Monday, January 27, 2020

Multinational Company Bmw Economic Essay

Multinational Company Bmw Economic Essay BMW is the multinational company that I choose for the assignment. BMW is a company that operating in more than 1 country. They are not only operating in their home country (Germany) but they also operate in many countries like: Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and etc. Beside that BMW also have manufacture in country like UK, USA, Mexico, South Africa and etc. So BMW is proving as a multinational company. BMW Group is one of the worlds largest premium carmakers and BMW is also the parent of the company of BMW MINI and Rolls-Royce car brands, and, formerly, Rover. BMW headquarters in Munich, Germany. The company slogans in English are The Ultimate Driving Machine and Sheer Driving Pleasure. BMW was founded by Karl Friedrich Rapp in October 1913. Automobiles, motorcycles and financial services are three segments that operate by BMW and they manufactured the first passenger car running by hydrogen. BMW manufacturing is plant in Germany, Austria, UK, USA, Mexico, South Africa, Egypt, Brazil, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines and also Vietnam. BMWs main competitors include Acura, Alfa Romeo, Audi, Cadillac, Infiniti, Jaguar, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo all of this are consider luxury brands of the car products. Nowadays, BMW is support by 11different types of series which is: BMW C1, BMW 1, 3, 5, 6, 7 series, BMW X3, 5, 6, BMW Z4, BMW M5, BMW M6, and BMW Z4 M. According to the research, shown that there are 2 new divisions for BMW been introduce in October 1, 2007. Which are corporate and brand development will be lead by the director of corporate planning this is focus on the vital for brand management, corporate planning, and strategic implementation BMW. Second, purchasing and supplier network that headed by Dr.Herbert.Diess. The purpose is to reduce the material cost and expenses factor. These are few of the new management strategy that BMW Company is using to operate the c ompany. 15 Sentence of credit crunch in general are stand for credit crunch make it almost impossible to the lender like bank and investor to borrow the money because they become very chary of lending the money to the corporation. They scared of bankruptcies and defaults, which they drive up the price of debt products for borrowers which result in higher rates. The consequence is drag on of recession, which the shrinking of the credit supply wills happens as a result. 2 Credit crunch overall background is starting with the lender like bank are suffering loss because of their previous lending loans, and this make them normally unable and averse to lend the money again to the borrowers. This happen when the borrower in arrears and the properties underlying a defaulted loan and drop in the value. As in this case the borrowers default, the bank can only foreclose on hypothecate and trying to sell this property to compensate the funds they loaned out. Thereby, if the pricing of the house is decreasing, the bank is considered left selling at the cost. The banker capital position is reducing; when they suffer losses which are reduce the amount that they are able to lend out. The lending institutions are requiring keeping down the minimum levels of capital. 3 The reasons that cause to the credit crunch are first: speculation. Many people go to obtain additional loans with very easy terms for instance no initial down payment because it is too easy to gain the credit from the banks so that all of the peoples and investors think that the price will going to increase also. The rapidity increase in property value make investors to jump into the investment with low and no fundamentals. This situation will make the investors to feel that they are missing out and left behind, in case as many investors going to heap up it will cause increasingly unsustainable to the price of property. Next is lack of the regulatory oversight, the distrustful of loans are make by mortgage brokers and bankers, the underwriters who working in the bank are determine whether the ability of the borrowers is there for them to repay the loans and turn a blind eye to what is going on so that the increasing of the profit can see by the loans that they have written. In addit ional, there are others reasons like Adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) and subprime loans, the repeal of the Glass-Steagall Act, Historically low interest rates, and as well as politics which happen because many of the politicians going to say that the higher of the rate of the home ownership for Americans is better, but what would happen to the economy from the perspective of those that cant afford their homes when an inevitable slowdown occurred.4 The occurring of the credit crunch will actually affect the economy of a country and company in few ways. First, the banker will actually tighten up the credit for all types of loans and become more caution to lending the loans. So that this directly affects the small businesses peoples that who are depend on the loans and the credit to fund their day to day operation and become illiquid. Next, unemployment rises is one of the ways that will affect a company and country where the businesses are unable to pay for all the immediate bills and so that they also facing the problem that they cannot pay for the employees salary and so that caused the situation like unemployment increasing in nationwide. The bankers and the brokerage firms are hit by this credit crunch. Apart of that a spiraling domino effect occurs, above these two economies effects of the economies crisis can make the economy of a country going down and than affect the whole country economy and if the economy of a country continues to going downward, it will lead to the difficult to stop the cycle. 5 On year 2008, America was affected by the serious economy crisis, and their economy is actually hit really hard by this economy crisis. We can see through the secondary data that done by research show that BMW also hit by 2008 economy crisis. According to (Chris Reiter 2010) BMW and Mercedes this two world largest luxury car makers was only sold a combine 31,000 fewer vehicles last month because of the occurring of economy crisis and cause credit crunch that discourage the power purchasing of consumers. The percentage of sales are also falling down 8.3% to 113.005 cars and sport- utility vehicles from 123,300 vehicles a year earlier by BMW Company whose are also owns the Mini and Rolls-Royce auto brands. Next, Auto sales in US BMW as a biggest market also decrease 32 percent in October of 2008 to the lowest monthly total since January 1991. They look back to their 2008 profile target on November BMW plans to cut production by 65,000 cars and SUVs according to (Chris Reiter 2010). Chris Reiter (2010) states that BMW is involved in the extremely changeling market and the vehicles sales are decreasing for the whole year because of this. As what Ian Robertson who are the Munich-based carmakers sales chief said: in a statement today, reiterating a forecast released Nov. 4. The retail gains made in our growth markets were unable to fully offset declines in Western Europe, Japan and the U.S. Chris Reiter (2010) also states that BMW posted 12% drop in Western Europe, 5% drop in US and the worst is Japan drop 34%. Furthermore, David Gow (2010) states that credit crunch put brakes on BMW 2008 also when US economy goes down turn and BMW reported that a step fall down in first quarter earnings. The son company of BMW Mini and Rolls Royce said that the pre-tax profits spilled 25% to ( £505m), dragged down by increased risk provisions, tighter credit and the strong euro. According to (S. wall, S. Minocha, B. Rees, 2010)[case study 4.2 BMW after Rover], show Rover in Britain worsened and hopeless in early of March 2010 due to the strong pound damaging the exports of Rover. Finally Rover sells to Alchemy. This happened and uproar Britain press and politicians because scaring big number of unemployment in Rover and few supplier are located around the region. Alchemy withdrew from bidding process and sell to Phoenix consortium for  £10. Previous 6 years BMW spent total  £34billion to save Rover but posted big losses. The disposal provoked a political storm in Britain, and BMW bosses were someone parliamentary before this. Britain government furious, Milberg (who took over CEO of BMW in 1999) retorted government slow to get the signals he sent in a phone call before the situation worsened. This criticism infuriated the government again. This shows that government and political mess will also cause a problem to a company. Apart from that, the case stud y also stated that the decreasing and increasing of a currency will also give a huge impact to a company. The pounds became stronger and then give a direct effect to the company and destroy their exports businesses are one of the problem that we can see from the case and this may indirectly lead to the occur of credit crunch as well. 14 David Gow (2010) states BMW a 5.6% rise across its three brands to a record 351,787 despite a 9.1% drop in their biggest market, US. The international financial crisis deteriorates the climate for consumer spending became gloomier, it said, pointing to March 2008 as the peak of the crisis. Before this BMW still expect to beat the last year sales record to 1.5m but the USs economy getting worst and lead to the dropping of the profits. The world largest luxury carmaker BMW have became the victims of the credit crunch on 2008. It took a 236 million euro (S$500 million) charge because of falling prices and rising bad debt in the United States. The move is the provision made of the divinable losses in business area. This move could cause to increased nervousness about the impact of the financial crisis on the economy in Europe, even as most companies report robust first-quarter results. This is what reported by The Financial Times. The Click here to find out more!Daimler chief executive Dieter Zetsche says that in 2008 may that month the general car sales of US is fall down this year but the growth in emerging in market can expiation it. 6 In addition, research shows that 2008 BMW sons company MINI has declared that axes 800 redundancies in Cowley, Oxford hire prompting protests from unions over a perceived lack of sensitivity towards the rights of agency workers. The redundancy pay will not received by many of the staffs that who have been made the contract through the agency Manpower. At the same time the sales of the luxury cars are drop very ruggedness, so because of that supermini segment has experienced a less severe downturn driven by a consumer shift to smaller and more economical vehicles. Seen from secondary data, clearly we can see the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) January figure, the trend towards the smallest segment the mini or city car segment is growing stronger as the recession deepens, with new car registrations up 40.8% on 2008 figures. At British, Mini was one of the last of the car manufacturers that are continue working through these suffering times, but they are not produce an y cars on that relevant week because of to the significant fall in global demand. Around 20% of these 800 axes redundancies are going to tha manufacture like: Jaguar, Nissan and etc. 7 BMW became the first victim of the credit crunch on 24 of April, that who are the world largest luxury carmaker. BMW took a à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬236m ($369m) charge because of falling prices and rising bad debt in the US are showing through the research. But however the pre-tax level is slightly increased compare with last year. 8 The strategy that BMW use to overcome credit crunch are first: that are one of the reason why BMW and Mercedes are teaming up. There are fewer options for OEM (original equipment makers), consolidations of period have gone through by automobile suppliers and this trend is expected to speedup for the next few years. It becomes difficult for the investment capital because credit crunch makes suppliers harder to fund their business. 9 Many organizations are affected by the credit crunch in UK industry and so BMW. But BMW consider one of the successful from them and six awards are goes to BMW and German manufacturer sales rise and new models bring in new customers. Although BMW also affected but they get the award for best small car with the MINI, best small premium car for the 1 Series and best large premium car for the 3 Series. In addition, The 5 Series took the gong for best executive car and the X5 won best SUV and BMW was presented with the Fleet News environmental award for the EfficientDynamics package. 10 Next, BMW also trying to protect himself from credit crunch by helping some of the suppliers. The stronger suppliers are encouraging by BMW to take over weaker supplier in this case and BMW will pay more for the parts, speedup the payment and as well as they will temporary pay higher price for the parts. 11 Apart from that, in UK, during credit crunch the governments are actually asking to help the car manufacture and government helping a litter bit where we just seem it banking sector. According to the research, on that time if the government is still not aware of this problem and the unemployment will become worst and the number of import export within UK and other country will be reduce and shown that UK government will loss  £110 billion revenue and UK  £146.2 billion tax next couple of year if the government despise this case. 12 However, in Malaysia it will still have at least a litter bit effects because of credit crunch but the god strategy need to be prepared to face the credit crunch. According to Briscoe, he believes that the luxury car like BMW needs to have a better positioned for it to growth in the industry when facing difficulty at the economic side. He also said that: There would be an impact but we feel that the volume-based car segment would be more affected than the premium segment. According to him as well in Malaysia market in 2009, was to provide the right car at the right market at the right time. Extra key are they are now focusing on their credit crunch strategy are introduce more diesel powered cars. 13 This are few strategy that BMW done or the place government done to solve the various problem during credit crunch. But actually they are pro and con for every strategy they used and pro and con as well for the helping from the government, it is just depend on each of us to criticize either each of this strategy are falls into pro or con. In my opinion, as the first point I listed above BMW are teaming up with Mercedes, to invest in the suppliers and the next point that BMW are encourage strong supplier to take over weaker suppliers. It is just a good decision I think because it is not a good decision if we just leave our cars part supplier to facing and suffering alone with the credit crunch without any assisting. In the tough time during credit crunch, if we are not helping each other among supplier even competitor we might just die together because of the wrong decision. We can actually helping each other according to our capability like what BMW and the rest done. Next, the ethical issues are very vital for a company. According to (S. wall, S. Minocha, B. Rees, 2010), an organization must make sure that every decision they make, have a conscious ethical content. If it is an internal problem, it maybe about the labour working hours, or their wages problem. When come to the BMW do à £Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€š ¬international business with other country, company must ensure they does not apply their own ethical norms to the foreign country but is conforms to the local customs, and ethical as well as morality enough when making any of the business decision and also during economy crisis. Although the company situation is worse and worried but any decision making by BMW will be ethical enough; example during credit crunch any methods using to solve the credit crunch problem, it must be with ethical.

Sunday, January 19, 2020

IT Business Outsourcing Essay

Outsourcing basically means a process of constricting to another party. It is done at the outsourcing client’s location under their supervision. There are many essential factors which are needed to decide whether to outsource the information process or not. First major factor is the activity or the process itself. Main concern should be the process, whether it’s really needed to be outsourced (Loh et. al, 1992). If it is core job to that organization, then its better not to outsource it. If the task really requires highly efficient skills which is not available in your organization, then it’s better to outsource it. Second most important factor is the financial strategy. While deciding whether to outsource, main goal of company is to save money. It’s essential to verify, what will be the total cost in both the cases, if the task to be performed within the organization or outside. Hence, the main factors for deciding why to outsource are outsourcers cost, their capabilities and the potential end product which ultimately will reduce the risk and increase organization profit. Influence of Risk Assessment on the decision making process when seeking to outsource information processes Risk is always associated with the process of outsourcing. Many organizations who went for outsourcing, failed and few of the reasons are like cultural misalignment, end product not as per the quality and deadlines or delivery times missed. There are mainly two types of risk associated with the process of outsourcing: external risk and internal risk. Read more:Â  Essay on Business Process Outsourcing External risks are those risks which occur outside the organization and upon which organization do not have any control. these risks includes a search of outsourcer who will offer the required skills in a cost effective manner, an exchange rate fluctuation that can impact the cost savings, lack of ability to guard organization intellectual protection property and physical location of outsourcer which includes economic and political risk as well (Aubert, 1998). Internal risks are those risks which occur inside the organization while outsourcing. Language is the most targeted risk if outsourcing happen between two different countries where English is not the primary language and the ability of communicating to outsourcers in a remote location where technology is not so updated. Influence of change management requirements on the decision making process when seeking to outsource information processes One of the key factors for a successful outsourcing is the organizations effective change management policy. Organizations who failed to manage the changes effectively suffer a lot. Within an organization, the most important change management program is to create such a reliable communication strategy, so that the employees don’t feel scared about the job security. There should be proper redeployment and retention plans for all employees to make them feel secure. Proper training should be provided to make them understand how to deal with outsourcers. Few change management factors during this process are good leadership quality, crystal clear procedures, strategy safeguarding stakeholder’s interests, communication strategy and a change-over course of action for every step (Wullenweber et al, 2008). Inclusion of different entities by business when making decisions on the processes to outsource and the third party entity to outsource to Businesses include entities when time comes to decide whether to go for outsourcing or not. When an organization needs a process to be outsourced, decision of top level (CEO or a Director) is essential. Without their confirmation, company can’t think of moving ahead. After the confirmation, now its middle management turns to check whether all the important factors are going in favor of outsourcing or not. Here come different entities like finance, Hr, marketing, quality and third party. Finance department will check outsourcing in terms of cost saving, while HR will check if the company really needs outsourcing staff or it has its own (DiRomualdo et. al. , 1998). Marketing people will do a survey to acquire a list of best outsourcing companies and quality will judge whether the decision is anywhere hampering the quality and how to improve it in future. Third party will also play a vital role as their location, cost of doing outsourcing and few other factors will also effect the decision (W. McFarlan et. al, 1995).

Saturday, January 11, 2020

Financing Strategy Essay

There are many options for expansion for a privately held company. The Huffman Trucking Company has options to expand the operations of the business. The three best options that the firm faces are; going public through an IPO, acquiring another organization in the same industry, or merging with another organization. With each of these being a possibility, there are some aspects that must be taken into consideration. First there are strengths of the option, as well as weaknesses. Each option also comes with its own opportunities as well as threats, which must not be over looked. While there are pros and cons to any decision that will be made as far as going forward is concerned, expanding operations is imperative to staying competitive in the business world this day in age. Weighing each option will allow The Huffman Trucking Company’s decision makers to come to the best conclusion when moving forward. Going Public through an IPO An initial public offering (IPO) is a process in which a private company issues shares of stock to the public for the first time. Often times this process is known as â€Å"going public†. Regardless of how people refer to it though, it is extremely important for Huffman Trucking to consider this option for further expansion (â€Å"Encyclopedia Of Business†, 2013). The strength in this approach is that it could generate revenues that do not have to be paid back. The initial purchasers of the stock are buying a portion of the company in hopes that the value will increase. Huffman Trucking can then use those funds to purchase new equipment, hire more employees, and more importantly to expand their service area in the United States. However, there are weaknesses in this decision. The current ownership and management would lose a great deal of decision making power for the company. In an instant, the entire management team would have a group of stockholders to answer to. The knowledge savvy that got Huffman Trucking to where it is would become secondary to the whims of the stock holders. The opportunities of this approach are many, but primarily, it would put Huffman Trucking on the map. Increasing the recognition and reputation of the company can go a long way to increasing revenues. Also, going public would create a financing climate for the company that would provide even more opportunity to gain investment monies (when needed) for further growth. The major threat of this decision is that current ownership and management would be thrown out. If the stockholders felt that they knew better for the company, steps could be taken to get rid of anyone deemed detrimental to the company. This could mean that in a matter of years the original owner and every member of the original management team could be removed from the company. Acquiring another Organization in the Same Industry Another option for Huffman Trucking is to acquire another organization within the trucking industry. Huffman trucking can already credit some of its growth in the past to acquiring other businesses, though each case is different and it’s important to consider the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats associated with another acquisition. Acquiring another business can help Huffman Trucking to increase their efficiency and business. This is a known strength for acquiring another business, because they already have a location that they cover as well as a customer base, and their name is known, associating Huffman Trucking with that name will help their customers feel comfortable offering their business to Huffman. Depending on how Huffman is already staffed, a weakness of acquiring another business could be bringing on to many employees, or even having to let some of that company’s current employees go. If Huffman brings on those employees they have to make sure they have enough business to pay for all of their labor, and if they have to terminate those employees it can give the company a negative public image for cutting jobs. There are countless opportunities when acquiring another company in the same industry. It all depends on how the specific company handles the acquisition. One major opportunity is unlimited growth, if the acquisition goes well for both companies than Huffman will probably have the chance to acquire other businesses within the same industry and continue to grow. A threat would be that there is really no guarantee how the other company will handle the acquisition. There could be negative publicity or issues with current employees if Huffman doesn’t handle the situation appropriately from the beginning. Merging Organizations Many times, a company like Huffman Trucking potentially can build strength by merging with other organizations. Careful consideration and planning needs to take place before simply diving into any venture; however, if the company were to mesh itself with a company that is already holding itself upright, Huffman Trucking potentially could have more to offer its customers. In combination with the diverse services Huffman already provides, it can expand on these services. Especially, if Huffman aligns itself with another well-known company, consumers could still get their needs met by the former company while also being introduced to the products and services offered by Huffman. In relation, if Huffman shares nearby territories with other companies that offer similar services, it may be a wise move to merge the companies into one entity. â€Å"It is smart to merge with, successful companies if the services complement each other. The acquiring company would have access to a new market and an already established customer base† (NFIB, 2013, P. 1). In this instance Huffman would serve as the main headquarters; the head honchos taking over. Combining similar companies together potentially can ignite more power as a union, reinforcing the strength in numbers concept. â€Å"Merging is a way to encourage growth; it can be looked upon as a way to open up new channels and new markets† (NFIB, 2013, P.1). Occasionally companies experience down times, mostly because of market trends. On their own, they simply would lose steam and eventually fade into financial despair, unless another company chooses to offer a life raft. In these instances, a large company may swoop in and â€Å"buy† out the struggling company. The endeavor can prove to be fruitful if the larger company is successful at not only turning around profits for the struggling company but also building onto its own. Acquiring additional assets also helps to make a large company â€Å"look† better to investors. Huffman Trucking initially may desire to keep everything the â€Å"same.† It may even promise that employees will not lose their jobs. The reality, however; for any successful merger, is that change is inevitable and some employees will be let go. If Huffman attempts to retain too many employees it sets itself up for failure as the synergy processes can become strained. Within a given organization, only so many associates are needed to fill the necessary departments. The action of merging with other companies automatically reveals the existence of several different â€Å"departments† of employees doing the same type of work. Huffman will have to determine how many workers are â€Å"needed† to fill these positions and then layoff, or relocate the rest. Larger companies merging with other large, successful companies may merge more smoothly with minimal layoffs, and such a condition would be ideal. The merging endeavor could unfortunately cause a temporary downward trend in stock prices. Huffman may be tempted to get cocky with prices because it is now owner of many smaller entities. It may would reason that since it offers products widely sought by consumers that pricing rests solely within their whim. Consumers, however, â€Å"may rebel when confronted by increased costs as they seek cheaper product alternatives within the marketplace† (Rimm & Media, Wint). The opportunities are numerous when a merger is successful. Two well-financed, profitable companies potentially can exponentially increase their net worth by joining forces. Keeping lines of communication open among the entire company promotes enthusiasm from workers old and new. Acquiring companies can benefit from the broader customer base; in conjunction it can often decrease expenses as they produce more of their own brand. Although the reality exists that some employees will be let go, there also lays potential risks. â€Å"Customer service may suffer as employees feel less motivated to go out of their way to help clients and shoppers† (Rimm & Media, Wint). A gradually weakening workforce fueled by employee stress and weakened morale will eventually affect the face of the entire company. Many merger efforts actually discourage employees from seeking employment elsewhere, as they want the merger process to unfold smoothly. This is no way guarantees job security for workers long-term. Consequently, some employees will be intolerant toward the unknown. They feel unmotivated. Turnover is sure to spread among departments. As departments begin to weaken, remaining workers may start to feel the squeeze of added work load. During the merger, the company is unlikely to hire replacement workers right away. The overall spirit within the company may slowly deteriorate as result. Another potential threat is an already weak company deciding to merge with another weak company, assuming that combining the two will induce success. Two broke companies will seldom find success together. More than likely, they simply will fail as one unit. Huffman Trucking should consider several factors when choosing to pursue an international location. Financial decisions for Huffman Trucking will be affected by the decision to branch out into international markets. The usual factors that Huffman Trucking takes into consideration in the planning efforts of supply and demand will include new risks. These risks will â€Å"include unanticipated commodity price shocks, volatile exchange rates, and unexpected supply disruptions as a result of forces beyond our controls, such as physical disasters and terrorist attacks† (Neuman, 2005). The company should consider interest rates as this will affect the exchanges from one currency to another. Employment levels and economic growth expectations will also potentially affect exchange rates. Rising unemployment in another country could bring the value of that country’s currency down, thus creating a less favorable exchange rate. The same is true for general economic conditions. If a country’s economy is not growing interest rates are likely rising and potentially affect exchange rates as well. Another factor Huffman Trucking should consider when choosing a location for potential international expansion is the trade balance of the other country as well as its political and regulatory structure. A country wants to maintain a positive trade balance to keep a favorable demand for its currency. The political structure within a foreign country needs to be strong to help protect the investments of Huffman Trucking. The foreign country should possess clearly defined regulations. Strong regulations will also help protect the company’s investments. These critical factors will aid Huffman Trucking is determining where international expansion aligns with their operations. Each of the choices before Huffman Trucking are valid and each has its own strengths and weaknesses. It is important to note that expansion is an important part of successful business, but not necessarily a requirement. Huffman Trucking must decide if negative side effects of any of these choices is worth the gain.

Thursday, January 2, 2020

The Symbolic Nature of Sacrifice and Transformation in...

â€Å"The Making of an Allegory,† by Edwin Honig and â€Å"Franz Kafka’s ‘Metamorphosis’ as Death and Resurrection Fantasy,† by Peter Dow Webster illuminate how sacrifice and transformation are a vital part of the deeper meaning of The Metamorphosis. Gregor Samsa is an ordinary young man until he wakes up one day as a giant vermin; metamorphosised into something horrendous and reviled by the world. Through Honig’s and Webster’s critical essays, this transformation, as well as many more, and sacrifice made by all involved are explored in a thorough and definitive way. In â€Å"The Making of an Allegory,† Honig illustrates how the family structure is altered and strengthened by Gregor’s transformation and, in turn, his seclusion. Honig’s syntax defines†¦show more content†¦His syntax and imagery clearly state his view as to how the major change in Gregor causes a major change in his entire family. In â€Å"F ranz Kafka’s ‘Metamorphosis’ as Death and Resurrection Fantasy,† Webster clarifies how Gregor is not the only one transformed by his situation, as well as the negative effects that have been brought on by it. The tone used by Webster in his essay brings about this negative feel towards the transformation itself, as well as a cynic view towards most of the novel, especially the title. â€Å"Metamorphosis is misleading as a title,† because it entails that only one person or being is being metamorphosised; instead, â€Å"it should be pluralized since the whole family†¦father, mother, and sister†¦are equally transformed.† By giving a reason as to why the title is erroneous, Webster expresses his disturbance towards the title and that Kafka should have realized this and given the proper form of the word. He declares that â€Å"Grete†¦finally refers to†¦Gregor as ‘It’ and insists that unless he is rejected†¦the whole family will disintegrate,† interpreting Grete’s altered view towards him as a sign that she has also grown up through this. The syntax displayed only adds to the negativity towards not just the title, but other parts of the book. Grete’s sudden outburst combines with the syntax of other pieces in the article to display Webster’s assertion on the negativity of the whole family’s transformation. This contrasts with the positive outlook towards itShow MoreRelatedThe Metamorphosis Kafka Analysis959 Words   |  4 PagesThe Metamorphosis: Fiction German novelist, Franz Kafka is widely regarded for his work, The Metamorphosis (1915), in which he fuses elements of fantasy and realism. Throughout the narrative Kafka effortlessly conveys several examples of fiction that appeal to me. While reading, at moments I was compelled to feel sad, satisfied or even utterly shocked. There are always elements in a novel that we, the readers, deem acceptable or unacceptable in relation to how it makes us feel, how we relate andRead MoreThe Metamorphosis By Franz Kafka1709 Words   |  7 PagesIn Franz Kafka’s â€Å"The Metamorphosis,† Gregor Samsa deals with the alienation from his family stemming from both absurd and mundane circumstances. While Gregor’s transformation into a bug is the catalyst to his physical alienation, Gregor had for years been becoming more and more isolated mentally and emotionally from his family due to his displeasure at his having to work a job he hated due to his father’s failings and t he lack of gratitude he received from his family for his hard work. It was notRead MoreKafkas The Metamorphosis : Societal Normality Versus The Individual1626 Words   |  7 PagesKennedy captures the essence of Kafka’s The Metamorphosis by identifying the principle struggle faced by Gregor as he experiences life following his inexplicable transformation â€Å"into a horrible vermin.†(1) The Metamorphosis explores the existential dichotomy between the societal pressure of conformity and the individuals drive for meaning, the resulting message being the necessity of societal rejection in achieving true existentialism. Viewing the The Metamorphosis as an examination of motivationRead MoreThe Death Of Ivan And The Metamorphosis By Franz Kafka2047 Words   |  9 Pagesinevitable concern that no one can understand completely. While it has the potential to instill fear, the thought of death also instigates individuals to reflect upon the life he or she has lived. In â€Å"The Death of Ivan Ilych† by Leo Tolstoy and â€Å"The Metamorphosis† by Franz Kafka, the two authors capture this reflecting of life within the lives of Ivan Ilych and Gregor Samsa. Although both Ivan Ilych and Gregor Samsa experience an unfortunate fate of death, the protagonists were able to find self-knowledge

Wednesday, December 25, 2019

Biography of Aurangzeb, Emperor of Mughal India

Emperor Aurangzeb of Indias Mughal Dynasty (November 3, 1618–March 3, 1707) was a ruthless leader who, despite his willingness to take the throne over the bodies of his brothers, went on to create a golden age of Indian civilization. An orthodox  Sunni Muslim, he reinstated taxes and laws penalizing Hindus and imposing Sharia law. At the same time, however, he greatly expanded the Mughal empire and was described by his contemporaries as being disciplined, pious, and intelligent. Fast Facts: Aurangzeb Known For: Emperor of India; builder of the Taj MahalAlso Known As: Muhi-ud-Din Muhammad, AlamgirBorn: November 3, 1618  in Dahod, IndiaParents: Shah Jahan,  Mumtaz MahalDied: March 3, 1707  in Bhingar, Ahmednagar, IndiaSpouse(s): Nawab Bai,  Dilras Banu Begum,  Aurangabadi MahalChildren: Zeb-un-Nissa, Muhammad Sultan, Zinat-un-Nissa, Bahadur Shah I, Badr-un-Nissa, Zubdat-un-Nissa, Muhammad Azam Shah, Sultan Muhammad Akbar, Mehr-un-Nissa, Muhammad Kam BakhshNotable Quote: Strange, that I came into the world with nothing, and now I am going away with this stupendous caravan of sin! Wherever I look, I see only God...I have sinned terribly, and I do not know what punishment awaits me. (supposedly communicated on his deathbed) Early Life Aurangzeb was born on November 3, 1618, the third son of Prince Khurram (who would become  Emperor Shah Jahan) and the Persian princess Arjumand Bano Begam. His mother is more commonly known as Mumtaz Mahal, Beloved Jewel of the Palace. She later inspired Shah Jahan to build the Taj Mahal. During Aurangzebs childhood, however, Mughal politics made life difficult for the family. Succession did not necessarily fall to the eldest son. Instead, the sons built armies and competed militarily for the throne. Prince Khurram was the favorite to become the next emperor, and his father bestowed the title Shah Jahan Bahadur, or Brave King of the World, on the young man. In 1622, however, when Aurangzeb was 4 years old, Prince Khurram learned that his stepmother was supporting a younger brothers claim to the throne. The prince revolted against his father  but was defeated after four years. Aurangzeb and a brother were sent to their grandfathers court as hostages. When Shah Jahans father died in 1627, the rebel prince became Emperor of the Mughal Empire. The 9-year-old Aurangzeb was reunited with his parents at Agra in 1628. The young Aurangzeb studied statecraft and military tactics, the Quran, and languages in preparation for his future role. Shah Jahan, however, favored his first son Dara Shikoh and believed that he had the potential to become the next Mughal emperor. Aurangzeb, Military Leader The 15-year-old Aurangzeb proved his courage in 1633. All of Shah Jahans court was arrayed in a pavilion and watching an elephant fight when one of the elephants ran out of control. As it thundered toward the royal family, everyone scattered except Aurangzeb, who ran forward and headed off the furious pachyderm. This act of near-suicidal bravery raised Aurangzebs status in the family. The following year, the teenager got command of an army of 10,000 cavalry and 4,000 infantry; he soon was dispatched to put down the Bundela rebellion. When he was 18, the young prince was appointed viceroy of the Deccan region, south of the Mughal heartland. When Aurangzebs sister died in a fire in 1644, he took three weeks to return home to Agra rather than rushing back immediately. Shah Jahan was so angry about his tardiness that he stripped Aurangzeb of his viceroy of Deccan title. Relations between the two deteriorated the following year, and Aurangzeb was banished from court. He bitterly accused the emperor of favoring Dara Shikoh. Shah Jahan needed all of his sons in order to run his huge empire, however, so in 1646 he appointed Aurangzeb governor of Gujarat. The following year, the 28-year-old Aurangzeb also took up the governorships of Balkh (Afghanistan) and Badakhshan (Tajikistan) on the empires vulnerable northern flank. Although Aurangzeb had a lot of success in extending Mughal rule north and westward, in 1652 he failed to take the city of Kandahar, Afghanistan from the Safavids. His father again recalled him to the capital. Aurangzeb would not languish in Agra for long, though; that same year, he was sent south to govern the Deccan once more. Aurangzeb Fights for the Throne In late 1657, Shah Jahan became ill. His beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal had died in 1631 and he never really got over her loss. As his condition worsened, his four sons by Mumtaz began to fight for the Peacock Throne. Shah Jahan favored the eldest son Dara, but many Muslims considered him too worldly and irreligious. Shuja, the second son, was a hedonist who used his position as governor of Bengal as a platform for acquiring beautiful women and wine. Aurangzeb, a much more committed Muslim than either of the elder brothers, saw his chance to rally the faithful behind his own banner. Aurangzeb craftily recruited his younger brother Murad, convincing him that together they could remove Dara and Shuja and place Murad on the throne. Aurangzeb disavowed any plans to rule himself, claiming that his only ambition was to make the hajj to Mecca. Later in 1658 as the combined armies of Murad and Aurangzeb moved north toward the capital, Shah Jahan recovered his health. Dara, who had crowned himself regent, stepped aside. The three younger brothers refused to believe that Shah Jahan was well, though, and converged on Agra, where they defeated Daras army. Dara fled north but was betrayed by a Baluchi chieftain and brought back to Agra in June 1659. Aurangzeb had him executed for apostasy from Islam and presented his head to their father. Shuja also fled to Arakan (Burma) and was executed there. Meanwhile, Aurangzeb had his former ally Murad executed on trumped-up murder charges in 1661. In addition to disposing of all of his rival brothers, the new Mughal Emperor placed his father under house arrest in Agra Fort. Shah Jahan lived there for eight years, until 1666. He spent most of his time in bed, gazing out the window at the Taj Mahal. The Reign of Aurangzeb Aurangzebs 48-year reign is often cited as a Golden Age of the Mughal Empire, but it was rife with trouble and rebellions. Although Mughal rulers from Akbar the Great through Shah Jahan practiced a remarkable degree of religious tolerance and were great patrons of the arts, Aurangzeb reversed both of these policies. He practiced a much more orthodox, even fundamentalist version of Islam, going so far as to outlaw music and other performances in 1668. Both Muslims and Hindus were forbidden to sing, play musical instruments, or to dance—a serious damper on the traditions of both faiths in India. Aurangzeb also ordered the destruction of Hindu temples, although the exact number is not known. Estimates range from under 100 to tens of thousands. In addition, he ordered the enslavement of Christian missionaries. Aurangzeb expanded Mughal rule both north and south, but his constant military campaigns and religious intolerance rankled many of his subjects. He did not hesitate to torture and kill prisoners of war, political prisoners, and anyone he considered un-Islamic. To make matters worse, the empire became over-extended and Aurangzeb imposed ever higher taxes in order to pay for his wars. The Mughal army was never able to completely quash Hindu resistance in the Deccan, and the Sikhs of northern Punjab rose up against Aurangzeb repeatedly throughout his reign. Perhaps most worryingly for the Mughal emperor, he relied heavily on Rajput warriors, who by this time formed the backbone of his southern army and were faithful Hindus. Although they were displeased with his policies, they did not abandon Aurangzeb during his lifetime, but they revolted against his son as soon as the emperor died. Perhaps the most disastrous revolt of all was the Pashtun Rebellion of 1672–1674. Babur, the founder of the Mughal Dynasty, came from Afghanistan to conquer India, and the family had always relied upon the fierce Pashtun tribesmen of Afghanistan and what is now Pakistan to secure the northern borderlands. Charges that a Mughal governor was molesting tribal women sparked a revolt among the Pashtuns, which led to a complete breakdown of control over the northern tier of the empire and its critical trade routes. Death On March 3, 1707, the 88-year-old Aurangzeb died in central India. He left an empire stretched to the breaking point and riddled with rebellions. Under his son Bahadur Shah I, the Mughal Dynasty began its long, slow decline into oblivion, which finally ended when the British sent the last emperor into exile in 1858  and established the British Raj in India. Legacy Emperor Aurangzeb is considered to be the last of the Great Mughals. However, his ruthlessness, treachery, and intolerance surely contributed to the weakening of the once-great empire. Perhaps Aurangzebs early experiences of being held hostage by his grandfather and being constantly overlooked by his father warped the young princes personality. Certainly, the lack of a specified line of succession did not make family life particularly easy. The brothers must have grown up knowing that one day they would have to fight one another for power. In any case, Aurangzeb was a fearless man who knew what he had to do in order to survive. Unfortunately, his choices left the Mughal Empire itself far less able to fend off foreign imperialism in the end. Sources Ikram, S.M, Ed. Ainslie T. Embree.  Muslim Civilization in India. New York: Columbia University Press, 1964.Spear, T.G. Percival. â€Å"Aurangzeb.†Ã‚  Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica, 27 Feb. 2019.Truschke, Audrey. â€Å"The Great Aurangzeb Is Everybodys Least Favourite Mughal.†Ã‚  Aeon, 4 Apr. 2019.

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

Essay Holocaust Ghettos - 918 Words

Holocaust Ghettos Holocaust ghettos; these are the over looked places where the Jews, in Nazi controlled lands, awaited their future. The Nazis revived the medieval ghetto in creating their compulsory Jewish Quarter (Wohnbezirk). The ghetto was a section of a city where all Jews from the surrounding areas were forced to reside. Surrounded by barbed wire or walls, the ghettos were often sealed so that people were prevented from leaving or entering. Established mostly in Eastern Europe ), the ghettos were characterized by overcrowding, starvation and forced labor. All were eventually destroyed as the Jews were deported to†¦show more content†¦Ghetto disease was a syndrome caused by loss of hope and exhaustion. An example of this is: In the evening I had to prepare food and cook supper, which exhausted me totally. In politics theres absolutely nothing new. Again out of impatience I feel myself beginning to fall into melancholy. There is really no way out of this for us (Sierakowiak 2). A week later the author of this quote, Dawid Sierakowiak, died of ghetto disease. These neighborhoods were blocked off from the rest of the cities with barbed wire. In some places, the fences were a combination of brick and wire that rose up to eleven feet high. If anyone tried to cross the fences or communicate with anyone on the other side of the fence, they were shot on sight. The only people allowed to pass through the fences were Jews with work permits or non-Jewish citizens aligned with the Nazi party. Due to these horrendous circumstances, resistance forces began to form in the ghettos. These forces, such as the Jewish Combat Organization and the Jewish Fighting Organization, ZOB, fought with homemade bombs and guns smuggled into the ghettos. Others resisted the Nazis by keeping a record of the ordeal. George Kadish was one of the people who kept a record. He made himself a pocket camera so he could get pictures of all the horrific experiences in the Warsaw Ghetto. Da wid Sierakowiak was a teenage boyShow MoreRelatedHolocaust Ghettos1611 Words   |  7 Pagesin the Ghetto In 1939, Hitler was unsure of what he was going to do with the Jews; the Nazis were tossing around options and ideas with the goal of removing Jews from the population. The German invasion into Poland, allowed for the first ghetto, regarded as a provisional measure to control and segregate Jews. Ghettos were enclosed, isolated urban areas designated for Jews. Living under strict regulations, with unthinkable living conditions, and crammed into small areas, the ghettos destroyedRead MoreThe Jewish Ghettos Of The Holocaust1715 Words   |  7 Pageswas like in the Jewish ghettos. There were ghettos before the Holocaust, the first being in Venice in the 16th century, there are ghettos today, and there will be ghettos in the future, but the Jewish ghettos of the Holocaust are by far the most prominent. According to Merriam-Webster a ghetto is, â€Å" a part of a city in which members of a particular group or race live usually in poor conditions (ghetto).† This paper will focus, however, on what daily life was like in the ghettos, what Jews did or didn’tRead MoreGhettos in the Holocaust: The Badge of Shame1243 Words   |  5 Pageswas like watching people in a storybook-we had no food, no milk... These words of Nelly Cesana, a survivor of the Warsaw ghetto, are just a slight insight to the torture and neglect that Jews endured while living at the ghettos of the Holocaust. The concept of separation of people by religion actually began in the Middle Ages. By the time the Nazis came to power, the ghettos were no longer in use, but the Nazis revived the idea of separation by religion. The Nazis wanted the Jews separated fromRead MoreThe Holocaust Of The Ghetto1185 Words   |  5 Pagestrying to escape. After all the Jews got on the train my family and I prayed that we would all stay together. After what it seemed like forever we arrived in a town called Rzeszow. There My family and the rest of the Jews were forced to live in a ghetto. The ghetto was small but at least I was able to stay with my family. We had to share a house with four other Jewish families. It was usually really crowded inside so I spent most of the day outside. There were a lot of kids there but none that I wouldRead MoreThe Holocaust Of The Nazi Party791 Words   |  4 Pageshomosexuals and yes the Jewish. The Holocaust is a prime example of genocide. The Nazis sent their prisoners to concentration camps where they were denied food, forced to work ungodly hours and made to sleep in cramp insect-infested barracks. But before that the German people were forced to undergo test to make sure they were â€Å"German†. Then they ones who were different were separated and branded-like the Jewish Star of David. Later they were sent to ghettos. 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And I think a great way to educate ourselves on the Holocaust is to visit the Holocaust Museum in Washington D.C., just as I did last summer. When my family and I arrived at the museumRead More Jewish Ghettos Essay1820 Words   |  8 Pages Jewish ghettos: The basic history of the formation of the Jewish ghettos, including the everyday life and economic hardships faced by the communities. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;By definition, a ghetto is an area, usually characterized by poverty and poor living conditions, which houses many people of a similar religion, race or nationality. They served to confine these groups of people and isolate them from the rest of the community because of political or social differences. However, theRead MoreSummary Of Maus By Art Spiegelman Essay1593 Words   |  7 PagesMaus by Art Spiegelman is a graphic novel about a man s story of surviving the holocaust and the son was asking his father to tell this story. By itself this is a great story a man trying to survive the Holocaust against the odds and reunite with his lost love. Outside the simple exterior there is a dark theme of guilt that enhances the text from cover to cover. This theme of guilt is something that can be seen throughout the story, in a surprising number of times and an even more surprising numberRead MoreCompare and Contrast Essay1003 Words   |  5 Pagesto survive.  T he Pianist† is a little different. In it the main character has to endure harsh treatment at the Warsaw Ghetto and after he is released, he goes into hiding in hope that he will survive the Holocaust and the war. One of the main thematic similarities between  Maus  and â€Å"The Pianist† is that man can be so evil to other people. Both pieces take place during the Holocaust, where Nazis set out to kill all Jews in Europe, which was known as the Final Solution. Most people found it unbelievable

Monday, December 9, 2019

Romanticism and Classicism free essay sample

Romanticism and Classicism are two different styles of art of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, they are both famous for varied and contradictory definitions. But however, they are also two styles that are not very easy to tell apart at some points. While the Classicists considered of the world as having a rigid and stern structure, the romanticists considered of the world as a place to express their ideas and believe. Romanticism allows the artists to free their unlimited expressions in their works; Classicism artists show a lot of control and restraint in their works. Toward the end of the eighteenth-century, Romanticism emerged as a response to Classicism. Even though this change was in fact gradual, it changed everything from art and philosophy to science and education. So, Romanticism and Classicism have contradictory qualities, but in the artists’ works, they are also hard to tell apart. Romanticism artists and Classicism artists differed their works in their views of nature. The Romantic Movement favors subjective, macabre, fantastic, and transcendental subject matter, while the Classical stance favors objectivity and rationality. Romanticism emphasized the individual, the subjective, the irrational, the imaginative, the personal, the spontaneous, the emotional, the visionary, and the transcendental,† (Thompson, E. P. Pg. 108-109). Romanticism is associative; it is usually interesting or powerful because of its associations. Ferdinand Victor Eugene Delacroix (26 April 1798 – 13 August 1863) was a French Romantic artist regarded from the outset of his career as the leader of the French Romantic school . He is a representative of Romantic art. In his work â€Å"The Masscare of Kios† which is done in 1824, he described a world full of death. In this work, Delacroix broke off from the norm because there are too much death in this painting. This work is based on the rebellion of the Greek on the Turkish authorities. At the bottom of this painting, an old woman paralyzed in sorrow and despair; next to this woman, there’s a dead young woman, but her small baby is still alive,so the painting is very depressive at this point. Fear is in everyone’s eyes; they are about to be made an example of â€Å"killed†. There’s a Turk on the horse, putting sword back into its case because two women faces have just been slashed. The horse of the Turk is terrified because of the blood; we can see how terrified this work is. In the background, Delacroix drew a second plain which has also a battle on it. The village in the background is completely under the shadow of fire and death. This painting is very colourful at the time, but some people debated that this painting wasn’t art because it was too terrifying to the audience. This is how Romantic Art expresses its view. In the other hand, Classicism is more based on tradition. Classicists show objective, formal, physical and restraint subject matter. Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres (August 29, 1780 – January 14, 1867) was a French Neoclassical painter, he is also the â€Å"King of Classicism†. In his work â€Å"The vow of Louis xiii†, King Louis offering all his royal power to Mary for giving him a son. Mary and Jesus portrayed as very â€Å"snooty† at the top of the painting. There are some plaques on the wall. â€Å"The virgin mother of God though royal vow Louis xiii†. This painting can now be found in the small town where Ingres was born. So in Ingres’works, the view of nature is different compare to Delacroix’s works. In brief, Romanticism and Classicism have different views of the nature. Romanticists and Classicists differed in their views of the relationship between individual and society. Classicism emphasizes the qualities traditionally associated with ancient Greek and Roman art, that is, reason, objective, and restraint, as opposed to the individuality of expression typical of Romanticism. The work by Ingres which is â€Å"The Sistine Madonna† is also a representative work of him. It’s painted in 1813. Pope Julius is on the left side, looking at Mary and Jesus. On the right side, Saint Barbara is looking down. The clouds are made of babies’ heads. The other famous work by Ingres is â€Å"Napoleon on the Imperial Throne†. In this work, Ingres shows a lot of details,such as the gold tread, and it was criticized at the time that it shows too much details. At that time,Napoleon as the embodiment of the continuity of the French nation. This work is a typical work of Classicism by Ingres, which shows the view of Classicists of the relationship between individual and society. Toward the end of the eighteenth-century, Romanticism emerged as a response to Classicism. Even though this change was in fact gradual, it changed everything from art and philosophy to education and science. Joseph Wright (3 September 1734 29 August 1797), styled Wright of Derby, was an English landscape and portrait painter. He has been acclaimed as the first professional painter to express the spirit of the Industrial Revolution . In Wright’s work â€Å"The Indian Widow†, he described a noble savage who is also an Indian woman grieving with restraint. She’s sitting with a posture that the head is resting is her hand. The tree in the back is a trophy to her dead husband, and the tree is somehow Romantic twisty. The sunset is golden in the sky; the nature is also grieving with the women: Lightning bolts in the sky, the Atlantic Ocean is now very turbulent and the volcano about to erupt. This work contains both Classic and Romantic qualities. In brief, Classicism and Romanticism are not easy to tell apart, they are different in their views of the relationship between individual and society. Romanticists and Classicists differed in their views of the relationship between reason and imagination. Classicism artists express what all know to be true; Romantic artists knows something that we don’t know. Giovanni Battista Piranesi (4 October 1720 9 November 1778) was an Italian artist famous for his etchings of Rome and of fictitious and atmospheric prisons. In Piranesi’s work â€Å"The mole of Hadrian†, he shows a wall which is built to keep out water. Theirs is tour guide at the top; they are all made of stone. There’s also engraving at the bottom, people at the bottom look like ants. The columns are crumbled, with some shadow on it. In Piranesi’s another famous etching work â€Å"The Imaginary Prison†, he shows some romantic qualities as well. There are some instruments of torture in the prison; people are still very tiny like ants. In Piranesi’s works, imaginations are always used, which make his works more Romanticism. Oppositely, Jacques-Louis David (August 30, 1748 – December 29, 1825) was a highly influential French painter in the neoclassical style, considered to be the prominent painter of the era. In his famous work â€Å"Oath of the Horatii†, he shows some classical qualities. The painting shows in the atrium, the three brothers on the left, the Horatii father in the center, and the sister/wives on the right. The three brothers swearing an oath on their swords to their father, to show their loyalty and solidarity with Rome, they are going to do battles versus Alba brothers. They must come back with victory or not return at all. The mothers and sisters are shown clothed in silken garments seemingly melting into tender expressions of sorrow. This is a typical Classic style work by David with some classical qualities. So in brief, Romanticists and Classicists differed in their views of the relationship between reason and imagination. In conclusion, Romanticism and Classicism are two styles with different qualities, but at some points, they are also hard to tell apart. Some artists show in their works both romantic and classic qualities. Romanticism is subjective, macabre, fantastic, and transcendental; Classicism is objective, formal, physical and restraint.