Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for Social sciences

Theme 6: Fan Culture

Fan is an abbreviated form of the word 'fanatic'. In its more literal sense it means 'belonging to the temple, a temple servant, and a devotee', but it quickly assumed more negative connotations, 'of person inspired by orgiastic rites and enthusiastic frenzy'.

The 'trekkies' were depicted as nerdy guys with glasses and rubber Vulcon ears. They are brainless consumers who will buy anything associated with the program or its cast. They devote their lives to the cultivation of worthless knowledge and they are described as misfits, desexualized, immature, and unable to separate fantasy from reality. 'Star Trek' is written on the assumption that speaking as a fan is a defensible position within the debates surrounding mass culture.... Continue reading "Exploring Fan Culture: From Fanatics to Active Producers" »

The Enlightenment Era

The Enlightenment was a period of profound intellectual and cultural change in Western philosophy. It represented a state of having knowledge and understanding, initiating significant social, technical, economic, and political progress that shaped modern society.

Principal Enlightenment Ideas

• Natural Equality and Liberty: The belief that all individuals are born equal, meaning no one inherently possesses privileges or rights over another.
• Social Contract
• Natural Sovereignty
• Separation of Powers
• Deism, Tolerance, Liberty, and Progress:
  • Deism: The belief in a supreme being who created the universe, discoverable through reason and observation of the natural world alone, without faith or organized religion.
  • Tolerance, Liberty, Progress:

A CEO's Perspective on the Global Economy

A CEO has to look at the entire global economy and then FALSE

Regional Management Centers

A company with headquarters in Europe and operational regional management center.

A company with headquarters in the United States and operational units in the Netherlands regional management center.

Challenges of Global Organization

A key issue in global organization is how to TA major disadvantage of the regional T

A potential disadvantage of the organization TA stakeholder is any group or individual T

Leadership Insights

According to Carly Fiorina, former CEO of Hewlett-Packard, connecting.

According to David Whitwam, former CEO of Whirlpool, adept at exchanging ideas.

Global Business Realities

According to Kenichi Ohmae'... Continue reading "Global Economy and Corporate Leadership" »

Ezra Pound

Ezra Pound was a literary innovator, both artistically and personally. His motto, "Make it new," encapsulates his approach. His critical writings were unconventional, innovative, and unique, and he is characterized by his unacademic style.

Although he wrote extensively on criticism, he considered it a "very low, second-class activity." Unlike Matthew Arnold, Pound believed that literary creation was superior to criticism, finding literature "100 times" more important. However, he didn't dismiss all criticism. He believed the only valuable criticism came from artists themselves, using it to improve poetry. Only artists, he argued, were sufficiently familiar with the creative cycle to offer meaningful critique.

Pound attributed two functions... Continue reading "Ezra Pound's Revolutionary Approach to Criticism" »

Chapter 8: International Marketing Research

Challenges and Considerations

Robert, a U.S. market researcher, is preparing to conduct research in Japan for a U.S. client seeking expansion. He's likely to encounter differences between domestic and foreign market research, particularly concerning the accuracy levels of foreign data.

The Marketing Research Process

1. Define the research problem and establish research objectives. This crucial first step sets the foundation for the entire research process.
2. Determine the sources of information needed to fulfill the research objectives. This involves identifying relevant data sources, both primary and secondary.

Secondary Research

Secondary research involves utilizing information already collected for other purposes.

M12/3/GEOGR/BP1/ENG/TZ0/XX

Greenhouse Gases and Earth's Temperature

Explain the relationship between atmospheric greenhouse gases and the temperature of the Earth’s surface.

Greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, water vapor, methane, nitrous oxide, and tropospheric ozone, play a crucial role in regulating Earth's surface temperature. These gases trap outgoing terrestrial (long-wave) radiation, while allowing incoming solar (short-wave) radiation to pass through. This process, known as the greenhouse effect, warms the Earth's surface.

Ecological Footprint Analysis

a) Definition of Ecological Footprint

An ecological footprint measures the amount of land and water required by a population to produce the resources it consumes and absorb its... Continue reading "Global Perspectives: Population, Resources, and Environmental Change" »

Extreme Sports: Balancing Thrills and Safety

Extreme sports are leisure or professional activities that involve some level of risk. Many people find them fun and challenging, while others consider them dangerous. If well-controlled and regulated, these activities can be both enjoyable and healthy.

Ensuring Safety and Minimizing Risks

When extreme sports are legal and their safety measures are thoroughly checked, the probability of accidents is significantly reduced. This allows enthusiasts to participate without undue fear.

Benefits for Physical and Mental Well-being

Extreme sports can be an excellent way to relieve stress and promote relaxation. The adrenaline rush they provide can also contribute positively to psychological health.

Overall Benefits

The empirical research of Pettigrew and Whipp

In a series of research studies between 1985 and 1990, the UK-based researchers Pettigrew and Whipp analysed how strategic change occurred in four sectors of UK industry. Their evidence did not extend beyond the UK but their conclusions are likely to be applicable to other geographic areas. They suggested that strategic change can most usefully be seen as a continuous process, rather than one with distinct stages, such as the formulation of strategy and then its implementation. In this sense, they argued that strategy was not a linear movement with discrete stages but an experimental, iterative process where the outcomes of each stage were uncertain. A first small step might be actioned and then... Continue reading "Strategic Change and Implementation: Research Insights" »

Qualities of Time

Irreversibility

Time cannot go backward. Once something has happened, it cannot be undone.

Inseparability from Space

Everything happens in a particular time and space. These two concepts are inseparable.

Relativity

Time is relative, depending on the observer or the circumstances (subjective).

Multiplicity

Each discipline or science analyzes time from a different perspective.

Essential Competences in Education

Besides Civic competence, our teaching unit prioritizes self-reflection and awareness of relevant social problems to improve society and foster active participation and citizenship. We will assess the following basic competences:

Transversal Competences

Communicative and Linguistic Competence

Students should be able to communicate... Continue reading "Time and Essential Competences in Education" »

Understanding Key Social Concepts

Ideologies and Economic Systems

Sexism

Sexism refers to the ideology that one sex is superior to the other, often leading to unequal treatment and discrimination.

Capitalism

Capitalism is an economic system characterized by private ownership of the means of production, accumulation of capital, and profit-driven markets.

Social Inequality and Deviance

Discrimination

Discrimination involves the unfair treatment of individuals or groups based on characteristics like race, ethnicity, religion, sex, or social class.

Labeling Theory

Labeling theory posits that individuals may adopt deviant identities when labeled as such by others, regardless of their actual behavior.

Cultural Relativism

Cultural relativism emphasizes understanding... Continue reading "Understanding Social Concepts: From Sexism to Transnational Crime" »