ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
Introduction Deconstruction works in a way based on the assumption that the meaning of a text occurs following some intended displacements and contradictions coupled with the presumption that writers use deferments. Through criticism, playwrights identify and dissolve oppositions to manifest the slippery and often elusive underlying meanings of the book. ‘Frankenstein’ by Mary Shelley is not a difficult novel to understand, as many critics may want readers to believe. This follows the fact that some of the critics try to dig out meanings not even intended by the writer of the novel (Bressler 240); nevertheless, such observations enrich literature altogether. The relationship between Frankenstein and his monster, as brought out in the novel, is a complicated one as far as the connections between the two are concerned. There are many complexities involved in their relationship, as evidenced by different cases to be exposited in this paper. In trying to figure out meanings in literary works such as this one, Jacques Derrida’s theory of deconstruction provides a foundation for the critic of seemingly complex works by exposing the binary opposites that exist in them and finally inverts within them. This paper aims at applying a deconstructive approach to explore the relationship between the monster and Frankenstein through analysis of the binaries presented in Shelley’s work. Among the binaries under study is the creator vs. the created where Shelley presents the relationship between the two, as pointed out by Frankenstein and the Monster. Creator/Created Binary As the story unfolds, there is a notable creator-created relationship between Frankenstein and the monster. In the story, Frankenstein assumes the position of the creator while the monster is the created being. When creating the monster, the glory that the work would bring on Frankenstein was the root source of his motivation. This would give him the glory as of the creator as he puts it. He says
Marriage defines one’s family based love. The parties to a marriage consecrate based on love; they enjoy equal protection and fundamental rights encrypted in the American Constitution. Even though opponents of same sex marriage are right in arguing that such unions lead to polygamy and incest, the institution of marriage is one that pursues happiness and human flourishing. In this aspect, banning same-sex marriage without credible reasons violates the rights and freedoms of the parties (Greenfield, 2013). The constitution also offers equal protection to all, irrespective of their groupings. The government ought to come up with a truly compelling justification as why it needs to restrict some forms of marriage. In addition, it is an act of liberty violation and fostering of inequality if the government can form a preconceived opinion on what a given group does. If marriage helps one define his/her family, therefore, the government has no reason to bar brothers and sisters from wedding each other. Excluding a group from carrying out something imperative like marriage by believing that it is immoral without watertight evidence is futile. Prejudice should not find a place in castigating same-sex marriages, polygamy, and incest. The fight to allow incestuous or polygamous marriages has not gained steady momentum given the lack of political energy to clear the misguided arguments (Lavy, 2008). The article compares the present kind of repulsion on gay marriage, incest, and polygamy to the repulsion that has stood in the way of LBTQ rights for a longtime. Even though there are minimal instances of birth defects in incestuous marriage, polygamous marriages, which have also received less recognition in America, have no such defects. From this aspect, arguments by opponents of polygamous and incestuous marriage have no ground to pin-down or exclude certain groups since the rights of the children are not highly violated. From another point of view, same-sex marriages, therefore, protects the right of children, as they do not sire offspring. For incestuous couples, the government can create mandatory genetic counseling to minimize the slight complication, instead of banning it out-rightly. There are instances where coercion or lack of free will becomes a strong reason to ban incest. For example, in a case of father/daughter incest, it is highly likely that one party acted under duress. Greenfield (2013) attests that coercion arguments become invisible if such unions were freely formalized and divorce is available for all parties. Incestuous and polygamous marriages are grouping choices that require equal protection as envisioned in the American Constitution. People should be free to make choices on the type of families that they want; the gove
Introduction In the late 1990s, international financial institutions encountered a financial crisis and anti-globalization resistant movements. The period corresponded to a period of doubt, of challenge, and of civil agitation in the international financial institutions. There were increased problems of aid fed by continual reduction of the resource over the decade (Woods 133). Several poor countries during this period also registered prolonged economic failure. These poor countries, especially in Africa, raised questions for the efficacy of development policies. As a result, International Financial Institutions, faced with new problems, sought a renewal of their analyses and practices. This forced International Financial Institutions in 1990 to constitute comprehensive development programs and extensive poverty reduction strategies as the alternate models of financial reforms (World Bank 1991: 2). Throughout the 1990s decade, there was sustained criticism of the efficiency of development aid. This constituted one of the factors that contributed to the weakening of financial contributions by donors during the period. The World Bank published a report in 1997 that fully assessed development Aid. The Report titled: Assessing Aid: What Works, What Doesn’t, and Why (World Bank 1997: 63). It synthesized the World Bank’s reflections and thinking on the theme of aid. The focus was on four principle theses illustrated by research investigations: first, the impact of growth on aid is favorable only in the context of good policies; second, classic conditionality based on the promises of future reforms is inefficient. It preferred a post conditionality system that linked the release of aid resources to results obtained and the quality of policies pursued; third, aid was far more fungible than was generally presumed and the resource allocation. Notably, project aid was either illusory, that is, by the liberation of resources destined for other uses, or an attempt more or less was bound to flop, that is, if the foreseen allocation was not among government’s priorities; and fourth, the differences between developing countries was very important, notably with regard to the quality of institutions and policies in place. Therefore the countries were to receive different treatments. (International Institute for Environmental Development 114) From the four illustrated factors, the report concluded that the conditions for success in poor nations were above all tied to the nature of policies pursued and to the quality of public institutions. Consequently, the nature of aid destination was to depend on institutional conditions and policies of the host countries. Precisely, it distinguished three types of countries: those countries where the quality of policies and institutions were satisfactory, where sizeable and efficient aid was to serve to finance a
Introduction The reliability and efficiency of sales management are largely determined not only by external factors, for instance, competition conditions or the indicators of demand but also the entire process of selling goods. In a market economy, when profit from sales depends on the number of consumers and interest in a particular brand, it is essential to achieve client recognition through the provision of quality services. One of the areas of control over the success of sales is supply chain management as the mechanism that determines the principles of logistics, transportation, and data exchange with buyers. The world trading system is a flexible and constantly changing structure, and in these conditions, it is crucial to organize the sales process for buyers could have no complaints about the product and sellers could offer relevant goods. This paper is aimed at assessing the principles of supply chain management and, in particular, its globalization, as well as the features of the worldwide trading system. Applying innovative approaches to creating reliable marketing paths is a valuable practice that allows winning consumer recognition and maintaining stable demand for certain products. Pros and Cons of Worldwide Trading Today, worldwide trading is a natural phenomenon, and a significant number of countries are involved in market relations. Financial flows, the exports and imports of goods, and other economic aspects influence individual industries and affect the development of states to a greater or lesser extent. Worldwide trading has both advantages, stimulating its development, and disadvantages, causing fears about the strength of some economies. According to Buchanan, the liquidity that market relations provide is a valuable property making it easier for investors to find partners and organize business interaction (162). However, some negative features can also manifest themselves when creating such relationships. Therefore, it is necessary to describe the pros and cons of worldwide trading in order to obtain a comprehensive picture of its significance and necessity. Pros One of the main advantages of worldwide trading development is the expansion of the labor market. The growth of export deliveries entails an increase in employment, which makes it possible to help people receive jobs. Another undisputable benefit that Buchanan mentions is enhancing the efficiency of introducing new technologies (161). The degree of equipment load increases, and opportunities are created for making and developing mass production. Finally, export earnings serve as a source of capital accumulation for industrial growth, which is also a significant advantage. Cons Despite the weighty advantages of worldwide trading, this phenomenon has some negative features that affect local econom
Introduction For a long time, many human societies have viewed animals as sources of food, labor, and clothing. This view (partly) stems from religious influences, which define people’s perceptions of animal rights. For example, Christian teachings show that God gave man the power to control all animals (on land and in the sea). Therefore, many Christian societies know that human beings are superior to animals. Philosophers, such as Aristotle, also supported the above-mentioned religious arguments by ranking animals in the lowest cadre of living things (Taylor 36). Although the Greek philosopher explored the differences and similarities between both species, he said animals were a “lower-stature” species (compared to human beings) because they could not reason, think, or have beliefs, as people do (Taylor 36). These ancient perceptions of animals largely explain the background of animal rights debates. They also explain how different societies treat animals today. Relative to how people treat animals, Singera (13) says, in 2001, North American farmers raised and killed about 17 billion land animals for human consumption. Scientists in America and Europe killed another 100 million animals for experimental purposes (Singera 13). People killed about 30 million more land animals for their fur (Singera 13). Most of these animals lived and died in morally repugnant circumstances. Such “inhuman” treatments continue unabated because many societies believe animals do not have any rights. This paper seeks to change this narrative by focusing on pets and arguing for their rights. Although it explores critics’ arguments too, it shows that, like human beings, pets are emotional creatures and not property items, as many people would like to believe. Therefore, it is immoral to mistreat them. Arguments for Animal Rights Pets can feel Emotion and Pain as People do Singera (1) is widely considered as the greatest pioneer of animal rights. He said human beings do not have a special status above other animals. For him, the degree that both species experience when feeling pleasure or pain is the only difference between animals and human beings. Since both groups have a threshold of pain, Singera (1) does not understand why people do not protect animals the same way they protect their offspring. Here, Singera (1) strives to eliminate the differences between animals and human beings to advance animal rights. Linker (9) supports this view by saying, “Once the dividing line between humans and animals disappears, it is hard to uphold any fundamental ethical distinction between them.” Steve Wise, an American Law Professor (cited in Linker 9), similarly advances the above argument by using a diffe
Life in a society inflicts the need to comply with certain social norms in order to function in harmony with the surrounding environment. Failure to keep to the norms and rules of the society may not infrequently result in certain penalties, ranging from judgment and disapproval to total exclusion from society, ostracism, and discrimination. One of the key aspects taken into account when constructing one’s relationship with society is one’s body image that is formed according to social standards and own perception of self. Among all the factors contributing to the formation of the body image, the one playing a crucial role in mass media. As emphasized by Jean Kilbourne in “You’re Soaking in It,” the impact of modern mass media on the generally accepted female body image is far from positive since the notion of the ideal body presented in mass media production leads to dramatic distortion of one’s true body image and to tragic consequences for one’s physical and mental health. Body image, as such, is not a novel notion: society has always possessed a certain standard of appearance against which people evaluated themselves. The significant point is that with the course of history, the ideal body standard has undergone dramatic changes, and nowadays, the ideal model promoted within the society is far from being physically and psychologically healthy. If one thinks of a modern female body ideal, the first thing that springs into one’s mind is the lean construction of skin and bones, almost devoid of any lipopexia that to a modern beauty connoisseur would seem offensive. How much would Rubens laugh seeing this poor shadow of the plump, milk-and-roses beauties of his times! The gaunt body ideal set by Twiggy in the second half of the twentieth century was enthusiastically carried on by trendsetters and has gradually become so powerful that the desire to fit into the famous 31”-22”-32” parameters often borders on obsession. There has even appeared such size as ‘zero,’ an ideal absurd in itself but so much desired by many. How does it come that the physically unhealthy and practically unattainable body standards have gained control over the minds of millions? The answer lies in the powerful information source that possesses an almost frightening power of influencing and even manipulating people: the mass media. As shown by multiple research, compared to other sources of influence on body influence, the imagery presented by the media bears by large the most powerful impact on the human perception of their body (Grogan 106–107). Celebrities and media figures are frequently named as ideals for imitation by people under forty years, and especially by teenagers. Newspapers, glossy magazines, websites, TV programs are boosting with the message of the necessity to be thin. As Kilbourne states, mass media are doing nothing less than normalizing abnormal behavior (such as obsessive dieting, for example) in an attempt to reconcile people with the imperfect world they live in (Pozner 106). The problem is, this image of an imperfect world is created and maintained not by people themselves, but by the same media; in their strive t
The scene under analysis is one of the opening scenes of The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014). The scene can be called “Seeing off Madame D at the Hotel’s Entrance.” The scene lasts for approximately a minute (0:09:18-0:10:40), but it is rather illustrative in terms of cinematographic tools. The scene reveals the way the protagonist, Gustave, works with guests, and meets one of the main characters. The piece under analysis can be characterized by dynamics and the protagonist’s dominance. First, the establishing shot comes. It displays the hotel’s entrance with a car in the foreground. The theme of departure is stressed. The next shot is a high angle that shows the woman sitting in the car. The shot is followed by a low angle displaying the protagonist. Gustave’s dominance is emphasized as the woman seems to be in his complete power. Gustave is caring and supportive. The background is the hotel that can be regarded as the symbol of safety (just like Gustave) for Madame. Camera Dolly is used to making the next shot. The viewer sees what Madame can see from the car window. The use of this tool makes the scene more dynamic, as quite a pathetic dialogue is changed by a quick movement. A close-up is used next to show Madame’s emotions (her fear, grief, despair). The next shot is made with strict adherence to the rule of thirds. The emphasis is made on Gustave while the hotel and the bell boy serve as the background. The close-up is used to reveal the protagonist’s emotions and ideas. Notably, the main character is not placed in the middle of the frame, which adds certain dynamics. It is also necessary to add that deep depth of field is used as another main character is introduced to the scene. At this point, it is necessary to mention the use of the 180º rule. The establishing shot helps the viewer to sense the axis of the shot. According to this rule, the actors should be in front of the camera. However, the woman inside the car is shown, which means that the camera is moved to the opposite side of the axis. However, the viewer does not feel confused as the establishing shot revealed the car, so it is obvious that Madame is there. Another interesting device used is the insertion. Gustave is telling the bell boy what exactly to do, and one of the things to do is illustrated with the help of insertion (the boy who should receive the change is shown). The use of insertion also adds dynamics to the scene. As for the lighting, the action takes place in the afternoon, so the light is quite bright. This makes the viewer feel the beauty of Gustave’s ordinary day. As has been mentioned above, the scene is very dynamic and contributes to the development of the main char
Abstract Legal and regulatory regimes are often perceived as constraints to improved business performance. However, the article reviewed in this paper, reveals how firms capitalize on the law to develop effective diversification strategies. Five legal strategies are identified in the article, namely, avoidance, prevention, compliance, transformative, and value-creation. This paper summarises and reviews the article based on strategic management theories and concepts. Summary The article examines the legal strategies that firms can use to create value and stay ahead of the competition. A right legal strategy helps firms overcome regulation constraints, operate in multiple jurisdictions, protect intellectual property rights, avoid lawsuits, and improve performance. Increased recognition of the importance of internal legal capabilities has led to a rise in the number of directors with a legal background in U.S. companies. The article, based on the analysis of legal functions in firms like Nokia, Disney, and Microsoft, suggests a framework for developing the right legal strategy for a company. The framework entails factors like the counsel’s expertise, the top management attitudes, and the level of collaboration between the legal department and the top executives. Based on this framework, the article establishes that the legal pathways used by firms fall into five categories. First, some firms use avoidance whereby they ignore legal counsel in their actions or use it to exploit lax policies. It is characteristic of firms where managers lack legal knowledge or awareness. It helps firms to capitalize on regulatory loopholes. Second, compliant firms perceive the law as a constraint to corporate decision-making. The managers have a limited background in law with the legal function providing central oversight. Such firms face fewer noncompliance-related cases. Some firms use a preventive pathway to cushion themselves from future risks. In this approach, the executives understand corporate law and collaborate with the legal counsel to address business risks. This approach can give a firm a competitive advantage. The fourth pathway is value creation and it involves managers knowledgeable in patent law. The fifth pathway is transformation, whereby company strategies are aligned with the law with regard to R&D and patenting. It involves high-level partnerships in decision-making and the creation of core competencies. Firms can use this framework to evaluate their legal strategies. The efficacy of any legal strategy depends on a firm’s organizational culture, workforce, and structure, and level of competition. In choosing a legal strategy from the five options, managers should understand the risks involved and not be driven by the opportunities presented. In general, internal legal functions can hel