“But is it Art?” By Cynthia Freeland

At the present, the contemporary society has offered many and different forms and characteristics of exemplification and abstraction of the humanistic aspect of the society in the form of what is generally known as art. The said manifestations of the artistic nature of the people is viewed by many to be of no value as they do not coincide or agree with the principal guidelines of artistic consideration. On the other hand, other groups in the society claim the other way around.This difference in the interpretation and view regarding the artistic value of the emotional and concrete manifestations of the abstracted values of the people produces conflict of opinions in the art aspect of the humanity. In this spectacle of social ambiguity that the book of Cynthia Freeland entitled â€Å"But is it Art† appeals most. The book by Freeland generally perceives the contemporary artistic manifestations to be examples of the modern artistic vision of the society as related with their new n orms and social values.By exemplifying and analyzing different art forms in the modern society, Freeland claims that the modern manifestations of the humanistic aspect of the society is still considerably within the principles of artwork and are all appreciable in their own aspects. By also considering the different changes and advancement in the social development, she also claims that principles of the old art forms has not yet excluded by the present society but instead it became more vivid and artistic with the expansion beyond the past boundaries.The book of Freeland considers different aspects of the present art form in relation to the dominant social values and cultures each discussed sufficiently and intrinsically in the book. By this analysis and with incorporation of different ideas from other art critic, Freeland has developed a concept in her book describing the present mediums and manifestations of the humanistic aspect of the present society to be within the classifica tion of art in their own definition of artistic representation and expression.

Children’s literature

Literature is (a) imaginative or creative writing; (b) distinguish writing, with deep sublime, noble feelings. It includes oral tradition passed on from generation to generation by word of mouth (e. g. proverbs, myths, legends, epic, folk song, etc. ). Literature, as defined by the oxford, etc. , valued as works of art (drama, fiction, essays, poetry, biography) contrasted with technical books and journalism; (2) all the writing of a country (French lit. ) or a period (18th Century English Lit. ); (3) printed material describing or advertising e. g. pamphlets; (4) books dealing with special subjects, travel, poultry farming.Literature is an art expressing beauty through the medium of language; a recreation through language of human situation and experiences, the orchestration of the manifold but elemental experiences of man blended into harmonious and desired patterns of expressions and a faithful reproduction of life executed in an artistic pattern (Del Prado). Why Study Literature? Literature leads to personal fulfilment and academic gains.Separating the values into personal and academic is an intellectual distinction, since both types benefit the students and are all proper parts of a student’s schooling. The distinction is useful, however, since teachers and librarians must often justify the benefits of literature in the classroom and find the academic benefits the most convincing ones for administrators and parents. Enjoyment The most important personal gain that good books offer to students is the most obvious one-enjoyment.Those of you who read widely as students will never forget the stories that were so tragic that you almost cried out, some were so funny that you laughed out, the poem that was so lifting that you never forgot it, or the mystery that was so scary that your heart thumped with apprehension. Such positive early experience often leads to a lifetime of reading enjoyment. Imagination and Inspiration By seeing the world around them in new ways and by considering ways of living other than their own, students increase their ability to think divergently.Stories often map the divergent paths that our ancestors might have taken or that our descendants might someday take. Through the vicarious experience of entering a different world from the present one, students develop their imaginations. In addition, stories about people, both real and imaginary, can inspire students to overcome obstacles, accept different perspectives, and formulate personal goals. The Academic Value of Literature to Student In addition to the personal benefits of literature for yong readers, there are several important academic benefits.Reading Many of you may have reached the common-sense deduction that reading ability, like any other skill, improves with practice. Many teachers and librarians believe that regular involvement with excellent and appropriate literature can foster language development to young people and can help them to learn to r ead and to value reading. Writing Since people tend to assimilate or adopt what they like of what they read and hear, young people may, by listening to and reading literature, begin to develop their own writing â€Å"voice†, or unique, personal writing style.By listening to and reading excellent literature, children are exposed to rich vocabulary and excellent writing styles, which serve as good models for their own speaking and writing voices. The acquisition of a larger vocabulary through reading offers young writers a better word choice for their own stories. Devices found in books such as the use of dialect, dialogue, and precise descriptions are often assimilated into students’ own writing. Vicarious ExperienceWhen a story is convincing written that readers feel as though they have live through an experience or have actually been in the place and time where the story is set, the book have given them a vicarious experience. Experiences such as these are broadening students to stories from many lands and cultures, teachers and libraries are building a solid foundation for multicultural and international understanding. Walking in someone else’s shoes often help students to develop a greater capacity to empathize with others.Students around the world can benefit from stories that explain what life is, for people who are restricted by handicaps, politics, or circumstances or whose lives are different from theirs because of culture or geography. Likewise, young readers of today can relate on a more personal level with the events and people of history. Heritage Stories that are handed down from one generation to the next connect us to our past, to the roots of our specific cultures, national heritage, and general human condition. Stories are the repositories of culture.Knowing the tales, characters, expression, riddles, lullabies, songs, and adages that are part of our cultural heritage makes us culturally literate. Stories based on fact hel p young people to gain a greater appreciation for what history is and for the people, both ordinary and extraordinary who made history. Art Appreciation Illustration in some literature books (Children’s Literature) can be appreciated both for its ability to help tell the story (cognitive value) and for its value as art (aesthetic value).Picture books are profusely illustrated books in which the illustrations are, to varying degrees, essential to the enjoyment and understanding of the story. For this reason, illustrations in picture books are said to be integral to the story. The illustration in picture books provides actual plot or concept information as well as clues to character traits, settings, and moods. Without the illustrations, therefore these books would be diminished, and in some case the story would make no sense or would be nonexistent.

Consumer behaviour theory

In the current state of understanding consumer behaviour attitudes are core concept in gaining knowledge of people’s personalities, behaviour and choices they make. In other words answering the question – â€Å"Why do people do what they do? † Along with beliefs and identity they are main factor impacting on individual’s life since everyday choices are made embracing a certain attitude. Unless marketers try to define and pay attention to the psychological need which is encountered by the holding of an attitude they are in a poor position to predict when and how it will change.  (Daniel Katz, 1960)This essay will specify the factors and psychological processes that influence people’s needs and their perceptions of various products. Furthermore it will describe how marketers can apply the Functional Theory of Attitudes to understand and influence consumers’ attitudes and buying behaviour. According to Arnould (2004)†An attitude is a per son’s overall, enduring evaluation of a concept or object, such as a person, a brand or a service† Attitude formation could happen in different ways and it is continual process which is influenced throughout an individual’s lifetime.Some of the influences are internal such as values and beliefs but many of these influences are external, such as family, school, religion, work, peers and, to an increasing extent, the media. The views for companies are based on associations that they have linked them. The Functional theory of attitudes explains consumers’ reasons for holding or changing their attitudes. Daniel Katz (1960) distinguished four functions differing in what roles they perform for the individual.â€Å"According to functional theory, people form attitudes in order to organize, structure and summarize large amounts of information about an object (Grewal et al. 2004)† (Argyriou, E. , & Melewar, T. C. , 2011, pp. 433) The functional theory highli ghts the idea that attitude change occurs when message and motive match (Katz 1960) and suggests that an individual's attitude toward an object is largely determined by what â€Å"function† an attitude serves for the individual.The first attitude function – the utilitarian is expressed in achieving desired needs, consumers stay away from brands which are unlikely  to fulfil their needs. Utilitarian appeal contains informing consumers of one or more key benefits that are perceived to be highly functional or important to aimed consumers. The term â€Å"utilitarian advertising appeal†, is a creative approach that highlights the functional features of a product or a brand. The basic principle is the one of â€Å"expected reward† and a lot of the commercials use this function in order to focus on the product performance attributes or its benefits. For example, most of the automobile advertisings are emphasising on the utilitarian features and characteristics .Place satisfaction is the â€Å"utilitarian value (of a place) to meet certain basic needs† (Guest & Lee, 1983, p. 234) These needs range from sociability to public services to and the perceived quality of, facilities, or visual appearance (Stedman, 2002,pp. 564) The ego-defensive function in which the individuals protects themselves from getting to know truths about internal feelings or the threats of the external world in order to protect their ego and self-image. (Katz, D. , 1960) Nowadays consumers want to be associated with a particular brand or product.This comes from the fact that they want to build up and keep a particular self-image of themselves in the eyes of their peers. Products which aim to avoid anxiety-producing situations are most likely to be purchased. A perfume is a good example of an ego-defensive aimed product because it is used to rise individual’s self-esteem and position in the society. Advertising this kind of â€Å"tools† emphasises o n the social acceptance, confidence, and sexual desirability in order to build a positive attitudes and association with the particular brand. â€Å"You are unique†¦You are Magnifique! The new Feminine Fragrance. † is the slogan of â€Å"Magnifique† by â€Å"Lancome† flattering ones’ Ego. The value-expressive function is the one from which the individual expresses attitudes which correspond to his personal values and to his concept of himself which brings him satisfaction. This is a central function because it stresses the importance of self-expression, self-development, and self-realization. Consumers could form a product attitude not because of its tangible functions or characteristics, but because of what it says about their personality.â€Å"Places contain symbols of different social categories and personal meanings, and represent and maintain identity on different levels and dimensions. There is no social identity that is not also place-related and thing-related† (Grauman, 1983). The organisation of knowledge function is based upon the individual’s need of order, structure or meaning in their life. Striving for â€Å"ordering their universe† comes from the need of standards or frames when it comes to a new product or confusing situation. The consumer sorts all the messages while ignoring the less relevant information.This could result in positive attitude toward the new brand or the new characteristics of the brand. For example, more information is required when a customer is buying car or the additional policies for a mobile phone contract. In conclusion, attitudes toward brands and products are used to predict preferences among brands, buying intentions, or actual choice behaviour. Measure of brand preferences is not the same as measures of intended or actual choice. Marketers have to consider attitudes toward the act of buying or using a product rather than attitudes toward the product itself.

A.Photosynthesis consumes carbon dioxide(CO2)and produces Lab Report

A.Photosynthesis consumes carbon dioxide(CO2)and produces oxygen(O2).Brespiration consumes oxygen(O2) and produces carbon dioxide(CO2)as a byproduct - Lab Report Example It takes place in the mitochondria and the by-products are CO2, H2O and energy. Both cellular respiration and photosynthesis relates in that the by-products of each process is a raw material for the other process. The major purpose of the experiment is to determine that photosynthesis consumes CO2 and produces O2 as a by-product while cellular respiration consumes O2 and produces Co2 as a by-product. In photosynthesis experiment, five 50ml test tube were labelled 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 using wax pencil. A piece of Elodea plant was placed in tube 1-4 while except 5. Tubes were filled to the brim with 7.0 pH phenol red solution and then each tube was plugged with a rubber stopper. The surfaces of the tubes were wiped with paper towel. Tube 2 then wrapped using two sheets of cellophane, tube 3 wrapped using 2 sheets of green cellophane while tube 4 wrapped with one sheet of aluminium foil and tube 1 and 5 were not wrapped. The tubes were placed under bright white light for 11/2 hours and colour changes noted in each tube. In respiration experiment, goldfish was placed in a 50ml tube containing water with normal conditions for fish. The temperature of water was measured and the number of breaths of the fish per 60sec recorded. Tap water was poured into 600ml beaker and tube with the fish was transferred into the beaker. Small pieces of ice were added one by one to the beaker until the tem perature drops to 100C then process stopped and number of breaths recorded. More ice was added until the temperature drops to 50C then cold water was changed and the procedure above repeated for the temperature of 210C and 250C. The colour of the phenol red turned to orange in all the tubes since the CO2 was absorbed from the environment within the enclosed tubes to react with water thus forming weak acid of pH around neutral hence the orange colour. But since tube 1 had all the factors responsible for

Capstone Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Capstone - Essay Example Strengths –one of its major strengths is its reputation for high-quality, technological innovations, and excellent customer service. This ability to leverage new technological ideas into something useful for business and especially appealing to consumers is exemplified by its catch phrase of â€Å"Think Different† which was the personal motto of its founder Steve Jobs. The people at Apple, Inc. had continued this legacy as it ventured into new areas of consumer electronics. In a sense, Apple, Inc. is a good example of the learning organization as shown by its flexibility and agility to constantly re-invent itself (Schermerhorn 2010) to respond to various threats like the rise of Samsung from South Korea and in several pending patent lawsuits still in the courts. Weaknesses – a key weakness of Apple, Inc. is it is being viewed as solely the product of the sheer force of will of Steve Jobs and who is gone due to cancer, there are some lingering doubts whether his successors can continue his legacy of innovation and thinking out of the box, so to speak. This company had transitioned well without Steve Jobs at the top but its future is not assured as it continues to battle many new entrants to an already over-crowded industry. Opportunities – the company can enter into strategic alliances with its competitors so it can better grab market share and shorten the period in bringing a new product to the market. It is a strategy adopted by the faster and nimbler Samsung when it allied itself with Apple, Inc. in the early stages of the smart phone industry but has since parted ways and now dominated the global market for this hand-held device. Apple, Inc. can further tighten its grip on the high-end tablet market by entering into business agreements with retail chains like what it did with Starbucks for its vast music catalog to create new demand for its products (Ireland et al.,

Environmental studies Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Environmental studies - Assignment Example There is no interference from the government. In the same manner, the environment has a self-control mechanism and can control itself without interference from mankind. Bio-economic modelling seeks to find solutions to environmental problems with this in light. 2. Explain why the Threshold Value Analysis might facilitate rent-seeking behaviour. (LECTURE 11) Threshold Value Analysis might facilitate rent-seeking behaviour because the decision rule for Threshold Value Analysis is that the model should be developed if the benefits exceed the decision-makers analysis of the costs. The decision-maker may be biased in analysing the costs hence leading to rent-seeking behaviour. 3. Contrast the TVA to environmental decision making with the application of a safe minimum standard approach. (LECTURE 11) The decision rule for Threshold Value Analysis is that the model should be developed if the benefits exceed the decision-makers analysis of the costs i.e. if the benefits are above the threshol d. Safe minimum approach standard is used when the benefits are below the threshold. A second threshold is developed below the initial threshold. 4. What is the difference between risk and uncertainty? How does the difference affect the way you would analyse issues of environmental management? (Lecture 12) In risk, one knows the possible outcomes and their corresponding probabilities. Such probabilities are known either from experience or carrying out experiments. In uncertainty, the likely outcomes are known, but their probabilities of occurrence are not known. In analysing issues of environmental management using decision trees, payoff tables or conditional value tables, the probabilities are needed (risk). In case of uncertainty, one has to come up with best guess probabilities. Part B (about 300 words each question) 1. Markets provide a useful source of information regarding people’s preferences. Explain how you would use market data to estimate the costs of protecting a forest from logging. Market data is very essential in estimating the cost of protecting forests. Market data like the economic uses of the forest, the value of products that are produced from the forest resources and the general value of the forest to the community and country at large should be considered. In estimating the cost of protecting a forest from logging, I would first determine all the market data that would be relevant to the particular tree. This includes the cost of using wood to make furniture and as a source of fuel, the cost of paper, the cost of pulp and any other resources that are found in forests. After determining all these costs, the benefits should also be analysed. Benefits like better weather, increased animal life and protection of endangered species should be quantified. These benefits and costs should then be compared using the Threshold Value Approach. A threshold value of benefits should be set e.g. a value of benefits that equals the total cost of be nefits. If the benefits exceed the threshold value, the forest should be protected from logging. If, however, the value of benefits is below the threshold value, another measure should be taken other than banning logging. For example, environmental managers can consider controlling logging. Other methods of economic decision making can also be used. The cost benefit analysis will include comparing the costs associated with the

Research Report on Competing with Information Technology Paper

Report on Competing with Information Technology - Research Paper Example The issues addressed include; various ways that Spotify music service uses IT to compete with iTunes music service and the technologies leveraged by the two corporations to enable competitive advantage. Most customers are mindful about the music delivery business and the effectiveness of each one of them. Because the music industry will exist into the foreseeable future, most music companies are developing strategies that will help them capture a larger share of the market among its rivals (Kusek et al. 82; Latham 4). This competition, however, has streamed down to only two main competitors existing in the market. These music services include the Apple iTunes and Spotify. These two music services experience large economies of scale and have a huge demand on a global scale. Both Apple iTunes and Spotify have pressed on with sweeping overhauls of their digital music services that allow fair competition. Apple iTunes has about 800 million customer accounts out of which 200 million customers are active buyers. Spotify, on the other hand began in Sweden and move into the United States in 2011. Spotify currently has about 15 million customers that subscribe through payments and 45 millio n customers that listen free, with advertising (Lester 49). There, however, exist various uncertainties as to how Spotify music service will match up to Apple iTunes. Michael Porter’s value chain is applied in iTunes service in order to get an insight of the chain of activities involved before a valuable service is provided to the consumers. Apple iTunes is a service that comes in form of an online platform providing music distribution structures(O’Grady 112). The Value-chain model of iTunes’ primary activities is as follows 1. Content creation- the content is regulated by licensing agreement partnerships with various music labels.In this partnership, iTunes offer artists’ music to customers and for each download Apple is entitled a share in revenues. 2.

Poverty or hunger in either Asia or Africa and solutions to help Essay

Poverty or hunger in either Asia or Africa and solutions to help improve conditions - Essay Example Poverty in Africa has being captured in different avenues to demonstrate the suffering that the people of the continent undergo due to lack of access to basic facilities in their countries. The increased presence of low economic levels in Africa despite the progress and input that has been made by different international organizations has been associated with a number of factors and courses. Solutions are however available that if adopted and adequately implemented can address the food and basic needs shortage in the continent and eliminate the suffering of the people (Altman, Zitha and Gemma 349). The continued presence of abject poverty in Africa despite the economic progress in other parts of the globe has been attributed to a number of policy issues and political factors associated regional policies and approaches. While the poverty levels in other parts of the world have witnessed a steady decline, the problem in Africa has remained relatively stable and this has been associated with poor policy formulation and implementation. Africa has large tracts of arable and fertile farming lands especially in countries to the southern of the Sahara desert. However, the farming approach in the regions have not been effective in increasing the national harvest as farm ownership in these regions is subjected to tribal groupings and clanships (Beasley 24). This leads to unnecessary division of the arable land for subsistence farming which produces less output to feed the growing population and a reserve for the unforeseen future. The lack of freehold land holding in major African countries has been contributed to the increased lack of agricultural production and heightened poverty levels. In countries like South Africa, Kenya and Uganda, there are widespread unused lands which have a great agricultural potential and can contribute immensely to the agricultural basket of the country. However, the

Phd propsal Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Phd propsal - Research Proposal Example Research study about how human beings move is important in terms of allowing the animators to have a better understanding on how they can improve the quality of their animated drawings. As part of the research proposal, the purpose of the research study, problem statement, significance of the problem, definition of terms, and hypothesis or research question will first be identified. Before discussing the proposed research methodology, a literature review will be conducted to determine which part of the human anatomy is most used in terms of supporting human walks. Several academic books in Medicine, peer-reviewed journals and online articles will be utilized to identify which among the essential parts of the human body is most commonly used when walking. In line with this, the muscles and skeleton in the lower extremities and the curve on arms and legs will be examined in relation to the time, distance, and spacing. With regards to the use of simple lines in animation drawings, a literature review will be conducted to determine which part of an animation drawing a modern animator should draw and not draw based on the influence of Renaissance. In relation to speed, light, differences in sizes and shapes, and the number of required frames used in capturing human movements in 2-dimensional images, the proposed study will also examine how the human eyes and brain f unctions upon seeing a connected images move in animated drawings. In going through the proposed primary research methodology, the rationale behind the selected research approach and methods will be provided followed by justifying how the proposed research method will be accomplished by obtaining the required inputs. Prior to conclusion, a research schedule will be provided in this report. Learning more about the human movements is important in terms of allowing the modern animators have a better understanding and idea on how they can improve the quality of their

Oral Presentation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Oral Presentation - Essay Example Employers and other important officials are now giving priority to oral presentations and communication while recruiting fresh graduates. Although, a certain weight age is given to the written examination as well, more is judged from the person's speaking skills and the way of presenting him/herself. This has happened due to the growing number of researches that have told the gentlemen the successful formula of a successful individual. The biggest example of the employer's importance to verbal communication is the interview that is conducted twice of thrice along with the group discussion sessions that take place in many organizations in order to gauge the capabilities of these individuals while communicating with others. Therefore, as students, it becomes really important to get ready for these assessments of the future endeavors. In this enigmatic and ever-changing world, the qualities that one looks for in a person change rapidly. Over the past years, fluent communication has become more important, the pace has increased and so has the communication style. In the olden times, while the bureaucratic organizations still flourished, most of the communication was barred with formal written communication styles with much less importance given to individuality and self-expression. As times are changing, organizations are becoming more creative, so are the communication styles changing. Communication has become more creative and individualistic. In today's era, one of the most important qualities that is sought from the individuals is the ability to express oneself in their own special way. Is a person is not able to express themselves and their ideas to the concerned personnel; they lose their chance of success. The employers are giving more attention to a person's speaking abilities because it has been noticed that during a normal week of work, an employee would write less and speak more, present his or her ideas to the management, make contracts with other companies, conducting employee evaluations sessions and other sessions pertaining to office work; in short, a lot of talking. They also have to become part of formal and informal groups inside and outside the organizations where they have to prove their credibility in front of an audience without a pen or paper; a lot of communication with the help of speaking. Therefore, it is important that a person develops these habits at the right stage in time in order to excel in the later stages of life. It is also becoming more evident that as one moves up the organization, their speaking skills are given higher priority than their written skills. The reason for this is quite easy; as you move up the organization you assume the role of handling a larger number of employees under you. As the number of employees increase, more communication takes place verbally and one assumes the role of a leader of a large group of people. In such a situation, speaking rather than writing is more important as it communicates to the heart with the right kind of emotion which cannot be portrayed in the right sense through a piece of writing only (Leo, 2001). This brings us to the importance of fostering the culture of oral presentation to the university level

Current Market Conditions Competitive Analysis Essay

Current Market Conditions Competitive Analysis - Essay Example For that reason, this paper shall undertake a thorough analysis of the history, products, market, and target price of McDonald’s. Further, this shall also touch on various issues related to competition in the national and international food industry, especially on subjects concerning price target, financial conditions, and market shares. Current Market Conditions and Competitive Market Analysis History of McDonalds McDonalds is the largest hamburger fast food chain restaurant in the world today. It currently serves 119 countries with at least 68 million customers every day (Yahoo Finance, 2012). McDonald was born in 1940, with its first branch opened to public by Richard and Maurice McDonald in California. It was in 1948 that the restaurant adopted and advanced the standards of contemporary "fast-food" restaurant, which has already been adopted by White Castle hamburger within the past 20 years. Despite the initial soaring success and growing public patronage, the restaurant w as provisionally closed in 1948 in order to revamp its services (Juan Pollo, 2011). Three months later, the company re-opened with its newly adopted production line standards, which include the drive-in service (Ivanova, 2011). In 1955, a food mixer, businessman, and salesman, Ray Kroc, joined the company as a chartered agent. He later acquired the restaurant from the McDonald brothers and managed its wide-ranging, international expansion (Ivanova, 2011). Kroc recognized that if he takes advantage of the opportunity to become a franchising agent, it would expand the company worldwide, and would bring so much promise to his future. Still in 1955, another McDonald restaurant was launched in Des Plaines, Illinois. Also, Fred Turner, who would later become the restaurant’s chairman, was signed up as a â€Å"counter man† (Ivanova, 2011). In 1963, the business started to proliferate at a much faster rate. It already had 500 restaurants (Ivanova, 2011). The restaurant had its initial stock sharing price of 22.50 dollars per share by 1965. Two years later, the company would expand internationally, beginning to open in US neighbors and borders like Canada and Puerto Rico until today when it has reached countries worldwide. The company had big modifications on its service system, which include the first-ever Drive-thru. The first drive-thru was employed in a branch in Arizona. The Drive-thru system had become one of the most victorious enactments that the company had carried out. Not long after, the company began to flourish so rapidly. It had invaded Europe with countries like Spain and Denmark, as well as some parts of Asia, which include the Philippines. By the closing of 1983, it had an astonishing 7,778 restaurants in only 32 countries internationally (Ivanova, 2011). Today, the company is heavily regarded as the largest fast food chain the world, with at least 32 thousand branches in 119 countries worldwide (Yahoo Finance, 2012). The concept and rule of this growth is to provide "high quality, standardized products to all customers" (Ivanova, 2011). Each McDonald restaurant is being managed autonomously through the company's franchising system. McDonalds Products McDonald’s products are basically classified into several categories: hamburgers, salads, desserts, chicken, pork and/or fish sandwiches, fries, soft drinks,

E-Business Research Paper for Golfing Paradise Essay Example for Free

E-Business Research Paper for Golfing Paradise Essay 1. Introduction: This paper consists of two tasks. Task I seeks to discuss and analyze migration of a traditional retail business to the Internet using the case of Golfing Paradise while Task 2 examines Internet security as concern for the same company. 2. Project Overview The whole project for Golfing Paradise, Victoria local retailer of golf equipments and accessories aims to migrate into the Internet to increase sales. 3. Overview of the migration project The migration project does not change the industry where Golfing Paradise belongs. It just proposes the benefits of expanding customer base in the Internet but not without costs and risks. 4. Summary of Scope, Activities, Costs, Milestones, Dates/durations, Resources, Deliverables, Risk factors, Gantt chart. The first two months require buying of equipments (computers and transportation), IT programs and software and hiring of additional personnel to man online business that may operate 24 hours a day and seven days week. Risk factors are discussed in relation to the choices of having and not having the same but not having the same without the opportunities is less preferable. 5. Management Summary This paper answers some of the relevant and materials concerns of Golfing Paradise in deciding to migrate into the Internet in selling its products to more customers. The company hopes to increase customer. Hence it will need to make some investment (Brigham and Houston, 2000) in new equipments and the hiring or retraining of some personnel to bring them to its new way of doing business. The benefits are of course increase profits from increased revenues (Meigs and Meigs, 1995) but also increase costs that may come from transportation costs depreciation of new equipments and even salary payments for new staff. 6. Main Body 6.1 Important facts for analysis: The business Golfing Paradise is currently providing Golf products through a network of 3 retail premises across Victoria. The products include Golf equipment such as clubs, buggies, golf balls as well as sports clothing and golf accessories. Golfing Paradise is selling both Australian made and imported products. The management of Golfing paradise has decided to expand its operations to the Internet, providing service to existing customers and attract new ones by offering products online. 6.2 Questions and Answers 6.2.1 Describe three of the most important issues that Golfing Paradise will face in migrating the same type of business to the internet. The three of the most important issues that Golfing Paradise will face in migrating the same type of business will include the following: (a.) What products will have to be sold online and how to bring or deliver the products to customers expected revenues that may be generating in migrating it retail trade? ; (b) What is the extent of the coverage area where products of the business could be sold? ; and (c) How will payment systems be modified as a result of migrating its business to the Internet. Each is described and explained below: 6.2.1.1 Products to be sold online and how to bring or deliver the products to customers? The online business is an addition to the traditional retail business will have to visit the stores. Hence, customers online would most like purchase by visiting the stores or they would request for delivery of their products to their homes, business place or an place of need. Determining therefore what products (Kotler, 1994) to be sold on line should be material issue to decide specially on customers who will choose to have the products they ordered online to be delivered. Case facts say that products include Golf equipments such as clubs, buggies, golf balls as well as sports clothing and golf accessories and said products are also include both Australian made and imported products. The guide to determine which products to sell should be estimated on the probability that the customers ordering online would have their products delivered on time and they are ready to pay for any shipping charges that may charged by the company. An online buyer preferring orders to be delivered to their place of business is one of those who do not have the chance to visit the store, hence Golfing Paradise must be able to deliver goods on time as per order to the customer. Those who can visit the store, customers should be allowed provide clear guide to reach the place of business or any authorized outlet from which customers could pick up the goods. 6.2.1.2 The extent of the coverage area where products of the business could be sold The coverage area where products are to be sold will make persons ordering online to know whether they could have the goods that are offered for sale on line. Since the Internet is accessible almost worldwide if not worldwide, it would be impossible for Golfing Paradise to reach every customer when its present place of business is only in Victoria, Australia Case facts provide that Golfing Paradise is currently providing Golf products through a network of 3 retail premises across Victoria and the products both include Australian made and imported products. If Golfing Paradise is ready to go outside Victoria, it must provide so in its website up to what extent. It may for example want to limit only to Australia but as discussed earlier the business must be capable of delivering its representation of its products. Case facts also provide that the management of Golfing paradise has decided to expand its operations to the Internet, providing service to existing customers and attract new ones by offering products online, hence the extent of coverage will have to be clearly defined. If customers outside Victoria will have to be considered, where will the customers pick up their orders? Will Golfing Paradise need to set up already an outlet outside Victoria? This decision must be made after the demand for company’s products may have expanded that would justify the cost of putting a sales outlet outside of Victoria. 6.2.1.3 The manner of payment system a result of migrating its business to the Internet Selling online presupposes dealing with people who are prepared to enjoy the benefits of trading in the Internet. The company must therefore consider whether it would limit accepting payment through credit card, aside from cash or will it also accept electronic currencies? The decision as to the mode of payment that may be accepted carries with them different requirements for administration that may involve hiring of additional personnel or acquiring computer systems, for the smooth running of the system. This must therefore be tied up with the later topic on Web design of the business as part of the marketing strategy (Churchill and Peter, 1995). 6.2.2 Discuss two possible internet marketing strategies that you could employ when migrating the business to the internet. The traditional ‘Four P’s of Marketing’ includes product strategy, place strategy, promotion strategy and price strategy. We will consider some of these on online selling. We will consider as part of our strategy product, place and promotion strategies. Lowery (2006) agreed with us when she said, that developing a successful internet marketing strategy is an essential part of online success. In order to succeed, we must develop and implement a strategic plan that includes all of the following: (a) A great product, (b) A web site specifically designed to sell, and (c) A killer marketing strategy. 6.2.2.1 Developing Your Product Lowery (2006) said, â€Å"Your first step will be to develop a great product. Youre probably thinking thats easier said than done, but its really not. The absolute best product is one that you can develop you and deliver over the Internet. With todays technology, there is absolutely no reason why you cant create your own product. The knowledge you have within your own mind is extremely valuable. Everybody is good at something, has a special talent or some specialized knowledge. Use this knowledge to create a product.† Lowery (2006) further said, â€Å"The key to developing a great product is exclusiveness. Your product should be unique and not be in competition with hundreds of other similar products. You must give your potential customers exactly what they want. Develop a high-quality product that fills a void to increase your chance of success.† Another consideration of great importance is Golfing target market. Let us keep in mind that the Internet is a global marketplace and developing a product with a large geographic target and a wide appeal will fulfil a need or desire and provide instant gratification. Thus, before we develop our product, hence, we have to do some research and find out exactly what people want and develop your product accordingly. The most important consideration when developing our product should be quality since Our product should not only deliver what we promise, but should go above and beyond the expected and over deliver. It is thus a reality that customer’s satisfaction is of the utmost importance. (Lowery, 2006 ) (Paraphrasing made). 2.2.2.2 Our promotions and place strategy Developing our website will be and indispensable part of migrating out business in the Internet. Doing the same actually satisfies place strategy because the said strategy means proving the customers the availability of the products to customers when they are needed. In the website therefore customers will have a chance to see the products that could be sold online and which could not be. In the same website a customer can chat or communicate via email with customers services that will assist the customer in brining the goods to the customers. Lowery (2006) said, â€Å"Once youve developed a great product, your next step will be to develop a great web site. Your web site must be specifically designed to sell your product.† It added, â€Å"Everything within your web site should have one purpose getting your visitor to take action. Words are the most powerful marketing tool you have. The right words will turn your visitors into customers. The wrong words will cause them to click away and never return. Lowery (2006) further made the following advice: â€Å"Your words are the entire foundation of your business. Your product, your web site and your marketing strategies all depend upon your words. Fancy graphics dont make sales words do. She added: â€Å"Every word, sentence and headline should have one specific purpose to lead your potential customer to your order page. Write your web site copy as if you are talking to just one person. Identify a problem and validate that one visitors need for a solution. Continue to write and explain why your product is the solution to their problem. Tell them exactly what your product will do for them why it will solve their problems and how. Pack your copy with benefits and more benefits. Write to persuade thats the bottom line.† Developing the website would constitute the big part of the work since this where online business will most likely depend. 2.2.3. How to Develop Marketing Strategies? Marketing strategy is the final process of the migrating plan which must include both short-term and long-term strategies in order to succeed. Lowery (2006) agreed when she said that short term marketing strategies are those that bring a temporary boost in traffic. Although these techniques are very important to our over-all plan, they are only a temporary traffic source and must not be solely relied upon. These short term marketing strategies normally include purchasing advertising, bulletin boards and search engines (Lowery, 2006) (Paraphrasing made). It must be stated that marketing should be ingrated with corporate strategy. (Porter, 1980) Lowery (2006) added that long term marketing strategies are those that bring the company a steady stream of targeted traffic over time and these strategies are believed to continue to produce results even years down the road. She added that long term marketing strategies include: Opt-in Lists, Freebies and Content (Paraphrasing made). By creating and implementing a balanced marketing strategy, using both short-term and long-term strategies, the company will drive a steady stream of targeted traffic to our web site. (Lowery, 2006) (Paraphrasing made).   It must be pointed that developing a marketing strategy is dynamic thing because of fast changing environment. 7. Costs and time frame for delivery The benefits that Golfing Paradise expects to gain from migrating of course could be roughly estimated to gross or net profit margin on a per customer basis. Stated simply, the company would be pricing its products and services above cost. Costs (Slavin, 1996) here of course includes capital cost on additional investment in terns of computer systems and salary of new additional staff that may be hire including all other cost of doing business on line 8. Conclusion: Golfing Paradise decision to go on line is the right mode to expand the number of its customers. It need not abandon the retail trade. However, in so migrating its business to the Internet, it needs to consider different factors in such change of business. Migrating to Internet involves all the benefits of the system like increasing the number of customers. However, it also will entail new ways of doing business for which it must be able to serve orders on line with define authorities. Customers on line may also need to pay in forms other than money and credit cards; hence the company must be ready in any eventuality. I must prepare a list of what goods may be sold on line including estimates for delivery cost for those who may want to pot for delivery. These and other things must be done by Golfing Paradise prefer to have more customers. TASK 2 (10 marks): Security Two of the security issues that the business has been left exposed include the issues of preventing internet fraud and other one is all other internet security problem. As to how each of the issue is fixed is explained below: To say that fraud could prevented in the internet sound like bringing the whole humanity to the moon. George (1999) talked of IT criminals like the hackers who just steal other money by their ingenuities and who profit from many innocent card owners by accident by pure ignorance. Even in the manual world fraud happened because people connive and so crimes get committed. The Internet is a new world with new and unfamiliar rules. Business happens online and there could be no one who would be regulating transactions particularly those happens across countries. There might be organizations like international courts but many on line users would yet to agree if the people who get victimized may opt to go to court, since no one may be user what could will have jurisdiction. As to Golfing Paradise, although it may limit its area coverage from whom it may take payments, it cannot be sure of perfectly preventing fraud. The best way is the use of common sense and knowledge of how the business environment in the net functions. The other issue is security where files and computer soft wares could be rendered useless by ‘viruses’ or ‘spy wares’ or eve ‘phishers’ (Wikipedia, 2006) . For business rendered online such problems are inevitable and some may even be discouraged of migrating in the Internet but simply opportunity lost in not migrating might be more punishing. Hence the attitude is to protection to acquire the latest software and some of them may yet be downloadable from the Internet. It is thus the choice of avoiding the problems but no chance for improvement or joining and braving the risk but with great chance for growth. I believe more will take the risk of migrating because of opportunities. References: Brigham and Houston (2000) Fundamental of Financial Management, Thomson South Western, USA Churchill and Peter (1995), Marketing, Creating Value for customers, Irwin, Sydney Australia George, K. (1999), Different World, Praxis Business Line’s Journal on Management, Vol. 2 : Iss. 3 , {www document} URL www.hinduonnet.com/businessline/praxis/pr0203/02030400.htm, Accessed Nov. 19,2006 Kotler, P. (1994) Marketing Management, Prenctice Hall International, London , UK Lowery, S. (2006) Internet Marketing Strategies, Part One: Three Step Formula, {www document} URL http://www.web-source.net/3steps.htm Meigs and Meigs (1995), Financial Accounting, McGraw-Hill, New York, USA Porter (1980), Competitive Strategy, Free Press, USA Slavin (1996) Economics, Irwin, London, UK Wikipedia, (2006) Phising, {www document} URL http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phising, Accessed November 18,2006

The Vulnerabilities Of Small Island Developing States Environmental Sciences Essay

The Vulnerabilities Of Small Island Developing States Environmental Sciences Essay Small Island Developing States (SIDS) comprise small islands and low-lying coastal countries located across the Indian, Pacific and Atlantic Oceans and Caribbean Sea. While geographical, climatic, cultural and socio-economic dissimilarities exist between these nations, they face common development constraints and vulnerabilities to Climate Change. Growth and development of SIDS is restricted by factors such as limited resources, remoteness and volatile weather patterns. Small populations and remoteness also lead to high transportation and communication costs and minimal opportunity to create economies of scale thereby inducing susceptibility to external shocks. SIDS also generally possesses a heavy dependence on imported petroleum products. High electricity prices therefore also present constraints to economic and social development efforts. Consequentially, eleven SIDS nations are also recognised by the United Nations as Least Developed Countries (LDC). The environmental impact of human activity is increasingly being recognised across the globe. Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions largely from the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation have significantly increased over the last half a century, leading to the Climate Change phenomenon. Symptomatic changes in climate are already being realised, with increasing temperatures, altering rainfall patterns, rising sea-levels and increased frequency and intensity of natural disasters causing social, economic and environmental issues across the globe. While SIDS provide a minimal contribution to global GHG emissions, they are amongst the most vulnerable to its effects. The size of these island states makes them especially susceptible to climatic variations and extreme events as large areas or even entire islands can be directly affected. The consequential economic environmental and social damage can therefore be extensive, without the option of intra-national relief. Key sector such as tourism and agriculture are under serious threat while in some circumstances the very existence of many island states is at risk. Common characteristics of SIDS not only enhance their susceptibility to experiencing a changing climate but give them a low capacity to adapt to such change. Already experiencing many socio-economic issues such as water and food security, intensification of such issues due to climate change may make these countries uninhabitable. This paper aims to identify the major vulnerabilities of SIDS to impending Climate Change and consider the role that developed nations should play in assisting their survival. NATURAL CLIMATE IN SIDS AND PROJECTED CLIMATE CHANGES Across the globe, the effects of Climate Change are already being observed, with SIDS undoubtedly being affected. Sea surface temperatures have been increasing by 0.1 °C per decade in the oceans where most SIDS are located (45), while annual and seasonal ocean surface and island air temperatures have increased from 0.6 °C to 1.0 °C since 1910 throughout a large part of the South Pacific (46). Studies over the period 1971 to 2004 have also suggest warming to be occurring in the Caribbean, Indian Ocean and Mediterranean regions, with trends ranging from 0 °C to 0.5 °C per decade (47). Warming sea temperatures leads to expanding oceans and rising sea levels. This is a key concern for SIDS with the entire Pacific region experiencing a mean rise of +0.77 mm per year (53), while sea-levels in the Caribbean region increase on average by 1mm per year. Local conditions mean there is considerable variation between or even within individual island states. For example, different tectonic movements across the country of Trinidad has lead to rises of about 1mm per year along the west coast, while the south is experiencing an increase of approximately 4mm each year (54). Changing trends in extreme temperatures have also been observed. The annual number of hot days and warm nights in the South Pacific and Caribbean regions has shown increasing trends, as well as a relative decrease in the annual number of cool days and cold nights (48, 49). The climate of SIDS is strongly influenced by the ocean-atmospheric interactions. The El Nià ±o Southern Oscillation and decadal variability play a dominant role in experienced periods of drought and high rainfall and the common generation of tropical cyclones and storms in small island regions. Climate Change is already and expected to continually enhance such extreme weather events. Rainfall patterns are becoming more variable. The Caribbean especially has experienced less consecutive dry days while heavy rainfall events are becoming more frequent (50). These changes are projected only to get worse. The intensity and frequency of cyclnes and tropical storms is also expected to increase. Since 1970 the intensity and duration of storms has increased leading to a greater number reaching category 4 and 5 (51). IMPACTS FROM CLIMATE CHANGE Despite being heavily reliant on fossil-fuel based energy, in comparison to developed and other developing states SIDS use a relatively modest amount of fossil fuels. Consequentially their greenhouse gas emissions remain low, accounting for less than 1% of global emissions (Table. 1). Furthermore, the annual emissions from the Pacific islands is .96 tonnes of carbon dioxide per capita, equating to only 25% of the worldwide average per person. SIDS thus hold minimal responsibility for the current climate change, yet in a sad irony they are likely to be the most severely impacted. Table 1. Total Greenhouse Gas Emissions 2003 Selected Countries (http://cait.wri.org) Already susceptible to food and water security and human health, climate change is likely to exacerbate such socio-economic issues. Water Resources Poor water quality and water stress is common in SIDS. High rainfall and drought periods associated with El Nià ±o episodes significantly impact water security of small islands, while factors such as limited size, geology and topography make their water resources especially sensitive variations in climate. Inadequate infrastructure such as dams, reservoirs and water distribution networks cause further issues for water security in many SIDS. Small island nations often show a strong dependence on rainfall. Tuvalu and several other countries in the Pacific rely on rainwater as their principal freshwater source; Dominica, in the Caribbean and the Seychelles in the Indian Ocean, show almost complete dependence on surface water from streams; while many low-lying coral islands and raised atolls are forced to rely on groundwater due to unsubstantial freshwater lenses. Reduced rainfall, a likely consequence of climate change, constrains the amount of physically harvestable water, reduced river flow and slowed recharge of freshwater lenses. Hence the ability to meet agricultural and domestic water demands is severely compromised. Sea-level rise and flooding can also lead to saltwater intrusion and siltation of freshwater systems. Extreme weather events can also increase water pollution with serious implications for human health and the incidence of water-borne diseases. Furthermore, a lack of adequate water infrastructure such as dams and reservoirs, results in high runoff during the rainy seasons and consequential losses of surface and stream water to the sea. Coastal zones Coastal areas of small islands are generally the site for major settlements and the centre of economic activity. In the Caribbean more than half the population lives within 1.5km of the shoreline, while islands of the Pacific and Indian Ocean, generally establish their villages on the sand terrace or on the beach itself. Communities and critical infrastructure such as schools, electricity generation plants, fuel storage facilities, police stations and hospitals are therefore in direct risk of rising sea-levels and extreme weather events. In the case of a disaster populations are thereby left without basic social services. Rising sea-levels lead to coastal erosion and in some cases inundation, while physical damage from hurricanes and cyclones also threaten vital coastal assets and human lives of small islands. From 1950 to 2004 76% of the reported disasters in the Pacific island region was cyclones with the average cost per cyclone estimated at US$75.7 million (in 2004 value), while the 2004 hurricane season alone caused damage of around US$2.2 billion in only four countries the , Grenada, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic. Biodiversity and Tourism Geographical isolation has allowed the formation of many unique species, making these islands home to a significant proportion of the worlds biodiversity. However, human activity is posing serious threats to the natural ecosystems of SIDS. Extensive deforestation has occurred for infrastructural development and agriculture, with more than one quarter of the small island states demonstrating greatly reduced forest cover. Terrestrial and marine ecosystems are also experiencing increasing degradation and pollution and overexploitation. Coral cover has declined by up to 80% over the last 3 years in reefs of the Caribbean, with pollution, sedimentation and over-fishing has been determined to be largely responsible. Climate Change will have further consequences for biodiversity and the health of natural ecosystems. Apart from the arising environmental concerns, ensuing social and economic issues also follow due to compromised environmental services. Physical damage from more frequent and intense natural disasters presents severe implications for marine and terrestrial biodiversity. Sea-level rise and associated flooding can lead to salinisation of soils and adverse effects to mangrove forests. Rises in ocean surface temperature and carbon dioxide concentration further threaten coral reefs, leading to coral bleaching events and decreased calcification rates. Based on projected CO2 levels, it has been suggested that the calcification rate of corals could decrease by about 14 percent to 30 percent by 2050(57). Coral reefs play an important role for small islands, providing key nurseries for fish species, protection of the beach and tourism opportunities. Many SIDS rely on one or few economic activities, with tourism and travel commonly accounting for more than 25% of Gross Domestic Profit (GDP) and in some cases more than 50% (12). Natural disasters and degradation of ecosystems can severely impact this income generation. Changing weather- changing distribution of species Agriculture and fisheries Agriculture is highly valued and depended upon in SIDS for both subsistence requirements and economic development. Many islands however have limited arable land and prime agricultural regions are generally located on the coastal plains. Climate change and associated sea-level rise therefore poses a significant risk of further reduction of available farming land due to inundation and salinisation. Extreme weather events also adversely impact food crops and other livelihood resources. Cyclones, hurricanes and floods can cause irreparable damage while extended droughts and shortened growing seasons would also reduce yields. Such events have serious implications for food security while reduced exports of cash crops compromises their foreign exchange earnings and position in world trade. Climate change however is likely to affect varying degrees of economic losses among different island states. Viti Levu, a high island in Fiji, is estimated to have the potential to endure costs in the range of US$23 to 52 million per year by 2050. The low island of Tarawa in Kiribati however faces annual costs of US$8 to 16 million. These costs would represent only 2-3% of Fijis GDP in 2002 and 17-18% of Kiribatis GDP for the same year (58). Fisheries are also a critical sector in many SIDS, contributing up to 10% of the GDP. The El Nià ±o / La Nina cycle already causes visible variations in tuna catches, demonstrating the sensitivity of fish stocks to climate variability. Climate change poses the risk of stimulating altered migration patterns and the depth of fish stock, affecting the distribution and availability of fish species with socio-economic consequences. Human Health Global warming may lead to a variety of associated human health issues. Direct threats to human welfare include injuries and fatalities from extreme weather events such as floods, hurricanes and landslides, while increased frequency and duration of heat waves can also be expected to increase the risk of heat stress, illness, and respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, especially amongst the elderly. A changing climate can also have indirect implication on human health. Increasing temperatures and changing rainfall patterns may lead to an increase in water and vector-borne diseases. In 2008, there were 247 million cases of malaria worldwide and nearly one million deaths, mostly among children. Malaria is most commonly caused by the parasites, carried by mosquitoes. Increasing temperatures and flooding events provide favourable environments for mosquitoes; hence climate change is likely to expand the spread of mosquito and the risk of malaria contraction. Variation in precipitation and temperature will also increase the prominence of dengue fever, with such weather patterns attributable several cases in Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago during the period 1980-2000. Storm surges and flooding events also heighten water pollution, leading to water-borne diseases such as cholera and the diarrheal diseases caused by organisms such as giardia, salmonella and cryptosporidium. Furthermore, deceases in rainfall may lead to reduced available freshwater for human use and consumption, increasing the risk of disease. Secondary malnutrition may increase due to declines in water quality and decreases in agricultural productivity. ADAPTATION ACTION Due to the current accumulation of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and with recommended emission targets from the IPCC failing to be met by major greenhouse gas emitters, the effects of Climate Change are unavoidable (61). Coupled with the severity in which this is predicted to affect Small Island Developing States, it is imperative that adaptive action is taken for the survival of these nations. A number of adaptation initiatives have been implemented by SIDS on a local scale, often in an ad hoc manner. For example, since Hurricane Ivan, it has become common practice in Jamaica to place concrete blocks on the top of zinc roofs. Typhoon resistant housing has been implemented in the Philippines after Typhoon Sisang in 1987; and improved housing design is also evident in Costa Rica and Equador, with elevated houses or a reinforced concrete strip as a foundation so that the bamboo walls do not touch the ground and are protected from fungal deterioration. There are many avenues available to address water security issues. Promotion of drought tolerant vegetation and establishment of river buffer zones enhances the resilience of rivers and catchment areas. National water policies can be used to encourage efficient water use, advocating water saving devices, while revision of building codes can work to improve water resource management, by increasing opportunities for rainwater catchments and storage. The Cajete Terrace agro-systems of Mexico provide an innovative example of adaptation measures to enhance water use efficiency and enables food to be sustainably grown on steep erosion prone slopes4. This works by excess water being fed from sloping terraces into tanks (Cajetes). The water, which would otherwise not be absorbed into the soil, is collected inside the cajetes and slowly seeps into the surrounding soils after the rain has ended. Eroded nutrient rich soil is also trapped inside of the cajetes and later gathered and distributed into the fields. Adaptable farming systems has also be achieved by African farmers through intercropping, diversification of herds and incomes, such as the introduction of sheep in place of goats4. Climate Monitoring, Forecasting and Early Warning Systems can be an invaluable tool to reduce the impacts of climate change. A National Community Based Flood Early Warning System has been established in the Philippines, allowing predictions and timely responses to possible storm events or flooding. With such equipment, outlooks with lead times of two to six months before the onset of an event may be possible6. Vector dispersion probabilities could also be monitored with such warning systems, allowing opportunities for putting interventions in place, thereby preventing excessive illness and mortality during disease epidemics such as Malaria6. In terms of food production, these systems enable better timed planting and harvesting, opportunity for informed decision of alternative cultivar or crop use, better planned food storage according to future need, and preparation of alternative food procurement strategies in advance1. This would mean more efficient use of seeds, labour, and other household resources in farming and food procurement. Such systems also demonstrate the benefits of regional arrangements pooling resources. Regional management of early warning systems is much more effective in enhancing adaptive capacity than national management. Education and promotion of responsible environmental practices is also necessary, such as training of fishermen and women in sustainable fishing practices and farmers in sustainable land use practices. Land use plans and subsequent enforcement strategies can also be utilised to achieve less destructive environmental practices such as reducing deforestation. Mangrove and coral systems should be protected to maintain their integrity. This can be achieved through discouraging pollution and restricting development in coastal areas. Controlled coastal development can also minimise exposure of people and property to coastal erosion and inundation. Relocation programs have been applied in many states to varying degrees. Frequent flooding and erosion necessitated 100 villagers in Lateu Vanuatu to be moved 600m from the coast to higher ground, while Carteret Islanders are being relocated to neighbouring Papua New Guinean island, Bougainville, in response to the excessive impacts of sea-levels rise. Reconstruction of groynes, building sand dune fences and beach renourishment (planting of trees along the coast) has also been used to protect the beach profile and mitigate the impact of coastal erosion on communities. Building national and regional adaptive capacity and providing further options for adaptation is an important component of many SIDS adaptive programs. This involves strengthening institutions, policies and regulations and linking adaptive strategies with sustainable development. Hence, many SIDS have identified investment into renewable and non-polluting energy systems as a priority. This would not only reduce climate change inducing greenhouse gas emissions, but would promote long-term energy security. ROLE OF DEVELOPED NATIONS Adaptation The low emission levels of SIDS means their policy actions are primarily focused on adaptation. However, these countries do not have the capacity to fully fund the required adaptation. The World Bank has estimated adaptation in developing countries to require between US$10 billion and US$40 billion. Additional resources, including finances and technological knowledge, are therefore required from the international community to facilitate SIDS in building their capacity to adapt to a changing climate and develop sustainably. Currently there is no specific fund which addresses the concerns of SIDS in relation to Climate Change. However global funding sources are available to assist with the costs associated with adaptation. The Adaption Fund, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and The Special Climate Change Fund provide fiscal support for projects aimed at reducing vulnerability while increasing adaptive capacities to the adverse effects of climate change. This is generally achieved through technology transfer, economic diversification, investments in non-polluting, efficient and renewable energy and sustainable development with regards to energy, transport, industry, agriculture, forestry and waste management. For SIDS also considered to be LDCs, the Least Developed Countries Fund, established under the UNFCCC is also available with associated National Adaption Programs of Action. These programs of action combine sustainable development and adaption objectives, focusing on water resources, food securi ty and agriculture, disaster preparedness and risk management, coastal zone management and infrastructure, natural resources management and community level adaptation. Some adaptation programs are targeted at multiple countries (For example, the GEF-UNDP project Piloting Climate Change Adaptation to Protect Human Health and the GEF-World Bank project on Mainstreaming Adaptation to Climate Change in the Caribbean region ), while others are more specific in their application locality. In executing such adaption programs, it is essential the international intervention is sensitive to the local contexts and requirement of the target island state/s. Projects should ultimately aim to enhance national and region capacity for long-term sustainability and resilience in the face of climate change. Dependence on external assistance must be carefully avoided as with implementation of ignorant hence potentially harmful strategies. Valuing traditional knowledge is a critical means of maximising the potential long-term benefits of projects and ensuring their suitability. For example, to assist food security despite erratic rainfall and cyclones farmers of Timor Island have developed their own varieties of major staple crops. Peru farmers provide another example, using an ancient irrigation draining system waru waru, or raised field agriculture, which makes it possible to bring into production the low-lying, flood-prone, poorly drained lands. The shallow canals provide moisture during droughts, drainage during the rainy season and also buffer against night-time frosts. The Zai technique in Burkina Faso also provides an example of a cost-effective adaptation measure to enhance productivity4. Farmers dig pits in the soil to collect organic material carried by the wind during the dry season, at the start of the rainy season farmers add organic matter from animals which attracts termite activity resulting in termite tunnels that can collect rain deep enough that it doesnt evaporate, and thus increasing soil fertility. Incorporating local knowledge and practices into initiatives not only makes communities more likely to adopt adaptive strategies but they also have a greater chance of success due to being contextually appropriate. To ensure benefit maximisation, initiatives should be applied on a community level. Local stakeholders and community members should be involved in all stages of the project to ensure all of their ideas and concerns are incorporated into the design and implementation. Local involvement will also enhance capacity building and self-sufficiency of target communities. Positive examples of this occurring include in Bangledesh where volunteers have been trained to help in cyclone warning, evacuation, rescue, first aid emergency relief and the use of radio communication equipment4. The Caribbean Climate Change Centre was also established through the Caribbean Planning for Adaptation to Climate Change project, allowing climate change concerns to be addressed locally. Despite the efforts of such projects further advances in adaptation capacity and technology transfer is still required. For full realization of benefits, climate change adaptation must be addressed in conjunction with developmental activities. Disaster preparedness, land-use planning, environmental conservation, coastal planning, and national plans for sustainable development complement the objectives of enhancing adaptive capacity. Hence this relationship should be reflected through relevant policies. Mitigation Climate Change poses disproportionate impacts across the globe. While their greenhouse gas emissions are insignificant compared to other countries, the future viability or even survival of many Small Island Developing States is severely threatened. High level emitters, especially developed nations such as Australia, therefore have a responsibility to reduce their contribution to Climate Change. Lobbying for such action is challenging for SIDS due to their international representation. SIDS are members of the negotiating coalition of developing countries, Group of 77 and China (G77/China). Unfortunately, some of the largest greenhouse gas emitters among developing countries are also members. Hence these countries present reluctance to reduce GHG emissions because of their development objectives. Further difficulties arise with members of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) also being G77/China constituents. Short-term economic motivations of such countries would deter them from cutting greenhouse gas emissions, under the justification of common but differentiated responsibilities. Continuing emissions from these large developing countries directly threatens the viability of SIDS and compromises their power i n inflicting necessary change among high emitting developed nations. This variance between developing country negotiating partners therefore must be overcome, to protect the existence of Small Island Developing States. CONCLUSION The effects of Climate Change continue to augment with historic greenhouse emissions presenting now unavoidable consequences and action to mitigate excessive global emissions proving inadequate. In comparison to developed and other developing nations, the 51 Small Island Developing States contribute minimally to global greenhouse emissions, yet incongruously it is these nations that are projected to experience the greatest adversity from resulting changes in climate. These countries already endure water and food security and human health issues, with characteristics such as remoteness, limited resources and small physical size and population compromising their development, especially in a sustainable sense. Hence, these countries have a low adaptive capacity with instability in climatic events only going further their socio-economic issues and in some cases, the continued existence of such island states is seriously under threat. Given their limited resources for action, Small Island Developing States require assistance from the international community in terms of both Climate change mitigation and adaption. With their low emission, SIDS have low mitigation potential. Hence, high greenhouse gas emitters must take responsibility to improve their environmentally hazardous practices for the global good. Financial and technical support can also be provided by developed countries to enhance the adaptive capacity and overall resilience of SIDS. Existing funding programs and frameworks should be extended and a specific fund for SIDS established (similar to the LDS fund), to achieve the necessary but exorbitant costs of adaptation. Most importantly however, international intervention must be contextually sensitive and employ local involvement and knowledge to ensure legitimate capacity building, resilience and self-sufficiency of Small Island Developing States.

Comparing Theories Of Veblen And Bourdieu Sociology Essay

Comparing Theories Of Veblen And Bourdieu Sociology Essay In Turkey or in the world, we generally come across with the news about shopping line in front of the stores to buy the brand new model of a kind of good. Mostly, report people go to these lines and make interview with the persons waiting on line. For example, again in such a line for the opening day to be first to buy iPhone, a man was interviewed. He was in line to buy the new iPhone. He looked like he was in his 60s and had had a few facelifts. When he was asked, he said this was his second day of waiting in line: The day before he had waited 12 hours and finally got a phone for his daughter. He had returned and spent nine hours to get a phone for him. He said he had the 3G, and wanted to upgrade to a 4G. In society, one establishes a status, not only by what one does or says, but also by purchasing and being seen to possess certain types of car, house, or clothes, or by being seen to live in a certain neighborhood or suburb, shopping in certain stores, going to certain theaters, decorating ones apartment in a certain way, taking certain vacations etc.   All of these are social symbols to which society has attached certain connotations of a superior, different, or normal  status. Conspicuous consumption makes individuals desire to compete to buy the symbolic advantages. Thus, I want to compare Veblens conspicuous consumption concept with Bourdieus cultural capital, habitus and taste concepts. First, I will try to examine Veblens theory of leisure class. Then I will try to examine Bourdieus theory of capitals, taste and habitus. Finally, I compare both thinkers to understand the role of consumption in stratification in society. Veblens Theory of Leisure Class and Conspicuous Consumption: In The Theory of the Leisure Class  (1899), Thorsten Veblen thought up the phrase conspicuous consumption to designate the act of purchasing and using certain goods and services, not in order to survive, but rather to identify oneself to others as having superior wealth and social standing.   These possessions and services are extras that are to some extent wasteful as showed in the example above. They symbolize ones ability to waste whatever one wants. Veblen starts his examination by first demonstrating the pre-historical progression from savage to barbarian culture, and then claiming that the latter stages after barbarian culture to modern cultures characteristics were still seen in the modern capitalist society. Veblens Account of the Development of Society: Peaceable Æ’Â  Predatory Æ’Â  Quasi-Peaceable Industry Æ’Â  Modern Savages Æ’Â   BarbariansÆ’Â   Moderns Changes in society are generated by changes in the material facts of life. The change from peaceable society to predatory society requires enough accumulated stuff to be worth fighting for (tools, weapons, etc). Barbarian civilizations are different from the earlier stages of savage society. With their tendencies to martial and aggressiveness, it results in the appearance of a dominant leisure class. Thus, a new order occurs and that is made possible a new class which can produce beyond the minimum subsistence level. When this happens, a group of people redistribute the outcomes of other group of peoples productive labor in their own sake. Thus, this new class has the ownership of private property. According to Veblen, this creates envy that middle and lower classes desire to the same un-industrious lives. That allows the leisure class to form. Thus the accumulation of possessions is priority number one for the leisure class. The emergence of leisure class coincides with ownership. The motivation behind ownership is emulation. In The Theory of the Leisure Class, he wrote: The motive is emulation-the stimulus of an invidious comparison especially in any community in which class distinctions are quite vague, all canons and reputability and decency and all standards of consumption are traced back by insensible gradations to the usages and thoughts of the highest social and pecuniary class, the wealthy leisure class (p.81). In that sense, it can be claimed that men are led to accumulation of wealth because of pecuniary emulation. Veblen claims that the pecuniary struggle is the driving force behind the development of culture and society. The struggle for wealth (private property) is due to pecuniary emulation. It can be said that it is not a struggle for subsistence. If it were a struggle for subsistence, there would come a definite point after which the reason to gather goods would stop. But there is no such point. Veblen held that consumption is motivated by a desire for social standing as well as for the enjoyment of the goods and services per se: The proximate ground for expenditure in excess of what is required for physical comfort is a desire to live up to the conventional standard of decency (p.81) People compare consumption but not leisure, and that they refer upwards, choosing their work and spending activities in order to be more like a higher income group. He indicates that a major source of this conduct is due to the pressures of invidious comparison, a process of valuation of persons in respect of worth. Veblen defines as a comparison of persons with a view to rating and grading them in respect of relative worth or value (1899: 34). Under modern conditions consumption is a more visible form of display. Individuals should find the ways to show off their wealth in order for invidious comparisons. Veblen pointed out two main ways to do this, conspicuous leisure and conspicuous consumption. He argues that wasteful conspicuous leisure and consumption were most effective ways of displaying wealth. As a result, strategies of conspicuous leisure and conspicuous consumption affected the class structure, and soon penetrated among non-leisure classes, leading to lower class people t o engage in conspicuous leisure and consumption. The exigencies of the modern industrial system frequently place individuals and households in juxtaposition between whom there is little contact in any other sense than juxtaposition. Ones neighbors, mechanically speaking, often are socially not ones neighbors, or even acquaintances; and still their transient good opinion has a high degree of utility. The only practicable means of impressing ones pecuniary ability on these unsympathetic observers of ones everyday life is an unremitting demonstration of the ability to pay. (p.71) Conspicuous consumption emphasis pecuniary emulation even more so than leisure, because the working classes engage in wasteful expenditures in an attempt to appear wealthy, even when their employments are not of the leisurely point of view. Overgenerous dress, gluttonous banquets, grand mansions, and iPhones, etc are all examples of conspicuous consumption. Any item that is without a productive function, or that has a price well above what is indicated by its practical utility alone, constitutes a good that is valued predominantly for the social capital that it brings. Take foie gras as an example. Suppose a group of people likes the taste of beef more than the taste of foie gras. Of course, foie gras is much more expensive than beef. It is not that people eat foie gras despite the fact it provides less utility than beef; rather, foie gras provides more utility, because utility is not based on taste alone. So what is providing the utility? The money was spent by this class with little regard for utility. Veblens theory was that people want to buy things because they want to signal wealth, power and taste to others in other words, signals about social status. People would not want to buy something which gave signals of a lower social status; they always want to aim higher. The idea is that you consume like the upper classes in order to be the upper classes, consciously or not. It can be stretched to apply to almost any example of consumption. I agree with the idea that people buy things as a display to others. I think it is also true that people buy things to identify with a particular idea of class or culture. Another aspect of leisure class is that it loses its contact with labor and its characteristic becomes conspicuous exemption from all useful employment. Leisure connotes non-productive consumption of time. Having the information about the past, antiques, ancient languages and sciences to know, horses, dogs, home decoration, these are all indicative of the industry that you do not do a job. Conspicuous leisure has the greatest vogue as a mark of reputability. The consumption of the more desirable things becomes honorable. Luxuries and the comforts of life belong to leisure class. Industrious class should consume only what may be necessary to their subsistence. The consumption of luxuries is a consumption directed to the comfort of the consumer himself and is a mark of the master. Women should consume only for the benefit of their masters. Master man consumes of the best food, drink, weapons, narcotics, shelter, ornaments. This kind of consumption is an evidence of wealth and it becomes honorific. As wealth accumulates the leisure class develops further in function and structure and there arises a differentiation within the class. This differentiation is furthered by the inheritance of wealth and the consequent inheritance of gentility. Veblens explanation of emulation has the root of ownership; in other words once our immediate material needs are met, we buy items for their conspicuous nature, to emulate those in higher earning strata, status. Veblen conceives of status among humans as a stratification system. Ownership became associated to power and dominance, and originated a new sort of social division: that separating owners from non-owners. Veblen asserts Wealth is now itself intrinsically honorable and confers honor on its possessor (Veblen, 1899: 18). Thus the struggle for survival became a struggle for pecuniary respect. In other words, competition for the accumulation of goods envisaged gaining the esteem of the community and enhancing ones reputation. Veblen established an objective relationship between social structure and class lifestyles, cultural values and ultimately, consumption practices. The acquisition of social repute and honour depended upon primarily by the ability to waste economic resources that had been acquired without effort. Some eighty years later, Pierre Bourdieu ([1979] 1984) a French sociologist also examined the relationship between social structure and economic and cultural dimensions of social life. Bourdieu analyzed consumption practices and taste to show how social position and lifestyles are related. In this account, instead of a dominant class culture, one finds class cultures. P. Bourdieu: Habitus, Field, Capital and Taste: Max Weber (1978) discussed the term social class to grasp the idea that, in addition to the economic conditions discussed by Marx, hierarchical social structure are also established and reproduced through styles of life. In that sense, it can be said that societies separate into different groupings based not only on economic conditions, but also on non economic criteria such as morals, culture, and lifestyle, etc. In that sense, it was  ¬Ã‚ rst analyzed in Veblens (1899) theory about the leisure class and Simmels theory of trickle-down status imitation (Coleman, 1983). In Distinction (Bourdieu, 1984), Bourdieu describes how these various capitals operate in the social  ¬Ã‚ elds of consumption. In Distinction, (Bourdieu, 1984) consumption practices and taste engender and maintain social relationships of dominance and submission (Campbell, 2005). Bourdieus views on taste and preferences are more complex than those of Veblens (Guimaras et all, 2010: 8). Despite bearing some similarities with Veblen (1899), Bourdieu built a broader and more complex theory secured with three primary concepts: habitus, capital, and field. The concept that Bourdieu proposed in order to connect his depiction of systemic structuration and his accounts of individual action is habitus (King, 2000). Thus, the habitus may be defined as the mental or cognitive structures through which people deal with the social world; a system of dispositions. The dispositions, produced by the habitus, are passed on through the generations, inculcated from an early age and socially reinforced through education and culture. Habitus refers, in Bourdieus own words, an acquired system of generative schemes objectively adjusted to the particular conditions in which it is constituted. In other words, habitus is thinking and acting in an innate way; is not a set of rules one consciously learns. Therefore, Bourdieu claims that habitus helps to transmit distinct culture of a class and reproduce that culture. It constitutes a component of a field of objective relations, which is independent of the individuals consciousness and will. The objectivity of fields is provided by the distribution of different species of power, which Bourdieu characterizes as economic, cultural, and social capital. Each field corresponds a tacit struggle over these resources. Fields determine relational positions which impose present and future situations on their more or less powerful occupants. A given population may occupy positions in multiple fields. Multiple fields may impose more or less consolidated relations of domination and subordination. (The Cambridge Dictionary of Sociology, 2006). It reflects divisions in the class structure, age groups, genders and social classes. A habitus is required a long term occupation of a position within the social world. People who occupy the same position within the social world tend to have similar habitus. Habitus is both produced by the social life and also produces it. It is a structured structure; it involves both the internalization of external structures, and also the externalization of things internal to individual. It is because regularities are inherent in an arbitrary condition; tend to appear as necessary and natural. Bourdieu (1984: 170) states: The habitus is both the generative principle of objectively classifiable judgments and the system of classification (principium divisionis) of these practices. It is in the relationship between the two capacities which define the habitus, the capacity to produce classifiable practices and works, and the capacity to differentiate and appreciate these practices and products (taste), that the represented social world, i.e. the space of life styles, is constituted. Habitus is the way society becomes deposited in persons in the form of lasting dispositions, or trained capacities and structured propensities to think, feel and act in determinant ways, which then guide them (Wacquant, 2005: 316, cited in Navarro 2006: 16). In this sense, life styles are defined as the products of habitus and, perceived in their mutual relations to the systems of the habitus, they become sign systems which are socially considered such as distinguished, vulgar and alike (Bourdieu, 1984: 172). Habitus is not a direct reflection of the conditions of existence of a class, but a sensibility acquired through a life-time and an upbringing in those conditions and the possibilities they include or exclude. Different from Veblen, Bourdieu claims that people acquired a culture of habitus based on both economic and cultural capital instead of Veblens concept of emulation. Thus, whether a person actually has money, skills, education or family, in practice turns out to be secondary to the habitus they have acquired, which may be at odds with the life-style and attitudes, the way of using the body, command of language, friends and contacts, preferences in art and aspirations, etc., which are normally associated with those conditions. Action, in Bourdieus perspective, is a product of class dispositions intersecting with the dynamics and structures of particular fields (Swartz, 1997: 141). To have economic capital is not enough as it does in Veblen, in Bourdieus theory, you should also have the cultural capital for it. Bourdieu attempted to explain the relationship between peoples practices and the context that is institutions, values and rules, in which these practices occur. This attempt led him to the idea of the field, which is a series of contexts which constitute an objective hierarchy and which produce and authorize certain discourses and activities (Webb, 2002: 21-22). Bourdieu classifies two aspects of a field: first of all that people in a specific field have its specific dispositions imposed upon them; and secondly fields can be characterized as area of struggle through which agents and institutions seek to preserve or overturn the existing distribution of capital (Wacquant, 2008: 268). Through capital Bourdieu understands both the material things and the symbolic and culturally significant attributes such as prestige, honour and status, in other words anything that is considered by an agent valuable enough to attempt to obtain it. Bourdieus field theory describes the field as a domain where specific activities are produced. This is to say that each field entails a specific game and specific interests, which are not reducible to the interests and to the game of other fields. Thus, to enter a field is to accept the rules of the game and to share the fields main goals. The notion of field is even more powerful when equated with capitals and habitus. In other words, the habitus is strongly related to ones position in the social structure. Across different studies, Pierre Bourdieu has synthesized Weberian, Marxist, Durkheimian to argue for a theory of social status, and that for which is competition for various types of capital within social  ¬Ã‚ elds. With Weber, Bourdieu based his theory on the idea that culture is a field like the economic world, in which some actors compete to get various types of resources or capital. While in the economic level actors fight over economic capital, in cultural level they contend to apt cultural capital goods and practices that are socially defined as distinctive and hence let individuals an impression of superiority. But Bourdieu points out that the cultural struggle for distinction is connected to the economic distribution of material goods, which it both legitimates and reproduces. An individuals material conditions of subsistence, determined by her economic capital, establish a habitus o r set of dispositions, which in turn produces cultural tastes. Gartman (2002) claims that the right tastes make possible the accumulation of cultural capital, which makes the individual look distinctive and hence justifies the economic capital that determined her cultural tastes to begin with. Consequently, culture is closely related with the economy that Bourdieu considers society as a social field that is the intersection of the economic and cultural fields. The positions in the social field are classes, each defined by its relative balance of economic and cultural capital and its overall volume of the two kinds of capital combined (Bourdieu, 1984: 169-75). Taste is a component of the habitus, thus, given the relationship between tastes and social structure. Bourdieu examines the taste and life-style in relation to social classes and class fractions and he analyses the economic and social determinants of tastes (1984: 101). In this sense, taste is a marker of social class or of class position, because tastes place individuals in relation to other tastes which express social divisions. Such divisions also express social distinction and reflect the struggle for social distinction. Moreover, Taste is an acquired disposition to differentiate and appreciate à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ to establish and mark differences by a process of distinctionBourdieu (1984: 466). Taste is therefore a way of ensuring social recognition and status. Different from emulation, taste is, nonetheless, also linked to necessity. The existence of an upper class culture and upper class taste does not supersede lower class values and tastes. Instead, he argued that while material need is dominant to the definition of higher-class taste, lower-class taste is born because of necessity. This is to say that lower class taste has restrictions caused by material deprivation. Such restrictions have limited access to cultural objects and practices that are highly valued and constitute the very realm of upper-class taste. As such, Bourdieu stresses that taste is the practical affirmation of difference; it is materialized class culture that unites all those who are the product of similar conditions. What is more, Bourdieu observed that the rich justified and naturalized their economic advantage over others not only by pointing to their bank accounts, but by being the arbiters of taste.   Bourdieu shows us that taste is not stable and peaceful, b ut a means of strategy and competition. Discuss: Comparing Veblen and Bourdieu: When we examine the concept of conspicuous consumption, Veblen stresses the function of it as the status symbols in order to show off ones social standing in the society. He focused on upper and unproductive classes which are not directly involved in economic production activities. Thus, Veblen talked about valued practices of upper classes and emulation by the other classes. To spend lots of money on wasteful products is the result of the conspicuous consumption as being a member of the leisure class. On the other hand, Bourdieu discussed about not only conspicuous consumption but also all kind of consumption. As it is discussed above, according to him, both economic and cultural capitals reinforce the class positions. In that sense, tastes and practices are determined by the position of somebody in social structure. Tastes are related to ones habitus which is related with ones social class. Another issue related to both thinkers is the trickle down and trickle up effect. Trickle down effect is, in its simplest way, emulation of upper class culture or taste by lower class. For example, many lower class people in Turkey have the brand new model of cellular phones although their monthly salary does not afford this kind of consumption. On the other hand, tickle up effect means that there can also be impression from bottom to up. For example, some women from upper class started to wear yemeni or Ã…Å ¸alvar which are signs of lower class culture. However, in Veblen theory, leisure classes use consumption in order to distinguish themselves from both lower classes and new money people. In that sense, they have accumulated culture which upper class people inherent it from the family that they belong to as a way of distinction like taste in Bourdieus theory. Bourdieu claims that lower classes also have taste. However, this taste is different from the upper classes since lower class taste is born out of necessity. Because of this necessity, lower class people, for Bourdieu, do not pay attention some cultural practices such as going to opera or museum, buying books, etc. Different from Veblen wasteful conspicuous consumption, for Bourdieu, lower class people avoid consuming because of necessity. Moreover, as it is in the example of Yemeni, upper classes can move down to popular taste. Another point should be mentioned. In Bourdieus theory, upper classes try to maintain their status as a distinction from the tastes of lower classes. Thus, they turn the popular taste. The artist agrees with the bourgeois in one respect: he prefers naivety to pretentiousness. The essentialist merit of the common people is that they have none of the pretensions to art (or power) which inspire the ambitions of the petit bourgeois. Their indifference tacitly acknowledges the monopoly. That is why, in the mythology of artists and intellectuals, whose outflanking and double-negating strategies sometimes lead them back to popular tastes and opinions, the people so often play a role not unlike that of the peasantry in the conservative ideologies of the declining aristocracy. (Bourdieu, 1984: 62) Thus, in Bourdieu theory, there is a struggle for good taste and bad taste which make people distinct from each other through cultural consumption. In Veblens theory, emulation is the possession of the certain goods but does not lead them to have the knowledge of the goods such as a work of art. On the other hand, upper classes have developed this kind of knowledge. In that point, for Bourdieu, key concept is cultural capital. The positions of individuals in the field are determined by the amount of and relative weight of the capital they posses. Bourdieu discusses 4 types of capitals. Economic capital: the economic resources possessed by an actor. Cultural capital: the various kinds of legitimate knowledge possessed by an actor. Social capital: the extend of the valued social relations possessed by an actor. Symbolic capital: the amount of honor and prestige possessed by an actor. According to Trigg (2001), cultural capital is the accumulated knowledge which is learned trough education and social upbringing. Through the practical applications and implications of taste, people classify objects and also classify themselves. In this frame, culture is a kind of economy, a marketplace that utilizes cultural rather than economic capital. This capital is usually peoples social class origin and educational experience. Thus, cultural capital is correlated to high-status class positions and makes them distinct from other classes. Thus, distinction is a broader notion than Veblens conspicuous consumption. Consequently, instead of a single dominant upper class lifestyle that lower classes try to emulate, in Bourdieu we find different class tastes and lifestyles. To sum up, according to Bourdieu, different consumption practices and the taste behind of them make distinction among classes and create hierarchical social relations. On the other hand, Veblen pointed on wealth and emulation of wealth as a source of distinction. Bourdieu did not concern on wealth as much as Veblen. He emphasized on cultural capital. Veblen used wealth as a source of social stratification with the display of wealth. In Bourdieu, however, the competition for status takes place within the fields. Conclusion: In this paper, my main aim is to compare and contrast the theory of Veblen and Bourdieu by examining of their main concepts such as conspicuous consumption, leisure class, emulation, habitus, field, cultural capital and taste. In that sense, first of all, I discussed Veblens theory which he concerns that consumption is a way of displaying wealth. He uses conspicuous consumption as a way of stratification. He describes emulation to examine the stratification among upper classes and lower classes. Secondly, I try to examine Bourdieus theory by focusing on the book of Distinction. Different from Veblen, he deals with all kinds of consumption and does not focus on wealth as much as Veblen does. He emphasizes the concept of taste in different classes. He uses cultural capital to distinct different classes. Finally, in the last part, I compare both thinkers. Briefly, I found the following ones: When we examine the concept of conspicuous consumption, Veblen stresses the function of it as the status symbols in order to show off ones social standing in the society. Bourdieu discussed about not only conspicuous consumption but also all kind of consumption. In Veblen, emulation moves down words. In Bourdieu, taste moves up and down words. Veblen discussed that accumulated culture is a way of social prestige which distinct upper classes from lower classes and new money. In his theory, he focused on individuals who caused the distinction by conspicuous consumption and social hierarchy. In Bourdieus theory, consumption and taste are involved which they help the reproduction of class structure. Bourdieu studied beyond the individual and pointed out that the habitus creates the class position with the help of accumulated knowledge, aka cultural capital. Taste is a marker of social class in Bourdieu and not just of wealth as Veblen thought. Veblens focused on the significance of economic capital. On the other hand, Bourdieu highlighted on the cultural capital.