Monday, January 27, 2020

Samsung managing intangible assets across borders

Samsung managing intangible assets across borders Unlike other electronic companies Samsung origins were not involving electronics but other products. In 1938 the Samsungs founder Byung-Chull Lee set up a trade export company in Korea, selling fish, vegetables, and fruit to China. Within a decade Samsung had flour mills and confectionary machines and became a co-operation in 1951. From 1958 onwards Samsung began to expand into other industries such as financial, media, chemicals and ship building throughout the 1970s. In 1969, Samsung Electronics was established producing what Samsung is most famous for, Televisions, Mobile Phones (throughout 90s), Radios, Computer components and other electronics devices. In 1978, Samsung Semiconductor became a separate entity producing for the domestic market. With the development of a 64K DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) VLSI chip (Very Large Scale Integration electronics chips) it expanded globally. In 1987, the founder and chairman, Byung-Chull Lee passed away and Kun-Hee Lee took over as chairman. In the 1990s Samsung began to expand globally building factories in the US, Britain, Germany, Thailand, Mexico, Spain and China until 1997. In 1997 nearly all Korean businesses shrunk in size and Samsung was no exception. They sold businesses to relieve debt and cut employees down lowering personnel by 50,000. But thanks to the electronic industry they managed to curb this and continue to grow. In the financial crisis in that year, Samsung was facing US $20 billion in debt and had to slim down the company by more than 100 non-essential businesses in a restructuring process. It kept only 47 affiliated companies and strategically re-focused on four technical components: displays, storage media, random access memory (RAM) and processors. The history of Samsung and mobile phones stretches back to over 10 years. In 1993 Samsung developed the lightest mobile phone of its era. Then they developed smart phones and a phone combined mp3 player towards the end of the 20th century. To this date Samsung are dedicated to the 3G industry, making video, camera phones at a speed to keep up with consumer demand. Samsung has made steady growth in the mobile industry and are currently second but competitor Nokia is ahead with more than 100% increase in shares. It is ranked as number 21 of the 100 most valuable brands worldwide carried out by Interbrand in 2008. This is an increase of more than 200% since 2000 with brand value rising from US $5.2 billon up to US $17.5 billion.  [1]   Samsung has recently overtaken Sony as the worlds biggest producer of televisions. Its philosophy of bringing people the latest technology at a fair price has quickly made it a firm consumer favorite, while its phones are now second only to Nokia. Looking ahead, the brand realizes the importance of having stronger representation at the point of sale, so it will open more Samsung retail outlets to deliver the full brand experience. The restructuring process led Samsung also to focus on core businesses. It restructured its business into four strategic business areas Home Network, Mobile Network, Office Network and Core components that support network products. Samsung follows a simple business philosophy: to devote its talent and technology to creating superior products and services that contribute to a better global society. Every day, its people bring this philosophy to life. Its leaders search for the brightest talent from around the world and give them the resources they need to be the best at what they do. The result is that all of its products-from memory chips that help businesses store vital knowledge to mobile phones that connect people across continents- have the power to enrich lives. And thats what making a better global society is all about. At Samsung, a rigorous code of conduct and some core values are at the heart of every decision they make. Quite simply, a company is its people. At Samsung, they are dedicated to giving their people a wealth of opportunities to reach their full potential. Everything they do at Samsung is driven by an unyielding passion for excellence -and an unfaltering commitment to develop the best products and services on the market. In todays fast-paced global economy, change is constant and innovation is critical to a companys survival. As they have done for 70 years, they set their sights on the future, anticipating market needs and demands so they can steer their company toward long-term success. Operating in an ethical way is the foundation of their business. Everything they do is guided by a moral compass that ensures fairness, respect for all stakeholders and complete transparency. A business cannot be successful unless it creates prosperity and opportunity for others. Samsung is dedicated to being a socially and environmentally responsible corporate citizen in every community where they operate around the globe. COMMUNICATION POLICY Since 1998 Samsung has been an official sponsor of the Olympic Games: Nagano (1998), Sydney (2000), Salt Lake City (2002) and continued its sponsorship until 2008. During the Games Samsung provides athletes, organizational staff and journalists with especially developed mobile phones promoting Samsungs products and delivering its promise of being an innovative and flexible company. With the Olympic Games Samsung gained quick, cost-effective global exposure. Its brand awareness increased after each Olympics about 2% and had a huge impact on the quick rise of the brand. Brand value increased since 2000 until 2004 about 100%. Samsung lends support to people and their communities in many different ways. Their current area of focus is on investing in teenagers futures, through support of science education and creative thinking that encourages leadership; assisting children in low-income families by supporting educational infrastructure and discovering and supporting outstanding students; and supporting programs that encourage family well-being. They also carry out programs in these areas at each of their eight volunteer centers. Samsung provides support for diverse artistic and cultural activities around the world. Over the years, Samsung has contributed extensively to numerous museums, galleries and exhibits in Korea and in many countries, including the United States and France. The Samsung Museum of Modern Art collects preserves and exhibits modern and contemporary art from Korea and abroad, while the Samsung Childrens Museum, the first of its kind in Korea, invites children have fun exploring the world they live in. Samsung also hosts and supports various cultural events for children and programs that encourage their early artistic development. In 1995, Samsung launched the Social Contribution Corps to encourage employees to get involved in community service. The initiative has since expanded to eight volunteer centers across Korea, manned by social welfare experts who support the development of employee volunteer programs. Their employees use their expertise and skills to give back to local communities and each employee donates an average of 10 hours to community-based projects. Strengthening the minds and fostering the creativity of young people is a primary focus of many of Samsungs programs. Samsung is a major supporter of the Korea Youth Science Olympiad, the countrys most prestigious science competition for junior, middle and high schools and the National Students Creativity Olympiad, aimed at encouraging inventiveness among students from junior to high school levels. Since 2001, Samsung has teamed up with the Green Family Movement Association to run a green school, which promotes environmental awareness in children and enables them to take practical steps to protect the ecosystems. For its target customers, Samsung established both in B2C and B2B the concept of hero products. It means that each Samsung subsidiary has to define at least one hero product, e.g. mobile phone, TV or digital camera, which has based on local or regional market research potential to become a blockbuster. Samsung very closely involves its target customers in the development/research process via generating feedback on its B2B online platforms. To achieve business impact, a common planning/monitoring across disciplines is needed with a brand management via value creation and innovation rather than simple cost controlling. Samsung, when switching its strategy towards a premium brand, started to move its planning towards communication activities which have impact on each step of the customer relationship path, i.e. from awareness to purchase to loyalty. Two major directions of impact towards high-end distribution channels and an emotional approach for its campaign were Samsungs strategy. In its latest campaign, Samsung cemented the companys new up market image by promoting its products in high-end distribution channels. Despite several challenging moments for the semiconductor industry, such as the recession in early 1990s and early 2000, Samsung aggressively increased its investments in the business unlike the rest of the industry which laid-off workers to cut cost. This preemptive investment strategy helped Samsung to gain market share and to meet the rapidly growing demand for 4 megabyte chips after 1994 in the global market. Samsung became the number one memory chipmaker in 1993. By pursuing twin goals of leading-edge technology and producing one generation-old products in the niche market of memory chips, Samsung successfully avoided risks of failing in the market. They laid out Flash memory where text, photos, sound and screen can be saved in the small-sized chips. Samsungs market share of memory chips has been growing continuously from 10.8% in 1993 to 28% in 2004, but it still follows Intel in the non-memory sector. In 2000, Samsung asserted that digital consumers, a growing importance of business networks and technical devices would create new demands for semiconductors in the future. Samsung recently announced its plans to beat Intel in computer chip sales and to make a better partnership with it at the same time. Synergy effects will be drawn when all three core elements of investment, leading-edge technology and the unique digital products work together within a dynamic business interaction. Samsungs vice president Yun Jong-Yong stated that the company will try to become one of the top 3 electronics firms by 2010 in terms of quality and quantity and will therefore try to raise its brand value and revenues in its semiconductor business over Intel. Despite tough competition Samsung and Intel both plan on building better platforms to improve combined business opportunities. Samsung is already leading the electronic market in some product segments, such as in the set-top box as leading product in home networking. FUTURE CHALLENGES As the market leader in semi-conductor chips, the third largest cellular handset maker in the world behind Nokia and Motorola, and the largest manufacturer of flat display screens in the world, Samsung has indeed come a long way from its humble beginnings of 1938. But Samsung faces some tough challenges in the future. Maintaining consistency Samsung has invested billions of dollars in global advertising and brand building activities. Given its presence in multiple industries on the one hand and its consistent investment in RD on the other, it will be difficult for Samsung to sustain its investment in branding activities. But Samsung must not be complacent and reduce the brand budget. It has not yet reached a position where the brand can live independent of its products as Sony does. Therefore, it will be extremely important that Samsung continues to build and nurture its brand in a consistent manner. Spreading the corporate brand too thinly Even today, the Samsung name is found on literally everything from ships, memory chips, to mobile phones and camcorders. Although the company is leveraging its brand to build new business and gain considerable advantage in existing businesses, this can prove dangerous to the corporate brand. As Samsung has been trying hard to position itself as a premium lifestyle brand worldwide, many of the businesses in the Samsung portfolio do not match this positioning. Therefore, although it might appear as an advantage at the outset, spreading the corporate brand too thinly across a wide array of businesses might prove costly to Samsung in the long run. Local and international competition Today Samsung is faced with never-seen-before competition in the consumer electronics industry. Not only should it fight the leaders like Sony and Canon, but also the new crop of companies which are following the Samsung path to compete with Samsung, the most significant one being the LG Group of South Korea and potential competitors from China and Taiwan. Although Samsung has a comfortable lead time due to its top-notch technology and constant innovation, this should not lead to any sort of complacency. Samsung should continue investing in technology and design capabilities on the one hand and marketing and brand management activities on the other to maintain the lead over its rivals that it has so tirelessly built over the past decade. There is a high intensity and constant competition in the electronics industry and usually the main competitors come up with new products very often. If a company does not keep up with trends and new products, they will lose their customers and profits. According to Barney and Hesterly, high levels of rivalry are indicated by such actions as frequent introduction of new products by firms in an industry (Barney, Hesterly, 2008, p. 46). Rivalry tends to be high where there are numerous firms in an industry and these firms tend to be roughly the same size. Furthermore, rivalry tends to be high when firms are unable to differentiate their products from competitors in an industry. This can be seen in the personal computer and DVD industry. In the PC laptop industry, companies are focusing more on services that accompany the laptops and the designs of the computers. In the DVD industry the products are very similar and perform the same functions, thus it is hard to compete with existing co mpanies. If a company decided to compete in this industry, they have to compete with intense price rivalry. Dell focuses their strategy on selling their computers online and providing excellent customer service. They save money on not having a physical store and focus on online distribution instead. This saves them money and they can compete on other levels. With the popular trend of the internet, companies are now competing with providing more services online and expanding their online advertisement. The threat of Substitutes Substitutes in the consumer electronics industry are many and the different companies competing in this industry must apply many strategies in order to compete and make profits. The substitutes in the electronics market can be divided in to 4 categories. As will be mentioned the important factors in every industry of the general electronics market. Telecom The substitutes in the telecom industry are landline phones and email. At the moment, landline phones are losing popularity because of lower prices and popularity of cell phones and internet calling programs. In the cell phone industry, Apples I phone has the latest technology with its Touch screen, but companies are following and introducing new phones. Samsung has just introduced new line of innovative cell phones for 2008. Cell phones and PDAs have standard features and the only product differentiation lies with adding services such as Bluetooth, gaps and other communication applications and tools that are important for customers in the cell phone industry. Samsung provides an affordable PDA with the modern features to satisfy the average telecom user. Apple and Nokia are selling mobile phones with new technology for a high price for customers who are willing to pay more. There are not many substitutes for PDAs. The main one is using a cell phone or computer, laptop to call someone using e.g. Skype. Laptops / PC In the PC industry, the threat of substitutes is not very high because there are not many products that can do what a computer or laptop can provide. The only substitutes are portable and handheld devices. They are competing on price and trying to increase value based on service and customization. The major substitutes for computers are PDAs and cell phones for contacting other people. In terms of writing documents, portable devices are substitutes. Digital Cameras In the digital camera industry, there are two major substitutes. The first one is the film camera, and the other one is the cell phone camera. Unfortunately, there is not much interest in film cameras because of outdates technology and cell phone cameras dont provide the same quality and storage as digital cameras. HD TV Television have recently become very popular with the new HD technology. The substitutes for TVs are computers and laptops. For people who travel a lot, prefer to watch movies and favorite shows on their laptops because they can download or stream popular TV shows and movies from online sites. Furthermore, another substitute for TVs are going to the movies or watching videos on your IPod. Because of the limited availability and space on IPods and the smaller size of a laptop screen, TVs will still stay popular and be high in demand. Managing the Samsung brand architecture The Samsung name is used to represent every business unit of the Samsung group, as mentioned earlier. Even though the trend of late is to nurture a strong corporate brand, as Unilever and PG have been doing, Samsung lacks the necessary similarity between its various business units. Therefore, Samsung should develop a strong brand architecture system which will define and monitor the interaction of various brands within the Samsung portfolio with the corporate brand. This will be easier said than done, given the extremely diversified business units of the chaebol (Korean business conglomerate). The brand architecture would also guide Samsung in acquiring new brands to enter the value segments of different markets, as LG has done with the Zenith brand in the US to target solely the value segment. With the millions of dollars that Samsung has spent over the past decade to build the Samsung brand, it will be a major challenge to put in place a strong architecture system which will help the branding practices of Samsung going ahead. Creating the Samsung personality Most great brands are those that have strong personalities, with Apple iPod being the latest proof. But Samsung seems to have ignored this crucial aspect in building its brand. Although Samsung has been doing all the right things in its communications, it has not focused on creating a strong personality for its brand. It does not own anything specific in the consumers minds, like a Harley-Davidson standing for the rugged independence of western America or a BMW standing for the ultimate driving experience. As has been well recorded in the branding literature, a successful brand not only provides the customers with functional benefits, but also emotional and self-expressive benefits. So far, Samsung has emphasized the functional benefits of leading-edge technology, contemporary designs and exciting features. It needs to go beyond this and create a cult following for its brand, like the Apple iPod has done. Samsung needs to ensure that its brand can live on independently of its products. This could prove to be a major challenge. Although it is still a newcomer, Samsung has made significant inroads into the home and office printing markets over the past few years. The company has secured the second-place position in the laser printer category, following behind Hewlett-Packard but surpassing Brother and Lexmark. Samsungs ultimate intention is to achieve the top-tier position by 2010, but this is an aggressive goal that will require the right products and solutions, as well as a sound go-to-market strategy. Samsung has certainly been keeping on top of market trends, and it has launched a product range that is designed to meet the demands of todays consumers. The company has scrapped its A3 products and now offers multifunctional versions of all its devices, as well as recognizing the importance of the scanning function. Probably the most important announcement in 2008 comes from the solutions area, as Samsung finally has a competitive offering for this field. Samsungs next challenge will be to engage the channel to market these solutions. Samsung has enjoyed a year of growth and success. It is regarded as one of the worlds leading companies, producing products that are highly respected in the marketplace. The Samsung name is everywhere: in Asia, Europe and the Americas; the Northern and Southern hemispheres; in long-established nations and newly emerging ones. Samsung name means quality and innovation, and represents the combined teamwork of tens of thousands of employees worldwide. Samsung is moving to the forefront of the industry today because of its decade of dedication to the simple principles of change, innovation and creativity. Now that it is at last experiencing the success it has so long pursued and worked so hard to achieve, its mission has broadened. For with success come serious challenges and responsibilities. I believe that it is well prepared to meet these challenges and responsibilities. Success at Samsung has been the result of its relentless and fearless pursuit of change. It has taken the accepted and charged its employees to change it for the better. And it has dared to imagine the unimaginable. Nothing for it is ever finished-it can always be improved. It has used change as a motivator for its employees, as a metaphor for its culture and as a measure of its forward movement. Change has created momentum throughout the company. At Samsung, change has resulted in success-and success necessitates further change. It is now incumbent upon Samsung more than ever to continue to change at an accelerated rate. It will always stretch to greater heights. It will not rest on its laurels. People from the company will work harder, reach farther and continue to encourage and value change in order to maintain their leadership position. The responsibilities implied and demanded by its accomplishments are to its customers, its employees and to the communities around the world where it has made an impact, as well as to those where it will be influential in the future. Its customers have come to expect great products and service from it and Samsung will continue to deliver these. Its employees have come to expect a fertile environment in which they can create and a management structure that encourages, nurtures, values and rewards the creative process. Exploration of the possible-and sometimes the impossible-will always be encouraged. Among its immediate neighbors and around the world, there has been much transition. The world economy and social order have both been affected. There is much uncertainty ahead. It is its responsibility, broadly, to make the world a better place. Samsung do this every day through its products, which create better lives for the customers, and through demanding the highest standards throughout the organization. Now that the company finds itself in a leadership position, it is favorably situated to build on its legacy of change, innovation and creativity. Its five core values-people, excellence, change, integrity and co-prosperity-have served it well in the past and will continue to provide the sturdy foundation for a rewarding future. As employees worked to achieve these goals, they relied on these core values to overcome formidable obstacles: fierce competition, unhealthy economic environments and a rapidly changing world with many risks. Now stuff must look to these core values to maintain and improve their position as a market leader. It is now up to Samsung to redefine the future. It is not just their desire, but now also their duty to continue to strive to reach new heights. By taking on responsibility for the future, they can lead by example and demonstrate to the world that with hard work, it too can change for the better. Their growth and their future will come from the loyalty of their customers. They have earned this loyalty from their hard work in the past, and it will inspire them in the future. It is this loyalty that fuels the Samsung spirit and compels them to always keep moving ahead. It will not be easy maintaining their leadership position, but they are prepared for the challenge. They will redefine the future through their creative talent and by continuing to cultivate a culture that does not fear failure. The best measure of the success will be their ability to look back a year from now and be proud of their accomplishments, which were once only dreams. At Samsung, stability and security come from change. Through it, people working in the company will continue to aspire to lead and be prosperous. CONCLUSION Samsung Group is more than just the nations largest conglomerate. It is a mega brand with considerable cultural significance à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ ¢ a business card with the blue and white logo is much coveted, while any Korean national would take pride in a Samsung billboard in a foreign country. Samsung has made itself noticeable as one of the most innovative and quality brands in the electronics industry. Samsung strives to be sustainable and achieve competitive advantage by remaining at the forefront of the digital market. Samsung policy is We will devote out human resources and technologies to create superior products and services thereby contributing to a better global society. Samsung provides the electronics market with a full range of great consumer products, ranging from mobile devices to home appliances. They have proved themselves an innovative and efficient company that strives to provide their customers with the newest products for a great price. With their wide range of products they have generated a powerful supply of products. In order to secure future success in a very competitive market, they need to focus on being innovative and expand their products in to new markets and countries. Samsung should also invest heavily into establishing its brand name in foreign countries to attract talent. Applying all of these recommendations and suggestions will generate a better future for Samsung and will make them be able to compete with other companies in the industry. Samsung is a market leader or major market share holder in its many segments. Samsung leads but does not lead a pace that cannot be followed or easily copied. For example, Apple leads the digital music player market at a pace that its competitors cannot follow. Apple passed its competition through its competitive advantage: innovation. Company culture at Apple creates the pace of innovation and new product designs and introductions. Samsung needs to lead the market through an innovative competitive advantage to push a pace not easily copied. Samsung has encountered foreign competition because foreign competition has acquired its own domestic talent. Samsung should invest heavily into establishing its brand name in foreign countries to attract talent. Samsung is moving to the forefront of the industry today because of its decade of dedication to the simple principles of change, innovation and creativity. Now that it is at last experiencing the success it has so long pursued and worked so hard to achieve, its mission has broadened. For with success come serious challenges and responsibilities.

Sunday, January 19, 2020

War in the Modern World :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  War in the Modern World War has fascinated the minds of the greats throughout history. Its concepts and understandings have been passed on to us through the few surviving works of those, whose lives were touched by war, in an ancient archive. Some saw war as an ordinary, inevitable phenomenon that has a place among natural order of human lives (Jacob Walter), while others interpreted it as devastating and terrible deviation from the natural order of things (W.T. Sherman). Over the course of our archival readings we have learned of war through the records from the Trojans in their leather sandals (Hector), the horsemen of Sherman’s brigades, the WWI soldiers with their new gas shells and machine guns, and eventually through the eyes of the jungle and desert warriors with their booby traps and air strikes. While ways and methods of war have changed with the course of time, people never seemed to have loosened their grip on war as they continued to rise to the call to arms and go to battle to kill and t o die. This is a crucial observation as it allows us to reason that, perhaps, war is an important part of human existence. People eat, sleep, make love, and make war.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Aside from the consistency of its occurrence throughout history, war also fascinates with its complexity, or, more directly—its irony. It could be mesmerizing and adventurous to some participants, and at the same time evil and hellish to others (O’Brian). It combines death, destruction, fear and atrocities unheard of in the times of peace, with courage, loyalty and passion—undoubtedly qualities we all admire. Based on the records of the archive I have come to believe that to best understand this concept of irony one must look at war as at least two conflicts in one. The first one is that of the nation’s leaders. It glorifies war, it tells tales of heroism and bravery and how it is a man’s duty to defend his motherland. The second one is personal war—the struggle with basic human dignity and morality in the face of the forgiving indifference that most soldiers, as evident from the archive, face at war (attitude of Ratâ€⠄¢s friends when he is blow apart, Dulce et Decorum Est). The fact of the matter is that both are right in their unique ways, they simply live in different realms and have different eyes that see war differently.

Saturday, January 11, 2020

Hum 176 Sylabus

The course provides an introduction to the most prominent forms of media that influence and impact social, business, political, and popular culture in contemporary America. It explores the unique aspects of each medium as well as interactions across various media that combine to create rich environments for information sharing, entertainment, business, and social interaction in the U. S. and around the world. Policies Faculty and students/learners will be held responsible for understanding and adhering to all policies contained within the following two documents: University policies: You must be logged into the student website to view this document. †¢Instructor policies: This document is posted in the Course Materials forum. University policies are subject to change. Be sure to read the policies at the beginning of each class. Policies may be slightly different depending on the modality in which you attend class. If you have recently changed modalities, read the policies govern ing your current class modality. Course Materials Campbell, R. , Martin, C. R. , & Fabos, B (2012) Media & culture: An introduction to mass communication (8th. New York, NY: Bedford/St. Martin’s. All electronic materials are available on the student website. Week One: The Formative Influence of Mass Media on American Culture DetailsDuePoints Objectives1. 1. Summarize the evolution of mass media. 1. 2. Identify the effects of mass media on American culture. ReadingRead Ch. 1 of Exploring Media & Culture. Nongraded Activities and PreparationWatch â€Å"The Media and Democracy† on Video Central. Watch â€Å"Agenda Setting and Gate-Keeping† on Video Central. Not graded Discussion Questions Respond to weekly discussion questions listed below. 15 Week One DQ#1Do traditional media have an advantage over emerging media? If so, what are they? If not, why not? Week One DQ#2 The Internet has provided many forms of social media and new forms are continuously emerging. Which forms of social media do you use on a regular basis and why? Are there any social media that you previously used but no longer use? If so, why? If not, why not? Week One DQ#3 Identify a single type of media (Internet, social media, newspaper, magazine, radio, or television) and describe the changes that have occurred to that type of media over the last 5 to 10 years.What implications so you see for the next 5 years? Explain. Week One DQ#4 If you were a reporter with access to all forms of media distribution, which do you choose first to tell a story? Why? How you might have answered this question differently 20 years ago? Week One DQ#5 In the 1950s, ’60s, and ’70s, television news was broadcast by three major television networks. There were practically no opportunities to â€Å"talk back† to the television. Now, through the Internet, there are many ways to respond to both television and Internet news. Do you think this has had a positive or negative effect on A merican culture?Why? Week One DQ#6 Is new media â€Å"mass† or not? Why? ParticipationParticipate in class discussion. Answering the supplemental questions counts towards your weekly participation grade. 10 Supplemental QuestionsMass Media: Research the evolution of mass media, which has changed significantly over the last 100 years. Some forms of mass media have changed so much that they are almost unrecognizable. What are the implications of these changes? How do you see these changes continuing to change the industry? Briefly describe how this activity applied to the weekly concepts. Mass Media Effects on American Culture:Choose an aspect of American life or culture that is or has been influenced by mass media. What are the effects of this influence? What effects does the media influence have on that part of the culture? Is this beneficial? Explain. Assignment Effects of Mass Media WorksheetResources: Week One Readings and Videos Compose answers to fill in the Effects of M ass Media Worksheet. 50 Week Two: Critical Approaches to Mass Media DetailsDuePoints Objectives2. 1. Explain the implications of media convergence, in terms of both technology and business. 2. 2. Identify issues resulting from dependency on mass media. . 3. Describe the value of media literacy. ReadingRead Ch. 1 and 2 of Exploring Media & Culture. Nongraded Activities and Preparation Watch â€Å"Going Viral: Political Campaigns and Video† on Video Central. Watch â€Å"Tablets, Technology, and the Classroom† on Video Central. Watch â€Å"The Impact of Media Ownership† on Video Central. Not graded Discussion QuestionsRespond to weekly discussion questions. 15 Week Two DQ#1 From your own experience, think of an example in which the media have been accused of unfairness. Draw on comments from parents, teachers, religious leaders, politicians, and so forth.Do you think these criticisms were justified? Why, or why not? Week Two DQ#2 Although in some ways postmodern fo rms of communication, such as e-mail, smartphones, and Twitter, have helped people participate in global life, do you think these media have also caused harm to traditional or native cultures? If so, how and why? If not, why not? Week Two DQ#3 How would you define media literacy? What do you think it would take to be considered â€Å"media literate†? Week Two DQ#5 Imagine that you are in a situation for an extended period of time without access to mass media. Would your life style be significantly different?Explain. Week Two DQ#6 According to the textbook, which form of media convergence, technology or business, has the most influence on your news consumption? Why? ParticipationParticipate in class discussion. Answering the supplemental questions counts towards your weekly participation grade. 10 Supplemental QuestionsMedia Convergence: The term media convergence refers to the merging of media content. One definition applies to technology, and the second refers to business: c orporate media conglomerates (see Ch. 1 & 12). Research the implications of this latter phenomenon.What conflicts of interest could occur within media conglomerates, and how could such conflicts affect society’s media consumption? Briefly describe how this activity applied to the weekly concepts. Mass Media: Consider the many different mass media resources for gathering information, such as the Internet, radio, television, and so on. If you were to obtain information from only one of the sources, would your information be reliable and accurate? Why or why not? Assignment Media Convergence WorksheetResources: Week Two readings and videos Compose answers to fill in the Media Convergence Worksheet. 50Week Three: The Significance of the Internet and the Digital Age DetailsDuePoints Objectives3. 1. Explain the implications of easily obtainable information in the digital age. 3. 2. Assess credibility issues regarding information on the Internet. 3. 3. Explain the concept of the dig ital divide. ReadingRead Ch. 2, 11, 13 of Exploring Media & Culture. Nongraded Activities and Preparation Watch â€Å"User-Generated Content† on Video Central. Watch â€Å"Net Neutrality† on Video Central. Not graded Discussion QuestionsRespond to weekly discussion questions. 15 Week Three DQ#1 Do you think the Internet can make democracy work better?If so, how? If not, why not? Week Three DQ#2 Do you think the Internet has a significant influence on political campaigns? Why or why not? Week Three DQ#3 Do you think the concentration of media ownership limits the number of voices in the marketplace? Explain. Week Three DQ#4 How do you know whether you can trust Wikipedia or another online resource? Week Three DQ#5 The digital divide refers to people that have access to digital media versus those that do not. Are people who do not have a smartphone at a disadvantage (that is, are they on the wrong side of the digital divide)? ParticipationParticipate in class discussion. Answering the supplemental questions counts towards your weekly participation grade. 10 Supplemental QuestionsArtists in the Digital Age: The Internet allows for numerous ways for the public to obtain music without paying for it. The Internet also provides numerous ways for artists to promote tours, new music, and memorabilia. Do you think the Internet has created more harm than good to artists in the music industry? Explain your answer. Ethical Responsibilities: What are the ethical responsibilities of Internet users? Include at least two basic ethical responsibilities to which Internet users should always adhere.Do you practice specific manners or â€Å"netiquette† during online interactions that you also expect from others? What kinds of ethical compliance do you expect in online transactions? Assignment Internet and Information PaperYour pen pal from a part of the world that lacks ready access to the Internet has written you a letter and asks you to explain several concep ts. Hello, I hear so many good things and am so fascinated with what you can do with the Internet. Finding all this information so quickly must make your life very easy. But please tell me: how do you assess the value of all this information you find on the Internet?How can you be sure that it is reliable and credible? Also, I have heard the term â€Å"digital divide. † What exactly does it mean, and how do you think this divide could be bridged? Thank you for helping me to understand these issues! Best regards, Your friend Resources: Week Three Readings and Videos Write a 700-to 1,050-word letter in which you respond to your friend’s questions. 50 Week Four: The Role of Social Media and Virtual Networks DetailsDuePoints Objectives4. 1. Explain the role of social media and virtual networks in a broader media culture. 4. 2. Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of social media.ReadingRead Ch. 11 of Exploring Media & Culture. Nongraded Activities and PreparationWatch â€Å"The Rise of Social Media† on Video Central. Not graded Discussion QuestionsRespond to weekly discussion questions. 15 Week Four DQ#1 The Week Four Toolwire Learnscape explores the effectiveness of using social media to bring attention to WhizBang Games. In general, do you think the benefits outweigh the problems of publicizing any business in this way? Why, or why not? Week Four DQ#2 Social media appears to add different benefits and values. What benefits do social media offer for your personal use?What type of negative experiences, if any, have you had from social media? Compare your answers with those of your classmates. How do they differ? Week Four DQ#3 Do you think virtual interactive communities are genuine communities? Why, or why not? Week Four DQ#4 Given the trends in online gaming, what roles beyond entertainment do you see for gaming in the near future? Week Four DQ#5 Do you think the makers of violent and sexually themed games should be held responsible for the behavior of those who play them? Why, or why not? How much responsibility do parents have in allowing children exposure to these sources?Week Four DQ#6 At what age do you think is appropriate for a child to have access to social media? Why? ParticipationParticipate in class discussion. Answering the supplemental questions counts towards your weekly participation grade. 10 Supplemental QuestionsControversial Issue in Gaming: In this week’s Toolwire ® Learnscape, you meet with advertisers for the game you are promoting for WhizBang. You must provide the VP with details regarding controversial issues in electronic gaming. What are the most controversial issues in electronic gaming today? Mass Media Posters:Social media has grown over the last few years, infiltrating many different categories of people. Choose an age group that you can identify with. Create two posters, using Microsoft ® PowerPoint ® slides, depicting the advantages and the disadvantages of social medi a on society. Take into consideration the effect that social media has on your age group. Share your two posters with your class as a reply to this thread. Read through your classmates’ posters and comment on the ideas expressed in the posters. Assignment Social Media AssignmentChoose one of the following options:Option 1: Toolwire ®: Examining the Use of Social Media Access the Toolwire ® Learnscape: Examining the Use of Social Media through the link located on the student website. Complete the Learnscape Activities. Complete the Toolwire ® Learnscape Assessment Part A and Part B. Write 250 word response to each of the following questions: †¢What are the advantages and disadvantages of social media? †¢How might knowing these advantages and disadvantages alter how a person might use social media? Option 2: Social Media Paper Write 700- to 1,050-word paper and address each of the following: Identify at least three different social media networks and describe ho w they are used. †¢Explain the advantages and disadvantages of social media. †¢Explain how knowing the advantages and disadvantages might alter how a person would use social media. Support your findings with specific examples. Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines. 100 Week Five: The Impact of Audio Entertainment: Music and Radio DetailsDuePoints Objectives5. 1. Explain the reflective relationship between American culture and the audio entertainment media. 5. 2. Assess how music and radio have affected American values. 5. 3.Analyze the influence of music and radio on social behavior. ReadingRead Ch. 6 and 7 of Exploring Media & Culture. Nongraded Activities and PreparationWatch â€Å"Recording Music Today† on Video Central. Watch â€Å"Alternative Strategies for Music Marketing† on Video Central. Watch â€Å"Radio: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow† on Video Central. Watch â€Å"Going Visual: Video, Radio, and the Web† on Video Central. Not graded Discussion QuestionsRespond to weekly discussion questions. 15 Week Five DQ#1 Over the last century, do you think music has changed from being about artistic expression to being more about money and business?Why or why not? Week Five DQ#2 Is it possible for a band or artist to make topical or political commentary in a song today while focusing on turning a profit? Week Five DQ#3 Can you think of a particular song or album that strongly affected your understanding of culture and society? If so, how did it do so? If not, why don’t you think you had that experience? Week Five DQ#4 Should National Public Radio (NPR), a source for news, commentary, and culture, continue to receive public funding? Why, or why not? Week Five DQ#5 Which of the two do you think had more influence on American culture: rock usic of the ’70s or talk radio of the ’90s? Why? Week Five DQ#6 What artists and bands have had the greatest effect on popular culture? Explain why. Do you t hink the changing genre of popular music influences the culture of different eras? If so, how? If not, why not? ParticipationParticipate in class discussion. Answering the supplemental questions counts towards your weekly participation grade. 10 Supplemental QuestionsMedia Effectiveness: Select a breaking news story and find out how many ways that story is being delivered to an audience: online, traditional media, radio, or television.Which is most effective, and why? Did Music Rock Your World? Reflect back on your childhood and how you absorbed information and entertainment. Did you listen to music on the radio or from another source? How did music influence you as a child? How did music affect your social behavior? Assignment Influence of Music Presentation Resources: Week Five Readings and Videos Create a 5- to 8-PowerPoint ® slides to answer and illustrate the following: †¢In what ways have music and radio shaped American culture and its values? †¢Identify and introd uce your favorite musician, band, or type of music. Explain how American culture and social behavior have been shaped by the music you listen to. †¢Conclude your presentation by summarizing how audio media either reflect or influence social behavior and attitudes. 100 Week Six: The Power of Images: Television and Film DetailsDuePoints Objectives6. 1. Explain the reflective relationship between American culture and the visual entertainment media. 6. 2. Assess how television and film have affected American values. 6. 3. Analyze the influence of television and film on social behavior. ReadingRead Ch. 8, 9 and 15 of Exploring Media & Culture.Nongraded Activities and PreparationWatch â€Å"Blurring the Lines: Marketing Programs Across Platforms† on Video Central. Watch â€Å"What Makes Public Television ‘Public’? † on Video Central. Watch â€Å"Based On: Making Books Into Movies† on Video Central. Watch â€Å"More Than a Movie: Social Issues and Fi lm† on Video Central. Not graded Discussion QuestionsRespond to weekly discussion questions. 15 Week Six DQ#1 Choose a movie or show of a time you are familiar with that best reflected the popular culture of this country. What cultural aspects were present that made the movie or show appealing?Do you think those movies or television shows are still relevant and accurate? Why, or why not? Week Six DQ#2 Imagine a world without movies. What would it be like? Why? Week Six DQ#3 Some people consciously decide to not own a television set. Do you think they are wise, or are they missing out? Why do you think so? Week Six DQ#4 YouTube could be called television of the future. Do you think YouTube and television are more alike or different? Why? Week Six DQ#5 In 1939 Gone With the Wind was released with a swear word in it: â€Å"Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn. † Today it would hardly be noticed.What do you think this change says about American culture? Participatio nParticipate in class discussion. Answering the supplemental questions counts towards your weekly participation grade. 10 Supplemental QuestionsEntertainment Think of an entertainment event that influenced you in some way. What effect did that event have on your life? What influence does that type of event have on American culture? Good or Bad? Television and film have been intricately woven into the fabric of American culture over the last 60 years. Think of a specific television program or film that you think affected American culture in a positive or negative way.Explain your opinion. Did it have a lasting effect or create a permanent change? Do you see this as a good or bad result? Assignment Influence of Visual Media Paper Resources: Week Six Readings and Videos Write a 350- to 700-word paper in which you investigate the interrelationship between culture and the visual entertainment media, such as television and film. Include answers to the following questions: †¢In what w ays have various forms of visual entertainment media shaped American culture and its values? †¢Are the social influences of the visual entertainment media mostly positive or negative?Explain. Illustrate your answers with specific examples. Conclude your paper by summarizing how visual media either reflect or influence social behavior and attitudes. Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines. 75 Week Seven: The News Media: Journalism and Democracy DetailsDuePoints Objectives7. 1. Assess how information media affect American values. 7. 2. Explain the social responsibilities of the news media. 7. 3. Describe the role of the news media in politics. 7. 4. Evaluate the transformative effect of electronic media on journalism. ReadingRead Ch. and 14 of Exploring Media & Culture. Nongraded Activities and Preparation Watch â€Å"Newspapers and the Internet: Convergence† on Video Central. Watch â€Å"Fake News/Real News: A Fine Line† on Video Central. Watch â€Å"News papers Now: Balancing Citizen Journalism and Investigative Reporting† on Video Central. Watch â€Å"Journalism Ethics: What News Is Fit to Print? † on Video Central. Watch â€Å"The Objectivity Myth† on Video Central. Watch â€Å"The Contemporary Journalist: Pundit or Reporter? † on Video Central. Discussion QuestionsRespond to weekly discussion questions. Discussion QuestionsParticipationWeek Seven DQ#1 How comfortable are you with the credibility of the information you find on the Internet? For example, consider websites such as dailykos. com, drudgereport. com, huffingtonpost. com, mrc. org, and so on. What, if anything, makes you comfortable about the credibility of these sources? Why? Week Seven DQ#2 Many news media now attempt to increase popularity by incorporating entertainment value into their news items along with information value. Do you think this affects the ability of news media to uphold their social responsibilities? Week Seven DQ#3During the past election, did you ever find yourself following a political story or candidate on the Internet? Did you follow similar stories on candidates through television or in your local paper? What were the differences between Internet reporting and television/newspaper reporting? In your opinion, what are the general effects of the Internet on politics? Week Seven DQ#4 Do you think news reporting has changed significantly with the advent of the Internet and converging media? Why, or why not? Week Seven DQ#5 Do you think the media adequately holds politicians accountable for their actions?Why, or why not? Week Seven DQ#6 American newspapers are reputedly dying. Do you think electronic media have had a major or minor influence on their alleged demise? Explain. 15 Participate in class discussion. Answering the supplemental questions counts towards your weekly participation grade. Supplemental QuestionsPrinciples of Journalism Walter Cronkite, a well-respected American journalist, defin ed the principles of journalism this way: fairness, balance, truth, and honesty. Do you think these principles exist in today’s news journalism? If so, how? If not, how does today’s practice diverge from them?Give specific examples. Political Balancing Act Think about a recent media event involving a political issue that interests you. What role did the news media play? In your opinion, did the news media act ethically? Did they present a balanced or unbalanced view of the event? In what ways? 10 Assignment News MediaChoose one of the following options: Option 1: Toolwire ® Learnscape Credibility and Impact Access the Toolwire ® Learnscape: Credibility and Impact: Exploring the Internet and Politics through the link located on the student website. Complete the Learnscape Activities.Complete the Toolwire ® Learnscape Assessment Part A and Part B. Write 250-word response to the following question: †¢Do the information media have social responsibility? If yes, in what ways? If no, why not? Option 2: Journalist E-mail You are a rookie news journalist, and you just completed your first major assignment covering a political campaign, including extensive research of websites to provide the political background of your story. Your best friend emails you and asks how it went. Write a 350-to 700-word e-mail to your friend in which you detail the challenges you faced regarding the following: Your responsibility as a journalist to provide fair, honest, and balanced coverage. †¢How you struggled with whether your story was socially responsible. †¢Assessing the credibility of the political Internet sites you visited for your research (consider Drudge Report, Daily Kos, Politico, Colbert Nation, The Hill, etc. ). Your awareness of how political news reporting might influence public opinion and American values. †¢100 Week Eight: Advertising and the Culture of Consumerism DetailsDuePoints Objectives8. 1. Explain the role of advertising i n a culture of consumerism. 8. . Outline key persuasive techniques used in consumer advertising. 8. 3. Identify critical issues in advertising. ReadingRead Ch. 12 of Exploring Media & Culture. Nongraded Activities and Preparation Watch â€Å"Advertising and Effects on Children† on Video Central. Watch â€Å"Advertising in the Digital Age† on Video Central. Watch â€Å"Filling the News Hole: Video News Releases† on Video Central. Discussion QuestionsRespond to weekly discussion questions. Discussion Questions ParticipationWeek Eight DQ#1 Can you think of an experience where advertising shaped your consumption? Explain.Week Eight DQ#2 Controversial topics in advertising include targeting children(sometimes even in schools); advertising alcohol, tobacco, and prescription drugs; creating a culture of excessive consumerism; promoting unrealistic ideals of beauty and gender roles; deceptive marketing; and aggressive political advertising. Which of these issues do you find most problematic? Why? Week Eight DQ#3 Are there particular advertisements that you find offensive? Which ones, and why? Week Eight DQ#4 Are there particular advertisements that you find annoying? Which ones, and why? Week Eight DQ#5The city of San Francisco in 2010 banned toys in McDonald’s children’s meals. McDonalds responded by offering the toys for a nominal additional cost to the meal. How important do you think the toys were to the sales of those meals? Why? 15 Participate in class discussion. Answering the supplemental questions counts towards your weekly participation grade. Supplement QuestionsCommercial Comparison Find a commercial from the 1960s or 1970s from the Electronic Reserve Reading page or elsewhere, and then a recent one for the same brand or a comparable product. Write a 200-word paragraph comparing the two commercials.What elements have changed in the presentation of the product and in the strategies to sell it? Include links to both commerc ials. Consumer Advertising Techniques Paragraph Consumer advertising has infiltrated all aspects of life. Identify one online advertisement and the persuasive techniques it uses. Evaluate whether these techniques are effective or ineffective. Write a 200-word paragraph discussing the techniques. What elements have influenced the techniques? 10 Assignment Effects of Advertising PresentationResources: Week Eight Readings and Videos Choose a product or service from these examples: †¢Fast food Class of consumer product †¢Personal care †¢Automobile Research online to analyze how that product or service has been advertised. Prepare an 8-to 12-slide PowerPoint ® presentation in which you investigate the role of advertising in a culture of consumerism. Be sure to discuss the following areas: †¢What are the key persuasive techniques used in advertising for your selected product or service? Illustrate with specific examples, explaining how each technique works. †¢Di scuss whether any of the following critical issues that related or connected with you product or service: oChildren and advertising oAdvertising in schools Health and advertising oPolitical advertising †¢Find one example of a commercial or advertisement of your product or service that strikes you as particularly creative and appealing. Consider some of the following questions: oWhat are the elements that are unusual? oWhat is the target group of the commercial? oHow does the commercial appeal to consumers? oWhy do you believe this commercial to be effective in brand name recognition? oWho determines ethical standards for advertising? oHow are ethical standards met (or pushed to their limits)? †¢Summarize the ways in which advertising has affected American culture.Illustrate your findings with specific examples. If you use external references, make sure to list your references on the last slide. Format your presentation consistent with APA guidelines. 100 Week Nine: Freedom of Expression in the Digital Age DetailsDuePoints Objectives9. 1. Assess the tension between free speech and constraints on free speech in media. 9. 2. Explain the legal and regulatory safeguards on free speech in the media. ReadingReview Ch. 7, 15 and 16 of Exploring Media & Culture. Nongraded Activities and Preparation Watch â€Å"Bloggers and Legal Rights† on Video Central.Watch â€Å"The First Amendment and Student Speech† on Video Central. Not graded Discussion QuestionsRespond to weekly discussion questions. 15 Week Nine DQ#1 Do you think online content should ever be censored? Explain. Week Nine DQ#2 Do you think the current movie rating system serves its intended purpose, or should it be changed? Why, or why not? Week Nine DQ#3 Between 1949 and 1987, the Fairness Doctrine was an FCC rule designed to provide â€Å"reasonable, although not necessarily equal† opportunities in presenting opposing viewpoints in radio broadcasting in order to avoid one-sided presentations.The practice was repealed under President Reagan as part of a wider deregulation effort. Do you think the Fairness Doctrine should be revived, revised, or left dead? Why? Week Nine DQ#4 Some organizations and political figures have declared that Internet access is a civil right. Do you agree or disagree with this thinking? Why? Week Nine DQ#5 What if an Internet search engine limited results to one political viewpoint or another? Would that be legal? Ethical? Explain. Week Nine DQ#6Occasionally search engines and social media sites have been accused of bias or slanted results when they appeared to curtail or advocate one political stance or another. This becomes a subject of debate because these tools are so universally accessed. However, what if a search engine excluded results that promoted hate speech, Internet piracy, or pornography? Is it appropriate to violate some individuals' rights of freedom of speech in any of those cases, or does freedom of speech trump all other concerns? Explain your thoughts. ParticipationParticipate in class discussion.Answering the supplemental questions counts towards your weekly participation grade. 10 Supplement QuestionsFree Speech Paragraph Identify an aspect of free speech. What are the legal safeguards in the Constitution protecting it? Do these regulations apply differently at the personal level than at the media level? Free Speech Activity Identify an aspect of free speech. Research the legal safeguards around it. Create a single Microsoft ® PowerPoint ® slide depicting those safeguards. Include speaker notes. Share your slide with the class as a reply to this thread. Assignment Free Speech PresentationResources: Week Nine Readings and VideosSelect and research a recent controversial issue in the media that stretched societal tolerance of free speech. Create a presentation, using Microsoft ® PowerPoint ® (6 to 10 slides) or another multimedia tool, in which you explain and discuss the following: †¢The issue itself and why it caused controversy †¢What was done to resolve the controversy? †¢If a legal case, what were the grounds for the verdict? †¢Do you agree with the outcome, or would you have liked to see a more stringent or more lenient resolution? Why? Illustrate your responses. Format your presentation consistent with APA guidelines. 150

Friday, January 3, 2020

How The Ghana Is Influenced By African Art - 1493 Words

In this assignment we look at how the Benin is able to concept the uncivilised nature of African societies. We will also look at the relationship between the Benin Bronzes, as African art, rather than modern art in the west. We know that the Benin bronzes are known to be of ‘aesthetic’, ‘spiritual’ and ‘sentimental’ value due to its symbolic appraisal of civilisation. They are also one of the most sophisticated pieces of art. When looking into the African heritage, we can note it has a vast impact on the modern art world - artists such as Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse sustain this. Artists in the 1920’s and 30’s were known to be influenced by African arts, they would experiment with adjoin effects after witnessing original African art in†¦show more content†¦(1971). Ruskin believes that the lexis ‘art’ is retained for European and Christian traditions. We know that ‘fine art’ is a representation of pre recovery tradition within Europe as paintings were able to give off the depiction illusion of objects/ people in reasoned environments. Although, the Benin Bronze is able to become symbolic of idolised bodies, Western Societies did not see this as ‘art’, due to its ‘primitive’ nature. The Benin Bronze is seen to give off the illusion of life-like through the academic modelling of: light and shadow gradations upon features around the eyes, mouth and ears, the smooth finishes upon the softer areas such as the lips and rounded forms in spaces such as the chin and inner eyes. Rather than depicting emotions, the Benin bronze is able to use distorted forms to express them through emphasises on certain areas of the artefact such as the fine detail within the headpiece and neck. The Benin bronze is also able to give the illusionistic imitation of feelings, such as: worship, dread and concern – depending on how the viewer deceives it. It is known that the idea of forming and feeling emotion within art, was central to the late nineteenth century - The historic impact of this is indisputable. The artwork of the Benin Bronzes were seen transported to anthropological museums in Germany, France, England and other nations following the imperialism at the end of the nineteenth century. TheShow MoreRelatedThe Culture And Customs Of Ghana1714 Words   |  7 Pagesplayed an important role in most West African societies. It has been also a form of art that can give us information about the history of African’s countries. The materials used, the patterns, and the colors of the clothes can be associated with specific communities. For example, Kente clothes are made from cotton, silk, and raffia. Salm and Falola claim that, The cultures and customs of Ghana today are a product of diversity in indigenous form, influenced by a long history of Islamic and EuropeanRead MoreThe Culture of Ghana1238 Words   |  5 Pagesother societies. In the form of African culture, the country Ghana has its own definitive form that is somehow similar with other African country’s culture but different in various elements. This is why it is the most intrinsic characteristic of Ghananese culture; with its deployment of systems, structures and social elements, it is set apart from other African cultures. But what should be given importance is its original context, which also sprung from the African importance of culture. AccordingRead MoreEssay about Africa Before European Arrival - Summary1222 Words   |  5 PagesAfrica Before European Arrival People of the early African kingdoms were able to create successful trade routes with Europe and Asia, become very wealthy from conquering and gaining land, and were able to have a strong central government. All of this was done before the Europeans had reached Africa. Trade flourished on the East African coast, especially when trading was established with India and Arabia. African kingdoms were prosperous, because of their success with not only trading but alsoRead MoreHow Trade in West Africa Encouraged The Spread of Islam1151 Words   |  5 PagesHOW TRADE IN WEST AFRICA ENCOURAGED THE SPREAD OF ISLAM Islam, a monotheistic and spiritually based religion which refers to the act of giving great reverence to the Supreme Being, â€Å"submission to God† was found in the Saudi Arabian countries by the Prophet Muhammad in 610 C.E.1 The religion which was renowned for its triumph, patent power with an open set of beliefs about the Dos and the DONTs so as to gain access to heaven spread spontaneously as people learned of it through trade.1 It is todayRead MoreJazz And Jazz Culture1273 Words   |  6 PagesWhat is culture? What is African culture? What is Jazz music and where did it come from? How can one culture, in a sense, impact the musical landscape of the whole Western world and eventually assimilate into ‘pop’ culture? If we want to truly understand jazz and it’s concepts, we have to navigate through history and explore it’s roots. Simply put, jazz is African American music, and the genre, as we know, formed in New Orleans. However, the origins of jazz started well before then, in Africa. TheRead MoreThe West African Nation of Ghana2488 Words   |  10 Pagesmid-twentieth century is Africa’s. This decade is the decade of African independence. Forward then, to independence. To independence now. Tomorrow, the united states of Africa.† It was with these words that Kwame Nkrumah concluded his speech at the opening ceremony of the All-African People’s conference in 1958. It was one of the first Pan-African congresses to be held in the continent, in an independent African nation and with a number of African freedom fighters-an achievement that Nkrumah was particularlyRead MoreEssay On Maya Angelou1879 Words   |  8 PagesMaya Angelou is one of the most important American Authors who ever lived. She was an African-American woman who spoke her mind and when someone told her she couldn’t do something, it made her want to do it even more so that she could prove them wrong (Shapiro). Her life was incred ibly difficult, but it made her who she was and influenced her writing and poetry immensely. As Gary Younge once said, â€Å"To know her life story is to simultaneously wonder what on earth you have been doing with yourRead MoreMaya Angelou : An Influential Voices Of Modern Society Essay1386 Words   |  6 PagesFuelled by anger, her uncles killed her rapist as vengeance. Maya then returned to Arkansas spending years living as a mute. When Maya was a teenager, her love for the arts was strong winning her a scholarship to study dance and drama at San Francisco’s Labour School. By the time she was 14, she dropped out and became the first African-American female cable car conductor in America. Later, she finished high school and soon after graduation gave birth to her son, Guy. Being a young single mother meantRead MoreBook Report on Maya Angelous The Heart of a Woman1920 Words   |  8 Pagespoems. She did this so that readers may discover her extraordinary past and possibl y even learn from it. Formerly known as Marguerite Johnson, Angelou was born on April 4, 1928 in St. Louis, Missouri and was raised in Stamps, Arkansas. She is an African American female author, poet, playwright, and actress and is mostly associated with her most popular autobiography I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. One of her writings, The Heart of a Woman is the fourth of six autobiographies that was publishedRead MoreB. Du Bois1593 Words   |  7 Pageswould go on to write several highly influential books, essays, magazines and even novels. William Edward Burghardt Du Bois was born February 23, 1868 in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. He was born to Alfred and Mary Du Bois, his mother was of Dutch-African descent (Darkwater: Voices From Within the Veil 6), and his father was the son of French-American and Haitian descent. His mother s side of the family was apart of a very small number of free blacks, and his father s side of the family had come