Nature and Society in The Dharma Bums and Goodbye, Columbus :: Dharma Bums Essays

Nature and Society in The Dharma Bums and Goodbye, Columbus      Ã‚  Ã‚   From its beginning, the literature of the 1960s valued man having a close relationship with nature. Jack Kerouac shows us the ideal form of this relationship in the story of Han Shan, the Chinese poet. At first, these concerns appear to have little relevance to Goodbye, Columbus by Philip Roth. However, by mentioning Gauguin, Roth gives us a view of man's ideal relationship to nature very similar to the one seen in the story of Han Shan. The stories of Han Shan and Gauguin offer an interesting commentary Neil and Brenda's relationship, as well as insight into its collapse.    From the beginning, 60s literature advocated that man have a close relationship with nature. This is easily seen in Kerouac's The Dharma Bums. In this book, he repeatedly invokes the names of older writers concerned with living a life in harmony with nature. By mentioning such writers as Muir, Thoreau, and Whitman, Kerouac makes a statement about man and nature. The behavior of the characters in the book is in keeping with this environmentalist message. The high points of the book are characterized by a nearness to nature. A good example of this is when Ray and Japhy climb the Matterhorn. The fact that Kerouac peoples his book with characters inspired by people important to the Sixties, such as Gary Snyder and Allen Ginsburg, helps tie these environmental concerns to the decade as a whole.    The most direct example of what Kerouac feels is the ideal relation between man and nature is the story of Han Shan. We are told that Shan is Japhy's hero because he "was a man of solitude who could take off by himself and live purely and true to himself"(Kerouac, The Dharma Bums, 22). By escaping society and living close to nature, he was able to live his life the way the was supposed to. If he had remained in a society in conflict with nature, he would have been twisted and distorted, unable to obtain his true shape. Both Ray and Japhy see reflections of Han Shan in each other.    At first glance, there seems to be little in common between these environmental concerns and Goodbye, Columbus. Nature and Society in The Dharma Bums and Goodbye, Columbus :: Dharma Bums Essays Nature and Society in The Dharma Bums and Goodbye, Columbus      Ã‚  Ã‚   From its beginning, the literature of the 1960s valued man having a close relationship with nature. Jack Kerouac shows us the ideal form of this relationship in the story of Han Shan, the Chinese poet. At first, these concerns appear to have little relevance to Goodbye, Columbus by Philip Roth. However, by mentioning Gauguin, Roth gives us a view of man's ideal relationship to nature very similar to the one seen in the story of Han Shan. The stories of Han Shan and Gauguin offer an interesting commentary Neil and Brenda's relationship, as well as insight into its collapse.    From the beginning, 60s literature advocated that man have a close relationship with nature. This is easily seen in Kerouac's The Dharma Bums. In this book, he repeatedly invokes the names of older writers concerned with living a life in harmony with nature. By mentioning such writers as Muir, Thoreau, and Whitman, Kerouac makes a statement about man and nature. The behavior of the characters in the book is in keeping with this environmentalist message. The high points of the book are characterized by a nearness to nature. A good example of this is when Ray and Japhy climb the Matterhorn. The fact that Kerouac peoples his book with characters inspired by people important to the Sixties, such as Gary Snyder and Allen Ginsburg, helps tie these environmental concerns to the decade as a whole.    The most direct example of what Kerouac feels is the ideal relation between man and nature is the story of Han Shan. We are told that Shan is Japhy's hero because he "was a man of solitude who could take off by himself and live purely and true to himself"(Kerouac, The Dharma Bums, 22). By escaping society and living close to nature, he was able to live his life the way the was supposed to. If he had remained in a society in conflict with nature, he would have been twisted and distorted, unable to obtain his true shape. Both Ray and Japhy see reflections of Han Shan in each other.    At first glance, there seems to be little in common between these environmental concerns and Goodbye, Columbus.

Critical analysis of Song of Solomon Essay

‘Song of Solomon’, Toni Morrison’s third Novel was published in 1977 and it ascertained her as a key American author given that, after its publication, it turned out to be a bestseller and drew honor from critics as well as readers. The narrative has been particularly admired for the exquisiteness of its language as well as its foundation of international themes in the distinctiveness of the experience of the African-American, not to forget its utilization of folklore. (Morrison 34) The narrative is based on an African-American fairy tale concerning slaves who are able to fly back to Africa once they decide. The author fictionalizes this fairy tale through the traits of Solomon who is the great-grandfather of the story’s central character, Milkman Dead. Through Milkman’s discovery of Solomon’s story and his capability to fly, he learns to be proud of his ancestry as well as valuing his connections to community and family unit. The book won the National Book critics Circle Award for fiction in the year 1977 and is currently extensively taught and emerged once more on best-seller lists after Oprah Winfrey chose it so that it could be included in her book club. The book has being loved by readers for a period of more than two decades and it is still deemed one of Toni Morrison’s most excellent books. What touched me most after reading Toni Morrison’s book are the biblical references: (Morrison 51& 52) The author keeps making biblical references from both the Old Testament as well as the New Testament which are quite useful in bringing out the overall themes, characters as well as in building up the plot of the novel. To start with, the author gives her book the title ‘Song of Solomon’ which is a reference taken from the Old Testament’s ‘Song of Solomon’ or rather Song of Songs, or Canticles which is basically on love and relationships and is interpreted in some customs as a figurative demonstration of the relationship of Israel and God as wife and husband where the principal characters of the song are a man and a woman and the rhyme offers progress commencing courtship to consummation. In Morrison’s narrative, Solomon, Milkman dead’s great-grandfather finds out the tale of Solomon and his capability to fly which makes him to be delighted of his heritage and to value links to family and community. (Furman & Morrison 142) Song of Solomon commences with Robert Smith’s flight from the roof of Mercy hospital. Smith emerges on the top of the hospital with two handcrafted arms on his backside and jumps from the top of the hospital to the shock and amazement of many. Because of him making an attempt to fly, Ruth Foster dead is able to give birth inside the hospice instead of on its stepladder given that during this moment in time, Negro women are not permitted to deliver in the hospital because of segregation which makes Macon Dead turn out to be the first Negro infant to be delivered in Mercy Hospital. (Furman & Morrison 198) Morrison makes biblical inferences in naming his characters which helps in bringing out their personalities. Corinthian’s Dead, Milkman and Lena’s father is called Macon Dead and is the proprietor of apartments and houses. Dead thinks owning property enables one to own oneself, as well as others too. Together with Pilate, Macon grew up in Lincoln’s Heaven, a farm in Pennsylvania. At the age of sixteen, he watches his father murdered by whites who desire the family’s land. Macon and Pilate are sheltered by Circle, a maid and midwife who houses them in vacant quarters of the Butler house. They then escape from the Butler place and hide in a cave for the night where they meet a white man whom Macon kills. (Furman & Morrison 231) Macon â€Å"Milkman† dead III’s mother breastfeeds him for far too long until he is so tall and his feet are â€Å"touching the floor† which makes him swiftly gain the reputation for being a â€Å"mummy’s boy† which is a direct contrast to Guitar, his best friend. Milkman has two sisters, â€Å"Magdalene named Lena† and â€Å"First Corinthians†. The daughters of the family unit are given names by placing a pin inside the bible while the males are called after their father. Macon Dead’s name was the outcome of an administrative fault when Milkman’s grandfather had to list following the end of slavery. (Morrison 121) Pilate, Macon Dead Jr. ’s sister, is identified as fostering an Earth Mother type of personality. Given that he was born lacking a navel, she is rather a mystic character and it is mightily implied that she is Divine i. e. she is a female Christ and that her name is ironical. Macon has not had a word to his sister for years and did not feel greatly of her. She, just like Macon, has had to fend for herself starting from an early age, although she has to deal with her history in a different manner. Reba is her one and only daughter. She also has one granddaughter by the name Hagar who is very much in love with Milkman, and is not able to deal with rejection. Milkman’s erstwhile best friend, Guitar, attempts to murder him after he mistakenly believes Milkman of deceiving him out of concealed gold. Toni Morrison’s narrative comes to an end on a touching and uncertain note after Milkman finally discovers to fly after deciding to confront Guitar. (Furman & Morrison 265) In conclusion, it can be said that Toni Morrison makes use of biblical references in his narrative from time to time. This is depicted from the numerous biblical references taken from both the Old Testament and the New Testament which help in building up the overall plot of the narrative, building up the character’s personalities as well as in bringing out the overall themes of the narrative. Eminently, Toni Morrison makes various biblical references through some of the characters names. For instance, Ruth, Dead, First Corinthians, Pilate, Heaven, Guitar, Magdalene named Lena, Lincoln’s Heaven, maid, bible, divine, Christ, mid wife among others. In addition, the author makes use of other biblical references like ‘Mercy’ i. e. Mercy hospital, the ability to fly by bearing wings like the Angels key references. Works Cited Furman, Jan & Morrison, Toni. Toni Morrison’s Song of Solomon: a casebook. Oxford University Press US, 2003. ISBN: 0195146352, 9780195146356 276 pages Morrison, Toni. Song of Solomon. Vintage International, 2004. ISBN: 140003342X, 9781400033423. 337 pages

Essay on Nazi Book Burning - 858 Words

Nearly a century before World War II, German Jewish poet Heinrich Heine wrote, â€Å"Where they burn books, they will also ultimately burn people (â€Å"Holocaust History†). These chilling words not only forecasted the events to come, but also went up in flames in Germany during the Nazi book burning. Throughout Germany on May 10, 1933, thousands of people came out to witness these horrid events. These public displays of censorship were monstrous in nature. Book burning is defined as â€Å"the ritual destruction by fire of books or other written materials. Usually carried out in a public context, the burning of books represents an element of censorship and usually proceeds from a cultural, religious, or political opposition to the materials in†¦show more content†¦In this war, [World War II] we know, books are weapons† (Von Merveldt). He was trying to lift the American spirits in spite of the horrific events in Europe . In Germany, the mood was much more cheerful, as they were accompanied by singing of â€Å"Nazi songs and anthems† (The History Place). The leader of propaganda and book burning for the Nazi party, Joseph Goebbels, proclaimed â€Å"The flames not only illuminate the end of the old era, they also light up the new.† (Foxman) Unlike the rest of the world, the Nazi party viewed the book burning as a positive event and as a beginning, not an end. Not only did the Nazis try to censor literature, they also tried to eliminate foreign ideas by limiting types of art and communication. The Nazis â€Å"judged most of modern art degenerate† and tried to expel it from the country (Foxman). They also tried to limit all communication, which was limited already to â€Å"books, newspapers, periodicals, radio, and the moving pictures† because of the time period (Foxman). Any communication had to be deemed German before it could be permitted. So many movies were banned that films were almost nonexisten t except for Nazi propaganda. The Nazi’s attempt was to limit all communication from other countries, so that only their ideas would be accepted, which is the same rationale as the book burnings. The book burnings and the censorship in Germany relate directly to Ayn Rand’s works. In oneShow MoreRelatedNazi Book Burning Of 19331089 Words   |  5 PagesVishnu Dasaka Mr.Stevens Modern Classics Period 3 22 October 2015 Nazi Book Burning of 1933 The Jewish poet Heinrich Heine once said, Where books are burned, human beings are destined to be burned too. Did you know that the Chinese government uses â€Å"The Great Firewall† of China to monitor and prohibit any dissent against the Chinese government?(Mark Jacob and Stephan Benzkofer) These kind of actions are called acts of censorship and most of themRead MoreBook Burning in Nazi Germany1237 Words   |  5 PagesBook burning is the ceremonial destruction of books or any other written works by fire. And it is done in public. Also it is a representation of censorship. The drive behind such acts can either be political, cultural, or religious resistance to the material in question. The purpose of the Nazi book burning was to destroy all ideologies that were considered to be un-German. In 1933, university students were on a mission to cleanse Germany of Jewish intellectual ideas (Fishburn, 2007). They believeRead MoreThe Sà ¤uberung Baptism: The Reasoning Behind Nazi Book Burning943 Words   |  4 PagesThe removal of free intellectualism and the integration of the â€Å"Pure German Spirit† way of thinking were achieved though the burning of all text deemed â€Å"un-German†. But what makes a text un-German? Simply anything that questioned, threatened, or was simply different then what the Fà ¼hrer and the Reich believed in. The burning of thousands of books was caused by the Action against the Un-German Spirit, by the will of the German student association. The horrid event took place during the WartburgRead MoreUse Of Literary Devices Used By Ray Bradbury1856 Words   |  8 Pagesnovel elucidation of how the society in the books has been burnt to ashes just like the mythical phoenix, leading to a possibility of an ultimate regeneration of a brand new, vital, civilization with the augmented knowledge, through the existence of books Montag and the others have. A nuanced argument statement can also lend a hand to authenticate the thesis statement. Several may argue that burning books should continue until every single banned book has been burnt, interpreting it as a more relishingRead MoreRay Bradbury s Fahrenheit 4512451 Words   |  10 Pagesand government with banning and burning of books, and suppressing society’s minds from history. Their logical thought was that it would keep society from thinking too much, which in turn would prevent bad thoughts, and to keep them â€Å"happy all the time†. The book tells a story of Guy Montag, the protagonist, and his life as a book burner. He was an â€Å"instrument† of the government, a firefighter that was used to suppress information from people by burning all books. The characters live in a worldRead MoreThe Night Of The Broken Glass By Markus Zusak1337 Words   |  6 PagesJoseph Goebbels made a speech that initiated a crowd of violent Nazi activists who would burn down over 1,000 synagogues, and destroy over 7,000 businesses, thus creating Kristallnacht, ‘the night of the broken glass’. Following this act, was the beginning of the Holocaust. 6 months later, on May 10, 1933, members of the Nazi German Student Association, as well as other university students, burned close to 25,00 volumes of â€Å"un-German† books to promote their nationwide campaign: â€Å"Actions against the un-GermanRead MoreThe Book Thief By Markus Zusak1549 Words   |  7 Pages The Book Thief by Markus Zusak is classified as a historical fiction novel because it tells a story that takes place during a tragic period in human history. This book reminds readers of the unspeakable acts that occurred during World War II under the Nazi Regime in Germany. The book focuses on the life of a nine year old girl, Liesel Meminger, living in Germany during this period of history. Markus Zusak was significantly influenced by his parent’s stories of their personal experiences of whatRead MoreThe Power of Secrets in The Book Thief by Markus Zusak Essay702 Words   |  3 Pages â€Å"‘Book burning’ refers to the ritual destruction by fire of books or other written materials. Usually carried out in a public context, the burning of books represents an element of censorship and usually proceeds from a cultural, religious, or political opposition to the materials in question.† (United States Holocaust Memorial Museum) The night of May 10, 1933, German students from some of the best universities in the world, gathered in Berlin to burn books with un-German ideas. The students,Read MoreGrowing Up During the Holocaust: A Look at the Other Side of World War II1461 Words   |  6 PagesThere are lots of books about the Holocaust, and what it was like to be in a concentration camp as a Jew, or what it was like being an SS officer during that time, but barely any focus on what is was like to grow up in the Holocaust as a civilian onlooker to the war. In The Book Thief by Markus Zusak he tells the story of Liesel Meminger who travels to a foster home in Munich Germany, and experiences what it’s like to live in a war. She deals with rations, knowledge limited to the learnings of whatRead MoreThe Book Thief By Markus Zusak1231 Words   |  5 PagesIn The Book Thief, Markus Zusak shows different contexts with the same similar message. Zusak is revealing to the reader that words can be very powerful . The societal statement â€Å"power is knowledge† can be linked to the book by how knowledge creates power.The setting of Nazi Germany within the book burnings event, the basement with Max, and Liesel defending herself by her choice of words are all relevant to this societal statement since it demonstrates the idea of knowledge in numerous ways, and how

Blooms Taxonomy - Application Category and Examples

Bloom’s Taxonomy  was developed by educational theorist Benjamin Bloom in the 1950s.  The taxonomy, or levels of learning, identify different domains of learning including: cognitive (knowledge), affective (attitudes), and psychomotor (skills).   Application Category Description The application level is where the student moves beyond basic comprehension in order to begin to apply what they have learned. Students are expected to use concepts or tools they have learned in new situations in order to show that they can use what they have learned in increasingly complex ways The use of Blooms Taxonomy in planning can help to move students through the different levels of cognitive development. When planning learning outcomes, teachers should reflect on the different levels of learning. Learning increases when students are introduced to course concepts and then given opportunities to practice applying them. When students apply an abstract idea to a concrete situation to solve a problem or relate it to prior experience, they are showing their level of proficiency at this level. To make sure that students show they can apply what they learn, teachers should:   †¢ Provide opportunities for the student to use ideas, theories, or problem-solving techniques and apply them to new situations.†¢ Review the student’s work to ensure that he/she is using problem-solving techniques independently.†¢ Provide questions that require the student to define and solve problems. Key Verbs in the Application Category apply. build, calculate, change, choose, classify, construct, complete, demonstrate,  develop, examine, illustrate, interpret, interview, make, make use of, manipulate, modify, organize, experiment with, plan, produce, select, show,  solve, translate, utilize, model, use. Examples of Question Stems for the Application Category These question stems will help teachers develop assessments that allow students to solve problems in situations by applying acquired knowledge, facts, techniques, and rules, perhaps in a different way. How would you make use of ____?How does ____ apply to ____?How would you modify ____?What approach would you use to†¦?Could this have happened in...?Under what conditions would you ____?How could you apply what you have read to construct ____?Do you know another instance where...?Can you group by characteristics such as...?Identify the results if ____?Why does ____ work?What questions would you ask for...?How would you use the facts to investigate ____?Using what you know, how would you design ____?Utilize ____ to ____.Illustrate a way to ____.What elements would you use to change†¦?Is there a way to demonstrate ____?What questions would you ask during ________?Predict what would happen if ____?How would you organize _______ to show†¦?What would result if ____?Is there another way you could plan to†¦?What facts would you select to show†¦?Would this information be useful if you had...?Can you apply the method used to some experience of your own...?Show me a wa y to organize ____.Can you make use of the facts to†¦?Using what you have learned, how would you solve ____?What factors would you change if...? From the information given, can you develop a set of instructions about...?How would you solve ___ using what you’ve learned†¦?How would you show your understanding of†¦?What examples can you find to†¦?How would you apply what you learned to develop†¦? Examples of Assessments That Are Based on  the Application Level of Bloom’s Taxonomy The category of application  is the third level of the Bloom’s taxonomy pyramid. Because it is just above the comprehension level, many teachers use the level of application  in performance-based activities such as those listed below.   Make a storyboard for a film on a book you are reading.Create a script from the book you are reading now; act out a part of the story.Plan a party that one of the main characters would enjoy attending: plan the menu, and activities or games you want to have at the party.Create a scenario in which a character in the story reacts to a problem in your school; write about how he or she would handle the situation differently.Reimagine the characters in a story as a human, animal, or thing.Teleport (space travel) the main character to a new setting.(Re)write lyrics to a ballad for a story you are reading.Construct a model to demonstrate how it will work.Create a diorama to illustrate an important event.Make a yearbook entry for a character you are studying.Stage a tableau of a famous event.Invite famous people to an imaginary dinner and create the seating plan.Make up a board game using the ideas from the study area.Design a market strategy for a character doll.  Create a brochure for a country.Write a textbook about... for others.

The War You Don t See By John Pilger - 1485 Words

After viewing the documentary film ‘The War You Don’t See’ by John Pilger, my previous feelings towards the war and the way people are treated grew more immense as I felt more informed as to what was going on behind closed doors. I have always found the thought of war pointless, destructive and inhumane, this documentary supports my previous attitudes. The way certain media associations manipulate and hide the truth is a scary thought, this film shows how the media lacks honesty on a destructive level. How can one take a position and make an informed decision towards what they should do or how they should react towards these global issues? They can’t, it is impossible to make an informed decision when one is not told the whole truth. ‘The War You Don’t See’ also informs the viewers to see how poorly the innocent civilians are treated and in many cases how their lack of rights results in cruel deaths. Pilger presents these issues to the v iewers of this film in a way which looks down upon the people of the military and media and sympathise toward those innocent civilians of these war stricken countries, which I personally strongly support and am left feeling pleased with Pilger’s work. John Pilger’s ‘The War You Don’t See’ promotes many strong ideas, with a strong focus on the value of honesty and the lack of it. Raising the issue of when the media do not do their job, the public is manipulated as we are not told the whole truth therefore are not aware of the horrific and

Romanticism Poem and the Concept of Mercy Free Essays

The concept of mercy can be a very hard thing for one to grasp. One may find themselves asking â€Å"Whom shall be given mercy? †, and â€Å"How much mercy should be shown? †. There is no definite answer to those questions as mercy can be shown in different ways. We will write a custom essay sample on Romanticism Poem and the Concept of Mercy or any similar topic only for you Order Now There are three particular works that emphasize the concept of mercy, each showing a different perspective. The three works that use very distinctive ways to show mercy are The Merchant of Venice, Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God, and Verses Upon the Burning of our House. All of the themes of these works are much alike, as they all involve the comparison of mercy to a great power. However, there are a few distinctions among the works. In The Merchant of Venice, by William Shakespeare, the author uses a particular caption in the play to show how the concept of mercy should be perceived. Shakespeare shows the concepts of mercy by explaining how powerful mercy. Shakespeare shows this by stating, â€Å"It is an attribute to God himself,† (IV. i. 193) thus saying that God uses mercy and so should everyone else. In the narrative Versus Upon the Burning of our House, the author, Anne Bradstreet, talks about the merciful God, and how he has saved her from destruction. She writes about how she has become too materialistic and how her merciful God has helped her in her time of need. This can be shown when the author writes, â€Å"And to my God my heart did cry/To straighten me in my distress,† (8-9) In Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God, Jonathan Edwards writes about the Mercy of God as well. His account differs from Bradstreet’s a little, as he is talking about how God is the reason for everyone living. He says that if it were not for a merciful God, then no one would be living. This can be supported by the author stating, â€Å"It is nothing but His mere pleasure that keeps you from being this moment swallowed up in everlasting destruction,† (56) Even though these works have different variations of the concept of mercy, the overall theme is the power of mercy is unending. All three of these works demonstrate that mercy can be used in many different ways and different amounts. Although, as stated before, the theme is mostly the same over all the works, the tone is very different. Each of these works have their own clear-cut tones. Shakespeare takes on the tone of appreciation. While reading the passage, readers observe Shakespeare appreciating mercy and all its glory. Shakespeare writes, â€Å"It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven,† (IV. i. 185) giving the reader the illustration that mercy is very plentiful and gentle. Countless times throughout the passage Shakespeare speaks of the power of mercy and just how wonderful it is. As for Bradstreet and Edwards, they take on totally different tones. Bradstreet’s tone is thankfulness of mercy. The author comes across within the passage as being very thankful for Gods mercy and how she would be lost without it. This can be proving by the following quote, â€Å"I blest his grace that gave and took,/That laid my goods now in the dust. † (14-15) This is a prime example of the author thanking God for having mercy and helping her rather than punishing her. Both Shakespeare and Bradstreet talk about what can happen when mercy is present. Edwards on the other hand talks about what will happen without mercy. Edwards describes violent and vivid images of destruction in his writing. All of which can happen without the mercy of God. He speaks of how you should fear the absence of mercy saying, â€Å"Your wickedness makes you as it were heavy as lead, and to tend downward with great weight and pressure towards hell; and if God should let you go, you would immediately sink and swiftly descend and plunge into the bottomless gulf†¦. † (56) Over all, mercy is said to be praised for its presence, and feared for its absence. The authors use multiple ways of showing their own perspective on the concept of mercy. The three authors’ uses of literary devices in their works help strongly support their ideas on the concept of mercy. For instance, Shakespeare uses a simile that compares mercy as being better than a crown for a king. He writes, â€Å"It becomes the throned monarch better than his crown. † This simile backs up the idea of mercy being powerful, and it can be the most powerful in those with the most power. Bradstreet uses an extended metaphor saying that the burning of her house is like the burning of her sins. She thanks God for saving her from her material things which she feels are a sin. Edwards uses multiple similes and metaphors showings Gods power and how everyone is doomed without him. For instance he writes, â€Å"The God that holds you over the pit of hell, much a one holds a spider or some loathsome insect over the fir, abhors you, and is dreadfully provoked,† giving the reader the understanding that God is unbelievably greater than people. Each writer uses different literary devices to strengthen their views on the concept of mercy, and each is used in a very strategic manner. The concept of mercy can be interpreted by many different people many different ways. There is no set rules of mercy, and it is up for discussion among people. Everyone has their own ideas on how mercy is and should be. Who’s idea is right? Well, there is no incorrect or correct way to show mercy. In the three works of literature discussed above, each author has their own interpretation of the concept of mercy. Each work has a very distinctive way of proving their point, and each has a similarities and differences with the other works as to how mercy should be perceived. How to cite Romanticism Poem and the Concept of Mercy, Papers

Disadvantages and Advantages of Using Social Networks in Business

Question: Discuss Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Social Networks in Business? Answer: Introducation: Literature review can be understood as the study of various articles, journals, studies, research papers and other secondary data analysis in order to collect data on the subject and reach to the conclusion after an analysis of the same. Literature review helps in collecting the data which has been already collected and used by others but it helps in supporting the motive of the research and helps in meeting the objectives of the research. The scope of Literature review is wide as it is based on the topic Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Social Networks in Business. Social media is used widely by many businesses in the present time and a lot of literature is to be referred in order to study about the topic. Social networks are the part of daily routine of our lives and the business as well. As per Hanafizadeh, et. al. (2012), Social networks are becoming increasingly important in the businesses of today. The growing importance of internet in the businesses has shown that businesses could advertise and promote their products and services through social networking sites, forums, content communities, etc. Social networks make businesses capable of making interactions with the people and social groups in order to make people connect with their business. It helps in building public relations and makes business popular among the mass population. According to Baruah (2012), in the midst of the revolution of social media, the businesses are using social media websites for developing their social networks. They share knowledge and information with the masses through social media networks. It is because the ways of taking and communicating are changing with the time. The author conducts a study in which the importance of social media as a tool is evaluated. The author shares that social networks in business have several advantages like it shares the ideas of the business and it also bridges the communication gap and distances between business and target consumers. Building social networks are also cost effective for the businesses because it popularizes the business and lowers the costs of advertising or promotion. In the words of Parveen (2012), Social networking is a growing phenomenon and it develops continuous communication with the public. The businesses investing in social networks results in better performance, more sales and better network of business. The author further added that there are certain disadvantages too with the advantages of social networks in Business. It is investigated that effective networks in business improves revenue generation and effectiveness in the practices of business. It improves the communication, relationships with the customers and also improves the image of the business. The disadvantages of using social networks include wastage of time, lack in the control on feedbacks from public about the business. The feedbacks could be negative (Keller, 2009). As per Australian Government (2015), by using social networks in the business, the business could easily carry away the customers and create a huge number of potential customers for the business which could lead to good profits. There are different pros as well as cons of using social networks in the business. Where on one hand, social networks can reduce marketing costs, increase customer footfall, greater access to new markets and the brand awareness. On the other hand, it may not be suitable for every business. It needs proper planning and time for setting up the networks. Establishing social networks needs daily monitoring in order to evaluate the real progress of the same. So, risks are involved with the establishment of social networks. According to Ioan?s Stoica (2014), in recent years social networking in businesses has gain a huge importance. Social networking can be done through social media which changed the way of communication between the consumers and the marketers. Good networking with the customers motivates them to buy the products and services of the business. The author further add up that social networking revolutionise the marketing practices of advertising and marketing of the business. It also influences the behaviour of consumer for business and its offerings. It provides opportunity to the businesses to engage and interact with the customers so that they can become the loyal customers of the business. But involvement in social networking can pose both the negative or positive impact on the business. The customers may provide negative reviews about the brand which is not under the control of the business. The message conveyed by the company during the process of social networking may be taken diff erently by different users. Even a small mistake conducted by the business could lead to severe effect on the consumers. It may also impact the buying intent of the potential as well as existing consumers. While making social interactions with the public at large, the companies have to take care of the cultural aspects (Tretenhahn, 2011). According to Abedniya Mahmouei (2010), Social networking through internet has created a buzz over the years. Social media sites, which are the most used tool for developing social networks among businesses and between business and consumers, helps in minimising the disparities between the cultures, nationalities anddifferent boundaries. The marketers believe that the more business will be in touch with the customers, more will beits popularity and success. The study by the author concluded that social networking sites contribute in making the activities of the business viral. It makes users believe in the potential of business and increase the productivityand performance of the business. This reduces the barriers which hamper the number of consumers to make an entry and also develops the marketingand communication strategies of the business (Trusov, Bodapati Bucklin, 2010). According to Jagongo Kinyua (2013), the business environment keeps on changing on the continuous basis. There are lot many changes which may benefit or harm the business. Social networking is sharing the business content and ideas with others. It involves communication and interaction which should include creativity, innovation, technology and knowledge to make it interesting. Social networking not only allows businesses to gain an access to the available resources but also increases the worth of the team. It increases and enhances the relationship of business with the suppliers and customers and build up strategic partnerships for the betterment of the business. In 21st century, the business has to adjust and cope up with many changes to be active in the competitive business environment. For this, the business has to be excellent in the social networks. It makes the business accessible to more customers and helps in fulfilling their expectations. It improves the presence of busines s in the market and also gets access to more opportunities. It can boost sales of the business and performance in the industry (Molina?Morales Martnez?Fernndez, 2010). In contrast to the positive views of the use of social networking in business, several authors have also reflected the disadvantages of the same. As per Hajli (2014), social networking also involves some flaws which harm the business. It can give away to negative feedback from the customers which can hamper the image of the company. It takes a lot of effort to maintain the presence of business socially and in front of public because it is the method which could create a long term or long lasting relationships with the customers. The platforms used for building social networks like social media websites may refer or target only a specific generation of people like young age group. The customers above the age of 50- 60 are low in presence on these sites which creates a trouble for the businesses to make their presence and communicate to the older age group. According to Neti (2011), Social media is ever changing. The business has to put in lot of efforts to be updated with the current features and technology of social media to effectively set up networks with the business. The company requires to present new content every now and then to meet the very changing needs of people. It is not necessary that social networking through social media websites is beneficial for every business. No doubt, social media places instant interaction with the customers but it can also lead to bad publicity of the business which is not in control of the business once it is public. Sometimes, it poses a great amount of loss to the business which is very hard to recover. In the words of Paquette (2013), the organisations have to be aware about the attitudes and behaviour of the consumers. It depends on the users attitudes that how they perceive the networking efforts of the brand. The companies have to focus on the user centralised content because the user wo uld like to read or listen what is concerned with them. So it is very important to engage the customers with the brand and the content which they use for social networking. Social networking would influence the purchasing intention of the customers and also provides a chance to the consumers to participate and engage in the business activities (Siricharoen, 2012). Social networking can be done through various modern as well as traditional channels. The traditional channels can be networking with people and potential customers at events and shops. The people used to meet at events and interaction was done in order to keep good relationships with them. It helped in the creation of long term loyal and satisfied customers and also resulted in increase in sales (Van der Bank, 2015). This method of networking is out-dated as it does not have so much of impact on the popularity of business. Evolution of social media has changed the way businesses could market themselves. Internet has opened many gates for the businesses to establish good connection and interaction with the customers so that they can get popular and can get along with as many customers as possible. Internet helps the businesses in establishing networks through emails, online marketing campaigns and social media websites like Facebook, twitter, Linked In, you tube and many more. These websites have millions of users and the numbers are increasing with the passage of time. There are over 3 million of social media users of social media which gives a great opportunity to business to establish to good social network for the future success of the business (Copp, 2016). The sources which are considered are latest and no out-dated information or data has been referred. This is done to include only valid and latest information which makes sense to the topic of the literature review. The quality of the research papers which are referred is good and it supports the topic. The research is valid as all the sources which are been referred are genuine and are referenced properly at the end of the paper. The names of authors and the year to which the source belong have been mentioned. The details and data is authentic and proper links are been provided to check to the reliability of the same. The sources are relevant to the topic Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Social Networks in Business and effective analyses has been made of the sources which are been referred. The research gap is a limitation which is in the existing researches and need to be corrected in the present research. When the research questions are not answered, the gap remains in the research. The contribution is made by referring various articles and research papers and comparing the views of different authors so that the gap of research can be bridged well. It can be concluded from the above research and study that Social networking is like a boon for the businesses because it provides many opportunities for the business in the present competitive world. It provides a competitive edge to the business by interacting with potential customers and developing good relationships with them. The literature has been developed by referring many scholarly articles and research papers completed by different authors who talk about the advantages and disadvantages of social networking in business. All the authors have different views on the topic and these are discussed to reach to the conclusion after the analysis of their views References Abedniya, A Mahmouei, S S (2010). The Impact of Social Networking Websites to Facilitate the Effectiveness of Viral Marketing. International Journal of Advanced Computer Science and Applications. Vol. 1, No.6. Australian Government (2015). Pros and cons of using social media for business. Retrieved from: https://www.business.gov.au/info/run/advertising-and-online/pros-and-cons-of-social-media. Baruah, T D (2012). Effectiveness of Social Media as a tool of communication and its potential for technology enabled connections: A micro-level study. International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications. Volume 2, Issue 5. Copp, E (2016). 10 Benefits of Social Media for Business. Hootsuite. Retrieved from https://blog.hootsuite.com/social-media-for-business/. Hajli, M N (2014). A study of the impact of social media on consumers. International Journal of Market Research. Vol. 56 Issue 3. Hanafizadeh, P, Ravasan, A Z, Navabi, A Mehrabioun, M (2012). A Literature Review on the Business Impacts of Social Network Sites. International Journal of Virtual Communities and Social Networking. 4(1), 46-60. Ioan?s, E Stoica, I (2014). Social Media and its Impact on Consumers Behavior. International Journal of Economic Practices and Theories. Vol. 4, No. 2. Jagongo, A Kinyua, C (2013). The Social Media and Entrepreneurship Growth. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science. Vol. 3 No. 10. Keller, K. L. (2009). Building strong brands in a modern marketing communications environment. Journal of marketing communications. 15(2-3), 139-155. Molina?Morales, F X Martnez?Fernndez, M T (2010). Social networks: effects of social capital on firm innovation. Journal of Small Business Management. 48(2), 258-279. Neti, S (2011). Social media and its role in Marketing. International Journal of Enterprise Computing and Business Systems, Vol 1. Issue 2. Paquette, H (2013). Social Media as a Marketing Tool: A Literature Review. Textiles, Fashion Merchandising and Design. Parveen, F (2012). Impact of Social Media Usage On Organizations. Pacific Asia Conference on Information Systems. Siricharoen, W V (2012). Social Media, How does it Work for Business?. Social Media, How does it Work for Business?. Vol. 3, No. 4. Tretenhahn, S (2011). Discuss the advantage and disadvantage of using social networking tools and concepts in the meeting industry. AIM Group International. Trusov, M, Bodapati, A V, Bucklin, R E (2010). Determining influential users in internet social networks. Journal of Marketing Research. 47(4), 643-658. Van der Bank, C M (2015). The impact of social media: advantages or disadvantages. African Journal of Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure Vol. 4 (2).