The text the color purple Essay Example for Free

The text the color purple Essay The text ‘The Color Purple’, in both the novel by Alice Walker and the film adaptation directed by Steven Spielberg, show Celies, a broken, mistreated girl, developing into an independent, strong woman, despite the physical, emotion and sexual abuse that she faces throughout her life. Each representation of the text take on a different approach as to how it portrays Celie’s search for self through her relationships with other characters-particularly Nettie and Shug-, her belief in God, her struggle for independence and fight against the oppression Albert forces on her. The novel tends to be more confronting while the harshness of the mistreatment is softened in the film by the placid music, comical elements and the fact that physical violence is hardly seen. Though the film and novel vary significantly and utilize different techniques to express the general ideas, both explore the major themes of racism, male dominance and family relationships. The novel tells the story through Celies letters, and therefore the reader knows nothing more than what Celie writes. This strong, single point of view makes the story much more personal and the effect of her innocent, frank language make the injustices she is put through even more stirring. The book uses Celies short, blunt sentences to convey her fear and turmoil, opening with a simple confronting sentence: â€Å"you better never tell nobody but God. It’d kill your mammy†. Celie starts as a scared, confused girl with nothing in the world but her faith in God and her love for her younger sister, Nettie. The film, however, begins with direct contrasts to this, with the two sisters laughing and playing clapping games in a beautiful field of purple, Celie’s pregnancy not revealed until she steps out to meet ‘Pa’ in which the light music stops abruptly. The film used this lighter opening to soften the impact of the rape and to show her innocence and youth, as well as immediately show the closeness she shares with Nettie. Celie grew up with no self-formed opinion of herself, believing the negative comments that others spoke of her: â€Å"Celie you got the ugliest smile this side of creation†. The years of abuse made her submissive and silent, never speaking up for herself in order to survive. Shots of Celie watching events from behind props, windows or with her face turned down demonstrate the invisible nature that she has developed in the film. As the film had to keep running time down, Celie’s life is skipped through. This is done with a clever camera position showing young Celies shadow reading, her voice gradually getting deeper and her reading more fluent, the shadow changing to the figure of a woman. Recurring snapshots of the letterbox in various conditions as well as the use of dates aid the films quicker progression through the plot. Gaps left in the story by these skips in time are filled in with a voiceover. The novel illustrates Celies fear of males through word choice and blunt statements, as well as Celies husband being referred to as simply Mr. _____ for a significant part of the book , whereas the film used visual techniques such as lighting and camera angles. Many low angle camera shots of Albert or ‘Pa’ enclosed by shadows or looking down upon the females give the impression of dominance. Close-ups highlighting the expression of fear on Celie’s face or at sinister intentions of the male characters at the start of the film compared to the close ups of Celie as a confident woman after she found her identity show the change that she has undergone. This change in Celie occurs with the introduction of Shug and Sofia into her life. The two contrasting women are both strong and free and teach Celie that women do not have to be ruled by men. Celies main influence is Shug, who is loved by Albert as well as Celie, whose attachment to Shug is depicted through her primary role in the story of Celies life. Shug plays an extremely imperative part in Celies search for self by being the affectionate, encouraging person that Celie always needed. Most importantly, she teaches Celie to love herself and be happy with whom she is as a person. Shug opens Celies mind by removing other peoples influence on her belief in God, explaining that â€Å"not being tied to what God looks like frees us†. The turning point in both the book and the novel is when Celie discovers that Albert has hidden Nettie’s letters from her for all these years. Her love of Nettie, who she believes to be â€Å"the only one to ever love me† had helped her to stay strong through the years and endure Albert’s abuse. When she finds that he had been keeping Nettie from her, her rage breaks her fear of him and gives her the courage to leave the house and move to Memphis with Shug. Albert summarizes what he believes to be her weaknesses when he says â€Å"You black, you poor, you ugly, you a woman. Goddamn you nothing at all†. Celies retaliation by cursing him with â€Å"everything you even think about is going to fail until you do right by me† shows just how far she has come already. Albert’s insult poses a challenge for Celie. She goes out to find happiness and become self-sufficient, despite Albert’s condemnation. The novel looks at the progress that Celie makes with her sewing of pants. This is symbolic of the protest against discrimination against women and is a major part of Celie’s search for self. The film however skips through this, instead focusing on the symbolism of the purple field in Celie’s happiest moments-her childhood with Nettie, her walk with Shug after she returns home a successful woman and her reuniting with Nettie at the very end. The conclusion of the novel seemed to be much more rounded, with all the strings of the past woven neatly into a final letter in which she addresses â€Å"Dear God. Dear stars, dear trees, dear sky, dear peoples. Dear everything. Dear God†. In this letter we find out that Nettie and her husband, Olivia, Adam and Adams wife have returned home from Africa. Celie and Nettie now have their own house, after finding out the truth about their ‘Pa’, Shug as come back to Celie, Sofia and Harpo are once again happy together and Celie has forgiven Albert for the past, now valuing him as a friend. It is this connection that eventually brings them together as friends. Though the film and novel vary significantly and utilize different techniques to express the general ideas, both explore the major themes of abuse, oppression, male dominance and family relationships. The central character, Celie, finds her identity through the help of those she loves and her personal strength to accept the past and move on with the future.

Essays --

Why is Ethiopia Always Hungry? In 1974, Louis Leake discovered a 3.2 million year old skeleton he named â€Å"Lucy† in the Afar region of Ethiopia. This evidence indicates human inhabitants have lived in the region for millions of years. In Ethiopia today, the people are chronically hungry. There have been recurrent famines leading to starvation and death of hundreds of thousands of people. The country’s population is outpacing its food production. Did â€Å"Lucy† die from starvation? Why can’t Ethiopia feed its people? Ethiopia is the oldest independent country in Africa with a long and complex history dating back thousands of years. Located in the eastern Horn of Africa, Ethiopia is a landlocked country slightly smaller than twice the size of Texas. In 1994, a federal republic was created consisting of nine ethnically based states and lead by a president elected by the people (â€Å"Central Intelligence Agency†). It has a current population of 93 million people. In 2013, Ethiopia had a population growth rate of 2.9%, ranking it ninth in the world in population growth. This growth rate is projected to continue over the next 40 years (Population Challenges). The country is made up of many ethnic groups with the Oromo (35%) and the Amhara (27%) making up the largest groups. In general, the population is rural and poor. Only 17% of the people live in urban centers. Agriculture is the main driver of the Ethiopian economy. Most of the farming occurs on small farms and consists of subsi stence agriculture. There is very little commercial farming. Agriculture contributes 46% to GNP and employs 85% of the population (â€Å"Ethiopia†). The geography of Ethiopia is a high plateau divided by the Great Rift Valley. There is a central mounta... ...e weather conditions, the problem continues to grow. Solving these problems requires action on all levels--from the international community and the United Nations, by the Ethiopian federal government, and members of the regional and local communities. The course of action for Ethiopia will take both time and financial support. The problem did not develop overnight and it cannot be solved quickly. By working together to provide sustainable solutions, the people of Ethiopia may one day be protected during times of drought by having enough food available to prevent famine and starvation. Hopefully, Ethiopia will be able to implement the reforms and changes needed to someday sustain itself. By providing adequate food for its people, it will eliminate the need for food handouts. Maybe some day soon we will be able to quit asking, â€Å"Why is Ethiopia always hungry?†

Nike Competitive Advantage

* 1. MGMT65000 – Strategic Management – spring 2011 Test 1 By: Divya Mishra School of Management Purdue University Calumet Submitted to: Dr. Arifin Angriawan1|Page * 2. Company profile & backgroundNIKE, Inc. is engaged in the design, development and worldwide marketing of footwear,apparel, equipment and accessory products. . It sells its products to around 18,000 retail accountsin the United States and through a mix of independent distributors, licensees and subsidiaries innearly 200 countries. NIKE is the largest seller of athletic footwear and athletic apparel in the world. The Company creates designs for men, women and children.The top selling product categoryincludes running, basketball, childrens, cross-training and womens shoes. It also designs shoesfor outdoor activities like tennis, golf, soccer, baseball, football, bicycling, volleyball, wrestling,cheerleading, aquatic activities, hiking and other athletic and recreational uses. Index membership Sector Industry EmployeesS&P 500 Consumer Cyclical Footwear 23,300ProductsNIKE sells sports attire and accessories relevant to each sport mentioned above as well as othersports-inspired lifestyle apparel, like bags, socks, sport balls, eyewear, protective equipment,basic sport equipment, etc.In addition to NIKE’s footwear, apparel, and accessories businesses, the Company sells productsunder other brand names in particular markets. NIKE wholly-owns five footwear and apparelcompanies that specialize in different sports: Cole Haan, Converse Inc. , Hurley InternationalLLC, Umbro Ltd. , and NIKE Golf. These subsidiaries combined together account for 13% oftotal revenues, $2. 5 billion, in fiscal 2009. Manufacturing Footwear & ApparelAll of NIKE’s footwear is manufactured outside the United States in the factories of China,Vietnam, Indonesia, and Thailand and account for 98 percent of total NIKE brand footwear in2009.The main raw materials used in NIKE footwear are rubber, plastic compound s, and foamcushioning materials, nylon, leather, canvas, and polyurethane films used for cushioningcomponents. NIKE brand apparel is also manufactured almost entirely outside of the United States, in 34different countries. The main materials used in NIKE apparel are natural and synthetic fabricsand threads, plastic and metal hardware, and water and heat resistant fabrics. Marketing and AdvertisingNIKE places a significant weight on marketing the company and its products.NIKE aggressivelybonds the contracts with highly successful and influential athletes, coaches, teams, and leagueslike Michael Jordan, Serena Williams, and Tiger Woods to popularize its footwear, apparel andsports accessories. In order to sustain its dominance in the industry and stay competitive stay, NIKE activelyresponds to trends and changes in consumer preferences by adjusting the mix of existing productofferings, developing new products, styles and categories, and influencing sports and fitnesspreferences throug h aggressive marketing.Its primary areas of marketing remain Net TV andmagazines. 2|Page * 3. CompetitorsThe rivalry in the sports wear industry is very high. NIKE competes with numerous athletic andleisure shoe companies worldwide. It faces fierce competition in product offerings, technologies,marketing expenditures, pricing, costs of production, and customer services. The maincompetitors are Adidas, Reebok, Timberland, Woodland, and Puma.SWOT Analysis for NIKE Strengths Weaknesses Brand recognition Overseas manufacturing High product quality dependency Effective marketing Decreasing United States strategy market share Capacity of innovation High product price Strong distribution chain compared to Adidas Strong R&D Currency exposure Strong customer Medium retail presence relationship/satisfaction SWOT Analysis Opportunities Threats Expansion into emerging Fierce industry competition markets Revenue relies on Increased demand in product consumers’ discretionary innovation inc ome Growing segment of women Economic rescission athletes Fluctuation in the currency Increase in the number of sports events like Olympic, FIFA3|Page * 4.NIKE Innovations NIKE with Apple: The NIKE+ package consists of a pair of specially designed NIKE+ running shoes, an iPod nano, and a NIKE + iPod sport kit. The kit consists of a sensor that fits into a built-in pocket beneath the insole of the left shoe and a receiver that fits into the iPod nano dock connector. As a person runs, iPod tells the distance, pace, and calories burned via voice feedback that adjusts music volume as it plays. (Google image) Design your own shoes: NIKE allows customers to design their own shoes from a catalogue of predefined designs. Customers can choose their own colors and mascots to create shoes which define their personality.It provides Touch screen technology in store allowing customers to design shoes of choice. (Google image) Nike self lacing automatic shoes: NIKE is also coming up with the new a utomatic self lacing sneakers. The automatic lacing system provides a set of straps that can be automatically opened and closed to switch between a loosened and tightened position. 4|Page * 5. Critical data of Nike Annual Report$ Millions 2010Net Income 1,906. 7Current Liability 3,364. 2Total Assets 14419. 3Tax Rate 24. 2%Interest Rate 6. 35%Long-Term Debt 445. 8Return on Equity 19. 54%Total Equity 9753. 7Weighted Average Cost of Capital 8. 9%Capital Employed 11055. 1Interest Expense 6. EBIT 2516. 9NOPAT 1907. 81Return On Capital Employed 20. 7%Economic Value Added 1267. 25Cash Flow From Operations* 3164. 2Capital expenditure* 335. 1Free Cash Flow 2045. 31Five year Nike stock performance vs. S&P500* (Fiscal year 2006-2010) 2% Nike S&P500 90%5|Page * 6. 2010Nike revenue growth 2006-2010 Nike Revenue 25000 20000 Revenue 15000 10000 5000 0 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 YearNike revenue generation by product 2010 Revenue Generation by Product 6% 34% Footwear 60% Apparel Equipment6|Page * 7. 1. Please use Figure 2. 3 page 53 (Grant’s textbook, 7th edition) as your overall guide to draw a balanced scorecard for the firm.Please draw a balanced scorecard for the firm that you choose. Identify all four perspectives, each perspective’s objectives and their relationships. See example in the appendix. Feel free to modify it. On the other pages please elaborate on the four perspectives and their elements. For the financial performance perspective, at least you need to discuss: ROCE, EVA, and FCF. Conclude what the numbers mean to you as a manager (e. g. Good, bad, or neutral; and why). Why do firms need to prepare a balanced scorecard? (20 points) Balance Scorecard for NIKE 2010FINANCIAL GOOD–NEUTRAL †¢ ROCE : 17. 8% Neutral †¢ EVA: 1267. 25 millions Good †¢ FCF : 2045. 1 millions Good †¢ ROE : 19. 54% Good †¢ Profit Margin :10. 03% Good †¢ NIKE growth: 7% vs. industry growth Good 4. 5% Bad †¢ High advertising cost Good â € ¢ Better COGS% than competitorsCUSTOMER GOOD-NEUTRAL †¢ Customer Satisfaction Good †¢ Customer Loyalty Good †¢ Customer retention ratio Good †¢ Market Share Good †¢ Competitive Price Bad †¢ Number of Customers Good Good †¢ Design own shoes optionINTERNAL GOOD †¢ Marketing Innovative Products Good Celebrity endorsement Good Diversity of online product Good †¢ R&D Integrated researches Good Product technology Good High quality product design Good †¢ Good supplier relation Good †¢ IT for inventory control Good7|Page

Global Warming Public Policy Paper - 1311 Words

Global Warming Public Policy Paper The issue of Global warming is currently a very heated argument in the scientific community. Since the start of the industrial revolution countless amounts of carbon emissions have been pumped into the earth’s atmosphere, causing the temperatures in a majority of the parts of the world to rise. The research in this paper will inform the reader about the general concepts behind global warming and the ways the government effects how it is treated, by the end of this paper the reader will hopefully develop their own opinion on the matter and realize that this is no small issue and it should definitely not be overlooked. To understand why global warming happens, you have to first understand the greenhouse effect. This process plays a major role on global warming due to its ability to capture heat and contain it within the earth. To start with the energy from the sun passes through our atmosphere and shines down upon the earth, normally the greenh ouse gases are too few to trap very much of the energy waves. However with the pollution given off in recent years a greater and greater amounts of solar energy are trapped beneath the atmosphere due to the increased amount of greenhouse gases. This causes the earth to become heated past its normal temperature which causes significant amounts of climate change. The major greenhouse gases are water vapor, Carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, a majority of these are produced from the burning ofShow MoreRelatedImpact Of Global Warming On North Carolina1728 Words   |  7 PagesRepercussions of Global Warming in North Carolina To begin to comprehend the scope and dynamics of the projected effects of Global Warming on different sectors of North Carolina one has to understand the basics of this particular phenomenon. What exactly is Global Warming? 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