Students Learning Abilities Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Students Learning Abilities - Essay Example Students are often advised by teachers and other elders to study for examinations over a period of time, as opposed to ‘cramming’ on the day before a test. Experimental research shows that spacing, a process where information is acquired in small bits over a period of time, allows better retention of facts in memory than when massed learning is used, where it is attempted to absorb all the information in one short sitting. However, the practice of cramming continues- mainly because many students succeed in getting through their examinations by this practice.In the experiments on spaced learning cited above, rote-learning was emphasized on, and participants had to recall facts. The experiments involved testing only vocabulary or obscure facts, which occupy only a small part of education. Whether the subjects were interested or enthusiastic about memorizing these facts and words is not certain. Interest in a topic has been found to have a notable effect on memory and recal l. Thus, it would be interesting to discover if the benefit of spacing persists if the information to be learned is to be understood, not just memorized, and is of particular interest to the student. My hypothesis is that test scores will be significantly higher when the studying is spaced out over days rather than done right before the test, even when a student is highly interested and enthusiastic about a subject - provided that there are no other conditions that would affect test performance.... Thus, it would be interesting to discover if the benefit of spacing persists if the information to be learned is to be understood, not just memorized, and is of particular interest to the student. My hypothesis is that test scores will be significantly higher when the studying is spaced out over days rather than done right before the test, even when a student is highly interested and enthusiastic about a subject - provided that there are no other conditions that would affect test performance. This prediction is based on my observation that very good students who do well on exams usually begin preparing for tests well ahead of time. The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of spacing on test results when the topic is of academic interest to the students. Methods This is an experimental study to determine the difference in test results when two different preparatory approaches are used. The independent study variable will be the type of studying routine that was used, and t he student’s status as being interested in Biology or not. The average test score of the group will be the dependent variable. An experimental design has been chosen in order to ensure that the test preparation time and preparatory material covered is similar and measurable for all the participants in a group. Biology has been chosen as the subject, as it involves reading and understanding, not just memorizing of facts, and is a topic which is highly interesting for some students, and the opposite for others. Various confounding factors could affect the results of this study. First, a group with a higher number of smarter students would have a higher average score. To control for this factor, participants will be assorted into the groups using stratification for

Malaysian stock market Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Malaysian stock market - Essay Example Using Duncan & Etebari's (1990) method, an initial sample of five securities firms in the KLSE which posted the largest price gains for each of the 49 trading weeks of 2005 will be obtained, all of which were queried by the KLSE during the same period as well. From the price data, initial raw returns will be calculated which in turn will be used to estimate average and cumulative average returns. Conversely, a measure of 'unusual' trading volume will be obtained from the samples by still using Duncan & Etebari's method in measuring abnormal trading volume. A t-test will be applied to determine if behaviour of the average and cumulative returns and positive abnormal volume results are significantly different from zero. Information disclosure is one of the most crucial ingredients for the effective operation of stock markets. Yang and Wu (2002) cite that the financial crisis in Southeast Asian countries that broke out in 1997 and the Enron bankruptcy case in the United States capital market in 2001 provide negative examples that teach about the importance of information on the stock market. Inadequate and even fraudulent information disclosure would bring tremendous negative effect on the effective operation of the whole capital market (Yang and Wu, 2002). As a listed company making full disclosure reduces information asymmetry and enables the public to have information necessary to make informed decisions (Hwa, 2004), Bursa Malaysia demands and requires issuing listed company for explanation when it observes unusual share price or trading volume changes for that company. As stated in the Bursa Malaysia Listing Requirements, paragraph 9.02(2), "a listed company is required to make immediate public disclosure of any material information." When information is voluntarily withheld, the company must closely monitor the share price of the company during the period. A company must make immediate announcement to Bursa Malaysia upon detecting unusual circumstances such as heavy share transaction volume, unusual market activity, surfacing rumours or news and signs that insider trading are happening. The company under these situations must immediately publicly clarify, confirm or deny the rumour or report (Hwa, 2004). Such a response may have i nformation content and thus market impact. The role of informational content of companies' responses to unusual market activity observed by the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange is the prime component of the study. The theory of efficient capital markets provides that stock prices will respond to announcements only when the information being announced is new and unexpected. Because changes in stock prices are unpredictable, when information is announced that has been expected by the market, the stock price will remain unchanged (Mishkin, 2003). Studies done by Teitenberg and Wheeler (2001) on information disclosure strategies write that public announcements do seen to affect the market valuations of firms. Effective information disclosure also entails the reduction or the control of insider trading in the stock market. In

What Is The Modularization Information Technology Essay

What Is The Modularization Information Technology Essay Modularization is currently in focus as a meaning for increasing competitiveness of industrial companies. This is achieved by bridging the advantages of standardization and rationalization with customization and flexibility. There are three definitions of the terms which needs to be clarified: module, modularity, and modularization. The definition of the term module has changed over time from being defined by the physical presence into being defined by structure and functionality. Modularity is a combination of systems attributes and functionality of the module itself. There are seven mayor modularity concepts: component sharing modularity, component swapping modularity, bus modularity, sectional modularity, fabricate to fit modularity, mix modularity and stack modularity. Modularization has evolved in an industrial context. There are three basic drivers behind the desire for modularity: modularization in product, modularization in production and modularization in inter-firm system. Modularization in design represents creation of variety, modularization in production represents the utilization of similarities and modularization in inter-firm system represents a reduction of complexities (Andrea Prencipe, 2003) Modularization does not mean that there is less assembly work required for manufacturing a truck. It simply means that there is reorganization in regard to who is doing what in the value and supply chain, with more sub-assembly work done by the suppliers. There is trend from complete assembly done by OEM to important sub-assemblies to be outsourced. This might not be irreversible, as assembly firms try to find the most beneficial approach for them that will be accepted by suppliers. A big part of the added value comes from the assembly operations. (Zima, 2005) Modularization types There are three types of concepts in modularization. These concepts are: Modularization in products (architecture) Modularization in production Modularization in inter-firm system Modularization in products Modularization in Products focuses upon product architecture and the required interrelationship between product function and structure. Achieving this one to one correspondence between the products subsystems and their functions allows modules to be designed with a high degree of autonomy and reduces the interdependence with other modules in essence, this refers to introducing and achieving modularity in product design. Others concur with the issue of interdependence, as they describe modularity in design as something which intentionally creates a high degree of independence or loose coupling between component designs. Figure 1.1 . (Robert Trimble, 2008) The left diagram is a schematic representation of the so-called integral product. Since the elements making up the product function (the left triangle) are interrelated with those making up the product structure (the right triangle) in a complex manner, the designer of Subsystem [S1] has to take the following factors into account: functional interdependence with the other subsystems (such as s1à ¢Ã¢â‚¬  Ã‚ f1à ¢Ã¢â‚¬  Ã‚ s2, and s1à ¢Ã¢â‚¬  Ã‚ f2à ¢Ã¢â‚¬  Ã‚ s2) structural interdependence with the other subsystems (physical interference, for example, s1à ¢Ã¢â‚¬  Ã‚ s2) Interdependence with the design of the entire system (consistency with the design of the whole system, s1à ¢Ã¢â‚¬  Ã‚ S1à ¢Ã¢â‚¬  Ã‚ S) 4) interdependence between the sub-functions (such as f1_f2, and F1_F2). Figure 1 1. Modularization in product decreases such interdependence between the concerned elements. It allows one-to-one correspondence between the subsystems and their functions, and enables, for example, the designer of Subsystem [S1] to focus solely on Sub-function [F1] and [S] (the structure of the product as a whole). The subsystem becomes a module with a self-contained function, which can be designed more autonomously. Remaining interdependence after modularization can further be reduced if the interfaces between the elements are simplified and standardized as much as possible. (Takeishi, 2001) Modularization in production Modularization in production describes the manufacturing system structure where, as a result of a modular product design, the product is produced from a series of modules each assembled on a sub-line before transfer to the product assembly line. A non-modular manufacturing system would be as a result of the product structure not containing any structurally cohesive large modules. (Robert Trimble, 2008). Modularization can be illustrated with a similar diagram shown in figure It is comprised of the Product Structure Hierarchy (right triangle) and the Product Process Hierarchy (left). In order to simplify the explanation, among the whole manufacturing processes, the focus here only on assembly work in the Product Process Hierarchy. The former hierarchy is built up in pursuit of functional independence of each subsystem (i.e., the degree to which a function of the product is achieved by a single subsystem), while the latter is made up for structural cohesiveness (i.e., the degree to which a collection of parts can be physically handled as one unit). The latter hierarchy is intended to contribute to structurally cohesive modules which are easy to manage material handling and quality control. Figure 1 1. The left diagram represents non-modular production processes. Without any structurally cohesive large modules, the product is to be assembled from eight small modules (s1 to s8) at the same hierarchical level on one long main assembly line. On the contrary, in the right diagram, there are two structurally-cohesive modules S1 and S2 on the right, and two subassembly lines to build them and one short main line for finished products on the left (remember the famous watchmaker story in Simon 1969). It can be said that the Product Structure Hierarchy with cohesive modules is translated into the Product Process Hierarchy with one main line and two subassembly lines. (Takeishi, 2001) Modularization in inter-firm system (outsourcing subsystems in larger units to outside suppliers) Modularization in Inter-firm Systems- describes the situation where large modules are assembled by suppliers on their own assembly lines and are delivered and assembled into finished products on the main line of the automaker This facet of modularity is essentially the outsourcing of the assembly of the module to the supply base. (Robert Trimble, 2008) Modularization in inter-firm system, which has drawn increasing attention in the European auto industry, entails outsourcing subsystems in large units (cohesive modules) to suppliers. The left diagram is a schematic representation of production with a higher in-house ratio, in which small modules (s1 s8) are delivered by outside suppliers. On the contrary, the right represents production based on a highly modular supplier system, in which large modules are assembled by outside suppliers on their subassembly lines, and are delivered and assembled into finished products on the main line of the manufacturer. Figure 1 1. Overall, the three facets of modularization and their interrelations can be illustrated within the same framework of multiple hierarchies as shown in the three pairs of diagrams. Product engineers, process engineers, and purchasing managers must make decisions about the product and process hierarchies and the inter-firm boundaries, while securing close coordination between them. It is obvious that these three facets of modularization must not be mixed up. At the same time, it is also clear that these decisions are interrelated with each other. They are the processes of making decisions about interrelated hierarchies of product functions, product structure, and production processes. There is always a possibility of some inconsistency or conflict between the decisions. In a sense, the most critical challenge in modularization is how to avoid or overcome such inconsistency and conflict through coordination. (Takeishi, 2001) Modularity types There are different types of modularity used in industry. An overview of the most common types can be found in Figure 1.1 (Erikstad, 2009). Figure 1.1 A more detailed division into different modularity types Component-sharing modularity there are single modules used in different products. The same module can be used in a completely different product family. Component-swapping modularity occurs when there are more alternative basic components can be paired with the same modular components creating different product variants belong to the same product family. Bus modularity is used when a module with two or more interfaces can be matched with any number of the components selected from a list of basic components. The interfaces accept any combination of the basic components. Bus modularity allows variations in the amount and the locations of the basic components in a product. Component-swapping and component-sharing modularity allows only variation in the types of basic components. Sectional modularity is used when there is any number and combination possible by the configuration. Each module can have one, two or more interfaces. There are only a few limitations. Fabricate to Fit Modularity One or more standard components are used with one or more infinitely variable additional components. Variation is usually associated with physical dimensions that can be modified. An example for this kind of modularity is a cable assembly. The connectors of the cable are standard and the length of the cable is variable. Stack modularity is the method where a collection of modules can be connected to create a unit with a value in some dimension that is the sum of the individual modules. The modules must be of the same type but it can be either a combination of identical modules or a combination of different sizes of a module. Mix modularity combines different components into something new, for example paint or concrete. What are the pros and cons of modularization? Advantages Reduce time and labor hours required for assembly process Introducing modularization makes the assembly faster and less complicated, by installing complete preassembled modules the production is more efficient with the result of reducing time and labor. Reduction of Labor Cost Because the supplier orders and assembles the parts into a module this time is saved at the one production. Also ordering a module is less labor-intensive compared to construction standards ordering. Completion of Just-In-Time System One Effects of modularization is for example the decreasing numbers of parts with the effect that JIT is more manageable Cost Reduction Effect By increasing the amount of module suppliers the risk of stationary production decreases. If one supplier is not able to deliver on time he gets displaced by the next one . Easy upgrading : Once modularization is implemented, one module can be upgraded easy. This way the system can be always up to date . Changing a module has no effects to the entire design. Dividing a product into  components and interfaces allows changes without affecting the entire  design. Modularization Breaks down problems into smaller and simpler parts By definition of modularity, the concept enables designers to break the problem into smaller and simpler parts Sharing Modules Designee teams can share or use again components from other designs, development time can  be decreased. More effective designing    Another benefit of modularity is that it enables engineers to focus more directly on their own module, often leading to a more effective design solution.   Disadvantages Designing modules is more difficult Designing for modularity is  more difficult and takes more effort  than designing a  construction standard system.  Determining how to separate a system into modules and how these modules will interconnect is the root of the problem. Tunnel Vision Once the design  is complete, product  development is simplified by modularity The  possibility exists that designers will not think to  look at an other methods or solutions.  Such tunnel vision may minimize the overall quality of  the design. Performance Almost always performance can be improved over a modular design, because the elimination of interfaces reduces weight and size.  moreover, it is sometimes difficult to  integrate modules, designed by different teams, and to  make them work  together optimally. Communication communication between teams is the potential for redundancy Maintenance Often when one part of a module needs to be replaced the only way is to replace the hole module. It is also command that it is not possible to order just one particular part only the hole module. The benefits of modular supply for the assembler are cost reduction, increase of the low-scale assembly efficiency, and minimization of investment requirements in new plants (Humphrey and Salerno, 2001), as outsourcing allows the automotive manufacturer to allocate part of the investment to the suppliers who will be located near the assembly plant (Lung, 2001, Lewis and Wight, 2000). From their side, the suppliers can decrease the financial involvement in the new production location of the client by associating themselves with local partners. In this case they have to ensure that the international standards of competitiveness (productivity, quality, logistics etc) will be reached (Lung, 2001). VOLVO.pdf Sectors which apply modularization Figure 1 1. Around 1990s up till now the industries have developed from designing and developing one-of-a-kind products units, towards more standardized and modular products. With these standardized methods a large number different product can be product to satisfy the customers (Erikstad, 2009). Throughout the industries, many companies in differed sectors have adopted some kind of modularisation in their organisation. Each sector or company that adopted modularization is unique in their solutions how to implement this strategy. The sectors on the frontiers of modularisation are the automotive, Mechanical engineering, Special machinery/Plant engineering, these sectors modularisation is widely used. There are many more sectors where modularisation is practise (Berger, 2012). In the diverse industries there are numerous examples how modularisation is implement to the benefits of companies. The in automotive basic platforms are used in many different models or brands. This is the same in electronics were components are extensive reuse both across different brands and across different product types. Software companies split up their complex software systems to able to work parallel and reduce the complexity of the program (Jacobsen, 2003). For building ocean going cargo ship it is almost impossible to build a ship without modularisation because of the size and complexity (Gockowski, 2005)The benefits reported are reduced cost, shorter development cycles and the ability to maintain a broad product range while standardizing and reducing the number of different components and configuration elements. (Erikstad, 2009) Companies which apply modularization successfully In this chapter the most successful companies which apply modularization will be described. The companies are divided in different kinds of sectors ( see Figure 1 1.)(Berger, 2012): Automotive Mechanical engineering Special machinery/ plant engineering Electronics Medical engineering Railways Heating / climate Automation Power tools Other Automotive Scania Scania is a very well known company which use the modularization strategy since 1930s. Scanias unique modular product range is one of its most important success factors. Since each product of Scania is made entirely on the basis of the customers business and the real-world situation, it ensures the best possible performance and quality. Meanwhile, the modular product system lowers Scanias costs, since by using a limited number of components the company can give each customer an optimised product. This business model is one important reason why Scania has been profitable every year for six decades and often describes its relationship with customers as a win-win situation. (Fagrenius, 2012 ) Car manufacturing A lot of car manufacturers produce by a modularisation strategy. With this modularization different parts are produced and can be fit together on different types of cars. Some examples of car brands which change the same parts on different types are Volkswagen, Seat and Audi. (MILTENBURG, 2003) Mechanical engineering Shipbuilding Marintek The Norwegian Marine Technology Research Institute (MARINTEK) performs research and development for companies in the field of marine technology. This companies develops ships on a modularization strategy. The whole ship is divided in modules which are separately fabricated. (Erikstad, 2009) Damen Damen shipyards is the biggest company in the Netherlands which designs and manufacture on base of modularisation. (Damen, 2013) Ship equipment The equipment on a ship and in the engine room is designed and manufactures in modules. These modules are manufactured and assembled in the workshop, and are fit together on a ship ( as a block). This is a successful way to produce because of many technological, services and economical aspects. Some companies which are manufacturing on this way are Marine service Noord and Impas, and Alfa laval. (Noord, 2013) (Laval, 2013) Product manufacturing There are a lot of production companies which use the modularization strategy. They have their focus on reducing delivery time and production costs. Some well known production companies in the Netherlands are Phillips, VDL, Burgers trailers, Hytrans fire systems and Vanderlande. (TNO, 2008) Special machinery/ plant engineering Siemens Power plant Based on our extensive experience in building power plants, Siemens has developed innovative combined cycle reference power plants, known as Siemens Combined Cycle (SCCà ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢) turnkey plants. Suited for applications from 100 MW to over 850 MW per unit, these plants help you to meet the challenges of a dynamic market and are designed to optimize planning, implementation times and lower life-cycle costs. (AG, 2008) Nuclear power plants For currently operating U.S. nuclear plants, the average construction period was 9,3 years; the longest was 23,5 years. In Japan, close attention to modularization and construction sequencing has reduced construction times for the ABWR reactor design. (Lee Presley, 2009) Fluor Fluor has pioneered the economic advantages and commercialization of modular construction. Fluors proven performance showcases large-scale modular construction across a variety of Client industries. From brutal arctic winters working the Trans-Alaskan Pipeline, or offshore oil and gas platforms in Trinidad Tobago, or state-of-the-art biotechnology facilities, to the new San Francisco Oakland Bay Bridge, Fluor has successfully utilized modular construction to address Client challenges. (Fluor, 2013) Hitachi Hitachi has been developing and perfecting modularization technology to facilitate domestic nuclear power plant construction since the early 1980s, and it has made great strides in rationalization. Modularization is the ideal plant construction technique for reduced costs, higher quality, improved safety and shorter construction times. We believe that modularization technology is one of the best solutions for the current plant construction environment. (Maru, 2002) Oil and gas industry Linde BOC Process Plants LLC Modularized construction has many positive aspects to consider. The modules contain the equipment, piping, heat tracing, electrical instrumentation systems, specialized coatings, fire protection, ladders, and platforms. Modules can be horizontal, vertical, single level, or multi-level depending on the plot space, equipment, and required piping configuration. The optimum split of modular field construction efforts is determined for each individual project based upon such factors as local labour costs, transportation limitations and schedule. (Laar, 2008) Electronics and automation Philips Philips is one of the largest television manufacturers in the world. Fierce competition in the television market is leading to smaller profit margins, price erosion, shorter time to market, and a battle for shelf space. To remain competitive, we must minimize the bill of material and the cost of system development. Minimizing the bill of material puts constraint on the resources of a television, such as memory, bandwidth, CPU cycles, and footprint. We minimize the cost of system development by modularization. Airbus The Integrated Modular Avionics (IMA) concept, which replaces numerous separate processors and line replaceable units (LRU) with fewer, more centralized processing units, is promising significant weight reduction and maintenance savings in the new generation of commercial airliners (Ramsey, 2007). Medical engineering Phillips Already in the early days of CAN, Philips Medical Systems noticed the advantages of CAN and decided to use this network protocol as communication network for interconnecting various components such as collimators, generators, and patient tables in their X-ray systems. To achieve a modular and open approach, a group within Philips Medical Systems, managed by Tom Suters, developed the first higher layer protocol for CAN, the CAN Message Specification (CMS), which was presented to the public in 1992. Heating / climate The integrated modular cooling solutions combine multiple components designed to fit your specific requirements and specifications. This integrated solution not only reduces the total number of suppliers, but it also drives down your overall costs (laval, 2013) Power tools Black Decker The patented MATRIX modular tool system offers performance and value in a simple and practical way for power tool users to grow their toolbox at their own pace. With this system, users can access some of the industrys most popular types of tools which were traditionally limited to professionals while offering savings up to 42% versus purchasing bare tools separately. (Decker, 2013) Control of modularization Joery stuk btp btf etc Key elements Key elements modularization Internal key elements Product design etc External key elements Suppliers etc Boundary conditions

Importance of the Trial in To Kill a Mockingbird Essay -- Kill Mocking

Importance of the Trial in To Kill a Mockingbird      Ã‚   The trial of Tom Robinson is central to our understanding of racial and social prejudice in Maycomb. Harper Lee uses Tom Robinson's 'crime' to bring tensions in the town to a head and the author uses the trial as a way of making the ideas behind such tensions explicit for the reader.    The two people involved in the so-called crime, Tom Robinson and Mayella Ewell, are at the very bottom of Maycomb society. Tom is black and Mayella one of the poorest of the poor whites. However, neither of them fits into the stereotypes held by the people of Maycomb. Tom is honest, hardworking and dependable, as Mr Link Deas's shouted testimony and his demeanour in court demonstrate. Mayella is a member of the poorest and most shiftless families in the town yet she looks after her brothers and sisters, keeps herself clean and tends to her geraniums in the most difficult of circumstances. It is clear that before the alleged rape a sort of friendship had grown up between Tom and Mayella.    Tom Robinson was probably the only person who was decent to (Mayella).    Unfortunately the ideas about race and society held at the time meant that contact between them could never be anything other than distant and respectful (quite apart from the fact that Tom was married anyway). But Mayella's yearning for some form of close human contact emerges during the trial. She had saved for almost a year to have enough nickels to give her brothers and sisters a treat in order to have her house empty when she invited Tom inside. When she made her advance to Tom he was caught by his inability to hit a white woman and the extreme taboo that Maycomb placed on any form of... ...arrated by Scout is that her childish understanding is free of adult prejudice and expectations. She and Jem measure the proceedings against simple child-like ideas of truth and justice and find them grossly wanting. On the other hand Jem is an expert on court behaviour from watching her father on other occasions so she is able to give an insightful account into most aspects of the trial.    The Tom Robinson case shows the ugliness of both racial and social prejudice. Ultimately the jurors choose to vote along racial lines without regard for truth or justice. Mayella and Tom are both victims of Maycomb's prejudice but only Tom has to pay.    Works Cited Jones, Carolyn. "Atticus Finch and the Mad Dog." The Southern Quarterly Summer 1996: 56-63. Lee, Harper. To Kill a Mockingbird. New York City, NY:   J.B.Lippincott Company, 1990.   

Halftime in America: Chrysler Commercial Essay

The Chrysler commercial during the 2012 Super Bowl was extremely well done. It stars Clint Eastwood delivering a muscularly optimistic message about Detroit and its auto industry. Clint talks about America and how it has been hurting due to the poor economy and the unemployment rate. He does this through an interesting allegory of football and halftime. Chrysler does well targeting a very broad audience of American auto consumers. This particular commercial uses a fear tactic through a lowly lit background and the unmistakable growl of Clint Eastwood to reach the target audience. Chrysler attempts to tug at the proverbial heart strings or emotions of the auto consumer by playing on the fears of people and their lack of faith in the American economy. Americans want to believe that America is great and will pick itself up from the dire straits it is in. This commercial does a good job at trying to light that patriotic fire. This commercial was definitely well thought out. At a cost of $3. 5 million per 30 second time slot (halftime in America was 2:00 minutes long) Chrysler spared no expense. The 2012 Super bowl had 111 million viewers, a calculated move no doubt (â€Å"Super Bowl Ads Cost Average Of $3. 5m†, 2012). Detroit has been a long standing icon of American ingenuity and manufacturing; Clint Eastwood is an American acting icon; so it is no surprise that Chrysler put the two together to make a commercial. Chrysler, being rooted in America is reaching for brand recognition though perceived â€Å"Americanism†. It is an effectively persuasive tactic, though tasteless in my opinion. I say this for the simple fact that auto industry is no longer bound by borders; it is a global industry where many â€Å"American† autos are made with parts manufactured overseas. â€Å"For the third straight year, Toyota Camry, a product of Japan’s largest automaker, is the â€Å"most American car,† as determined by Cars. com’s formula. Honda Accord, the flagship of Japan’s second largest automaker, is second. † (â€Å"Report: The Two ‘Most American’ Cars Are Japanese†, 2011). I elieve that although the commercial was well thought out and constructed, Chrysler is rather tasteless in its tactics and disguises the tastelessness very well. In general, Americans are a proud and patriotic people; playing on this is a clever way to sell cars. Using American icons to sell cars is clever. In short, Chrysler gets an A+ for resourcefulness and creativity, but gets an overall failing grade for the hanky-panky thrown in the consumers face to disguise their real motives.

The Beach Boys And California Mythology

The music of the Beach Boys during their peak creative period (1961-1967) is a key element in the â€Å"California myth,† which depicts the state’s culture as a youthful, exuberant paradise made possible by affluence, technology, and climate.It presents to the world in image of the state (particularly its southern coast) as an ideal place for the young to enjoy the climate, their freedom, and the benefits of an affluent society – an image that belied many of the region’s social realities and presented an appealing but ultimately distorted picture.The music itself has little intrinsically â€Å"Californian† about it. The vocals owe a great deal to white doo-wop from the late 1950s (particularly the intricate group harmonies), while the music derives heavily from that of Chuck Berry (indeed, â€Å"Surfin’ USA† is merely a blatant rewrite of Berry’s â€Å"Sweet Little Sixteen†). However, their lightness and upbeat, propulsiv e sound coupled nicely with Brian Wilson and Mike Love’s lyrics, which celebrated their own yearnings and their idealized vision of California culture.During their first six years of recording (before Brian Wilson’s mental illness became evident), the Beach Boys promoted southern California as a teenager’s paradise. Critic Jim Miller writes that, at their peak, the group â€Å"propagated their own variant on the American dream, painting a dazzling picture of beaches, parties and endless summers, a paradise of escape† and created â€Å"odes to affluent hedonism† (DeCurtis 192).Numerous songs depicted life there as a near-constant revel, in which teenagers had easy access to cars and thus to parties or the beach, where surfers dominated and one could find numerous opportunities for romance. The image of the sun-tanned, affluent, young white surfer spread internationally shaped perceptions of California throughout the world. The picture they presented repeated the same message – that California was a place where one could find pleasures unavailable elsewhere.Several of their songs, such as â€Å"409,† â€Å"Fun, Fun, Fun,† and â€Å"Little Deuce Coupe† (and more whimsically, â€Å"Little Old Lady from Pasadena†) exalt the automobile as a key component of their lifestyle; indeed, cars made the beach more accessible, accommodated dating and socializing, and liberated teenagers to a great degree. Furthermore, these cars had to be not simply serviceable, but also powerful and impressive; owning a hot rod was a status symbol in Beach Boys songs, giving one the most prestige and the most appeal to the opposite sex, as made evident in â€Å"I Get Around† (which combines cars, fun, and prestige in no uncertain terms).Regarding the opposite sex, their tunes celebrated California women as an ideal, attracted by fast cars or surfing prowess and blessed with good looks and warm, liberated personalit ies one could never find elsewhere. â€Å"California Girls† in particular spread the image of the young California as blonde, frequently found at the beach, and responsive to affluent male surfers with fast cars and status among their peers. They also helped make California synonymous with surfing, though one only one of the group (drummer Dennis Wilson) actually did it.â€Å"Surfin’ USA† and â€Å"Surfin’ Safari† depicted it as a nearly-ideal outdoor activity, which let one enjoy the mild climate, attract members of the opposite sex, and live in a hedonistic and relaxed atmosphere seemingly devoid of troubles or pressures. The affluence of the California they depicted made cars available, and, by extension, dating and fun impossible to find elsewhere, and the Beach Boys combined these in their material. Miller writes that â€Å"the group’s pursuit of fun, whether on a surfboard or in a car, set them apart and assured them . . .of an audien ce, no matter how restrictive the specific motifs, although surfing, cars, and the California locale all became emblematic† (DeCurtis 194). Though the Beach Boys’ material offered the promise of California as a virtual paradise of fast cars, status, and opportunities for romance, they neatly hid the broader realities of California life, creating the paradoxes that Rawls mentions. Most importantly, this vision did not apply to much of California, especially its northern half, a diverse region of mountains, urbanized areas, agriculture, and a much colder coastline.Also, the groups’ members hailed from blue-collar backgrounds, and the Wilson brothers (only one of whom actually surfed) came from a violent, hardly idyllic home. Their songs glorified not only a lifestyle that the group’s members generally did not practice, but it also celebrated a happiness that the troubled Brian Wilson could only yearn for, as well as eternal youth – an impossibility wh ich seemed less relevant as the members aged.It also managed to present a distorted picture of the Los Angeles region by focusing on a small class of young people. According to scholar Mike Davis, â€Å"It was the mesmerizing vision of a white kids’ car-and-surf-based Utopia† (Davis 66) that was generally not relevant to poorer youth or people of color. Their picture of California also excludes the region’s racial tensions; indeed, the Watts riots of 1965 erupted during this period, expressing realities that never figured in the Beach Boys’ music.The Beach Boys’ early music summed up California life as rooted in affluence and dependent on fast, flashy cars, which made leisure and attraction of the opposite sex possible. They presented an idealized and rather sanitized picture of a diverse, sometimes conflicted region. Indeed, class differences, racial tensions, and the more disturbing realities of the 1960s seem invisible, masked by the image of Ca lifornia as a place where one could have constant fun and revel in constant youth.Though they created a distorted, highly selective picture, the image remains potent to people outside the state and still colors many people’s perceptions of southern California. REFERENCES Davis, Mike. City of Quartz. New York: Vintage, 1992. DeCurtis, Anthony, James Henke, and Holly George-Warren, eds. The Rolling Stone Illustrated History of Rock & Roll. New York: Random House, 1992. Maasik, Sonia and Jack Solomon, eds. California Dreams and Realities. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2004.