Sunday, July 19, 2020

5 Video Marketing Trends You Should Follow

5 Video Marketing Trends You Should Follow Some are in the past and some in the present. Then there are those who are in the near future. Which category do you belong to?It’s all about being social. Whether as a student, a parent, a marketer, whatever you consider yourself to be. Technology has showed us that we can engage in various ways despite any physical distance.Not that this convenience really does away with the need for face-to-face human interactions. All the same, it’s a great convenience.Who wants to write letters, wait for 5 days for the communication to be received, then another 5 days to get feedback?And what’s the big convenience?Social media.It might be a blog, Facebook page, Twitter account, Instagram, Snapchat or any other platform you’re on. You have an avenue to express your likes, dislikes, opinions etc.But how do you do it?THE VIDEO ERASocial media initially comprised of text. This is the past. Then it moved to imagesâ€"the established present.But then, the future is already being defined and liv ed out by some.Videos have picked up in popularity.They have been shown to be more engaging than plain old text. Consider the below statistics.Animoto found that 73% of consumers were influenced by brands on social media platforms before making a purchase. And what content type was their favorite? Video.They also found that 88% of people using videos for marketing on social media had satisfying ROI.Do you have a website? The average user spends 88% more time on a website with video.Social videos are shared 1,200% more than text and images combined.As a social media user, you must have noticed that videos are all over. YouTube aside, every major social media platform has video capabilities. But that’s not all.Videos becoming the mainstream means of expression and marketing is just the foundation.If you’re using video, you’re at least somewhere between the present and the future. To ensure you’re not overtaken by time, read on.VIDEO MARKETING TRENDS TO FOLLOWNothing will hurt your campaigns worse than sticking to yesterday’s or even today’s trends. The marketing industry runs on what is new. At times, it also rides well on the established.But you need to stay relevant. Here are the trends to keep up with as you express yourself or market your products and services online.1. Vertical VideosMuch has been said about horizontal videos, square videos and vertical videos. You’ve probably been   producing and sharing horizontal videos all your life.They were the de facto in videos for a very long time. This was based on professional TV and theater production practices.Seemingly out of nowhere, vertical videos showed up. Popularized by Snapchat, these videos were frowned upon by professional video producers. However, the video format took off.Over time, they quickly outpaced horizontal videos in marketing performance.Here are some reasons why you should consider jumping into the vertical videos bandwagon.1. They are more natural â€" this comes from the fac t that videos are mostly watched on mobile devices. These comprise of smartphones and tablets whose screen orientation is portrait by design.Vertical videos are more preferred than horizontal videos. A research by Mobile Overview Report found that smartphone users hold their phones vertically 94% of the time.That original screen orientation means that people hold their devices vertically. They browse the web on vertically-held devices and this is why it makes sense to produce vertical videos.The inconvenience of rotating your phone is simply too much for consumers.Whereas some have jokingly called consumers lazy, the fact remains that customers largely dictate the terms of business.And as more emphasis is put on customer satisfaction, there is no way you will force inconvenience upon your customers.2. More appealing than square videos â€" vertical videos became a hit when Snapchat introduced them in their app. Seeing their popularity, marketers and researchers studied their potentia l and performance. The results were enough to cause marketers to shift from horizontal videos.Vertical videos had more views compared to horizontal ones.3. Higher completion rates â€" the goal of producing and publishing any material is for it to be consumed. What if you learned that your material is not being consumed? You put much effort into producing great videos but no-one watches them?It can be a bit comforting if your videos are being watched at least halfway. But is that what you intended? Will you include a CTA in the middle of a video? Source: Martech ZoneCompletion rates are important for videos. Consumers have to watch videos to the end to get the information you prepared for them.And with completion rates being so important, you need to do whatever it takes to have the highest.4. Social media is mostly accessed on mobile â€" this might well be one of the biggest reasons to embrace vertical videos. Your customers are always on the move and you need to move with them.Since interactions happen on social media, how do your customers access the platforms? Most social media users access the platforms through smartphones. Mobile use is fueled by mobility and convenience.Screen orientation issues come up again at this point. Videos produced for desktops require mobile devices to be rotated for better viewing. Those produced for a vertical viewership are good for mobile.2. Live VideosLive videos are another trend that is sure to continue growing in popularity. Source: YahooLive videos offer some great benefits to your consumers and this is where their power is derived from. Consider the below reasons for working with these.1. They provide instant gratification â€" as human beings, we seem to prefer getting things immediately. Whatever we want, we want it now. To learn more about instant gratification, check out our article on the marshmallow test.Since this is the nature of humans, you need to capitalize on it. Live videos offer the feeling and assurance of getting to know things now.Actually, this is what social media status updates are all about. Your friends want to know what’s going on in your life now.Most videos are shot professionally with rehearsed scripts, lighting, edits etc.As much as you’re being seen on a previously-recorded video and it may be recent, the “Now factor” is missing.When you go live, with no rehearsed scripts and the like, you become more authentic.The difference is like recording from a well-lit studio v ersus recording yourself while walking down the street. Where do you get more authenticity?2. Provide real-time interaction â€" the end goal of every marketing campaign is to make conversions. Conversions can only be made if the content is engaging. “Engaging” is easily defined as interactive.If interaction is what you need, there’s no better place to get it than in live videos. Doing a live video on social media gives you great opportunities.You see the viewers’ comments and questions and respond to them. You can also promise to do another live video to cover a question asked, thus hooking the viewer and other leads.Apart from the interaction between you and the viewers, a community can be created around your live videos. You can have viewers discuss your video as it plays.From this, you can pick opinions and understand behavior which you could then use to further customize your content.3. Humanizes your brand â€" anytime a video features a real person, there is a human ele ment to it. This is compared to cartoon animations, which are also powerful in their own way. But when that person is live, the effect is greater.People prefer human interactions as they show the reality of life.If you for instance used cartoon animations, they will surely be engaging but more on the side of entertainment.On the other hand, appearing on a video helps people connect with you on the basis of personality.4. Great for different purposes â€" live videos offer you a lot of versatility in your quest to net more customers. Instead of just shooting a video of yourself talking about your products, there are many other things you could do to increase customer loyalty.One of them is doing a live QA video. From the comments on your previous videos or a blog post, you can address FAQs.Alternatively, make it clear that you want to know what questions your viewers have. Afterwards, announce that a specific day will be set aside for them.As these QA videos become more popular, you†™ll have more interactions and shares. This increases the chances that you’ll get more conversion.Live videos can also come in handy during product launches. Instead of posting a video of the event, broadcast the event live.To open yourself up to customers and allow them to know you more, you can also do company tours. You can show your viewers how you run your operations.Introduce some of the people who work behind the scenes. Let customers know you more. That increases trust.3. How-To VideosDepending on the kind of business you’re doing, you can either do a little or many How-To videos.If you’re a manufacturer, then you can have lots of these, especially if you produce many different products.If you’re a service provider, you can still make some of these for the benefit of your customers.Take the example of an Internet Service Provider. Many customers complain about slow speeds.And for those on metered connections (data bundles), their data runs out fast.What do you do as a service provider?Create videos around topics which either answer these questions or help customers deal with the situation.Examples of video topics include, “How to troubleshoot your internet connection,” “How to get the most out of your data package,” “How to check which devices/apps are using the most data” etc.These are one of the ways to get customers to understand what happens behind the scenes.More than that, How-To videos give customers step-by-step instructions which are easy to follow and remember. They will help you build loyalty and lessen the burden on your customer care agents.To see how a How-To video can help the message stick, watch the below video. It’s both educational and entertaining while communicating the intended message well. Here are some reasons to include these in your marketing basket.1. Highly focused on specific questions â€" How-To videos are always done to address specific questions. There is no room for discussions on other matters. T his highly focused nature of these videos make them valuable to your customers.Your customers need solutions to the issues at hand. And when you provide them through such videos, you hit the nail on the head. It’s like throwing a dart and hitting the bull’s eye.2. Highly shareable as solutions to problems â€" the reason many customers seek solutions from customer care agents on Twitter is because of the quick response they get. They know they can get answers to their problems almost immediately.Since these problems are common, your customers will naturally want to share the solution with others.As your video solution is shared, your brand gets more exposure, resulting to more leads and potentially more conversions. You will also cut down on customer care costs.4. 360 ° and VR VideosThe new technology is gradually becoming mainstream.This is especially the case with 360 ° videos. These videos are relatively cheaper to produce than Virtual Reality videos.They are also cheaper to w atch. You don’t need any specialized equipment to do so.There are smartphone apps which can shoot 360 ° videos. This makes their production within reach for everyone. Regardless of the size of your marketing budget, there is no reason why you shouldn’t use these.Although VR videos require more effort to be put in, they deliver what is literally an out-of-this-world experiences. As a marketer, nothing so far can beat the results you can get from these.Furthermore, the market is seeing an increase in the number of VR headsets being produced. This increases the possibilities of more consumers will be able to enjoy more of these.Some of the reasons to include these in your marketing strategy include:1. 100% attention grabbing â€" nothing grabs attention like something new. The technology of 360 ° and VR videos is a sure head turner. Just mention that you are offering VR content to help customers understand your product and there will be people willing to see it.Being a technology th at has been talked about in mainstream news and social media, it doesn’t need an introduction. Instead, it’s the experience that people are looking for. And upon getting it, they will definitely tell others about it.For example, you could produce a VR video and provide headsets to watch it.Announce on social media that you will be having a VR week where you showcase how your products are manufactured.Customers will see the manufacturing environment, hear the sound of the machines, see your staff at work and develop trust for your brand.Alternatively, you can shoot 360-degree videos and have them see what your factory is like.2. Highly immersive â€" immersion is the one advantage that these videos boast of. If youre looking for immersion, then you will get it here. This is far beyond what normal videos with an emotional story line can give you.Of the two types, VR videos provide the most immersion. This is because they completely block your view of the world you are in as you put on VR headsets.These transport your customers to another world where they can be in the environment you want them to be in.In this case, there is very little need for imagination as the images are created for them. Where sound is incorporated, then it becomes an even fuller experience worth sharing.3. Guaranteed conversions â€" if your marketing budget is subject to approval, then this point will add strength to your proposal. If you’re the decision maker, then rest assured that your ROI is taken care of.With all the immersion that comes from VR videos, a lot of awareness is created. Having been transported to where the action is, the experience envelops the customer. This activates empathy and increases the chances of a response from the customer.If you have created the right kind of content and used the right kind of messaging, then conversion is guaranteed.   Source: Omnivirt5. Voice Over VideosYou might be wondering which kind of videos these are.But if you’ve been involved in video production, you might know these. You may even have used them.But do you know their strength?Voice over videos are the go-to tools when you want to explain more about a video which only consists of images. Videos recorded using smartphones are good candidates for these.Instead of just showing your colleagues enjoying the cake during your company’s anniversary celebration, you can add some explanations.For example, for the cake-cutting scene, you could give the name of the person or people doing the cutting. You can mention how your ever-serious boss is overly happy.This helps viewers know the people behind the brand as well as identify with their personalities.Here is a great video showing what a voice over is. It even takes you through the steps to make such a video. Although voice over videos have benefits like other video types, one benefit stands out pretty tall. This is the ability to include persuasive and helpful CTAs.Since the video is being explained, a deeper understanding of the message can be achieved.This does the heavy lifting in preparing for the CTA. The human voice makes the video more real due to the narration of the experience to be achieved or already achieved.When the narrator has gained the trust of the viewer, then the CTA becomes relatively easy. The same voice which has been guiding the viewer in understanding the video content now gives the next steps to follow.With possible tone variations and audible emphasis, conversions have just gotten easier.CONCLUSIONContinuing with the established video types like horizontal and square can get you moving.But if you’re interested in keeping up with the new, then pick two or three options from this list and get rolling.In any case, these are what will soon be the established video types. Won’t you rather be an early adopter?

Thursday, May 21, 2020

Personality s Impact On Performance Management - 2012 Words

To understand how personality has consequences and influences it has on performance, it would be vital to contrast organisations and a psychologists approach as well definition of personality in an accurate and detailing understanding. Personalities can play a vital role in employee performance, as psychology attempts to distinguish the differences between individuals. Personality is the psychological qualities that influence an individual s characteristics behaviour patterns, in a stable and distinctive manner (Huczynski Buchanan 2013). It would also be necessary to consider the performance of employees which would affect the needs and expectations of stakeholders . Organisations and employees would be required deliver satisfying results which would benefit in profit and an exceptional reputation for the organisation, however not all organisations seek to earn profit. This would be classified as performance management, performance management is a process by which the company manage s its performance in line with its corporate and functional strategies and objectives (Bitici, Carrie McDevitt 1997. This essay will investigate how personality predicts employee performance and explore factors which organisations need to scrutinize in order to accomplish certain tasks. Researchers in both personality and industrial-organizational psychology have converged on a five factor model (FFM) as a widely accepted framework of personality. (Barrick, Stewart Piotrowski,2002).Show MoreRelatedEssay on Annotated Bibliography: Leadership1362 Words   |  6 Pages Annotated Bibliography Yolanda Bowie Grand Canyon University Annotated Bibliography Lilienfeld, S. O., Waldman, I. D., Landfield, K., Watts, A. L., Rubenzer, S., Faschingbauer, T. R. (2012). Fearless dominance and the U.S. presidency: Implications of psychopathic personality traits for successful and unsuccessful political leadership.  Journal of Personality and Social Psychology,  103(3), 489 -505. http://library.gcu.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com.library.gcuRead MoreHiring Methods Of An Oral Response1400 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction Any organization in the corporate world relies on the profound efficiency of its workforce. However, organization management expresses their deep concern with the declining productivity in part of the employees. Economists express their concern with regard to the effectiveness of some of various hiring tools adopted by firms in the corporate world. In one of its latest reports that released in the year 2013 CareerBuilder organization indicated that inappropriate hiring techniques costRead MoreAnnotated Bibliography And Outline. Malik, S. (2012). A1273 Words   |  6 PagesAnnotated Bibliography and Outline Malik, S. (2012). A Study of Relationship between Leader Behaviors and Subordinate Job Expectancies: A Path-Goal Approach. Pakistan Journal of Commerce Social Sciences, 6(2), 357-371. The quality of an organization s products and the performance of the managers are instrumental in the success of the organization. It is worth noting that the manager s leadership style has a fundamental relationship to an organization s success because the decision made by theRead MoreWeek 7 Leadership Paper1424 Words   |  6 Pagesone entity. Article 1: Fearless Dominance and the U.S. Presidency: Implications of PsychopathicPersonality Traits for Successful and Unsuccessful Political Leadership by S.O. Lilienfeld, I.D. Waldman, K. Landfield, A.L. Watts, S. Rubenzer and T. Faschinbauer. Article 2: Impact of personal growth projects on leadership identity development by J. Williams. 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I., Rubenzer, S., Faschingbauel, T. R. (2012). Fearless dominance and the U.S. presidency: Implications of psychopathic Personality traits for successful and unsuccessful political leadership. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 103(3), 489-505. Lilienfeld et al., (2010) examined the attentiveness of psychopathic personality traits that aligned with job performance and leadership of the past presidentsRead MoreImpact of Acquisition on Employees Performance: A case Study of RBS818 Words   |  4 PagesAfter acquisition of any firm/ organization management need to motivate their employees and make them feel satisfied about their jobs, if the employees feel satisfied they perform their duties efficiently and when acquired firm’s employee performed best it directly affect the acquired firm’s performance. Motivation is very necessary in any field when an employee get motivated they perform their duty with the best of their knowledge and try to work hard. According to different researcher there areRead MoreCareer Advancement At Malaysian Private Universities Essay987 Words   |  4 PagesIndustrial Training, 35(6), 589-605. 4. Aryee, S. and Chen, Z.X. (2004). ‘Countering the trend towards a careerist orientation in the age of downsizing: test of a social exchange model’. Journal of Business Research, 57: 4, 321–328. Available at: http://nist.gov/mep/upload/Bridging-the-Skills-Gap_2012.pdf. [Accessed 12 December 2015]. 5. Bambacas, M. (2010). Organizational handling of careers influences managers’ organizational commitment. Journal of Management Development, 29(9), 807-827. 6. BarnettRead MoreTraining Needs Assessment, Evaluation, Success, And Organizational Strategy And Effectiveness1035 Words   |  5 PagesUtah State University. Logan, UT). 2. Appelbaum, S.H., Ayre, H. Shapiro, B.T. (2002). Career management in information technology: A case study. Career Development International, 7(3), 142-158. 3. Arokiasamy, L., Ismail, M., Ahmad, A. Othman, J. (2011). Predictors of academics’ career advancement at Malaysian private universities. Journal of European Industrial Training, 35(6), 589-605. 4. Aryee, S. and Chen, Z.X. (2004). ‘Countering the trend towards a careerist orientation in the age of downsizing:Read MoreWhat Makes Us Unique And Helps Us Develop All Of Our Preferences?1741 Words   |  7 Pagesand an ultimate goal that they will yield as well. Our personality dictates the kind of job that we want, the way that we would like to do the job and our perspective as to the objectives that the job will fulfill, this ultimately means that employee performance can in fact be predicted if one is to study well the personality of the employee. It is favorably significant for organizations these days to recruit accomplished workers. Personality shows a very dynamic character in our day-to-day life especially

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Attachment Theory and the Kibbutz Society - 5271 Words

Table of Contents PART 1 2 1- Introduction 2 1.1- Thesis statement 3 1.2- Definition of terms 4 PART 2 5 2- Research description 5 Literature review 5 2.1- Attachment Theory 5 2.2- Growing in Kibbutz 8 2.3- Intervention programs 9 2.4- Physical issues 9 2.5- Mothers sensitivity to infant cues 10 2.6- Externalizing and its impact on children 10 Research design 11 Method 11 Findings 11 Emotional unavailability 11 Complication in mother-infant relationship 12 Limitations 12 PART 3 13 3- Historical background 13 PART 4 15 4- Relevance of researched subject 15 4.1- The understanding of child perspective 15 4.2- Relevance to family and community 16 PART 5 17 5- Interview experience 17 5.1- Interviewees doubtful behaviors regarding research 17 5.2- Stark differences in outward and inward personalities 18 5.3- Experience of personality factors 19 PART 6 20 6- Learning process 20 6.1- Broadening of knowledge 20 6.2- Change in personal attitude and behavior 20 References 21 PART 1 Introduction Kibbutz society is one of the most controversial experiments of living in a social system. It is essentially a different way of living and raising the children in a social system that has been in practice for 89-90 years in Israel and has come to be known as Kibbutz. Currently constituting only about 1-1.5% of the total population of Israel, Kibbutz people are democratically governed individuals, cooperative in conduct, and multigenerational groups ofShow MoreRelatedHuman Relationships With Considerations Of The Implications For Attachment Theory1594 Words   |  7 Pagesfor attachment theory. Bowbly (1959) explains the child’s emotional regulation and attachment to the primary caretaker, as a result of the caretaker’s continues responsiveness and a strategy of the child to keep the primary caretaker close to ensure survival during evolutionary times. It adapts to fit into the appropriate evolutionary niche. This internal working model creates the four main types of attachment: the insecure-avoidant (A) attachment, most prominently the secure (B) attachment, andRead MoreBowlby s Theory Of Attachment Theory1644 Words   |  7 PagesBowlby s Attachment Theory Findings from animal studies were a powerful influence on Bowlby s thoughts. He suggested too that there was a critical period for the development of attachments between infant and care giver. According to Bowlby, children display an innate tendency to become attached to one particular individual. He called this monotropy. He suggested this trend was qualitatively different from any subsequent attachment a child might form. However, he did not suggest monotropy was absoluteRead MoreInfant Attachment Is The Bond Between An Infant And Their Caregivers2241 Words   |  9 PagesInfant attachment is the bond between an infant and their caregivers. An infant’s early attachment to their primary caregiver (PCG) is often seen as the foundation for all future development (Fairbairn, 1952). Individual difference perspectives have focused greatly on the predictive power of attachment because parents want to raise healthy, well-adjusted, normal children and are often concerned about the e xtent to which their parental upbringing skills can impact their child’s future. Attachment theoryRead MoreBowlbys Attachment Theory Essay1943 Words   |  8 PagesBowlbys Attachment Theory Findings form animal studies were a powerful influence on Bowlbys thoughts. He suggested too that there was a critical period for the development of attachments between infant and care giver. According to Bowlby infants display an innate tendency to become attached to one particular individual. He called this monotropy. He suggested this tendency was qualitatively different from any subsequent attachment a child might form. However, heRead MoreAn Evalution of the Attachment Theory Essay13038 Words   |  53 PagesTHE ATTACHMENT THEORY AN EVALUTION OF THE ATTACHMENT THEORY WHEN WORKING WITH CHILDREN IN CARE Gail Walters Dissertation Social Work BA (HONS) Manchester Metropolitan University Tutor: Pauline Black CONTENTS Pages Abstract Read MorePersonal Cultural Orientation16493 Words   |  66 Pagesbehavior. Likewise, it attempts to explore the possible mediating effects of destination brand image, value and quality on brand equity and revisit intention from the tourist perspective. The proposed model is based on social identity theory and brand equity theory literature. Drawing from recent research studies, and aiming to provide a framework to understand tourists’ decisions and their intention to revisit with respect to the destination brand and based on their cultural orientation. The research

Bakhsh letter Free Essays

As an international pilot with 11 years experience, I would make a great addition to your flight staff. I am trained and certified to fly by both the Unites States’ Federal Aviation administration and the Saudi Arabian General Authority of Civil Aviation, having studied on planes in both of the countries. Because I am fluent in both English and Arabic, I am a great asset to any company with flights into Northern Africa. We will write a custom essay sample on Bakhsh letter or any similar topic only for you Order Now From my enclosed resume, you will note that I have a strong record of accomplishment during my time as a pilot. I began as first officer on a Boeing 737 and move up to my final position as first officer on a Boeing 777 before being made captain of a McDonnell-Douglas 90. Since then, I have been again promoted and currently serve as Captain of an Embracer E170. In addition to my flight experience, I have had international pilot training courses with Boeing, in Seattle, WA, USA, and Embracer in Zurich, Switzerland. I am a responsible Captain, taking the utmost care to assure that my aircraft is well-cared for and my passengers arrive safely at their destination. Thank you for taking the time to review my resume and credential. I look forward to the opportunity to meet with you to discuss how I may be an asset to your company. Sincerely, Ca. Hani Atef Bakhsh How to cite Bakhsh letter, Papers

Sunday, April 26, 2020

The Decision That Changed My Life Essay Example For Students

The Decision That Changed My Life Essay As children, adults always ask the same question â€Å"What do you want to be when you grow up? † When we were five, they asked and our answers would be astronaut, president, firefighter, princess or in my case a doctor. When we were ten, they would ask again and we answered with cowboy, singer, or in my case Command Officer. But know that we’ve grown up, they asked again and they wanted a serious answer. Well I answered RN. They were quite intrigued with that answer and hoped that my â€Å"dreams† will come true. To be honest, Science is such a big deal in my family. We will write a custom essay on The Decision That Changed My Life specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Everyone had some type of a degree in Science the expectations were high for me. I would get lectured what I should do in order to succeed my â€Å"goal†. So I made a plan for high school to take all the courses that were required to get into University and see what will go from there. Despite all the Science courses, I took a Communications Technology courses thinking â€Å"it will be that one easy course that will bring up my average†. Taking that course was the most eye and mind opening decision that I have ever made, and it changed my life forever. I took that Communications Technology course thinking that it will help bring up my average, which it did incredibly, but it also helped open my eyes on what I am truly passionate about which is design. In that course, I learned how to use Photoshop, Flash and Illustrator as well as Photography skills. It helped me think of ideas that were out of the box. It helped challenge me to my fullest and to the extreme. Because of this course, I gave up on my â€Å"dream† of becoming an RN and decided to fulfill my dream of becoming a Graphic Designer in Advertisement. Becoming a Graphic Designer is no easy job; it consists of leadership, teamwork, time management, creativity and lots of focus and organization. The strengths that I can bring to this career in this field are multiple skills. For one, I am a great leader as I am able to instruct what others should do in order to get the job done. As well as, I have such a creative mind when it comes to thinking out of the box. Another skill that I have is that I am great with time management, as I am able to stay organized about what should be done at what time or date. Using these skills help me think about how the workplace will be like as a Graphic Designer. I imagine it being filled with all these artistic and inspiring people who have been in this profession for years. As wanting to achieve my goal as a Graphic Design, I believe Communication also plays a big part in success. Communication helps Designers to explain their artwork when promoting it to a client. Also it helps with professional meetings when describing and inspiring others on their â€Å"masterpiece†. I believe Communications helps sell and encourage others when it comes to Graphic Design. If I could go back in time and were asked the same question again â€Å"What do you want to be when you grow up† I would have said Graphic Designer. I would have saved so much more time with my life if I had known what I am truly passionate about in life. Realizing that becoming an RN was not a good decision and Sciences was not my desire in life. In Conclusion, by taking Communications Technology it has changed my life for the better rather for the â€Å"stereotypical worse†.

Wednesday, March 18, 2020

Handmaids Tale Essay Essay Example

Handmaids Tale Essay Essay Example Handmaids Tale Essay Paper Handmaids Tale Essay Paper One of the main ideas in the novel The Handmaid’s Tale written by Margaret Atwood, is relationships and their importance as there is lack of intimacy and human contact which are both controlled and prohibited in Gilead. We can see that in this totalitarian society, all relationships are controlled strictly and monitored and there are boundaries which you must not cross. In this society, even sex is controlled. As a handmaid, you are obliged to have sex with your Commander at fixed times and this sexual event is named ‘the Ceremony’. The relationship between Offred and the three men in her life: the Commander, his chauffeur Nick and her husband Luke, are important to this theme of importance of relationships as these relationships are all very different from one another and we see the different ways in which they are important to Offred and what role they play in Offred’s life. Offred is the protagonist in this novel and she is present in a society in which all relationships are strictly controlled and monitored, and where all human contact beyond that within a marriage, is forbidden. The society acts upon a fundamentalist view and has a distorted view of Christianity. : Offred demonstrates just how basic and important a human need such as being touched, is. â€Å"I hunger to commit the act of touch,† says Offred. In this society, simple things such as the act of touch and love within a relationship have been banned. These are small things that Offred regrets not taking for granted in the past. â€Å"How much we took things for granted† says Offred. Offred is a handmaid and their role in Gilead is simply just to procreate for their hosts who are powerful but childless couples. â€Å"We are two-legged wombs† says Offred. Even sex is regulated in this society, it isn’t a matter of choice or recreation. Offred as a handmaid, is made to have sex during certain times and the sexual act is called ‘the Ceremony’. In Gilead, pleasure is frivolous and unnecessary. You simply procreate to make babies. Kissing is forbidden as it is too much of an emotional attachment. Sex for Offred is something disgusting which she is forced to do in order to not be sent to the colonies. Sex in this society is simply for procreation and has no other purpose. All of the relationships Offred has/had are significant but especially those with the three men in her life, the Commander, his chauffeur Nick and her former husband Luke. Offred’s relationship with the Commander is both complicated and causes alot of problems. Offred is a Handmaid to him and his wife Serena Joy and they basically own her, hence her name shows this; it is a patronymic that clearly establishes ownership. The relationship between Offred and the Commander is a strictly regulated one where Offred is supposed to have contact with him only during ‘the Ceremony†, which is a grotesque threesome in which the Commander keeps trying to impregnate Offred who lies between Serena Joy’s thighs. Which of us is it worst for? Her or Me† says Offred. In one way, the Commander is Offred’s â€Å"husband†, since in Gilead this is a legally approved/forced relationship, but in another sense she is also the third person in the triangle of the Commander, his wife and herself who is like a mistress which is ironic. But the Commander is not satisfied with the official arrangement. Even though he follows the regime th at introduced this system, he breaks the rules and summons Offred to his study in the evenings. The Commander is a fatherly figure for Offred. I feel like a child summoned to the principal’s office† says Offred which shows paternalism symbolism. The Commander forms a special relationship with Offred as they share a love of words so when he summons her, Offred unreluctantly plays scrabble with him. In return for her company, the Commander gives Offred things that aren’t available to her such as hand lotion, magazines, human contact and knowledge. Because words have been banned from this society, scrabble has become something erotic for Offred, like sex was in the past. â€Å"Now of course it’s something different. Now it’s forbidden, for us. Now it’s indecent†¦Now it’s desirable†¦It’s as if he’s offered me drugs† says Offred. Emotions and everything that went with the normal life of the past have become eroticized because now they’re forbidden. Sex and actions of intimacy have become mechanical acts. In this society, what used to be nothing has become indecent, erotic and secret. And what used to be erotic has been deduced to nothing. Offred uses the words â€Å"voluptuous, glossy, luxury, candies and peppermint† to describe the scrabble counters. She involves all her senses to describe them as she is mesmerised by them. She is able to create words with them, which she craves. The Commander’s behaviour illustrates two significant ideas explored in the novel. The first is by considering himself before his own laws that he should be following, he demonstrates the corruption that is so often a part of totalitarian regimes. He also emphasises that all people, even the powerful, need human contact and interaction. They miss simple things like scrabble and having real relationships as well. They are human and crave affection too. I want you to kiss me†¦As you meant it† says the Commander. Offred likes the special relationship she has with the Commander as it gives her something to do and occupies space in her life. She is fooling herself but it makes her feel like more than just a womb. â€Å"To him I’m not longer merely a usable body. To him I am not merely empty. † says Offred. However she’s also two-minded towards the relationship. She is a survivor, reluctant to do anything that might risk her life or break the law but she also feels she has no choice but to obey his orders, â€Å"like an attentive pet†. She is conscious of the risk: â€Å"For him, I must remember I am only a whim† says Offred. The Commander makes her dress in a costume to go with him to Jezebel’s, a brothel, where she is shown as his possession, and expected to show â€Å"real† affection. Offred is aware of the complexity of the situation, â€Å"Maybe none of this is about control. Maybe it isnt really about who can own whom, who can do what to whom and get away with it. Maybe its about who can do what to whom and be forgiven for it. Never tell me it amounts to the same thing† says Offred. Offred’s relationship with Nick is more of a fantasy romance. They have chemistry between them from the first time she sees him polishing the car and notices him. Then Nick makes his presence felt literally. â€Å"Hes so close that the tip of his boot is touching my foot I feel my shoe soften, blood flows into it, it grows warm, it becomes a skin † says Offred. Their first meeting was arranged by Serena Joy, who hoped that Nick would succeed where the Commander had failed in getting Offred pregnant. Serena Joy treats Offred as a child, saying that if Offred sleeps with Nick and gets pregnant, she will treat her and give her a picture of her daughter. But then the relationship continues, as Offred risks her life to meet Nick for sex. Her craving for human contact overcomes her need to survive. â€Å"I did not do it for him, but for myself entirely†¦I did not feel munificent, but thankful, each time he would let me in† and â€Å"In order to do this I became reckless, I took stupid chances. After being with the commander I would go upstairs in the usual way, but then I would go along the hall†¦Then I would knock softly, a beggar’s knock† says Offred. Nick and Offred have a real relationship, with real feelings involved. Trust me† says Nick. Nick does kiss Offred. â€Å"He puts his hand on my arm, pulls me against him, his mouth on mine, what else comes from such denial? † says Offred. Offred feels she is doing something wrong and feels guilt every time. Offred remembers the two-year affair she and Luke had before he divorced his wife. An affair that her best friend Moira has disapproved of . She and Luke were married and happy but after the revolution, when all women were fired and had their bank balances transferred to their husbands, she became aware of a change in their relationship. He’s enjoying this,† she thinks, of Luke’s feeling towards the economic power he had been given over her by the Government. â€Å"Maybe he even likes it. We are not each other’s any more. Instead, I am his† says Offred. She is too afraid to speak up about her financial dependence and then it becomes too late. We see the interaction between the sexes and how men and women are treated in this society through these three relationships Offred has with men. Although neither the Commander nor Luke seem to do much, Nick is different through his selfless action of rescuing Offred from arrest at the end, possibly at the cost of his own life. Although the novel shows us a feminist nightmare, a society where women have no identity and are defined and controlled by their fertility, Nick’s relationship with Offred also shows us that men too are repressed and controlled in this society. It’s said that Nick â€Å"hasnt been issued a woman He doesnt rate†. Nick is a hero for helping Offred. Offred needs him to be there for her when she is lonely and craves human contact, living in this society where it is repressed. She needs the Commander to give her something to do, occupy space in her life nd to play scrabble with, which is erotic and forbidden. If the Commander is her â€Å"husband† and Nick her â€Å"lover†, Luke, her husband in â€Å"the time before†, filled both roles. He was there for her in the past but is also a parallel with the Commander in that they are both in positions of power over Offred. We see the importance of these relationships to the theme of importance of relatio nships as they show that lack of intimacy and human contact in Gilead is causing people to crave affection and need someone to be there for them in order for them to carry on living.

Monday, March 2, 2020

Feminists Turn Miss America 1968 Into a Protest

Feminists Turn Miss America 1968 Into a Protest The Miss America Pageant that took place on September 7, 1968, was no ordinary pageant. Hundreds of feminist activists showed up on the Atlantic City Boardwalk to enact their â€Å"Miss America Protest.† They distributed publicity materials titled â€Å"No More Miss America!† Organizers The group behind the Miss America Protest was New York Radical Women. Prominent feminists who participated included Carol Hanisch, who originally had the idea to protest the pageant, as well as Robin Morgan, and Kathie Sarachild. What Was Wrong With Miss America? The women who came to the Miss America Protest had several complaints about the pageant: It judges women on impossible standards of beauty. The protesters called the standards â€Å"ludicrous.†The pageant objectifies women and thereby harms all women.The protesters disliked the hypocrisy of the pageant, specifically the double standard of the Madonna/whore fantasy, in which men irrationally demand that women be innocent and beautiful, while also satisfying the mens lust. The feminists had other political disagreements with the pageant as well: They considered the pageant racist, for never having had a black Miss America.The activists opposed the Vietnam War and felt the pageant supported it by sending the Miss America winner to Vietnam to entertain the troops.There was a blatant inequality in encouraging girls to grow up to become Miss America. The standard line in the United States to any boy was that he could grow up to be president. Why not women? Why was Miss America supposed to be their equivalent dream? Rampant Consumerism The women at the Miss America Protest also criticized the consumer aspect of the pageant and the sponsors who used the contestants to promote their products. At the protest, the feminists of New York Radical Women announced a boycott of the companies that sponsored the pageant.   Ã¢â‚¬Å"Cattle Auction† The Miss America Protest began in the afternoon on the boardwalk. There at least 150 women marched with signs of protest. Some of their slogans called the pageant a cattle auction, for parading women around to judge them on their looks, the way men would judge cattle to decide the animals’ worth. The protesters nominated a sheep for Miss America and even crowned a live sheep on the boardwalk. Paying Attention to Liberation At the end of the evening, when the winner was crowned, several of the protesters who had sneaked inside unfurled a banner from the balcony that read â€Å"Women’s Liberation.† Miss America was a highly anticipated and widely watched event in 1968, so much of the nation tuned in to the live broadcast. The protest received media attention, which in turn attracted more women to the Women’s Liberation movement. The protesters asked the media to send female reporters to cover their demonstration and demanded that if there were any arrests that they only be made by women police officers.   Bras on Fire? The Miss America Protest apparently gave birth to one of the greatest myths of the women’s rights movement: the myth of bra burning.   The protesters at the Miss America Pageant threw items of their oppression into a â€Å"freedom trash can.† Among these items of oppression were girdles, high-heeled shoes, some bras, copies of Playboy magazine, and hair curlers. The women never lit these items on fire; throwing them out was the symbolism of the day. It has been reported that the women attempted to get a permit to burn the items but were denied because of the danger fire would pose to the wooden Atlantic City Boardwalk. The intent to set them on fire may have been what sparked the rumor that bras actually were burned. There is no documented instance where 1960s feminists burned their bras, although the legend persists. No More Miss America? Feminists protested Miss America again in 1969, although the second protest was smaller and did not receive much attention. The Womens Liberation Movement continued to grow and develop, with more protests occurring and more feminist groups being formed over the next few years. The Miss America Pageant still exists; the pageant moved from Atlantic City to Las Vegas in 2006.