Brief History Of Japanese Cinema Film

Brief History Of Japanese Cinema Film For the basis of my essay I shall try and delve into how Japanese cinema reflects and challenges the culture of the country, I will also look into several films and analyse them to show what connection they have with the cultural aspect of japan as a nation and also provide a brief history of Japanese cinema. The issues I will look at will involve the Hiroshima bombings and the effects of nuclear warfare as mentioned above and the relevance to Godzilla, as well as the cultural aspects of seven Samurai and how it reflects Japanese mentality in terms of lifestyle and also looking at the huge emphasis that martial arts plays in there cinema which sometimes may form a stereo type for Japanese people. Film makers I will look at will include Akira kurosawa and the creator of Dragon ball Z Akira Toriyama and Maseki Kobayahi. In terms of observations I will focus on mainly the culture which includes clothing/ mentality of the Japanese people and lifestyle. I will also look at the original Ja panese film, The Ringu which inspired the 2002 film The Ring and talk about how it acted as almost a renaissance for Japanese horror films, ultimately finishing with a conclusion on my thoughts about my findings and give my opinion on how culture is reflected. Japanese cinema dates back over a hundred years and is the fourth largest in terms of yearly films produced in the world. The arrival of the Lumià ¨re brothers cinematograph in 1897 marked the true beginning of cinema in Japan. The first moving-picture camera imported into the country was a Gaumont camera that was used on a few instances to film fashionable geishas in the traditional restaurants of Shimbashi, which received the approval of the Japanese audiences. The film made from these shots of the geishas is considered to be the first film made for entertainment in Japan. In 1899, a photographic engineer named Tsunekichi Shibata made what is thought to be the first Japanese cinematographic production, a film of purely theatrical content that showed a kabuki play named Maple Viewing or Momijigari. In 1908, ShÃ…Â zÃ…Â  Makino, considered the pioneer director of Japanese cinema, started his influential career with HonnÃ…Â ji gassen, produced for Yokota ShÃ…Â kai. ShÃ…Â zÃ…Â  then cast Matsunosuke Onoe, a former kabuki actor, to star in his work. Onoe became Japans first real film star, appearing in over a thousand films, most of them were shorts, between 1909 and 1926. The pair pioneered the jidaigeki genre. Tokihiko Okada was a popular romantic lead of the same era. Likewise the he first female Japanese performer to appear in a film professionally was the dancer/actress Tokuko Nagai Takagi, who appeared in four shorts for the American-based Thanhouser Company between 1911 and 1914. In the 1950s which is considered the Golden Age of Japanese cinema. Three Japanese films from this decade (Rashomon, Seven Samurai and Tokyo Story) made the list of Sight Sounds 2002 Critics and Directors Poll for the best films of all time. This led to a rise in diversity in movie distribution thanks to the increased amount of films produced and popularity of the film studios of Toho, Daiei, Shochiku, Nikkatsu, and Toei.It started with Akira Kurosawas Rashomon (1950), which won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film and the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival Which firmly put Japanese cinema on the map globally. It was also the breakout role for legendary Japanese star Toshiro Mifune The first Japanese film in color was Carmen Comes Home directed by Ke isuke Kinoshita and released in 1951. There was also a black-and-white version of this film available. Gate of Hell, a 1953 film by Teinosuke Kinugasa, was the first movie that filmed using the Eastman color film, Gate of Hell was both Daieis first color film and the first Japanese color movie to be released outside of Japan internationally, receiving an Oscar in 1954 for Best Costume Design by Sanzo Wada and an Honorary Award for Best Foreign Language Film. It also won the Palme dOr at the Cannes Film Festival, the first Japanese film to achieve that honour. Also that year of 1954 saw arguably the two of Japans most influential films released. The first was the Kurosawa Seven Samurai, about a group of hired samurai who protect a helpless village from a dangerous gang of thieves. The same year, IshirÃ…Â  Honda released the anti-nuclear horror film Gojira, which was translated in the English as Godzilla. Though it was severely edited for its Western release, Godzilla became an international icon of Japan and spawned an entire new genre in Japanses film known as Kaiju films which were basically monster movies. The 1980s saw the decline of many of the massive Japanese film studios and their associated cinemas, with major studios Toho responsible for Godzilla and Toei barely managing to be stable in business, Shochiku supported almost solely by the Otoko wa tsurai films, and Nikkatsu declining even further. Because of economic recessions, the number of movie theatres in Japan had been steadily declining ever since the 1960s. The 1990s saw the reversal of this trend and the introduction of the Multiplex in Japan. In the 2000s the number of movies being shown in Japan steadily started to increase, with about 821 films released in 2006. Movies based on Japanese television series were especially popular during this period. Anime films now accounted for 60 percent of Japanese film production. The 1990s and 2000s are considered to be Japanese Cinemas Second Golden Age, due to the immense popularity of anime, both within Japan and overseas. In anime, Hayao Miyazaki directed Spirited Away in 2001, b reaking Japanese box office records and winning several awards, followed by Howls Moving Castle and Ponyo in 2004 and 2008. Japanese films have been given several genres within them with Jidaigeki being historic pieces of work that are set during the Edo period (1603-1868) or earlier. Jidaigeki, which is covers films like seven samurai and the term meaning the sound of swords clashing, Horror films such as Ring Kaiju films which mentioned above are monster films which were stemmed mainly from the birth of Godzilla. Pink films which are soft core pornographic films. Yakuz, movies about the Yakuza mobsters, Gendaigeki which is the opposite of Jidaigeki are films set in the present day with contemporary themes. Shomingeki are realistic films about common working people and lifestyles. Anime which is Japanese animation and has become a massive boon in the Japanese film industry accounting for almost as much as 60% of productions and then Mecha Science fiction and Cyberpunk. Godzilla (1954) Moving on to the core of my essay the film I picked out and arguably being one of Japanese cinemas most important globally successful and iconic films, Godzilla.Initially appearing in IshirÃ…Â  Hondas 1954 monster film Godzilla, ever since then, Godzilla has then gone on to become a international pop culture icon appearing in 28 films produced by Toho Co Ltd. The monster has appeared in other numerous other mediums including video games, novels, comic books, and an American animated television series. A 1998 American remake was produced titled Godzilla but received mixed reviews and showed a different version to that of its Japanese roots and a second American version is currently in development at legendary pictures a warner bros that will be directed by Gareth Edwards after they acquired the rights from Toho with it promising to return to his original Japanese roots, with the producers behind it describing Godzilla as being a force of nature. Originally Godzilla was created after the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the Daigo FukuryÃ…Â « Maru incident still fresh in the minds of the Japanese people, He was portrayed as a monster created by nuclear mutation by the detonations of nuclear warfare and is supposed to be a metaphor for nuclear weapons in general. As the film series expanded and got bigger and bigger, the latter stories took on less serious undertones and began being more mainstream by portraying Godzilla as a hero while other plots still had him as a destructive creature. Baring in mind Godzillas nuclear origin, his abilities were stemmed as visual representations of the bombing by having atomic breath and a nuclear aura. By somewhat embodying the kaiju genre he has been viewed as a visual film graphic representation for the United States by giving the Japanese audience a very negative perception of America in general as well as an allegory of nuclear weapons in general. The earlier Godzilla fi lms, especially the original, showed Godzilla as a terrifying monster born of nuclear origin. Godzilla represented the fear that Japan as a nation had about the horrible nuclear attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and always counting the possibility of any recurrence. As the series progressed it also changed Godzilla into a less destructive and more heroic character as the films started to become aimed towards younger audiences. Godzilla remains one of the most recognisable fictional heroes in the history of film, and is also the second of only three fictional characters to have won the MTV Lifetime Achievement Award, which was awarded in 1996. It is clear the cultural reflection Godzilla has with Japan as a nation due to the bombing also portraying America in a negative vein. The idea of the atomic bomb was reflected in the second Godzilla movie. Gigantis, the Fire Monster. In the movie Godzilla fights for Japan against Angilas, who was also mutated by an atomic explosion. In Godzil la vs King Ghidorah, Ghidora starts out as a bat, but turns into a monster after exposure to an atom bomb test. Here it is not the idea of lizards and bats fighting but looking deeper it raises the issue of atomic bomb testing in a farcical manner. However, Godzillas status as a symbol for Japans collective fears carried on the next 40 years, Godzilla was used to symbolize other concerns as well being not only used to symbolise the atomic bomb but also the cold war. Godzilla also had a way of destroying symbols of the Japanese political establishment, including the national parliament. This can be seen in the 1992 release of Godzilla vs. Mothra. Here, the larva of the giant moth, Mothra, spins a cocoon around the countrys parliament building. Mothra was a comical insect created to do what Japan could never achieve single-handedly: stop a one party government that frustrated the nation. The aspect of women restoring the natural balance is seen again in Godzilla vs. The Thing released in the U.S. as Godzilla vs. Mothra. After a violent storm, an enormous egg is found floating in the ocean. It actually contains Mothras offspring. An entrepreneur decides to buy it and make it a tourist attraction by building a glass case around it. Metaphorically this man is Westernized in his hope to control and contain nature rather than live in harmony with it. So, a women reporter, two tiny women who are in a symbiotic and telepathic relationship with Mothra, and Mothra, herself, attempt to rescue the egg. This represents their attempt to restore the natural balance. Unfortunately, Godzilla also threatens the wellbeing of the egg and Mothra dies attempting to defend it. Eventually, though, two larvae hatch from the egg and envelope Godzilla in a chrysalis. He falls back into the water from which he came. Again, it is the women whether of the human or moth species who struggle and sacrifice themselves to resolve the films crises in favor of balance and harmony. The constant dep iction of an antagonist being a symbolic reference to the western shows that the nation of japan is united to a common threat outside their own walls showing external struggles so basically suggesting that they as a nation they stand together and dont show the internal struggles again referring back to the bombing. Foreign nations often wonder what the appeal of a giant latex dinosaur could possibly be, but I think the answer is simple, Godzilla is, after all, the overall opposite to the typical Japanese stereotype. Aggressive and monstrous in a country where people tend to be graceful and polite and honourable. He is spontaneous in a place that values the impassive, studied response. He is confrontational where conciliation is considered proper behaviour. He is, in essence, a nuclear bomb in a country that is emphatically opposed to nuclear weapons in effect challenging the countries culture. From looking at the hospital scenes after Godzilla destroys Tokyo, you get an accurate vie w to what it may have been for the unfortunate survivors of the Hiroshima blast. This was the first and only occasion in a kaiju film, the distress and suffering of innocent citizens is shown, with piles of dead bodies in hospitals that were seen. As Gojira is a hauntingly representation to the bombing of Hiroshima, Gojira no Gyakushu made in 1955 was a representation and reminder to the bombing of Nagasaki. Seven Samurai Seven Samurai was a 1954 Japanese adventure/drama film directed by Akira Kurosawa, the film is set in 1587 during the warring states period of Japan. The story revolves around a village of farmers that recruits seven master less samurai to fight against bandits who aim to steal the crops after the farms harvest. The film is looked back upon by many critics as one of the greatest and influential films of all time ever made and one of the films aswell as Godzilla which is widely known in the west and was subjected to critical acclaim voted in the list of greatest films of all time. Seven samurai has also inspired the 1960 film Magnificent seven in the west where the Samurai are replaced with gunslingers. The film also reflected Japanese agriculture with the emphasis being on a farm and crops acting almost like a metaphoric currency. It reflected the warrior culture of the nation incredibly well but in somewhat almost creates a stereotype of Japanese people. Akira Kurosawa Kurosawa was a Japanese film director/producer/screen writer and is considered by many as one of the most influential people in not only Japanese cinema but worldwide. He made his debut in Japanese film in 1936 and made his directorial debut in 1943 with Shansiro sugata. Kurosawa also left his mark on American cinema by influencing George Lucass epic science fiction Star wars from Akiras own Hidden fortress. If American film in full of action, European film has character, leaving the Japanese film rich in mood and atmosphere as Kurosawas work showed. It presented characters in nature, it raised issues like the universal topic in relation to basic humanity. However, how the story is told and the way it is viewed brand its identity to the worldwide stage. Traditional theatre Kabuki. It is a form of traditional Maseki Kobayahi The film Harakiri directed by Masaki Kobayahi in (1962) was a film made about throwing thousands of Samurai out of work and into poverty. This film took the form of militaristic power and they pose the same moral conflict in terms of the struggle of the individual against society. Japanese director Masaki Kobayashi came of age in the postwar moment, a time when filmmakers were at the frontline of dissident expression in japan. Drawing upon a rich history of protest in Japanese cinema, which had fallen dormant during the war and occupation years, filmmakers took the opportunity to challenge those institutions that remained wedded to the nations feudal past. Out of all the director in Japan Masaki Kobayashi was know to be the most passionate directors of them all and his films were marked by a insolence of tradition and authority, whether feudal or contemporary. Kobayashi found the present time to be no more different to the violation of personal freedoms than they did in the pre-meiji past, under official feudalism, had been. Kobayashi often showed his political disagreement when filming jidai-geki films, In which the historical past becomes a substitute for modern japan. When filming jidai-geki films Kobayashi exposed the historical roots of contemporary injustice. Most Japanese audiences were well schooled in history so this allowed them to connect the critique of the past with abuses in the present. The film Harakiri that was made in 1962 highlighted this. Japanese theatre, known for the stylization of its drama and for the elaborate makeup worn by some of its performers, like the Gieshas. This was all present in Kurosawas work especially Seven Samurai. Japanese society in film Japanese society and its culture is also a core of what cinema in the country portray or want to portray, Tokyo story is a brilliant example. It tells the story of an aging couple who travel to Tokyo to visit their grown children. The film contrasts the behaviour of their children, who are too busy to pay them much attention, and their widowed daughter-in-law, who manages to host them properly. It is often regarded as Ozus masterpiece. It tells a realistic grounded. It reflected on the culture by showing day to day Japanese family life. Memoirs from a Giesha gives us an inside into the perspective female lifestyle of a Geisha, They are a Japanese entertainer often wearing the historic kimono dress which is almost like a visual representation of a common mans image of a common Japanese woman. It reflected culture of the feminine side and how it showed women were considered not to have any skills and that it was just there looks which could be used for entertainment. Gieshas are also sometimes referred to as prostitutes due to them having the entertainer tag for the fact of not having it label them vulgar and obscene and censorship issues in Japanese cinema. Anime has also been a huge part of recent Japanese cinema, often portraying culture and history. Conclusion Concluding my essay I feel that I have given examples of instances where the culture is reflected and where the culture is challenged, Godzilla provided a visual symbolic representation of the mind set of japan during the bombing, along with addressing issues with Japanese parliament as seen in a later instalment of Godzilla and also the countries mentality as united against a common threat in this case being the western. Referring to how I think it challenges the culture in a negative sense is Another issue is the constant depiction of martial arts often in Anime and in live action Japanese cinema, which is commonly exported to western territories due to their action-packed content, and so gives an unrealistic view of Japanese culture and creates a racial stereotype. . From looking at the film Memoirs of a Geisha and where she is sold shows an example of people trafficking which can create a negative perception of Japanese culture, this in my opinion challenges the culture. From thi s research and evidence I have found out that the cinema of japan does indeed http://www.gojapango.com/culture/culture.html 10 Essential Japanese  Films http://filmstudiesforfree.blogspot.co.uk/2010/07/on-japanese- cinema.html

Case of Building Industry

Countries often have different models of government business relations. The nature of the political system in a country has particular influence over the governments’ relations with the business. Despite the common ground of being advanced liberal democracies, the United States and Spain have markedly different models of government business relations. The aim of the essay is to compare the government business relations in the United States and Spain with special reference to building industry.Different Trajectories The very business culture and the government’s relations with the business in Spain are markedly different from those of United States. For instance, it has been pointed out that â€Å"starting up a business in Spain remains more complicated than elsewhere, procedures more cumbersome, the steps more numerous, the documentation likewise. The twenty-eight weeks required to start a business in Spain contrast with the half-day required in the USA† (Rollin and Richardson, 2001, p.181). It is because of the prevailing nature of corruption that is resulted by the collusion between politicians and bureaucrats such obstruction of free enterprise exist in Spain. In the same way, closing down of a business in Spain too has been noted as extremely difficult. Eastaway and San Martin are of the opinion that â€Å"the housing market in Spain has become highly regulated through public intervention with the objective of satisfying the large and growing housing needs† (1999, p. 699).The Spanish government has pursued a range of policies in order to mitigate the situation ranging from subsidies to market intervention. As a result, the construction industry in Spain is distorted and less competitive. Even the successes of the United States small scale and medium size industries are attributed to government’s desire to support small business owners and entrepreneurship; finance, tax inducements, mentoring, training, and legislation allo wing limited liability for failure, all act in the interests of the entrepreneur.The entrepreneurial fabric and the social/cultural/economic framework support and encourage those wishing to embark on or expand an entrepreneurial venture† (Rollin and Richardson, 2001, p. 188). The American government has been persistent in providing the necessary infrastructure and business environment over the post second world war period. Through a business friendly approach, the American government ensures that there are more rewards and fewer risks for doing business in the United States. Moreover, the USA has long tradition of free enterprises contrary to the Spanish trajectory of protectionism.Historically speaking, the construction industry in Spain is deepened upon both the supply of domestic demand and the acquisition of foreign earnings. Franco’s dictatorial regime had installed a protective regime of business which perpetuated monopoly and discouraged free-market competition. The oil crisis in the mid 1970s had paralyzed the industry in a grave manner. The recovery came only with the join9ng of the European Community (EC) in 1986. The internal political situation had long been detrimental to the free economic development of Spain. Ahijado et al.have argued that â€Å"the aftermath of the civil war of the 1930s was international isolation and acute economic difficulties resulting from the destruction wrought during the war. Indeed, it took until 1950 for industrial production to return to its 1929 level, and the country remained over-whelmingly dependent on agriculture for employment† (1993, p. 91). Then, onwards, Spanish economy took a radical turn towards accelerated economic development fuelled by tourism and the steady flow of migrant labor. Both the enhanced tourism related development and migrant labor have helped a boom in the construction industry.However, the technological base of Spanish industry still remains low. In the recent period, S panish construction industry has undergone â€Å"a dramatic decrease in the average size of Spanish construction firms, in particular, and an increase in their use of subcontracting† (Gonzalez, 1998, p. 432). It has caused a structural fragmentation of the construction industry as a whole. The changing nature of emerging construction technologies have primarily contributed to the instabilities in the construction industry all over the world.The fragmentation of the construction industry in Spain is accompanied two different features of increasing number of firms and the decreasing average size of the firms. Gonzalez has forcefully argued that â€Å"the cause of observed fragmentation is changes in institutional restrictions, mainly labor and tax regulation† (1998, 440). The Spanish government has a lopsided and imbalanced policy towards competition in the construction industry as it promotes small business units against big firms.As a result, to be competitive, big fir ms have compelled to reconstitute themselves as smaller units and thereby prevent them from mobilizing great resources for the benefits of consumers. This tendency in Spain is clearly not in par with the United States government policy of promoting mergers and joint ventures by construction companies. Moreover, in Spain, there is even lost cost for creating new firms which too acts against the size of existing firms. American construction policy is mainly aimed at ensuring the security of buildings.There are large amount of regulations and standards set out by the various regulatory bodies appointed by the state governments and the federal government. It also aims to deal with possible production of low quality building materials. In brief, the building policy in the United States is highly bureaucratic and procedural as it attempts to save the industry from possible political corruption and the consequent violation of rules and regulations. It has been well observed that the politi cians-businessmen nexus in Spain has caused unnatural price rises in the housing industry.The effect such a phenomenal corruption cannot be contained within the borders of Spain as it is well integrated with the European Union Economy. In the United States, the use of precast concrete system is not widespread although it has proved to be more beneficial. Because, there is a major shortage of expert personnel that can design and manage building construction that makes use of precast concrete components. The main reason behind this general lack of expertise appears to be the deficient engineering and architecture curricula currently in effect in U. S. universities and colleges† (Polat, 2008).Many researchers have well acknowledged the fact that â€Å"the USA owes much of the success of its entrepreneurial activity to its economic and cultural environment, including affirmative action, employment law, tax incentives, government support, mentoring, and a â€Å"can-do† atti tude. Life-style changes in the USA accommodate entrepreneurs† (Rollin and Richardson, 2001, p. 187). Also, Choi and Russel (2004) argued that the construction firms in the United States have focused in enhanced diversification through mergers and acquisitions and thereby strengthens the growth in the industry and the profits and confidence of stake holders.In Spain, the pattern of the developments in the construction industry is highly unbalanced and lopsided. It is well noted that â€Å"growth in the late-1980s was in the relatively more prosperous Madrid and Catalonia regions, as well as in the autonomous region of Valencia, all of which benefited disproportionately from the inward investment boom. In contrast, some of the ‘rustbelt' areas in the North have been adversely affected by the decline of traditional industries† (Ahijado et al. , 1993, p. 98). In America, ethnic differences are noted on the matters related to construction industry.Doodrum and Dai have found out that â€Å"differences exist among the number and frequency of occupational injuries, illnesses, and fatalities between Hispanic and non-Hispanic construction workers, although the difference did not always disfavour Hispanics† (2005, p. 1027). Whatever reasons may be, the tendency in the USA is for Hispanic workers to be employed in more hazardous areas of construction. For instance, â€Å"Two of the top five Hispanic construction occupations, construction labourer and electrician, are in the top five most hazardous construction occupations† (Doodrum and Dai, 2005, p.1028). Rollin and Richardson in their empirical research on Spanish business culture have argued that â€Å"[c]urrent Spanish legislation does not favour entrepreneurs or small-business owners. Changes in EU legislation, such as the Parental Leave Directive, requiring changes in national legislation, can hit this group hard† (2001, p. 185). It creates a condition that even businessperson s who otherwise would have been law-abiding step asides the paradigms of law as there are many contradictions within the law.The multiplicity of legal frameworks in Spain by its integration with the European Union too have made a lot of confusion in the construction industry and added to the existing chaos. However, safety issues and environmental priorities that are directly linked to the construction industry have not got sufficient attention not from American or Spanish governments. In both countries, t is necessary for the construction policy to be framed on the â€Å"rationale as to why certain matters are considered to be safety issues has its roots in environmental concern† (Kibert, et al., 1995, p. 99). It means there needs to be a holistic to environment protection and safety management in the construction industry. The lack of labor flexibility has been â€Å"a major factor in the continuance of the very sizeable black economy (economia sumergida), estimated at rep resenting some 23% of GDP† (Rigby and Lawlor, 2001, p. 169). Curiously, the black economy is the backbone of the building industry and the silent compliance of government policies based on corruption is leading into the deteriorating the healthy environment in the construction industry.Historically, it could be seen that the â€Å"rigidities established in the labour market under Franco were consonant with the broader ethos of the dictatorship which was strongly protectionist, corporatist and characterised by strong state intervention in most areas of activity† (Rigby and Lawlor, 2001, p. 169). The recent Spanish government policy of artificially creating green jobs in construction industry too has failed and only contributed to the ongoing recession.In the United States, although the general rate of occupational accidents and casualties in the construction industry very low, the roadway construction has reported to be more dangerous for workers. Through their research, Kale et al have proved that â€Å"construction companies that outperform their rivals adopt a hybrid mode of competition. In other words, successful construction companies place varying degrees of emphasis on more than one mode of competition (e. g. , cost, quality, innovation, and time) rather than focus on a single mode of competition† (2002, p.246). It is apparent that Spanish construction companies have not diversified and the government is less encouraging to allow fierce competition in the realms of cost, quality, innovation and time. On the opposite the American government has introduced new schemes and policies for ensuring multiple competitions at the many realms of construction industry. Conclusion To conclude, it is possible to argue that the different traditions of government business relations in the United States and Spain are result of the wider historical processes.The United States as a liberal democracy has encouraged free market and competition in favor of strengthening the construction as whole based on well established norms and procedures. But, Spain, following the trajectory of Franco’s dictatorial regime introduced the policy of protectionism and government interventions in the construction industry and thereby rendering it incompetent and distorted. However, governments in both the United States and the Spain have to redefine their relations to the construction industry in order to properly address the issues of safety and environmental protection in the context of increasing global risks.Being competitive in the varied aspects of industry such as quality, quantity, labor and time with the active encouragement of the government but based on fair rules and its strict implementation by an impartial administration are the strengths of American construction industry. Spain too has all the potentials to diversify its construction industry and thereby strengthen the whole economy itself. Reference Ahijado, M. et al. (1993), Th e Competitiveness of Spanish Industry. National Institute Economic Review, Vol. 146. pp. 90- 117. Choi, J.and Russell, J. S. (2004) Economic Gains Around Mergers and Acquisitions in the Construction Industry of the United States of America, Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering, Vol. 31, pp. 513-525. Eastaway, M. P. and San Martin, I. (1999) General Trends in Financing Social Housing in Spain, Urban Studies, Vol. 36, No. 4, pp. 699-714. Goodrum, P. M. and Dai, J. (2005) Differences in Occupational Injuries, Illnesses, and Fatalities among Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Construction Workers, Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, Vol. 131, No.9, pp. 1021-1028. Gonzalez, M. (1998) Regulation as a Cause of Firm Fragmentation: The Case of the Spanish Construction Industry. International Review of Law and Economics, Vol. 18, pp. 433–450. Kale, S. et al. (2002) Competitive Positioning in United States Construction Industry, Journal of Construction Engineering and Management , Vol. 128, No. 3, pp. 238-247. Kibert, C. J. et al. , (1995) Integrating Safety and Environmental Regulation of Construction Industry. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, Vol. 121, No. 1, pp. 95-99. Polat, G.(2008) Factors Affecting the Use of Precast Concrete Systems in the United States, Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, Vol. 134, No. 3, pp. 238-247. Rigby, M. and Lawlor, T. (2001). The Spanish Labour Market: The Quest for Flexibility. International Journal of Iberian Studies, Vol. 14, No. 3 pp. 168–178. Rollin, H. and Richardson, R. (2001). The Impact of the Prevailing Business Culture on Entrepreneurial Activity and Small Businesses: A Contrastive Study of Spain and the USA. International Journal of Iberian Studies, Vol. 14, No. 3 pp. 179–189

Peer Pressure Essay

Introduction Peer pressure is a social influence exerted on an individual by others in order to get that person to act or believe in a similar way. It is used by a social group, often with the implication that â€Å"everybody’s doing it. † This influence can be negative or positive, with a successful result being a change in a person’s behavior. Nearly all children experience some form of peer pressure, whether at school, at church or at home among siblings. As a kind of social pressure, it dominates preteen life. Many teens become absorbed into different cliques and groups, spending less time with their families. Much of the personality of a teen can be shaped by a peer group. Negative peer pressure can be a dangerous tool against children, especially younger or insecure children. They may be persuaded to take actions they might otherwise not have considered, such as smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol or taking drugs. Peer pressure is a problem for adults, who may be coerced, for example, into buying a house or car they can’t afford in an effort to â€Å"keep up with the Joneses. † Peer pressure is not always negative, however. A student whose friends excel in academics may be compelled to study hard and get good grades. Influence can also be exerted to get a friend off drugs or to help an adult take up a good habit or drop a bad one. Study groups, class projects and athletic groups are examples of positive peer groups. Why I chose the topic – I decided to chose this topic because in the Indian Education System children experience a sudden thrust of freedom and responsibility to shape their future at the same time. In such cases, they can either be well-guided or mis-guided. Peer pressure may also lead to stress and anxiety. Teens have a multitude of issues that can cause them anxiety. The two major settings for this peer pressure teen stress are in their home lives and in the college setting. The stressors are many and diverse. Their feelings can be affected by some of the issues listed below: * The feelings that others and also inside themselves tell them they should do and how they should perform. * Peer pressure teen stress is also caused by the way they feel they are viewed by adults in the college setting. * The peer pressure teen stress to perform in the grades and work they do. * Problems with socializing with other teens. Problems at home with family members. * Having a low self worth. * Always having verbal conflicts with their friends and family. * Low income living conditions for the family. * Peer pressure teen stress is sometimes caused by a major event causing grief or trauma within the family. This could be death, an illness, or parents splitting up. * A split in the relationship with a boyfriend or girlfriend. * The neighborhood in which they live is not a good place. * Having to move to a new home is yet a cause of the peer pressure teen stress. Having to adapt to a new school/college environment. Objectives of the project: The main objective of the project is to discuss the issue of peer pressure under â€Å"no pressure†. The students must be made to understand how they can grasp the good and leave the bad. The project tries to distinguish between Good Peer Pressure and Bad Peer Pressure. It analyses various aspects that cause such a pressure and gives a solution to the same. The project also gives a remedy for overcoming bad peer pressure. The project also makes suggestions as to how can peer-pressure-struck children can be helped. The project also tries to examine the reasons that make children give-in to peer pressure. Here are some other reasons why people give in to peer pressure, that are less known but equally as responsible. †¢ The lack of self-confidence to go one’s own way. It is easier to follow the footsteps of another than to make your own. There is also a certain level of safety that comes with following another. Taking the road less traveled by making your own choices takes self-confidence and self-assurance. †¢ The desire to avoid embarrassment. Many people fear embarrassment more than death. Knowing this, it is easy to see how important effective communication can be in responding to peer pressure. For example, if a bunch of peers surround a teenager and asked him if he wants to smoke a cigarette like the rest of them have, and all the teenager can think of is, â€Å"but†¦ my mom said I should just say no. † then he is in trouble. It is best to prepare yourself and your children with witty, yet clear and firm responses to known peer pressures. For example, in the above situation the teenager could say, â€Å"Hmmm, spend my life wasting money, offending people, having bad breath, and killing myself†¦. o thanks. †Ã‚   A good response cannot only save one from embarrassment, but give others the confidence to not give in to the peer pressure as well. Those who lead are often well respected by those who follow. †¢ The lack of using one’s own mind. Again it is reacting, rather than responding that causes one to get in trouble. Think about th e consequences of your actions, both present and future. Don’t give in and sacrifice your long-term goals for short-term gratification. †¢ The lack of unbiased information. When someone feels pressure from peers, they are often presented with biased information. Again it is preparation that can help one to avoid peer pressure by knowing all the facts. Anticipate peer pressure in life and get the facts from a reliable source. Educate yourself and your children – don’t count on the school system to do it. Some of the more common peer pressures experienced in youth that can be prepared for today are smoking, alcohol, drugs, sex, cutting class and committing crimes. The biggest peer pressure in adulthood is being expected to behave, act, and perform like your peers rather than becoming the person you are capable of becoming. Know the reasons for and against these pressures. Resources referred: ? Bullying Prevention Program http://www. clemson. edu/olweus/ ? Take Action Against Bullying www. bullybeware. org ? Steps to Respect: A Bully Prevention Program www. cfchildren. org/str. html ? Breaking the Cycle of Violence: Intervention for Bullying and Victimization (1996) By Richard J. Hazler ? How to Say No and Keep your Friends: Peer Pressure Reversal for ? Teens and Pre-Teens (1997). By Sharon Scott ? CAFS Teacher Talk Volume 1(3) 1996 http://education. indiana. du/cas/tt/v3i3/peerpress. html Preventing Classroom Bullying: What Teachers Can Do (2003). By Jim Wright http://jimwrightsonline. com/pdfdocs/bully/bullyBooklet. pdf ? Resource for parents: http://sitemaker. umich. edu/356. darnell/advice_for_parents Conclusions: Growing up, everyone will experience some form of peer pressure. Peer pressure is the control and influence people of our age may have on us. Peer pressure can occur in many kinds of relat ionships. The way we respond to peer pressure can have a great impact on the decisions we make and, in turn, our total health. There are many different types of peer pressure. There is positive, negative, and manipulation. Positive peer pressure is not limited to following or setting good examples of what to do. It can also provide examples of what not to do. A teen whose friends do not use alcohol or other drugs may be positively influenced to follow their example. Being a good role model is also a great way to demonstrate positive peer pressure. Influencing peers to take part in a positive act or worthwhile cause is a healthful way of influencing others. It can be contagious. We are primarily social beings with a strong need to belong. Throughout our life, we search for the balance between independence and connectedness. How much of ourselves do we give up/compromise in order to belong? The teenage years (and pre-teen) are a time of shifting focus of belonging from family to peers as while also developing a personal identity. Because kids don’t yet have the maturity to grasp or to understand the potential consequences of being influenced by their friends, it is difficult for them to see the pitfalls of poor relationships and negative peer pressure. This project is designed to walk us through the inquiry and clarification of the need to feel connected and belong, as well as to be true to one’s self while assessing the harmful affects of peer pressure. In addition to the inquiry looking at the costs/benefits belonging, it will identify strategies to deal with negative peer pressure and ways to turn it around, creating positive peer pressure, building leadership and personal power.

Essay about Sir Gawain and the Green Knight - 964 Words

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight In this passage taken from Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Lines 1623-1718, the reader sees how Sir Gawain is the hero of the poem, through the tests of the host. Sir Gawain is speaking to the host of the castle where he is staying for a few days before journeying on to the Green Chapel. The host has just returned from hunting and killing some boar. While the host is out hunting for the boar, we learn that Sir Gawain is developing a love interest in a special lady friend, the wife of the host, who makes several attempts to seduce him. Before this hunt, Gawain and the host make a promise to each other that they will exchange whatever they may win that day for the others winnings. The host gives Sir†¦show more content†¦Do the kisses symbolize a feeling of affection between Gawain and the host, or is this just done because they have made a promise to each other? Although it is never really made clear in the text, I feel that the kisses are exchanged because of the agreement th at they made between each other. Another scene in the passage that is striking is the flurtation between Gawain and the hosts wife. And ever our gallant knight beside the gay lady; So uncommonly kind and complaisant was she; With sweet stolen glances, that stirred his stout heart; That he was at his wits end, and wondrous vexed (Norton, 236, lines 1657-1660.) I found this scene to be quite humorous, and I am also able to see Gawain falling for her each time she comes to visit him. The scene adds a little flavor to the passage, even though it is another concealed test in Gawains journey to the Green Knights chapel. The language used in this passage shows that both the host and Gawain are not afraid of anything. The is shown in the section of the passage where the host returns from killing the boar Of the battle of the boar they beset in the wood; The other man meetly commended his deeds; And praised well the prize of his princely sport (Norton, 235-236, lines 1628-1630.) This is also shown in the section of the passage where the host tells Gawain how he has tested him twice and will be testing him a third time: For I have testedShow MoreRelatedSir Gawain And The Green Knight1359 Words   |  6 PagesIn the poem â€Å"Sir Gawain and The Green Knight,† a protagonist emerges depicting an Arthurian knight named Sir Gawain. Sir Gawain, King Arthur’s nephew, takes initiative by accepting the challenge requested by the Green Knight in place of his uncle. He undergoes a perilous adventure, seeking for the Green Knight to receive the final blow. 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In each case, Sir Gawain not only fails to perform well, but performs particularly poorly, especially in the case of his relationship with God. Ultimately, Sir Gawain chooses magic over faith, and by doing so, shows his ironic nature as aRead MoreSir Gawain And The Green Knight906 Words   |  4 Pagesusually the latter. In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight we see Sir Bertilak go off to hunt three very specific animals as a game with Sir Gawain. They agree that â€Å"what ever [Bertilak catches] in the wood shall become [Sir Gawain’s], and what ever mishap comes [Sir Gawain’s] way will be given to [Bertilak] in exchange.† (Sir Gawain†¦, ln 1105-1007). In this deal we slowly see Gawain loose his honor as paralleled with Sir B ertilak’s hunt. The first animal that is hunted by the knight is a deer, while thisRead MoreSir Gawain And The Green Knight Essay1521 Words   |  7 PagesFall 16 Donnelly Many years ago, knights were expected to form a certain type of relationship with their king, this relationship was otherwise known as fealty. Fealty is a knight’s sworn loyalty to their king (in other words a loyal relationship should be formed between the two). The use of this relationship is shown in the poem called â€Å"Sir Gawain and the Green Knight† ( the author is unknown). This poem has a classic quest type of formula, with a knight receiving a challenge and then going outRead MoreSir Gawain And The Green Knight1455 Words   |  6 PagesHowever, for Gawain in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight temptation existed around every corner while he was playing the game of the Green Knight. Temptation existed every day and each day it existed in a new way. Gawain never knew what was coming his way throughout the grand scheme of the game, but one thing was for certain he was being tested. Without his reliance religious faith and dedication to his reputation, Gawain wo uld not have been able to make it through the game of the Green Knight alive andRead MoreSir Gawain And The Green Knight Essay1020 Words   |  5 PagesBoth Sir Gawain, from â€Å"Sir Gawain and the Green Knight† translated by Marie Borroff, and Beowulf, from Beowulf translated by Burton Raffel, serve as heroes in different times of Medieval English Literature. Many of the basic principles that describe heroes in Medieval Literature are seen in both of these characters even though they were written in different times. There are distinct similarities, differences, and also a progression of what the hero was in English literature, between Sir Gawain and