Can Manufactured Bands Ever Be Classified As good Art? The Effect O :: essays research papers

Can Manufactured Bands Ever be Classified as 'Good' Art? The Effect of the Market on the Construction of Music Introduction Manufactured bands now make up a major percentage of chart music today, not least of them Take That, Boyzone, Bad Boys inc., East 17 and other all-boy pop bands. In this essay I would like to discuss how the standard of art has been lowered by the capitalistic system of the music industry, using a specific example - "Upside Down", which is maybe the latest addition to this genre of music. By this genre of music, I mean the all-boy bands which have been specifically manufactured and targeted at the 'teenybopper' age class (and also the gay market?). Personal Opinions To argue that this form of art is 'bad' art, one must have a reference point - a set of values by which to judge. This is almost always a personal opinion, and I would first of all like to explain my personal opinion. I believe that 'good' art has something to offer to the individual perceiver, be it painting, book, film, dance or music. These are all different forms of art, but one thing binds them all together - the fact that they are creations, created and crafted to the personal specifications of the artist. This makes the product original. Two values by which I judge music are creativity and originality. I believe that good art provides 'food for thought' - that special something which, after the tape has finished, after leaving the cinema or closing a book, leaves an 'aftertaste' - something to think about, be it, 'how did he/she play that' or, 'what was he/she trying to say with that piece,' the list goes on. Basic Market Analysis For the purposes of this essay, I want to split marketing into two general strategies. The first of these is where the designers make a "product" to their own specifications and then look to see where and how they will be able to sell it in the overall market. The second strategy is the opposite of the first - the designers examine the general market, target a certain area and tailor make a product to fit this area exactly. The latter of these strategies is the one employed when a band is going to be manufactured. The designers have studied the market and worked out what they think they can sell a certain group of consumers. Hirschman's 'three market segments' model (see figure 1) can be used to explain which type of bands fall into which category. The first segment is titled "Self-orientated Creativity.

Birth of the Republic

The birth of the United States is one of the turning points of history of humans. It enabled the New World to come full circle and make the perilous transition from the Old World to the New. The American Revolution also defined the role that Great Britain was to play in the world. With the breaking away of the American colonies, a new nation was born that would supersede the power and influence of the United Kingdom. Edmund S. Morgan provides a summary of the American Revolution and recounts how the Republic was born and struggled to create its own mark in history.Morgan managed to trace the historical developments in the original thirteen colonies in America and the issues that led them to push and fight for independence. At first, the major issue was taxation by the British government. However, as they went on with the struggle, the Americans started defining themselves as a nation and affirmed their freedom as a people independent from Great Britain. These ideas did not arise beca use of amazing political theory that the Americans in the colonies formulated. Rather, they arose out of the experiences and the needs of the people in the colonies. The American Push for IndependenceAccording to Morgan, the people who went to the colonies understood themselves to be free â€Å"Englishmen† who were entitled to the usual rights and privileges ascribed to Englishmen, particularly their right to liberty and freedom. As such, it came as a surprise to those in the colonies when Sugar and Stamp Acts of 1764-1765 demanded that extra tax be taken away from the colonies. As a response, the colony settlers demanded that they be directly represented to the British government. This was but the first of a series of demands that led the colonial settlers to redefine and rethink the nature of their relationship with Britain.It is important to note that the colonial settlers did not truly wage the Revolution because of nationalistic impulses or because of too lofty ideals. W hat they wanted was to have equal rights of liberty and representation enjoyed by Englishmen whether they are in England or not. Because the colonial settlers could not accept the idea of being represented virtually, they rejected the taxation system being imposed upon them. More than that, the settlers also began to question the jurisdiction of the British Parliament over them.The process of establishing a central government among the colonies was full of difficulties and challenges, which were confounded by the war against Britain. Even if the colonies managed to defeat the British, the colonies recognized the need to band together and form a government that can look after the colonies. Four years after signing the Peace Treaty, the colonies called for a Constitutional Convention in 1787. The process was far from smooth. What happened was that the process tended to be more controversial than the act of declaring freedom from Great Britain.Several issues that arose included the siz e of the states and the differences among them. Surprisingly, however, the equality of states in representation to the Senate was prioritized over the equality of men. The reality of slavery also became a contentious issue among the States. Ironically, a slave was considered as three-fifths the worth of a free man when it came to representation. This was a compromise so that slaves could not longer be imported after 1808. Private property was also protected. The idealism of the Declaration of Independence did not resound very loudly in the Constitution.Such was the case of compromises and political situation during the Birth of the United States. Morgan managed to highlight the different motives of the leaders of the Revolution throughout the process—from the first time that the issue of taxation arose, down to the actual revolution, and the writing of the articles and the Constitution. This whole process occurred within twenty-five years. Morgan also looked into the leaders of the Revolution and conceded that they were not always acting based on good motives and an appeal to idealism. They also worked for economic gain and they managed to include provisions that protected their properties.During that period, the ownership of land was the foremost indicator of wealth. However, these acts do not mean that they are no less committed to the ideals of liberty. The compromises made by the colonies among themselves, particularly the issue of slavery, was but part of the issues that were not smoothed out because the Constitution had to be put in place if the young nation were to stand on its own against the might of the stronger nations during that period. Conclusion Although the war during the American Revolution is interesting, Morgan did not devote a lot of pages in discussing it.Rather, he explained the broader issues and forces at work in the birth of the United States of America. More than just the dynamics of the war, the author traced the ideals, the i deas, and the issues that bonded together the colonies and their efforts in consolidating themselves into one nation. Furthermore, the author included the texts of important documents that have shaped the American nation since its inception. It is an amazing piece of work documenting the nation’s history. Reference Morgan, E. S. (1993). The Birth of the Republic: 1763-89. Chicago: University Of Chicago Press.

College Essay - 1474 Words

When you take responsibility, you gain power; and it depends on you how you use the power to fulfill the responsibility. It is just the way things work. In my case, I have two jobs— both at the University of Houston-Downtown. I work as a peer mentor for the UHD Peer Mentoring program, and a student worker at the Gator Success Center. Seems like a lot of work for a full-time student, right? It actually is. However, I like working on campus. It gives me some authority to be involved in the university system. Since I work on the success center, I have the access to students’ information. I can search for their class schedules, phone numbers, advising history and much more. Obviously, I need to have their student ID number (900#) to look up†¦show more content†¦I attend a seminar course with them, but they just try to ignore me during the class. On top of that, I am provided with their gatormail address and student ID only. And when I email them about something, th ey do not reply. To be honest, I do not even think they check their university email. They are freshmen after all. I did not even know that I had to check my gatormail regularly when I was a freshman. So, I do not even blame them. Plus, the student Id number was useless. What would I do with it? On one hand, I was having a hard time reaching my mentees. I would go to the seminar class 10-20 minutes earlier, but none of them would be there. Even when I asked them to stay a few minutes after class, they would just ignore my request, and leave. On the other hand, my supervisors from the mentoring program were asking me to submit my ‘interaction with mentees’ report. Unlike the success center, I was not just supposed to be calling students and leaving voice messages. For my mentees, I am supposed to keep close contact with them, and help them succeed in college. I have to keep a list of all my interactions with them and submit it to the program directors. There was a point where I got really scared that they would fire me. And, oh, when I tried asking my fellow peer mentors if their mentees were talking to them, they told me the stories about their get-together event, and how theyShow MoreRelatedCollege Essay : College And College1113 Words   |  5 Pages2015 Highschool Vs. College In the time that I have been in college, I have seen that more freedom is allowed to students in college than highschool. Of cousre, college is a lot better than high school, but with that it comes more responsibility. College let s the students choose their choices, such as their schedule, attendence and class selection. College there is less restricted than highschool. In highschool, the dresscode is very important, much more than college. College students can wear whateverRead MoreMy Final College Essay1677 Words   |  7 Pagescourse of Intro to College Writing I have written a total of three essays and turned in. These three essays consist of: Narrative, Profile, and Argumentative. My first essay was the Narrative in which I wrote about the night of my mothers arrest. With this essay. I as a writer was trying to convey the emotions I felt during the experience and describe the many atmospheres that occurred throughout the incident. The only memorable thing from this essay was figuring out how to end the essay in a way thatRead MoreCollege Essay1299 Words   |  6 PagesTo many high school students, college seems like a far away land, a mysterious place where everyone wants to be yet not many know how to get there. As children, our parents tell us how much time we have to think about college, and that it is too far down the line to think about. The truth is it is never too early to think about your future. I, like many people, put little thought into my future career and now am lost in an unfortunate mix of indecision and anxiety. Not knowing where you want toRead MoreIs college For Everyone Essays656 Words   |  3 PagesLancaster November 6, 2013 Arnold Clay ENC1101 Is College for Everyone?: Comparative Rhetorical Analysis Since the first GI Bill was passed after World War II universities have been steadily increasing. Currently there are more than 4000 college like institutions in the United States. Public policy has been making higher education more reachable for example by creating federal student loan programs so everyone has a chance to attend college. But recently we have seen the cost of a four year degreeRead MoreCollege Essay1610 Words   |  7 Pagesthe bottom quarter of family income went to one of the 238 most selective colleges, compared with 78 percent of students from the top quarter (Markell). Certainly, these numbers show that students that come from low income families aren’t getting the opportunities that they deserve. With college costs going nowhere but up, students from low-income families face tough decisions. Some students choose to attend community college while some make the decision to take out additional loans. There are alsoRead MoreCollege Scholarship Essay753 Word s   |  4 PagesScholarships are a great way to a free college education. There are many prospective college students who use several other means for funding their college education such as grants, or loans. Grants are funds that do not have to be repaid. Student loans usually have to be repaid. There are several ways how to pay for college, and start off your college career with scholarships. When starting your search for college scholarships, you should consider your current student status. Are you a new highRead MoreCollege Preparedness Essay1812 Words   |  8 PagesPeople choose to go to college for a myriad of reasons. Some attend college because of the expectations of their parents or society. Others go to college because of the increased earning potential that a college education can provide. Still others decide to go to college to expand their knowledge in an area of particular interest. William Cory, a 19th Century English schoolmaster said, â€Å"You go to school not for knowledge so much as for arts and habits.† The arts and habits that Cory proposesRead MoreCollege Essay : College Is Knowledge, Not Success1756 Words   |  8 PagesYoung-Smith Mrs. Arant English Comp. A 23 October 2017 College Equals Knowledge, not Success Endless studying, expensive tutors, exhausting all-nighters, the common theme behind these: high school, or more importantly, graduation (SP #7). While this may not resonate with 100% of all high school students, for the majority of the student population this a mutual objective. Especially in a school like Ravenscroft located in Raleigh, NC, a college preparatory school that offers a high-level of honorsRead MoreCollege Readiness Essay2498 Words   |  10 PagesDetermining college readiness is an essential part in determining who will qualify as a good candidate for admission into a college or a university. The last thing that colleges want is for students to qualify for admission and drop out, this affects drop out rate and graduation rate. According Robin Chait and Andrea Venezia (2009), to about 83 percent of high school graduates enroll in some form of postsecondary education, but only about 52 percent of students complete their degrees. FurtherRead MoreEssay on The Irrelevance of a College Education1747 Words   |  7 PagesThe Irrelevance of a College Education Finding myself a college junior at age 56, I have often thought about why one might want an education in the first place. When asked why its taken me so long to complete college, well almost complete, my reasons are both simple and complex. I never real ly liked high school that much and my family moved around a lot. As a result, I attended several high schools. In retrospect, I now understand that high school is difficult even if one never moves. But I digress

Abortion And The Morality Of It - 921 Words

Abortion and the morality of it has been a hot topic for years in the United States although it has been carried out for centuries in different cultures. Abortion is a medical procedure deliberately terminating a pregnancy. Abortions usually happen within the first 28 weeks of pregnancy and are considered an outpatient procedure. The first abortion laws were passed by Britain in 1803 and by 1880 most abortions in the U.S. were illegal, except for those that were performed to save the life of a woman. This exception to the rule gives insight into the battle that exists today and the ethical debate of abortion. As stated in Landau (pg. 232), â€Å"Every moral theory we have considered thus far is absolutist. Most of these views are monistic, defending the idea that there is just a single absolute moral rule.† This theory cannot be followed for abortion if we look at it and say there are exceptions to the rule. Abortion is unethical and immoral because it kills a human being, yet if the pregnancy is endangering the wellbeing of the mother it is morally just. What defines the wellbeing of the mother? Who gets to decide if the wellbeing of the mother is being challenged, I would dare say that is the mother. According to the website thefeminist.com â€Å"Abortion became a crime and a sin for several reasons. A trend of humanitarian reform in the mid-19th century broadened liberal support for criminalization, because at that time abortion was a dangerous procedure done with crude methods,Show MoreRelatedAbortion : The Morality Of Abortion1442 Words   |  6 Pagesdebated topics in bioethics is the morality of abortion, or the ending of a pregnancy without physically giving birth to an infant. Often times abortions are categorized into either spontaneous, a natural miscarriage; induced or intentional, which is premeditated and for any reason; or therapeutic, which albeit intentional, its sole purpose is to save the mother’s life. It seems however that m oral conflicts on issue mainly arise when discussing induced abortions. In general, people universally agreeRead MoreMorality of Abortion1478 Words   |  6 PagesMorality of Abortion For the past couple of decades, the issue of abortion has been the most heated topic debated in the United States. When considering this topic, one must look at three things: ethics, emotions and the law; for all of these are important to this issue. Like any debate, there are two sides to this issue: pro-choice and pro-life. The people who are pro- abortion say that the mother is the ultimate person to decide to abort a pregnancy and that the government should not get involvedRead MoreIs The Morality Of Abortions?956 Words   |  4 PagesThe topic I choose to discuss is the morality of abortions. Merriam-Webster defines abortion as the termination of a pregnancy after, accompanied by, resulting in, or closely followed by the death of the embryo or fetus. Abortion has been a very controversial matter and the ongoing controversy surrounding the moral and legal status of induced abortion. Some individuals are pro life and completely against it; they feel that abortion is immoral i s because it is the intentional killing of a human beingRead MoreThe Morality Of The Abortion Of A Fetus1948 Words   |  8 PagesIntroduction: In this essay, the morality of the abortion of a fetus will be discussed in a drama involving a married couple named Deb and Derek (Smolkin, Bourgeois Findler, 2010).  For clarification purposes, we must first define the topic of this discussion; abortion is defined as the act in which a female voluntarily terminates her pregnancy where this act is legally permitted (Warren, 1973). Deb who is 16 weeks pregnant discovers that the fetus she is carrying will most likely be born mentallyRead MoreThe Morality of Abortion Essay1413 Words   |  6 PagesThe Morality of Abortion On the question of abortion being moral, the answer is clearly that terminating a fetus life under certain circumstances is not only moral, but it is also our responsibility to terminate it if the quality of life is in question for the fetus. A second major reason is that to declare abortion immoral would mean that we would have to consider the factor of how the conception came about. This cannot and should not be done. Quality is a major factor in the questionRead MoreA Debate On The Morality Of Abortion1575 Words   |  7 Pagesthat makes sense to me and that has moral significance is clearly our ability to love, to put the needs of others before ourselves, and do it regardless of the personnel cost. Without this ability we would not even be having a debate on the morality of abortion. Thus I am arguing that the human ability to love and have a moral compass is what gives us our inherent value. Some might object that I added the potential clause to the sentence â€Å"To be human is to be at once a member of the species Homo sapiensRead MoreThe Legality And Morality Of Abortion1103 Words   |  5 Pages The legality and morality of abortion is a huge topic in today’s society. Are there ever times when it is justified? Who has a say in the matter of whether or not it is justified? How does one know how to justify abortion? â€Å"Given a particular pregnancy, who should decide whether or not it ought to be terminated?† (Jaggar, 218) People argue over whether or not the unborn child has the right to life or does the woman have the right to her own body. Other party’s possibly involved are the stateRead More The Morality of Abortions Essay2719 Words   |  11 PagesThe Morality of Abortions Abortion’s legalization through Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade, has allowed for one in three pregnancies to end in abortion. This means that 1.5 million abortions are performed in the United States each year (Flanders 3). It ranks among the most complex and controversial issues, arousing heated legal, political, and ethical debates. The modern debate over abortion is a conflict of competing moral ideas and of fundamental human rights: to life, to privacy, to control overRead MoreThe Morality of Abortion Essay examples1494 Words   |  6 PagesThe Morality of Abortion Abortion is the termination of a foetus whilst in the womb and is a constantly argued issue in todays society. Whether abortion is moral or immoral depends on many topics and on one particular topic; when does life start? In 1976 the Abortion act was made active in England and Wales. This allowed the termination of a foetus aged up to 28 weeks, and for the first time women had the right to terminate an unwanted pregnancy. However limitationsRead MoreMorality Of Abortion s Argument1207 Words   |  5 Pages Morality of Abortion Counter-Argument Kyle Pedigo PHI 103: Informal Logic Micheal Pelt August 29, 2015 â€Æ' Morality of Abortion This paper is written to present a counter argument. This is a counter argument to a debate that has been around for a very long time and likely will not go away any time soon. The topic I will be covering is: Does the stage of pregnancy affect the morality of abortion? In my opinion I have to say no. But, my opinion is not the subject of this paper. My original argument

The Dead By James Joyce Essay - 942 Words

James Joyce emerged as a radical new narrative writer in modern times. Joyce conveyed this new writing style through his stylistic devices such as the stream of consciousness, and a complex set of mythic parallels and literary parodies. This mythic parallel is called an epiphany. â€Å"The Dead† by Joyce was written as a part of Joyce’s collection called â€Å"The Dubliners†. Joyce’s influence behind writing the short story was all around him. The growing nationalist Irish movement around Dublin, Ireland greatly influences Joyce’s inspiration for writing â€Å"The Dubliners†. Joyce attempted to create an original portrayal of Irish middle class life in and around Dublin at the end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th century. The historical†¦show more content†¦Through the idea of stream of consciousness he captured his characters arbitrary manners including their thoughts and feelings. This allowed Joyce’s writing to be more understandable and convincing then previous writers. Joyce’s writing technique with the use of the epiphany, religious symbolism, and stream of consciousness gave the reader access to a deeper understanding of human experience by using subconscious associations along with the conscious thoughts of narrative for his characters. All of these literary elements are portrayed in Joyce’s â€Å"The Dead†. His story depicts aspects of everyday life in the Irish capital of Dublin. Joyce portrays the parochialism and piety as well as the repressive conventions of everyday life. Joyce’s characters dream of a better life against a dismal and impoverishing background where the cumulative effects of life are full of despair and hopelessness. Through Joyce’s modernist approach to narrating he uses a structure of symbolic meanings and revelatory moments called â€Å"epiphanies†. Joyce viewed Dublin as the â€Å"Centre of Paralysis† in Irela nd (Puchner, Martin 177). Joyce viewed Dublin as a city of blunted hopes and dreams that were lost in the sea of misery. A city Joyce viewed that was filled with poor who were desperate to move out of the slums that they spent their entire lives living in. Dublin’s population was constantly growing and not enough jobsShow MoreRelatedThe Dead By James Joyce1334 Words   |  6 Pages â€Å"Think You re Escaping and Run into Yourself† : An Analysis of Memories as a Form of Escape in James Joyce’s â€Å"The Dead† In â€Å"The Dead,† James Joyce marks his characters’ lives with an overwhelming paralysis that they can only break away from by reliving their memories. Gabriel seeks solace in his memories, but in reliving them he only succeeds in extending his self-imposed prison of paralysis and enhancing the stagnation he perceives in his life. Gabriel focuses on the emotional sincerity of theRead MoreThe Dead by James Joyce879 Words   |  4 PagesThe short story the dead is written by James Joyce an Irish writer who lived between 1882-1941,he is best known for his modern writing techniques, with stories such as â€Å"The Dead†, this story is well known for its deep analogy of Irish culture, history, and how the story relates to life struggles, the difficulties of time and age and dealing to forget the dead ones we have lost. In the story we learn the toughts and voice of a husband who finds out that his wife previous love of her life still remainsRead MoreThe Dead By James Joyce2257 Words   |  10 Pages‘The Dead’ begins and ends in two entirely different places. What begins as a harmless portrait of simple human interactions, morphs slowly into an examination of the nature of time and memory. James Joyce uses every level of his writing in order to reveal this complex paradox. He breaks down the boundaries of life and death, of time and memory, by breaking down the structure of his grammar. He exposes the ambiguities of existence through the ambiguities of pronouns. In the midst of this acrobaticRead MoreThe Dead By James Joyce2111 Words   |  9 Pageswritten by James Joyce detailing the lives of many seemingly average characters from Dublin during the early twentieth century. Throughout all of Dubliners, Joyce gives the protagonist of every story a sort of epiphany that leads them to r ealize the source of their unhappiness, oftentimes, the characters choose to do nothing about it. Farrington, the protagonist in the short story â€Å"Counterparts,† and Gabriel Conroy, the protagonist in â€Å"The Dead,† are two very different characters. Joyce uses thisRead MoreJames Joyce and the Dead Essay897 Words   |  4 PagesIn the year of 1882 in Dublin a famous writer of the name James Joyce was born and as of the year of 1941 in Zurich, Switzerland James Joyce passed away at the age of 59. Joyce began his career by writing short stories that engraved, with extraordinary clarity, aspects of Dublin life. These stories were published a part of the Dubliners in 1914. Fifteen stories of his filled the pages within Dubliners the stories are: The Sisters, An Encounter, Araby, Eveline, After the Race, Two Gallants, The boardingRead MoreJames Joyce s Araby And The Dead1176 Words   |  5 Pages James Joyce’s short stories â€Å"Araby† and â€Å"Th e Dead† both depict self-discovery as being defined by moments of epiphany. Both portray characters who experience similar emotions and who, at the ends of the stories, confront similarly harsh realities of self-discovery. In each of these stories, Joyce builds up to the moment of epiphany through a careful structure of events and emotions that leads both protagonists to a redefining moment of self-discovery. The main characters in both these storiesRead MoreAnalysis Of The Poem The Dead By James Joyce1280 Words   |  6 Pagesto communicate their experiences, thoughts, and sorrows in their fragmented societies. Authors such as James Joyce, T.S. Elliot, and Virginia Wolfe gave voice to these individuals through their implementation of a stream of consciousness writing style that became a key feature in the modernist literary movement. In his short story â€Å"The Dead†, the final tale in his collection Dubliners, James Joyce represents the struggles of a well-respected figure whose depression and low self-esteem causes him toRead MoreDarkness Everywhere in The Dead by James Joyce1080 Words   |  4 PagesHeart of Darkness and The Dead. In the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, darkness is defined as: partial or total absence of light, wickedness or evil, unhappiness, secrecy and lack of spiritual or intellectual enlighten. Comparing, Heart of Darkness written by Joseph Conrad and The Dead written by James Joyce, each author brings out darkness and the living dead into the main character and shows how much it changes them for the worse and/or for the better. The Dead by James Joyce was an amazing story aboutRead MoreAnalysis Of James Joyce s The Dead Essay1857 Words   |  8 PagesJames Joyce has been regarded as a literary genius for the better half of a century, and perhaps his most popular and most widely debated piece is the last story of Dubliners, â€Å"The Dead.† The ending paragraph of the story is deemed one of the most beautiful endings in all of modern literature, and the story’s ultimate meaning can be hypothesized and criticized in discussion after discussion, making it a popular work among the ascribed literary canon in academia. The whole of Dubliners is meant toRead More Gabriels Epiphany in The Dead by James Joyce Essay2006 Words   |  9 PagesGabriels Epiphany in The Dead by James Joyce   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Many people in society feel alienated from the world and separated from their fellow man while others may try to find meaning where none exists.   In James Joyces The Dead, Gabriel Conroy faces these problems and questions his own identity due to a series of internal attacks and external factors that lead him to an epiphany about his relation to the world; this epiphany grants him a new beginning.   The progression in Gabriel from one who

Land Securities Group Plc Essay Example For Students

Land Securities Group Plc Essay 1. Assume there are three separate real estate companies US Realty (which uses the cost model), UK Realty (which uses the revaluation model, and International Realty (which uses the fair value model). Assume that on December 31, 2003, each company pays ? 1,000 cash to obtain investment property comprising of land with negligible value and an office building worth ? 1,000. The building has a 10 year useful life, has no residual value, and is expected to provide a constant stream of economic benefits over time. What is the accounting entry for each company for the following four scenarios: a. On December 31, 2003 acquisition b. On December 31, 2004 assuming the investment property fair value is ? 1,300 c. On December 31, 2005 assuming the investment property fair value is ? 1,100 d. On December 31, 2006, assuming the investment property fair value is ? 500. US Realty (cost model): 1000, 900, 800, 700 UK Realty (revalution model): 1000, 1300, 1100, 500 International Realty (Fair value): 1000, 1000+300(unrealized gain), 1300-200(unrealized loss), 1100-600(unrealized loss) Using Exhibit 10 as reference, what financial analysis challenges arise as a result of these differing accounting models? 2. Which model (cost, revaluation, or fair value) provides the most relevant information? Which model provides the most reliable information? Fair value is the most relevant and the cost is the most reliable. 3. How does each model affect Land Securities’ balance sheet? Income statement? Can the firm assess the impact of adopting the fair value model on previous years’ key performance metrics, such as â€Å"profit on ordinary activities†? 4. Which model, cost or fair value, would you recommend Land Securities adopt? Why? Although cost method provides more reliable evaluations, I recommend Land Securities adopt the fair value method which gives more relevant information in the company’s financial statements. Firstly, when we are looking at the background of the company, Land Securities was an investment property firm located in the U. K. hich adopted IFRS in 2005. Investment property firms invest in property to generate rental income and/or long-term capital appreciation. This distinguished from property used in production or for administrative purposes, as well as from holding property for sale in the ordinary course of business. Both rental price and long-term capital appreciation are related to the current fair value of the properties, because the rate of any rental property is influenced by its fair value of this property and long-term capital appreciation is determined by fair market value. In addition, as an UK company, revaluation model was adopted before 2005 which is quite similar with fair value model. Lots of high qualified independent appraisers can work on evaluation under fair market value model intermediately. Secondly, fair value model offers more accurate balance sheet and income statement. The fair value model lists investment properties on the balance sheet at their fair value. Any changes in fair value are recorded directly to the income statement as other gains or losses. Therefore, under fair value model, investors can obtain more relevant and accurate information. 5. The FASB and IASB are actively seeking to eliminate differences between US and international accounting standards. However, investment properties are reported under the cost model in the US, while IFRS allows either the cost or fair value model. Should FASB also allow the fair value model? In my viewpoint, the FASB should allow the fair value model to reconcile the differences between US and international accounting standards, but not right now. As we all know, fair value model can provide at least more relevant and also reliable information in a good fair value model system. However, more professional and fair appraisers will be needed to evaluate and update the information frequently. If most U. S. companies cannot afford the cost of appraising, they will still use cost model which is also allowed in international accounting standard. In this situation, in order to improve comparability, the companies which begin to adopt fair market model may have to disclose financial information under both models.

Interbrand Marketing Audit PRADA

Executive Summary Marketing is the process through which companies identify their customers’ needs in order to develop solutions that satisfy the identified needs. An effective marketing strategy enables companies to build a strong brand. This is often achieved through a â€Å"marketing mix that enables the marketing executives to develop the right product and to sell it at the right price in the right place†.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Interbrand Marketing Audit: PRADA specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Moreover, using the most appropriate promotional activities helps in building a strong brand. In this regard, the components of a strong brand include brand awareness, image, personality, culture and identity. Prada is an example of a strong brand in the UK. This is an indication that the brand was established using an effective marketing strategy. Introduction Brands create value to consumers wh o use them and the companies that own them. A company with a strong brand is often capable of outperforming its competitors in the market. This is because customers usually identify with strong brands by associating them with superior qualities or attributes. A brand audit refers to the process through which a company undertakes a comprehensive examination of its brand. An effective brand audit should enable the firm to identify the source of its brand equity and how it can leverage it. This paper will focus on inter-brand marketing audit. Concisely, it will analyze the Prada brand and one of its products. Key Components of a Brand: Prada A brand refers to the idea or the image of a specific product that consumers connect with by indentifying the name or the logo of the company that owns the product. Branding is the process through which the idea or image is marketed so that customers can recognize and identify with it. Thus, a brand is a differentiation tool that is used to disting uish a product from its competitors in the market. For instance, Prada uses a logo and a name to distinguish itself and its products in the textile and apparel industry. The main components of a brand include the following. Brand Identity Brand identity is a set of distinctive characteristics or attributes that define the brand. These attributes define what the brand stands for in the market. In this context, the attributes of a brand are essentially a promise from the company to the customers. In a nutshell, a company must be able to offer products whose actual qualities match the perceived qualities.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Hence, brand identity helps companies to strengthen the relationship between their brand and customers. This is often achieved through a value proposition that is characterized by functional and emotional benefits. Prada is associated with high quality, luxurious and trendy products (Prada). These are the unique associations that define Prada’s brand identity, and promise to its customers. Concisely, the customers expect the company to consistently offer high quality and trendy products. Brand identity is often reflected in the pricing strategy. For example, a brand that is associated with superior qualities often sells at a higher price than similar brands that are associated with inferior qualities. Brand Image Brand image refers to the brand’s reputation in the markets in which it is sold. It describes customers’ current perception of the brand. A strong brand image helps in creating a recognizable brand identity. Prada has a strong brand image due to its good reputation in the market. Customers believe that Prada’s products are superior and unique. Individuals interested in luxurious fashion products often purchase the Prada brands in order to distinguish themselves from the rest of the soci ety. Prada established a strong brand image by aligning its marketing mix to the values of its customers (Prada). This involved improving product quality by incorporating customers’ feedback in product development. Brand Character Brand character refers to the integrity or the trustworthiness of the brand. A strong brand must be trusted by the customers. This can be achieved if the company is capable of maintaining a specific level of service or product quality over a period of time. Thus, brand character also represents the company’s promise to its customers. Having stayed in the industry for close to a century, Prada has established a brand character that is known for consistent quality and value for money. Brand Awareness Brand awareness refers to the ease with which customers can remember and recognize a particular brand. It enables customers to link the brand name or logo to past experiences with the brand. Prada’s logo plays a critical role in enhancing it s brand awareness.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Interbrand Marketing Audit: PRADA specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This is based on the fact that the company’s logo is associated with the quality and authenticity of its products. In a nutshell, the customers use the logo to distinguish the original or genuine Prada brands from the fake ones. Brand Personality Brand personality refers to the human attributes that are associated with a given brand. These attributes include gender, age and socio-economic status. Prada has products that are associated with certain human characteristics. For example, the wallets are associated with male customers. Brand Culture Brand culture is a type of an organizational culture that enables the employees to uphold the brand values. It enables employees to develop solutions that help in delivering a branded customer experience. A relevant and sustainable brand must operate like a culture. The company must convince the public that it believes in its brand. Thus, the brand must always be included in the company’s official communications such as advertisements, business memos and public statements. Prada enhances its brand culture by using its logo in every written statement that is meant for public consumption. Comparison of Brand Logos (the logos are shown in figure 1 and 2 in the appendix) Prada’s Logo Louis Vuitton’s Logo Consists of the brand name and an image (an inverted triangle). The image helps the customers to recognize the brand in the market Consists of the brand name and the initials of the company’s name. The brand is mainly recognized by its name Has a catchphrase that indicates the year in which the brand was established. This helps in enhancing the brand image by assuring the customers that the brand has a history of good reputation Has no catchphrase that highlights the quality or reputation of the b rand. Thus, the brand image has been established through the company’s reputation in the market Has a black color that distinguishes it from other brands Has a brown color that helps the customers to identify it in the market Is mainly embedded on one side of Prada’s products such as ladies handbags. This improves the visibility of the logo and enhances brand recognition Is embedded on all sides of Louis Vuitton’s products. Consequently, recognizing the brand is easy Marketing Marketing is â€Å"an all-embracing function that links the business with customer needs and wants in order to get the right product to the right people at the right time†. Thus, marketing is an organization-wide process in which customer requirements are identified and fulfilled in a manner that is efficient and profitable. The main objective of marketing is to enable a business organization to achieve its goals by outperforming its competitors in satisfying customer needs. The roles of marketing include the following. First, it helps the company to identify customers’ requirements. This is often achieved through marketing research that focuses on customers’ needs or changes in tastes and preferences.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Customers’ needs can also be identified and understood through an effective feedback system that enables the firm to communicate with its customers. Second, marketing helps in creating awareness about the company’s products. Awareness is created through marketing activities such as advertising, personal selling and sales promotions. Third, marketing helps in satisfying the needs of the customers. Concisely, marketing initiatives help in product development. For instance, the feedback obtained from customers through a market research helps managers to develop the right products. Finally, marketing helps in establishing and maintaining relationships with customers. Marketing initiatives such as loyalty programs enable companies to establish long term relationships with their customers. Similarly, discounts and after sales services help businesses to nurture their relationships with customers. Marketing Mix Marketing mix is a tool that enables a company to develop the rig ht product and to sell it in the right place at the right time using the most appropriate promotional activities. The key elements of a marketing mix include place, price, promotion and product. Price refers to the monetary value of the product or service that is being sold. It is the â€Å"amount of money that a customer must pay in order to acquire a product or to enjoy a service†. A product refers to the â€Å"actual good or service that satisfies the specific needs and wants of the customers†. Place refers to the location in which the product or service can be bought. It describes the distribution channels that are used by the company to reach its customers. For example, retail outlets are normally used to sell consumer products such as cosmetics. Finally, promotion refers to the business communication initiatives that enable companies to reach their customers. Promotional activities usually provide information that enables customers to make the right decisions bef ore purchasing a given product or service. The roles of marketing mix include the following. First, it helps marketers to understand what customers want from a given product. It enables marketers to identify the needs that their products are expected to satisfy, as well as, the features that their products must have in order to satisfy the identified needs. In this context, marketing mix facilitates marketing functions such as product development, branding and product differentiation. Second, marketing mix helps companies to identify the places in which buyers look for their products. In this case, it enables marketers to select the right distribution channel and the most appropriate selling method. For instance, it will be necessary to use a sales force if customers are interested in products that are delivered directly to them. Third, marketing mix is used by managers to select the best communication channel. In this regard, it helps managers to appraise the existing marketing com munication channels. For instance, a company can decide to create awareness about its products through TV adverts if the targeted customers have access to TV sets. Additionally, it enables companies to analyze the effect of their competitors’ promotional activities. Finally, marketing mix helps in formulating the pricing strategy (Kotler, Keller and Brady p. 117). Concisely, it enables marketers to understand the customers’ perception of the product’s value. Moreover, it enables marketing executives to analyze the effect of price changes in the market. Prada’s Handbags The Product Prada is known for manufacturing and selling luxurious handbags. In order to satisfy the needs of its customers, the company sells a variety of handbags. Concisely, the handbags have different colors, shapes and sizes. Additionally they are made of different leather materials. Prada’s handbags have been positioned as the best products in their market segment. This is beca use they are made of high quality leather. Moreover, their designs are considered to be the best in the industry. The Place Prada’s handbags are distributed through three channels. First, the handbags are sold through the company’s retail outlets (Prada). The company has established several retail outlets in various cities in the UK. This distribution channel was adopted to enable the company to interact with its customers. The interaction enables the company to understand the needs of its customers. Second, the handbags can be bought through the company’s distributors. This is meant to improve the visibility of the product. Third, the handbags can be bought through the company’s sales website. Selling the handbags through the company’s website was adopted because it is efficient and cost effective. The website enables the customers to view the handbags that are available so that they can choose the right product (Prada). Moreover, online sales ena ble the firm to reach customers who are not located near any of its retail outlets. Promotion Prada’s promotional activities include discounts, advertising and internet selling. The adverts are done through print and electronic media. The company also uses its sales website to advertise the handbags that are available in its stores (Prada). Additionally, social media such as facebook and twitter are used to inform the customers about the products and the promotional activities that are being run by the company. The sales promotions include discounts on cash purchases (Prada). For example, a customer who is participating in the company’s loyalty program is entitled to a discount on repeat purchases. Internet selling is done through the company’s website, which contains all the information about the handbags and how they can be purchased. Price The price depends on the size of the handbag and the material that was used to manufacture it. For example, handbags that are made of pure leather cost approximately 1050 Euros. Prada uses the premium pricing strategy to determine the retail price of its high quality handbags. In this case, the handbags are sold at a high price due to their superior quality. However, the firm uses the penetration pricing strategy to determine the price of its standard handbags. This involves selling the handbags at low prices in order to gain market share (Kotler, Keller and Brady p. 89). The strengths associated with Prada’s marketing strategy include the following. The brand has several distribution channels that enable customers to access the product easily. By selling a variety of handbags, the firm is able to meet the diverse needs of its customers. The pricing strategies that have been adopted by the firm can help it to increase its market share and revenue. However, they can have a negative effect on the brand identity because the handbags have different prices. Thus, customers who are not able to distin guish the features of the handbags will not connect or identify with the brand. Despite this weakness, Prada’s marketing strategy is effective due to the aforementioned strengths. Conclusion Marketing enables companies to identify customer needs and to develop products or solutions that can satisfy the identified needs. An effective marketing strategy must have a good marketing mix. The elements of the marketing mix include place, price, product and promotion. By leveraging these elements, a company can build a strong brand. This is because customers are likely to identify with a brand that is known for high quality and is sold at the right price in the right place using the most appropriate promotional activities. In this regard, the components of a strong brand include brand image, character, awareness, culture and identity. Appendix Figure 1: Prada’s Logo Figure 2: Louis Vuitton’s Logo Works Cited Burrow, James. Marketing. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2008. Print . Kotler, Philip, Kevin Keller and Mairead Brady. Marketing Management. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2009. Print. Lamb, Charles. Marketing. Boston: Routledge, 2011. Print. Loudon, David, Robert Stevens and Bruce Wrenn. Marketing Management. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2004. Print. McColl, Julie and Christopher Moore. â€Å"An Exploration of Fashion Retailer Own Brand Strategies.† Journal of Fashion Marketing Management 15.1 (2011): 91-107. Print. Prada. Group Profile. Prada, 5 Nov. 2012. Web. Pride, William and Charles Ferrell. Marketing. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2011. Print. Ross, Jill and Rod Harradine. â€Å"Fashion Velue Brands: relationship Between Identity and Image.† Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management 15.3 (2011): 306-325. Print. Winer, Russ and Ravi Dhar. Marketing Management. London: Oxford University Press, 2010. Print. This essay on Interbrand Marketing Audit: PRADA was written and submitted by user Nevaeh Bass 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.