The Card Players by Paul Cézanne Special Exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Special Exhibition of Cà ©zanne’s work on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York until May 8, 2011 confirms the master’s importance and solidifies his influence on modern art as a whole.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Card Players by Paul Cà ©zanne: Special Exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Pablo Picasso once characterized Paul Cà ©zanne ‘the father of us all’ – the â€Å"all† meaning every painter who identified with the modernist movement – and Cà ©zanne apparently â€Å"referred to himself as the Moses of Aix† (Feaver 128). Cà ©zanne is perhaps best known for his 1906 masterpiece â€Å"The Large Bathers,† a modern art essential work that served as the inspiration for Picasso’s later masterpiece â€Å"Les Demoiselles d’Avignon†. One of the paintings on displ ay in this exhibit is Paul Cà ©zanne’s â€Å"The Card Players,† which dates from 1890–92. It is oil on canvas and measures 25 3/4 by 32 1/4 inches. Cà ©zanne was in his early fifties and resided on his family estate at Aix en Provence in France at the time of its inception and execution. Aix en Provence provided the backdrop as well as the subject matter for the work; it was here that he used the local peasants employed by his family on the estate to sit for the paintings. â€Å"The Card Players† is part of the Metropolitan Museum’s Special Collection put together by The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, and The Courtauld Gallery based in London, England. This painting is part of an exhibition that opens with engraved reproductions that locate card playing in its historical and artistic context from Renaissance painters to Flemish and Dutch Baroque masters (Campbell n.p.). The exhibit also shows Cà ©zanne’s studies used for the Card P layers series, as well as three of his five major oil paintings that focus on card playing. The exhibit also houses portraits of some of the men who posed as the original Card Players (Campbell n.p.). In the â€Å"The Card Players,† three men sit playing cards at a table while a fourth watches from the rear of canvas smoking a pipe. Overall it is a monochromatic work: the colours stay within the blue palette, with subtle contrasts of light blues against darker blues, and colder blues that give way to warmer indigo and violet hues. Red is used to delicate effect – in the cravat of the pipe smoking spectator and upon the face cards on the table. â€Å"The Card Players† is a â€Å"single figure study,† and the cards at first glance appear to be little more than smudges (Schjeldahl 78). However upon close inspection it is apparent that the â€Å"clutter of coarse, arbitrary-seeming strokes† actually comprises flesh and blood men (Schjeldahl 78).Adverti sing Looking for essay on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The compilation of images seems to belong together and yet conflict and contrast with each other at the same time. The card players and pipe smoker, painted in a rich tapestry of bronzes and golds, fight the dogmatic nature of the colder blues and grays. In these paintings, the master detail reveals the painter’s obsession with reality, almost as if â€Å"Cezanne starts with a psychologically intense close-up and then steps gradually backwards† (Campbell-Johnston 15). The main draw of the work remains Cà ©zanne’s brushwork. The master was intensely exact and attempted to paint exactly as people saw, â€Å"to the testimony of eyesight,† thus the angles within the painting are slightly askew, testifying to the function of vision from the right eye as it moves to the left. The brushwork strikes bold forms into being with dark gl obs of colour, and he creates â€Å"surfaces so exciting that they seem almost to vibrate as you look† (Campbell-Johnston 15). Essentially Cà ©zanne points out to the viewer the illusion involved in the act of seeing. The net effect on the viewer of this brushwork seems simultaneously haphazard and intricately detailed, and the overall emotional impression of the canvas reflects this paradox. The viewer feels conflicting emotions while observing the canvas – the card players appear simultaneously thrilled and dejected, contented and forlorn, there and not there. Though he began as an Impressionist, Cà ©zanne doggedly worked through and surpassed Impressionism, as he was â€Å"dissatisfied with a style that sacrificed physical structure to retinal sensation.† Cà ©zanne’s goal was to find a way for painting to mirror the way of seeing, the way the human eye, optic nerve, retina and brain worked together to render meaning out of an endless series of dispa rate colours and shapes. Cà ©zanne articulated his artistic vision herein: â€Å"I want to make of Impressionism something solid and durable, like the art of the museums.† Cà ©zanne eventually grew to the stature of the â€Å"beau ideal of modernist values† (Schjeldahl 78). According to Schjeldahl, his work came to represent for the twentieth century what paintings by Raphael had represented for earlier movements in that Cà ©zanne’s paintings made â€Å"our perceptions of art inextricable from how it comes to be. Our eyes and minds, as we look, repaint the picture† (Schjeldahl 78). The exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art offers viewers a chance to see a modernist master’s work up close and personal. Works Cited Campbell, Thomas. â€Å"Audio Guide.† www.metmuseum.org. The Metropolitan Museum of Art: Special Exhibitions. Web.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Card Players by Paul Cà ©zanne: Special Exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Campbell-Johnston, Rachel. â€Å"Best show in London? It’s on the Cards; Cezanne’s Meticulous Studies Give his Gamblers a Human Dignity, says Rachel Campbell-Johnston.† Times [London, England] 20 Oct. 2010: 15. Web. Cà ©zanne, Paul. The Card Players. 1890-1892. The Metropolitan Museum of Art: Special Exhibitions, New York. Metropolitan Museum of Art. Web. Feaver, William. â€Å"The Moses of Aix.† ARTnews Dec. 1995: 128. Web. Schjeldahl, Peter. â€Å"Game Change.† The New Yorker 28 Feb. 2011: 78. Web. This essay on The Card Players by Paul Cà ©zanne: Special Exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art was written and submitted by user Josiah Lang 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.

Business Plan Essay Example

Business Plan Essay Example Business Plan Essay Business Plan Essay Business plays a vital role In the life and culture of countries. In todays society people are willing to assume the responsibility and the risk for a business operation with the expectation of making a profit. Most businesses develop a new product, a new market, or a new means of production. This report outlines the steps required in setting up a small Business In Antigen and Barbuda. As a guideline we came up with a business In which we would manufacture a commodity for sale locally and regionally. The name of our business is called Waddle Jam. By using this company it would give a clearer picture and understanding of the steps involved. The steps that are outlined in the report are as follows: Come up with a good business Idea Write a business plan (Approach lending Institution for funding) Decide on a winning name for your business Choose the form of business you are going to start Get a business License Register for taxes Prepare to have employees Buy other kinds of business Insurance Get your business records off to a good start There are different forms of business in todays society. The group company Waddle Jam is owned by four individuals therefore the form of business being used is partnership. In this form of business the owners generally decides on the product, acquires the facilities, and brings together the labor force, capital, and production materials. If the business succeeds, the partners reap the reward of profits: If It falls, all the partners take the loss. A business must acquire a business license before they can operate legally within their country. In Antigen business licenses are issued by the high court of Justice. Taxes are apart of every country, In Antigen a business must register to pay taxes. The Institutions that Issue these taxes are Medical Benefits scheme, Social Security and Inland Revenue. In most businesses employees are an essential part of the structure and development of the business. When starting a business you must prepare to have employees. Develop a method In which employees are hired. Each employee needs the skills and qualifications for the type of business you are operating. Operating a business. Getting business records off to a good start will make it easier to manage the accounting and payroll of the company. Business Idea Our business idea came from Mr Lucien Pilgrims love for Jams. He developed this craving from his childhood years when eating crackers and home made Jam at his randomnesss house. As he grew older he looked for that special taste in Jams at the supermarket. During his visits to several supermarkets he realized that there were more imported Jams being sold than Jams made with local fruits. He then decided to conduct a feasibility study about Jams being sold and manufactured locally. The results from his study showed that 10% of Jams on the market were made locally. On further investigation it was revealed that senior citizens made most of the local Jams. These are done on a small scale. The recipes from these Jams are not passed on to the younger generation. Mr Pilgrim then became very concerned that the recipes of the Jams he loved since childhood would soon be buried in the grave along with our ancestors. He then decided to start a business where he would keep the recipe and his culture alive. He approached five people from the community to develop his idea: Jonathan Gilles He supplied the fruit trees Recipes for the Jams Karee Ask Accounting and management skills Successful Business Lawyer Unaware Remain Marketing experience They were all interested in his idea and decided to invest by putting in shares into the business. ANALYSIS Company analysis: Our goal is to make a profit while marketing a product via the internet and also our focus is to produce the best tasting Jam there is on the market. We have developed a fully functional website that has enabled customers to view the various flavors of jams being offered. CUSTOMER ANALYSIS: of the hundred visitors we are expected to have 60% become customers, after viewing our products which expresses culture and heritage. Our value drivers would be cheaper price of products than our competitors and also a better delivery time. Our customer base will be made up of simplifiers which are people who are attracted y sites that make doing business easier, faster otherwise more efficient than is possible in the physical world. COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS: Our competitor market position is their strength, whereby they already have a strong brand name. Their weakness would be delivery time because they are not located on the island. Our competitors control at least 60% of the market thus far. COLLABORATORS: The hosting site is bravest, they collaborate with the web designer in order for the website to be functional. S. W. O. T ANALYSIS STRENGTHS Staff with experience in accounting, marketing and management skills Practicing lawyer for twelve years Land with numerous fruit trees Entrepreneurial attributes such as commitment, determined perseverance and self confidence There are not many other businesses that sell locally. WEAKNESSES Lack of liquid cash to Finance start up cost Lack of established markets OPPORTUNITIES To be able to expand the Capital Consumers not having to go far to get the product Quality Jams THREATS Take a while to enter market since customer/ client relationship would have to be established for fixed deliveries There are several other local Jams being sold Natural elements such as hurricanes etc, animals such as birds, rodents may destroy ruts The company Waddle Jam main purpose for writing a business plan was to secure funding, such as bank loans. Scotia bank was approached by one of the partners to secure a loan for the company. Following is the information needed by the bank before a loan is granted to the company. You must have tangible security (collateral) in the form of cash or land. You must deposit 35% of the amount of the loan. The loan is paid on principal interest for no more than arrears. The interest rate is between 11-12%. After the loans officer and director of the bank review the requirements, 65% of the initial loan will then be granted to the company. A loan of $441 ,OHO. Price In order for our business to be successful we have to market our product effectively. We intend to sell our product wholesale and retail. Our aim is to decrease the mount of Jams that are imported into the country and replace those Jams with our product. The cost of our products is cheaper as they are locally made and there are easily transported to the various supermarkets. We want our Jams to be lunch snacks to children, on breakfast tables at hotels, restaurants and supermarket shelves and also sold to many tourists that enter the island. Eventually we hope to export our Jams to other countries. Our first target is to get our product into the major supermarkets and hotels. By our estimate this will be about 70% of the population of Antigen and Barbuda and about 0% of tourist. Meetings with prospective customers media advertisements and flyers would be the machinery put in place to market our Jams. As an introduction to our product we intend to give samples to shoppers and tourist at various hotels as an experiment on how effective the product is. Then we will record their general opinion and comparisons to the Jams they normally buy. We choose a location that is accessible to everyone. We are located at Coolidge Industrial Park. This location is away from the busy streets of the city traffic with easy access to the airport. Promotion After our product has been introduced into the market the next step is advertising. Because we have plans to eventually take our product regional we decided to advertise on a regional radio station along with local media. We have received a proposal from Family Radio which broadcast to eight other islands: Montmartre, Inguinal, Nevis, SST Skits, SST Marten, SST Martin, Saba, and SST Status. This is a very popular radio station around the Caribbean. They also have a worldwide audience on the web. In their proposal they are also offering us a banner space on their website which would lead them to our website www. Waddle]amaze. Bravest. Mom where they can view our products and contact information. Decide on a winning name for the business You would want a name that is memorable and is going to summarize what your business does for marketing purposes. The partners of the company did some brainstorming for a catchy name. They came up with the name Waddle Jam. The name Waddle symbolizes the heritage and our culture and Jams spelled J-A-M-Z represents the old techniques brought into the future. Together they signify the past and present. The form of business ownership used by Waddle Jams is partnership. Waddle Jams is under a general partnership agreement. Each of the four partners is Jointly and severally liable for the debts of the partnership. This means if the business suffers loss it is shared between partners however this means that as a partner you can be held responsible for any wrongful act or omission by other partners acting in the ordinary course of the firms business which can be a serious disadvantage. In contrast the most successful partnerships are those where the partners have complimentary talents and are comfortable sharing the decision-making. OBTAINING A BUSINESS LICENSE The company has to pay $100 for registration, and an additional $25 for a search to e done in the register to see if the trademark is registered. A local agent then has to file the paper work in regards to the companys trademark, then after about two days Trademark Licensing A trademark is a sign that that individualizes the goods of a given enterprise distinguishes them from the goods of its competitors. A trademark must be distinctive and it should not be deceptive. Patent The recipe for the Jams is passed to one of the owners of the company so getting patent rights will ensure that the company Waddle Jams is the only company using that recipe for the Jams. Register the business for Taxes Taxes that a company in Antigen pays for are: Medical Benefit (Payable to Director of Medical Benefit Antigen and Barbuda) Social Security (Payable to Director of Social Security Antigen and Barbuda) Educational Levy (Payable to Commissioner of Inland Revenue) Business Tax (Payable to Commissioner of Inland Revenue) Business Tax Medical Benefit Social Security Educational Levy Particulars 35% of Net Profit 3. 5% of Employees and Employers Salary 3% For Employee and 5% for Employer 2. 5% of Employees Salary salary over $5000 The amount of business tax paid to Inland Revenue differs depending on the form of Revenue in the table above is the deductions commissioned for a business operating as a partnership. The deductions made for business tax are payable on a yearly basis. A form is usually given to employers off business by these institutions to ensure the payments of taxes are made. Hiring Employees While starting a business-hiring employees may be the furthest thing from your mind but its amazing how quick a business can grow. A selected numbers of persons must be chosen with the necessary skills and qualifications needed to carry out the different tasks required to perform the functions of the company on a daily basis. We intend to hire at least 12 employees in the business preliminary stage. Following is a description of the type of staff our business requires: Manager Must have at least 5 years of management skills. Executive Secretary Must have at least 5 years experience in administration. Computer skills required. Floor Supervisor In charge of production, must have at least 1 5 years experience in manufacturing. Cooks Must be experience in pastry making etc. Stewards Must have 10 years experience in the related field. Driver/Delivery Person Must be an experienced licensed (85) heavy-duty equipment river. 5 Years) Cleaner Must have 5 years experience in the related field. Security Must have at least 7 years in the related field. Conclusion with the idea to start a business. The procedure in which one has to set up a business deals with a lot of planning, consulting for information and ideas. The most challenging part of doing this exercise is compiling the business plan. A lot of intell ectual power went into the business plan. Even though the project was challenging members of the community were very cooperative and patient in giving us all the necessary information.

Advanced Management Accounting Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Advanced Management Accounting - Assignment Example Company has various hierarchy levels and compensation to each has been linked with the financial performance only. I have been assigned with the task to suggest some comprehensive measurement technique to the firm. This report, herein, provides complete analysis of alternative available to the firm. Also this report has provided in-depth analysis of Balance Score Card being as among widely used techniques and its prospective suitability to the firm. Performance measurements techniques are used to evaluate the position of any company on the road that leads to the destination it has defined in vision. These performance measurement techniques vary from industry to industry and include both financial and non-financial measures. Every performance measure is required to meet the following aspects to be eligible for the application (Price Waterhouse Coopers, 2006): There is large number of performance measures available and making choice regarding as the key performance indicator (KPI) is the critical decision. PWC developed model for the comprehensive Communication of KPI which is as follows: Measures that already are part of Allulite Windows and Joinery shall be aligned and hence, updated as required for meeting the standards set in model above. For instance, the production performance measurement can be upgraded to meet the quality, delivery, service and total cost. Furthermore, quality measurement shall be assigned some rating criteria with benchmark of acceptance, rejection or customer feedback etc. Moreover, analysis of various cost components, their percentage contribution in total cost overall positive and negative impact of variability in cost components etc. On the external front, comparison from industry benchmark; declaration of positive or negative position against mentioned benchmark; customer retention; company

How can we ethically increase organ donation Essay

How can we ethically increase organ donation - Essay Example Moreover, legal principles are discussed as the crucial principles of organ donation development in UK and USA. On the examples of legal regulations adapted in UK and USA organ donation it is clearly seen that organ transplantation is currently developed in such a way that organ donation is propagated in the society as a moral obligation of all citizens. Many people die every year in a queue for a transplant. Both dead and alive people can donate their organs. Some countries have regulations and laws, which allows organ transplantation from a dead relative without agreement of his relatives. Voluntarily donation of organs leaves much to be desired. Is there a lack of monetary reward or encouragement? Are ethical issues violated in organ donation? It is necessary to draw reveal a curtain from this modern problem, because thousands of lives are at stake1. Sally Satel in her article claims that organ donors should get a worthy monetary compensation. Mere altruism is not sufficient facto r to increase organ donation. In her article Sally Satel discusses an experience of kidney transplantation. A donor sacrificed his kidney for the favor of a recipient and got no monetary compensation. A mere altruism was a basis of such an outstanding gesture of a donor’s generosity. ... UK allows covering expenses connected with organ donation. Organ transplantation is more available in other countries and those who need organs often travel abroad to the countries where it is legal or possible to buy organs in the illegal market. Of course, organ donation covers ethical and legal issues. Ethical consideration of the problem is of high relevance currently. In accordance with Professor Strathern â€Å"We need to think about the morality of pressing people to donate their bodily material. Offering payment or other incentives may encourage people to take risks or go against their beliefs in a way they would not have otherwise done†4. Currently, in order to shift accents of immoral oppressing of â€Å"people who are able to donate their organs, people are encouraged to donate their organs in the name of their beloved salvation or the whole society†.5. In the Organ Donation Taskforce report of January 2008, in order to encourage people to donate, it is relev ant to solve different issues in order to provide all clinics with necessary conditions to conduct operations of organ transplantation. Concerns about non-heartbeating donation require strict legal principles. Legal principles of organ donation of patients are discussed in the Department of Health considerations. In the UK, NHBD plays a role of legal regulations occurring in case a patient dies. Moreover, the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) regulates doctors’ actions to decide in the best interests of a dying person if his brain is badly injured. In accordance with UK courts, â€Å"best interests are wider than simply treating a person’s medical condition and include a person’s social, emotional, cultural and religious interests†6. Consequently, best interests of a person are discussed with

Critical Pedagogy Perspective of Education Essay

Critical Pedagogy Perspective of Education - Essay Example â€Å"Habits of thought, reading, writing, and speaking which go beneath surface meaning, first impressions, dominant myths, official pronouncements, traditional cliches, received wisdom, and mere opinions, to understand the deep meaning, root causes, social context, ideology, and personal consequences of any action, event, object, process, organization, experience, text, subject matter, policy, mass media, or discourse"(Wink 2011, p. 128). This is an implication that in critical pedagogy approach of schooling the learner is not mandated to conform to the conventional schooling system. The paper access the appropriateness of critical pedagogy of schooling and its key elements. Paulo Freire was the first person to describe critical pedagogy approach of schooling. His initial interest was to address adult literacy, â€Å"†¦Paulo Freire, writing originally within the specific context of promoting adult literacy within Latin American peasant communities, but whose work has taken o n an increasingly international interest and appeal in the past three decades†(Macrine 2009, p. 67). ... (1984, 1988) critical pedagogy approach of schooling is concerned with the relationship that should exist between, school and the socio- political aspects of living. In his explanation, Stanley (1992) indicates that Freire’s critical pedagogy is based on critical consciousness. Stanley (1992, p. 56) continues to deduce that according to Freire, â€Å"Freedom, for Freire, begins with the recognition of a system of oppressive relations, and one’s own place in that system. The task of Critical Pedagogy is to bring members of an oppressed group to a critical consciousness of their situation as a beginning point of their liberatory praxis.† This is an implication that the learner should be the centre of schooling not schooling being the centre of learning. Purmensky (2009, p. 96) states that, â€Å"Freire goes further than arguing that educators must constantly discover and rediscover ways to help the learner view knowledge as problematic.† Arguably, an implica tion that teachers should employ a learning approach that enables the learner to learn and unlearn. The idea behind critical pedagogy approach of education is attributed to neo-Marxian literature concerning Critical Theory. Critical theorist argued that the Frankfurt school, whose founder was Marxism, had underrated the significant role played by media and cultural influences in addressing issues pertaining capitalism (Malott 2010; Sleeter 1995). critical pedagogy generally refers to the effort that is need to work in an educational institution as well in other aspects of life such as the media and have the audacity to question any form of power inequality that results to groups as well as individuals abandoning what is meaningful and will value to their lives. To install such crucial virtues, learners’ in school

Appraisal of the person centred approach

Appraisal of the person centred approach There are several therapeutic frameworks which can be used within different realms to help an individual with psychological problems they may be experiencing; cognitive-behavioural therapy, person-centred therapy or psychodynamic therapy, to name a few. Each therapy is distinct from each other in terms of methods of intervention and ideas and assumptions about the nature and sources of psychopathology. Each therapy is also, of course, considered by those who practice it, as widely applicable to the problems presented for psychotherapeutic treatment (Gabbard, Beck Holmes 2005; Feltham Horton, 2006). Within mainstream psychology, person centred therapy is often criticised because it lacks a solid theoretical and empirical foundation but in counselling and psychotherapy it remains influential. Definition and Theory The person-centred approach was established by Carl Rogers in the 1940s and 1950s. It offers a dynamic, process-focussed explanation of the development and functioning of personality, vulnerability to psychopathology, and of therapeutic growth toward psychological well being (Rogers, 1959). According to person-centred theory each individual is born with actualising tendency. This is what is described by Rogers (1951) as the built in motivation in every life form to develop to their full potential, within their own individual unique life circumstances and potentialities (Gillon, 2007). Although this is a controversial concept (Ryan, 1995; Levitt, 2008), and hence a main criticism of person-centred theory as a whole, it is a fundamental concept within the therapy; the therapy is rooted in the clients ability for awareness and self-directed change in their attitudes and behaviour (Bradley, 1999). Rogers theory of the person is made up of two concepts, the first being the organismic self. This is the true and real person that we are. Roger suggests that this is innate and consistent throughout our lives; we do not learn this concept of ourselves we just are. He postulates that it is within the organismic self where the actualising tendency exists. The other part or the person, as theorised by Rogers, is the self concept. This is the learned way of being and develops through the messages we receive from others. This begins in childhood with messages we receive from our parents and continues throughout our lives through interactions within other relationships. According to Rogers, a healthy self concept exists when we experience unconditional positive regard from the other people in our lives and are not placed under any conditions of worth. In contrast, an unhealthy self concept occurs when we are effected by interjected values and conditions of worth. In this state we often ex perience denial and distortion which are defence mechanisms which come into play when we do not fit into the conditions of worth. In Rogers theory, psychological distress happens when there is a poor fit between the organismic self and self concept i.e. there is incongruence. There is a disintegration of the self concept and there is often experience of very serious emotions such as fear, depression and anxiety. The goal of psychotherapy is to promote the self-actualization in the client. PCT utilises the presence of the actualizing tendency in the client makes it possible for the client to control and direct the therapy process, with the facilitation of the therapist. The therapist is not guiding the therapy but aiding the client through their own particular path; in person centred therapy, there are no specific interventions made by the therapist, as such. The Seven Stages of Change Through empirical research, Rogers was able to recognise identifiable features that characterise positions on a continuum of personality change effected by the process of psychotherapy. It is the belief that the client goes through the seven stages of change from incongruence to congruence in therapy which, at the end of the therapy allows them to offer themselves unconditional positive regard and trust in their organismic valuing process (Rogers, 1961). Stage 1 At this stage it is unlikely that the individual will present in a clinical or counselling setting. The person does not perceive themselves as having any problems and they have very rigid views of the world based on past experiences. An individual who does attend a therapeutic session at this stage is unlikely to return after the first session as the therapy seems pointless to them (McMillan, 2004) Stage 2 At this stage the individual has some awareness of negative feelings and is a little more able to express this. However, there is little inner reflection and often the problem is perceived to be external to them. (Cooper et al., 2007) Stage 3 This is the point where most clients enter counselling. At this stage, there is a little more inward reflection and a realisation of self-ownership, although this is not yet fully established. Often the self reflection is focussed on the past and there is a tendency to externalise present thoughts and feelings. (Cooper et al., 2007) Stage 4 According to Rogers, this is where the majority of the therapeutic work will begin. The client begins to talk about deep feelings and there is an increased tendency to to experience things in the present, although this is still often uncomfortable for the client. This is when the client begins to question their thoughts and perceptions of the world. (McMillan, 2004) Stage 5 At this stage the client has a true sense of self awareness. They can express present emotions and are critical of their own previous constructs, but often there is an acceptance e.g. That was a silly thing to do, but maybe thats alright because everyone makes mistakes? (McMillan, 2004) Stage 6 T here is now a rapid growth towards congruence and the client begins to develop unconditional positive regard for other. The previous incongruence experienced by the client is now embraced and challenged by the client. (Mearns Thorne, 2000) Stage 7 The client is now a fully functioning, self actualised individual who is empathic and shows unconditional positive regard for others. It is not necessary for the client to reach this stage and very few do. (Mearns Thorne,2000) Rogers (1967) emphasis that the number of stages are not crucial and they are loose terms with much interplay along the continuum. The Core Conditions As previously stated, the therapy is based upon the belief that the client will primarily bring about change, not the therapist, and the clients self healing will be activated as they become empowered (Casemore, 2006). Instead of making interventions, the therapist has belief in the inner resources of the client that creates the therapeutic climate for growth (Seligman, 2006). The client works within their own frame of reference and within the sessions there are six necessary and sufficient conditions which are referred to as the six Core Conditions, which must be present in order for the client to benefit from their time with the therapist and which are referred to by Rogers as necessary and sufficient (Rogers, 1957). The core conditions are not techniques or skills which can be learned but are regarded as personal attitudes or attributes experienced by the therapist, and communicated to the client (Gillon, 2007). Therapist-Client Psychological Contact One of these six core conditions is therapist-client psychological contact. This means a relationship between client and therapist must exist, and it must be a relationship in which each persons perception of the other is important (Casemore, 2006). In other words, a real relationship must be established between the therapist and Margaret, rather than simply just being in a room together. Prouty, Van Werde Porter (2002) have emphasised that such a relationship cannot simply be assumed and must be worked upon or, arguably, the whole therapeutic framework will fail. Establishing a psychological relationship with a client may be initially difficult, particularly for an individual who has previously had a bad experience of therapy, or simply finds it difficult to talk to other people about the issues they may be having, even those close to them. The rejection of help from people in pre-established relationships, such as friends or family members might suggest that there may be hesitatio n by the client, in establishing a relationship where the purpose is to gain help. Conversely, building a relationship which will provide an individual with the ability to help themselves may be appealing for such a person, and particularly when person-centred therapy removes the conditions of worth placed on an individual by their family and friends. (Todd Bohart, 1994) . The relationship between the therapist and the client is crucial to the person-centred approach and it cannot just be assumed but must be worked on (Prouty, 2002). Incongruent Client It is also a core condition that the client is in a state of incongruence, being vulnerable or anxious. It is only when this core condition is present that there is a need for change. This idea of knowledge of need for change is important, because the condition implies that, as a result of the experience of vulnerability or anxiety, the client is aware that they are encountering difficulties. (Singh Tudor, 1997) It is important for the client to be aware of their own difficulties as the therapy is based upon the client helping themselves without obvious intervention from the therapist. Without the knowledge of their problems and difficulties, it becomes impossible for the client to confront their problems and work through them. Often, the fact that an individual has asked for help from a primary care service which has referred them to therapy, or have chosen to privately visit a therapist demonstrates an awareness of their problems. If a client is not in therapy voluntarily, is host ile toward the process and the therapist, and is noncommittal about attending sessions, the likelihood of a positive outcome from the therapy diminishes drastically. Conversely, if a client enters the therapeutic relationship feeling a strong need to obtain help, are open and willing to give therapy a try, attend their sessions and establishes a helpful therapeutic relationship with their therapist, it is much more likely that they will benefit from PCT (Corsini,Wedding Dumont, 2007). Congruent Therapist Conversely, in order for the therapy to be effective the therapist must be congruent or integrated in the relationship. Congruence means that the therapists outward responses match their inner awareness and feelings; that they are genuine, real, open, authentic and transparent (Casemore, 2006). Rogers (1957) stressed that congruence is not a question of the therapist blurting out compulsively every passing feeling; rather it is a state of being. These feelings should only be expressed when they are persistent and of great strength and when communication of them assists the therapeutic process (Rogers, 1966, p185). By building this self-awareness not only does the therapist build trust with the client but it also reduces the likelihood that a therapists own experiences in relation to a client, such as distress or anger, will not be influenced by his/her own incongruence and thus conditions of worth being imposed. (Gillon, 2007) For example, if there is a persistent feeling of irritati on from the therapist in regard to how they perceive their clients behaviour, (such as the client rejecting help from family members being perceived as avoiding taking responsibilities for their own problems) this issue will need to be addressed in order to maintain congruence in the therapist in the relationship, and hence maintain a central core condition, to enable effective therapy sessions. The concept of phenomenology must be taken into account in such a situation. The multiple reality theory is defined as a subjective view of the world, constructed by each individuals collective experiences (Rogers, 1951). As a result, no other human being can possibly determine what is the correct or incorrect behaviour for any other individual. Therefore, the therapist must respect this, remain non-directive and supportive, and allow each individual the freedom to live according to this reality and to make all decisions about their growth and direction. (Kensit, 2000) It is notable that this feeling will have an effect on the core condition of congruence which the therapist must bring to the relationship within therapy. It is important for a therapist to be aware of what inner experiences to expose to the client during therapy and in what manner to do so. (Gillon, 2007) Taking the previous example of a feeling of irritation in the therapist, it can be seen that this feeling the ther apist is experiencing is not only putting the therapeutic relationship at risk but it may be an option, if this feeling persists, for the therapist to disclose this feeling to the client in a tactful way, as it may ultimately aid her in therapy. Congruent therapist self disclosure has been shown to achieve a more favourable perception of the therapist, and a higher attractiveness perception, as well as a greater desire to choose a therapist practicing congruent self disclosure over incongruent self disclosure. (Knox, Hess, Peterson Hill, 1997; Nyman Daugherty, 2001; Audet Everall, 2003) Self disclosure not only allows the therapist to remain in a congruent state in the therapeutic relationship but also a self disclosure by the therapist in relation to an issue which the client may be having difficulties confronting, may encourage the self healing process. However, within this solution lies a further problem, as sharing this information may evoke strong feelings from the therapist which could damage the therapeutic relationship which has been built with the client. It is a decision which the therapist must regard carefully and personally make the decision as to whether or not to share the information, by balancing the benefits and risks of this self-disclosure. Further to this it is important for the therapist to decide how much information is sufficient to share without overwhelming their client, or placing conditions of worth within the relationship. As previously mentioned, studies have shown that congruent therapist self disclosure is often a positive thing and so should not be shied away from (Knox, Hess, Peterson Hill, 1997; Nyman Daugherty, 2001; Audet Everall, 2003). However, it must be emphasised the importance of careful consideration before engaging in this technique, as if the self disclosure is misread by the client the relationship will be jeopardised, and the clients progress halted. Unconditional Positive Regard Another important core condition which must be present during a therapy session is that the therapist should experience unconditional positive regard for the client. This means that the therapist offers the person respect, acceptance (although it does not have to be approval) caring and appreciation regardless of the clients attitude or behaviour (Gillon, 2007). This non-judgemental attitude and acceptance of the client is important because it challenges the clients beliefs that they are only valued if they behave as required by significant others (conditions of worth). There is no longer any need for the client to shy away from aspects of their inner self which may be painful or that they may see as shameful because they learn that it is possible to be truly themselves and still be accepted. This is an important aspect of person centred therapy as it opens up the opportunity for the client to explore their anxieties and accept them within their own frame of reference. This, in turn, allows for the self-healing process which is central to person-centred therapy. Empathic Understanding Another core condition which must be achieved is that the therapist experiences an empathic understanding of the clients internal frame of reference and endeavours to communicate this experience to the client. In other words, the therapist enters into the clients world as if it were their own and has increased awareness of how an event or situation has affected the client. This will show the client that they understand them and that their views, feelings and thoughts have value. This will henceforth reinforce the idea that the client is accepted and will allow the therapeutic relationship to flourish to enable a deeper exploration of the self concept. This empathic understanding is often demonstrated to the client through the use of techniques such as reflection and paraphrasing. It has been demonstrated through meta analyses that empathy is a core component of most therapeutic approaches, despite various definitions and uses (Feller and Coccone , 2003). However, contrary to the idea s of Rogers, empathy appears to be necessary, but, not sufficient, for therapy to produce positive outcomes. An extensive review of research on empathy over the 1950s to the 1990s (Duan Hill, 1997), notes a decline in academic interest in the concept of empathy in therapy, since the 1980s. They found that that this appeared to stem from continuing methodological problems, which generally appeared to arise from difficulty is defining the various aspects of empathy. A further meta-study, which examined commonalities across various therapy types, found further support for the idea of empathy as a core concept throughout therapies (Beutler, 2000). As above, this does not require the therapist to experience the same emotions as the client, but to understand and respect those emotions. Client Perception of UPR and Empathic Understanding Arguably, the most important condition is that the client perceives this unconditional positive regard and empathic understanding of the therapist through the way the therapist is in session. This can be demonstrated through warmth, and techniques such as reflection, paraphrasing and clarifying. Not only will this reassure the client that they are being understood and so do not have to explain themselves, but it may also trigger further realisations about thoughts and feelings, which in turn will help the client to move through the self healing process with the prospect of increasing congruence. Todd and Bohart (1994) studied a group of patients in psychiatric care, suffering from varying degrees of psychopathology. It was found that when a therapist did not put conditions of worth on (i.e., judge) the patient they responded with more confidence and less hostility. This is an important finding when relating this therapeutic approach to practice, particularly for individuals who may b e reluctant to obtain help from friends and family; who are often the source of conditions of worth. By removing these conditions of worth an individual may be more open to getting help for their problems. As these conditions are actively removed in a person-centred therapy session, it is suggested that such an environment will encourage an individual to feel comfortable enough to open up and explore their thoughts and feelings within their own internal framework. The theory and necessary and sufficient core conditions which construct person-centred therapy will allow an individual to increase congruence and ultimately reduce the levels of psychological distress they feel. Through talking to the therapist within a session which incorporates the six necessary and sufficient conditions, it is hoped they will go through the seven stages of change and at the end of the therapy can be regarded as a fully functioning person, as described by Rogers (1961). Criticism and Limitations A frequent criticism of this approach is that the core conditions as outlined by Rogers, is what any good therapist does anyway. Superficially, this criticism reflects a misinterpretation of the real challenges of consistently manifesting unconditional positive regard, empathic understanding and congruence (Malhauser, 2010). This is particularly the case in regard to congruence, to the extent that some therapeutic techniques used in some other approaches are dependent upon the therapists willingness to suppress, mentally formulate hypotheses about the client, or constantly maintain a professional front, hiding their own personal reactions, there is a real challenge in applying these techniques with the openness and honesty which defines congruence. Nevertheless, as previously discussed, much of the meta-analysis research being carried out is showing the common factor of an accepting therapeutic relationship to be the pivotal aspect of any therapeutic approach. A PCT therapist may often run the risk, due to the nature of the role of the therapist in the relationship, to be very supportive of their clients but not challenge them. If a therapist directs the client to discuss contents that the therapist believes to be central to the process, the therapy is not client-centered. If the therapist arranges the ways in which clients relate to their concerns or to how they express those concerns, the therapy is directive and not client-centered. In this respect, client-centered therapy stands alone within the family of person-centered and humanistic therapies (Witty, 2007). Kahn (1999) discusses the concept of nondirectivity in person-centered theory. He argues that, since personal and theoretical biases are unavoidable, it is impossible for a therapist to be consistently nondirective. Furthermore, the concept of nondirectivity, with its focus on the psychology of the client, implies that person-centered therapy is a one-person rather than a two-per son psychology. The article quotes therapists who believe that when a clients autonomy is respected, a wide variety of therapeutic interventions are possible. The argument is made that therapist shortcomings may be a more relevant concept than nondirectivity. With the fallibility of the therapist and a respect for the autonomy of the client, Kahn postulates that therapeutic responses can become more flexible and innovative, increasing the power of the person-centered approach. It has been said that the only limitation to person centred therapy is the limitations of the therapist themselves (Dryden, 2007) and it is postulated that perhaps this is the key to effective person centred therapy. There has been criticism of the nondirective attitude associated with this particular therapeutic approach. There is also research that indicates that the personality of the therapist is a better predictor of success than the techniques used (Boeree, 2006). In saying that the techniques used are just as personal to the therapist and are often effected by their personality. As laid out in the core conditions, the therapist themselves must be congruent and authentic and so therefore must be constantly aware of their role in a session. It is important that self disclosure is considered and evaluated before brought into a session but similarly it is important that to both challenge and reassure the client, that it does occur at some point. It is a difficult balance to get ri ght but is crucial to the outcome of therapy for the client. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is often regarded as the most effective therapeutic framework practiced by counselling psychologists. This is due to high volumes of research into the effectiveness of CBT to treat a wide range of psychological problems which individuals may have. A recent development has seen NICE (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence) recommending computerised cognitive-behavioural therapy as a cost-effective and clinically effective practice (NICE, 2006; Mental Health Foundation, 2006). Although the benefits and effectiveness of cognitive-behavioural therapies are undeniable, and cannot be overlooked, it has, as with any therapy, its limitations and comparative research is showing that very little actually stands between CBT and other therapeutic therapies. The person-centred approach has been successful in treating many different psychological problems including anxiety disorders, alcoholism, psychosomatic problems, agoraphobia, interpersonal d ifficulties, depression, and personality disorders (Bozarth, Zimring Tausch, 2002). It is not, however, a suitable therapy to help someone who is suffering from more severe mental health issues such as severe psychosis, as it is unlikely that they will be able to engage with their own thoughts enough to guide their own therapy. As previously stated, it has also been shown to be as equally effective as CBT when used to help an individual who is suffering from major depression (Osatuke, Glick, Stiles, Greenberg, Shapiro Barkham, 2005); with the client in the aforementioned study being helped using CBT managing her needs better and the client being helped using person-centred therapy, accepting her needs more. The authors concluded that despite the qualitative differences, the success was equal in each case and suggest that there is more than one way of being psychologically healthy. A recent study (Stiles, Barham, Twigg, Mellor-Clark Cooper, 2006) into the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioural, person-centred and psychodynamic therapies as practised in the NHS, took into account over 1300 patients, across 58 NHS care sites over a period of 3 years. They found that each of the therapeutic frameworks, either by itself or in conjunction with another therapy such as art, averaged similar marked improvement in individuals well being. This finding suggests that different approaches tend to have equivalent outcomes, an idea which is also demonstrated in other research in the area. (Shadish, Navarro, Matt Phillips, 2000; Holmes, 2002; Stirman, DeRubeis, Crits-Christoph Brody, 2003). For example, Lambert and Bergin (1994) carried out a meta-analysis of studies on psychotherapeutic efficacy, in which they found that there is only a small amount of evidence which weights one particular therapy above another and that most of a clients improvement is related to factors c ommon to all therapeutic approaches. They also propose that it is not the form of therapeutic style a therapist uses, but the therapist themselves which is the main impacting factor on the outcome of a therapeutic treatment. This finding can be considered to be a result of the Dodo bird verdict; a phrase conceived by Rosenzweig (1936). It is often extensively referred to in literature as a consequence of the common factors theory, which proposes that the specific techniques that are applied in different therapeutic approaches serve a very limited purpose and that most of the positive effect that is gained from psychotherapy is due to factors that the schools have in common. This is often the therapeutic effect of having a relationship with a therapist who is warm, respectful and empathic. Meta-analyses by Luborsky (2002) shows that all therapies are considered equal and all must have prizes. On the other hand, scientists who believe in empirically supported therapies (EST) challenge the concept. Chambless (2002) emphasises the importance of remembering that specific therapies are there for specific people in specific situations with specific problems and postulates that grouping problems and therapies, d etracts from the overall importance and individuality of therapy as a whole. Whilst there is much agreement about this, the Dodo bird verdict is still very much accepted within research and is especially important because policymakers have to decide on the usefulness of investing in the diversity of psychotherapies that exist, as demonstrated by the rise of CBT as the therapy of choice in the NHS. Cooper, Elliot, Stiles and Bohart (2008) released a joint statement at the Conference of the World Association for Person-Centred Psychotherapies and Counselling in which they stated that they believe it is scientifically irresponsible to continue to imply and act as though CBTs are more effective than other therapies. They base this opinion on the fact that more academic researchers subscribe to a CBT approach than any other therapy and these researchers get more research grants and publish more studies on the effectiveness of CBT, in comparison to researchers in other areas of psychother apeutic practice. They also take into consideration the previously mentioned research in which scientifically valid studies demonstrate that when established therapies are compared to one another the most common result is that both therapies are equally effective. In conclusion, the person-centred approach is an effective and well researched therapeutic method. It has been shown to have no less standing or effectiveness than cognitive behavioural therapy, despite being pushed to one side within the NHS. It is suggested that an increased scientific research evidence base may increase the likelihood of it being propelled to the same stature within health services as CBT, however as the therapy does not use standardised assessment, measures or clearly defined goals, it would be difficult to measure the effectiveness to the same degree. It is also argued that by researching the approach in such a scientific way it is deviating away from the core principles of the approach itself, which are humanistic. The principles of person-centred therapy are applicable out with the therapeutic relationship and the core conditions which Rogers defines as being necessary for effective treatment, are a valuable tool in allowing an individual to gain self awarenes s and aid their own recovery. It is successful in numerous settings such as family and couples counselling, as well as teaching and management and has been shown to be effective in conflict resolution. The person-centred approach is continuing to develop e.g. relational depth and configurations as outlined by Mearns and Thorne (2000), and will undoubtedly continue to do so with the continued work of key psychologists in the field. Word Count: 4897

Powerful Theme and Allusions to Sex in Andersons Womanhood :: Anderson Womanhood Essays

Powerful Theme and Allusions to Sex in Anderson's Womanhood    Catherine Anderson's poem "Womanhood" tells about a young girl and her transition to womanhood.   In this intricately woven poem the reader will learn very little about the girl.   Neither she nor her mother are ever named, and no information is given about them or their family life.   What the reader does discover is what lies ahead for her as she begins her first day sewing rugs.   The poem begins a few moments before she enters the gates of the sweatshop that symbolizes her entry into womanhood.   Anderson uses metaphor within this poem to dramatize the difference in what lies ahead for her.   She should be looking forward to a bright and cheerful future, instead, she is faced with the drudgery of a life working in a sweatshop sewing rugs.   Anderson has woven this poem together so there is a link created between the first and second stanzas of the poem.   Each line in the first stanza, describing the carefree attitude of the young girl correlates with a line in th e second stanza illustrating how her life will be far different after she enters the gates of the factory and womanhood.     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Within this poem there are many references or allusions to sex.   Most women are considered to have entered womanhood when they have their first sexual experience with a man.   Anderson plays up this aspect of becoming a woman in the poem to symbolize the girl's losing her innocence and youth to work in the sweatshop.   In essence, she is losing her virginity to that same sweatshop.   The first of these allusions to sex is in the opening lines of the poem; "she slides over/the hot upholstery" (1,2).   The young girl is described as sliding over hot upholstery, like girls sometimes do to snuggle up next to their boyfriends when driving a car.   This verse can also be seen as a metaphor for the hot young skin of a beautiful young girl.   Another example of these references is when Anderson describes the girl   as "loves humming & swaying to the music" (5).   This can be seen as the act of sexual intercourse itself.   The rhythmic swaying of bodies can be seen as little else especially when paired with line 25, "rocking back and forth"(25).   This is further emphasized by Anderson by her use of the ampersand signs (&) which she only uses in these two lines.