Themes in Metropolis

Themes in Metropolis Channelling a zeitgeist of Totalities, Metropolis explores how dystopic values result in loss of humanity. The reductionism of the workers, debased to mindless cattle through the stark uniformity of costuming and emotionless body language during Shift Change, foreshadows the deteriorating economic situation as Germany approached the Great Depression. The dehumanisation of the proletariats as they move through the Workers City is emphasised by the movement of intertitles down the screen. It suggests that the workers have become part of the functional elevator they are riding in, mirroring their social status as the recurring motif of inferior Hands to the superior Head;ÂÂ   addressing the emerging post-war social stratification experienced by Langs original audience. The workers grim reality sharply contrasted with the gaiety and decadence of the Eternal Gardens, a twisted biblical allusion to the Garden of Eden. The gaudy courtesans and men are ironically dehumanised, as their f rolicking in this utopian, idyllic setting gives them a deified yet carnal quality. Lang thus degrades their humanity until what remains is an animalistic baseness, inflated by their expressionist acting resonant of the style in post-war Weimar nightlife. Consequently, the film reveals Metropolis as a cinematic masterpiece hybridising traditional pastoral Germany and the post-war world one modernist era. In stark contrast, Orwell, holds a deeply pessimistic perspective, specifically positing the weakness of character in response to oppression. 1984 is a clear reaction to the prevailing 1940s social orthodoxy which blindly lauded the totalitarian methods of the USSR, and as such, expounds the inevitable subjugation of humanity under state control. The two minutes hate is seen to easily avert the citizenrys oppressed frustrations to an external inimical target, highlighting the malleability of human passion, while the heretic Goldsteins verbosity evokes that of Soviet dissident Leon Trotsky, thus allowing Orwell to equate the Partys despotic practices with the USSRs. In addition, whilst the use of a third person, limited point of view allows for the comprehension of Winstons stark individuality, the parataxis in He loved Big Brother is jarring, and suggests Orwells firm belief in the inevitable weakness of the human spirit against oppression. It is a bleak coda in contrast to that of M etropolis, thus emphasizing the inevitable overwhelming of the human spirit by oppressive forces. Furthermore, the ultimate dismantling of personal reason is illustrated in OBriens self-reflexive They got me long ago, suggesting his previous individuality, now dismantled, with such nihilism emanating from Orwells own betrayal and persecution by pro-Soviet socialist comrades whilst serving during the Spanish Civil War. Further raised in the Partys mantra He who controls the past controls the future this attitude emphasises the perpetual overwhelming of human expression under oppressive regimes. Metropolis also condemns the degeneration within Langs social zeitgeist by capturing the destructive consequences of revolutions, echoing a period of instability in the rebellions against a fragile democracy. Lang reflects Hitlers futile Beer Hall Putsch in 1923, through the biblical allusion of the construction of the Tower of Babel, foreshadows the destruction of Metropolis to didactically warn against anarchy and revolution. Fredersens frantic repetition of, where is my son?! coupled with theatrical acting in an Expressionist fashion emphasises his profound emotional turmoil, positioning audiences to align with Langs perspective that in the struggle to rise against the present, the future of ensuing generations will be compromised. By extension, the juxtaposition of Marias struggle to stop the flooding against Grots ease in initiating this change affirms Langs perspective that it is far more difficult to wind back revolutionary change, echoing Germanys cataclysmic period of hyperi nflation fuelled by the Ruhr uprising in 1923. Thus, Langs portrayal of revolution to entail destructive consequences clearly stems from contextual influence of the revolts in Weimar Germany. Unlike Metropolis, 1984 draws on the beliefs of the time to present an ideological critique of technology as a propagandist tool for manipulation. In keeping with his obsession with national security and through recurring motifs of surveillance, Orwell portrays technology as a means for the Party to amass unchallenged orthodoxy and fear, evident in Winstons apprehensive tone, no way of knowing whether you were being watched at any moment, representing loss of individual agency. Embodied in the brutal personification, you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face-for ever, and compounded by the fact that Minitrues technology allows the past to be erased, the erasure was forgotten, the lie became truth. Relaying contextual fears of a possible Stalinist regime, Orwells polyptoton illustrates that time and truth can be obliterated by technology, reducing them to mere symbols of human fallibility. Furthermore, people can be vaporised, You will be annihilate d in the past as well as in the future. You will never have existed, though the anaphoric use of will is ironic since 1984 operates as Orwells didactic commentary. Orwell aligned with Langs perspective that there is no possibility of a future when the usurpation of natural boundaries through technology as a tool for manipulation results in such a dystopic society.

Starbucks Solvency Case

STARBUCK’S ASSIGNMENT Question 2 Short-term liquidity: Starbuck’s current ratio has increased from 1. 29 to 1. 83 between 2009 and 2011. At the same time its quick ratio has also increased to a healthy 1. 36 percent in 2011. It is clear that current liabilities are decreasing at a faster rate than current assets. Thus the company’s ability to meet its obligations in the short-term should not be a problem. Starbucks’ liquidity looks healthy going forward as it has a healthy receivables turnover at 33. 95 in 2011, whilst the average collection period is at 10. 75.Long-term Solvency: The debt to equity ratio dropped from 2010 levels where it was at 0. 74 to 0. 68 in 2011 which means that there has been a reduction in financial risk and an improvement in solvency. This may largely be explained by the increase in retained earnings. The interest coverage is between 4 and 5 times meaning that Starbucks is not at any high risk of default on its debt obligations. T hus the risk of insolvency is highly mitigated. Profitability: The return on equity (ROE) for Starbuck’s has improved greatly from 14. 12% in 2009 to 30. 91% in 2011.The return on assets (ROA) has followed a similar trend growing from 9. 99% in 2009 to 25. 15% in 2011. This suggests that for any potential investors Starbuck’s is a lucrative proposition at least to the extent that past performance is a reliable predictor of future performance. P-E Ratios: Given its size Starbuck’s is not likely to see any extraordinary growth and as such a P-E ratio of 23. 65 in 2011 is reasonable even though it shows a drop from 2009 levels. Of an interest is the fact that over the same period Starbucks EPS have actually grown by up to 200% from 0. 53 to 1. 66.It is clear that investors do not expect any rapid growth in the company’s net income but rather more stable growth. Question 3 With regard to short-term liquidity it is clear that Starbuck’s is doing better than the industry where the current ratio averages out at about 0. 7 and the quick ratio at about 0. 3. Insofar as solvency is concerned Starbuck’s also does better than the industry where debt-equity ratios have reached peaks of 128. 075, whilst industry interest coverage averages out at about 1 or 2 times. Thus Starbuck’s is more solvent than a lot of its peers in the industry.Starbuck’s is also more profitable than the industry where both ROE and ROA average below 20%. Starbucks’ P-E ratio of 23. 65 in 2011 shows that the market expects Starbucks to grow its net income faster than the industry average growth rate which is given by an industry P-E ratio that averages out at about 16. Question 4 Up until 2008 Starbucks registered stable growth, growing its ROE from 14. 10% in 2003 to 29. 81% in 2007. During this same period the return on sales number remained steady around 7%. However it’s ROE plummeted in 2008 to 13. 21%, only recovering in 2010 and peaking at 30. 1% in 2011. At the same time its return on sales dropped to a record 3% in 2008. The drop in 2008-2009 is partly explained by the economic downturn of 2008. Starbucks situation was certainly not helped by the fact that it had a liquidity problem that had persisted since 2005 with quick and current ratios below 1. 0. Starbucks has since seen its short-term liquidity improve with its quick and current ratios recovering in 2010 and 2011 to levels above 1. 0. Improved liquidity has also come with improved profitability with the return on sales number peaking at 10. 65% in 2011.

Essay Topics on Water Conservation Secrets That No One Else Knows About

Essay Topics on Water Conservation Secrets That No One Else Knows About Top Choices of Essay Topics on Water Conservation The conservation of water is extremely important and necessary to have a healthful and long-lasting life. It is an essential part of the lives of human beings who need water for survival. It is one of the most essential needs for a person to have a sustainable life. It is essential for life on our planet. Green also helps for the surroundings. To maintain the presence of life on Earth, the protection and protection of water is quite important because life without water isn't feasible. Clean water isn't only a necessity of human beings. however, it is also crucial for the survival of different species. Challenges related to developing and managing water resources are getting more acute. Soil conservation is reached at the identical moment. Readers must have solid information concerning the water conservation. This isn't an instance of the work generated by our Essay Writing Service. Introducing Essay Topics on Water Conservation Although water protection was implemented for years, there's still water pollution occurring within the usa. Finally, it is a habitat for the different wildlife representatives. Pollution, for example, as a result of industrialization, contaminates water. Besides water disappearing, the issue of water pollution happens in today's world nowadays. The Essay Topics on Water Conservation Game Water within this saturation zone is known as groundwater. Anyway, it can help to detect water leakage. We have to determine whether there's a leakage in our taps. Lokin is really the most important water in all three. So it is essential to conserve the water. So it will become important for all of us to conserve water and avoid its wastage. The best quantity of water a flush is 1. How to Choose Essay Topics on Water Conservation The conservation process of all-natural resources requires more than simply using alternative energy sources. Additional research is critical to determine more accurate procedures of assessing the amount of pathogenic viruses in treated wastewater. Renewable resources are those that replenish naturally. The majority of the resources of nature are depleting at a quick pace. The Essay Topics on Water Conservation Trap The cost of an essay depends upon the total amount of effort the writer has to exert. Reducing the quantity of water used will help you economically together with benefiting you and your family later on. This resource is something which we use every single day in our lives and it serves many dis tinct purposes. We must do everything possible to help in keeping a wholesome water resource for all. There are human pursuits and trends that are primarily accountable for the issue of shortage of drinking water. Now people have begun to understand the value of clean water, even though they aren't hoping to conserve water completely. In India and other nations of earth, there's a significant lack of water, which has resulted in the common individuals to create long distances for drinking water and also to make necessary water to fulfill everyday tasks. Another problem in today's management is the little capacity of sewage system. It is our responsibility to not just conserve our water supply, yet to clean this up as well. There are a lot of ways in which water is wasted and these include letting water run within households when it isn't being used, deficiency of water recycling and too little water harvesting among other ways. To put it differently, the full area is going to be drained only by one stream or water class. Also ensure cleanliness around your region. Lowering the water you use will help save you money. Sewage treatment is just one of the big fields in water waste administration. Water is essential for a wholesome body. Conclusion Clean water is quite essential part of life, therefore we want to conserve water for the upcoming safety.

Collaborative Writing Definition and Examples

Collaborative writing involves two or more persons working together to produce a written document. Also  called group writing, it  is a significant component of work in the business world, and many forms of business writing and technical writing depend on the efforts of collaborative writing teams.   Professional interest in collaborative writing, now an important subfield of composition studies, was spurred by the publication in 1990 of Singular Texts/Plural Authors: Perspectives on Collaborative Writing by Lisa Ede and Andrea Lunsford. Observation Collaboration not only draws on the expertise and energy of different people but can also create an outcome that is greater than the sum of its parts. -Rise B. Axelrod and Charles R. Cooper Guidelines for Successful Collaborative Writing Following the ten guidelines below will increase your chances of success when you write in a group. Know the individuals in your group. Establish rapport with your team.Do not regard one person on the team as more important than another.Set up a preliminary meeting to establish guidelines.Agree on the groups organization.Identify each members responsibilities, but allow for individual talents and skills.Establish the time, places, and length of group meetings.Follow an agreed-on timetable, but leave room for flexibility.Provide clear and precise feedback to members.Be an active listener.Use a standard reference guide for matters of style, documentation, and format. Collaborating Online For collaborative writing, there are various tools which you can use, notably the wiki which provides an online shared environment in which you can write, comment or amend the work of others...If you are required to contribute to a wiki, take every opportunity to meet regularly with your collaborators: the more you know the people you collaborate with, the easier it is to work with them... You will also need to discuss how you are going to work as a group. Divide up the jobs...Some individuals could be responsible for drafting, others for commenting, others for seeking relevant resources. -Janet MacDonald and Linda Creanor Different Definitions of Collaborative Writing The meaning of the terms collaboration and collaborative writing are being debated, expanded, and refined; no final decision is in sight. For some critics, such as Stillinger, Ede and Lunsford, and Laird, collaboration is a form of writing together or multiple authorship and refers to acts of writing in which two or more individuals consciously work together to produce a common text...Even if only one person literally writes the text, another person contributing ideas has an effect on the final text that justifies calling both the relationship and the text it produces collaborative. For other critics, such as Masten, London, and myself, collaboration includes these situations and also expands to include acts of writing in which one or even all of the writing subjects may not be aware of other writers, being separated by distance, era, or even death. -Linda K. Karrell Andrea Lunsford on the Benefits of Collaboration [T]he data I amassed mirrored what my students had been telling me for years: . . . their work in groups, their collaboration, was the most important and helpful part of their school experience. Briefly, the data I found all support the following claims: Collaboration aids in problem finding as well as problem-solving.Collaboration aids in learning abstractions.Collaboration aids in transfer and assimilation; it fosters interdisciplinary thinking.Collaboration leads not only to sharper, more critical thinking (students must explain, defend, adapt) but to a deeper understanding of others.Collaboration leads to higher achievement in general.Collaboration promotes excellence. In this regard, I am fond of quoting Hannah Arendt: For excellence, the presence of others is always required.Collaboration engages the whole student and encourages active learning; it combines reading, talking, writing, thinking; it provides practice in both synthetic and analytic skills. Feminist Pedagogy and Collaborative Writing As a pedagogical foundation, collaborative writing was, for the early advocates of feminist pedagogy, a kind of respite from the strictures of the traditional, phallogocentric, authoritarian approaches to teaching...The underlying assumption in collaborative theory is that each individual within the group has an equal opportunity to negotiate a position, but while there is an appearance of equity, the truth is, as David Smit notes, collaborative methods can, in fact, be construed as authoritarian and do not reflect conditions outside the parameters of the controlled environment of the classroom. -Andrea Greenbaum Also Known As: group writing, collaborative authoring Sources Andrea Greenbaum, Emancipatory Movements in Composition: The Rhetoric of Possibility. SUNY Press, 2002Andrea Lunsford, Collaboration, Control, and the Idea of a Writing Center.  The Writing Center Journal, 1991Linda K. Karell, Writing Together, Writing Apart: Collaboration in Western American Literature. Univ. of Nebraska Press, 2002Janet MacDonald and Linda Creanor, Learning With Online and Mobile Technologies: A Student Survival Guide. Gower, 2010Philip C. Kolin, Successful Writing at Work, 8th ed. Houghton Mifflin, 2007Rise B. Axelrod and Charles R. Cooper, The St. Martins Guide to Writing, 9th ed. Bedford/St. Martins, 2010