Wednesday, December 25, 2019

What Is Balance in Art and Why Does It Matter

Balance in art is one of the basic principles of design, along with contrast, movement, rhythm,  emphasis, pattern, unity, and variety.  Balance refers to how the elements of art (line, shape, color, value, space, form, texture) relate to each other within the composition in terms of their visual weight to create visual equilibrium. That is, one side does not seem heavier than another. In three dimensions, balance is dictated by gravity, and it is easy to tell when something is balanced or not (if not held down by some means). It falls over if it is not balanced. On a fulcrum (like a teeter-totter), one side of the object hits the ground while the other rises.  In two dimensions, artists have to rely on the  visual weight of the elements of the composition to determine whether a piece is balanced. Sculptors rely both on physical and visual weight to determine the balance.​ Humans, perhaps because we are bilaterally symmetrical, have a natural desire to seek balance and equilibrium. Artists generally strive to create artwork that is balanced. A balanced work, in which the visual weight is distributed evenly across the composition, seems stable, makes the viewer feel comfortable,  and is  pleasing to the eye. A work that is unbalanced appears unstable, creates tension, and makes the viewer uneasy. Sometimes, an artist deliberately creates a work that is unbalanced. Isamu Noguchis (1904-1988) sculpture Red Cube  is an example of a sculpture that  intentionally looks off balance.  The red cube is  precariously resting  on a point, contrasting with the gray, solid, stable buildings around it, and it creates a feeling of tension and apprehension.   Types of Balance There are three main  types of balance that are used in art and design: symmetrical, asymmetrical, and radial. Symmetrical balance, which includes radial symmetry, repeats patterns of forms systematically. Asymmetrical balance counterbalances different elements that have equal visual weight or equal physical and visual weight in a three-dimensional structure. Asymmetrical balance is based more on the artists intuition than on a formulaic process. Symmetrical Balance Symmetrical balance is when both sides of a piece are equal; that is, they are identical or almost identical. Symmetrical balance can be established by drawing an imaginary line through the center of the work, either horizontally or vertically, and making each half identically or very visually similar. This kind of balance creates a sense of order, stability, rationality, solemnity, and formality. Symmetrical balance is often used in institutional architecture (government buildings, libraries, colleges, and universities) and religious art. Symmetrical balance may be a mirror image (an exact copy of the other side) or it may be approximate, with the two sides having slight variations but being quite similar. Symmetry around a central axis is called  bilateral symmetry. The axis may be vertical or horizontal. The Last Supper by Italian Renaissance painter Leonardo da Vinci  (1452-1519) is one of the best well-known examples of an artists creative use of symmetrical balance. Da Vinci uses the compositional device of symmetrical balance and linear perspective to stress the importance of the central figure, Jesus Christ. There is slight variation among the figures themselves, but there is the same number of figures on either side and they are situated along the same horizontal axis. Op art is a kind of art that sometimes employs symmetrical balance biaxially — that is, with symmetry corresponding to both the vertical and horizontal axis. Crystallographic balance, which finds harmony in repetition (such as color or shape), is often quite symmetrical. Its also called mosaic balance or all-over balance. Think of works by Andy Warhol with repeating elements, the Parlophone Hard Days Night album cover by The Beatles, or even wallpaper patterns. Radial Symmetry Radial symmetry is a variation of symmetrical balance in which the elements are arranged equally around a central point, as in the spokes of a wheel or the ripples made in a pond where a stone is dropped. Thus, radial symmetry has a strong focal point. Radial symmetry is often seen in nature, as in the  petals of a tulip, the seeds of a dandelion, or in  certain  marine life,  such as jellyfish. It is also seen in religious art and sacred geometry, as in mandalas, and in contemporary art, as in Target With Four Faces (1955) by the American painter Jasper Johns. Asymmetrical Balance In asymmetrical balance, the two sides of a composition  are not the same but appear to have an equal visual weight nonetheless. Negative and positive shapes are unequal and unevenly distributed throughout the artwork, leading the viewers eye through the piece. Asymmetrical balance is a bit more difficult to achieve than symmetrical balance because each element of art has its own visual weight relative to the other elements and affects the whole composition.  Ã‚   For example, asymmetrical balance can occur when several smaller items on one side are balanced by a large item on the other side, or when smaller elements are placed farther away from the center of the composition  than larger elements. A dark shape can be balanced by several lighter shapes. Asymmetrical balance is less formal and more dynamic than symmetrical balance. It may  appear more casual but takes careful planning. An example of asymmetrical balance is Vincent van Goghs The Starry Night (1889). The dark triangular shape of the trees visually anchoring the left side of the painting is counterbalanced by the yellow circle of the moon in the upper right corner. The Boating Party, by American artist Mary Cassatt (1844–1926), is another dynamic example of asymmetrical balance, with the dark figure in the foreground (lower right-hand corner) balanced by the lighter figures and particularly the light sail in the upper left-hand corner.   How the Elements of Art Influence Balance When creating an artwork, artists keep in mind that certain elements and characteristics have greater visual weight than others. In general, the following guidelines apply, although each composition is different and the elements within a composition always behave in relation to the other elements. Color Colors have three main characteristics (value, saturation, and hue) that affect their visual weight.  Transparency can also come into play. Value: Darker colors seem visually heavier in weight than lighter colors. Black is the darkest color and the heaviest weight visually, while white is the lightest color and the lightest weight visually.  However, the size of the shape matters, too. For example, a smaller, darker shape can be balanced by a larger, lighter shape.  Saturation: More saturated colors (more intense) are visually heavier than more neutral (duller) colors. A color can be made less intense by mixing it with its opposite on the color wheel.Hue: Warm colors (yellow, orange, and red) have more visual weight than cool colors (blue, green, and purple).Transparency: Opaque areas have more visual weight than transparent areas. Shape   Squares tend to have more visual weight than circles, and more complex shapes (trapezoids, hexagons, and pentagons) tend to have more visual weight than simpler shapes (circles, squares, and ovals)The size of the shape is very important; larger shapes are heavier visually than smaller shapes, but a group of small shapes can equal the weight of a large shape visually. Line Thick lines have more weight than thin lines. Texture A  shape or form with texture has more weight than one that is not textured. Placement Shapes or objects located toward the edge or corner of the composition have more visual weight and will offset visually heavy elements within the composition.  Foreground and background can balance each other.Items can also balance each other along a diagonal axis, not just vertical or horizontal. Any type of contrast can be employed in the striving for balance: still vs. moving, smooth vs. rough, wide vs. narrow, and on and on. Balance is an important principle to heed, for it communicates so much about a work of art and can contribute to the overall effect, making a composition dynamic and lively or restful and calm. Sources 5 Famous Op-Artists. Weebly. Andy Warhol. Weiner Elementary School. Beatles, The. A Hard Days Night. 2009 Digital Remaster, Enhanced, Remastered, Digipack, Limited Edition, Capitol, September 8, 2009. Biography. The Noguchi Museum, NY. Red Cube, 1968. New York City Public Art Curriculum. Target with Four Faces: Gallery Label. The Museum of Modern Art, 2009, NY. The Boating Party: Overview. National Gallery of Art, 2018. The Starry Night: Galley Label. The Museum of Modern Art, 2011, NY.

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

Ernest Hemingway s `` Indian Camp `` And Hills Like White...

In this article, East Carolina University English professor Dr. Margaret Bauer makes the claim that one cannot solely rely on the reputation on the writer in order to fully comprehend the meaning of a certain text. This is the precisely the case with Ernest Hemingway as he was well-known to scholars to have his short stories filled with male-chauvinist characters either abusing or disregarding weak and helpless women. However, Bauer, a professor of English and women’s studies, believes that the characterization of Hemingway as an abuser and having a blatant disregard of women is almost entirely created by the scholars and readers of his stories. With an analysis of Hemingway’s â€Å"Indian Camp† and â€Å"Hills Like White Elephants†, Bauer attempts to bring her own feminist perspective to Hemingway’s notoriously misogynistic texts to prove that there are more to his female characters than there is on the surface and to possibly emasculate his reputa tion of portraying women as powerless and one-dimensional characters. Dr. Bauer’s overall argument regarding the position of women in Hemingway’s â€Å"Indian Camp† and â€Å"Hills Like White Elephants† is that each woman in their own story is stronger than the man even though the tales are told more from the male perspective. As Bauer explains, there is a â€Å"development of the pregnant woman† in â€Å"Hills Like White Elephants† in which the girl must choose between having her child or losing it in order to heal the relationship with the man. If she mustShow MoreRelated Hemingway Style Analysis Essay1364 Words   |  6 Pages 1 Earnest Hemingway is one of Americas foremost authors. His many works, their style, themes and parallels to his actual life have been the focus of millions of people as his writing style set him apart from all other authors. Many conclusions and parallels can be derived from Earnest Hemingways works. In the three stories I review, ?Hills Like White Elephants?, ?Indian Camp? and ?A Clean, Well-lighted Place? we will be covering how Hemingway uses foreigners, the service industry and females asRead MoreLogical Reasoning189930 Words   |  760 PagesCalifornia USA in 1993 with ISBN number 0-534-17688-7. When Wadsworth decided no longer to print the book, they returned their publishing rights to the original author, Bradley Dowden. The current version has been significantly revised. If you would like to suggest changes to the text, the author would appreciate your writing to him at dowden@csus.edu. iv Praise Comments on the earlier 1993 edition, published by Wadsworth Publishing Company, which is owned by Cengage Learning: There is

Monday, December 9, 2019

Cross Border Mergers and Acquisitions free essay sample

Module Name: Managing in Global Economy Module No. : MM1910 Abstract The literature presents competing theoretical viewpoints about the factors that may potentially be influential in determining the outcome of cross-border Mergers and Acquisitions and therefore this study aims to summarize empirical findings to reach a conjoint result. This done through consideration of factors at structural level and organizational level, ensuring the success of cross-border MAs. The most important factor considered is the organizational culture and national level differences at the structural level in order to minimize the risk factor.Also related primarily to other structure of integration in also important and ensures success to the acquired organization. Introduction Mergers and acquisitions (MAs) have been a very popular strategic movement for global businesses, attaining growth, diversification, or profitability (Fowler and Schmidt, 1988). In fact, the process of cross border MAs that started in the 1980s continued throughout the 1990s until the financial crisis and is still vigorous (Houghton et al. We will write a custom essay sample on Cross Border Mergers and Acquisitions or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page , 2003).Cross-border merger and acquisition (MA) activity has continued to increase at a torrid pace during the past decade and a half, to the point that it has become a major strategic tool for growth of multinational corporations (Cartwright and Cooper, 1993). During the phase of 1980s the number of cross border acquisitions occurring globally has almost tripled. Thus, accounting for a significant proportion of total MA activity by the early 1990s 95 percent in the case of Japanese companies and 50 percent for European Union companies (Morison and Singh, 1994).Observing a temporary slowdown during the recessionary global economy of the early 1990s, the value of cross-border MA reached a record high of US$181. 7 billion within the first nine months of 1996 (The Economist, 1997). There is a essential paradox in the growth strategies of many technology-intensive global companies. For example: Hindalco – Novelis global leaders in aluminium rolling. In addition to internal organic growth – environmental arenas, psychological contracts, integration and speed a – growth by acquisition (merger and acquisition: â€Å"MA†) is often a essential input in part of competitive strategy.Perhaps, it is now widely understood by top level individuals that the post-merger performance of companies has generally i. e. organizational level factors are not implemented in the right way and hence have been poor. The research below discusses about all the essential factors for cross border acquisitions. Literature review The review of literature states that 50- 80 percent of Mergers and Acquisitions have proved financially unsuccessful since 1970’s (Ellis and Pekar 1978, British Institute of Management 1986, Marks 1988.There is evidence of adverse effects of MAs on an array of behaviors and applications: lowered productivity, deteriorate strike records, higher absenteeism, and poorer accident rates (Meeks 1977, Sinetar 1981). Also addressed are the potential conflicts embedded in the differences in motives, perceptions, and values between the two merging organizations. The literature also emphasizes the importance of the integration phase for overcoming these conflicts. Building upon the literature review we further developed the theoretical framework of the current study.The theoretical perspective discusses about the Hofstede cultural dimensions and Porter’s diamond of competitive advantage. The study below discusses the literature of cross border MA’s that addresses integration practices as strategies, before it looks at these strategies within an international context In addition, the study offers a review of the literature that addresses national cultural and organizational cultural theories. With referencing to the example of recent cross- border acquisition of Indian- Atlanta based companies, Hindalco- Novelis which are the global leaders in production of aluminium rolling company.

Monday, December 2, 2019

U.S. Immigration Control

Introduction For the longest time now, immigrants have continued to shape the history of America. Due to many opportunities present in the US, many foreigners move to America from across the globe. As a matter of fact, the fact of cultural diversity has been cited as one of the strongest aspects of America in regard to development.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on U.S. Immigration Control specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In the past, there were no restrictions on immigration to the US but the country now is characterized by many immigration restrictions. However, even with the current strict restrictions, there are estimated undocumented immigrants adding up to 12 million today. The imposition of these restrictions does not necessarily mean that immigration only impact the host country negatively but rather it is meant to maintain the country’s stability in all aspects. This paper will evaluate how the US G overnment should encourage the immigration because of its benefits to the nation. US immigration policy Due to the increasing volumes of immigrants, restrictions were made to regulate this number which was rising gradually. Although there were initial several restrictions to US immigration, the Immigration and Nationality Act was and still is the most effective policy although it abolishes quotas that were previously based on national origin. This was replaced by several preferences which have been used to determine who gains entry to the United States. Family members are among those who gain entry without restrictions. Other preferences include professional workers such as scientists and artists among others although their entry is only acceptable in a short supply. This restriction was meant to create equality among people from all nationalities and particularly to remove the previous restriction that had been imposed on Asia (Cohn 1). Reasons for increased immigration to the US T here is no particular reason causing the ever rising immigration to the United States. Some of the contributing factors as reported by various economic historians include political and economic stability in the USA, great differences in real wages between United States and other countries, high degree of urbanization and industrialization in the United States, previous immigrations from other countries and population growth rates in the home countries of the immigrants. The factor of real wage difference between the U.S. and other countries carries a lot of weight in immigration rates to the United States of America (Cohn 1).Advertising Looking for essay on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More With economy fluctuating in many nations nowadays, many employees are receiving very low income which can barely sustain their basic needs alone. Additionally, life has become very expensive with prices on basic commodities s piking up year in year out. While many countries across the globe are facing economic crisis, the United States of America have always maintained its economy stable. This has been depicted in various aspects of life including rates of wages for employees at various levels. For instance, in a country such as Kenya, university graduate employees earn a monthly salary of around Kshs. 30,000 which is equivalent to an estimate of $ 400. On the other hand, in the United States of America, an ordinary messenger with no further education beyond high school may be earning up to $ 500 a month with possibilities of other employee benefits. It is precisely for this factor that many people from economically instable countries immigrate to America purposely to seek for sustainable sources of income ad better livelihood (U.S. Immigration Support 1). Additionally, the high degree of industrialization and urbanization in the United States of America has been another contributing factor to the increa sing immigration from many countries. Due to its economic stability, The U.S. has been in a better position to develop in industrialization. This provides more employment opportunities in the U.S. which are very rare in other countries due to lack of technological knowhow and other factors which facilitate industrialization. These countries lack economic and industrial development as they are only stuck to traditional modes of gaining income which are insufficient to maintain the ever rising population. Additionally, many countries have broken their traditional ties creating a free workforce and more mobile laborers. Besides, young graduates now prefer working in a place where they have opportunities to be creative and develop experimental projects. Many countries do not have the equipment to facilitate these developments and this causes many young people to move to U.S. not only as graduates to work, but also to further their studies where the level of education is way above the re st.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on U.S. Immigration Control specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The factor of urbanization has also contributed to the increasing immigration to the U.S. with many people moving to the United States of America due to the attraction of urbanization which is directly associated with industrialization and economic stability. Another very important reason causing the increase in immigration to the U.S. is the need to earn extra cash. Many people are moving to the U.S. not for the desire for development and education opportunities, but simply to earn money. These people do not care about the kind of job they land into it as long as it is paying them well enough to take care of their families back home. As a matter of fact, most of them do what many would call low class jobs such cleaning, cooking, helping in personal houses as house helps but this does not matter to them because what the y earn in these jobs is way much better than what they would earn back home even with more decent jobs. Due to border restriction, these people are stuck in the foreign countries for several years not because they want to but because they have to. However, this does not hold them back, as they send the greatest part of their earnings back home most of who use unofficial means of sending money to evade taxation and recording procedures (Walt 1). This has been demonstrated by the amount of their earnings they send home while they keep very little for themselves characterized by low standards of living they are exposed to. However, despite the suffering of being separated from families and unfavorable living conditions as well as the risks of importation, the efforts do pay handsomely as research shows that almost all of these immigrants have changed the lives of their families a great deal from house ownership to educating their children and improving their lives at all levels (Walt 1 ). Impacts of immigration to the United States of America Positive impacts Despite many people thinking that immigration causes a reduction in the general wage rate of workers in the United States, the fact is that immigration does actually result to an increase in wage rates. However, this is only possible if the immigrants bring in new economic resources or at least work towards providing additional resources.Advertising Looking for essay on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More A good example of a positive result of immigration is the expansion of the westward part of the United States resulting from the large scale immigration from Europe. This move in turn resulted to an increase in natural resources and land and kept the wages high. This was possible through establishment of new job opportunities thus maintaining the ratio between job opportunities and job seekers. Even in the event that immigration does not result to increase in wage rate, the rate is kept constant with no change at all. Besides having impacts on wage rate, immigration also benefits the labor force by availing new employees with different skills and expertise thus creating a diversified workforce within the U.S. This diversification is very significant in development and invention of new technologies as ideas are much diversified and based on a wider global scale (Friedberg and Hunt 32). This means that such developments and advancements can be made based on different target markets an d this would in return result to more income for the country hence more economic stabilization. Additionally, increased labor force relieves the pressure of multitasking and facilitates division of labor and specialization. This helps improve production in all aspects of the economy. Economic benefits have also been reported in the U.S. in regard to immigration. Some of these immigrants do not just move to the United States of America for pleasure or better lifestyle, but to seek scientific opportunities which are hardly available in their home countries. Once they get such opportunities, they do not hesitate to engage in innovative activities which are beneficial to all. Since America has been a leading nation in technological advancements, scientific individuals are encouraged to move there even if temporarily since there is an already existing conducive environment for such activities. This way, the country gets to be the primary beneficiary of scientific and other related develo pments. Most of the immigrants moving to the United States of America are already educated individuals who are ready to work immediately. This way, living conditions of citizens are generally improved. Government income may as well increase from taxes paid indirectly through purchases made on commodities by the illegal immigrants as well as other taxation income. Lastly, the fact that the number of individuals migrating to the U.S. to seek employment is regulated during periods of low job opportunities proves that the U.S. has nothing to lose after all. Negative impacts Despite all the benefits that the U.S. has to gain from immigrants, there are a few challenges facing the U.S. due to the increasing rates of immigrations. Pressure on population is the most common challenge faced, not only in the U.S. but in any other country in which immigrants move to. Physical overcrowding in residential areas as well as in urban centers and industrial areas poses a great environmental risk due t o the consequent pollution associated with overcrowding. Besides environmental risks, high immigration rates result to overcrowding in government social services and amenities such as public transport means and hospitals among others (Hanes 55). This results to inadequate provision of social services to the Native American citizens which may have serious national ramifications. In this case, the U.S. government is forced to invest more of its income on such services instead of using it on other economic development aspects. This pulls the country back economically as it remains stagnant with no economic advancements. Although we discussed earlier that immigrations may result to increased wages in the native country, this is not always the case. This is because if the inflow of more labor force continues to increase without a similar inflow of new resources and capital, an imbalance between the two factors is created and resulting to decreased wages as the labor force becomes more th an the resources in the market. When this happens, many of the native job seekers as well as the immigrants are left jobless and this creates a setback in which the living standards of such individuals are lowered. Conclusion Immigration to the U.S. has been very high going back to historical times such as World War I (Chiswick 904). People from all over the world have been moving to the U.S. at an alarming rate up until the nationality and immigration Act was implemented to regulate persons gaining entry to the country. This has been done by imposing quotas to people who are non-native American citizens. However, the restrictions differ depending on the different groups of immigrants which include professionals, students and relatives to U.S. native citizens among others. Despite these restrictions, immigrants have been beneficial to the U.S. in various fields including economy, workforce and diversity among others. However, high rates of immigration do put pressure on the U.S. in terms of population, use of government services and sometimes by causing a reduction in the average wage rate of American employees. As a result, proper evaluation between the positive and the negative sides of immigration should be made prior to imposition of immigration restrictions. Works Cited Chiswick, Barry. â€Å"The effects of Americanization on the earnings of foreign-born men†.  Journal of political economy 86. (1978): 897 – 921. Print. Cohn, Raymond. â€Å"Immigration to the United States†. EH.net: Economic history services.  (2010). Web. http://eh.net/encyclopedia/immigration-to-the-united-states/ Friedberg, Rachael. and Jennifer, Hunt. â€Å"The impact of immigration on host country’s  wages, employment and growth†. The journal of economic perspectives 9. (1995): 23 – 44. Print. Hanes, Christopher. â€Å"Immigrants relative rate of wage growth in the late nineteenth  century†. Explorations in economic history 33. (1996): 35 – 64. Print. U.S. IS. â€Å"Immigration to the United States†. U.S. Immigration support: online guide to  U.S visas, green cards and citizenship. (2011). Web. Walt, Vivienne. â€Å"Follow the money†. Time magazine world. (26 November 2005). Web.  http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1134698,00.html This essay on U.S. Immigration Control was written and submitted by user Gracelyn Barrett to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.