Monday, December 30, 2019
The Themes Of The Caged Bird By Maya Angelou - 1651 Words
A poem about two birds: one caged and one free, Caged Bird by Maya Angelou is a poem loaded with personal anecdotes. Angelou contrasts the two birds throughout the poem and discusses the ideas of freedom and oppression using the birds as metaphors. The free bird is able to fly as he wishes, ââ¬Å"daring to claim the skyâ⬠. On the other hand, the caged bird is limited to his cage, with clipped wings and tied feet, dreaming of the open sky. Because he is confined, he does what he can and begins to sing, for the unknown and for freedom. The free bird continues to enjoy his life, eventually claiming the sky as his own. On the other hand, the caged birdââ¬â¢s dreams have come and gone, so he does the only action he can: continuing to sing. Using twoâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦Here, Angelou is referring to the free bird and his ability to do what he likes, in this case, claiming the sky. This is akin to the oblivious mindset of the population of America that has the freedom to do what they like with very little restraint. This conversation can also be related to that of privilege because the bird in the sky is given the ability to do something from the start, an ability that it seemingly takes for granted. On the other hand, the caged bird, being stuck in the cage, does not have the option to fly free. Unlike the free bird, he is painfully aware of his situation and doesnââ¬â¢t take anything for granted. Despite being confined to his cage, the caged bird still dreams. He longs for ââ¬Å"things unknownâ⬠singing about them and ââ¬Å"freedomâ⬠. Continuing with the racial subtext, this can be interpreted as the African American community and those that are generally marginalized dreaming about true freedom and equality despite never having experienced them. On the other hand, the free bird is relishing in its freedom, dreaming of the next benefit that comes with freedom, whether itââ¬â¢s ââ¬Å"another breezeâ⬠or ââ¬Å"the fat wormsà ¢â¬ . These are not appreciated by the free bird because they are so abundant and available to him, a stark contrast to the caged bird who can only imagine these incidents. However, the last line of the penultimate stanza is crucial: ââ¬Å"and he names the sky his ownâ⬠. Because of all of the advantages that he has accumulated over his life, the freeShow MoreRelatedDisplacement, a Theme in Maya Angelouà ´s I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings1603 Words à |à 6 Pagesdisplacement leaves a painful hole in ones heart. Whether a person is a male or female, white or black, lives in the North or South, or young or old, displacement takes a toll on their character and personality. Maya Angelou creates a theme of displacement in her novel I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. Angelous novel has been critiqued by many notable scholars for being a classic autobiography. The critics note the importance of the setting to show universal displacement and the use of characterizationRead MoreI Kn ow Why The Caged Bird Sings1445 Words à |à 6 PagesPresentation I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is a self-portraying record of Maya Angelou that shows how cherish for writing and having a solid character can assume a huge part in conquering bigotry and misery. Throughout the story, it is clear that Maya changes from being a setback of bigotry to end up distinctly a young lady with self-nobility and character that helps her to conquer partiality. The setting of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings concentrates on the issues connected with bigotry thatRead More Maya Angelou: A Source of Humanity Essay1329 Words à |à 6 PagesMaya Angelou: A Source of Humanity I am human, Angelou said, and nothing human can be alien to me (Shafer). Maya Angelou just may be the most human person in the world. Indeed, with all of the struggles she went through in her early life, her humanness increasingly deepened. Her life was characterized by the instability of her childhood and her family, along with the challenge of being a black woman growing up in 19th century America. The deepness of her humanness is evident in allRead MoreBook Report on I Know Why The Caged Birds Sing by Maya Angelou694 Words à |à 3 PagesI Know Why The Caged Bird Sings is a novel by Maya Angelou, where she writes about her childhood and her experiences while growing up. This non-fiction novel illustrates Maya Angelouââ¬â¢s childhood, being tossed around by her parents, and having to experience different cultures. Maya struggles particularly in finding friends, she is reserved, and will only open up to Bailey, her brother. Maya moves a couple of times to different places, which may contribute to her not having friends. The novel revolvesRead MoreMay a Angelou655 Words à |à 3 PagesMa 2(1565443) Maya Angelou is known as the ââ¬Å"most visible black female autobiographer/poet.â⬠She was born, Marguerite Ann Johnson, on April fourth, 1928 in St. Louis, Missouri. Her parents divorced when she was three, and she and her brother were sent to live with their grandmother in Stamps, Arkansas. Seeing all the racial discrimination in the American south strengthened her passion for poetry, music, dance and performance. Maya writes about the struggles people face, racism and freedom. At ageRead MoreMaya Angelou1001 Words à |à 5 PagesMaya Angelou You may shoot me with your words, you may cut me with your eyes, you may kill me with your hatefulness. But still, like air, Ill rise. Have you ever been so influenced by such a small amount of powerful words? This brilliant quote extracted from Maya Angelous own poem, Still I Rise, basically brings out the spirit and nature of each of her publications. Maya Angelous works of poetry are seen as inspiration for those who have been discriminated for their public appearances. AsRead MoreLiterary Analysis Of Maya Angelous Caged Bird1341 Words à |à 6 Pagesââ¬Å"Caged Bird Analysisâ⬠ââ¬Å"Equal rights, fair play, justice, are all like air: we all have it, or none of us has it.â⬠This quote was taken by the poet Maya Angelou, who stressed the idea of equality in many of her works. One of her poems being, ââ¬Å"Caged Bird.â⬠In the poem the poet references two birds; one who is trapped in a cage, and the other bird who is free. Growing up as an African American in the 1920ââ¬â¢s Angelou faced many hardships. She suffered many racial prejudices, and her writing reflects howRead More Maya Angelou Essay1043 Words à |à 5 PagesMaya Angelou à à à à à à By consistently weaving the theme of motherhood into her literature, Maya Angelou creates both personal narratives and poems that the reader can relate to. Her exploration of this universal theme lends itself to a very large and diverse audience.à Throughout Angelous works, she allows her followers to witness her metamorphosis through different aspects of motherhood. à à à à à à Well-worked themes are always present in Angelous works-à self-Read MoreMaya Angelou Essay1019 Words à |à 5 PagesMaya Angelou is an American author who is known for her poetry and novels that lyrically illustrate the experiences of African Americans and also acts as a spokesperson for black pride and heritage (St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture). Although she speaks for people of color, her messages of hope and strength appeal to people of all ages and races. Angelou is best known for her autobiography, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, in which she recalls herself as a young African American girl findingRead MoreMaya Angelou: the Lyrical Genius979 Words à |à 4 Pages Maya Angelou: the Lyrical Genius When it comes to the struggles of a black woman, Maya Angelou is one of the best writers to interpret these struggles and to have the ability to put them into books and poems. The way Maya Angelou writes just makes you feel as if you were with here through all of the pain and sorrow. Not a lot of authors have the ability to do such a thing. Maya Angelou has the ability to write all of these amazing books and
Sunday, December 22, 2019
B2b And B2b Business Activities - 1542 Words
Business to Consumer or B2C, electronic business activities that focus on retail transactions. An example of a B2C company would be Starbucks. Business to Business or B2B, companies doing direct business with each other instead of having consumers involved. A great example of a B2B company would be the Intel Corporation. The Intel Corporation is an American Global technology company, whom headquarters is located in Santa Clara, California. The overall marketing goal for both B2B and B2C companies is the same, increase the profit margin, but the marketing strategies of the two types of companies will differ based on their companyââ¬â¢s needs. Both B2C companies and B2B companies have similar qualities when it comes to their marketing plan. Both types of companies believe in having a strong brand and having a strong positive image of their companies. However, the companies will differ when it comes to the reasons why they feel that having a strong brand will be important to the comp any. The B2C companies need to have a strong brand in order to maintain and grow the amount of consumers and costumers they have by matching the brand of their known products. Individual consumers can become attached to a certain company solely based on their brand. When it comes to B2B companies having a strong brand will only help other companies consider rather or not to make the purchase from Intel but the ultimate decision comes down to many other business factors including how Intel will lookShow MoreRelatedB2b And B2b Business Activities1300 Words à |à 6 PagesBusiness to Consumer or B2C, electronic business activities that focus on retail transactions. An example of a B2C company would be Starbucks. Business to Business or B2B, companies doing direct business with each other instead of having consumers involved. A great example of a B2B company would be the Intel Corporation. The Intel Corporation is an American Global technology company, whom headquarters is located in S anta Clara, California. The overall marketing goal for both B2B and B2C companiesRead MoreB2b Exchanges And Business Activity Perspective1189 Words à |à 5 Pagesââ¬Å"Business-to-business (B2B) exchanges or marketplaces provide dramatic opportunities to automate collaborative business processes with customers and suppliers, generate internal efficiencies, and reach new markets at minimal cost.â⬠- (Kenjale Phatak, 2002) The epigraph quote from a 2002 article in the CRM magazine provides the commonly used and accepted definition of Business-to-Business (B2B) exchanges. The key differentiating attributes of the B2B Exchanges from the Business-to-Consumer (B2C)Read MoreDifferences between B2B and B2C800 Words à |à 4 PagesDifferences between B2B and B2C Name Institution Differences between B2B and B2C Business to business and business to customers is two important different terms that one needs to understand. The two terms mean different things in the business environment. The aim of this research paper is to evaluate the differences between business to business and business to customers. Transactions in the case of business to business involve two business organizations while business to customer involvesRead MoreRelationship Driven988 Words à |à 4 PagesB2B vs. B2C Marketing Business-to-business (B2B) is a term used to describe transactions of goods or services between businesses as opposed to business-to-consumer (B2C) which describes activities of commercial organizations serving end customers with products and/or services. B2B and B2C marketing is different. There are profound differences that a business must remember when developing marketing activities. Although the marketing programs are the same for each type of business (events, directRead MoreDifference Between B2B and B2C1254 Words à |à 6 PagesMarketing: Differences Between B2B and B2C Linicha Hunter University of Phoenix EBUS 400 E-Business Dr. Hee Lee September 27, 2006 Marketing: Differences Between B2B and B2C Marketing allows organizations to promote their products or services with the intent of maximizing their profit and gaining consumers confidence. In today s society marketing the correct product/service can be difficult but implementing the marketing process and planning accurately can alleviate potentialRead MoreDifference Between B2B and B2C Marketing997 Words à |à 4 Pagesbetween B2B marketing and B2C marketing. Your marketing plan needs to take into account the differences and ensure you are developing the right types of activities for your particular market. B2B â⬠¢ Relationship driven â⬠¢ Maximize the value of the relationship â⬠¢ Small, focused target market â⬠¢ Multi-step buying process, longer sales cycle â⬠¢ Brand identity created on personal relationship â⬠¢ Educational and awareness building activities â⬠¢ Rational buying decision based on business value Read MoreMarketing Differences Between B2C and B2B Websites1494 Words à |à 6 PagesDifferences in Marketing for B2C and B2B Sites March 27, 2006 Differences in Marketing for B2C and B2B Sites Introduction Marketing in an electronic-business/commerce (e-business/e-commerce) arena today is truly no different than the ole Ãâbrick and mortar business. Business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) sites need to have a crafty approach to implement marketing strategies and develop an effective marketing plan to reach the intended (targeted) market. Thus, the mixingRead MoreB2B And B2C Marketing Strategies Essay1379 Words à |à 6 PagesMarketing is an integral part of any business operation, regardless of platform or environment (brick and mortar versus virtual); type of product sold or service rendered and target market. With the advent of Internet technology, new business models or sites such as business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C), have emerged which require the employment of different marketing strategies and tools to attract and retain customers. The following sections will provide a comparison of theRead MoreB2B vs.B2C Marketing Differences1024 Words à |à 5 PagesB2B vs. B2C Marketing Marketing differs between business to business and business to consumer in a few different ways the main one is the emotional experience of the buyer. The marketing programs are the same, which includes: events, direct marketing, internet marketing, advertising, public relations, word of mouth and alliance. The difference is how each marketing program is executed, what is said in the program, and the outcome. Business to Business or B2B marketing and Business to ConsumerRead MoreMarketing Analysis : B2b And B2c Market Segment1200 Words à |à 5 Pagesthat marketers focus on to gain their clients or consumers: Business-to-Business, Business-to-Consumer, and, especially in the Washington, D.C. area, Business-to-Government. Each segment, although profitable in their own way, requires different techniques and methods in order to reach the prospective customers. In order to identify these consumers, and what appeals to them, is where market research comes in. This document will evaluate the B2B and B2C market segment, evaluating them as a whole, identifying
Saturday, December 14, 2019
The Vernacular Language Free Essays
The Vernacular Language Over the course of humanity, there have been many different languages that have come and gone. As this topic is being discussed, we can probably assume that there is another spoken or written language being developed for use in one way or another. Latin is one of the most prominent languages and was one of the longest used amongst those that were educated and within literature. We will write a custom essay sample on The Vernacular Language or any similar topic only for you Order Now The real questions that beg to be answered are the origins of the language and what were the impacts the spread of vernacular language had on cultures during this period. The Latin language has survived in one form or another for over two thousand years, dating back to around 75 B. C. and still in use today. No matter where we look, we can see the influence of this language. Dating back to the founding of Rome, in 753 B. C. , they have been at war and have been a nation that has conquered many different countries. While the rise of the Roman empire began in 406 B. C. with the attack of Veii, there was not a true injection of country traditions until later in history and ending in the 12th century. This spread of the empire is where the spread of the Latin language took place and the spread of the vernacular language. To start, what is vernacular language? According to the free dictionary (n. d. ), vernacular is defined as the standard native language or a country or locality. The everyday language spoken by a people as distinguished from the literary language or a variety of such everyday language specific to a social group or region. Note that this term originates from Latin vernaculus. Even some of our definitions of words come from Latin. As we progress through this report, we are now starting to see how much of an impact this language had on society. The Roman Empire was vast and their reign over a large portion of the world lasted for many years. As they conquered nations, their traditions slowly became the traditions of that native land. Most of their reign covered Europe as we know it today and spanned hundreds of years. With the spread of a nation, comes the spread of their culture as well. Language is the oldest form of expression within a culture and passing this on either through force or assimilation has a lasting impact on those involved. The Latin language has survived in one form or another for over 2,000 years. It is the parent language of many modern day languages such as Italian, French, Romanian, Portuguese, and the Spanish language. As it was already noted earlier in this paper, even words in the English language have roots that can be traced back to the Latin language. One of the main reasons that the Latin language was so prominent is the fact that it is a form of communication. Culture does not spread without communication. Without communication, we cannot pass on knowledge or exchange ideas amongst each other. If we did not have communication, we would not be the culture that we are today. To say that the Roman Empire had an impact on the entire world is making a very moderate statement. The Roman Empire has had influences in all of society and include areas such as poetry, music, the arts, and architecture as well as language. While most people associate the Empire with a lot of the aforementioned, none of it would have been possible without the Latin language. Again, we are pointed back to the ability to communicate with others and to be able to pass on knowledge. It does not matter how advanced a culture is or may appear to be if they have no ability to pass any of this on to another culture. Not only does it allow the passing of knowledge, it also accomplishes one other hurdle in terms of the world and the growth of the world. With different languages and having nobody be able to communicate, we would never be able to come to a form of peace. Having the ability to relate to others in different parts of the world allow us to relay intentions, be it for good or other purposes. Without this communication, most wars may have ended in the complete annihilation of countries instead of peace or some form of agreement between the two nations that were at war. The last section to discuss today is the lasting impact that the vernacular languages had on our society. What are some examples of this? Look around and you can easily see them if you know what you are looking for. Letââ¬â¢s begin with the author of this paper and continue from there. The author has had his name passed on from generation to generation. While the use of his name stopped for a while, it was started again with his great grandfather. Passing this down, the use of Latin numbers, or more commonly known as Roman numerals, is used to dictate which number of that name he is. For the author, he is the fourth consecutively named son and as such, after his last name is IV to represent the fourth. Look at dictionaries when researching words and you will also notice that these words have root definitions to them. An excellent example of the use of Latin is in scientific studies. Genus, phylum, etc. all come from Latin origins. The last one to mention that still has Latin roots is the naming of the NFL Superbowl games using the Latin numbering system. In closing, the Latin language and the vernacular language has had a lasting impact on society and will continue to have this impact. It is a part of almost every culture today in some form. Without this vernacular language, society would not be where we are today. References Latin Language Blog (2010, March 24). Latin Numbers 1-100 | Latin Language Blog. Transparent. com Blogs. Retrieved November 18, 2012, from http://blogs. transparent. com/latin/latin-numbers-1-100/ Map of The Roman Empire. (n. d. ). Global Ministries ââ¬â The United Methodist Church ââ¬â General Board of Global Ministries. Retrieved November 18, 2012, from http://gbgm-umc. org/umw/corinthians/empire. stm Matthews, J. (2007, October). Beginnings of Vernacular. Retrieved November 18, 2012, from http://ac-support. europe. umuc. edu/~jmatthew/naples/vernacular. htm Pulju, T. (n. d. ). History of Latin. Rice University ââ¬â Web Services. Retrieved November 18, 2012, from http://www. ruf. rice. edu/~kemmer/Words04/structure/latin. html The History Channel (n. d. ). Timeline ââ¬â Rome: Rise and Fall of an Empire on History. History: Shows, Schedules and Resources. Retrieved November 18, 2012, from http://www. history. o. uk/shows/rome-rise-and-fall-of-an-empire/season-1/timeline. html TheFREEdictionary. com (n. d. ). Vernacular languages ââ¬â definition of Vernacular languages by the Free Online Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia. In Dictionary, Encyclopedia and Thesaurus ââ¬â The Free Dictionary. Retrieved November 18, 2012, from http://www. thefreedictionary. com/Vernacular+languages Uni versity of Calgary (1996, August). First Europe Tutorial ââ¬â Latin and Vernaculars. Home | University of Calgary. Retrieved November 18, 2012, from http://www. ucalgary. ca/applied_history/tutor/firsteuro/lang. html How to cite The Vernacular Language, Essay examples
Friday, December 6, 2019
Understanding Law in a Changing Society
Question: Why is denying same-sex couples the right to marriage incompatible with the principles of respect for autonomy and equality under the law? What does Marshall mean when she says that the laws of civil marriage do not privilege procreative heterosexual intercourse between married people? How is denying the right to marry between whites and blacks similar to denying the right to marry between same-sex couples? How does Marshall respond to the claim that legalizing same-sex marriage will undermine the institution of marriage? Answer: This piece of writing involves the identification of different parts of an argument and explanation of its various parts aiming to prove an overall claim. The article chosen for the argument is Article1, By Chief Justice Margaret H. Marshall, Majority Opinion: Good ridge v. Department of Public Health (2003). The argument which can be drawn from the given article is whether the Commonwealth will allow the security, benefits, and requirements granted by civil marriage to two persons of the similar sex who desires to marry. The people are aware that their choice marks an alteration in the olden times of the law of marriage. Several individuals cling to deep-rooted religious, ethical, and moral conviction that wedding should be restricted to the union of one male and one female, and the conduct of homosexuality is morally wrong (Dry, 2014). Several hold uniformly well-built moral, religious, and ethical convictions that the couples have the same sex are allowed to get wedded, and the ho mosexual individuals should be treated not in a different way as compared to their heterosexual neighbors. Our concern is with the Constitution of Massachusetts as a deed of authority for all individuals in a proper way within its reach. The argument adheres to the obligation to describe the freedom of everyone, not to direct the moral code (Bonauto Esseks, 2015). Whether the Commonwealth may make use of its formidable regulatory authority to bar the individuals of the similar sex from civil wedding is an issue which was not formerly dealt by an appellate court of Massachusetts. The decision, which did not unambiguously enlighten the legislature of the state how to hold the decision authorities, lawmakers, and authorized experts scramble to find out the options in which there is an existing shortage concerning with the legitimization of the marriage of the individuals of the same sex. The officials of Massachusetts had argued that primary purpose of the marriage was procreation. According to them, the heterosexual marriage was finest for child-rearing, and the marriage of the individuals of the same sex would enforce a financial encumbering in the state. The arguments had drawn on both the sides concern themselves whether the Massachusetts Commonwealth has a legal and rational awareness in the prevention of marriage concerning the same-sex ind ividuals (Nice, 2012). Moral and Religious matters may figure significantly in the debate of public on the individuals who wish to marry the same sex partner, but they emerge to be inappropriate under the law. Marshall goes on to entail that the standard of procreation has been chosen specifically to rationalize the unfairness against the same-sex couples. There is no balanced relationship between the marriage decree and the proffered goal of the commonwealth for protecting the finest child rearing unit. It cannot be coherent under the laws, and certainly it is not acceptable to reprimand children by grudging them of the benefits of the state because the state condemns the sexual orientation of their parents (Altschuler et al., 2016). This argument singles out the unbridgeable disparity between the couples of the same sex and the couples of the different sex and alters those differences into the essence of legal marriage in an effectual manner. References Altschuler, B. E., Sgroi, C. A., Ryniker, M. R. (2016).Understanding law in a changing society. Routledge. Bonauto, M., Esseks, J. (2015). Marriage Equality Advocacy from the Trenches.Colum. J. Gender L.,29, 117. Dry, M. (2014). Same-Sex Marriage Controversy and American Constitutionalism: Lessons regarding Federalism, the Separation of Powers, and Individual Rights, The.Vt. L. Rev.,39, 275. Nice, J. A. (2012). The Descent of Responsible Procreation: A Genealogy of an Ideology.Loyola of Los Angeles Law Review, Forthcoming.
Thursday, November 28, 2019
Stradanoââ¬â¢s Allegorical Invention of the Americas in Late Sixteenth
Stradanoââ¬â¢s Allegorical Invention of the Americas in Late Sixteenth-Century Florence part 1 Essay by LIA MARKEY This essay situates Giovanni Stradanoââ¬â¢s engravings of the discovery of the Americas from the Americae Retectio and Nova Reperta series within the context of their design in late sixteenthcentury Florence, where the artist worked at the Medici court and collaborated with the dedicatee of the prints, Luigi Alamanni. Through an analysis of the images in relation to contemporary texts about the navigators who traveled to the Americas, as well as classical sources, emblems, and works of art in diverse mediaââ¬âtapestry, print, ephemera, and frescoââ¬âthe study argues that Stradanoââ¬â¢s allegorical representations of the Americas were produced in order to make clear Florenceââ¬â¢s role in the invention of the New World. Outline1 INTRODUCTION2 à STRADANO, ALAMANNI, AND THE ACCADEMIA DEGLI ALTERATI3 SOURCES AT THE MEDICI COURT4 AMERICA UNVEILED INTRODUCTION We will write a custom essay on Stradanoââ¬â¢s Allegorical Invention of the Americas in Late Sixteenth-Century Florence part 1 specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now In the late 1580s, nearly a century after the travels of Columbus and Vespucci, Giovanni Stradano (also known as Jan Van der Straet and Johannes Stradanus, 1523ââ¬â1605) designed engravings in two print series representing the discovery of the New World. In the renowned prints navigators are fashioned as mythological heroes, and Stradanoââ¬â¢s images suggest a fantasia, or dream, rather than a record of newsworthy events. The Americae Retectio series includes an elaborate frontispiece (fig. 1) and three prints (figs. 2ââ¬â4) in chronological order that depict Christopher Columbus Giovanni Stradano, Frontispiece for the Americae Retectio series, late1580s. Engraving. Private collection. (1451ââ¬â1506), Amerigo Vespucci (1454ââ¬â1512), and Ferdinand Magellan (1480ââ¬â1521).1 Two prints from Stradanoââ¬â¢s Nova Reperta series similarly unite allegorical imagery with captions to portray Vespucciââ¬â¢s encounter with the New World (figs. 5 and 6).2 The Nova Reperta series includes nineteen prints, each representing a different invention or discovery of the recent centuries, ranging from the cure for syphilis to the production of silk.3 Stradanoââ¬â¢s four Americae Retectio prints and these two Nova Reperta prints possess similar iconography, and all were dedicated to members of the Alamanni family and first printed by the Galle publishing house in the late 1580s and early 1590s. Giovanni Stradano, Columbus in the Americae Retectio series, late1580s. Engraving. Private collection. Since the late sixteenth century, Stradanoââ¬â¢s prints depicting the Americas have been used as artistic sources by artists and printmakers, and more recently as illustrations for scholars writing about the interaction between the Old and New Worlds. The roles of both Stradano and the Alamanni in the creation of the prints have often been disregarded, and they are frequently solely attributed to the Flemish printmaker and publisher. In the early seventeenth century, the Northern printmaking family, the De Brys, reproduced the Americae Retectio series with few alterations, and the Stradano designs are therefore often mistakenly attributed to the De Brys.4 Since Michel de Certeauââ¬â¢s use of Stradanoââ¬â¢s America image (fig. 5) from the Nova Reperta series on the frontispiece of his 1975 The Writing of History, Stradanoââ¬â¢s prints and their reproductions by De Bry have served to illustrate Giovanni Stradano, Vespucci in the Americae Retectio series, late 1580s.Engraving. Private collection countless texts about the discovery of America and colonialism.5 Despite the popularity of the images, and the recent fascination with promoting Stradanoââ¬â¢s America in particular as a representation of the colonial Other, the works have not been fully considered within the context in which they were produced, and even their complex iconography remains largely unexplored.6 Most recently, Michael Gaudio has called for a reevaluation of Stradanoââ¬â¢s America in relation to ââ¬Ëââ¬Ëthe very real space of the engraverââ¬â¢s Giovanni Stradano, Magellan in the Americae Retectio series, late Giovanni Stradano, Magellan in the Americae Retectio series, late 1580s. Engraving. Private collection. workshop where this print was made.ââ¬â¢Ã¢â¬â¢7 Yet this print was conceived, not in the engraverââ¬â¢s workshop, but rather on Stradanoââ¬â¢s page. The prints were repositories of factual and fictional information gathered by reading, speaking, and writing about these celebrated navigators among a circumscribed group of individuals in Florence. This study argues that the America print, along with Stradanoââ¬â¢s five other New World images, must be examined together within the context of his circle. The first part of this study therefore establishes the cultural environment of the printsââ¬â¢ production in late sixteenth-century Florence. Examination of Stradanoââ¬â¢s experience as a print designer and Medici court artist, and of Luigi Alamanniââ¬â¢s involvement in the Florentine Accademia degli Alterati, provides critical insight into the creation of these images.8 Stradano designed the prints around the time of Ferdinando deââ¬â¢ Mediciââ¬â¢s (1549â⬠â1609) 1588 accession as Grand Duke. Previously Stradano had been involved in the creation of allegorical paintings, ephemera, and cartography Giovanni Stradano, America in the Nova Reperta series, late 1580s. Engraving. Bridgeman-Giraudon/Art Resource, NY. for Medici propaganda under Ferdinandoââ¬â¢s father, Grand Duke Cosimo deââ¬â¢ Medici (1519ââ¬â74), and his brother, Grand Duke Francesco deââ¬â¢ Medici (1541ââ¬â87). At the Medici court he would have encountered objects from, texts about, and images of the New World. Though the Medici were not involved in the colonization of the Americas, and they themselves were subsumed under the sovereignty of Spain, Grand Duke Ferdinando sought to strengthen cultural and economic ties with the New World during his reign. The second part of the essay closely examines the text and image of each print in relation to this milieu. Captions on the prints, chosen by the Alamanni, and Stradanoââ¬â¢s inscriptions on the related preparatory drawings reveal specific sources for, and ideas behind, the conception of the images.9 Using the textual materials available about the New World and stimulated both by contemporary epic literature written about the navigators and by ancient sources such as Lucretius, Stradano produced allegorical images that borrow from emblems and imprese, court frescoes, festivals, tapestries, cartography, and other printed images. These other media provided an allegorical visual language that was familiar to sixteenthcentury viewers. The Astrolabe in the Nova Reperta series, late 1580s. Engraving. , Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University in the City of New York. width=581 height=425 /> Giovanni Stradano, The Astrolabe in the Nova Reperta series, late1580s. Engraving. , Rare Book and Manuscript Library,Columbia University in the City of New York. media provided an allegorical visual language that was familiar to sixteenthcentury viewers. According to Joseà ´ Rabasa, in Stradanoââ¬â¢s prints and especially the America engraving, ââ¬Ëââ¬Ënewness is produced by means of discursive arrangements of more or less readily recognized descriptive motifs.ââ¬â¢Ã¢â¬â¢10 These ââ¬Ëââ¬Ëdescriptive motifsââ¬â¢Ã¢â¬â¢ to which Rabasa alludes are produced through the construction of complex allegorical narratives comprised of emblematic compositions that incorporate the representation of gods and navigators alongside personifications of the New World, fantastical monsters, hybrid creatures, and ancient gods. These discursive and anachronistic images would have seemed customary, and would have been comprehensible, to the printsââ¬â¢ late sixteenth-century audience. Yet as Sabine MacCormack has explained, there were ââ¬Ëââ¬Ëlimits of understandingââ¬â¢Ã¢â¬â¢ in constructions of the New World, for images â⠬Ëââ¬Ëdid not on their own lead to a significantly new perception of Greco-Roman antiquity or of the Americas.ââ¬â¢Ã¢â¬â¢11 By framing the New World in recognizable allegorical imagery, Stradanoââ¬â¢s engravings could declare the novel idea that the New World was a Florentine invention and patriotically revel in these discoveries.12 In his seminal study on mythology and allegory in the Renaissance, The Survival of the Pagan Gods, Jean Seznec writes that ââ¬Ëââ¬Ëbasically, allegory is often sheer imposture, used to reconcile the irreconcilable.ââ¬â¢Ã¢â¬â¢13 Indeed, these images do just that: theymake no reference to the Spanish, overtly connect the New World to Italy, and, with the figure of Vespucci in particular, highlight Florenceââ¬â¢s role in the discovery. Fraught with temporal clashes between the old (pagan mythology) and the new (the discovery and invention of the Americas) the prints, disseminated throughout the world, made America part of Florence ââ¬â¢s history, even though in reality the New World played a small role in Florenceââ¬â¢s past and present. This claim could be made only through the language of allegory because implicit in allegory lies fantasy and the notion that the representations are imaginary. à STRADANO, ALAMANNI, AND THE ACCADEMIA DEGLI ALTERATI As is common in sixteenth-century engravings, the captions on the prints make clear that their production was the result of a collaboration between the designer or inventor (Stradano), the printmaker and publisher (Galle and Collaert), and the dedicatee or patron (the Alamanni). A Flemish artist who began working at the Medici court sometime before 1554 first as cartoon designer for Grand Duke Cosimoââ¬â¢s new tapestry workshop and then as an artist under Giorgio Vasari (1511ââ¬â74), Stradano was by the 1560s a relatively well-known independent artist living in Florence.14 He was an active member of the Accademia del Disegno and secured commissions for paintings and frescoes at the Medici court and also from private patrons and churches in Tuscany. Stradano was also involved in the production of several court festivals and weddings, and in the 1570s he worked briefly in Naples and in Flanders for John of Austria.15 The artist is best known for his large number of preparatory drawings for prints and tapestries that illustrate and document life at the Medici court, significant battles, hunts, as well as other current events, and religious subjects. Stradano established a partnership with the Galles, a family who ran a print publishing house in Antwerp, where most of his print designs, such as the engravings in these two series, were produced initially under Philips Galle (1537ââ¬â1612).16 The family business was subsequently taken over by Philips Galleââ¬â¢s son, Theodor (1571ââ¬â1633), and then his grandson Johannes (1600ââ¬â76). Accordingly, the first two editions of the Americae Retectio prints cite Philips Galle as the printer and Philipsââ¬â¢s son-in-law, Adriaen Collaert (1560ââ¬â1618), as the engraver, while the second edition names Johannes Galle as the printer.17 Similarly, the first edition of the Nova Reperta series labels Philips Galle as the printer of the first edition, and then Theodor and Johannes Galle are credited with the two subsequent editions.18 A comparison between the engravings themselves and Stradanoââ¬â¢s six finished preparatory drawings for the prints ââ¬â five are in the Laurentian Library in Florence and the ââ¬Ëââ¬ËAmericaââ¬â¢Ã¢â¬â¢ print is housed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City (fig. 7) ââ¬â makes clear that the Galles reproduced Stradanoââ¬â¢s drawings with great precision and had little input into the content or style of the prints. They did, however, likely control when the prints would be published, how much they cost, and where they would be sold and distributed. Though little is known about the dissemination of the prints and though the prints are undated, a 1589 date on the Vespucci preparatory drawing in the Americae Retectio series (Laurentian Library) provides a d ate for Stradanoââ¬â¢s drawings and suggests that the prints were produced soon after this time.19 It is believed that at least four editions of the Nova Reperta series were printed between 1591 and 1638, and that the Americae Retectio series was first printed in 1589 and then reissued in 1592 for the one-hundredth anniversary of Columbusââ¬â¢s discovery.20 Luigi (1558ââ¬â1603) and Ludovico Alamanni are both cited as ââ¬Ëââ¬Ënoblemen of Florenceââ¬â¢Ã¢â¬â¢ in the caption on the Americae Retectio frontispiece, but only America, late 1580s. Pen and brown ink, brown wash, heightened with white, over black chalk. New York, Metropolitan Museum of Art. Image copyright The Metropolitan Museum of Art/Art Resource, NY. width=614 height=464 /> Giovanni Stradano, America, late 1580s. Pen and brown ink, brown wash, heightened with white, over black chalk. New York, Metropolitan Museum of Art. Image copyright The Metropolitan Museum of Art/Art Resource, NY. Luigi is named on the Nova Reperta frontispiece.21 Gert Jan Van der Sman has pointed out that Stradano refers to Luigi Alamanni as the auctor intellectualis, or ââ¬Ëââ¬Ëintellectual advisor,ââ¬â¢Ã¢â¬â¢ of many of his print designs in various inscriptions on preparatory drawings and sketches, and has considered Alamanniââ¬â¢s scholarship as a catalyst for many of Stradanoââ¬â¢s designs.22 Luigi Alamanni commissioned other works by Stradano, such as a series of drawings of Danteââ¬â¢s Divine Comedy, a series illustrating Homerââ¬â¢s Odyssey, and some of the prints from a series representing different types of hunting.23 Most of the preparatory drawings for the Americae Retectio prints and the drawings for the Dante series are today located in the same archival album of the Laurentian Library in Florence, indicating that they were conserved together by the Alamanni.24 The dates of the sheets, including the date on one of the American drawings, range from 1587 to 1 589, indicating that they were produced in Florence during this two-year period of time. The album is composed of fifty-six drawings: fifty illustrate canti from the Divine Comedy, four are preparatory drawings for the Americae Retectio series, one is a preparatory drawing for the print of Vespucci and the astrolabe from the Nova Reperta series, and one is a preparatory drawing for the frontispiece for Stradanoââ¬â¢s Calcius series ââ¬â an unfinished series presumably dedicated to soccer.25 Alamanni wrote copious notes on Dante in this album, and perhaps even did some of the drawings in it, demonstrating that he was closely involved in the creation of Stradanoââ¬â¢s images.26 He can also be credited with providing titles for the Dante drawings in the album, since his hand is visible on some of Stradanoââ¬â¢s signed drawings. .ubaaf7aa6eff219fb77ed8af9005637b7 , .ubaaf7aa6eff219fb77ed8af9005637b7 .postImageUrl , .ubaaf7aa6eff219fb77ed8af9005637b7 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ubaaf7aa6eff219fb77ed8af9005637b7 , .ubaaf7aa6eff219fb77ed8af9005637b7:hover , .ubaaf7aa6eff219fb77ed8af9005637b7:visited , .ubaaf7aa6eff219fb77ed8af9005637b7:active { border:0!important; } .ubaaf7aa6eff219fb77ed8af9005637b7 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ubaaf7aa6eff219fb77ed8af9005637b7 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ubaaf7aa6eff219fb77ed8af9005637b7:active , .ubaaf7aa6eff219fb77ed8af9005637b7:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ubaaf7aa6eff219fb77ed8af9005637b7 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ubaaf7aa6eff219fb77ed8af9005637b7 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ubaaf7aa6eff219fb77ed8af9005637b7 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ubaaf7aa6eff219fb77ed8af9005637b7 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ubaaf7aa6eff219fb77ed8af9005637b7:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ubaaf7aa6eff219fb77ed8af9005637b7 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ubaaf7aa6eff219fb77ed8af9005637b7 .ubaaf7aa6eff219fb77ed8af9005637b7-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ubaaf7aa6eff219fb77ed8af9005637b7:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: European Renaissance ">That the preparatory drawings for the Americae Retectio series and for the Vespucci ââ¬Ëââ¬ËAstrolabeââ¬â¢Ã¢â¬â¢ print returned to Florence after they were engraved, and were placed together in the album with these important Dante drawings, demonstrates that they were considered to be important collectibles for the Alamanni. In 1587, when Alamanni and Stradano were producing the Dante drawings representing hell, Galileo Galilei (1564ââ¬â1642) presented two lectures to the Accademia Fiorentina on the ââ¬Ëââ¬ËShape, Site and Size of the Inferno of Dante.ââ¬â¢Ã¢â¬â¢27 Thomas Settle proposes that the letters from Alamanni to Gal ileo from this period make clear that some of these illustrations in Alamanniââ¬â¢s album were created in conjunction with Galileoââ¬â¢s work, or that Galileo even had a hand in their design.28 The drawings of the navigators also include extensive notes, in Flemish and in Stradanoââ¬â¢s hand, to the printmakers. Stradano wrote in the captions at the base of the drawings and added several explanatory notes in the margins in order to describe some of the iconography in the images to the printmakers.29 Therefore, these drawings included important notes and ideas of Galileo and Stradano that Alamanni felt were worthy of safekeeping. During the time in which Stradano was producing the preparatory drawings for the prints, Luigi Alamanni was an active member of the Accademia degli Alterati, a literary group for whom the discovery of the New World was a subject of inquiry. A smaller and more private academy in comparison with other Florentine Cinquecento academies, such as the Accademia Fiorentina and the Accademia della Crusca, the Accademia degli Alterati began in 1569 among a group of Florentine noblemen who met frequently to discuss theoretical and technical issues related to their own writing and to other authors, particularly ancient poets, as well as Dante, Ariosto, and Tasso.30 Members included individuals from prominent Florentine families, such as the Ricasoli, Neroni, Rucellai, Davanzati, and Albizzi. Two of the more famousmembers of the academy were Filippo Sassetti (1540ââ¬â88), amerchant who traveled to India and whose letters from abroad are informative about India and the New World, and Giovanni Battista Strozzi (1551ââ¬â1634), the author of both an epic poem about Vespucci and an elaborate Vespucci intermezzo for Prince Cosimo II deââ¬â¢Mediciââ¬â¢smarriage celebration in 1608. In an undated document Strozzi wrote out a list of potential discussion topics for the Alterati: one of them included whether ââ¬Ëââ¬Ëthe discovery of the Indies was damning or useful to our country.ââ¬â¢Ã¢â¬â¢31 According to academy member Jacopo Soldaniââ¬â¢s funeral oration for Alamanni, Luigi suggested that a poem be written about the navigator in order ââ¬Ëââ¬Ëto render more glorious his country.ââ¬â¢Ã¢â¬â¢ Not coincidentally, Sassetti and Strozzi were writing about the Americas in the years just preceding Stradanoââ¬â¢s design of these American prints for the Alamanni. Sassetti was an esteemedmember of the Academy before his travels around the world, and many of the letters that Sassetti wrote on his journey were sent to members of the group, such as Bernardo Davanzati, Pietro Vettori, Francesco Buonamici, and Strozzi.33 Although Sassetti does not write about his brief experience in America, some of his letters refer to the discoveries of Vespucci an d Columbus.34 In December 1585, Sassetti wrote passionately to his friend Michele Saladini, a Florentine merchant living in Pisa, of Columbusââ¬â¢s route and discovery, and then explained: ââ¬Ëââ¬ËBut to return to Columbus once more, I do not think that his glory was dictated by the action of the wind . . . and I in particular know this so much so that I have helped and urged our Tender one to write about it: a worthy work of such greatness and wonder as to compete with the story of Ulysses. ââ¬â¢Ã¢â¬â¢35 ââ¬Ëââ¬ËOur Tender oneââ¬â¢Ã¢â¬â¢ here is the Accademia degli Alteratiââ¬â¢s pseudonym for Giovanni Battista Strozzi. The comment that Columbusââ¬â¢s story rivals Ulyssesââ¬â¢s tale is intriguing, since Alamanni was involved with Stradano in producing an illustrated edition of Homerââ¬â¢s epic poem that never came to fruition. This citation from Sassettiââ¬â¢s letter clearly shows that already by 1585 Sassetti had contacted Strozzi about writing a poem about Columbusââ¬â¢s heroic travels. But Strozzi chose to write about Vespucci rather than Columbus.36 He likely began writing the poem in the mid-1580s, when he and Sassetti were obviously engaged in a discourse on the importance of writing about the Italian navigators.37 Strozzi could have also been influenced by Giulio Cesare Stellaââ¬â¢s (1564ââ¬â1624) epic poem about Columbus, and perhaps it was knowledge of Stellaââ¬â¢s poem that provoked Strozzi to write of Vespucci inste ad of Columbus.38 In 1590, Il Colombeide (The Columbeis, 1589), Stellaââ¬â¢s romantic text based on the writings of Gonzalo Fernaà ´ndez de Oviedo y Valdeà ´s (1478ââ¬â1557) and PeterMartyr dââ¬â¢Anghiera (1457ââ¬â1526) and describing Columbusââ¬â¢s discovery and interaction with the natives, was sent to the Accademia degli Alterati.39 Certainly the Academy knew of Stellaââ¬â¢s poem earlier, since it had already been published in a pirated version in London in 1585. Similar to Stellaââ¬â¢s poem, Strozziââ¬â¢s text about Vespucci boasts of the navigatorââ¬â¢s Florentine origins and describes him as a mythological hero. The writings of Sassetti, Stella, and Strozzi, who were all involved in the Accademia degli Alterati, reveal that Alamanni and members of the Academy were discussing the accomplishments of Vespucci as well. That Luigi Alamanni wrote and read Sassettiââ¬â¢s funeral oration and that the two men exchanged letters, suggests that they were not only colleagues, but close friends as well.40 Stradanoââ¬â¢s preparatory drawings for the prints were born out of these literary activities, which were related to the discovery of the New World as considered among the Alterati. SOURCES AT THE MEDICI COURT Stradano and Alamanni had other ways in which to gain information about the New World that might have provoked the production of these prints. Another Alamanni family member, Vincenzo di Andrea Alamanni (1537ââ¬â91), had access to news about the Americas. From the late 1570s to the 1580s, he was an ambassador employed first by Grand Duke Francesco deââ¬â¢ Medici (1547ââ¬â87) and then by Grand Duke Ferdinando deââ¬â¢ Medici to work at the Spanish court in Madrid, where he supplied information about imports from the Americas and sent updates about shipments being sent from Portugal to the Medici-controlled port at Livorno.41 It was Vincenzo Alamanni who was entrusted with the acquisition of Father Giovanni Pietro Maffeiââ¬â¢s Historiarum indicarum (History of the Indies, 1588)ââ¬âa book about the conversion and history of the natives of both the New World and Asia ââ¬â on behalf of Grand Duke Ferdinando.42 Before defining the significance of Maffeiââ¬â¢s text for Stradano, it is necessary to expand on Grand Duke Ferdinandoââ¬â¢s cultural politics in relation to the Americas, since Stradanoââ¬â¢s prints evoke the interests of the duke during this first year of his dukedom. In 1588, Ferdinando left his position as cardinal in Rome to become Grand Duke of Florence, following the sudden death of his brother Francesco. In Rome he had been an avid collector of American objects, such as featherwork and hammocks: more importantly, he became the custodian of an important manuscript about Mexico, the Historia general de las cosas de Nueva EspanÃÅ"a (General History of the Things of New Spain), a codex written by the Franciscan friar Bernardino de Sahaguà ´n (1499ââ¬â1590).43 This manuscript recording the history and nature of New Spain was banned by King Philip II and was likely entrusted to Ferdinando because he was cardinal protectorate of the Franciscan order and possessed an interest in the Americas. He brought these treasures to Florence and commissioned Ludovico Buti (1560ââ¬â1611) to fresco American natives and a scene of the conquest of Mexico in his Armory, a space for entertaining visiting dignitaries. Though Ferdinando and his Medici predecessors had no concrete ties to the Americas, in subsequent years he would devote himself to the development of the port of Livorno and to the creation of a colonyââ¬âor at least an outpostââ¬âin the New World.44 Ferdinandoââ¬â¢s support of the publication of Maffeiââ¬â¢s book on the land, people, and conversion of the New World and Asia was therefore relevant to both his political agenda and to his religious and cultural interests. The patronage of the book began during his cardinalship and the text was ultimately published in 1588 after he became Grand Duke and while Stradano was working on these print designs. Stradano refers to Maffeiââ¬â¢s text in an inscription on the verso of the preparatory drawing for the â⠬Ëââ¬ËAmericaââ¬â¢Ã¢â¬â¢ print (fig. 5) for the Nova Reperta series.45 He writes with regard to one of the novel animals he portrayed in the drawing: ââ¬Ëââ¬ËSee volume II of the Bergomese Jesuit Pietro Maffeiââ¬â¢s Historiarum Indicarum.ââ¬â¢Ã¢â¬â¢46 Stradano used Maffei and other contemporary textual sources about the New World when designing the iconography of the prints in his Venationes (Animal Hunt) suite of 104 engravings, also printed by the Galle family, begun as early as 1570 and initially dedicated to the Medici.47 Several of the prints in the series depict natives in feather skirts and headdresses in idyllic landscapes, where they are seen procuring birds, animals, and pearls in great abundance and using novel means. For example, the print for the ââ¬Ëââ¬ËAmerican Indians catching geese with gourdsââ¬â¢Ã¢â¬â¢ (fig. 8) illustrates an unusual style of hunting that was described in great detail in Oviedoââ¬â¢s De la natural hystoria de las Indias (Natural History of the Indies, 1526).48 These same Native Americans are also depicted in the scene of natives using pelicans to fish, a Chinese method of fishing with birds described in Maffeiââ¬â¢s History.49 Stradano also used Joseà ´ de Acostaââ¬â¢s (1539ââ¬â1600) Historia natural y moral de las Indias (Natural and Moral History of the Indies, 1590) for his preparatory drawings for a never-produced print of ââ¬Ëââ¬ËIndians smoking out animals.ââ¬â¢Ã¢â¬â¢50 This was another unusual means of hunting in which Mexicans set fire to land in order to force animals out of hiding and then capture them.51 In comparison with the images of hunters in the Venationes series, Stradanoââ¬â¢s New World representations in the Americae Retectio and the Nova Reperta appear fanciful. While many of the hunt prints are certainly imaginary, their subject matter and the series as a whole are more ethnographic in conception, endeavoring to portray realistic representations of different types of hunting throughout the world. By contrast, while perhaps also based on the writings of Maffei, Oviedo, and Giovanni Stradano, Indians Hunting for Geese with Gourds in theVenationes series, 1580s. Engraving. , Rare Book andManuscript Library, Columbia University in the City of New York. de Acosta, the Americae Retectio and Nova Reperta prints of the Americas neither reflect current events nor endeavor to portray the New World realistically. In this way, they are more similar to some of the allegorical paintings and cartography produced at the Medici court. As a member of the Accademia del Disegno in Florence and as a participant in Vasariââ¬â¢s workshop at the court, Stradano would have been continually confronted with the use of emblems and imprese in art.52 For instance, Stradano likely aided Vasari with the frescoes in the Sala degli Elementi in the Palazzo Vecchio from the late 1550s, which were commissioned by Duke Cosimo and employed imprese.53 Two of Vasariââ¬â¢s frescoed walls, like each of Stradanoââ¬â¢s prints, feature a hero or god in the center of the composition acting out a narrative: Saturn is offered fruits on one wall and Venus rises from the sea (fig. 9) on the adjacent wall.54 In the waters surrounding these figures emblematic compositions ââ¬â such as a symbol of abundance with her cornucopia (at left on the Saturn wall); a turtle with a sail alluding to one of Cosimoââ¬â¢s favorite mottos borrowed from Augustus, festina lente (ââ¬Ëââ¬Ëmake haste slowly,ââ¬â¢Ã¢â¬â¢ at right on the Saturn wall); and a triton blowing into a shell, representing fame (at right on the Venus wall)ââ¬âreveal different aspects of Medici power. Francesca Fiorani has shown how these emblematic frescoes in the Palazzo Vecchio communicated Medici control over the cosmos in a similar way as the cartography produced at the court.55 Stradano himself made maps for the private rooms in the Palazzo Vecchio and was ce rtainly aware of the traditional use of allegory in cartography.56 .u5831c7045b77c18b8eda858cfaa3a2ef , .u5831c7045b77c18b8eda858cfaa3a2ef .postImageUrl , .u5831c7045b77c18b8eda858cfaa3a2ef .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u5831c7045b77c18b8eda858cfaa3a2ef , .u5831c7045b77c18b8eda858cfaa3a2ef:hover , .u5831c7045b77c18b8eda858cfaa3a2ef:visited , .u5831c7045b77c18b8eda858cfaa3a2ef:active { border:0!important; } .u5831c7045b77c18b8eda858cfaa3a2ef .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u5831c7045b77c18b8eda858cfaa3a2ef { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u5831c7045b77c18b8eda858cfaa3a2ef:active , .u5831c7045b77c18b8eda858cfaa3a2ef:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u5831c7045b77c18b8eda858cfaa3a2ef .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u5831c7045b77c18b8eda858cfaa3a2ef .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u5831c7045b77c18b8eda858cfaa3a2ef .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u5831c7045b77c18b8eda858cfaa3a2ef .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u5831c7045b77c18b8eda858cfaa3a2ef:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u5831c7045b77c18b8eda858cfaa3a2ef .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u5831c7045b77c18b8eda858cfaa3a2ef .u5831c7045b77c18b8eda858cfaa3a2ef-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u5831c7045b77c18b8eda858cfaa3a2ef:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Carolingian Renaissance EssayHe would have known well Egnazio Dantiââ¬â¢s (1536ââ¬â86) and Stefano Buonsignoriââ¬â¢s (d. 1589) painted maps in Cosimoââ¬â¢s Guardaroba Nuova, a collection space comprised of cabinets decorated with different parts of the world, begun in 1563 and left unfinished in the 1580s.57 Here the artists-cartographers incorporated fantastic and mythological creatures in their stunningly accurate portrayals of different regions. In Stradanoââ¬â¢s prints the visual morphology of allegory, as seen in Vasariââ¬â¢s frescoes and in maps produced at the Medici court, are united with knowledge about the New World acquired through circulating texts and news in order to convey a message regarding Florenceââ¬â¢s propitious role in the Americas. AMERICA UNVEILED The frontispiece of Stradanoââ¬â¢s Americae Retectio series serves to introduce this celebratory print series. It exhibits an elaborate mythology rejoicing inthe retectio, or discovery, of the Americas as an Italian endeavor. Giorgio Vasari, Cristofano Gherardi, and workshop, Birth of Venus,1555. Fresco. Florence, Sala degli Elementi, Palazzo Vecchio. Alinari/Art Resource,NY. the retectio, or discovery, of the Americas as an Italian endeavor. Though Magellan, a Portuguese explorer, is featured as the fourth print in this series, significantly, there is no reference to him or to his Portuguese origins on the frontispiece. In the frontispiece the gods Flora and her husband Zephyr (symbols of Florence), Janus and a pelican (a symbol for Genoa), and Oceanus (a symbol for sea travel) present a globe, while set within medallions at the top of the sheet are the two Italian navigators, Christopher Columbus and Amerigo Vespucci. At the upper corners of the composition, other symbols for Florence and Genoa, namely, Mars and Neptune, ride chariots. Thus, Florence, Vespucciââ¬â¢s birthplace, is represented at left in the composition with images of Mars, Flora, and a portrait of Vespucci himself, while Genoa, Columbusââ¬â¢s birthplace, is represented at right with Neptune, Janus, and a portrait of Columbus. This entire scene floats above the waters off the west coast of Italy, allowing an Italocentric view of land at the bottom of the composition to highlight the cities of Florence and Genoa, again reminding the viewer of the origins of the navigators portrayed above. Stradano quite likely emulated another triumphant work of art when he designed this frontispiece.58 The organization of the composition of the Americae Retectio frontispiece print closely resembles a tapestry from The Spheres series produced in Brussels around 1530 for John III of Portugal (1502ââ¬â57) and his new Habsburg wife Catherine of Austria (1507ââ¬â78). These three tapestries, each featuring a sphere held by mythological figures and attributed to the design of Bernard van Orley (1491ââ¬â1542), glorify the discoveries of the Portuguese navigators during a period in which Portugal was at the height of its mercantilist power, with possessions in both Asia and Africa.59 Jerry Brotton writes of the final tapestry in the series, representing earth held by Jupiter and Juno (fig. 10): ââ¬Ëââ¬ËIn one breathtaking visual conceit the globe visualizes claim to geographically distant territories, whilst also imbuing his claims with a more intangible access to esoteric cosmological power and authority reflected in the celestial iconography which surrounds the central terrestrial globe.ââ¬â¢Ã¢â¬â¢60 As a Northern tapestry designer, Stradano could have known firsthand, or heard descriptions of, these renowned textiles. While he emulates the basic composition of Van Orleyââ¬â¢s tapestry of Jupiter and Juno, he substitutes different gods and turns the globe upright to make the New World and Europe most prominent. In mimicking this propagandistic tapestry boasting of Portugalââ¬â¢s navigational and commercial prowess, Stradano usurped its message of power and glory on behalf of these two Italian navigators. Within the iconographic framework of Van Orleyââ¬â¢s tapestry, Stradano in his print includes many more emblematic figures, as well as small details, portraits, and a map to emphasize Italyââ¬â¢s role in the discovery. Below the dove at the top of the print, navigational devices, namely a sextant and a compass, represent the tools the explorers used to make the journeys possible. The minuscule ships depicted on the globe represent Columbusââ¬â¢s and Vespucciââ¬â¢s voyages and are more subtle indicators of the travels of the two navigators. The frontispiece also recalls preparatory drawings for, and commemorative prints of, ephemeral events at the Medici court. The images of the two gods aboard chariots recall the floats that were paraded down the Arno or in the Pitti Palace courtyard in Medici festivals, as well as wedding celebrations, such as the boats and seascape scenes used in the 1579 wedding between Grand Duke Francesco and Bianca Cappello (1548ââ¬â87) (fig. 11), and in the Attributed to the design of Bernard Van Orley, The Earth Protectedby Jupiter and Juno, 1530s. Tapestry. Madrid, Palacio Real. intermezzo for the 1589 celebration for Ferdinandoââ¬â¢s wedding.61 For the drapery held by Flora and Janus, Stradano might have also looked to triumphal arches in public Florentine processions, where pagan gods would flank a coat-of-arms and drapery was used as decoration on arches and on the facades of churches for special events. As a court artist who worked on the production teams of various Medici festivals and public events, Stradano Artist unknown, Parade boat for the wedding of Francesco I deââ¬â¢ Medici to Bianca Cappello in Raffaello Gualterotti, Feste delle nozze del serenissimo Don Francesco Medici Duca di Toscana et della serenissima sua consorte Bianca Cappello. Florence, 1579. Woodcut. Spencer Collection, The New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox and Tilden Foundations. width=590 height=425 /> Artist unknown, Parade boat for the wedding of Francesco I deââ¬â¢Medici to Bianca Cappello in Raffaello Gualterotti, Feste delle nozze del serenissimoDon Francesco Medici Duca di Toscana et della serenissima sua consorte BiancaCappello. Florence, 1579. Woodcut. Spencer Collection, The New York PublicLibrary, Astor, Lenox and Tilden Foundations. would have been quite familiar with this style of representation and its triumphal intent. The portraits of the two navigators within the medallions at the top of the image, combined with the blatant omission of Magellan, are perhaps the most overtly Italianist aspects of the print. For the portrait of Vespucci, Stradano likely copied a dubious portrait of the navigator painted by Domenico Ghirlandaio (1449ââ¬â94) in a fresco of the Madonna della Misericordia in the family chapel in Ognissanti church in Florence (fig. 12). It is not certain whether the figure at the far left in the Ghirlandaio fresco that recalls Stradanoââ¬â¢s portrait actually represents Amerigo Vespucci, especially since Vespucci, who in the fresco looks to be an adult, would have been an adolescent when the fresco was painted in the 1470s. But Vasariââ¬â¢s having written in his Le Vite delle piu` eccellenti pittori, scultori, ed architettori (The Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors and Archi tects, 1550) that the navigator was represented in the fresco, demonstrates that among sixteenth-century Florentines it was thought to be a true likeness of Domenico Ghirlandaio, Madonna della Misericordia, 1470s. Fresco. Florence, Vespucci chapel in Ognissanti church. Scala/Art Resource, NY. the explorer.62 Stradano reuses this same profile of Vespucci wearing a late fifteenth-century style hat in all of his representations of the navigator in his other prints.63 Stradanoââ¬â¢s portrait of Columbus was most certainly based on the portrait of the navigator first produced for Paolo Giovioââ¬â¢s (1483ââ¬â1552) portrait museum and then reproduced both in Paolo Giovioââ¬â¢s Elogia virorum bellica virtute illustrium (Praise of Men Illustrious for Courage in War, 1575) (fig. 13) and in a portrait within the Medici collection.64 This portrait type became the standard iconography for Columbus, and can be seen in many other portraits of the navigator, both painted and in print.65 Stradano used the most well-known images of the explorers to make them easily recognizable to his viewers. With their names and origins inscribed around their likenesses, the medallions in Stradanoââ¬â¢s print recall commemorative numismatics and endow these likenesses with antique grandeu r. The spatially manipulated map of the Tuscan and Ligurian coast at the very bottom of the image makes clear that the discovery of the New World began from the northwestern coast of Italy, specifically from the navigatorsââ¬â¢ hometowns, Florence and Genoa. Here the west coast of Italy is reoriented so that it is featured at the base of the page. Though Florence is actually a good distance from the coast, it is depicted prominently at the lower left of the map with an entire cityscape, quite close to the waterââ¬â¢s edge and framing the view of the coast. The Medici port of Livorno is also highlighted at the left with an image of a Medici fortress. Other important port towns are labeled and illustrated similarly with recognizable buildings. Genoa marks the very center of the map and is a larger coastal town in comparison with smaller towns labeled Cogoreto, Albizola, Savona. Cogoreto and Savona are included on the map likely because Oviedo wrote that Columbus might have been from one of these towns outside of Genoa.66 By reorienting Columbusââ¬â¢s and Vespucciââ¬â¢s birthplaces on the map, Stradano appoints these Italian cities as the starting points for the discovery of the New World. Stradanoââ¬â¢s distorted map closely resembles Egnazio Dantiââ¬â¢s map of Liguria in his frescoes in the Vatican (fig. 14) painted from 1580 to 1581, indicating either that the two one-time Medici court artists used the same source to depict the coast or that Stradano knew Dantiââ¬â¢s frescoes in Rome.67 Within Dantiââ¬â¢s map a detail of Neptune in a chariot leading an allegory of Columbus holding a compass includes tritons, fantastical sea creatures, and Tobias Stimmer, Columbus, in Paolo Giovio, Elogia Virorum BellicaVirtute Illustrium, Basel, 1575. Woodcut. Print Collection, Miriam and Ira D.Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs, The New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox and Tilden Foundations. a banner stating, ââ¬Ëââ¬ËChristopher Columbus of Liguria: Discoverer of the New Worldââ¬â¢Ã¢â¬â¢ (ââ¬Ëââ¬ËChristophorur Columbus Ligur. Novi Orbis Repertorââ¬â¢Ã¢â¬â¢). The use of allegory and inscription in Dantiââ¬â¢s cartography are in the same vein as Stradanoââ¬â¢s allegory of Genoa both in the frontispiece and in the Columbus print. Dantiââ¬â¢s and Stradanoââ¬â¢s maps ââ¬â with their manipulated westward view of the coast of Italy, heroic representation of Columbus, and boastful Latin inscriptions ââ¬â reveal the way in which cartography and allegory were used as cultural propaganda. Though Stradano is credited for the design of the image on the frontispiece, it was likely the literary scholar Alamanni who chose the Egnazio Danti, Liguria, 1580. Fresco. Vatican, Gallery of Maps. Scala/Art Resource, NY. erudite Latin inscription for the caption below the image.68 The printââ¬â¢s caption includes the characteristic signature of the artist and printmaker at left and the dedication to the ââ¬Ëââ¬Ënoble Alamanni brothersââ¬â¢Ã¢â¬â¢ at right. Both the preparatory drawing and the print include an interrogative title in the center between the artistââ¬â¢s signature at left and the patronsââ¬â¢ names at right: ââ¬Ëââ¬ËQUIS POTIS EST DIGNUM POLLENT PECTORE CARMEN CONDERE PRO RERUM MAIESTATE, HISQUE REPERTIS?ââ¬â¢Ã¢â¬â¢, which translates as: ââ¬Ëââ¬ËWho is able to compose a song worthy of a powerful heart on behalf of the majesty of these things that have been discovered?ââ¬â¢Ã¢â¬â¢ These Latin words are the first lines from book 5 of Titus Lucretius Carusââ¬â¢s (99ââ¬â55 BCE) De Rerum Natura (On the Nature of Things) written in the first century BCE. By the sixteenth century the De Rerum Natura was available in several printed editions and was scrutinized within literary circles both as a significant scientific treatise and as a work of great poetry that was thought to have inspired Virgil.69 The De Rerum Natura likely formed part of the readings and discussion of the members of the Accademia degli Alterati, who were at this time emulating the epic poetic form of Virgil.70 Lucretiusââ¬â¢s discussion of technology and invention could have likewise shaped Alamanniââ¬â¢s conception of both of Stradanoââ¬â¢s print series, documenting the new inventions and discoveries of early modern man. The last lines of book 5 of Lucretius, in particular, describe the idea of progress in a manner that recalls the prints in the Nova Reperta series: Ships, farms, walls, laws, arms, roads, and all the rest, Rewards and pleasures, all lifeââ¬â¢s luxuries, Painting, and song, and sculpture ââ¬â these were taught Slowly, a very little at a time, By practice and by trial, as the mind Went forward searching. Time brings everything Little by little to the shores of light By grace of art and reason, till we see All things illuminate each otherââ¬â¢s rise Up to the pinnacle of loftiness. Like Lucretius, whose poem lists the various new inventions of his time, Stradanoââ¬â¢s Nova Reperta prints each represent a different result of progress in the sixteenth century, illustrating many of the examples that Lucretius cites, including ships, arms, and painting. Lucretiusââ¬â¢s discussion of early man is also intriguing with regard to Stradanoââ¬â¢s prints because it corresponds with many sixteenth-century descriptions of the people of the New World: People did not know, In those days, how to work with fire, to use The skins of animals for clothes; they lived In groves and woods, and mountain-caves â⬠¦ Relying on their strength and speed, theyââ¬â¢d hunt The forest animals by throwing rocks Or wielding clubs ââ¬â there were many to bring down. The idea of the unclothed noble savage who hunts wild animals with a club is here described in Lucretius in a similar way that many sixteenth-century sources described the New World native, and like Stradano depicts the native in many of his hunt prints. For instance, Alison Brown has shown that Vespucciââ¬â¢s writings about the New World ââ¬Ëââ¬Ëwere interpreted within the conceptual framework of Lucretiusââ¬â¢Ã¢â¬â¢ in early sixteenth-century Florence.73 Though written in the first century BCE, the De Rerum Natura must have appeared shockingly modern and comprehensible to these sixteenth-century scholars who were considering new inventions and discoveries, and trying to comprehend progress and this previously unknown land often equated with antiquity. Lucretiusââ¬â¢s evocative question used in the caption ââ¬â ââ¬Ëââ¬Ëwho is able to compose a song worthy of a powerful heart on behalf of the majesty of these things that have been discovered?ââ¬â¢Ã¢â¬â¢ ââ¬â could have also been understood as a literal challenge to poets contemporaneously writing about the discovery. Perhaps the caption even alludes to Stellaââ¬â¢s Columbeidos and Strozziââ¬â¢s text about Vespucciââ¬â¢s journey. Here Stradano has not chosen to write a song, but has rather designed images ââ¬Ëââ¬Ëon behalf of the majesty of these things that have been discovered.ââ¬â¢Ã¢â¬â¢ By referring to this other medium, the song or poem, within his own engraving, Stradano has commented on the paragone debate between the different arts, and has shown that the print is the ââ¬Ëââ¬Ëworthyââ¬â¢Ã¢â¬â¢ medium for depicting this ââ¬Ëââ¬Ëmajesty.ââ¬â¢Ã¢â¬â¢ The following three prints in the series thus represent visual prin ted songs dedicated to each discoverer.
Monday, November 25, 2019
Who Is the Admission Committee What Do They Look For
Who Is the Admission Committee What Do They Look For SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips The admissions committee that decides whether or not you get into your dream school can often seem shrouded in mystery. Who, exactly, are these people? A group of soulless office workers who delight in stamping ââ¬Å"Rejectedâ⬠across applications? A team of well-trained robots who data-mine your application and input it into an algorithm? While it may seem like the admissions committee process is secretive, thatââ¬â¢s actually not the case. Admissions committees are made up of real, live humans whose sole job is to put together the best incoming class possible for their college or university. Letââ¬â¢s learn a little more about college admissions committees. What Is an Admission Committee? A college admissions committee is a group of people who work together to make decisions about who is accepted as part of the next matriculating class. Admissions committees are made up of admissions staffers - university employees whose job it is to assess each applicant and decide whether or not he or she is a good fit for acceptance. Most highly selective schools are fairly secretive or nebulous about their admissions process, but many public schools have guaranteed admission for students who meet certain criteria, as well as offer specific information about expected scores and GPAs for applicants. The vast majority have multiple people read your application to decide whether or not youââ¬â¢ll be accepted. Who Reads My Admission Application? Your college application will likely be read by at least two groups of people - regional staffers and the wider admissions committee, which may be made up of deans, faculty members, and even current students. Regional staffers are college admissions employees who focus on your specific geographical region. They are typically the people who travel to college fairs in your region and may conduct interviews. You might have met them before, if you attended a college fair at your school or in your area. The rest of the admissions committee can be structured differently, depending on the college or university. Often, there are deans or other high-ranking members of the admissions office who participate in the second read-through of your application. If youââ¬â¢re applying to a specific school or program, faculty members who know their coursework may be part of the decision, as they have a good sense of who can handle their classes. Some schools include students on the admissions committee, who speak to whether or not applicants would be a good addition to the larger school community and student body. Over the past few months, the lawsuit against Harvardââ¬â¢s discrimination towards Asian students offered insight into the previously highly secretive process. The admissions committee at Harvard assesses the grades, test scores, extracurricular activities, intended majors, ethnicities, and regional background of every student. From this information, we can assume that other highly competitive and secretive schools use similar criteria. While you obviously canââ¬â¢t control your ethnicity or where you live, you can control the rest of your application, so itââ¬â¢s important to put as much effort in your grades, essays, and extracurriculars as possible. What Is a Typical Admissions Committee Process? Very few schools divulge what happens during their admissions process or give specific, data-driven criteria. That being said, schools like Harvard have released the questions that admissions committee members ask themselves as theyââ¬â¢re reviewing your application. Hereââ¬â¢s a sample of some of the questions Harvard admission committee members consider: Have you been stretching yourself academically and personally? How have you used your time? Do you have initiative? Are you a self-starter? Do you care deeply about anything - intellectual? Extracurricular? Personal? How open are you to new ideas and people? Will you contribute something to Harvard and to your classmates? Will you benefit from your Harvard experience? While the specific questions may vary from school to school, the basic gist is the same. Schools want to know whether or not youââ¬â¢ve been challenging yourself and how youââ¬â¢ll contribute to their campus and classrooms. Most college admissions committees have at least a two-step process for applicants. First, applications are read by regional staffers. These admissions committee members look over your application for basic qualifications like grades, test scores, and extracurriculars to make sure you match up to the standards of the typical matriculating student. If those qualifications match up, your application will be brought to the wider admission committee, made up of senior admissions faculty, deans, professors, and maybe even students. Together, that committee discusses your application and makes a decision on whether or not to admit you. Recap: Understanding the Admission Committee A college admissions committee is a group of people who read your application and decide whether or not youââ¬â¢ll be a good fit to attend their school. Considering that most colleges and universities have at least two read through of each student they consider a good fit, you want to make sure that your qualifications are obvious enough to pass through the first read and move on to the second. That means that your grades and test scores should be close to the middle range of scores for accepted applicants at your school so that youââ¬â¢ll be considered. You also want to make sure that the qualitative parts of your application are up to snuff as well. Consider what the admissions committee will be asking themselves about you. What does your academic, extracurricular, and personal record demonstrate? What story have you told about who you are and how you might contribute to the college or university of your dreams? Whatââ¬â¢s Next? Looking for application tips for some of the most selective schools? Read our complete guides to the University of California system and to the Georgetown application. Should you apply early or regular decision to college? Find out the pros and cons of early decision in this article. Not sure what to major in? Get expert advice in our guide to choosing a college major, and learn the five main factors to consider before you declare a major. Want to build the best possible college application? We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools, from state colleges to the Ivy League. We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools. Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in.
Thursday, November 21, 2019
Managing Activities Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words
Managing Activities - Essay Example The Chairman, Stuart Rose, has the responsibility for the monitoring of all business activities; however, executive directors have placed at each organizational department ensuring the close control over the firmââ¬â¢s activities. Apart from the directors of each department there are also directors that are not related with a particular organizational sectors ââ¬â non - executive directors. Although their role in the development of business activities is not made clear it can be assumed that they can intervene in all firmââ¬â¢s sectors ââ¬â in accordance with the CEOââ¬â¢s guidelines or the relevant suggestions of each departmentââ¬â¢s executive director. It is assumed that cooperation and coordination are strongly promoted in the workplace. The development of divisions within the organization increases the effectiveness of the firmââ¬â¢s control over its activities. As for the firmââ¬â¢s organizational culture, there are some points that need to be highligh ted. All business activities are developed in accordance with the Corporate Governance Framework and the Code of Ethics ââ¬â as presented in the firmââ¬â¢s website. In accordance with the corporate website, the corporate governance is based on the following principles: ââ¬Ëquality, value, service, innovation and trustââ¬â¢ (corporate website, governance framework, 2009). A characteristic element of the firmââ¬â¢s governance is the use of the so-called ââ¬Ëplan ââ¬â Aââ¬â¢ which aims to align all corporate activities with the environmental needs ââ¬â promotion of sustainability through the business operations. In other words, corporate culture is based on the following values: application of corporate and social ethics and protection of the environment. 1b. The development of Marks and Spencer in the market ââ¬â both the British and the international ââ¬â has been achieved through the promotion of a series of values and the active support to the principles of
Wednesday, November 20, 2019
Entrepreneurship International new ventures - internalization, growth Thesis - 1
Entrepreneurship International new ventures - internalization, growth path, Measutement - Thesis Example Logitech and Skype are two firms that started out as international new ventures. Logitech and Skype are selected for case studies because they both represent the opportunities accorded international entrepreneurs and at the same time represent two different types of opportunities and risks taken and how those risks pay off and can be detrimental to international entrepreneurs. In this regard, Logitech represents how risks in international entrepreneurships can be profitable and Skype represents how risks can actually be detrimental to international new ventures. The results of this study confirm both network and internationalization theories. These results are discussed and implications for theory and practice are also discussed. Studies on international firms often focus on multi-national enterprises (MNE) which usually begin as large and powerful domestic firms that eventually branch out into the international arena (Oviatt & McDougall, 1994). However, advances in technology and an increase in the number of individuals with experience in international business have opened up opportunities for non-traditional MNEs (Oviatt & McDougall, 1994). Since the 1990s, there have been a significant and progressive growth in the number of ââ¬Ënew and young firmsââ¬â¢ that join the international market from the start (McDougall, Oviatt, & Shrader, 2003, p. 59). This trend in internationalisation from the start is known as International New Ventures (INV) (McDougall, et al., 2003). Researchers have attempted to understand why new firms which are comparatively small, would assume the additional ââ¬Ëriskââ¬â¢ of venturing directly into the international market (McDougall, et al., 2003, p. 60). Traditional international business theories fail to provide a framework for analysing and understanding why international entrepreneurs venture out into the global market place from inception. This is because traditional international
Monday, November 18, 2019
I phone5 Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words
I phone5 - Research Paper Example Featuring of an architectural website, Dezeen, in the launch video of i phone5 focuses on the variance and depth of new promotional partnerships between different category products such as Apple Inc. and Dezeen, an architecture, interiors and design company website. Apple Inc. has given huge promotional leverage to Dezeen in the videos, thus, marking a new chapter of relational linking by entering into collaboration with the architecture magazine. It highlights how LTE technology offers ââ¬Å"really fast downloads over your cellular networkâ⬠. Marketing of Apple has always been a hush-hush matter. Apple contacted Dezene a year back for a customised version of its website with no advertisements and social media links without disclosing its strategy to the management of Dezeen (Golson, September 2012). The tie-up between Apple i phone5 and Dezeen magazine on architecture, interiors and design by showing the home page of the company website on the promotional videos, on the occasi on of the launch of its latest i phone5 version has huge management and functional implications for the architectural company. It offers a trade-off to the viewer of purchasing a superior quality product although it wonââ¬â¢t be a decision taken at once, as the ad viewer would analyse the future cost and quality trajectory of the magazine in the category it belongs to. If the consumer wants to replace the product, as in this case, the decision will be taken by comparing it with the currently owned and subscribed magazine and other available magazines on architecture and design in the market. If after visiting the Dezeen company website through the Apple i phone5 link given on the email of the user, it reveals that the difference in quality is tangibly and intangibly significant relative to the cost of the architectural magazine, the possibility of replacing the current magazine with Dezeen increases. It means increase in the sale of Dezeen product. Thus, purchase decision depends , as per general modelling related to replacement. In the case of i phone5 and Dezeen, both the products are not complimentary as they are un-related. Therefore, the purchase decision in one category, i.e., the Dezeen, would not be impressed by the purchase decision in another category, i.e., the Apple companyââ¬â¢s newly launched i phone5 (Sriram et al., 2010). Nevertheless, if the products in both the categories have been purchased, the incentive to replace them with the latest versions, as in the case of Apple i phone5, the consumer decision is going to be taken on the quality parameter only; the higher the quality, the more inspired the decision for replacement. Consumer leverage would be more if both the products are replaced relatively to a single category product replacement (Sriram et al., 2010). Anyways, the great thing for an architecture website is that a technology giant like Apple has contacted it for sharing business leverage mutually through an email link to the we bsite address for the visitor to surf the pages of the magazine compelling the viewer to take a better decision after analysing the trade-off. As per the general model for replacement, if two
Friday, November 15, 2019
The theories of leadership and motivation
The theories of leadership and motivation Leadership is the character which every organisation wants to see in their staff and the person who is self motivated and who can motivate the team members become a good manager. Leadership is nothing but inspiring the team leader is the one who does it, inspiration is nothing but motivation. So leadership and motivation is a chemistry which can take any difficult task to success. The leadership and motivation chemistry is mostly helpful in management sector whether it is in business or in the team; every individual posses leadership but the one who practices on the go become a perfect leader. The main aspect a leader consists is a vision for the certain purpose. When a task or project is taken over by a company the company searches for a leader who posses knowledge on the project and vision how to develop the project, make use of colleagues and give the organisation a profit on it. A leader tends to influence the task to be continued and change to be taken place to make the organisation profitable. There are several theories on leadership by great leaders some of them say that leadership is an action not position or person. These theories help to prepare a perfect leader, all these theories are proposed and practiced by great leaders and managers but latest management considers a leader who follows his role. Leadership theories: Considering leadership reveals school of thought giving different leadership theories such as Great Man theory, trait theory, behaviourist theory, situational leadership theory, contingency theory, transactional theory and transformational theory. Great man theory is the one proposed before twentieth century where it says that leaders are born with the talent and leader should be a man this lead to the next theory trait theory. Trait theory: The trait theory rose from the concepts of the Great Man approach. This theory leads to identify the important characteristics of a successful leader. The people who got the characters as defined by the traits approach are isolated or shortlisted and those are recruited as leaders. This type of approach was mostly implemented in military and still used in some of the area. According to the trait theory the person who got the following skills is said to be a trait. Ambitious and success oriented Adaptable to all kinds of situations Co operative to all the members in the organization Highly active or energetic Dominative Good decision making ability Self-confident Adaptable to stress conditions and Dependable. These are the characters which make a person trait and they should posses some skills which are Skills Intelligent Skilled conceptually Creative Fluent in speaking Tactful Self motivated and self belief Skilled socially When these kinds of skills and characters are identified in the person, the person is recruited in the team. Behavioural theory: The trait study doesnt give any conclusive results and it was hard to measure some more critical issues such as honesty, integrity and loyalty. This leaded the attention to be diverted on to the behaviour theories. The behaviour theory focuses on human relationship and success performance as well. According to behavioural theory the manager believes that the working environment should be like an entertainment place where the expenditure of mental and physical efforts is treated to be play and rest. The idea of manager is an average person not only learns to accept but also seek responsibility. The people will automatically learn to exercise self-control and self direction to achieve the goal or target. The organizational problems can become imaginative and creative. Contingency theory model: This theory illustrates that there are many ways for the manager to lead the team to get best outcome. According to the situation the manager can find a best way to get the best outcome. Fiedler worked on contingency theory according to that he looked for three situations which define the condition of a managerial task. Leader and team member relationship Work structure or project structure Position and power The manager should maintain relation with their team members to get along and create confidence and make them feel free to think about the task and give their ideas to help the task to be finished. Project structure is the job highly structured or unstructured or in between. The power shows how much authority a manager does posses. This theory rates the manager whether the manger is relationship oriented or task oriented. The task oriented managers gets success in such situations where there is good leader and team member relationship and structured projects or tasks doesnt matter whether the position power is weak or strong. And get success when the project is unstructured and does have any sort of good vision by having a strong power and position. The variables which affect the task such as environmental variables are combined in a heavy some and differentiated as favourable and unfavourable situations. The task oriented management style depends on the favourable and unfavourable environment variables but the relationship management style stays in the middle by managing or changing the variables to accumulate with their style. Both styles of managements got their sides to be good when all the performance and team work well in the tasks. There is no good or bad management in these two managements. Task motivated management style leaders do best when the team performs well and they are good in achieving good sales record and performance better than their competitor where as the relationship oriented leaders are helpful to gain positive customer service and build a positive image to the organisation. Transactional and transformational leadership: Transformational leadership is a relationship of mutual simulation and elevation that converts the followers in to leaders and may convert leaders into moral agents Transformational leadership is communicating with the leaders and the team members to take them to higher level something like a leader can become a moral agent and the follower can become a leader. Transactional leadership technique builds the person to finish the certain task such as job done for the time being. Some of the differences between transactional and transformational leadership are Transactional style of leadership builds a man to complete a certain task where as transformational styles builds a member to become a leader. This focuses on task completion and tactical style of management where as transformational leadership focus on strategies and missions. These are some theories of the leadership which shows how a leader act on different situations and how different leaders behave to get success in the organization. Motivation in Management: Theories of motivation: The theories of motivation can be divided into 3 broad categories. Reinforcement theories emphasize the means through which the process of controlling an individuals behavior by manipulating its consequences takes place. Content theories focus primarily on individual needs the physiological or psychological deficiencies that we feel a compulsion to reduce or eliminate. Process theories focus on the thought or cognitive processes that take place within the minds of people and that control their behavior. Early Theories of Motivation: Hierarchy of Needs Theory Theory X and Theory Y Motivation-Hygiene Theory Contemporary Theories of Motivation: ERG Theory McClellands Theory of Needs Cognitive Evaluation Theory Task Characteristics Theories Goal-Setting Theory Equity Theory Hierarchy of Needs Theory: Abraham Maslow hypothesized that within every human being there exists a hierarchy of five needs: 1. Physiological. 2. Safety. 3. Social. 4. Esteem. 5. Self-actualization. Maslow then categorized these 5 needs into lower-order needs and higher-order needs.Lower-order needs are needs that are satisfied externally: physiological and safety needs.Higher-order needs are needs that are satisfied internally (within the person): social, esteem, and self-actualization needs. Theory X and Theory Y of Douglas McGrogor: McGregor concluded that a managers vision of the nature of human beings is based on a certain blend of assumptions and that he or she tends to mold his or her actions toward subordinates according to these assumptions: Employees naturally dislike work and, whenever possible, will attempt to avoid it Since employees dislike work, they must be coerced, controlled, or threatened with punishment to achieve goals Employees will avoid responsibilities and seek formal direction whenever possible Motivation-hygiene Theory: According to Herzberg, the factors leading to job satisfaction are dividing and distinct from those that leads to job dissatisfaction. Hygiene factors include factors such as: company policy and administration, supervision, interpersonal relations, working conditions, and salary. Motivator factors include factors such as: attainment, recognition, the work itself, responsibility and growth. Hygiene Factors Company rule and management; Supervision; association with supervisor; Work circumstances; Salary; Relationship with peers; Personal life; association with subordinates; Status; Safety Motivator Factors: attainment credit; Work itself; Responsibility; progression; Growth Contemporary Theories of Motivation: ERG Theory: ERG Theory proposed by Clayton Alderfer of Yale University: Alderfer fights that there are three groups of core needs: 1) Existence 2) Relatedness 3) Growth Existence group is worried with providing our basic material existence requirements. Relatedness group is the desire we have for maintaining important interpersonal relationships McClellands Theory of Needs: McClellands theory of needs focuses on three needs: 1) Achievement 2) Power 3) Affiliation Cognitive Evaluation Theory: Allocating extrinsic rewards for behaviour that had been previously intrinsically rewarded tends to decrease the overall level of motivation. (This concept was proposed in the late 1960s.)The interdependence of extrinsic and intrinsic rewards is a real phenomenon Task Characteristics Theories: These theories seek to identify task characteristics of jobs, how these characteristics are combined to form different jobs, and their relationship to employee motivation, satisfaction, and performance. Goal-setting theory: Specific and difficult goals lead to higher performance. Feedback leads to higher performance than non-feedback. In addition to feedback, 2 other factors have been found to influence the goals-performance relationship. These are: 1. Goal commitment. 2. Sufficient self-efficacy. Equity Theory: Individuals make comparisons of their job inputs and outcomes relatives to those of others and then act in response so as to remove any inequities. Stacy Adams proposed that this negative tension state provides the motivation to do something to correct it. There are 4 referent comparisons that employee can use: 1. Self-inside. 2. Self-outside. 3. Other inside. 4. Other outside. Conclusion The change in the leadership theories time by time says that the leader should posses certain characters which lead the organisational success whether to believe in maintaining a relationship or to go on tactically the manager or the leader should act to the situation and get success at the end. Depending on the companies motive the leader should react or behave with the team members to achieve the target. Usually maintaining a good relation helps to make the team members life easy and manage the work happily. The team members become more innovative and achieve targets easily where as with tactical style leadership may create some sort of pressure on the team members, there is no guarantee that in every situation relational ship management is successful. the leader should adapt himself for the situation and act according to a particular situation. We have discussed above only a collection of the motivation theories and thoughts of the various proponents of management .In some of the theories and opinion presented, however, one can observe some glimpses of the person and how, perhaps, he or she could be motivated. This is satisfying in itself. But, as noted earlier, practice has been in advance of theory in this field, so let us now move to the realistic side of management of human behaviour and motivation in the workplace. REFERNCES: AstraZeneca (1999) Leadership in AstaZeneca. AstraZeneca HR, Dec 1999 Bass, B. (1985) Leadership and Performance Beyond Expectations. New York: Free Press. Blackler, F. and Kennedy, A. (2003) The Design of a Development Programme for Experienced Top Bergmann, H., Hurson, K. and Russ-Eft, D. (1999) Everyone a Leader: A grassroots model for thenew workplace. New York: John Wiley and Sons Gosling, J. and Mintzberg, H. (2003) Mindsets for Managers. Working paper, Centre for LeadershipStudies Hersey, P. and K.H. Blanchard (1977) Management of Organizational Behaviour. Englewood Cliffs NJ:Prentice hal1 Rodgers, H., Frearson, M., Holden, R. and Gold, J. (2003) The Rush to Leadership. Presented atManagement Theory at Work conference, Lancaster University, April 2003 Tannenbaum, R. and Schmidt, W. (1958) How to choose a leadership pattern. Harvard BusinesReview 36(2), 95-101
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