My Last Duchess - 965 Words

How does Browning tell the story of â€Å"My Last Duchess† in the first thirteen lines? In the opening lines of â€Å"My Last Duchess†, Browning introduces his speaker, the Duke of Ferrara, who sets the stage to tell the story of his late wife to the Count’s emissary. As a dramatic monologue, Browning’s identity is dissolved into his character’s voice and persona; the first-person narration of the Duke dominates the perspective of the story; the emissary becomes a silent listener, whose presence is only known because he is addressed as â€Å"you† and â€Å"Sir† by the speaker throughout the poem. The relationship between the speaker and the listener within the narrative thus sets up an analogous relationship between the poet, Browning, and his audience†¦show more content†¦The intricate syntax of the following two sentences, constantly interrupted by caesuras within the verses that flow inconsistently outside of the verse in enjambments, is very difficult to follow, especially because he keeps changing the subject of hi s speech from the painting, to Fra Pandolf, to the emissary, to other strangers, and back to himself. The length of the sentences themselves is also inconsistent, the first verse being the only self-contained clause, indicating incoherence in the Duke’s seemingly-eloquent narrative. Browning’s verse not only establishes the Duke’s conversational tone, but also indicates the Duke’s attempt to obscure the truth, which remains as unclear and unstressed as is the fact that the Duchess is dead, even if she is â€Å"looking as if she were alive.† What â€Å"stands† is not a human being (â€Å"she†), but an objectified â€Å"piece†, an â€Å"it† possessing nothing but an â€Å"earnest glance†. Furthermore, the Duke is not aware of the double entendres of his â€Å"design†, even if we know that like â€Å"Fra Pandolf’s hands†, he is working â€Å"busily† to sustain his authority. By calling her a â€Å"piece†, a term not without sexual innuendo, he feels that he has won over her, but her objectification into a painting has been his only means to possession. It becomes apparent that the Duke’s interpretation of Fra Pandolf’s â€Å"piece† of art is not as important as our interpretation of Browning’s piece. Though Browning is more absent from the poem than the emissary, heShow MoreRelatedEssay on my last duchess684 Words   |  3 Pagesliterary techniques to clearly convey the personalities of their speakers. In â€Å"My Last Duchess†, Robert Browning uses point of view, diction, and imagery to achieve a powerful effect, underlining the attitude and personality of the Duke. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;In a dramatic monologue, character development is based on what the speaker says, and how he says it. In â€Å"My Last Duchess†, the speaker of the monologue addresses a fictional audience, and the reader isRead MoreMy Last Duchess By Robert Browning886 Words   |  4 Pages My Last Duchess The dramatic monologue â€Å"My Last Duchess† was penned down by Robert Browning. In this poem, the narrator is the Duke of Ferrara, and the listener is the count’s agent, through whom the Duke is arranging the proposed marriage to a second duchess. The poem is ironical and reveals its rhetorical sense, gradually. In the later part of the poem, the Duke claims that he does not have a skill in speech, but his monologue is a masterpiece of subtle rhetoric. While supposedlyRead MoreMy Last Duchess by Robert Browning693 Words   |  3 Pages‘My Last Duchess’ is all about control and jealousy. Written by Robert Browning in 1842 (the Victorian era), the dramatic monologue is set in 16th Century Italy where the Duke of Ferrara is talking to a Count’s emissary about a prospective marriage with the Counts daughter. The poem conveys the controlling nature of the Duke by the use of one stanza in the entire poem. It demonstrates this, as there is no interruption from the servant and no break whilst the Duke is talking. Any pauses in the poemRead More Analysis of My Last Duchess Essay585 Words   |  3 Pages‘My Last Duchess’ is a poem written by Robert Browning in 1845. It’s a first person narrative of a duke who is showing the ambassador around his palace and negotiating his marriage to the daughter of another powerful family. As they are walking through the palace, the duke stops and looks at the beautiful portrait of his lovely last duchess. The duke speaks his thoughts about the girl, and as the poem progresses we begin to realize that his last duchess had been murdered. â€Å"†¦I gave commandsRead MoreThe Lady Of Shalott And My Last Duchess1765 Words   |  8 PagesThere are many poems about love, but fewer poems about the dynamics of that love, of the power structure inherent in heterosexual relationships. Two poems that don’t seem to have much in common at first glance â€Å"The Lady of Shalott† and â€Å"My Last Duchess† make these power dynamics a central theme of their respective plots. Specifically, these poems put a huge emphasis on how women interact with men, and revolve around a feminine need for male approval, even in death. In this paper I will examine theRead MoreMy Last Duchess and Porphyria’s Lover714 Words   |  3 Pageswishes are usually unknown to the person himself.† (Flanagan). This can help explain how the men act within the stories My Last Duchess and Porphyria’s Lover. Furthermore, this is a comparative analysis of the lover’s within Porphyria’s Lover an d My Last Duchess, both by Robert Browning. In both stories, the lovers perceive the women as objects, instead of actual people. In My Last Mistress, he believes that he has given her a gift by marrying her, and thus thinks that he owns her. He feels that sheRead MoreMy Last Duchess By Robert Browning1492 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"My Last Duchess† The poem â€Å"My Last Duchess† is a masterful example of a dramatic monologue written by Robert Browning. In this poem the narrator is a duke who is discussing his murder of his last duchess with a man with whom he is arranging his marriage to a count’s daughter. As it is a monologue, the man being spoken to does not say a word. It is believed by many that this character is based on the Italian Duke of Ferrara, Alfonso II, who sought out the marriage of a count’s daughter followingRead MoreMy Last Duchess By Robert Browning Essay1058 Words   |  5 PagesMy last duchess by Robert Browning Quote Analysis My Last Duchess by Robert Browning is a mysterious monologue about a duke who is showing a portrait of his former wife or last duchess to a visitor at his palace. While showing this portrait of his former wife, the duke begins to demean the duchess character and their life together. Although the duke is very well spoken and chooses his words carefully as he describes the duchess, he ends up reveling more about himself than his last duchess. By doingRead MoreMy Last Duchess by Robert Browning1795 Words   |  7 PagesIn My Last Duchess, Robert Browning takes poetic license with a real historical character from within the Italian Renaissance: Alfonso II, the last Duke of Ferrara. The Duke married a young bride, Lucrezia de’ Medici; however, their marriage ended mysteriously after just three years (Bloom 16). Within My Last Duchess, Browning uses the character and voice of the Duke to pass comment upon some of the themes of the Italian Renaissance, particularly the juxtaposition between aesthetics and moralityRead MoreSummary Of My Last Duchess By Robert Browning1164 Words   |  5 PagesKendra Collins English 2116 Professor Newberry 13 February 2017 A Reader’s Guide to Robert Browning â€Å"My Last Duchess† Title and Author Robert browning was born on May 7,1817 in Camberwell, England. To and accomplished pianist and a bank clerk. It is said by the age of five he was already proficient of writing and reading. At the age of twelve he wrote a volume of Byronic verse entitled Incondita, which his parents attempted to have published. By thirteen birthday Browning had received the rest of

Islam Dbq Essay - 930 Words

(first name last name) (teachers name) (Class) - (period) March 19, 2013 Why Did Islam Spread So Quickly? Islam originated in present day Saudi Arabia where the prophet, Muhammad, had been born. Islam would later be able to spread quickly through trade, the appealing nature of the Islamic faith, and military campaigns. In the â€Å"Arabian Peninsula Trade Routes† (Doc. A) it shows how Mecca was very busy with all kinds of trade. Since Mecca is where Islam would start in the upcoming years, traders would come and go taking the teachings of Muhammad with them. Mecca was both the center of trade and the center of Islam which leads to the quick spread of faith through the many traders and merchants that†¦show more content†¦While these people looked for peace, Islam welcomed them with open arms telling of equality and harmony. This appealed to the people and thus led to more Islam believers by showing how peace and harmony was present in the ways of Islam. â€Å"The Ordinances of Government† (Doc. E) too helped with spreading the appealing nature of Islam by telling Muslims â€Å"the rules† of Islamic faith to prevent any accidental wrongful actions. This appealed to the people because they knew â€Å"the rules† so they could be true to the nature of their faith and they wouldn’t accidentally stray from the teachings of Muhammad. Abu al-Hasan Al-Mawardi, the author, used an academic tone to show he believed in telling Muslims â€Å"the rules† about Islam so they would become better followers and make them happier so that they could help spread Islam quickly so that others could hear the teachings of Muhammad as well. It would have helped shed some light on the subject if there was a testimony available from the point of view of a Muslim in which he retells what he looks for in Islam. This would help by seeing if these documents were getting their point across and hitting their target with the Muslim s. Lastly, Islam spread quickly through military campaigns which is depicted in â€Å"The Spread of Islam (map)† (Doc. C) This map shows how the people that were conquered by the Muslims chose to convert to IslamShow MoreRelatedEssay on Dbq Islam and Christianity857 Words   |  4 Pagesof Christianity and Islam toward merchants and trade from the religions origins’ origins until about 1500. Are there indications of change over time in either case, or both? What kinds of additional documents would you need to assess the consequences of these attitudes on merchant activities? During the Post-Classical Era merchants played an incredible role in shaping the course of different societies. Christianity in its origins had a negative view of merchants while Islam was more positive as Read MoreAp World Dbq Christian and Islam Attitude Towards Merchants Essay1403 Words   |  6 PagesUsing the Documents, compare and contrast the differences of Christian and Islamic attitudes towards merchants until about 1500. From a review of the 7 documents presented, it is clear that Christianity and Islam condemned inequitable trade, which led to many Christians and Muslims to look down upon merchants; however, honest business, especially as a merchant, is honored highly. In fact, the Quran compares fair merchants to martyrs which were some of the holiest people of all [D2]. HoweverRead Moreap dbq 11003 Words   |  5 PagesGraded Assignment, retrieve the Religious Views on War DBQ. Use this document with its essay instructions and the DBQ Checklist to complete this DBQ essay. Please consult the rubric throughout the process. Using the documents, compare the views of major world religions on war. What additional kind of document(s) would you need to compare the views of major world religions on war? Essay: While some religions, like Christianity and Islam, may have defended war in time of defense, other such asRead MoreAdvancements During The 18th Century1245 Words   |  5 PagesDBQ Essay During the 18th century, advancements to European thought commenced being wide spread throughout the continent. These advancements, known as the Enlightenment, urged Europeans to look beyond what they had previously known and to expand their knowledge, in order to reform their societies in political and economic matters. Enlightenment thinkers believed in human ability to understand the world in which they lived and to conform it to their needs. They advocated many methods of economicRead MoreIslamic and Christianity Essay13431 Words   |  54 PagesVO L U M E FOR TEACHERS ONLY The University of the State of New York 2 2 OF DBQ REGENTS HIGH SCHOOL EXAMINATION GLOBAL HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY Tuesday, August 17, 2010 — 12:30 to 3:30 p.m., only RATING GUIDE FOR PART III A AND PART III B (DOCUMENT-BASED QUESTION) Updated information regarding the rating of this examination may be posted on the New York State Education Department’s web site during the rating period. Visit the site http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/osa/ and select the link

Depictions of the Afterlife - 1060 Words

The afterlife as a residence for souls after death has long been a topic of discussion and debate. This idea intrigues many. As Christians we believe that heaven is a place where believers go where life there will be a continuation of their present life, while hell is a place of judgment and punishment where many experience severe treatment. Direct experience is the only way individuals can experience these concepts, but once we obtain the experience it cannot be shared. This ultimately makes us want to know more leading many to visualize the afterlife. Starting with the earliest Greek Epics, such as The Iliad, society has imagined an Underworld, a place beneath the Earth where souls go once the body dies. Our thoughts and expectations about such an idea have changed over time; the idea of the Underworld continues in many Greek and Latin poems and it still used today (Spiegel). The best descriptions of the afterlife are found in Dante’s Divine Comedy. In his first book, The In ferno, Dante explores Hell, a place in which sinners dwell after they die. His account is mainly taken from Book VI of Virgil’s The Aeneid, which describes Aeneas’s journey into the Underworld to visit his father. These two works, written many years apart share similar ideas about life after death and it makes us consider the changes in society’s thoughts over these times. There are obvious differences found between these two stories and they correlate with the different beliefs society has about theShow MoreRelatedComparison Between Etruscan And Roman Art1357 Words   |  6 Pagesmore retrospective memorialization through the depiction of the couple in a state of regularity the Roman Mummy of Artemidorus presents a more prospective approach concerning the deceased through the emphasis of funerary practices. The Sarcophagus with reclining couple from the Banditaccia necropolis, Cerveteri, Italy, ca. 520 BCE portrays the subjects in their ideal state of life. It functions as a prime example of the extravagant Etruscan depiction of death and the deceased. The man and woman memorializedRead MoreThe Growth Of The Mystery Cult Of Mithraism1664 Words   |  7 Pageslifestyle of a person determined whether a person would be a reward or punished in the afterlife. A reward is happiness and peace and being able to ascend to the stars while a punishment is being tortured somewhere underground. It is hard to understand why Mithraism became popular in Ancient Rome or is there is any actual textual evidence that can link the religion origin. All the information gather is derived from depiction on monuments and the limited mentions of the cult in literary sources. We see mentionRead MoreSum : Forty Tales From The Afterlives By David Eagleman784 Words   |  4 PagesThe characters are, in nearly every chapter, God and the humans. The author’s forty theories about the afterlife point to a bigger picture of the human condition, and raise contemplation about the way the reader lives. The first chapter jumps right into the theme of the book: â€Å"In the afterlife†¦Ã¢â‚¬  This hook is so straight forward and matter-of-fact, the reader is intrigued to read about this afterlife the narrator is so sure about. This is the pattern in every story throughout the book, making the workRead MoreDeath, Morality, And The Afterlife919 Words   |  4 PagesThe idea the death, morality, and the afterlife have gradually changed through history. Death has an unavoidable and unpredictable nature. The conceptualization of death and what happens to a person when they die is perplexing to understand. Humans tend to fear the things in which they cannot begin to explain. No one person exactly knows for sure what to expect once they leave this world. So, we have established religion and science in an attempt to allow us to wrap our heads around this idea. EventuallyRead MoreEssay on The Link Between Hamlet and Renaissance Ideals1308 Words   |  6 Pages He does this for examp le in his play Hamlet (Oakes 68). Hamlet displays the ideals of the Renaissance through his indecisiveness and uncertainty much like the Catholics who questioned their religious beliefs. Shakespeare’s Hamlet is a true depiction of the indistinctiveness of beliefs after the Reformation. After the murder of his father, King Hamlet, Prince Hamlet sees his father’s ghost. His father’s ghost tells Hamlet he must avenge his death (Fiero 27). He also reveals to Hamlet thatRead MoreGreek Material Culture1348 Words   |  6 Pagesgives us evidence that the ancient Greek society believed in an afterlife. This is because the Grecians appeared to have left these items with the deceased apparently for their soul to take with and use them in the afterlife. The tomb, â€Å"Treasury of Atreus†, in Mycenae is an example of a tomb that housed a corpse that was believed to be a ruler buried along with large amounts of jewels and treasures intended for use in the afterlife. In addition to the ancient Greek architecture revealing detailsRead MoreReligion And Its Effects On Society1584 Words   |  7 Pagesdeath rears its ugly head, so is it possible that a religious afterlife after death is a man-made? A multitude of religions believe in an afterlife in which all those who plead for acceptance and forgiveness will be granted an afterlife with only pleasant things. Some differentiate from this belief, such as Buddhism, but an afterlife is guaranteed regardless. According to popular religions, only our conscience and souls enter the afterlife, leaving our bodies behind in order to further our journeysRead MoreBruial of the Dead1275 Words   |  6 Pagesonly thing in life that is one-hundred percent certain is death. Humans go through life ignoring this ultimate fate until the day they are confronted. What a civilization does with their deceased tells a lot about their culture and beliefs in an afterlife. Whether a person is cremated or the body is preserved, whether they are buried in the ground or placed in a tomb, and how their final place is decorated all show their cultures values and beliefs and what kind of person they were. At the Getty VillaRead MoreAncient Egyptian Civili zation : Ancient Civilization930 Words   |  4 Pagesfollowed and the right gods were supplicated, all Egyptians, from the wealthy to the poor, could look forward to completing their earthly life. Thus, they could successfully navigating the dangerous underworld and traverse into the blessed, eternal afterlife. Egyptian tombs were like secret art galleries that were never meant to be seen by human eyes. Instead, these amazing examples of artistic craftsmanship spoke only to an elite group of visitors – the gods . Painted on the wall of a tomb belongingRead MoreEgypts Greatest Art1676 Words   |  7 Pagesrealistic, the king’s feet are far too large and his head too small in proportion to his body. These statues held such high importance because they were believed to hold divine power and acted as a place for the king’s â€Å"ka†, or spirit, during the afterlife. Although these statues mainly represented the king after death, during this period sculpture begin to represent the king during life as well. These statues were displayed in temples and served as monuments to attest to the king’s dominance. Both

Essay on Apostolic church visit - 1700 Words

Apostolic Field Visit Elizabeth REL 100 University of Indianapolis Abstract This paper is a discussion of a non-religious persons encounter during a site visit to an Apostolic Church, which takes a very literal interpretation to the Christian Bible. Many topics are discussed within this paper such as materials present in the church, the ritualistic practices, socioeconomic status of members present, and the subjective reaction to the service. Apostolic Field Visit Introduction: The name of this church was Apostolic Christian Church. I selected this church because a friend of mine went to this church during his youth. I was completely unaware of doctrine or specific beliefs†¦show more content†¦The speaker was discussing acceptance/fear of rejection. He said these things are what cause us all to sin, in all the various ways. They also emphasized that the King James Version of the Bible is the only true version, and all others are sacrilegious. He read from 1 Corinthians 8. He warned Christians to not â€Å"be a stumbling block unto others.† This includes dinning out on a Sunday, as this is the Lord’s Day for rest. He also spoke of weakness in the Bible. It is prevalent throughout, but it is never justified. The speaker the continued further reading into 1 Corinthians 9 which reveals advice from Paul, where he says â€Å"rights are not important. Give them up for God and others. Surrender to Him,† (Bro. Joe Reinhard , personal communication, January 26, 2014). A closing prayer was completed and then a closing hymnal. The hymnals contained old fashioned hymns. Experimental/Emotional: The congregation was staunch. Everyone was very quiet and attentive. Crying babies were hushed and removed from the room. Minimal distractions were present. Everyone gave the speaker the utmost respect. Fear appeared to be the most prevalent emotion. Perhaps it was fear and not respect that kept the congregation attentive. The speakers all emphasized human insignificance on more than one occasion. At one point Bro John Reinhard stated we have â€Å"no intrinsic worth of our own.† He then went on to say we are nothing without God (2014). Narrative/Mythic: During the openingShow MoreRelatedLife of Prophet Jeremiah3247 Words   |  13 PagesÎ’Î ±Ã ÃŽ ¸ÃŽ ¿ÃŽ »ÃŽ ¿ÃŽ ¼ÃŽ ±ÃŽ ¯ÃŽ ¿Ãâ€š, transliterated Bartholomaios) comes from the Aramaic bar-Tà ´lmay (× ªÃ—•×Å"מי‎‎‎‎‎-ב× ¨Ã¢â‚¬Å½Ã¢â‚¬Å½), meaning son of Tolmay (Ptolemy) or son of the furrows (perhaps a ploughman). According to the Synaxarium of the Coptic Orthodox Church [The Church of Alexandria, the ancient Church of Egypt, one of the Oldest in Christianity], his martyrdom is commemorated on the 1st day of the Coptic Calendar (1st day of the month of Thout), which currently falls on September 11 [this corresponds to August 29 in theRead More John Paul II Essays1359 Words   |  6 PagesPAUL II JOHN PAUL II was the first non-Italian pope since 1523, whose energetic, active approach to his office, unprecedented world travel, and firm religious conservatism have enhanced the importance of the papacy in both the Roman Catholic church and the non-Catholic world. The pope is also the head of the independent state of Vatican City. Born Karol Wojty ³a on May 18, 1920, in Wadowice, Poland, he studied poetry and drama at the University of Krakà ³w. During World War II he worked in aRead MoreThe Infancy Gospel Of James1684 Words   |  7 Pagesmessage from God about offspring. He is recorded as saying that he â€Å"shall not go down either for food or for drink until the Lord my God visits me.† In the fourth chapter, the angel of the Lord who informs her that she will conceive a child who will be known throughout the world visits Anna. Near that time, the angel of the Lord who delivers the same good news also visits Joachim. Mary is born to them nine months later. The text goes into great depths to describe Mary’s birth, saying, â€Å"Anna asked theRead MoreOur Heart Is Young People Essay1105 Words   |  5 Pageseveryday people in which Jesus is central to all we do. We re not your traditional church template. We deliver quite a radical and apostolic approach to promoting the Gospel. We invite you to swing by for a visit! Walk in, dig into the free goodies, grab a special gift from our team, and encounter your first Zoetic experience with our family. Get Involved. We have lots happening week in, week out. This is our church life. Learn the word at a home close to you, or on your local campus. Experience fellowshipRead MoreWhat Caused The Great Schism Of 1054960 Words   |  4 Pagesand the Latin-speaking West, as the church and other leaders no longer read, let alone spoke the language of the other half of the Christian world. The language barrier separated the civilizations greatly. Apart from lingual differences, there were also political differences within both the church and the empires. Both sides had differing views on who should hold power in the church. On the eastern side, the Byzantine emperor was also the leader in the church. His name was Michael Cerularius, andRead MoreThe Foundations Of The Canons1702 Words   |  7 Pagesearly church had the writing of the Old Testament but did not have a formal set of canonized books regarding the Messiah to draw their inspiration from. Though they had letters from Apostles the re were many heretical writings that were circulating throughout the lands that were teaching doctrine different from those who knew Christ personally. Josephus stated that no one had been bold enough to add, take away, or change the wording in the Old Testament scripture (), this was what the Church was lookingRead MoreThe Apostle s Closing Admonitions And Benediction2117 Words   |  9 Pagessummarizes the message of the Epistle in these words: The greatest single overall emphasis seems to be on the unity of the local church as the body of Christ, which is brought out not only in connection with the discussion of the groups (i.e.; the factions within the church), but also in relation to the Lord’s Supper and spiritual gifts. A corollary is the sanctity of the church as members of Christ, both corporately and individually, (note, especially, such passages as 1 Cor. 3:16-17 and 6:15-20.) WeRead MoreMulticultural Education And Learning A Mutual Respect1659 Words   |  7 P agesmy own, I have chosen to visit a Roman Catholic Church. The Catholic religion consists of different groups including Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and Anglican. The church is the largest and possibly the oldest organized religion in the world. Catholic worshipers make up over half of all Christians. The bishop of Rome has stated the Catholic Church has origins dating back to Jesus Christ and his 12 disciples. The origins of the Roman Catholic Church originate straight fromRead MoreEssay on Apostolic Ministry in Rome1934 Words   |  8 PagesApostolic Ministry in Rome According to tradition, there are two apostles who ministered in Rome. While some modern scholars question whether the Apostle Peter was ever in Rome, he is certainly the most celebrated Apostle of the city. A simple example of this is that the largest basilica in Rome (and one of the largest in the world) is named in honor of Saint Peter. The Apostle Pauls existence in Rome is less disputed and even though he is less commemorated nearly two millennia later.Read MoreEssay about Pauls Ministry in Corinth1970 Words   |  8 Pagesflock (Moore 115). This description is definitely applicable to Paul?s ministry in Corinth.? Though Paul?s ministry began with a visit to Corinth that is chronicled in Acts 18:1-18, the majority of knowledge about the nature of his relationship with the Corinthians comes from the letters that he wrote to them after his departure.? By examining the account of his initial visit and the letters, it is possible to determine a few of Paul?s main themes.? The se include the proclamation of Jesus as Christ,

The Communication Revolution Blessing or Burden Free Essays

The twentieth century has seen a remarkable revolution in communication and information technologies. But whether the fruits of this revolution are a boon or a curse is a moot point. Development of Thought: The technologies of information and communication have made impressive advances. We will write a custom essay sample on The Communication Revolution: Blessing or Burden or any similar topic only for you Order Now The Information Revolution did not begin in our century. It began when the hunter painted pictures of animals on the walls of his cave. The nineteenth century saw the advent of the telegraph, the telephone and the camera along with the development of the automobile. But it is in our century that the giant leap was made into the sky with the help of the aero plane, radio, television, satellite communication and planetary travel. Man can now hear, speak and see at the speed of lightning. While it has brought people together and fostered a feeling of global village, it also provokes fears of cultural invasion and invasion of privacy. The dilemma of the phenomenal advances of communication is at one level to find out how much of entertainment and consumption produce true contentment and at another to discover how much of information yields true wisdom. But like every other invention of man, the Communication Revolution has its uses as well as misuses. Conclusion: Technology and the way of life it has ushered in. is as much a burden as a blessing. It has brought as much problems as it has benefits. Ultimately it is by cutting down human wants that happiness can be achieved. It has been an eventful century, a century which has witnessed the collapse of the European empires that had held the various continents under their sway, a century in which another empire rose and fell the Soviet Union, a century in which the atom was split and its awful potential demonstrated, proving that the smallest of small can be more powerful than the biggest. But the nuclear bomb is not the only symbol of the century. There is yet another the microchip, also small, also potent, which bears out the poet’s averment that the world can be seen in a grain of sand and eternity held in the palm of one’s hand. The technologies of information and communication have made impressive advances. The Information Revolution did not begin in our century. It began when the hunter painted pictures of animals on the walls of his cave; it took a step forward when speech was invented and a further one when early societies carved symbols first on stone, then on pottery, papyrus, palm leaf, birch bark, cloth and paper, to record individual impressions and feelings. Then came printing by wooden blocks and later by movable types and identical copies could be prepared of communications and books. The power of books was recognized quite early. The Vedas were books, the Dharmapada was a book, the Bible was a book, the Kuran was a book. They bore out what Bacon said of books that â€Å"they cast seeds in the minds of others, provoking and causing infinite actions and opinions in succeeding ages†. The book was not the vehicle only of safe and comforting ideas but ideas that could and subvert authority and prevalent norms. That is why the Church and the State devised censorship and book burning even before books were mass produced by the simple that Gutenberg and his followers conceived. The communication giant grew up in the nineteenth century with the advent of the telegraph, the telephone and the camera along with the development of the automobile (The steam locomotive had been assembled a century earlier). But it is in our century that the giant leap was made into the sky with the help of the aero plane, radio, television, satellite communication and planetary travel. Man can now hear, speak and see at the speed of lightning. He has at his command machines which have extended the capacity of his memory and is speed of recall a million times. Entire which normally would have required multi-storey buildings libraries can now be stored in a cabinet? The must complex sums can be solved in the wink of an eye. There is a direct relationship between communication and quality of life. There is no disagreement over the fact that information and communication are vital input for any security. The role of communication in health care, family planning and many other aspects of the quality of life cannot he exaggerated The knowledge base (science and technology) is the most important thing in the present day society and so how knowledge is spread and made use of by various sections of the society becomes an extremely crucial consideration. This places immense responsibility on the groups/agencies, particularly development agencies and action groups, who collect information, analyze and then communicate it to the society. Those for whom the developmental programmes are meant should have full information about the various projects and programmes launched for their benefit by the government. Modem mass media (television, radio, VCR/cable TV, print media, etc. ) have proved to be of great potential in information transfer, motivation, agenda setting, training, mobilization and feed-back and feed-forward loop. The needed techno logy is available and what we need is imaginative software and the use of media that can address both demand and supply issues. Communication strategies have the ability to narrow down the socio-economic gap between the various segments of the society, even without major structural changes at the macro level. However, Mass communication has been used as well as misused. Radio and television have been praised for their contribution to making participatory democracy meaningful. But in their early years, they also presented a temptation to the State to use them for the implantation of qualities, of attitudes that it considered most desirable. The attitude most desired, whatever the complexion of the State in terms of its objectives, was docile acceptance. Hitler and Goebbels used radio to propagate doctrines of one race, one nation and one leader. And in the eastern end of Europe, the communists used their radio and television for thought control, evoking in George Orwell the terror and the nightmare of the Big Brother watching every citizen. Thirty-five years and many million deaths after Orwell wrote his â€Å"Nineteen Eighty Four† came the real 1984 and found the Big Brother sadly sapped of his certitude. And in another six years he was gone. The larger question is what caused this disintegration. The cause obviously is the failure of the economic system of the Eastern bloc to provide the goods to meet the needs which no amount of propaganda could cover up. In making the citizens aware of this failure of their masters, satellite communication had a major role to play. Once satellite television began to rain down pictures of everyday life in the â€Å"decadent† capitalist countries, Soviet citizens could not but compare what they had been told with the evidence of their own eyes. Satellite communication made censorship and travel restrictions in fructuous. The success of the Soviet educational system (in striking contrast to the failure of its economic system) had meanwhile produced millions of people who could think for themselves, although they lacked the courage to speak out what they thought- And now satellite technology enabled even the child to proclaim that the emperor wore no clothes. Communication today is the ultimate empowered whom no emperor can withstand. It is not to be imagined that television has always and invariably been the good angel carrying the gift of freedom Not has it turned out to be the universal educator that some of its pioneers had hoped it would be. In our country, and in a large number of country, television like its elder sibling, the cinema, has been the seller of impossible dreams. If it provided only escapist fare, the indictment would be mild. What it does, unfortunately, is to extol a violent way of life and also to foster an insatiable consumerist appetite. Media organizations claim that their function is information, education and entertainment. But the mix changes depending upon the seriousness of a particular institution. Totalitarian states (including the larger number of fundamentalist societies, which burn books and issue decrees for jailing and killing authors), do as medieval Christian church did, ordain a totally political role for the print and electronic media. In democracies, the media are free to criticize established institutions and they assist the process of open self-examination which is the essence of self government. But in the world in which communication technology is becoming increasingly expensive, journals, radio and television are becoming steadily more dependent upon big money. The cost of production of a newspaper today is several times more than the price at which it is sold. The difference plus the profit have to earn from advertisements. And advertisements are not an ally to self-examination). A few newspapers of known standing may be able to withstand the pressure of the advertiser, as well as of the State, but the weaker, the needier and the more opportunistic go along. Television is more glaringly involved with big money, having largely become a part of big entertainment rather than of enlightenment. An American tycoon was candid and picturesque in proclaiming that a television franchise was just a license to print one ’s own money. Because of its emphasis on diversion, television. In the opinion of some social scientists, is engineering a new kind of illiteracy of the literate, to whom a five-minute treatment of a problem gives the illusion of adequate knowledge and discourages any effort at a more painstaking study. Likewise the availability of machines that store information and disgorge it at the touch of the button subtly alters one of the basic functions of memory- internalizing facts’, perceiving, and priorities and crystallizing insight. Television has been called the chewing gum for the eyes. The same charge was leveled earlier at films. Yet we know that serious cinema has produced great works of imagination. It has even been said that cinema is the creative medium of our century, as novels were of the nineteenth. But if we praise books, we are ready to concede that very few books, in fact, are the precious life blood of master spirits. Nine-tenths of the books that make their way to the best seller list are monuments to the triviality of popular un-taste. Yet the chewing gum theory sums up what happens when a medium of culture contends itself with being a medium of entertainment. It has been pointed that the three major television networks of the United States-CBS, NBC and ABC- have not sponsored a Shake spear play or even a series like Kenneth Clark’s ‘Civilization’ in fifty years. Yet it is another television organization, BBC, which is praised for doing so. Therefore, the failure should not be put against the medium as such but the attitude of the managements of certain media institutions. The anomaly of high-technology communications is that instead of building communities it contributes to disquiet. Yet it would be dishonest to deny the power to television (and documentary films to perform the job of reportage and enable it to be an eye-witness to the history in the making. The same American networks which have been criticized for their neglect of mind enrichment have shown (and aroused) intense concern for social problems like racial disparities and community neglect. Television ranks alongside the press in being a political watchdog. The same relationship that exists between politics and the press exists between politics and television. The importance of a free press for the functioning of democracy was underscored by Thomas Jefferson when he declared long before modern newspapers with a mass reach had evolved. That if he were asked to choose between government without newspapers and newspapers without government, he, would choose the latter. Millions today seems to have actually made that choice. The major positive point of the communication revolution is that it has brought people together and fostered a feeling of a global village. Some of the minus points must also be taken note of. The very trend towards the internationalization of the human being provokes fears that identities are being affected, that specific cultures are in peril. The same technology of satellite communication which has been the bearer of the message of personal freedom seems as a fomenter of fissions in many societies. â€Å"The dilemma of the phenomenal advances of communication is at one level to find out how much of entertainment and consumption produce true contentment and, at another, to discover how much of information yields true wisdom. Is right to regard modern communications as a blessing which has turned- into a burden? Is there anything that can be done? Of course, there is. The starting point is to transfer television, at least partially, from a boredom-killing but money-making business to the realm of education which is universally accepted as a social responsibility. Governments have proved inept in using television for this purpose. Private enterprise does not care. There must be a more serious attempt to devise organizational forms, Public Broadcasting Systems, which are under real popular and not governmental control, which are charged with the task of using television for enlargement of people’s minds. Which are endowed with adequate resources to perform that function, which have links with the universities and the Arts, and which run parallel to commercial television but are not measured by the mundane actuarial yardstick. It is difficult to forecast, or even speculate in H. G. Well’s manner, what new discoveries the next century might bring in the various realms of science. It is an even more daunting task to indicate how the hound that has been unleashed can be controlled again. As the awareness grows that technology and the way of life it has ushered in will pauperize the non-renewable resources of the world. Science has lost its overweening self-assurance. Realism may force us all to adopt what the sages have all along counseled that a sure way to human happiness is the simplification of wants. Preserve Articles is home of thousands of articles published and preserved by users like you. Here you can publish your research papers, essays, letters, stories, poetries, biographies, notes, reviews, advises and allied information with a single vision to liberate knowledge. How to cite The Communication Revolution: Blessing or Burden, Papers

Understanding the role of organisations free essay sample

Understanding the role of the organisation Identify the organisation and give a brief description of it. Tesco is a British multinational supermarket operating in over 12 different countries worldwide including republic of Ireland, turkey, Poland, Japan, china, and the US. and employing over 530,000 people. It was founded by Jack Cohen in 1919 in east end London and since then on has grown considerably becoming the third largest retailer in the world. Describe the products/services of that organisation Originally known for being a groceries store Tesco’s has expanded into other area’s including electrical, home ware, and even clothing. There are also many different services such as Tesco Bank, which provides insurance, loans, credit cards and mortgages. Other services such as mobile, and broadband. Five different stores home plus, express, metro, extra, superstore. Identify the customers and define the needs. Tesco’s aim to provide all customers with value for money products and to get lifetime loyalty to keep customers coming back to Tesco’s time after time. Three areas that we know matter to many of our customers are: price and value; multichannel and convenience; and trust. (tescoplc. com). Tesco’s regularly ask their customers for their opinions via surveys, and a shopper’s thoughts panel to establish their needs. They want food that is value for money and at their convenience. Tesco consumers cater for on average 51 % of the adult population from all socio-economic and age groups particularly performing well with families and 18-44 age groups. (designintelligence. co. uk). Offering Tesco own value products, frequent offers and savings on buying two instead of one etc. They also have Tesco’s finest for the more up market customers, and organic produce for the healthy customers. Describe the purpose, goals, targets and financial structure of the organisation. Tesco has changed their purpose in reflection to the huge change in our society to see large business and organisations help in tackling some of the world’s challenges. A simple purpose of what they stand for†¦ is ‘We make what matters better, together’. One of their goals is to reduce CO2 emissions in their existing stores. At the end of 2012/13, they achieved a reduction of 32. 5% and their 2020 goal is to achieve a 50% reduction in emissions per square foot. Every organisation has a goal to what kind of organisation they want to be and what they aim to achieve. Tesco’s vision is â€Å"to be the most highly valued business by the customers we serve, the communities in which we operate, our loyal and committed customers, and of course our shareholders’. The structure of Tesco is a hierarchy one. There are many layers to the organisation with each member reporting to a more senior person directly responsible for that department who then report directly to their manager and so on all the way to the top. Each function/department within Tesco has its own finance team who do cost analysis, performance monitoring and setting targets. These teams include financial reporting, treasury management, audit, and taxation team. Each of these teams is reportable to a finance director. Tesco is comprised of the chairman Sir Richard Broadbent and executive and non-executive directors. The chief financial officer Laurie Mcllwee who was appointed to the board in January 2009 and has the responsibility of identifying financial risks, which areas of the company is most efficient, budgeting and forecasting the company’s future success. Over the next couple of years they will be focusing on 3 main objectives to continue the growth of Tesco by allocating their capital of around 4% of their sales. They will divide this budget between 1. Continuing to invest in a strong UK business 2. Establishing multichannel leadership in all of our markets 3. Pursuing disciplined international growth (http://www. tescoplc. com/index. asp? pageid=546) Use the PESTLE approach to identify a minimum of 4 factors including legal and regulatory frameworks and explain their impact on that organisation. Technological factors The introduction to new technological devices or systems now used in stores and warehouses are beneficial to both the customers and Tesco improving customer service and to improving work efficiencies. For example self-service checkouts introduced recently to Tesco’s make it more convenient for customer’s to pay for their goods. This reduces costs to the business by reducing the number of staff needed. And also reduces waiting time of customers in queues. Other devices such as RF scanners, electronic shelf labelling and more other wireless devices. Environmental factors Includes working together and taking responsibility for the contribution to environmental issues such as global warming, use of resources etc. This involves ensuring policies are set in place to recycle and encourage others to recycle as well and think about wastage and packaging in production. Social/Culture factors Over the past several years the British population has seen a shift in their lifestyle and eating habits and are now increasingly surrounded by the need for healthy eating. Because of this sudden change in consumer demand, Tesco’s has adapted its product range to stock organic produce in order to fulfil customer needs. Political Factors During this difficult time of high levels of unemployment throughout the UK and the rest of the world governments are encouraging business like Tesco’s to help create job opportunities for the local people aiming to reduce unemployment figures including lower paid, and flexible working for different type of people such as the disabled, students and other citizens. Describe the structure and at least 4 functions of the organisation. Organisational structure’s can vary from business to business, depending on the type and size. Each organisation is divided into functions such as Finance, Personnel, Operations, and Marketing etc. These functions are made of individuals who play a key part in making the organisation a success. Tesco’s is a very large organisation with a Hierarchical structure. There are many different layers from the top director of the company right down to the sales team with the stores. With each person directly reported to a line manger with that function/department. Geography where it will have regional and area managers being held accountable of individual stores within that area with the key aim to maximise profit will also break down Tesco’s and other retailers. Each store will then also be divided down by department such as Clothing, Frozen foods, bakery, electrical etc all managed by a team leader. The function of the Security Loss prevention team is to ensure the safe and secure environment for both customers and colleagues. This consists of each store having a loss prevention manager and sometimes a security manager as addition to oversee any potential security issues and find solutions to solve these problems and protect the customer’s asset/profit. The Marketing function involves a number of roles including analysing other competitors, reviewing the store’s layout and range. Driving promotions and prices with high profile advertising from TV adverts, promotional banners within stores etc to customers receiving emailing and vouchers. Its aim is to entice more customers into the stores by promoting the products that they sell. The Personnel function is to make everyone understands the processes and policies and have all the leadership’s skills necessary to achieve the organisations goals. They do everything from training and developing staff, communicating benefits to colleagues, to performance and reward management. The I. T department is a very important part of the organisation as everything involves technology and we heavily rely on it to carry out daily duties. For example the I. T department are responsible for making sure the systems are user friendly for both customers and staff i. e. self-service checkouts. They also include systems to check stock control and availability to even systems used within other functions such as the finance, HR, and marketing. Explain how the different functions work together to optimise performance. Each organisation’s success to achieve their goals means that each of the different functions needs to work together and share their expertise. Everything that happens at Tesco’s has a direct effect on each department as they are all very closely linked. For example if Tesco’s decided to sell a different product then it would involve many different areas. Purchasing and supply would be involved to find appropriate suppliers and to consider distributional factors. They would also need to communicate with the finance team to ensure that budgets are stuck too and that it would produce a good return. Knowing what products would sell through consumer research and how they will advertise the new products would all come from the marketing team. Explain the culture of the organisation and at least two ways in which it affects its operation. Culture within an organisation is a mixture of its values, mission, and vision for the business and people’s behaviours, which is communicated out to new team members as exceptions of how they work, or the ways the organisation is run on order to achieve its objectives. Different organisations will have very different cultures in how they treat their staff, their customers and how others perceive this by experience and shared opinions. According to smallbuisness. chron. com Organizational cultures can have varying impacts on employee performance and motivation levels. Oftentimes, employees work harder to achieve organizational goals if they consider themselves to be part of the corporate culture. People make up a large portion of every organisation, which is why they have a very important role for the success of it. In order for an organisation to be successful in achieving its aims, objectives and productivity people must feel valued. A survey by the American psychological association found that ‘A fifth of working Americans do not feel valued by employers and half of this group intend to look for a new job in the next year. ’ Employee’s who don’t enjoy their work are either looking for a new job and are less likely to be productive and in turn do not help towards the success of the organisation. At Tesco’s their culture is†¦. ‘We never take anyone for granted’ Tesco know that customers can shop at any store so their aim is to ensure that they do everything they can to keep customers coming back to them. This means making sure that employee’s give the best customer service they can to offer a great shopping experience. To get the best results out of employee’s its been researched that employee’s must feel happy and valued at work and are then more likely to work better towards company’s objectives. And we know that if we look after our people and treat our colleagues with trust and respect they will look after our customers. (Tesco-careers. com). Tesco’s also encourage their employee’s to develop in their career at Tesco’s ‘A real opportunity to get on’. They are encouraged to work in different areas of the business and broaden their knowledge of the organisation by supporting them with training and development. It is important to develop employee’s to often them motivation and show there are of value to the company. It also helps if as many people know how other functions/department work for succession planning in case of sudden vacancies due to employee’s resigning, or due to sickness. Others can therefore step up into another role as a contingency plan so the business does not suffer whilst recruiting and developing others from outside the business. Identify at least three ways in which HRM/LD activities support the organisation in meeting its goals and business objectives. HR department support organisations with establishing policies, producing and developing procedures for managing staff and information to help achieve the organisational aims/mission in order for the organisation to succeed. HR professionals ensure that all staff are aware of the expectations of the company and for their job profile. This can be communicated through various methods such as team talks, and job descriptions. This helps the staff to know what the organisation expects of them and gives line managers criteria of what to measure their performance against and to highlight any potential development opportunities. Activities such as in depth leaning about the organisations help HR in structuring learning and development programmes. Understanding the objectives of the organisation and how individuals will meet these objectives through training, means better and more relevant training programmes to give staff / management the necessary skills and knowledge to carry out all duties and reach their goals. This gives staff motivation knowing that they have opportunities to progress and also gives managers a guide to keep track of staff development and makes the company run more effectively if all staff are trained to the same standard in line with the company objectives. For example training staff on providing great customer services and selling skills will help increase profit for the company. Activities such as recruiting and selecting the right people with the right skills are key to achieving company objectives and creating a successful business. This involves creating an advertisement to encourage the right candidates for the role, selecting the most skilled and experienced people to help achieve the company’s aims. It is HR responsibilities to produce recruitment procedures such as interviews, and assessments in order to review their capabilities. Identify at least three ways in which HRM and LD professionals support line managers and their staff. Line managers regularly call upon HRM to help them with decision making in what action to take with employees. For example if a line manager had issues with a team members performance. HR would ensure that a fair decision is made for the employee taking an unbiased view, taking into account all facts and correct procedures, and employment laws. HR ensure that line managers and staff have had the correct training to help them to carry out their duties confidently, ensuring that all information is current and up-to-date, even suggesting refresher training if needed. For example health and safety procedures are communicated to all staff through inductions into the workforce but employments laws and policies may change therefore HR will keep management informed that current information and work handbook used must be kept up to date, and staff may need for additional training. HR can help support mangers by suggesting specialised training for managers such as workshops for â€Å"people management skills† HR can help support mangers in providing them with required skills to aid the mangers resolve issues with their own teams. Managers and staff may have had training but have forgotten information or managers may need to check that the information that they are giving staff is accurate and so may wish to call upon to knowledge of HR themselves. HR has many different duties and may not have the resources to answer everyone queries so ensures that information such as policies and procedures are available and easily accessible for staff and employees to read. This releases some of the responsibility of line managers themselves.

Actor-Network Theory in Information Systems Research

Question: Within modern computing, every actant acts on or is acted upon by at least one other actant, in order to fulfil the aims of the assemblage. Discuss this statement by following the tasks below. Answer: Introduction The essay describes Actor-network theory on two recent computing news and argues on the topic "Within modern computing, every actant acts on or is acted upon by at least one other actant, to fulfill the aims of the assemblage." The theory identifies the actors and their category including digital, software, and hardware, human, structural or cultural in both cases. The essay also describes the acts of those actants on each other and the behavioral changes occur due to the actions as well as how the situation helps in enhancing management. Apart from this, the essay also discusses the case on behalf of some famous persons (Morozov, Nicholas Carr and Clay Shirky). Actor Network Theory Actor-network theory or ANT was originated from the ideas of the fields like sociology and anthropology. The theory considers every component of society is a part of social network. The living and non-living entities have the same importance as well as influence the society (Alexander and Silvis 2014). The theory is based on mainly two components the actor and the network. Actor: The actor can be anything including human, hardware, software, instrument, etc. and they have impacts on the network. Network: The actors and their work together create the network. In a society, everything is related to each other in a way. As an example, in an IT company, there are many departments like marketing, sales, accounting, HR, IT as well as R D and networking. Every department has individual entities like employees, machine, server, room, particular software (Bootstrap, JavaBeans for IT, MS Office Account express for accounting department). The entities are called the actors, and they together complete the department, which is the example of the network. All the departments together complete the IT Company as well as creating a larger network. In the network hierarchy, the departments are the subset of the company and the departments are the superset of employees. Thus for the company, departments and other external factors are actors and for departments, the departmental entities are the actors. The theory also defines some other terms like intermediaries, mediators as well as concepts like Translation and Quasi-object, etc. Intermediaries: The act of intermediaries has no impact on network thus; it can be ignored. Mediators: The mediators can differ in the output of the network. Translation Quasi-object: The concept of Translation means a centralized network where all the actors agree with the concept and defend it. The Quasi-object moves on the network like a token in the ring network. Relevance of ANT in Computing However, the actor-network theory was originated in the field of sociology, but the theory is now applied in other fields due to its distinct object-indicative approach. In computing the actor network, the method can precisely find out the problems and solution in a technical network. Detecting the issues can lead the network towards the path of technological progress. Precise Reality: The ANT approach is distinct from the other research approaches. Active network theory has a dynamic approach as it takes all the elements as its actors. In the way, the theory does not miss a single relation between entities and its impact which in another research approach may neglect considering trivial. As an example, In the IT department if due to particular machine issues an efficient employee misses his target of submitting a job in time, the impact covers the employee performance, department performance as well as the company performance. The machine issue is an important actant in the ANT, but some other approach may miss the component. Recognition of multiplicity: The ANT can recognize the multiple realities of its objects and relate the ideas from a different perspective. The effects may not have any particular origin, but they come from this origin. In the case of an IT company, the base level employee (Ex: data entry operator) reduction is a minor issue for middle-level management as recruiting this kind of staffs is easy but the sudden reduction of such employees can increase pressure on workload, so this is an important issue for the base level management (Tomlinson et al. 2013). Therefore, the value of the same subject is distinct from a different perspective. Detecting micro process in complex Environment: Generally, from the theoretical standpoint, components are divided into micro and macro components. Research approaches typically have a tendency to search troubles in the macro systems, which consist of many Microsystems. Therefore, the approaches miss the problems in Microsystems. The ANT considers each element as the actor and searches the interaction as well as the impact of the items on other (Farias and Bender 2012). Therefore, this approach does not miss any issue. In the present scenario, for an IT company employee confliction in a particular department can delay the work as well as the performance of the department. The performance issue can create further troubles in the teams of the company thus increasing complexity for the enterprise. The micro process (employee confliction) thus troubles the whole network (company). Computing News 1 According to IEEE Spectrum (March 15, 2016), five major cases (hospital site hacking) raises the finger towards the vulnerabilities of cyber security (Spectrum.ieee.org 2016). From the information, nearly 2000 copies of X-ray were downloaded illegally from hospital site (China) due to an older version of OS in machine and devices. As the OS versions are old, the hospitals do no connect their systems to the internet (Khurana 2015). However, to update the firmware an employee connects some system to the internet and finds out the machine unserviceable with malware. Identification of Actors: In the computing news 1, the actors are the hospital, the hospital site, the hospital machines, OS used, the employee, firmware as well as the unknown downloader. Categories of Actors: The digital, software, hardware, human, structural, cultural actors are the site, firmware/OS, machine, employee/downloader, the internet, affect of hacking respectively. Action and Impact of action: In this case, the hospital site is changed due to the employee ignorance as nearly 2000 copies of patient X-ray downloaded. These types of download bring a structural shift in the society on the ethical issues. The employee later knew that some Chinese natives could not get permission to leave China due to infectious lungs diseases. The downloaded copies (clear reports) may be helpful to them. Therefore, these copies can help in illegal immigration thus creating cultural conflict. The older version of OS damaged the machine as well as loose valuable information. Here the networks are the hospitals and the internet and both face problems due to the actors. Increasing Security Management: According to the topic, the older version of OS is the negative factor. A hospital needs to connect to the internet. Therefore, the absence of internet connection cannot be a practical option. The hospital should regularly update its OS; add anti-virus/anti-malware in the system etc. Apart from this, the ISPs should deal with the ethical issues in ICT and hacking as well as increase awareness and cyber security. Computing News 2 According to Tech Crunch (March 2016), Microsoft had brought the game Minecraft for 2.5 billion dollars to launch a platform for virtual reality and artificial intelligence (Dickey et al. 2016). Microsoft has announced a new software platform AIX to develop AI-powered characters for the game Minecraft. It will be a self-learning process for children. Identification of Actors: In this case, the actors are Microsoft, Minecraft game, money amount (2.5 billion dollars), platform for virtual reality and AI, AIX as well as the consumers (includes children) Categories of Actors: The digital, software, hardware, human, structural, cultural actors are Microsoft/Minecraft game, AIX, Systems, children/players, AI, machine culture respectively. Action and Impact of action: According to the case, Microsoft is using the Minecraft game as a platform to increase the experiment on artificial intelligence. Using a popular sandbox game the company can find a large audience to show the platform. The open and creative components of this game can be fruitful for AI experiment (Bond and Gasser 2014). Moreover, the video game can help children learn the complex nature of AI quickly easily. The amount of money shows the urgency of innovation for Microsoft. Therefore, the actors here can increase the goal of AI networks like reasoning, natural language processing, intelligent behavior for machines as well as the communication between machine and human actors (Bond and Gasser 2014). Enhanced management In recent years, artificial intelligence has become a major interest for information technology. The primary goal is to increase the intelligent behavior of the machine. The rational behavior includes reasoning, knowledge, learning, perception as well as moving and manipulation of objects. Using the popular video game Minecraft children as well as other players can realize the impact of AI and its characteristics. Involving into something is the easiest way of learning (O'Neil 2014). This strategy of Microsoft will increase interested people as well as students to interact in the compound subject. With the open source license of the game, different communities can interact and experiment with the topic AI and AIX platform. The negative aspect of this situation is the game will addict the children, the target players as well as change their mindset for hobbies and increase health problems. Big Data Analysis and other views Big data is structured as well as unstructured data generation when some topic is seen from different perspectives (hidden patterns, marketing trends, customer view). The analysis leads to efficient ways of marketing, technology, competition as well as customer service (Sourav et al. 2015). The computing cases described in the essay generate big data necessary for information mining (Zhang and Huang 2014). Computing News 1: In the site hacking case in China, the data generation includes the security system condition of hospitals in China, the ethical issues in the ICT, the cultural condition in a part of China as well as the socio-economic structure of China. Computing News 2: According to the second case of Microsoft approach to increase the Artificial Intelligence platform using sandbox game Minecraft includes the progress in AI platform, improved target players for the game, easy learning of AI, etc. Morozov view: According to Morozov, data mining operation of government can lead to serious privacy threat for people (Lazer et al. 2014). The idea of all data securely stored on the internet is a utopian hypothesis. In the first computing case, the idea of security is in trouble as the mere update case leads to serious harm to hospital system and site. The Microsoft idea to increase the AI platform can lead more machine dependency as well as vulnerabilities in people. Nicholas Carr view: According to Nicholas Carr, the use of internet and machine (includes computer, tab as well as a calculator) is obstructing human power of deep thinking. In this digital era, people are very dependent on the internet (Chen et al. 2014). In the first case, the inevitable dependency on the internet becomes the cause of system damage as well as the illegal download of confidential copies. In the second case, the progress in AI platform can enrich human knowledge. However, the strategy to launch the AI platform using the game can detach human from their early habits, hobbies as well as increase health risks. Clay Shirky view: According to the surplus cognitive theory of Clay, Shirky technology changes the consumers into an associate. In the first computing case, the unknown downloader is a transformation from user to hacker, and the transformation leads ethical issues in ICT as well as harm to the system of the hospital. In the second case, Microsoft has a strategy for customer interaction for the AI platform. The interaction and comments can lead the players and user to transform into AI programmer or tester. Conclusion The essay includes the basis of active network theory stating that in micro as well as macro process every actor is dependent on some other actor and vice versa. The essay also describes two recent IT cases and argues on the impact on those cases taking different actors like hardware, software, social, cultural as well as human. Moreover, the two cases are also seen from different viewpoints like big data analysis, Morozov, Nicolas Carr, etc. References Alexander, P.M. and Silvis, E., 2014. Actor-network theory in information systems research.Information Research,19(2). 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Performance Evaluation of Big Data by Applying Ant Colony Optimization Techniques.Journal of Computer Sciences and Applications,3(6), pp.134-136. Spectrum.ieee.org. (2016).IEEE Spectrum: Technology, Engineering, and Science News. [online] Available at: https://spectrum.ieee.org [Accessed 17 Mar. 2016]. Tomlinson, B., Blevis, E., Nardi, B., Patterson, D.J., Silberman, M. and Pan, Y., 2013. Collapse informatics and practice: Theory, method, and design.ACM Transactions on Computer-Human Interaction (TOCHI),20(4), p.24. Zhang, J. and Huang, M.L., 2014. Density approach: a new model for BigData analysis and visualization.Concurrency and Computation: Practice and Experience.