Sunday, January 26, 2020

The Portrayal Of Homosexuals In Hollywood

The Portrayal Of Homosexuals In Hollywood Since the 1960s, Hollywood film industry has typically treated and portrayed homosexuals as subject of negative stereotypes and social pariahs. Queer identities might be the most extreme sexual dynamic at work in mass culture and reception and the least respected. Gay representations in the media have been considered to be an immoral code and as homosexuality was introduced into popular culture, the gay and lesbian community was oppressed from the start. Later film and television attempted to create well-rounded homosexual characters but often continued to reinstate negative social conventions with great attention in depicting gay stereotypes and how they shaped the publics impression of the gay community. Historically, heterosexuality has been seen as a crucial factor in defining masculinity and homosexuals have been perceived as lacking masculinity and in a sense feminine. Western patriarchal culture and system sees a simple interpretation of gay men and homosexual identities are oppressed within structures of domination and privileged. On the field of queer theory, the use of queer images, references and representations by mass media has not been seen in a positive light. Queerness popularity in advertising is not considered politically significant but instead commercialized. Queer politics expects that queers should be shocking and radical while being subversive. In reality, commercialized queer aesthetics makes it a mass media commodity, in which processed queerness loses its radical edge. As discussed in lecture, Adorno under the Grand Narratives of Modernity aptly states, Humans are not individuals or subjects, but rather commodities, objects and products of consumption with no unique characteristics so that they are easily and readily replaceable (Queerying Modern Law Lecture 2011). Mass media audience are all considered heterosexual, and mass me dias no matter how commercialized cannot shock, disturb or upset its paying hetero audience too much. Queer images in mass media are usually domesticated to ensure conservatism since being queer represented sexual glamour and exoticism. Images of queer identities in the media have nothing to do with equality between genders and sexualities (Mistry, 2000). The actual processes of commercializing and aestheticizing queer are in fact capitalistic utilization that colonizes queer identities. It makes use of the otherness of gay people which only to maintain heterosexual hegemony (Roseneil 2000: 154). As part of a social and mass culture revolutionary movement, the television series Queer as Folk (North American Version) portrays masculinity in a noticeably progressive way; due to the overtly sexual nature of the show and the fact that all of the characters are homosexuals. Queer as Folk, in many ways, attempts to broaden the category of normative masculinity to include gay men. All the while, the series flaunts and celebrates a non-normative and hegemonic masculinity most notable through the actions and characteristics of main character- Brian Kinney-a successful and good-looking 29-year-old with extreme arrogance, narcissism and sexual promiscuity. The series when viewed closer, subconsciously relates to queer identity, politics, masculinity and acceptance. Queer as Folk significantly function as the relation between queer politics and queer aesthetics. Queer as Folk (North American Version) is set in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and follows the lives of five gay men: Brian, Justin, Michael, Emmett, Ted; a lesbian couple, Lindsay and Melanie; and Michaels mother Debbie. The show is based off a British Series by the same name written by Russell T. Davies, a homosexual who wanted to fill the void within the British media of homosexual characters. It deals with issues that define queer politics and identities: coming out, same-sex marriage, gay adoption, discrimination in the workplace based on sexual orientation, recreational drug use and abuse, artificial insemination, vigilantism, gay-bashing/violence, HIV-positive status, underage prostitution, actively gay Catholic priests, the internet pornography industry. The main characters are Brian, Justin and Michael, three male homosexuals who spend their time in the pubs and clubs of Pittsburghs Liberty Ave. The protagonists personify changes and new gayness- a modern phenomena in cultural re presentations of homosexuality as compared to their predecessors. In a world of almost compulsory heterosexuality, [gay men and lesbians] reality [are rendered] equally marginal and invisible (Robson 1998: 6). Postmodernism question the earlier approaches, through defined discourses of homosexuality. In comparing the representations of degenerated gay guys with pre 1990s identity problems, these modern gay men have become out and proud heroes who praised the culture despite being reset from social marginality. Hegemonic masculinity is a widely used concept that refers to masculinity that holds the power in the society (Sipilà ¤ 1994: 19). In Western societies, hegemonic masculinity associates white, middle-class, and heterosexual masculinity to power and influence. According to Connell, hegemonic masculinity is not a fixed character type, always and everywhere the same. It is, rather, the masculinity that occupies the hegemonic position in a given pattern of gender relations, a position always contestable (Connell, 1995a: 76). Masculinities that are not in the power position are subordinated or marginalized homosexuals. Oppression positions homosexual masculinities at the bottom of a gender hierarchy among men. Gayness, in patriarchal ideology, is the repository of whatever is symbolically expelled from hegemonic masculinity (Connell, 1995a: 78). Queer as Folk reveals, by exaggeration, excessive gay sex, cultural gay stereotypes, which traditionally reduce gayness to hyper sexuality and gender-bending. The show provocatively focuses on representing free time and sexuality of gay guys. It focuses heavily on their parties, alcohol, drugs, and multiple one-night stands, in which people are mainly seeking hedonistic sexual pleasure. It produces Butlerians idea of gender as performative in a way that embarrasses and confuses the viewers (Butler, 1993). The repetitive and explicit representations of sex acts become gender performance, in which the gender identities are actually represented by sex. Although the show produced queer aesthetics and making use of its fashionable appeal in today culture (Mistry 2000: 87) it is participating by watering down queers critical and political edge. All the while, it supports underlying queer political and provocative tasks. For example the show focus primarily on proud, healthy and wealthy, good looking and lively gays and lesbians that contradict traditional images of gay and lesbian representations usually represented as melancholic, deviant, deg enerated, sickly, and dying men and women (Lahti 1989 and Paasonen, 1999: 40). On the other hand it also declares gay rights and, more subtly, queer politics. As seen in a poster that states, Smash the Heterosexual Orthodoxy, and especially in Brians behavior. Brian clearly is a politically aware and hetero norms resisting person, usually responsible for explicitly constructing his own queer identity. For example, a sequence where Brian, a gay man, and Melanie, a lesbian woman, walk together with their baby (in doing so they are rebelling and falsely representing a nuclear family indicating the illusiveness of such representations) and kiss goodbye before Brian goes alone to a car dealership. The salesman in the store watches through a window of the family performance and with no question believes what he sees is a normal, productive, heterosexual family. Based on this the salesman tries to convince Brian that he should buy some other car than the one he has already chosen, because lots of gay guys drive that car, and it doesnt really fit into an image of a family guy, and a real man. He then adds that the resale value of those particular cars is high, because gay guys die young. Brian is aggressively and clearly annoyed of the remark and maliciously drives the car through the car stores window right in front of the upset salesmans desk when it was time to pay for the car. Word Cited Butler, Judith. (1993). Bodies That Matter. On the Discursive Limits of Sex. New York: Routledge. Connell, R.W. 1995a. The Social Organization of Masculinity. In Connell, R.W. Masculinities, 67-86. Cambridge: Polity Press. Lahti, Martti. (1992) Partial and excessively masculinity and the mans body. Womens Studies. 5:2. Mistry, Reena. (2000). From Heart and Home to a Queer Chic. A Critical Analysis of Progressive Paasonen, Susanna. (1999) Now! And forever rewind . Weddings media spectacle. Contemporary Culture Research publication 61. Robson, Ruthann. (1998). Sappho goes to law school: Fragments in Lesbian Legal Theory. Columbia University Press. Roseneil, Sasha. (2000). Postmodern changes in sexuality: Queer framework and its influences 2: 2000. Sipilà ¤, J. (1994). Mens Studies Cracks in Hegemonic Masculinity. In Sipilà ¤, J. A. Tiihonen (eds.). Constructing Man, Deconstructing Masculinities. 17-33. Tampere: Vastapaino.

Saturday, January 18, 2020

Malaysia Airlines Essay

Malaysia airlines:   what they did in real life and outcome performance after their adjustment and solution? Malaysia Airlines reduces fuel costs Malaysia Airlines reduces fuel costs on 40 aircrafts, including their A380 fleet, with SITA’s FMS Wind Uplink service. Flight Management System (FMS) calculations are constantly updated by the new service, therefore the airline can adjust flight plans easily owing to adjusting wind and weather conditions. The system also let the aircraft using fuel more cost effectively. From trials results, Wind Uplink saved of up to 600 kilograms of fuel within one flight. Captain Izham Ismail, Director of Operations for Malaysia Airlines, said: â€Å"This new service from SITA delivers savings straight away. We have already trialed SITA Wind Uplink with great success in reducing our fuel costs. It has also helped improve our final fuel on board predictions and made our estimated time of arrival predictions more accurate. We are experiencing real business benefits following introduction of this service at Malaysia Airlines.† Katrina Korzenowski, Director, Aircraft Services, Asia Pacific, SITA, said: â€Å"Wind Uplink enables airlines to take advantage of beneficial changes in weather so crews can bring flights in on time and on budget, reducing fuel costs whenever possible. Due to high fuel prices, we anticipate increased demand for Wind Uplink in the future and are already in discussions with many other potential customers. In addition, because Wind Uplink is packaged as a single service, it can be up and running in just a few hours for SITA Flight Briefing Service and AIRCOM Datalink customers—without any capital expenses.† Resources http://www.sita.aero/content/malaysia-airlines-reduce-fuel-costs-with-sita-s-wind-and-weather-service Etihad presents solution to MAS Etihad developed a track record of partnership and investing with MAS. The reason is MAS would provide Etihad a stronger offline network in Southeast Asia. Etihad put its code on Garuda-operated flights in five offline Indonesian destinations from Jakarta to Singapore. MAS can also provide Etihad connection to Indonesia. Indonesia is the second largest international market for MAS. During the limited code share, Kuala Lumpur-Bali is also one of seven MAS-operated routes covered. http://centreforaviation.com/analysis/malaysia-airlines-considers-tie-up-with-etihad-as-restructuring-process-slowly-begins-172934

Friday, January 10, 2020

Domestic & International Market

Types of resources and capabilities underlie BMW Approach to Innovations. Founded In 1916, Bayberries Motormen Worker GAG, well known as BMW, Is a German automobile company, mall headquarter In Munich, Germany. Well, BMW also known as one of the leading manufacturing of luxury cars. Nowadays when we are walling form Apple Inc. To launch their new generation innovative cell phone, the same image BMW has in today's world market regarding their new innovative features luxury cars. BMW has gained the status of innovative luxury cars by utilizing its best resources and provide best qualities to its customer.There are many automobile companies UT there but only few firms in this industry are earned a title of innovations, and BMW comes first in that list. The main reason behind BMW success is their own Research and development center around the world, BMW group spend billions of dollar behind this R to provide best quality and innovative product to its customers. BMW comes In top 25 compan ies of best brand value in the world, today Its brand value exceeded to 25 Billion dollar because of Its R and Innovative Ideas of luxury cars.There are more than 8500 employees are working at Research and Development center of BMW around the globe. When I look over to the BMW group site, I found many facts about BMW regarding their innovative strategies. When I review their website I found out that currently BMW R teams are working for 2020 product of BMW. The assembly line of BMW is also ranked 1st in the auto industry by their innovative process of manufacturing luxury cars. BMW are more focused on their efficient innovation process by its innovative culture.The structure of company's culture are more emphasis on differentiate and innovative ideas, and there is no doubt that BMW is holding one of the best talented pools of employees and cosmologies to approach the innovation. As per my opinion BMW will maintain Its title of Innovation because of their advance technologies such as using own optimizing engine, lower emission advance technologies, habitation, electrification and newly developed connected drive technologies. Bum's Sustainable Production.Bum's sustainable production has focused on many important factors as it mentioned below. Advanced technology by reducing emission of CO to 50%. BMW is leader in using renewable energy for production and value. Electro mobility. Always ready for future challenge by advanced technology. Continuous improvement in employee motivation for innovation. Less consumption on natural resources in production. Mobility patterns. Raising workforce awareness by providing essential training to the employees. Product Safety.Sustainable construction and process. More focusing on Opportunities Strong Brand Value. As per the current BMW strategic action regarding the future production as well as with advanced innovative technology, BMW is the only firm I found who can survived even after we will out of the fuel energy, BMW had alr eady started working on hydroelectric advanced vehicle production, environment friendly and safety icicles, advanced production process which helps BMW to maintain its title of innovative firm.How do the resources, capabilities, and activities of BMW contribute to its differentiation strategy and unique position in the industry it has achieved? By using advanced technology and innovative ideas for production and best quality product, BMW had earned the best brand value in auto industry. BMW is also recognize as leader of innovation in auto industry, I still remember that when I bought Phone AS which had feature of Sir, but I also found out that BMW had developed this feature long back in 2006 in their BMW 7 series Models.None of the firm in auto industry had achieved in advanced technology yet and BMW group is the only company who looks to the future and gears its actions towards the long term. Well, BMW is not only one who is spending large amount on R&D, there are many other autom obile industry does same, but the uniqueness of BMW is the process and strategy they are using, the different culture of innovation spread in BMW, the status of innovation and advanced technology, the status brand and many other factor are consider to be the uniqueness of BMW.BMW had keep this innovative title form last two decades cause of their uniqueness and differentiate strategy where other automobile companies find hard to adopt it, the main reason behind this uniqueness is the firm's organization culture of innovation where all employees are allowed to think different and something new that world had never seen.

Thursday, January 2, 2020

Investmens Issue of Westchester Free Essay Example, 2750 words

The investment committee for the mezzanine loan debt fund is with a small return of a percentage of ten. There is a need to come up with a strategic plan to analyze the best decision required to make a potential move in as far as taking the loan matters. The analysis is to come up with an excel sheet showing the cash flow of the three-storied building. The loan is $17,230,802 from Danske with interests of $2,864,678 per year. The maximum value paid for the building will have incorporated risk management ideas. The concept is the loan taken should be burdening the investors who would otherwise scare them away. The company s minimum investment requirement is $ 20,000,000. The difference is what the investors should have in order to meet with the required value. The difference is $ 20,000,000 - $ 17,230,802 = $2,769,198. That clearly means the investors do not have enough money to get this loan. The only remaining way will probably be to go the bank and so the investors have to evaluat e if they are in a position to take on the loan. We will write a custom essay sample on Investmens Issue of Westchester or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/pageorder now The truth is that the investors have to calculate the risks involved in the acquisition of a loan as much as $5,230,802. There is to be a strategy on how to get the loan. The strategy is to put collateral security, which can allow the investors to get the loan. NB: Check attachment for the excel sheet for the cash flow of the Mezzanine loan. In order to get tenants in the three-storied building, there has to be a proper marketing strategy that will allow residents to realize and see the building in order to come and occupy it. In order to occupy the building, tenants have to see an attraction in it. There are many strategies in the marketing of the building. These include running media shows showing how the building looks. In knowing how the building looks like, there is a possibility of getting as many tenants as possible as people can see the functions and properties of the building. If these can fit their needs, then they go ahead to want and bec ome tenants.