Relevance Of Behavioral Finance In Malaysias Financial Scenario Finance Essay - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 5 Words: 1629 Downloads: 5 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Finance Essay Type Cause and effect essay Did you like this example? Investors think and act rationally when it comes to buying and selling stocks according to economic theorists. The economists have opined that the financial markets are stable and efficient due to the stock prices that seem to follow an expected pattern and the overall economy portrays trends toward general equilibrium. According to Shiller (1999), in real world, the investors do not investigate and act rationally. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Relevance Of Behavioral Finance In Malaysias Financial Scenario Finance Essay" essay for you Create order Investors speculate stocks between unrealistic highs and lows because of their attitude of greed and fear. This type of investors behavior is known as behavioral finance which explains on how emotions and cognitive errors influence investors and the decision making process. The behavioral finance is a study of the markets which related to a psychology aspect where it concerns more on the reason why people buy or sell the stocks and also in the event where they do not buy stocks at all. This study encompasses research that revised the traditional assumptions of expected utility maximization with rational investors in efficient market. The two pertinent points of behavioral finance are cognitive psychology and the limits to arbitrage (Ritter, 2003). Cognitive refers to a situation where how people think and the limit to arbitrage when market is inefficient. Behavioral finance uses models in the case of some agents in a situation of not fully cautious either because of preferences or because of mistaken beliefs i.e. the loss averse agent. Herbert Simon (1947, 1983) indicated that many of the basic theories of behavioral finance related to a series of new concept of bounded rationality. It is related to cognitive limitations on decision-making. As a result, human behavior is made on the basis of simplified procedures or heuristics (Tversky and Kahneman, 1974). A study has been done by Slovic (1972) on investment risk-taking behavior and he found that, man has limitations as a processor of information and shows some judgmental biases which lead people to overweight information. People also tend to be overreact to information (De Bondt and Thaler, 1985, 1987). Investors typically become distressed at the prospect of losses and are pleased by possible gains: even faced with sure gain, most investors are risk-averse but faced with sure loss, they become risk-takers. Thus, according to Khaneman, investors are loss aversion. This loss aversion means that people are willing to take more risks to avoid losses than to realize gains. Loss aversion describes the basic concept that, although the average investors carry an optimism bias toward their forecasts (this stock is sure to go up), they are less willing to lose money than they are to gain. THE BEHAVIOR OF INVESTORS There is a need for imperfect decision-making procedures, or heuristics (Simon, 1955, Tversky and Kahneman, 1974). Hirshleifer (2001) argues that many or most familiar psychological biases can be viewed as outgrowths of heuristic simplification, self-deception, and emotionbased judgments. This is due to reason that it has long been recognized that a source of judgment and decision biases, such as time, memory, and attention are limited, human information processing capacity is finite. According to Kent et al. (2001), investors tend to focus only in stocks that are on their radar screens. That is related to familiarity or mere exposure effects, e.g, a perception that what is familiar is more attractive and less risky. According to Kent et al., their findings were consistent with Blume and Friend, (1975) on the study of participation of U.S stock market, where they found that many investors entirely neglect major asset classes (such as commodities, stocks, bonds, real estate), and omit many individuals securities within each classes. Kent et al. (2001) also noted that the stocks that investors choose to sell subsequently outperform the stocks that investors retain. According to them, home sellers also appear to be loss-averse in the way that they set prices. They are reluctant to sell at a loss relative to past purchase price. This helps to explain the strong positive correlation of volume with price movement. This finding was consistent with the theory of Odean (1998) who showed that individual investors. THE PSYCHOLOGY OF INVESTORS Since a generation ago, stock market analysts have come to recognize that psychological factors can play a more crucial role in determining the direction of the share prices. However studies have found that psychological factors alone cannot send the share price to the moon and then push them down to the Precipice. Economic factors, as well as political factors also play a crucial role in determining the share price. Kahneman (1974) pointed out that people are prone to cognitive illusions, like becoming rich and famous or being able to get out of the market before a bubble breaks. People exaggerate the element of skill and deny the role of chance in their decision making process. People are often unaware of the risk they take. Add loss aversion to the mix and it is no wonder the average investor panics in a market downturn, a time perhaps to buy rather than sell. According to him, human beings are born optimists. Kent, Hirshleifer and Siew (2002), in their study found that re search on the psychology of investors was done by looking at the relationship between stock returns and variables on factors such as the weather (Hirshleifer and Shumway, 2001), biorhythms (Samstra, Kramer and Levi, 2001) and societal happiness (Boyle and Walter, 2001). These diverse investigations are motivated by emerging theories in psychological economics on visceral factors and the risk-as-feeling perspective. The risk-as-feeling perspective argued that these visceral factors could affect, and even override, rational cogitations on decisions involving risk and uncertainty. This creates predictable patterns in stock returns because people in good moods tend to be more optimistic in their estimates and judgments than people in bad moods (Wright an Bower, 1992, in Kent et al, 2002). In relation to stock pricing, the optimistic or pessimistic judgment about the future prospects from the business direction are widespread, stock prices should be predictably higher at times when mo st investors are in good moods than times they are in neutral or bad moods. . EVIDENCE FROM MALAYSIAN INVESTORS Based on the descriptive analysis of investment decision making behavior, it shows that economic factor is the most influential factor in determining their investment buying behavior followed by financial and frame of references. However, in terms of relying on emotions (i.e. gut-feeling, over-reaction), most respondents rate that they are unlikely in doing so. IMPLICATION Why does it matter if small individual investors do not behave as we think they should? There are two reasons according to De Bondt (1998). The first is that substantial financial management directly affects peoples well-being and the second reason is that investor behavior is likely to affect what happens in markets. With costly arbitrage, psychological factors become relevant and it would be unsound to model market behavior based on the assumption of common knowledge of rationality. As stated by Graham and Dodd, in De Bondt (1998), the (stock) market is not a weighing machine, on which the value of each issue is recorded by an extent and impersonal mechanism rather the market is a voting machine, where countless individuals register choices which are the product partly of reason and partly of emotion. RECOMMENDATION With these financial theories in mind, here are some investment tips and tools that can help the investors to avoid many investors common behavioral mistakes. Many people do not begin investing by setting goals and do not put enough emphasis on their specific time horizon. Many people buy stocks or fund because it did well in the past, rather than studying what it may do in the future. Investors often do not focus enough on diversifying their portfolios. According to Charles Heath, President of Roller Coaster Stocks, there are four rules before investing in stock market. (1) do not invest with the crowd, (2) get emotional out of the way, (3) be patient, and (4) take profit do not give them back. Researches have shown that many investors are overconfident. The majority of investors believe they can beat the market, despite historical evidence to the contrary. One reason that investors may feel overconfident is that the Internet provides quick access to information and leaves people feeling empowered to make decisions. However, information does not lead to good decision making, unless we know how to interpret it. Investor credulity and systematic mispricing in general suggest a possible role for regulation to protect ignorant investors, and to improve risk sharing. The potential benefits of government policy and regulations can help investors make better decisions, and can improve the efficiency of the market prices. CONCLUSION From prior research, it is found that there is persuasive evidence that investors make major systematic errors and there is evidence that psychological biases affect market prices substantially. Furthermore, there are some indications that as a result of mispricing, there is substantial misallocation of resources in the economy. Thus, there are some suggestions to the economists to study how regulatory and legal policies can limit the damage caused by imperfect rationality. Emotions and psychological biases in judgment and decision seem to have important effects on public discourse and the political process, leading to mass dilutions and excessive focus on transiently popular issues. If individuals were fully rational in their market and political judgments, therefore, government can intervene to remedy informational externalities in capital markets. The case against such intervention comes from the tendency for people in groups to fool themselves in political sphere, and for pr essure groups to exploit the imperfect rationality or political participants. However, it is a suggestion to help investors make better choices and make the market more efficient. These involve regulations, investment education, and perhaps some efforts to standardize mutual fund advertising. Limits on how securities are marketed and laws against market manipulation through rumor spreading can also protect foolish investors and restrict the freedom of action of those that may prey upon them.

The Theme Of Social Class And Order - 1928 Words

The Underlying Theme of Social Class and Order In literature, themes are carefully interwoven with other aspects of the story and are slowly unraveled as the plot advances to reveal to bigger picture. Authors use themes as a method to connect with their audience on a personal and relatable level. Each individual interprets the theme in their own manner depending on the past experiences they have had. Similarly, each author brings a sense of individuality and authenticity to their works, impacting their subject matter and area of focus, in this case specifically the theme. The Time Machine by H.G. Wells is a science-fiction novel in which the Time Traveller traverses the time dimension to the year 802,701 AD. He then encounters the†¦show more content†¦An author’s background is a prime factor in the subject of a book. H.G. Wells’ humble upbringing and political beliefs can easily be discerned through the writing. Wells grew up in poverty during the late 19th century in Kent, Great Britain, causing him to bec ome interested in class conflict. His socialist views come across in The Time Machine as it is his way to show the consequences of excessive capitalism, thus the theme of social class and order emerges. Wells uses evolution as a form to vindicate and reason the extreme schism of classes present in the book. The Time Traveller, which seems to be an extension of Wells’ persona, implies â€Å"the exclusive tendency of richer people [†¦] and the widening gulf between them and the rude violence of the poor† was a key factor in the splitting of the human species along class lines, a direct hit on capitalism (Wells 62). The Elois or the â€Å"Haves†, live aboveground the in comforts of their realm, while the Morlocks or the â€Å"Have-Nots† reside underground, as a result of the â€Å"[continual adaptation] to their conditions of their labour† (Wells 63). The Time Traveller continue to explore the future realm’s social order, discovering the radical differences between each class. For instance, the Eloi are focused on beauty and comfort, and are content on â€Å"living upon the labours of fellowman†, while the Morlocks assumed the role of the worker, relying on instinct and primitive desires (Wells

Mile and Time Downwind Distance Free Essays

1. A plane travels from Orlando to Denver and back again. On the five-hour trip from Orlando to Denver, the plane has a tailwind of 40 miles per hour. We will write a custom essay sample on Mile and Time Downwind Distance or any similar topic only for you Order Now On the return trip from Denver to Orlando, the plane faces a headwind of 40 miles per hour. This trip takes six hours. What is the speed of the airplane in still air? X = speed of plane in still air (x+40) = speed of plane downwind (x-40) =speed of plane against the wind distance = speed *travel time downwind distance = headwind distance 5(x+40) = 6(x-40) 5x+200=6x-240 6x-5x=240+200 x=440 mph So, The speed of the plane in still air is 440 mph if I am not mistaken. 2. Two bicycles depart from Miami Beach going in opposite directions. The first bicycle is traveling at 10 miles per hour. The second bicycle travels at 5 miles per hour. How long does it take until the bikes are 45 miles apart? D=RT 45=(10+5)T 45=15T T=445/15 T=3 hours. 3. Jesse rents a moving van for $75 and must pay $2 per mile. The following week, Alex rents the same van, is charged $80 for the rental and $1. 50 per mile. If they each paid the same amount and drove the same number of miles, how far did they each travel? 5+2m=80+1. 5m subtract 75 from both sides subtract 1. 5m from both sides .5m=5 multiply both sides by 2 m=10 miles . 4. During a 4th of July weekend, 32 vehicles became trapped on the Sunshine Skyway Bridge while it was being repaved. A recent city ordinance decreed that only cars with 4 wheels and trucks with six wheels could be on the bridge at any given time. If there were 148 tires that n eeded to be replaced to due to damage, how many cars and trucks were involved in the incident? Okay. There were 32 cars , we have x + y = 32 ars have 4 wheels so 4x , trucks have 6 wheels so 6x the total number of wheels adds up to 148, so 4x +6y = 14: x+y=32 4x + 6y = 148 -4x – 4y = -128 4x + 6y = 148. 5. For this question, you will need a parent/guardian or a friend. Have this individual grab a handful of coins making sure there are only two types of coins in the group (i. e. , nickels and dimes, quarters and pennies, pennies and dimes, etc). Your parent/guardian or friend should tell you the type of coins they’ve chosen, how many coins they have and the dollar amount of the group. From this information, you will set up two sets of equations and determine how many of each coin they have in their hand. Please send your instructor the name of the individual who helped you with this question, your two equations and the work you did to solve the system. She has 11 coins worth 83 cents. P and Q will the number of pennies and quarters, P + Q = 11 P + 25Q = 83 P + 25Q – P + Q = 24 Q = 83 – 11 = 72. So, 24 Q = 72 Q = 3. Q = 3 can be put into the equation to solve for P. If we use the first equation, we get P + 3 = 11 P = 8, so three quarters and eight pennies. How to cite Mile and Time Downwind Distance, Essay examples

Disclosure of Goodwill Impairment †Free Samples to Students

Question: Discuss about the Disclosure of Goodwill Impairment. Answer: Introduction: AASB 136 and IAS 36 Impairment of assets assure that an organizations asset is not written in the financial statement at the value which is more than its recoverable amount. The recoverable amount for the asset is higher among the value in use and the fair value less the disposal cost. Only exception to this is some intangible assets and the goodwill. All the organizations are required to conduct the test for impairment of its assets if there is any indication that the asset will be impaired. Further, the test can be carried on for the cash generating unit where the asset does not create any cash flow which is widely independent of those of the other assets (Linnenluecke et al. 2015). An organization shall assess at end of the each accounting period that whether any indication exists there for the impairment of any asset and if any indication is there, then the recoverable amount of the asset shall be measured. Various indications for impairment of assets are as follows External sources Reduction in the market value of the asset Negative changes with regard to markets, laws, technologies or economies Increase in the interest rate of the market Higher level of net asset of the company as compared to market capitalization Internal sources Physical damage or obsolescence The asset is held for disposal or it is idle or part of the asset is restructuring Worse performance as compared to the expectation Evidence required for impairment testing of Myers asset Flow of the asset it has been recognized from the given data flow of the company that the flow for all the stores of the company is either stable or has increased and for none of the asset any reduction trend is found for the past one year period. Therefore no indication of impairment is there. Asset base from the asset base of the company is recognized that the asset base for all the assets has not altered much and all the assets are maintaining more or less the same percentage of contribution towards total assets for last few years. Therefore, no indication of impairment is there (Malone, Tarca and Wee 2015). Asset turnover looking at the asset turnover ratio of the company, it is identified that the asset turnover ratio of Myer Holdings Ltd for the last few years are moving around 1.41 to 1.76. Therefore, it can be said that no significant increase or decrease is found with regard to the asset turnover ratio of the company. Therefore, this test also cannot establish that there is any indication for impairment. Procedures required to be addressed for determination of impairment AASB 136 for Impairment of assets requires the organization to annually test the assets for impairment and Myer holding Ltd follows this requirement. However, for testing the assets for the purpose of impairment, recoverable amount is found out through usage of value-in-use discounted cash flow model. This model utilises the cash flow forecasting on the basis of the financial budget that is approved by the management and it covers the period of five years. Further, the cash flow for the period of more than five years are extrapolated through usage of the terminal growth rate. Key assumptions utilised for the mode are as follows Rate of discount (pre-tax) at14.4% Rate of terminal growth at 2.5% Gross profit margin from operation at the rate of 39.5% Thereafter the management determines the fact that whether level of the future cash flows for the carrying value of the assets for the CGU of Myer further, during the period under consideration, the review for the assets carrying value for each of the store of the company is undertaken and identified whether indication of any impairment is exists. Where there is any indication, the assets recoverable amount was measured through discounted cash flow model. Major assumption for the model is consistent with the above mentioned assumptions. However, no impairment indication is recognized at Myer stores for the year ending 2016 of the companys operation. Information required for determination of impairment Other key information required for determining the impairment for Myer Holdings Ltd is as follows If the indication is there regarding an asset that it can be impaired, then the recoverable amount for the asset or for the assets cash generating unit shall be determined (Kabir, Rahman and Su 2017) The CGU or the asset is impaired on the condition that the carrying value of the asset is more than the recoverable value The recoverable value of intangible asset or goodwill with the indefinite useful life or the intangible assets those are not ready to be used on the date of report, are required to be valued at least per year basis, irrespective of the fact that there exists any indication of impairment or not. For the purpose of measurement, the recoverable value is stated as higher among the value in use and fair value less the selling cost (Bond, Govendir and Wells 2016) The amount of loss from impairment is identified as expense under the profit and loss account and is carried out at cost. Further, if the impacted asset is already a revalued asset under the permission of IAS 16 PPE (IAS 16) and the intangible asset (IAS 38) and impairment if any is 1st recorded against the revaluation recognized previously recognized as gains and then as the comprehensive income to the other assets. Wide disclosures are required for the rest of impairment and recognition of impairment loss (Guthrie and Pang 2013) Impairment loss that is recognized in the previous period for the goodwill or any asset must be reversed if any alteration is there with regard to the estimates that were used for determining the recoverable amount of the asset. Availability of flexibility from the management for determination of impairment It is recognized that the management of Myer Holdings Ltd is quite flexible in carrying out the tests for determining the impairment with regard to the asset. As per the requirement of AASB 136, they assure to carry out the test for impairment at least one in each year (Zhuang 2016). Further, the management determines various facts like determination of the fact that whether level of the future cash flows for the carrying value of the assets for the CGU of Myer. Moreover, the management carries out review for the assets carrying value for each of the store of the company is undertaken and identified whether indication of any impairment is exists. Where there is any indication, the assets recoverable amount was measured through discounted cash flow model. Major assumption for the model is consistent with the above mentioned assumptions (Bond, Govendir and Wells 2016). Further, the management of the company determines the recoverable value of the cash generating unit on the basis of VI U approach. Therefore, taking into consideration all these facts, it can be said that the management of Myer Holdings Ltd take active part and comply with all the requirements of AASB 136 for carrying out the procedures for impairment test and determination of impairment. Reference Bond, D., Govendir, B. and Wells, P., 2016. An evaluation of asset impairments by Australian firms and whether they were impacted by AASB 136.Accounting Finance,56(1), pp.259-288. Bond, D., Govendir, B. and Wells, P., 2016. An evaluation of asset impairment decisions by Australian firms and whether this was impacted by AASB 136. Guthrie, J. and Pang, T.T., 2013. Disclosure of Goodwill Impairment under AASB 136 from 20052010.Australian Accounting Review,23(3), pp.216-231. Kabir, H. and Rahman, A., 2016. The role of corporate governance in accounting discretion under IFRS: Goodwill impairment in Australia.Journal of Contemporary Accounting Economics,12(3), pp.290-308. Kabir, H., Rahman, A.R. and Su, L., 2017. The Association between Goodwill Impairment Loss and Goodwill Impairment Test-Related Disclosures in Australia. Linnenluecke, M.K., Birt, J., Lyon, J. and Sidhu, B.K., 2015. Planetary boundaries: implications for asset impairment.Accounting Finance,55(4), pp.911-929. Malone, L., Tarca, A. and Wee, M., 2015. Non-GAAP earnings disclosures and IFRS.Accounting and Finance. Zhuang, Z., 2016. Discussion of An evaluation of asset impairments by Australian firms and whether they were impacted by AASB 136.Accounting Finance,56(1), pp.289-294.

Action Films free essay sample

The films Dirty Harry and Die Hard are considered to be two of the most sensational action movies ever made. The two movies adhere to the guidelines that define the quintessential action film in that not only do they contain very strong and improvisational leading men, but they contain two very ingenious and almost neo-fascist types of villains. The level of violence within each film demonstrate the extreme measures to which the film makers go to show the both the evil of the villains and the unconventional attitudes of the protagonists. However, the two films differ in their effect on American society and in their political significance, not because they are innately different movies. Rather, these differences have stemmed from the different social climates into which these two films were born. Both the protagonists in Dirty Harry and Die Hard are representative of unconventionally ruthless and tough cops whose bottom line is to thwart the plans of those villains who seek to hurt people. We will write a custom essay sample on Action Films or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The unselfishness and cruelty of the villains in each story is matched by the strength and ingenuity of both Harry Callahan and John MacClane. The two cops defy the odds that include incredible intellectual or ingenious villains who will stop at nothing to get their demands. Both officers try to do their part as lone actors, as they are both cut somewhat off from the aid of their police departments. While Harry Callahan experiences this alienation as a result of his attitude, MacClane experiences this simply because no one from his department is aware that he controls such a close view of the hostage situation. However, both cops share similar personalities, and one gets the feeling that John MacClane prefers to act alone and would have done this voluntarily, much in the same   as Harry Callahan orchestrates the situation in which he finds himself acting alone. The villains found in both movies are also bases upon which they are similar to each other. The villain Hans Gruber of Die Hard and Scorpio of Dirty Harry are both semi-mad creatures who hold people hostage in order to gain fortunes for themselves. Hans Gruber goes about his hostage taking in a moderately conventional sense, by restricting the motion of persons within a building and denying their exit. Scorpio, on the other hand, takes hostages too but in a less conventional sense. He does this by keeping all the residents of San Francisco in extreme danger by threatening to shoot at random if his demands were not met by the police. Both villains are also incredibly astute and make the situation very difficult for the respective police departments. Hans Gruber’s ability to conceal from the police the fact that he has even taken over the building reveals the depth to which his thoughts run in concocting his plan. Similarly, in Dirty Harry Scorpio succeeds in warding off the police so that they are unable to detect who is sending the threatening messages. This leaves them powerless to locate and stop the murderous crimes that he plans to commit daily. Both movies also compare with each other in the extent to which spectacular stunts were utilized as well as in the cinematographic elements. The location of the hostage situation in Die Hard and the extent to which John MacClane has to go to conceal his presence in the building leads to many situations in which people are pushed to the limit regarding their physical actions. Such scenes as the ones in which persons and cars are hurled through glass windows make spectacles that thrill the audience. In Dirty Harry, Callahan finds himself perched on the trestle of a railroad, waiting to jump onto a bus in motion that is carrying Scorpion. These scenes represent major stunts being performed by the actors (or doubles), and the spectacle created by each succeeds in exciting the action movie lovers that hold the films in high esteem. The cinematographic elements of both films are also very interesting and technical. One particular scene in Dirty Harry shows an aerial view of Callahan as he crushes the wounded leg of the villain. The angle of the camera and its motion away from Harry symbolizes the removal of the audience from the pain of the victim (villain) and the rights that they grant to Harry to perform such an act that might have been considered cruel under normal circumstances. This motion of the camera away from Harry shows, rather, the turning of a blind eye by not just the law but by upstanding people capable of making judgments concerning the morality and legality of this action. Harry is left to his own devices, and the cinematography ends up mirroring the trust that the American people place in their law enforcement officers. The cinematography in Die Hard is also spectacular and meaningful, and it works in synchronization with the action of the film to create the exciting effect that it has on its audience. The scene previously mentioned in which the car is driven through the window is a foreshadowing of the final action sequence in which Gruber smashes through a window and hangs there with MacClane’s wife. The angle at which this is shot allows the audience to view the perspective of MacClane who now has his hands full with his wife (whom he’s trying to prevent from falling) while having a gun pointed up at him from a villain who is about to die. The angle of this shot holds certain similarities to the previously described Dirty Harry scene. The cinematographers allow us to view the villain from above while he is experiencing vengeance and pain brought on by the protagonist. However, this scene differs from the Dirty Harry scene in that it represents the melding of victory and the possibility of loss for Harry. It also leads to one of the aspects in which the two protagonists actually differ. While Dirty Harry represents almost the quintessential tough guy who fears very little, John MacClane shows vulnerability in his love for his wife and his fear of her death. The two movies differ also in the socio-political contexts of their histories. Having been made at the beginning of the 1970’s when social and political conditions in the United States were at a turning point (sexual revolution and widespread aversion to war/violence), the movie Dirty Harry made a much more sensational entrance into the movie field. The movie itself was both shocking and appealing to audiences, as it features scenes and themes that were never before dealt with in a similar fashion. The attitude of the protagonist himself, Harry Callahan, had before been prefigured in such characters as had been played by John Wayne in his movies. However, Dirty Harry Callahan added to this an ruthlessness that itself rivaled the unscrupulous attitude of the villain. This depiction of a police officer had never before been seen, and though this is similar to the way John MacLane behaves in Die Hard, the impact of Dirty Harry on American audiences proved to be more shocking in its era. Another area in which the two films compare is in the impact of the sexuality and language on the American public. However, this comparison must be considered on different levels, as the audiences of each era were both intrigued and excited by these thematic elements for different reasons. The sexuality found in Dirty Harry represented early attempts at being overtly sexual in any form. On the other hand, the sexual exploration found in Die Hard represents early attempts at being candid concerning homosexuality. The sexually explicit language of the Dirty Harry film was (like the explicit violence) new to the American public in 1971 when Dirty Harry was released. In one of the beginning scenes, Harry refers to a previous slaying of a rapist who was pursuing a woman with a knife and a â€Å"hard on.† This explicit reference to the state of the criminal’s arousal while chasing the woman represents an attempt to demonstrate the nature of the crime being described—and in this Harry is supremely effective. The decision of Dirty Harry directors’ to include this detail represents a very bold attempt to redefine sexual boundaries in American mainstream film. In Die Hard, however, the sexual undertones found in the language of John MacLane represent a type of homophobia that was not new to American society but which had just started coming under fire by human and gay rights activists. Therefore, both films lost some popularity with minority activist or socio-religious groups. Die Hard was moderately offensive to the gay community in its paronomasia references to anal sex and the effeminacy of the villain Gruber. Dirty Harry, on the other hand, was able to gain some unpopularity merely through its indelicate references to sexual themes. The films Dirty Harry and Die Hard are films that had a lasting effect on the American public for reasons having to do with their thematic concern with violence and the criminal mind. Both movies are concerned with lone-acting police officers who take on one of the most intelligent and cruel criminal minds of their time. These police officers prove themselves to be resourceful and fast-thinking, especially when faced with difficult situations in which innocents are being tortured. The tensions created by the meeting of each villain and protagonist allow for the inclusion of many lurid scenes, and these in turn facilitate the use of interesting and spectacular cinematographic elements. The socio-political cultures of the time in which each movie was written also provided some ways in which several were opposed to the content or undertones of the films. However, the two films differ in the methods in which their elements shocked the public. Works Cited Siegel, Don. Dirty Harry. Hollywood: Warner Brothers, 1971. McTiernan, John. Die Hard. Hollywood: 20th Century Fox, 1988. Action Films free essay sample The term genre is a diverse categorical element, it does not give any absolute definition as to what extent a certain art-form can be categorized under a particular genre.   This is what plagues the realm of film simply because there are several elements incorporated in motion pictures.   The script or the screenplay, for instance,   is considered a form of literature, and the script is only one of the components.   Other elements such as character and plot serves as an aid to defining the genre and ultimately communicate how genre gives a better understanding of commercial cinema. Take the case of the action genre, films conforming to the usual conventions of action involve, exploding buildings and vehicles, hi-speed car chases, seemingly tough on-screen aura, remarkable martial arts and fight scenes, technologically advanced gadgets and weaponry, high-risk stunts, biological disasters that either threaten or bring human existence to a screeching halt, these are several of the recognizable elements and themes found in action films (Dirks 2008). We will write a custom essay sample on Action Films or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page    More often than not, action films rouse a certain form of excitement through its distinct elements, but apart from all the blatant spectacle action movies promise, the genre has also become a communication device for the mass audience to understand how genre is crucial in representing commercial cinema. Mikko Lehtonen, Aija-Leena Ahonen (2000), and Kris Clarke write that there is a possible way to distinguish common ground where action can be able to send its message to the audience. In the case of action, the myriad of elements and themes that comprise action makes the genre defined. The series of odd circumstances that pile against the protagonist, the magnificence of the frequent explosions throughout the film, and the blood-rushing scenes that gives the audience a sudden rage in adrenaline hormones are common elements not found in drama or to some extent horror.   In addition, regardless if the character, events, and setting are fictional or real, action films mostly focus on a single male individual overcoming all odds to resolve the film’s conflict or series of conflicts. In accord with Lehtonen, Ahonen, and Clarke (2000) mentioned, the protagonists of action films or action heroes contribute in large part to how the genre gives a better understanding of commercial cinema.   From the moment the reel for the motion picture Dirty Harry started rolling in 1971, the modern archetype for the tough guy action hero was born.   The vigilante incarnation of Clint Eastwood as Harry Callahan may already be a clichà © but Eastwood’s character in the film introduces to the audience a new breed of police character that does not feel bound to the limits of the law, but a liberal law enforcer willing to sacrifice the ethical principle of the law to let justice prevail. Before the release of Dirty Harry, the police characters in action films do not project a character trait that engages a more serious approach to the audience.   This   â€Å"shoot first, ask questions later† type of character who does not establish any psychological capability of solving crime, nor any investigative approach to crime fighting eventually seemed to have become less palatable to the audience.   This is perhaps brought about by the tendency of films with such characters to become predictable and less interesting as a result of the aforementioned predictability. In Dirty Harry, Clint Eastwood’s characterization for Inspector Harry Callahan appears to be drawn from the western films he previously starred in (Lichtenfield 2007).   Modifying his previous role characterizations to a more modern, urbanized set up, Eastwood redefines the cop character and the action film through his constant collisions with his superiors.   Eastwood’s context of the action hero (and the action film for that matter) cannibalizes how police officers are traditional conformists to the law. The film revolves around Inspector Harry Callahan’s struggle to change the incumbent system of enforcing the law, inciting arguments with police officials, the district attorney, and the mayor.   He starts to bend the rules while in pursuit of a sniper who is out on a killing spree threatening to only stop the brutal killings if the officials decide to pay him (Siegel 1971).   The protagonist in the film relates a form of social awareness relevant during the 60s and the 70s by challenging the suffocating norms being practiced by society at the time. Eric Lichtenfeld (2007) writes that in his concept of maintaining law and order, Inspector Harry Callahan implies an individualistic approach.   Such premise of a rebellious side is quite feasible to the public taste considering that the time of Dirty Harry’s release was also the rise of modern liberalist ideologies that defies the authoritative and prejudiced norms that plague societies, especially America.   Furthermore, Harry appears to be compelled by the fact that the very law he attempts to enforce hinders him to effectively do his job and rid the social system of the practices and established constructs that delivers the fake sound of progress. The big city clash found in action films in the 1970s evolved with much stakes during the 80s as Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 1984 film The Terminator involved the fate of the entire world and the human race.in its plot.   More importantly, The Terminator gave the action genre a revamp in such a way that it incorporated elements of science fiction, by including the concepts of time travel and advanced robotics technology into the action genres. Action once again played the vital role of how genre contributes to the understanding of commercial cinema.   In the context of The Terminator, action brings about the understanding commercial cinema tapping the prevalent fear of technological advancement during the time as Schwarzenegger threatened to exterminate the entire human race to give rise to machines as the new intelligent species of the world.   In a similar magnitude, Robocop features how the fear of technology can serve as an irony to humanity as Robocop experienced an identity crisis where he asserts whether he is a person or a mere weapon.   Robocop is shown to be a tool manifesting a few vestiges of what was once his humanity.   In this sense, the film showed how one man struggled to maintain his humanity with the aid of technology. Apart from the cybernetic hero, the 1980s also saw the emergence of the new action hero with a macho look and me versus the world attitude.   Eric Lichtenfeld (2007) attributes the introduction of the new action hero such as Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone with then president Ronald Reagans nationwide call for fundamental change in the economic, political, and moralistic planes. This new archetype of the action hero brings a never before seen masculinity reminds the viewers of the United States warrior myths and racial supremacy issues indicated by the nations past.   The action heros   seemingly impossible body build, heavy armaments, and ridiculously impossible fighting ability has then become appropriate for the havoc wreaking,   extreme stunt perpetration and the overwhelming explosions of action films. In creating the identities for the action heros, the basis for characterization were injected with anti-Soviet implications and similar threats to what then President Reagan considered a threat to the norms of democracy.   The dangers and hazards the fiendish villains pose to society is recognizable enough to be related to what Ronald Reagan called the Evil Empire which was the Soviet Union (Lichtenfeld 2007).   As a result, the heros goal became apparent, total annihilation of the threats to a democratic society.   For the general public this meant the heros display of compassion to the norms and principles being held by American society during the time, and any threat to what freedom loving Americans value was not good, and should therefore be eradicated once and for all. The character type projected by actor Sylvester Stallone did not only establish a macho, tough guy- feel for the action hero, but it also marks a new era wherein the action hero poses both as an underdog and a superhero (Lichtenfeld 2007).   Although the concept of the superhero already ventured in to the realm of film in 1978 with Richard Donners Superman starring Christopher Reeve, Rambo revolutionized the action hero as a hero possessing superhuman capabilities. For one, John Rambo became a superhero by having an origin to his aggressive character.   His experience in Vietnam as a soldier prompted grassroots activism and public unrest together with hostile treatment from local police officers   in turn caused John Rambo to vent out his aggression to society.   Based on his origins as a superhero, Rambo became an underdog through the harsh treatment of society which is the foundational purpose of his superheroism and destructive nature in the first place. But putting the context of origin aside, Rambo became action superhero through the daring stunts that he did out of desperation.   Cliff-jumping, or in a more modern, urbanized context, building hopping has become a constant feature of future action films.   For Rambo, it is a move to avoid hot lead from sticking to his skin and penetrating through his internal organs.   Simply put, the seemingly dangerous stunts performed by the action superhero is his own ironic way of cheating death in order to continuously advocate his mission of curing the destructive way of cancer-stricken moral society. Through the superhero qualities portrayed by Sylvester Stallone, the comic book superheros have found a way in the world of motion picture.   during the 80s and early in the 90s, costumed fighters seemed to have found luke-warm acceptance from the mass audience.   This is because of the fact that most of the heros experiences were originally printed on paper and thereby absurd.   However, the spectacle of special effects together with more emotional, and highly dramatic origin concepts, the superhero characters have found a home in the accomodating hearts of the mass audience. The motion picture adaptation for the comic book series Iron Man for instance goes beyond the borders of its comic strip origins to create a social awareness in a post 9/11 America.   Receiving a wake-up call from his captivity in Afghanistan, Tony Stark (through Iron Man) decides to stop manufacturing weapons that seek destruction to peoples lives and property before the margin reaches in a more global scale.   With the height of terrorist attacks in several parts of the globe, the motion picture dares the audience to answer the question what solution can be brought to put an end to humanitys lust for power. Similarly, in a much smaller setting, Christopher Nolans The Dark Knight further attests that every action hero is a superhero and vise versa.   The Dark Knight, particularly, the Joker, challenges the moral consciousness of Batman, the district attorney Harvey dent, and the entire Gotham Police Department.   In contrast to the traditional context of the action hero as projected by Clint Eastwoods Harry Callahan, the Dark Knights villain, Joker, argues that the very law the police officers enforce is what hinders justice to prevail.   Joker individualistically wreaks havoc all over Gotham to prove that the so-called decent people who uphold the ethics of the law do not practice what they preach but simply bend them to their own advantage. For more than two decades, the action genre of film has communicated cinema through the events and experiences in the lives of the protagonists.   Although it blatantly promotes violence and destruction, action movies present the world with possible consequences of human acts.   Beyond the spectacle of perfect physique, explosions, and stunts, the action genre poses as a morbid distorted reality of human tendency. Bibliography Dirks, T. 2008, Action Films.   Filmsite Organization Official Website, Available at: http://www.filmsite.org/actionfilms.html Lehtonen, L. et al. (2007) Cultural Analysis of Texts. London, Sage Publications. Lichtenfeld, E. (2007) Action Speaks Louder: Violence, Spectacle, and the American Action   Movie. Middletown, CT, Wesleyan University Press

“Baglady” Is a British Short Story Written by A. S. Byatt Essays

â€Å"Baglady† Is a British Short Story Written by A. S. Byatt Essays â€Å"Baglady† Is a British Short Story Written by A. S. Byatt Paper â€Å"Baglady† Is a British Short Story Written by A. S. Byatt Paper â€Å"Baglady† is a British short story written by A. S. Byatt, it was published in the collection â€Å"Elementals† in 1998. The main character in this story is Daphne Gulver- Robins. Daphne accompanies her husband on a business trip to the Far East. The main reason she is on the trip, is for her husband to be able to impress his boss, by showing his family side. Daphne would have preferred staying home taking care of the animals on the farm, because she knows that her and the other wives have nothing in common:† Most of the other wives are elegant, with silk suits and silky legs and exquisitely cut hair† (9:16) this quote indicates that the other women are sophisticated to superficial. In their social group the exterior means everything. Daphne is aware of the shallow and superficial environment she is stepping in to. Even though Daphne is not exited about the trip she still makes an effort to try and impress the other wives by loosing weight for this specific trip:† She has tried to make herself attractive for this jaunt and has lost ten pounds and had her hands manicured† (9:22) Daphne is very insecure and feels inferior compared to the other women, her weight loss is a desperate attempt to fit in, but she ends up being an outsider. They women entertain themselves by going to The Good Fortune mall:† The Good Fortune shopping mall resembles an army of barracks or a prison block,†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"(10: 26) The mall represents the rich part of the society and all the chaos around. This mall is secured well so that the poor, thieves and unwelcome guest can’t get in. While in the mall the other women leaves Daphne behind and she ends up wandering around the mall by herself. Daphne explores the mall but quickly gets confused because everything seems to be chaotic and out of place. Daphne’s frustration begins when she realizes that her camera is missing, which I would interpret as point off of no return. She goes to the bathroom to restore her make up, and discovers that her face looks like a mess, which is another signs of her dissolving and breaking down, all of this leads to her being late for the meeting with the driver and the other women. In her panic and desperation to find an EXIT and get out of the mall her heel breaks off one of her shoes and she takes her shoes off, and but them in her bag. She notices that her credit cards and her purse have disappeared as well. She no longer has any identification and all of her belongings are missing in other words her identity is absent. She cries for help, and a policeman walks over to her: â€Å"Help me said Daphne I’m an English lady, I have been robbed, I must go home† in this quote it becomes clear that Daphne expects the police man to help her just because she is rich and British, because she lacks identification, the police man refuses to help her, which tells us that in the oriental society you have to be part of the rich upper class in order for help or assistance. The main theme in Baglady is identity. Throughout the entire story Daphne is in the state of flux. She loses her identity in a foreign country which leads to her being disoriented, and even before they arrive she feels out of her comfort zone, because of her dissimilar character. The loss of her materialistic possessions leads to her identity loss which shows that Daphne comes from a capitalistic society where materialistic things define the individual. And by losing her belonging she goes from being and middle/upper class British lady, to a worthless Baglady. Another theme could be the clash between the western and oriental world. The characteristics of this story being postmodern are very obvious. The themes which are writing above clarifies that the text it postmodern and the fact that the story has an open ending is also an element in postmodern writing.

Estimation of Dietary Intake Lab Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Estimation of Dietary Intake - Lab Report Example Nutrient content was estimated using software from the website, Nutriondata.com.1 Methods and results are as follows. A diary was kept for a 7-day period detailing all nutritional intake including snacks and meals on a daily basis. All portions were weighed and a volume in grams was obtained. Nutritional content was then determined using software that determined Fat, protein and carbohydrate content for each food. Percentage equivalents for daily Calcium(Ca) and Iron(Fe) were also obtained. Dietary intake was then into caloric value in KiloJules(KJ) using the following conversion factors: 1 gram Fat=9 KJ, 1 gram Protein=4 KJ, 1 gram Carbohydrate=4 KJ, Miscellaneous Sugars= 4 KJ2. Total KiloJule energy readings were obtained for each day. Percent required Ca3 and A classmate was interviewed for the dietary intake of foods from the previous day. Care was taken not to be judgmental and all answers were recorded and converted into gram portions. A table of the portions was again analyzed using nutrient analysis software and Fat, protein, carbohydrate, and sugars content determined, along with percentages of Ca and Fe daily requirements. Total energy from daily diet was determine in KiloJules as in &-day weighed method. A table was made for each day of dietary intake a... 3. Total Nitrogen and protein These three results were then used to determined energy parameters of the diet. Results 7-day Weighed Record A table was made for each day of dietary intake and Fat, Protein, carbohydrate analysis was made using Nutridata software and according to the weight of the portion recorded. The results are shown in the following pages; 7 day Food Diary Portion g Fat g Protein g Carbohydrate Polysaccarhide Ca%Daily Fe%Daily Day1 Hovis bread 28 2.964286 11.85714 35.57143 8.892857 11.85714 Tea 0 Skim Milk 10 0 0.323887 0.48583 2.024291 0.040486 Low Fat Cheese 49 8.575 5.104167 3.470833 5.5125 4.491667 0% fat Yogurt 125 0 5.5 23.5 18.5 0.5 Chicken Burger 105 10.03676 15.05515 17.75735 3.088235 17.37132 Barbecue Sauce 26 0.104 0 9.462424 0.312 0.312 Coca-Cola 330 36.2766 0 Chips 90 15.37875 3.07125 37.6875 0.70875 5.67 Net Weight 763 Fat Estimate 37.0588 Protein Estimate 40.91159 Carbohyhydrate 127.9354 % Daily Ca 39.03863 %Daily Fe 40.24262 KJ Fat 333.5292 KJ Protein 163.6464 KJ Carbohydate 511.7415 KJ misc Sugars 145.1064 Total KJ Daily 1154.023 Day 1 Weighed Intake 7 day Food Diary Portion g Fat g Protein g Carbohydrate Polysaccarhide Ca%Daily Fe%Daily Day2 Corn Flakes 55 0 3.666667 45.83333 45.83333 86.16667 Bananas 150 0.666667 1.333333 34 0.666667 2 1% Milk 202 1.986885 6.622951 9.934426 25.16721 0 Chicken Burger 104 9.904762 14.90667 17.59086 3.060571 17.20457 Barbecue Sauce 28 0.107692 0 10.18769 0.336 0.336 Tea Skim Milk 10 0 0.323887 0.48583 2.024291 0.040486 Sugar 12 18 Ice Cream Bar 58 8.870588 2.047059 14.32941 6.823529 1.364706 Fried