Informational Privacy Essay Example for Free

Informational Privacy Essay The divide between the law and human ethics has been a rather blurred one, with many people wondering where the dividing line ought to be drawn (Rowland, 2005). For on the one hand the law ought to be obeyed and not questioned as it is the supreme authority of the country; yet on the other hand ethical considerations, especially in cases where the law is silent, ought to be considered too. For many are the times when the law has failed to be of any use because it is either obsolete due to age or it just does not take into account changes in life. Technological advancement is one area where the law has totally failed to keep up pace with new issues that emerge with the result that it has been difficult, even impossible, to have sound decisions on matters of technology (Rowland, 2005). This paper considers a case of information privacy from the point of view of the parents of a naval officer whose emails they cannot access after his death. Discussion Justin Ellsworths Parents ought to have been allowed access to their son’s emails because of a number of reasons. The first one is that according to the utilitarian theory, this is a man who had done so much for his nation (Rowland, 2005). He had given his own life in exchange for the lives of many other Americans whom he sought to protect from their enemies. He literally died serving his nation. In this case he was of great use and value to the nation. On this basis, the parents, who are his next of kin, ought to have been allowed to access his emails. One thing is critical in this entire case – the parents do not merely want access their son’s email but want to do this for a good reason. The reason is that he died away in battle unexpectedly and so left no final word to them. They are obligated to know what their son might have though or said prior to his death so they might understand his possible feelings then. Secondly, as people who are bereft of their son, these parents can probably be little comforted in sharing in the feelings of their son – feelings they can only get if they are able to access his email. Finally, it is worth considering the alternative – if they are not allowed access, they will probably be less happy, develop negative attitudes towards the authorities and the law enforcement agencies, and most likely even develop a hatred for any form of government service. They might even engage in dissuading other people from ever considering to be patriotic based on their own experience that patriotism is never rewarded. The eventuality could be that fewer people would be wiling to enlist as servicemen and women in the country’s naval forces. The reason is that their son as not treated with the worth he deserved. Finally, the emails will be of no use to anyone else after all so keeping them or deleting when someone desperately them is essentially despising the person. Deontological ethical considerations require that everything be done in accordance with the law (Rowland, 2005). On this basis, it is all right for Justin Ellsworths Parents to be denied access to the emails belonging to their son. And privacy law is one that ought not to be broken at all because breaking it is both an offence as unethical. Imagine accessing the secret thoughts of a mature person. This is a person who, unlike a child, could express himself. If he had any information intended for parents he must have send it over. Above all, else, he entered into agreement with Yahoo not to disclose his personal information. This contract is binding for as long as his account is not terminated. Such information may never be shared or disclosed to third parties regardless of their closeness to him. It is about obligation, duty, and responsibility. Not every law is popular with all people; but the law is designed to serve mankind and not mankind to serve the law (Rowland, 2005). This in essence means that the law or a duty or an obligation that one party has towards another cannot be changed just like that. Agreements are binding legally and can only be nullified or revoked by mutual agreement between the parties to the agreement. So, as long as the law requires that there is no access, there ought to be no access. It is a universal law and is also fair – granting justice to the offender and the offended as well. In fact acting in the right way morally is only possible when the actors are made to have a sense of duty and responsibility. Without such a sense, they will tend to be less concerned (Rowland, 2005). Conclusion The difference between utilitarian and deontological approaches to life issues is that while the former justifies an act based on its inherent worth or utility, the latter purely bases the worth of an issue on its ability to adhere to ethical or moral issues which in turn are brought about by having a sense of duty. This means that the argument as to whether or not Justin Ellsworths Parents ought to have been allowed to gain access to their son’s emails is dependent on which side of the two theories one is considering. If it is the deontological one, then they ought not to be allowed it is against the law; but if it is utilitarianism then they deserve to be allowed for Justin Ellsworth was of great value to the country.

Report On Online Shopping System Information

Report On Online Shopping System Information The online shopping system is fast gaining media for to sale or purchase items from anywhere and anytime. It is basically based on Internet, It is related with B2C (Business to Customer) model and status of the design and development of e-commerce platform. It can not only save the operating costs of enterprises as well as save the time of customer to go shopping at mall and it is increasing the efficiency of business. This document show the status of Online Shopping System and development background and then introduces or discusses the system design, system objectives, system requirements and overall all phases of development or implementation of system. This system provides good facilities to users with GUI forms to registration, shopping cart management, and information modify etc. for customer. It has also provided some facilities to Admin as add item, update item and etc. It has been designed with B/S three tier structures, JSP technology for dynamic page design and for system security and code reuse the JavaBeans has used. And for better communication between system and easy to access, as well as to store large data of the database has used MSSql Server 2000. In this basically the two user one is Admin who can add item, update item control over the database or the management of customer information and keep security over the information of the customer as well as products. Second is customer who access the site for his requirement, he can register, search or see the products, details of products and comment for product and can do secure transactions over the internet. Chapter 1: Introduction What I am going to do? In the proposed system , as discuss in the abstract we are going to develop the new website Online Shopping System for computer products. In the website I followed the software development methodology called incremental approach nad according to it the system is mainly divided inot the two kinds of users and three kinds of mechanisms in order to make more sutaible for the end users to fulfill their all requirments from one place with quick and in more understandable manner. Here two kinds of users are Admin and End user means customer. In addition to this, three kinds of methods which considered here are NetUI means make available access to the end users for everything from the net which is developed with help of JSP and HTML, second one is the database which used to store large amount of data and easily can retrieve,update etc, and last one is the controls used for the same. Thus here we followed the model based UI desing approach. The important things which we added with this websi te is the latest product with latest configuration customer can choose as per configuration of that product, external devices, security for transcation, customer can send their view or comment and many more. Background In the current world the rapid development of Internet, the Internet has expressly become the best and fast media for collecting information, communication as well as entered into the commerce means selling, purchasing etc. So e-commerce became more popular and more businesses build an online store to show consumers a new shopping concept. Online shopping system as B2B, B2C, C2C ecommerce front-end business platform, the whole process of its business activities plays an important roles. In this site or system, consideration is how to build a B2C Online Shopping System. Online shopping is a kind of interactive features business information which provides users with two types of static and dynamic information resources. The static information are those that change frequently or later that resources, sucha as company profile, management practices and corporate systems etc. Dynamic information is subject to change information, such as commodity quotes, meeting arrangements, and training information. Online shopping system has powerful interactive features to enables businesses and users to easily transfer inoformation to complete e-commerce transactions. This new inter-company transactions to achieve the paperless exchange of documents and funds. Technologies Selection and Justification Following is description of technologies which are used for the website work: 1.3.1 Hardware/Software Requirements Software specifications Hardware specifications: Hardware Minimum Requirement Microprocessor Intel 3.1GHz processor or onwards Random Access Memory (RAM) 512 MB RAM. Hard Disk Drive 20GB (min. free useable disk space). 1.3.2 Technology Description 1) JSP: As there are number of acronyms with which the Internet is packed, another one is JSP. Here the JSP is standing for the Java Server Pages, but ità ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢s commonly known as the JSP. JSP is nothing but the scripting language and very much similar to the ASP, PHP languages. Using the JSP, contents in the website are generated dynamically which allowing the rather than only statically as with the HTML. There are many free hosting available for the JSP websites because of the reason is that JSP is free and open source, simple, robust. There are other web development technologies also available now days such as PHP, ASP.net etc. But we encountered some problems with such technologies which are presented in following justification for the same: JSP over PHP: Both (JSP PHP) is web technologies are strong. For the most of the enterprise level applications JSP is better way to do because of its security, stability, speed of execution etc and more are the advantages of JSP. We encountered the problem with the PHP is that it becomes not more secure as compare JSP. As compared to the PHP, JSP is more rapid tool for the development of websites, once we know it, we can design any kind of pages which seems to us harder with the PHP because PHP is harder and also fewer objects oriented than JSP. Using JSP, we can develop web application quick by maintaining the level of performance, security for the same. JSP over ASP.NET: ASP.NET is come with the Microsoft product in the VS framework which is also one of the better way to designs and develop our websites, but the problem with such technology is that it is available only commercially means not freely as the JSP. As the we are getting same performances from the JSP as from the ASP.net, then ità ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢s enough to decide to go with the JSP. Apart from this, there some other advantages which of JSP over the ASP.NET we observed such as: Freely Avaliable and Platform independent. Hosting is Cheply available. Web Server for JSP is free. If OS is Linux, no need to pay for the antivirus softwares. Rapid development. 2) MSSql Server 2000: One of the powerful is MSSql. There are many other powerful databases such as Oracle, Mysql etc are available. But while selecting MSSql database, there are two things which were addressed as compared to Oracle as well as MySql as: database which is best suitable with the JSP and another one is database which have fast speed to retrieve, update or communication with data. While with Oracle, MySqlserver there lot of extra efforts needs to be done before setting up the web application, the MSSql database is easy database with the high reliability, fast performance, and easy to use. Project Plan Thus as we used the incremental methodology of the software development, this project is divided into the different phases like requirement analysis phase, designing phase, development phase, deployment phase, testing phase etc. Following chart shows the overview of the proposed project plan with their time durations. Phases in Website Development In this section, some of the quality planes which are considered in order to maintain the quality of the proposed website. The major quality measure which we considered for the website is the proper validation for different things and response time of the proposed website because on the basis of this customers attraction is depends. Following is the brief explanation of these terms: 1) HTML Validation Using this validation we can check the document correctness against the DOCTYPE which is declared. On the basis of this various kinds of reports generated if there are any bugs with it. 2) Validating Links This is one important issue with the websites. Links of the website are checked against the all links given in the website whether they are working according to the specification given. 3) Validating Accessibility This is the most important activity which must be included in every website quality planning. It is not enough only to make the website, because people from different places, with different platforms accessing our website. The initiative of web accessibility is the maintaining the resources list which will help in order to designing the websites which will accessible. 4) Response Time For the websites like proposed one ità ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢s necessary to check up with the response time of server because with websites several shopping transactions need to be done. Chapter 2: Software Development Methodologies 2.1 Types of Methodologies The mechanism of methodology is mainly composed of the one or more techniques in conjunction with the one of the models of software development. The prototyping techniques, object oriented techniques which are the multiple ways in order to implement the models such as incremental, waterfall and spiral models. During the single project such kinds of mechanisms are matched as well as mixed. Thus the methodology = techniques + models. Following are different kinds of methodologies which are prepared on the basis of combination of techniques as well as models: 1) Waterfall Model (Life Cycle) 2) Prototyping Model (Life Cycle) 3) Iterative Enhancement Model 4) Incremental Model 5) The Spiral Model 6) Object Oriented Methodology In the next section, we will see the details of each of these models in brief [Ref. http://codebetter.com/blogs/raymond.lewallen/archive/2005/07/13/129114.aspx ] 2.2) Introduction Methodologies 1) Waterfall Model: This model is called as the waterfall model, because in this model the more emphasizes is on the complete phase development before proceeding with the next phase of the development. With the combination with some kinds phase completions, establishment of the baseline is done which freezes the development products at such point. If the current requirement is identified in order to change these products, then the process of formal change is followed in order make the change. Such kind of phases graphic representation during the software development resembling the waterfall model downward flow. [Ref. http://www.onestoptesting.com/sdlc-models/waterfall-model ] 2) Prototyping Model: Waterfall model is basically designed for addressing the issues with the waterfall model. In this model, the basic idea is that rather than freezing the requirements before coding or designs we can proceed, using the throwaway prototype requirements of the development understands. On the basis of requirements which are currently known. The prototype development is inside contains the coding, designing as well as testing. But each of these phases is not done very formally or thoroughly. Thus using such kind of mechanism, end users can get the systems actual feel, only because of the thing that prototype interactions will allow clients to understand the requirements better way for the desired system. 3) Iterative Enhancement Model: This model is trying to combine the features of models like waterfall as well as prototyping models. The main idea behind such model is that development of the software is done on the basis of incremental approaches, in which each and every increment is adding the some kind of functional capability in the system still the system is fully implemented. During the every step, extensions, designing and modifications are made. [Ref. http://codebetter.com/blogs/raymond.lewallen/archive/2005/07/13/129114.aspx ] 4) Incremental Model Main idea in this model is that during the overlapping sections waterfall is performed in order to attempt projects of waterfall model compensate which is done by generating the earlier usable functionality. This kind of model may be needed the overall requirments set that are small projects series. With the general objectives, initially using the basic objective, incremental model is started. 5) Spiral Model The model for the incremental is can be considered as the spiral model sometimes. The view of the spiral model is illustrating the one of the strength of the previous model in this section which is: system size grows while the resources can be held on constant. The size of spiral is corresponds to the size of system, on the other hand the distance among the coils indicating the resources. As the name indicating such model has many cycles. The dimension of the radial representing cumulative cost which is incurred while accomplishing the steps that are done so far as well as dimension of angular representing the progress which is made during the completing the every spiral cycle. [Ref. http://codebetter.com/blogs/raymond.lewallen/archive/2005/07/13/129114.aspx ] 6) Object Oriented Methodology As the name indicating, such methodology requiring using the object oriented techniques which can be used during the requirement analysis, designing and implementation phase of the system. Such kind of methodology asking for the analyst for determining the systems objects, their behavior over the time or their behavior in response to the events, as well as what kind of relations and responsibilities an object has to with the other objects. [Ref. http://codebetter.com/blogs/raymond.lewallen/archive/2005/07/13/129114.aspx ] 2.3 Advantages and Disadvantages Advantages of Prototyping Model Early functionality. Providing the process in order to perfect the definition of requirments. Providing the risk control. Main focus of the documentation is on the end product rather than the evolution of product. Providing the basic specification which is embodied in the operating replica. Disadvantages of Prototyping Model This method is less applicable for the existing systems as compare to the existing new systems development. Suffering from the dirty documentaion. Bad reputation in between the conservatives because of dirty and quick method. Sometimes using this method system is developed with the poor performance. Advantages of Iterative Method Reliable software production. This may be intrdouced gradually to an organization. Disadvantages of Iterative Method Complete sets of requirements are required. Disciplined style may stifle creativity. Advantages of Object-Oriented: Problem owners can joining in producing the solution. Maintenance costs are less due to the object oriented analysis which encourages the complete set of solution. This kind of model expresses the reality of users view. Disadvantages of Object-Oriented This is difficult for those methods which is having the structured analysis of background. This method may be difficult with the DoD-STD- 2167A. [Ref. http://codebetter.com/blogs/raymond.lewallen/archive/2005/07/13/129114.aspx ] 2.4 Details: Two Methodologies In the following section, discussion and detailed working of the two models such as incremental model and waterfall model. 1) Waterfall Model: As we discussed the basic working this model in above section, in this section we will take the overview of basic steps of the model in the software development: Following figure shows the different phase in the development of the software. The documentation included the documentation from each phase. The phases below the detailed design phase include software as part of their output. Transition from phase to phase is accomplished by holding a formal review that is attended by the contractor and appropriate government agencies. These reviews provide the government insight into the contractors progress. At critical points on the waterfall model, baselines are established, the last of which is the product baseline. [Figure:1: Waterfall Model] As showing in above figure 1, as the name indicating waterfall model is made up of sequentially of phases one after the next phase. In comparison with the other software development models, following are some of the salient attributes of this model: This is the forma method. This is like top down development approach. This is consisting of phases which are independent and needs to be completed sequentially. This model is used in different ways: Phases are combined, The starting as well as ending points are different. [Ref. http://www.onestoptesting.com/sdlc-models/waterfall-model ] 2) Incremental Method: C:Documents and Settingsgodwit3Desktopincremental-model1.gif As we discussed in the last paragraph, the model of incremental is performing the waterfall in the overlapping sections in order to attempt length compensation for the waterfall model projects by generating the earlier useful functionality. As compared to the waterfall model, a project which uses the incremental model is starting with the general objectives. In this case, some part of such objectives are defined as the requirements as well as are implemented, after that the next part of these objective are considered and implemented, this process is continues until the complete objective is achieved. However as compare to the complete requirements general objectives can be uncomfortable for the management. Well defined interfaces are needed due to the fact that few modules may be completed early compare to others. This model is more flexible for the development of the websites as compare to the softwareà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢s. Thus we selected incremental model for the same. [Ref. http://testing-mines.blogspot.com/2006/05/what-is-incremental-model.html] 2.5) Methodology Selection For our proposed application we have to use the method of incremental approach which is best suitable for such kinds of applications. Because of the following benefits from it: Generates working software quickly and early during the software life cycle. More flexibleless costly to change scope and requirements. Easier to test and debug http://kona.kontera.com/javascript/lib/imgs/grey_loader.gif during a smaller iteration. Each iteration is an easily managed milestone.

Critical Debate On Nuclear Family Sociology Essay

Critical Debate On Nuclear Family Sociology Essay There is a great deal of work within many disciplines, such as history, psychology and anthropology, on family studies, available to researchers. This undoubtedly serves to inform our awareness of the interdisciplinary, varied, and at times controversial, nature and lack of stability around the idea of family. Much of this research highlights a number of major perceived problematics: the related characteristic political discourses, social policies and cultural narratives, which differ dramatically from contemporary family relationships and formations of the 21st century. In view of this, this essay critically explores the concept of the nuclear family. It discusses the political contexts and social discourse in which understanding of family has been set. It explores how and why understandings of what make family have changed, paying attention to how it is lived within contemporary society. It reflects on the practices that equate to family. Section 1 Critical debate on nuclear family Many early functionalist sociologists perspectives on the family (Murdock, 1949; Talcott Parsons, 1960) focus heavily on the idea of the nuclear family, which consists of a married couple (male and female) and their biological offspring. There are many issues with the functionalist nuclear family model. For example, it assumes the family to be composed of a heterosexual couple, and that specific structures and practices exist which define this type of family (Widner Jallinoja, 2008). Further to this, the nuclear family model makes assumptions about gender roles within these specific structures (OINONEN, 2008). It is heterosexist (Stacey Davenport, 2002; Pothan, 1992), based on traditional historic ideas of what family should be (Richardson, 2001). For example, the man is the provider and the woman is the nurturer. It promotes hierarchies within the family, with the man situated at the top in relation to the woman, but also as adults in relation to the children (Taylor, 1998). This model can also be seen as western, and assumes a universal model rather than thinking through the historical and cultural specificity of family formations. As a functionalist construct, some researchers (Weeks, Heaphy Donovan, 2001) highlight the heterosexual functions and practices that families have assumed, such as the socialisation of children, where children and young people learn social roles and morals, what is right or wrong: the norms. Donavan (2013) notes this as the heterosexual assumption; similarly, Rich (2007) discusses this in terms of compulsory heterosexuality, assuming this is how gendered roles are transmitted and important for the development of sexualities. The functionalist nuclear family model makes the assumption that specific family formation is not neutral, often with a privileging of heterosexuality (Donavan. 2013). This, however, is a certain form of heterosexuality, as not all heterosexuals are privileged in the same way, for example, if they live outside of the normative ways of living associated with the nuclear family model, such as single or gay parents. Therefore, it could be argued that the nuclear family model is heterosexualised, classed and racialised against these none-normative ways of living (single and gay parents) and their forms of inappropriate heterosexuality. It could be claimed that the functionalist nuclear family model suggests that there is a particular form of living within a heterosexual way that becomes the pinnacle of how we should live, look up to and aspire to do or be. That is not just in terms of how we live with our families, but also the practices within and outside of society: the public and private, for example how we believe authentic love happens. To conclude, many early functionalist sociologists perspectives on the nuclear family (Murdock, 1949; Talcott Parsons, 1960) are now heavily criticised and outdated. However, what we do have are cultural, political and ideological discourses that equate the family to being a specific shape, structure and set of roles. Section 2 Political and social contexts Before discussing and evaluating the new terms and theories within and around family, it is important to reflect on the political contexts and social discourse in which understandings of family and specifically the nuclear family have been set. The late 80s and early 90s were noted as the start of a neo-liberalist society, yet ideologically this era also promoted a particular way of living: a neo-conservative family life. After reading up on some of the literature around government policy and practices from this period, I can see a real contradiction as to whether the state had any involvement in personal / private family lives or not. It tended to step away, detach and disengage in one sense, yet normalise, regulate and control in another. For example, Thatchers views on family and what family was were simple: traditional Victorian family values and the nuclear family. Thatcher and the Conservative government argued that the 60s had started to tear apart this ideal of the family and promote inappropriate promiscuity and sexual freedom. Thatchers also disliked the fact that there were many social movements developing, such as the Hippy Movement, Civil Rights Movement and Peace Movement, and in the late 70s and early 80s, the conservative government felt like their ideal of the family was under attack (Holborn Steel, 2012). Thatcher argued that this was potentially the end of society and the nuclear family and that she will fight hard to regain the traditional family values. It could be claimed that her neo-conservative intentions were to reinforce traditional Victorian family values in society, and re-establish the importance of the traditional heterosexual nuclear family. There was a great deal of legislation created on the basis of Thatcherism, a new hegemonic politics in which the Left was increasingly marginalized. For example, Section 28 (also known as Claus 28) of the local government act 1988 was a controversial amendment to the UKs local government act 1986. Enacted on the 24th May 1998, the amendment stated that local education authorities shall not intentionally promote homosexuality or publish material with the intention of promoting homosexuality or promote the teaching in any maintained school of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship. After Section 28 was passed, there was a lot of debate as to whether it actually applied in schools or whether it applied only to local education authorities. Most teachers acted extra cautious due to not knowing what they were actually permitted to do. Some sociologists (Weeks, 2007) believed that Section 28 enlisted teachers to stigmatise part of our society; and this then caused schools to fail to engage in basic social justices. In relation to these concerns; and a call for further explanation by numerous professionals working in the pedagogic environment, the National Union of Teachers published a statement, remarking that: whilst section 28 applies to local authorities and not to schools, many teachers believe, albeit wrongly, that it imposes constraints in respect of the advice and counselling they give to pupils. Professional judgement is therefore influenced by the perceived prospect of prosecution. Similarly, the Department for Education and Science (1988) made the following statement regarding Section 28: Section 28 does not affect the activities of the school governors, nor the teachers. It will not prevent the objective discussion of homosexuality in the classroom, nor the counselling of pupils concerned about their sexuality Many Conservative backbenchers disagreed with the above statements, and supporters such as Baroness Knight of Collingtree (then Conservative MP Jill Knight) who introduced Section 28, and wanted to back up her initial justification for the act, discussed the history behind initially setting up Section 28. She was the chairman of her local Child and Family Protection Group, and was contacted by numerous concerned parents who strongly objected to the fact that their children were being taught about homosexuality through specific literature that was being used to teach their 5 and 6 year olds. For example, a book called The Playbook for Kids about Sex, in which brightly coloured stick men showed all about homosexuality, and how it was done. Another book called The Milkmans on his Way explicitly described homosexual intercourse. In retrospect, the above statements seem to suggest something of an internal problem: a problem with the literature that was being produced for the pedagogic environments. This was also brought to light in 1983, when the Daily Mail reported that a copy of a book entitled Jenny lives with Eric and Martin, portraying a little girl who lives with her father and his gay partner, was provided in a school library run by a London Education Authority. There was a large political response towards Clause 28; and this served to galvanise the disparate British gay rights movement into action; and the resulting protests saw the rise of now famous groups like Stonewall, started by, amongst other people, Ian McKellen and OutRage!, subsequently led by Peter Tatchell, who is still now an iconic gay activist (Tatchell, 1993; LGF, 2008). Although Section 28 has been repealed on the 18th November 2003 by section (122) of the local government act 2003, there are still a number of complex issues to be tackled with regards to the teaching of homosexuality, gay marriage and contemporary family life. Faith school are a major problem (LGF, 2008), and as Waller (2009) suggests religious views need to be addressed more. More debate is needed on love, respect and diversity within and outside of contemporary family life for faith schools, as this would then avoid the so called promotion of homosexuality and pretend family relationships, and focus more on the diversity of sexuality and family life. Gay rights activists, such as Tatchel (2001), discuss their concern for the lack of progress within this area, and mentioned that there is going to be more of a battle to beat the last acceptable prejudice within our education system (LGF, 2008). In contrast, Waller (2009) suggested that as sex education in England and Wales has been regulated solely by the Secretary of State for Education since the Learning and Skills Act (2000) and the Education Act (1996), it could be argued that Section 28, before its repeal, was already largely redundant. Local education authorities, such as Manchester, continued to deliver training to their staff on how to deliver their services without discrimination against lesbians and gay men; and these pioneering works were never once challenged by the act (Waller, 2009). There is, however, one case of Section 28 being used to bring a case to the courts against a council. In May, 2000, the Christian Institute unsuccessfully took Glasgow City Council to court for funding an AIDS support charity which the Institute alleged promoted homosexuality and disrespectful family relationships. It could be suggested that in order to create change, we must consider the psychology (Hanley, 1993): mapping the information against the general certificate of secondary education (GCSE) curriculum, and making it accessible to the children. Training the teachers so that they are confident in delivering it correctly, as at present, many teachers are not equipped to discuss the complexities of the human sexuality and contemporary family life. Cookson et al, (2009) suggests that this personal and professional development should be a priority for any local education authority. Schools should be encouraged to expressively forbid discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation within their codes of conduct, whether the school has a religious character or not (Cookson et al, 2009). Then, at an appropriate stage of the national curriculum, students should be encouraged to examine the variety of views on human sexuality and family life, and as Waller (2009) suggests, this will then allow them to develop their own position within their understanding of and within these complex areas. However, despite the controversy around Section 28, it should be noted that Thatcher supported legalising homosexuality in the 1960s, and in the face of severe opposition from Tory traditionalists, in 1967, she voted in favour of the decriminalisation of homosexuality in England and Wales. The Conservative government still however caused much uproar, as although the hegemonic legislation was in force, to ostracise; to an extent it did the opposite. It made people fight. Fight for their right to have equality, to be a family, or at least have that choice. Although many gay communities had been decimated by the AIDS epidemic, something extraordinary happened. People joined together, from within and outside of their communities, as a family, setting up support groups, lobbying parliament, fighting for their right as a community, and as a family. Not blood-related though, but as families of choice (Donavan, 2012; Weeks, 2001). They had connectedness, cared for each other, and were loyal: and not the drug-taking, promiscuous loons as described by one Tory MP at the time (Briggs, 1987). Over the following years, many of the HIV positive men died, and during this period further inequalities became stark. Partners, who had supported, cared for and loved their partner for many years were not recognised legally, for example, during the sale of a house. Blood family members of the deceased or dying would deny same sex partners access to their dying partners bedside or attendance at the funeral. These harsh inequalities highlighted through these challenging times, but also politicised a generation (Donavan, 2013). Weeks (2007: 2) support this notion of politicisation, and suggests that the longer term perspective tells us something different as despite the setbacks, pain and loss of the 1980s and early 1990s we can now see that under the surface of events, dramatic changes in sexual and intimate life were taking place, a sort of grass roots revolution, that have transformed the possibilities of LGBTQ lives In view of Weeks (2007) quote, it should therefore be argued that the battle for legislative reform is about a formalisation of a right to exist in the public sphere, and a public declaration of, for example, love, marriage, equal opportunities and family. Weeks (2007) supports this critique and proposes that this shake up also started to deconstruct the idea of a family unit, and so destabilise specific social norms and boundaries, which existed between the public and the private. This political and social shift is important, as when public and private start to collide, the old school family unit that is ideologically engrained within society and culture is challenged (Richardson, 2000). This is a powerful, and much needed shake up, which has had considerable consequences further down the line, and has attacked many discriminative social forces and factors underpinned within many forms of discrimination. It is also important to acknowledge the processes and changes underpinned within the wider political, economic and cultural realities, and how these may have been challenged. In de constructing the idea of the family, we can then start to challenge the tradition behind it, which takes away its power, its right to dominance, govern and lead. This idea of tradition is still however problematic, as Weeks (2007) notes, due to the fact that the evidence is limited when looking at tradition beyond specific recent time frames and histories, and that due to this lack of empiricability, can we be certain people always follow tradition, and by tradition I mean as how we see it. It could be argued that this was not the case, and tradition, as we see it, has shifted over time, context and reality. What we see now as tradition may have at specific points in history been its opposite, with the normal of our tradition shifting to the abnormal of our non-traditional realities. Therefore, it could be argued that tradition and its underpinnings are by no means monochrome, in any historical, political and / or cultural reality. Williams (2004) conceptualises this well and terms this re-traditionalisation, yet Weeks (2007) still argues for more of a de-traditionalisation. Whatever the term used, it could be argued that either or suggest that back in the 80s during the birth of Stonewall and other political and social equality movements, and also now, as we were (and still are) searching for an individualism, or a framework that supports this. It could be maintained that if people were allowed to manage their own lives, their own way of living, without fear or discrimination, different forms of community and / or individual arrangements would develop, assisting life in its creative, problem-solving, innovatory way. This process of social restructuring (or as Williams (2004) terms re-traditionalisation and Weeks (2007) terms de-tradionalisation) is important to consider with my research when thinking about my research, and the participants (also my own) political, cultural and social histories and contexts, and how these have been changed, adapted and developed within and outside of tradition as we see it now in this specific context and reality, during their specific coming-out process. Section 3 Why / how family has changed and how it is now lived + reflections on family practices. These previously discussed political and social developments highlight the fact that ways of living have changed, causing major variations in the compositions and practices of families and intimate relationships. At the core of the debate sociologists such as Finch (2007), Smart (2007), Donavan (2013) and Stacey (2004) emphasise that the old concepts no longer capture the realities of contemporary family living and that new definitions, concepts, ideas, ideologies, terms and legislation are needed. Smart (2007: 84), a feminist sociologist and academic, defines the family as: a set of personal relationships that are forged together to create dynamic and multidimensional connections held together through shared histories and memories. Smarts (2007) quote suggests that individuals live in a diverse array of living conditions and relationship formations, within and throughout a major social institution and a locus of much of an individuals social activity. It also highlights the importance of shared histories and memories, not just blood ties or relations. Smarts (2007) definition recognises that this new conceptualisation of family highlights the significance of dependencies, interdependencies, connectedness and relationalism as central features within social grouping identified as family. All the above suggests there are many factors that shape the experience of family life, for example, social class, race, sexuality (lesbian or heterosexual couples) and family structure, for example, nuclear family, extended family and single-parent families. This adds a new dimension to the study of family as it links family experiences to other influences in society, signifying that the family is not an isolated entity but rather an integral part of the wider social system with society. Calvin (2011), on the other hand, disagrees with much of Smart (2007) observations and defines the family as: a social unit created by blood, marriage, or adoption, which can be described as nuclear (parents and children) or extended (encompassing other relatives). There remains many obvious problematics within the Calvin (2011) definition. For example, extended family may not be relatives, but could be friends, neighbours, work colleagues, and / or ex or current partners. The nuclear family concept has also been critiqued by many (Finch, 2007, Smart, 2007 and Donavan, 2013) (also see section 1) and holds many perceived problematics: westernised, heterosexist, gendered, and assuming a universal model which alludes to the historical and cultural specificity of contemporary family formations. It could be argued that in contemporary society, many individuals now live in households that are single-parent, gay, lesbian, interfaith, international, interracial, intergenerational, and increasingly single-person, not to mention families of long-term companions, adopted children, or half-siblings. Calvins (2011) definition does not seem to take this specificity and multidimensionality into consideration. Fields, Jason and Casper (2001:67) support my critique of Calvins (2011) definition, and suggest that it is generally assumed today that the modern family has undergone significant transformations in its structure, and that societal changes have contributed to a harsh reduction in the percentage of classical typical families, predominantly nuclear families. Replacing these are childless families, one parent families, other family formations, and quasi-family units based on non-marital cohabitation (Fields, Jason and Casper, 2001:69), which includes (and will include more so after the recent legalisation of gay marriage in the UK) gay parents and families. Sociologists such as Finch (2007) and Smart (2007) have clearly highlighted the many diverse arrays of living as a family, and how this must be recognised within the literature. However, there are also many terms that underpin these theories, for example, families of choice (Weeks, Donavan, and Heaphy), postmodern families, and families of origin (Morgan (2007). There has been much debate as to whether these sit alongside the idea of the nuclear family or in opposition. There has also been much debate around a shifting postmodern nuclear family. This section of this essay will therefore discuss and evaluate some of these terms, critiquing the literature. Donavan et al (2001) incorporated the term families of choice (also known as families we choose coined by Kath Western, 1998) which means literally asking the participants for names of people they see as family. For example, if I decided to use this term within my research and one of my participants stated that 2 of his friends, his step brother and his second aunt were the people he recognised as family this would be fine. Similarly, if another participant involved no blood relatives this would also be fine. Families of choice literally mean people choose their families. Donavan (2001) does however express some concerns with this method and notes that within her 2001 study with Weeks and Heaply, two well-known social constructionists, as many of the heterosexual participants named blood family when ask to discuss family; whereas many of the non-heterosexual participants named mainly friends and (ex) lovers as family. Although this does not suggest an obvious issue, it does suggest a lack of closeness, or connectness with the LGBT participants and their blood family compared to that of their heterosexual counterparts. Although this term sits well for my research, the same issue could occur. A way around this could be to break the question down further. For example, ask the participants to name 5 people who they feel are most important to them in their life. And once a list has been put together, ask them to decide who they see as family. This 2 staged question may be a way of getting around this issue around participants misunderstanding the term family. Not including the term family would be helpful until I understood who they classed as family. On the other hand, by using the term families of choice, I am giving the participants a choice to choose whoever as their family members, and this open-ended approach is enabling them to decide. Therefore, would it really be an issue if they did not include any blood relatives, or included all blood relative? Modern policy (Children and Adoption Act, 2006; Equal Marriage Bill, 2013; Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act, 2008) has noted a shift to two parents of any gender (but still a demonization of single parent families due to an underlying stigmatization mainly but not exclusively enhanced by stereotypical negative Media perceptions). The question is could we call the 2 parent family of the same gender a nuclear family and would we want too? Donavan (2013) suggests it is not, although structurally it looks the same, i.e. two parents, 2 children, a household, but if you look at the social roles within it, it is very different. For example, there may be no men or no women involved, and usually there is at least one parent who has no biological relation to the child. It could therefore be argued that the term postmodern family sits better here (and also potentially within my research). This term suggests it can be what it is, in this specific moment in time, through the specific structures and practices it has/uses. This concept also recognises that what you describe as your family now may not be family in 5 years time for example. Although it could be argued that the term postmodern family is doing nothing apart from saying meaning of family can change historically. On the other hand, terms that help to destabilise gendered and heterosexist terms like that nuclear family model are a welcome addition. There are many different ways of theorizing family and the practices within it, but in reality, when it comes to gay youth and my intended area of study, many of these individuals will come from heterosexual family set ups and have been exposed unconditionally to heterosexual family practices. Therefore, using the a term like families of origin (Morgan, 2007) could be beneficial as it describes the setup of your life at that point in time, whether it be step families, friends, blood mother or adopted father. This again gives the participant flexibility in their choices. The term origin however may be confusing as origin suggests where you have come from, which then suggests blood or adopted family, with the exclusion of friends, (ex) partners, and work colleagues. It could also be beneficial to ask my participants about their understanding of families i.e. where they see their families being, or who is classed as their family, as during Weeks, Heaply and Donavans (2001) study, many of their LGBT participants failed to recognise blood family as family members. This would suggest that they may have disconnected from their families of origin and that it did not occur to them to speak or include them into their LGBT sphere, or private world. However, this study is now 12 years old, and many changes have occurred since then, potentially highlighting a shift in generational understandings and acceptance of how, who and why we consider certain people to be classed as our family. In view of the above, Finch (2007: 71) notes that the way in which we consider our family is qualitatively orientated. By this she means decided by a number of internal and external factors including, location, relationships, love, employment, religion, sexuality and friendship. In view of Finchs (2007) consideration, it could be argued that this process of qualitative orientation demands considerable creativity when initiating the design, composition and practices of the family, and how these intimate networks are constructed, perceived and maintained (Stacey, 2004: 359). It could also be argued that as Stacey (2004) has identified this as a process, this then suggests a considerable shift from the previous definition of family and the nuclear family, through the household or through kinship: set and defined, to a more holistic way of thinking, friendly and accepting to the diversity and variation of modern family formations. Gabb (2008: 22), who is an interdisciplinary sociologist, terms this the extended family. Her research consists of a combination of autobiographical, anecdotal and empirical methods and methodologies, which re-situate emotions at the centre of family studies. She suggests that the process of family selection mentioned by Stacy (2004) requires an extended approach; a wide angle research lens that can record the evolving matrix of intimacy (Gabb, 2008:17). I agree with Gabbs (2008) comments on the matrix or intimacy and argue that this idea places much emphasis on relationship formation, which in turn constitutes and creates family life. Contemporary psycho-sociologists Mcload and Thomson (2009) support this critique, and suggest that Gabbs (2008) idea of the extended family places increasing importance on the way in which relationships are built, with ideas of social change at the forefront of this process. The contemporary research above highlights the importance of recognises fluidity within the composition of the family unit and also highlights briefly how we select family; however, it is also important to discuss how contemporary family life is defined more by doing family things rather than being a family. For example, Morgan (1996) is one of the most influential sociologist who initially highlighted the importance to shift sociological analysis away from family as a structure to which individuals in some sense belong, towards understanding families as sets of activities which take on a particular meaning, associated with family, at any a given point in time (Finch, 2007:66). Morgan (1996) defines these family practices as: a set of practices which deal in some way with ideas of parenting, kinship and marriage and the expectedness and obligation which are associated with these practices. The key features of the practices approach in general are as follows: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ An attempt to link the perspectives of the observers and the social actors; à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ An emphasis on the active or doing; à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ A sense of the everyday; à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ A sense of the regular; à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ A sense of fluidity or fuzziness; à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ A linking of history and biography. Morgan (2011) uses the term family practices as an illustration of wider currents of thought in sociology engaged with understanding how social relations are enacted and represented as symbols, combining a number of key concepts that other scholars have used to analyse contemporary families. These include fluidity, diversity, and multi-facetedness, by rooting our understanding of doing family in the everyday and the routine. These everyday routines are where individuals constitute certain actions and activities as family practices, as family (defined by Morgan and Finch) is a facet of social life, not a social institution; it represents a quality not a thing. A good example of this routine that constitutes family practices was in Finch (2007) where she discusses 2 examples of her own family practices: the weekly phone call which she makes to her sister; and her care in assuring that a step child gets Christmas presents as valuable as those she gives to her own children. These are actions that allow her to regard these people as part of her family. Finch (2007:55) also quotes from my perspective these are family practices. When discussing these practices, Morgan (1996: 190) recognises that these practices are often little fragments of daily life which are part of the normal taken for granted existence of practitioners. Their significance derives from their location in a wider system of meaning. Finch (2007:66) supports Morgan (1996) quote and suggest that the emphasis is on social actors creatively constituting their own social world. It could therefore be argued that an individuals understanding of family is subject to change over time and locations, deeply rooted in individual biographies and realities. This is something I need to

Free King Lear Essays: The Element of Disguise :: Essays on King Lear

King Lear - The Element of Disguise The play â€Å"King Lear† is, first of all, a play about kingship. Lear is a trusting king, every inch a king, who in his old age brings destruction to himself, certain persons in his own circle, and to his country. â€Å"King Lear† is a play which tears off the outer coverings of human character. Pious and innocent-seeming people who are villainous, are revealed in their true nature, and the similar is disclosed for what it is, as it works destruction. This is done in a world in which most men are constantly seeking their own advancement, a court where flatterers are always lurking, and in which a king should be constantly wary and careful to follow the advice of such honest men as Kent. Within the first two acts of â€Å"King Lear†, the element of disguise is established. The king's two daughters, Regan and Goneril, use flattery as a disguise. They conceal their true feelings, conspiring to take over the land. Goneril says: Sir, I love you more than word can weild the matter; Dearer then eyesight, space, and liberty; . . . Beyond all manner of so much I love you. (II 56-63) Regan speaks: I am made of the same metal as my sister, And prize me at her worth. In my true heart I find she names my very deed of love, Only she comes too short, that I profess Myself and enemy to all other joys Which the most precious square of sense possesses, And find I am alone felicitate In your dear Highness' love. (II72-80) Clearly, the daughters’ words are loaded with flattery. The third daughter, Cordelia, cannot wear the mask that the other two wear, "I love your Majesty According to my bond, no more nor less." (II 97-98) It is for this reason that Cordeila is banished from the kingdom. An obvious example of disguise is with the Earl of Kent, as he enters the play as Tom of Bedlam. Even though he was exiled from the kingdom, he has returned to protect Lear. His great loyalty to the king, forces Kent to risk his life in order to deceive Lear. Lear : What art thou? Kent : A very honest-hearted fellow, and as poor as the king. (I, IV, 18-20)

Immobilisation of Enzimes Essay -- Chemistry

Immobilization of enzymes is one of promising methods in enzymes performances enhancement, such as stability, recovery, and reusability. However, investigation of suitable solid support in enzyme immobilization is still the one of problems to prevent the reduction of enzymes activity. Polyethersulfone (PES) and aminated PES (PES-NH2) as novel materials for the immobilization were successfully synthesized. Structure of synthesized polymers were characterized by NMR, FTIR, and MALDI-TOF. The membranes based on PES and PES-NH2 with various pore sizes (from 10 to 600 nm) was fabricated to be applied as bioreactor to increase the immobilized lipase performances. The influences of pore sizes, concentration of additives, and the presence of functional groups on PES backbone toward enzyme loading and enzyme activities were studied. The largest enzyme loading was obtained by the immobilization of Mucor miehei onto PES-NH2 membrane composed of 10% of PES-NH2, 8% of DBP, and 5% of PEG (87 2.62 ï€  Ã¯  ­g/cm2). Activity of immobilized lipase was determined by hydrolysis reaction of pNPA and methanol to produce pNP which showed the hydrolysis reaction catalyzed by immobilized lipase onto synthesized PES (10%) membrane represented the highest enzyme activity value (568.48 mmol pNP min-1 cm-2). From the reusability test, the immobilized lipase onto PES-NH2 showed better constancy than the immobilized lipase onto PES by four times of reactions which indicated that this novel material is potential to be developed as bioreactor on enzymatic reaction. Keywords: Aminated PES, solid support, Mucor miehei, enzymatic reaction, lipase immobilization 1. Introduction Lipase, also known as triacylglycerol ester hydrolase (EC3.1.1.3), is one of inter... ...ovic, Appl. Microbiol. Biotechol. 49 (1998), 267-271. [23] L. Giorno, E. Drioli, TIBTECH 18 (2000) 339-349. [24] S.C. Stamatoglou and J.M. Keller, The Journal of Cell Biology, 96 (1983) 1820-1823. [25] M.G.Wolf, M. Hoefling, C.A. Santamaria, H. Grupmuller, G. Groenhof, Journal of Computational Chem. 31 (2010) 2169-2174 [26] T. Tosa, T. Mori, N. Fuse, I. Chibata, Biotechnology and Bioengineering. 9 (1967) 603-615 [27] L.A. Nelson, T.A. Foglia, W.N. Marmer, JAOCS, 73 (1996) 1191-1195. [28] G. Pozinak, B. Krajewska, and W. Trochimczuk, Biomaterials, 16 (1995) 129-134. [29] M.T. Sho, F. R. Eirich, H. Strathmann, and R. W. Baker, Journal of Polymer Science: Polymer Letters Edition, 11 (1973) 201-205. [30] D.S. Marsman, NTP Toxicity Report, 30 (1995) 5-93. [31] N. Handayani, N. Miletic, K. Loos, S. Achmad, and D. Wahyuningrum, Sains Malaysiana, 40 (2011) 965-972.

PR Plan for M&S Clothing

Introduction In recent years, Marks & Spencer’s clothing sales have experienced a period of decline and have been involved in a large amount of discounting which has a negative impact on the profit margins within the department. The purpose of this PR plan is to consider an appropriate marketing and PR strategy that would lead to the turnaround of this ailing department. Aims and Objectives The primary aim of this PR and marketing agenda is essentially to reinvent the positioning of the M&S clothing division, so that it is not forced into having to discount and is therefore able to maintain stronger profit margins. Historically, Marks & Spencer’s has maintained a strong reputation for providing quality basics, without necessarily being at the cutting edge of fashion, with the establishment of additional ranges, aiming to have the impact of turning this perception around. Yet, the increased use of disposable fashion from the likes of Primark has put increasing pressure on companies such as Marks & Spencer when it comes to retaining their market share (MacDonald, 2011). Despite this, the marketing campaign, â€Å"Leading Ladies†, has shown a slight turnaround of fortunes, indicating that a concerted effort within the PR and marketing area could indeed have a dramatic effect on this ailing area within M&S (Marks and Spencer, 2014). Audience The audience is potentially one of the hardest things to identify, in terms of this overall PR plan, as Marks & Spencer’s clothing covers such a potentially wider audience. It is suggested in this case, however, that by focusing on ladies wear, the overall agenda for the clothing department can be considered and looked at in the long run (Hackley, 2009). The target audience for this plan therefore is to focus on the fashion conscious, yet affluent 20 – 40 year old category. Attempting to compete with the prices of disposable fashion outlets is simply impractical; therefore, the focus needs to be on the high income a professional, fashionable women who also want their clothes to be excellent quality and durability. Message Linked to the chosen audience is the message that M&S clothing products are providing quality, durable essentials that offer a sophisticated and professional look, with a touch of fashion that is not a disposable, cheap fashion product. One of the key problems which have been identified within the M&S clothing range in recent years is that the cost of the product has simply not warranted the quality of fashion being provided, and the balance between quality and cost needs to be redressed (Parrish, 2010). Maintaining a strong quality is important. Yet, it is necessary for the fashionable element of the product to be brought to the forefront of this message, and this needs to be delivered clearly to the young, affluent audience. In order to achieve this M&S is going to focus on the younger audience by engaging with young workers and students. Offering discounts and selecting the relevant media publications that aim at these people will be a crucial part of delivering this message. Communication Strategies Bearing in mind the message and the target audience in question, the choice of communication strategy will be particularly important when it comes to successfully providing this shift in emphasis and new marketing strategy. Given the chosen audience, the communication strategies also need to be aimed at a younger audience, using factors such as the internet and e-mail marketing, in order to portray a younger, more cutting-edge image. Establishing affiliations with third parties and appropriate magazines will also be important for encouraging potential consumers to view Marks & Spencer clothing in a slightly different light. Events such as fashion shows and launches of product ranges in locations that are going to be targeting this new audience. Working with Universities and popular work areas in central towns will assist in this matter. Celebrity endorsement is also potentially going to assist in shifting the perceptions of Marks & Spencer away from products which are slightly old and staid. By partnering with the appropriate celebrities and also appropriate events, the general perception of the company can be changed, over time, and this needs to be a relatively mid-term agenda for M&S. Resource and Budget The overall size of M&S and the ability to draw on financial resources from other departments such as the food and home department provides evidence of real opportunities in regard to spending a large amount on this revised PR and marketing approach that would be impossible for other organisations without the backing of these departments. In order to completely reinvent the perception around an organisation the size of M&S will require a consistent and large resource, over a relatively prolonged period of time. In addition, however, it is proposed that a six-month time horizon be looked at, with the majority of the focus being placed on shifting the emphasis and eventually reinventing the product range. It is therefore suggested that a team of four marketing professionals should be given the agenda of achieving this plan as part of a specific six-month project (Hallbauer, 2008). Initially, it is proposed that a budget of ?260,000 will be provided on the basis of ?40,000 per month to cover the advertising in key locations and in order to ensure that the manpower is available in every store across the country. It is also recognised that having a strong celebrity endorsement may be very beneficial, the budget may need to be adjusted to reflect this. Evaluation Methods By looking at the current difficulties being faced by the M&S clothing range, it can be seen that it is largely attached to the perception of individuals and the demands of the potential target audience. With this in mind, evaluating the marketing and PR agenda will not only involve looking at quantitative figures such as the change in sales, but more crucially at the changing perceptions of customers and potential customers. Also for this reason, at least initially, the necessary way to evaluate the PR agenda will be to undertake an analysis of customer perceptions and satisfaction of products. After the initial six-month period, it is anticipated that there will be shifting sales figures and therefore the evaluation methods used would need to alter to take this into account. It is, however, recognised that this marketing agenda will not completely change the fortunes of the company in a matter of weeks and evaluation methods need to be reflective of this gradual shift, if the agend a is not to be deemed a failure, at a fairly early stage (Newman & Cullen, 2002). References Hackley, C, (2009) Advertising and Promotion: An Integrated Marketing Communications Approach, SAGE Publications Hallbauer, S, (2008) Retail Marketing and New Retail Idea – Marks and Spencer, GRIN Verlag MacDonald, G, (2011) For M&S’s Bolland, Success is in the Detail, Retail Week, Available at: http://www.retail-week.com/city/for-mss-bolland-success-is-in-the-detail/5025603.article Marks and Spencer (2014) Available at: http://corporate.marksandspencer.com/investors/press_releases/only_m_s_marks_spencer_invites_you_to_meet_britains_leading_ladies Newman, A & Cullen, P, (2002) Retailing: Environment & Operations, Cengage Learning Parrish, E. (2010) Retailers’ use of niche marketing in product development. Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management, Vol. 14, No. 4, pp. 546-561

Holmes in the room Essay

‘ His ability to withdraw within himself and to detach himself is reinforced with his preference for German music; ‘it is introspective and I want to introspect. ‘ This behaviour is shown yet again in Silver Blaze in his movement from ‘day-dreaming’ and ‘absorbed in his own thoughts’ to ‘suppressed excitement’. This essence of his character is also a strong reference to Victorian morality in the duality of human nature. Conan Doyle’s stories convey the sense of a double life led by many middle class men, in particular. Conan Doyle conveys Holmes as possessing a character that changes from the ‘languid’, ‘dreamy’, ‘gentle’ sense of his inertia to his predatory qualities; ‘Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the relentless, keen-witted, ready criminal agent’. The words ‘swing of his nature’ and ‘alternately’ further contribute to our impression of his dual nature. There is also a symbolic representation of a duality of human nature in the contrast between the ‘shabby’, ‘faded’, ‘weedy’ side of the square and the ‘fine’ ‘stately’ side that backs the pawnbroker and represents commerce. The gap between rich and poor widened with the growth in industry during the Victorian era. The growth in wealth is shown in the metaphor of a ‘tide’ and ‘immense stream’ of increasing wealth. Dual nature is also clearly identified in Silver Blaze when Silas Brown is shown to have two personalities; ‘never have I seen such a change as had been brought about in Silas Brown in that short time’. In The Man with the Twisted Lip you will find the strongest representation of dual nature. At the beginning of the story Holmes disguises himself as a ‘tall, thin old man’ so that not even Watson, his closest friend can recongise him. Conan Doyle describes the change in Holmes ‘his form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull eyes had regained their fire’. Doyle’s language in the paragraph conveys the duality of man and as the paragraph progresses, language marks Holmes’ transformation from ‘very thin; very wrinkled, bent with age’ to his real self. Finally he regains his ingenious disguise to ‘doddering, loose-lipped senility’. But the strongest personification of the dual nature of man lies in Neville St. Clair who is the embodiment of Victorian double personality; one life by day and another by night. The first evidence of this lies in his two distinct writing styles of which he has a different style for ‘when he wrote hurriedly’. But the main reference to duality of nature appears near the end of the story when Holmes starts scrubbing off the beggar man’s, Boone’s, face to reveal his true persona – Neville St. Clair. The description of the face peeled off and exposing the ‘refined’ man beneath shows the true extent of Victorian double nature. There is also a strong metaphor for the merging of the two sides of his character; ‘the horrid scar which had seamed it across’. In The Red-Headed League Holmes’s appearance is compared to that of a ‘strange bird’ with a ‘hawk like nose’. This draws an image of an almost predatory figure in the reader’s mind. This image is further reinforced in The Red-Headed League with his quick firing of questions to Jabez Wilson. These questions reflect his razor sharp ability to extract information and also his quick-thinking mind. He is also described as a bird in The Man with the Twisted Lip when Conan Doyle draws attention to his ‘strong set aquiline features’. This description could also be in reference to the publication of Darwin’s On the Origin of the Species and the idea that human kind were descendants of animals, beasts. There is also a reminder of Darwin’s theory in The Speckled Band; ‘I have heard, Mr Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold wickedness of the human heart. ‘ There was a huge fear in Victorian times that men possessed a bestial quality. This also conveys the Victorian double standard because Holmes works for the good of society, but possesses something that draws him towards evil. This is reinforced again in Silver Blaze when he is described as having ‘menace in his eyes’. In the Victorian age, a certain type of novel emerged from the largely romantic literary background, the Gothic novel, which was invented almost single-handedly by Horace Walpole who wrote The Castle of Otranto in 1764. It has been suggested, by the critic Ann B. Tracy, that the Gothic novel could be seen as a description of a fallen world. While Sherlock Holmes is certainly a hero in many senses, in that he solves crimes, repeatedly saves people from the forces of evil and restores moral values while he is at it, he could also certainly be seen as a Gothic hero. It is his strong power of perception that solves crimes, and it is his hunger for sensation that drives his crime-solving and his cocaine use. To succeed as a detective Holmes frequently must himself descend into London’s underworld, which further reinforces the theory of a fallen world. It could be said that in all of the Sherlock Holmes stories there is a Gothic element in the form of a mysterious, inexplicable situation. This could be definitely be seen in The Red-Headed League, but to really discover the more detailed elements that constitute the genre of a Gothic novel we can look no further than The Speckled Band, which is littered with references to a true Gothic novel. First of all there is the woman in distress, in this case taking the presence of Helen Stoner, who ‘arrived in a considerable state of excitement’. She is described as being ‘in a pitiable state of agitation, her face all dawn and grey, with restless, frightened eyes’, which certainly conforms to the Gothic element of women with highly wrought emotions. There is also a woman in high state of emotion present in Silver Blaze when Mrs. Straker’s ‘face was haggard, and†¦ stamped with the print of a recent horror’. Also present in The Speckled Band which is an element of a Gothic story is the occurrence of a cruel, tyrannical male who threatens and harms a woman, which appears in the form of Dr Grimsby Roylott, whom Helen Stoner appears to be considerably afraid of when she tries to hide the marks on her arm; ‘you have been cruelly used’. Then there is the setting in a ruined building, Stoke Moran, which seems to be in a considerable state of disrepair; ‘the building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone†¦. windows were broken†¦. a picture of ruin’. There is also a sense of mystery and suspense as the question is posed whether or not Dr Roylott killed Helen’s sister. Also the fact that Helen Stoner has been effectively forced into living in her sister’s room could be seen as a Gothic element, as could the eerie whistle which both the sisters heard in the dead of night. Conan Doyle’s literary masterpieces are been enjoyed by thousands for almost a century now and continue to capture the hearts of both young and old. So brilliant and absorbing are these stories that when Sherlock Holmes was ‘killed’ in The Final Problem fans complained so forcefully that Conan Doyle was compelled to resurrect him again. Holmes fans even refer to the time in between his death and revivification as the ‘Great Hiatus’. The Guinness World Records has consistently listed him as the â€Å"most portrayed movie character† with over 70 actors playing the part in over 200 films. A rare manuscript of one of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s final Sherlock Holmes stories has recently been expected to fetch a whopping i 250,000 at auction. Overall there have been 56 short stories and 4 novels, written over a decade. These accounts are littered with references to Victorian England and can help people today to understand what life was like in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Kate Manson 10S Page 1 of 5 Show preview only The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE Arthur Conan Doyle section.