Early years education Essay Example for Free

Early years education Essay 1.1 Summarise entitlement and provision for early year’s education There are many different types of early year’s provision which has been funded by the government for early years education. All three and four year olds are entitled to 15 hours of free early year’s education entitlement per week across the 38 weeks of the annual year. Theirs are five different settings where Parents can choose to give their child for their Free EY Entitlement they are: †¢Pre-school playgroup-. It is an early childhood program in which children combine learning/education with play and it is an organization that is provided by fully trained and qualified staff †¢Private Day nursery- A facility provided for the care and learning for children from the birth to 5 they are usually run by a business or a private organisation and are not linked with the government. †¢Child-minder (who belongs to a registered child-minder network)-child minders are self-employed providing the care for children in their own homes , they offer full time or part time places or flexible arrangements. Child minders are registered with the Ofsted and are inspected in accordance with the Ofsted procedures and regulations to ensure that he child-minder is providing and safe and suitable environment for the children. †¢Maintained nursery school- is a school for children between the age of 3 and 5. It is run by fully qualified and trained to staff who encourage and supervise education play and learning rather than just providing childcare. It is part of early childhood education. †¢Nursery or reception class in a primary or independent school -Nursery schools provide a more direct and structured education for early years children aged 3 to 5 Some may be part of an independent school for older age groupseg infant and primary schools. Reception classes are run by a qualified teacher. 1.3 Explain the post 16 options for young people and adults.

Sustainable Architecture and Design

Sustainable Architecture and Design Sustainable, eco-friendly architecture can often be seen as the radical hippy of neo-liberal architectural discourse, with its practical application in the 21st century limited and problematic. Is there space for the synergy of idea in this regard, producing usable and practical or whimsical and gracious buildings that also adhere to the classical ideas of beauty and proportion? Sustainable[1] and eco-friendly architectures[2] were the subject of much left of centre discourse throughout the 1960’s and 1970’s against the backdrop of late Modernism and the initiation of constructed, clean post–Modernity. They were in opposition to the shock of the ‘new’ the marvels of concrete and structural steel and the innovations that supported closed environments such as elevators and air-conditioning. The seemingly ‘hippy’ applications of buildings that suited the environment, responded to them, and trod lightly in their space appeared irreconcilable in the context of the masculine, rational and spare elements of Modernity. The fear that beauty[3] could not exist in a mixed relationship, that a building could be both environmentally friendly and be visually appealing was not always an option in the hegemony of late modernism. However, this paper discusses the synergies that arose from these apparently oppositional ideas. The modernist era of tower blocks and buildings that fitted in with the ‘form follows function’ premise, ignored the possibilities of working with the environment and also being informed by it. The post-War building boom was expeditious, masculine and prolific, with the modular systems of the International Style informing all of the above. The shock of the new, invention and innovation left little space for the architectures engaging with the environment or the vernacular textures. Issues of sustainability were very much part of a neo-liberal brief, and disregarded by the world order of the time who had not yet woken up to the issues regarding the depleted ozone layer and greenhouse gas emissions. However, occasionally, there was minor dissent, particularly in the British colonies, where the imposed architecture of the colonist had been, to some extent environmentally adapted by the settlers using vernacular materials and adapting some elements of the indigenous building systems that they found there. Throughout this, though, the prevailing post-War building idiom of the mother country was largely retained, adaptability being one of the successes of Modernism. Those careful and socially conscious architects that contested the climatically and culturally inappropriate imposition of modernism strove to combine old and new materials and old and new technologies to create regionally appropriate buildings that were a vernacular in their own right and yet a new architecture that combined all the radical notions popular in the hippy culture of the late 1960’s. Norman Eaton, a South African, was cognizant of environment and reduction of the air-conditioning loads when he designed his Netherlands Bank Building (1965) in Durban, South Africa, a five level building where the building stands on a white marble podium and forms a pavilion in the centre of the high-rise urban fabric. The external curtain wall is replaced by a brise-soliel of green ceramic hollow clay blocks forming a massive sunscreen and significantly reducing the air conditioning loads in a hot, humid climate. ‘The unbroken expanses of ceramic screening were the result of Eaton’s approach to the challenge of Durban’s heat and were not employed for aesthetic effect alone. The open and yet cool aspect of the interior and the considerably reduced load on the building’s air conditioning system testify to the screens functional success. Behind the screen and invisible from the outside a second curtain wall, this time of glass, also covers the building, so that all internal levels are well lit but at the same time well protected against the glare and heat of direct sunlight.’ (Haropp-Allin; 1975: 107) Visually, although the building is a regionalist adaptation of what was a prevailing modernist format, the building and its incorporated garden spaces provides cool relief and a refuge in a hard edged landscape.[4] Almost two decades later, the Australian John Andrews in his Eugowra Farmhouse, New South Wales, (1979) maximized the orientation of the building such that he combined the use of prevailing winds for cooling in the Australian outback together with a central fireplace for heating. A prominent rainwater tower in the centre of the roof is both a strong vertical element, creating ‘architecture’ and at the same time harvesting water which is a critical necessity in the arid environment. This element is also able to spray water onto the roof for cooling in extreme weather. This was all combined using modern materials in a vernacular idiom combined with a classical symmetry, producing a gracious neo-outback veranda house. With these examples quoted above, a strong sense of regionalism is implicit in the sustainability and the environmental generators that form the ‘natural’ brief. For a building to be modern, beautiful and environmentally sustainable, it follows that the structure should be in a regionalist ‘idiom’ using modern materials housing modern facilities, with the incorporation of some of the vernacular, as the meaning of the site and the climate is by definition a regionalist issue. It was not only in the antipodean regions that this critical discourse was occurring. From the beginning of the 1960s, a number of papers and publications supporting the architecture of the vernacular and its many manifestations, connecting this to environment, culture and landscape, spawned the radical publications such as ‘Shelter’ (1973) which explored the notions of building using traditional materials, textures and forms, and adding to this sustainable methods of drainage, rainwater capture, foundation formation and environmentally friendly methods of heating and cooling. This treatise however was aimed at people pursuing more of an alternative lifestyle, using the landscape and other culture’s building methods to house them in an ecologically sustainable fashion. More conventional publications such as the work of Fitch in 1960, and the works of Rudofsky (1965) and Rapaport (1969) explored the connections between climate, landscape and culture. They investiga ted the traditional means by which building were constructed to address all the social and climatic constraints that produce sustainable buildings that tread lightly on the landscape and do not need large amounts of extra resources such as heating, cooling, and electricity consumption. These publications were still way left of the conservative centre, and not embraced by the rapidly mechanized northern countries. Few architects in the formal sector were prepared to stick their necks out in this regard, leaving the alternative housing solutions to those that pursued alternative lifestyles. A marked example does, however, stand out- Paolo Solieri, a student of Frank Lloyd Wright conceived of his Arcosanti Project in 1970, where some 70 miles north of Phoenix, Arizona, a compact complex hoping to eventually house some 5000 people is designed in a way such that the outside arable land is maximized, the living areas are condensed providing ready access to open desert for all dwellers, an d a number of large greenhouses provide food for the inhabitants. These structures also act as solar collectors for winter heat. Solieri’s aim was to design an urban environment that would function in a manner providing the maximum social, economic and health benefits, as well as treading lightly on the landscape on which it sits minimizing the effects on the earth. His principle of ‘arcology which married the ideas of ecology and architecture is described below. In nature, as an organism evolves it increases in complexity and it also becomes a more compact or miniaturized system. Similarly a city should function as a living system. It must follow the same process of process of complexification and miniaturisation to become a more lively container for the social, cultural and spiritual evolution of humankind. The central concept around which these developments revolve is that of arcology- architecture and ecology as one integral process. Arcology is capable, at least theoretically, of demonstrating positive response to the many problems of urban civilization, population, pollution, energy and natural resource depletion, food scarcity and quality of life. Arcology is the methodology that recognizes the necessity of the radical reorganization of the sprawling urban landscape into dense, integrated, three- dimensional cities in order to support the complex activities that sustain human culture. The city is the necessary instrument for the evolut ion of humankind. Paolo Soleri (Arcosanti Workshops 2000 pamphlet) The Cosanti-Arcosanti pamphlet notes that Newsweek commented that ‘As urban architecture, Arcosanti is probably the most important urban experiment undertaken in our lifetime’ (Cosanti-Arcosanti pamphlet; 2000) However, despite this accolade by the popular, ‘thinking’ press, the project, nearly four decades later, struggles along still in the construction process, and is more of a site for those people that pursue the alternative than people living mainstream, corporate lifestyles. As a site it is a museum, a school, a point of pilgrimage. For very few people, it is a lifestyle. Bringing these combined issues of ecological, social and economic sustainability, to the forefront, making them trendy and implicit, has been the largest challenge to the production of sustainable architectures. The realisation that the construction industry and the operation of the buildings that it makes, as Hyatt quotes (himself and) Edwards (Hyett in Abley Heartfield;2001:30) ma kes it ‘responsible for 50% of ‘all energy resources consumed across the planet, making the construction industry ‘the least sustainable industry in the world’. This fact has taken a while to entrench itself in ‘first world’ industry. Issues of sustainability and appropriate technology are not new- as mentioned earlier they formed the basis of developmental jargon in the ‘Third’ World. Sustainability in architecture as a technical approach in the management of particular resources has been the subject of discussions in the last three decades, with the 1975 ‘Alternatives to Growth’ conference which expanded the definition realizing the limits of a static- state economy: this time sustainability fell within the realms of the economists and not the built environment practitioners. Then, the issue of the control of technology by the Northern Hemisphere was dealt with by Willy Brandt who, in 1980, led the Independent Commission on International Development Issues, producing a report headed ‘North- South- A Programme for Survival’. (Heartfield in Abley Heartfield; 2001:97) Here, the connections between sustainable development and appropriate technology were made, entrenching the i dea of appropriate technology in a developing country context. This was almost fatal, as Heartfield notes ‘What appropriate technology meant for the less developed world was the lowering of expectations; less capital input, less expenditure, less technology.’ (Ibid;97) Perhaps this perceived ‘lower’ level of existence is one of the reasons why the plea for incorporation of these ideas of sustainability in the northern hemisphere fell largely on deaf ears. ‘It could be said that sustainability is a fudge. It raises all the same presuppositions of the limits to growth thesis, that absolute resource limits are upon us, but avoids their implied conclusion, a moratorium on growth. What the concept of sustainability preserves of the ideology of limits is the sentiment of constraint and parsimony.’ (Ibid;97) Finally, the Bruntland Report [5] submitted in 1987 is seen by Heartfield as being credited with the ‘popularizing of the concept of sustai nable development.’ (Ibid:96). However, although this may have made the concept more digestible, it did little for popularizing its practice, for, as the Bruntland Report, quoted in Heartfield states- ‘Sustainable development requires that those who are more affluent adopt lifestyles within the planet’s ecological means’.(Ibid:97) Despite this so called acceptance, a much later technical work in a somewhat a pleading tone, by Crowther notes that ‘The ecologic responsibility is to ourselves and the global legacy of human habitation. Every choice made from concept, to design, to realization is a demand that results in ecologic and biologic consequence.’ (Crowther;1992:vii) However, the throwing of these twentieth century gauntlets such as that by Crowther has received results in latter years. Prototypical examples as that presented by Pearson in his Gaia House (Pearson;1989:40-41) may have influenced some of the challenges to be presented; the principles in his charter declare ‘Design for harmony with the planet, Design for peace for the spirit, and Design for the health of the body. The first instruction involves the use of ‘green materials’ that have as embedded qualities ‘low environmental and social costs’, which are ultimately bio-degradable and can be or are recycled. Together with this the importance of correct orientation, the use of all the elements for energy including wind, recycling grey water and collecting rain water all add to the minimized impact on the soil. Pearson also mentions the need to maximize the efficiency of the natural spaces by planting indigenous trees and flowers. (Pearson;1989:40) It was only recently, with the building explosion on the Pacific Rim, and the attacks on the World Trade Centre, that the northern hemisphere began to seriously address these issues of sustainable construction, particularly in the densely populated cities of Europe. In October 2001, the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), hosted a conference that was to address the issues of creating environments that addressed issues of sustainability. This conference, ‘Sustainability at the cutting edge’, ‘was to provide an overview of the science and technology behind sources of renewable energy which would assume prominence in the next decade. This review was placed in the context of increasing concern about the impact of climate change and the fact that the built environment in countries like the UK is the worst culprit in terms of carbon dioxide emissions.’ (Smith,2003;xi) This quotation, from Smith’s technical work, emerged from this gathering. More of a handbook, it examines environmentally sensitive options for heating and cooling, and offering the option for drastically reducing emissions in urban buildings in an environment that (now) tacitly accepts the need for ecological architecture. A number of approaches which demonstrate the sensitive manipulation of all elements of the brief to create an ecologically sound, a culturally sensitive, a socially appropriate and an economically viable building have come to light, many of which employ much of Pearson’s First Principle as mentioned above.[6] The examples fulfill a variety of scales of development, and different intensities in terms of sustainability with regards to site. On the one hand, it is sadly disasters that prompt new innovative methods of shelter, in a modular though aesthetic form. Out of the Hurricane Katrina catastrophe came the Modular Transitional Growth Housing (MTGH)[7] a conceptual system that consists of a number of elegant forms which can be bunched together in a variety of forms and combinations to shelter, recycle, light and cool. Architect Philippe Barriere introduces a BioClimatic design element with high ceilings and naturally stimulated ventilation which assists in the above. However, this highly conceptual modular structure is on the knife edge of socially practical and Marxist zeal- seen as an approach that can solve a multitude of housing problems from disaster relief to inner city complexes to fishing retreats, the reality of its implementation is as conceptually choppy as Arcosanti- mass appeal is visual but not implicit. A more practical and tangible solution to a mass housing challenge is the Greenwich Millennium Village (GMV) by Ralph Erskine, (a veteran of inner city housing in his seminal Byker Wall Project at Newcastle-upon-Tyne) together with EPR Architects Limited.[8] The concept is the total regeneration of the Greenwich Peninsula, particularly the site of the former gasworks, where the Millennium Dome[9] stands. Its proximity to central London and the City mean that its viability as a dormitory suburb on bus and train routes is practical. The discourse as to how to reuse ‘brownfield’ sites is to some extent resolved here, with the ultimate provision of some 900 residences by the end of 2007 with expansions continuing till 2015. The most important feature of this project is that a newly formed community is occupying the apartments that cater for a variety of different ‘social classes’, with a series of amenities such as an ‘eco-park’ green space, as well as office and retail developments. Using a prefabricated system, the buildings are hardy, but incorporate a generous use of colour. From the perspective of the environmental sustainability point of view, the rainwater is collected, grey water is recycled, insulation is good, which minimizes overheating by artificial means in winter, and the use of recycled materials such as timber, street furniture, and concrete has been a priority (GMV Fact Sheet 5[10]). Maximum efficiency is critical to the brief and in this regard, the website offers the following information- The need for artificial lighting is minimized by the provision of large windows meaning less running costs. These windows are made from environmentally sustainable material, and are also well insulated and draught proofed. Thermally, the buildings are constructed to standards 10% higher than the national standards, which assist in the reduction of emissions. Also, the highly coloured paint is specially chosen for its non-toxic values, and is a non-polluting paint. Water saving devices are used in all sanitary fittings, and plumbed appliances. The rooms in the apartments have sliding sections that maximizes flexibility and enables multiple uses of living space[11]. Power is supplied by a combined heat and power system (CHP) where the generated heat (as opposed to the generated power) is put to use. Excess power is sold off to the national grid (GMV Fact Sheet 4[12]) The energy constraints that were used as a benchmark in the design process ranged from the amount of energy required for manufacture, to the contribution their manufacturer makes to greenhouse gas emissions. The success of this project thus far has meant that the developers were the first large developers in the United Kingdom to be awarded the ‘Excellent Eco-Homes’ rating which is an incentive submitted by the Building Research Establishment to promote the construction of eco-friendly domestic buildings. This is certainly a far cry from the establishment’s attitude a few years ago! The multi-award winning BedZED (Beddington Zero Energy Development) completed in 2002 through the Peabody Trust with Bill Dunster Architects also puts these principles into practice. The mixed-use and mixed-tenure development of BedZED is the UK’s first and largest ‘carbon-neutral eco-community’, also built on a ‘brownfields’ site[13] in Sutton, near London. The concept behind the project was to produce as much energy from renewable sources as it consumes, creating a net zero-fossil energy development, and therefore a ‘carbon-neutral development’; it thus provides no net addition of CO2 to the atmosphere[14]. Smith describes the development as ‘a prescription for a social revolution; a prototype for how we should live in the twenty-first century if we are to enjoy a sustainable future. (Smith;2003:153) The BedZED design concept is itself a model of flexibility, with a variety of different forms of accommodation as well as different types of tenure. Altogether there are 82 homes of different sizes, some for sale and others rental units aimed at social housing income levels. Amenity is also important, cementing social sustainability, with facilities such as a kindergarten, health centre, commercial use node, exhibition centre and an organic shop! Environmental sustainability is ensured through the construction of massive walls that store heat for release in cooler periods. Also, a 300mm rock-wool insulation (Smith; 2003:54) provides for extra insulation on both the walls and the roof. The windows are triple glazed. Orientation plays a large part in the energy efficiency of the buildings, with north facing elevations of office and commercial space optimizing the softer light and minimizing the need for air-conditioning, whilst the homes, which benefit from the warmer orientation, face south. Low energy lighting is used where needed to assist in the reduction of electrical output. As with GMV, the choice of materials was dependant on their low embodied energy, and were sourced from suppliers as close as possible to minimize transport energy costs. The use of timber from sustainable sources, recycled materials, grey water recycling, solar power, and roof gardens serve to embed the environmental responsibility. Power is also supplied by a CHP plant. A critical point about BedZED is the minimizations of vehicle use- residents are encouraged through education and the ‘Green Transport Plan’ to promote alternative means of transport such as walking and cycling.[15] Also, the provision of efficient public transport means that the reliance on motor cars can be reduced. A larger infrastructural solution is that of the Vastra Hamnen waterfront development at Malmo in Southern Sweden. This used to be a ‘brownfields’ site that was part of the old dockyard. A number of architects including Erskine are involved with the project. The city was participant in the forming of the brief, dictating colour, ecological rigour, provision of park space, and minimal building performance. A wind turbine provides a large source of energy. Again, the complex is socially mixed, minimizing the potential for creating class-based residential neighbourhoods and there are shops on the street level, with the intention that the owners live above them. As in the previous example, the streets are car free and a pool of electric vehicles which are powered by wind energy is available to transport residents to town. Sewage enters the main system in the city, but other waste is dispensed of internally, where residents dispose of food in one tube and then dry waste in an other. The tubes lead to common disposal sites where the dry waste is incinerated and the food is composted providing biogas which returns to the occupants through the gas main. Smith considers this project as one that has ‘achieved reconciliation between market forces and environmental priorities.’ (Smith;2003:144) The single-building environmentally-efficient challenge was taken up by Sir Norman Foster and his partner Ken Shuttleworth in the Swiss Re Headquarters building, St Mary Axe. It remodeled a conceptual idea developed by Sir Buckminster Fuller and Foster in 1971 called the ‘Climatroffice’ which ‘suggested a new rapport between nature and workspace; its garden setting created a microclimate within and energy conscious enclosure, while its walls and roof were dissolved in a continuous triangulated skin. (Walker in Heartfield Abley;2001:207) Swiss Re was completed in 2004. It is notably the first building of its kind in England to manipulate environmental conditions to minimize air-conditioning, wind loads etc. The forty floors are designed as a series of rectangular plates that spiral up the building, assisting in daylight entering the building and reducing the amount of artificial lighting (Powell;2003:219) Revival of and recirculation of stale air is facilitated by roof gardens, also known as ‘bioclimatic terraces’ which re-oxygenate the building. These roof gardens are also used as social gathering spaces, which aids in increasing the quality of the work place. Most of the ventilation is natural, and unlike many buildings of its kind, the windows can all open. The base of the building has been formed to minimize wind load on the building and to minimize the creation of wind corridors so often found at street level in cities. (Powell;2001:219) The new age commitment to the environment and the lessening of emissions is often approached with zeal- Artist Freidensreich Hundertwasser was approached by the Mayor of Vienna to remodel the Spittelau Energy Plant. At first he turned it down, opposed to the assumed ecological failings embodied in the project. However, after assurances that the remodeling of the plant would be including the provisions for drastically reducing emissions, he took on the project for free. Working together with Architect Peter Pelikan, the industrial faà §ade was remodeled into a whimsical parody, where ‘The power plant†¦.. shows how to foreground the open creative spirit in harmony with nature and the anonymous city’ (Asensio;2003:31). Although this is not necessarily as direct an example as some of the new constructions mentioned above, I suggest that it is valid, given that the pressure to reuse buildings is a large part of architectural discourse, and is itself a tactic of sustaina bility and environmental recycling, the ‘greening’ of them in terms of minimizing emissions, changing technologies, and in this case mitigating the massive industrial-ness of the power station, makes it more socially environmentally friendly for the residents of Vienna. In the introduction to New Architecture in Britain, Powell states: ‘the future of architecture, in Britain and elsewhere is linked to such vital issues- the fate of our cities, the housing crisis and the protection of the earth’s fragile environment- that discussion of style seems almost irrelevant.’ (Powell;2003:20) This statement, in a glossy publication of contemporary architecture is a far cry from the plea made by Crowther less than a decade ago[16]. Whilst I agree with Powell that the language of architecture is changing, as it always does, the discussion of style is not irrelevant- low budget beauty and elegance is provided by the (highly theoretical) MGTH project, a mix of economic and social strata is contained in the Greenwich Millennium Village, a bold development more agreeable with the Vitruvian ‘Commodity and Firmness’, the BedZED and Vastra Hamnen developments that limit motor vehicles and provide the use of electric cars. Ironically, i t is perhaps the Swiss Re building, as Powell suggested in his 2001 volume ‘(that) reinforces the point that office towers can be distinctive, even beautiful, objects that complement, rather than deface, the skyline.’ (Powell;2001:219) which has managed to push the issue of sustainability and its connection with the very possibility of aesthetic beauty in the Vitruvian model into the forefront of populist architecture. However, we must not forget, in the clamour of the new, those early visionaries that promoted the values of engaging with the environment and treading with sensitivity. The investigations into the connection between culture, landscape, environment and architecture that informed the basis of the approach to the buildings built today, were seminal works of their time, situated in an alternative environment that was far too left of the modernist mainstream to find favour. But we can also feel thankful that finally, the discourse of environmentally friendly architecture has emerged in the mainstream- let us hope that it is not too late. References: Abley, I Heartfield, J (2001) Sustaining architecture in the anti-machine age Chichester, Wiley-Academy Andrews, J (1982) Architecture : a Performing art Lutterworth Press Asensio, P(2003) Freidensreich Hundertwasser Barcelona, LOFT Publications Cosanti Foundation(2000) Arcosanti Workshops 2000 (pamphlet) Phoenix, Cosanti Cosanti Foundation(2000) Cosanti-Arcosanti (pamphlet) Phoenix, Cosanti Crowther, R(1992) Ecologic architecture Massachusetts, Butterworth-Heinemann Curl, J (1999)Oxford Dictionary of Architecture Oxford, Oxford University Press Fitch, J(1960) Primitive Architecture and climate from Scientific American, December p134-144 Harrop-Allin, C(1975)Norman Eaton, Architect- a study of the work of the South African Architect Norman Eaton 1902-1966 Johannesburg, C Struik Publishers Marschall S (2000) Opportunities for Relevance Kearney, BPretoria, University of South African Press Pearson, D(1990) The Natural House book London, Conran Octopus Powell, K(2003) New architecture in Britain London, Merrel Powell, K(2001) New London architecture London, Merrel Rapaport, A(1969) House form and culture Prentice Hall Rudofsky, B (1965) Architecture without architects: a short introduction to non-pedigreed architecture New York, Museum of Modern Art Shelter Publications(1973) Shelter United States, Shelter Publications Smith, P (2003) Sustainability at the cutting edge : emerging technologies for low energy buildings Oxford, Architectural Press Vale, B(1991) Green architecture design for a sustainable future London, Thames and Hudson Websites: http://www.greenwich-village.co.uk/index_main.htm (17.06.07) http://www.arcosanti.org/ (17.06.07) http://www.peabody.org.uk/pages/GetPage.aspx?id=179 http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/0 6/15/prefab-friday-modular-transitional-growth/#more-4683 (17.06.07) 1 Footnotes [1] Sustainability as an idea was a large component of ‘development speak’ in the context of poverty and limited resources. This embraced notions of community participation as well as optimizing resources. [2] The Oxford Dictionary of Architecture notes that ‘ecological architecture- Aims to respond to declining energy resources, eg using energy conservation, efficient insulation, rainwater, solar radiation, and wind power, and recycling as much as possible. The term was coined in the 1970’s’ (Curl;1999;220). Similarly, ‘green architecture- Buildings designed according to energy-saving criteria and the reduction of pollution.’ (Ibid;288). [3] From the third chapter of Vitruvius De Architectura comes the definition of beauty in architecture as firmitas, utilitas, venustas or Commodity, Firmness and Delight. The practicality of the building, as well as its robustness is as important as its beauty. [4] The necessity to incorporate en

Project Management and Hemas Holdings

Project Management and Hemas Holdings 1.1 Introduction on the Project Management and Hemas Holdings FMCG.   Ã‚   Project Management can be expressed as the application of knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to project activities to meet the project requirements. Project Management has its long history which was practiced informally and has been officially recognised and emerged in mid of the 20th century in distinctly.   The global body for project management which is Project Management Institute USA facilitate the concept and it is comprehensively explained in the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK ® Guide) further (PIM, 2017). In meeting successfulness of the project, it is vital to understand and plan the project cycle. Project cycle is the key concept which is discussed massively in the subject of Project Management and it has been acknowledged as the methodical sequence of cohesive set of tasks which are quantified, accomplished in stages, in ensuring the success of the project (Forsberg, 2005). Hemas Holding PLC, with a renowned history of 65 years, has become a key blue chip company diversified in to five main sectors. The sectors are namely FMCG, Health care, Leisure, Transport (logistic) and other. Hemas FMCG serving the Sri Lankan customer base via its wide range of products and services. The group seized a strategic moving to the next level through the acquisition J.L. Morison Son Jones (Ceylon) PLC. Also as a move in managed succession plan, Hemas invited Mr Steven Enderby to the Board offering the position of Chief Executive Officer. The flag ship products such as Baby Cheramy the Hemas brand has won the Sri Lankan mothers loyalty for nearly 60 years (Hemas Annual Report, 2016). 1.2 Project requirements. The purpose of upgrading SAP 6.0 HANA to SAP S4 HANA at HEMAS FMCG sector was to enhance the Enterprise Resource Planning (referred to as ERP going forward) culture within the organisation. The rapidly growing business which pumps the highest revenues portion which is 38% needs to be fully monitored (Hemas Annual Report, 2016). The controls needs to be well set and deviations need to be reported in a timely manner.  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚   Figure 1 FMCG Sector Vs. Group performance 1.3 Hemas FMCG strategy and feasibility of the ERP project. Hemas founded under the vision of Enriching Lives and they do focus on it heavily. Hemas history has shaped the ways and means that is se the potential. The consistent effort in generating organic as well as inorganic growth had positively impacted on enriching the value of the Hemas stakeholders today. The ERP project implementation will help the organisation to be well aligned to its Vision 2020, concept and there five-year strategic plan (Hemas Annual Report, 2016). The advancement in terms of the SAP 6.0 will allow the HEMAS FMCG sector to cater to the customer requirements and to meet demand. This would decommission most of supporting systems bring all them under one system in an advance tech platform. 1.4 SAP 6.0 to SAP S4 Feasibility study. The project on HEMAS FMCG, SAP 6.0 HANA upgrade intends further improvements in to the EPR that they operate at the moment and this system upgrade will managed by the global SAP Functional team and the handing over will happen to the   Hemas Corporate IT. The creation of blue print copy will be done by this team and also hey will do the pilot run planning and monitoring at FMCG sector offices located in Colombo (Head Office), Dankotuwa (Factory and Walisara (Finish good warehouse).   Hence upgrading ERP in Hemas FMCG will be driven by the experienced global SAP team which will be and also will be facilitated by Attune Lanka. Attune is the local consultant for SAP implementation and upgrades. Attune has shown is positive track records in SAP related projects. The company is very experienced in SAP implementation which is attached to MAS group. Attune with its localized experience they support the implementation and upgrade tasks locally while connecting the procedures with the global consultants and the locally based end users. The SAP S4 Project needs be sponsored with US $1.5 Mn and this is forecast base on number of operators involved in the Sri Lankan operations. The approximate costing was carried out based on similar projects which were carried out for different agency offices. The Hemas group will be funded the full project which will be repaid to the group by the FMCG sector in 5 years time. This is possible as the Revenue growth % is at 20.2% for 2016 (Hemas Annual Report, 2016). 2.1 Statement of work (SOW) Hemas FMCG sector SAP 6.0 HANA Upgrade to SAP S4 will have the following critical areas as per the Statement of work. Scope of work Upgrade of SAP ERP will bring in all the functions such as Demand Planning team, Material Requisition team, Procurement, Stores, Quality Assurance, Finance, Marketing and HR. Currently HR is not integrated within the ERP but with SAP S4 HANA the Hemas FMCG will be fully integrated. Since the data is currently is the same platform the integration will not be complex and time consuming. Following will be the main functions which will enjoy the facilities of the system upgrade. Demand Planning Material planning Procurement OP (Purchase Ordering) process Production Production planning Stores/ Warehouse GRN (Goods Receive) and stock control Quality Assurance Quality check and release Raw material Finance General Ledger and Financial reporting Marketing and distribution- Releasing the Finish goods to the market Project duration/ Budget The expected time for the upgrade is 6 months starting form upgrade, pilot run and handing over. This will include the initial test run as well as most critical go live phase. The total SAP S4 upgrade is spitted in to phases for the monitoring and control purpose. The funds need to be allocated to manage the cost and expenses. Hence a budget is allocated separately which is USD 1.5 Mn. SAP S4 Project time lines SAP S4 HANA Gantt chart on Deliverables Key deliverables of the project The key goal is to successfully upgrade the SAP 6.0 HANA in to the SAP S4 HANA. Hemas FMCG Sector intends to integrate the Human Resource (HR) function also to the ERP which in not at present. The SAP S4 platform will enhance the integrity and will improve the communication which will be faster and safer in an email based operation. Efficiency improvements will occur in the eventuality. Responsibility and authority The SAP Upgrade Project team headed by the Hemas FMCG sector Project Manager will be the ultimate responsible party where as all team member of the project team will have an equal portion of the responsibility to deliver the a successful SAP upgrade. Mainly the time lines and the level of success will be monitored and the budget needs to be managed. The SAP Upgrade Project manager will be appointed by the Hemas FMCG Sector management were the member form each functional are will be added to make the presence and brining in ideas to meet the specific expectations of the project. The project manager focus is to monitor the project with the assistance of the functional consultants. Attune Lanka will be responsible for the realizing the project in meeting expected results. In order to make the project a success the Project manager needs to be provided with Resource in terms of Human Capital as well as knowledge, equipment and funds. Scope will provide necessary guide line which the project team will follow where the excellent level of leadership will drive the team live for its results. According to Laufer, it is clear that comprehensive understanding of the project via clear scope will facilitate the Project Manger to monitor the deadlines and cost factors ensuring no overrun in the two elements (Laufer, 2012). Project planning, phase monitoring, releasing the resource on time actions on deviation and contingency palling are critical elements. Communication gaps needs to be narrowed down where keeping the entire set of stake holder on the same page with updated information. 2.2 Work Breakdown Structure of the SAP S4 HANA upgrade project. The project at Hemas FMCG sector on SAP ERP 6.0 HANA upgrade to S4 HANA will flow through 6 months which is starting form the Project Kick off team formation to Go-live signoff. The total project can be broadly split in to key 5 areas which are clearly shown within in Project Life Cycle (PLC) as below. Scope definition Understanding the goal of the project is vital which happens in this stage. The GAP analysis will facilitate the stakeholders to understand Where are we and Where we need to go. The basic planning comes in handy whereas project time lines and resource identification and finalisation occur. Project SAP S4 planning After the resource are finalised the deliverables will be clearly defined and responsibilities of each and every member of the team will be explained recorded and with authority levels to act upon. Planning and Segregation duties will be performed by the Project manager which needs to be rolled out with proper decision making and leadership. Execution control Monitoring and control of the SAP project is while the project is on the go is a staple action needs to be taken during this stage. Basically implementation, review and control occur ensuring schedules are on track. Deviations needs to be monitored and problem solving and decision making plays a major roll during the session. Also the updated information needs to be reported to key stakeholders at the Hemas FMCG Sector. Project evaluation In terms of evaluation the testing is carried out as in the execution stage the project is on-going and controlled to meet the desired outcomes. The testing is carried out by deriving reports where the Test Data in faded to the system and checked against the previous report whether the output is correct and process is smooth. All testing results and outcomes needs to be kept in documented form and the progress will be reported Completion Focusing on the Project Life Cycle this is the last stage of the project, where an assessment is done against actual and expected outcomes. The delivery of the project results and handing over the project is occurred. The experience and the leanings of the overall project are identified via a post completion audit and the points are recorded to be used in future projects. The explanations for any deviations of the SAP S4 HANA upgrade will be reported with actions taken. As per Allen, the final user acceptance testing needs to be carried out and performed during completion stage and results needs to be checked and verified against project plan (Allen, 2004). Work Break down structure for the SAP S4 HANA upgrade project can be developed as provided below. The work is divided in to main five phases considering the project life cycle. The sub tasks are the reflector of the main ones. 3.1 Network Diagram The success of the project is what everyone intends. The priorities of each project are different to each other. The Network diagram represents the priorities that need to be in the SAP upgrade project demonstration the sequence of the activities allowing the Project management team to focus on the critical path which project should flow. Having the network diagram and understanding the critical path of activities create more visibility about the tasks processed and in the same time tasks can be managed in order to assist utmost vital tasks of the entire project which cannot be compromised at any cost (Young, 2000). In order to identify the dependencies between the activities the below predecessor table needs to be prepared. Then the Network Diagram will be drawn based on the predecessor table where the Project team will engage in following tasks. Gathering necessary resources the right team Identifying each sub tasks which supports the key task Putting the tasks in the sequence (along with dependencies) Allocating sufficient time for each of the tasks Calculating the least possible time for the most time consuming will identified as critical path finally. Calculate the earliest completion and latest completion times Finalise and review the diagram via a brainstorming session 3.2 Network diagram Critical Path These two are popular terms discussed in Project management which facilitate the project deadlines demonstrating the time frames in graphical for. 4.1 Proposed budget for the project. The cost factor is critical for any project as SAP upgrade. The budget needs to be managed by the project management team. When there are low budgets and restriction it will hinder the progress and the success of the SAP project. A well-managed budget helps to manage the funds and to optimal utilisation of resources. Also even the ultimate responsibility is to manage the budget is with the Project manager, the each and every team member needs to make sure that the tasks they are working on are operating and activated on time were the time factor can make a huge effect on the Budget if it gets dragged. Experienced gained form prior project related to implementation or upgrade will help the project manager and his team in ascertaining the spending patterns. . This specific project on SAP system upgrade will not be that tough as the SAP ERP 6.0 is already running live at the Hemas FMCG sector from 2005. During the progression of the project if the team decides that resource needs to be enhanced additional resources needs to be allocated which will result in Budget expansions. 4.2 Cost distribution plan SAP upgrade. The cost distribution plan demonstrates that the cost or rather the expense level at each stage of the project. This can be broken into weeks. Total spending against the each phase spending can be recognised via the cost distribution plan. Any deviation in the project which occurs subsequently will require additional funds to be spent. The cost distribution plan ensures that the organization is exactly planning the expenditure and the timing of the cost in the most appropriate manner. Hemas FMCG sector SAP S4 upgrade can be shown via the Cost distribution plan as below. (Values in USD 000s). There can be any type of the Project but Project quality management engages with all the controls and monitoring with regard to the quality of the project, as that aspect it expected by all the stakeholder as a key result of the project. The aspect of Quality Management can be discussed as follows. Level of Customer Satisfaction The project goal in to get derive the project goals and to witness the advantages of the project. Mostly a project is carried out to fulfil the customer requirements. When considering the SAP S4 HANA system the upgrade form SAP 6.0 HANA, the end users expect to enjoy the latest facilities in deriving report with more information, processing activities faster, more integration, user friendliness etc. Also since the HR will also get integrated to the Hemas FMCG sector operation via the system upgrade will result in a fully-fledged SAP experience in the eventuality. Continuous Enhancement The competition is at another level as is immense in the modern era. There is no time to relax. An ERP system facilitates the entire operation of the organisation to   it will help the continuous improvement in terms of Total Quality Management (TQM) and concepts such as Zero Defects, Six sigma. The Hemas FMCG sector had a growth of 23% against 2015 financial year, and will be growing at a rate. Hence the sector needs more focus in the improving continuously (Hemas Annual Report, 2016). Prevention over examination The cost of quality measurements are considered under this whether it is discussed that precautionary actions will help the organisation to succeed. This can be further discussed as cost of conformance and non-conformance. Basically the system upgrade in to SAP S4 will help Hemas FMCG to further look in to prevention and examinations while to operations grow at a rate. 5.1 Quality Assurance The topic of Quality Plan describes the identification of quality requirements of the projects and ensures the project is carried out within the quality boundaries. The output of a proper quality plan will be quality management plan, quality metrics and the fact of quality enhancements which is also known as process improvements plan. Quality Assurance can be broadly defined as the plan and systematic actions executed in a quality system in order to ensure the quality requirements for a specific product or service will be fulfilled. When considering the quality assurance techniques cost benefit analysis, cost of quality, benchmarking, control check lists and Fish borne diagrams are discussed. Cost of Quality The expenses that occur in Quality Management process is discussed in detail where and more focus will be to Prevention cost as that can be managed internally via improvements whereas Appraisal cost in external which the customers of Hemas FMCG get to know. Benchmarking Comparing the SAP 4S at Hemas with another organisation which is already will allows the project team and the stakeholder to identify how the system upgrade is and the success rate. What is to be learnt and how Hemas FMCG could improve the performance of the overall organisation. Flow charts The flow chart represents the sequence of the project progress in a graphic manner. Also this enables the SAP S4 project team to visualize the associated points and processes of the upgrade. Key decision points are identified via the chart and close monitoring can be done based on the identified facts. 5.2 Quality Control After the completion of the Project the Quality control mechanism takes place focusing on principles of the quality assurance. Quality control check is vital action that needs to be taken to verify whether the output of the project of SAP S4 system upgrade has been executed without any deviations from the original plan. The completed project will not have any advantage of this as this is an audit done upon post completion however the learning point of the upgrade project can be carry forward to make sure the future projects are performed with more care and control (Project Management Institute, 2017). The Risk Management plan is another crucial factor of a project as this facilitates in identification of risk of the specific project, assessing the risk and mitigating the risk. The risk exposure of the Hemas FMCG sector can be identified as follows. Risk identification Lack of high level of integrations HR functions separately Low level of requirement gathering and understanding No having sufficient knowledge by the end user on tacking the SAP S4 HANA Incomplete user acceptance procedure Lack of proper testing by the end user Risk of not completing in 2017 Q4 as planned Risk of budget over run in terms of cost and time 6.2 Risk assessment The risk exposures will help the risk assessment. This needs to be done with the comprehensive understanding of rick level and probability of occurrence. The practicality will also need to be counted in assessing the risk. Prior knowledge in SAP 6.0 HANA implementation occurred in 2005 will be useful in upgrading the existing ERP system at Hemas FMCG sector to the next level which is SAP S4 HANA. Maintenance of a risk register along with the risk assessment is the responsibility of the project team where the information needs to be shared in a frequent manner with the relevant parties in order to eliminate risks as much as possible to ensure the success of the SAP S4 upgrade project. Proper documentation and monitoring is important. SAP S4 HANA upgrade at Hemas FMCG identified risks in the risks identification phase will be utilised in processing the risk assessment as below. 6.3 Risk mitigation plan Risk mitigation is all about taking action for the per-identified risks and taking prompt action to diminish the negative impact which arises from them based on the priorities identified via the risk assessment. The Risk identified needs to address as below. Lack of high level of integrations HR functions separately The HR function not being integrated to the system leads to communication gaps. Hence the risk of brining in HR function Low level of   requirement gathering and understanding The risk of not gathering important information on the requirements will change the scope and having a reasonable level of braining storming with members form all the function will mitigate the risk. No having sufficient knowledge by the end user on tacking the SAP S4 HANA It is pointless having sophisticated systems if the end users do not know how to use them. Ultimately the investment will be just another useless project. The end users need to be given proper training which motivates them to use the system frequently without any fear. Incomplete user acceptance procedure All the users are required to accept the system via proper documentation. This is important is change management as smooth the users needed to get shifted to the new system in an appropriate way. Lack of proper testing by the end user This needs to be mitigated by running several test runs and 100% accuracy test which is the only method to do so. Risk of not completing in 2017 Q4 as planned Project plan execution at its best will remove any risk in delaying the project. The project team needs to coordinate well and execute the actions on time as agreed. Any deviations need to be communicated clearly with prior hand allowing the Project manager to take precautionary actions. Hemas financial year ends by 31st March 2018 and the on time completion will allows the Hemas FMCG to do a parallel run in the SAP S4 HANA. Risk of budget over run in terms of cost and time Budget needs to be managed as that has being agreed after a proper analysis which is USD 1.5 Mn. The perfect execution of project plan will mitigate this risk. Also having a supplementary budget for contingency will always help. Communication which leads to lot of issues due the gaps is the procedures. There is a paramount importance of proper communication for the success of the project. As per the SAP upgrade in Hemas FMCG sector there are key stake holders including Project team, management of FMCG sector, group IT, group Internal Audit team, shareholders etc. who needs to be managed with proper information. Hence communication plan will help to execute that smoothly. Sound level of communication needs to be handled by the project manager by himself and which will be replicated the project team member in the eventuality (Kliem, 2007). Communication plan needs to be equipped with, Standard format and levels of communication The modes which are intended to use Calls, Meetings, Memos, and Conference Calls etc. Responsibility of communication flow Frequency   of the and the activities which is communicated formally and informally How to fulfil the requirements of stakeholders in terms of communication. Timing and controls. In managing the communication requirements of the SAP S4 upgrade the below communication plan can be utilised. Hemas FMCG Sector SAP ERP system upgrade will be a challenge as the success of the project has a major impact to the Group as FMCG sector is the key revenue generator with 38% contribution. The challenges and the complexities can be managed via comprehensive understanding and smooth function of the project management methodology. The said project team need to be armed and equipped with necessary resources and skills to ensure a success of the upgrade project. It is a very critical move that the management decided by cultivating the idea of the SAP system upgrade. The intended results can be achieved as the report emphasise the face of on time quality deliverable in all the tasks of the full project. As mentioned above the leadership of the Project manager and the active participation of the team members are also critical as they are the driving force of the SAP upgrade process in to SAP S4 HANA in Hemas FMCG Sector. Also following proper quality plan, risk management plan and communication plan project team will be more prepared to possible issues that may arise in the project.

Impressions of Aging and the Elderly in Country Music :: Music Media Research Papers

Impressions of Aging and the Elderly in Country Music Abstract This paper examines recorded country music from about 1920 to 1990 as a source of popular impressions of aging and old age. A sample of 100 songs, primarily from Billboard's Top 40 charts are content-analyzed and the data categorized into image areas. Overall, as expected, the images of aging in the lyrics of country music, both as a process and as a demographic category, are positive; however, interesting variations appear when gender and specific image category are controlled. One important measure of the perception of the aging process is the manner in which aging and old age are depicted in various cultural forms. The condition of old age in primitive and prehistoric societies has been described by the folk tales and cave drawings of that have survived to the present (Fisher, 1978). Likewise, it is possible that current societal views of aging may be illuminated through the impressions created by contemporary agents of socialization. And while it is difficult to determine whether stereotypical images are derived from reality or if, if fact, such images create reality (Clark, 1980), it is possible to investigate how and to what extent certain institutions reflect various images of the aging process. In the last decade, a number of social scientists have investigated the ways in which informal agents of socialization provide or support current stereotypes and attitudes held toward the elderly. A review of previous studies in the area indicates that researchers have examined aging in jokes (Davies, 1977; Palmore, 1971; Richman, 1977), birthday greeting cards (Demos and Jache, 1980), television drama (Harris and Feinberg, 1978), poetry (Clark, 1980; Sohngen and Smith, 1978), newspapers (Bochholz and Bynum, 1982) and literature (Janelli, 1988; Loughman, 1977; Sohngen, 1977). Of particular interest and importance to this study is the recent work of Cohen and Kruschwitz, (1990) which examines printed sheet music from 1830 to 1980 for impressions of aging and old age. While their search for popular sheet music is admittedly "nonsystematic" and their selection of image categories was "inductive," the authors have, in our view, made a significant contribution to the popular culture analy sis of aging and the elderly.Research to date suggests that the elderly have been portrayed in contradictory ways with some images being negative and passive and others positive and active (Buchholz and Bynum, 1982). The question still remains as to what cumulative picture of aging and the elderly is painted by American music.

heroarms Henry’s Personal Code in A Farewell to Arms :: Farewell Arms Essays

Henry’s Personal Code in A Farewell to Arms    A Farewell to Arms, by Ernest Hemingway is a story of Love, war and one Man’s pursuit of finding his own personal code in order to make a separate peace. Fredrick Henry is an American who serves as a lieutenant in the Italian army to a group of ambulance drivers. Hemingway portrays Frederick as a lost man searching for order and value in his life. Catherine Barkley is an English volunteer nurse who serves in Italy. She is considered very experienced when it comes to love and loss since she has already been   confronted with the death of a loved one when her fiancà © was killed earlier in the war. Their love affair must survive the obstacles of World War. The background of war-torn Italy adds to the tragedy of the love story. The war affects the emotions and values of each character. The love between Catherine and Frederick must outlast long separations, life-threatening wartime situations, and the uncertainty of each other's whereabouts or condition. This novel is a beautif ul love story of two people who need each other in a period of upheaval. At the start of the novel, Frederick is given a vacation to leave the war for a period of time in order to relax. He befriends a priest because he admires the fact that the priest lives his life by a set of values that give him an orderly lifestyle. He is told by the priest to go to Abruzzi, there in the mountains he can relax and forget about the worries of war. But Fredrick is hardheaded and listens to his friends and decides to go to Naples, there he   drinks and travels from one house of prostitution to another and yet he is   discontent because his life is very unsettled. This vacation was his free ticket out of the war but Fredrick does not realize nor understand how bad this war is. He decides to return due to his pride and patriotism. A close friend of Fredrick, Rinaldi is also a Lt. In the army. Together they share stories and interests. Rinaldi is a strong man, one who understands what war is about. Through numerous attempts of lessons given to Fredrick, he still doesn’t understand. Rinaldi constantly calls Fredrick â€Å"baby† which is an accurate description of him. He is still a child and is not aware of the true meaning of war, love and life.

Eugene O’neill and the the Rebirth of Tragedy a Comparative Survey on Mourning Becomes Electra and Oresteia

Eugene Gladstone O'Neill is one of the greatest American playwrights, he is known for plays such as â€Å"Long Day's Journey into Night† ,†Beyond the Horizon† (1920), â€Å"Anna Christie† (1922), â€Å"Strange Interlude† (1928), â€Å"Mourning Becomes Electra†(1931)and The Iceman Cometh (1946). His plays probe the American Dream, race relations, class conflicts, sexuality, human aspirations and psychoanalysis. He often became immersed in the modernist movements of his time as he primarily sought to create â€Å"modern American drama† that would rival the great works of European modernists such as Ibsen, Strindberg and G. B. Shaw. O’Neill was a great admirer of classical theatre and as a young man he had read Friedrich Nietzsche’s work about the origin of Greek tragedy, in consequence he was very familiar with the subject and the techniques of representation. The ideas of the German critique and philosopher guided his dramatic works, in which he manifested the ability to adapt the defining characteristics of the classical tragedy to a modern script and audience. Thus, it is not surprising that we encounter God Dionysus in â€Å"Lazarus Laughed† (1928) or an adaptation of Oedipus’ character in â€Å"Desire Under the Elms(1924). As for â€Å"Mourning Becomes Electra† (1931), O’Neill explores Greek tragedy, attempting to modernize it. The play is based on Aeschylus’s trilogy The Oresteia (though it is closer to Sophocles’ Electra than to Aeschylus’ plays). In a 1931 letter to drama critic Brooks Atkinson, O’Neill wrote, â€Å"Greek criticism is as remote from us as the art it criticizes. What we need is a definition of Modern and not Classical Tragedy by which to guide our judgments† (Letters 19886: 390). The play (a trilogy made up of three plays) examines a post-Civil War American family. The scene in â€Å"Mourning Becomes Electra† is laid on a carefully chosen setting- a city in New England, immediately after the Civil War. It is remarkable whatsoever that O’Neill set the plot against such a historical background that had been previously chosen for the setting of great American novels by writers such as W. Faulkner or Nathaniel Hawthorne. It is well known that the South was the cradle of American aristocracy, which after the Civil War underwent a severe decay, thus providing a suitable climate for recreating a Greek tragedy. . The plot of the first two parts of the trilogy- Homecoming and the The Hunted closely follows the pattern of the events described in Agamemnon and the The Libation Bearers (Choephoroi): Ezra Mannon (Agamemnon) who ad jus t come back from the war was killed by his wife –Christine (Clitemnestra) with the help of her lover, captain Adam Brant(Aegisthus); further on Lavinia (Electra), the Mannons’ daughter, forces her brother Orin(Oreste) to punish the murder of their father. The Erinnyes[1] take the shape of madness in Orin’s case, as he feels responsible for the death of his mother and he is haunted by the feelings of guilt and remorse. The third part of the trilogy differs at some extent, as Orin kills himself while Oreste is exonerated of his guilt. There are many other details that are different from Aeschylus’ trilogy: for instance, Ezra Mannon didn’t sacrifice Iphigenia before leaving, his death and that of other characters is also different: the sword is replaced by the poison, and the matricide was a suicide caused by the son’s conduct. However, in spite of all these differences, O’Neill largely maintains the plotline of the Greek trilogy. Besides the plot, O’Neill preserves elements of â€Å"Oresteia† such as the use of masks, which enables him to individualize the tragic heroes from that of the anonymous group of the Chorus. All of the Mannons are described as having a very peculiar expression which reminds of a mask, just their eyes seem to have a certain vitality:†Her face is unusual, one is struck at once by the strange impression it gives in repose of being not living flesh but a wonderfully life-like pale mask, in which only the deep-set eyes are alive†(the description of Lavinia, p. 7); these masks that they naturally bear are a mark of their hero-like status which places them above the rest of the community, formed of characters such as servants or neighbors. It is remarkable how O’Neill contrives to preserve the Chorus, which is a fundamental element of the Greek tragedy. Although it is not as dramatic as the tragic Chorus of the classical Greek plays, each and every of the three parts of â€Å"Mourning Becomes Electra† begins with the performance of a chorus formed of different men and women that comment upon the Mannons, the history of their family, revealing to the audience details about the behavior and the character of the heroes. Moreover, the setting chosen by O’Neill is similar to the classical one used by the Greeks. It is known that in Aeschylus’ times a wooden wall was used as a background of the setting, the wall usually stood for a palace or a temple and this exactly the same as in O’Neill’s trilogy, as the greatest part of the action takes place in front of the Mannon’s residence which is described as being an enormous stone mansion that has the aspect of a Greek temple(the temple of god Apollo) â€Å"with a white wooden portico, with six tall columns†[2]. However that was the typical construction for a house that belonged to an American aristocratic family in the XIX century. In â€Å"Mourning Becomes Electra†, O’Neill brought into consonance the fundamental traits of the Greek tragedy and the specific elements of modern theatre, thus creating a modern tragedy that would please the contemporaneous audience. The tragedy of the House of Atreus is relocated in New England, at the end of the Civil War (the action of the play takes place between 1865 -1866), creating in this way an appropriate atmosphere. There are also allusions regarding the Gold Rush (p. 31), the assassinate of President Lincoln (p. 82) or the abolition of slavery (p. 256). Given this historical framework, â€Å"Mourning Becomes Electra† has a series of both thematic an stylistic elements that provide a modern like character, making a tragedy of our times out of it. First of all, one can observe how the puritan environment that surrounds the characters, enables O’Neill to have a modernist approach to the Greek expression of Fate. Quite similar to the Greek tragedies in which there is an obvious interference of the gods in the life of the â€Å"mortals†, or the tragic flaw or the hubris are put on the account of a supernatural force, and the mistakes of the ancestors inflict upon the present, in O’Neill’s work the presence of a power that prevails above all is also encountered. One the one hand, it is the history of the Mannons that triggers the tragedy(Adam Brant comes to revenge his father, who was disinherited), the portraits of the Mannons hanged throughout the house play an important part as they seem to observe and govern the Destiny of their descendants. On the other hand, the characters seem to accept quite naturally the rigor of destiny, for instance, Mrs. Hills, one of the members of the chorus that performs in the beginning of the second part, blames the Destiny for the death of Ezra Mannon, although she also casts a spiritual and divine shadow: â€Å"Maybe it is fate. You remember, Everett, you’ve always said about the Mannons that pride goeth before a fall and that someday God would humble them in their sinful pride†[3]. In between the lines 469-470 of Agamemnon the same matter is dealt with, as the chorus speaks about the danger of receiving too much praise, referring to Agamemnon who victoriously came back to Argos:â€Å"There is peril in the praise; Over-praised that he hears; For the thunder it is hurled from God's eyes†[4]. Mrs. Hills is the wife of Everett Hills, a minister of the North-American Congregational Church, so apparently, Zeus took the shape of a puritan god. It is a god that handles the threads that control the humans (according the Puritan belief in predestination), a god of justice who punishes those who transgress the strict moral code of New England’s puritan society. There are several innuendoes that continuously remind us that we deal with a Puritan milieu: Christine hates the house she lives in because of its â€Å"Puritan grey ugliness†(p. 34), she calls Lavinia â€Å"Puritan maiden†(p. 78) and her hatred towards Ezra Mannon is put on account of his Puritanism which prevents him to fully satisfy his wife in their love relationship. (p. 102). Even though O’Neill inserted the idea of Fate and predestination in his trilogy, this is just the surface layer, a pretext to conceal the real human frailties that are the source of tragic. The tragic flaw or the hubris are in fact of a different nature than that in the classical Greek plays (Fate), it is the hero’s weak and instinctual nature that urges him to commit reprehensible deeds such as murder or incestuous behavior. In his eagerness to adapt the classical legend to the modern times, O’Neill took into account the psychological developments of his time, especially when creating the heroes. One can foresee in his characters the projection of Sigmund Freud’s and Carl Gustav Jung’s theories about the importance of the subconscious, infantile sexuality, and the relationship between parents and children. In Mourning Becomes Electra we can observe a wide range of emotional disorders that trouble the characters in their family relationships: Orin obviously manifests Oedipus’ complex, as the main reason of his revenge (him killing Aegisthus) is not that of making justice, but rather his desire to get rid of his mother’s lover. Subsequently, once the mother is dead, the incestuous feeling develops towards his sister, Lavinia, given her physical resemblance with her mother, Orin displaces the love he once had for his mother to Lavinia. As far as Lavinia is concerned, she clearly suffers of Electra’s complex, as she passionately loves her father and permanently looks up to usurp her mother’s place. The origin of this disorder has its roots in Lavinia’s childhood as she was rejected by her mother ever since she was born. In her pursuit to supervene upon her mother’s position she unconsciously yearns for the love of Adam Brant(who physically resembles her ather, Ezra Mannon). Her feelings for Adam Brant and the hatred that she feels for her mother are in fact the true reasons of her revenge. Lavinia comes to acknowledge this in the end of the play when her subconscious plays her a trick (she calls her fiance, Peter, by the name of Adam) and commits what Norman Berlin calls â€Å"a F reudian slip†[5]. Although O’Neill denied to have had a deep knowledge of the theories that stood at the basis of psychoanalysis[6], it is beyond doubt that these principles surround the entire work, enhancing the characters with peculiar traits and motivations. Thus, it results a classical legend in modern psychological terms that were widely disseminated among the society of the XXth century, in consequence easy to understand for the contemporaneous spectators. Moreover, it is obvious that Mourning Becomes Electra does not have the poetic quality of Oresteia, as O’Neill doesn’t use the verse as a means of expression; although at times the tone might seem solemn and dignified, we deal with a work that is written in colloquial prose, full of phrases and idiomatic expressions appropriate to the social class that the heroes belong to. Even the language of the chorus reflects the speech of the American working class of the time, with their peculiar syntax, vocabulary and pronunciation. Although some representative literary figures wrote theatre in verse[7], the contemporary audience was not much accustomed to attend such a performance. O’Neill does not disappoint his audience in this matter. In conclusion, Eugene O’Neill encompasses in â€Å"Mourning Becomes Electra† all the aspects of modern civilization such as the Puritan environment, psychology and language attached to the distinctive features of Greek tragedy that he preserves from the original: the plotline, the masks, the chorus and the setting that convey an attractive uniqueness, which makes the play to be one of the most popular and praised works of the American literature. If Oresteia enabled Aeschylus to get the first prize of the drama contest held in Athens in 458 A. D. , â€Å"Mourning Becomes Electra† contributed to the awarding of Eugene O’Neill with the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1936.

Example Lay Out of School Paper Essay

It has been 5 years since the School of Education (SOE) tasted the sweetness of pride wearing the crown of Miss WVSU-LC. And now Miss Rita Marie Penado got it again for the SOE last September 21, 2012 when she outshined the three other competitors from the three departments/school. Miss Penado, a first timer for the pageant will represent the campus to Miss WVSU 2013 during the University Week Celebration scheduled on January 2013 at Main Campus Lapaz Iloilo City. During the local pageant, Penado received minor awards on Miss Photogenic, Most Popularity, Best in Talent, and Best in Interview. Mr. James Paren of BSED-IV escorted Miss Penado to the contest and consequently won the title of First Runner Up with special awards on Best in Talent and Mr. Popularity. Representative from the School of Technology Mr. Ricky Javana was crowned Mr. WVSU-LC 2012 with the following minor awards: Mr. Photogenic, Best in Formal Wear, and Best in Interview. Other contenders were Miss Jessa Horlador from the School of Technology, First Runner Up; Miss Beverly Lubas and Mr. Mark Anthony Espadon from the School of Criminology, Second Runner Up; and Mr. Raymond John Tiu and Miss Jerelyn Lomitillo from the School of Management, Third Runner Up. Hinampang 2012 By: April Lyn Geti-ayon Christine Joy Vallejo West Visayas State University-Lambunao Campus extended their annual University Hinampang last September 13-15, 2012. The activity was participated by the schools which are segregated into four energetic and competing Units; Unit 1-Torch (school of education), Unit 2-Pheonix (school of Technology), Unit 3-Eagles (school of Criminology) and Unit 4-Lions (school of management). This three days celebration had started with the parade of the faculty and staff and the different schools, organizations,  and clubs. The opening program was highlighted with the cheer dance competition sponsored by the cultural affairs wherein the Unit 4-Lions (school of Management) bagged the trophy of championship for the year’s cheer dance competition. Hinampang 2012 activity aims to intensify the hidden skills, talents and abilities of every student as well as to strengthen their good sportsmanship among other students. Editorial†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ K12: for Globalization By: Hazel Hablador After considering various proposals, K12 Program finally took its step towards globalization. Officially, the implementation of this program had started this School Year 2012-2013. Despite of the shortcomings such as lack of school facilities, classrooms, and teachers, the government believes that Philippine Education needs this program in order to decongest and enhance the basic education curriculum and provide better quality education for all which is the demand in the global market. The model that is currently proposed by the Dep-Ed is the K-6-4-2 Model. This model embroils Kindergarten, six years of elementary education, four years junior high school (grades 7-10), and two years senior high school (grades 11-12). The two years senior high school anticipates running time for students to consolidate acquired academic skills competencies. With the help of k12, we can show the world that we can compete globally. Upshot to this are accelerated economic growth, mutual recognition of Filipino graduates and professionals in other countries and positive overall impact on society. This is the best step that the government had imposed for the betterment of all. Let us always remember that whatever changes that may happen in the education system of our country, it is still part of our learning. We just need to follow and widen our fruitage of knowledge so that whatever zigzag road we may take, at the end, the road we have taken is still peaceful and bountiful. This is the change that will bring us to a new life and will make us competent to other countries. The BSED III Jefhrey Canopin Janine Marie Pama Marven Losaria April Lyn Geti-ayon Harold Quimba Christine Joy Vallejo Hazel Hablador April Lasangre Anthea Lebanan Richen Lindres Krizzan Jade Jumilla Jenalyn Gonzaga Mhay Lauron April Rose Lindong Anna Rose Soler Essays†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. The Joy of Triumph (A simple Talk to a Queen) By: Jenalyn Gonzaga and April Rose Lindong It was early in the morning of October 5, 2012 when I was walking along the corridor to attend the World’s Teachers’ Day; I met the reigning queen of WVSU-LC 2012. In a far distance I spotted the exotic beauty of Rita Marie Penado so I turned my way just to meet her. The crowned queen was very approachable and kind hearted so I invited her for a short chat. â€Å"Hello Miss Rita can I ask you a favor?† â€Å"Yes what is it?† â€Å"I just want to ask you about the pageant†. â€Å"What did you feel w2hen you were crowned as Miss WVSU-LC?† Rita replied with a sweet smile on her face â€Å"well, when I was crowned as Miss WVSU-LC 2012, I couldn’t exactly explain what my feeling was. It was unexplainable happiness. My tears run down my eyes; tears of joy. Likewise, I felt proud of my school. I didn’t expect of winning the crown but I did. It’s because I trust God. â€Å"Wow that’s great! â€Å"What are your preparations before the grand pageant?† â€Å"Actually, I’m not prepared like the other candidates. All I did was set my mind for the pageant, a little bit of practice and pray for God’s guidance during the pageant. That’s all, nothing less, nothing more.† â€Å"Really? What do you feel when you are walking on stage?† â€Å"Definitely, I was  nervous, so nervous that I couldn’t stand nor looked straight to the judges as well as the audiences. I imagined a crowd was looking at me. Oh My Gosh! That was my first time to join a pageant. I thought of stepping back, but never did me. The worst about it was I’m not even expecting to win the crown.† Rita told me with open heart. To be continued on page ..4 AGONY OF DEFEAT By: Richen Lindres and Anthea Lebanan After such tremendous victory winning the cheerdance competition it is surprising to say the least. Suddenly we are presented with a series of failure that stands and striking contrast for the wonderful victorious of the past two years. How instructive this if we only have the ears to listen to the message of this: â€Å"the thrill of victory was so quickly replaced by the agony of defeat†. This is the story of defeat. This the story of life and something we must learn to deal within our daily walk. One minute, we can be living in victory and next is defeat. The whistle blew. It was all over. The long practices and hard game, all the running and training, all the tough and shooting, all the pasta parties and toilet papering, everything. Over, ended, done. Why? Because the whistle had blown.as one team run off the field for joy and excitement, the other walked off in utter disappointment . as one side cheered, the other cried. The opposing team had left, the crowds had cleared, but our team just sat at our bench, looking, staring, and glaring at the empty field; mud patches and torn up grass everywhere. Poster everywhere, some hug high on the windows and some still sturdy on walls while others hung by a thread , others were just thrown to the ground by one-lookers and still more hung on fences wishing, wanting, hoping, for nothing but for the best of the team. Everyone stood, sat, laid looking at the field in amazing filled with disappointment, anger and sadness all the same time, trying to comprehend how everything they had worked so hard for had come to an end so quickly. Put to an end by the blow of the whistle. Thinking back to all the perfect opportunities..missed, all the unlucky touches or unconnected passed wondering what would have happened  if one thing had been done differently. Tears, hugs, words, it was all enough; it all meant nothing. It wasn’t supposed to end like this, and yet, with the final whistle, it did. Everyone now is experiencing the agony of defeat. Some days when they are sitting in class, staring out the window, at the field, they remember, they wonder, they wish, they push it out of their minds, still experiencing the agony of defeat. Sports†¦and others†¦. EAGLES BEATS THE TORCHES By: Janine Marie Pama and Ana Rose Soler Joy of triumph†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. â€Å"So will you kindly share to us some beauty tips in order to maintain our beauty and body.† â€Å"hahahaha† Rita gave a short laugh. â€Å" to tell you frankly, I never expected that question. Well, to maintain your beauty and body; simply relax, eat moderately with healthy foods, be stress free and most of all smile, all out smile and the world will smile at you.† â€Å"Thanks Rita. It was a pleasure to have a talk with you. Rita just gave a big â€Å"hahahahahahahahhaha† We exchanged laughter together. It was a great moment for me to have a chat with the reigning queen. Despite of the rain and muddy field, Eagles (School of Criminology) made it to the top when they smashed down the Torches (School of Education) during the championship game of football women last September 15, 2012. The Eagles beat down the torches with the score of 1-0 on the first half. Another ball was made to goal on the second half score of Eagles. The game ended with the tally of 2-0. Lions Roared and Crushed the Eagles By: Harold Quimba and April Lasangre On the hotness of the game, the management lions made it to the champ and whitewashed the Criminology Eagles during the University Hinampang, championship game Volleyball boys held September 15,2012. The ball spin and hit down the players of the Eagles as the Lions made the crushing spikes on  the first quarter. Another winning score had made the game hotter as they tally tie on the middle of the game. The last quarter had ended scored to the lions-23-25. Experience of an aspiring teacher†¦ By: Mhay L. Lauron Ambition is part and parcel of everyone’s life. It serves as a guiding star that lights our way to triumph. I never expected to be future teacher someday, but as time passes by, the feeling of being a future educator someday had eventually embraced me†¦ I grew up in a poor family, my father was a farmer and we are 10 in the family. I know the situation that we have during that time. I was the youngest but still the faith that I have in my heart is to help my parents in return of their sacrifices that they had. It is the farthest school which is 12- 14 kilometers walking distance from our house. For me this was only a start of my life. The next level of my life in school was totally a great sacrifice. It is now my college life. There are times in that I am about to cry because the boredom and longing for my family. I had to be strong and forget the loneliness; instead I focused on my studies. As an aspiring teacher, I worked hard for it. All my pains and sacrifices resulted in a reward. This is now the time that 6months from now I am about to graduate in this university. West Visayas State University- Lambunao Campus. I guess there’s always a first time for everything no matter how old we are. For the last semester a series of â€Å"First† followed: * This was my first to handle a class with heterogeneous pupils. * First time to experience a pupil that urinated and eliminated his waste while the class was going on. * First time to have a pupil who goes home in tears without any reason at all. * Lastly , I had for the first time a parent scolded me for making her child upset because I scolded him for being absent in my class and teasing his other classmates to make noise inside the classroom. Based on my own experiences, I learned a lot of things after the OJT and it really transforms me to a new creature. Well I guess this was the most essential part of being an aspiring teacher. To explore  and to adjust what is going on in our new environment. That is a specialty of a teacher that no one could ever had. Lastly, I would say that poverty is not an obstacle to higher education but a mere challenge to fight for a professional survival and achieve your dreams in your most noble way