Video Game Propaganda :: Entertainment Advertising Papers

Video Game Propaganda Propaganda is hidden in our literature, spews from our radios, and is even inside our televisions. Propaganda, information or material spread to advance a cause or to damage an opponent's cause in such a way as to hide negative aspects, surrounds us all in every aspect of our lives. It is unavoidable and now it is gaining ground in yet another technology. Throughout the years technology has always been used to wield propaganda. Even canvas paintings have had their hand in such a form of information with depictions of current events that resemble the style of some of today's political cartoons. The printing press provided the ability to mass produce pamphlets supporting or putting down a cause. Thomas Paine's Common Sense comes to mind when one thinks of propaganda pamphlets because of its large impact it had on informing the thirteen colonies of the importance of the American Revolution. The radio not only allowed a message to be able to reach a wider audience in a shorter amount of time, but messages could even reach those who were illiterate. The television and movies reach a wider audience still and a visual style becomes very important to propaganda and helps immerse the viewer into the information. More recently propaganda has been wielded through computer technology. Web sites for the respective governments and factions of the U.S. military are all over the World Wide Web. Banner ads (essentially mini posters that are sometimes animated) appear on various web sites that are chosen in much the same way that companies choose which television shows to buy advertisement time during. In all occasions of propaganda infiltrating the newest technologies the purpose is always to reach the audience the propaganda is directed towards and that is certainly no exception with propaganda's recent involvement with video game technology. Video game propaganda is just as effective as past incarnations of propaganda if not more so because of its immersive nature. The US Government's History with Video Game Technology In the late 1970s a video games started their long relationship with the U.S. military. An arcade game entitled "Mech War" was introduced into an Army War College. This was the first of quite a few games introduced into colleges to be used as skill-enhancers. The military recognized the ability of video games to hone reflexes and hand-eye coordination. In the 1980s the U.S. Army modified "Battlezone," a futuristic 3D tank battle game that actually introduced the idea of a first person shooter.

“My Bondage and My Freedom”

My Bondage and My Freedom is Frederick Douglass’ second autobiography, written in 1855.   It is important to remember that this work was written before Abraham Lincoln was elected President and before the Civil War. Slavery was becoming a volatile issue in the South and was threatening to split our young nation in two.   Additionally, it is important to remember that while slavery had some supporters in other sections of the nation, it was mainly a Southern issue. This is where the slaves were bought and sold and this is where the plantations depended so heavily on slave labor to be able to produce a product that was then sold and reaped great profits.   White American’s attitude differed depending on where they lived and how close they were to the issue; for the purpose of this paper the focus will be on attitudes in the South. In 1790 all white persons were granted citizenship in the United States.   This indicates how most white people felt about African Americans.   They were seen as, at best, a lower class and, at worst, no better than the animals that helped around the farm; the cows and the horses.   However, in some small towns slaves became part of the family and the family worked alongside their slaves to ensure survival.   This, unfortunately, was not Douglass’ experience.   Douglass writes, â€Å"After the valuation, then came the division.   This was an hour of high excitement and distressing anxiety.   Our destiny was now to be fixed for life, and we had no more voice in the decision of the question, than the oxen and cows that stood chewing at the haymow.† (138) Choices afforded to slaves were few and far between.   They were told where they would work, live, and be.   If they were lucky, they worked in a home where it was warm and relatively comfortable.   If they were unlucky or rebellious they were sent to slave breakers who were considered professionals at breaking the will of slaves who constantly ran or disobeyed their owners.   Douglass writes of his experience with one such man whom he calls Mr. Covey.   â€Å"I was a victim of his violence and brutality.   Such a narration would fill a My Bondage and My Freedom   volume much larger than the present one.   I aim only to give the reader a truthful impression of my slave life, without unnecessarily affecting him with harrowing details.† (170)   As any reader could see, slaves really had no choices.   Little more, yet enough more to make it appealing, were afforded free African Americans in America.   Douglass writes of the isolation of being a free slave, â€Å"For a time, every door seemed closed against me.   A sense of my loneliness and helplessness crept over me, and covered me with something bordering on despair.   In the midst of thousands of my fellowmen, and yet a perfect stranger!† (253) In his life Douglass chose not to give into the helplessness or despair that he writes of.   He chose to speak out and found himself at home with the abolitionist cause.   Douglass was an eloquent orator who constantly strove to bring his people into a different light.   One of his main objectives was to, â€Å"Chang(e) the estimation in which the colored people of the United States were held.† (xxiii)   He would do this through educating himself, through the speeches he gave, through the books he published and through newspapers like the North Star.   It seems he chose to educate rather than violate. The ramification of Douglass’ life and his choices were felt far and wide.   From the early beginnings of the abolitionist movement to the passing of the Fifteenth Amendment, to the eventual de-segregation of schools in the 1950’s, early pioneers of the anti-slavery movement set the wheels in motion for later events. Douglass closes his book by saying, â€Å"I shall labor in the future, as I have labored in the past, to promote the moral, social, religious, and intellectual elevation of the free colored people; never forgetting my own humble origin, nor refusing, while Heaven lends me ability, to use my voice, my pen, or my vote, to advocate the great and primary work of the universal and unconditional emancipation of my entire race.† (300)   His work and his words still continue today.

Free Essays on Capitalism Vs. Socialism

CAPITALISM vs. SOCIALISM Capitalism and Socialism are both types of systems in different societies throughout the world that have been successful at times, but also not so fortunate in it’s success at other times throughout history. When discussing Capitalism and Socialism we are asked if we desire a moral or immoral system, if we’d rather have our own freedom or a tyranny, and if we’d prefer prosperity or poverty!?! What would you choose? One distinct system of economic organizations that exists is Capitalism. Capitalism is a social system based on the recognition of individual rights, including property rights, in which all property is privately owned. Capitalism is based on the right to property. Property is acquired through trade, which is a trade in values. Those who believe in this system believe in the theory â€Å" if you do something good for me, I will do something good for you.† Capitalism is the only system that doesn’t deprive the individual of his rights. The right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, are all fulfilled in Capitalism. People are free from the use unearned force by the government, free to acquire and keep property, and live in an ethical way. Capitalism allows progress through the value of work. Productiveness is the virtue of creating material values, and in a free market, such a virtue is a necessity to trade. Capitalism is fine in many aspects of socie ty, especially when we are interested in wants as opposed to needs. If one were interested in luxuries Capitalism would be an excellent choice. The other distinct system of economical organization is Socialism. Socialism is a system, which is defined by governmental ownership and property, Socialism is against all basic rights: by using unearned force on its citizens, it removes from them the right to property. By using force and forbidding them to use this property, it therefore also affects the right to liberty... Free Essays on Capitalism Vs. Socialism Free Essays on Capitalism Vs. Socialism CAPITALISM vs. SOCIALISM Capitalism and Socialism are both types of systems in different societies throughout the world that have been successful at times, but also not so fortunate in it’s success at other times throughout history. When discussing Capitalism and Socialism we are asked if we desire a moral or immoral system, if we’d rather have our own freedom or a tyranny, and if we’d prefer prosperity or poverty!?! What would you choose? One distinct system of economic organizations that exists is Capitalism. Capitalism is a social system based on the recognition of individual rights, including property rights, in which all property is privately owned. Capitalism is based on the right to property. Property is acquired through trade, which is a trade in values. Those who believe in this system believe in the theory â€Å" if you do something good for me, I will do something good for you.† Capitalism is the only system that doesn’t deprive the individual of his rights. The right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, are all fulfilled in Capitalism. People are free from the use unearned force by the government, free to acquire and keep property, and live in an ethical way. Capitalism allows progress through the value of work. Productiveness is the virtue of creating material values, and in a free market, such a virtue is a necessity to trade. Capitalism is fine in many aspects of socie ty, especially when we are interested in wants as opposed to needs. If one were interested in luxuries Capitalism would be an excellent choice. The other distinct system of economical organization is Socialism. Socialism is a system, which is defined by governmental ownership and property, Socialism is against all basic rights: by using unearned force on its citizens, it removes from them the right to property. By using force and forbidding them to use this property, it therefore also affects the right to liberty...

Memo regarding the current salary of the CEO

Memo regarding the current salary of the CEO The main issue presented within the memo involves the current salary of the present CEO (James) and whether it is in line with standard salaries for CEOs within companies of the same size and within the same market as PDQ.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Memo regarding the current salary of the CEO specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The author of the memo contends that based on the performance of the company, the current average salary rate for CEOs within the industry which is $300,000 and the supposed fact that workers at the company dislike James that replacing the current CEO is a matter of great urgency given that his lackluster performance and high salary are detrimental towards the growth and performance of the company. Reasons given The CEO’s salary is too high During his tenure the company has experience significant drops in performance Workers at the company supposedly do not like him He is rich, thus he would not feel the need to work hard He has a low level of performance In order to make the company better a new CEO would be needed Ambiguous Phrases There are several ambiguous phrases that piqued my interest within the memo. The first emphasized the current wealth of the CEO as detrimental towards his performance. The second emphasized on the need to replace him despite the lack of sufficient evidence and third involved an argument involving incentivized performance and compensation which was highly ambiguous given that various studies state otherwise. Descriptive Assumptions The memo explains that it is usually the case that the average salary for a CEO within a company of PDQs size is $300,000 and that due to the financial crisis most companies have actually frozen or cut back on CEO salaries due to lower profits. While this particular aspect of the memo is valid, the memo takes a strange turn stating that James must be fired on the basis of his supposedly lackluster perfo rmance (which the memo does not present sufficient evidence on), the fact that he is wealthy and would supposedly not work for the best interests of the company (similarly has no basis), the fact that the workers at the company supposedly dislike him (has not been confirmed with verifiable facts from the union) and on the fact that he has a high salary which is not commensurate with industry standards (considering the fact that it was based on a contract it should not be an issue). Fallacies in Reasoning While the memo was quite extensive in its use of a variety of statistics in order to properly frame its arguments, it made several assumptions that lacked sufficient evidence to actually prove to be accurate. First off, towards the end of the memo the author makes the following assumption regarding salaries and compensation: everyone in the Human Resources field knows that â€Å"pay for performance† is the most effective compensation method. The creation of this particular st atement is versed in such a way so as to connote a certain degree of factual appropriateness to what was stated. This means that it was created to make people assume that pay for performance is the most effective method by stating that it was a well known practice within the field of human resources.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In reality studies such as those by Goh Gupta (2010) have shown that pay for performance is actually one of the least effective methods of compensation (Goh Gupta, 2010). This finding has been backed up by several other studies and shows that the author of the memo was presenting an assumption as a fact. Examining the Evidence The author of the memo connects the failing performance of the company with the supposedly lackluster performance of the CEO. This particular argument in light of the circumstance is rather strange given the fact that the drop in company performance coincides with the 2008 financial crisis which resulted in considerable performance drops for nearly all corporations within the U.S. The memo fails to show any solid proof of corporate mismanagement by the CEO and merely presents an assumption based on data which has been proven to be outside of the control of the CEO. Not only that, it was stated early on that the increase in the CEOs salary was based on a pre-negotiated contract which should void any arguments regarding subsequent salary increases. While there was sufficient evidence to justify the lowering of the CEOs salary given the financial crisis, there is insufficient evidence to justify firing him. Based on an evaluation of the presented evidence, it can be seen that it is severely lacking in terms of actually showing that the current CEO of the company should be fired and is indicative of a lack of sufficient foresight and research into the performance of the CEO and largely consists of pure speculation and assumptions. Rival Causes The memo in certain sections elaborates on the need to replace the CEO with someone that is more hardworking and willing to do what is necessary. This creates the idea that the present CEO is not hardworking and is in fact lazy. This is rather ambiguous given the fact that the author of the memo fails to show any solid evidence regarding this particular fact and is evidence of a certain dislike by the author for the CEO given that he continually emphasizes firing James. Deceptive Statistics The statistics are definitely deceptive since the CEO had pre-negotiated salary increases that were not dependent on company performance. Not only that, the drop in company performance was not due to mismanagement but was a direct result of the financial crisis. The CEO should actually be commended for ensuring that the companys performance loss was kept to a minimum. Information that has been omitted The most obvious information that has been om itted is whether or not the CEO has been doing a good job despite the adverse circumstances that the company finds itself in as a result of the financial crisis.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Memo regarding the current salary of the CEO specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More There is no information whatsoever indicating factors relevant to what initiatives he has successfully employed, what cost savings measures were carried out during his tenure, how has he helped to reduce the losses of the company and how has he responded to the adverse market situation. All of this information is relevant given the arguments being presented by the author but it is in fact missing which creates a certain degree of ambiguity regarding the fairness of the way in which the CEO is being portrayed. Reasonable Conclusion that can be Derived Based on the way in which the memo was created which emphasized on the supposedly lackluster perform ance of the CEO without sufficient evidence and the way in which the arguments were formulated to emphasize several negative qualities about the CEO and the need to fire him despite the fact that this was not the original intent of memo shows that the Senior HR manager has negative feelings about James and is actively attempting to have him removed despite the insufficient evidence proving the CEO’s inadequacy. Reference List Goh, L., Gupta, A. (2010). Executive Compensation, Compensation Consultants, and Shopping for Opinion: Evidence from the United Kingdom. Journal Of  Accounting, Auditing Finance, 25(4), 607-643.

Thorny Devil Lizard Facts

Thorny Devil Lizard Facts Thorny devil lizards are part of class Reptilia and mainly live throughout the arid parts of Australia. Their scientific name, Moloch horridus, is derived from the Latin word meaning rough/bristly (horridus). These lizards get their name from the conical spikes across their whole body, and they can camouflage themselves in their environments. Fast Facts: Thorny Devil Lizards Scientific Name: Moloch horridusCommon Names: Thorny Devil, Mountain DevilOrder: SquamataBasic Animal Group: ReptileDistinguishing Characteristics: Conical spikes on its head, body, and tail with a skin color of yellow and brownish-black.Size: Up to 8 inchesWeight: 0.1 - 0.2 pounds on averageLife Span: Up to 20 yearsDiet: AntsHabitat: Dry desert, grasslands, scrublandConservation Status: Least ConcernFun Fact: Per meal, a thorny devil can eat anywhere from 600 to 2,500 ants with their sticky tongues. Description Thorny devils have cones and shields on their bodies that serve as camouflage and as retainers of any water they come in contact with. The colors of their skin range from brown to yellow as the time of day changes to effectively blend in with their arid environments. They have long tongues that allow them to catch ants, and their teeth are specially adapted to bite through the hard, chitin-rich bodies of ants. Females are generally larger than males, and they live 6 to 20 years in the wild. Head of a Thorny Devil Lizard. Theo Allofs / Getty Images These reptiles do not travel very far from their homes. They are not territorial and have been spotted in overlapping ranges of other thorny devils. They are also active from March through May and August through December. During the hottest (January and February) and coldest parts (June and July) of the year, thorny devils hide in burrows that they dig. Habitat and Distribution Thorny devils live in most of the arid regions of Australia, including the Southern and Western parts of the country. They prefer desert areas and spinifex grasslands. Spinifex is a type of spiky grass that grows in sand dunes. Diet and Behavior Their diet is made up exclusively of ants, eating anywhere from 600 to 2,500 ants in one meal. They locate these ants by moving very slowly to find trails and then waiting for the ants to come. They use their sticky tongues, similar to an anteaters, to pick them up. Additionally, thorny devils’ skin collects water from its environment and channels the liquid to its mouth to drink. In extreme circumstances, they bury themselves in the sand to get moisture from it. Thorny Devil traveling on the sand. Luis Castaneda Inc. / Getty Images Thorny devils are non-territorial and don’t travel very far from their homes. Their daily routine consists of leaving their cover in the morning to warm themselves in the sand, moving to their defecation site, and then returning to their cover along the same path while eating ants along the way. However, they will travel further distances between August and September when in search of mates. To defend against predators, such as buzzards and Australian bustards (large land birds), thorny devils curl themselves to protect their head and expose a bony mass on their neck often referred to as a false head. This fools predators into attacking the knob instead of its real head. Reproduction and Offspring Mating season for thorny devils occurs from August to December. They travel long distances to converge at mating sites. Males attempt to attract females by bobbing their heads and waving their legs. Females fall and roll to throw off any males that meet their disapproval. Females lay 3 to 10 eggs in burrows much deeper than their normal ones and fill in the holes to cover up any signs of the burrow. The eggs incubate anywhere from 90 to 132 days and then the young emerge. Males and females grow at similar rates for the first year, but females grow at faster rates up until age five. Conservation Status Thorny devils are designated as least concern as assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The organization found thorny devils to be very widespread and unlikely to be under any threat. Sources Dewey, Tanya. Moloch Horridus. Animal Diversity Web, 2019, https:// animaldiversity.org/accounts/Moloch_horridus/.Moloch Horridus Adaptations. Dancing With The Devil, 2008, http:// bioweb.uwlax.edu/bio203/s2014/palmer_tayl/adaptation.htm.Thorny Devils. Bush Heritage Australia, 2019, https://www.bushheritage.org.au/species/thorny-devils.ï » ¿Thorny Devil. The IUCN Red List Of Threatened Species, 2019, https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/83492011/83492039.

Case Summary LEGO ( Based on the case reading to answer the four Study

Summary LEGO ( Based on the reading to answer the four questions) - Case Study Example Competition as a criterion for evaluating the different product lines and operations determines what products are the competitors involved in making. Such a criterion goes in hand with lessons learnt, in which LEGO identifies the different areas that require improvement, aimed towards the improvement of future performance. Changes in the marketplace for any product line determine the future that a particular product and organization takes. Regardless of the particular product line, changes are necessary for every organization, as a means of making improvements in areas that have failed, or those that never worked as per the required standards. Toy industry, is indeed an industry that requires significant changes in order to develop products that impress children more. Critical changes needed for the industry include increased innovation, which introduces new products, the establishment of an increased performance competition in the same industry. Additionally, changes contribute to the development of new technologies, an aspect that contributes towards the enhancement and improvement of efficiency and performance, as well as the improvement in quality of the products to meet the demands of the market. LEGO is facing a significant number of internal issues, which are currently affecting the organization’s performance and competitiveness, and which require strategic planning to be effectively addressed. First is management. LEGO, previously, remained a successful player in the toy industry; however, with the continued growth of the company over the years, layers of complexities in operations have been added. Such challenges are attributes of poor leadership and management, and which can only be resolved through strategic planning. Another internal issue of great significance to LEGO is increased production wastes. Costs’ cutting is one of the best ways for an organization to increase its profit margins. LEGO currently experiences high

Personal Responsibility Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Personal Responsibility - Essay Example Student B is saying, â€Å"The exam was very difficult for me, and I will not be surprised if I get an F, but, I should have known better and spent more time revising instead of playing video games†. Both cases are of course hypothetical; nevertheless they personify common phenomena in schools wherein some students take responsibility of their actions (B) and others like A want to abscond this. Ultimately, by accepting responsibility B has identified the problem hence has an idea of how to rectify the situation in posterity. â€Å"A†, on the other hand, might fail more exams in the future since he is not willing to take responsibility for his inactions and blames a third part whose errors he cannot rectify. This essay discusses the role of personal responsibility in students, as well as some of the strategies they may use to improve their chances of achieving success in their various field of study. It is the onus of every student to ensure they come up with the best pl ans and strategies, so they can guarantee their academic success. For a student to come up with these strategies, it is imperative they put into consideration first several factors, have the strategies they want to use been used before in similar circumstances? If so, were they successful? They could also consider the resources in terms of time and academic resources, so they make strategies, which they will be able to execute from within their budgeted time, and other resources. The past is also an important consideration when it comes to strategizing; before one makes any plans to improve themselves, it is crucial they consider what lead to their lackluster or mediocre performance in the past. A student wishing to see real improvement must first do a thorough post Mortem of the past performance, in order to identify the weak points in past plans and avoid repeating them in the new strategy. Student may apply the following are strategies to improve their performance; They should ta ke to account the learning styles which provide them with the best results this is the individuals preferred orientation toward learning (Bulut andYukselturk, 2007). Some students learn through class discussion others through listening in class and other by active research where they seek out the answers for themselves; the student should hence apply whichever technique, or combination of techniques, that works for them and hence adapt their plan to the most suitable learning theory for the best results. The student directly takes personal responsibility for their performance through setting personal goals, since they dictate, autonomously, the kind performance they wish to achieve. Operating in any situation without predetermined goals is analogous to running a race without a finish line. As such goals are a vital aspect of any accomplishment in academic pursuits, they can be measured in a number of ways depending on individual students such s Grades, or personal fitness and other forms of self-improvement like, read two books a week. Goals should be specific, measurable, and students should write them down and ensure they are in a place where they are seen daily, so they are a constant reminder. One should also have both long-term and short-term goals, the latter, which help them evaluate their