Succubus Shadows Chapter 24

â€Å"This†¦isn't possible,† I said. â€Å"I don't know,† said Roman dryly. â€Å"Looks pretty possible to me.† â€Å"But Seth's an author. These kinds of magazines don't care about people like him.† â€Å"He's so commonplace for you that you don't realize how famous he is. And, hey, if it's a slow week, they probably take what they can get. Sex sells – and that's pretty sexy.† I looked down at it again. It was pretty sexy. They'd taken it when I'd been lying on top of Seth, and the sarong had slipped enough that I was showing an awful lot of skin. Nausea rolled through me. â€Å"Maybe no one will see this.† Yet, even as the words left my lips, I knew that was wishful thinking on my part. As I'd noted before, this magazine was a favorite at the store, largely because of its outrageously ridiculous articles. Someone, somewhere was going to see this picture. And while the articles might be fabrications, a photo like this – which clearly showed our faces – could hardly lie. I let the magazine fall to the floor. â€Å"I can't†¦I can't deal with this. Not after everything else.† Roman frowned, legitimate concern filling his features. I don't think he was happy about either the picture or Seth's new resolve, but it had to be obvious that more than these bits of news were plaguing me. â€Å"Georgina, what else is – â€Å" I held a hand up. â€Å"Not now. Tomorrow. We'll talk tomorrow. Too much†¦too much has happened tonight.† Erik's lifeless eyes flashed in my mind. â€Å"It makes this seem like nothing.† He hesitated, then nodded. â€Å"Okay. You want to set aside some time for tomorrow night? I don't mean a date. Just, I don't know. Get dinner, talk about all this so it doesn't eat you up. I really am worried about you.† I started to say he shouldn't worry, that I'd be okay, but I backed off. I really didn't know if I was. â€Å"I'd like that,† I said honestly. â€Å"If my damage control doesn't conflict, then sure. I'll tell you all about it.† I stood up wearily. â€Å"But now – bed.† He let me retreat to my bedroom, his heart in his eyes. It made me feel worse, largely because of what a low priority his feelings were for me right now. Obviously, they were important to him, and I appreciated his ardor. And his feelings did mean something to me. There was something very sweet and comforting in his offer to breathe and just talk. But in light of everything else going on? I couldn't allow myself to process anything too deep with our relationship right now. Particularly when I had to face the gauntlet at the bookstore the next day. I'd had a number of past times entering Emerald City where I'd been met with curious and covert looks. More often than not, it had been over something ridiculous, and I'd had no clue until later. Today, I knew exactly what was going on. There was no question that the damned magazine had gotten around. And the looks this time weren't inquisitive or smug. They were accusatory. Disdainful. I couldn't face them. Not yet. I hurried through the store as quickly as I could, seeking my office – which I vowed not to leave for the rest of my shift. It was pretty hypocritical, considering my judgment on Seth avoiding his problems. Only, I didn't have as much luck getting away from mine. Maddie was sitting at my desk. I hadn't seen her in a week, not since she'd come to my condo. I'd told her then she could have indefinite leave from work and hadn't expected to see her back anytime soon. Now she stopped me dead in my tracks. Her face was much calmer than I would have expected. No, it was more than calm. It was still. Perfectly, eerily still. Like a sculpture. And when she looked up at me, it was like looking into the eyes of the dead. Cold. Emotionless. Nonetheless, I shut the door, fearing what was to come. â€Å"I had a million theories, you know.† Her voice was as flat as her expression. â€Å"Never, ever did I consider this one. I mean, I wondered if there could have been another woman. But I never thought it'd be you.† It took an impossibly long time for my lips to move. â€Å"No†¦it wasn't that. It wasn't like that at all. That's not why he did it†¦.† I couldn't finish and suddenly questioned my words. Wasn't that – by which I meant, me – exactly the reason he'd left her? Maybe our beach interlude hadn't been the direct cause, but I had certainly been the catalyst. The magazine lay on my desk, open to the guilty page. She picked it up, studying it with a calculating look. â€Å"So what then? You were just comforting him after the fact?† â€Å"Actually†¦well, actually, yeah. That shot was taken afterward.† It still sounded lame, and we both knew it. She threw the magazine down, and finally, the emotion came to her face. â€Å"What, and that makes it okay?† she cried. â€Å"You – one of my best friends – running off with my fianc? ¦ the day after he dumps me?† â€Å"It wasn't like that,† I repeated. â€Å"I went to find him†¦to see if he was okay.† â€Å"And then you made sure he was okay?† she demanded. Her words were sarcastic, but tears glittered in her eyes. â€Å"No†¦I didn't expect anything like that to happen. And really, nothing much did happen. The thing is†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I took a deep breath. â€Å"We used to date. Before you guys were together. We never told anyone. Things ended†¦well, pretty much just before you started going out.† Like, almost the day before. That caught her off guard. Her eyes went wide. â€Å"What? You had a past†¦you went out with my boyfriend and never told me? He never told me?† â€Å"We thought it'd be easier.† â€Å"Easier? Easier?† She pointed at the magazine again. â€Å"You think seeing you guys back together in full color was easier?† â€Å"We aren't back together,† I said quickly. â€Å"He didn't end things because he was cheating – † Again, I had to admit the truth to myself. He hadn't been cheating on her when he broke the engagement, but we'd slept together earlier in the relationship. â€Å"I was as surprised as you were. And I was worried. I told you, I went to find him, but we didn't sleep together. Then I left. That's it.† The tears were on her cheeks now. â€Å"It wouldn't have mattered if you had slept together. You guys keeping that past from me – you guys lying is worse. I trusted you! I trusted both of you! How could you do this? What kind of person does this to their friend?† A damned soul, I thought. But I didn't say that. I didn't say anything. Maddie shot up from the desk, futilely trying to wipe away the tears that were still coming. â€Å"Doug warned me once, you know. He said there was this way you guys always looked at each other that made him wonder. I told him he was crazy. I told him he was imagining it – that it was impossible. That you guys would never do that to me.† â€Å"Maddie, I'm sorry – â€Å" She hurried to the door, pushing past me. â€Å"Not as sorry as I am for putting my trust in you. For putting my trust in both of you. I'm quitting. Right now. Don't expect to see me again.† She jerked the door open. â€Å"I don't know how you can live with yourself. You two deserve each other!† The door slammed loudly, rattling my ears. I stayed where I was, staring blankly at the desk, unable to move. Unable to think or react or do anything useful. I don't know how you can live with yourself. Me either. â€Å"Boy, things are pretty screwed up for you.† Carter materialized beside me, his angelic signature filling the room. Dressed as ratty as always – except for his hat – he strolled casually to the desk and picked up the magazine. â€Å"That's a good shot of you, though.† â€Å"Shut up,† I said. The agony I'd tried to keep locked up with Maddie began to burst out. â€Å"Just shut up! I can't handle your commentary right now, okay? Not with everything else. Certainly not with this†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I sank to the floor, leaning against the door and raking my hands through my hair. When I looked up at Carter, I expected one of his laconic smiles, but his face was all seriousness. â€Å"I wasn't being sarcastic,† he said. â€Å"Things are screwed up.† I suddenly wished I had a cigarette. â€Å"Yes. They certainly are. Erik's dead, you know.† â€Å"I know.† I closed my eyes for a moment, allowing myself to feel the full grief over that. With so much going on, it didn't seem like I'd really allowed any of these problems to have the full mourning they deserved. Someone, I realized, would have to do the proper things for Erik now. Did he have family somewhere? Dante of all people might know. Otherwise, I was willing to take on any funeral arrangements – no matter the cost or work. I owed Erik that much. I owed him so much more. â€Å"It wasn't a coincidence,† I said softly. â€Å"It couldn't have been. Jerome says it was some revenge from the Oneroi's master†¦but I don't believe that. Erik had been trying to figure out my contract. Before he died†¦before he†¦Ã¢â‚¬  My voice caught as I recalled how I had been the one to take that last breath. â€Å"He told me there were two contracts. That it wasn't mine that was the problem. I don't know what that means.† Carter still said nothing, but his eyes were fixed so intently on me that they might as well have been pinning me to the wall. â€Å"But you know, don't you?† I asked him. â€Å"You've always known. And Simone†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I frowned. â€Å"Before Jerome sent her away, he mentioned something about her knowing Niphon and ‘fucking up things even more.' That's a piece of all this too, isn't it?† Carter still remained silent. I gave a harsh laugh. â€Å"But, of course, you can't say anything. You can't do anything. Hell's always got its hands in mortal affairs – or even lesser immortal affairs – but you guys? Nothing. How can you be a force for good in this world? You don't help bring it about! You just wait and hope it happens on its own.† â€Å"Most of the good in this world happens without any of our help,† he said evasively. â€Å"Oh good God. What a lovely answer from you. And you know what? I don't believe there is any good in this world. All this time†¦ever since I sold my soul, I've been clinging to this idea that there is something pure and decent out there. That there was something to give me hope that even if I was a lost cause, at least there was something bright and good in the world. But there isn't. If there was, Seth wouldn't have fallen. Erik wouldn't have died. Andrea Mortensen wouldn't be dying.† â€Å"Good can still exist when bad things happen, just as evil persists when good things happen.† â€Å"What good comes from Andrea dying? What good comes from leaving five little girls alone and motherless in the world?† I was choking on my own sobs. â€Å"If you – if any of you – could really affect the world, you wouldn't let that happen.† â€Å"I can't change fate. I'm not God.† He was still so fucking calm that I wanted to punch him. Yet, what could I expect? Jerome had no attachment to humans, and at the end of the day, angels and demons weren't so different. I buried my face in my hands. â€Å"You can't change anything. None of us can change anything. We're resigned to our fates, just like Nyx showed.† â€Å"Humans change their fates all the time. Even lesser immortals do. It starts small, but it happens.† I was suddenly tired. So, so tired. I shouldn't have come here today. I should never have left my bed. I no longer had the energy to argue with him or berate his frustratingly useless attitude. â€Å"Can Seth change?† I asked at last. â€Å"Are good intentions enough to redeem a soul?† â€Å"All things are possible. And I don't mean that as a clich? ¦,† he added, no doubt seeing the scowl on my face. â€Å"It's true. Mortals and mortals-turned-immortals don't always believe that – which is why Hell has such a foothold in the world. And I'm not saying that if you believe it, it will happen. Things don't always turn out for the best, but miracles are real, Georgina. You've just got to lift yourself out of the muck to make them. You've got to take the chance.† Yes, I was definitely getting a cigarette after this. Carter probably had one on him. I gave him as much of a smile as I could muster. â€Å"Easy for you to say. Can you make miracles?† â€Å"I try,† he said. â€Å"I try. Will you?† And with that, he vanished before I could bum a cigarette. Fucking angels. But his words stayed with me when I went home that night, maybe because even as depressing as they seemed, they were still more cheerful than enduring that shift. My managerial mandates were still obeyed, but otherwise, I could see the seething disapproval and condemnation in the eyes of my colleagues. It was a startling reminder of my village's reaction when everyone had found out I'd cheated on Kyriakos. Only this time, I had no way to blot it from these people's minds. I had nothing more to bargain with Hell. At the condo, I found a note from Roman, saying he'd be staying at the school for a while that evening to finish up some setup. If I wanted, though, he'd be happy to take me out for dinner as he'd promised. That gave me time to stretch out on the couch, seeing as I was still exhausted from the emotional miasma I'd been wading through this last week. No sleep came, just a kind of bleak malaise as I stared at the ceiling. Probably just as well. God only knew what I'd dream. Dream. I sighed. The man in the dream. It had been bugging me over and over in my subconscious, and without even mentioning it, Carter had somehow brought it back to the fore-front of my mind. The Oneroi had claimed Seth was the man in the dream. I told myself for the hundredth time that it was a ridiculous fantasy. I couldn't have any real relationship with a mortal. Seth had fallen from grace, and I'd refused him. It was all impossible now. All things are possible. Erik and Mei had said it was impossible for Seth to find my soul across the vastness of the dream world – yet he had. Kristin had told me my contract was airtight – yet Erik had sworn there was a flaw somewhere. He'd died for that knowledge, I was certain. Seth had claimed nothing could bring him back to Seattle – yet I had. Everyone who worked for Hell had told me darkened souls almost never redeemed themselves – yet Seth was striving to regain my good opinion. He was also sacrificing what he loved – his writing – to help the family he loved more. Would that be enough? Could he be saved? All things are possible. I sat up from the couch, my gaze falling on the spot where Aubrey and Godiva slept next to each other. Godiva had come to me after I'd dreamed her. The dream I still maintained was impossible. Miracles are real, Georgina. You've just got to lift yourself out of the muck to make them. You've got to take the chance. Could I? Would I? Was there a miracle somewhere in the muck of this despair, heartache, death, and betrayal? I couldn't see through it. I didn't know where to start. Carter had said change happened through small acts. All I had to do was pick something. Anything. Take the chance. Again, I focused on Godiva. The man in the dream. Maybe it was Seth. Maybe it wasn't. Maybe I could make it him. His love had been great enough to rescue me and then try to rescue himself. I realized now what had been bothering me. He was doing all of this – how could I do any less? All my life, I'd hidden from hard choices. I'd always found some compromise to avoid bad things, the results of which never really turned out that great. If anything, they'd become worse. My love for Seth was no less than his for me, but I hadn't been willing to do the things that might hurt. He'd told me there was no way the universe would let us stay apart. He was right – and this time, I would be the one who made sure we came together again. I wouldn't abandon him. I was moving toward the door, my coat and purse in hand, when Roman came home, carrying flowers. He took one look at me and offered a small bitter laugh that carried all the woe and resignation in the world. The bouquet sagged in his hands. â€Å"You're going to Seth.† â€Å"How did you know?† â€Å"Because†¦because you're shining. Because you look like you've found all the answers in the universe.† â€Å"I don't know about that,† I said. â€Å"But I've found some kind of answer. He's risked so much for me†¦. We found each other across all the other souls in the world†¦.† I trailed off, feeling horrible. My decision about Seth burned brightly in me, but Roman's face†¦there seemed to be nothing in this world that didn't end up causing someone pain. â€Å"I was wrong to abandon him. Especially now.† â€Å"Sounds like you better go to him,† said Roman at last. â€Å"Roman – â€Å" He shook his head. â€Å"Go.† I went. I hadn't been to Seth's condo in so long, not in the flesh. Walking up to the door, a barrage of memories flooded me, particularly that first night I'd stayed over when he had taken care of me†¦. It wasn't that late, but when he opened the door, there was a scattered, mussed look to him that made me think he'd been sleeping. Or maybe he'd just been too consumed by writing to properly groom. It happened sometimes when he got caught up with the worlds in his mind. From the look on his face, it was clear he was in this world now. I don't think he'd believed he'd see me for a very long time. I wondered if I was still shining the way Roman had claimed I was because Seth's eyes regarded me with more than just surprise. There was wonder and awe there. I'd only driven across town, made one impulse decision to come here, but we might as well have been meeting across time and space again. â€Å"Georgina,† he breathed. â€Å"What are you – â€Å" I didn't let him finish. I threw myself into his arms and kissed him. And this time, I didn't pull back.

Critical Incident

Rich & Parker 2001 defines critical incidents as snapshots of something that happens to a patient, their family or healthcare professional. It may be something positive, or it could be a situation where someone has suffered in some way. Reflecting on critical incidents will allow me to explore and analyse incidents and how it has affects me and what I hope to do with these effects in the course of my training towards becoming a registered practitioner. It also gives me the opportunity of changing my way of thinking or practice, as I learn valuable lessons when I reflect on an incident. This helps me to develop self-awareness and skills in critical thinking and problem solving (Rich & Parker 2001). On the other hand, Johns 2003 defines reflection as â€Å" being mindful of self, either within or after an experience, as if a window through which the practioners can view and focus self within the context of a particular experience, in order to confront, understand and move towards resolving contradiction between one’s vision and actual practice†. I will be using the Beckwith model of reflection which states clearly that reflection is a tool to deal with challenges that will influence the speed and amplitude of one’s development, to explore these effects in other to understand and learn from this incident, with the hope of improving my practice (Beckwith & Beckwith 2007). The incident I will be reflecting upon occurred while attending a clinical placement in the critical care unit at my placement hospital which for the purpose of this essay will be referred to as X Hospital. Critical Care is the multi-professional healthcare specialty that cares for patients with acute, life-threatening illness or injury, (Sheppard & Wright 2005). Critical care can be provided wherever life is threatened. Critical care provided at the scene of an accident or in an ambulance is basic life support. Basic life support is the emergency treatment of any condition where the brain stops receiving adequate oxygen; it could be a cardiac or respiratory arrest, (Kumar). A cardiac arrest is one where there is no pulse and is unlikely the patient will recover with basic life support alone but advanced life support with a defibrillator is required. It is important to carry out basis life support until defibrillator arrives even after careful assessment one discovers it’s a cardiac arrest, as one usually leads to the other, (Kumar). The importance of recognizing, assessing and reacting to cardiorespiratory arrest is very important. Immediate response increases the chances of a successful outcome, (Davey and Ince). Shostek says critical care in a hospital setting is provided by multi-professional teams of highly experienced and professional personnel who use their unique expertise and ability to interpret important therapeutic information, manage highly sophisticated equipment and provide care that leads to the best outcome for the patient. Patients are usually admitted from the emergency room or surgical area where they are first given care and stabilized to CCU, (NHS Careers). The management of the critically ill patient ranges from eye care(Appendix 1), oral care(Appendix 2), infection control, health and safety issues, tissue viability among other vital issues like care bundles for this high risk group of patients who are dependent these care to maintain integrity and dignity according to trust policy. Suction pumps are also vital in the critical care setting as airway hygiene is impaired in critically ill patients as a result of depressed cough reflex and ineffective mucociliary clearance from sedation, high inspired oxygen concentrations, elevated endotracheal tube cuff pressure, and tracheal mucosal inflammation and damage, (X Hospital Policy). Due to this, care of intubated patients includes tracheal suctioning to facilitate the removal of airway secretions (suction therapy) is carried out on all unconscious patient, as it maintains airway patency and prevents pulmonary infection, (X Hospital Policy). A tube or catheter is passed down inside the endotracheal tube and attached to a suction pump, the size of the catheter must be chosen carefully using a simple formula of doubling the size of ET tube minus 2. One should be careful to suction on withdrawal using a suction pressure that is appropriate. Suction depth varies depending on the size of the trachea tube hence suction can be shallow, pre-measured and deep suctioning. Despite the importance of suctioning some complications like hypoxia, cardiac arrhythmias, hypotension, tracheal trauma, laryngospasm and bronchoconstriction are associated with it. Hence tracheal suctioning of intubated patients should be performed on a when needed basis defined by the quantity of secretions obtained, not at prescribed, set intervals, (X Hospital Policy). The incident I will be reflecting on is about a Twenty-Nine-year-old male admitted to the critical care unit with a closed head injury sustained in a motor vehicle accident. His young wife, parents and other family members faced real fears. Most of the family members had never been inside a critical care unit, and found the array of pumps, tubes, machines, monitors and lines, as well as the rush of staff members overwhelming. Just by looking at them and watching their reaction each time they come visiting was enough to tell me how scared and worried they were of their son’s illness and the environment they were in. I started to wonder what was going on in their minds and was drawn to them not only for this reason but because the patient and his family members were the youngest I ever saw in the unit. I was thinking to myself if they have asked questions or done any research about CCU they will most likely be thinking their son’s situation is hopeless. It is important to label and date all the lines as this helps to know what each is used for and how long it has been in situ for. Also care should be taken when moving patients to ensure the stay in place as it can be very uncomfortable and difficult to reinsert a cannula on a patient as most of them are oeadematous. As I was involved in the care of the patient I had to explain to the wife why her husband was connected to a ventilator and it use. A ventilator is an artificial breathing machine that moves oxygen-enriched air in and out of your lungs. If your lungs have failed and you cannot breathe on your own, you will need to be attached to a ventilator (See appendix 3). Being helped to breathe by a ventilator means that you will usually need to be sedated. Ventilators can offer different levels of breathing assistance. If you only need help breathing for a couple of days, it is likely you will have an endotracheal tube from the ventilator to your mouth or nose. The tube will usually be held in place behind your neck as was the case with my patient. However, if you need help with breathing for more than a few days, you may have a short operation called a tracheostomy. This replaces the tube in your mouth with a shorter tube that is placed directly into your trachea. As well as being more comfortable, a tracheostomy makes it easier to keep your lungs clean, and usually requires less sedation. There are two kinds of ventilators, negative pressure and positive pressure. Negative pressure ventilators are not commonly in use today. In my trust we have only the positive pressure ventilators. Mode of ventilation should be tailored to the needs of the patient. Understanding these settings is important as they may need to be changed quickly. Once my patient’s next of kin fully understood the treatment he was receiving I could see this young lady’s face soften a bit. I later learnt from my conversations with her that their 5years-old daughter, had been in the back seat with him when the accident occurred. She had not slept properly since the incident, expressing that she was afraid he would â€Å"never come home. † She has continually asked her mother and grand parents, â€Å"When is daddy coming back home? † The 5-year-old girl would not enter the parents’ bedroom at home and insisted that the light remain on and has refused to take her bath as her dad always gave her a bath each evening. From this conversation I concluded that this little girl needed to see, touch, smell and be with her dad to understand what had happened. I believe that she needs to be allowed to grieve and participate in the healing process surrounding her dad’s trauma. However, there were barriers, because our institution’s written policy was to not allow anyone under the age of 12 to visit patients even though the majority of published studies evaluating family member presence in surgery have shown the positive effect it has on family members irrespective of their age, (Kingsnorth et al 2010). Some of these benefits included removing the family’s doubt about the patient’s situation and allowing them to see that everything possible is being done in caring for that patient, reducing their anxiety and fear about what is happening to their loved one, maintaining the family need to be together even at this time. In addition, when and if death occurred, families have reported that their presence gave them a sense of closure and facilitated the grief process, (Kingsnorth et al 2010). With this information I spoke with my mentor and she agreed how awful it must be for her and promised to look into it. Three days after the accident, my mentor came to me and said they have come up with something that will help this young family and asked if I wanted to be involved with it, I said yes. We approached our patient’s family about scheduling an educational conference for the family. We agreed to include aunts, uncles, grandparents a young niece and two nephews. There were fears about how the children will handle the information but the adults were advised that, if the children exhibited fear or discomfort, they can be allowed to leave the conference room. At the conference, I sat with the children at the table and provided them with crayons and paper. Drinks and cookies were available. I was glad the atmosphere was gentle, quiet, comfortable and conducive to learning. We began the session by discussing definitions of grief, mourning, loss and coping. The adults agreed that this was the first trauma in the family and were giving the children explanations such as â€Å"God may take him† and â€Å"Dad may never wake up. †It was now time to listen to the children. They were asked to talk about a time when they had been sick. We went over what each part of the anatomy did and how they worked together. The children were asked to draw picture of what they understand of the discussion, drew pictures of lungs, a heart, a brain and a rib cage. When the patient’s daughter drew her Dad, she placed wires and tubes in his organs. At this stage I could see that the little girl now understands what had happened to her Dad. The adults who previously did not fully understand the injury to their son appreciated the education. The patient’s young wife had her eyes full of tears but I saw relief on her face regardless. As the clinical picture becomes clearer, the little girl asked if she could see her dad. All agreed this might be beneficial. Now we were confronted with the hospital policy prohibiting children in the critical care unit. The sisters spoke among themselves. I was praying silently that they can make an exception here. It is believed that every patient should be treated as an individual and critical care involves the care of family members as well (Kingsnorth et al 2010). I was glad when the sister came back and asked the patient’s wife to take her daughter to the ICU door, while all the staffs were informed of the plan. The decision was to allow the young daughter to see her dad and hospital policy was explained again, they all understood and were evidently glad like I was. The daughter entered the unit with wide eyes and stood at her dad’s bedside, where she was told about every tube and its purpose. The little girl took her dad’s hand and cried, as did the entire staff. Except for the hum of ventilators, the unit was quiet as the little girl held hands with her father, stroked his hair, sang him a song and said goodnight with prayers. I savored this moment as I realized it was an important journey in the little girl’s life. As a student I concluded that surely there can be nothing superior to this type of care giving. Through out the lecture I couldn’t help but think that God forbid if this was me or my family member I would hope for a care team as nice and understanding as these ones looking after my family. I imagined if these were my children I sure would want them to understand what is happening and to be able to confront it if they want to and what better way to do this. Following the visit, we were told how the little girl had become more agreeable at home. She says â€Å"I have to keep things in order until Dad comes home. † Making a difference is what care exemplifies, particularly when the art of humanity in a technologically driven healthcare system is advocated, (NHS Careers). I truly agree with this statement. For me the critical environment was a different setting and honestly I believe there can be no other like it. It is a very emotional setting that requires strong willed people yet competent in their jobs as well as having a heart full of love to care for their patient and family members. This is an experience that will stay with me throughout my career and influence me in a positive way as I can clearly understand that delivering quality care goes beyond what is done for the patient but for family members around as well. In my trust eye care is recognized as a basic nursing care procedure required by critically ill patients to prevent complications such as eye infections or injury. This care involves regular eye assessment on each patient in the ward to ensure that all patients receive individualized evidence based eye care which ranges from no action required to hydration treatment with and sterile water to a more complex treatment prescribed by a doctor. If hydration or cleaned care is taken to wipe from the nasal corner outwards starting with the lower lids using a different wipe or gauze each time. If there is an infection the non-infected eye should be cleaned first. Sometimes a bacteria barrier cream may be applied if the doctors deem it necessary, (X Hospital Trust Policy). Appendix 2- Oral Care Similarly, all critical ill patients who are intubated receive individualized evidence based mouth care. All orally intubated patients will have moisture, integrity and cleanliness of all oral surfaces. Intubated patient are especially vulnerable to complications if inadequate oral care is practiced. Also there are many factors that pose as barriers to carrying out effective oral care such as: difficulty to access oral cavity, changes in mucosa and normal bacteria flora of the mouth, immunocompromise and medication, presence of endotracheal tubes, oral suctioning and therapeutic dehydration. Based on the above, assessment is carried out daily using the Eilers assessment guide. Whatever the outcome of this assessment oral care on all critically ill patients on a daily basis involves using a soft tooth brush and toothpaste every 12hours in a circular stroke away from the gums, cleaning the tongue and inside of the cheeks. A through rinse using a syringe and gentle suction to remove secretions thereby minimizing trauma to soft tissues in the mouth. Foam sticks and sterile water can be used in cases of extreme dryness as it’s is effective for moistening oral cavity. Soft paraffin can also be used to prevent lips from cracking. Dentures are usually removed and cared for till when patient needs it, (X Hospital Trust Policy). Appendix 3 – Understanding ventilators settings Tidal volume This is the lung volume representing the normal volume of air displaced between normal inspiration and expiration with no extra effort. Typical values are around 500ml or 7ml/kg. To avoid adverse effects of barotrauma and volutrauma it is recommended to use lower tidal volumes. An initial TV of 5-8 mL/kg of ideal body weight is generally indicated. The goal is to adjust the TV so that plateau pressures are less than 35 cm H2 O. Continuous mandatory ventilation (CMV) Breaths are delivered at preset intervals, regardless of patient effort. This mode is used most often in the paralyzed patient because it can increase the work of breathing if respiratory effort is present. CMV has given way to assist-control (A/C) mode. Many ventilators do not have a true CMV mode and offer A/C instead. Assist-control ventilation The ventilator delivers preset breaths in coordination with the respiratory effort of the patient. With each inspiratory effort, the ventilator delivers a full assisted tidal volume. Spontaneous breathing is not allowed. This mode is better tolerated than CMV in patients with intact respiratory effort. Intermittent mandatory ventilation With intermittent mandatory ventilation (IMV), breaths are delivered at a preset interval, and spontaneous breathing is allowed between ventilator-administered breaths. Spontaneous breathing occurs against the resistance of the airway tubing and ventilator valves, which may be formidable. This mode has given way to synchronous intermittent mandatory ventilation (SIMV). Synchronous intermittent mandatory ventilation The ventilator delivers preset breaths in coordination with the respiratory effort of the patient. Spontaneous breathing is allowed between breaths. These modes are beneficial for patients who require high minute ventilation. Full support reduces oxygen consumption and CO2 production of the respiratory muscles. A potential drawback of A/C ventilation in the patient with obstructive airway disease is worsening of air trapping and breath stacking. Pressure support ventilation For the spontaneously breathing patient, pressure support ventilation (PSV) has been advocated to limit barotrauma and to decrease the work of breathing. Pressure support differs from A/C and IMV in that a level of support pressure is set (not TV) to assist every spontaneous effort. Airway pressure support is maintained until the patient's inspiratory flow falls below a certain cutoff. PSV is frequently the mode of choice in patients whose respiratory failure is not severe and who have an adequate respiratory drive. It can result in improved patient comfort, reduced cardiovascular effects, reduced risk of barotrauma, and improved distribution of gas. CPAP is an acronym for â€Å"continuous positive airway pressure†, a variation of the PAP system. Respiratory rate A respiratory rate (RR) of 8-12 breaths per minute is recommended for patients not requiring hyperventilation for the treatment of toxic or metabolic acidosis, or intracranial injury. High rates allow less time for exhalation, increase mean airway pressure, and cause air trapping in patients with obstructive airway disease. The initial rate may be as low as 5-6 breaths per minute in asthmatic patients when using a permissive hypercapnia technique. Positive end-expiratory pressure Positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) is a term used in mechanical ventilation to denote an airway pressure that is kept above atmospheric pressure at the end of the expiratory cycle. The equivalent in a spontaneously breathing patient is CPAP. One obvious beneficial effect of PEEP is to shift lung water from the alveoli to the perivascular interstitial space. It does not decrease the total amount of extravascular lung water. This is of clear benefit in cases of cardiogenic as well as noncardiogenic pulmonary edema. An additional benefit of PEEP in cases of CHF is to decrease venous return to the right side of the heart by increasing intrathoracic pressure. References Amitai, A. and Kulkarni, R. Medscape (2010), Ventilator Management. Available at: http://emedicine. medscape. com/article/810126-overview,assessed on 13/03/11 Beckwith, M. A. R. ; Beckwith, P. T. (2008) â€Å"Reflection or Critical Thinking? : A pedagogical revolution in North American health care education†. Refereed Program of the E-Leader Conference at Krakow, Poland, Chinese American Scholars Association, New York, New York, USA June 2008, Courey, A. J. and Hyzy, R. C. Up to date 19. 1(2010) Over view of mechanical ventilation. Availableat: http://www. uptodate. com/contents/search? earch=ventilators&source=USER_INPUT&searchOffset=assessed on 13/03/2011 Hatfield A, Tronson M, (2009), The Complete Recovery Book, 4th edn. New York: Oxford University Press. Chapter 2, Page 29. Johns, C. (2004) Becoming a Reflective Practitioner, 2nd edn. UK: Blackwell Publishing Ltd. Kingsnorth, J. , O’Connell,K. , Guzzetta, C. E. , Edens, J. C Atabaki, S. Mecherikunnel, A. and Brown, K. (2010) Journal of Emergency Nursing: Family Presence During Trauma Activations and Medical Resuscitations in a Paediatric Emergency Department: An Evidence-Based Practice Project,36/2,pp115 NHS Careers (2009) Operating Department Practice. Available at: http://www. nhscareers. nhs. uk/details/Default. aspx? Id=255 (assessed 11/03/2011) Pirret, M. (2002) Utilizing TISS to differentiate between intensive care and high-dependency patients and to identify nursing skills requirements. Intensive and Critical Care Nursing. 18(1) pp. 19-26. Rich, A. and Parker, D. L. (1995) Reflection and critical incident analysis: Ethical and moral implications of their use within nursing and midwifery education, Journal of Advanced Nursing 22(6): 1050-1057 Sheppard, M & Wright, M (2005) Principles and practice of High Dependency Nursing. nd ed. Philadelphia. Bailliere, Tindall Elsevier. The Intensive Care Society (2010) An Introduction to intensive care medicine for junior doctors [Online] Available from: http:/ /www. ics. ac. uk/education/2010_trainee_handbook: Accessed 19 January 2011. Unknown Author (2006) Eye care for critically ill patients, X Hospital Policy. Unknown Author (2006) Mouth care for intubated patients, X Hospital Policy.

William Randolph Hearst and Marion Davies Essay

William Randolph Hearst and Marion Davies - Essay Example 107). The screen career of Marion Davies is of course inextricably bound up with the name of William Randolph Hearst. While this fact has always been recognized, the critical treatment of this particular "help" has shifted considerably over the years. When Hearst and Davies were still actively producing films, none dared mention the personal side of their relationship. Benjamin Hampton, writing in 1930, summarized Hearst's film activities by noting, "Few producers have derived more enjoyment from the game". Hearst interest in film predated his encounter with Davies. He operated the International Newsreel, an animation studio, and produced several of the most important early serials, including The Exploits of Elaine (1915). According to Proctor (1998), Hearst spotted Marion Davies in the 1916 Ziegfeld Follies and after seeing her performance in a cheaply made feature called Runaway Romany (1917) decided to fold her into his own motion-picture empire. Under the Cosmopolitan banner, Hearst was already producing a series of features with Alma Rubens, but because of his special interest in Davies, he now became involved on a much more personal level. In the 1920s, with the war and the controversy behind him, the growth of the Hearst media empire was on the march again and he was undoubtedly the most famous newspaper publisher in the United States and c... is overextension, a love affair with Davies, heavily promoted by his newspapers, and his eventual inheritance of the family fortune, following his mother's death, staved off disaster. In time Hearst vast newspaper empire, his movie studio, and his successful magazine division that included Good Housekeeping and Cosmopolitan became immensely profitable (Nasaw 2000). The Bulk of Davies' Cosmopolitan productions, Nasaw (2000) continued, which were made in New York until Hearst shifted his center of operations to California in 1924, are light romantic melodramas. Some are more tearful than others, but one finds a wartime spy plot (The Burden of Proof, 1918), a comedy (Getting Mary Married, 1919), and a flapper-era morality tale (The Restless Sex, 1920). These films do no seems to have been especially successful, and Hearst was already being chided in print for his string of Davies features. After discussing the early serials and newsreels Robert E. Sherwood concluded: "Up to this point Hearst had probably made money from pictures, but then he found Cosmopolitan Pictures Cooperation and started losing on a triumphant scale. He made picture after picture in which Marion Davies was featured, and on which he lavished incredible sums, and one after another flopped dismally. Miss Davies did not prove to be a stalwart box office attraction, and an irreverent wag in the movie industry remarked that Mr. Hearst had to bribe the exhibitors to rent his pictures" (The Best Moving Pictures of 1922-23, p. 50). Hearst lived on a scale whose lavishness was news-making. He became popular in great measures because Davies was a creation of Hearst newspapers, magazines, and movies. The emphasis in all periods has been to suggest that Davies' screen career was manufactured, and then foisted

Romance in the workplace Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Romance in the workplace - Research Paper Example (Quinn, 1977) It is important to know that how these workplace romances affect an individual’s productivity and all the negative sides of this phenomenon and positive sides; if there are any. The substance of this prose focuses on this highly intriguing aspect of the society that is gaining so much popularity. The prose will further highlight the positive and negative consequences and how various authors and research analysts view the subject. There has been much debate on the subject and this prose will objectively discuss all facets of workplace romances and how it compromises professionalism in the workplace. II. Literature Review As mentioned earlier, there are a number of researchers who have done substantial amount of researches regarding romance in a professional environment. Robert E. Quinn was the pioneer in producing a prolific research and article that provides ample amount of information on the subject. The study was then followed by Lisa Mainiero, who further disc usses and updates the research conducted by Quinn in 1977 that paves way for an accurate comparative analysis to be drawn and clearly shows how the society has changed from what it was in the 70’s to what it has become now. According to Robert E. Quinn, about 60% of people had either known about a workplace romance or were in such a relationship themselves. A more recent research in to the matter by Lisa Mainiero puts the figure at 76% and this only shows how drastically the numbers have risen. As professional life becomes more and more challenging for an average individual, it often renders them incapable of maintaining a healthy social life. As a result, people usually turn to people in their workplace in search for romance and hence, there are a number of repercussions that an individual experiences. (Mainiero, 1989) Hence, the most commendable fact about the researches done by Mainiero and Quinn is that their hypotheses are backed up by statistical evidences, which not on ly gives qualitative but also quantitative insight in to the subject. Quinn has further stated that only 10% of the cases resulted in increased coordination amongst the employees and led to greater understanding. However, in most cases the romance usually creates more problems in the working environment than benefits. Though, there may be some statistical variation but Quinn’s work is the pioneer and forms the basis for further research. (Mainiero, 1989) III. Study of Human Effectiveness The study of human effectiveness has a strong association with how one function in his or her professional environment. Professional growth is highly important aspect that contributes to self-actualization as hypothesized by John Maslow and this ideology was further propagated by his hierarchy of needs. Therefore, office romances not only hinder one’s ability to view things objectively but also results in nepotism and widespread favoritism in the workplace. The findings of Quinn showed that only 10% of organizations showed increased coordination and understanding amongst employees, however, the remaining 90% of the organizations showed a highly negative impact of workplace romances on the entire fabric of the organization. (Montana & Charnov, 2004, p. 238; Quinn, 1977 cited in Mainiero, 1989) It is human nature when an individual becomes romantically involved with someone in his or her workplace, the individual is likely to become biased and often treat

Religion, Literature Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Religion, Literature - Essay Example However, after Nietzsche had developed an independent mind, their difference grew, as they perceived humanity and life through different perspectives. This paper delves into Nietzsche’s disappointment with Wagner and how his religious views diverged from Nietzsche’s views. Nietzsche describes Wagner as a musician who is the master than anyone he knows in the discovery of tones that are peculiar to tormented, oppressed, and suffering souls (Darby 56). Wagner could even give a speech to dumb misery. He could be master of everything that was small, but he refused to be this according to Nietzsche. Several other factors made Nietzsche disappointed in Wagner. The work begins by showing that he and Wagner were opposites (Darby 60). He goes on to state that the book was for psychologists and that all Germans were excluded from those he intended to read his books. This was most likely in reference to Wagner and his roots. Nietzsche then goes on to express his admiration for Wagner and his ability to express both his misery and suffering in his creations of short music. After this, he goes on to take a critical stand on Wagner’s attempt at large work production (Nikos 65). Nietzsche was also critically disappointed at the physical aspect of Wagner’s music (Nikos 65). He even went on to try to expose Wagner as more of an actor than of a composer. According to him, Wagner’s feet, lungs, heart, throat and intestines were affected uncomfortably. Nietzsche also says he was disappointed to discover that in Wagner’s music existed no pleasing melody or rhythm. Rather, Nietzsche contends, Wagner’s music was merely a way of enhancing gesturing and posing theatrically. Nietzsche also reveals that he wanted and desired profound, wanton, cheerful, roguish, graceful, and tender music. He reserves praise for Chopin, Peter Gast, Liszt and Rossini, and all Venetian music. He, in fact, ends the Intermezzo with his poem, Venice. He found the discussed qualities

Housing Bussinees Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Housing Bussinees Report - Essay Example Corresponding findings are discussed prior to assessing the CHA Corporate Strategy and Business Plan.   Part I talks about the principles and procedures of SWOT Analysis, and how they should have been applied to CHA. Part 2 discusses the purpose of SWOT Analysis as it relates to CHA and why it was difficult for CHA to serve the purposes of a comprehensive and accurate strategy. Part 3 gives an assessment of the weaknesses based on the facts in CHA’s Corporate Strategy and Business Plan. And Part IV gives the Roles of the Board in order to have a comprehensive SWOT analysis and to successfully utilize results in preparing a more accurate strategy and set of plans. Part I An Explanation of the Method known as SWOT Analysis One of the alternative planning tools of management in different levels involves formulating pertinent questions to be included in a set of questionnaires that will identify the Strengths, Weaknesses, and Opportunities of the business organization, and Threa ts to its future performance. These questionnaires should be for the Stakeholders and/or their official representatives in the Board of Directors. From the response to questionnaires and also based on known information about the company and the industry, the management should be able to identify company strengths and weaknesses as well as the opportunities and threats. This is known as the SWOT Analysis. The main objective of such a tool is to be able to formulate clearly defined, effective strategies that will aim to achieve desired objectives. Strategic planning should therefore follow SWOT Analysis. A diagram below summarizes the interrelated processes. Questionnaires All Board Members representing Stakeholders should answer questions. Performance of SWOT Analysis Strategic Planning Achievement of Desired Objectives, Goals, Purposes, Mission, Vision Through Optimum Performance As can be seen from the diagram, management uses the findings gathered from questionnaires distributed t o the Stakeholders, analyzes them, and develops a logical plan for the company to realize objectives. Contents of the questionnaires should consider all the External Factors that have an impact on the organization and all the Internal Factors (from within the organization). Value of Questionnaires Because the recipient and respondents to questionnaires will be the Stakeholders or the representatives in the Board, their views will be the key resources to be used in determining how the organization will go about achieving objectives and towards which direction. Questionnaires should ask Stakeholders about their awareness of the present status of the organization of which they are a part, an awareness of some history concerning how the company reached its present status, their description of the business (What is it ?) and what should it be, their insights about where the business should be headed, and how they think the business can become the way they want it to be. Sample questions about internal factors that would be related to the recent performance of the organization, are shown in the attached. One book entitled â€Å"Strategic Planning† by the Strategic Planning Society (2006) emphasized that â€Å"There are no magic formulas; each organization will be different. So getting the questions right is crucial to success.† The questionnaires should strive to be exhaustive in order to extract adequate and substantial

African American treatment by the police Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

African American treatment by the police - Essay Example Most African Americans, particularly those victimized by crime is a disproportionate manner, have little trust that the police would treat them in a fair manner. On the contrary, the population believes that law enforcement officials should treat all people equally regardless of their race, gender, or religious affiliation. This issue has attracted considerable attention, in different parts of the country based on the growing rates of victimization and exaggeration y the media in the United States (University of Texas, 2013). This paper will depict the issue of victimization of African American by law enforcement officials. It will also discuss how the media influences the perception of the public towards a criminal, and how media depiction of an incident affects individuals involved in a criminal activity. Researchers have revealed that a large number of black young men feel targeted by the police, particularly when driving or walking. In this case, they feel judged by stereotypes, which fuel resentment, hopelessness, and fear. Statistically, when targeting issues such as implementation of a drug policy, pulling individuals over, or implementing a death penalty, various racial disparities prevail. As such, just as most black Americans are influenced by crime in a disproportionate manner, the police equally scrutinize them unfairly (Fiducia Project, 2012). In 2010, for instance, African-Americans, representing 13% of the total population, accounted for about 55% gun homicides victims. These conflicting feelings have resulted to creation of incompatible policies. During the mid-1980s, a time when cocaine epidemic was dominant, tearing apart communities and families, and fueling murders, black lawmakers were on the forefront to facilitate in the establishment of laws that would help control the menace. This issue led

Discussion questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 9

Discussion questions - Essay Example Companies allow â€Å"good debtors† to make purchases without necessarily making the payment upfront. The money that the company expects to receive from the debtors after the agreed period is the trade receivable. Receivables are from frequent and ‘good’ customers who are periodically invoiced. An IOU is given to the company by the purchaser for services already rendered or goods already received (Warren, Reeve & Duchac, 2012). When the vice president of operations for Billings National Bank (Tricia Fenton) decided that the bank should use a 365-day year to compute interest on depository accounts (payables), she was being ethical. Therefore, the decision to use a 360-day year to compute interest on loans (receivables) was not professional. A financial year has 365 days; hence, all interests should be calculated based on that period. A 360-day year will reduce the receivables. When receivables reduce, it shows that the company is collecting its debts promptly. However, this is not the case. Tricia Fenton’s aim might be to impress her superiors while in the real sense; the company is facing challenges in collecting debts (Warren, Reeve & Duchac, 2012). Depreciation refers to the loss in asset value due to old age, wear and tear, obsolescence or adverse market conditions. It is crucial to note that land and buildings are the major assets that do not depreciate; instead, their value increases. Depreciation can be regarded as a non cash expense, which increases a company’s cash flow and reduces its reported earnings. For the purposes of financial reporting, businesses use different methods of depreciation. The depreciation method, which a company opts to use while calculating depreciation for all its depreciable assets, may differ from the one it uses for financial statement purposes and for the purposes of determining income taxes. This is due to the varying incentives in hand (Warren,

Software Usability Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Software Usability - Essay Example or the successful execution of business processes that the designs of the information systems embedded within them are user centered and targeted towards the achievement of specific goals with effectiveness. Usability is judged at the very initiation when the user interacts with the user interface of software. The readability of the user interface and the accessibility that it provides are both key factors that can be considered in order to assess the usability of that particular system. Specific User tasks to be highlighted. Usability precision without the implementation of this task at the design phase is impossible. Every computer system module needs to be designed specific to its users’ needs. The simply and clearly chalked out the requirements of the users are, the easier and more efficiently implemented is the usability of the system. Goals to be Determined-Evaluate what is the final required end result. In accordance with the data collected, the tasks required to reach the goal are embedded within the software design of the computer system. User profile should be determined. Representatives similar to the target market should be approached. The system should be accessed by them and their response should be integrated into the final outcome of the software. Conduct preliminary trial sessions. The representatives who are made to access the system before its finalization are provided with specific rooms in which they are monitored by audio/visual recording or eye tracking equipment. Since the physical response of users is part of the usability assessment the data collected is of immense importance. Data input from the users should be evaluated. Respect should be given to the areas of the system that left the users unsatisfied and distressed. Close attention should be paid to areas where the users were not satisfied. DISAGREEMENTS about usability should be resolved with the consensus of opinion. The hiring of external agents that would be third party to

High-Blood Pressure Essay Example for Free

High-Blood Pressure Essay In this particular essay, I am going to attempt to inform you about the disease called high blood pressure. In this three to four page report I will discuss what causes it, how it can be treated and when you know it is too high. Hopefully, after reading this piece, you will be more aware of what high blood pressure is. To begin with, the disorder or disease that I will be doing my report on is High blood pressure; also known as hypertension. The system that the disorder comes from is the cardiovascular system. The majority of times, there is no clear cause, which can be identified as the cause of the disorder. The clearest cause of why blood pressure is high is that the arteries that the blood flows through are too small. High blood pressure is most common in people whose families have had it; the same as heredity. It is also most common in males, patients who are over 35 years old, African-Americans and in women on oral contraceptives. High blood pressure is far more common in families where other members have had this condition. Even though sometimes it is a hereditary disorder, it is not always. For instance, while the incidence of high blood pressure is low in Japan, it is higher in Japanese who migrate to America. Cultural things that we do in America will affect the incidences of high blood pressure, these include: Being overweight, eating high sodium diet, exercising too little, and drinking more than two alcoholic drinks daily. Some of the symptoms include: Calcification, cardiac arrest, chest pain, depression, diabetes, dizziness, heart attack and shortness of breath. The disorder doesnt really progress within the system. If you have high blood pressure in one part of your system, it is most likely that you have high blood pressure in all of your system. Blood only comes from one place in your system, your heart. So if a little part of your body has high blood pressure, then every blood vessel in your body should have it as well. Some people think that only at a certain level of high blood pressure should be treated. Some people also think that the higher the blood pressure, the higher the risk of suffering one of its complications. People with hypertension are encouraged to: Maintain ideal body weight, reduce the consumption of sodium and maintain at least a modest exercise program. If  your blood pressure is too high, then medications may be taken to control it. Several readings are required to test whether or not you have high blood pressure. Generally, blood pressure is said to be too high at the level of 140/90, and some therapy should be started at this level. If after the therapy, the pressure is still too high, then you should start taking medications. You cant really tell when your blood pressure is too high. One of high blood pressures nicknames is silent killer because it can hurt you very bad even when you dont know you have it. The biggest problem with the treatment of high blood pressure is not a lack of knowledge, but a lack of applying our current knowledge. To help treat the disorder remember these key points: take your medications as prescribed, Get your medications filled before they run out, and follow-up with your doctor. There is a syndrome that people sometimes feel eerie about. This is called White Coat Syndrome. This is a situation where patients have a high blood pressure in the doctors office, but nowhere else. This is usually where when someone sees a doctor he or she starts to feel tense and irritated. This is not a terrible thing. If you have an occasional high blood pressure it is not as dangerous as when your blood pressure remains elevated all of the time. There is really no prevention of high blood pressure. It is mostly a hereditary trait passed down from a family member. The best bet that you have to prevent the disease is to maintain an ideal body weight, reduce your consumption of sodium and maintain at least a modest exercise program. Doing these things will not prevent it 100%, but they might help you out for the future. Some common causes of the disease are medications, habitual alcohol use, too much salt in the diet, obesity, stress and arteriosclerosis. In conclusion, I have summed up some pretty important topics in this composition. Some of the most important things that I learned are that some people dont even know when they have high blood pressure or not, what you can do to treat the disease, and what you can get it from. I think that after I have read learned all this about the disease, I will probably try to consume less sodium, maintain an ideal body weight and exercise fairly  regularly. By doing these everyday things I should be able to help myself from getting the disease.

Isadora Duncan And Modern Dance Drama Essay

Isadora Duncan And Modern Dance Drama Essay During twentieth century, there was a new dance form that was appearing in American, which was modern dance. It was to have a significant influence on the dance education. Modern dance has broken the rule of classical ballet. The theme of modern dance works might encompass Greek mythology; Ancient or modern poetry or other literary works; American folklore and legendry; major social issues; interpersonal relationships approached psychoanalytically; historical events; or, simply, abstract and lyrical works that had no theme or story line. (Kraus, Richard. Page, 114) Modern dance beginning with Isadora Duncan,(Kraus, Richard. Page, 112) she believed that dance should come from and be an expression of the spirit, inspired by nature; anything else was stilted and artificial. (Brown, Jean Morrison. Page, 7) Isadora Duncan was born in San Francisco, California in 1876. (Foster, Susan Leigh. Page, 116) Her family was artistic, her mother taught music, and young Isadora studied ballet. (Kraus, Richard. Page, 116) According to Richard Kraus, Isadora began to give dancing lessons at an early age. At the age of eighteen, she left for Chicago; Huang 2 then she gave concerts in New York at the Carnegie Hall in Greek vases and statuary. (Kraus, Richard. Page, 117) However, she soon broke away from the classic dance form, which did not suit her spirit. (Kraus, Richard. Page, 116) Isadora Duncan proclaimed a new era of dance beginning in 1903. (Foster, Susan Leigh. Page, 145) Her first appearance in Russia, in 1905, stimulated a controversy between the traditional balletomanes and critics and those who proposed reform of the ballet. (Kraus, Richard. Page, 117) Duncans choreographic vision did not depend as much on an understanding of Greek culture or mythology as on her conception of the Greeks ideas about the soul and the body. (Forster, Susan Leigh. Page, 145) She danced barefoot in simple, Greek tunics and scarves, and threw away the dancers costume, such as corsets, tutus, and ballet slippers at that period. Therefore, her performance was not in the sense of characterization and told a story. At that time, people took the Greek idea of perfection of body line, the gesture of classical ballet was limited and rigidly, such as feet turn out and arms holding position, controlling legs and turns in the air, or dancing on the pointes. Duncan reproached the classical ballerina with a false consciousness of the mechanical origin of movement that ballet was not only wrong about the body, it was unsyntactical, noncumulative, each action was an end, and no movement, pose or rhythm was successive or could be made to evolve succeeding action. (Kracauer, Siegfried. Page, 7) In nothing does Nature suggest jumps and breaks, there is between all the conditions of life a continuity or flow which the dancer must respect Huang 3 in his art, or else become a mannequin-outside nature and without true beauty (Brown, Jean Morrison. Page, 8) On the other way, Isadora Duncans movement found in nature, such simple action could influence her imagination to created steps. For example, she said: I was born by the sea, my first idea of movement of the dance, certainly came from the rhythm of the waves. (Brown, Jean Morrison. Page, 8) The majority of her picture shows, her dance movements were looks like quit simple and without brilliant dance technique, the arms were free flowing and extended, the gesture was freedom and no limited position. It was more a harmonious plasticity, swinging, swaying, flowing rhythms, with no marked dissonances, no little vibratory movements. (Constance, Garcia Barrio, Page, 19-22) Moreover, Duncans personal life was almost approach to her dance choreograph. Claiming she did not believe in marriage or monogamy. Duncan brought her feminist consciousness to the dance stage and introduced the soloist performance to dance audiences. For example her solo, Mother, illustrates how the play of idol and fetish becomes activated in the service of an essentialized female role. (Franko, Mark. Page, 10) Her efforts to reform the constricted movements of womens bodies in daily life and in theatrical self-display had meaning both externally for social life and internally for dance history. (Franko, Mark. Page, 2) She transferred the idea of a soul in physical form to the syllogism: female body equal to nature, nature equal to dance, therefore: female body equal to dance. Huang 4 (Franko, Mark. Page, 1 0) Duncans dancing presented woman as close to nature, emotion, and the unconscious while also enshrining nature in the solar plexus. (Franko, Mark. Page, 10) In my opinion, between ballet and modern dance, except gestures and movements different, there was another difference, which was performance stage. Palais Royal developed manner of the new Italian theater; it had an elevated stage on which the action took place at one end of the hall beneath a proscenium arch during 16 century. (Kraus, Richard. Page, 74) We can clearly see that ballet steps almost facing frontal since 16 century. This was easily for dancer only focus on one direction of audience, rather than on three sides of audience. That was why the dancers feet and leg became more and more turn out, instead of straight forward. Therefore, the performer separated from the audiences. On the contrast, the stage of modern dance could set something, sometimes the performer had interactive with audiences, audience could go on the stage, and saw the performer from difference direction. Maybe the dancer of modern dance does not care their back or bum facing to the audiences. Duncan on stage was notably austere; St. Denis often created opulent sets with sculptures and scenic backdrops to simulate exotic locales like Egypt or India. (Foster, Susan Leigh. Page 148) In conclusion, Isadora is known as the mother of  modern dance, not only she found a new form of dance, but she also brought a new idea to dance movements. Her choreograph was expressing an inner feeling about life and without discipline, and Huang 5 provide an unlimited imagination space that dancers could find our own style and translate our own feeling and character to dance movement. Huang 6

The Formation of An Individual :: Philosophy

The Formation of An Individual Man needs a polity, and in the same way a polity needs man. This is the focus of the first chapter in the formation of an individual. The formation of an individual is a very complicated process, yet it is a process that is very necessary. Through the formation of some types of government man tries to form himself from his acquired beliefs. The most basic form of government is a couple, but it branches out to entire societies. In these societies there are certain issues that the individual must deal with, the first is oppression. Oppression is probably the hardest of all of the problems that one faces on his road to humanization. Oppression is a single force, held by few, that prevents others from reaching their status. This form of inequality can be seen in almost all forms of government, save anarchism because there are no superiors that can oppress. We saw this oppression in the movie "A Dry White Season". This movie summarized the problems with injustice, inequality, and oppression. In order for us to become more fully human, and move along on our road to our own formation we must break free from our oppressors. By breaking free, you are not starting a war, or even a conflict, but you are actively participating in your own realization. Before we can break free of the oppression that I just described we must first be able to realize when we are being oppressed. Through a complicated process of influence we gain our own thoughts, words, and actions. It first starts with our own set of beliefs. Most likely the ones that our parents set for us. But after we gain that first sense of who we are, and who we should be, then and only then can we realize if we are oppressed. We must understand the actions of ourselves before we can understand those of others. On the journey to create our own individuality we need to be influenced because after we are influenced we can then Aweed out@ the ideas that most likely conform to our own opinions. This onion is the most effective tool or method in the formation of an individual. Paulo Friere addressed the issue of oppression and why it must be stopped in his essay APedagogy of the Oppressed.@ In this essay he dictates that through education we can and must stop oppression. Yet this Abreaking free@ cannot be an individual effort, but a combine summation of forces. Near the beginning of his essay he says that man must break free of the chains that bind him to his The Formation of An Individual :: Philosophy The Formation of An Individual Man needs a polity, and in the same way a polity needs man. This is the focus of the first chapter in the formation of an individual. The formation of an individual is a very complicated process, yet it is a process that is very necessary. Through the formation of some types of government man tries to form himself from his acquired beliefs. The most basic form of government is a couple, but it branches out to entire societies. In these societies there are certain issues that the individual must deal with, the first is oppression. Oppression is probably the hardest of all of the problems that one faces on his road to humanization. Oppression is a single force, held by few, that prevents others from reaching their status. This form of inequality can be seen in almost all forms of government, save anarchism because there are no superiors that can oppress. We saw this oppression in the movie "A Dry White Season". This movie summarized the problems with injustice, inequality, and oppression. In order for us to become more fully human, and move along on our road to our own formation we must break free from our oppressors. By breaking free, you are not starting a war, or even a conflict, but you are actively participating in your own realization. Before we can break free of the oppression that I just described we must first be able to realize when we are being oppressed. Through a complicated process of influence we gain our own thoughts, words, and actions. It first starts with our own set of beliefs. Most likely the ones that our parents set for us. But after we gain that first sense of who we are, and who we should be, then and only then can we realize if we are oppressed. We must understand the actions of ourselves before we can understand those of others. On the journey to create our own individuality we need to be influenced because after we are influenced we can then Aweed out@ the ideas that most likely conform to our own opinions. This onion is the most effective tool or method in the formation of an individual. Paulo Friere addressed the issue of oppression and why it must be stopped in his essay APedagogy of the Oppressed.@ In this essay he dictates that through education we can and must stop oppression. Yet this Abreaking free@ cannot be an individual effort, but a combine summation of forces. Near the beginning of his essay he says that man must break free of the chains that bind him to his

Peer To Peer Piracy :: File Sharing Network MP3

Peer To Peer Piracy Everyone loves good tunes, and that’s okay. In this media heavy society, everyone has a favorite type of music, or a favorite artist. However, expanding one’s horizons in music beyond mainstream was terribly expensive, until Napster. Napster, Shawn Fanning’s brainchild, was a revolution. People began trading music over the internet through peer to peer file sharing, and next thing you know, everyone could have thousands and thousands of songs. Napster had shown a society a method for getting what they wanted, for free. It was only a matter of time until users started trading a lot more than just music; movies, software, and games were all in demand. Napster was formulated off of a simple concept of sharing music, but it turned out to be revolutionary by becoming a catalyst to a much larger peer to peer pirating system. Napster helped computer literate users share music through a system of indexing. When a user logged on, the user’s computer would send data with which mp3s, or songs, were in their predestinated â€Å"shared folder† to the index computer. The index computer would then tell that user where other files were stored over the network, on other user’s computers. With this system, a user could download an entire album of Jimi Hendrix from another user either two states away, or two doors down. Since Napster only dealt in mp3 files, it was targeted by the music companies, who sued until it Shawn had to take down the Central Index Server. It was replaced though, by networks like Gnutella which use a referral system. When one computer comes onto the Gnutella network, it finds another computer on the network, and introduces itself. Then, like a spreading rumor, the word gets around the network. The computer that just learned tells 8 others about the new one, then those 8 tell 7 more about the new one, and so on. This way, each client has a larger number of other clients who know it is online and what content it has available (Wikipedia). However, without a main server to regulate, users could distribute whatever they wanted. Software piracy was very prominent. Any user could punch in the search terms â€Å"AutoCAD† and download a thousand dollar program for free.

The Evolution of Communication Essay -- Internet Net World Wide Web Me

The Evolution of Communication Since the earliest of years, communication has been an important part of life. The term communication is defined as a means to give or interchange thoughts, feelings, information, or the like, by writing, speaking, gesturing, etcetera ( Stein, 298). Communication allows humans and other life-forms to interact with each other and transfer important information. The information transferred could be comprised of anything from a nearby food source to the discovery of fire. Over the years, communication has taken many forms. In 1962, a singer and songwriter named Bob Dylan (b. Robert Allen Zimmerman, May 24, 1941, Duluth, Minnesota) released his first album titled Bob Dylan. After listening to this album and noticing his talent for intertwining melodic songs and lyrics that spread social consciousness to the masses, it is hard to believe the simple grunt had come this far. Through the advances of science, scientist have concluded that the evolution of life probably took place over the past tens of millions of years. During these years life has evolved from tiny microscopic organisms into modern man. The genus Homo, which houses mankind, only appeared some two million years ago. Through much research, it has been concluded that speech probably arrived in its simplest form some 250,000 to 300,000 years ago. This early stage of speech, or communication, consisted of Neanderthals using their mouths to formulate sounds. This attempt to communicate by sound, which may have been discovered by listening to animals such as birds or other creatures and attempting to recreate them, is commonly known as grunting (Lacy, 2). The transformation from grunting, to the actual formulation of words, probably took pl... ...y. Many people took advantage of the radio and attempted to raise social consciousness through the broadcasting of songs and lyrics (information). Radio allowed information to be distributed in a wide range. Song's were played to whomever would listen, and not just in certain areas and ethnic boundaries. One such educator was Bob Dylan. Over three decades Bob Dylan released 46 albums. Dylan's combination of folk music, social consciousness, and the radio allowed him to speak to a nation. The information he was sending was heard by millions upon millions and could be traced all the way back to the simple grunt some 250,000 to 300,000 years ago. Works Cited Ed., Jess Stein. The Random House Dictionary of the English Language. Random House Publishing: New York, 1967 Lacy, Dan. From Grunts To Gigabytes. Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois: Urbana,1996

Water Pollution Contamination

POLLUTION INTRODUCTION Pollution is the act of environmental humiliation and contamination with artificial waste. Air, water, and soil pollution is a serious complication, which affects everyone in the world. Some of the main causes of pollution is the lack of laws to new industries as well as a poorly educated society. Due to environmental pollution, the society has put pressure on the government to create and carry out diverse policies to the control of environmental pollutants. LAND POLLUTIONLand pollution is the deposition of waste materials be it liquid or solid state either underground or the land that could pollute the natural resources like the soil, underground water. Land pollution also threatens public health and is the root of further Causes: land pollution takes place when unwanted materials of all kinds like garbage, rubbish and trash from different places are disposed to the land. Materials consist of moist food, paper, and glass, plastic, Etc. Also material such as ce ment, metals, rubble concrete are buried in the ground. Furthermore, factories eliminate hazardous chemicals and liquids into the grounds.Contaminated effluent from subsurface sewage disposal can also be a cause of land pollution. Garbage left in open dumps often has breeding of animals such as rats, cockroaches, mosquitoes and other disease carriers. They also root the cause of bad smell, windblown debris and other irritants. Windblown debris could cause contamination of lakes, rivers or wells nearby leaving more room for diseases. Methane, a hazardous gas is given out by decomposing garbage. Misusing of land like deforestation and use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers further pollute the land Effects: Climate: Due to land pollution, the forest cover on earth is decreasing which affects the climate. This results in less rain which leads to fewer pure water resources. Therefore, all living things: the flora and the fauna that rely on fresh water for life are affected. Land poll ution also leads to acid rains, greenhouse effect and global warming. †¢Extinction: Land pollution leads to deforestation resulting in many species losing their habitat which is one of the main causes of extinction. †¢Bio magnification: this process takes place when a particular non-biodegradable substance accumulates in the food chain.This puts not only the specie consuming it in danger, but all the species connected to the food chain. Overall results in affecting the food pyramid †¢Biodiversity: extinction will result in unbalanced and disturbed biodiversity. For example, if a species goes extinct the specie it feeds on will see a number of increase.! WAYS TO REDUCE LAND POLLUTION: †¢Reduce Product packaging: as the consumer market grows, more elaborate and fine packaging is used. This increases the waste produced every year and leads to further land pollution. A way companies have started to go green is make reusable and recycled packaging that attracts the co nsumers. Recycle: Using materials that are recycled. Stop wasting paper and using recycled paper. Give away old books and newspapers to recycle companies. Avoid using materials such as plastic. Recycling helps in reducing the amount of waste dumped in dump fills. Cans and metals could be recycled. †¢Composting: According to scientists, it takes about a decade for a land fill to decompose. Composting helps in decomposition due to its design which helps in flow of air. Yard trimmings and food that are decomposed help in reducing the land pollution AIR POLLUTIONAir pollution is one of the major problems that our planet is suffering from , its affecting our daily life without our notice as its content of poisonous gases and acid rain and many other gases from the burned fossil fuel and transportation and industries, we inhale without our notice it may damage our lungs and affects our health. Air pollution is defined as â€Å" the introduction of chemicals, particulate matter, or b iological materials that cause harm or discomfort to humans or other living organisms, or cause damage to the natural environment or built environment, into the atmosphere. (wikipedia, 2012) Causes of air pollution:- The causes of air pollution are many like as I previously mentioned, it could be because of the burning of fussel fuels such as gasoline , oil, coal and natural gas, the daily usage of electricity , the exhaust gas of cars and vehicles specially and not to forget the main natural cause of air pollution is dust. â€Å"We also cause air pollution indirectly, when we buy goods and services that use energy in their production and delivery. (Air pollution, 2011) The pollutents are those substances which causes the air pollution , it could be gases, liquid droplets or solid substances sometimes like lead and mercury. I’ll mention some important primary pollutants which are carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen and sulphur oxides . -Sulpher oxides: usually obtained from the industries and is widely spread in paper manufacture industries and combine with rain droplets and produces acid rain , alsoâ€Å" is produced by volcanoes and in various industrial processes. â€Å"(Wikipedia, 2012) -Nitrogen oxides: the main source of nitrogen oxides are cars and vehicles. nitrogen dioxide are emitted from high temperature combustion, and are also produced naturally during thunderstorms by electrical discharge† (wikipedia, 2012) -Carbon dioxide: â€Å"a colorless, odorless, non-toxic greenhouse gas also associated with ocean acidification, emitted from sources such as combustion, cement production, and respiration. † (wikipedia, 2012) -Carbon monoxide: caused in the burning of coal, fossil fuels and wood , it’sâ€Å" a colorless, odorless, non-irritating but very poisonous gas. It is a product by incomplete combustion of fuel such as natural gas, coal or wood.Vehicular exhaust is a major source of carbon monoxide. † (wikipedi a, 2012) Effects of air pollution:- Air pollution causes a lot problems and has a lot of impact on us as humans , talking about its effects I will mention three major point to discuss, ‘ the effects of air pollution on our health, enviroment and ecominc life. First, talking about the effect of it on our health, the enhaling of these gases is very harmful and poisonious as it causes permenant damage to the lungs , it also affects the brain and the nervious system and makes us suffer from breathing problems and respiratory illness.Carbon Monoxide is considered as the most dangerous gas , because it â€Å"Reduces ability of blood to bring oxygen to body cells and tissues. † (Air pollution, 2011) . Sulphur oxides when combined with the rain droplets , it forms acid rain which â€Å"causes buildings, statues, and monuments to deteriorate. † (Air pollution, 2011) these gases when enhaled into the human body it can cause a lot of damage and may lead to serious situation s and could cause death sometimes, therefor we need to be careful and not to expose our bodies to such gases.Second, the effects of air pollution on our environment, it may lead to the melting of the polar ice caps, can affect the weather distractions which leads to tornadoes , floods , hurricanes and droughts. In addition to that it causes an increase in the sea level . also, it affects the environment in an indirect way through the spread of new diseases which can be hardly cured and it affects the agriculture which is mostly our source of food. Moreover, acid rain can damage buildings, forests, soil, lakes and it affects the aquatic life.Finally, its effect on the economy, it has an impacts in relation to its effect on the human health and the environment. WATER POLLUTION Contamination of water bodies such as lakes, rivers, oceans, groundwater is called water pollution. Water pollution takes place when pollutants are dumped or discharged into these water bodies. Water pollution l eads to the sea life and other living organisms depending on them in danger due to the contaminated water hazardous nature. Biological communities are affected due to water pollution and it keeps growing every yearCAUSES OF WATER POLLUTION Water pollution is one kind of most dangers pollution it contamination the of water bodies (e. g. lakes, rivers, oceans, aquifers and groundwater). Water pollution occurs when pollutants are discharged directly or indirectly into water bodies that will kills the marine life and oceans. It comes from factory wastes, sewer systems and oil spills that cause harmful effects in all environments because water is a very necessary for animals and human life (causes of water pollution, 2006). SIDE EFFECTS OF WATER POLLUTIONThere are many side effects that water pollution like killing marine life, spreading diseases in human and animal by contamination of heavy metals and harmful bacteria. it kills green areas like forests and farms by using Pesticides that contaminant ground water which feed plants also it same in sewer system that goes in ground or goes in seas and rivers. the most common thing is oil and lubrication liquids , because of increasing using and west that comes from it, it effect the water environment directly by get rid of it in sea or in ground (Jeantheau, 2005) MEASURES THAT COULD BE TAKENThere are many ways to reduce the pollution in water like recital the old lubrications and avoid throwing it in ground or water surfaces. Also we can use things that not effects the water by reduce the pesticide in farms. Making shipment of oil ship more safety by develop the safety system in transferring of oil and chemical products also repair and replacement of leaking and malfunctioning equipment (Control of pollution, 2006). Survey A survey was conducted by the group members on 50 students from Abu Dhabi Al Ain Campus, both male and female.The following were the results collected: †¢All 50 students knew about different kin ds of pollution †¢48 students thought immediate measure was required to stop pollution †¢41 students admitted to have polluted in one way or other (either land, air or water) †¢33 students said they would be a part of â€Å"going green† †¢29 students thought pollution is a problem in UAE Conclusion All in all, pollution of any kind, be it land, water, or air is dangerous and Is affecting the earth and species living on it in harmful ways.It increases every year and the toll gets higher. We as humans have the duty to save our planet for a better tomorrow. Different awareness campaigns and drives could be carried out to promote the dangerous effects of pollution. â€Å"Going green† should be focused on and living healthy should be promoted. The changes will not take place overnight but we all can start from now. Bibliography Air Pollution. (2012). Retrieved from en. wikipedia. org/: http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Air_pollution Land Pollution. 2012). R etrieved from en. wikipedia. org: http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Land_pollution Nathanson, J. A. (2012). Land Pollution. Retrieved from www. britannica. com: http://www. britannica. com/EBchecked/topic/329175/land-pollution Pillai, P. (2012, january 16). Causes and Effects of Land Pollution. Retrieved from /www. buzzle. com: http://www. buzzle. com/articles/causes-and-effects-of-land-pollution. html Ryan, D. B. (2010, july 03). WAYS TO OVERCOME LAND POLLUTION. Retrieved from www. ivestrong. com: http://www. livestrong. com/article/164542-ways-to-overcome-land-pollution/ causes of water pollution. (2006, 4 19). Retrieved 5 22, 2012, from http://en. wikipedia. org: http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Water_pollution#Causes Control of pollution. (2006, 4 19). Retrieved 5 22, 2012, from http://en. wikipedia. org: http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Water_pollution#Control_of_pollution Jeantheau, M. (2005, 9 6). side effect of water pollution. Retrieved from http://www. grinnin

Change in Documentary Genre Essay

The documentary genre has changed over time. Changes in society have had an impact on the change. There are large commercialist pressures for documentary to become more entertaining and engaging to capture a wider cinema going audience. Documentary has become increasingly popular. Documentaries such as Bowling for Columbine by Michael Moore have been given numerous awards and were widely popular at the box office. The Grey Gardens is a 1975 documentary by Albert and David Maysles. The film depicts the lives of a socialite mother and daughter living in a decrepit mansion. The Grey Gardens uses an observation style of documentary. It uses old style music and the editing pace is slow. The Grey Gardens provides a very different experience than the more recent documentary. The old style of the documentary would have been entertaining to the audience of 1975 as they were more conservative than today’s society and would have been able to relate to the people in the documentary. The changes in society have expanded the documentary genre to make it more interesting for the audiences of today. The documentary Bowling for Columbine by Michael Moor is an example of the change in the documentary genre. It is a powerful documentary for the audience as it addresses a very important issue about gun control in the United States. Michael Moore uses humour within the documentary to make it more entertaining and to attract a wider age of viewers than a documentary such as the Grey Gardens. Michael Moore ridicules many of the events and people portrayed throughout the film, such as Charlton Heston, making it entertaining and humorous. The documentary uses a fast editing pace, with Michael Moore creatively putting shots that seem to be unrelated together, such as the Kosovo bombings and the September 11 attacks. As well as making it more captivating for the audience these shots evoke strong emotion and manipulates them into taking Moore’s side. His intensive use of music as ironic punctuation is able to change the mood of the film from humour, to sadness, to horror. The audience is entertained by the documentary because it is reflecting on an issue that affects the U. S. A, it discusses events such as the Kayla Rowland murder and the Columbine shooting which are well known events to society and manipulate the viewer into taking a negative stance on gun control. Touching the Void uses a different style of documentary than that of Bowling for Columbine. Touching the Void is a moving documentary that uses dramatic reconstruction and interviews, which cut between each other. Unlike Bowling for Columbine file footage was not used as there was no file footage of the actual event. The combination of these conventions is entertaining to the audience as it allows them to connect with the mountaineers. The combination of eerie violin music and the dramatic reconstruction is chilling to the viewer and makes them engage with the mountaineers. The interviews make the story seem more truthful to the audience. The audience connects with the documentary because people in society are interested in other peoples lives and the documentary gives insight into part of the mountaineers lives, with the use of the conventions. Touching the Void impacted on the genre by using this different style of documentary making documentaries more like films. These types of documentaries are called docudrama. The documentary Jesus Camp by Rachael Grady and Heidi Ewing is another example of how the documentary genre has changed over time. Like the Grey Gardens it uses an observational style but has a faster editing pace and uses more modern music such as Christian Heavy metal music. The documentary is interesting to the audience because although it is humorous it is also shocking to the viewer. It uses very moving, spiritual music to relate to the religious theme of the documentary and to evoke strong emotions and opinions of the viewer. The documentary uses shocking live footage and fast paced editing to shock the audience. Like Touching the Void it provides insight into the people’s lives showing societies pre-occupations with other peoples lives. The nature of documentary films has changed dramatically over the past 20 years. The film genre has become increasingly successful with films such as Super-size Me, Bowling for Columbine and an Inconvenient Truth being among the most successful examples at box office. Pressures on documentary to be more entertaining have caused some controversy in documentaries such as Bowling for Columbine where critics have questioned where it can actually be alled a documentary as unrelated shots are put together to create a negative and biased view on gun control in the U. S. A. With the increasing popularity and development of â€Å"reality television†, which veers to the fictional and is often staged. This aspect of documentary makes people more suspicious of the genre and less likely to accept it as the truth. The need for society to be entertained will h ave an affect on documentary as they will have to become more entertaining to continue to attract the wider cinema going audience.

A Study of Aesthetics in the Call of Duty Franchise

Different but the Same: An Analysis of Aesthetics in the Call of Duty Franchise First Person Shooters (FPS) is one of the most famous genres within the gaming industry. It started with titles like Doom, Counter Strike, and now Call of Duty. Nowadays, console and PC gaming is a billion dollar industry. Multiple corporate and independent developers are working day in and day out to supply the market with better, bigger games. However, there are some titles which stand out from the rest, titles that always seem to be churning out one more instalment.One of these stand-out titles is the Call of Duty Franchise. Call of Duty is a series of games that at present, have nine main instalments, and another nine â€Å"lesser† titles to which the only difference is the console on which they are played. By â€Å"main† instalment, this means that the game was released on multiple platforms, which primarily includes PC, Playstation and the Xbox. It all started in October 29, 2003 with the release of Call of Duty. Since then, there has been a Call of Duty release every year, with Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 being the most recent adaptation, which came out November 12, 2012.The researcher will limit the discussion to the Call of Duty franchise, on the PC platform. To be specific, the four most recent games which include: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, Call of Duty: Black Ops, and Call of Duty: Black Ops 2. The researcher aims to answer the question: Is Call of Duty overrated as a franchise? To answer the question, the researcher will analyze each game on eight components of aesthetics which include: Sensation, Fantasy, Narrative, Challenge, Fellowship, Discovery, Expression and Submission (Hunicke, LeBlanc and Zubek).In answering the question: â€Å"Is Call of Duty overrated as a franchise†, the researcher aims to educate both himself and his reader(s) on the importance of proper video game analysis. Nowadays, it is common to s ee a game receive a large amount of hype, such that gamers, who expected so much from a game, get disappointed and end up feeling like they wasted their money. It happened to Diablo III, where a sequel was created for the highly successful Diablo II, twelve years after it was released. Many gamers ended up disappointed with Diablo III, where changes to the core aesthetics of the game changed the way the game was going to be layed. These kinds of mistakes by the game industry, although excusable, could have been avoided. Likewise, the researcher will use Call of Duty as an example for this method for proper video game analysis. Hopefully, this will shed light on the matter, allowing both gamers and game developers to better understand the manner by which games should be measured. By analyzing on the different components of aesthetics, it would be plausible to define the franchise as â€Å"overrated† if they do not significantly improve in any one aspect and at the same time, d eliver the same kind of performance in each instalment.Before going into the full â€Å"meat† of the analysis, the researcher would like to delve a little into the components of Aesthetics that will be used in the analysis later on. The researcher wishes to stress that most of the analysis on each aesthetic is based on his opinions, based on the fact that he is a dedicated gamer himself. The nature of the analysis of game design using the MDA format is that it considers both the perspectives of the game developer and the player. A key concept of MDA is that the developer and player perceive the game through opposite ends of the spectrum (Portnow).The player would first experience the aesthetics of the game, the general reason that they are playing it. The developer on the other hand, due to the nature of his work, sees the mechanics of the game, and how they influence the dynamics, and eventually the aesthetics. In understanding the definition of these mechanics, dynamics, an d aesthetics, it could be said that a game is overrated when it may be different in mechanics but deliver the same performance in aesthetics. The First Aesthetic: Game as Sense PleasureThe first aesthetic is defined as the game’s ability to stimulate the senses (Portnow). Be it sight, sound, touch, taste, or smell, as long as the game is able to stimulate the senses of the player, this could be considered an aesthetic. For Call of Duty, the senses that are (if at all) stimulated are sight and sound. As a breakdown of sight, the most important parts is the gun itself, the enemies and the â€Å"set† or location. A breakdown of sound would be the general tone, and sound effects. For all four instalments of the game included in the research, the graphics were generally the same.Advances in technology, greater processing power of consoles as well as computers allowed game developers to create richer, more detailed and crisp visuals for the game. However with this in mind, t he modelling and texture of Black Ops 2 with respect to Modern Warfare 2 is significant. However, visuals are much more than the quality of the image, and have more to do with content. Content wise, there is no difference. The gun itself and other equipment are the same. Why? Because they use guns that actually exist in real life, which means that there is no deviation in model and texture.Since all four instalments are set in around the same time frame, the guns present inside are the same. The enemies inside do not differ as well. Generally speaking, enemies are dressed up to characterize them. This is obvious, but this also means that most enemies will be the same. For example, there are multiple instances resent in all four games that require the player to kill people from the middle-east. Scarves, light clothing and the trademark AK47 have become the definition of the terrorist. Sound, also does not differ since it is highly unlikely for the â€Å"sound† of a certain gun to change, because they are based on real-life guns.In multiplayer, the element of music is not as present as in the single player option. In the single player, key plot points and tense moments are always supported by a musical score, and this helps to set the mood. Be it the sad death of an ally or the intense run-and-gun moments, there is the right music for the right time. This would be a reason for a gamer to enjoy the game, but it is hardly different from one instalment to another. Therefore, Call of Duty does not change in this aesthetic. This is in fact due to the basis on real-life elements which actually help the game perform in the next aesthetic.The Second Aesthetic: Game as Make-Believe The paper on MDA defines the second aesthetic as fantasy. That is, the ability of the game to immerse the player in a role that normally he/she would not be able to partake in (Portnow). Call of Duty excels in their performance under this aesthetic. The paper on MDA explains that good g ames would be able to deliver on maybe one or two â€Å"core aesthetics† while great games deliver on three or four. These â€Å"core aesthetics† can also be defined as the primary emotive reasons that a player would want to play a certain game. Fantasy, is one of those core aesthetics when it comes to Call of Duty.Whether it’s being a marine, being a stone-cold killer or a patriot, there is a role that the player is immersed in, and the experience is fed to them in pieces during the experience of play. How this changes from game to game, is another matter altogether. Call of Duty excels in the immersive aspect of play, because of the authenticity of the places, and items inside the â€Å"Call of Duty Universe† and because that the first person point-of-view. Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 in itself is already very good at this immersive aspect, and the experience does not really change from one instalment to another.The game itself, and the developers of the game, seem to have found the magic formula for the immersive aspect. Some would argue that better graphics are part of the immersive aspect. Things that break the immersive aspect are things like bugs, or errors in shading. These break the player away from the experience, and remind him/her that they are only playing a game. In the opinion of the researcher, this is not true. Games predating Call of Duty prove that good graphics does not equal a complete immersive experience. They may help, but it is not the most important thing.Games like Counter Strike, Half Life, Halo, and even some Doom games manage to immerse the player in another role without â€Å"life-like† graphics. In terms of the second aesthetic, Call of Duty shines. Even in the multiplayer where the immersive aspect is not as great (due to the lack of context), the game play alone is enough to make the player feel like a soldier surrounded by enemies, armed only with his gun, and his skill. All in all, the ex perience remains the same. But since it has been said that graphics help marginally to improve it, each game could still be said to have been better than the last, even if it is just by millimetres.The Third Aesthetic: Game as Drama The third aesthetic is narrative. This means that the player is playing the game for the story. In the terms of Call of Duty this means one thing: the single player. Plot wise, the stories of all four instalments covered in this research are practically the same. A soldier is taken out of the â€Å"regular army† to join an elite, top secret team to undergo a save-the-world mission, against an extremist, usually Russian, or Middle-Eastern. That being said, narrative is not one of the core aesthetics of the Call of Duty franchise.However, it is interesting to say that narrative may be one of the reasons for the game developers to create another instalment. Just like movies, the story where the previous game left of, is picked up by the next game. Th e plot in itself is not great, however anyone who played the previous game could be interested in knowing how the story progresses. The narrative in the first three games, Modern Warfare 2, Modern Warfare 3, and Black Ops are player driven. In the game itself, the story will not progress until the player decides to move forward. Also, the game is linear and lacks depth.The player is given the â€Å"illusion of choice† through the tactical action of moment-to-moment decision, however in the end he/she has to kill their enemy to progress. Therefore, the player’s role as the main character is not to â€Å"make decisions† but to â€Å"stay alive†. This in my opinion can get old fast. A person who played Modern Warfare 2 and will play Modern Warfare 3 will know all they need to know, and have seen almost some variation of every part of the campaign. This however, changes in Black Ops 2. The campaign in Black Ops 2 is different from the first three games, and i s significantly better for doing so.Although still not having the â€Å"freedom of total choice† there are still moments in the game, subtle and otherwise, where the player is given the chance to change the plot. To go above ground or below, whether to spare a life or not, these are some of the examples of choice that the player will experience, and will feel a greater depth than ever found in the first three games. Having made an actual choice, a contribution to the plot, the player is excited to play on, anxious to see how his actions impacted the greater scheme of things. When it comes to narrative, the last game is improved significantly.The possibility of choice for the player is no small thing. With choice, came the aspect of â€Å"multiple endings†. In each ending, the player sees how he/she affected the world, and is given an overview of everything that has happened during the campaign. For this aesthetic, Black Ops 2 showed greater depth, and was better for do ing so. The Fourth Aesthetic: Game as Obstacle Course The fourth aesthetic is challenge. From the nature of the genre, First-Person Shooter, to the setting of the game, which are the Cold War and a fictional World War 3, it is obvious that the fourth aesthetic is a core aesthetic of the game.For the analysis of the fourth aesthetic, the researcher will divide the game into two categories: Single player and Multiplayer. This is because that the â€Å"enemy† of both is different, and highly changes the dynamic of play. First, the Single Player, where there is a focus on the one against many. The computer does not use tactically superior moves, but focuses on overwhelming the player with numbers. The â€Å"bad guys† hide in obviously tactical positions: behind the counter, around the corner, against the wall, always facing the player.This creates an obstacle course that the player has to go through, and although is a challenge, can get monotonous and repetitive. In the mu ltiplayer, there is more depth. Since other players online differ from one another, use different weapons and different tactics, this creates a dynamic that the player will require more skill to follow. The multiplayer in Call of Duty did not change much from game to game, if only in mechanics. In this way, it could be said that although challenge is a core aesthetic to the franchise, Call of Duty has already found its niche and no longer needs to change a large aspect of it.However it is still no progress, on the part of the developer. Insight would say that the challenge comes from the other players, and it would be logical to buy the new game if everyone is going to be playing it too. That being said, this is a special aesthetic where the game developer is not the one responsible for challenge, the player is. The Fifth Aesthetic: Game as Social Framework The fifth aesthetic, fellowship, is any game that allows the player to work cooperatively with others (Portnow). In the Call of Duty franchise, this is present in both the single and multiplayer.In the single player, the player is in a sense, part of the team. He/she may even form a connection toward other members, especially when the main character they are playing as holds them in high regard. The pair of Alex Mason and Frank Woods from the Black Ops series is comparable to a Han Solo and Chewbacca, and the player will cherish that bond. It is worth mentioning that the voice acting in Call of Duty is some of the best voice acting in the gaming industry, and this helps the player humanize the fictional characters in-game.In the multiplayer, as a flip side of the aesthetic challenge, bonds are formed in between team mates. Team work is always required for objective-based play, and for people with a good enough gaming set, people in game can talk to each other over the net. The players who experience this aesthetic most are people who enter the game as a group, and have friends with them to share the experie nce in. In this aspect, the game developer does not control much of it, and the players are responsible. For example, why would a person play Modern Warfare 3 when all of his/her friends are playing Black Ops 2?His/her friends are reason enough to but the new game. The Sixth Aesthetic: Game as Uncharted Territory The sixth aesthetic is discovery. Any player who plays the game to see what was previously unknown is a player who plays for discovery (Portnow). Again, this can be divided into the single and multiplayer, as the aspect of discovery is different for both. For the single player, discovery is not a large role to play. There aren’t many things to â€Å"unearth† and most things about the narrative are given to the player as a reward for beating the previous mission. This is true for the first three games, until Black Ops 2.With multiple endings, as well as the option to reset the story to a particular mission, the player was left with some sort of replay value: th e option to discover the alternate endings. This forced the player to do things differently to achieve them, and offered more depth. In the multiplayer, discovery comes through the form of a levelling system. Higher level players can use more things, and has access to more powerful guns and equipment. This made it so that the multiplayer experience was more of a journey than an arena, and kept the players interested longer.In a way, the multiplayer did not change from game to game. However, there is a significant improvement on the part of the single player in Black Ops 2. The Seventh Aesthetic: Game as Self-Discovery The seventh aesthetic is defined as expression, or the ability of the players to express themselves through the game. In Call of Duty, this is limited to the multiplayer. In the single player, the player is thrust into the shoes of a fictional character and therefore does not express himself. Expression in the multiplayer however, comes from the â€Å"Create your own Class† system. In other words, load out.The player gets to choose the primary weapon, secondary, as well as buffs to their character by way of â€Å"perks†. Whether the player is the run-and-gun type, or the silent sniper, these are all forms of expression. In terms of expression as an aesthetic, the game itself does not improve. Expression is something that is player driven, and can only be helped by more options for customization. As this game does not offer more customization from game to game, it could be said that it did not improve. The Eighth Aesthetic: Game as Past-time The eight aesthetic is called submission.This means that the player plays the game as a way to tune-out; much like reading a book or watching TV does (Portnow). It is difficult for the researcher to judge games on this aesthetic, seeing as the developers have no way to control this. People playing Black Ops 2 now, played Modern Warfare 2 before, and played Counter Strike even before that. Older g amers would be able to relate more games to their experience, and the researcher is speaking out of his own experience from playing first person shooters. Interestingly enough, the eighth aesthetic is aided not by the difference in games, but the similarity of them.People who have been playing the FPS as a genre for a long time would be able to enjoy this aesthetic more when the new games holds more similarities to old ones. In this way, developers are aiding their players by keeping the game relatively standard. In this, the game could be said to be the same for all four instalments, and does not improve. Of the eight aesthetics discussed, six are actually controlled by the developer. Of those six, the franchise as a whole has been seen to improve in three. That is half of those supposedly developer-induced aesthetics. Because of this, the game is judged to be not over rated.Small or big, there have been changes to the franchise with respect to the last four instalments with regard to the aesthetics. Whether these changes actually merit the game being â€Å"worthy† of being purchased, is in the opinion of the buyer. But as said before, there are another two aesthetics which are not developer-controlled. Which are the fourth and fifth. The players aid each other in these aesthetics by playing the game itself, and people seeking competition must go where competition lies. However, as said before, these games at most times changed marginally, and whether this deserves a $60 price tag is the player’s choice.As a researcher, the game is sound, and it is apparent that a lot of work went into the creation of these games. As a gamer, the researcher must implore other gamers to demand quality from their games. We as a culture, a society who enjoys this form of media have to be specific with what we want from the game developers. Do some small, arbitrary changes to the system deserve our money? If the next game is really the previous one with better graph ics, we should think about where we put our money and whether these games are worth buying. To conclude, Black Ops 2 picks up the slack of where the first three left off.Individually, these games deserve their standing, since all of them perform excellently in at least 4, maybe 5 aesthetics. As a whole, the franchise has found its niche. People are inherently intelligent, and will only buy when the price is right. It is the responsibility of the developers to improve, however their greatest responsibility will always be to satisfy the needs of the customers. Bibliography Ahearn, Nate. â€Å"Call of Duty: Black Ops Review. † 9 November 2010. IGN. 10 January 2013. Bozon, Mark. â€Å"Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Review. † 10 November 2009. IGN. 0 January 2013. Gallegos, Anthony. â€Å"CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS 2 REVIEW. † 13 November 2012. IGN. 10 January 2013. —. â€Å"Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Review. † 8 November 2011. IGN. 10 January 2013. Hu nicke, Robin, Marc LeBlanc and Robert Zubek. â€Å"MDA: A Formal Approach to Game Design and Game Research. † 2004. 3 January 2013. . Portnow, James. â€Å"Extra Credits: Aesthetics of Play. † 17 October 2012. Extra Credits. 3 January 2013. Ryckert, Dan. â€Å"Call of Duty: Black Ops II. † 13 November 2012. gameinformer. 10 January 2013. Sicart, Miguel. â€Å"Defining Game Mechanics. † December