The Heart Of Darkness By Joseph Conrad - 1293 Words

Harsh Kumar Ms. A-GAP Literature 15 March 2017 Senior Thesis #3 Adolescence is a transitional phase of psychological development where one begins to become more aware of themselves and their position in society. This transition is a vital one that changes one’s feelings, decision making, and attitude towards things that they might’ve viewed differently as an adolescent. In the Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad exposes the psychological change that Marlow goes through by coming to Congo for the development of his experience and self through his confrontation with Kurtz, encounter with European imperialism, as well as his newfound awareness of the unknown and unfamiliar.Marlow’s confrontation with Kurtz†¦show more content†¦Overstreet, â€Å"people do bad things because they have bad in them† (Overstreet 1). This contributes with Kurtz character as he has evil in him that leads to his malignant deeds. In the end, Kurtz falls ill and passes away with his last words being  "The Horror† (Conrad 43) which shows that despite his god-like characterization of himself fell short and that the overwhelming power of greed was too much for Kurtz and led to his demise. â€Å"Where there is no maturity of mind, there can be no vision†(Overstreet 2). This statement relates with Kurtz as he was not mature enough to realize the consequences of his actions and was in turn blinded by greed and a lust for power. Marlow and Kurtz’s relationship led to the psychological development of Marlow as the longer he got to know Kurtz the more he became aware of his true character and the evils associated with him and in this process he saw Kurtz in a completely divergent way due to the dialogue exchanged between Marlow and Kurtz throughout the novel. Another way Marlow develops psychologically is through his encounter and realization with the harsh realities of European imperialism through vivid imagery which leads to his juxtaposition of ideas regarding impe rialism. Marlow is shown as a strict imperialist in the beginning of the book when he compares the civilized European man with the savage African man. (Conrad 15). These two conflicting figures and ideas represent theShow MoreRelatedHeart Of Darkness By Joseph Conrad1471 Words   |  6 PagesIn the story Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad a sailor decides to travel to Africa on a whim, using family connections he enlists as the captain of a ship travelling up the Congo River. The novella provides many themes, however is the text in itself racist? One of the main concepts portrayed in Heart of Darkness is the treatment of the natives of Africa and their image. This is most commonly shown through the disparity of the image between what is said in the novel and what can be read throughRead MoreHeart Of Darkness By Joseph Conrad Essay1371 Words   |  6 Pagesevery human and everything created by humans has two sides to it: the form and the substance. Joseph Conrad’s novella â€Å"Heart of Darkness† shows precisely how dangerous it is to put our trust in a concept, for example: colonization, without realizing that most of the time one only gets to see the form and not the substance. In this essay, my purpose is to demonstrate that â€Å"Heart of Darkness† by Joseph Conrad is mainly a novella about the discrepancy between substance and form. In order to prove my pointRead MoreHeart Of Darkness By Joseph Conrad1378 Words   |  6 PagesWoytassek AP English 12 Heart of Darkness Reading Log Author: Joseph Conrad Title: Heart of Darkness Original Publication Date: 1899 Kind of Writing: Heart of Darkness is a colonial novella of an expository narrative. Writer’s Purpose and Intended Audience Joseph Conrad wrote Heart of Darkness because he wanted to expose human temptation to experiment with darkness when one’s own desires overcome one’s morals. By writing from his own experience of exploring the Congo, Conrad draws conclusions thatRead MoreThe Heart Of Darkness By Joseph Conrad983 Words   |  4 PagesThe Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad is a story that takes place in the early 1890s and presents us with an odyssey of a traveler known as Marlow who confronts the dangers of the Congo jungle while also witnessing the wicked, inhumane treatment of the African natives. In the story, Marlow represents Joseph Conrad who had actually traveled up the Congo in 1890 and witnessed the European exploitation of the African natives firsthand. In the Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad exposes the inhumanityRead MoreHeart Of Darkness By Joseph Conrad1350 Words   |  6 Pagesyears, Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad was a treasured classic, with many honourable themes and messages, as the author reveals the true nature of humanity by following an European sailor’s journey through the dark jungles of Africa and down the river Congo, all while watching as his own humanity changes. As society has evolved, however, Heart of Darkness has come under scrutiny, as the language is quite racist. Chinua Achebe, writer of An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad’s Heart of DarknessRead MoreHeart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad1329 Words   |  5 Pages Heart of Darkness is a novel written by Joseph Conrad. The setting of the book is in Belgian Congo, which was the most infamous European colony in Africa. This is a story about the protagonist Marlow’s journey to self discovery, and his experiences in Congo. Conrad’s story explores the colonialism period in Africa to demonstrate Marlow’s struggles. Along the way, he faces insanity, death, his fear of failure, and cultural contamination as he makes his was to the inner station. Conrad through theRead MoreThe Heart Of Darkness By Joseph Conrad968 Words   |  4 PagesJoseph Conrad’s novella The Heart of Darkness has been under controversy because of racial interpretations. The race factor in this novel has made some scholars and professors question the function the novella has in the classroom. However, Joseph Conrad had another view when writing the novel; to demonstrate how prejudice and dehumanizing the European culture is towards African Americans and their culture during this time period. European’s superior authority over African Americans is portrayedRead MoreHeart Of Darkness, By Joseph Conrad1306 Words   |  6 PagesWhat is the â€Å"horror† in Heart of Darkness, and what particular literary images develop that idea of horror in the novel? In Joseph Conrad’s, Heart of Darkness, there can be many literary images found within that develop the idea of horror. Heart of Darkness is noted for its horror within the Congo between the Africans and the Europeans. The horror in Heart of Darkness is a contribution of many ideas that are formed and contributed from the European colonists. The purpose of this essay aims to argueRead MoreHeart Of Darkness By Joseph Conrad1076 Words   |  5 PagesWritten in the late 1800’s, Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness is a novella about one man’s travel into the Congo Free State by way of the Congo River. The title â€Å"Heart of Darkness† actually holds two different meanings. Heart of Darkness is both a metaphor for a psychological â€Å"dark side† of man, and an allusion to Africa. The title suggests both a physical and mental reference. During the time the novel takes place, Africa was nick-named the dark continent because of how little the Europeans knewRead MoreHeart Of Darkness By Joseph Conrad Essay1483 Words   |  6 PagesJoseph Conrad, author of Heart of Darkness, intriguingly uses an unnamed narrator in his novel that clearly becomes of importance right away in the introduction. Conrad’s narrator chooses to speak of the historical period in which Roman colonization took over what we now know as Great Britain. By connecting a Roman colonization story to one almost 2000 years later talking about the Belgians in Africa, Conrad reveals one of his own themes in the novel. He proposes that the Romans and Belgians

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ( Ptsd ) - 1326 Words

Abstract Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (or PTSD) is a medical condition which depends on both the individual psychological and biologic characteristics of a person who has experienced a traumatizing and possibly life-threatening situation. It occurs as a response to extreme conditions in which the patient’s life was in danger, or those around them had been seriously injured or killed under particularly violent circumstances. Sometimes PTSD develops among people who simply learned of a disastrous occurrence in which their loved ones were involved. It is a condition which may be taken for other stress-induced disorders or depression within the first month, possibly resulting in a false diagnosis, especially when confused with acute stress†¦show more content†¦A patient with PTSD will most likely not consult the aid of mental health professionals. Taking this into account, a primary care physician must have the necessary knowledge of the symptoms and treatment of PTSD. Mental he alth specialists are only to be involved if the treatment remains ineffective for a prolonged period of time, in which case the continued prescription of drugs may have a negative impact on the patient’s physical health. In order to properly diagnose PTSD, the physician must carefully and considerately question the client to find out about any traumatic events they were involved in. A calm and unobtrusive approach is necessary as the subject may be unwilling to describe the circumstances that lead them to develop an anxiety disorder. When a doctor has decided the patient should be treated specifically for PTSD, they observe symptoms such as nightmares depicting the event, flashbacks, which make the patient feel as if the event was taking place again and panic when the subject is brought up in conversation. In addition, an avoidance of the experience often occurs in the form of seemingly forgetting the day of the incident, a detachment from other people, despondency, and loss of interest in all activities. The last group of symptoms for PTSD constitutes increased arousal: the client becomes more easily startled, is quicker to be irritated, and exhibits insomnia or other sleep disorders. These three

Argo and Casablanca †Main Characters Comparison Free Essays

Both Tony and Rick are faced with a dilemma throughout Argo and Casablanca, respectively. They catch themselves getting more and more involved with the escape plan, and then their emotional connection leads to altruistic actions. Both Argo and Casablanca have a scene that underscores these characters transitions. We will write a custom essay sample on Argo and Casablanca – Main Characters Comparison or any similar topic only for you Order Now On the first movie Mendez, have a heated up conversation with his boss on the phone, while on the other movie, Blaine points a gun at an official. Up to this part, the characters were very cold, and professional, however, after it they become attached to the people that are being saved. On one side, the scene selected in Argo focuses on: camera proximity and movement, decor and framing. On the other side, the scene selected in Casablanca focuses on: soundtrack, camera movement and positioning, and on and off screen space. The camera proximity and camera movement in Argo, emphasizes the characters reactions, by always showing the character with the strongest reaction. It is noticeable that the camera zooms in Tony as soon as he is alone in the room, and is kept that close to him until the end; his supervisor only has one close-up shot, while the camera spins around him, it is when he is explaining the new changes in CIA’s operation, and for the rest of the scene, the camera captures Jack O’Donnell through medium/close-up shots, finishing with a medium shot of him breaking a cup on his table. The camera is handheld on Mendez’ shots, creating a more personal, and emotional perception of the character, while the zoom highlights his reactions and creates tension to the scene as whole. The steady shots of Jack are calmer, and more impersonal, making him look more professional, and less emotive. The framing plays an important role on this sequence. Both Tony and Jack are placed on the right side of the screen at first, with Tony changing sides on the frame only when he states that he and his boss are responsible for the people they are trying to save. The right side of the screen is reserved for when the characters are more impersonal and professional, while the left side of the screen is used only when Tony explicitly becomes emotionally attached. Decor and lighting differentiate the perception of each space used on the scene. In the house located in Iran, the lighting is darker because the scene is slightly underexposed, which helps create a low-key effect, while warm colors dominate the location. This assists on the creation of a more intimate environment, just like a house should be. On the other side of the world, in CIA’s headquarters, O’Donnell’s office receives natural lighting from its window, which illuminates a blue wall as well as a typewriter of the same color, making this space look like a professional location, analogous to a typical workplace. In Casablanca, the camera positioning and movement play an important part too. However, the positions and movement are broader, ranging from long shots to close-ups and from static positioning to panning around the location; different angles are used as well. Long shots in addition to panning introduce the area that will be used throughout the scene, which are the Cafe’s bar, and its entrance, that is seen from both the inside and outside. Another panning, more noticeable than the others, is the one that shows Renault spying on the other characters from Rick’s office; the camera pans in a diagonal fashion from the upper right, where the officer is hidden, to the lower left, the spot where the three other character are and also the place where the rest of the sequence takes place. Racking focus is used when Major Strasser’s subordinate opens his office’s door; the focus quickly changes between the man and his superior. A low angle is used when the official says that Laszlo is under arrest, which aggrandizes the captain. In this scene, mood and tension is accomplished mainly by soundtrack and sound effects instead of dialogue, in comparison to Argo’s selected scene, which does exactly the opposite. At first, when Rick is talking to Ilsa, the song â€Å"As Time Goes By† plays on the background as a motif, creating intimacy between them, and as Victor joins them, the song transforms for a brief moment, suddenly disappearing when Renault, in the same shot as aforementioned in the last paragraph, surprises the Resistance hero, thus producing tension. To increase tension even further, a sound effect is used when Rick points his gun at Louis, and his voice is heard off-screen, until the camera tilts towards his face. The soundtrack is back before long, and its purpose now is to underscore tension as Renault makes the phone call. In terms of formal elements, Casablanca’s selected sequence relates more to the rest of the movie than does Argo’s, because only the editing and mise-en-scene aspects are kept the same through the picture, the sound and cinematography are an exception to the rule. Casablanca brands its mise-en-scene and cinematography with relatively spacious locations, and the camera helps to manifest it by using wide angled lens on top of long-shots. Lighting is often the standard three-point scheme, and it kept fixed on most reaction shots. Men are always formally dressed, while Ilsa changes between three different outfits and the cinematography is widely characterized by the use of straight-on angles, to maintain neutrality towards characters, with the exception of a few low shots, which raises some characters’ power. Long shots are predominant on the beginning of scenes, and medium shots, showing two or more people in a group, soon substitute it; close-ups are used mostly for reaction shots. Camera movement includes everything, but handheld and aerial shots. Wide-angle lenses are the favorite in this motion picture. The editing and sounds, follows Hollywood’s standards, always consist of an establishing shot on the beginning of each new scene, introduced by a dissolve from the previous scene’s last shot, and a shot/reverse shot when characters are talking. Usually the rhythm happens on a medium speed. The diegetic sounds prevails, and are easily noticed, they include: most of the music heard on Rick’s Cafe, background noises and sound effects of all sorts, and dialogues. The start of both Argo and Casablanca are almost the same, a narration in addition to various dissolves, introduces rapidly where the films will take place and also a point on history, the only difference is that Casablanca uses a globe, while Argo utilizes the sketches of the fake movie. In Argo, only the editing and mise-en-scene relates to the chosen sequence and the rest of the movie. The main locations are six: Los Angeles, the Central Intelligence Agency’s headquarters, the Iranian house, Iran’s streets, the airport/airplane, and the US embassy on the opening of the movie; and each of them has its own rhythm and amounts of tension, with the ones located in United States having the longest takes with less direct tension and the ones in Iran’s outdoors being the most tense ones and with the shortest takes. The connection between the countries is made with the repetitive use of cross cutting on some sequences. Continuity practically does not exist on the chosen sequence, but does on the rest of the motion picture. Most of the lighting is supposed to be natural. The costumes are typical of each character’s home country. The editing strongly relates to Casablanca by using Hollywood’s standards, like dissolve between scenes, shot/reverse shot during conversations. Cinematography is very different among scenes, and uses all of the possibilities. The scene selected is the only one with a handheld camera with shots focusing on only one character; the other uses for this technique always include groups of people. Aerial shots are also included throughout the movie, in contrast with Casablanca that has none. The camera is always on the eye-level of the shortest character being shown. Close-ups are equally used to show reactions and details, with more camera movement on the last. Sound use is somewhat more complex in Argo, with many off-screen and voice over sounds, like when a conversation is held over the phone or background noises for instance. However, for all the other sections Casablanca and Argo are very similar. Tony and Rick are exclusively professional characters, both of them possess a high social position, and are financially stable, they also enjoy desired political positions among their peers, and neither display signs of emotional attachment to others, until the selected scene on each movie. After it, both characters start to be perceived as warmer people, who are still able to be, in their own ways, part of intimate relationships. As the pictures get closer to their ends, Mendez and Blaine are not seen exclusively as professionals anymore, but as more altruistic persons, the CIA’s agent also boosts his social, and political, position by receiving an award, while the Cafe’s owner earns respect from the couple and the corrupt official. In the end, it is easily acknowledged that both movies are more similar than different, with a special call for their plot, beginning, development of main character, and major formal elements. The differences, if evaluated properly, are almost none, and are all hidden among small details. Coincidentally or not, Michael Curtiz has a quote that applies appropriately to both Tony and Rick when they become emotionally attached to the hostages and the couple, respectively; the quote is â€Å"The only things you regret are the things you don’t do. † How to cite Argo and Casablanca – Main Characters Comparison, Essay examples

Exotic Pets Pros and Cons free essay sample

The panic and terror experienced by the monkeys, bears, lions and leopards that ran loose in Ohio earlier this week as they were chased and then killed by the police. Imagine the heartbreak of the police officers who were obliged to destroy the rambling menagerie. Officers are not trained to stalk big game and bring them in alive with tranquilizer darts. Related News Police Kill Dozens of Animals Freed on Ohio Reserve (October 20, 2011) Why was there no law regulating the animal collection of Terry Thompson, who freed his animals and then apparently killed himself? I’ve spent the last few years prowling America in search of people who share their lives with great apes, big cats and long snakes. Mr. Thompson is not unique. Monkeys seem particularly ubiquitous; a cursory online search can connect you with a purveyor. Exotic animal auctions are crowded with buyers, and the Captive Wild Animal Protection Coalition — which opposes the practice — estimates the number of exotic fanciers in the millions. We will write a custom essay sample on Exotic Pets Pros and Cons or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Owners who bond with their pets as cubs or kittens, bottle-feed and cuddle them, often convince themselves that their relationship is special and their full-grown bear or cat will never turn on them. Yet it’s not just about cuteness and beauty; controlling an animal that arouses fear in other people can be appealing. That’s why those with egos that need feeding, from Kublai Khan to William Randolph Hearst to Mexican drug traffickers, are connected by the desire to stock their personal zoos. Most apes, cats, bears and other animals change when they reach adolescence. They become stronger, more aggressive and less predictable. But is their potential to cause trouble enough reason to regulate or prohibit keeping them as household pets? If we allow ourselves to keep dogs (which can be out of control and vicious), why not other animals like chimpanzees, even if they also might exhibit violent behavior? Champions of exotic pet ownership insist that their rights to enjoy the animals outweigh the risks. â€Å"This was not an animal getting out because of a failed cage,† Zuzana Kukol, an exotic-animal owner, told me when I checked in with her after the Ohio massacre. â€Å"The cage was fine. This was a deliberate act of terror. † I visited her and her partner, Scott Shoemaker, on their Nevada desert spread, far removed from their neighbors and home to Bam-Bam, their 500-plus pound lion, and an assortment of other cats. The two lobby against laws restricting animal ownership. Their isolated compound seems a rare example: well fenced, with animals rescued or bred in captivity, apparently healthy. It’s hard to imagine a better alternative for Bam-Bam and their other animals. Yet this week’s events in Ohio and other tragic cases prove that exotic animals present challenges. Nationwide, the laws on keeping wildlife as pets are a confusing patchwork. Enforcement of those that exist is haphazard, and penalties for violations are rarely severe. â€Å"Exotic† is a fluid term for pets, but we ought to be able to agree on a list of animals that historically do not cohabitate with humans and pose such a threat that they must be caged. Then it’s an easy step to come up with federal laws to protect the animals and their neighbors. It’s past time to regulate the wild beasts: us. Peter Laufer, a professor of journalism at the University of Oregon, is the author of the trilogy â€Å"The Dangerous World of Butterflies,† â€Å"Forbidden Creatures† and â€Å"No Animals Were Harmed. †

Accounting Solutions Essay Example

Accounting Solutions Paper An analyst may perhaps or not observe that this probable indicates that Intel is an enormous power customer and therefore if an analyst considers that power prices will raise, it will affect Intel. C. What type of audit opinion was given for the financial statements and the internal financial controls Of Intel? Explain the key items discussed in the audit reports. The audit opinion avgas clean meaning no exceptions. That is, the financial reports are equally itemized in accordance With GAP and the systems f controls surrounding the financial reporting are working as designed. . Read the management Discussion and analysis MDA). Discuss whether the items that should be addressed in the MDA are included. Support your answer with examples from the Intel MDA Yes, the MDA has the main parts needed. The MDA comprises a synopsis of the financial results, dialogue about strategy, critical accounting estimates, investments, taxes, inventory, accounting changes, results of operations by segment and margins, and restructuring charges. The concussion contains the business outlook, the use of fair values, but I didnt discover the section on business risk. Id not locate it after checking to see it. E. After reading the MD, discuss the future prospects of Intel. Dowdy have any concern? If so, describe those concerns. The projections look very decent. We will write a custom essay sample on Accounting Solutions specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Accounting Solutions specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Accounting Solutions specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer They have firm outcomes and a strategy that makes clear logic given the market. The thing dont know about and would be concerned about is the competition, My biggest concern is; what if Microsoft wants to make devices? Intel is equally reliant on computer creators currently. External dangers are not deliberated that much because Intel cannot control it or recognize too much about it. The discussion is more about internal actions and back-ward looking financial outcomes. Case 2. 1 Intel Case www. Praiseworthiness. Com/Fraser. Using the annual report, answer the following questions: Prepare a common-size balance sheet for Intel for all years presented. A. Describe the types of assets Intel owns. Which assets are the most significant to the company? Using the notes to the financial statements, discuss the accounting methods used to value assets. What other information can be learned about the asset accounts from the notes? Have there been significant changes to the asset structure from 2009 to 2010? They possess cash, investments, receivables, inventory, long-lived assets and goodwill. Approximately a third to the assets are property, plant and equipment (PEP). The PEP is depreciated using straight line method over 2 to 4 years for machinery and equipment and 4 to 40 years tort buildings. They get the most out to interest in long-lived assets they build themselves. Per footnote within the chapter, many of the short ND long-term investments are valued at their fair values. There is wide data about valuations and whether the revaluations are recurring or nonrecurring, There have not been broad changes in benefit structure. The only immense modification is in short term investments (please see excel spreadsheet). B. Analyze the accounts receivable and allowance accounts, c. Describe the types of liabilities Intel has incurred. Which liabilities are the most significant to the company? Have there been significant changes to the liability and equity structure from 2009 to 2010? The most substantial debt is vendor accruals (AP and accrued items) and long term debt. There has not been a key change from 2009 to 2010 (please see excel spreadsheet). Equity is greater since they distributed some common stock and had earnings (increased RE). D. Describe the commitments and contingencies of Intel. Please note 29 on contingencies describe a number of legal proceedings for which the outcome is uncertain, e, under which classification(s) are deferred taxes listed? What item is the most significant component of deferred taxes? As mentioned in Note B, deferred taxes are list below present assets, encounter assets, and nonoccurrence liabilities. Share-based compensation is the biggest component of deferred taxes. F, What equity accounts are included on the balance sheet of Intel? Preferred stock, common stock, other comprehensive income and retained earnings. 2. I g, prom the following accounts, prepare a balance sheet for Chester Co. For the current calendar year. Chester Co. Balance Sheet at December 31, 2013 Assets Current Assets Cash $1,500 Accounts receivable 6,200 Inventory 12400 prepaid expenses Total Current Assets $20,800 Property, plant and equipment 34,000

Competition in Energy Drinks, Sports Drinks Vitamin Enhanced Beverages †Alternative Beverage Industry

Competition in Energy Drinks, Sports Drinks Vitamin Enhanced Beverages – Alternative Beverage Industry Background material The soft drink industry has been dominated by some major companies like the Coca-Cola Company and PepsiCo. Prior to the 21st century, these companies concentrated in the processing of carbonated drinks. The drinks had an exceptionally high demand and companies that processed such drinks flourished by making enormous sales.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Competition in Energy Drinks, Sports Drinks Vitamin Enhanced Beverages – Alternative Beverage Industry specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More However, as consumers have been informed on the dangers or health risks associated with the consumption of carbonated drinks, they have shifted their attentions to other drinks. As the demand for soft drinks continued to rise, dominant companies took advantage of this and hiked the prices. All these contributed to a shift in consumption of the drinks as consumers sought for alternative drinks. Therefore, a lternative drinks came not only as an option, but also as a change in strategy for beverage companies to address the needs of customers (Gamble, 2012). From the year 2000, the alternative beverage market has been extremely active with many companies coming into the alternative beverage industry. However, the international market for alternative beverages was immensely affected by the economic recession of 2008 – 2009. The United States, which is the main market for the alternative drinks, recorded a significant drop in the sale of alternative beverages and drinks. There was a 12.3 per cent drop in the sale of sports drinks between 2008 and 2009. During the same period, vitamin-enhanced waters recorded a 12.5 percent decline in sales. It is only the energy drinks which recorded a rise in sales during the recession period. The sales rose by 0.2 per cent (Gamble, 2012). Beverage producing companies capitalized fully on the demand growth by extending their products. Many companie s have been developing new products, as well as diversifying their existing products so as to capture a bigger share of the market. Beverage companies sought to further extend and venture into the manufacture and processing of relaxation drinks to address the needs of the depressed people. Therefore, the alternative beverage industry has been marked with high scale competition. There exist too many alternative beverages and drinks in the market now (Katz, 2010).Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The major strategy of the beverage companies has been to diversify and make enormous extension of their brands in the market. Increased competition has resulted in unhealthy or unethical business practices within the alternative beverage and drinks industry. Market capture and expansion has been the main objective of the beverage companies. They do not pay much attention to t he aspects of sustainability in the market. A number of companies have been receiving criticism owing to the effects of their products to the health of consumers. Some products like the beverages with high caffeine content were critiqued for promoting unhealthy consumption patterns. Companies do not let the consumers know the patterns of consuming these beverages and drinks. Some companies do not expose the contents and the side effects of these contents to the consumers. Physicians have been warning consumers of the dangers associated with some of the ingredients in these drinks like kava and melatonin (Gamble, 2012). The global beverage industry is still projected to grow as the beverage companies are sprouting and finding new markets across the globe. Therefore, better strategies have to be adopted by the companies in the beverage industry. This will assure that these companies achieve market sustainability (Gamble, 2012). Strategy identification in the alternative beverage indus try For a company to beat the competition in the market, it must first understand and pursue a strategy. The company must understand the industry in which it is competing as this is the main source of competition. Also, a company has to know all the rules that are governing competition within the industry. Notably, there have been many players in the beverage industry. Each of the major companies in the industry has its own way of enhancing its competitive advantage. However, since these companies are operating in the same industry, they tend to use almost similar strategies with only slight differences (Gamble, 2012). There are different approaches or strategies to competition. The five main generic strategies to competition are focused low-cost strategy, focused broad differentiation strategy, a market niche strategy based on low cost. Others are a focused market strategy that is based on differentiation and a best-cost provider strategy.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Competition in Energy Drinks, Sports Drinks Vitamin Enhanced Beverages – Alternative Beverage Industry specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Some companies do apply a mix of these strategies. It is advisable for companies to choose and pursue a single strategy. The pursuance of one policy helps in easing the positioning of a company. This helps in eliminating the complexities that may arise from integrating the varied strategies (Katz, 2010). Major firms in the alternative beverage industry have been applying most of these strategies in order to enhance their performance in the market (Gamble, 2012). The Coca-Cola Company stands out as one of the oldest company in the soft drink industry. Also, the company is ranked as one of the best performing companies in the industry. In the year 2009, the company was the best manufacturer and distributor of soft drinks within the global market. Coca-Cola has a very wide market with di fferent brands. Brand extension is the major strategy of competition for the company. It has the widest distribution network with its plants located in over 200 countries globally. The Coca-Cola brand has been very helpful to the company. It positioned the company in the wider market enabling it to enter alternative beverages into the market effectively. With its new and high quality brands of alternative drinks, Coca-Cola has continued to maintain a competitive position (Gamble, 2012). Similar to Coca-Cola, PepsiCo has a number of popular products like Pepsi. The company has employed several competitive strategies to survive in the competitive alternative beverage and drink industry. One of the key competitive strategies has been brand-extension and brand-diversification. PepsiCo has established itself in the market as a company that has quality products. The company is creative and has been coming up with different products that are filing the market and making it a strong player (Shankar Carpenter, 2012). As one of the biggest beverage companies, PepsiCo noted this demand and ventured into processing the different brands. Some of its products were rated the best in the industry in the year 2010. There are various advantages associated with broad brand distribution. However, what stands out is that this form of distribution provides a wide range of options for customers. The company has further expanded these brands into different flavors. Brand differentiation and extension has been the leading force behind the organizations performance in a competitive industry (Katz, 2010). Hansen Natural Corporation has ben dealing in the manufacture of alternative beverages for a long time. The company sales have been growing in the recent years. This growth is equated to the launch of several other beverages by the company from the beginning of the year 2002. The company has adopted an aggressive differentiation strategy.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Apart from coming up with many brands of products and taking them to market, the company also uses price as a means of differentiating its products in the market. In the year 2002, the company decided to lower the prices of its products with the price of Red Bull products. In-store promotions have also been extensively used by the company in familiarizing its products to customers. The company uses creative promotional strategies. They promote their products in the events that they sponsor for instance sporting events and art and music concerts (Gamble, 2012). Red Bull GmbH has been one of the leading companies in the processing of soft drinks in the beverage industry. The company concentrated in the manufacture of beverage drinks since its inception. This explains why the company is a strong force in the industry. Whereas other companies have diversified and produces products in different categories within the industry, Red Bull has concentrated in one lane of products. The concent ration in these products has made the company a master in such products. However, all other companies in the industry have been diversifying their products and even becoming good producers of sports drinks. This competitive strategy is not very favorable in an industry which has many players. Dependence on a single product is highly risky for a company. The company is bound to flop in the event other companies develop stronger substitutes (Trigg, Himmelweit Simonetti, 2002). The alternative beverage industry has been marked with competition. Companies in the industry are using almost similar strategies of competition. With products in the industry being close substitutes, broad differentiation strategies are the main focus of the companies. Most of the main firms in the industry are coming up with more products so as to fill and dominate the market. In this aspect of differentiation, quality is also playing out as an important element of differentiation. Some companies are earning fame in the industry because of the quality of their substitute products (Thompson, Gamble Strickland, 2006). Analysis of performance of the broad differentiation strategy by major firms in the alternative beverage industry Just like many other strategies, differentiation strategies are aimed at maximizing profits in companies. It enables firms to raise the unit of sales, gain the loyalty from their customers, and commanding a premium price for company products. When this has been achieved, the company gains competitive advantage over its competitors in the market (Shankar Carpenter, 2012). PepsiCo gained access into the alternative beverage market by virtue of having dealt in the soft drink industry for a long time. The broad brand differentiation strategy has been argued to be the main reason why the company has been ranked first in the alternative beverage industry globally (Thompson, Gamble Strickland, 2006). PepsiCo has been remarkably innovative knowing the amount of effort s that are being employed by its competitors like Coca-Cola and Red Bull. The company formed vast distribution systems for its carbonated soft drinks like Pepsi-Colas. As it introduced its new brands of the alternative beverages, it ensured that the new brands were found where in the distribution centers for its famous brands. Therefore, as people purchased these products, they came across the new products. PepsiCo has over one hundred sub–brands of brands in the market that have been developed from the main brands. The first aspect of differentiation in the company was the venturing into the production of alternative beverage drinks. At one point, PepsiCo has managed to come up with over 12 different flavors of products from a single product. There are different methods or approaches of differentiating products in a competitive market (Gamble, 2012). Differentiation can focus on either the main products or even on other aspects of product marketing like pricing and other mar keting approaches (Keller, 1998). PepsiCo has concentrated much on diversifying its alternative beverage drinks. This forms the core of its differentiation strategy. The company has many alternative beverage drinks in the market. This means that the company attests to the differing tests of customers. This also aids the company to have a wider market relative to its competitors, and thus a competitive advantage to PepsiCo. A company can choose to pursue brand differentiation in multiple ways. This gives the company a stronger platform on which to compete with its competitors. However, it is suitable for a company to identify its strong pointer in differentiation as this will serve the company best when competitive pressures mount (Kotler Pförtsch, 2006). Differentiation is an extremely broad strategy. For a company to realize the benefits of differentiation strategy, it has to incorporate differentiation activities in its supply chain. A strong and differentiated supply chain e nsures that products reach customers in time and required qualities and quantities (Thompson, Gamble Strickland, 2006). PepsiCo has done well in sustaining its supply chain by enhancing its distribution channels and points. Its products are easily found in the market. This boosts the sale of the products. Research and development have also helped the company in its initiatives of brand diversity. With a significant number of products in the market, the company has to shift its attention to active marketing practices like advertising and promotional activities. There are many products from the company that are not yet known by many potential customers. The brands that have been developed in the recent years need to be made known to the potential customers of the company (Gamble, 2012). Recommendations for future decisions for a new company in the industry Companies that are aiming to venture into this industry have to be extremely creative. Nonetheless, with many customers, this ind ustry is highly saturated with master companies. The first thing for a new company will be to assess the industry in terms of the main companies operating in the industry and strategies that they use. The attractiveness of a firm in any industry is the attractiveness of the industry. Industry attractiveness is determined by the profits that are being made by the firms in the industry (Porter, 1998). The new firm must also be familiar with the rules that govern competition in the industry. According to Porter (1998), the rules are to be found in the five forces of competition. These are competition for new entrants, threat of substitutes, the buyers and their bargaining power, the bargaining power of suppliers and rivalry in the industry. The most compelling force in the beverage industry is the issue of the threat posed by substitute products and rivalry among the firms. When a company chooses to pursue a certain competitive strategy, it does not imply that the company should work w ith the strategy in an isolated manner. Strategies do not work in isolation just as it is in the business. Other strategies have to be incorporated within the main competitive strategy to make it work efficiently. Each strategy has its advantages, as well as disadvantages to the company. Therefore, the company must ensure that it maximizes on the strengths of a strategy. Capitalization on the strengths of a strategy helps in eliminating the negative effects of a strategy. The broad brand differentiation strategies have been applied in greater heights. Ii is more risky for a new firm to concentrate on a single strategy in a market that has highly volatile activities (Thompson, Gamble Strickland, 2006). The company has to monitor the different companies and capitalize on the aspects of weakness in the competitors. As a company develops products in the market, it has to monitor competition both from within and without the organization. The company must fully understand its competitors so that it can choose the best strategies to out-compete them. As a market leader, a company is always prone to scrutiny from other firms (Yoffie Kwak, 2001). The adoption of blue ocean market strategy could also be favorable to the new company. The beverage industry is marked by similar products with only slight differences in flavor. This can be effectively applied in marketing by choosing inventive strategies, which will help the company set itself above the other companies. The strategy chosen by the company has to be integrative basing on the assessment done to the strategies of the other companies already in the industry (Kim Mauborgne, 2005). The new entrant has to adopt defensive strategies as it enters the market in the first time. Open competitive strategies will then be applied when the company has attained a significant market share. This is because the activities of the company can be influenced be put to jeopardy by the actions of the smaller (Thompson, Gamble Stri ckland, 2006). References Gamble, J. E. (2012). Competition in Energy Drinks, Sports Drinks, Vitamin Enhanced Beverages. Web. Katz, J. S. (2010). Competing for global dominance: Survival in a changing world. Silicon Valley, CA: Superstar Press. Keller, K. L. (1998). Strategic brand management: Building, measuring and managing brand equity. Upper Saddle River, N.J: Prentice Hall. Kim, W.C. Mauborgne, R. (2005). Blue ocean strategy: How to create uncontested market space and make the competition irrelevant. Boston, Mass: Harvard Business School Press. Kotler, P. Pförtsch, W. A. (2006). B2B brand management: With 7 tables. Berlin: Springer. Porter, M.E. (1998). Competitive Advantage: Creating and Sustaining Superior Performance: with a New Introduction. New York: Simon and Schuker Inc. Shankar, V. Carpenter, G.S. (2012). Handbook of marketing strategy. Cheltenham [etc.: Elgar. Thompson, A. A., Gamble, J. Strickland, A. J. (2006). Strategy: Core concepts, analytical tools, read ings. Boston, Mass: McGraw-Hill. Trigg, A., Himmelweit, S. Simonetti, R. (2002). Microeconomics: Neoclassical and institutionalist perspectives on economic behavior. London: Thomson. Yoffie, D. B., Kwak, M. (2001). Judo strategy: Turning your competitors strength to your advantage. Boston, Mass: Harvard Business School Press.

Pop culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Pop culture - Essay Example This information was important in support of the central claim because of the elements of popular culture provided, its role in the society and its definition. These were important in making the reader understand that popular culture does not destroy society values and morals. Cons: The article has no evidence of support from other sources of literature. It means that it is a one author’s idea. It could be a credible source of information, but any writing with no evidence of support from other sources reduces reliability. The author may be a prominent person as indicated in the site (A member of the American Culture Association and Popular Culture Association), but lack of citations in his work could be a sign of lack of research. It is not, however, inevitable that if his work is not cited, then he did not conduct any research. This is an article about social inclusion. It discusses social inclusion as an approach to human development and social well-being. Social inclusion in this article recognizes the importance of diversity and difference in understanding community and national level identity. Social inclusion in the article also calls for recognition of shared aspirations among people and commonality of lived experiences. It shows how social inclusion is more than bringing outsiders in and includes closing social, physical, and economic distances that separate people. It does not only remove barriers between them. There is also information about the five cornerstones of inclusion and how inclusion is built in a community. This paper was used because it has relevant information about social inclusion. In the essay, social inclusion is one of the outcomes of popular culture. Understanding social inclusion, how it is built, and its cornerstones were very important in understanding how popular culture leads to social inclusion. This information was very important in supporting the positive role of popular culture in the