instrument was 9g. The voltage sensitivity of the signal was set to 100mV/g, allowing adequate sensitivity with a measurement range of  ± 100 g. The device was attached securely to leading leg on the distal anterio-medial aspect of the shank 8 cm above the medial maleolus in alignment with its longitudinal axis. This location was selected as the boniest prominence of the distal tibia in accordance with the Nokes et al., (1984) conclusions to improve the mechanical coupling of the accelerometer mounting to the tibia and reduce artefact due to interposing soft-tissue. The accelerometer was positioned so that acceleration was measured in the direction up the tibia (Figure 1). Strong adhesive tape was placed over the device and the lower leg to avoid overestimating the peak positive acceleration due to tissue artefact. The device was attached as close to the tibia as possible, the skin on overlying the bone itself was stretched thus ensuring a more rigid coupling between accelerometer and tibia. Furthermore, adhesive tape was positioned over the device itself to ensure it was maintained in a fixed position along the longitudinal axis of the tibia. The acceleration signal was sent to a Biometrics data logger with a 2 GB memory card. The data logger was fastened securely to a lightweight backpack to reduce movement of the device during trials. Procedure The fencers completed a suitable warm-up and were allowed two minutes to familiarize themselves with the experimental protocol and footwear condition prior to the commencement of data collection. They were then required to complete ten lunges hitting a dummy with their weapon in each footwear condition whilst returning to a starting point (pre-determined by each participant prior to the commencement of data capture) following each trial to control lunge distance. Each trial was comprised of a lunge where contact between the sword and dummy defined a successful outcome. The starting point for the movement was adjusted and maintained. The order in which the different footwear conditions were worn was randomized. Upon conclusion of the data collection participants were asked to subjectively indicate which shoe they preferred for fencing. Kinetic data was quantified/processed using Biometrics data-log software. The stance phase of each trial was acquired from each accelerometer signal for analysis. Peak positive axial tibial acceleration was defined as the highest positive acceleration peak measured during the stance phase after a 60Hz 1st order low pass filter had been implemented in accordance with the Lake and Greenhalgh (2005) recommendations. The mean values of the footfalls per participant/condition for the axial component of the acceleration signal was quantified and used for statistical analysis. Descriptive statistics were calculated for each variable including means and standard deviations. Differences between footwear conditions were examined via a within subjects repeated measures analysis of variance with significance accepted at the p Results A statistical power analysis of pilot data was conducted in order to reduce the likelihood of a type II error and determine the minimum number of participants needed for this investigation. It was found that the sample size was sufficient to provide more than 80% of statistical power in the experimental measure. Figure 2 provides the mean and standard deviations for the peak tibial accelerations for the four different shoe types. The Mauchlys sphericity assumption was violated and as such the degrees of freedom of the F statistic was adjusted via the Greenhouse Geisser correction. The Shapiro-Wilk statistic for each footwear condition confirmed that the data was normally distributed. The analysis of variance was significant (F (1.97, 35.52) = 16.31; P Discussion The aim of this study was to determine the differences in the magnitude of the transient acceleration between traditional fencing shoes and standard athletic footwear during the impact phase of the fencing lunge. The results of this study support our hypothesis, in that the magnitudes of the axial impact shockwaves were significantly lower in both the running and squash shoes compared to the traditional fencing footwear. The transient shockwave is linked to the development of a variety of overuse injuries (Whittle, 1999). It is essential to acknowledge the link between the magnitude of these forces and overuse injuries, as the frequency of these conditions can be reduced by attenuating the impact magnitude (Whittle, 1999). Therefore the significant reduction in impact shock found would suggest that running/squash footwear may assist in the reduction of overuse injury occurrence. Interestingly, despite the higher impact magnitude and concerns regarding the potential development of overuse injuries, the majority of participants indicated that they preferred fencing specific footwear for fencing. This finding agrees with those of Geil (2002) who hypothesized that this finding centred on plantar sensory proprioceptive mechanisms, whereby the feel of the fencing piste underneath the foot is reduced in shoes that offer a high degree of midsole cushioning. Geil (2002) suggested that footwear may influence fencing performance. They noted that increased midsole cushioning and travel of the foot during compression may lead to slower motion of the feet, which in turn could contribute to diminished velocity of the weapon hand, reducing the overall execution quality of the movement itself. Based on these findings it appears that midsole cushioning properties should play only a partial role in the design characteristics of an effective fencing shoe. Fencing involves a number of movement strategies in addition to the lunge, and as such shoe designs must cater to this. Fencers like most athletes require sure footing during competition; as such footwear designs must deliver adequate traction to provide stability during lunging, attacking and retreating motions. Furthermore, the medial forefoot of the trail shoe is an area traditionally subjected to high abrasion forces and thus heavy wear. Manufacturers should therefore focus attention on developing more resistant materials for this purpose to prolong the lifespan of the shoe. Whilst shock attenuation is the primary function of midsole cushioning, the elastic energy stored and recovered by cushioning systems has been proposed as a mechanism by which the oxygen cost of movement can be reduced. Given the aerobic demands the sport of fencing places on the athlete (Roi Bianchedi, 2008) additional research should focus on this factor as it may serve to slow the onset of fatigue and improve performance. The results of this study however, suggest that there is some justification for the Zemper and Harmer (1996) recommendations regarding the re-design of fencing shoes due to the demonstrated high transient impact forces on the front foot during the lunge. The primary design dilemma facing footwear manufacturers is to include features that would serve to attenuate the large impact forces and help reduce overuse injuries. At the same time, the design characteristics should also provide the fencer with an adequate feel for the fencing piste beneath the foot. The severe angle between foot-segment and ground on initial contact is also significant when designing the shoe. The shoe cushioning system must therefore provide protection in the extreme rear of the heel, an area not normally associated with consistent high impact forces in other sports. The obvious asymmetry of the sport presents a challenge to footwear manufacturers and arguments can be made for the development of asymmetrical footwear designs. Several different surfaces in fencing are used. Surface stiffness can have a significant influence on the magnitude of the impact shock during landing (Kim et al., 1994). This study was conducted during training sessions on a training surface as opposed to a traditional piste used during competition thus the results obtained may not adequately represent actual competition. During competition a hard floor can be used, as well as a metallic piste (either a cloth placed over the hard floor or a hard metallic piste). Future research should therefore concentrate on the magnitude of the impact shock during competition on a true fencing piste. Limitations Accelerometry is a complicated approach and methodological problems can affect the efficacy of collected data (Lake and Greenhalgh 2005). The magnitude of the signal obtained from the accelerometer is dependent on the mounting interaction, making cross study comparisons difficult. Soft tissue artefact can also influence the acceleration recording of underlying bone (Light et al., 1980). Attaching the device directly to bone represents the most accurate method of measuring impact shock and further work is necessary to determine the efficacy of the less traumatic skin mounting technique. The device signal is also reliant on the centripetal acceleration due to angular motion of the shank in the sagittal plane during ground contact (Lafortune and Hennig 1991). Lake and Greenhalgh (2005) noted that despite the application of a distally mounted device, correction for angular motion may still be necessary. Further research should be conducted to investigate the necessary signal corrections for angular motion. Another potential limitation/restriction of this study is that the results obtained are entirely specific to the footwear and ground surface conditions, any variation in these parameters would most likely cause changes to the participants fencing kinetics/kinematics. In addition this study analyzed the lunge motion only. The lunge represents a high impact motion; however there are other movements of lower intensity which may still be important in terms of the development of overuse injuries. Therefore, additional research is necessary regarding the influence of footwear on the magnitude of the transient shockwave during different fencing movements before appropriate prescriptions of fencing footwear can be made. References Carter, C., Heil, J., and Zemper E. (1993). What hurts and why Data from the 1992 USFA Fencing Injury Survey shows some common culprits. American Fencing. 43, p 16-17. Geil, M.D. (2002). The Role of Footwear on Kinematics and Plantar Foot Pressure in Fencing. Journal of Applied Biomechanics, 18, p 155-162. Harmer, P.A. (2008). Getting to the point: injury patterns and medical care in competitive fencing. Current Sports Medicine Reports. 7, 303-307. Kim, W., Voloshin, A.S., and Johnson S.H. (1994). Modelling of the heel strike transients during running. Human Movement Science, 13, 221-244. Kopetka, B., and Stewart, S.L. (2005).The kinematic determinants of speed in the fencing lunge. (Part 1). Journal of Sports Sciences, 2, 105. Lafortune, M., and Hennig, E. (1991). Contribution of angular motion and gravity to tibial acceleration. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 23, 360-363. Lafortune, M. A., Hennig, E. M. (1992). Cushioning properties of footwear during walking: accelerometer and force platform measurements. Clinical Biomechanics, 7, 181-184. Lake, M.J. (2000). Determining the protective function of sports footwear. Ergonomics, 43, 1610-1621. Lake, M.J., and Greenhalgh, A. (2005). Impact shock measurements during running correction for angular velocity of the shank is necessary. Proceedings of the 7th Symposium on Footwear Biomechanics. Cleveland, Ohio, USA. Nigg, B.M., Segesser, B. (1992). Biomechanical and orthopaedic concepts in sport shoe construction. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 24, 595-602. Nokes, L., Fairclough, J.A., Mintowt-Czyz, W.J., Mackie, I., and Williams, J., (1984). Vibrational analysis of human tibia: The effect of soft tissue on the output from skin mounted accelerometers. Journal of Biomedical Engineering, 6, 223-226. Roi, G.S., and Bianchedi, D. (2008). The Science of Fencing Implications for Performance and Injury Prevention. Sports Medicine, 38, 465-481. Shorten, M.R., and Winslow, D.S. (1992). Spectral Analysis of Impact Shock During Running. International Journal of Sports Biomechanics, 8, 288-304. Stacoff, A., Denoth, J., Kaelin, X., and Stuessi, E. (1988). Running injuries and shoe construction: some possible relationships. International Journal of Sport Biomechanics 4, 342-357. Whittle, M.W. (1999). The generation and attenuation of transient forces beneath the foot; a review. Gait and Posture, 10, 264-275. Wild, AM., Jaeger, C., Poehl, C., Werner, A., Raab, P., and Krauspe, R. (2001). Morbidity profile of high performance fencers. Sportverletz Sportschaden, 15, 59-61. Zemper, E.D., Harmer, P.A. (1996). Fencing. In D.J. Calne, C.G. Caine, K.J. Lindner (ed.), Epidemiology of Sports Injuries (pp 186-195). Champaign, IL Human Kinetics.

Violence as Displacement: The Erotic Gaze in Gladiator and Fight Club :: Essays Papers

Violence as Displacement: The Erotic Gaze in Gladiator and Fight Club On the screen, two men writhe and grapple on the cold concrete floor. One man on top, holding the other from behind in a chokehold that causes the man on the bottom to succumb to the more powerful man. The dialogue by the narrator states that, â€Å"Sometimes all you could hear were the flap, hard packing sounds over the yelling, or the wet choke when someone caught their breath and sprayed† (Fight Club). The soundtrack consists of a few notes repeated over and over again in a steady rhythm to the action that is happening on the screen. The camera focuses on a close-up of the face of the man on bottom as he contorts into an expression of both pain and pleasure and moans loudly. Finally, the two men get up after the action is finished and embrace. Panting and moaning, the last shudders of pleasure leave their bodies as the scene fades out and begins again with another couple struggling on the cold concrete floor. The scene described above sounds as if it should be found in a pornographic video displayed on the shelves of a sex shop located in the back alleys of Soho in London. However, this scene is taken from director David Fincher’s widely popular film Fight Club. Even though the scene has an intense air of the homoerotic, the characters in the film are actually fighting and not having sex. Steve Neale addresses this phenomenon in his article â€Å"Masculinity as Spectacle†. He upholds the view of feminist film theorist Laura Mulvey by maintaining that the spectatorial look in mainstream cinema is always male. A problem arises when the look of the spectator is forced upon an erotic shot of a male figure. The article states, â€Å"that in a heterosexual and patriarchal society, the male body cannot be marked explicitly as the erotic object of another male look: that look must be motivated in some other way, its erotic component repressed† (Neale 14). The e rotic component is repressed with violence or with mutilation of the male body. This repression is often found in the action genre in such films as Gladiator and Fight Club where the female object of the spectator gaze is replaced with male figures.