Monday, September 30, 2019
level 3 business studiesUnit 3 introduction to Marketing P1 Essay
For this assignment I have been asked to do a report onâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦(say what you have been asked to do) The company I chose for this marketing report is kellogs and Nestle. I will first start off by writing about Kellogs. About Kellogs Kellogs is a â⬠¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦(Give history of Kellogs and background info) The types of products Kellogs produces areâ⬠¦.. (make sure you mention the products kellogs produces and the general target market for these producst E. g. cereals ââ¬â aimed at consumers aged 5 onwards, can you think of any other products? ) Marketing strategies used by Kellogs Kellogs use a variety of marketing strategies. One of which is the growth strategy which can take many forma s as listed below.. 1. growth strategies (such as diversification, product development, market penetration or market development, Ansoffââ¬â¢s Matrix) I will write about the Growth strategies in greater detail. For Kellogs they use all the following strategies for growth. Growth strategies are: Market penetration ââ¬â say what it is and how kellogs has used this for one of their products Market development -say what it is and how kellogs has used this for one of their products Product development ââ¬â say what it is and how kellogs has used this for one of their products Diversification -say what it is and how kellogs has used this for one of their products About Nestle Nestle is a â⬠¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦(Give history of Nestle and background info) The types of products Kellogs produces areâ⬠¦.. (make sure you mention the products Nestle produces and the general target market for these producst E. g. cereals ââ¬â aimed at consumers aged 5 onwards, can you think of any other products? ) Marketing strategies used by Nestle Nestle use a variety of marketing strategies. One of which is the growth strategy which can take many forms as as listed below.. 1. growth strategies (such as diversification, product development, market penetration or market development, Ansoffââ¬â¢s Matrix) I will write about the Growth strategies in greater detail. For Nestle they use all the following strategies for growth. Market penetration ââ¬â say what it is and how Nestle has used this for one of their products Market development -say what it is and how Nestle has used this for one of their products Diversification -say what it is and how Nestle has used this for one of their products Product development -say what it is and how Nestle has used this for one of their products Other marketing strategies for Kellogs Now we will look at survival strategies and relationship marketing because they are other strategies that both nestle and Kellogs use. For kellogs their survival strategies are: survival strategies; Mention in detail Kellogs strategies such as branding (importance in influencing buyer behaviour, brand building, positioning, brand extension) look at resources on the U drive and also search the internet. U:Business StudiesStudentsBTEC Level 3 Sept 2010 onwardsUnit 3 Introduction to MarketingAssignment 1Lesson 3 And another strategy Kellogs use is relationship marketing: relationship marketing Mention definition, difference between transactional marketing and relationship marketing, value of lifetime customer and how Kellogs has used relationship marketing look at resources on the U drive and also search the internet. U:Business StudiesStudentsBTEC Level 3 Sept 2010 onwardsUnit 3 Introduction to MarketingAssignment 1Lesson 3 Other marketing strategies for Nestle Now we will look at survival strategies and relationship marketing because they are other strategies that both nestle and Nestle use. For Nestle their survival strategies are: survival strategies; Mention in detail Nestle strategies such as branding (importance in influencing buyer behaviour, brand building, positioning, brand extension) look at resources on the U drive and also search the internet. U:Business StudiesStudentsBTEC Level 3 Sept 2010 onwardsUnit 3 Introduction to MarketingAssignment 1Lesson 3 And another strategy Nestle use is relationship marketing: relationship marketing Mention the definition, difference between transactional marketing and relationship marketing, value of lifetime customer and how Nestle has used relationship marketing look at resources on the U drive and also search the internet. U:Business StudiesStudentsBTEC Level 3 Sept 2010 onwardsUnit 3 Introduction to MarketingAssignment 1Lesson 3
Sunday, September 29, 2019
Nordstrom Rewards Its Customers Essay
Nordstrom is a great place to go shopping and receive rewards while spending money. Nordstrom shoppers automatically become members of Nordstromââ¬â¢s Fashion Rewards program when they people sign up for the storeââ¬â¢s credit. When each person accumulates 2,000 points, then they receive a $20 Nordstrom Note, a gift certificate redeemable for Nordstrom merchandise or services. In the book one of the questions is ââ¬Å"what are the design characteristics of an effective loyalty program.â⬠The structure of their loyalty program and how they use the data collected through the program to make informed product, marketing and customer experience decisions are key to its success. The storeââ¬â¢s frequent customers will be able to get perks like custom shopping parties and tickets to in-store fashion shows after shelling out just half as much as they used to spend to qualify for rewards. Loyalty marketing is and should always be much bigger than points, thresholds or incentives. It is about changing and influencing behavior in a proactive manner that creates long-term brand advocates who, in turn, enter into a dialogue with the brand. Nordstromââ¬â¢s program is effective for a number of key reasons. First, even the lower levels of Nordstromââ¬â¢s loyalty program are engaging because they offer meaningful soft benefits and because itââ¬â¢s aspirational, members remain engaged; they aspire to be at the higher tiers in the program so they can get the bigger rewards. Another question asks is the Nordstrom program worth what it spends to reward customers. I think it does because when you reward your customers then they would want to come into the store and buy their supplies to build up their points. When they do that then they get awards. Example would be I have a credit card and I receive points, the more I spend then the more money I get off from that store. I use my card all the time and I go and pay it off. I would get a credit card from any store I shop at if they reward me to use it.
Saturday, September 28, 2019
Issues in Small Business Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words
Issues in Small Business Management - Essay Example Some of the initiatives taken by Australian government for small business growth include market study and identification of business opportunities in Australian markets for small entrepreneurs. This report emphasizes the importance of home based businesses in Australia that take up almost 67 percent of total small businesses in the country (Commonwealth of Australia, 2004). Many potential opportunities to start home based businesses in Australia have been provided to small business entrepreneurs in this document. Annual Review of Small Business series is another effort to provide comprehensive review of small business sector in Australia and develop a future outlook based on current performance. This report is published annually by the Department of Industry, Trade and Resources to facilitate small business development and growth. It provides case studies of small business organisations and also contains results of surveys conducted for small businesses across Australia. Other important contributions to small business sector include publications highlighting factors that should be taken into account while establishing small businesses; the areas where government support can be sought; best practices and guidance for small business managers to develop business plans; taxation structure; and other similar information that are usually required by all small business owners before starting on a new business and then to maintain a steady business growth. In short, the website provides a load of information targeted towards resolving all queries of small business sector companies. Another website where a variety of information is available is http://www.business.gov.au. References Commonwealth of Australia. (2004). Home Based Business - Local Opportunities [Online]. Available from: [Accessed August 20, 2007]. Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources. (2007). Office of Small Business - What we Do [Online]. Available from: [Accessed August 20, 2007]. Question 2. The Federal Privacy Act of 1988 was enacted to protect personal information of an individual from public disclosure without his/her approval. Effective from 21st December 2002, some small businesses including non-profit and unincorporated associations are required to comply with the Privacy Act (Federal Privacy Commissioner, n.d.). As per the information provided by the Office of Federal Privacy Commissioner, "any small business that: 1. trades in personal information; or 2. is related to a larger business; or 3. provides health service and holds health records; or 4. is a contractor that provides services under a Commonwealth contract" has to comply with Privacy Act of 1988. The Act requires small businesses to do the following key activities in order to ensure privacy of information: To inform people as and when their personal information is to be collected and its intended purpose. To ensure that the personal information is used only for the stated purpose it was collected for; or the consent from relative person has been obtained to use it for other purposes as well. To "pass on personal information only for the reason you collected it, or in ways people would think reasonable, unless you have consent or the
Friday, September 27, 2019
The Great Depression shaped economic theory, social life, and peoples Essay
The Great Depression shaped economic theory, social life, and peoples views of a market economy in general - Essay Example economy or had trades with them (us.history.com). This soon spread to almost every nation in the world. The Great Depression dealt one of the heaviest impacts in the economic stability of the United States. Unemployment rate and taxes went up while income, output and prices had dropped. Unemployment in the U.S. rose from 8 million to 15 million while the Gross National Product (which measures the output generated by a countryââ¬â¢s enterprise) decreased from $103.8 billion to $55.7 billion. Farmers have had their struggles, since during that time a draught hit the Great Plains which also caused severe dust stormââ¬âthis was known as the Dust Bowl or Dirty Thirties. When the stock market crashed, over $40 billion worth of investment was lost (us.history.com). Some banks which invested in the stock market were forced to close. Consequently, many people started withdrawing their savings causing more banks to close down. This eventually made over 5000 banks to fail. Without money to spend, more than 32,000 businesses went bankrupt. Due to the unemployment, crime rate and prostitution incidence went up. Many people became hopeless and depress contributing to the rise of suicidal rates and alcoholism. Mass migration took place almost everywhere. Farmers whose farms were ruined by Dust Bowl migrated to other states hoping to find work there (history1900ââ¬â¢s.about.com). Herbert Hoover, who was president at that time, based most of his responses to the Great Depression in his firm belief of volunteerism. He declined direct federal relief payments as he believed it would lose the enticement of working. Hoover has had urged banks to form a consortium known as the National Credit Corporation. These banks are pressed to provide loans to small banks to prevent them from collapsing. He approved the Federal Home Loan Bank Act to spur new home construction and to reduce foreclosures in response to the numerous Hoovervilles (also known as shanty towns or tent cities)
Thursday, September 26, 2019
Red Sorghum by Zhang Yimou Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words
Red Sorghum by Zhang Yimou - Essay Example 2. The cultural significance of femininity in China is highlighted in the article. The idea of the feminine becomes one that is in controversy because of the several clashing belief systems of the film. The Confucian ethics and Buddhist traditions first define the feminine of China in one specific way. This is combined with the class structure that is a part of the feminine, which is defined by the expectations of Chinese culture. The Chinese culture is defined first by the history and memory that defines the feminine into the yin and yang roles. The mythical elements are defined by this as well, which creates different feminine roles that are within the culture. After the traditional roles are defined, the movie moves into ideas of the feminine through the different belief systems in the culture. The movie specifically defines the idea of yin and yang as a part of the cosmic order, which is a part of the traditional roles and the feminine. The controversy is created with this by defining the clash of culture and how it changes between different memories, times and cultural meaning in China. The idea of the feminine, from a cultural context, is based on spiritual meanings that come from history and memory and which are passed down between different generations. In the movie, there is a conflict with the cultural significance of the feminine with the definitions of the feminine becoming controversial with the memories, history and social implications. 3. The idea of the Bakhtinian carnival is one that shows the basic needs of the community and culture. The carnival is represented as an idea of basic needs that humans have, including food, water and shelter. The carnival moves from this to a celebration of the basic human needs that are a part of life in China. The appearance of the carnival and the way that it relates to the culture is one that depicts the basic culture, expressions and acceptance that is a part of
Wednesday, September 25, 2019
I-35 Bridge report Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words
I-35 Bridge report - Research Paper Example Finally, the report also focuses on the rehabilitation ââ¬Å"of the I-35W Bridgeâ⬠and practices that have been adopted in the construction and maintenance of bridges. It shows how various organizations in fire and emergence, law enforcement and environmental monitoring, can reduce the impact of a possible tragedy like that of the collapse of I-35W Bridge to cause minimal loss of lives and property. Table of contents 1. Introduction 2. I-35W bridge maintenance and construction 3. Emergency Assistance after the Collapsed Bridge 4. Impact ââ¬Å"of the I-35W Bridge Collapse on the Current Practicesâ⬠5. Conclusion 1) Introduction The 35W Mississippi River Bridge maintained by state of Minnesota, collapsed on the evening of 1st of August 2007, killing thirteen people and injuring another 121 people. Unfortunately, there were approximately 120 vehicles during the collapse estimated to be carrying 160 people. This collapse was unexpected and the immediate task at that moment, w as to rescue the people in the bridge, some of whom had fallen into the water and others trapped in their vehicles. To add insult to injury, some of the vehicles had caught fire making firefighting to be the first priority action. All local officials from the state after training together, worked together in stopping the fire, rescuing people in the water and rushing all the injured to hospitals. Definitely, this event was a test of their ability to successful tackle such a tragedy. However, there were many challenges and hindrances due to the steep river banks, difficulty of access due to the already collapsed bridge and other constant risks (Rabins et al 188). 2) I-35W Bridge Maintenance and Construction I-35W Bridge across the Mississippi River was official opened to traffic in the year 1967. According to Rabins et al, the bridge had a capacity of up to 140,000 daily vehicles on traffic between the Washington Avenue and the University Avenue, and was inspected every year from the year 1993 (236). The bridge was rated at 4 on a scale of 0 to 9 showing that, it was fit for transportation although there was need for monitoring and repair. Despite the bridge being rated as deficient, it did not definitely imply that it would collapse at any time, but there was a need for maintenance. According to the book ââ¬Å"Bridge management systems for transportation agency decision makingâ⬠the resolution made was to invest more resource in bridge maintenance to prevent such occurrences in the future. 3) Emergency Assistance after the Collapsed Bridge The U.S Fire Administration says that, there was a chaotic event after the responders arrived at the scene of the collapsed bridge (24). The collapsed structure brought various casualties such as people trapped in their vehicle and in the bridge debris; the injured and the dead people at the scene; the fire from some vehicles and water rescue situations. In addition to that, these respondents were not sure of the cause of the tragedy. They did not know whether it was a terror attack or an infrastructure failure. There was greater risk of a secondary collapse of the bridge, which could worsen the tragedy and paralyze rescue operations. As a result of these risks, the first priority was the fire department to stop the fire. At the same time, the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) was responsible of rescuing
Tuesday, September 24, 2019
Management of Change Campaign Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words
Management of Change Campaign - Assignment Example The company has to implement the policy change with respect to "carbon foot print". The need for change in policy and the way in which the change can be implemented are the major challenges for the team of management consultants. David Whetton(2005)1 says that , the business environment today is totally different from the scenario a decade ago. It is far more challenging to prepare the members of the organization to accept the need for change, to help understand the new approach, to obtain their commitment to implement the proposal, to manage the transition period effectively and to institutionalize the new idea by "hard wiring" it into the organization's communication, evaluation and reward systems. " good ideas are not in scarce supply, what is rare is the ability to translate a good idea into accepted practice". When we analyze the words accepted practice, it is clear that the success of any change is dependent on the acceptance of the practice. The acceptance of the new idea by the members of the organization at all levels can be achieved through careful estimation of the changes required and intricate planning of the details about implementation. This report which is submitted to the management of Globa l Chemical Industries PLC outlines the activities and the method of implementation of the policies to reduce carbon foot printing. This report also highlights the strengths and weaknesses of the campaign and how the campaign will influence the operations and behavioral aspects of Global Chemical Industries PLC. BACKGROUND OF THE ORGANIZATION The founders of Global Chemical Industries PLC did not plan their organization to be global conglomerate. They started catering to the needs of the villagers and other surrounding neighborhoods by formulating chemicals and native medicines late in 1890s in Sunderland. Then slowly the operations began to expand which led to the standardization of the formulae and there by the small home based remedies and cures started to grow into a public listed company in 1900s. With strong hold in research and development the company introduced major products and by acquiring small chemical companies, Global Chemical Industries PLC started to develop into one of the major players in the chemical industry in UK. When the wave of globalization started, Global Chemical Industries PLC started riding in the wave and began exploring offshore markets and sought foreign partnerships and collaborations. This paved way for its acquisition of US based Keller chem., in 1995, which added to the strengths of Gl obal Chemical Industries PLC and helped it to enter into the US markets. Likewise, it partnered with Timban Chemicals in France in 1997 which helped Global Chemical Industries PLC to gain a foothold in European Markets. The company's chronology states that, in the last decade of the last century, Global Chemical Industries PLC has evolved itself into a global giant. At present the company is listed in London Stock Exchange. The company has operations in 46 countries and has production facilities in 9 countries. The products of the company include chemicals for prescription drugs, OTC drugs and vaccinations and veterinary medicines. It is one of the largest chemical companies in the world. In 2006 28% of their sales were made in Europe, 30% in the Americas and 42% in Asia Pacific. The company is split into three regional divisions. The European region run from the UK, the America region run from t
Monday, September 23, 2019
Hiring and Firing Professors Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words
Hiring and Firing Professors - Essay Example Moreover, the type of school is another point of consideration. A private school and a public school have different working conditions. This may include tenure and security. For private schools, teachers are less secure and are easily dismissed from service. Another cause is the tendency to do research more over teaching because research is more attractive and more interesting for it gives more pay and is counted much more in terms of professional advancement (Etzioni). Amitai Etzioni's "Confessions" gives insights on this question of student participation. According to him: "On the question of hiring, firing and promoting faculty, we favored some student participation." This is through the "fine teaching-evaluation instrument" which is a questionnaire given out to students by semester to evaluate the professor's teaching. He adds that the result must be "given to committee which passes on promotions and renewal of contracts, as a students report on teaching." The student assessment of the teaching performance "would provide some systematic information and thus might increase the reward - and maybe pressure - for good teaching, at least as seen by the students." I agree with the idea of Etzioni that students must have a part in the hiring and firing of professors but limited only on the teaching-evaluation instr... nd promoting faculty, we favored some student participation." This is through the "fine teaching-evaluation instrument" which is a questionnaire given out to students by semester to evaluate the professor's teaching. He adds that the result must be "given to committee which passes on promotions and renewal of contracts, as a students report on teaching." The student assessment of the teaching performance "would provide some systematic information and thus might increase the reward - and maybe pressure - for good teaching, at least as seen by the students." I agree with the idea of Etzioni that students must have a part in the hiring and firing of professors but limited only on the teaching-evaluation instrument, except on rare cases of grave misconduct and abuse of authority of the teacher. There are several reasons why students' participation should be limited to the questionnaire only. One is that students are "transient members of the university community and will not have to live with the consequences of their action." This refers to undergraduate students. For graduate students, the case may be a little different for they stay beyond the four or five years' stay of the undergraduates. Another reason is that "students often have a highly unrealistic idea of what 'the system' can realistically do" such as "much larger faculty staff to provide for more intimate instruction; but they are horrified at any suggestion that students should pay a still higher tuition fees" (Etzioni). In addition, "there are matters that students can have no say - for example, what political views a teacher may have or must not have when hired or retained, what he will teach specifically (as distinct from what areas will be taught), or what specific competence will be required for
Sunday, September 22, 2019
Understand The Role Of The Social Care Worker Essay Example for Free
Understand The Role Of The Social Care Worker Essay 1.1 A working relationship is different from a personal relationship. In a working relationship there are set boundaries which can never be crossed and must remain professional at all times. You do not share personal information about yourself or your family. You should always treat everyone equally regardless of your personal opinions and never force your opinions onto anyone, follow your works policies and procedures at all times. A personal relationship is the opposite you donââ¬â¢t have policy and procedures to follow, a personal relationship is much more relaxed and you show each other affection tell each other private things, you share personal information like mobile numbers with family and friends they also know your address. There are no risk assessments or care plans to complete. 1.2 There are lots of different roles which lead to lots of different working relationships. These can differ greatly, when speaking to care workers or other support workers is professional it is a lot less formal than when you speak with a manager, or a doctor that comes to visit a service user the way you address them is much more formal, again when service users family or friends visit it is much more informal but you should always be professional. Understand the importance of working in ways that are agreed with the employer 2.1 It is important to adhere to the scope of the job role because when an employee first starts working they have agreed to adhere to it, and it is a legal responsibility to stay within your job role. This creates a good and effective working environment. By being accountable for your own actions and being respectful of others job roles; it makes an effective working environment to work in. 2.2 Agreed ways of working means following policies and procedures, following individual care plans accordingly, this will also include riskà assessments that are in place and following any codes of conduct. An agreed way of working is working to the standard that was agreed at the beginning of the employer contract. This enables you to work effectively and helps to protect and care for the service users. 2.3 The importance of full and up to date agreed ways of working is the first thing that is put into place before anyone is put into a social care environment. You have a job description which you should read fully. It means that you agree to follow the agreed ways of working to the policies and procedure standards; you should also know that you have the skills and experience to be able to do that job. It is very important to keep up to date with service users care plans and risk assessments also company policies and procedures. Without up to date information the safety and well being of the service users are put at risk and you could be breaking the law. If there were no agreed ways of working put in place it would be impossible to know what was expected of the individual and make it more difficult to care for the vulnerable in our care. Understand the importance of working in partnership with others 3.1 Working in partnership with others can help you with tasks that would be difficult to do on your own. This could be another colleague helping to make checks on medication and booking them in. Other people you can benefit from working in a partnership could be the families of service users, doctors, nurses, occupational therapists, social workers, care workers, advocates, and other health care workers and professionals. These people could help with information that will help you to do your job better by supporting you with any problems you might have, for instance if you have a problem communicating with a service user, by talking to their family or a friend and working together can help you by making suggestions of methods of communication for the service user, or even communicating with the service user themselves to help to reach a solution. With help from others it will make it easier to reach a level of work that you aim for, this makes it possible to care for service users a s fully as possible. 3.2 You can improve partnership working by attending training sessions, and by knowing your roles and responsibilities, and everyone knowing the policies and procedures. It is also a good thing to have good communication between everyone involved. This can make working much easier and efficient. Another way could be by giving honest and unbiased information and opinions to people you work with, this will help to build a bond of trust, and would encourage them to act in the same manner towards you. By doing this it can help provide the best possible care for the service user. 3.3 Try to handle conflict situations by remaining calm, ending the conflict before it starts to escalate and gets worse. Remain respectful of others be open minded donââ¬â¢t be judgemental. There may be times when this is not possible and the following are required. Avoid rising challenges or suggestions you are incorrect. Ask colleagues to listen to you and respect your opinions, but you should be respectful to theirs too. If there is conflict with a colleague and you cannot resolve it then you need to speak to your manager. Always be professional and use your listening skills acknowledge what they are saying by nodding your head, repeat what the other person has said to you, this shows that you are listening to them and not ignoring them which could make matters worse, and show understanding. You should ask your manager for support and guidance if you need it. You should not let your personal feelings affect your professional manner or judgement. This is important as remaining calm can often defuse a conflict situation. 3.4 You can access support and advice about the partnership working to help resolve conflicts from either colleagues, manager, and other social care bodies. The advice is invaluable because of their experience and knowledge in offering ways and methods when dealing with conflicts or partnership working. The manager could help you with the legal side of things and offer professional solutions to conflicts with higher bodies, such as social services or outside agencies. Anytime you have a concern regarding partnership working speaking to any of the above will help to resolve the conflict.
Saturday, September 21, 2019
The Cultural Relevance of War and Art in Lysistrata Essay Example for Free
The Cultural Relevance of War and Art in Lysistrata Essay War, it seems, is mans chief preoccupation. Throughout history, as one regards how civilizations thrived and crumbled and flourished and collapsed, how cities rose up, fell, cultures subsumed and assimilated in the process, one notices that before language and art, customs and traditions, in man dwelled conflict, combat, and the pervasive propensity for hostility. On this basis, one may argue the consistency of battle in mans nature; the ever-present presence of this desire to dominate and destroy, for one reason or another: an instinct, it seems, stemming from the savage past where survival meant killing or being killed. But the advent of civilization tempered and somewhat refined mans attitude toward war. Though ever-present still, even to this day, as all base instincts are, many responses to warfare have been devised: often, alongside those who preach in favor of battle, the voices of those opposed to slaughter and bloodshed speak too, through various avenues and paths. And throughout history, no mouthpiece has been used more often than art: paintings and plays, poems and sculptures and displays of oratory: all depict what man feels, what he dwells on: that which batters and bombards his mind and soul, driving him to action. And as war remains a constant in life, so remains the presence of war in many works of art. From 431-399 BC in Ancient Greece the Peloponnesian War was fought. The thirty year conflict changed the entire social structure and landscape of Greece, inciting skirmishes and civil wars aplenty, causing much bloodshed and sorrow and suffering. The cessation of this war is the main theme of the ancient Greek comedy Lysistrata. To achieve this end, the playwright, Aristophanes, pits another base instinct against mans propensity for conflict: sexual intercourse. Aristophanes has the namesake of the play, a strong-willed woman, convince all the women of Greece to withhold all sexual favors from their husbands in order to cease the Peloponnesian War. A bloodless battle ensues between the forces of man and woman; in the end, fueled by an urgent desire to copulate, the men of the warring states of Sparta and Athens as well as their allies establish peace; this sets all aright, and celebration follows. In order to probe more deeply into the nature of the play and the concepts found therein, one must investigate the actual war Aristophanes alluded to and used as backdrop for his play, as well as the Mythology and Religion surrounding its conception. Both are integral to understanding and analyzing the social relevance of Lysistrata in the culture that produced it. When evaluated alongside current western religious inclinations and cultural leanings, one can discern the similarities and differences in the perception of war and its presence in art. The Peloponnesian War was a conflict waged between the forces of Athens and Sparta (and the people of the surrounding areas, either allied to one of the two mentioned states) over a period of approximately 30 years. The aftermath of the war completely transformed ancient Greece, restructuring the distribution of power and inflicting untold horrors upon a multitude of people and cities, in the process wreaking havoc and devastation comparable to the atrocities and mass destruction observed in many contemporary accounts of modern warfare. Aristophanes wrote Lysistrata in 411 BC, at the height of the war, which was brought to a close in 399 BC; thus the comedy was in part a piece of wishful thinking, a satirical look at the atrocity-filled events currently occurring at the time. Greek mythology, comprised of a plethora of gods and goddesses, played a large role in ancient Greek life; this is reflected in the play when Lysistrata and the throng of females, in vowing to halt any sexual activities with their husbands, seal their oath by sacrificing wine to the gods, pledging their resolve to follow through on their self-appointed task. This example portrays religion as a component and constituent of culture and history, a cultural artefact contributing to the social make-up of Greek civilization. Thus does the play begin: the women, bolstered and enforced by religion-as-culture, driven to cease a cultural event in this case, war and bloodshed. Thus do we see Aristophanes affixing a cultural context into his play, assimilating the religious and cultural practices of his time into his art, assigning it an integral role as a driving factor in the action of the play. Culture informs all pieces of art. All works can be seen as offshoots of a particular culture at a particular point in time. Lysistrata can be construed as being the product of Aristophanes, himself a product of Athenian culture and religion, compelled to create the work by the cultural events preoccupying his mind at the time, namely the Peloponnesian War. This action a cultural creation (in this case, Aristophanes) creating Art (a cultural artefact) in response to cultural Events such as war mirrors the countless acts of creation found in the myriad number of books and sculptures, plays, films, poems, and pieces of music man has produced in reaction to cultural entities and events. The brutality provoked by war and the ensuing cultural creations were prevalent in much of twentieth century history. Two world wars and countless civil wars and armed conflicts worldwide have instigated the construction of hundreds of Lysistratas, engendered by countless cultures, comprised of and informed by a multitude of sociopolitical, religious, and cultural activities. The many acts of barbarity and bloodshed have as driving forces sociopolitical and cultural Epistemes: take the Communist-driven Spanish Civil War, or the Cold War waged in the latter part of the twentieth century; take the Nazi-Ideology driven battles fought in World War 2, or the armed campaigns resulting in colonization and appropriation of land and resources and people in various parts of the world, as reflected in the subjugation of Greece by Sparta at the end of the Peloponnesian War, replayed time and time again when Western nations colonized much of Asia and Africa in the name of King, God, or Country. Razed lands and lives led many to create works of art immortalizing the history, outcomes, and consequences of the aforementioned events, contributing to the cultural and historical landscape of their own times. These cultural artefacts allow us to examine how cultural events propagate themselves, and perceive the subtle links between past and present culture and history .
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