Masculinity, By William Faulkner And The Death Of A Man

Masculinity is a common theme in nearly all of Hemingway’s works. What makes Indian Camp unique is that it is about a young boy earning his masculinity, and all in one very eventful night. This story is about â€Å"becoming a man† so-to-speak, through enduring and overcoming two very difficult situations to view: the birth of a child and the death of a man. Barn Burning covers the same theme in a darker and more violent way. In William Faulkner’s story, Sarty’s father teaches him to become a man by teaching him that a man should hold his family’s blood above anything and everything else. The different ways this lesson is taught in these two stories are the key differences in how the main characters come to grasp the same basic ideal. In Indian Camp, the protagonist, Nick, is put face-to-face with uncomfortable scenarios and finally is forced to endure and triumph over these challenges, whereas Sarty does essentially the same thing, but instead of ac cepting the standards put before him, he overthrows them and accepts what he believes masculinity should be. During the time of writing Indian Camp, masculinity may have been intertwined with the notion that white men were the dominant people of the time. This can be taken from when Nick asks his father if there is anything that can be given to the Indian woman in labor in order to make her quit screaming, to which Nick’s father replies â€Å"her screams are not important. I don’t hear them because they are not important† (Hemingway, 16).Show MoreRelatedAnalysis Of William Faulkner s I Lay Dying 1713 Words   |  7 PagesWilliam Faulkner confessed â€Å"It’s much more fun to try to write about women because I think women are marvelous, they’re wonderful, and I know very little about them.† He did not attempt to disguise this amusement considering many of his works involve the presence of women who serve to be pivotal characters. Faulkner is known as one of the most prominent writers in the literary world. Faulkner is from the southern United State s- Oxford, Mississippi, to be exact. His expertise was the Southern GothicRead MoreA Psychological Reading of A Rose for Emily Essay2883 Words   |  12 PagesFreud and Faulkner A psychoanalytic Reading of â€Å"A Rose for Emily† Abstract Undoubtedly Sigmund Freud is the father of psychoanalysis. He was an influential thinker of the early twentieth century who elaborated the theory that the mind is a complex energy-system and the structural investigation of which is the proper province of psychology. Freud articulated and refined the concepts of the unconscious, infantile sexuality and repression and he proposed tripartiteRead MoreModernist Elements in the Hollow Men7051 Words   |  29 Pagesdid â€Å"modernize himself†. Although his poetry was subject to important transformations over the course of his career, all of it is characterized by many unifying aspects typical of modernism. It employs characters who fit the modern man as described by Fitzgerald, Faulkner and others of the poet’s contemporaries. It is marked by its tendency to bring together the intellectual, the aesthetic and the emotional in a way that both condemns the past and honors it. The poet expressed modernism as a new system

Growth of the Rastafarian Movement Essay - 822 Words

Since its founding in the 1930s, the Rastafarian movement has grown to the point where it has become a major cultural and political force in Jamaica. During its existence, the movement has challenged Jamaicas neo-colonialist societys attempts to keep whites at the top and blacks at the bottom of the socio-economic structure. Because of its controversial actions, the movement has evoked responses from observers that range from hostility to curiosity (Forsythe 63). On one hand, Rastafarians have been criticized because of their belief that Haile Selassie, the former emperor of Ethiopia, is God and that marijuana (ganja) should be used as a religious sacrament. On the other hand, the Rastafari have been praised for their continual†¦show more content†¦There are several possible explanations for the rapid growth of Rastafari. One major factor in its expansion was the emergence in the late 1960s of reggae music, a derivative of American rhythm and blues and Jamaican ska. Reggae helped spread the philosophy of Rastafari to the wider Jamaican audience and the world. During that period of time, Bob Marley and the Wailers were the principal popularizers of reggae. Before Marleys death in 1981, the Wailers, with albums like Burnin (1973) and Survival (1979), articulated a message of liberation and redempt ion which had the power to transform a world of injustice and war into one of peace and love (Reid 172). By 1986, the Wailers ten albums had sold more than 20 million copies (Jennings 69). Marley and his music were significant forces in the increased popularity of the movement. Barrett felt that the growth of the movement was largely due to the charismatic personality of Robert Nesta Marley (213). Davis and Simon proposed that the Wailers music had thrust the Rasta cosmology into the middle of the planets cultural arenas, and suddenly people [wanted] to know what all the chanting and praying and obsessive smoking of herb [were] all about (Reggae Bloodlines 63). Because Marleys music was such a powerful force in the rise of the Rastafarian movement, there are many popular and scholarly writings which focus on Marley and his music. AnShow MoreRelatedThe Origins of the Rastafarian Movement Essay example1568 Words   |  7 PagesThe Origins of the Rastafarian Movement Rastafarianism is a fascinating world religion that began in the 1930s in Jamaica. This movement was set forth to make the black population not to feel oppressed to the whites. In this movement the culture of a Rastafarian spread, but what the people outside of this culture enjoyed the most from a Rastafarian is reggae. This brought about many singers, but the main one was Bob Marley. Rastafarianism is a politico - religious movement that developed inRead MoreBob Marley1577 Words   |  7 Pagesbut was anything but a free nation. Those in power chose to exploit the country’s few main exports, primarily bauxite, a mineral used in the process of manufacturing aluminum. The first ten years of Jamaican independence saw considerable economic growth, but these gains were held back from the country’s urban poor. From his book, Reggae, Rastafari, and the Rhetoric of Social Control, Stephen A. King writes, â€Å"After independence, the Jamaican Labor Party’s â₠¬Å"Five Year Plan† did not produce economicRead MoreEssay about Dreadlocks and Individualism1593 Words   |  7 Pagesindividualism, they are your Dreadlocks. The art of dreadlocks can be traced back to the Ancient Caribbean islands such as Jamaica where they were fine tuned to perfection by Rastafarians. Here at Syracuse University, students give a new meaning to what it is like to be a part of the dreadlock society without having to be a Rastafarian, a black radicalist, or politically correct. In fact, being able to be different and sculpt the hair away from the average trends on campus creates this off beat group--TheRead MoreBob Marley, Reggae Artist And Icon1527 Words   |  7 Pagesinjustices of the effective working class people around the world. Bob Marley s distinguishing characteristics in his songs resulted in his success, especially love and openly political songs. Another distinguishing characteristic of Marley is that the Rastafarian religion and the political roots in which it came from to guide the music and lyrics. The music genre Reggae was popularized in Jamaica in the late 1960’s. Although today reggae is more generalized to Jamaican dance music. According to the articleRead MoreMUSLIM VS. RASTAFARIANS Islam interprets the relationship between a man2318 Words   |  10 Pages MUSLIM VS. RASTAFARIANS Islam interprets the relationship between a man and a woman as one, which should make many babies while living a peaceful existence. â€Å"...(God) has created men and women as company for one another, and so that they can reproduce and live in peace and serenity according to the commandments of Allah and the directions of his messenger.† On the other hand,â€Å"...(Rastafarians) view the position (of) women as a (weak-willed) one.† â€Å"...(Although) women are respected,...(and sometimes)Read More Michael Manley and Rastafarianism Essay3781 Words   |  16 PagesParty marked the beginning of this movement. During this time of exploration, Rastafarians residing in Jamaica were faced with little political support. Government objectives and reform were generally not concerned with the plight of the Rastafarians, and they were treated as a group of vigilantes. Michael Norman Manley, Prime Minister of Jamaica from 1972-1980 and 1989-1992, was the first political figure to provide support for the large population of Rastafarians residing in Jamaica. It was underRead MoreRastafarian79520 Words   |  319 Pagesacquirer Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Edmonds, Ennis Barrington. Rastafari : from outcasts to culture bearers / Ennis Barrington Edmonds. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-19-513376-5 1. Rastafari movement. 2. Jamaica—Religious life and customs. I. Title. BL2532.R37 E36 2002 299†².676—dc21 2002074897 v To Donnaree, my wife, and Donnisa, my daughter, the two persons around whom my life revolves; and to the ancestors whose struggles have enabledRead MoreBook Review of Mirror, Mirror Essay1960 Words   |  8 PagesNettleford was also a recipient of the prestigious Rhodes scholarship to Oxford University. He is the author of other similar books such as: Inward Stretch Outward Reach: A Voice from the Caribbean; Caribbean Cultural Identity and co-wrote, The Rastafarians in Kingston, Jamaica along with many other culturally dynamic pieces of work. Prof. Nettleford was also well known as founder and principal choreographer of the celebrated National Dance Theatre Company of Jamaica (Humber 2011). As a leadingRead MoreHistory of Jamaican Music1268 Words   |  6 PagesIn the slums of West Kingston, the Rastafarians adopted African-influenced burru drumming to create a sound known as Rasta music or Rasta chant. The Rasta chant of the 1950s was not yet full-blown reggae. It lacked melody, but it had reached the ears of the mainstream and planted seeds for the wild success of reggae music in the 1960s and 70s. (Jennifer King) Dancehall is the voice of the next generation, In the mid 70’s Jamaica a new cultural movement began amongst urban youth in Kingston;Read More Neocolonialism in Jamaica Essay6862 Words   |  28 Pagesunder cultivation dropped 18% between 1945 and 1968 resulting in even more dependence on foreign food suppliers. In addition, it became more difficult to effectively change public policy when it was most needed because the organized working class movement dissolved and relocated. (Campbell, 1987: 86-87) Evidence shows a correlation between the arrival and influence of bauxite companies and the cultivation of marijuana. Ganja is the one high-yield cash crop existing in Jamaica and is second only

Xfghfgh Free Essays

Choose any of the activities on the website. What did you learn by completing the activity? Based on the information provided, why do we still live in a largely segregated country? What do you think about the state of race relations in our country today? I learned that appearance doesn’t always tell you about someone’s ancestry or self- Identity. Most people base a person’s race off of the way they look and In most cases they are wrong because they don’t know exactly what race they are by Just looking at them. We will write a custom essay sample on Xfghfgh or any similar topic only for you Order Now In the human diversity quiz I was shocked to find out that fruit flies have the most genetic variation. In the split Identity part they mentioned that black women have the highest chance of being strip-searched out of all US citizens. That amazed me because I would think black women would get treated the same as a white women while getting searched In public. I feel Like people still live In a largely segregated country because people allow It to soul be segregated. Most people still group others by race, class, and choices they make in life. I don’t think it’s segregated cause it’s supposed to be its just that way because people make it that way by following one another and doing as others do by separating others from themselves based on characteristics. I hate when I fill out applications for certain things and seeing the check box for race. I think that things should be based off a persons as a whole not the color or race that they are. I think that right there leads people to think that others still need to be segregated and put into groups based on color and race. People at the end of the day are Just people and that’s how it should be looked at. How to cite Xfghfgh, Papers

Its A Twin Thing free essay sample

On occasion, I beg my mother to recount the autumn night seventeen years ago in October when her nine, seemingly endless months of anticipation were over, the day that she gave birth to my twin brother and me. â€Å"Your brother cried and whimpered until he was red in the face,† my mother says. â€Å"When he would not stop, the nurses placed him alongside of you in the crib, and he immediately calmed.† This memory is satisfying to clutch. Knowing that the relationship that has molded my individuality began moments after birth is gratifying. Despite the nine inches that my brother towers over me, many acknowledge our similar thick, brown hair, large noses, and olive complexions; however, when people compare our intelligence and abilities, I explain that we are both individuals, each unique, distinct, and capable of achieving our own greatness. There are so many moments that I recall from my childhood years that clearly define the relationship that I share with my brother. We will write a custom essay sample on Its A Twin Thing or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page I remember during the holiday seasons when my mother would package gifts and wrap them in seasonal wrapping paper. My brother and I, dressed in our thermal pajamas, would stealthily remove the empty wrapping paper tubes from the trash bin and engage in sword fights, using the taupe leather couches as our battleground. During the summertime, on endless, sweltering afternoons, the two of us would gather an assortment of colorful and vibrant sleeping bags and create a tent between the narrow walls of my bedroom where we would sleep for consecutive days. When we grew weary of the monotonous time spent at home, we would seat ourselves in my father’s 1991 ice blue Mercury Sable Station Wagon parked in the driveway. Kevin always acted as the chauffeur and inquired after my desired destination. Even now as maturing young adults, Kevin and I continue to produce everlasting memories. Whether we are singing along to Don McLean’s â€Å"American Pie† or celebrating another N ew York Rangers’ victory, our connection continues to evolve. Although our samurai stunts and spontaneous off-road journeys were simply a diversion from boredom, each activity contributes to my unique and eccentric personality. If not for the softball lessons at the dirt field down the road from our home, where my brother instructed and encouraged me to perform to the best of my ability, I would not be a starting second baseman. If we hadn’t persuaded our friends on the bus rides home from school that the two of us could communicate telepathically, it is unlikely that my friends would attempt to convince me that I am ready to be a stand up comedian on Comedy Central. I undoubtedly believe that if not for those quirky yet entertaining moments, I would not be the confident, determined, and affable person that I have developed into today. â€Å"Now, wherever I turn, you and your brother are together,† my mother concludes. â€Å"As a parent, it is sincerely satisfying to witness you helping each other whenever necessary, still find ing enjoyment in the little things like you did when you were younger, and most importantly, never neglecting who you truly are.†

MaxCo Research proposal Essay Example

MaxCo Research proposal Essay The Max Mar Group is one of the largest international fashion houses and the first Italian clothing company, recognized throughout the world as the precursor of modern prà ªtporter fashion. The Group was formed in 1951 the Group with the aim of offering haute De game feminine clothing, produced according to excellent industrial processes. This is a record that the Max Mar Group has consolidated over time through a meticulous, luxurious style that has always achieved rising success on a world-wide scale (Mascara Group), maintaining however its strongest market in Italy. The Group is composed of nine different brands, each targeting a different segment, none of which are particularly active through digital communications, with the exception of websites and online shops. MOB Research Agency was contacted to develop a study aimed at analyzing the use of social media and digital communication tools for the MaxCo brand, which as company results show, is the most developed of the nine brands on new media, with particular focus to the Italian market. In fact, the further development of this brand online will define a model for the Groups other brands to also develop a social media ND digital communication strategy accordingly both within Italy and worldwide. It must be noted that the rapid evolution of social media and digital communications has led fashion companies to develop new communication strategies aimed at establishing a closer relationship with their customers. For the fashion industry, social media have been identified as a powerful enabler to build strong relationships with their consumers. We will write a custom essay sample on MaxCo Research proposal specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on MaxCo Research proposal specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on MaxCo Research proposal specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Social media and fashion brands both show strong relational features; in fact, among all sectors, the fashion market appears to be the most social, u to its underlining mechanisms of social diffusion. From this derives the importance for fashion brands to build a social image which leads to high levels of social involvements, in contrast with the mere presence of social media; the number of social networking channels manned by brands has a clear correlation with the ROI of social media marketing strategies. 1. Max Max mainly targets young women, who appear to be also one of the most significant groups of social media and digital communications users, therefore the effectiveness of the Groups strategy in this sector is essential. Research shows that Faceable and Mainstream are the most popular social media in Italy, both of which MaxCo has been using for the past 3 years and 12 months, respectively. Faceable has become a tool for consumers to interact with other consumers and with the brands, and it can increase brand awareness; also, it is a tool for word of mouth, with about 1. Million users in Italy, has become a powerful tool for the fashion industry today, as it allow creating a connection directly through a brands products and ideas. However, Maxs results for March 2014 show and overall negative trend on the use of the brands Faceable page and Mainstream page. Furthermore, with regards to other digital communications, Maxs websites shows regular visits that peak at times of the release of a new collection as well as of sales. To even the presence on their website throughout the year, MaxCo has been developing websites to present certain items of the seasons collection. . 1. 1 Introducing the new Max app The Mascara Group has begun developing an app for smartness and tablet, which will allow to access information about videos, campaigns, press, and other events related to its brands. The idea is to develop an interactive mobile magazine, tit stories about t he brands everyday life, integrated with the brands social media sites (Faceable and Mainstream) and with the possibility to be customized by entering personal data for style tips and possible purchases. The app will also allow accessing an online store. The launch of the app for Max will be a part of the brands new digital communication strategy, the app will also allow accessing an online store. This will not only give the brand the opportunity to build a personal relationship with its loyal customers, but also increase its reach and gather valuable information on customers. Liquor and Donna Koran International have been identified as top competitors for MaxCo brand, within the Italian market and worldwide, respectively. Liquor Donna Koran International MaxCO Faceable x Twitter Mainstream Youth channel Website Online shops Smartened and tablet app As the table above shows, MaxCos direct competitors have been developing on all major social online platforms as well as they have developed a brand application for smartness and tablet. This has allowed both competing brands to build a deeper relationship with their customers, proving that Max is indeed in need to take action to be able to compete both within the Italian market and at worldwide level and avoid losing its position in the market. According to Gallbladder data for the last quarter of 2013, Italians are amongst the top users of social media and digital communication tools such data indicate a solid window of opportunity for the firm to expand rapidly and diminish the gap with its competitors regarding virtual activities. MOB has been asked to plan a research to respond to Max Mar Fashion Groups concern that it may be falling behind its competition due to the low social media and digital communication use for its brands. It was agreed with the client to begin the research by analyzing MaxCo, one of the nine brands managed by the Group; in fact, this is the most active in terms of presence on social media and digital communications, in particular regarding its use of Faceable, Mainstream and its website. The introduction of the new app has also been planned for MaxCo solely. The results presented for the brand show a negative trend in online users for the brand social accounts. Having stated the importance of social media and digital communication for the fashion industry, MOB truly believes that carrying out the proposed research will offer MaxCo (and later he whole Group) the opportunity to redirect its digital communication strategy and continue excelling in the future making their brands socially smart and directly involved with their customers. Additionally, this research intends to analyses the possibilities and threats related to the introduction of a smartened application (the MaxYou app), which main competitors have already done. Taking into account the increase in access through mobile devices, the launch of the app shall allow the brand to reach all equal position on the market, with regards to social media and International and Liquor) appear to be a few steps ahead as they have established themselves in the digital world, this research should truly represent the first step toward the improvement of MaxCo and later the whole Groups strategy. It is the goal of this research proposal to lay out a detailed plan of how to measure the effectiveness of social media and digital communications, in terms of reach and engagement, and reinforce the urgency of ensuring the Max Mar Fashion Group is responding to growing trends for social media involvement and activity in the Italian fashion sector. Main techniques used in this research intend to analyses Max activities online in terms of reach and engagement for Faceable, Mainstream and the brands website. Additionally, the study seeks to investigate possible customer responses to the launch of the new app. The study will primarily focus on fully disclosing customers understanding, awareness and perception of MaxCo online activities in relation to what they perceive as effective, involving and ethical. The goal is to allow the Group, through this assessment and information available, to gather valuable consumer insight on current possible future strategies, and adapt to best spoon to its customer needs and preferences, in order to increase competitiveness. MOB has identified the following research objectives: 2. Understand the attitudes across women between the age of 19 and 35 toward the use of social media and digital communication tools for interaction with fashion brands, with reference to Faceable pages, Mainstream accounts, websites and finally smartened and tablet applications. 2. 1. 1 . What kind of activities do customers expect from fashion brands? 2. 1. 2. How frequently do they expect websites and social media accounts to be updated? 2. 1. 3. Do they like to interact with br ands? . 1. 4. How do Italian users feel about fashion brands Faceable pages? . 1. 5. How do Italian users feel about fashion brands Mainstream accounts? 2. 1. 6. How do Italian users feel about company website engagement and online shopping? 2. 1. 7. What do they think of a user-adjustable app for fashion brands? The first goal of this research is to offer the company a clear overview of what their customer target segment thinks and expects from social media and digital communication activities from fashion brands, with particular reference to company Faceable pages, Mainstream accounts and company websites, as well as APS. The target group identified for this study is representative of the people that most use such tools; the results are therefore expected to be reliable in outlining the attitudes (positive, negative or neutral) toward the use of social media and digital communication tools for interaction with fashion brands within the Italian market. 2. Analyses the perception of MaxCos existing customers regarding the brands use of Faceable pages, Mainstream accounts, websites for interaction and information in comparison to other customer experiences (with competitor brands) 2. 2. 1 In comparison with other fashion brands, re Max Faceable page and Mainstream account appealing in terms of content and activities? Sufficiently active? 2. 2. In comparison with other fashion brands, is Max website sufficiently informative and appealing for users? Is the online shop easy to use? 2. 2. 3 What are competitors doing? Are there other particular fashion doing? 2. 2. 4 Overall, what do customers think of Max a ctivities comparison with other fashion brands? Secondly, the research will look at Max existing customers perception of the brand use of social media and digital communication in comparison to other fashion brands. As it was noted before, the fashion industry is extremely sensitive to the use of these new means of communication and interaction between customers and brands, therefore the goal is to develop a thorough understanding of what customers think of what the brand is doing, in particular in comparison to what their competitors do within the Italian market, with regards to Faceable pages, Mainstream accounts and commerce activities, as well as the use of smartened and tablet APS. 2. 3 Determine which channels MaxCo customers prefer to communicate and interact with brands with respect to social media and chital communications 2. . 1 Where and when do MaxCo customers prefer to interact with the brand? 2. 3. 2 Do MaxCo customers enjoy interacting with the brand on Faceable and Mainstream? How frequently? 2. 3. 3 Should MaxCo be posting/sharing more often? What content is preferred by customers? 2. 3. 4 Do MaxCo customers enjoy the brands website? When do they visit it and why? 2. 3. 5 Would Max customers use a user-adjustable app for online shopping and news about the brand? What should it include? Thirdly, the research will determine what are the contact situations that Max customers refer to interact with the brand. This includes the how, when, and where preferences for interaction, which will allow the company pinpoint what are the Groups strengths and weaknesses of the brands strategy at the moment, benchmarking the research results with company activities. Understanding when and where the customers prefers to be in touch with the brand will also serve as a basis for future developments on other media. While investigating on target segments preferences, this research will also examine the possible responses to the introduction of a new application, which competitors already have. Therefore, the goal at this stage is to outline what customers would like from MaxCo and the Group in order to build a strong and loyal relationship with the brand. 2. 4 Identify based on customer responses how the brand could improve its use of social media and digital communication for interaction with its customers 2. 4. 1 How and where else would MaxCo customers like to interact with the brand? 2. 4. 2 What could MaxCo do differently? 2. 4. 3 What can be improved in MaxCos Faceable page, Mainstream account and website? 2. 4. 4 Is there something that competitors do that Max customers would eke from the brand? The final goal of this research is to identify opportunities for improvement for the brands online activities, building upon responses to the other objectives and an overall evaluation of MaxCo customers. The goal is to identify specific activities for the brand to strengthen its social media and digital communications strategy, in particular with regards to Faceable pages, Mainstream accounts and website activities, as well as new tools that competitors already use successfully, in accordance to customers attitudes and personal preferences expressed in their responses. The aim of this research is to benchmark Max position in this sector at the moment with how customers see it and how they would want the brand to act in the future. The research will begin with secondary data analysis in order to create a framework for the research, in particular using available data and information regarding the use of Faceable, Mainstream, company websites and APS by Italian users for fashion brands. Secondly, the research will proceed with collecting qualitative and quantitative data through focus groups and structured (close and open questions) questionnaires, respectively. The results are expected to provide a framework for the company to identify its strengths and weaknesses, and identify opportunities and threats for future digital developments to compete with other fashion brands. They will also define the most suitable strategy for the launch of the new Max smartened and tablet application. According to the Isomer Glossary secondary data is data that have already been collected and published for another research project; secondary data can be internal and external. For the purpose of this research internal secondary data will e obtained from internal company databases and previous research reports on the topic, while external secondary data will be taken from specialized researches and reports done by other specialized agencies and researchers. Available secondary research data will help clarify the target during the initial exploratory and descriptive research phases. The analysis of secondary research will provide the necessary background to ensure the research takes the correct direction in analyzing the problem, and will also give MOB and Max a set of information to test the research exults against at the end of the research, ensuring the accuracy of the results. In order to optimize the use of secondary data, considering the great availability of research on the topic of social media and digital communication, MOB will screen for relevance and inaccuracy and will ensure to use solely data strictly relevant for the purpose of this research, publicly available or from other partner agencies. In particular, secondary data will be evaluated based on the following criteria: credibility of publisher/researcher, purpose of the research, time of data collection, search methodology used for data collection, and relevance, comparability and reliability of data. The research will begin with the analysis of internal secondary data, company internal databases, which will be useful for the researchers to build an initial reference framework on the activities and results of the brand. MOB will be analyzing through data mining the following internal sources: Annual reports for 2012 and 2013, sales and communication reports determine trends and strengths and weaknesses of the brand as well as identify opportunities to develop Internal experts ports in order to get insight on the objectives and ideas of the brands employees Database of customer information and purchase history determine target segment and identify the participant for primary research. Secondary research will directly answer the first objective of this research, by outlining the general attitudes of the selected target group toward the use of social media and digital communication tools for interaction with fashion brands, with reference to Faceable pages, Mainstream accounts, websites and finally smartened and tablet applications. External data research is also expected to generate initial espouses on customers preferred digital contact situations with brands, also for Max, thus partially responding to the second and fourth objective identify customer perception of Maxs digital strategy and opportunities for improvement. MOB will be gathering secondary data from the following external sources (syndicated data): Competitors annual reports, including social media reports highlight the strengths and weaknesses of competitors and benchmark results with Maxs Fashion reports on social media use by fashion brands, specifically data collected on MaxCo (Faceable and Mainstream reports) review activities of the rand so far and determine customer response to them Gallbladder reports on use of social media and web-based platforms in Italy gather information on the target segment use of social media and smartened and tablet APS, frequency of use as well as reason for using them. Primary research is defined as data that are collected specifically for a current research project (Isomer Glossary). For the purpose of this research, primary data will be collected through focus groups and a questionnaire administered to social media users and website visitors, to answer all the objective of this research from a alliterative and quantitative perspective (with the exception of objective 1 which will be measured solely through quantitative research). 3. 2. 1 Qualitative Qualitative research is defined as the use of unstructured exploratory techniques (such as group discussions and in-depth interviews) that are based on statistically small samples in order to understand a problem further (Isomer Glossary), which in this case will be collected through focus groups. Primary research will begin with qualitative data collection to identify non-quantifiable insights on the target segment; Hough quantitative data is by definition less structured and more flexible as well as it involves smaller samples, it allows to gain a deeper understanding of the topics (Wilson, 2006), it will be important to firstly obtain a thorough understanding of the attitudes and behaviors of the target group, to then develop accurate measurements through quantitative research. Qualitative data will be gathered through focus groups. Focus groups are a type of qualitative research that consists of an informal discussion of a particular topic with a small number of selected participants (Dib and Siskin, 2009). The discussion will be guided by a skilled moderator, ensuring that the group discusses all relevant subject areas and the views of the participants are as clear as possible (Isomer Glossary). The data gathered through qualitative research is expected to generate information about regards to social media and digital communications, in particular in reference to Faceable pages, Mainstream accounts, company websites and APS. Additionally, the responses obtained from focus groups are expected to provide detailed information about customers perceptions and attitudes directly by being in contact with the people and observing their behaviors and emotions throughout the discussion about Max. MOB will ensure that solely MRS. certified and experienced moderators will run the focus groups. A discussion guide will be made available to each moderator, which will include an introduction to the research, its objectives and the agenda for the focus group. The moderator will give an introduction, after which the dissuasive part of the discussion guide will start. In this phase respondents will be put through the actual task and moderator will be there to run the focus group. In his section all the data will be collect by using voice recorders and cameras. This phase will run for 90 minutes. The last phase will be the summarizing and closing of the discussion group. It will take about 10-15 minutes. At the end, the moderator will administer all the equipment and data for analysis. MOB will arrange for participants to be selected from client databases of store in the main Italian cities (Turin, Milan, Bologna, Florence, Anaconda, Rome, Naples, Barb, Palermo and Calamari). It is estimated that a total of 40 of focus groups will be held in total, for an average of 4 per city elected number of focus groups will be assigned on the basis of volume and frequency of purchases and occupation of the subjects selected in each location. Measures to ensure that engaged and cooperative respondents are recruited for focus groups will be applied. Each participant will be given a ?10 gift card for Max stores. Each focus group will be executed in an ad-hoc location with a one- way mirror behind which the researcher will sit and observe the reactions of the participants to the questions asked. Each group will consist of 10 participants. The plan is to perform all focus groups in one day, from morning to evening. The moderator will ask the question and help frame the discussion among the participants; the moderator will also record the answers. Then the answers will be put on paper and analyses by the MOB experts. Projective techniques According to the Isomer Glossary projective techniques are a form of disguised questioning that encourage participants to attribute their feelings, beliefs or motivations to another person, object or situation. They represent a structured indirect way to investigate feelings, attitudes and motivation of focus groups participants in qualitative research. Projective techniques are based on the principle hat subjects may feel constrained in expressing their feelings, and say what they feel is expected in order to please the interviewer (Bradley, 2010). Responses gather through projective techniques then will need to be interpreted in terms of underlying meaning of the information and behaviors of the subjects. In order to prevent the gathering of non-representative results, focus group moderators will question participants indirectly by initiating the discussion with topics like changes in social environment due to the rising of Internet-based media, aiming to gain insights on heir use of social media. Moderator will then direct the discussion to fashion brands in Italy, what they do and how they interact with them, solely referring to other brand names. Additionally, MOB intends to use Photostat technique, namely present chosen in accordance to the research aims (Cain and Cervix, 2011). The initial images will represent different scenarios and objects not related to Max or social media. At a second stage the images will be social media and other fashion brands logos upon which the participants will continue discussing and exchanging views as well as hey will be asked to define an overall group position/view. MOB also suggests adding to each focus group a conflict participant, a member of the MOB team, to sit with the group and pose as the negative, issue-raising participant. This is intended to also evaluate customers responses and possible defensive attitudes towards the brand. 3. 2. 2 Quantitative Quantitative research is the collection of (statistically) large samples of quantitative data and usually some form of statistical analysis, which is often used to substantiate the findings from qualitative research (Isomer Glossary). Quantitative research will be conducted through structured questionnaires with close and open questions administered online. The use of a web based survey is will ensure speed of response, lower costs for the distribution of questionnaires and higher precision in the analysis of the data. Additionally, it is cost and time effective also for respondents, which will be more likely to take part in the research. Each participant will begin a ?10 gift card for MaxCo. Potential participants will be invited to participate in the survey through the brands online sites (Faceable, Mainstream and Bessie) where they will be given a link to a satellite website to complete thesaurus anonymously. The questionnaire will include multiple choice questions which offer respondents the ability to answer yes or no or choose from a list of several answer choices. Mostly close-end questions, and a few open questions, the survey will also include scales to ask respondents to rank their some of their answers (Dib and Siskin, 2009). The survey will be developed by MOB researchers using Snap package, and sent to Max Mar Group for approval. The aim is to develop a questionnaire that ill take the candidate about 15-20 minutes to complete (for a total of approximately 40 questions, divided in three sections). To ensure the accuracy of this research it is estimated that it will be necessary to gather 500 a total of questionnaires. The questionnaire will be administered online through hyperlinks embedded on Faceable and Mainstream posts of the Maxs official pages, which will be reposted up to 5 times per day for a week; additionally, the study will be on the company website. In case target number of participant is reached before the planned week, the hyperlink to the questionnaire will be deactivated in advance. However, due to the importance to maximize response rate in order to fulfill the objectives of the research, MOB reserves the right to repost the advertisements for the questionnaires for a longer period, until the set number of responses is collected for data analysis. It will also be important to count and control the number of participants recruited per medium: data should be obtained from an equal percentage of users from all three pages, which will be calculated based on average number of users each.

Caffeine essays

Caffeine essays There are more coffee drug addicts in the US than any other drug addict of any other kind. More than cocaine or heroin even marijuana stated by Stephen Cherniske in his book, Caffeine Blues. The main substance is caffeine. Does anyone know how much caffeine is in a 6 oz cup of coffee? There is 100 mg. of caffeine in a small mug of coffee or 6 oz. You may think so what, who cares, but it takes 6 hrs for 100 mg. to cycle out of your system. A small or Tall cup of coffee at Starbucks is 12oz. That is 200 mg of caffeine. So if you drink your Starbucks at 3:00pm, then by 9:00pm, there is about 100mg still left in your system. You will still probably be able to fall asleep, but your body will be deprived of the benefits of deep sleep. Again you must think, Who cares, I still get my eight hours of sleep. But the deficit can add up fast and you will feel the toll on your body. That is why the next day you feel worse, so you need to replenish your system with caffeine. The cycle continues d ay after day, and thats why it is so easily addictive. We need to realize just how enormous the caffeine industry has become, how many sources and forms of caffeine are out there on the market, and what the benefits and consequences of caffeine entails. Since the caffeine industry is so vast I want to let you know about some of the major offenders and how they can affect your lives. As I just stated most Americans get caffeine from coffee. According to the 2002 World Almanac, in the year 2000 the United States imported $2.3 billion dollars in sales. Everyone can see how this is evident by the growing number of coffee houses on every street corner. Major supermarkets such as Vons and Albertsons have joined with Starbucks to offer coffee to ongoing shoppers. They conveniently locate their miniature coffee shops at the entrance as to lure shoppers over with the hypnotizing smell. Now even the automotive industry has joined the bandwago...

Project Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Project - Research Paper Example According to Miles (2008), it involves active acquisition of material items and purchase of services for convenient purposes. This aspect is economic in nature because in entails exercising one’s economic power in purchasing goods and services. On the other hand, consumerism possesses sociological attributes because it serves as a measure of elite lifestyle and social status. Poor members of the society purchase only the basic needs. However, consumerism involves mass acquisition and consumption in excess of one’s basic needs. According to Stearns (2006), consumerism derives its origin from industrial revolution in the Western world. Prior to industrial revolution, resources and goods were scarce, and acquisition of these items was invariably restricted by the scarcity. However, industrial revolution led to massive production of material items and services. As a result of surplus in production, Western societies adopted an economic behavior characterized by massive purc hase and consumption of goods as a show of social and economic strength. Consequently, proliferation of industrialization spread consumerism behaviors to other parts of the world including the Middle East and Asia. In modern commercial settings, consumerism is commonly referred to as consumer culture or market culture. As opposed to its earlier principles of mass consumption, current consumerism entails a close association between brand items and owners. According to Campbell (2005), American markets indicate a tendency for people to elicit strong attraction towards items as symbol of economic and social status. Purchase of brand and expensive automobiles and jewelry satisfies consumerism aspects members within America society. Apart from the US markets, other commercial environments across the world use goods and services as a measure of socioeconomic status of individuals. According to Campbell (2005), this has led to a situation whereby social stratification based on economic str ength has induced irresponsible production and consumption of goods and services. Consequently, irresponsible production presents adverse effects on environment and resource base. Problems of Consumerism Since inception of consumerism as a socioeconomic culture, there have been numerous criticisms on this aspect. Stearns (2006) says that as earlier as during the 20th Century, religious leaders in Europe including Pope Benedict 5 were opposed to the manner in which people were using economic power as a measure of social status. Currently, consumerism has been associated with a myriad of problems which include environmental pollution, depletion of resources, increase in social inequality, disruption of economy and increase in social deviance. With respect to social deviance, people are trying to acquire wealth and resources in an effort to increase their economic