A Deconstruction of an episode of Sex and the City Essay

A Deconstruction of an episode of Sex and the City - Essay Example In a sense Sex and the City deconstructs some of the supposed passions and seriousness surrounding this issues. It thus makes sense to add a further layer of deconstruction by analyzing an episode of the comedy through the deconstructive lense.In the episode called "Woulda Shoulda Coulda" the subject of accidental pregnancy (and subsequent wish to have an abortion) is juxtaposed against a couple who desperately want to get pregnant, but who cannot because the woman's body is attacking her partner's sperm.The context of this episode is the ongoing battle over abortion, together with the great advances in reproductive medicine in general, including the ability to discern precisely "why" a couple cannot get pregnant, together with the possibility of artificial implantation.Thus this analysis will consider a particular episode of Sex in the City within the context of its "discipline",but also see what this discipline has been able to "dissimulate" and/or "forbid". The method will involve entering into the mindset of the series, with its attempted sophisticated portrayal of the postmodern condition.This condition has been well described by Jean Baudrillard in his analysis of what he calls "the schizo". He argues that all individuals in postmodern societies, especially those who are attempting to thrive in a large city, may be characterized in the following manner: This is a complex idea, but one suited to this study. ... He is himself obscene, the obscene play of the world's obscenity . . . he can no longer produce himself as a mirror. He is now only pure screen,a switching center for all the networks of influence. (Baudrillard, 1983) This is a complex idea, but one suited to this study. The individual, within Baudrillard's vision, is no longer the solid, three-dimensional object that he/she once was, but rather now exists as a kind of node on a two dimensional surface. The forces of modern society flow through these "nodes" without the individual having much influence upon them. Within the episode being considered here the random forces of nature: whether a woman gets pregnant or not, together with the pressures and opportunities of modern medicine, produce a kind of dance of the characters as they attempt to deal with the situation. The terrible ironies of the situation faced by these people will be couched within the exigencies of comedy, but the true seriousness of the situation often shines through. Irony can only go so far. 4. Discussion The episode starts with a view of a busy New York and two fo the main characters running along the street, clearly late. The main character states in a voice-over. "In life, sometimes we find ourselves at a crossroads. In New York that crossroads tends to be busy and very loud." As the last words are being spoken she nearly gets run over by a taxi as she crosses the road without really looking. The fact that she is literally at a crossroads, and that it is very loud, and perhaps even very dangerous makes the beginning of the show apparently very clichd. But in reality it can be seen that the writers are in fact putting the whole classic

Human Resources, Competitive Advantg Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Human Resources, Competitive Advantg - Essay Example HR will have to ensure that they are given equal opportunity and they are protected against issues such as sex discrimination. 2. Sexual harassment has been defined as sexual moves that are unasked for by the victim, requests of favors that are sexual in nature in exchange of promotion or threat of firing the employee and physical and verbal actions and movements that are sexual in nature. Sexual harassment that is recognized as Quid Pro Quo occurs when an individual is offered promotion or is threatened to be fired from his/her position if the employee rejects or accepts favors that are sexual in nature. Sexual harassment that is recognized as Hostile environment occurs when people on the same level of the hierarchy conduct activities that are sexual in nature and are unwanted and make the environment difficult for the victim to continue to operate in an efficient manner. 3. When during the procedure of selection and hiring the HR employs a multiple hurdle model, the applicant has to stay successful during different steps of a test and they have to prove to be successful in every step. If they fail to achieve the passing score in a particular test, they are deemed as unfit for the job. If the HR has employed a compensatory model, they will be making their hiring decision based on the overall scores of all the tests. This model is based on the premise that if an applicant performs well on one test and fails to perform well on the other test, the earlier score will compensate for the score of the second test. 4. According to the job characteristic model, there are five characteristics of a particular job. The first characteristic is skill variety, which is defined as the number of skills that are required to perform a particular job; the second is task identity, which is defined as the completion of the job from the starting point to the ending point. The third is task significance which is defined as how

PEST(LE) Analysis about ford Lab Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

PEST(LE) Analysis about ford - Lab Report Example Presently, the company operates worldwide in more than 80 countries and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. The company owns a minor stake in companies Mazda and Aston Martin. Ford is regarded as the second largest automaker in the world based on the net sales of the year 2010. It is the eight ranked company American company in the list of Fortune 500, based on the global revenue earned in the year 2009 and 2010. This study will lay an emphasis on the background of the Ford Company and its worldwide operations. The study will also give an insight into the present scenario of the vehicle industry of UK and its impact on the Ford Company. The study will conduct a macro environmental analysis of the UK domestic and industrial vehicle industry. The study will highlight the present financial and strategic position of the company and the factors affecting the growth of the company. Finally, the study will conclude with a forecast of the company and suggestions that can improve its cu rrent financial and strategic position of the company. Background Presently, the company operates worldwide with an employee base of 166000 which helps in delivering vehicles that are of high quality and exceptional value to the customers across the globe (Ford, 2013h). The first car designed and manufactured by Henry Ford was Cadillac in the year 1901 and the company was known as Cadillac Motor Company. In the year 1908 the company introduced a car known as Model A, the first car with safety glass and a windshield. The company gained popularity and kept on manufacturing cars with innovative structure. By the end of 2005 the company was claimed as one of the world’s largest automaker in USA because of its introduction of a series of unique cars based on innovative technologies. The company had introduced cars based on hybrid electric powertrain technologies and plug in hybrid technologies which has increased its customer base of industrial and individual clients. The company had created a transportation revolution by manufacturing vehicles which were classy, sturdy and uniquely designed. Reasons & Methods of Growth of Ford The cars manufactured by Ford are known for their sturdiness, elegant design and high vehicle standards. The company is highly committed in the design and production of vehicles that have the ability to deliver superior performance, offer innovative safety and offer innovative safety and driver assist technologies (Ford, 2013c). This has earned the company several awards in its field like â€Å"Top Safety Pick Awards† from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and has also received good ratings from the same. The automotive supply chain of Ford is one of the biggest strength and the company relies on thousands of its suppliers for the timely supply of car raw materials, parts and other necessary services for successful automotive making (Ford, 2013j).The suppliers have acted as catalyst for the company in achieving lower costs, improvement of quality of car making and improving the sustainable development situation (Ford, 2013i). The management of Ford ensures that a pleasant relationship is maintained with the suppliers and there is enough support for the human rights in the supply chain (Ford, 2013b). The company believes in performing business activities by ensuring proper sustainable development practices like reduction of water usage by 8.5 percent, energy reduction and by customer engagement

Technology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 6

Technology - Essay Example Technology has assisted them long and hard to further their belief in this phenomenon. The proponents of technology have supported it because they find no reason in disapproving the advantages that come along with it in different fields of life. Technology has allowed people to relax more today than ever before.This is the reason why the advocates of technology are always in favor of it. Technology has resolved nearly all the issues plaguing the human society and has been the savior on more than a single occasion to be remarked as the messiah of the modern day society. People have felt more inclined to cope up with the different technological facets today than ever before as their trust and confidence has increased manifolds. This trust and confidence has increased because they have seen the advantages and benefits that technology has offered them over the years. They have found out that technology assists them whenever they seem to be in a problem. Plus it is proactively driven to bring rewards for them which is also something that positively motivates them about technology. The ones who receive these benefits in turn tell others about how good the technological manifestations have been. This is the reason why technology is taken on by people in a sudden manner and then there seems to be no looking back on this tangent at all. If seen correctly, this is one of the major pluses behind the concept of technology adoption (Swart, 2012). Technology has overtaken the human emblem by a fair count. It has made people realize where they can find a substit ute for their own selves. At times, technology has even taken the sheen off the human intellect. This is an alarming aspect because human beings are superior than any other entity in this world yet technology has come out strong to make them redundant on certain occasions (Jensen, 2005). The role of human beings cannot be denied under any case whatsoever. It must be

Population control Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Population control - Essay Example Theological reasons are also given birth control. But birth control is extremely necessary for sustainable long term growth of the world. It is not possible for the world to absorb great population pressure. The resources available are limited and they will deplete sooner or later. Also it is evident from highly populated countries what problems population increase can cause. In this essay we will give arguments in favor of population control. Arguments presented by the other side will also be put under scrutiny. After a thorough analysis it will be established that population control is essential for survival and prosperity. Population Control is Must The most obvious reason why population control should be advocated is that the natural resources of this world are limited. Water, land and minerals will not continue to serve this world for eternity. These resources and limited and increase in population will put more and more pressure on these natural reserves. We should fear the day when these reserves will end. What the world do that day? It is also important to understand that growth should be sustainable and should not be at the expense of nature (Tan, Wu-Meng, 2000). Also human made things like schools and hospitals are not growing at a great pace. With an upward population pressure these institutions will soon be not enough for the population. This will be the case all over the world if population control is opposed globally. The problems of population are evident in highly populated countries like India where poverty is very high (Tully, M. 2004). Children do not get education and food just because there are too many children. Parents cannot bear the burden of these children. These problems accompany when there is an increase in population. Another reason why population control is essential is that increasing demand hikes the prices up and then only some factions of population are able to afford goods. This can be seen in oil and food products. A decreas e in population will cause prices of these valuable commodities to go down. These commodities will also be then available for everyone. Population increase is directly responsible for increase in poverty. People who lack knowledge have a large number of kids and then they cannot support them with their income. Then their children also grow up and do the same. In this way generations and generations fall into the pitfalls of poverty and hunger. Education is not ubiquitous in developing countries and this is why population is increasing rapidly. Small families are also easy to manage. Parents can give time to their children when they have a small family. Children require attention and their up brining is mostly in the hand of parents. A lot of children can therefore reduce the time each child gets from parents. This is another reason why small families are advisable. In such a fast moving world time is valuable and parents will only be able to give sufficient time to their children if and only if they have small families. Population control can also increase the participation of women in workforce. Fewer children will mean that women will have more time to work and in this way productivity of the economy can be increased. More children will mean more time and energy on the part of mother and this will directly result in reduction of her productivity. Productivity of women should be increased because it will allow the economies of countries to expand. This can be achieved by

Industrial Services of America Inc Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Industrial Services of America Inc - Essay Example It is evident that a number of factors including promotion, job security, approval from peers and management, and appraisals, motivate employees in an organizational scenario. Internal factors, such as ethics, values, and morals of the organization affect the motivation and work output of the employees. A successful organization ensues that its employees are well motivated because they are the organization itself. An organization should study and structure its throughput variables in a manner that will enhance employee motivation. The knowledge of throughput variable interaction is essential for successful employee motivation and performance enhancement (Burke, 2010). This paper will examine the throughput variables of Industrial Services of America Inc. and how their interaction influences employee motivation and performance. Industrial Services of America is a company that is in the recycling business majoring in metal recycling. This business is quite competitive in the United Sta tes, and this exposes ISA to potential business risks and stiff competition from some of the established recycling companies. This problem is compounded by the fact that the economy is unfavorable for the market; therefore, the company’s returns are adversely affected. ISA management has resorted to employee motivation using throughput variable interaction to influence employee motivation and enhance performance. This increases the work output of employees thus increasing the returns of the company. Throughput Variables used by ISA Mission and Strategy The mission and strategy of ISA emphasizes on consistent and clarity in communication that are essential for the company’s success. The senior management believes in forming a mission and vision statement that is celebrated by both the public and the employees. To ensure that employees celebrate the strategy and the mission of the organization, the teams that create it must consider the opinions of the employees in the p rocess. Studies have shown that those organizations that have involved teams at all levels in mission and strategic planning increase an employee’s motivation to the success of the organization. Through wide consultations and public debate, the employees’ individual needs and divergent views are listened to without reprimand. This process motivates employees because it makes them valued and thus dissipating any hidden rebellion or resistance to management (Sharma, 2006). Individual needs and values As aforementioned, an individual’s need for satisfaction influences their motivation. ISA is like a society with employees with a diverse background. This translates to different needs and values among the company’s employees, which makes it vital for the organization to enhance its ability to meet the different needs of the employees. ISA identifies the values and needs of its employees through integrating them in the process of major decision-making. The comp any has a culture in which the management mingles freely with the junior employees besides the use of effective feedback mechanisms that are employed. The feedback mechanisms used by the company are essential for job enhancement decisions taken by the management. Job enhancement and enrichment boost employee motivation. This is because the meeting of the employees’

Locus of control and self-esteem Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Locus of control and self-esteem - Essay Example A drive to accomplish and maintain high self-esteem is one of the strongest motives of personality. People with high self-esteem possess a positive image about themselves while people with low self-esteem possess a negative about themselves (Baumeister, 1998). In recent times, psychologist and other social scientists have shifted emphasis on studying the personality traits of students. A number of researchers have studied the relationship between self-esteem and locus of control (Martin, 1978; Liu, Haiyan & Li, 2009). The findings of the researches suggested that locus of control and self-esteem has a negative or inverse relationship. This means that individuals having a high locus of control, that is, external locus on control will have a low self-esteem. Similarly, individuals having a low locus of control, that is, internal locus of control will have a high self-esteem (Martin, 1978; Liu, Haiyan & Li, 2009). These results are not only consistent in the academic field rather researchers investigated the relationship of the two variables among different ethnic backgrounds, socio-economic status, gender roles and discovered the same results (Goodman, Cooley, Sewell & Leavitt, 1994; Harrison, Guy & Lupfer, 1981). The main purpose of the research is to study the relationship between locus of control and self-esteem among students studying at Marshall Graduate College, Charleston. The study aims to investigate whether students having a higher locus of control have a low self-esteem and vice versa. In order to understand the two variables; locus of control and self-esteem better, the conceptual definitions are presented. The locus of control is an important concept of psychology which explains how a human perceives the events that he has gone through in his or her life. It is considered as an important part of an individual’s personality as it mainly refers to the way one perceives his/her actions and the events that his/his life passes through,