Passive Consumerism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Passive Consumerism - Essay Example Immediately, they know which fashions are in and which are out. They see the colours and trends on splashy, popular websites. They find out very quickly what they should be wearing and what they shouldn't. A time-honoured tradition used by the fashion industry to set trends and market their designs has been to work with famous people to model their clothes. With the advent of such shows as MTV and other music shows, the multiplicity of award shows, the public is barraged with a plethora of designs to choose from. However, the ultimate message from the fashion industry is; "if a famous person wears this - it must be cool and therefore you must have it too!" As author, Anne Paxton1 writes in a savvy Internet article; "Everyone from Gloria Swanson and Marilyn Monroe, to Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly have helped fashion influence the public, but the media craze over celebrities is hotter than ever before. TV and movies have taken center stage when it comes to both entertainment and fashion. Magazines spend endless ink on what Madonna and Jennifer Lopez wear to award shows." Paxton even suggests that this marketing strategy may well end the need for models to strut their stuff on the catw alks. This strategy proves to be a win-win situation for both the fashion industry and celebrities as they cash in on the free items that various designers throw their way. Another specific strategy used by the fashion industry is online advertising. The use of the Internet involves several strategies which include: creating an online version of a print magazine, banner ads (ads placed on specific sites for greater exposure) and well-placed photographs and articles about the fashion industry. According to an industry report on the Internet and marketing strategies by women's magazines, "The Internet has become a billon-dollar business.." This article also reports that according to Nielsen Net Ratings, more American women use the Internet than men at a rate of 51% - 49%. It goes on to say; "Women online readers in the United States tend to visit general interest sites on the Internet, such as shopping sites, beauty sites, and health sites. Therefore, magazines discovered the Internet several years ago as another method to better serve the customer since magazines. ' By targeting the large numbers of women who regularly participate in online activity, fa shion magazines that maintain an Internet presence provide themselves with continuous, free advertising. It is an extremely effectively strategy to " [] offer other information, such as press releases or news that relates to the company or to their industry, or provide information about special events that relate to the company to their industry." In addition to using the Internet and celebrity culture as a marketing strategy, the fashion industry also creates markets by following sociological. One current trend that is strongly influencing the fashion industry is the notion that 'plus-size women' are a huge, new market for them. According to an industry analysis by UK expert, Marcella Marcheso2 the plus size market is growing in the fashion industry although until recently it was a bit of an afterthought. There was a limited range of available styles, and little to no trendy clothes. However, with the concerns over weight

Discussion of 2 poems Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Discussion of 2 poems - Essay Example One of the bold statements made about fame in a negative manner is that of the poet Emily Dickenson. She uses metaphor to liken fame to a bee. It is known that a bee can be deadly and that is how the poet wants to paint what this most sought status really is. She implies that behind the good things that people see in fame, things are not always as they seem. Therefore, she uses figurative speech to catch the attention of her audience. Dickenson’s â€Å"Fame is a Bee† is a very short poem but it says a lot of things. The author effectively expressed her thoughts with four lines only by using simple but meaningful words. The analogy therefore is not difficult to understand rather could be easily seen by any observant. It does not even need keen observation in order for a person to be able to associate the characteristics of a bee to fame because it is explicitly mentioned to make things clearly and easily understood by readers. On the other hand, Edna St. Vincent Millay talks about love in her poem â€Å"Love is Not All†. Similarly, she speaks about the unfavorable side of love. For many people, when love is mentioned, they would think about passion and all the good feelings love brings. People easily create a positive attitude toward the subject matter because they associate it with the satisfaction derived from relationships formed through what is known as love. Nevertheless, Millay presents it differently. She draws the attention of her readers to the other side of the coin. She also uses metaphor to express her thoughts. However, unlike Dickenson, Millay uses negation to show her point. On the seventh line, Millay shifts her tone to a more serious one, mentioning death which could not have been expected at all when love is to be mentioned. The poet tries to draw her reader’s attention to the fact that behind every good thing, there is something that is not desirable yet every individual has to

Analysing and Answering questions regarding to a business idea Assignment

Analysing and Answering questions regarding to a business idea - Assignment Example The main target consumers of this business plan are urban moms, since these are responsible for purchase of food in their families. Most urban moms value organic food, and are willing to spend their money on it, as opposed to inorganic food. This is because they consider organic food more ethical, environmentally friendly and healthier (IBISWorld 2013). This business idea thus belongs to the Whole Foods Market, as this will ensure that the produce that are sold to customers are fresh, grown locally, and safe for human consumption. A recent survey by CommonGround in the United States showed that more than 50% of women are concerned with how the food they purchase was grown and raised (Food, Nutrition, & Science 2012). Therefore, these desire to be part of the business process, in order to clear their doubts about the food they purchase. On the other hand, urban moms are in charge of approximately 80% of the household spending (Market Research.com 2003). Therefore, these are the main d ecision makers on the choice of food to be consumed in the family. Urban moms have great interest in healthy eating; therefore, most will prioritize organic food, which they consider safe, healthy, and nutritious for their families. Urban moms desire to know the growth process of the food they buy, in order to determine whether it fits their health standards or not. Therefore, this business will involve urban moms in the different business projects either directly or indirectly. When these are invited to the farming site to check out the produce and place their order, they will have the opportunity of witnessing the growth process of crops on the site, and this might help clear their doubts about the safety of the produce. In addition, some moms will be offered tenders to supply food wastes for organic fertilizer (ZeroWasteSA 2011), while some part of the business land will be rented to others to sell our organic produce. According to GardenWeb (n.d), wastes such as coffee grounds a re important sources of nitrogen in composite manure. The business will consider organic manure due to its myriad of benefits. For instance, besides serving as fertilizer, this also serves as soil conditioner (Organic Gardening 2011). According to Flynn (2013), 70% of urban moms question the processes involved in the growth of food they buy. Therefore, this business will consider involving some of them in the business chain to ensure that they are familiar with the growth processes of the crops. This will help the business to achieve customer loyalty, which is important for increased sales. Question 2 Organic food production bases on the factor of healthy eating, since it aims at minimizing use of synthetic fertilizers and other chemical use in the crop growing process. In the United Kingdom, more people are aware of the benefits of healthy eating; therefore, seek to buy food that is safe and natural. Evidence of this fact is presented in the high demand levels of fresh organic prod uce, including fruits and vegetables in the United Kingdom. Many companies have therefore, ventured in the whole foods market, which is considered profitable today, due to the high demand of organic food by a greater portion of the UK population. In this case, therefore, this bus

Elderly Abuse and Neglect in the United States Essay

Elderly Abuse and Neglect in the United States - Essay Example At another context, it involves taking or misusing an elderly persons money or property (Lindberg, 2008). It should be noted that it is not only what is done, but also the failure to do what should be done that can count as elderly abuse; consider situations where the elder is neglected, unfed, and untreated for sickness. This happens in reality, whether done purposefully by the caretaker or merely due to neglect. Actions against the older person such as over- or under-medicating, depriving the elder of food and water, or exposing the elderly to severe weather are all considered as elder abuse, whether intentional or unintentional (Keita, 2007). Elder abuse can happen in hospitals or nursing homes. Take for example the case of Jennifer Matthew Nursing Home in Rochester, New York. An investigation was started at the nursing facility due to suspicions of elderly abuse. Family members agreed that cameras be put in relative’s bedrooms and the living facilities in order to prove negligent care on the part of the nursing facility. The captured videos showed residents left in their own waste for hours, unmoved in their beds for days, in overheated rooms, and left without a call button to ask for help or assistance (ABC News, 2006). The conditions are outright sickening, much more so to think that the nursing staff was just seen watching movies, sleeping and even leaving the facility. It does not reflect well of how elders should be treated, which should be with care, kindness, and attention as they have once cared for us and have been there to watch over us and help us grow. On January 20th 2006, after much controversy, the nursing home was finally closed due to grave cases of neglect. This is not the only case of elderly abuse. Sadly, there are many similar cases of elder abuse across the country. A study conducted by the minority staff of the Special Investigations Division of the House Government Reform Committee

The objectification of women in online advertising Essay

The objectification of women in online advertising - Essay Example This "The objectification of women in online advertising" essay outlines how media and ad are using women to attract men audience. Women are being used by men and their bodies are glorified in images in the interest of male population. Adverts fully comply with the standards of female beauty by showing slender and exquisite women who are meant to instantly catch the eye of a male viewer. Call it sexism or objectification, this kind of online advertising is an open threat to women because it reinforces their inferiority to men. It makes these arguments that women can be handled by men like submissive automatons more emphatic because women, in deed, appear to be submissive given the way they are made to strike myriad poses for the male gaze. The purpose of this essay is to explore how subtly media through online advertising seeks to spread the ideology of male dominance in the society by objectification of women. The following discussion will also scrutinize a collection of adverse inf luences executed on women by this manipulative practice. It is suggested that female objectification is actually an iceberg and sexual objectification is only the visible tip of this iceberg (Goh-Mah, 2013). While some see no problem with the media environment in the US which is sexually charged and adamantly defend singularly offensive poses in the name of liberalism, others refuse to believe in this hypocritical charade and question its potential to adversely affect giant masses of women across the globe. Many, acutely distressed by the way women are presented to promote various products and brands, even call for the force of law to prevent the way by which media seeks to further its horrendous interests which have grave social repercussions. The female body parts are made way more pronounced than the product promoted because advertising aims to promote women as sexual objects (Pardun, 2013, p. 116). Not only these images make a point of accentuating different parts of a female body to make them â€Å"fit into an ever narrowing ideal o f female beauty† (Goh-Mah, 2013), they also attempt to add a hint of sarcastic humor to them. In this way, the online advertising producers end up creating such images which not only unreasonably expose a woman to even promote products like beer or a shoe, but also present objectionably weird poses which help men derive satisfaction from them. A kind of media environment which places less emphasis on sex is required to ensure â€Å"better public health for American youth† (Pardun, 2013, p. 116) which is the main target of these advertisements. However, this end cannot be achieved if even ads meant to sell jeans display skinny models in panties whose breasts are magnified by photoshop techniques. It is suggested through creators of such ads to women that by getting their jeans, they too can have bodies â€Å"that any woman would want to see and touch† (Pardun, 2013, p. 116). Such is the ideology upon which modern online advertising is based. There are many hidden aspects of the issue of sexual objectification in online advertisements. This issue started around the 1970s, but is rampant in the present age (Heldman, 2012). These aspects need to be properly explored to dispel the ambiguousness enveloping myriad riddles which have been the source of discomfort for women and feminists for quite long now. Many approaches have been used by scholars over the years to understand and analyze different media through which women are exploited

Neo-Localism in Texas Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Neo-Localism in Texas - Article Example In these micro-breweries, the style of making beer is similar to that used in the United States up until the mid-1800s, whereby top-fermenting yeast was used to produce ales, stouts, and porters (Flack 199). Â  According to Flack, one such microbrewery is the Spoetzl Brewery in Texas, which survived the effects brought about by the globalization of beer, and until today continues to produce local ales for the Texas community (201). The character of the town of Texas, the people, and the Spoetzl Brewery are inextricably linked, a link that has been there for over 75 years. This link is exemplified by the fact that most employees have worked in the brewery for over 20 years, and the Shiner High School anthem is about the brewery (Flack 204). Â  Apart from the brewing industry in Texas, there are other industries that have also demonstrated a sense of neo-localism. The food festivals in Texas symbolize a historic connection between the food item and the cultural identity and geography of the town of Texas. For example, in April, the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex (DFW) celebrates a food festival in form of a three-day long street party in which indigenous food, music, drinks, art, and many more are on offer for free. This food festival is an effort to shift Away from global practices and focus on the uniqueness of Texas, particularly the culture of DFW. Â  

Renewable energy will be the most significant challenge for the oil Research Paper

Renewable energy will be the most significant challenge for the oil industry. Explain, by citing three reasons, whether you agree or disagree with this statement - Research Paper Example It is not true that renewable energy will be a challenge for the oil industry because of many factors. The renewable energy requires more infrastructure compared to the petroleum oil (Piotrowiak (2012). This process makes the consumers abandon the renewable sources of energy for oil. The price of oil usually fluctuates. It creates uncertainty in the market. The consumers are subjected to speculation. This process affects the prices of other products given that the industries rely on petroleum oil to run their plant and machinery. The petroleum oil undergoes many processes before obtaining pure oil. However, the other sources of energy like wind energy involves many processes. The transition to the use of electric cars will need an industrial transition from the old model spare parts to the manufacturing of electric vehicle spare parts. The adoption of renewable energy vehicles will require continuous monitoring and control software in order to maintain proper functioning of the vehicle. Thus renewable energy will not be a major challenge for the oil industry. The process will cause an additional cost to the owners of vehicles. According to Chan (2012), the marginal returns from the transport business will drastically reduce. Consequently, many potential investors in the transport will be sent away. The electric vehicles will also require extensive facilities for the safe transmission of electric energy to the intended destination. The transmission facilities will require extra electric energy. The cost of using this form of energy will be high. The common form of renewable component, ethanol, and gasoline are not suitable because of the high oxygen conte nt of the mixture. The high oxygen content makes the mixture unsuitable for pipeline transmission. Safe transmission is financially constraining. The additional costs make the preference of the renewable energy sources