Production Plan for Riordan Manufacturing

Production Plan for Riordan Manufacturing The intended principle of this study is to submit suggestions for a new process design and the supply chain at Riordan Manufacturing, Inc. The reformation will utilize the theory of Lean Production in the application of the electric fans manufacturing. The research uses Riordan Manufacturing, Inc. intranet information. This paper will present a complete production plan for two of the Riordan Manufacturing Inc. locations: Hangzhou, China and Pontiac, MI.Riordan’s plant in Hangzhou, China specializes in the plastic fan blades and fan housings, and the Pontiac, Michigan location provides the customized look and design of the fans. The research of Riordan’s China plant exposed obstacles to the effectiveness of process design and supply chain. By making cuts in their inventory costs, improving outsourcing and their supply chain should benefit Riordan. The purpose of the modified process design and supply chain will help reduce the de sign and delivery time by subcontracting its limited activities to a third party.The relocation of Hangzhou’s plant operations to Shanghai will minimize shipping costs and reduce stocking of the inventory. The application of the Theory of Constraints will modify the process into a strategic plan. The proper implementation of the Lean Production Current Production Process The Hangzhou, China plant uses a make-to-order fabrication process selection strategy when manufacturing the electric fans. Currently the plant makes fans utilizing a batch production process to allow the fans to be made specifically to the consumer’s needs.Useful reports about the industry propose that Riordan Manufacturing should move to a more aggressive process design system to meet the anticipated increased demand and to gain more market share. Safety stock will support a just-in-time (JIT) delivery process to reduce delays that are external to the business such as concerns with work stoppages and working conditions as global plants can experience. The new process design system would include maintaining electric fan capacity reflective of competitor sales performance, and based on the product demand throughout Asia and Europe.The process flow structure would be changed to an assembly line infrastructure to support increased operations and sales. An assembly model would also encompass customer specific orders in addition to safety stock and current inventory requirements. New Supply Chain Design Because the polymer material is more abundant, obtained locally, and has no availability or delivery issues, the China plant will shift the contents of its inventory to house more fan motors.Riordan will adopt a pull system to only purchase the polymer required for the daily requirements of fans and housings, which will provide additional storage space for more critical inventory. Possessing a safety stock of electric motors will prevent a slowdown in Riordan’s manufacturing pr ocess, eliminating one of the main bottlenecks in the value stream. To achieve this efficiency, Riordan will periodically place orders with a second motor supplier so that Riordan can begin a new two-bin system. In a two-bin system, items are used from one bin, and the second bin provides an amount large enough to ensure that the stock can be replenished,† (Chase et al. , 2006, p. 609). The first bin will contain electric motors for production orders to satisfy customer requirements, the second will be appropriated a safety stock that will provide the ability for consistent production runs. New Custom Orders Process To facilitate custom manufacturing of fans, Hangzhou will offload this portion of their business to the Riordan plant in Michigan (MI).This move will take advantage of the mass customization capabilities at the MI plant. Mass customization is highly effective when differentiating a product for specific customer requirements until the latest point in the supply chai n (Chase et al. , 2006). The MI plant is capable of customizing the fan design, the color of the finished part, and the new fan blade dies required per customer specifications. This move from Hangzhou to MI allows customization without disrupting the flow of material and allowing customers in North America to customize their products.The custom designs will incorporate standard fastening details, which are common to Riordan fans. Standardized parts would save the company money through volume discounts and would eliminate waste from excess inventory of different fasteners. Once the customer decides to purchase a significant quantity of fans, Hangzhou will start the production process in China where polymer is more abundant and labor is less expensive. New Logistics ProcessAlthough Riordan has used a few different companies for its shipping needs, the company will benefit by taking a different approach, which will increase operational efficiency and competitive advantage. Certainly on e area of concern is the less than optimal on-time delivery performance average of 93%, which affects negatively on the Riordan brand and customer satisfaction. Riordan will outsource its logistical requirements to the most qualified marketing partners. Outsourcing is the act of moving some of a firm’s internal activities and decision responsibilities to outside providers. † Riordan will maintain its core competencies in-house, including the intellectual property of manufacturing high performance fans and outsource other logistical â€Å"non-proprietary† standardized processes. Riordan will use logistic design concepts to ensure that fan materials, engineering, and design produce a product that meets desirable package sizes and weights (Chase, Jacobs, Aquilano, 2006).This design approach will ensure that regardless of the transportation mode selected (trucking, rail, water, or air), the customer will benefit from reduced shipping charges. In addition, Riordan wil l explore the best type of robust packaging that will produce damage free transport of the product to the customer. (Chase, Jacobs, Aquilano, 2006). Ultimately, by outsourcing logistical efforts to well established technology driven-partners, Riordan’s can provide additional value to the customer. Logistics companies now have complex computer tracking technology that reduces the risk in transportation and allows the logistics company to add more value to the firm that it could if the function were performed in-house† (Chase, Jacobs, Aquilano, 2006, p. 414). Conclusion (Danielle Garcia 200 words) Compile and run through plagiarism (Danielle Garcia) References Chase, R. B. , Jacobs, F. R. , & Aquilano, N. J. (2006). Operations Management for Competitive Advantage (11th ed). New York, McGraw Hill/Irwin.

The Price of Happiness

People all around the world work their hardest to ensure that they have a happy life for them and their families. Happiness as we know cannot be bought with money, but Ben L. Ashcraft states that everything in life comes with a price tag, including happiness, and through our choices we select the price we are willing to pay. Ashcraft refers to a quote by James E. Fraust who stated â€Å"If you're not willing to pay the price of success, you will pay the price of failure.†Ashcraft says that being successful will lead to a happy life, although success has an up-front fee where not all beings are willing to pay, as opposed to failure where you are allowed a grace period before you are required to begin paying. He suggests developing a â€Å"long-term vision† in which people may see the result of their actions down the road. So does happiness have a price? it does, the price is the choices we make in our lives, the choice to travel the road of success of failure.Happiness c annot be bought with money, as cliche as it sounds it is absolutely true. The price of happiness can be paid by the choices we make in life. People always state that we pay the price of our mistakes , but we also pay the price of happiness. Ashcraft writes that being responsible, admitting to mistakes, apologizing, getting an education, telling the truth, making changes, repairing relationships, etc†¦ are the cost of success. As simple and easy as they sound they might be truly difficult in some situations.For example, an employee in a company makes an unintentional error at his job that leads to a chain of mistakes throughout the place of work which causes major commotion and confusion. That employee, although being terrified of his mistake, admits the fault he has done, takes responsibility and becomes determined in fixing his blunder. By that difficult choice, he has shown that he can be a responsible and dependable being, which can be a major positive feature to his future in that company.However, most people will not own up to their mistakes which may begin their travel on the road of failure. Suppose that employee does not take responsibility of his error but instead be dishonest about the situation and inflict the damage he has done upon another worker where he aims to be clear out of any trouble, which at the time may have been an easier choice. Ashcraft calls that a grace period before you are required to begin paying, in this case paying for his mistakes.It is known that no mistake goes unpunished, when the company figures out that the employee responsible was deceitful and corrupt, they take severe actions toward him. Not only did he lose his job, but he lost his credibility and trust between his colleagues and other companies who have heard of his name and his procedures, thus making it tougher for him to find another job in his area of expertise. Ben L. Ashcraft suggests that â€Å"long-term vision† can be of magnificent help to avoid failure, which in my opinion can be a great benefit in our lives.He compares it to driving on a windy dark road with poor headlights. You could miss a curve or crash. Long-Term is like turning on the bright light and seeing what the results of your actions might be â€Å"down the road†. Although the price of success may be rather difficult in the beginning, or a certain amount or pressure may come with it, but in the long-term it will decrease tremendously and become easier to pay.Not so the price of failure, for it may stack up to enormous amounts, that will cause grief and despair in your life and those around you. There is no way to escape paying the price of your actions. Take that young man who took responsibility for his slip-up, he was clearly looking forward towards the future for he knew if he was untruthful that would be a vast hit to his career which may cause a great amount of unrest and instability in his life. Indeed there is a price to happiness, every choice w e make whether good or bad will affect it.As hard as paying up-front for success may be, we must always accomplish it or try our best to, for in the long-term we will reap the goodness out of that choice. On the other hand, we may have the option of taking a different path that may lead to failure. That path may be trouble-free and uncomplicated at first, but the problems will catch up to us, those we thought we were liberated from, and they will ruin our lives. We have the ability to decide what the price of our happiness is, how abundantly present it may be in our lives or the opposite. Choose wisely.

Centralization In The Byzantine Empire History Essay

Centralization In The Byzantine Empire History Essay In his article OsmanlÄ ± PadiÃ…Å ¸ahÄ ± published in 1958 Halil Ä °nalcÄ ±k wrote â€Å"It was obligatory to comply to caliph-sultan who had been designed by God to direct Muslims with shariaà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Subjects had to show absolute obedience to the sultan and this relationship was similar with relationship between father and sonà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ The idea of absolute and indivisible authority and the regulations in the organization of state to materialize this idea was important.†Ã‚   [ 1 ]   Georg Ostrogorsky writes the lines below for Byzanine emperors in his book History of the Byzantine State: â€Å"The state was completely identified with the Emperor and with his military and bureaucratic machine. The Emperor is chosen of God, and under the protection of Divine Providence. He is entire master of the government of the Empire, commander-in-chief of the army, supreme judge and sole law-giver, protector of the Church and guardian of the true f aithà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ his judicial sentence is final and irrevocableà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦As master of the State the Emperor has in practice unrestricted power.†Ã‚   [ 2 ]    To read merely these two observations on the Ottoman and Eastern Roman empires together gives a considerable idea already on the permanent link between the two empires. Yet, it is necessary to pay attention to the claims of â€Å"former orientalism†, with the expression of Halil Berktay, which suggests that the single source of the Ottoman institutions was Byzantine`s socio-political organization.   [ 3 ]   However, an attempt in instantiating this claim should be cautious regarding the ultra-nationalistic tendencies which completely refuse the similarities between the two empires. In this essay I seek to analyze the centralization, which was one of the major common aspects between the Ottoman and the Byzantine empires, in the reign of Justinian. The centralization policies of Justinian, who was in th e throne between 527 and 565, seemed to be simultaneously emerged through the political fragmentation and decentralization processes in Europe. Therefore, an investigation on the centralization of the reign of Justinian can create opportunities for comparisons between the West and the Byzantium The Mainlines of Justinian Period and the Political Centralization To understand centralization policies throughout the period of Justinian, it will be useful to see mainlines of his era briefly. Justinian ruled the empire two centuries later Constantine who had founded the capital Constantinople   [ 4 ]   and was the first emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire. Throughout two centuries the Empire tried to get over the crisis that had destroyed Europe with a minimum damage. However, this crisis had affected its political and social life and it reached to the capacity to regain the western lands after the fifth century. According to Ostrogorsky, even though the estranged administrations of t he western and eastern sides of the Roman Empire, the ideas of unity and universality of the empire continued during the Germanic invasions. Within the sixth century when the Byzantine Empire reached the capacity to adopt an active policy, instead of a â€Å"passive actor†, an emperor came to the throne to get this idea into happening: Justinian. It is possible to summarize the goal of Justinian as reconstructing the heritage of Roman Empire, and establishing an empire within its former borders as a Christian and Roman empire. For this aim, the North Africa, Italy and South Spain were conquered and the Mediterranean became a Byzantine lake. However, those wars in the west decreased the defensive power of the Empire against Persia and throughout the Danube borders. Therefore, it can be said that while Byzantine armies were celebrating their victories in the distant west, the center of the Empire had been ravaging.   [ 5 ]   However, these conquests which were held in order to restorate the Roman Empire caused to a dramatic increase in the taxes and the discontentedness of people caused the Nika Revolt in 532. The Greens and the Blues got united to overthrow the emperor and the revolt was widely disseminated and gained strength within a short time. In so much that a nephew of the former emperor Anastasios was announced as the new emperor. However, the revolt stifled with the efforts of Theodora, Belisarios and Narses.   [ 6 ]   It is necessary to mention that to see the financial outcomes of the conquest policy as the only reasons for revolt would be inaccurate. Obviously, an increase in taxes was a significant factor for the revolt. However, the other reason which lied behind the revolt summarized the characteristic of the period of Justinian.

Describe the development of India's financial sector over the last Essay

Describe the development of India's financial sector over the last decade. Support your claims with as much as data possible - Essay Example n India 2003-04, talks about the appropriate timing of the entry of foreign banks into India so as to be co-terminus with the transition to greater capital account convertibility (Thankur, 1990). This shows that the economic policy establishment in India, including the RBI, has not drawn adequate lessons from the experiences of the financial crisis-affected countries. Besides, banks are the principal risk carriers in the system, taking in small deposits that are liquid and making relatively large investments that are illiquid and can be characterised by substantial income and capital risk. The observed tendency among some promoters or boards of banks to divert a substantial share of its deposits into speculative activities in which the promoter or board may be interested or into investments that are risky but promise quick returns, can increase financial fragility, lead to bank failures and if the magnitude of the failure is serious enough, can actually precipitate crisis for the entire financial system (Thankur, 1990). Instances in India such as the Nedungadi Bank and the Global Trust Bank are the harbingers of what may follow if reckless deregulation of the banking sector is carried out. In fact, the experience of recurrent financial crises in the 1990s, most famously the East Asian experience, has shown how banking deregulation along with capital market liberalization often serves as recipes for financial turmoil in developing countries (Desai, 1987). Many guidelines have stated among other things that no single entity or group of related entities would be allowed to hold shares or exercise control, directly or indirectly, in any private sector bank in excess of 10 % of its paid-up capital. Recognising that the 5th March notification by the Union Government had hiked foreign investment limits in private banking to 74%, the guidelines sought to define the ceiling as applicable on aggregate foreign investment in private banks from all sources (FDI, Foreign

Thatcherism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Thatcherism - Essay Example Thatcherism has been rooted in the individualist views of 19th and 20th century British political parties. However from a contemporary viewpoint, Thatcherism has been famously associated with opposition to join the European Union, which according to some was aimed at eroding Britain's sovereignty. In a famous Bruges Speech, 1988 Thatcher stated, '"We have not successfully rolled back the frontiers of the state in Britain, only to see them re-imposed at a European level, with a European super state exercising a new dominance from Brussels." (Bruges Speech from BBC, 2000). This would clearly indicate the perceived threats of joining the European Union completely which in turn led to Britain emphasizing on its own border controls and heightened sovereignty. Post war effects of Thatcherism have been clearly perceived within British politics and some elements of Thatcherism such as controlling public expenditure and promoting personal achievements have also been incorporated in the policy approach of New Labour government from 1997. However unlike Thatcherism, the Blair government has put greater emphasis on social justice and has focused on promoting social inclusion of the excluded groups and classes. It is important to understand the impact of Thatcherism th... tors as British gas, British telecom and British steel along with curbing powers of the trade unions and local government, promoting individual achievements and private enterprises and also strengthening powers of the central government (BBC, 2006). The focus was to bring in higher consumerism and increase levels of private investments. Public expenditure was cut down and monitored and the local governments faced severe restrictions with rate capping and poll tax in 1989. With loss of support from unions and controversies over poll tax, Thatcher had to leave although this was followed by a period of economic recession and high unemployment and also divisions in society. As Thatcherism encouraged privatisation with gas, steel and telecommunications services, private ownership was also given to providers of health care services. This increased privatisation however led to widening of the rich poor gap and increased divisions in society. Clarke (1999) examined Thatcherism and considered the strengths and weaknesses of the political outlook highlighting the unique financial strategy and monetarist economic policy of the Conservative government. Clarke points out that even if Thatcher's economic policies were uncertain in theory and practice; they were ideologically applicable in terms of methods and objectives. Clarke highlighted the personal dimension of Thatcherism arguing that the rise and fall of Thatcherism could be reduced to definite personal attributes of Thatcher in terms of leadership and control. This however may not be completely true as Thatcher's policies on privatisation and controlling of local governments and trade unions could have bee n the main reason for the unpopularity of Thatcherism during the late 1980s. In this regard, Heath et al (2001)

Movie relationship with book Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Movie relationship with book - Essay Example He created the ICAIC, which was a film office officially managed by the government. Many of the Cuban farmers were illiterate and television was not a part of their lives. Fidel decided that film production would be the best way to educate the country on the dramatic transformation related to the revolution. However, Cuba’s film industry was relatively insignificant unlike Argentina and Mexico. The new office needed to learn a lot before production (Chanan, 5). During this time, the USSR was providing film production support under Prime Minister Khrushchev for any friendly countries to the principles of Communism. This is how the relationship between Cuba and the Soviet Union in film production evolved. During this time, the United States had isolated the Cuban government in the event of the missile crisis. Cuban post-revolutionary cinema shows how filmmaking in the country is hardly ever automatic and predictable. The United States tried to isolate Cuba for almost two decades by imposing a cultural and economic barrier. However, the Cuban cinema continued to succeed in breaching the cultural block to emphasize their creative energy and political integrity (Chanan, 7). The ‘Soy Cuba’ film did not have any English subtitles. What captured the attention of many was its amazing cinematography. The techniques of the camera used at the time shocked many reviewers because they resembled those of the steadicam before its emergence. The beauty of the film lies in the idiosyncratic mise en scene and camera acrobatics (Chanan, 21). The director shot some of the scenes close to the actors, while they avoided any direct focus with the camera. The movement of the camera to produce wide-angle shots gives the film great scenes and an outlook on the revolution. The director also divided the story into four sections to capture different perspectives. The director was a soviet and had

The Impact of Political Change in Central and Eastern Europe Since Essay

The Impact of Political Change in Central and Eastern Europe Since 1989 - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that comes from a background of massive shortages in almost all fronts, including the very basic human freedoms, guided by the communist principles, the momentous series of events of the post-1989 East and Central Europe was essentially apolitical and not the harbingers of ideological innovations.The present research has identified that driven in part by the comparative aspects of the prosperous, Capitalist West to rather in-control communist institutions forcefully planted right after the WWII by Stalin himself, the experiences of the post-1989 East-Central Europe were but rectifying revolutions aimed to connect up constitutionalism with the just political systems associated with capitalism. According to the research findings, it can, therefore, be said that though crisis symptoms were visible in all spheres of public life across countries in the sub-regions mentioned as well as in their relations among themselves and the west, the road to democracy and to freer market economies was, however, not to be easy; for the â€Å"Iron   Curtain† created   as a result of the Soviet   Union’s   share   of   victory   in   the   World   War   II had great impact over neighboring East and central European countries, dividing it into two halves: the East and the West, thus the origins of the Cold War.  

The Implications of Dan Slobins Statements on Second Language Essay

The Implications of Dan Slobins Statements on Second Language Acquisition - Essay Example The Implications of Dan Slobin’s Statements on Second Language Acquisition Language is essential in being able to communicate properly and communication is essential to societal life, where a person needs to be able to understand and be understood by other people in order to survive. Thus, the study of language acquisition and development in children is well-covered as many delve into the process in order to help teachers and parents to promote a healthier and more successful language development in children in order for them to be well-equipped to live in the world. And with the diversity of language comes the need not only to fluently speak one language, but to also learn a second, or even a third, language. Immigration and inter-racial marriages are two very common happenings in the 22nd Century. Gone were the days when immigrants were treated like outcasts and racial discrimination was considered normal. Today, anyone can choose to migrate to another country in order to find a better life. Because of the phenomenon of immigration wherein a country is made more diverse and multicultural, it is but inevitable for inter-racial marriages to flourish. Because of these two factors combined and the subsequent success of international and multinational corporations, schools have felt it necessary to equip their students with the knowledge of a foreign language. In fact, â€Å"the number of people in the United States who speak more than one language has doubled to almost 50 million during the past 20 years†.

Data Collection in the Literature Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Data Collection in the Literature - Essay Example In this paper, I explore qualitative two research articles and discuss their data collection approaches relative to quantitative research approaches, and the articles’ possible contribution to my proposed research. I also report on an observation exercise and my experience choosing qualitative research methodologies. One of the considered research articles in unit 2 is the article on research to investigate domestic violence and substance abuse as overlapping issues from different scopes by Humphreys, Thiara and Regan. The researchers applied a mixed methodological approach that analyzed qualitative and quantitative data. Data collection was further undertaken in different phases. The first stage in data collection applied semi structured interviews to retrieve data from participants. Data was collected from a diversified sample that included former victims of domestic violence, individuals from a group of perpetrators of the violence who were then under rehabilitation programs, and people from groups that offered substance abuse services. Other participants included a commercial sex worker, policy makers, and researchers. The participants were then asked of their â€Å"knowledge of substance use and domestic violence† (Humphreys, Thiara and Regan, 2005, p. 14). Participants were further asked to identify possible association between the two issues, and relevant measures and demographic factors to the issues. The research’s subsequent phases also used questionnaires that were administered through different approaches. Some participants were directly approached, informed of the data capture method and allowed to fill questionnaires while other questionnaires were just left at strategic places with notices about the research, and willing individuals participated (Humphreys, Thiara and Regan, 2005). Another considered article in unit 2 was Collins and Spencer’s report on

Discussion- ch9 Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Discussion- ch9 - Coursework Example Motivation process begins with the identification of desired need. The employee, through the support of the management, engages in appropriate actions that are directing towards achieving the desired need. Realizing the need results into feelings of satisfaction and achievement hence motivation (Farrell, Geoffrey & Linda 27). The theory was formulated by Abraham Maslow in the 1943 academic paper titled A Theory of Human Motivation. The theory is illustrated in a pyramidal hierarchy model. The theory is greatly applied in employee relations and management. The physiological needs are the most important, because they ensure human survival. They include; water, clothing, food, and also shelter (Farrell, Geoffrey & Linda 21). Employees work so that they can get financial resources that will be used to achieve the physiological needs. Many employers provide housing allowance to the employees, to enable them get appropriate shelter. The security needs protect individuals from economic and also physical harm. At the workplace, economic stability is provided in form of job security and also pension plans. Employees value jobs which are stable and predication, due to the reliable remuneration. Also employers, who have an effective retirement pension plan, are favored by both current and potential employees. The e mployees will also work properly if their physical security has been adequately met. The social needs include companionship and love. Employees desire approval and also acceptance by other individuals. Employees need to engage each other at the workplace, through teams, so as to realize work goals together. This shows companionship at the workplace. The employees also have families; therefore, the family members provide adequate companionship and also a sense of belonging to the staff members. Esteem needs illustrates the desire for respect. At the workplace, the managers should respect the opinions of the employees, so as to enhance work

Belonging Notes Essay Example for Free

Belonging Notes Essay †¢ Different environment atmosphere contributes to our sense of belonging. †¢ Adapting after a while strengthens the sense of belonging, knowing the place a bit, feeling comfortable. †¢ Shifting back to civilization, feels out of place, not belonging, shifting in with different surrounding. †¢ Upbringing places a part in our sense of belonging †¢ Technology-internet-find someone with the same interest and sense of belonging kicks in. E.g. Facebook, Twitter, Bebo, Myspace. †¢ Perspective of others shifts our sense of belonging †¢ Obstacles and struggling creates a feel of not belonging and break apart a sense of security. †¢ Enjoyment and change of attitude (positive) helps build sense of belonging. †¢ After being placed in a different place, conditions, our experience alters our sense of belonging Example: Going on holidays and returning home, takes a period of time to feel the feeling of belonging again. †¢ Preparation doesn’t help with the sense of belonging. †¢ Being familiar to the way and knowing the comfort zone (when you are at a place you don’t know/never been to) supports sense of belonging. †¢ Stereotype media acceptance only through appearance- determining whether you belong or not. †¢ Belonging is a choice. †¢ Knowledge and stereotype makes others feel like they don’t belong. †¢ No desire to change belonging †¢ Belonging is a journey †¢ Individuals don’t feel like they belong due to self and the desire to not change. †¢ Belonging is everywhere, what you wear makes you belong to a certain brand, it all comes down to you whether you want to belong who wants you to belong. Remember along with â€Å"belonging† there is always â€Å"isolation† that follows. Responses †¢ Stronger responses shows the relationship/ significant between texts. †¢ Why do people do the things? – REPRESENATION e.g. why does the characters do those actions/ Why has the author/ artist/ producer make or use certain  techniques instead of the others. * Choice of language, form, features and structure shape the meaning and influence responses. The choices are affluent by a composer’s sense of belonging. †¢ How is the concept of belonging conveyed through the text, people, relationships, ideas, places, events and society? †¢ Does it make a difference where the character belongs? †¢ Share some values of feelings -understanding a world in a different way shape in a peculiar way, different society- assumption to being Australian. †¢ Possibility present by a sense of belonging or not belonging Perception †¢ How an individual perception of belonging or not can vary, is shaped by his/her personal, cultural, historical and social context. ASPECTS OF BELONGING: †¢ Experiences †¢ Notion of identity †¢ Relationship †¢ Acceptance †¢ Understanding FORMULA TO ANSWER QUESTIONS: †¢ Identify †¢ Exemplify †¢ Explain †¢ Extrapolate SHORT STORY!: †¢ Do not abuse the concept of belonging too strongly †¢ Don’t use the word belonging †¢ Exclusion, acceptance, struggle †¢ Keep it simple, focus on the concept †¢ IMAGERY!- BOLD, CREATIVE COMBINATIONS TO ACHIEVE ORIGINALITY †¢ Simile, metaphor or personification †¢ SHOW DON’T TELL †¢ Short story-hook reader in the first two lines, straight into action †¢ Explode a moment, two characters, one setting †¢ READ SHORT STORIES †¢ Turning point-climax-should not be death-with too quick-carefully state the relationship. TWISTA TALE †¢ Dramatic beginning †¢ AVOID-irrelevant background info on your character †¢ Character should be revealed through dialogue and actors. †¢ Avoid: lots of internal dialogue †¢ Use experience of own †¢ Close to own world-reflect truth (you can utilize jargon to add a little touch of truth.) †¢ Use paragraphs! †¢ AVOID romance (genre) Fantasy†¦ YOU HAVE 40 minutes to WRITE A DECENT STORY! †¢ Allow the audience to add to the story †¢ DO NOT CONCENTRATE ON THE PLOT – YOU WANT TO SHOW BELONGING! †¢ Recommended to be 4 PGS †¢ Note: The creative writing section to Paper One does not have to be a narrative. EXAM †¢ Have at least two great storylines YOU CAN TWIST to suit any type of belonging questions. †¢ Remembering a story can be risky especially if you walk into the exam and through the reading time, you might have a panic attack. Dos DON’Ts †¢ Let the Q drive and shape your response †¢ Blend your understanding of belonging with the question †¢ DON’T put the questions in your introduction †¢ Thesis or statement throughout response – A MUST †¢ Use the text to support or challenge the thesis or concepts †¢ SPECIFIC TOPIC+ ATTITUDE/ANGLE/ARGUMENT=THESIS †¢ What you plan to argue +how you plan to argue it=THESIS †¢ DO NOT RE-COUNT OR RE-TELL TEXT †¢ ANALYSISEVALUATE TEXT †¢ NO OPINION FOR READERS ESSAY STUFF 1. Thesis-map guide reader 2. Connection between text, comparison or pattern 3. Techniques and contrasts 4. Use cohesive devices E.g. similarity, by contrast, parallel 5. Use topic sentences 6. Support all statement with references to text 7. Vocab for belonging – the better your vocab and structure contributes to an AWESOME MARKS! 8. Quotes + short quotes support what you say, don’t put any quotes that does not support thesis. (Short quotes are best, try to integrate them in your sentence they are easier to remember – it’ll provide the flow for the reader/marker when they are reading†¦. Remember they are reading a trillion PAPERS with some hideous handwriting.) Related pieces FILM †¢ JUST FIND ONE PART OR SECTION TO ANALYSIS †¢ PICK TEXT THAT MAKES READER STAND UP-FIND OWN †¢ Integrate the HOW techniques+ make it personal †¢ Don’t try to write everything down: capture key points †¢ 3-5 related pieces recommended BUT THREE SHOULD BE MORE THAN ENOUGH! Things to remember when choosing your related texts: †¢ Try and get a variety of different types. E.g. If you are doing a novel, go searching for a visual piece such as a film or artwork or a picture book. E.g. Frida Kahlo, Kathe Kollwitz. †¢ QUALITY: Do something that you know not many people will do; YOU WANT TO STAND OUT OF THE CROWD and show the markers you know your stuff. †¢ Make sure you can connect your text to belonging†¦ REMEMBER it does not have to be similar to your prescribed text as long as it has some sort of representation of belonging. †¢ Does it play your strength? Try to do something you are passionate or interested in. You will do so much better. †¢ DO NOT FORGET YOUR THESIS! SHORT ANSWERS †¢ Be Specific †¢ Can capitalize on other answers to answer another question. †¢ WRITE ACCORDING TO MARKS – if it id worth two marks DON’T write HALF A PAGE! †¢ TIMING- BALANCE!!! †¢ In this section LOOK for anything that symbolizes a connection, affiliation, relationship AND OF COURSE BELONGING! †¢ Main questions are HOW? WHAT? 11 points concerning belonging 1. Family 2. Friends 3. Belonging to place/national identity 4. Race 5. Religion 6. Political 7. Profession 8. Lifestyle 9. Learn spirit shared identity When studying for English. †¢ HAND WRITE!!! †¢ TIME yourself †¢ Find a quiet environment where you will not be disturbed for a certain time. †¢ PRACTICE! Break down the paper if you want †¢ Get any questions on â€Å"Belonging† pick up your pen and WRITEWRITE! †¢ The teachers are there for a REASON SO USE THEM- this goes for all subjects! If you don’t understand something shovel your hand up in the air, it is likely that others don’t understand it too OR chase after them at recess/lunch. †¢ Place quotes around the house like a crazy person on colorful cardboard and stick them around the house WHERE YOU KNOW you will always see them. †¢ When you have time do not leave it to the last minute. Grab your notes out and start cutting it down. It is a killer when you have to do it A WEEK before the actual HSC exams. †¢ If you know your stuff, you should be confident in crashing and burning the HSC AOS English paper!

Trickledown Theory Of Harajuku Cultural Studies Essay

Trickledown Theory Of Harajuku Cultural Studies Essay Change in fashion has repeatedly been explained as a trickle-down result of class replication followed by class repugnance. But wearing the latest style is no longer a dispensation that is reserved only for the upper strata. The drastic change in fashion cannot be stated as a straightforward progression of transmission from the elites to the masses. Some studies have made an accessible alternate model where sub cultural innovations bubble-up in anticipation of them being adapted by emulating marketable bodies. According to studies fashion is not something that can be promoted in an artificial manner which gives a commercial aspect to the new trends that have just come in the market. The relationship between fashion and so-called anti-fashion is a recurrently dialectical one and therefore there is no coherence in fashion mainstream. There are some trickle downs and bubble ups theories that happen which sometimes moves horizontally or sometimes they just remain where they are despite the difference in culture, class, lifestyle or age groups. Tastes are not purely dictated and we should acknowledge the complexity and idiosyncratic sensual significance of material things in peoples lives. People invest on clothes with both individual and collective facets of identity, memory and imagination. Beyond social competition, fashion comes from the primal pleasures of recital, amusement, foundation and annihilation. On Shibuya Street The hefty traffic and Shibuya are associated in its history. Shibuya was a diminutive village in Edo period, positioned at the Western edge of Central Tokyo. Because of this location, Shibuya Station on spherical Yamate Line also became the terminal for a subway line to Ginza, a railway to Yokohama and numerous additional railways. Shibuya urbanized with the railways and traffic. The railway companies also made Shibuya a well accepted shopping town. In 1934, an enormous railway company called- Tokyu Group first built the foremost department store here. This is the company which attracted many consumers who used to merely overtake Shibuya to shop at Ginza. In 1968, its rival Seibu Railway Group opened Seibu Department Store. They also opened PARCO for younger customers in 1973. Tokyu Group retaliated back by opening Tokyu Hands in 1978. This kept on happening for years and this is the way that Japan fought amongst itself to come out to be todays most sought after countries for fashion. In the streets of shibuya, a very distinct street in Japan, where fashion is at its peak and it proves to be one of the most amazing spots to be in if you are in search for the Japanese culture and how the youth of Japan have taken their history forward. There are a lot of department stores in shibuya here teenagers in group flock around every day. This hub is lively and full of energy due to the fashion carried out here. The area of shibuya is targeted towards younger generations unlike, the other parts, which are known for being wild and quirky. This area also carries forward the tag of being one of the safest shopping destinations which boosts a lot of energy in the people who come to shop there. This street is also famously known to be an environmentally clean area and a place to be when in Japan. Shibuya street fashion is one of the most fashionable, energetic, modern, and a stylish street which offers the latest trends which are creative and very well thought of. It is one of the most sorted out streets after the Harajuku Street and is also considered youthful in nature and one can easily mingle in with the crowd and be a part of them. Ganguro fashion which prominently hit the streets of Japan in 1990s had initially hit the streets of shibuya and this fashion was a new rage on its street till another decade. This fashion was just like punk which is like a legendary fashion in itself but which mutated in the form of other new style as years passed by. This trend was popular amongst the younger teenagers and young ladies in their 20s who would dye their hair blonde or orange in colour along with a deep tan and white concealer which was often used as a lipstick. On the streets of shibuya this fashion died away but newer trends kept following it with a tinge of Ganguro attitude yet attached to it. The newer fashions stuck to the basic foundation of the Ganguro fashion which was purely based on freedom and strength. The fashion in the shibuya districts are just not a focus on about being extreme in nature but it is also about the amalgamation of styles and just like how they see life to static rather than just being con stant. This street is always looking for something which has a creative aspect and a tinge of novelty in the ideas they put forward in the market. One of the most important places in the Shibuya Street is the 109, a fashion building which caters to amazingly youthful and stylish teenagers and attracts crowds easily. The most daring and wild sides of the street are boutiques like candy, centre Gai and Koen Dori which bring out an energizing vibe which is pleasingly attracting the youth. The most interesting part of visiting this street is that it will make both overtly fashionable and less fashionable people feel alike with rich and energetic youthful vibe inside them when they are on the street. Along with these people are the alternative fashion minded gurus who would like to keep to themselves and also dress likewise. Shibuya is known for rekindling the spirit within the youth through their fashion which is carefree and above all a very individualistic in nature. The center of youth fashion and culture the most spectacular thing that happens on this street is at the intersection of the four roads that go to the fashionable and stylish clothes shops. There are people walking in from all directions when the lights go green but the most surprising thing is that no one ever bumps into another person. This fact has been mentioned here purely to suggest that despite of the hysterical movements of people towards each other there are well thought of precautions which the Japanese government has taken and thus this fact has probably amazed me everything is planned, not just fashion. Shibuya is a convenient place to admittance from all directions, and today it is the most important hangout spots amongst youths. The students who live near this street and also the other youths of Japan make the most of this place by experimenting with fashions and cosmetics along with accessories in an extreme form from this street. The 109 department at the shibuya street is one of the most flashy and commercial neighboring suburb of Harajuku street. Here the people act as major players in innovating novel and fashionable sensibilities which eventually become iconic in nature due to celebrities who follow it. In this street it is not normal for the fashion houses to give an opportunity to charismatic salesgirls as forecasters because they believe in formal training in the field. This poses as a difference between both the streets- the Harajuku and the Shibuya Street. The people who undergo a formal training can be positioned in the departmental stores as designers, merchandisers, sales person, stylists, models and marketers as per the qualifications they have achieved. Difference between shibuya and Harajuku Shibuya- here girls and boys in their mid teens and above shop for sexy fashion and do not wear cute fashions at all, unlike the Harajuku people. Here the youth is more fascinated and attracted to the fashion brands existing in the market and b the top models of sexy fashion magazines. The youth of Japan are known for trying hard to create ones own individuality through fashion and thus the youth on this street also abide by the same rule. They create their individual sense by dressing in a sexy manner but on their own terms and conditions. They pair up branded clothing together and I suppose that their disposable income would be higher than the shoppers at Harajuku. Not that I think that shoppers at Harajuku do not buy branded clothing as I also think that the Japanese youth saves money only to shop and nothing else apart from gadgets of course. Harajuku- here the groups or the individual youth follow a specific fashion style that has been adopted from the past like gothic- Lolita and punk. Here the youth is willing to buy clothes from the streets because they get inspired by musicians from the past and their fashion sense surrounds the trends that are ongoing and that are further merged with the fashions of the past. The street of Uhara on the Harajuku Street is called the black alley as it has casual clothes on its disposal. Lot of people here at Harajuku also get influenced by the kei culture which means doing something and thus like I said people here create their individual recognition through the clothes they wear but in a lot of difference than the youth at shibuya. They also get influenced by what they see I magazines and thus follow trends accordingly. Despite of the fact that there are differences in both these streets, people of Japan and the outsiders form a perception that these two streets have much more common factors than differences. Both these streets highly cater to the youth of today and equally the streets are flocked with these teens. The fashion differs in a very minute way but like I mentioned earlier, the impact of street fashion in Japan is ultimate and thus both streets also get inspired from each other. Japanese youth culture As any typical youth of any other country, there was need for a new identity among the youth who wanted to look separate from the ones who dictated by standard social norms. The Harajuku street fashion expresses the costumes the youth would wear on this street. Harajuku fashion is a form of self- expression and is a way to advertise a specific community identity. All the developments of recent Harajuku street fashion are done with guerrilla marketing. The limited edition along with the designers created an environment in which the Japanese kids have been able to co-opt foreign styles, creating something particular, and a kind of fashion nationalism. Shopping has always been an integral part of the Japanese characteristics and a particular way to assert identity among the youth. The development of youth culture has accelerated the rate of trend turnover in Japan. The youth of Japan are highly fashion conscious and would enjoy being cool despite being a nerd. The fashion oriented youth in America or Europe might just fall under the category of being playful and frivolous when it comes to fashion, but the kids in Japan are very serious about fashion. Their combinations and matches are chosen with deep insight rather than on impulse dressing. They treat fashion with a lot of respect, especially boys and thus there is a magazine dedicated only for the hairstyles for them. This means that even boys in Japan are highly conscious about what they wear and how they look. In Harajuku, clothing is a reaction to the immediate reality of the street. This is a democratic idolatry prevalent there. Celebrities, fashion icons, designers, stylists, shop staff, hair stylists and publicists enjoy a great deal of notoriety in this street. Photographers of huge Japanese fashion magazines like fruits and tunes are posed all along the street to capture the ongoing fashion adorned by the youth. On this street, the styles keep coming and going in a matter of flashes. The youth moves in and out of these styles with amazing agility. The fashion at Harajuku and Shibuya are highly distinct from each other in terms of fashion trends and styles though they are only two minutes away by train from each other. Takashi- Dori is another part of the Harajuku Street which catered to food items but eventually culminated into being a fashion product stores. The Harajuku street was born when the first boutique, late night restaurants and cafes opened in that are to give the people there the feel of becoming the most hep street in Tokyo. After the Olympics, the Harajuku influenced youth and began to develop a unique sensibility and stylishness that distinguished them from groups hanging out in Tokyos other shopping areas such as Ginza. Any and every one from a designer to makeup artists who wanted to become a part of Japans fashion industry flocked to Harajuku. The street offered a charged atmosphere that mesmerized the young men and women. The young designers collections were at least one-third copies of that seasons international designs, which were typically highly sought after by the youth in the domestic market. The collection would be easily mistaken for the overseas brands and thus would be sold in wholesale to small shops. To name a few brands that existed during the 1960s were Okawa, Comme des garcons, Yohji Yamamoto, Mastudas Nicole. These brands originally existed on the streets of Harajuku and then came out to be influential names in the world. As the Harajuku boomed, with the growing numbers of young designers manufacturers and retail outlets for this new fashion scene, the small labels into what came to be known as designer character by the mid 1980s. Harajuku still maintains its unique, close knit neighbourhood feel something that is extremely unusual for a Japanese city. Its identity is still about selling the Japans most modern culture, its trends, stylishness and a certain kind of dream- a sense of possibility. Japanese street fashion magazines Once upon a time it was the fashion magazines that ruled the countrys fashion, but today teenagers themselves create their own styles to make a fashion impression and are thus represented as fashion followers in the media. During this time there was a boom in the industry of media where street style magazines offered youngsters to recruit teenagers as editorial staff, just looking at the way they dress and carry themselves. The FRUiTS magazine that launched itself in 1997 was started to document the emerging street fashion movements which totally focused on the outfits of the wearer and the detail of the same, with minimum advertisements. The photos also gave out details of the wearer who was spotted wearing the fashion on the street. The business magazine named WIRED has had a regular column in its magazine since the time it started, about the Japanese Schoolgirl Watch, trying to follow up of their fads. SUBCULTURES Japanese street fashion and adaptations of its culture has been prominent among the youth of Japan since decades. There are many subcultures that the Japanese youth follow and each of them dress according to their own choice of the category they choose to dress like. The fashion districts of Harajuku, Ginza, Shinjuku and Shibuya have a huge number of youth who flock out there during weekends and pick out clothes from these streets. A few styles that the youth in Japan follow will be mentioned here; Lolita The Lolita style in general represents the world of childhood, the time before girls achieve their womanly sexuality Tanaka said, a Lolita fashion researcher. Lolita as a fashion sprung to the surface of Japanese streets in the late 70s and stayed on from then on. The inspiration has been taken from France and the United Kingdom with the touch of rococo and Victorian eras. The Japanese have adapted to these periods and brought down the fashion to being in the form of cuteness, positivity and pure class. Lolita is considered one of the most recognized forms of street fashion, not only in Japan but also in other parts of the world today. Large amount of people have followed it throughout the world today. This style came to be popular in the leading cities of Japan like Tokyo and Osaka where people accepted this fashion readily. The fashion in Lolita is pretty restricted unlike the other fashions like punk and Kawaii. The basis of all other fashions that emerged in Japan is taken from the Lolita fashion but with its own creative difference. There were many boutiques in Japan that started Lolita fashion as their core but went on to other conte mporary lines after a few decades. Some of these boutiques were- the stars shine bright and pink house. During the initial days of Lolita fashion emergence, the music groups who liked this fashion would promote it while they performed and thus this fashion started gaining popularity amongst the youth. Lolita, in USA connotes with being sexual but in Japan this fashion was not linked with looking sexy but it was mostly related to elegance and cuteness. This began as a street fashion nearly two decades ago but has now entered the mainstream movement of fashion and clothing by the youth. This fashion has also become popular and taken on the ramp which has made this style all the more famous to the outside world. The women who follow this fashion live in the world of fantasy and immaturity and refuse to grow into an adult which is taken as a rebel against certain age groups in the society. The Harajuku culture focuses on Lolita fashion as it draws a feminized aesthetic look from the Victorian dolls that are accessorized with ribbons, laces, embroidery, bonnets, corsetry, frills and ringlets in the hair. It is usually the females who make the Lolita fashion more predominant however there are few men on the streets of Harajuku who adopt the bloomers, bows and stockings which is an ideal dress code of Lolita men. Gothic Lolita It is one of the most famous among other Lolita fashions has been able to draw attention from other parts of the world. This kind of fashion has been inspired from the Victorian Goth style which is characterized by dark colours, bats, spiders and Goth icons. The Japanese, though being inspired by other cultures, make these fashions look original by adding a twist of Japanese culture in their dressing. In this fashion, the young girls pull off knee length skirts with petticoats underneath. Their blouses would have the look of Victorian era, having laces and ruffles on the hems. The look is complete with knee length socks paired with boots and accessories like bonnets and brooches. This style is clearly visible in the streets of Japan adorned by number of teenagers. This fashion is also seen at concerts and anime conventions throughout Japan and Europe along with USA in the frame. The market for this kind of clothing is increasing as there are a lot of girls sporting this look in America and Europe. In Japan, Goth is a very minor subculture with few followers, partly because the emphasis upon visual identity in Japanese youth culture makes other factors such as music and literature less important and perhaps this happens partly because Christianity and Germanic culture are not integral parts of society. Sweet Lolita It is more of a fantasy based dressing which is childlike and is connected to fairytale themes, baby animals and there is a lot of innocence in their dressing up. The most popular feature of sweet Lolita is the hello kitty which has pastel colours along with muted colours like pink, white and powder blue. This fashion is popularized as cute as it consists of large head bows, purses which look cute with pastels hues, parasols and stuffed animals which make the look more childlike and innocent. This is the exact opposite style from the classic Lolita and therefore it suits the younger generations more than the older ones. Since the followers of fashion are more from the younger generations, it is more likely that this fashion has more popularity than the classic Lolita look. Even the makeup is naturally toned which balances the outfit along with bouncy curls and stylishly tied up pony tail. The style of the sweet Lolita stands out as it is all about being pretty and modest. Wearing a b louse underneath the jumper is a must for a sweet Lolita dresser. This childlike innocence of the Lolita started in the 80s and was pioneered by many bands who were inspired by the bell shaped skirts which gave an aristocratic elegance to the wearer. The fabrics used in this style a variety of influences from the fruits, flowers and animals and accessories like bows, laces and ribbons. Many eatery places have sweet Lolitas as their mascots. This whole characteristic of being a Lolita is more about a lifestyle and being more feminine. Additionally, outfits will include things like gingham, colourful prints, lace, ribbons, and bows that emphasize cuteness above all other design elements. Often taking themes and references from Alice and Wonderland as well as imagery of cake and fruits, the design plays to a younger mentality. Shoes will also usually have a much shorter heel than most other Lolita styles because of that childlike nature, and jewellery is heavily influenced by fantasy themes, using cherries, hearts, cakes, ribbons, and bows for accessorization. Purses and bags are similarly catered to a younger mindset with stuffed animals and hearts for accessories. Punk Lolita It is a form of fashionable subculture in which teenagers dress mixing the punk look with the Lolita fashion. The silhouette of the original Lolita is intact while the colours and accessories differ. It also looks like a deconstructed and a crazy look but the youth who can carry it off well, do maintain it with a fashionable approach. They are heavily influenced by the western punk fashion but the Japanese have made it look cuter in a few aspects they adapted. It was a great roar during the 2000s along with other fashions like the gothic Lolita. This style is often more casual-looking than other Lolita styles. A typical outfit will have a mini top hat, a simple cut sew with a deconstructed Lolitaesque print, a pleated tartan skirt and chunky platform boots. Sometimes Punk Lolitas will be seen with nekomimi (cat ears), although its considered Cosplay by the majority of Lolitas. The overall look of this style is quite edgy and at the same time also cute. The influence of this style is taken from the standard punk style with hints of psychobilly. The color schemes that this style adheres by are rather in contrast to each other than a balanced color scheme black and red, black and white are the two major combinations worn by the youth who follow this style. Usually the western punk style has more of solid colors that represent the punk style but here in Japan prints such as checkerboards, diamonds, spider webs and leopard prints are considered for punk. Prints of roses, crosses and skulls are also popular amongst the wearers alo ng with a small amount of laces and frills attached to their outfits. Several fabrics are used to create layers which have on symmetry. Leather jackets and short skirts denote the look for punk- Lolitas. Punk Lolita is the only style among all the fashion prevalent in Japan that sports leg and hand warmers. The accessories donned by these fashion followers are chains, studded belts, spooky rivets, chokers and laces. Edgy bags with a plain surface would very well add to complete the punk look. There is a use of dark eye shadows, mascara and eyeliners with red or pink lipsticks to create a highlight in the all dark outfit. Classic Lolita It is one of the most traditional forms of Lolita fashions. The look is pretty mature and business like as it has colours like blue, green and red. The classic form of the Lolita fashion suits a wider age group and has more aspects of the Victorian era than any other form of Lolita fashions. This fashion is more about the floral patterns and looking classy rather than just being stuck on cuteness and bold colours. This is the main reason that it is easy for the other age groups to flaunt it. Kodona Lolita It means boy style version of Lolita. This fashion is inspired by the Victorian era boys who would dress up in prince pants which are Capri style pants cut off till the knee. Their shirts have a lot of detailing in it with laces while their accessories consist of top hats and knee length socks. Gyaru fashion It had originated in 1970s on the streets of Japan. This look was a huge rage among the girls as it focused on girly- glam style of dressing which broke all the rules of being pretty. Youngsters who followed these styles would wear man-made beauty such as wigs, fake eye lashes and nails. Not all the people who followed this kind of fashion dressed in a proactive manner, it generally varied on the choice of people who adapted only half of what this fashion consisted of. Gyaru means gal or girly in Japanese language. Though it is altogether a different subculture they have a signature look which comprises of big hair which are usually coloured slightly or curled. There is a use of circle lenses, false eye lashes and elaborately designed nails. They dress in a very trendy manner with clothes and makeup like that of a teenager in Japan. This style is also accepted by most movie stars and is often displayed in their movies as well. To imitate the Californian Barbie, which is darker than the normal Barbie, some of the followers of Gyaru even tend to tan themselves. The Gyaru fashion is also described as a prostitute chic look which comprises of wearing hot pants, platforms and over dramatized makeup. This fashion has a thin line between ugly and beautiful and has been able to separate the young women of Japan from their traditional and feminine concepts. It could grant them ownership of their self-image, provide confidence in the male-dominated public sphere where they were encouraged to be modest and acquiescent, and allow strong bonds of female alliance. Ganguro fashion It became popular among the Japanese girls in the 90s and rose to popularity in the 2000s. This fashion includes bright clothing, mini-skirts and tie-dyed sarongs. Ganguro in Japanese means black-face and this style has a peculiar style dyeing hair. The streets of shibuya and Harajuku were filled with this fashion. The look is complete if the hair is bleached completely with a deep tan skin tone along with fake lashes, white and black eye liner. The accessories stand out from the rest of the fashions and it includes bracelets, earrings, necklaces, rings and platform heel shoes. Ganguro magazines were issued where fashions of deeper tans, white lipstick and multicoloured pastel eye shadows in metallic shades were promoted. There was no specific reason that this style came into the market but it is vaguely said that the girls during those years were infatuated with the styles of Janet Jackson or perhaps Naomi Campbell. It was therefore also said to be racist in nature. Ganguro has been identified as a new fashion style imitating certain hip hop outward physical features, such as blackened faces and necks with shimmering makeup, blond or white hair, boots with solid platform soles, and bright colored tight miniskirts. As commonly recognized, such an imitation is in fact an open expression of individuality, freedom, and sexuality. There have been studies which say that Ganguro style of Japan is influenced by the hip hop culture of the west. It is also more than just the style of dance. For Japanese it is an expression to identify oneself from the standard social Japanese cultures. Ganguro is not an isolated social phenomenon, but an impact exerted by hip hop culture upon the Japanese young generation. The other nations have taken the hip hop dance, music and lyrics as an inspiration but for the Japanese it was about taking the look. This is how we know that the Japanese people are way ahead in fashion and adaptations of cultures. A lot of speculations have been made as to from where this style is being taken up from. Some say that teenage girls have adapted this fashion only because they want to rebel against wearing uniforms in order to express their individuality. Some say that there were singers who got popular wearing this style, and thats the reason the youth adapted to it. Although Ganguro as a fashion style does not fit well with traditional Japanese social standards and cultural values, it becomes popular among some girls who are just approaching adult life. Many non-Ganguro girls and boys readily accept some of the Ganguro elements, and fearing exclusion, some may often conform to the style due to peer pressures. Ganguro girls have made their own choice to not follow the pack but, instead, they have chosen a carefree and open approach to living for the moment and for escaping the feelings of being ignored or neglected at home and isolated, bullied or depressed at school. As one of the hip hop characteristics, a carefree life style is the stimulus for Ganguro girls to be largely unconcerned with money and material gain. Like all individuals, Ganguro girls want to enjoy life. They prefer to wear a flamboyant outfit and hang out with their friends for fun instead of struggling with their compelling school tasks or boring jobs.  Ã‚  Ã‚   Some researchers in the field of Japanese social and/or studies believe that Ganguro as a fashion style is the younger generations revenge against traditional Japanese society; others believe Ganguro is promoted by those who intend to change the peripheral female position in Japanese society; others believe that it is some Japanese girls explicit self-expression of sexual attractiveness; others believe that it is just some Japanese girls imitation of some elements of an African womans appearance to be a woman, and still others believe that it makes girls  Kawaii  (cute) or cool because it makes them look different from others.

Nostalgia In Cinema Paradiso Film Studies Essay

Nostalgia In Cinema Paradiso Film Studies Essay In Cinema Paradiso, Toto goes to watch a film with 50 lire his mother gives him to buy milk. He is not supposed to go to the cinema house and yet he cant  stay away from Cinema Paradiso. In this scene, we see Toto watching the film in awe along with others from the community. The theater is packed and alive. Gisueppe Tornatore, the director, pays great attention to detail-facial expressions, gestures and reactions of the crowd are well captured. The theater stall and balcony reflect the class divide. The kids take the front row, working class Italians fill the stall, the rich man, who spits sits in the balcony, and the projectionist, Alfredo is stuck in the dingy projection room. Like Toto, I watched films when I was in school. I bunked school and went with my friends to watch an Indian Bollywood film in Mumbai, India. We all chipped in our pocket money and went for the movies. Like Italian Cinema, Indian films were an occasion for families and communities to come together. This was before the multiplexes. The cinema house that I visited was small like Cinema Paradiso. It had one screen, stalls and balcony. People whistled during kissing scenes, some kids danced during a song-dance sequence and grown men sometimes cried during an emotional scene. In that scene in Cinema Paradiso, Toto is watching La terra Trema (The Earth Trembles) directed Luchino Visconti.  The audience reception of the film is lukewarm and most people dont get the language and context of this Neorealism film. But during the kissing scene which is edited out, we see the crowds engrossed, disappointed and then laughing at the strict censorship. Twenty years, and I havent seen a kiss, a man from the audience shouts. During the screening of the Chaplin film, we see the crowd engaged. Kids and adults, rich and poor, men and women laugh together. Cinema thus becomes a great equalizer. But more importantly, this embedded film within a film creates a sense of double nostalgia. The audience in the film is nostalgic as they consume the images in the theater, and we as an audience are nostalgic about our own experiences of watching films, etc like Toto. In Postmodernism, or, the Cultural Logic of Late Capitalism, Jameson writes, Nostalgia films restructure the whole issue of pastiche and project it onto a collective and social level, where the desperate attempt to appropriate a missing past is now refracted through the iron law of fashion change and the emergent ideology of the generation. (19). In Cinema Paradiso, the screened films (Toto and others watch in the theater) create a pasticheHollywood classics, Italian and Art films, popular comedies and so on. However, Jameson explains that the postmodern nostalgia is never a matter of some old-fashioned representation of historical content, but instead approaches the past through stylistic connotation, conveying pastness by the glossy qualities of the image, and 1930s-ness or 1950s-ness by the attributes of fashion (19). Thus keeping Jamesons argument in mind, Cinema Paradiso doesnt represent the historical content by verisimilitude, but evokes the feeling of nostalgia by aesthetic a ppropriation. However, this seems to be a reductive approach to fully understand and appreciate the nuances and texture of Tornatoras film. Joy Marcus, on the other hand argues that in Cinema Paradiso, Tornatore defies the reductiveness of postmodern citation by embedding earlier film footage in his 1989 work so that waning of historicity or aesthetic colonization cannot take place. Every time Tornatora splices images of old movies into Cinema Paradisohe calls attention to what the film is not-that is, he announces the irreconcilable distance between the current work and its cinematic forebears (201). There is a disconnect or distance between the Cinema Paradisos audience watching the embedded film La terra Trema and a simultaneous feeling of connection. Likewise, we also feel a sense of nostalgia and disconnection watching Cinema Paradiso, and watching the audience watch a film. In my viewing of the film, I also noticed that Cinema Paradiso and this scene in particular created a sense of nostalgia for my community, culture and country. The connectedness that Toto and others feel in a small town going to a theater is also the connectedness we as viewers feel towards our past memories of childhood and community. My own experience of watching films in India then symbolizes a nostalgia for the lost homeland and sense of community I once belonged to. The cultural rootedness or lack of it, becomes a way in which the Cinema Paradiso evoked nostalgia for me-or as Jameson puts it eloquently, the film/scene/image consumption becomes a desperate attempt to appropriate a missing past.

Mill on Liberty Essay examples -- essays research papers

In Chapter 2, Mill turns to the issue of whether people, either through their government or on their own, should be allowed to coerce or limit anyone else's expression of opinion. Mill emphatically says that such actions are illegitimate. Even if only one person held a particular opinion, mankind would not be justified in silencing him. Silencing these opinions, Mill says, is wrong because it robs "the human race, posterity as well as the existing generation." In particular, it robs those who disagree with these silenced opinions. Mill then turns to the reasons why humanity is hurt by silencing opinions. His first argument is that the suppressed opinion may be true. He writes that since human beings are not infallible, they have no authority to decide an issue for all people, and to keep others from coming up with their own judgments. Mill asserts that the reason why liberty of opinion is so often in danger is that in practice people tend to be confident in their own rightness, and excluding that, in the infallibility of the world they come in contact with. Mill contends that such confidence is not justified, and that all people are hurt by silencing potentially true ideas. After presenting his first argument, Mill looks at possible criticisms of his reasoning and responds to them. First, there is the criticism that even though people may be wrong, they still have a duty to act on their "conscientious conviction." When people are sure that they are right, they would be cowardly not to act on that belief and to allow doctrines to be expressed that they believe will hurt mankind. To this, Mill replies that the only way that a person can be confident that he is right is if there is complete liberty to contradict and disprove his beliefs. Humans have the capacity to correct their mistakes, but only through experience and discussion. Human judgment is valuable only in so far as people remain open to criticism. Thus, the only time a person can be sure he is right is if he is constantly open to differing opinions; there must be a standing invitation to try to disprove his beliefs. Second, there is the criticism that governments have a duty to uphold certain beliefs that are important to the well being of society. Only "bad" men would try to undermine these beliefs. Mill replies that this argument still relies on an assumption of i... ...s beliefs are not reflected in their conduct. As a result, people do not truly understand the doctrines they hold dear, and their misunderstanding leads to serious mistakes. Mill presents one possible criticism of this view. He writes that it could be asked whether it is essential for "true knowledge" for some people to hold erroneous opinions. Mill replies that having an increasing number of uncontested opinions is both "inevitable and indispensable" in the process of human improvement. However, this does not mean that the loss of debate is not a drawback, and he encourages teachers to try to compensate for the loss of dissent. Mill then turns to a fourth argument for freedom of opinion. He writes that in the case of conflicting doctrines, perhaps the most common case is that instead of one being true and one false, the truth is somewhere between them. Progress usually only substitutes one partial truth for another, the newer truth more suited to the needs of the times. Dissenting or heretical opinions often reflect the partial truths not recognized in popular opinion, and are valuable for bringing attention to a "fragment of wisdom." This fact can

Educational Goals and Philosophy :: Education Teaching Careers Essays

Educational Goals and Philosophy In this day in age, opposing views and philosophies are emerging in the public school systems quicker that we can really develop a thorough understand and sound, sturdy opinion of them. As an educator, I believe it is important to be supportive and open-minded for the students. My concern is not only for the students’ education, but also their personal well being and emotions. Every student is raised differently, with beliefs and morals that may oppose the beliefs of their fellow students and teachers, as well as other members of their community. These students should not feel segregated or suffer from the harsh words and acts of others that may disagree with their views. My job is to secure the feelings of each student and to help them realize that this is one of life’s lessons and that they should face the world with an open mind and warm heart. These ideas represent my own personal beliefs. After reviewing the several different philosophies discussed in my education class, I have come to realize that I do not believe in one particular philosophy. I agree with several aspects of each of the different philosophies that are prominent in our nation’s schools. My classroom is going to be a positive learning environment and a comfortable, welcoming setting for all of my students. To be a great teacher, I need to be able to understand where my students are coming from when they express their concerns or show signs of confusion, pain, or any other behaviors that do not correspond with their personality. I want to know my students on an individual basis where I can have a loving, caring, understanding and open relationship with them and still gain their respect for me as an educator. The teachers that remain in my memory the most where the ones that thoroughly taught their lessons and strived to help each individual student understand the material and work to their fullest potential. These teachers were also the ones who expressed the most care and love for their students. They worked to develop a strong bond with each individual student so that they may feel secure and comfortable in their classroom, knowing that if they ever needed any help or support, their teacher was always the one they could turn to for guidance.

The Application Of Fractal Geometry To Ecology Essay -- essays researc

The Application of Fractal Geometry to Ecology Abstract New insights into the natural world are just a few of the results from the use of fractal geometry. Examples from population and landscape ecology are used to illustrate the usefulness of fractal geometry to the field of ecology. The advent of the computer age played an important role in the development and acceptance of fractal geometry as a valid new discipline. New insights gained from the application of fractal geometry to ecology include: understanding the importance of spatial and temporal scales; the relationship between landscape structure and movement pathways; an increased understanding of landscape structures; and the ability to more accurately model landscapes and ecosystems. Using fractal dimensions allows ecologists to map animal pathways without creating an unmanageable deluge of information. Computer simulations of landscapes provide useful models for gaining new insights into the coexistence of species. Although many ecologists have found fractal geometry to be an extremely useful tool, not all concur. With all the new insights gained through the appropriate application of fractal geometry to natural sciences, it is clear that fractal geometry a useful and valid tool. New insight into the natural world is just one of the results of the increasing popularity and use of fractal geometry in the last decade. What are fractals and what are they good for? Scientists in a variety of disciplines have been trying to answer this question for the last two decades. Physicists, chemists, mathematicians, biologists, computer scientists, and medical researchers are just a few of the scientists that have found uses for fractals and fractal geometry. Ecologists have found fractal geometry to be an extremely useful tool for describing ecological systems. Many population, community, ecosystem, and landscape ecologists use fractal geometry as a tool to help define and explain the systems in the world around us. As with any scientific field, there has been some dissension in ecology about the appropriate level of study. For example, some organism ecologists think that anything larger than a single organism obscures the reality with too much detail. On the other hand, some ecosystem ecologists believe that looking at anything less than an entire ecosystem will not gi... ...l Geometry is not the geometry of nature. Studies in History and Philosophy of Science. 25:6:967-981. Shibusawa, S. 1994. Modeling the branching growth fractal pattern of the maize root system. Plant and Soil. 165: 339-347. Simberloff, D., P. Betthet, V. Boy, S. H. Cousins, M.-J. Fortin, R. Goldburg, L. P. Lefkovitch, B. Ripley, B. Scherrer, and D. Tonkyn. 1987. Novel statistical analyses in terrestrial animal ecology: dirty data and clean questions. pp. 559- 572 in Developments in Numerical Ecology. P. Legendre and L. Legendre, eds. NATO ASI Series. Vol. G14. Springer, Berlin. Turner, M. G. 1989. Landscape ecology; the effect of pattern on process. Annual Rev. Ecological Syst. 20:171-197. Vedyushkin, M. A. 1993. Fractal properties of forest spatial structure. Vegetatio. 113: 65-70. Voss, R. F. 1988. Fractals in Nature: From Characterization to Simulation. pp. 21- 70. in The Science of Fractal Images. H.-O. Peitgen and D. Saupe, eds. Springer- Verlag, New York. Wiens, J. A., Crist, T. O., Milne, B. 1993. On quantifying insect movements. Environmental Entomology. 22(4): 709-715. Thomsen, D. E. 1980. Making music--Fractally. Science News. 117:187-190. The Application Of Fractal Geometry To Ecology Essay -- essays researc The Application of Fractal Geometry to Ecology Abstract New insights into the natural world are just a few of the results from the use of fractal geometry. Examples from population and landscape ecology are used to illustrate the usefulness of fractal geometry to the field of ecology. The advent of the computer age played an important role in the development and acceptance of fractal geometry as a valid new discipline. New insights gained from the application of fractal geometry to ecology include: understanding the importance of spatial and temporal scales; the relationship between landscape structure and movement pathways; an increased understanding of landscape structures; and the ability to more accurately model landscapes and ecosystems. Using fractal dimensions allows ecologists to map animal pathways without creating an unmanageable deluge of information. Computer simulations of landscapes provide useful models for gaining new insights into the coexistence of species. Although many ecologists have found fractal geometry to be an extremely useful tool, not all concur. With all the new insights gained through the appropriate application of fractal geometry to natural sciences, it is clear that fractal geometry a useful and valid tool. New insight into the natural world is just one of the results of the increasing popularity and use of fractal geometry in the last decade. What are fractals and what are they good for? Scientists in a variety of disciplines have been trying to answer this question for the last two decades. Physicists, chemists, mathematicians, biologists, computer scientists, and medical researchers are just a few of the scientists that have found uses for fractals and fractal geometry. Ecologists have found fractal geometry to be an extremely useful tool for describing ecological systems. Many population, community, ecosystem, and landscape ecologists use fractal geometry as a tool to help define and explain the systems in the world around us. As with any scientific field, there has been some dissension in ecology about the appropriate level of study. For example, some organism ecologists think that anything larger than a single organism obscures the reality with too much detail. On the other hand, some ecosystem ecologists believe that looking at anything less than an entire ecosystem will not gi... ...l Geometry is not the geometry of nature. Studies in History and Philosophy of Science. 25:6:967-981. Shibusawa, S. 1994. Modeling the branching growth fractal pattern of the maize root system. Plant and Soil. 165: 339-347. Simberloff, D., P. Betthet, V. Boy, S. H. Cousins, M.-J. Fortin, R. Goldburg, L. P. Lefkovitch, B. Ripley, B. Scherrer, and D. Tonkyn. 1987. Novel statistical analyses in terrestrial animal ecology: dirty data and clean questions. pp. 559- 572 in Developments in Numerical Ecology. P. Legendre and L. Legendre, eds. NATO ASI Series. Vol. G14. Springer, Berlin. Turner, M. G. 1989. Landscape ecology; the effect of pattern on process. Annual Rev. Ecological Syst. 20:171-197. Vedyushkin, M. A. 1993. Fractal properties of forest spatial structure. Vegetatio. 113: 65-70. Voss, R. F. 1988. Fractals in Nature: From Characterization to Simulation. pp. 21- 70. in The Science of Fractal Images. H.-O. Peitgen and D. Saupe, eds. Springer- Verlag, New York. Wiens, J. A., Crist, T. O., Milne, B. 1993. On quantifying insect movements. Environmental Entomology. 22(4): 709-715. Thomsen, D. E. 1980. Making music--Fractally. Science News. 117:187-190.

Blood Promise Chapter Twenty-Nine

The flight was more like thirty hours. Getting from the middle of Siberia to the middle of Montana wasn't easy. I flew from Novosibirsk to Moscow to Amsterdam to Seattle to Missoula. Four different flights. Five different airports. A lot of running around. It was exhausting, yet when I handed over my passport to get back into the U.S. in Seattle, I felt a strange surge of emotion in me†¦ joy and relief. Before leaving Russia, I had thought Abe might come back with me and finish his task himself, hand-delivering me to whomever had hired him. â€Å"You really are going back now, aren't you?† he asked at the airport. â€Å"To the school? You aren't going to get off at one of your stops and disappear?† I smiled. â€Å"No. I'm going back to St. Vladimir's.† â€Å"And you'll stay there?† he pressed. He didn't quite look as dangerous as he had in Baia, but I could see a glint of hardness in his eyes. My smile slipped. â€Å"I don't know what's going to happen. I don't have a place there anymore.† â€Å"Rose-â€Å" I held up a hand to stop him, surprised at my own determination. â€Å"Enough. No after-school specials. You said you were hired to get me back there. It isn't your job to say what I do after that.† At least, I hoped not. Whoever wanted me back had to be someone at the Academy. I'd be there soon. They had won. Abe's services were no longer required. Despite his victory, he didn't look happy about relinquishing me. Glancing up at one of the departure boards, he sighed. â€Å"You need to go through security, or you'll miss your flight.† I nodded. â€Å"Thanks for†¦Ã¢â‚¬  What exactly? His help? â€Å"†¦ For everything.† I started to turn away, but he touched my shoulder. â€Å"Is that all you're wearing?† Most of my clothing had been scattered around Russia. One of the other Alchemists had located shoes, jeans, and a sweater, but otherwise, I was winging it until I got back to the U.S. â€Å"I don't really need anything else,† I told him. Abe arched an eyebrow. Turning to one of his guardians, he made a small gesture toward me. Immediately, the guardian took off his coat and handed it over. The guy was lanky, but the coat was still too big for me. â€Å"No, I don't need-â€Å" â€Å"Take it,† ordered Abe. I took it, and then to my further shock, Abe began unwinding the scarf from around his neck. It was one of his nicer ones, too: cashmere, woven with an array of brilliant colors, more suited to the Caribbean than here or Montana. I started to protest this as well, but the look on his face silenced me. I put the scarf around my neck and thanked him, wondering if I'd ever see him again. I didn't bother asking because I had a feeling he wouldn't tell me anyway. When I finally landed in Missoula thirty hours later, I was pretty sure I didn't want to fly in a plane anytime soon-as in, like, the next five years. Maybe ten. Without any luggage, getting out of the airport was easy. Abe had sent word ahead of my arrival, but I had no idea who they'd send to get me. Alberta, who ran the guardians at St. Vladimir's, seemed a likely choice. Or maybe it would be my mother. I never knew where she was at any given moment, and suddenly, I really, really wanted to see her. She would be a logical choice too. So it was with some surprise that I saw that the person waiting for me at the airport's exit was Adrian. A grin spread over my face, and I picked up the pace. I threw my arms around him, astonishing both of us. â€Å"I have never been happier to see you in my life,† I said. He squeezed me tightly and then let me go, regarding me admiringly. â€Å"The dreams never do justice to real life, little dhampir. You look amazing.† I'd cleaned up after the ordeal with the Strigoi, and Oksana had continued healing me in spite of my protests-even the bruises on my neck, which she had never asked about. I didn't want anyone else to know about those. â€Å"And you look†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I studied him. He was dressed as nicely as always, with a three-quarter-length wool coat and green scarf that matched his eyes. His dark brown hair had that crafted messiness he liked, but his face-ah, well. As I'd noted before, Simon had gotten a few good punches on him. One of Adrian's eyes was swollen and ringed with bruises. Nonetheless, thinking about him and everything he'd done†¦ well, none of the flaws mattered. â€Å"†¦ Gorgeous.† â€Å"Liar,† he said. â€Å"Couldn't Lissa have healed that black eye away?† â€Å"It's a badge of honor. Makes me seem manly. Come on, your carriage awaits.† â€Å"Why'd they send you?† I asked as we walked toward the parking lot. â€Å"You are sober, aren't you?† Adrian didn't dignify that with an answer. â€Å"Well, the school has no official responsibility to you, seeing as you're a dropout and everything. So they weren't really obligated to come get you. None of your other friends can leave campus†¦ but me? I'm just a free spirit, hanging out. So I borrowed a car, and here I am.† His words sparked mixed reactions in me. I was touched that he'd taken the trouble to come out here but was bothered by the part about the school having no responsibility to me. Throughout all my travels, I'd gone back and forth in thinking of St. Vladimir's as home†¦ yet, in the most technical terms, it truly wasn't anymore. I would just be a visitor. As we settled into the drive, Adrian caught me up on the aftermath at the school. After the big psychic showdown, I hadn't delved much into Lissa's mind. Oksana had healed my body, but mentally, I was still exhausted and grieving. Even though I'd accomplished what I set out to do, that image of Dimitri falling and falling still haunted me. â€Å"It turns out you were right about Avery bonding Simon and Reed,† Adrian said. â€Å"From what information we could gather, it sounds like Simon was killed in a fight that Avery witnessed years ago. Everyone thought it was a miracle he survived, not actually realizing the truth.† â€Å"She kept her powers hidden like the rest of you,† I mused. â€Å"And then Reed died later?† â€Å"Well, that's the weird thing,† said Adrian, frowning. â€Å"No one can really tell when he died. I mean, he's royal. He's been pampered his whole life, right? But based on what we could get out of him-which wasn't much, since they're all pretty messed up now-it sounds like Avery may have intentionally killed him and then brought him back.† â€Å"Just like with Lissa,† I said, recalling Simon's words during the fight. â€Å"Avery wanted to kill her, bring her back, and bond her. But why Lissa of all people?† â€Å"My guess? Because she's a spirit user. Now that spirit's not a secret anymore, it was only a matter of time before Avery heard about Lissa and me. I think Avery thought bonding Lissa would increase her own power. As it was, she was sucking up a lot of energy from those other two.† Adrian shook his head. â€Å"I wasn't kidding about sensing that spirit all the way across campus. The amounts Avery had to wield to compel so many people, mask her aura, and who knows what else†¦ well, it was staggering.† I stared off at the freeway ahead of us, considering the consequences of Avery's actions. â€Å"And that's why Reed was so messed up-why he was so angry and ready for a fight. He and Simon were absorbing all that darkness she was producing by using spirit. Just like I do with Lissa.† â€Å"Yeah, except you were nothing like these guys. It wasn't so obvious with Simon-he was better at keeping a straight face-but both of them were totally on the edge. And now? They're over the edge. All three of them are.† I recalled Simon staring at nothing and Avery screaming. I shivered. â€Å"When you say over the edge†¦?† â€Å"I mean totally and completely insane. Those three are going to be institutionalized for the rest of their lives.† â€Å"From what you†¦ we all did?† I asked, aghast. â€Å"Partly,† he agreed. â€Å"Avery was throwing all that power at us, and when we threw it back and then some†¦ well, I think it was like an overload to their minds. And to be honest, considering how Reed and Simon already were, the stage was probably set for this. With Avery too.† â€Å"Mark was right,† I murmured. â€Å"Who?† â€Å"The other shadow-kissed guy I met. He was talking about how Lissa and I might be able to heal the darkness away from each other someday. It takes a careful balance of power between the spirit user and the shadow-kissed. I still don't fully get it, but I'm guessing Avery's little circle of three wouldn't have been able to handle that kind of balancing act. I don't think bonding to more than one person is healthy.† â€Å"Huh.† Adrian didn't say anything for a while and simply pondered all this. Finally, he laughed. â€Å"Man, I can't believe you found another spirit user and shadow-kissed person. It's like finding a needle in a haystack, but that kind of thing always happens to you. I can't wait to hear the rest of what you've been doing.† I looked away and rested my cheek against the glass. â€Å"It's actually not very interesting.† None of the Academy officials knew about my role in the showdown with Avery. So it wasn't like anyone questioned me when we got back. They were still doing cleanup and asking Adrian and Lissa a lot of questions. Spirit was still such a new phenomenon that no one knew what to think of what had happened. Avery and her bondmates had been taken away for help, and her father had already gone on a temporary leave of absence. Adrian signed me in as his guest, which got me a campus pass. Like all visitors, I was also given a list of where I'd stay and what I could and couldn't do. I promptly ignored it. â€Å"I have to go,† I told Adrian immediately. He gave me a knowing smile. â€Å"I figured.† â€Å"Thank you†¦ for coming to get me. I'm sorry I've got to leave you-â€Å" He waved off my worries. â€Å"You aren't leaving me. You're back; that's what counts. I've been patient this long-I can hold out a little longer.† I held his eyes for a moment, startled at the warm feelings that suddenly bubbled up within me. I kept them to myself, though, only giving Adrian a quick smile before I set off across campus. I got a lot of strange looks when I went to Lissa's dorm. It was right after classes had ended, so student traffic was pretty busy with people rushing in or out to get somewhere. Yet, when I passed by, silence fell and people stopped moving and talking. It reminded me of when Lissa and I had been returned to school after running away. We'd been marched through the cafeteria and had received similar treatment from our peers. Maybe it was just my imagination, but it seemed worse this time. The looks more shocked. The silence heavier. Last time, I think people had believed we'd run off as some sort of prank. This time, no one really knew why I'd left. I'd come out of the school's attack a hero, only to drop out and disappear. I think some of Lissa's dorm mates thought they were seeing a ghost. Ignoring the gossip and opinions of others was something I had a lot of practice with, and I sprinted past the onlookers without a backward glance, taking the stairs two at a time. I shut myself off to Lissa's feelings as I walked down her hall. It seemed silly, but I wanted to be surprised. I just wanted to open my eyes and see her in person, with no warnings as to how she was feeling or what she was thinking. I knocked on the door. Adrian had said seeing me in dreams couldn't compare to seeing me in person. The same was true with Lissa. Being in her head was nothing like being near her in reality. The door opened, and it was like an apparition materializing before me, some sort of heavenly messenger descended from above. I'd never been away from her for this long, and after all this time, part of me wondered if I was imagining this. Her hand went to her mouth, and she stared at me wide-eyed. I think she felt the same way-and she hadn't even had warning of my visit. She'd just been told I was coming â€Å"soon.† No doubt I seemed like a phantom to her, too. And with that reunion†¦ it was like I was emerging from a cave-one I'd been in for almost five weeks-into the bright light of day. When Dimitri had turned, I'd felt like I'd lost part of my soul. When I'd left Lissa, another piece had gone. Now, seeing her†¦ I began to think maybe my soul might be able to heal. Maybe I could go on after all. I didn't feel 100 percent whole yet, but her presence filled up that missing part of me. I felt more like myself than I had in ages. A world of questions and confusion hung in the silence between us. In spite of everything we'd been through with Avery, there was still a lot of unresolved business from when I had first left the school. For the first time since I'd set foot on the Academy's grounds, I felt afraid. Afraid that Lissa would reject me or scream at me for what I'd done. Instead, she drew me into a giant hug. â€Å"I knew it,† she said. She was already choking on her sobs. â€Å"I knew you'd come back.† â€Å"Of course,† I murmured into her shoulder. â€Å"I said I would.† My best friend. I had my best friend back. If I had her, I could recover from what had happened in Siberia. I could go on with my life. â€Å"I'm sorry,† she said. â€Å"So sorry for what I did.† I pulled away in surprise. Stepping into the room, I shut the door behind us. â€Å"Sorry? What do you have to be sorry for?† Despite my joy at seeing her, I'd come here expecting her to still be angry at me for leaving. None of that mess with Avery would have happened if I'd stayed around. I blamed myself. She sat down on her bed, eyes wet. â€Å"For what I said†¦ when you left. I had no right to say the things I did. I have no right to control you. And I feel horrible because†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She ran a hand over her eyes, trying to dry the worst of the tears. â€Å"I feel horrible because I told you I wouldn't bring back Dimitri. I mean, I know it didn't matter, but I should have still offered to-â€Å" â€Å"No, no!† I sank down in front of her and grabbed her hands, still awed to be with her again. â€Å"Look at me. You have nothing to be sorry for. I said things I shouldn't have, too. It happens when people are upset. Neither of us should beat ourselves up over it. And as for bringing him back†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I sighed. â€Å"You did the right thing in refusing. Even if we had found him before he'd been turned, it wouldn't have mattered. You can't safely bond more than one person. That's what went wrong with Avery.† Well, that was part of what had gone wrong with Avery. Manipulation and abuse of power had played a huge role too. Lissa's sobs quieted. â€Å"How did you do that, Rose? How were you there at the end when I needed you? How did you know?† â€Å"I was with another spirit user. I met her in Siberia. She can actively reach into people's minds-anyone's, not just those she's bonded to-and communicate. Like Avery could, actually. Oksana reached into me while I connected to you. It's really strange how it all went down.† To say the least. â€Å"Another power I don't have,† said Lissa ruefully. I grinned. â€Å"Hey, I have yet to meet any spirit user who can throw a punch like you can. That was poetry in motion, Liss.† She groaned, but I sensed her pleasure at my use of the old nickname. â€Å"I hope I don't ever have to do that again. I'm not meant to be a fighter, Rose. You're the one who charges out there. I'm the one who waits with moral support and post-battle healing.† She held up her hands and looked at them. â€Å"Ugh. No. I definitely don't want to do any more hitting or punching.† â€Å"But at least now you know you can. If you ever want to practice†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"No!† She laughed. â€Å"I've got too many things to practice with Adrian now-especially after you keep telling me about more and more things that everyone else can do with spirit.† â€Å"Fine. Maybe it's best if things go back to how they were.† Her face sobered. â€Å"God, I hope so. Rose†¦ I did so many stupid things while Avery was around.† Through the bond, I felt her greatest regret: Christian. Her heart ached for him, and she'd shed a lot of tears. After having Dimitri ripped away from me, I knew how it felt to lose that kind of love, and I swore to myself that I'd do something to help her. But now wasn't the time. She and I need to reconnect first. â€Å"You couldn't help it, though,† I pointed out. â€Å"She was too strong with her compulsion-especially when she got you to drink and killed your defenses.† â€Å"Yeah, but not everyone knows that or will understand it.† â€Å"They'll forget,† I said. â€Å"They always do.† I understood her angst over her reputation, but I doubted there would be any truly permanent damage-aside from Christian. Adrian and I had analyzed Avery's manipulation and figured things out once we'd paired it with Simon's comment about Lissa having an unfortunate accident. Avery had wanted to make Lissa look unstable in the event Avery somehow didn't have the strength to resurrect her. If Lissa actually died, no one would investigate much. After weeks of crazy, drunken behavior, her losing control and accidentally falling out of a window would be tragic but not completely out of the realm of possibility. â€Å"Spirit's a pain in the ass,† Lissa declared. â€Å"Everyone wants to take advantage of you-non-users like Victor and users like Avery. I swear, I'd go back on my medication if I wasn't paranoid now about protecting myself from other Avery-type people. Why'd she want to kill me and not Adrian? Why am I always the target?† I couldn't help a smile in spite of the grim topic. â€Å"Because she wanted you for a minion and him for a boyfriend. She probably wanted a guy who could help escalate her rise in society and couldn't risk killing him in a bonding attempt. Or who knows? Maybe she would have eventually tried him, too. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if she felt threatened by you and wanted to make sure she had the only other known female spirit user under her control. Face it, Liss. We could spend hours trying to figure out how Avery Lazar thinks and get nowhere.† â€Å"True, true.† She slid off the bed and sat next to me on the floor. â€Å"But you know what? I feel like we could talk about anything for hours. You've been here ten minutes, and it's like†¦ well, it's like you never left.† â€Å"Yeah,† I agreed. Before he was a Strigoi, being with Dimitri had always felt natural and right. Being with Lissa also felt natural and right-though it was a different kind of rightness. In my grief over Dimitri, I'd nearly forgotten what I had with her. They were two sides of me. In that uncanny way she had of guessing thoughts, Lissa said, â€Å"I meant what I said earlier. I'm sorry for what I said-about acting like I have some right to dictate your life. I don't. If you decide to stay or guard me, you do that by your choice and your kindness. I want to make sure you live and choose your own life.† â€Å"There's nothing ? ®kind' about it. I've always wanted to protect you. I still do.† I sighed. â€Å"I just†¦ I just had things to take care of. I had to get myself together-and I'm sorry I didn't handle it with you very well.† There was a lot of apologizing going on, but I realized that was how it was with people you cared about. You forgave each other and moved on. Lissa hesitated before asking her next question, but I'd known it was coming. â€Å"So†¦ what happened? Did you†¦ did you find him†¦?† At first, I didn't think I wanted to talk about it, but then I realized that I needed to. And the thing was, a few different things had gone wrong with Lissa and me before. One had been that she'd taken me for granted. The other had been that I wouldn't tell her the truth-and then I'd resent her for it later. If we were going to patch up this friendship and forgive each other, we had to make sure we didn't repeat the past. â€Å"I did find him,† I said at last. And I launched into the story, telling her everything that had happened to me: my travels, the Belikovs, the Alchemists, Oksana and Mark, the unpromised, and of course, Dimitri. Just as Lissa had joked earlier, we talked for hours. I poured out my heart to her, and she listened without judgment. Her face was compassionate the whole time, and when I reached the end, I was sobbing, all the love and rage and anguish I'd been holding onto since that night on the bridge exploding out of me. I hadn't told anyone else in Novosibirsk exactly where I'd been during my time with Dimitri. I hadn't dared tell anyone I'd been a blood whore for a Strigoi. I had stayed vague, hoping if I didn't talk about it, then maybe it wouldn't be real. Now, with Lissa, I had to accept the reality of everything and truly feel it: I had killed the man I loved. A knock at the door jolted us out of a world that contained only her and me. I glanced at the clock and was startled to see it was almost curfew time. I wondered if I was being thrown out. But when Lissa opened the door-after I'd hastily dried my eyes-the waiting dorm worker had a message of a different sort. â€Å"Alberta wants to see you,† the woman told me. â€Å"She thought you might be here.† Lissa and I exchanged glances. â€Å"When? Now?† I asked. The woman shrugged. â€Å"From the way she sounded? Yeah, I'd say now. Or sooner.† She shut the door. Alberta was the captain of the guardians on campus, and when she spoke, people acted. â€Å"I wonder what this is about?† asked Lissa. I stood up, hating to leave. â€Å"Any number of things, I imagine. I'll go see her and then head back to guest housing. Not that I'll sleep. I have no clue what time zone I'm in anymore.† Lissa gave me a parting hug, one we both had a hard time letting go of. â€Å"Good luck.† I started to turn the door's handle and then thought of something. I slipped the silver ring off of my finger and handed it to Lissa. â€Å"Is this the ring you-oh!† She wrapped her hand around it, her face growing enraptured. â€Å"Can you feel the magic in it?† I asked. â€Å"Yeah†¦ it's weak, but it's in there.† She held the ring up to the light and stared at it. She probably wasn't going to notice when I left because I had a feeling she'd be studying the ring all night. â€Å"It's so strange. I can almost immediately feel how she did this.† â€Å"Mark said we probably had a while to go before we could do the healing they do†¦ but maybe you could figure out how to make charms while we wait?† Her jade green eyes were still on the ring. â€Å"Yeah†¦ I think I might.† I smiled at her excitement and tried to leave again, but she caught my arm. â€Å"Hey†¦ Rose†¦ I know I'll see you tomorrow, but†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"But what?† â€Å"I just wanted to say, after everything that's happened†¦ well, I don't want us to ever have this kind of separation again. I mean, I know we can't be together every single second-and that's kind of creepy anyway-but we're bonded for a reason. We're meant to look out for each other and be there for each other.† Her words sent a shiver through me, like we were wrapped in powers greater than ourselves. â€Å"We will be.† â€Å"No, I mean†¦ you're always there for me. Every time, I'm in danger, and you come rushing in to save me. Not anymore.† â€Å"You don't want me to save you anymore?† â€Å"That's not what I meant! I want to be there for you too, Rose. If I can throw a punch, I can do anything. Even though that really hurt.† She exhaled in frustration. â€Å"God, I'm not making any sense. Look, the point is, if you ever have to go off alone, take me with you. Don't leave me behind.† â€Å"Liss-â€Å" â€Å"I'm serious.† Her luminous beauty burned with determination and purpose. â€Å"Whatever obstacles you have to go against, I'm going to be there for you. Don't go alone. Swear to me that if you ever decide to take off again, you'll bring me. We'll do it together.† I started to protest as a million fears came to my mind. How could I risk her life? Yet looking at her, I knew she was right. For better or worse, we had a bond we couldn't escape. Lissa was indeed tied to that piece of my soul, and we were stronger fighting together than apart. â€Å"Okay,† I said, clasping her hand. â€Å"I swear it. The next time I go do something stupid that might get me killed, you can come along.†