Thursday, December 26, 2019

List of Elements Belonging to the Basic Metals Group

There are several element groups on the periodic table of the elements that are considered metals. This is a list of elements that are basic metals. Element 13 - AluminumElement 31 - GalliumElement 49 - IndiumElement 50 - TinElement 81 - ThalliumElement 82 - LeadElement 83 - BismuthElement 113 - Ununtrium - will probably be a basic metal.Element 114 - Flerovium - will probably be a basic metal.Element 115 - Ununpentium - will probably be a basic metal.Element 116 - Livermorium - will probably be a basic metal.

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Customer Service Of Health Care - 1463 Words

Erika Wilkins 1 Erika Wilkins Instructor Natasha Summers, MSM Principles of Management 2213 26 November 2015 Customer Service in Health Care Customer services is a very important part of managing ongoing client/patient relationships, because they are the key to bringing in revenue. The concept of customer service is to deliver outstanding services so the customers will have a great experience. I currently work in the healthcare industry and the company that I work for is starting to have training and meetings to improve customer service to our clients to help increase our patient satisfaction levels. There are some employees who strive to help the patient by going far and beyond their line of duties, and as others are burnout and feel like they just need to get the patient in and out without really understanding the patient’s needs or concerns. Unfortunately, there is a growing concern about customer service in healthcare today. The CMS has decided to start withholding hospital’s Medicare reimbursement due to the quality of services provided to their patients. In other words, the hospital s payments are tied into how well the patient rates their services in a patient satisfaction survey. I believe it takes more than direct patient care to deliver excellent care to the patients; it takes employees behind the scenes as well. In many business industries such as retail, sales, and manufacturing, customer service is a must. If the mentality of ‘the customer’s always right’Show MoreRelatedCustomer Service For Health Care1292 Words   |  6 PagesCustomer Service in Health Care Customer services is a very important part of managing ongoing client/patient relationships, because they are the key to bringing in revenue. The concept of customer service is to deliver outstanding services so the customers will have a great experience. I currently work in the healthcare industry and the company that I work for is starting to have trainings and meetings to improve customer service to our clients to help increase our patient satisfaction levelsRead MoreHealth Care System Advancing With Technology, Customer Service, And Quality Of Care789 Words   |  4 Pagesmy opinion, I still see our health care system advancing with technology, customer service, and quality of care. There will be an outbreak in technology where doctors can transform the way they diagnose diseases and treat their patients. â€Å"By building a strong backbone of data in your company, you will reinforce your ability to innovate in line with the health care industry (Saxena, 2015).† We will still continue to find ways to reduce the expenses within our health care system. The elderly populationRead MoreEssay On Marketing In Health Care1094 Words   |  5 PagesMarketing Concepts in Health Care and other Industries Proper marketing in healthcare is necessary in the sense that it helps healthcare organization to market their services, promote their products and services and improve the overall health of the community (Codourey, 2013). It is also a critical factor in improving delivery and quality of service provided by a healthcare organization, thus enhancing effectiveness and patient satisfaction in general. A variety of marketing techniques are employedRead MoreBenefits Of Traditional Healthcare Delivery Options1469 Words   |  6 PagesAmerican Well with its new Online Care product compared to traditional healthcare delivery options. Assess who might use the product, when they might use it and what benefits they would obtain from this new model of health care delivery over traditional care models. The American Well’s Online Care product has created various differential advantages compared to traditional healthcare delivery options. The organization leverage is extending â€Å"traditional health care into people’s homes and workplaces†Read MoreEntrepreneurship Marketing1735 Words   |  7 Pagesto know whether or not a product or service is needed and how and how a product or service will be purchased. Understand customers and the market for a product or service is very important to achieve the success of a firm. One of the most competitive markets in the health care industry is the home health care. Because of the new laws and regulations created to fight against fraud and abuse, and to attempt to decrease the cost of health care, many home health care agencies have problems to provide highRead MoreService Quality And Quality Management Essay1510 Words   |  7 PagesService quality can be defined as the reflection of service delivery by finding the gap between the perceived service and expected service. There are 8 dimensions for quality , they are performance, features, reliability, conformance, durability, service ability, aesthetics, perceived quality and value. Total quality management depend mainly on quality control tools and previously developed quality techniques. It’s a process of continuous quality improvementRead MoreMarketing Plan For A Healthcare Provider Essay1207 Words   |  5 Pagesstrategy for the health care provider selected to determine the utilization of its products or services. In addition to that, the author will need to outline a marketing strategy for the health care provider chosen and recommend at least three (3) ways the health care provider could shape the buying decisions of its customers. Lastly, the author would have to provide at least three (3) qualified sources, e.g., peer-reviewed journals professional organization website, or health care provider WebsitesRead MoreDemand Based Pricing : Cost Based Price Setting Consistent With Customer Perception Of Value961 Words   |  4 Pagesinvolves price setting consistent with customer perception of value. Demand fluctuations should be successfully handle It is always a challenge to balance commercial interests with social view. 3. Place: Place is means by which provider get services delivered to consumers. Location of hospital, Clinics, Operation theatre. Public health facilities are insufficient compared to population of India. Rural or remote areas do not have enough small health service units. There are various ways in whichRead MoreEssay on Dr. Martins Office930 Words   |  4 Pages------------------------------------------------- Dr. Martins Office Intro It began with the professor feeling distressed from an â€Å"illness† and decided to call his primary care physician, Dr. Martin. He spoke with Betty, a nurse who told him the doctor was booked all day. For this reason, he sought a referral to the HealthCheck clinic which was covered under the university insurance. Despite the professor’s sickness, he was not referred to the clinic. Afterwards, the professor called the EmployeeRead MoreMarketing Is An Essential Component For Any Company809 Words   |  4 Pagesindustry. Marketing is a valuable branding strategy to ensure that a business meet customer needs. According to Berkowitz (2011), for any business, the focus of marketing revolves around the selling of products and services to meet customer needs (p. 257). In this case, marketing is an essential component for any company because the main goal is to obtain customer loyalty. However, for any organization, whether in health care or traditional business, a major aspe ct of marketing is to create value (Berkowitz

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Financial Planning An Intricate Profession free essay sample

A look at the challenges facing those in the financial planning profession due to recent changes in the financial markets. An examination of the changes facing the financial planner and advisor in his/her profession. The paper looks at changes in the financial markets and trends of investments to show how the relatively simple job of previous decades has transformed into a very challenging one. The writer presents four suggested steps that the financial planner should follow for forecasting solid investments. Financial planning was an easy route to wealth and success during the 1980s and the latter part of the 1990s. The stock market was riding high, the new wave of high tech stocks posted significant and uncharted gains and investment capital flowed through the American economy freely. In todays economy, however, the financial planning profession is much more of a challenge and a grind. It can be equally rewarding and fulfilling, but it requires more preparation and understanding of the complex markets and of planners ethical and professional responsibilities to their clients. We will write a custom essay sample on Financial Planning: An Intricate Profession or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page

Monday, December 2, 2019

Lifespan Development and Personality Paper

Introduction Adolescence is the age in life when most of a person’s development occurs as they are transforming into adulthood. The transition period is marked by emotional upheaval which may be released on parents due to novel cognitive ability and hormonal imbalances. Their brain development leads to developed reason, which may lead them to feel superior and acquire a sense of individualism.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Lifespan Development and Personality Paper specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More At this time, there is a need for them to be aware of the changes they are experiencing, how they affect them and what to do about them. The development entails physical and cognitive. Cognitive development is characterized by growth in information processing, thinking and application of new skills. Physical development This is portrayed by speedy adding of height and weight boys gain muscles and shoul ders broaden, acquire ample skeletal muscles, which strengthens the vital organs such as the heart and lungs becomes larger. The girls acquire body fat and hips broaden with more settling around the legs and arms. This is as a result of the secretion of Thyroxin and Growth Hormone which aids in skeletal development. Moreover, secondary sex traits begin to appear controlled by estrogens in girls and androgens in boys. These are marked by hormonal changes which triggers the developments of these traits. The traits that are visible includes; development of hair in the pubic and armpits, onset of menstruation (Menarche), enlargement of breasts, endometrial development for females due to estrogen and penis enlargement for males and spermarche or initial ejaculation due to the hormone testosterone, the voice deepens and facial hair appears for males due to release of testosterone and increased oil and sweat production which causes acne. Onset of puberty is a hormonal process that is contr olled genetically and comes earlier for girls. Other characteristics of physical development entail mass brain growth which dictates their capability to reason with emotions which may at times be judgmental and may cause psychological distancing from close people. It could be also the result of engagement of teens in drugs, eating disorders, promiscuity (Rathus, 2008). Physical development is determined by a number of factors such as heredity, nutrition, physical fitness, health. It does not only show physical traits growth but also internal organs growth e.g. brain, heart, and kidney. In nutrition, a child requires a balanced diet with mineral, fruits, carbohydrates, vegetables, and plenty water in the right doses. Malnourishment due to poor nutrition may cause prematurity and neural flaws. To avoid unexpected illnesses such as high blood pressure, coronary artery destruction, cardiovascular illnesses and obesity which may affect the children, they require sufficient elements in th eir diet.Advertising Looking for research paper on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Culture also may play part in determining physical development since it may enhance or deteriorate gross motor skills. These are the skills that entail utilization of large muscles such as walking. For instance, in the U.S, children exercise both fine and gross motor skills while playing sports such as baseball. The chance of exploring recreational activities to learn more e.g. swimming as well as having plenty rest and sleep is essential. Thus new activities exposure is crucial. Moreover, if a child is exposed to contaminants during particular developmental stages, mutations in their DNA may occur thus affecting the growth of the child. It is also not right to expose a child to violence or other stressing surroundings as it may delay their development through biochemical alterations communicated to the brain and cause disorders. The se are environmental processes that may allow or deter a child’s development. Hereditary factors are the most important in determining the extent of physical development. Every person bears different genes that are inherited from the parents, thus, traits like height, eye color, are determined by these genes. These however are physically manifested through the aspect of whether the gene is recessive or dominant. The dominant gene inherited from the parent always manifests as phenotypic while the recessive one determines the genotypic composition. Both or one Parent may transmit defective genes to the children that may because conditions such as spina bifida, cystic fibrosis and cerebral palsy. Genetic factors may also have a role to play in linking –personal skills in a certain area (Glasper Richardson, 2006). Cognitive Development Cognitive development is marked by increased reasoning ability with an open, critical mind. This includes logical thinking with a hypothet ical perspective and developing answers for such. Other than reasoning skills, abstract thoughts also develop. Adolescents develop such level of thinking which is followed by such traits as trust, love and spirituality. They also realize meta-cognition where they are able to evaluate their thoughts, feelings and others perceptions of themselves. By doing so, adolescents exhibit a high degree of self consciousness where they think that others are always concerned of their welfare and that they are unique. According to the psychologist Jean Piaget, adolescents lie between the formal operational stages of cognitive development in which intelligence is portrayed by abstract thoughts that allow them to be egocentric. Independent thoughts are adapted in this stage which increases their ability to grasp complex concepts such as philosophy. That way, their learning ability is enhanced in which they apply to given scenarios such as occupation and education. Cognitive transition from childhoo d to adolescents shows a higher degree and intricate of advancement. This is manifested through unlimited and realistic thinking. Their abstract thoughts are also enhanced as well as their meta-cognition to display advanced introspection and personal realization.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Lifespan Development and Personality Paper specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This arms the individuals to become intellectuals but may also result to egocentrism. Finally, adolescents become multidimensional to critically evaluate situations in a complex sophisticated manner which is essential in aiding them to see things from a compound perspective while weighing all possibilities. This is important in helping them weigh things relatively and avoids taking then as absolute facts although this aspect may lead them to always question authorities (Steinberg, 2005). Cognitive development is determined by various here ditary and environmental issues. When it is impaired there are psychological conditions that results like Autism. Learning disability is also another condition where an individual is unable to interpret facts because they cannot transmit it to the appropriate brain sections. It is illustrated with inability to become conversant with languages, loss of concentration and lack of coordination which is manifest in declined studies. These individuals may also lack hearing abilities or being subject to emotional distress. Interaction of the environment and genetic factors are the prime cause of learning disabilities. Consequently a child may be bearing genes for such inabilities inherited from the parents but the problem only manifests when there is interplay with certain environmental factors. For instance, parents may expose a child to appropriate experiences such as talking to them and allowing study materials as he or she grows which is essential in arming the child with necessary too ls for self realization. Parents may also offer a challenging and supportive environment for a child to become confident and be aware of their strengths in relation to the society. If a disruption to cognitive developments in early stages may lead to a permanent damage on a child (Steinberg, 2005). Theoretical perspectives Social relationships are crucial for adolescents since they determine the extent of brain development. Children are able to formulate moral judgments as they interact socially. Emotions such as empathy, aiding and regarding others are part of moral development of a child. The theoretical perspectives that explain child development are psychodynamic and maturational perspectives. A maturational perspective points out that the extent of neurological growth and the physiological growth are linked to hereditary factors that have a direct consequence on the advancement of a child’s physical potentials. This deduction can be made in the instance when a child†™s writing skills advances as he or she continues learning in school. This is due to enhancement of neurological factors that evidently proceeds and most significantly, as a child hits puberty where he or she physically develops. Besides, another theoretical perspective is the psychodynamic, which points out that a child such as an adolescent is subject to social judgments as determined by desires granted by violence and sexuality.Advertising Looking for research paper on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More However they are also prompted by the requirement for a social involvement and recognition. To various developmental stages, a child is able to grasp how to apply their impulses in a socially productive manner. It is notable when an adolescent questions a teacher or a guardian’s authority or even punch a fellow student. As he gets the response due to his or her deeds he is able to find out how to handle the impulses in amore positive manner (Rathus, 2011). References Glasper, A. E. and Richardson J. (2006). A Textbook of Children’s and Young People’s Nursing. Philadelphia: Elsevier Health Sciences. Rathus, S. (2008). Childhood and Adolescent: Voyages in Development. 3rd Ed. Belmont: Thomson Learning Inc. Rathus, S. (2011). Childhood Voyages in Development.4th Ed. Belmont: Wadsworth Cengage Learning. Steinberg, L. (2005). Cognitive and Affective Development in Adolescence. TRENDS in Cognitive Sciences Vol.9 No.2. Web. This research paper on Lifespan Development and Personality Paper was written and submitted by user Trey Dillon to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Distributed Energy Production Essays

Distributed Energy Production Essays Distributed Energy Production Essay Distributed Energy Production Essay Distributed Energy Production Name: Course: Date: Distributed Energy Production Abstract This report reviews the costs associated with the use of green energy sources. In particular, it focuses on the use of solar and wind power. The report explains the methods used in the research as well as the results obtained after the research was concluded. From these results, several conclusions are made based on the viability of the sources of energy financially, economically and socially. The laws of the areas under investigation has also been included especially those that directly affect the use of both wind and solar powered energy. The opinions of the citizens relating to the installation of green energy in the area under study have also been raised. From this report, the viability of the green energy campaign has been evaluated and reported based on the area under study, which was in the state of Virginia. Distributed Energy Production 1. Introduction This report analyzes the importance of the utilization of green power. Green power refers to the use of renewable sources of energy as opposed to the non-renewable sources. Renewable sources include the likes of wind power and sunlight. They are essential in the conservation of the environment since they are renewable. This project was initiated to investigate the economic practicality and feasibility of the project in residential estates for example. Practicality will be considered by evaluation of the cost of the green energy. Feasibility on the other hand will address how dependable the use of green energy is in the residential area in question. The report identifies possible methods of how the use of green energy may be used in the area in question, Virginia. 2. Materials and Methods For this project, the materials required were an electric bill from the area under study and an estimate of the cost of the installation of the green energy in the area. This cost estimate obtained will be compared with that of green energy. The calculations done were non-biased in order to minimize the sources of error in the results obtained. Subsequent work took place in the laboratory since most of it involved calculations. These calculations had to be done correctly in order to endure that the results obtained were as accurate as possible to determine the economic viability of the project. They required the determination of the cost for 100% replacement of the energy use in the area under study. 3. Results a) Table representing the electrical usage of the residential site under study in Virginia MonthkWhOct 20111702Nov 20111830Dec 20112306Jan 20122482Feb 20122148Mar 20121740May 20121566Jun 20121699Jul 20121924Aug 20122711Sept 20122677Oct 20121983 b) The total cost for this period illustrated above was $191.64 c) Total cost of replacement of energy use by wind energy The approximate wind energy used was between 15-20 mph. The results will be based on the maximum and minimum values acquired after the calculation. I. Wind Turbine Power attained by the use of the 20 mph wind speed provided yearly= 15298 KWH Amount of power provided in percentage= 716 % Approximate amount of savings per annum=$ 2447.68 II. Wind Turbine Power attained by the use of the 15 mph wind speed provided yearly= 6454 KWH. Amount of power provided per annum= 302% Approximate savings made per year= $1032. 00 III. Total cost of the installation of the wind Turbine Power System in the area under study= $13, 750.00 c) Total cost of replacement using solar energy For solar energy, it was assumed that there was 3days storage to cater for the possibility of the occurrence of cloudy days. Panel battery calculations per household based on the 3800 watt daily usage= 10 solar panels. Cost of a single solar panel= $150.00 Total cost of installation of solar panels=$1500 Total savings obtained with this installation= $2500.00 Total cost of installation in a residential area of about ten families= $15, 000 Economic incentives that may affect the selection of either option include the reliability of the source of energy and the feasibility of the source of energy to the selected area. In the case of reliability, it will have a substantial effect on the economic situation of the area in question. If the source of energy is unreliable, the productivity of the businesses in the area will be affected as well. On the other hand, the feasibility of the installation of the source of energy refers to how appropriate the energy source is to the area in question. If the installation is not strenuous to the locality, it is feasible. Feasibility of the system is critical to the development of the town and the running of the area in question. The above economic incentives influence the selection process greatly. 4. Discussion From the results obtained, the use of green energy is economically viable since it is affordable even without the provision of government incentives. Conservation strategies like the use of appliances that consume less power may be used in order to decrease the amount of electricity in demand in both administrative and residential areas. In the state if Virginia, the installation of wind turbines is prohibited (Musgrove, 2010). In order to change this, the zoning policies will need to be reviewed to include the installation of the wind turbines. Some localities have decided to modify the laws in their areas of residence to allow the use of green energy. Such localities include Missouri and Texas (Douglas et al, 2009). The public considers wind energy beneficial in the conservation of the environment but the greater majority considers it unreliable. Installation of solar panels is allowed in the state of Virginia. Solar energy is assumed more feasible and reliable than wind energy by the residents of Virginia (Parks, 2010). An impediment to small-scale power generation is the cost that is associated with it. Power generation is very expensive since it requires the acquisition of new machinery that is costly. Distributed, on-site generation of solar or wind power will not be economically, legally and socially acceptable to the majority of the people in the area under study. This is mostly because of their reliability. These sources of energy are not reliable when compared to the power generated by fossil fuel. For this reason, the installation of these green sources of energy in the area in question will be faced with a lot of opposition especially from the business people in the area.

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Distinguish Between French Verbs Savoir and Connaître

Distinguish Between French Verbs Savoir and Connaà ®tre French has two verbs which can be translated to the English verb to know: savoir and connaà ®tre. This can be confusing to English speakers (though it might be easy for Spanish speakers), because in fact there are distinct differences in meaning and usage for the two verbs. Possible Uses for Savoir to know how to do something; savoir is followed by an infinitive (note that the word how is not translated into French):Savez-vous conduire  ?Do you know how to drive?Je ne sais pas nager.I dont know how to swim.to know plus a subordinate clause:Je sais quil la fait.I know he did it.Je sais oà ¹ il est.I know where he is.In the passà © composà ©, savoir means to learn or to find out:Jai su quil la fait.I found out that he did it. Possible Uses for Connaà ®tre to know a personJe connais Pierrette.I know Pierrette.to be familiar or acquainted with a person or thingJe connais bien Toulouse.I know / am familiar with Toulouse.Je connais cette nouvelle - je lai lue lannà ©e dernià ¨re.I know / am familiar with this short story - I read it last year.In the passà © composà ©, connaà ®tre means to meet (for the first time) / become acquainted with:Jai connu Pierrette Lyon.I met Pierrette in Lyon.Note that connaà ®tre always needs a direct object; it cannot be followed by a clause or infinitive:Je connais son poà ¨me.I am familiar with his poem.Je connais bien ton pà ¨re.I know your father well.Nous connaissons Paris.We know/are familiar with Paris.Il la connaà ®t.He knows her. Savoir or Connaà ®tre For some meanings, either verb can be used. to know (have) a piece of information:Je sais / connais son nom.I know his name.Nous savons / connaissons dà ©j sa rà ©ponse.We already know his response.to know by heart (have memorized):Elle sait / connaà ®t cette chanson par cÅ“ur.She knows this song by heart.Sais-tu / Connais-tu ton discours par cÅ“ur?Do you know your speech by heart? Ignorer Ignorer is a related verb which means not to know in the sense of to be unaware of. Depending on the context, it can replace either ne pas savoir or ne pas connaà ®tre. Jignore quand il arrivera.I dont know when he is arriving.Il ignore Ionesco.Hes not aware of (doesnt know about) Ionesco.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Personal Values, Motivations, and Emotional Intelligence Essay

Personal Values, Motivations, and Emotional Intelligence - Essay Example From the results of the Disc Assessment, it was revealed that the highest Disc dimension which exemplifies one’s personality is dominance and the classical pattern is a results-oriented pattern (Laureate Education, Inc., 2013). These results are therefore aligned with personal values and motivational drives for achievement. As a result-oriented person, the strengths included: exuding self-confidence, quick thinking abilities, determined and persistent, direct, focused, and individualistic. The weaknesses allegedly include: impatience, fault-finders, could be perceived as blunt and uncaring (Laureate Education, Inc., 2013). Thus, emotional intelligence could be perceived as needing improvement due to the innate ability to achieve tasks and responsibilities individually and independently; rather than reliance on other people. All of these values, motivational drives, and emotional intelligence results were found to be exhibited in the work setting. For instance, one’s previous work in a healthcare institution has proven conformity to ethical, moral, and legal standards, as well as abiding with indicated values through adherence to the organization’s policies and procedures. As a healthcare institution, it was specifically guided by standards proposed by the Joint Commission, which focuses on providing a high quality of patient care (The Joint Commission, 2013). One’s personal values were most appreciated and applicable in the healthcare setting and aligned with motivational drives of being a high achiever. One was tasked to undertake assigned responsibilities and submit reportorial documents in prescribed time frames. Likewise, all endeavors were observed to be undertaken in conjunction with the need to satisfy the needs of the patients and of the people one gets to interact with.

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Controllers for Marine Engineering Systems Essay

Controllers for Marine Engineering Systems - Essay Example The era after the Second World War can be called the classical period of control theory. It was characterized by the appearance of the first textbooks (MacColl, 1945; Lauer, Lesnick, & Matdon, 1947; Brown & Campbell, 1948; Chestnut & Mayer, 1951; Truxal, 1955), and by simple design tools that provided great perception and definite solutions to design problems. These tools were employed using hand calculations, or at most slide rules, with graphical techniques. With the dawn of the space era, controls design in the United States prevented from the frequency-domain practices of classical control theory and back to the differential equation techniques of the late 1800's, which were inherent in the time domain. The reasons for this development are as follows. The model of classical control theory was very fitting for controls design problems during and immediately after the World Wars. The frequency-domain approach was suitable for linear time-invariant systems. It is at its best when managing single-input/single-output systems, for the graphical techniques were problematic to use with numerous inputs and outputs. Classical controls design had some successes with nonlinear systems. ... Consequently, classical techniques can be applied on a linearized form of a nonlinear system, giving good results at an equilibrium position about which the system performance is more or less linear. Frequency-domain methods can also be applied to systems with simple types of nonlinearities using the describing function approach, which relies on the Nyquist criterion. This method was first used by the Pole J. Groszkowski in radio transmitter design before the Second World War and complied with in 1964 by J. Kudrewicz. Regrettably, it is not possible to design control systems for complex nonlinear multivariable systems, for example those arising in aerospace applications, using the assumption of linearity and treating the single-input/single-output transmission pairs individually. Optimal Control and Estimation Theory In view of the fact that naturally-occurring systems show optimality in their motion, it makes sense to design man-made control systems in a best possible fashion. A major gain is that this design may be realized in the time domain. In the context of modern controls design, it is common to reduce the time of transit, or a quadratic generalized energy functional or performance index, possibly with some constraints on the allowed controls. R. Bellman (1957) employed dynamic programming to the optimal control of discrete-time systems, showing that the normal direction for solving optimal control problems is backwards in time. His modus operandi resulted in closed-loop, usually nonlinear, feedback schemes (Lewis, 1992). PID & Robust and Optimal Controllers for Marine Engineering Systems: An Introduction A Proportional-Integral-Derivative (or PID)

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Grapes of Wrath Essay Example for Free

Grapes of Wrath Essay The exodus of the Joad family from Oklahoma to the promised land of California. They were cheated by tradesmen along Highway 66, harassed by border guards at state boundaries, and on arrival were burned out of their makeshift camp by police deputies. One dark night the Joads wandered into Weedpatch Camp, a government refuge for migratory farm workers, where they found clean beds, indoor privies, food, friendship, and hope. Oh! Praise God, whispered Ma Joad. God Almighty, I cant hardly believe it! pronounced Tom. (p. 390) Their praises were addressed to Providence, but were intended for Washington. Here, they believed, for the first time in their lives, was hard visible proof that their government, whatever and wherever it was, really cared about them and the hundreds of thousands of people like themlandless, homeless, penniless victims of a fickle climate, an unstable economy, and a pernicious way of life. Between the Lesters of Georgia and the Joads of Oklahoma, a profound change of spirit had come upon the land. The great revolution of the twentieth century, not only in the United States but also in the emerging nations abroad, is the kindling of an extravagant hope that the human condition of man can and should be improved, through the harnessing of the power, resources, and machinery of government, not in some distant millennium, but during the lifetime of those now living. The effective response of modern governments to this enormous challenge depends not only on the dreaming of dreams and the preaching of hope, but also on the capacity to convert the pictures in mens heads into the realities in their lives. 4. Considering the characters in the novel, which actions do you find admirable, and why? Which do you find reprehensible, and why? Admirable A considerable indecisiveness emerges from the novel about how radical the problem is: whether the circumstances of class war exist likely from the interchapters or whether there is a clear-cut villain in the Farmers Association with no broader implications—likely from the chapters and their limited point of view. The problem is partly compounded by the pragmatism of the Joads themselves, in many ways admirable in the face of degenerating circumstances but also dangerous in their willingness to lower their expectations: at the beginning Ma Joad dreams of a white house in California after a few months on the road, she hopes they may one day afford a tent that does not leak; Rose of Sharon plans early in her pregnancy a comfortable future for her child at the end she is sulking for a little milk so that her baby may be born alive. The disadvantages of nonteleological thinking are apparent when the result is a perpetual readjustment to straitened conditions: while we are told that the metaphysical grapes of wrath are ripening for the vintage, what we see among the poor is stoicism, sacrifice, and one supreme act of charity. Reprehensible Rose of Sharon and Connie think only of themselves and of now they will break from the group, and when difficulties arise Connie wishes that he had stayed in Oklahoma to man a tractor driving the people from the land. Later, alone, Rose of Sharon complains of her plight and frets about the coming child, and instead of sharing the family responsibility she adds to family worries. Uncle John is similarly preoccupied with his guilt and his personal problems and is almost useless to the group, picking cotton at only half the rate of the other men. Both he and Al withhold money from the family treasury. Noah, thoughtless of the others, wanders away. Connie, leaving a pregnant wife, also deserts. Even the children show a teasing selfishness. Ruthie eats her crackerjacks slowly so that she can taunt the other children when theirs is gone, and at croquet she ignores the rules and tries to play by herself. 5. Describe the role women play throughout the novel The seemingly gratuitous details of the truck driver and the woman driver may intentionally suggest Steinbecks awareness that men are often destructive while women are usually more protective: Tom Joad has just been revealed as having committed manslaughter; later we shall see that Ma Joad and Rose of Sharon try to preserve the family and nurture life. Ma Joad would be womanly and maternal in any station. If she had been a duchess, she would have labored with heroism for the integrity of the family and would have had a comprehensive vision of the serious social obligations of her class. The scene of her farewell to Tom is of the pure essence of motherhood. The pathos is profound and free from a taint of sentimentality. The courage and devotion of the woman are sublime In Ma Joad, Steinbeck created one of the most memorable characters in American fiction of the twentieth century. It is her courage which sustains the family through the almost overwhelming distresses suffered during their epic migration to the West. She voices the authors belief in the common folks invincible will to survive. Ma is a tower of strength to her group, like Pilar in Hemingways For Whom the Bell Tolls though less articulate. She is a kind of pagan earth mother, kind to her father-in-law and her mother-in-law, anxious to let her husband Pa lead the family but quickly assuming the reins when he lets them slip through weakness and lack of understanding, firm but sympathetic with her children, friendly with deserving strangers. Ma holds her family together far longer than anyone else in the group could have done. She suffers intensely when she sees Grampa die, then Noah disappear, then Granma die, and then Tom obliged to hide and then go away. But she almost never reveals the degree of her misery. She knows that while she holds, the unit will hold unless mans inhumanity to man and natures indifference put pressure upon her which simply cannot be endured. She goads Pa into near frenzy, knowing that it will make him stronger. She threatens to slap Rose of Sharon at times, but when the poor, pregnant, abandoned girl needs comfort, Ma is there with it in full measure. She knows that she can rely on Tom, not Al. She lets Uncle John have money for one quick drunken spree, knowing that without it he might crack. References Steinbeck John, (1939) The Grapes of Wrath New York: Viking.

Friday, November 15, 2019

GOOD STUFF :: essays research papers

April 19, 2001--Tennessee State University has renamed the Heiman Street Residential Complex the Harold E. Ford Sr. and John N. Ford Residential Complex. The Ford brothers were joined by other family members for ceremonies help April 18 on the grounds of the complex. "It is wonderful to see so many senators here today; we can hold a budget meeting right now," Harold Ford said, as he pointed out dignitaries in the audience. They included Lieutenant Governor John Wilder, Deputy Governor Wendell Moore, Senator Gene Elsea, Senator Doug Henry, Senator James Kyle Jr., and Senator Randy McNally. After receiving commemorative gifts, the Fords surprised the audience with a gift to Tennessee State of $500,000. "This is a truly outstanding donation, and the Fords can be sure Tennessee State University will put it to good use," said TSU President James Hefner. There are 12 siblings in the Ford family, most of whom graduated from Tennessee State University. On hand for the presentation were brother Joe Ford; sisters Joyce Ford Miller and Ophelia Ford; nephews James Ford Jr. and Edmund Ford; and Autumn Ford, John Ford’s daughter. Harold Ford Jr., U.S. Representative, relayed his regrets for not being able to attend, as did Governor Don Sundquist and former vice president Al Gore. "I am proud today," said Lt. Gov. Wilder. "Is it because of the bricks and mortar we are recognizing today? No, though we need bricks and mortar. Is it because of Tennessee State University? No, though that is reason to be proud. "I am proud because I look back to Purdy, Tennessee, where Otis Floyd [former president of Tennessee State University] attended school in a one-room schoolhouse. He let me walk by his side. I am proud when I think of Odell Horton [United States District Judge for the Western District of Tennessee] working in a cotton patch in Hardin County. He let me walk by his side. But nothing makes me prouder than this family. I love you; God bless you." U.S. Representative Harold Ford Sr. became the first African American from the state of Tennessee to be elected to Congress and served from 1975 until his retirement in 1997. Senator John N. Ford has served in the Tennessee State Senate since 1974. He has been a key supporter of Tennessee State University throughout his legislative tenure and played a significant role during the development of the $112 million master plan for campus improvement. Both Congressman Ford and Senator Ford are alumni of TSU who have continually supported the university throughout their careers.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Alien Coursework

I am in this room alone, petrified and exasperated of what the humans did to me. They attempted to execute me just because I was unequivelent to them. My feelings are hurt, they aren't adequate words in this world to portray my feelings. I was innocent, my only felony was being born an alien . Surviving that harrowing assault was simply impossible. I have mixed emotions about surviving the attack, I'm ecstatic to get out alive, but a part of me wishes I just perished in that attack in order to exit my long-term melancholy. Not knowing where I was, was an idea that petrified me. Observing my other friends getting murdered was an indescribable horror. I am now left solitary in this abnormal world, This whole incident has been appalling, I never thought in a million years that I'd have to face such a tough ordeal. Thank god the humans living in this house don't know where I am, or else I would've been brutally slaughtered too. Those humans are callous , any random creature they see, they will jump to the conclusion that this creature is detrimental also must be eliminated from this planet. My feelings for the humans is filled with vexation, they literally took my life away. A part of me doesn't blame them because some people don't intend to hurt us, they are just simply intimidated and only want to protect their loved ones from this contrasting creature. All I want to do now is go home. I am working really hard to find a way out of this world, it took time, but I finally came to the conclusion that there is just no way out of here. My nightmare has arrived and that is being trapped with people who loathe you and also are out there to dispatch you. Whatever happened to the saying â€Å"Where there's a will there's a way†? I explicitly have the will but couldn't figure out the way. Perhaps I should've died along with my fellow friends who were with me in this entire tribulation. Being dead is certainly much better than thinking of what do next. Continuation Next page As my friends vanished, I felt that I vanished too. They were a part of me, If they were not gone I would collaborate with them. All I want to do now is get out of this gruesome planet, find a new futuristic place where people actually adore and appreciate you, also treat you benevolently. But I know, this is all a hallucination and is dubious to become true. I have no idea where life will take me next, but I do know I want to get out of this ghastly house. I have learned today that life is arduous. No matter what you do there will always going to be some complications that are unpreventable, but it all comes down to how you face your problems. The way I'm going to face it is move on and try to forget about what happened, I ought to acquire a way out of here.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Leed Certification Essay

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is both a professional certification in sustainable building practices, and a grading scale on a structure’s environmental impact and sustainability (USGBC, 2008). A LEED certified professional is recognized as having completed the required course of curriculum in LEED and has successfully passed the LEED Certification exam. This allows a LEED certified professional to be able to work with colleagues of the construction industry in all aspects of a project to develop a LEED certified structure. Using LEED ensures a structure to be designed and built with the utmost attention to detail to assure that the structure is as environmentally friendly as possible. LEED Rating Systems exist for every area of the construction industry and range from the interior finishes of commercial buildings right down to resource consumption and health risks of residential structures (USGBC, 2008). The LEED certification exam covers the entirety of the LEED AP Handbook as well as several industry standard construction practices. The exam and handbook together will run almost $700 for a non- USGBC member to take and nearly $600 for members of both the USGBC and GBCI to take (GreenBuild, 2008). The exam is very rigorous and the study time required to take the exam is substantial. Most people take about 2 months of 20 a week study time to prepare for the exam (GBCI, 2008). Contrary to popular belief, becoming LEED Certified is not something that a person achieves, but it is the building that achieves it. The process of LEED certification has five different categories that insure that the build is a â€Å"green† building. There are five categories that are taken into account when building a LEED certified structure. They are sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, and indoor environmental quality. This means that if all of these categories are met the building will be considered Green. It sounds easy, but is not that simple because there are different stages of being certified. The building is then, as the USGBC website says: â€Å"LEED certification provides independent, third-party verification that a building project meets the highest green building and performance measures. All certified projects receive a LEED plaque, which is the nationally recognized symbol demonstrating that a building is environmentally responsible, profitable and a healthy place to live and work. † (GBCI, 2008). The way that professionals achieve the ability to certify building is through attending LEED specific classes that are offered on the USGBC website. The USGBC’s website provides many different ways to become an accredited LEED professional. The first way is through online courses that are self-paced learning. The second way is through in house seminars. The online option offers three different classes to help increase an individual’s knowledge. The first course is the 100 level, awareness. This course is highly recommended for anyone who wants to take the more advanced 200 or 300 level courses. This course introduces a person to the principles of Green building and also serves as a base in which the person is able to build off of. The next Level of LEED certification is the 200 level, Understanding. In this level the person begins to take courses that deepen their knowledge of LEED and Green building. The first course on this level is the Essentials of LEED Professional Accreditation. This course was developed for people getting ready to take the LEED Accredited Professional exam. The next two just help the person understand Green building even more. They are LEED for Homes Program Review and LEED for General Contractors/Construction Managers. The third and final level, 300 Level: Application & Implementation offers several courses that offer courses that make the student apply their knowledge to real life situations and it challenges them to apply what they learned in the 200 level (GBCI, 2008). There are many different benefits that you can achieve by being having a LEED Certification. It proves to many people that you have achieved your environmental goals. Having a LEED Certification means that you have many government incentives, marketing benefits, and increased property values, which can help, boost the presses interest in your current project. Building green can also greatly reduce the cost to construction managers and tenants (USGBC, 2008). There are four different levels of certification that you can achieve. These are: Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. Each level has its own special incentives to it. To gain a higher ranking you must accumulate credits. To accumulate credits you must have certain standards in your projects that benefit the environment. These consist of sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, and indoor environmental quality (GBCI, 2008). Green Buildings can help the earth in so many ways. Being certified means that you build more environmentally friendly, which means that building green friendly can reduce the negative effect buildings and operations have on the environment. Also green building greatly decreases the chances of fire, explosions, spills or splashes. Building green also reduces health problems such as allergies. Finally, if you’re building green it calls for green cleaning. This means that the products used in cleaning these green buildings are also very environmentally safe. For example a stain on a carpet is taken care of with a mild cleaner. This not only protects the environment but can also help protect the furnishings in the long run (USGBC, 2008). Commissioning is a prerequisite of the LEED process. Commissioning involves an outside team of individuals that is not part of the design and construction team. The area of responsibility is to ensure compliance of â€Å"fundamental building elements and systems† with the LEED guidelines. The estimate commissioning cost is to be in the range of 0. 5 percent to three percent of construction costs (DCD, 2008). LEED has certain requirements on architects and engineers because these designers must assess how a project could best attain certification and prepare the design and specifications to reflect these additional requirements. In either case, participating in the LEED process adds time and effort to the design and specification phase of a project. The estimate is that traditional design costs range from eight to twelve percent of construction costs, and then the additional design costs for green buildings are in the range of 0. 4 percent to 0. 6 percent of the total construction cost. A significant weigh down of the LEED system is the need to document compliance with the various criteria in order to submit a package to the GBC for review and a decision on certification. This requires the establishment of a tracking and reporting system, which is often performed by a LEED consultant, rather than the design and construction team itself, and the tracking down of information that otherwise is not standard practice in specifying or sourcing systems and materials. The estimate of documentation and application fees as a percentage of total construction costs were found to be; the costs averaged 0. 7 percent of construction costs with a range from 0. 05 percent for a very large project to 3. 8 percent for a very small one (DCD, 2008). Where is LEED certification taking the construction industry? So far, businesses and governments worldwide are taking advantage of going green and looking into LEED. Several LEED certified buildings have already been built, but the future for green buildings is just now getting started. The past decade in green building has been a revolution in the construction industry and has no indication of a slow down. With numerous grants available for LEED projects by Governments and green organizations, LEED certified buildings are becoming more realistic and within reasonable costs to construct. We are just in the dawning of the â€Å"green age† and things are just starting to catch on with LEED. With new technologies, techniques, and equipment being invented all of the time, going green is becoming easier faster (Botelho, 2007). As for the future of the LEED industry, Governments are now starting to place requirements on construction projects to comply with their green specifications. Sometime in the future, every building constructed will have to meet Government specified codes that pertain to LEED. All of this is for the benefit of the environment and aims towards a better and healthier Earth (Botelho, 2007). In conclusion, LEED is taking the industry in a new direction and could someday be the standard for building any structure. Most professionals support the idea and there should be a take-off for green building in the near future. As for the cost, it ends up paying for itself over a period of time. LEED is proving more and more reasons why the construction industry needs to start adapting to the green future.

Friday, November 8, 2019

100% Will Suffice

100% Will Suffice 100% Will Suffice 100% Will Suffice By Simon Kewin It’s quite common to read of people particularly sportsmen and performers promising to â€Å"give 110%† effort. England cricketer Andrew Flintoff, for example, once promised to give â€Å"110% in every game† he played. Of course, to do so would be impossible. When something is finite, 100% means all of it. You can’t give more effort than you can give. The term only really makes sense when comparing two amounts. You could put 110% effort into one game as compared to that of a previous game, but only if you hadn’t tried properly in the previous game, or if (say) you’re fitter and can now make more of an effort. Still, you can’t put in more than 100% of your available effort.   Of course, it could be argued that this term is an acceptable colloquialism. Flintoff just meant he would try his absolute hardest. As so often, whether you should use the phrase depends on what you are writing. The term sometimes crops up in serious, factual pieces such as job advertisements or job applications, where it is surely inappropriate. If you were creating a fictional character with very precise language, you wouldn’t expect them to use such a term. But if you were creating a sporting character it may well be entirely reasonable for them to say something like this.   One problem, though, is the inflation that sets in once the 100% barrier has been breached. If it’s possible to give 110%, is giving 120% trying even harder? Obviously neither claim makes logical sense; the language just becomes more and more meaningless. It’s fairly common for people to say they will give 200%, or 1000% effort. Phil Brown, the manager of an English football club, recently claimed his players were â€Å"one million percent† behind him. Search the internet and you can find people saying they will give one billion percent effort. And so on, presumably, until we reach infinity percent.   Terms like â€Å"giving 110% effort† are now clichà ©s. If you want to convey the idea of trying really hard, it’s better to find another way of expressing the idea. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Expressions category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:30 Synonyms for â€Å"Meeting†Disappointed + PrepositionGlimpse and Glance: Same or Different?

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

5 of the biggest motivation myths

5 of the biggest motivation myths Activate your potential for success! Seize the day! Everything is right there waiting for you! Motivational slogans can be very appealing. They tug at our best selves, suggesting that there’s a positive, productive human being just waiting to break free if we can just coax it out the right way. That sounds great, in theory- but in reality, a lot of this motivational-speak just doesn’t cut it. Let’s look at some of the bigger motivation myths floating out there that don’t really work as well as they promise.Myth: All you need is the right motivation!Motivation is great- it’s also not the only thing. If you want to be more productive and successful in your career, it’s important to make sure you’re building up your skills and experience in addition to doing those mega-positive self-affirmations in the mirror each morning. A positive outlook is great, but you need the goods to back it up if it’s going to propel you to doing great t hings.Myth: Just do your best.This is one we likely all heard as kids. Just try, and you’ll be great. While that works well for little kids, as an adult, it doesn’t do anything to push you beyond your level. As a professional adult, â€Å"do your best† is kind of like a participation trophy. If you truly want to motivate yourself, try to go beyond â€Å"this is what I think I can do† if you want to build ambition. In theory, you’re doing your best anyway- how does this motivate you to push yourself higher?Myth: Visualize what you want.Planning and goal-setting is a great way to get ahead. But if you’re just visualizing the end outcome (you standing on the Olympic podium, singing along with the national anthem), you’re missing out on the process it takes to get there (cut to a training montage of you sweating, swimming, drinking kale smoothies, and running up stairs, Rocky-style).Myth: You need to reward yourself to achieve your goals. I will forever defend the idea that a little #treatyoself is a necessary part of life. But you shouldn’t be setting your career goals and working toward them just because of the personal rewards or incentives you attach to them. And there’s the fact that it just doesn’t always work. Look at salespeople- most sales jobs have built-in commissions or incentives to perform well. Yet if rewards were all that are necessary to build motivation to achieve goals, then every salesperson would be performing at top capacity, all the time. Again, your career is a process, and incentives don’t always motivate you to do your best.Myth: Don’t think about setbacks.Setbacks are disappointing, but they can also be good motivators. If you understand why things went wrong, and take from it that crucial knowledge about what you can do better or differently the next time, that gives you motivation to make improvements and show that you can bounce back.The thing about mot ivation is that it’s totally unique to you- so platitudes only go so far. If you’re doing careful planning and embracing a high level of self-awareness, you’ll find what specifically works for you as you build your career and reach toward your goals.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Who has the Control over the Use of Euthanasia Essay

Who has the Control over the Use of Euthanasia - Essay Example In some states, there have been legislations that have been passed while others have been rejected overwhelmingly by the majority of the people. Such are the issues that surround this medical way of alleviating pain which has been used since time immemorial (Appel 610). As people continue to worry about active or passive euthanasia, medical practitioners, on the other hand, have a hard time deciding which method to use as they are morally obligated to ensure that people regain their health. However, if the medication process is not relevant to them, should they not end it to avoid suffering? If so, who should make the call? No particular answer has been found as the most endearing and most considerate though some argue that both voluntary and non-voluntary euthanasia should be offered (Appel 615). The only difference is how long the patient takes before they succumb to their ailment and who is available to make the decision. Others argue that these provisions are wrong from a persona l dignity point of view. A clear consensus, though hard to come by for the past two centuries, should be sought and clarification on the issue of control given to ease pain and reduce needless suffering amongst fatally ill patients. The current law states that mercy killing or euthanasia is tantamount to homicide. The judicial system defines homicide as any type of intervention that is taken with an intention expressly aimed at ending life, whether it is to retrieve intractable disease or not. From this, one can learn that anything done to ease the pain of a dying person, whether they consent or not is unlawful and shall be treated as criminal offence (Smartt 105; Tulloch 64). From these stands taken by the law and the judicial system, euthanasia cannot be used at all unless legislation is passed to permit it. These events have shaped the way doctors react to cries by patients in anguish as they cannot risk being jailed for homicide or any other unlawful conduct (Dowbiggin 23). This is not fair at all. If suicide is a personal decision, why do they not accept euthanasia as one too? They should weigh this and allow people to have less suffering and since they have very short time to live, should be allowed to end their suffering in advance. There is no documented benefit of people suffering for six months and then die whereas they could have reduced the costs that will be transferred to the relatives (Annas 1239). This shows that the dispute of who is expected to control their death cannot be left to the doctors, the individual in question and neither can the state offer protection against suffering. However, it is crucial to understand that the word was coined as a means of encouraging painless and happy death that would be left to the physician. It was their responsibility to alleviate such pain. However, the area of bioethics has done considerable research on this area, and this has further complicated issues. There is a need, therefore, for the solution of this issue to be forthcoming. People suffering from chronic diseases and are in their final stages of these ailments should be aided to pass on peacefully. Though religious people argue that God is the only one with the power over death, it is imperative to understand that no religion spreads pain and suffering as a way of entering eternity. Even the suffering of Christ on the cross may not be compared to an invalid waiting for death for six months just because they cannot control their own death (Dowbiggin 27). It will ease their pain and allow the physicians to be responsible for other people. The relatives will also have a chance to rest and use the resources on other deserving

Friday, November 1, 2019

Engineering material Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Engineering material - Essay Example The central part of the specimen possesses reduced cross-sectional area than the end parts. The reduced gauge ensures that the highest stresses occur within the gauge, and not near the grips of the load frame, preventing strain and fracture of the specimen near or in the grips (Fabila 2010). Incremental application of the tensile load to the specimen and its corresponding extension are recorded and plotted by a computer in the form of a load versus elongation graph. This graph is converted into an engineering stress versus engineering strain graph, which is later used to calculate material properties such as yield strength, Young’s modulus, ultimate tensile strength, resilience, and toughness of material. The experiment was conducted on specimens made of Mild Steel (Grade 250), Aluminium 6061, Copper, and Brass. All test specimens had an initial gauge length of 25 mm. All other dimensions of specimens are given below: Each specimen was measured using the calipers to determine the diameter and cross section. A gauge length was determined and scribed into the specimen so the distance between two marks could be measured after the tensile test was completed (Fabila 2010). The specimen was securely placed into the jaws of the Instron load frame so that it was equally spaced between the two clamps (Fabila 2010). The axial and transverse extensometers were attached to the reduced gauge section of the specimen. Care was taken to ensure that the axial extensometer was set correctly, and the transverse extensometer was across the complete diameter of the specimen (Fabila 2010). The test with each specimen continued until fracture. After that, the specimen was removed, and the equipment was reset for the next test. The results of the uniaxial test were used to calculate material properties using the formulas provided below. The results of the tensile tests

Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Cold chain In food industry Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Cold chain In food industry - Essay Example Indeed, keeping the goods ‘in a safe, wholesome and good quality state from the production to the consumption stage’ (Aung, Chang and Kim 2012: 435) can be considered as the cold chain’s mission. Through a similar approach, food cold chain has been described as ‘a special kind logistics applied in food’ (Lan and Tian 2013: 347). When referring to cold chain emphasis should be given to the following fact: the quality of the cold chain’s products is difficult to be secured. In the food cold chain sector a similar issue appears. For this reason, a series of methodologies and standards have been introduced for ensuring quality in all phases of food cold chain. However, the full alignment of food cold chain with the relevant rules is not always easy, especially due to the cost involved. The various characteristics of food cold chain are analytically presented below. Reference is also made to the standards applied in the specific sector. A series of case studies has been employed in order to show the challenges that food cold chain has to face worldwide. It is proved that the sector’s advances are continuous but the lack of effective control mechanisms often reduce the quality of food cold chain’s products especially in countries with limited potentials to support food cold chain. Chapter 2 – Need for the cold chain in the food industry Cold chain, as a series of processes, has been established in order to respond to specific needs of the food industry. Reference is made in particular to fresh food products (such as vegetables, meal, fish and so on) that have to be transported to areas quite far from the area of production (Handley 2010). For such production, there can be 4 levels of transport, as described in Appendix 1 (Handley 2010). As it is made clear through the graph in Appendix 1 cold chain has a key role in the transport of fresh goods, a role that it is clearer at Transport levels 1 & 2 (Appendix 1), i.e. from factory/ production area to the wholesale (Handley 2010). At level 3 of the transport process, i.e. from the wholesale to the outlet, the value of cold chain is also critical, ensuring the high quality of fresh products that reach the market (Appendix 1). In practice, all parts of the transport process have to be developed in order for a food product to reach its destination, i.e. the end consumer; this means that cold chain, as part of the transport process, cannot be omitted since such initiative would destroy the rest of the parts of the transport process. This means that without the intervention of the cold chain fresh food products could not be available for consumers. In the study of Aung, Chang and Kim (2012) emphasis is given to the importance of the cold chain for the preservation of perishable foods; it is explained that without cold chain these foods could not reach consumers (Aung, Chang and Kim 2012). In other words, due to cold chain perishable foods can keep their qualities, as these qualities are described in table presented in Appendix 2. According to the specific table the qualities of perishable foo

Monday, October 28, 2019

The Portrayal Of Women In Horror Movies Film Studies Essay

The Portrayal Of Women In Horror Movies Film Studies Essay DEFINITIONS: Woman: Whist the term girl can be used for a child or female adolescent, the term Woman would refer to an adult female human. Horror film: Cinema that is created to disgust and cause fear and distress to its spectator though themes of a gruesome and paranormal nature. INTRODUCTION This dissertation will consider the roles of women in the horror film genre and will deconstruct the way in which the conventions of the horror film prescribe such roles. Despite continued criticism for presenting women in a negative manner, many of the films explored here appear to suggest strong female representation so it will possible to investigate the position of the female from a number of different angles allowing a fluid discussion and counter argument. The passive female roles will be studied from the perspective of the male gaze and abjection, whilst active female roles will be explored from the role of the mother and the outcome of The Final Girl. As it would be impossible to discuss the entire history of the horror genre and womans relationship to it within the space available, so three chosen films will support the discussion. In all cases these films are regarded as classic horror films and, importantly, landmark and watershed moments in the horror genre. Psycho (1960), The Exorcist (1973), and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) all represent meta statements in the history of the genre and provide essential examples of the arguments discussed here. It should also be noted that all three films contain also ambiguous female characters for example; Mrs Bates in Psycho, the cross dressing Leatherface in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and the possessed Regan in The Exorcist who will all be debated. Significantly the films were produced and released during periods of change for womens rights, including the beginnings of the womens liberation movement in the early sixties though to the publishing of The Female Eunuch by Germaine Greer, and Spare Rib magazine in the seventies. This help to fuel the debate more significantly as the selected films span a time when women in the real world (as opposed to the constructed world of the cinema) had made great steps toward equality through the feminist movement. Horror films are told as stories of good versus evil. The drama of their narratives tends to derive from the clash between a monster and an innocent, So I want to understand why so many gratuitous, unjustified acts of violence towards woman could be justified on screen. I will consider the following aspects: male gaze, abjection, family structure, and the outcome of the final girl in the context of horror film genre. These are four common tendencies embedded within the literature of women and horror film and the background to these discussions will be framed within the context of the chosen films. This writing will deconstruct and examine the structure of those films, the motives behind their structure, and will consider their target audience. It will examine the symbolism that is used to express the plots and sub-plots and, most importantly, consider the roles of the female characters in those films. I will employ psychoanalytic and feminist theory to explore the female roles and will interpret commentary on Freudian and Lacanian theory, including castration anxiety and the role of the subconscious and apply them to horror film. Semiotic and populist perspective will also be considered to set out this debate. Much has been written on the subject and over twenty books have been researched to discuss this consideration of women and horror film in detail. Key texts include: Ways of Seeing (1972) by John Berger, Men, Women and Chain Saws: Gender in the Modern Horror Film (1992) by Carol J. Clover, The Monstrous-Feminine: Film, Feminism, Psychoanalysis (1993) by Barbara Creed and Powers of Horror (1982) by Julia Kristeva.  The texts outline the intellectual context into which this dissertation enters. People assume that horror film exclusively represent women in a reactionary fashion, but further analysis has suggested that female characters are not as weak and vulnerable as they first may appear. For example The Final Girls last moments have been radically written and rewritten across the remakes and sequels to give new meaning. Analytical and theoretical analysis has been informed by the writing of Laura Mulvey and in particular her discussions of the male gaze. Mulvey argues in her polemic essay Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema that cinema was primarily created for the male spectator exploiting women as objects of desire. Julia Kristevas essay The Powers of Horror provides essential understanding on the position of abjection in the context of horror and mortality. All of the above writers discuss theoretical studies and theories of Dr Sigmund Freud and Jacques Lacan who are both indirectly referenced throughout this dissertation. Barbara Creeds The Monstrous-Feminine and Carol Clovers book Men, Women, and Chainsaws will inform debate around the matriarchal figures in Psycho and the outcome of the final girl in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. CHAPTER 1 Gendered Spectatorship The male gaze is made explicit in the horror genre, and this is inscribed in both the aesthetics of the films and its exhibition context. One of the most important essays about women in cinema is Laura Mulveys theory on the male gaze. As Mulvey states: The cinema offers a number of possible pleasures. One is scopophilia (pleasure in looking). There are circumstances in which looking itself is a source of pleasure (1989, p16). (do I reference?) If scopophilia can be defined as love of looking or deriving pleasure from looking, then this can be a definition of the cinema experience. Cinema is, after all, a form of visual entertainment. It involves the individual singularly engaging with the screen and its projections as a form of escapism and even relaxation, and can be comfortably achieved alone as it involves very few social skills, since the viewers only commitment to the process is to look. However, once we question how the film is viewed and who views the film, the relationship becomes more complex. The purpose of this essay is to question how the female is viewed from the perspective of the spectator; to question how women are portrayed in horror films, and how they are looked at. It will explore the argument that cinematic looking comes from a male perspective and will question what kind of pleasure is obtained from looking at horror films from this perspective. As Mulvey explains: The cinema satisfies a primordial wish for pleasurable looking (1989, p17). It allows the spectator the opportunity to observe in an entirely passive role while the action takes place. The experience of cinema is a one-sided arrangement between the film itself and its viewer. However, as Mulvey discusses regarding Dr Sigmund Freud, it also goes further, developing scopophilia in its narcissistic aspect (1989, p17). Scopophilia can also suggest that sexual pleasure can be derived from looking at objects; that how they are interpolated can make them erotic, and while they are not erotic in their own right through their relationship with the spectator they can become sexually objectified. The celebrated psychologist Dr Sigmund Freud isolated scopophilia as one of the component instincts of sexuality which exist as drives independently of the erotogenic zones. At this point he associated scopophilia with taking other people as objects, subjecting them to a controlling and curious gaze (Mulvey,1989, p16). The history of art emphasises this aspect of scopophilia. Throughout art history, painters have been commissioned to paint female models as objects of desire that have been and still are masquerading as works of art more closely related with pornography than with the great masterpieces. Moving forward, Clover debates that the cinematic gaze, we are told, is male, and just as that gaze knows how to fetishize the female form in pornography it also, she suggests (going on to relate this to cinematography), knows how to follow a female character as she moves through a forbidding house, and scrutinise her face for signs of fear in a way that it does not do with male characters, since: a set of conventions we now take for granted simply sees males and females differently. (1992 p50-51). This suggests that the ownership in the context of cinema is the cause of the effect that the viewer, by objectifying the figure on screen, gives it new meaning, a new social place. By simply being viewed, new rules apply. To place this into the context of women within horror, the male can now view the woman and the conditions and events around her in a newly detached manner and freely let the actions against her take place on the screen. In psychoanalytic terms, the female figure poses a deeper problem. She also connotes something that the look continually circles around but disavows, claims Mulvey (1989, p21). This could be suggesting that as the spectator is assumed to be male, the appearance of a female (ie non-male) form creates an anxiety around the potential for castration and an un-penised body à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦hence unpleasure. Mulvey argues in Lacan: and Post feminism by Elizabeth Wright (2000, p45-46) that the look is linked to the discovery of sexual difference, and that the lack of a penis must be filled by multiple images of glamourised women as a substitute for the imaginary phallus. Mulvey writes that cinema, and in particular horror cinema, is inclined to focus attention on the human form (1989, p17). The human form and the human condition are key aspects in the horror genre, especially the female body. Horror displays visceral and exaggerated versions of our basic desires and a strong and aggressive version of body lust. The horror film in particular relies on the physical human form and hostility towards the body to carry its plots and storylines in the most extreme sense. This is clearly not a natural state of being: to be seated in a darkened room, with a huge rectangular screen in view and surround sound at high volume. But this is the environment of the cinema, where the viewer is asked to focus on exaggerated and extreme events far beyond the realms of real life in the name of entertainment.   Here, not unlike in other places in the media, the female form is prevalent, to be exhibited again for entertainment and it is the female characters in the horro r film genre that appear to command most of the attention on the cinema screen. Mulvey suggests that, since the world displays such disparities between the genders, with the masculine nearly always holding the reins of power: Do I reference here as well? pleasure in looking has been split between active/male and passive/female. The determining male gaze projects its fantasy onto the female figure, which is styled accordingly (1989, p19). So since society isnt equal in terms of who holds the power, either sexually or otherwise, women act a certain way because they are aware of how men expect them to be that is, passive and sexualised. Mulvey states this as a symbolic equation, woman = sexuality. (1989, p35). John Berger differentiates men from women as he describes a mans presence as being defined by what he is capable of doing to you or for youà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦but the pretence is always towards a power which he exercises on others. (1972, p39-40) Expand Mulveys view is that narrative cinema positions its spectators as male, catering only for male fantasies and pleasures (p39 Feminist Film Theorists). This suggests that women are objectified in film in general (and for the purposes of this argument, substantially in horror films). Mulvey also claims that the spectator/viewer/audience is said to be a man; cinema almost expects its viewers to be male and therefore creates characters and plots to fulfil a mans gaze. So prevalent is this notion that Mulvey claims narrative cinema does not offer a place for female spectators'(p40 Feminist Film Theorists); that cinema essentially isolates the female as a serious viewer: As the spectator identifies with the main male protagonist, he projects his look onto that of his like, his screen surrogate, so that the power of the male protagonist as he controls events coincides with the active power of the erotic look, both giving a satisfying sense of omnipotence. (Mulvey, 1989, p20). Shorten Clearly men can easily identify with the male protagonist but the female audiences have to distance themselves from their femininity in order to participate in the cinematic experience; critics refer to this as gender confusion. Freud would argue that to share these experiences, woman would have to revert back to her pre-Oedipal phallic phase. It might now be relevant to explore the male gaze specifically functions in the context of the horror genre. Looking back at the history and evolution of the horror film, the cinemas flourished at a time when there was less available to the public and strong moral codes and rules about relationships were in place. The clichà ©d idea of horror films was being scripted and edited to fulfil the role of the dating couple on a Saturday night. (pg 61 Horror: The Film Reader Edited by Mark Jancovich (different authors per chapter) The cinema was a place where young couples could escape family life for the few hours of a date. It allowed them space to be alone together at a time, before the sexual revolution, when men were expected to be chivalrous and protect and provide support for their female companion, as Mark Jancovich explains: Women cover their eyes or hide behind the shoulders of their dates. (pg 61 Horror: The Film Reader Edited by Mark Jancovich (different authors per chapter). This then created an opportunity for the male viewer to comfort his date as she squirmed and shrieked at the on-screen horror. He could become closer and more intimate as she was lured into vulnerability by the action projected in front of her. Mulvey highlights this dominant order: As an advanced representation system, the cinema poses questions about the ways the unconscious (formed by the dominant order) structures ways of seeing and pleasure in looking. (1989, p15) Paraphrase or include in text. Given this climate, the notion of the girl as victim was allowed to evolve. A connection could then be made between the female viewer and her on-screen female counterpart, in that the spectator cannot bear to look on helplessly as her cinematic alter ego that is, a close representation of herself suffers the horrors of rape, mutilation and murder. Mulvey argues that women have had two different functions within cinema: as erotic objects for the characters within the screen story, and as erotic objects for the spectator within the auditorium. (1989, p19) There is clear evidence of this in Tobe Hoopers The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. It follows the story of a group of young Americans as they venture into the countryside and meet their fate in the shape of a disturbed and hostile cannibalistic family whose weapons of choice are butchers tools and chainsaws. The three young men meet their deaths quickly, paving the way for the females more drawn-out and gratuitous torture. While one of the women meets her slow, lingering fate via a meat hook and deep freezer, the other is chased and tortured repeatedly across the final third of the film. Female characters in horror films are generally young and attractive. They maintain a key role in the film; examples of this would be Laurie in Halloween and Marion in Alfred Hitchcocks infamous Psycho. When Michael Myers pretty sister meets her fate in the opening scene of Halloween, she is pursued by (and through the eyes of) her killer; indeed, throughout Halloween the story is often seen/told through the eyes of the killer, a technique referred to as the POV (point-of-view) shot. But before the murder takes place, the audience are offered a completely superfluous view of her naked body, seen through the male gaze as she brushes her hair. It could be argued that the female characters occupy many on-screen hours and appear to dominate the films, yet on closer inspection the real lead role is saved for the star psychopath, who is almost always male. It could be debated that male spectators are therefore being asked to identify with the killer. With respect to Halloween there are a number of shots explicitly from Myers physical point-of-view with an acoustic close-up of his monstrous heavy breathing (Isabel Pinedo 1997, p52). It cannot be proven that the whole audience identifies with him but they are forced to see through his murderous gaze, which almost compels a form of affinity. Horror genre is traditionally thought of as low culture. It has a casual tone and audiences have grown to expect violence, nudity and cheap thrills. This position in low culture appears to grant a licence to horror films to get away with more than high art cinema, and horror is rarely studied for meaning or metaphor to the same extent. But because of these lower expectations, the reality can be stretched (not unlike in cartoons), leading to irrational storylines with horror far more extreme than could be expected in real life. Therefore, it could be argued that horror films make explicit the assumption of a male spectator which is, according to Mulvey, only implicit in all popular cinema. Other films, under the pressure of higher expectation, have to keep such a misogynist perspective more contained, but horror can afford to make it overt. Clearly all normal rules do not apply. So, once reality is dropped in favour of visual pleasure, why do we ask audiences to witness hostility and brutality against women? Brian De Palma assesses the motives behind this argument. It is, he suggests, not that women are presented for male pleasure but that they provide a greater capacity for terror in the audience: If you have a haunted house and you have a woman walking around with a candelabra, you fear more for her than you would for a husky man. (Clover, 1992, p42). This provides a greater margin for a violent death. But why is this? Why would a woman be more vulnerable than a man in this age of equality? The answer to this lies far deeper than in the relatively trivial world of the slasher movie or psychological thriller. This genre is simply a form of entertainment and perhaps not the place for intellectual analysis, as John Carpenter hinted when he was challenged with the notion that he is responsible for the tasteless massacre of sexually active women. He claimed that, although the victims in his (and so many other) horror films are indeed the more sexually active characters, to insist that this is why they die is to miss the essential pointThey get killed because they are not paying attention. How do I reference Carpenter? And it could be argued that academics were reading a little too much into Halloween, since a male character is also murdered straight after sex with his girlfriend. One could even claim that this balances the plot and clears the director of the accusation that he is somehow guilty of misogyny. However à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦argues that: His death is usually only a device to remove protection from the now vulnerable female. (pg 165 Bitches, Bimbosà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦). This suggests that the male character is now secondary and his death is insignificant by comparison to the murder of the female. It could also be argued that Carpenter and other celebrated film makers just want to make entertaining horror and dont intend to make hateful statements against women, or objectify them for the male gaze, but that this is simply what people find exciting and why they fill up cinemas. Irrespective of Carpenters intentions, the standards of what is considered entertainment tell us a great deal about our views towards women in horror cinema and perhaps in society as a whole. CHAPTER 2 The Abject Feminine The ultimate figure of abjection is the corpse. As the horror genre is ultimately obsessed with death one could suggest that horror fetishizes the abject. It has been suggested that the horror film attempts to bring about confrontation with the abject. (p4 Horror Film and Psychoanalysis: Freuds Worst Nightmare.) Creed refers to Kristevas notion of the border: When we say such-and-such a horror film made me sick or scared the shit out of me we are actually foregrounding that specific horror film as a work of abjection or abjection at work almost in a literal sense. (1993, p10) By the presentation of repulsion one knows what is not repulsive; to understand abjection one must understand boundaries. As we grow up we stop playing in dirt and become more dignified; this is something we learn from society as well as from our mothers teaching us how to be clean and proper. This notion references Lacans concept of the mirror stage, Kristeva supports: It is thus not lack of cleanliness or health that causes abjection but what disturbs identity, system, order. What does not respect borders, positions, rules. (1982, p4). Woman and abjection The horror genre has a historical tendency to represent the female form as abject. In Kristevas view, woman is specifically related to polluting objects, which fall into two categories: excremental and menstrual. This in turn gives woman a special relationship to the abject. (1982, p10) What we are scared of is not the matter that we expel but what it signifies loss of identity, loss of control, death and the unknown. Nor is it the end of a natural life that contributes to the tension of horror cinema, but an endless list of horrific deaths that we could possibly encounter. Paul Wells backs this notion with his comments on the forbidden facets of the human body its propensity to foul secretions and physical corrosion which are linked to our relentless descent towards death, and which are reflected in images of abjection in the horror film (2000, p16). IS THIS 2ND PERSON? When we are children our parents encourage us to respect boundaries about cleanliness and behaviour, and we reject the abject. But in the context of the horror film there is perverse pleasure that allows us to explore our curiosity about the abject. The abject confronts the repressed/un-civilized side of the ego and allows us to investigate the other. The horror film makes good use of the abject. Julia Kristeva uses her experience with milk as a child in an attempt to explain the idea of abjection: Food loathing is perhaps the most elementary and most archaic form of abjection. When the eyes see or the lips touch that skin on the surface of milkà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦I experience a gagging sensation and, still farther down, spasms in the stomach, the belly: and all the organs shrivel up the body, provoke tears and bile, increase heartbeat, cause forehead and hands to perspire. Along with sight-clouding dizziness, nausea makes me balk at that milk cream, separates me from the mother and father who proffer it. (p23 Powers of Horror: An Essay on Abjection by Julia Kristeva). Does this need to be cut? This could suggest that when a skin forms on top of milk, it is crossing over a border or breaking a rule regarding what is acceptable as good food, and so the milk is no longer pure. The milk has perhaps split into two; milk being the acceptable form and its solidified state being the abject. Hence it fulfils a similar role in our imagination as a corpse does over a living, breathing body. We will no longer accept/drink the milk as it has turned bad and represents death, a state beyond living. The maternal body grows and delivers a living being but it is also the sister of the corpse so it can remind us of life but also death. If we confronted the abject in everyday life we would be constantly aware of our own mortality. Milk described in the context above provides an effective example of abjection, as it suggests the differential between acceptable breastfeeding as a child and unacceptable breast-feeding as an adult. The Exorcist was the first of many possession films. Its premise involves an innocent young girl named Regan McNeil who displays abnormal behaviour in the middle class American home she shares with her mother and house keeper. Throughout the film her father appears absent so it is her mother (Chris McNeil) who bears witness to the profound and hostile series of events and paranormal behaviour as the plot unfolds. Creed states that: The possessed or invaded being is a figure of abjection in that the boundary between self and other has been transgressed (1993, p32) à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦by the devil himself, who appears to be the only male central figure in the film until the arrival of a psychiatrist and two Roman Catholic Priests. Within the plot of The Exorcist, Regans character is a vehicle that allows the portrayal of abjection to the mass audience. Had a young boy been cast in a similar role, the horror could have been undermined, but due to our own preconceptions of femininity and youth, the possession portrayed within this young girl only adds to the horrific events. Regan is the most passive of female victims, repeatedly switching from tearful little girl to demonic aggressor. She expels her bodily fluids, blood, vomit and urine; she is a playground for bodily wastes (1993, p40). Creed goes on to point out that the female body is more abject because its maternal functions acknowledge its debt to nature 1993, p11). She also points out that, as Regan cavorts and flaunts herself, we become all too aware of the forbidden fascination of the abject , as well as its horror, inherent in the fact that this young girl has overtly flouted her respectable feminine function, and has; put her unsocialized body on display. And to make matters worse, she has done all of this before the shocked eyes of two male clerics. (p 198 Post-Theory: Reconstructing Film Studies. edited by Bordwell, D and Carrol, N) Creed (1993, p37) puts forward: In Kristevas view the abject represents that which disturbs identity, system, order. Regans possessed soul projects this through levitation and deep spoken foul language. As the film continues, an exorcism takes place in the form of a battle between the Church and the Devil. If religion could be used to explore the abject, no film does it more tellingly than in The Exorcist. Creed puts forward, according to Kristeva: Kristeva argues that, historically, it has been the function of religion to purify the abject. (1993, p14) As the film comes to an end, Regan is saved by the church and restored to purity. She turns to hug the one person who saved her: a male Priest, or perhaps God himself? Spectator In the real world, when confronted with something genuinely repulsive, we reject that object of repulsion. But in the cinema it is not necessary to fully block what confronts us. The positioning of the spectator within the cinema experience must be recognized if abjection is going to be fully absorbed. The viewer happily sits as the spectacle of horror unfolds and is projected onto them. Though the viewer has no control over the events projected before them, the unpleasant acts witnessed by the spectator can comfortably be dismissed when the credits roll and the film is over. Viewing the horror film signifies a desire not only for perverse pleasure where boundaries are crossed, both attracting and repelling (confronting sickening, horrific images/being filled with terror/desire for the undifferentiated) but also a desire, once having been filled with perversity, taking pleasure in perversity, to throw up, throw out, eject the abject (from the safety of the spectators seat). CHAPTER 3 The Absent Mother Relationships in the maternal melodrama are almost always between mother and daughter; it is to the horror film we must turn for an exploration of mother-son relationships. The latter are usually represented in terms of repressed Oedipal desire, fear of the castrating mother and psychosis. Given the nature of the horror genre its preoccupation with monstrosity, abjection and horrific familial scenarios the issues surrounding the mother-child dyad are generally presented in a more extreme and terrifying manner. (Creed,1993, p139) Cut down One area of female representation that is more ambiguous is the figure of the Mother in the horror film genre. No longer could the killer be simply defined by gender. At the beginning of the 1960s audiences were subjected to a new kind of cinematic terror, as à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ explains in her essay: The monster was no longer out there; it was in here. The monster was the human mind. (Pg 160 Gary, J and Sheila, S (ed) Bitches, Bimbos and Virgins: Women in the Horror Film) As Hitchcocks psychological thriller Psycho was released The early sixties audience would be led to believe that the approachable Norman Bates (played by Antony Perkins) was simply a victim of his over-zealous mothers bullying. But as the plot unravelled, the film presented a deeply obsessive human mind as the real monster, as Steven Jay Schneider further explains: When used to shed light on horror cinema, psychoanalysis in its various forms has proven to be a frightful and provocative interpretive tool (Pg 187 Schneider, S. J. Horror Film and Psychoanalysis Freuds Worst Nightmare) The film follows its self-sufficient central female character, Marion Crane, jaded by her affair with a married man, as she embezzles a large amount of money from her male employer and leaves town in pursuit of a new life. On arrival at the infamous Bates Motel she meets the proprietor, the twitchy but approachable and, more importantly, passive Norman Bates, who is clearly attracted to Crane, something she comfortably takes in her stride, suggesting a non-passive female. However, on closer inspection, Marions actions throughout the first section of the film are defined by male characters she comes into contact with: her lover Sam, her male employer and the male client, the highway patrol officer and Norman Bates who all define her destiny with their attitudes towards her. Robert Kolker supports this theory: Psycho: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦the mix of pleasure and pain common to all horror viewing, and aligned with a feminine subject position, is negotiated differently by men than by women. (p193 Alfred Hitchcocks Psycho: A Casebook edited by Robert Kolker) Throughout the first part of the film Marion is portrayed as feminine, attractive and defying the typical representation of women in horror films; however, from the perspective of the male gaze Bates watches Marion, unbeknown to her, through a hole in the wall as she undresses and prepares to shower. Normans eye is filmed in extreme close-up, drawing attention to the activity of the voyeurism. (1993, p145). As the camera lingers on her it is this scene that suggests that Hitchcock cannot break away fully from the traditions of the horror genre where the female becomes objectified and is observed from the gaze of the active male. Norman Bates mother is another female character significant to the plot, not seen but heard off-screen discouraging her son from having any social contact with the newly arrived female and, throughout most of the film, verbally abusing her son. Surrounded by stuffed birds, Bates even states a boys best friend is his mother. The viewer can assume that he is a loyal and reliable son. However, as Lacans theorys are refered :