Discuss the arguments for and against a critically charged and politically involved Public Sociology - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 8 Words: 2331 Downloads: 10 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Politics Essay Type Case study Did you like this example? It may be argued that sociology is of activist origins, propelled by a desire to comprehend, diagnose and ultimately administer solutions to societal ailments. However, with the advent of scientific discourse, especially the rise of so-called hard sciences, the discipline has been absorbed into the pedagogic realm of social-science which seeks to emulate its empirical cousin and take residence within the ivory tower of academia, virtuous in its efforts to seek objectivism, value-freedom and political abstinence. The purpose of this essay is to explore the proposition that sociology should reclaim its identity, expanding its imagination (Mills 1959) as a politically engaged agent tasked with improving society through a critical dialogue with various institutions and actors. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Discuss the arguments for and against a critically charged and politically involved Public Sociology" essay for you Create order This essay will consider the contention offered by some of sociologys founding fathers, particularly Marx and Engels (1848) and Durkheim (1972), that sociology should be at the vanguard of social engagement and change à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" a citadel of moral and intellectual purity, a philosopher king (Plato 1993: 109). By extension, this essay will include a critique of the academic milieu in which sociology resides, addressing the dispute that it has become colonised and thus compromised by wider market and political forces and thus incapable of functioning as an independent agent of knowledge and change. The proposition of a Public Sociology is not a recent phenomenon. In fact, the founding progenitors envisaged a discipline actively engaged with the political milieu and public lifeworld. Indeed, Durkheim (1972), conceiving of a social world underpinned by tangible laws à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" reiterating Comtes (1988: 33) science of society predicted that sociologists would become ai des-de-camp to the state, revered intellects who would influence policy and legislature. By contrast, Marx and Engels (1848) were interested in the dissemination of knowledge to the grass-roots or proletariat to reawaken their collective consciousness and engender a rebellious will-to-power (Nietzsche 2014) against the prevailing capitalist system. Importantly, despite its definition, sociology was less interested in the comprehension of social life per se: rather it was obsessed with the noxious configurations that comprised society, mournful of the crippling and incarcerating effects these had on humanitys potential and species-being (Marx and Engels 1991). This remains a dominating theme within sociology today: the field of critical theory has almost reached a level of theoretical saturation (Bryman 2004:544) inasmuch as abuses against civilisation on grounds of (for example) gender, class, race and creed have been researched and articulated repeatedly in pedagogic discourse, si mply restructured in linguistic hyperbole to pass as authentic. By contrast, Weber (1989) was concerned with maintaining abstinence from the political arena, endorsing scientific mastery and the conduct of research for its own virtue i.e. as a vocation (78); sociology held no greater esteem over the value-laden judgements of social-political discourse and must thereforelimit public discussion to the classrooms. The debate regarding sociologys public face was again revitalised by Mills (1959) who, acknowledging a gross depreciation in the social lifeworld, offered a critical assessment of his field, which had abandoned its public calling, instead becoming captivated by the power and prestige (including resources) offered by academia. The discipline had succumbed to institutionalisation, a servant of the university and its preoccupation with quantifiable (profitable) results, professionalism and its self-image as a reputable organisation. By extension, as a business, academia pande red to powerful organisations (purse holders) like the state and private shareholders; exploration was only authorised and noteworthy if it aligned with the demands and/or values of a minority who possess the architectural means of production (Zsolnai and Gasparski 2002). Also, Parker and Jary (1995) allude to the notion that sociology is subject to the McUniversity, whereby the fixation of budgets, time restraints and production of (quantifiable) articles, books and graduates has a detrimental effect on the vibrancy and eclecticism of its sociological imagination (Mills 1959), thereby crippling any possibility for politicking à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" scientific absence is the prevailing episteme or ideology (Gouldner 1971). Thus, sociology is not only accused of abandonment but also of participating in a form of symbolic violence inasmuch as it retains potentially empowering or life-giving knowledge, which it retrieves from an ailing world, to secure its own somewhat tentative (albeit pr ofitable) status as a soft ad-hoc science. As Luck (2007) ably posits, this negative label cast on the back of sociology is based on not so much its actions but failing to act (140). In addition, Gouldner (1971) had contended that, awkwardly aware of it betrayal and desperately seeking to generate a credible facade, sociology provides lip-service or commiseration and an imitated gesture of desire for social change. Yet some have argued that sociology has required time to solidify itself and create a scholarly community based not only on substantive research but also camaraderie, interdependency and trust (Adair-Toteff 1995) from which a new breed of intellect could arise, unfettered by self-interest, and rather concerned with improving society and seeking to reinvigorate and enhance its intellectual flare through public engagement. As Marx and Engels (1848: 3) asserted: philosophers have interpreted the world [à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦] the point however is to change it!. Therefore, sociol ogy should be less concerned with holding onto the tailcoats of so-called hard sciences, and focus on harnessing its own methodology to irradiate, disseminate and help transform the social milieu à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" to become a participatory agent in the (re)creation of society. Indeed, the political life of Boudieu (1993) is often regarded as a prime example of the kinds of dirty work sociologists should be engaged in; having witnessed the venomous social disparities of a failing and unjust French society, he took to the streets in numerous political protests. This constitutes a form of academic bricolage (Hebdige 1988) whereby normative procedures and forms of professionalism prolific within the pedagogic milieu designed to confine scholars to specific predefined scripts of conduct are broken or otherwise inverted. His actions as a scholarly activist serve as a template for todays sociologists; a reminded of their role involves dirty work or aligning themselves with ordinary peop le in a bid to better understand social angsts à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" thereby enhancing epistemologies and methodologies à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" and subsequently improve society. As a result, Bourdieu (1993) suggested that, only through public engagement could sociology develop an augmented, rich and powerful knowledge-base, otherwise it would simply be masquerading as a social-scientific field. Thus, Chomsky and Otero (2004) denote that we must fashion a more reflexive sociology (third-order understanding) à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" to analyse and remodify the pedagogic habitus à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" capable of comprehending often subtle and taken-for-granted interconnections, like the asymmetrical interplay of power, capital and playing fields within academia, that affect and hinder the discipline. Sociology must be aware of its own metaphorical blind spot its arrogances and handicaps à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" and critically engage in reciprocated policing within its various subfields and other interdepe ndent social-sciences. As Bourdieu (1988) advocated, being self-critical will facilitate a comfortability in ones own skin and ultimately strengthen the fields core. Indeed, as Murji (2007) argues, sociology remains a host to external asymmetries such that a white middle-class male continues to demarcate the archetypal modern-day sociologist. In a similar vein, as Ossewaarde (2007) alludes, sociological productions are overwhelmingly driven by and imbued with Westernised ideals, values and perspectives, specifically those fashioned in the United States: this is obviously indicative of wider societal inequalities that belittle or otherwise disadvantage other countries not befitting first-world status. Also, as Parenti (1995) suggests, the types of research revered most are typically those aligned with empiricism (e.g. statistics, quantification, reports) and policy-centred. As a result, somewhat idealistically, Burawoy (2005) advocates an academic revolution within sociology to gener ate a more equitable playing field. Despite the criticism inferred on sociology, concerning its diminished public identity and seeing it as a hotbed of malignance, many have come to its defence. For example, Hossfeld and Nyden (2005) have contended that an ASA Task Force has been created to reclaim sociological presence within the political, offering incentives and promotional positions to eligible scholars interested in disseminating the sociological imagination to wider audiences. Also, Kalleberg (2005) recognises the existing efforts made to produce jargon-free literature and broadcasts that pertain to parochial as well as (inter)national issues. Similarly, as Skeggs and Deem (2003) note, especially following the cultural turn, face-to-face and in-depth engagements with the public, including those disadvantaged groups such as women, the working-class and ethnic minorities, have intensified with the rise of qualitative methodologies. Hence, there remains active engagement and p articipation by sociologists with extra-academic cohorts, alluding to the fact that sociology can synthesise professionalism with public involvement; a by-product of this is the emancipatory and empowering effects such engagements can generate. However, proclaiming that sociologists should uproot and become heretical scholars is a monumental ask; one that threatens their very ontological wellbeing i.e. their reputation, financial security, friendships and way of life could be jeopardised in the process of transgression à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" one might even envisage a social death for those daring to try (Shilling 2003). By extension, such an act would invariably compromise the already fragile reputation of sociology; opening its doors to the public would risk its credibility and entice the stigmatised label (Goffman 1990) of just another fanatical ism to be discarded alongside the other failed idealistic enterprises, such as Marxism and Feminism (Brady 2004). In addition, given the f act that sociology is inhabited by a diverse and deeply opinionated cohort of intellects who occupy a range of paradigms, it is unlikely that (in the near future anyway) such individuals will collectively march in unison under the banner of a Public Sociology. Yet it might be plausible for sociology to formulate a democratically charged governing body that could represent the standpoints of a majority force; elected representatives may perhaps serve as champions charged with proliferating ideas and findings and leaving society to decide what, if anything, should be done with them. That said, Nielson (2004) makes the important point that there is a massive incongruence between the ideal and somewhat advanced heuristic devices and ideas generated within the pedagogic milieu and the realities of the social lifeworld; the latter remains a comparatively primitive figuration of ideologies and values incapable or unready to assimilate the ideas of the former. The mind is a cursed thing, it permits us to envisage infinitely wonderful (utopian) worlds where societal processes operate as a beautiful symphony unchecked by toxic social phenomena, histories, idiosyncrasies and other variants that make reality a constant work-in-progress of ebbs and flows, of civility and barbarism, of progress and regression (Parenti 1995). As a result, in true Weberian tradition, Nielson (2004) contends that sociology has no superior right of way (33) in public-political affairs. Instead, we should concern ourselves with aiding the present or aligning ourselves with the spirit of the times (zeitgeist). In the end, the question of sociologys public identity continues to be a hotly debated concept, its actual realisation requires a level of faith and risk and remains (in large) something to behold. This essay has sought to detail the various arguments for and against a politically engaged Public Sociology a controversy that has reigned since the subjects inception and one that continues in a somewhat recurring pattern throughout its development. Indeed, as sociology becomes increasingly self-reflexive and more substantiated in its understanding of social processes, the urge for argumentation regarding its identity and role within society becomes greater. As this essay shows, there is certainly a moral imperative or compulsion within sociology to irradiate asymmetrical discourses that cripple humanitys potential and subsequently assist in emancipating ourselves from them; this urge is expected given that we are sentient and empathic beings. However, this essay has also acknowledged the possible detriment that may befall sociology in such a venture. Moreover, we have explored the various external forces that contribute to the overall condition of the sociological paradigm; the discipline is imprinted with numerous inequalities and is persuaded greatly by market and political demands to the disadvantage of forming a Public Sociology. Finally, the issue of individual differences, whilst not extensively explored, will remain a long-lasting dilemma as we attempt to reconcile our differences, and harness our collective research and experiences to develop a legitimate and democratically-orientated discipline suitably equipped, confident and competent in participating within wider society. Bibliography Adair-Toteff, C. 1995. Ferdinand Tonnies: Utopian Visionary. Sociological Theory. Vol. 13, No. 1, pp. 58-65. Bourdieu, P. 1993. The field of cultural reproduction. Polity: Cambridge. Bourdieu, P. 1988. Homo Academicus. Polity: Cambridge. Brady, D. 2004. Why public sociology may fail. Social Forces. Vol. 82, No.4 pp. 1629-1638. Bryman, A. 2004. Social Research Methods. 2ND Edition. Oxford University Press: Oxford. Burawoy, M. 2005. The return of the repressed: recovering the public face of U.S. Sociology, One hundred years on. ANNALS. Vol 600, No. 1, pp. 68-85. Chomsky, N. Otero, C. 2004. Language and Politics. AK Press: London. Comte, A. 1988. Introduction to Positive Philosophy. Oxford University Press: Oxford. Durkheim, E. 1972. Emile Durkheim: Selected Writings, ed and trans. Giddens, A. Cambridge University Press. Goffman, I. 1990. Stigma: Notes on the Management of Spoiled Identity. Penguin Press Gouldner, A. 1971. The coming crisis of Western Soc iology. Heinemann: London. Hebdige, D. 1988. Subculture: the meaning of style. London: Routledge. Hossfeld,L. Nyden, P. 2005. Public Sociology: Research, Action, and Change. Sage Publications: London. Kalleberg, R. 2005. What is Public Sociology? Why and how should it be made stronger? The British Journal of Sociology. Vol. 56, No. 3, pp. 387-393. Luck, P. 2007. Sociology as a practice in humanity: Noam Chomsky, Howard Zinn, and Social Responsibility. Critical Sociology. Vol. 33, No. 5-6, pp. 937-956. Marx. K. Engels, F. 1991. The German Ideology. Lawrence and Wishart: London. Marx. K. Engels, F. 1848. The Communist Manifesto. Penguin Books: London Mills, C. 1959. The Sociological Imagination. Oxford University Press: New York. Murji, K. 2007. Sociological Engagements: Institutional Racism and Beyond. Sociology. Vol. 41, No. 5, pp. 843-855. Nielson, F. 2004. The vacant we: remarks on public sociology. Social Forces. Vol. 82, No.4, pp. 1619-1628. Nietzsc he, F. 2014. Beyond good and evil. Penguin Press. Ossewaarde, M. 2007. Sociology Back to the Publics. Sociology. Vol. 4, No. 5, pp. 799-812. Parenti, M. 1995. Against Empire. San Francisco: City Lights. Parker, M. Jary, D. 1995. The McUniversity: Organisation, management and academic subjectivity. Organisation. Vol. 2, No. 2, pp. 118-319. Plato. 1993. Republic. Oxford University Press: Oxford. Shilling, C. 2003. The body and social theory. 2nd edition. Sage Publications: London. Skeggs, B. Deem, R. 2003. Feminist research methods. Sage Publications: London. Weber, M. 1989. Science as a Vocation. Unwin Hyman: London. Zsolnai, L. Gasparski, W. 2002. Ethics and the future of capitalism, praxeology: The international annual of practical philosophy and methodology. Transaction Publishers: London.

Of Mice and Men Film/Book Comparison Free Essays

The lack of interaction between the Weak’ ones of the ranch in the film version of Of Mice and Men results in the obscuring of the theme of handicaps that is present throughout the novel. In the film, the scene begins with Leonie approaching Crooks as the rest of the men are in the nearby town. They discuss Lien’s desire to tend rabbits and later on, Leonie makes it clear his intention for George and he to be together till the end. We will write a custom essay sample on Of Mice and Men Film/Book Comparison or any similar topic only for you Order Now George comes in, escorts Leonie out of the room where they encounter Curlers wife as she complains of her unhappy marriage and runs away. The book varies in the way that Curlers wife and Candy are both in the room as they all talk. As Candy, Leonie, and Crooks discuss the promise of a brighter future, Curlers wife is quick to crush their dreams with the reality of each of their situations. After she humiliates them, they are defeated and their harsh circumstances sink in. It is important to notice in the novel that each character has their own handicap, whether it is age, gender, race, mental capability, or physical capability; although they show strength even with their weak descriptions, the purpose of the theme is to convey the low tolerance their society has of handicaps. For example, Crooks, even being a bitter man, latches onto their dream of the little house for the promise of companionship, but because of his race and the prejudice during the time period, Curlers wife makes sure he knows that he will never be accepted. Although the handicaps are physically portrayed In the film, they are not reinforced well enough because there isn’t as big of a power difference between Leonie and Crooks as there is between them and Curlers wife. Curlers wife may be handicapped as her loneliness makes her desperate, but she has the ability to take away any hope they eave. Also, in the novel, Curlers wife mentions that the men left the three Weak’ ones at home. This comment serves to further describe the time period as there Is never enough protection for the weak from the strong. The theme of handicaps Is essential to the comprehension of the novel as It grasps the concept of Inequality; without the theme’s distinction, there Is no closure, positive or negative, that Is needed for the reader to comprehend the negative Impact the fictional world has on a group of people that are not as strong as society requires them to be. How to cite Of Mice and Men Film/Book Comparison, Papers

The Pursuit of Happyness Portraying Father/Son Attachment Essay Example For Students

The Pursuit of Happyness Portraying Father/Son Attachment Essay â€Å"Do you trust me? † That is the multi-dimensional question that Chris Gardner asks his son, Christopher, throughout the movie The Pursuit of Happyness. It is a question that is used as a tool for reinforcement, as a pacifying effect, and as a probe for attachment theorists to examine the depth of the father/son relationship. In response to our assignment to identify the type of attachment between Chris and his son, our group identified patterns that matched well with multiple theories. Our text identifies Erik Erikson, John Bowlby, and Mary Ainsworth as very influential persons in defining attachment (Santrock p 366). In correlation to the movie, Erikson’s theory of eight stages of development can be applied with an emphasis on the initiative vs. guilt phase. John Bowlby is credited for origination works on the Attachment Theory. The fourth phase of his conceptualization of attachment can certainly be related to the movie. Our group also tagged the work of Mary Ainsworth and her Strange Situation measurement device. We concluded that Christopher fit the description of a securely attached baby very well. According to Erik Erikson’s view of a child’s development, physical comfort and sensitive care are vital to establishing a basic trust in infants. In turn, this sense of trust is the foundation for attachment and sets the stage for a lifelong expectation that the world will be a good and pleasant place to be (Santrock p 366). This trust coupled with Christopher’s age act as a buffer against all of the harsh realities that Chris must cope with. Christopher’s age places him in Erikson’s initiative versus guilt stage. During this stage, children are expected to take initiative in creating play situations that can help cope with challenges (Harder 2002). An excellent example of Christopher in this stage is when the two of them were in the subway station the first night after getting kicked out of the motel. Chris tells his son that the scanner really is a time machine and pretends that they are transported back in time. Christopher uses his imagination and play skills to pretend that they are really hiding from dinosaurs in a cave rather than sleeping in a public restroom in the subway. Christopher also shows initiative when, later in the movie, he suggests to his dad that they can sleep in the cave again if they have to. John Bowlby is credited with the origins of the Attachment Theory, taking an ethological perspective in which much of his work is still highly regarded. There are four phases of his Attachment theory. In the first phase the child is oriented toward all human stimuli, the second phase is differentiating between stimuli and the third phase is proximity seeking. In the fourth phase, the child adjusts to keep proximity with the caregiver in order to cope with his environment (Walters p 145). While Chris continues to ask his son this question in moments of adversity, he does so more as a reassurance to his son that things will be OK. He also uses the question as a calming mechanism for his son. One such example is when they were first admitted to the homeless shelter and Chris needed to work on the broken bone density scanner. As Christopher lay in the bunk bed, Chris inched his way out of the room to work on the scanner asking â€Å"Can you hear me? † which triggered an emotional response from his son. Chris responded by asking him â€Å"Do you trust me? , which calmed Christopher down. Strange Situation is used as a popular measurement device of infant attachment created by Mary Ainsworth. Ainsworth classified children in three different categories of attachment: secure attachment, ambivalent-insecure attachment, and avoidant-insecure attachment (A fourth attachment category was later added by other researchers, (Van Wagner 2009). The closeness and bond between the two meet the characteristics of a securely attached relationship. Chris did not meet his father until late in life and did not have an attachment to his father like the attachment he made with his son. .u4f858cacfd8ecfd9af5db564f583a2f8 , .u4f858cacfd8ecfd9af5db564f583a2f8 .postImageUrl , .u4f858cacfd8ecfd9af5db564f583a2f8 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u4f858cacfd8ecfd9af5db564f583a2f8 , .u4f858cacfd8ecfd9af5db564f583a2f8:hover , .u4f858cacfd8ecfd9af5db564f583a2f8:visited , .u4f858cacfd8ecfd9af5db564f583a2f8:active { border:0!important; } .u4f858cacfd8ecfd9af5db564f583a2f8 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u4f858cacfd8ecfd9af5db564f583a2f8 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u4f858cacfd8ecfd9af5db564f583a2f8:active , .u4f858cacfd8ecfd9af5db564f583a2f8:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u4f858cacfd8ecfd9af5db564f583a2f8 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u4f858cacfd8ecfd9af5db564f583a2f8 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u4f858cacfd8ecfd9af5db564f583a2f8 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u4f858cacfd8ecfd9af5db564f583a2f8 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u4f858cacfd8ecfd9af5db564f583a2f8:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u4f858cacfd8ecfd9af5db564f583a2f8 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u4f858cacfd8ecfd9af5db564f583a2f8 .u4f858cacfd8ecfd9af5db564f583a2f8-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u4f858cacfd8ecfd9af5db564f583a2f8:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Moscow On The Hudson EssayChris â€Å"made up (his) mind as a young kid that when (he) had children they were going to know who their father is and that he isnt going anywhere (Gardner, n. d. ). This was the basis in which the development of the secure attachment is formed. The strong relationship was a result of the quality time they spent together. Chris played basketball with his son before going to an appointment, had insightful conversations, taught him things like how to spell happiness or the meaning of possibly, and showed love and affection with hugs and caress. An individual characteristic of secure attachment is the child’s tendency to seek out their parents for comfort when they are scared (Van Wagner 2009). When Christopher was scared and did not know where they were going next, Chris comforted his son and made sure his son had something to eat and somewhere to sleep. Another characteristic of a secure attachment is that children do not experience significant distress when separated from caregivers (Van Wagner 2009). Though Christopher would spend long days in child care, the secure attachment was apparent like through the emotion of happiness when reunited after school. Temperament has a great effect on the relationship among poverty, stress, and attachment. A study done by Alexander Chess and Stella Thomas identified three basic types of temperament. In the analysis, it was found that one type of temperament, an ‘easy child’, is described as â€Å"generally in a positive mood, quickly establishes regular routines in infancy, and adapts easily to new experiences† (Santrock, 2008, p. 59). In the movie, Christopher certainly portrays an easy child. Through all the hardships the family encountered, Christopher remained optimistic. He understood that he and his father did not have much money. With the odds against them, the connection between Chris and Christopher proved that the quality of time together contributed to the success of their relationship. When they moved from their home to a motel, to a bathroom at the metro station, to a shelter, Christopher adapted with little complaints. Christopher’s easy temperament made situations less difficult. According to some research, children who spent many hours in center-based care and in poor-quality child care centers showed more stress and were linked to more problems such as anxiety and aggressive behavior (Santrock, 2008, p. 371-372). Christopher, however, was not affected. The daycare seemed to be a stable part of Christopher’s life, depicting a routine. What little stress we see from Christopher, like realizing that they have to move from the motel, does not show any effect on his relationship with his father. Again, it only proved the feat of their companionship. The Pursuit of Happyness is a wonderful portrayal of perseverance, love, and trust. Trust is the foundation of any relationship whether it is a husband-wife, girlfriend-boyfriend, BFF’s (best-friends-forever), or father-son. With the relationship of Chris and Christopher, we witnessed a secure relationship-attached in such a way that the father-son bond was unbreakable even in times of severe adversity. We analyzed a relationship where the answer to the question, â€Å"Do you trust me? † is a resounding â€Å"Yes! † Bibliography: Black, T., Blumenthal, J., Tisch, S., Lassiter, J., Smith, W. (Producers), Muccino, G. (Director). (2006). The Pursuit of Happyness . United States: Columbia Pictures. Gardner, C. (n.d.). Christopher Gardner. Retrieved February 24, 2009, from Website: http://www.chrisgardnermedia.com/main/biography.htm Harder, Arlene F. (2002) The Developmental Stages of Erickson Retrieved February 22, 2009 from http://www.learningplaceonline.com/stages/organize/Erikson.htm Santrock, J. W. (2008). A Topical Approach to Life-Span Development. NewYork: McGraw-Hill. Van Wagner, Linda (2009) Attachment Styles Retrieved February 22, 2009 from http://psychology.about.com/od/loveandattraction/ss/attachmentstyle.htm Walters, Glenn D. (2000) Beyond Behavior: Construction of an Overarching Psychological Theory of Lifestyles London: Greenwood Publishing

A Manager’s Guide to Operating Budgets free essay sample

A budget is an estimate of the costs, revenues, and resources over a specific time gap which reflects a business future financial achievements. An isolated budget is very important as it also provides a plan for achieving objectives, it allows the business to track its performance and can be used to cope with foreseeable adverse situations.Uxbridge College use budgets to be able to show to banks or other companies how well the business is predicted to do, if the College is only expected to spend  £40,000, but in the next year but expecting to turnover  £100,00 profit, they are very inclined to receive financial support if they can prove the loan will be paid back. A budget also shows what the company will spend over the next academic year for the College with a breakdown of how the funding will be spent on certain resources, for example, the College budget will include how much they can spend on employee wages and how much food resources should be purchased. We will write a custom essay sample on A Manager’s Guide to Operating Budgets or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page This will make sure that the College does not overspend overall and in specific sectors, it is vital that the College abides by the budget they have set in order to be successful. A budget will limit the sum Uxbridge College will spend on a certain project, budgets ensure money is not wasted on resources which are not viewed as useful.Uxbridge College needs to make sure they are able to establish the main priorities from their allocated budget, the college should view which sectors are entitled to funding money, for example, the Research Department, the Marketing Department, and how much should be spent on different sectors of the college. College Staff should have known about the colleges budget and kept up to date throughout the academic year on how well they are doing working with the budget, if it looks like a specific department goes above their allocated budget it may motivate staff to keep spending costs to a minimum, jobs, and responsibilities may also be delegated within th e store so all staff are useful and are having a positive impact, if they aren’t worth the money they’re paid to be there they should be delegated tasks to do. People within McDonalds will have responsibilities concerning different aspects of their budget to ensure the spending is done efficiently and money is not spent unnecessarily, for example, they are not overstaffed or stores do not have more food than needed which would result in being wasted and therefore a waste of

Radio One Essay Example

Radio One Essay Example Radio One Essay Radio One Essay Valuation of Radio One, Inc. Corporate Valuation: Assignment 1 Professor: Dry. Oliver Splat Submission date 24-09-2013 1 . Company description of Radio One Radio One is a large radio group in the US, their strategy is to provide urban-oriented music, entertainment, and information to a primarily African-American audience in as many major markets as possible. The African-American population expected to experience an extensively growth in population and income. Furthermore, the African-American is listening 23,6% hours more to the radio and purchases, despite heir lower average income, more of certain goods and services than the general population. Consequently, advertisers are willing to pay more for advertising than they do to the general public, what results in a higher power ratio for Radio One. The growing population and high consuming behavior of the African American creates many growth opportunities for Radio One, consequently, they are expanding their business by acquiring radio stations. Radio One pursues a clustering strategy to serve their markets efficiently. By building these clusters, Radio One can acquire ore stations in the same region to reach a greater audience. Furthermore, by acquiring more stations, Radio One becomes more attractive to advertisers since they cover a larger market, and it is able to cut costs and create more efficiency. The resulting larger national footprint would bring greater advertising revenue and serve as more meaningful platform for the companys planned expansion into other forms of media, including cable, the recording industry, and the internet. On the other hand, the acquisitions of the in total 21 stations brings many risks. The stations can e overvalued and therefore the acquisition does not add much value to the value of Radio One. Another huge risk, which would affect whole African-American market, is that the forecasts about the population growth, the growth of income or the percentage of listeners fall short. This reduces the expected revenues of Radio One and makes it less attractive to expand their business. 2. Valuing the acquisition with the Discounted Cash Flow Method When applying the Discounted Cash Flow Method (DC-Method), the Free Cash Flow to the Firm (FCC) of the 21 stations should be lactated for each year. To calculate this FCC projected statements from 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004 are used and add the calculation of the terminal value of the FCC (See Appendix 2. 1). As shown in Appendix 2. 2, the Net Working Capital (NC) is calculated as a percentage from the gross revenues from Radio One in 1997 and 1998. The year 1999 is excluded, since the large stock issue was an abnormal event, impacting NC significantly. In addition to the FCC of the projected period, the terminal value growth rate is equal at the growth rate of Gross Domestic Product (GAP) which is on average 4%. However the Cash Flows of a company do not grow with the same percentage, but usual less than the growth of the revenue. As the stations produces significant cash flows, it is assumed that the growth rate is 1% lower than the growth in gross revenue and therefore be 3%. This growth rate is used to calculate the Terminal Value. To calculate the present value of the terminal values, the terminal value from either the pure WAC method as well as from the Hybrid method needs to be discounted. To determine the discount rate, a WAC of 11,5% is calculated (see Appendix 2. ). First, the weights of debt (0,20) and equity (0,80) are weighted and the tax rate is assumed to be 35%. The cost of debt are founded by calculating the average interest rate of investment grade bonds. Furthermore a risked rate equal to a 10 years government bond is used, which was 6,28%. Historically, US stocks have outperformed bonds by about 7. 5%, however, recently research finds lower rates of 3-5% and therefore it is assumed 5 % to be an appropriate rate. The equity beta was calculated with the Human method, which assumes the debt stays equal and never be paid down. The Miles Gazelle method is tested as well, which assumes the debt stays equal to the firm value and this resulted in a slightly higher equity beta of 1,03 in contrast to the equity beta of 0,95 from the Human formula. Since the Human method is most commonly used and it seems to be a fair assumption, the equity beta of 0,95 is used. By using both methods, it is more certain that the right direction is chosen to calculate the WAC. Using this equity beta in the CAMP gives a cost of equity of roughly 11%. The CAMP used to be a good measure in the past, but has some shortcomings. One of these shortcomings is that the CAMP does not take the size of the firm into account. Since the CAMP does not correct for this size premium that has to be paid by small companies, the size premium of this low-cap firm is increased with 1,7%. Applying the WAC formula, a cost of capital of is obtained for Radio One. The use of the pure WAC method results in a total value of approximately 1,73 billion and the hybrid method results in a total value of approximately 1,74. The fact that these values are remarkably close to each other, increases the reliability of this value. However it should be taken into account that a change in the assumptions made in this valuation process, has a huge impact on the value. Especially the growth value of FCC, which is hard to determine can change the value considerably. In appendix 2. 4, you can find the details of these values and the results of the pure WAC method per division. In addition, an estimation is made about the impact on a change in depreciation after 2015. The reason for this test is that the depreciation till 201 5 is remarkably in comparison with the capital expenditure. Depreciation of goodwill of the acquired stations could be an explanation for these high amounts. In the long run, depreciation should be equal to the capital expenditures. This estimation clarifies that a decrease in depreciation after the year 2015, has an impact on the value of the firm. However, this impact is approximately only billion according to the test. This does not change the earlier forecasted value significantly and therefore it is acceptable to rely on a valuation of During the divestiture of Clear Channel, Infinity Broadcasting paid 21. X 2000 BCC to acquire, Cox Radio paid 18. Xx 2000 BCC. The 12 stations of Clear Channel, targeted by Radio One, are of similar quality to those purchased by Infinity, so a multiple of 21. Xx 2001 BCC would be realistic, which means a price of $1. 551. 462. 000. For the radio stations of Davis Broadcasting and Shirk, the average multiple is the most reliable multiple since it is unknown if the quality of those stations is comparable to those acquired by Infinity Broadcasting and Cox Radio. An offer of 19. Xx 2001 BCC results in a price of $36. 708. 000 for Davis Broadcasting and a price of $48. 578. 000 for Shirk. For the 21 stations targeted, the total offer based on the transaction multiples is round $1. 64 billion. However, there are Just two examples of current transactions in the radio market, despite the low dispersion between the two current transactions, more research is required before making conclusions. See Appendix 3. 1 for a more detailed clarification. According to a sample of 14 companies, including Radio One, three different multiples are obtained and used to value the adjusted market values of the 21 radio stations targeted: (1) BCC multiple of 17,2 with an adjusted market value of 1,38 billion, (2) EBITDA multiple of 19,4 with an adjusted market value of 1,44 lion, and (3) After-tax cash flow multiple of 26,1 with an adjusted market value of 3,00 billion. The adjusted market values based on EBITDA- and after cash flow are very close together. The EBITDA multiple (See Appendix 3. For EBITDA calculation) provides a crude estimate of the firms cash flows, it does provide a relatively good measure of the before-tax cash flows that are generated by the firms existing assets. The after-tax cash flow multiple values the earnings potential of the entire firm using the FCC. However, FCC for most firms is very volatile, because it reflects discretionary expenditures for UAPITA investments and working capital. BCC is a method used in the broadcasting industry to compare companies with each other. BCC a better multiple since it is better linked to operational activities than EBITDA. As a result, regarding the BCC transaction multiple, the value of the 12 stations of Clear Channel is $1. 306. 114. 000, the value of Davis Broadcasting is 33. 304. 000, and the value of Shirk is $44. 074. 000. The value of the 21 stations targeted based on the best fitting multiple (BCC) is $1,38 billion. For a more detailed clarification, see Appendix 3. 3. Xx BCC After Clear Channels divestiture announcement, Radio Ones stock increased from $40 to as high as $97 per share, which implies a 30 times forward BCC. In comparison with the typical trading multiple for radio companies, Xx multiple is significantly greater. This implies that shareholders expect that Radio One is worth Xx BCC after acquiring their targeted radio stations. The lowest price Radio One has to pay is the sum of the stand-alone cash flows of the 21 targeted stations. The highest price Radio wants to pay is Xx BCC to avoid dilution. The difference between Xx BCC and he sum of the stand-alone cash flows is called synergies. However, it is questionable if the shareholders are estimating the magnitude of the synergies correct. Altogether, the acquisition of the 21 targeted stations is valuable Recommendation The acquisition of the 21 radio stations from Clear Channel will definitely increase the value of Radio One station. The price that should be paid to Clear Channel should multiples of comparable companies, the value is expected to be lower. According to the BCC (net operating income) multiple, the value is 1,38 billion and following the EBITDA multiple, this value is 1,44 billion. The after-tax cash flow multiple is left out, since this value is largely increased by the high depreciations amortization and deviates too much from the other multiples. Concluding, the price that should be paid by Radio One for the 21 radio stations should be between 1,38 billion and 1,73 billion. Moreover, Radio One wants to make a preemptive offer, since it does not want to miss the unique opportunity to acquire 21 valuable stations at once. Offering a price that is too low, will increase the chances that other companies are willing to pay ore. In addition, the 1,38 billion which is obtained by using the BCC multiple, is a not a very complicated calculation and can easily be applied by investors without too much effort. Accordingly, it is suggestible that Radio One offers to pay 1,5 billion to Clear Channel. This margin should be high enough to compete with other companies interested in the acquisition and still create substantial extra revenues. In addition to the 230 million margin of the value of the discounted cash flow, Radio One can create generous additional income from the advantages of merged operations, called wineries. Nevertheless, the risk exists that the calculated values are too optimistic and the synergies turn out to be less valuable than expected.

Hindu Tradition + Christian Thought + Greek Philosophy Research Paper

Hindu Tradition + Christian Thought + Greek Philosophy - Research Paper Example Under Saivism, Shiva is considered to be the supreme God, with his two forms being the lingam and the human form. Among the variants of the Human form, the most important is the dancing posture called Nataraja and also Dakshinamoorthy, the instructor of four sages. Vaishnavism on the other hand has its roots in Northeren India where the Aryans were mostly concentrated. It became renown in the 3rd century AD. Vaishnavites believe that Vishnu is the supreme power, and that god is personal and the ultimate goal of life is to be the servant of god, through faith or Bhakti. Modern Vaishnavites also believe that Vishnu takes many incarnations every eon ( Bhandarkar, 48,62, 160,165) Temples Along with the differences in sects and cultures between north and south India, considerable difference in the style of architecture has also been noticed. The most prominent parts by which they can be differentiated are their superstructures, and also the plan, vertical structure, statues and motifs. Th e major part of northern India, from the foothills of the Himalayas to the Bengal region has temples in the northern style; whereas the southern style was concentrated to the more southerly interiors had a consistent style. Mixture of the two occurs towards the central parts of India (Temple Styles, 86). The temples of India were classified as according to their typological features and were divided into Nagara, Dravida and Vesara styles, mainly signifying square, octagonal or apsidal ended shapes and these dictate the other structural parts of the temple. The Nagara style was common in Northern India, whereas the Dravida style was famous in southern India. Building of a temple in India in those times were mainly the religious beliefs of the kings who ascended the throne. So most of the temples were known according to the king under whom they were built. Various styles have been exported to places all over the world, including Texas (Temple Styles, 88). Around thirty four Hindu temp les exist in Texas, with about fifteen in Houston and Dallas. Various types of temples have emerged in the United States, such as the Sri Meenakshi Temple in Houston, which is an example of a temple dedicated to one particular deity, Goddess Meenakshi, but in keeping with the tradition of unity in diversity, with so many sects in the Hindu culture, the worship of Shiva is also done here, in the form of Lord Shri Sundareswara. Vaishnava traditions are also celebrated as the temple is also dedicated to Lord Venkateshwara, another form of Vishnu. Thus this temple does not concentrate on any one sect but provides a multiple option of pursuing ones faith (Brady, 87; Laderman and Leon, 102). Majority of these temples were built according to the Vastu Shastra of the Vedic period, with modern adaptations. These new temples have spacious halls, and used for weddings and other cultural occasions. In most temples there is one main deity, but the deities of the other sects and customs are also recognized. This is because of lack of space in foreign land, but it also helps to foster good relations between the various sects present there (Badlani, 329-330). For a decision, as to which deity to be made the main one in a temple, becomes a much debated topic. Various devotees lobby for the different sects, and sometimes a temple that is supposed to bring in peace and harmony becomes a cause of division. Reaching a consensus is very difficult due to large number

Current event and Us Diplomacy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Current event and Us Diplomacy - Essay Example rld War Two and dominated decades of international crisis and major global affairs as the countries engaged in psychological, technological, economic and even sports competitions to exercise and stage a sense of supremacy over the other. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the doctrine employed by John F. Kennedy during his tenure as president. Kennedy took over the most important position in the global arena – the presidency of the United States, at a time when tensions between the US-led West and the Soviet-led East were quite evident, because of this premise the foremost agenda for the president during his tenure was to identify and then curb the growth of communism. Kennedy’s vision was that of a stronger America that had the ability to conquer the challenges communism posed for freedom. According to many commentators Kennedy actually had very little ideology in the creation of his foreign policy other than his anti-communist sentiments and an unparalleled belief in the capability of strong governance. In his inaugural address Kennedy made his belief and desire for expected action against communism very clear when he addressed the issue in the following words; â€Å"Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate† (John F. Kennedy, 1961). Kennedy’s presidency saw the o ccurrence of notable events such as increased participation of the United States in the Vietnam War and the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. Many commentators have argued, assessed and discussed the emergence of presidential doctrines and their origins, until the arrival of the twentieth century the only presidential doctrine that actually had the name of a president associated with it was that of Monroe’s (Brands, 2006). The Kennedy Doctrine arrived at a crucial time for the United States, outlining the foreign policy agenda for his establishment, the major tenets for the policy firstly outlined that the United States would not pursue any military initiative