Monday, January 27, 2020

Photojournalism Analysis of Hong Kong Protest

Photojournalism Analysis of Hong Kong Protest Mohammad Aqdas Qasem Photojournalism and Organizational Analysis of Hong Kong Protest Photojournalism is an ideology that many journalists now use to manipulate pictures to tell a story in a specific way (Schwartz 223). Photojournalism is used as â€Å"a medium that ‘captures’ news† and they â€Å"must insist on the objectivity of their pictures at the same time they attempt to demonstrate the mastery of the craft† (223). Photojournalism portrays a given news story, giving an illusory look of reality, whereas truly, they are manipulating various aspects of the image (such as angles, focus, and etc.) to make the story be perceived a certain way (223). An important feature of photojournalism is the simplicity of the picture; the power of the photograph is positively correlated with its simplicity (Schwartz 224). By creating an illusion of naturalism, the photojournalist is able to maintain their objectivity, which is an important aspect of the photo because they are aware that the audience relies on their â€Å"objective record of realityâ₠¬  (231). Figure 1 is a prime example of the way photojournalism is used to give details about the current news in a simplistic manner. Figure 1. A male alongside his group of protestors sitting outside a government headquarter in Hong Kong Figure 1 displays a group of people sitting outside a government headquarter in front of a fence in an evening protesting rally in Hong Kong (Wong and Buckley 2014). The protestors are dressed in protective gear as a cautionary procedure to protect themselves from the guards’ pepper spray (2014). They are protesting for their rights to change the way that China determines who their leader is starting in 2017 (2014). By applying an organizational perspective, the various methods used by the photojournalist can be understood. Organizational analysis explains the exploitations of certain items in the image and the distortions of others and how these alongside the rules and conventions of photojournalism influence the final product/image, ultimately disturbing the objective portrayal of reality in their depiction of a story through an image. It is evident that the photojournalist relied on a common practice to retrieve this picture: journalistic beats. Journalistic beats are regions in which news is expected to occur regularly, so journalists attend to these respective areas waiting to capture the news when it does occur (Blackwell 67). Figure 1 was taken in front of government headquarters (Wong and Buckley 2014), and any place of government is a regular news producer (Blackwell 67). Figure 1 exemplifies the use of informational biases to structure the story. The photojournalist used the informational bias of personalization to â€Å"emphasize human-interest angles and emotional impact† (70). Using personalization, the photojournalist allows the audience to view the story in an individualistic manner rather than one that generalizes everybody at a societal level (70). This bias is very effective because, according to Schwartz, the audience wants to see â€Å"the human side of the tragedy† (226). The use of dramatization alongside personalization further exacerbates the photojournalist’s manipulative technique in trying to emphasize the emotional aspect of the story (Blackwell 71). Although the story is about a group of protesters fighting for democracy, Figure 1 focuses primarily on one protestor (the male in protective gear) to dramatize and â€Å"heighten the audience interest† (Blackwell 71). Figure 1 shows the ‘dirty’ part of the story and this helps grab the readers’ attention because readers want to see pictures of the tragedy (Schwartz 225). The photojournalist also plays with the informational bias of authority-disorder. This bias represents a tension between one of authority (the government) and one of disorder (protesting) (Blackwell 71). By personalizing the story then exacerbating it with dramatization, it allows the photojournalist to emphasize the greater bias: the tension between authority and disorder. Figure 1 also illustrates different manipulations of the form of the image to portray the story in a certain way. According to Schwartz, â€Å"the aesthetics of photojournalism require the active manipulation of form in order to maintain the illusion of naturalism† (228). This is evident through the use of framing, selective focusing, and the use of leading lines. The ‘rule of thirds’ is the method in which framing is used as a manipulation of form. The rule of thirds is a division of the picture into three equally divided sections, both horizontally and vertically (Schwartz 229). In this division, there are four points of intersection between the lines (229). To make an image seem more dynamic and of more interest to the reader, the main purpose or subject of the image is placed within proximity of one of these four points (229). Figure 2 shows the four points of intersection surround the man wearing protective gear and he takes up a third of the whole image, making him the primary focus of the image. Alongside the informational bias of dramatization, the rule of thirds allows viewers to focus on the scandalous nature of the event (how the man is wearing protective gear) by putting the man as the primary focus. Figure 2. The image of Figure 1 divided using the framing method of the rule of thirds Using selective focusing further manipulates the way the reader perceives the story in the image. Figure 1 shows the background is not in as much focus and not as sharpened as the main subject of the image, the man in protective gear. Although, the other group of protestors are not completely taken out of focus of the image, probably to further emphasize the personalization of the protesting and to exacerbate the event, they are not the primary focus. Also, the photojournalist blurs the fence or gate that the protestors are sitting in front of and this has a strong effect towards the overall story and picture. The blurring of the gates that the protestors are sitting in front makes it look like the protestors are in a prison. This selective focusing emphasizes the authority (government) and disorder (‘criminals’) tension and seems to favour the authority side of the pull. By portraying the protestors as prisoners, through selective focusing, the photojournalist resolves the authority-disorder tension by edging towards the direction of authority. Figure 3 shows the photojournalist’s use of leading lines as a manipulation of the image to shift the focus. The photojournalist uses the method of leading lines to further emphasize the main area of interest of their image/news (Schwartz 230). The lines in this image, as shown in Figure 3, are portrayed through the bars of the gate in the picture. These lines of direction or leading lines put further attention the center protestor, strengthening his focus in the image. Figure 3. The use of the gate bars as leading lines to direct the audiences’ attention In conclusion, through an organizational analysis perspective, photojournalism attempts to convey a story through an image while trying to maintain a sense of objectivity. However, because photojournalism is an organizational culture itself, the profession follows a set of conventions and rules (Blackwell 59), thus it is not possible to maintain a sense of objectivity. Although photojournalists are taking real life pictures, they do manipulate the ways in which the photographs are taken, as explained above, and this further distorts reality for the viewer, guiding their belief in the story the image is telling in a specific direction. This is an example of a consequence of news conventions within photojournalism (76) and is shown using the above example. Ultimately, drawing on the codes of objectivity in photojournalism, as discussed by Schwartz, the photograph presents reality subjectively, guiding the audiences’ view towards a specific direction, in this case authority-drive n, that portrays the protestors as criminals that are trying to go against the government. Works Cited Ott, Brian L. and Robert L. Mack. Critical Media Studies: An Introduction. 2nd edition. Wiley-Blackwell, 2014. Schwartz, Donna. â€Å"To Tell the Truth: Codes of Objectivity in Photojournalism† in Visual Communication and Culture: Images in Action, Jonathan Finn, ed. Oxford, 2012: 222-233. Wong, Alian, and Buckley, Chris. â€Å"Police Arrest Dozens of Pro-democracy Protesters in Hong Kong.† The Globe and Mail 27 Sep. 2014. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/police-arrest-dozens-of-pro-democracy-protesters-in-hong-kong/article20819174/ >

Sunday, January 19, 2020

The Growing Problem of Teenage Violence in Schools Today Essay

The Growing Problem of Teenage Violence in Schools Today There is a growing problem with teenage violence today in school. The problem is teenagers are getting more and more violent. Many of them resort to violence as a way to deal with anger and stress. Most of teenage violence starts with the so called thugs who think they rule the school. Not just the thugs but anybody in general who thinks they can beat up on people and act all tough and push everyone around. Another source of this violence is the outcasts or nerds that the bullies pick on because they’re different, but the worst type of violence is racism, like Nazis who hate people because of there race, religion, or there sexual preference. This violence may be coming from how they were raised because of there parents, due to there racism, or abuse. Simply put, something needs to be done to eliminate and reduce this violence and return a safe environment in schools. A result of this is increased violence is that many students are frightened while in school. Why should somebody be afraid to walk the halls of school because they are Jewish, or even gay, or both? If there is a student who is extremely violent, it affects the whole school. I’m talking about the people who will pull out a gun on you if you say something about his mother, you know, those so called thugs. Seriously, if someone dies, it affects the whole school. Like Chris Rock Says, â€Å"If you are at a movie theater and someone steps on your foot, let is slide, why spend the next 15 years in prison because somebody smudged your puma† (Chris Rock No Sex in the Champaign Room). In other words, don’t fight over reasons that can be settled in a game of twister. There are many causes of teenage violence, but I think it comes from their friends or family. For instance, if someone’s father, is a Nazi, and his dad was in the Ku Klux Klan, the student is of course going to inherit a hatred for Jews, and queers, like in the movie Porkys, where that one guy lost a fight with a Jew and then got beat up by his Dad, because he lost the fight. Therefore, parents are a big source of teenage violence. The biggest problem I believe is friends. Friends have a greater impact on the lives of teenagers than anybody. People aren’t born violent. Nazi’s for instance, if you grow up with a friend who turns Nazi because of there parents or something, ... ...east 30% of every class should be consisted of non-white people. So the basis of stopping violence of hate is to stop the racism. I was watching MTV, and they were saying a story about how this guy died because of the fact that he was gay. That was kind of sad that someone died for doing nothing to anybody. It’s one thing not to like gay people, its another thing to start a fight with one of them for no reason at all. Those people are called bigots, and there usually drunk, so alcohol is not the answer to this problem, weed is. Overall, parents, siblings, role models, television, bullies, Nazism, and the stress of growing up in today’s society may cause violence. So violence is a big part of school today. Is it really ever going to stop or get better? I believe that no matter what we make better, something else is going to get worse. All this violence may effect the high suicidal teens there are today. I know at least 10 girls who tried to kill themselves or are bulimic. All the guys I know are ok though. In conclusion violence is to big of a problem to stop, so be considered a loser, and a nark and call the cops if someone harasses you, it’s the only way to stop this.

Saturday, January 11, 2020

Christianity and Time Period Essay

Christianity had a big impact on Europe culturally, economically, and politically through the 600 to 1750 C. E. time period. Christianity during these time periods had great many changes but also had a variety of continuities that were alike as well. The Christian faith through this time period in Europe went through multiple reforms. Reforms such as the Protestant Reformation, led by Martin Luther, had a severe impact on the Catholic Church and Christians everywhere in Europe. Also the change of the political power of the papacy and the effect it also had on Europe’s economy. Culturally Christianity had a big impact on Europe, seeing as almost everyone in that region considered themselves Christians. Christianity during the 600’s was on the rise and this caused various different forms of ideas of what people thought Christianity was. Most Christians in the 600’s to the 1500’s were Catholics and the Catholic Church had clear power in Europe politically and economically. Of course, this all started to change around 1517 when Martin Luther published â€Å"The Ninety-Five Thesis† that got people thinking about the downfalls of the church and the reasons to join the Protestant Church during this time period which effected European culture in such a short period of time because of one man’s attempt to overthrow the Catholic Church in Europe in the 1500’s. This split between the Christians led to European Wars of Religion in the 1600’s that eventually ended and came to peace with the â€Å"Peace of Westphalia†. Despite the ending of the wars Europe’s Church was still split in two and caused many changes in Europe culturally. Although there were a great many changes in Europe’s culture there was also a continuity that kept these three time periods alike. This continuity was the fact that despite all of these obstacles that the Catholic Church and the Christians face over the 600 to 1750 time period they still kept going and stayed intact because of the love of culture and religion in Europe during this time period. Economically Christianity affected Europe in a variety a different ways.

Friday, January 3, 2020

Oedipus Rex Essay - 1335 Words

â€Å"Crossroads, and hidden glade, oak and the narrow way at the crossroads, that drank my father’s blood offered you by my hands, do you remember still what I did as you looked on, and what I did when I came here?† (Oedipus Rex, 1575-1580). Precisely placed at the crossroads of fate and autonomy, Oedipus struggles to define what, exactly, is fate and what, exactly, is left to his own discretion; Oedipus Rex challenges the common thought of Greek Society. Transcending more than one thousand years, questions often posed within the context of this play come to light in high school classrooms across America. What is seemingly an ineffective, antiquated piece of literature from Ancient Greece, actually should serve as a piece of required reading†¦show more content†¦Sophocles, through his writing, begins to engage in a contemporary debate of the time period: fate versus free will. Philosophers of ancient Greece would often debate whether or not the gods had contro l over one’s life, and Sophocles entertains all aspects of this debate. Through the use of a meticulously crafted plot, humanity appears to have solved the issue prophesied at the birth of Oedipus. Ultimately, however, Sophocles demonstrates the revolving way in which preordination of action ultimately comes to fruition. This is epitomized when Oedipus is met by King Laius, his father, at the crossroads. When Oedipus is faced with the decision of whether or not to kill the man in front of him, he fulfills the prophesy which had been placed upon him before his birth. While this concept might seem like an ancient event that leads to an archaic discussion, it still invades relevant, personal philosophy of the world. The high school years require each student to arrive at a crossroads in their own life. Decisions permeate their existence. Behind everything, each student has to arrive at a conclusion as to who is the driving force behind each decision; is it themselves or is a hig her power commanding everything to happen? This debate allows students to expand their thought in order to engage a metaphysical debate relevant to discussions of society. Sophocles uses the plot of the play to teach a lessonShow MoreRelated Oedipus Rex – The Women Essay2731 Words   |  11 PagesOedipus Rex – The Women  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚        Ã‚  Ã‚   Charles Segal in Oedipus Tyrannus: Tragic Heroism and the Limits of Knowledge explains the protagonist’s concern for Jocasta’s burial in Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex:      Oedipus turns from his utter desolation and abasement to something of his old air of command, albeit in a chastened and softened tone. He asks Creon to expel him from Thebes as quickly as he can and gives orders for Jocasta’s burial (1446ff), a gesture of concern and responsibilityRead More Women in Oedipus Rex Essay2712 Words   |  11 PagesWomen in Oedipus Rex  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚         Charles Segal in Oedipus Tyrannus: Tragic Heroism and the Limits of Knowledge explains one of the pivotal functions of Jocasta in Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex:    The second series begins with Jocasta. . . .Now Oedipus is pursuing the killer as possibly the same as himself. . . . In this set his goal shifts gradually from uncovering the murderer to discovering his own parents. The confidence and power that he demonstrated in the first series of encountersRead More Mythology in Oedipus Rex Essays3980 Words   |  16 PagesMythology in Oedipus Rex  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚        Ã‚  Ã‚   E. T. Owen in â€Å"Drama in Sophocles’ Oedipus Tyrannus† comments on the mythological beginnings of Oedipus Rex:    Professor Goodell says: â€Å"Given an old myth to be dramatized, Sophocles’ primary question was, ‘Just what sort of people were they, must they have been, who naturally did and suffered what the tales say they did and suffered?† That was his method of analysis (38).    The Greek Sophoclean tragedy Oedipus Rex is based on a myth fromRead More The Themes in Oedipus Rex Essay2792 Words   |  12 PagesThe Themes in Oedipus Rex  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚        Ã‚   Sophocles’ tragedy, Oedipus Rex, contains one main theme, which this essay will consider. The theme is the general doctrine or belief implicit in the drama, which the author seeks to make persuasive to the reader (Abrams 170).    In â€Å"Sophocles’ Moral Themes† Robert D. Murray Jr. cites a critic who is strictly moralist in the interpretation of the theme of Oedipus Rex:    Let C. M. Bowra speak for the moralists:    The central idea ofRead MoreOedipus Rex Essay749 Words   |  3 PagesIn Oedipus Rex, Sophocles explores the conflict between a man’s intellectual reasoning and the universe beyond his grasp. This may seem like a generalization, but the play’s minor conflicts are arguably derivatives of the main struggle. As we would see, the fate or destiny that opposes Oedipus does not act directly on him, but creates a domino effect that through other conflicts drive him to face his destiny by unearthing his true identity. Similar to the Sphinx’s riddle that gave power to OedipusRead More The Oedipus Complex in Oedipus Rex Essay732 Words   |  3 PagesThe Oedipus Complex in Oedipus Rex Thousands of years after Sophocles wrote the story of Oedipus Rex; psychologists named a complex after the behavioral characteristics of Oedipus. For many years psychologists have called a son having a sexual attraction toward his mother the Oedipus Complex. It is common belief that Oedipus Rex did not actually suffer from the Oedipus Complex. The basic support for this theory can be found through Oedipus inherent fear of the prophecy placed upon him,Read MoreThe Tragic Hero of Oedipus Rex Essay1383 Words   |  6 PagesThe Tragic Hero of Oedipus Rex According to the ancient Greeks and Aristotle the hero is a person who possesses superior qualities of mind and body, and who proves his superiority by doing great deeds of valor, strength, or intellect. In Sophocles Oedipus Rex the main character Oedipus possesses these characteristics of a true hero, which in turn lead to his self-destruction. In the beginning of the play Oedipuss great intellect is made known by the chorus who see him as someone who hasRead More Significance of the Women in Oedipus Rex Essay2638 Words   |  11 PagesSignificance of the Women in Oedipus Rex  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚         Michael J. O’Brien in the Introduction to Twentieth Century Interpretations of Oedipus Rex, maintains that there is â€Å"a good deal of evidence to support this view† that the fifth century playwright was the â€Å"educator of his people† and a â€Å"teacher†. Sophocles in his tragedy, Oedipus Rex, teaches about â€Å"morally desirable attitudes and behavior,† (4) and uses three women to help convey these principles of living. This essay will explore the role ofRead More Mythology in Oedipus Rex Essay examples4094 Words   |  17 PagesMythology in Oedipus Rex  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚        Ã‚  Ã‚   In â€Å"The Oedipus Legend† Bernard M. W. Knox talks of the advantages accruing to Sophocles as a user of myths in his dramas:    The myths he used gave to his plays, without any effort on his part, some of those larger dimensions of authority which the modern dramatist must create out of nothing if his play is to be more than a passing entertainment. The myths had the authority of history, for myth is in one of its aspects the only history of anRead More Dramatic Irony in Oedipus Rex Essay3192 Words   |  13 PagesDramatic Irony in Oedipus Rex  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚        Ã‚   M. H. Abrams defines dramatic irony as a situation wherein:      Ã¢â‚¬Å"the audience or reader shares with the author knowledge of present or future circumastances of which a character is ignorant; in that situation, the character unknowingly acts in a way we recognize to be grossly inappropriate to the actual circumstances, or expects the opposite of what we know that fate holds in store, or says something that anticipates the actual outcome, but

Thursday, December 26, 2019

Battle of Marathon in the Persian Wars

The Battle of Marathon was fought during the Persian Wars (498 BC–448 BC) between Greece and the Persian Empire. Date Using a proleptic Julian calendar, it is believed that the Battle of Marathon was fought on either August or September 12, 490 BC. Armies Commanders Greeks MilitiadesCallimachusArimnestusapprox. 8,000-10,000 men Persians DatisArtaphernes20,000-60,000 men Background In the wake of the Ionian Revolt (499 BC-494 BC), the emperor of the Persian Empire, Darius I, dispatched an army to Greece to punish those city-states that had aided the rebels. Led by Mardonius, this force succeeded in subjugating Thrace and Macedonia in 492 BC. Moving south towards Greece, Mardonius fleet was wrecked off Cape Athos during a massive storm. Losing 300 ships and 20,000 men in the disaster, Mardonius elected to withdraw back towards Asia. Displeased with Mardonius failure, Darius began planning a second expedition for 490 BC after learning of political instability in Athens. Conceived as a purely maritime enterprise, Darius assigned command of the expedition to the Median admiral Datis and the son of the satrap of Sardis, Artaphernes. Sailing with orders to attack Eretria and Athens, the fleet succeeded in sacking and burning their first objective. Moving south, the Persians landed near Marathon, approximately 25 miles north of Athens. Responding to the impending crisis, Athens raised around 9,000 hoplites and dispatched them to Marathon where they blocked the exits from the nearby plain and prevented the enemy from moving inland. They were joined by 1,000 Plataeans and assistance was requested from Sparta. Encamping on the edge of the Plain of Marathon, the Greeks faced a Persian force numbering between 20-60,000. Enveloping the Enemy For five days the armies squared off with little movement. For the Greeks, this inactivity was largely due to a fear of being attacked by the Persian cavalry as they crossed the plain. Finally, the Greek commander, Miltiades, elected to attack after receiving favorable omens. Some sources also indicate that Militiades had learned from Persian deserters that the cavalry was away from the field. Forming his men, Militiades reinforced his wings by weakening his center. This saw the center reduced to ranks four deep while the wings featured men eight deep. This may have been due to the Persians tendency to place inferior troops on their flanks. Moving a brisk pace, possibly a run, the Greeks advanced across the plain towards the Persian camp. Surprised by the Greeks audacity, the Persians rushed to form their lines and inflict damage on the enemy with their archers and slingers. As the armies clashed, the thinner Greek center was quickly pushed back. The historian Herodotus reports that their retreat was disciplined and organized. Pursuing the Greek center, the Persians quickly found themselves flanked on both sides by Militiades strengthened wings which had routed their opposite numbers. Having caught the enemy in a double envelopment, the Greeks began to inflict heavy casualties on the lightly armored Persians. As panic spread in the Persian ranks, their lines began to break and they fled back to their ships. Pursuing the enemy, the Greeks were slowed by their heavy armor, but still managed to capture seven Persian ships. Aftermath Casualties for the Battle of Marathon are generally listed as 203 Greek dead and 6,400 for the Persians. As with most battles from this period, these numbers are suspect. Defeated, the Persians departed from the area and sailed south to attack Athens directly.   Anticipating this, Militiades quickly returned the bulk of the army to the city. Seeing that the opportunity to strike the previously lightly-defended city had passed, the Persians withdrew back to Asia. The Battle of Marathon was the first major victory for the Greeks over the Persians and gave them confidence that they could be defeated. Ten years later the Persians returned and won a victory at Thermopylae before being defeated by the Greeks at Salamis. The Battle of Marathon also gave rise to the legend that the Athenian herald Pheidippides ran from the battlefield to Athens to announce the Greek victory before dropping dead. This legendary run is the basis for the modern track and field event. Herodotus contradicts this legend and states that Pheidippides ran from Athens to Sparta to seek aid before the battle. Selected Sources Battle of MarathonPersian Wars: Battle of Marathon

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Geography of Japan Essay - 2320 Words

Japan is known for its contemporary culture and advancement in electronics and engineering. We could also learn from the traditions Japan can offer. From advancement in cars and electronic devices, Japan holds on to ancient arts and traditions that play a role in their daily life. Japan has various climates from tropical in the south to cooler temperatures in the north, and the famous tourist site of the active volcano Mount Fuji. Mount Fiji is the highest mountain in Japan, with a tundra climate the temperature is low and covered with snow causing. The average temperature is always below freezing, excluding the summer. Geography of Japan Japan is a country made up by a chain of thousands of islands on the Pacific Ocean. Japan†¦show more content†¦Chubu has the highest and most famous landmark of Japan Mount Fuji; some of the longest rivers in Japan are located along the Sea of Japan. Its three industrial areas, the first one Chukyo industrial zone are where Toyota Motors is located. The second industrial zone is called Tokai and is where Yamaha is located, and the third industrial location is called Hokuriku where chemicals, medicines, tourism, and a variety of rice is produced. Shikoku region is the smallest of the four main islands and has high steep mountains that do not allow much of farming. The climate is subtropical and is known for its large whirlpools. The Tohoku region located in the northeastern made of gigantic mountains. This area has short summers and long winters and is used for agricultural with over half of this land is rice fields. Kinki/Kansai region is where Osaka and Kobe are lo cated. Rice and citrus fruit are produced here allowed with fishing and lumbering: these industries are important for Japan and are the second most important area for Japan. Also in the Kinki/Kansai region is where one of the important ports for Japans trading. Kansai refers not to the location but to cultural and history of Kinki area. Kyushu and Okinawa are two different locations, but in the same region. They are the furthest south of the four major regions made up of more than 1,400 islands. Okinawa is an island by itself and theShow MoreRelatedEssay on Geography Of Japan464 Words   |  2 Pagesthan any other nation in the world, Japan is shaped by its geography to a tremendous extent. Technically classified as an archipelago, Japan is a curved chain of four islands (Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu, plus over a thousand smaller islands). However, it is first and foremost an island nation, a fact which isolated Japan from the rest of the world. The second largest i nfluence in Japanese geography is the size of the nation. The total area of Japan proper is a little under 143 thousandRead MoreJapan s Culture And Its Unique Geography Essay847 Words   |  4 PagesJapan’s culture began with its unique geography as an island that is separated and isolated from other East Asian countries. While there are many theories about modern’s Japanese ancestor; however, most Japanese archaeologists believe the first people that lived and colonized in Japan was the Ainu. The combined evidence of archeology, anthropology, and genetics have shown the indistinctive look between Ainu and the modern Japanese. In their overall genetic makeup, the Ainu are related to other EastRead MoreThe Geography 101 Course Essay Essay894 Words   |  4 PagesThrough the Geography 101 course, I have become increasingly familiar with certain concepts that are easily applicable to cities and countries that I am familiar with. These concepts help me fully understand t he geographic situation occurring in these locations. One location that has been brought up many times throughout the semester and I have increased with familiarity is Japan. This location is constantly changing and growing. It exports many different vehicle and machinery parts, and is at theRead MoreMKT 315 WK 6 QUIZ 4 CHAPTERS 8 91272 Words   |  6 Pagesused in the text to analyze markets in relation to channel design strategy consists of all of the following dimensions except: a. Market density. b. Market behavior. c. Market reputation. d. Market geography. e. Market size. 4. According to the text, the most complex market dimension is: a. Market geography. b. Market size. c. Market coverage. d. Market behavior. e. Market price. 5. It is the __________ that should drive channel design. a. structure of competitive channels b. level of costs c. needsRead MoreJapanese History and Culture Essay1013 Words   |  5 PagesJapan has always been an ever changing country. From the time when the emperor ruled and governed the country to the time when the emperor lost decision making power and became a symbol of national unity. Japans history is written throughout the world because of wars and trade especially with the United States. Japan is very isolated and lacking in essential resources, because of its relatively bad geography it is one of the biggest importers the world has ever known. Japan has very strong and uniqueRead MoreJap A Nation Of Many Countries1287 Words   |  6 PagesAdams, Matthew World Geography Mr. Koldoff 13 May, 2015 Japan: A Nation of Many Excitements Japan is one of the most interesting nations in the world. Many different cultures and religions exist in this country. Japan is a large archipelago of islands just east of Korea. Although the country is very often looked at as a country of many different and large cities, it is also full of grasslands and agricultural opportunities. Japan is also one of the leading electronic suppliers of the world. ThisRead MoreThe Attack on Pearl Harbor754 Words   |  3 Pagesbattle, where the battle was fought, what the geography was like during the battle, what the weather was like, what happened during this battle, how many casualties occurred, other things I learned about the battle, who won the battle, and how the battle was important to WWII. What countries fought in this battle. During this battle, the country of Japan attacked the country of the United States. Where was the battle fought? What was the geography like during this battle? The Japanese attackedRead MoreAp World History Essay: Comparing and Contrasting China and Japans Responses to Western Penetration in the 19th Century658 Words   |  3 PagesJapan and China had many contrasting responses to western penetration in the nineteenth century, including economic interaction - economically China suffered and Japan prospered, Japanese agricultural productivity increased while China’s did not, and China only accepted a small amount of goods while Japan accepted a wide range of goods- and political interaction - China went to war but Japan did not, Japan adopted western learning styles but China did not, and Japan heavily increased taxes on theirRead MoreWhat the World Eats, by Peter Menzel1750 Words   |  7 Pagesholds out a can of something altered and edible, and a young girl perched near her mother clutches a bag of potato chips to her chest as if claiming it as solely he r own. This is the scene depicted in a photograph of the Ukita family in Kodaira City, Japan as part of a series taken by Peter Menzel for the book â€Å"What the World Eats†. This series of photographs illustrates not only what people eat in different parts of the world, but also how their families, and lives as fellow humans can so closely resembleRead MoreFrom Chernobyl to Fukushima Essay1056 Words   |  5 PagesNot only will the world suffer emotionally from this tragedy emotionally but economically as well. We all know that geography is the ultimate reason behind the disaster. Japan is located at the junction of a web tectonic- plate, resulting in this island being particularly vulnerable to ground-shaking episodes, more than almost anywhere else (Winchester). Although, geography is not the only factor that played a role in this event. Topography greatly affected the death and disaster (Winchester)

Monday, December 9, 2019

Financial Management Policies-Free-Samples-Myassignmenthelp.com

Questions: 1.Critically evaluate Aveos Financial Management policies and practices with respect to their Social Responsibility and social outcomes of their actions 2.Using publicly available data, analyse Aveo as an investment proposition with particular reference to its share price history and history of traded volumes over the past 2 years. Answers: Introduction Efficient financial management is the essence of an organization and this is the reason why financial management policies like capital management, dividend policy are given due recognition. In relation to Aveo Group, the policies implemented by it have assisted it to make a strong progress over the years. An analysis has been done to shed light on the goals of Aveo and whether the corporation should consider the influence of financial decision on sustainability and responsibility. Goals of Aveo Firstly, the Group intends to obtain continuity of flexibility and funding and for such purpose, it utilizes bank loans, overdraft facilities, finance leases, etc in addition to other sources of income. It also reviews its current lines of funding so that future requirements can be addressed. This allows the Group to enhance its flexibility by matching the profiles of cash flow requirements with that of short-term investments. Further, this also allows for timing the negotiation of various credit facilities (Bauer Hann, 2010). This assists the Group in enhancing the efficacies of their social responsibility actions that is its main priority. Secondly, it recognizes the importance of management of capital and for such purpose; it ensures that a mix of funding options are utilized. Besides, this is done in alignment with the objective of maximizing shareholders returns. Further, it intends to maintain a capital structure that can assure a lowest available WACC (weighted average cost o f capital). In relation to this, the Group attempts to maintain its gearing ratio in the range of ten and twenty percent. This can be proved by the fact that its gearing ratio was 17.4% in the year 2015. Moreover, in order to attain advantage from variations in the cost of capital, the Group may adjust such capital structure including variations in dividend payable to shareholders, adjusting the level of debts, etc (Damodaran, 2010). Thirdly, in order to ensure that the resources of the Group are not hampered, it ensures that customers who are willing to trade on credit terms are properly subjected to credit scrutinization processes including an evaluation of their financial position, regulation of industries, etc. Further, the Group also possesses a cash management policy that allows it to maintain liquid cash and other portfolio investments so that preservation of cash is done at all times (Melville, 2013). This can play a key role for the Group in the proper investment of resourc es for the attainment of prime goals and objectives (Bauer Hann, 2010). Moreover, management of working capital can also be done with the help of such financial management practice so that future complications and risks can be avoided, and the resources can be committed to enhancing the lives of aged people in Australia. Fourthly, Aveo also possesses a securities trading policy wherein employees and directors are restricted from dealing in the securities of the company especially in the prevalence of price-sensitive information in order to safeguard insider trading (Aveo, 2017). Lastly, in relation to investments, the Group has an investment policy wherein when it comes to joint ventures and associates; the same is done through an equity-accounted investment measure so that the key social objective of development of retirement villages can be easily taken care of (Williams, 2012). Code of ethics, ethical theories, corporate social responsibility In relation to financial decisions on social responsibility and sustainability, not a slight carelessness can be undertaken. This is because of the fact that Aveo being badly accused of ripping its customers at their retirement villages even though it intends to maximize social responsibility through their actions. Even though Aveo is focused on retirement only by investing more than $700 million towards retirement items and services, yet it must consider the ramification of their financial decisions towards on sustainability and social responsibility. Aveo denies that it pursues a policy to churn the residents and states that most of its residents are happy. However, the truth is that the company has used complicated contracts and exorbitant fees to enhance its profits (Paradise Rogoff, 2009). Moreover, even though the company has denied to the same, yet there are cases of many residents facing intense issues because of the company (Kruger, 2015). This can be proved by the fact tha t the companys three different sources of income, despite being focused towards the lifestyle of residents, yet are causing troubles to them. The Group rakes in cash from the sales price received from the occupants, it also charges a management fee for various services offered, and a deferred management fee (DMF) is also taken after vacation of the unit. All these have fetched immense profits to the Group as it rose to $116 million in 2016 surpassing the expectations of the analysts. The accusations implanted upon the Group have made it realize that many customers were let down because of its financial decisions on sustainability and therefore, it has reconsidered its plans by strengthening and improving its own complaints and processes of incident handling that includes a need for independent mediation (Libby et. al, 2011). Further, it has also endeavored to make its contracts simpler so that the residents have adequate certainties about what they spend (Aveo, 2017). Moreover, it c an be seen from the annual report of Aveo that it has taken every relevant step to ensure that its customers are properly looked after but it must also consider the consequences of their financial decisions because many consumers encountered losses and other issues because of the Groups policy. According to various investigations, it was found that many residents were slipping through cracks in the regulatory system. This is because many authorities like the Consumer Affairs did not have enough powers to prevent such business practice of Aveo (Albuquerque et. al, 2013). Even lawyers have defined various clauses in the contracts of Aveo as draconian and complex. Therefore, on a whole, even though the major corporate Aveo has denied all the allegations, yet residents have encountered issues both mentally and financially. The Group intends to enhance the living style of its customers but every time it was proved that its main intention is to enhance profits. Besides, most of its profits derived from exit fees in the year 2016 that shows how much unsatisfied the consumers were. Hence, even if the accusations are untrue, the problems occurred to the residents cannot be unreal and it is just because of the ineffective financial decisions conducted by the company (Aveo, 2017). Thus, the Group must take into account the ramifications of their decisions on sustainability because if not, more residents will be caught in such financial prison. 2.Aveo as an Investment Going by the overall study and an in-depth research it can be said that the customers remained unsatisfied with the company and it is purely dedicated on reaping profits leaving other factors ignored. As per the study, it is seen that the acts of the organization have led to major issues and has affected the performance. Therefore, as per the evaluation, it can be said that the company is riding under immense difficulties and hence, any wrong or negative new can badly degrade its position in the stock market (Damodaran, 2012). Hence, investment at the current juncture would lead to difficulty as volatility is present and share has taken a sharp dive. Therefore, for the purpose of investment, it must be left to operate and must be kept under the radar so that a decision can be taken in the near future. Causes of fluctuations in the share price and the volumes traded The Aveo group share price pattern reveals that there has been volatility in the share prices. However, the overall trend was strong until 2017 where the graph was indicating higher high and higher low. However, in the year 2017, the share price plunged owing to negative media investigation that concerns the operational performance. The share prices of Aveo group became the worst performers on the Australian Stock Exchange when it declined by eleven percent following the allegations made by Four Corners and Fairfax Media. However, the company has witnessed major volatility in the prices of its shares and even the volume in the last two years. The major underlying reasons behind such volatility can be attributed to the performance of the Group and satisfaction on the part of its residents. When it comes to volatility it affects the prices of the shares and the volume too (Davies Crawford, 2012). Before such investigation claiming unethical practices conducted on the part of the Group, there were customers who were unsatisfied with the contracts of the company. For such purpose, Aveo endeavored to simplify the contracts in a way that it makes it simpler for the residents to understand. This assisted in enhancing the share prices of the Group and it can be proved by the fact that based on a survey, more than ninety percent of residents were satisfied with the services provided by the company (Ronngard, 2016). In addition, since the past two years following the rollout of Aveo contract, more than 2000 customers have gained from the simplification of the contract and it is increasing day-by-day. Moreover, this has resulted in doubling the profits of the company that has enhanced its share price by 10pc in the year 2017. Further, in the year 2016, the acquisition of Freedom Aged Care Pty Ltd allowed the company to diversify its services across Australia that also increased its prices of shares (Aveo, 2017). Furthermore, one year ago, the company moved to full authority over another operator named Retirement Villages Group that allowed it to absorb the remaining twenty seven percent of the stake it did not hold. As a result, there was an enhanced contribution from the sales of development units that was greater than the sales of its current units. This can be proved by the fact that the Group recorded an interim sales of 108 (development) in comparison to 29 of 353 overall sales that incurred in the first half of 2016. Besides, the development arm of the company contributed more than eight percent to the earnings of the Group in the past years that have in turn maximized its share prices. However, even though the company recorded efficient results, yet its practices became questionable under the eyes of the law that eventually played a key role in decreasing its share prices (Horngren, 2013). Besides, even though the contracts were simplified, yet many residents were unhappy and when the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission took over the case, hearing such news resulted in a decline of its share price by 5pc. Any questionable fact is considered by the market with utmost negativity and impacts the smooth operation of the company (Benabou Tirole, 2010). Due to all these questionable practices on the part of the Group, it finally decided to launch a $145 million buyback program so that it can enhance the prices of its shares. However, the Group could not encounter the questionable allegations even though it spent millions on advertising to avoid such accusations (Aveo, 2017). This resulted in a class action against the Group that declined its share prices by more than ten percent. Therefore, it is imperative that the company failed to prove the reason and give a complete justification of the happening. Hence, any further proceedings in the case can lead to more volatility and hence, Aveo at present is under difficulties and should not be considered for any investment purpose. It must be allowed to resurrect so that the trend or the pattern can be known. Conclusion The study above clearly indicates that Aveo has faced difficulty in operation and is mainly due to the external scenario. Hence, it is the duty of the management to ensure that the company should be free from all such allegation by laying down a structure of strong corporate governance. It needs to be noted that any wrong or negative news can bring the stock prices to a big fall. This affects the goodwill of the company and leads to a disturbance in the stock market. Overall, the market scenario of the company remains in a bearish mode and the sharp plunge in the stock prices must be considered before taking any vital decision. In all probability, the current scenario of the company is not a good bet for investment. At present the trend is unknown and hence, the stock must be left to operate on its own and decision must be taken accordingly. 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Kruger, P 2015, Corporate goodness and shareholder wealth, Journal of Financial economics, pp. 304-329 Libby, R., Libby, P. and Short, D 2011,Financial accounting, New York: McGraw-Hill/Irwin. Melville, A 2013, International Financial Reporting A Practical Guide, 4th edition, Pearson, Education Limited, UK Paradise, R Rogoff, B 2009, Side by Side: Learning by Observing and Pitching In, Ethos, vol. 37, pp. 102138 Ronngard, H 2016, Aveo Group Climbs 8% after Confirming Acquisition, viewed 2 September 2017 https://www.moneymorning.com.au/20160218/aveo-group-climbs-8-after-confirming-acquisition-cw.html Williams, J 2012, Financial accounting, New