Wednesday, May 20, 2020
Chicago Public Schools Are The Fourth Largest District
Chicago Public Schools are the fourth largest district in the U.S and one of the lowest performing in the U.S. The school system in Chicago is struggling not only with student performance, but also with the large amount of debt the school has and the fight to come to an agreement with the Chicago Teachers Union. In earlier years of 2008 through 2013, student performance was below national average. Noreen S. Ahmed-Ullah author of ââ¬Å"CPS test scores show gains in the grades 2 through 8â⬠explains that student performance was measured with the Illinois Standard Achievement Test (ISAT); although, the school district has recently adapted a new management by objective of Northwest Evaluation Association NWEA. Ahmed writes that after transferring to this new assessment there have been improvements in the test score. For the school year of 2013-2014 51.5 percent of students were above the national average compared to a year before where only 45.8 were in reading. In math the student s improved by 3.3 percent at 48.6 percent. The problem is not every one is showing improvement. After the closing of dozens of underperforming schools in order to cut back costs in 2008, students who were placed into new schools actually tested 3.3 percent less in math according to Ahmed. The ISAT assessment which is mandated by state and federal law showed CPS test scores had dropped. School officials said the ISAT scored could not be compared to the NWEA assessment because it would be ââ¬Å"comparing applesShow MoreRelatedWhy School Uniforms And Low Income Areas1512 Words à |à 7 Pages Why are required school uniforms always discussed in low income areas vs. medium or high income areas? The fact that required uniforms are well established in low income areas.The question is why are required uniforms so popular in low income areas?Will require school uniforms in low income areas in Chicago drive students to become more successful? It seems that there are no reasons for middle/h igher income areas to implement these required policies since there are a lower percent of ââ¬Å"at riskâ⬠studentRead MoreThe Cost of Higher Education754 Words à |à 3 Pages For most high school seniors the cost of higher education may be a daily or at least. It is an even a concern in that a group of students, who all share a common, concern, around the same age, but with no reliable income. Each one is making a huge investment in their future, but in majority of cases adding more and more debt to their lifestyles. Though majority of students receive financial aid, the amount of debt which tuition builds is beyond stressing. For some students relying on their familyRead MoreHow Comprehensive Sexuality Educational Class At Young Age Affect Teenagers?1673 Words à |à 7 PagesHow Comprehensive Sexuality Educational Class at Young Age Affect Teenagers? When adolescents feel distinct to family, relatives, and school, they could turn into complex activities that put their wellbeing at risk. On the other hand, when parents establish the value of their children, young people more frequently increase positive, healthful thoughts about themselves. Even though most adults desire youth to identify about abstinence, contraception, and how to prevent HIV and other sexually transmittedRead MoreThe Education Of The United States Essay1394 Words à |à 6 Pageswould argue that education has declined over time. For the United States to improve its educational mishaps, it must address the issue of the methods that are used in classrooms, the teacher vetting process, and improved funding for underperforming schools. One of the most important issues for the educational system in America, is the relationship between the teacher and student inside the classroom. In the American system of education, in K-12 schooling, many teachers act as if they are all knowingRead MoreThe new common core initiative that seems to be sweeping the nation is yet another attempt at1600 Words à |à 7 Pagescore initiative that seems to be sweeping the nation is yet another attempt at reforming our nations crumbling education system. My assigned role in the simulation was that of Representative Todd Rokita, republican congressman from Indianaââ¬â¢s fourth district, for which I will be giving a short introduction. An explanation of the current federal education standards in America, how the common core is related to international education standards, and the states that have implemented the common core andRead MoreChanges in Technology and Changes in the Housing Design Architecture4294 Words à |à 18 Pages500BCE ââ¬â 400BCE, Paris from 1850-1900 and Chicago from 1900-1930 have been chosen and a time period allocated to each geographical area which will give clarity to the argument and supporting evidence as there are a number of important technologies to be considered which impacted on the social, political and economic environments. In Athens I will pay particular attention to the study of houses within the polis, in Paris attention to tenement housing and in Chicago I will be looking at pre-fabricated housesRead MoreThe Current Situation And Institutional Structure Of The Chicago Public Library7643 Words à |à 31 Pagessituation and institutional structure of the Chicago Public Library system in the light of current research of mission, vision, and value statements. A literature review on organizational mission, vision, and value statements reveals that the consensus of the field is that organizations benefit from articulating mission, vision, and value in separate statements that are drafted with organizational stakeholders first and foremost in mind. The current Chicago Public Library mission statement does not fullyRead More Public Education: Funding based Upon Race Essay4879 Words à |à 20 PagesPublic Education: Funding based Upon Race Educationâ⬠¦beyond all other devices of human origin, is a great equalizer of the conditions of menââ¬âthe balance wheel of the social machinery. I do not here mean that it so elevates the moral nature as to make men disdain and abhor the oppression of their fellow menâ⬠¦But I mean that it gives each man the independence and the means by which he can resist the selfishness of other men. It does better than to disarm the poor of their hostility toward the rich:Read MoreParent Involvement in Education3568 Words à |à 15 Pageseducators will no longer ââ¬Å"teach to the middleâ⬠(Busby, Hubbard, 2004 pg 300), which left many students in the classroom behind others in their education. Unacceptable standardized test scores reflected the change in the education teaching in our schools. Effective teaching and following this mandate requires that educators consider the needs of all their studentsââ¬â¢ differences and the needs of a broad range of learners. This is a difficult assignment for these educators who already have an overflowingRead Moreculture1836 Words à |à 8 PagesCulture and Society Overview à ·The 4th largest in the world in size (after Russia, Canada, and China) à ·The 3rd largest in the world in population (after China and India) à ·Of all the states, Alaska is the largest, and Rhode Island the smallest à ·The Rockies, the backbone of the North American Continent, the Continental Divide à ·The Mississippi, the longest river in US à ·The most important lakes: the Five Great Lakes (Lake Superior, the largest fresh water lake in the world; Lake Michigan,
Tuesday, May 19, 2020
Business Plan For A New Business Program - 1334 Words
Whenever a new business program is created, it explicitly employs a business model that is suitable for that particular business, which describes the design, the delivery and the mechanism it employs to achieve success. The core meaning of a business model is to define the value it delivers to its customers, make customer pay for the value provided, and converts these payments to profit (Teece, 2009). There are different types of business models and they suit different types of business. Berry (n.d), the founder of Palo Alto Software has mentioned about nine different models in his article named the lean business plan, the standard business plan, startup business plan, one-page plan, feasibility plan, annual plan, internal plans, operational and strategic plans. Business Plan Models 1. Startup business plan model It is always advisable to develop a startup plan before starting a business. It helps in easy decision making, helps in moving forward and making business successful. As this plan is very simple, it helps in understanding the business process clearly, and most importantly the customer needs. Compare to other models, this plan is better for a new and small business. This model can also be adopted just to get going until the business is elaborated, and also might not need a detailed financial analysis like cash flow, balance sheet or business ration initially. The limitation of this plan is that, it is only suitable for a new business and not fit for those who areShow MoreRelatedBusiness Strategies For Sacramento Business College1103 Words à |à 5 PagesOption 1: Restructuring Help Business strategies are an important part of running a company. By exploring potential options for long-term goals a firm can better plan for their future and remain competitive in their respective markets. This essay will explore the fifteen principal grand strategies and a few other business strategies in regards to how they may benefit Sacramento Business College (SBC) in its long-term success as a firm. In addition to helping SBC consider its options this essayRead MoreJustice Floral Distribution And A Disaster Recovery Plan Essay1731 Words à |à 7 PagesDistribution has successfully been in business for 2 years now. To insure that the company remains successful we need to create a disaster plan. It has recently come to my attention that we do not have one and it is crucial that we create one as soon as possible. In case of an unforeseen event, which can bring our production to a halt our company needs to recover as rapidly as possible to continue its services to its clients . Not having a disaster recovery plan in place can put the company at riskRead MoreEconomic Development For The Jefferson County Conducted By Laronda Joy Davis1236 Words à |à 5 PagesEXECUTIVE SUMMARY Introduction This business plan addresses a variety of issues associated with creating and operating a business incubator to foster entrepreneurship in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. It was developed based on the findings and observations of economic development for the Jefferson County conducted by LaRonda Joy Davis. Purpose The Uniquely Adapting People through Business Incubator (UAPBI), located downtown Pine Bluff, will contribute to job creation, and provide for enhanced economicRead MoreManagement Analysis, Contractors, Architects, And Management1449 Words à |à 6 Pagesbusinessââ¬â¢s money, they handle any important documents, and hold important business conferences. Informing candidates about the educational requirement to be a successful management analysis, the daily job responsibilities they also have to encounter, also ways for job advancements, such as a certified consultant program. Management consultant or analyst are key for financial advice, problem solving, and they also discover new ways to increase the businessââ¬â¢s productivity. Informative by bringing outRead MoreCook Out is a restaurant that has been recently opened in the Hampton Roads area. This new1700 Words à |à 7 PagesCook Out is a restaurant that has been recently opened in the Hampton Roads area. This new busine ss venture has embraced the approach of southern cooking in carrying out their operations. The approach has enabled the restaurant prevail in the restaurant industry in Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. Even though the restaurant has the potential to deliver better services, there have been little efforts to train the employees to realize their full potential. These employeesRead MoreCollege Students And Recent College Graduates1500 Words à |à 6 PagesThe audience we plan to direct our program towards is college students and recent college graduates. The college demographic is mostly comprised of younger generation students who are smart, driven and eager to enter the real world with the knowledge and skills they have acquired in the classroom. As leadership consultants we understand the advantages of narrowing in on this group of individuals. These students are the future entrepreneurs, business partners, investors and political leaders so itRead MoreManagement Analysis, Contractors, Architects, And Management1406 Words à |à 6 Pagesanalysist are important because they are the ones that handle the businessââ¬â¢s money, important documents, and hold important business conferences. Informing candidates about the educational requirements to be a successful management analysis, the daily job responsibilities they also have to encounter, and also ways for job advancement, such as a certified consultant programs. First thing first would be to learn about all of the educational requirements needed to be a successful consultant. ââ¬Å"Entry-levelRead MoreProjects And Strategic Planning For Electric Car Sharing742 Words à |à 3 Pagesof directly or indirectly achieving objectives within an organizationââ¬â¢s strategic plan. Projects are typically authorized as a result of one or more of the following strategic considerations: â⬠¢ Market demand (e.g., a car company authorizing a project to build more fuel-efficient cars in response to gasoline shortages); â⬠¢ Strategic opportunity/business need (e.g., a training company authorizing a project to create a new course to increase its revenues); â⬠¢ Social need (e.g., a nongovernmental organizationRead MorePopulation Based Medicine And Its Role Among The Health Crisis Storm901 Words à |à 4 Pagesand its role amongst the health crisis storm Our country is going through a major shift. As stated above the new healthcare plan is allowing those who once had no insurance to visit medical doctors in hopes to resolve current health problems. Thirty years ago or there about big corporations stepped into the medical realm. None of the medical professionals, rather business graduates looking to make money and turn profits, because the field of medicine is where it happens. Population-basedRead MoreLawrence Working Capital Program : Lawrence1327 Words à |à 6 PagesKimberly Hopkins Assignment #3 July 15, 2015 Lawrence Working Capital Program Lawrence, Massachusetts is an industrial city located 26 miles north of Boston. As Lawrence continued to grow over time, immigrants from Puerto Rico and Dominican Republican seek a gateway for employment opportunities within the United States. Once the population increased in Lawrence the job market decreased and the population was served as a source of low-wage labors such; as traditional manufacturing firms and
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
Problems and Prospects of Marketing - 6358 Words
International Journal of Business and Management September, 2009 Problems and Prospects of Marketing in Developing Economies: The Nigerian Experience Sunday O. E. Ewah Alex B. Ekeng Department of Business Administration, Cross River University of Technology Ogoja Campus, Nigeria Tel: 80-5901-4300 Abstract The study takes a holistic view of some of the problems facing marketing in developing economies, such as low marketing education, preferences for foreign products and low patronage for non-essential products, high cost of production, inadequate infrastructures. Others are few competitive opportunities, excessive government regulations and interference, political instability and civil unrest. Despite these problems, there areâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦187 E-mail: soniewah@Yahoo.com Vol. 4, No. 9 International Journal of Business and Management Developing countries are characterized by high birth and death rates, poor sanitation and health practices, poor housing, a high percentage of the population in agriculture, low per capita income, high rate of illiteracy, weak and uneven feelings of national cohesion, low status rating for women, poor technology, limited communication and transport facilities, predominantly exports of raw materials. Others include political instability, low savings and low net investment, military or feudal domination of state machinery, wealth in the hands of a very few, poor credit facilities, prevalence of non-monetized production, wealth sometimes exported to save in developed countries, civil unrests such as in the Niger Delta in Nigeria, and a host of others (Onah, 1979). Therefore countries with these kinds of peculiarities find it difficult to develop their marketing potentials. There are equally conditions in an economy that favour and compel the full application of marketing activities to a chieve the objective of growth and profit, while there are conditions which do not favour, or make nonsense of it (Alatise, 1979). Therefore the essence of this study is to critically look at those immediate problems that inhibit marketing and also visualize those factors that give hope forShow MoreRelatedProblems and Prospect of Marketing Petroleum in Nigeria15386 Words à |à 62 PagesPROBLEMS AND PROSPECT OF MARKETING PETROLEUM PRODUCT IN NIGERIA: CASE STUDY OF NIGERIAN NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION (NNPC) BY ADEKEYE ADEDAMOLA OLUWABUSAYO MATRIC NO: 06/66MC020 A RESEARCH PROJECT SUBMITED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, FACULTY OF BUSINESS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES, UNIVERSITYOF ILORIN,NIGERIA.IN PARTIAL FUFILMENT OF THE AWARD IN B.SC (HONS) JUNE 2010 CERTIFICATION This research work entitled ââ¬Å"problem and prospects of marketing petroleum product in Nigeria:Read MoreLivestock Feed Marketing in Bangladesh: Problems and Prospects3981 Words à |à 16 PagesLivestock Feed Marketing In Bangladesh: Problems and Prospects Author Md. Mahbubar Rahman Assistant Professor Department of Marketing University of Rajshahi Bangladesh E-mail: mm_rahman69@yahoo.com Livestock Feed Marketing In Bangladesh: Problems and Prospects Abstract: The present study is basically an attempt to identify the problems and prospects in livestock feed marketing and to give suggestions according to that. The study reveal that there is acute shortage of quality and quantityRead MoreAn Overview of Direct Response Marketing Essay866 Words à |à 4 Pages Direct response marketing is a marketing effort aimed at driving immediate action from specific action from the targeted audience. Such action could be an opt-in mail, calling to a provided phone number, clicking a link or buy the suggested product. It differs from mass market which simply reminds prospective customers of the existence of products and services for them to purchase. It runs on the idea that the more times clients see a particular ad, the more they are likely to buy. Direct responseRead MoreModule : Relationship Marketing ( Bmkt311 )952 Words à |à 4 PagesModule: Relationship Marketing (BMKT311) Assignment: 2 - Question 4 (a), (b) Name: Tendai Kahuni PIN: P1593507E __________________________________________________________________________ Question: (a) Define the term customer share marketing (5) Customer share marketing is about getting the most out of your customers through the development of an orderly, outbound marketing plan that is designed not only to retain customers but also grow the customer share, ie increasing the amountRead MoreThe 5c S Of Effective Content Marketing1127 Words à |à 5 PagesThe 5Cââ¬â¢S of Effective Content Marketing Content marketing is probably something that youââ¬â¢ve heard before, but if you havenââ¬â¢t, you should start learning about it! This marketing approach can help you create and distribute valuable and pertinent content to captivate and maintain a well-defined audience. Also, its primary intention is to change and enhance consumer behavior. But the question is, what makes content marketing different? Well, traditional marketing has become less and less effectiveRead MoreWhy I Don t Take The Leap Of Faith Essay1454 Words à |à 6 Pagesabout the late in which they hate their job and how they would love to start a business instead? Yet at the end of the conversation you ask them what are you waiting for and they look at you with a blank face looking at you as if your nuts. The problem is that we want something but then we tell ourselves of all the things that could go wrong or what might not work out. We fill our minds with all the negative things and its little wonder that we then don t take the leap of faith. If all you do isRead MoreThe Importance of Prospect Profiling in Sales Management1005 Words à |à 5 PagesThe Importance of Prospect Profiling in Sales Management Prospecting is the first stage in the personal selling process and is defined as the sellers search for and identification of qualified buyers. Potential prospects come from a variety of sources, including existing customers, personal contacts, directories, computerized databases, trade publications, and trade shows. Prospects may respond to advertising by placing a telephone call or writing for more information. Such responses, called inquiresRead MoreDoes Your Digital Marketing Blueprint Have The Power Influence On The Business Landscape? Essay1408 Words à |à 6 PagesDoes Your Digital Marketing Blueprint Have the Power to Impact the Business Landscape? By Logan Nathan | Submitted On October 20, 2014 Recommend Article Article Comments Print Article Share this article on Facebook Share this article on Twitter Share this article on Google+ Share this article on Linkedin Share this article on StumbleUpon Share this article on Delicious Share this article on Digg Share this article on Reddit Share this article on Pinterest Expert Author Logan Nathan When clientsRead MoreContent Marketing : Changing How Companies Approach Prospects And Existing Consumers973 Words à |à 4 Pagesin with the new. Content marketing is changing how companies approach prospects and existing consumers in the customer life cycle. The purpose of content marketing is to ââ¬Å"create awareness, generate leads, and convert leads into customers.â⬠However, donââ¬â¢t make the classic mistake of assuming that everyone who visits your site is ready to purchase your product or service. Research shows that 96% of people visiting your website arenââ¬â¢t ready to purchase. Content marketing plays an integral role inRead MoreHow The B2b Lead Generation Report1204 Words à |à 5 PagesThe 2015 B2B Lead Generation Report found that ââ¬Å"generating high quality leads is still the top issue for 59 percent of marketers.â⬠Identifying qualified prospects is an ongoing responsibility for companies. And it shouldnââ¬â¢t be taken lightly. Most B2B purchases involve large sums of money, multiple decision makers and several months. Because the stakes are so high for your customers, itââ¬â¢s important to build trustworthy relationships and to create a streamlined sales process. The B2B industry
Bio Psycho Social Spiritual Cultural Analysis - 1705 Words
Bio-Psycho-Social-Spiritual-Cultural Analysis According to Hutchison (2013) the biopsychosocial approach used by many social workers is an examination of the biological, psychological, and social systems; all are seen as interconnected. In recent years the spiritual dimension has also gained popularity in research and recognition as being inseparable from other dimensions of personhood. Culture is also seen as a powerful environmental dimension that demands acknowledgment to truly gain insight into a personââ¬â¢s worldview. The following is a brief summary of these dimensions in regards to youths experiencing bullying. I will start by describing the biological dimensions of bullying victims, perpetrators, and bully-victims. Carpanzo et al. (2011) asserts that there are gender differences in bullying. While both biological genders participate equally in relational and physical aggression according to the study, physical aggression is more common in boys but relational aggression is equal between the sexes. Bullying was more stable across a two-year period and weighed more heavily on individual personality characteristics with the males in the study and girls were more influenced into participating in bullying behavior by social norms. A study by Fu et al. (2012) examined bullying victimization in twelfth graders between 1989 and 2009. The study aimed to find repetitive risk factors concerning socioeconomic status and behavioral characteristics. The result of the studyShow MoreRelatedThe Importance Of A Theoretical Orientation On Substance Abuse And Co Occurring Personality Disorders1750 Words à |à 7 Pagesdiscuss the importance of having a theoretical orientation when working with individuals, families, and treatment groups. One of the main reasons for a theoretical orientation is because it gives the social worker a framework of reference to understand the therapeutic needs of the client. It provides the social worker with a theory-based framework for generating hypotheses about the clientââ¬â¢s experience and behaviors, which in turn helps prepare the basis for a specific treatment intervention. This paperRead MoreSpiritual Formation Across the Lifespan Essay7723 Words à |à 31 PagesCHAPTER 9 SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT Hope Haslam Straughan Within the social work profession, there is a growing movement affirming that spirituality and religious beliefs are integral to the nature of the person and have a vital influence on human behavior (Hugen, 1998). Canda (1988) identifies spirituality as a basic aspect of human experience, both within and outside the context of religious institutions. If a social worker is going to approach a person in a holistic manner, he or she must be willingRead MoreConcept Comparison and Analysis Across Theories1882 Words à |à 8 PagesConcept Comparison and Analysis Across Theories Julie McKay NUR/513 Theoretical Foundations of Practice December 06, 2014 Stephanie Vaughn Ph.D. R.N. CCRN A concept is a term that theoretically describes and names a fact or phenomenon, thus providing it with a separate identity or meaning. Nurses use theories to clarify the events through nursing practice. A concept analysis provides insight to nursing knowledge and understanding of the concepts allows nurses to determine nursing actionsRead MoreThe Theoretical Approaches Of Human Development Essay2098 Words à |à 9 Pagesconstant process of change which continues throughout the existence of the human being. Each stage, or part of the life cycle, is of utmost importance since each one affects or enriches the following years. Biological, psychological, socio-cultural, and spiritual life-cycle factors determine human development. The theoretical approaches attempt to explain this development and its importance in an individual s life. These organized sets of ideas are essential in furthering our understanding of theRead MorePersonal Reflection And Analysis Of Nursing1826 Words à |à 8 PagesIntroduction The purpose of this paper was to facilitate personal reflection and analysis of my current approach to nursing. First to identify how I define each of the nursing metaparadigms Person, Environment, Health and Nursing. Next to explain why I feel the way I do about each concept and lastly to analyze which paradigm my thinking represents. A major focus being on defining the relationships between the four metaparadigms identified by Fawcett. In (Kozier et al, 2014) its stated that ââ¬Å"philosophicalRead MoreMy Personal Definition Of Nursing1925 Words à |à 8 Pageschallenge my existing view of nursing which in turn will help me develop the confidence in my own nursing practice. Concept definitions and meaning perspectives Person A person for me is a whole organism comprised of physiological, psychological, social, and spiritual components, making the human person multidimensional. Each component affects and contributes to the wholeness and uniqueness of a person. A clinical example to illustrate this idea is when I had a brief placement in an ICU unit. One afternoonRead MoreNursing Theorist Assignment1789 Words à |à 8 PagesDefine how the theorist defines each of the nursing metaparadigms: | How does this definition influence nursing practice? | How does this definition influence nursing education and curriculum? | Person- According to Roys model, a person is a bio-psycho-social being in constant interaction with a changing environment. The person is also defined as ââ¬Å"an adaptive systemâ⬠¦a whole comprised of parts that function as a unity for some purposeâ⬠(Andrews amp; Roy, 1991, p. 4). He or she uses innate and acquiredRead More8 stages of social development6628 Words à |à 27 Pagesï » ¿ Contents UNIT 4 Unit 4 Development 4.1 Page No Social Development - 2 Eriksons stages of psychosocial development - 2 , 3 Stages of psychosocial development - 3 , 4 , 5 , Eight Stages of Social Development - 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 References - 13 , 14 SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT Social development theory attempts to explain qualitative changes in the structure and framework of society, that help the society to better realize itsRead MoreDesign Theory And The General Systems Theory1777 Words à |à 8 Pagesactivated by a challengeâ⬠(Roy Andrews, 2008, p. 46). Once the system has been compromised, it means that both integrated and compensatory processes are insufficient (Roy Andrews, 2008, p. 37). In Royââ¬â¢s adaption model, the person is viewed as a bio-psycho-social being who is in constant communication with a continuous changing environment (Roy Andrews, 2008). Health, according to Roy is defined as, ââ¬Å"a state of process of being and becoming integrated and wholeâ⬠(McEwen Willis, 2014, p. 179). TheRead MoreCase Analysis: The Roy Adaptation Model2741 Words à |à 11 PagesCase Analysis Case Analysis Introduction Nursing is the protection, promotion, and optimization of health and abilities, prevention of illness and injury, and alleviation of suffering through the diagnosis and treatment of human response. It is a cherished and noble occupation. There are many nursing theories that exist and all must be put to the test to determine their usefulness in nursing practice. My professional experience, as this paper will highlight, was one such test. My nursing studies
Research Public Campaign
Question: Write an essay on the Research Public Campaign. Answer: Scope, Theme and Objective of Public Relations Campaign According to the case study, Pizza Rush is a reputed pizza take-away company with 50 stores in Australian market. The company is only known for its special ingredients and cleanliness. However, the company was involved in a scandal, which has affected reputation of the company negatively. The reason behind conducting this public relation campaign is to revive the crisis (Austin Pinkleton, 2015). Therefore, it can be said that there is huge scope to improve perceived value of the consumers with this public relations campaign. The theme of the public relations campaign will be Consume Quality Foods, Stay Healthy. Following are the objectives of the public relations campaign. To communicate with the potential consumers for improving customer relation To convey strengths of the products for attracting consumers To ensure the consumers regarding cleanliness and hygiene factors that Pizza Rush maintain To reduce the negative impact influenced by the current scandal of the company Current Trend and development of communication and its impact on the Campaign Years ago, marketers and public relations professionals relies on the traditional platform such as print media and radio. However, the emerging trend of marketing and advertisement influences the marketers to adopt innovative platform such as social media websites like Facebook and Instagram. The current trend of public relation tends the marketers to improve the theme and content of the campaign in order to influence the target market (Soper, 2015). Moreover, the current platform of advertisement helps the marketers to reach to the maximum number of audience (Duh, 2015). Therefore, it can be said that the current trend in public relations will help to clearly spread the organizational message with the targeted audience. When it comes to the recent development in communication, it increases the scope for the company to communicate with the audience efficiently. The current development of communication has introduced two-way communication in which marketers can spontaneously communicate with the audience rather than just spreading message (Place, 2015). Therefore, it will help the public relation professionals to gather viewpoint of the audience and reframe the campaign according to the situation. Audience of the Campaign and their attributes Pizza Rush is facing issues for the current scandal, which influences the perceived value of the consumers regarding hygiene factors of the company. Therefore, it can be said that the primary audience of this public relations campaign will be the consumers of Pizza Rush. When it comes to the attributes of the consumers, Pizza Rush has segmented their consumers based on demographic characteristics, psychographic characteristics and geographical characteristics (Thorson et al., 2015). In case of demographic characteristics, the company has targeted consumers aged above 18 and below 65. Apart from that, the company has also focuses on the income, household size and social class while segmenting the consumers (Morris Goldsworthy, 2015). Moreover, Pizza Rush has targeted consumers based on psychographic characteristics in which the company has targeted consumes those are willing to consumer high quality food at favorable price. When it comes to the geographical characteristics, the compa ny has targeted local residential people and tourists. Options of the Campaign The campaign will be conducted on social media with video advertisement. In order to conduct this campaign, the marketers will create a video advertisement with the campaign theme for influencing the target audience (Buhmann Ingenhoff, 2015). Moreover, the markets will also measure the tariff of the video for identifying the extent in which the campaign is spreading around. The audience will be able to watch the video advertisement through different platform such as mobile phones and desktops. In order to gain positive outcome from the campaign, the pause and resume option will be incorporated (James, 2015). This feature will help the marketers to measure whether the advertisement is affecting the campaign positively or negatively. If the advertisement is going negatively, then the markers will be able to stop the campaign for identifying the issues (Yang Taylor, 2015). Thereafter, the marketers will be able to resume the advertisement campaign again for ensuring that the previous issues has been resolved. Stakeholders to be considered before starting the Campaign The advertisement campaign focuses on perceived value of the consumers and therefore, it can be said that it is directly connected with the integrity of the organization. Therefore, the public relation professionals should share the information of the advertisement campaign with the management of Pizza Rush. Apart from that, the public relation professionals need to communicate with the managers of Pizza Rush in order to approve the entire process and procedures employed (Babiuk et al., 2015). Apart from that, the PR professionals will communicate with the shareholders of the company with the possibilities of the campaign.
Marxist Analysis of the Hunger Games free essay sample
The Hunger Games takes place after the destruction of North America, in a nation known as Panem, which consists of a wealthy Capitol and twelve surrounding, poorer districts. District 12, where the book begins, is located in the coal-rich region that was formerly Appalachia. As punishment for a previous rebellion against the Capitol in which a 13th district was destroyed, one boy and one girl between the ages of 12 and 18 from each district are selected by annual lottery to participate in the Hunger Games, a televised event in which the participants (or tributes) must fight to the death in a dangerous outdoor arena controlled by the Capitol until only one remains. The story follows 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen, a girl from District 12 who volunteers for the 74th annual Hunger Games in place of her younger sister, Primrose. Also selected from District 12 is Peeta Mellark, a bakers son whom Katniss knows from school, who once gave her bread when her family was starvingâ⬠(Wikipedia 1). There are strong literary themes throughout this work that readily lend themselves to various forms of critique. This paper will focus on two main genres of literary criticism. The first is Marxist criticism, for which there is plenty of material that reveals the novelââ¬â¢s explicitly anti-imperialist agenda. There is a strong oppression of the poor by the rich, and socioeconomic subjugation is responsible for the huge disparity between the ââ¬Å"havesâ⬠and the ââ¬Å"have notsâ⬠. The Capitol dominates its districts by controlling education and the media, keeping the districts in a state of hunger and poverty, and monitoring all aspects of life with an eagle eye. The second form of literary criticism applied to The Hunger Games will be feminist critique. Katniss is presented as a strong, independent woman who seems to have transcended the confines of the traditional female gender role, and she is ultimately successful due to her ability to take on the characteristics of either gender as required by her situation. She is her familyââ¬â¢s provider, having adopted typical masculine duties in hunting, bartering, and protecting her sister and mother. However, there are times where she is able to be protected or supported by a male character without feeling degraded or submissive. Additionally, the female characters throughout the trilogy who strive for singularly feminine gender roles are met with opposition and grim misfortune. Ultimately, The Hunger Games is an excellent work of young adult fiction that uses a futuristic, dystopian society to offer readers the chance to explore and critique Marxist ideologies as well as feminist thought. Marxist Critique of The Hunger Games One of the strongest themes in The Hunger Games is its condemnation of imperialism, which is represented by the Capitol of Panem. Throughout its pages, the novel invites readers to denounce the oppressive socioeconomic forces and repressive ideologies of the Capitol and its representatives. The Hunger Games certainly has a Marxist agenda as it reveals the crippling effects of the oppression of the people by the elite few. Citizens of the Capitol are living lives of luxury and ease while the hard-working and impoverished citizens of the other districts struggle to get by. These are ââ¬Å"men and women with hunched shoulders, swollen knuckles, many who have long since stopped trying to scrub the coal dust out of their broken nails, the lines of their sunken facesâ⬠(Collins 4). They are the perfect representation of the Marxist proletariat, ââ¬Å"the majority of the global population who live in substandard conditions and who have always performed the manual labor that fills the coffers of the richâ⬠(Tyson 54). They have lost hope and merely toil under the domination of the privileged elite, the bourgeoisie who control the worldââ¬â¢s natural, economic, and human resources. This domination pervades every aspect of their lives ââ¬â they are constantly watched by ââ¬Å"Peacekeepersâ⬠who ensure that there is no hint of rebellion among the people. Katniss and her best friend Gale (a boy who also lost his father at a young age) have nothing but disdain for the Orwellian ââ¬Å"big brotherâ⬠intrusiveness of the Capitol. ââ¬Å"District Twelve. Where you can starve to death in safety,â⬠Katniss mutters. Then she glances quickly over her shoulder. Even here, even in the middle of nowhere, you worry someone might overhear youâ⬠(Collins 4). The districts are not strongly divided amongst themselves by religion, ethnicity, or gender, but rather seem to function as supportive communities in and of themselves. They are prevented from communicating with one another. However, their ability to band together and rise up against the oppression is seen at the end of the trilogy, when the districts overcome their fear of domination and join together as one to defeat the Capitol. The majority of the citizens of the districts remain subservient. A Marxist insight would reveal that they are strongly kept captive by the repressive ideologies functioning in their lives ââ¬â ideologies that prevent them from understanding the material/historical conditions in which they live, because the people are slow to acknowledge that these ideologies affect their lives. However, a few of the main characters do see this repression, and they act out against it. One prominent example is in the method by which children are entered into the lottery to become tributes in the Hunger Games. When a child turns 12, they are entered once, then twice when they are 13, three times when theyââ¬â¢re 14, and so on. However, poor and starving children have the option to add their name in more times in exchange for ââ¬Å"tesserae. Each tesserae is worth a meager yearââ¬â¢s supply of grain and oil for one personâ⬠(13). They may also do this for each of their family members. So the wealthy children, who have no need for tesserae, have far lower chances of being chosen to fight to the death. By keeping the poor in a constant state of fear and oppression and keeping the wealthy content and happy, the Capitol ensures that there is no rebellion. Katniss expounds on this, speaking about her friend Gale: ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ve listened to him rant about how the tesserae are just another tool to cause misery in our district. A way to plant hatred between the starving workers of the Seam and those who can generally count on supper and thereby ensure we will never trust one another. ââ¬ËItââ¬â¢s to the Capitolââ¬â¢s advantage to have us divided among ourselves,ââ¬â¢ he might say if there were no ears to hear but mineâ⬠(13). Additionally, the Capitol wields its power all year between the Games, by showering the winning district with gifts of grain, oil, and even delicacies like sugar, while the rest of the districts continue to battle starvation. This furthers the atmosphere of isolation between districts. The imperialistic Capitol also supports the capitalist notion of ââ¬Å"survival of the fittestâ⬠in the Games. However, similar to themes apparent in todayââ¬â¢s society, the tributes from certain districts have a distinct advantage, having been well-fed and trained for combat all their lives. The less-privileged tributes from poorer districts have had to work all day to provide for themselves and their families, and thus have a severe weakness when pitted against the others. Additionally, within the Games, tributes are reliant upon wealthy ââ¬Å"sponsorsâ⬠who take them on, betting that theyââ¬â¢ll win. Sponsors have the ability to send food, medicine, and weapons to aid the endorsed tribute in their fight for survival. Despite any skills that a tribute may have, he or she is still just a pawn in a game of entertainment, controlled by the investment of the rich and kept alive (or not) solely for their amusement. There is a heavy censorship of culture within The Hunger Games. Freedom of thought and the sovereignty of truth take a back seat to the Capitolââ¬â¢s desperate need to maintain power. The education of the children in District 12 (Katnissââ¬â¢s home district) would be heavily condemned by Marxist critics ââ¬â most of the courses are related to coal mining, which is the heart of that districtââ¬â¢s economy. ââ¬Å"Except for the weekly lecture on the history of Panem,â⬠as Katniss reveals, ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢s mostly a lot of blather about what we owe the Capitol. But I know there must be more than theyââ¬â¢re telling us, an actual account of what happened during the rebellionâ⬠(42). Itââ¬â¢s revealed in the later books that there is indeed another district, unknown to the citizens of Panem, that survived the rebellion and lives underground where itââ¬â¢s plotting to overthrow the Capitol. Additionally, while the Games are televised for ââ¬Å"the citizensââ¬â¢ entertainmentâ⬠, they are highly censored to portray only images that are supportive of the Capitolââ¬â¢s power. Katniss befriends another tribute in the arena that is later killed in the action. As a small act of rebellion, to try to give her friend some dignity in death, Katniss puts the girlââ¬â¢s body in a peaceful position, closes her eyes, and surrounds her with beautiful wildflowers. Her attempt to make a statement, however, is omitted from that dayââ¬â¢s highlight reel thatââ¬â¢s broadcast to the nation, ââ¬Å"because even that smacks of rebellionâ⬠(363). Another method of oppression of the proletariat by the bourgeoisie is the segregation of the districts. Citizens are not allowed outside their own, and as a result there is less risk of an uprising. In the Games, when Katniss talks to her ally from another district, itââ¬â¢s a novel experience for her to hear about life outside of District 12: ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢s interesting, hearing about her life. We have so little communication with anyone outside our district. In fact, I wonder if the Gamemakers are blocking out our conversation, because even though the information seems harmless, they donââ¬â¢t want people in different districts to know about one anotherâ⬠(203). Another example of the censored media is available here as well, with this conversation being blocked for the sake of keeping the districts in the dark as to the possible similarities between themselves and others. The Games themselves are arguably the best single embodiment of the Capitolââ¬â¢s classist beliefs that ââ¬Å"equates oneââ¬â¢s value as a human being with the social class to which one belongsâ⬠(Tyson 59). The citizens of the Capitol are favored high above the rest of the districts; itââ¬â¢s as if they live in a different world. Their diets and fashions are excellent examples of the Marxist concept of conspicuous consumption ââ¬â their strange, extravagant clothing and makeup and their plump, well-fed stature serves no purpose but to show their affluence and lack of need. Katniss wonders about their lives when she sees the Capitol for the first time: ââ¬Å"What must it be like, I wonder, to live in a world where food appears at the press of a button? How would I spend the hours I now commit to combing the woods for sustenance if it were so easy to come by? What do they do all day, these people in the Capitol, besides decorating their bodies and waiting around for a new shipment of tributes to roll in and die for their entertainment? â⬠(Collins 65). They have no need for the basic things in life, so they fill their days with entertainment. The Games hold a dual purpose ââ¬â the first is to remind the districts of the Capitolââ¬â¢s ultimate power and the futility of a rebellion, and the second is to provide entertainment to the wealthy elite. The Games last multiple days, and on one particular day there is little action ââ¬â ââ¬Å"Things have been too quiet today. No deaths, perhaps no fights at all. The audience in the Capitol will be getting bored, claiming that these Games are verging on dullness. This is the one thing the Games must not doâ⬠(173). Despite the fact that the tributes are real humans, with families and lives back home, they are seen as mere entertainment. The value of human life is directly equal to the amount of wealth and influence one has. After the games, Katniss hears the reactions from the citizens of the Capitol as she recuperates, and she is sickened by their view: Itââ¬â¢s funny, because even though theyââ¬â¢re rattling on about the Games, itââ¬â¢s all about where they were or what they were doing or how they felt when a specific event occurred. ââ¬Å"I was still in bed! â⬠ââ¬Å"I had just had my eyebrows dyed! â⬠ââ¬Å"I swear I nearly fainted! â⬠Everything is about them, not the dying boys and girls in the arenaâ⬠(353). Ultimately, the Games are a stark reminder to the citizens that they are not autonomous, but are completely controlled by the Capitol. Peeta, the other tribute from District 12, longs to break out of this repressive ideology, but Katniss shoots him down: ââ¬Å"ââ¬ËOnly I keep wishing I could think of a way toâ⬠¦to show the Capitol they donââ¬â¢t own me. That Iââ¬â¢m more than just a piece in their Games,ââ¬â¢ says Peeta. ââ¬ËBut youââ¬â¢re not,ââ¬â¢ I say. ââ¬ËNone of us are. Thatââ¬â¢s how the Games workââ¬â¢Ã¢â¬ (142). They are a cultural production that exist to propagate the prevailing ideologies that support the power structure of the Capitol. The televised Games are, as Tyson says, a ââ¬Å"primary bearer of ideology because [they reach] so many people in what seems to be an innocent form: entertainment. While [they] are being entertained, [their] guard is down, so to speak, and [they] are especially vulnerable to ideological programmingâ⬠(Tyson 60). A Marxist critic may wonder if The Hunger Games is ideologically conflicted. Similar to the conflicts presented in The Great Gatsby, one could argue that the scathing critique of the Capitol could be slightly undermined by the extravagant, sumptuous descriptions of life there. When the tributes are brought to the Capitol, it is described in what could be a glorifying way: ââ¬Å"Peeta and I run to the window to see what weââ¬â¢ve only seen on television, the Capitol, the ruling city of Panem. The cameras havenââ¬â¢t lied about its grandeur. If anything, they have not quite captured the magnificence of the glistening buildings in a rainbow of hues that tower into the air, the shiny cars that roll down the wide paved streets, the oddly dressed people with bizarre hair and painted faces who have never missed a meal. All the colors seem artificial, the pinks too deep, the greens too bright, the yellows painful to the eyes, like the flat round disks of hard candy we can never afford to buy at the tiny sweet shop in District 12â⬠(Collins 59). However, Collins does a good job of keeping the majesty of the Capitol consistently framed in a strange, artificial light. While there are luxuries and sights and sounds and opportunities there that are beyond a poor citizenââ¬â¢s wildest dreams, thereââ¬â¢s a disdainful tone to it all. The work, therefore, is not ideologically conflicted, but maintains a condemnatory quality throughout the events, characterizations, and descriptions. The Hunger Games, while futuristic, is a scornful Marxist critique on the oppression of few by a wealthy elite. She engages in the kind of exaggeration typical of dystopias, which are commonly ââ¬Å"fictional works that take a negative cultural trend and imagine a future or an alternative world in which that trend dominates every aspect of lifeâ⬠to point out the possibility of the extent to which this oppression may reach, if allowed to continue unchecked (Dunn 9). There is a consistent condemnation of imperialist ideologies throughout the novel, and the final book of the trilogy serves as a rallying call to action as the districts join together and overthrow the oppressive Capitol. The Hunger Games does indeed have a Marxist agenda and suffices as a call to awareness and condemnation of the oppression of the majority by the wealthy elite. Feminist Critique of The Hunger Games One of the first questions a feminist critic will consider while analyzing a work of literature is the manner in which a novel is gendered ââ¬â that is, ââ¬Å"how [it seems] to define femininity and masculinityâ⬠(Tyson 119). This is of particular interest in regards to The Hunger Games, because the work is refreshingly egalitarian in its portrayal of gender roles. In District 12, both men and women work in the mines. When Katniss takes over her fatherââ¬â¢s hunting, she is met with no comment or resistance in the trading center of town ââ¬â the desperate need for food trumps any sexist notions. Additionally, girls and boys are equal participants in the Hunger Games, with no alteration of the game for either gender (as there is today in sports, with womenââ¬â¢s basketballs being smaller, etc. ) Throughout the entire trilogy, there are few explicit references to sexuality, but the one ââ¬Å"sex symbolâ⬠character is not female as would be expected, but male. And later, in District 13, men and women are especially gender-neutral. Men and women wear the same uniforms, are referred to as ââ¬Å"Soldierâ⬠, and have the same duties regardless of gender. Finally, the beauty norms of the Capitol are not gendered as they are in todayââ¬â¢s society ââ¬â men and women alike have surgical alterations, flamboyant clothing, and gaudy makeup. Similarly, itââ¬â¢s the most physically attractive tributes (boys or girls) who are rewarded with sponsors. The entire novel seems to portray gender in a way that allows more freedom than our current society on a whole seems to endorse. The protagonist Katniss is a prime representation of the novelââ¬â¢s feminist agenda. She is a successful female protagonist who is primarily masculine in character. She is able to take on more feminine roles when needed, but ultimately she is made up of traits usually associated with men. First of all, she is the sole provider for her family, spending her days hunting and then negotiating in the black market in town. She is physically and mentally tough, and willing to fight for survival. ââ¬Å"Katniss takes risks and acts in ways that are strong and forceful. She may not be caring in the traditional sense associated with women, but sheââ¬â¢s intensely loyal and will lie, steal, fight, and even kill to keep those she loves aliveâ⬠(Dunn 147). The novel artfully glorifies her as a female who is able to succeed by breaking traditional female gender roles. Considering her personality, sheââ¬â¢s not the stereotypical teenage girl, but instead is often hostile and sullen, rarely smiling, and uses few words. Her mentor points out that sheââ¬â¢s ââ¬Å"got about as much charm as a dead slugâ⬠(Collins 117). Sheââ¬â¢s very straightforward, independent, and rebellious. She resents her mother for her catatonic response to her fatherââ¬â¢s death, admitting that ââ¬Å"some small gnarled place inside me hated her for her weakness, for her neglect, for the months she had put us through. Prim forgave her, but I had taken a step back from my mother, put up a wall to protect myself from needing her, and nothing was ever the same between us againâ⬠(53). The author has revealed that Katnissââ¬â¢s character was shaped after two famous male figures: Theseus, who took the place of another to slay a monster and rescue his people, and Spartacus, who led a rebellion of slaves against the Roman Empire. Katniss has an appealing androgyny, the type that ââ¬Å"suggests a world in which sex-roles are not rigidly defined, a state in which ââ¬Ëthe man in every woman and the ââ¬Ëwoman in every man could be integrated and freely expressedâ⬠(Siegel 1). Here, Collins has aptly constructed a female character that enjoys the freedom of gender roles that many feminists promote and long for. Offering a stark contrast to Katniss is her sister, Primrose (or Prim). She is named after a delicate flower, and is small, thin, and beautiful. Her face is ââ¬Å"as fresh as a raindrop, as lovely as the primrose for which she was namedâ⬠(3). She is dominantly characterized by a deep compassion and empathy, as well as a desire to nurture both animals and humans alike. While she is fragile, afraid of the woods, and not adventurous at all, she ââ¬Å"exhibits a type of strength thatââ¬â¢s more acceptable for women in our [patriarchal] culture than Katnissââ¬â¢s physical strengthâ⬠ââ¬â her ability to heal and tend to the sick (Dunn 150). Her self-sacrificing femininity comes to a climax at the end of the trilogy, where she is killed in the blast from a bomb while tending to wounded children. The novel reveals a feminist agenda by the fact that the characters who are the most feminine do not urvive. Prim is the best example of this. Another example is a fellow tribute from another district, named Glimmer. Each of the tributes has a certain image they portray, in their attempt to get sponsors. Glimmer goes for the ultra-feminine, sexy approach, and like Prim, she is also killed off. Lastly, the girl who becomes Katnissââ¬â¢s ally in the Games, while much stronger and braver than most traditionally feminine girls, is unmistakably similar to Prim: ââ¬Å"Rue is a small yellow flower that grows in the Meadow. Rue. Primrose. Neither of them could tip the scale at seventy pounds soaking wetâ⬠(Collins 99). Rue is petite and relatively naive, and meets the same sad fate as the other feminine characters. Katnissââ¬â¢s freedom to express typically masculine traits is especially glorified in contrast to the other girls who conformed to feminine gender roles. Additionally, the novel offers some insights into the operations of patriarchy in this futuristic society. There are no strong father figures present in any of the main charactersââ¬â¢ families. The patriarchal roles are filled by Katniss and Gale, who function as examples that these typically masculine duties can be performed by males and females alike. Itââ¬â¢s portrayed as a noble and selfless cause: ââ¬Å"Galeââ¬â¢s two little brothers and a sister. Prim. And you may as well throw in our mothers, too, because how would they live without us? Who would fill those mouths that are always asking for more? With both of us hunting daily, there are still nights when game has to be swapped for lard or shoelaces or wool, still nights when we go to bed with our stomachs growlingâ⬠(9). They daily break the law to sneak outside their district boundaries to hunt and forage, and they ââ¬Å"agree that if [they] have to choose between dying of hunger and a bullet in the head, the bullet would be much quickerâ⬠(17). Both Katniss and Gale have an equally strong self-sacrificial desire to provide for their family at all costs, regardless of their biological sex. Katniss offers a final example of her patriarchal characterization, when she has a fruitless day of hunting: ââ¬Å"I couldnââ¬â¢t go home. Because at home was my mother with her dead eyes and my little sister, with her hollow cheeks and cracked lips. I couldnââ¬â¢t walk into that room with the smoky fire from the damp branches I had scavenged at the edge of the woods after the coal had run out, my hands empty of any hopeâ⬠(28). Her demeanor is much like an unemployed father or husband, downcast and ashamed at her inability to provide. The novelââ¬â¢s ideological conflict is well worth exploring as well. Katniss is celebrated and glorified as a female with typically masculine traits. However, one might argue that the novel unknowingly contradicts its feminist agenda by the notion that Katniss was only able to succeed because she acted more like a man than a woman. Itââ¬â¢s a plausible conclusion, then, to say that the novel indirectly states that women must behave like men to succeed. However, this is obliterated by the characterization of Peeta Mellark. While Katniss is stereotypically masculine, he is more stereotypically feminine, again showcasing the authorââ¬â¢s portrayal of freedom in gender roles. He is selected via lottery as a tribute; he doesnââ¬â¢t volunteer as Katniss did. Where she is strong, he appears to be weak. As they are introduced as tributes, riding in on chariots, theyââ¬â¢re forced to hold hands initially. Eventually, Katniss goes to let go, but he holds on ââ¬Å"ââ¬ËNo, donââ¬â¢t let go of me,ââ¬â¢ he says. The firelight flickers off his blue eyes. ââ¬ËPlease. I might fall out of this thingââ¬â¢Ã¢â¬ (71). She is the stabilizing force between the two of them. Later, within the Games, Peeta is mortally wounded and is slowly bleeding out. She finds him and nurses him back to a stable condition, and then goes out to find food. When she returns, he acts much like a typical housewife: ââ¬Å"ââ¬ËYou just let me take care of you for a while. â⬠I [Katniss] donââ¬â¢t really seem to have much choice. Peeta feeds me bites of groosling and raisins and makes me drink plenty of water. He rubs some warmth back into my feet and wraps them in his jacket before tucking the sleeping bag back up around my chinâ⬠(291). Where Katniss is focused, goal-oriented, and straightforward, Peeta is more emotional and relational. She realizes that she gets sympathy (and then gifts of food) when she plays up the romantic aspect, so she puts on a good show. However, by the end of the Games, he believes heââ¬â¢s fallen in love with her, and she begrudgingly informs him that it was all a show. The entire situation is very typical of any soap opera romance, but the gender roles are switched entirely. Again, the author seems to take liberty to illustrate the freedom that could be allowed if society would embrace it. Finally, Peeta is contrasted with Gale, who represents a more typical masculine figure. He is strong-willed and independent, able to survive with or without Katniss (though itââ¬â¢s easier when they share the burden). Katniss compares the two in her mind: ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢s not that Peetaââ¬â¢s soft exactly, and heââ¬â¢s proved heââ¬â¢s not a coward. But there are things you donââ¬â¢t question too much, I guess, when your home always smells like baking bread, whereas Gale questions everything. What would Peeta think of the irreverent banter that passes between us as we break the law each day? Would it shock him? The things we say about Panem? Galeââ¬â¢s tirades against the Capitol? â⬠(296). Much like the sexist idea of men saving certain conversations for men because the women are too fragile to handle it, Katniss doubts that Peeta could converse so boldly about heavy and illegal topics. Itââ¬â¢s something she saves for her masculine companion, one who is hardened to the facts of life. The ultimately feminist agenda of The Hunger Games is highlighted most in its support of the idea of more freedom in gender roles for men and women. While there are characters who are traditionally male and female in their personality and actions, two of the main characters are strikingly opposite, and are ultimately successful because of it. The roles of patriarchy are undermined by the fact that they are able to be fulfilled by a man or a woman equally. And at the end of the trilogy, Peeta and Katniss go on to enjoy a lifelong relationship, complete in the duality of masculine and feminine presence but not in the typical model of gender roles. Overall, Suzanne Collinsââ¬â¢ novel lends itself highly to Marxist and feminist criticism. It readily criticizes imperialistic ideologies and the oppression of the poor by the wealthy elite. The masses eventually join forces and rise up against the tyranny, resulting in victorious peace after its downfall. Gender roles are portrayed on a ââ¬Å"take them or leave themâ⬠basis, portraying successes outside of the confines of the stereotypical expectations of males and females. What some might see as a gripping story of a fantasy future society is revealed to others as a wealth of ideas that undermine some common classist and sexist ideologies prevalent in society today. The study of literature and the various forms of literary criticism are highly useful to help the educated reader see history through many lenses, which will ultimately create a more well-rounded understanding of the human experience.
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