Josephine Baker, Dancer, Singer, Activist, and Spy

Josephine Baker (born Freda Josephine McDonald; June 3, 1906–April 12, 1975) was an American-born singer,  dancer, and civil rights activist who overwhelmed Parisian audiences in the 1920s to become one of the most popular entertainers in France. She spent her youth in poverty in the U.S. before learning to dance and finding success on Broadway, then moving to France. When racism soured her return to the U.S., she took up the cause of civil rights. Fast Facts: Josephine Baker Known For: Singer,  dancer, civil rights activistKnown As: â€Å"Black Venus,† â€Å"Black Pearl†Born: June 3, 1906 in St. Louis, MissouriParents: Carrie McDonald, Eddie CarsonDied: April 12, 1975 in Paris, FranceAwards and Honors: Croix de Guerre,  Legion of HonourSpouses: Jo Bouillon,  Jean Lion,  William Baker,  Willie WellsChildren: 12 (adopted)Notable Quote: Beautiful? Its all a question of luck. I was born with good legs. As for the rest...beautiful, no. Amusing, yes. Early Life Josephine Baker was born Freda Josephine McDonald on June 3, 1906, in St. Louis, Missouri. Bakers mother Carrie McDonald had hoped to be a music hall dancer but made her living doing laundry. Her father Eddie Carso, was a drummer for  vaudeville  shows. Baker left school at age 8 to work for a white woman as a maid. At the age of 10, she returned to school. She witnessed the East St. Louis  race riot of 1917 before running away when she was 13. After watching the dancers in a local vaudeville house and honing her skills in clubs and street performances, she toured the United States with the Jones Family Band and the Dixie Steppers, performing comedic skits. Getting Started At 16, Baker began dancing in a touring show based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where her grandmother lived. By this time, she had already been married twice: to Willie Wells in 1919 and to Will Baker, from whom she took her last name, in 1921. In August 1922, Baker joined the chorus line of the touring show  Shuffle Along in Boston, Massachusetts before moving to New York City to perform with the  Chocolate Dandies  at the Cotton Club and with the floor show at the Plantation Club in Harlem. Audiences loved her clowning, mugging, improvising comic style, foreshadowing her style as an entertainer. Paris In 1925 Baker moved to Paris, France, more than doubling her New York salary to $250 a week to dance at the Thà ©Ãƒ ¢tre des Champs Elysà ©es in La Revue Nà ¨gre  with other African-American dancers and musicians, including jazz star Sidney Bechet. Her performance style, referred to as Le Jazz Hot and Danse Sauvage, took her to international fame riding the wave of French intoxication for American jazz and exotic nudity. She sometimes performed wearing just a feather skirt. She became one of the most popular music-hall entertainers in France, achieving star billing at the  Folies-Bergà ¨re dancing seminude in a G-string ornamented with bananas. She quickly became the favorite of artists and intellectuals such as painter  Pablo Picasso, poet E.E. Cummings,  playwright  Jean Cocteau, and writer  Ernest Hemingway. Baker became one of the best-known entertainers in France and all of Europe, her exotic, sensual act reinforcing the creative forces coming out of the Harlem Renaissance in America. She sang professionally for the first time in 1930 and made her screen debut four years later, appearing in several films before  World War II  curtailed her movie career. Return to the US In 1936, Baker returned to the United States to perform in the  Ziegfield Follies, hoping to establish herself in her home country, but she was met with hostility and racism and quickly went back to France. She married French industrialist Jean Lion and obtained citizenship from the country that had embraced her. During the war, Baker worked with the Red Cross and gathered intelligence for the French Resistance during the German occupation of France, smuggling messages hidden in her sheet music and her underwear. She also entertained troops in Africa and the Middle East. The French government later honored her with the  Croix de Guerre  and the  Legion of Honour. Baker and her fourth husband, Joseph †Jo† Bouillon, bought an estate she named Les Milandes in Castelnaud-Fayrac, in southwestern France. She moved her family there from St. Louis and, after the war, adopted 12 children from around the world, making her home a world village and a showplace for brotherhood. She returned to the stage in the 1950s to finance this project. Civil Rights Baker was in the U.S. in 1951 when she was refused service at the famous Stork Club in New York City. Actress Grace Kelly, who was at the club that evening, was disgusted by the racist snub and walked out arm in arm with Baker in a show of support, the start of a friendship that would last until Baker’s death. Baker responded to the event by crusading for racial equality, refusing to entertain in clubs or theaters that werent integrated and breaking the color barrier at many establishments. The media battle that followed almost triggered revocation of her visa by the State Department. In 1963, she spoke at the March on Washington at the side of Martin Luther King Jr. Bakers world village fell apart in the 1950s. She and Bouillon divorced, and in 1969 she was evicted from her chateau, which was sold at auction to pay debts. Kelly, by then princess Grace of Monaco, gave her a villa. In 1973 Baker became romantically involved with American Robert Brady and began her stage comeback. Death In 1975, Bakers Carnegie Hall comeback performance was a success. In April she performed at the Bobino Theater in Paris, the first of a planned series of appearances celebrating the 50th anniversary of her Paris debut. But two days after that performance, on April 12, 1975, she died of a stroke at 68 in Paris. Legacy On the day of her funeral, over 20,000 people lined the streets of Paris to witness the procession. The French government honored her with a 21-gun salute, making her the first American woman to be buried in France with military honors. Baker had remained a bigger success abroad than in her home country. Racism tainted her return visits until her Carnegie Hall performance, but she had a profound influence worldwide as an African-American woman who had overcome a childhood of deprivation to become a dancer, singer, actress, civil rights activist, and even a spy. Sources Josephine Baker Biography: Singer, Civil Rights Activist, Dancer. Biography.com.Josephine Baker: French Entertainer. Encyclopedia Britannica.Josephine Baker Biography. Notablebiographies.com.Dancer, Singer, Activist, Spy: The Legacy of  Josephine Baker. Anothermag.com.Josephine Baker: The Black Venus. Filmstarfacts.com

Understanding Sexual Addiction Essay - 890 Words

Before one can begin to understand the complexities of sexual addiction it must be adequately defined. The National Council on Sexual Addiction and Compulsivity has defined sexual addiction as â€Å"engaging in persistent and escalating patterns of sexual behavior acted out despite increasing negative consequences to self and others.† (Herkov) It is important to note that this means that sexual addiction isn’t just the desire to have sex more than normal but also that the addict engages in activities regardless of and consequences. The addict must also escalate their behaviors over a period of time in order to be considered an addict. This doesn’t mean escalating it to illegal actions but merely increasing the rate at which they engage in the†¦show more content†¦When the addict participates in the activities, the brain creates chemicals that intoxicates the subject and creates dependence (medicinenet). This type of intoxication may be similar to a drug addict’s dependence on the chemicals in their drugs, the only difference being a chemical created in the brain. Drug addicts are also more likely to develop another addiction, including sex addiction. There is no sign to what factor actually causes it but it is believed to also be linked to depression, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. This may be because these disorders are linked to a change in the brain. These changes in the brain and psychological patterns can lead to other disorders such as sex addiction. Along the same lines, it has been thought that learning disorders may create a higher risk of developing sex addiction (medicinenet). People who have been sexually abused have a somewhat higher chance of becoming sexual addicts. This shows a very obvious link between various psychological factors and sexual addiction. It may also be more than just psychological factors but also various social factors. Sexual addicts tend to be socially isolated, be insecure, impulsive, have trouble with relationships and intimacy, low ability to tolerate frustration, and inability to cope with emotions. This isn’t necessarily a cause but more of a link to social factor and sexual addiction. With all of these factors and manyShow MoreRelatedUnderstanding Sexual Addiction Essay1268 Words   |  6 Pagesor diseases. Sexual addiction, although not always recognized, is a severe condition which affects many. Sexual addiction should be widely acknowledged as a severe issue because of its impact on the addicts nervous system, the root of its development, and its relevance to human behavior. What is sex addiction? The term sexual addiction is used to explain the behavior of a person who has an unusually intense sex drive or an obsession with sex. Those suffering from sexual addiction can be sufferingRead MoreReaction Paper To Healing The Wounds Of Sexual Addiction1638 Words   |  7 PagesHealing the Wounds of Sexual Addiction Tiffany Carthins Liberty University Abstract Dr. Laaser (2004) provides a detailed look into sexual addiction from a Christian viewpoint in Healing Wounds of Sexual Addiction. The focus of this assignment will be to gain knowledge of what sexual addiction is, how family dynamics are affected, treatment of sexual addiction, and lastly addressing sexual addiction in the church. Exploring the different areas of how sexual addiction and how it can affectRead MoreEssay on Critical Book Review1166 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿ Critical Book Review Healing the Wounds of Sexual Addiction Michelle Beel Liberty University Psych 307 Summary Dr. Mark Lasser’s book â€Å"Healing the Wounds of Sexual Addiction† gives insight to those who suffer from sexual addiction and to the families, friends and other people in their lives. 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Research and studies show that thoseRead MoreSexual Addiction Essay1457 Words   |  6 PagesSexual Addition may be a common problem but it still remains a relatively understood condition characterized by strong sexual urges. In recent weeks, the issue has resurfaced. Last week, a Journalist Brian Alexander(2007), this psychological condition was once again questioned and the condition was described as such: Sexual addiction is defined as any sexually-related, compulsive behavior which interferes with normal living and causes severe stre ss on family, friends, loved ones and ones workRead MoreThe Management Of A Patient With Compulsive Sexual Behavior1077 Words   |  5 Pagespatient with compulsive sexual behavior requires an understanding of the complete profile of the sexually compulsive or addicted patient. This treatment plan will summarize the patients characteristics as revealed by Bill’s case (page 31 from Clinical Management of Sexual Addiction by Carnes and Adams) and their implications for treatment. Section I: DSM-V Diagnosis (Dx) With the help of greater awareness of sexual exploitation and sexual misconducts more cases of sexual compulsivity are broughtRead MoreAnnotated Bibliography on Infidelity968 Words   |  4 PagesShadows: Understanding Sexual Addiction† Minneapolis: CompCare, 1983. Patrick Carnes’ book offers a real life look at the problem of sexual addiction. He used the past experiences of others to write a book detailing the causes and effects of sexual addiction. Carnes explains how sexual addiction is a huge problem to all involved, not just the â€Å"offender†. He also explains how the addiction is a problem just like any other addictions. The book describes the danger of addictions to humans

The Sources of International Competitive Advantage of Vw free essay sample

Interconnectedness of Resources and Capabilities9 4. Conclusion10 5. 0 Bibliography11 6. 0. Appendix13 1. Introduction: 1. 2 Company Portray: The Volkswagen Group is one of the leading automobile producers in the world, delivering more than 9 million cars, generating sales of â‚ ¬193 billion and profits of â‚ ¬21. 9 billion in 2012 (Volkswagen Group, 2013). The group markets low- consumption small cars, luxury cars, trucks, buses and motorcycles under its 12 brands: Audi, Volkswagen, Skoda, SEAT, MAN, Bentley, Scania, Bugatti, Lamborghini Porsche, Ducati and Volkswagen commercial vehicles. The group employs 550,000 people worldwide and operates 100 production facilities in 27 different countries, while selling its products in 153 countries (Volkswagen Group, 2013). The Group has recently launched â€Å"Strategy 2018†, with the goal of becoming the biggest automotive company in the world in terms of volume, by selling more than 10 million cars and trucks annually. Additionally the group seeks to elevate its profit margin to 8% (Taylor, 2012). Given Volkswagen existing strength and its ambitions for the near term future the firm must be regarded as one of the world’s most potent transnational companies. 1. Method of Analysis: An international competitive advantage can either be derived from the external environment a company resides in, or through its internal strategic and structural orientation (Sitkin and Bowen, 2013). To fully appreciate and understand the formation of the Volkswagen Group’s international competitive advantage it is essential to analyse its external sources first, scrutinize their interplay within Michael Porter’s ‘Diamond’ structure, and subsequently take note of the internal choices and decisions the managers of Volkswagen face in the quest to generate a sustainable international competitive advantage. . 0 External Sources Michael Porter has identified factor conditions, demand conditions and supporting and related industries as the three primary external sources of competitive advantage. Firm strategy, structure and rivalry complement Porter’s ‘Diamond† structure and aim to describe the impact the environment has on the internal orientation and disposition of a firm (Sitkin and Bowen, 2013). Thus it evaluates external circumstances’ direct impact on a company’s structure. Porter’s Diamond of National Competitive Advantage Firm Strategy, Structure, and Rivalry Firm Strategy, Structure, and Rivalry Demand Conditions Demand Conditions Factor Conditions Factor Conditions Related and Supporting Industries Related and Supporting Industries Adapted from (Porter, 1990) 2. 1 Factor Conditions Factors of production at their most basic level constitute labour, land natural resources, capital, and infrastructure. According to traditional trade theories unlimited access to these basic factors marks a substantial advantage for industries (Porter, 1990). Today’s notions however, place significantly more emphasis on highly specialized, productivity-enhancing factors, resulting from sustained and heavy investment, as a source of competitive advantage (Porter, 1990). Germany offers two factors that are particularly appealing to the automotive industry: a highly specialized work force and an internationally renowned infrastructure. Of Germany’s 40 million people strong workforce 80% have enjoyed vocational training or hold an academic degree (Appendix 1). Scientists and engineers constitute around 6. 7% (Appendix 2) of the countries total workforce and 31% of all university level students are engaged in scientific or engineering studies giving further evidence for the workforce’s high compatibility to the needs of the automotive industry (GTAI, 2013a). Germany also offers an internationally unique dual education system, which combines on-the-job and vocational school training, thus guaranteeing industry relevant and specific training (GTAI, 2013b). Volkswagen has also benefited from stable labour costs and gradually falling unit labour cost of roughly 0. 3% a year between 2005 and 2010 (Appendix 3). This trend has led to a considerable competitive cost advantage for all German manufacturers (GTAI, 2013a). Germany’s infrastructure ranks second in the world in terms of quality behind Hong Kong’s (Appendix 4). This state of the art infrastructure allows Volkswagen to quickly and reliably move its in- and outputs. Additionally Volkswagen benefits from its relative proximity to Bremerhaven, the world’s largest carport for vehicle traffic (GTAI, 2013f). 2. 2 Demand Conditions Domestic demand has the potential to be an effective source of competitive advantage. Highly informed and demanding customers will exercise significant pressure on companies to continuously innovate and upgrade their products and services (Porter, 1990). Furthermore, a competitive advantage can arise from a customer base that is indicative of global demand trends, or better, shapes customer needs and wants elsewhere. If these conditions are given a company will be pushed to generate the most advanced products or services prior to demand spreading elsewhere in the world (Porter, 1990) The German consumer is probably the most demanding and sophisticated automobile consumer in the world. German consumers have traditionally set high standards in terms of engineering, design and safety, but due to rising fuel prices and environmental concerns in Germany, the spectrum of demands has grown even wider (The Economist, 2007). These high standards have enticed innovations in the past resulting in developments such as the four-wheel-drive system and continue to push VW ahead of its international competitors (Taylor, 2012). In an effort to tackle environmental concerns the VW Group recently committed to reducing the average emissions of its Volkswagen fleet to just 95 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre by 2020 (Volkswagen Group, 2013). It has also launched an ambitious project to produce the world’s most fuel-efficient car; the XL1, underlining the impact he German consumer has on Volkswagen’s goals and innovative spirit (Taylor, 2012). 2. 3 Related and Supporting Industries A close relationship with related and supporting industries, which are internationally competitive themselves, can reap rich rewards for firms (Porter, 1990). Through the formation of ‘clusters’, which are interconnected businesses and institutions working in close proximity to one another, firms can source the most cost-effective inputs in an efficient and quick manner (Sitkin and Bowen, 2013). More importantly, companies benefit from a rapid and constant exchange of information over new innovations, technology, and industry and consumer trends. The exchange of information coupled with very close personal relationships existing within clusters greatly improves a company’s prospect of attaining an international competitive advantage (Porter, 1990) The related and supporting network for the automotive industry in Germany is particularly strong. A total of five distinct automotive clusters exist in Germany (Autoanalysis, 2005). It is an international technological leader in crucial supporting industries to the automotive industry including machine building and electronics (GTAI, 2013b). Volkswagen derives particular advantage from the existence of the ‘Silicon Saxony’ cluster, which is located in its neighbouring state and currently ranks among the top five semiconductor clusters in the world (GTAI, 2013c). Furthermore Germany is the unquestionable world leader in machinery and equipment production, compromising almost 6,300 companies along the value chain and accounting for 17% of the world’s global machinery trade share (GTAI, 2013d). The automotive and electronics sector are also two of the biggest customers of the machine and equipment sector, demonstrating the strong cohesion of the German industrial sector (GTAI, 2013d). Volkswagen also derives great benefit from the existence of cutting-edge logistic firms in Germany, which spur the rapid and efficient transport of in-and outputs (GTAI, 2013e). 2. 4 Firm Strategy, Structure and Rivalry The national environment a firm resides in has a significant influence over the firm’s structure, strategy and nature of rivalry. Different cultural backgrounds favour varied managerial approaches and firm structures, which may be suited better to one industry rather than another. A competitive advantage can arise where a firm’s managerial practices, as favoured by the country it resides in, are particularly well suited to respond to the demands of the industry it competes in (Porter, 1990) Domestic competition is arguably the most important factor of Porter’s ‘Diamond’ model, due to the influence it exercises over the remaining facets. Fierce rivalry forces companies to continuously innovate and upgrade to remain in a competitive position nationally. Domestic competition not only toughens companies prior to international expansion, it is frequently the cause for their expansion (Porter, 1990). German culture favours hierarchical organisational structures and technical know-how is widely dispersed throughout top management. In return German companies have traditionally excelled in technically complex industries, where precision is a major determinant of success (Porter, 1990). These set of values and expertise have evidently backed Volkswagen’s path to becoming one of the premiere car manufactures and aided in its accumulation of unique resources and capabilities. Germany has traditionally been home to fierce domestic rivalry in the automotive sector. The Volkswagen Group competes intensively with its Audi and Porsche brands against BMW and Mercedes. The prestige of building the best car in Germany is immense and hence the competition is beyond financials and defiantly carries a personal note. 2. 5. VW ‘Diamond’ System It is critical to assess each of the determinant factors as part of the system of the ‘Diamond’ model. None of the determinants on its own is likely to result in a significant competitive advantage, as the state of one factor depends on the state of another (Porter, 1990). As all the individual determinants for VW are favourable, they perform a self-reinforcing cycle, where the benefits of innovation are spread across the entire automotive cluster. 3. 0. Internal Sources The foundation for developing competitive advantage internally lies with the managers’ ability to generate unique firm-specific resources and capabilities (Duhaime, Stimpert amp; Chesley, 2012b). Performance And Competitive Advantage Performance And Competitive Advantage Market Position, Resources, Capabilities Market Position, Resources, Capabilities Feedback Feedback Decision Making Decision Making Managers’ Mental Models Managers’ Mental Models Adapted from (Duhaime, Stimpert amp; Chesley, 2012) Such resources and capabilities need to be valuable, rare, inimitable and non-substitutable in order to achieve a sustainable competitive advantage. Valuable? Rare? Inimitable? Non-substitutable? Sustainable Competitive Advantage Not a resource Competitive parity Temporary Competitive Advantage Temporary Competitive Advantage No No No No Valuable? Rare? Inimitable? Non-substitutable? Sustainable Competitive Advantage Not a resource Competitive parity Temporary Competitive Advantage Temporary Competitive Advantage No No No No Adapted From (Warner, 2010; Hoskisson amp; Co, 2008) Duhaime, Stimpert and Chesley (2012b) indicate that through the utilization of the factors of time, building on past success, interconnectedness of resources and capabilities, investment and casual ambiguity managers can back the resource accumulation process and support the development of sustainable competitive advantages. Volkswagen’s international success in recent years can be attributed to two primary internal factors: the firm’s unconventional organisational structure and its tremendous interconnectedness of resources and capabilities. 3. 1. Decentralized Structure The Volkswagen Group’s corporate structure is highly decentralized and grants large autonomy to each of its 12 individual brands. Each brand is treated as a stand-alone company with its own board of directors, annual reports and individual design, engineering and manufacturing facilities (McElroy, 2012). While this approach contradicts general corporate notions, which encourage centralization to eliminate duplication of work and cut costs, VW is the world’s most profitable car manufacturer (McElroy, 2012). In fact its structure is strikingly similar to General Motors’ under its illustrious CEO Alfred Sloan. Sloan’s concept was based on offering GM’s various brands at different, yet overlapping price points (Duhaime Stimpert amp; Chesley, 2012b). The idea was to offer an ascending range of cars and allow a customer to gradually mount GM’s product scale over the course of his life (Duhaime, Stimpert amp; Chesley, 2012b). Similarly the Volkswagen Group offers an ascending and differentiated product range that allows consumers to upgrade over the course of their life and still remain customers of the Volkswagen Group. This poses a substantial competitive advantage, as none of VW’s international or domestic competitors offers an equally diverse and differentiated product range. 3. 2. Interconnectedness of Resources and Capabilities The more interconnected the resources of a firm are the more likely it is for the firm to use them in an efficient manner that will enhance the company’s overall performance. Similar to the existence of clusters in the external environment firms benefit from an intensive internal exchange of information and cooperation to foster innovation (Duhaime, Stimpert and Chesley, 2012a) Despite the Volkswagen Group’s decentralised corporate structure its resources and capabilities are highly interconnected and centralized. This interconnection is essentially the key to the company’s significant competitive advantage, and allow for the decentralized structure to work so effectively. Under its ‘toolkit strategy’ VW uses the same basic components for numerous models consequently lowering engineering, procurement and manufacturing costs (Taylor, 2012). Hence the key to its competitive advantage lies in differentiating its brands while using the same components in production and successfully employing economics of scale. As a result of the modular longitudinal matrix (MLB) introduced in 2007, Audi is now able to produce its entire product range with the same basic parts. Moreover VW will launch a new program called the modular transverse matrix (MQB) that will standardize critical parts in more than 40 small cars. When the integration is complete and successful it is estimated that VW could realise annual savings of $3 billion and further boost its scale and cost advantage (Taylor, 2012). 4. Conclusion The Volkswagen Group has been tremendously successful in generating an international competitive advantage over recent years. By productively utilizing Germany’s favourable external environment and through unconventional strategic and structural implementations the Volkswagen Group has become the most profitable automaker in the world. Strategy 2018† and the implementation of the modular transverse matrix (MQB) are bound to enhance VW’s advantage over its competitors even further. Therefore, its goal of becoming the biggest automaker by volume in 2018 seems all but certain. 5. 0 Bibliography AutoAnalysis, 2005, Benchmarking Study of European Automotive Clusters. pp. 16 Duhaime, I. M. , Stimpert, L. amp; Chesley, J. A. (2012)a. Strategic Thinking Todays Business Imperative. Ne w York: Routledge. pp. 29-32. Duhaime, I. M. , Stimpert, L. amp; Chesley, J. A. (2012)b. Strategic Thinking Todays Business Imperative. New York: Routledge. pp. 128. Germany Trade and Invest – Gesellschaft fur Au? enwirtschaft und Standortmarketing mbH . (2013)a. Labor Market Availability. Available at: http://www. gtai. de/GTAI/Navigation/EN/Invest/Business-location-germany/Business-climate/labor-market-availability. html. Last accessed 9 April 2013. Germany Trade and Invest – Gesellschaft fur Au? enwirtschaft und Standortmarketing mbH . (2013)b. Automotive Industry. Available at: http://www. gtai. de/GTAI/Navigation/EN/Invest/Industries/Logistics-mobility/automotive. html. Last accessed 9 April 2013. Germany Trade and Invest – Gesellschaft fur Au? enwirtschaft und Standortmarketing mbH . (2013)c. Electronics amp; Microtechnology. Available at: http://www. gtai. de/GTAI/Navigation/EN/Invest/Industries/electronics-microtechnology. html. Last accessed 9 April 2013. Germany Trade and Invest – Gesellschaft fur Au? enwirtschaft und Standortmarketing mbH . (2013)d. Machinery amp; Equipment. Available at: http://www. gtai. de/GTAI/Navigation/EN/Invest/Industries/machinery-equipment. html. Last accessed 9 April 2013. Germany Trade and Invest – Gesellschaft fur Au? enwirtschaft und Standortmarketing mbH . (2013)e. Logistics amp; Mobility. Available at: http://www. gtai. de/GTAI/Navigation/EN/Invest/Industries/machinery-equipment. html. Last accessed 9 April 2013. Germany Trade and Invest – Gesellschaft fur Au? enwirtschaft und Standortmarketing mbH . (2013)f. Infrastructure. Available at: http://www. gtai. de/GTAI/Navigation/EN/Invest/Business-location-germany/Business-climate/infrastructure. html. Last accessed 8 April 2013. Grant, R. M. (2010). Contemporary Strategy Analysis. 7th ed. Southern Gate: John Wiley amp; Sons Ltd. pp. 217 McElroy, J. (2012). How Volkswagen is run like no other car company. Available at: http://www. autoblog. com/2012/12/06/how-volkswagen-is-run-like-no-other-car-company/. Last accessed 8 April 2013. Porter, E. M. (1990). The Competitive Advantage of Nations, pp. 79-86. Harvard Business Review (online). Available at: http://kkozak. wz. cz/Porter. pdf. Last accessed 9 April 2013. Sitkin, A and Bowen, N (2013). International Business: Challenges and Choices. 2nd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 38-39. Taylor, A. 2012). Volkswagen: Das auto giant. Available at: http://management. fortune. cnn. com/2012/07/10/global-500-volkswagen/. Last accessed 8 April 2013. The Economist. (2007). The big-car problem. Available at: http://www. economist. com/node/8738865. Last accessed 8 April 2013. Volkswagen Group. (2013). The Group. Available at: http://www. volkswagenag. com/content/vwcorp/content/en/the_group. html. Last accessed 8 April 2013. 6. 0. Appendix Appendix 1: (Adapeted from Germany Trade and Invest) Appendix 2: Appendix 3: (Adapted from Germany Trade and Invest) Appendix 4:

The moors in Wuthering Heights Essay Example For Students

The moors in Wuthering Heights Essay Neither of these returnings were very pleasant or desirable. † (C. Bronte, 137) While Jane has lived in various locations, she never truly feels at home anywhere. Jane isn’t really given the option to go and explore the world. She takes what’s given to her and doesn’t achieve the home feeling she wants. Jane’s lack of wealth stops her from exploring and finding this home. However, Jane’s persistence and challenge of societies standards allow her to finally find this home. She says to Rochester, Thank you, Mr. Rochester, for your great kindness. I am strangely glad to get back again to you; and wherever you are is my home, – my only home. We will write a custom essay on The moors in Wuthering Heights specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now (C. Bronte, 209) Jane feels like she has finally found the place she fits in rightfully when she is with the man she loves. The settings of the novels are really important when looking at the struggle between characters. Because they are located in a moors where the rich live, or stuck living with relatives who have an aspiring aspect to keep up their family name, conflict ensues. The themes in these novels suggest that the aristocratic system of power was under threat by the rising middle class and personal desires people had. The moors in Wuthering Heights can be considered symbolic. Moors are difficult to navigate, not easily cultivated, and proves that living on them is dangerous. The dangers seen in the moors were symbolic to the relationship between Catherine and Heathcliff. It was wild and unpredictable, just like the moors. The relationship was paralleled in the in their surroundings. Bronte says, â€Å"I bounded, leaped, and flew down the steep road ; then, quitting its windings, shot direct across the moor, rolling over banks, and wading through marshes: precipitating myself, in fact, towards the beacon-light of the Grange. †(E. Bronte, 30) This quote describes the dangerous situations the moors present, which are similar to the dangerous situations Catherine and Heathcliff’s, love put them in. The moors are dangerous and unpredictable, much like Catherine and Heathcliff. Bronte uses this location because there are similarities between the wildness of the setting and the characters. Jane’s progression as a woman is also mirrored in her surroundings. As Jane grows and changes, the places she lives changes as well. She stays with the Reeds, than she goes to school, and eventually on to working for Rochester. As she experiences new things, she starts to blend in with them and change to where she is. The setting is important because it helps us better understand who and why Jane and Heathcliff are who they are. Being stuck in a mansion and working for the rich stopped them from achieving their goals. Granted, Heathcliff would have never have met Catherine but that didn’t really play out too well for him. They couldn’t control the fact that they were born into a lower class or the fact that Jane was a woman, but it clouded their chances of going anywhere. The reason social class provided such a distinct problem in both novels had everything to do with the time period. The rich and famous never really associated themselves with the poorer and it was not often seen that love blossomed between these groups of individuals. It was a time were image was everything; people wanted to be known and the only way to do that was by being rich. It’s an interesting to see that perhaps attitudes like this still exist, to a lesser degree. For some, image is more important than true love. Catherine decided it was best for her and her family to give up her true love, and that’s exactly what she did. .u1c1792c5ef0d48a001fb43ba5671ac54 , .u1c1792c5ef0d48a001fb43ba5671ac54 .postImageUrl , .u1c1792c5ef0d48a001fb43ba5671ac54 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u1c1792c5ef0d48a001fb43ba5671ac54 , .u1c1792c5ef0d48a001fb43ba5671ac54:hover , .u1c1792c5ef0d48a001fb43ba5671ac54:visited , .u1c1792c5ef0d48a001fb43ba5671ac54:active { border:0!important; } .u1c1792c5ef0d48a001fb43ba5671ac54 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u1c1792c5ef0d48a001fb43ba5671ac54 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u1c1792c5ef0d48a001fb43ba5671ac54:active , .u1c1792c5ef0d48a001fb43ba5671ac54:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u1c1792c5ef0d48a001fb43ba5671ac54 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u1c1792c5ef0d48a001fb43ba5671ac54 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u1c1792c5ef0d48a001fb43ba5671ac54 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u1c1792c5ef0d48a001fb43ba5671ac54 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u1c1792c5ef0d48a001fb43ba5671ac54:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u1c1792c5ef0d48a001fb43ba5671ac54 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u1c1792c5ef0d48a001fb43ba5671ac54 .u1c1792c5ef0d48a001fb43ba5671ac54-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u1c1792c5ef0d48a001fb43ba5671ac54:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: The General Effects of Fire on EssayWhether or not Catherine was happy with Edgar Linton is questionable, but it wasn’t important. What was important was Catherine’s willingness to give up what she cared for most because she knew it was better for herself, her family, and her image. Catherine may or not be considered selfish in this image, but the fact of the matter is that her choice was what changed Heathcliff into a monster. And all because Heathcliff was different. Character Development In both novels, it’s important to note the developments each character goes through. We see both Heathcliff and Jane as children, and we see the changes that happen to them. Heathcliff was wild child who loved to play and make trouble with Catherine. The two were inseparable. Nelly, the maid at Wuthering Heights, says, â€Å"She was much too fond of Heathcliff. The greatest punishment we could invent for her was to keep her separate from him: yet she got chided more than any of us on his account. †(E. Bronte, 30) Everyone knew that Heathcliff and Catherine were close and had a special bond. But as time goes on, and Catherine meets Edgar, things change. When Catherine and Heathcliff start to drift apart, we see Heathcliff become cold and distant from people. Heathcliff’s distant from Catherine ruined him. He eventually becomes the owner of Wuthering Heights but he’s still not happy because he lost Catherine. The attitude developed by Catherine and Heathcliff show the power love has over an individual. The boundaries between people can cause them to develop personality differences. The effect social class has on the pursuit of love is highlighted in Catherine and Heathcliff’s situation. Watching Heathcliff change over the course of the story is very revealing. Heathcliff in his natural habitat is running around joyfully with Catherine and the effects of losing her devastate him. His development shows how losing love can almost destroy a person. Catherine married Edgar, who was another wealthy individual, and changed her attitude because she knew that’s what was expected of her. Heathcliff pays the price for Catherine giving into society. Heathcliff becomes resentful towards those who arranged Catherine’s marriage to Edgar. He says, â€Å"Im trying to settle how I shall pay Hindley back. I dont care how long I wait, if I can only do it at last. I hope he will not die before I do! † (E. Bronte, P. 69) The concept of giving into societies pressures is an inhibitor of happiness. The idea of women being forced into arrangements was common in this time period. Women were not given the opportunity to strive and become their own person as often as men did. Wuthering Heights uses Catherine to show how the desire to have one thing, or one person, may be overruled by the desires society places on you. Jane’s personality is also shaped by her surroundings. She is at a constant struggle to find herself and keep up her pride. She never wants to give into what is expected from a woman. Jane’s desire to make herself proud is something that can be a problem for her or a blessing. Jane starts off living with the Reeds but eventually leaves for school and afterward to work for Rochester.