The Tate Modern: History and Development

The Tate Modern: History and Development Institutions in the Arts and Media: Galleries and the rise of the art market Focusing on the Tate Modern. (UK) The dazzling success of the Tate Modern has threatened to overwhelm Tate Britain(formerly the Tate Gallery.) But, says Tate Director Nicholas Serota, Brit art was thriving long before Hirst et al renewedLondons international status. (Taken from The Timeout Guide to Tate Britain, Nov 2001.) In his Foreword to Tate Modern: The Handbook, Director Lars Nittve writes: every museum is unique; Tate Moderns individuality lies not just in its collection or its locationbut also in its architecture. Indeed, what was once known as the Tate Gallery has undergone a major overhaul. There are now four branches: two in London (one at Millbank; the Tate Modern at Bankside; one in St. Ives; and one in Liverpool). According to Nittve, the Tate at Millbank used to be the big mother ship, where everything sat-curators, administration, conservation, etc. Now were moving to something more like a federation. This paper will take a close look at the Tate Modern, first exploring its singular history and its architectural uniqueness. We will then focus on the wealth and variety of its collection, which is divided into four basic themes: landscape, still life, history painting, and nudes. Finally, we will examine the Tate Modern in the the larger framework of contemporary art and media, taking note of its influence on the UK art market, and measuring its status in the international art world. History of the Tate Modern Nicholas Serota was appointed Director of the Tate at Millbank in 1988, and shortly after this decided to embark on a number of modifications. In an attempt to re-establish the original architectural integrity of the Millbank building, Serota decided to remove all signs of artifice. He decided to obliterate the false ceilings and temporary walls. He also decided upon a major reorganisation of the collection. Welcome as these changes may have been, they also brought to light the fact that there was simply not enough space to implement all these changes if the museum were to remain in its current setting. This eventually led to the decision to expand, a move which has had far-reaching effects in the art world, not just in the UK but internationally. The search for a new site ultimately led to the old Bankside Power Station. Originally designed and built after the Second World War, the Bankside Power Station was the work of Giles Gilbert Scott, a respected British architect. Scott also designed the [now defunct] power station at Battersea, as well as the Liverpool Anglican Cathedral. He is best known, however, as the designer of the once ubiquitous telephone box (Craig-Martin, 14). Michael Craig-Martin, one of the trustees assigned to investigating potential sites for the new Tate, notes that: The Bankside building was notable for its plain red brick exterior and the powerful symmetry of its horizontal mass bisected at the centre by a single tall, square chimney. The building was articulated on three sides by a series of immense, well-detailed windows. The only decoration came from the brickwork crenellation along the buildings edging, cleverly mitigating its great bulk (Craig-Martin, 14-15). The discovery of the Bankside Power Station opened up new vistas for the trustees of the new Tate. First of all was the issue of size: the Bankside Power Station was larger than any of them had imagined. Adjusting their expectations to include such a vast space opened up an entirely new perspective as well as a world of possibility. Second, of all, building yet they had assumed that they would be commissioning abuilding yet  here was the power station, basically intact. They now had to consider the possibility that there would be no need to raze the existing building and start over what if they were to work with the existing structure, and make changes as needed? This, clearly, would be a break from the way things were traditionally done. Thus, after visiting the Bankside Power Station, the trustees vision of what the new gallery could be began to change, and their preconceived notions were replaced by exciting new concepts (Craig-Martin, 15). The existence of so many positive factors convinced the trustees that the Bankside site was the best choice as the new site of the home of modern art. Not only were the possibilities were inviting; also to be considered was the location, which was ideal; the possibility of development; and the interest and support of the local government. Location was certainly a major consideration; this London location boasted first-rate transport facilities, including the new tube station at Southwark. In addition, there was the possibility of a river bank connection with the Millbank gallery(Craig-Martin, 15). And the local Southwark Council wasted no time in acknowledging the potential impact this could have on the local community, an area much in need of a financial and industrial boost: The local council, Southwark, recognising the potential impact of the Tate project on development and employment in this largely run-down area, enthusiastically supported it from the start (Craig-Martin, 15). Architectural Design Relocation to the Bankside site meant opened up a wealth of opportunity for the Tate. Forstarters, the vast size of the building meant that the Tate would be able tomore than double its capacity for showing its collection as well as housing major large-scale temporary exhibitions (Craig-Martin, 15). Beyond this, the possibilities seemed even more exciting: even after expansion, there would be a vast expanse of untouched space, leaving the possibilities for continued growth and capacity for even greater acquisitions wide open. But questions of how to approach and re-design this space still had to be sorted out. DirectorNicholas Serota enlisted the assistance of Trustee Michael Craig-Martin andsculptor Bill Woodrow to visit some of the newer museums of contemporary art onthe Continent, and to consider them critically from our point of view asartists (Craig-Martin, 17). In this way, Serota helped to best utilize the newspace, with an eye on art, rather than architecture. After visiting a number of modern museums, Martin and Woodrow found that for the most part,modern museums better served the interests of architects and architecture than those of art and artists. Clearly the interests of art were not the primary consideration of those chosen to design the space that would best showcase it. Many architects clearly considered designing a museum to be a prime opportunity for high-profile signature work. On the other hand few architects seemed truly to understand or be interested in the needs of art (Craig-Martin, 17). They reported these findings to Serota and the other trustees, with the ultimate result that there was a shift in the thinking behind the architectural approach. Now, the  central concern of the design of the new building would be to address the needs of art through the quality of the galleries and the range ofopportunities, both sympathetic and challenging, for showing art. While seeking the best possible architectural solution, we determined that the project would be art led not architecture led (Craig-Martin, 17). The decision ofthe trustees was not a popular one in many circles. Architects in particular felt deprived, seeing the decision only in light of their own potential growth or lack thereof: Some, seeing this as the betrayal of a unique architectural opportunity for London, interpreted it as the result of a loss of institutional nerve (Craig-Martin, 17). Ultimately, Herzog de Meuron were selected to be the architects. They were the only ones whose design managed to keep the building intact without making major changes to its basic structure, to appreciate the beauty and value already inherent in the existing structure: Herzog de Meurons was the only proposal that completely accepted the existing building its form, its materials and its industrial characteristics and saw the solution to be the transformation of the building itself into an art gallery (Craig-Martin, 17). Indeed, as pointed out by Insight Guides: Tate Modern has captured the publics imagination in a quite unprecedented way, both for its displays and its building, which establishes a magnificent presence on the South Bank (194). The Collection Insight Guides states that the arrangement of the collection makes it both more accessible to, and more popular with, the general public (194). Instead of achronology, the work is organized by a four separate (though admittedly overlapping) themes. The displays replace a single historical account with many different stories of artistic activity and suggest their relationship to the wider social and cultural history of the 20th and early 21stcentury (Insight Guides 194). The four themes are, basically: landscape, still life, history painting, and nudes. Within each of these broad themes it is possible to explore a rich syntax of intention and strategy, (Blazwick Morris, 35). Landscape/Matter/Environment When one thinks of landscapes, a variety of scenes may come to mind: waves crashing on a rocky beach; a horizon of dark, menacing clouds; skyscrapers silhouetted against a sunset. As Blazwick Morris point out, the genre of landscape is primarily understood as a representation of a natural or urban scene, which might be topographic, metaphoric or sublime (35). At the Tate Modern, however, the genre of landscape has been reconceived to include the zone of the imaginary, uncanny dreamscapes, symbolic visualisations of anxiety and desire (Blazwick Morris, 35). As Jennifer Mundy points out, landscape is an ambiguous term and can have several overlapping meanings: much of its resonance derives from the often uncertain boundary between nature and culture, the objective and the subjective (42). Thus a landscape may be a faithful rendering of the physical world, such as the dreamy middle-class countrysides of Impressionism. Or it may be symbolic rendering of an interior landscape, such as the more obscure works of the Surrealists. The Tate Moderns Landscape collection tries to reflect the range and diversity of this genre, while also addressing the complex threat of modern technology. As Mundy notes,today the threat posed to the environment by modern technology and the growth of the human population has made the natural landscape a topical, even urgent, subject for art (50). StillLife/Object/Real Life Paul Moorhouse posits that among the many radical developments in the visual arts during the last hundred years, one of the most significant has been the extraordinary growth and transformation of the genre known as still life (60). By the period of Cubism, still life no longer meant an apple on a plate, but rather the complexity of the relationship of the objects to each other and to the viewer: The inertness of such objects as a glass, a bottle, a pipe or a newspaper provided a perfect vehicle for evoking the complex phenomenological relationships between such artefacts, the surrounding space and the viewer perceiving them (62). The Tate Moderns collection is a reflection of the evolution of the form referred to as still life, and which today defies definition. According to Moorhouse, this fusion of the actual and the symbolic has created the conditions for a remarkable vitality and diversity in contemporary art (68), a vitality and diversity reflected in the Tate Moderns ever-changing representations of the genre. History/Memory/Society The concept of history/memory/society is wide-ranging and ambitious, perhaps intentionally so. Public morality, politics, ideology, idealism and suffering among other themes still preoccupy artists today comments Jeremy Lewison (88). The Tate Modern collection attempts to represent these themes as they are expressed in modernity, while reflecting the continuum in which they necessarily exist. Clearly this is an ambitious task, considering the multitude of methods used to express and relate these concepts across the ages. The study of history has descended to the micro level, posits Lewison, adding that it has been, in a sense, democratised. History is no longer solely the provenance of leaders and heroes; it is rather, in the hands of the common individual. The artists of today have followed a similar course, Lewison suggests, and, by employing the same strategies, by opening themselves to techniques and concepts derived from the human and social sciences, artists today address issues relevant to contemporary life (88). Nude/Action/Body Among the most ancient man-made objects recognisable as belonging to the category that we callart are small naked human figures carved from stone or ivory posits SimonWilson (96). Clearly, as humans we are obsessed with representations of the body and this has been reflected throughout history. The final decades of the twentieth century have seen remarkable changes in the concept of the human body. Significant advances in technology, combined with the lengthened lifespans of our population, have spurred a re-thinking of what the body is indeed, at times it has seemed to become objectified. These changes are of course reflected in art. As Wilson points out, during this time period artists began to use their own body as the expressive medium, initially creating necessarily ephemeral works in the form of what became known as Performance art (104). This, in conjunction with use of various media such as film, video, and still photography, is all part of the Tate Moderns programme in accurately capturing and representing this genre. The Tate Modern and the International Art World The success of the Tate Modern may have initially seemed to eclipse the Tate Britain however, a response like this surely had to have been expected. The selection of Giles Gilbert Scotts Bankside Power Station as its new home was itself a newsworthy event. The subsequent choice of Herzog de Meuron as architects caused considerable buzz in the art world and the country at large. Therefore it issmall wonder that when it finally opened its doors, the world was indeed dazzled by the Tate Modern. Stephen Deuchar, Director of the Tate Britain, writes in the Foreward to Humphreys book: the creation in 2000 of Tate Modern and Tate Britain as distinctive entities with the Tate organisation, were initial steps towards the renaissance of Millbank. Now, with many new galleries for displays and exhibitions, and with a future programme setting our collections withina plethora of new contexts, national and international, our role here as the worlds centre for the study and enjoyment of British art may emergewith fresh clarity There is, however, no doubt that the Tate Modern will play an influential role in the art world. It is unique in conception, as noted earlier, because it was carefully designed to meet the needs of the artist, as opposed to those of the architect. As Craig-Martin pointed out, while seeking the best possible architectural solution, we determined that the project would be art led not architecture led(17). In addition, there is the simple, yet vitally important issue of size and space alone. The discovery of the Bankside Power Station opened up new vistas for the trustees of the new Tate. Bankside Power Station was larger than any of them had imagined, and the process of adjusting their expectations to include such a vast space opened up an entirely new perspective. Not only were the possibilities were inviting; also to be considered was the location, which was ideal; the possibility of development; and the interest and support of the local government. Beyond the mere physical properties such as architecture and size are the ways in which these attributes are utilised. The vision of the Tate Modern thus far seems to be on the cutting edge. The best museums of the future willseek to promote different modes and levels of interpretation by subtle juxtapositions of experience writes Nicholas Serota. He further asserts that the best museums will contain somerooms and works that will be fixed, the pole star around which the others will turnin this way we can expect to create a matrix of changing relationshipsto be explored by visitors according to their particular interests and sensibilities (54-55). As Deuchar hassaid, we no longer choose to relate a single narrative of British art and culture, but to explore a network of stories about art and about Britain, with our collections at its core (Foreward to Humphreys book). And has Nittve has pointed out the Tate at Millbank used to be the big mother ship, where everything sat curators, administration, conservation, etc. Now were moving to something more like a federation (Frankel). The Tate Modern, the necessary extension of this core, may in fact be viewed as a pole star in itself, at the forefront of the modern art scene, with a world of limitless potential ahead. Reference List Adams, Brooks, Lisa Jardine, Martin Maloney, Norman Rosenthal, and Richard Shone. 1997. Sensation: Young British Artists from the Saatchi Collection. London: Royal Academy of Arts. Blazwick, Iwona and Frances Morris. 2000. Showing the Twentieth Century. In Tate Modern: The Handbook, eds. Iwona Blazwick and Simon Wilson, pp. 28-39. Berkeley: U of CA Press with Tate Gallery Publishing Limited. Craig-Martin, Michael. 2000. Towards Tate Modern. In Tate Modern: The Handbook, eds. Iwona Blazwick and Simon Wilsonpp. 12-23.Berkeley: U of CA Press with Tate Gallery Publishing Limited. Frankel, David. April 2000. Art Forum. http://www.24hourscholar.com/p/articles/mi_m0268/is_8_38/ai_61907715  Accessed May 26, 2005. Humphreys, Richard. 2001. The Tate Britain Companion to British Art. London: Tate  Publishing. Insight Guides: Museums and Galleries of London. 2002. Basingstoke, Hants: GeoCenter InternationalLtd. Lewison, Jeremy. 2000. History Memory/Society. In Tate Modern: The Handbook, eds. Iwona Blazwickand Simon Wilsonpp. 74-93. Berkeley: U of CA Press, with Tate Gallery Publishing Limited. Massey, Doreen. 2000. Bankside: International Local. In Tate Modern: The Handbook, eds. Iwona Blazwick and Simon Wilsonpp. 24-27.Berkeley: U of CA Press with Tate Gallery Publishing Limited. Moorhouse, Paul. Still Life/Object/RealLife. 2000. In Tate Modern: The Handbook, eds. Iwona Blazwickand Simon Wilsonpp. 58-73. Berkeley: U of CA Press with Tate Gallery Publishing Limited. Mundy, Jennifer. 2000.Landscape/Matter/Environment. In Tate Modern: The Handbook,eds. Iwona Blazwick and Simon Wilsonpp. 40-53.Berkeley: U of CA Press with Tate Gallery Publishing Limited. Serota, Nicholas. 1996. Experience or Interpretation: The Dilemma of Museums of Modern Art. WalterNeurath Memorial Lectures, London: Birkbeck College. Shone, Richard. 1997. From Freeze to House: 1988-94. In Sensation: Young British Artists from the Saatchi Collection. London: Royal Academy of Arts. Wilson, David M., ed. 1989. The Collections of the British Museum. London: British MuseumPress. Wilson, Simon. 2000. Nude/Action/Body. In  Tate Modern: The Handbook, eds. Iwona Blazwick and Simon Wilsonpp. 94-107. Berkeley: U of CA Press with Tate Gallery Publishing Limited. What is mental health? What is mental health? What is mental health? Mental health refers to our emotional wellbeing, it is all about how we think, feel and behave. The relevance of working with patients with mental health problems for me will be a challenge to start with. While on my placement I come across many patients why are suffering with Alzheimer and Dementia and most are suffering with mental health disorders of various kinds. In my central discussion I intend to cover the case of one patient named Joe who has metal health problems. Mental health is a term that encompasses a range of experiences and situations. It can be an on going experience from mental wellbeing through to a severe and enduring mental illness affecting a persons overall emotional and psychological condition. Incidents in life such as bereavement, financial and personal happiness such as the way we feel about ourselves can lead to depression and anxiety. Mental illness may be experienced by people who have a mental health problem to such a degree that they may be diagnosed as having a mental illness, requiring the involvement of specialist services and support. Consequently, some people with mental illness will need no support, others may need only occasional support, and still others may require more substantial, ongoing support to maintain their quality of life. To understand the difference between mental health and mental illness specifically relates to both the length of time and severity of the changes to a persons behaviour thought patterns and display of emotions. The more severe and lengthy the impact of these changes, the more a person may struggle to manage their everyday life and the greater the chances of them developing a mental illness. One mental health problem that an individual may experience could be through the loss of a loved one. People who are already suffering with a mental health issues are going to find that the trauma of discovering that some one who they loved has passed away will be an even greater burden on their already mental fragility. Such feelings that one will experience after being told about the death of a close relation can range from depression, suicidal thoughts, feelings of hopelessness, loneliness and unable to cope with daily life. The mental health state of this individual patient would give me a lot of concerns after such a shock as a bereavement of a close relative. His mental health state before this news was given to him, was giving me great concerns as he was already showing signs of suicidal tendencies. This gentlemens demure was one of a frail individual lacking any self esteem and of a nervous disposition. Other symptoms noticed were a sense of instability, inability to communicate verbally in a precise and understandable manner. As a nurse the care and assistance I can assist the patient with would be to speak to the patient in a quieter none judgmental manner and listen in attentively to what the patient has to say dependant on the severity of the mental illness the patient suffering and his behavior would really be an indication as to what help I could be most useful to assisting him/her in. If the patients mental illness is severe and of a violent nature the nurse would have to understand her limitation and abilities before confronting the patient. Otherwise one you could do more harm than good and put your self in danger. If you as a nurse feel comfortable and confident in your own judgment with the placement you can then start to talk and listen to what the patient has to say. It is important to talk to the patient in a non professional spoken manner, using none technical word and phrases, so that the patient feels comfortable and confident in your approach to them. For this assignment the chosen topic will be depression. The patient in this case study will have his name protected by the NMC code of professional conduct 2009 and for that matter he will be referred to as Joe. Joe was admitted into hospital during my placement. Joe was admitted onto the ward after suffering a fractured femur when he fell to the ground coming down his stairs in his house. He was calling out for help and was discovered one hour later by a neighbour who was passing by his house. On admission Joes medical notes indicated that Joe has a history of depression and is on a daily medication of Fluoxetine which has a brand name of Prozac. Joe is British gentlemen aged 68 years old and Joe has now been separated from his wife for the last 8 years. He has three grown up sons but does not now have any contact or get any support from them. Joe dwells alone in a council run flat and his occupation was a bus driver. His depression over the years had made him isolated and a reclusive person. He stated that he had been a depressive person on and off for his whole life and that his depressive state had only now in old age become a hindrance to his normal lifestyle, thus accumulating in recent bouts of dizziness, fainting and the subsequent breaking of bones after falls. Joe was quite lucky this time around in that his fall from the stairs was quite a short fall of some 4 steps, if he had fallen from the top flight of stairs he could be in hospital with far greater injuries than what he actually sustained and his fall could have been fatal. Reference Mental health http://www.liv.ac.uk/counserv/self_help/mental_health/definition_mhealth.htm Difference illness and health Bowers, L. â€Å"; The Social Nature of Mental Illness†, 1998, Routledge. Bereavement: Studies of Grief in Adult Life (Paperback) by Colin Murray Parkes (Author), Holly Prigerson (Author) 1st edition 1972, page 1 Appendix Action Plan Summary: The Story Of Deirdre Essay Summary: The Story Of Deirdre Essay In the middle ages, there were a lot of stories written that were tied together with the culture in which they were written by. Some even had an intense connection with the author that wrote them. A few examples are Thorstein the Staff- Struck in which was tied with the Norse culture, Everyman which has a Christian tie, and The Story of Deirdre with an Irish Celtic tie. To me the one that has the strongest tie to its culture is that of The Story of Deirdre and the Celtic culture. Just from reading the story and knowing a little about the Celtic culture will make this evident. So Ill start by giving you a little background or brief summary from the story. First Ill start by giving you a brief summary of The Story of Deirdre. The story started off with a gathering of warriors and counselors and their wives and kids. The host is Felim MacDall. His wife is pregnant with a child. All of a sudden the unborn child screams from within its mother loud enough for all of the guests to hear it. After so a Druid named Cathbad tells the prophecy of the child. It is a girl and she will be named Deirdre, but she will cause a great amount of grief and also cause the death of many kings. Hearing this prophecy the King of Ulster, Conchubar mac Nessa wanted Deirdre for himself. So her family agreed and gave her to him. He thought he would wait for her to turn of marrying age and then they would be together forever. However a young warrior named Naoise came and Deirdre fell in love with him. They eventually ran away together causing a great deal of anger with Conchubar mac Nessa. Time passed and Conchubar mac Nessa agreed to let them return to the kingdo m unharmed. That was a lie. Naoise was killed. But still Deirdre didnt want him so he gave her to one of his warriors, MacDurthacht. Deirdre couldnt stand the fact that she was being used like this so while she was in a chariot going down the road she put her head out of the window and smashed it on some passing rocks, which killed her. In a few parts of that summary the Irish Celtic culture ties in with The Story of Deirdre. The beginning in which they are all gathered up is one. It is very typical of the Irish Heroic Age tradition for it all to start off with a large gathering where they are eating and drinking. The supernatural screaming of the unborn child also added to this tradition. Then the next thing would be the entrance of a druid. The druid comes in and gives a prophecy that sets the outcome of the future. All of these examples ties the story with an Irish Heroic Age tradition. Another connection between the Irish Celtic culture and The Story of Deirdre is how Deirdre kills herself. The Irish Celtic people believed that the skull was where the soul rested, not the heart. The Celtic people were well known for the fact that they were the only known to date head hunters. They cut the heads off of the warriors they killed because they believed it to bring them supernatural abilities. Also when one of them died, the remaining living warriors would find the dead warriors bodies and crack their skulls. This was because they believe that the soul could not travel to the afterlife if it were not possible for it to leave the skull. So in the case of Deirdre she wasnt going to continue life with Conchubar mac Nessa and his warrior so she decided to kill herself. But without cracking her skull, her soul wouldnt be able to move on to the afterlife. So in a split second she hung her head out of the Carriage window and cracked her head against some passing rocks. The Story of Deirdre also portrays its characters as being associated with the manner in which the Celtic personalities were portrayed then and continued to be portrayed now. One example is that of Conchubar mac Nessa. He planned on marrying Deirdre from before she was even born. This meant that he had to wait till she turned of age. This was often the case in the Celtic culture. Old men would declare a marriage to a young teenage girl before she was even the age to birth a child. This happened often with high ranked men such as counselors, warriors, and high up others. Also the girls that they declare marriage to often had a high social status themselves, most being kings or counselors daughters. Another example in which The Story of Deirdre ties in with the Celtic culture is that it has a similar format in which all of the other stories followed. Started off with a large group of people feasting or just a basic meeting. The characters are all basically believable but then it adds a supernatural event. In this case the unborn child screaming from within its mothers womb. The rest of the story is filled with a controversy between to highly rated people, until the death of one of them. Also the story was based on the determination of fate. Deirdre was destined to cause all of this drama and also the death of these men. The middle ages period was filled with great works of literature that reflected the culture in which it was written and some of the time even reflected the author that wrote it. The stories I mentioned in the beginning are just a few examples that can be used to prove this true. The Story of Deirdre gave a good insight into the Celtic culture. Whether it be the characters personalities in the stories, the format in which the story was written, or the actions of some of the characters, Deirdre bashing her head on the rocks.

Mexican Daily Life Essay

There are a variety of common courtesies that Americans should observe when in Mexico. Some of the important issues of cultural etiquette are described herein. When in Mexico Americans should refrain from calling themselves â€Å"Americans. † Mexicans consider themselves Americans too since the whole continent is called America. Another part of Mexican culture that may be shocking to American’s traveling there is the way machismo is verbalized by male members of Mexican society. Making sexual or derogatory remarks at women is a typical part of the culture and should not be seen as harassment. Wearing a wedding band and mentioning children usually will stop these types of comments. Attempting to speak Spanish even if your Spanish is not good is appreciated. When speaking in English slang and idioms should be avoided. Using broken English does not aid communication and can be seen as offensive. Many Mexicans speak English but many more read English. If possible, a written copy of what you are saying should be provided. Mexicans do not often say no because it is considered impolite. Consequently, it is important that you recognize this and look for other clues as to what the real answer is. If a Mexican says maybe it is a good indicator that the answer is definitely no. Asking for a yes or no response to a specific question repeatedly is tolerated but you must be patient because it will take a while before the real answer comes out. People stand much closer to each other in Mexico. It is considered unfriendly to back up when a Mexican approaches you in conversation. You must be aware of the tone of voice you use when in Mexico. Using a quick pace or a sharp or forceful tone will make you come across unfavorably. Eye contact is not as direct or long as in the United States. Mexicans are status conscientious so what you wear or what you drive makes a clear statement about who you are in society. When attending a social event you should arrive 30 minutes late. Arriving earlier is considered rude. At small parties your host will introduce you. At large parties you may introduce yourself. When dining you should not sit until you are told where to sit and you should not eat until the hostess starts. It is polite to keep both of your hands visible while eating and to leave some food on your plate when finished. Only men are permitted to give toasts. The traditional greetings used in Mexico vary depending on the sex of the participants and the amount of time they have known each other. It is important to greet each member of a group individually. Women will pat each other on the forearm or shoulder as an initial greeting where men use the handshake in situations where they are greeting someone for the first time. Handshakes consist of a gentle grip and a quick sharp shake. After men develop a relationship hugs or back slapping called abrazo replace the handshake. Women will progress to a series of air kisses on the cheek. Air kissing is also the appropriate greeting between a man and a woman who know each other. The first kiss is in the air near the left cheek and the second is in the air near the right cheek. Unmarried women receive an additional kiss as a wish for marriage. Receiving an abrazo or air kiss is an indicator that you have been accepted into the group. These traditional Mexican greeting are indicative of gender characteristics. Females are supposed to act open while men are expected to act closed. Foreigners should politely accept these greetings from Mexicans but should not initiate a move from one greeting to the next. This is especially important for an American man who is greeting a Mexican female. The American man should never initiate the air kisses as it may be interpreted as sexual advance which damages the women’s honor and her partner’s machismo. Women are even expected to initiate a handshake with men. It is important to wait until invited to call a Mexican by his or her first name because of the emphasis on formal hierarchy with in the society. Until then you should use the correct honorific (Senor, Senora, Senorita) and the family name. If you do not know if a woman is married or not you should use Senorita followed by her family name. In oral communications you should use the father’s family name only. In written communications it is appropriate to use the father’s family name first followed by the mother’s family name. A respectful smile is always appropriate during greetings. Saying goodbye in Mexico is very similar to the process used for greetings. The host will walk the guest to the door and the goodbye will be said with the same procedure as the greeting. If you received a handshake, abrazo, arm pay or air kiss upon arrival expect the same upon leaving. Etiquette about who initiates the goodbye is the same as for greetings. It is polite to thank your host for the good time. Gift giving in Mexico is very similar to gift giving traditions in the United States. When invited to a Mexican’s home, it is considered polite to bring a gift of sweets or flowers. White flowers are a good choice because they are viewed by Mexicans as uplifting. Red flowers are not appreciated because they are used when someone is sick. Marigolds should not be given because they symbolize death. Gift wrapping does not carry any special significance. Gifts are opened immediately in the presence of those who gave them. It is appropriate to respond enthusiastically. Gifts are not used very often in Mexican business. However, bringing a small gift from home to a business partner you have worked with before is okay. Another accepted use of gifts in business is to give chocolates to the secretary. Since gifts are not used frequently, giving chocolates to the secretary will usually help future business run smoothly as you will be favored. It is extremely important for American men who are presenting females with gifts at work to state that it is from the wife or family. Presenting a gift to a female from a male may be seen as a sexual advance. Colors have been assigned definitions since the Aztec empire in Mexico. However, the definitions of what each color means has changed a lot since then. In the Aztec empire green was a symbol of royalty, white meant death, yellow was a symbol for food and blue symbolized sacrifice. Today’s definitions for colors are representative of Mexican cultural conventions. Warm deep colors that reflect the landscape are used in decorating. Bright reds and yellows are fiesta colors. Today white symbolizes purity. White items are believed to have the ability to ward off black magic. Red stands for unity and protection. Using a red handkerchief to cover your mouth when passing a house where someone has died or been sick is believed to protect you from illness or death. Yellow is a mourning color. Consequently, marigolds are planted in cemeteries. Dark blue is also a mourning color. When attending a funeral Mexican’s are expected to wear dark blue. Green is a symbol of independence and hope. Humor is understood and appreciated in Mexico. Situational humor as well as â€Å"slap-stick† humor are enjoyed. Humor that demeans someone to advance someone else can only be used in limited contexts to promote machismo and, consequently, should be avoided. Jokes using Mexican stereotypes or dealing with the Alamo and Mexican-American War are not appreciated. Since humor in Mexico involves many social nuances, it may be better to avoid trying to intentionally make jokes. However, if your host makes a joke smiling and laughing are expected. Mexicans typically work a 5. 5 day work week with 8 hour days Monday through Friday from 9-5 o’clock and a half day on Saturday. Mexican law requires that the work week does not surpass 48 hours per week and that lunch hour which is from 3 to 4 o’clock must be paid. However, this schedule varies by the type of business. For example, government workers often work the entire 48 hours in a five day workweek and take off for lunch at 2 o’clock for two hours. Consequently, government workers often work very late into the evening. It is very important to establish a friendship with a Mexican business partner before getting â€Å"down to business. † As a result friendly conversation on home life is often mixed into business conversations as a way to get to know people. Breakfast and lunch are good times to have mixed discussions that can lead to better business. However, Mexicans work to live not live to work so business talk should be left out of social situations unless initiated by the Mexican. Between 8 and 11 million children under the age of 15 are working in Mexico, approximately 20% of the population of children. This number does not include children working on farms. Although it is illegal to employee children under the age of 16, it is still commonly practiced in Mexico because children provide a cheaper source of labor. Many children use fake ID’s to obtain employment because of the financial need of the family. Businesses are not usually punished for illegally employing minors. Alcohol is used regularly in Mexico. The legal drinking age in Mexico is 18. There are responsible drinkers and alcoholics in Mexican society. Approximately 13% of the population has experienced alcohol dependency. Unfortunately incidents of alcoholism are rising. Alcohol is used disproportionatly by men because of Mexican gender roles which promote risky behavior for men and conservative behavior for women. Alcohol is permitted in both business and social settings. In business alcohol is most appropriate during lunch or diner meetings. Mexican leisure activity is similar to that of the United States. Mexicans enjoy television, concerts, movies, picnics, shopping and sports. Soccer is the most popular sport. Businesses that provide picnic tables and soccer fields for use by employees on their lunch hour are viewed very positively by Mexicans. Fiestas, birthdays and traditional holidays are also enjoyed by all members of Mexican society. The types of leisure activities that Mexicans enjoy do not vary for the different income levels. Only the amount of time and money one can invest in these activities varies from one class to another.

Malcolm X : Identity Formation

Multicultural Issues Identity Formation: Malcolm X Everyday African-Americans go through identity formation. Identity formation is the development of the distinct personality of an individual regarded as a persisting entity. While watching the movie, Malcolm X, starring Denzel Washington as Malcolm, he shows many stages of identity formation. His whole life, he went by taking chances. The choices and decisions he made either ended good of ended bad. By the end of the movie, it ended in a tragic massacre that sadly ended his life. Throughout the movie, they jumped around about his life.They showed flashbacks of his childhood and continued from on through his life. I’m going to begin with his life transformation. As a child, he was faced with bad racism. His family would be tortured by the KKK (Ku Klux Klan). His father did everything he could do to protect his family. The KKK (Ku Klux Klan) killed his father after all the torturing. Malcolm and his siblings were taking away. Ma lcolm was sent to an Orphanage where in school he was the only African-American (black) student in his class. His teacher even told him he couldn’t become a lawyer. He should consider becoming a carpenter.Malcolm was faced with man racist comments. Later on in his life he lived the life of a â€Å"street hustler. † He went to prison and that completely transformed him. We must transform ourselves, as a people, as a condition for securing our freedom from oppression. This was the beginning of his phase of identity transformation, Who are you? The question Malcolm stressed. The first time Malcolm was asked that he said Malcolm Little. He was told that’s the white’s man name for you, now who are you? He didn’t have an answer. He had to find his self. Then he gave his self the name Malcolm X.The â€Å"X† representing the unknown name of his African ancestors and their culture that had been lost during slavery, discovering all of this after six y ears in prison, after being convicted of robbery and sleeping with white women. This identity transformation was also spiritual and intellectual transformation. He undertook a rigorous process of self-education. He was all about Black Power and the Power of the Great and Almighty Allah. This was a form of his identity transformation One aspect of the African-American life in society today, as well as in the movie, is the role and identity of women.The women serve as the backbone of the family that prays and request that God would watch over and protect the family. The focus of my writing is geared towards discussing the woman’s identity development in the African-American culture and the world at large. Research express that in order to be able to understand what the significance of identity development in African-American women consists of, it is important to get the picture of the racial undertones in society. Throughout our country’s history, African-American women have been subjected to digesting negative stereotypes about themselves in comparison with their Caucasian counterparts.The belief behind this statement is that Caucasian females were closely associated with having more positive qualities than African-American women. As a result, a sense of shame has been connected with the concentrated effort to explain what it means to be an African-American that leads to an existence of racial consciousness in the minds of everyone within the culture. Moreover the conversation continues by stating that research that focuses on identity development in African-American women includes the suggestion of oppression and the requirement for self-determination and/or strength through resilience.In order for African-American women to move towards self-determination through resilience, they have to acknowledge both the commonness and the actuality of racism and sexism in today’s society. These â€Å"isms† impact the everyday lives and experien ces that they have and will encounter at school, at work, and in places where they may receive any form of public assistance. An author named Black talk about faith in God as foundational in a woman’s life toward the development of a sense of identity and value as the women eal with the trials and tribulations that she faces. The use of faith helps her to keep perspective on God as a loving, caring person as she learns to redefine what adversity looks like. Another writer named Mattis says the study’s focus on African-American women is intentional because they weave together culture and spirituality as part of how they identify themselves . Moreover, Black comments that an African-American woman’s faith and how she interacts with God is effective because there are two key components to their relationship: reciprocity and familiarity.These two characteristics work together as a way to help African-American women deal with their struggles because: a) their self-wo rth is rooted in the fact that God loves them and b) no matter what they face in this life God has a plan to reward them now and forevermore. Just like any other family, we you grow up, you go through a reaching transformation. As I stated before, in African-American families religion is an important factor to their culture. Just like in the movie and in Malcolm’s real life, he became educated and went around the world teaching.He taught was it means t be black, what it means to worship the Nation of Islam and becoming Muslim, and opened the world up to the real racism of society. When he became Muslim, he seized to live in the society of whites. He believed in going back to our roots, back home, back to our original civilization, back to West Africa, South Africa and Central Africa. These teachings cost him his life, yet his legacy live in his family and around the world of African-American and Muslims

A Brief Biography of Gregor Mendel, Father of Genetics

Gregor Mendel (July 20, 1822 - January 6, 1884), known as the Father of Genetics, is most well-known for his work with breeding and cultivating pea plants, using them to gather data about dominant and recessive genes. Fast Facts: Gregor Mendel Known For: Scientist, friar, and abbot of St. Thomas Abbey who gained posthumous recognition as the founder of the modern science of genetics.Also Known As: Johann MendelBorn: July 20, 1822Died: January 6, 1884Education: University of Olomouc, University of Vienna Early Life and Education Johann Mendel was born in 1822 in the Austrian Empire to Anton Mendel and Rosine Schwirtlich. He was the only boy in the family and worked on the family farm with his older sister Veronica and his younger sister Theresia. Mendel took an interest in gardening and beekeeping as he grew up. As a young boy, Mendel attended school in Opava. He went on to the University of Olomouc after graduating, where he studied many disciplines, including physics and philosophy. He attended the University from 1840 to 1843 and was forced to take a year off due to illness. In 1843, he followed his calling into the priesthood and entered the Augustinian Abbey of St. Thomas in Brno. Personal Life Upon entering the Abbey, Johann took the first name Gregor as a symbol of his religious life. He was sent to study at the University of Vienna in 1851 and returned to the abbey as a teacher of physics. Gregor also cared for the garden and had a set of bees on the abbey grounds. In 1867, Mendel was made an abbot of the abbey. Genetics Gregor Mendel is best known for his work with his pea plants in the abbey gardens. He spent about seven years planting, breeding and cultivating pea plants in an experimental part of the abbey garden that was started by the previous abbot. Through meticulous record-keeping, Mendels experiments with pea plants became the basis for modern genetics. Mendel chose pea plants as his experimental plant for many reasons. First of all, pea plants take very little outside care and grow quickly. They also have both male and female reproductive parts, so they can either cross-pollinate or self-pollinate. Perhaps most importantly, pea plants seem to show one of only two variations of many characteristics. This made the data much more clear-cut and easier to work with. Mendels first experiments focused on one trait at a time, and on gathering data on the variations present for several generations. These were called monohybrid experiments. He studied a total of seven characteristics. His findings showed that there were some variations that were more likely to show up over the other variations. When he bred purebred peas of differing variations, he found that in the next generation of pea plants one of the variations disappeared. When that generation was left to self-pollinate, the next generation showed a 3 to 1 ratio of the variations. He called the one that seemed to be missing from the first filial generation recessive and the other dominant, since it seemed to hide the other characteristic. These observations led Mendel to the law of segregation. He proposed that each characteristic was controlled by two alleles, one from the mother and one from the father plant. The offspring would show the variation it is coded for by the dominance of the alleles. If there is no dominant allele present, then the offspring shows the characteristic of the recessive allele. These alleles are passed down randomly during fertilization. Link to Evolution Mendels work wasnt truly appreciated until the 1900s, long after his death. Mendel had unknowingly provided the Theory of Evolution with a mechanism for the passing down of traits during natural selection. As a man of strong religious conviction, Mendel did not believe in evolution during his life. However, his work has been added together with that of Charles Darwins to make up the modern synthesis of the Theory of Evolution. Much of Mendels early work in genetics has paved the way for modern scientists working in the field of microevolution.