Category: Interpretation

Introduction

One of the responsibilities of a healthcare professional is communication with a patient, especially when it comes to making health decisions with a lasting impact. Among other things, having meaningful conversations with a patient helps to gain informed consent, which is the foundation of ethical medical practice. However, transmitting information is not always possible when a healthcare professional interacts with non-English speakers and their families. The inability to gain consent from such patients compromises the principle of autonomy. This essay will discuss the issue of medical consent in non-English speakers and measures that medical facilities might undertake such as hiring professional interpreters.

Factors Influencing Care in Non-English Speakers and Their Families

Some worldwide tendencies account for the pressing issue of language discordance at medical facilities – fast-paced globalization, increasing rates of migration, and travel. As a result, medical practitioners have to work with a growing number of non-English speaking patients, with little to no training on how to deal with such situations. A study by Parsons, Baker, Smith-Gorvie, and Hudak (2014) showed that physicians in Toronto had to choose between “getting by” and “getting help” – as in doing their best or delegating communication to an interpreter (e004613). They based their choice on time constraints, the gravity of the issue, and availability of facilitating services.

Language barriers are not only disruptive to communication but also reasonably frustrating for each party involved. In a survey conducted in the US, half of the respondents reported a poor understanding of treatment goals and test results (Raynor, 2015). There is evidence that communication barriers had the potential of leading to adverse health outcomes and insufficient compliance with treatment plans (Lee et al., 2017). Thus, language discordance may also be dangerous in perspective, especially in regards to the inability to fully consent due to misunderstanding.

Interpretation as Workable Solution

Hiring a professional who is fluent in two or more languages and knowledgeable of medical terminology may help significantly with dealing with non-English speakers. In their study, Lee et al. (2017) advocated for providing rapid access to bedside phones for translation. The findings of their research showed that interpretation over the phone improved consent for patients with limited language proficiency. After phone interpreter implementation, a larger share of patients reported a full understanding of the reasons why a procedure was necessary and risk awareness. All in all, the authors concluded that their consent was genuine and well-informed (Lee et al., 2017).

Challenges of Implementing Medical Interpretation

According to statistics, in the United States, more than 25 million people have limited English proficiency (LEP) (Zong & Batalova, 2015). The government prescribes the use of specialized interpreters for patients with LEP; however, this mandate is unfunded, and the guidelines are barely followed (The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, 2016). Due to the shortage of medical interpreters, hospitals are not always capable of facilitating encounters with non-English speakers. Even the largest medical facilities struggle with hiring a sufficient number of professionals.

For instance, in Texas, St. Luke’s hospital has only ten Spanish-English interpreters at its disposal whereas the Hispanic population number that it serves amounts to 40,000 (Diño, 2017, para. 8). Working conditions do not help the situation – interpreters are overloaded and work long shifts, which may lead to high turnover rates.

Conclusion

Through communication, a medical practitioner aims at explaining the particularities of a chosen procedure, outlining possible implications, and gathering feedback. Language barriers may disrupt medical communication and compromise the validity of gained consent. Poor understanding of the nature of prescribed medical procedures was linked to adverse health outcomes and lesser adherence to treatment plans. Medical practitioners are often forced to choose between trying to understand their patients and asking for help, with the latter not always being an option. In the United States, there is an observable shortage of medical interpreters, which may be explained by insufficient funding and harsh working conditions.

References

Diño, G. (2017). Demand in the US for Legal and Healthcare Interpreters Gets Increasing Media Attention. Slator. Web.

Lee, J. S., Pérez-Stable, E. J., Gregorich, S. E., Crawford, M. H., Green, A., Livaudais-Toman, J., & Karliner, L. S. (2017). Increased access to professional interpreters in the hospital improves informed consent for patients with limited english proficiency. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 32(8), 863-870.

Parsons, J. A., Baker, N. A., Smith-Gorvie, T., & Hudak, P. L. (2014). To ‘get by’ or ‘get help’? A qualitative study of physicians’ challenges and dilemmas when patients have limited English proficiency. BMJ Open, 4(6), e004613.

Raynor, E. M. (2016). Factors affecting care in non-English-speaking patients and families. Clinical Pediatrics, 55(2), 145-149.

The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration. (2016). Title VI prohibition against national origin discrimination as it affects persons with limited English proficiency. Web.

Zong, J., & Batalova, J. (2015). The limited English proficient population in the United States. Migration Policy Institute. Web.

Introduction

Interpretation of test results is not less important than specimen collection and analysis. Laboratory specialists need to be particularly attentive when interpreting the results since any errors in this process may cause harmful outcomes for patients. Lab technologists at Al-Rahba adhere to all regulations concerning the formulation of reports and their interpretations.

Standard Reporting Systems and Recommendations

A commonly established way of reporting results is to release the test outcomes from the Center System through the Hospital Information System upon verification by the technologist who did the test, senior technologist, or head of the section.

Standard reporting in the Laboratory Information System PathNet incorporates the following procedures:

1. for hematology and chemistry sections, a technologist should choose the option “Accession Result Entry” in PathNet. Then, the patient accession number should be entered. When the Center shows the results on the screen, the technologist should confirm them by choosing the “verify” option on the bottom right part of the screen. For the tests performed manually, it is necessary to input the results into the system prior to verifying them (1).
2. for the blood bank section, it is necessary to choose “BB Result Entry” in PathNet and follow the same steps.

There may also occur a need to report the results by telephone. Only panic values are reported with the help of this method. According to the Panic Value Notification policy, it is necessary to report panic values to the ward nurse or requesting physician.

Interpretation of Results and the Process of Issuing the Final Report

Interpretation is a permanent part of patients’ medical records. Upon verification in the LIS, all patient results are forwarded to the HIS Powerchart, in which the results form is viewed by the physician. In order to preserve confidentiality, results are not given to patients or their family members. Instead, they are relayed through the physician, and a patient can ask for a hard copy through medical records.

Appropriate interpretation presupposes entering the results of manual and blood bank tests into a logbook. This duty should be fulfilled before the shift ends. The technologist should sign the laboratory’s copy of the results and mention the time and date of completing the test. Such reports are kept in a file for a period of nearly two years.

Interpretation of results excludes giving any medical advice to patients or their family members by technical staff. When a patient or family member asks for interpretation, only a hematologist or laboratory COS may offer some comments or suggestions (2). However, these specialists need to consult the physician prior to providing any interpretation for patients or family members.

All lab reports for manually filled inquiries should be available at the reception. They can only be given to authorized staff members (clinic porter, ward porter, nurse, physician, or Medical Records Department clerk) after acquiring their signatures. The reports that will be sent to the physician have to be signed by the technologist who did the test and, if possible, the head of the section or senior technologist within normal working hours (8 a.m. – 4 p.m.). After normal hours (4 p.m. – 8 a.m.), on Fridays and Saturdays, and Public holidays, the technologist responsible for performing the test has to issue a report and verify it.

The final report has to contain the following elements:

• the patient’s name and other identifiers of the specimen;
• the name of the clinician that ordered the test;
• the tests that were performed, their results, and units of measurement;
• the date and time when the specimen was collected;
• the condition of unsatisfactory specimens;
• reference values for the tests;
• the time and date of reporting the results;
• the identity of the lab specialist who performed the test (3).

The Potential for Misinterpretation

If some of the requirements and policies concerning the test results are not followed, there is a possibility of misinterpretation of results. In the blood bank section, the most common misinterpretation is associated with hemolysis laboratory tests (4). Such a situation occurs when an emergency blood transfusion is needed, and there is no time to perform the screen and blood type of a patient. In such cases, universal donor group blood is transfused to a person. If no antibody screen is performed, there is a potential risk for a deferred reaction to hemolytic transfusion in case if the patient has been all immunized to “minor RBC antigens” (4). As a result of such misinterpretation, a patient may develop worsening anemia. This and other misinterpretation issues may produce a harmful impact on patients, and it is crucial to do everything possible to avoid them.

A Sample Report

CBC (Complete Blood Count)

Date of performing the test: Time:

Patient:
Clinician:
Lab specialist:
Unsatisfactory specimen (tick or cross):

Date of reporting the results: Time:

Annotation: all but two components checked by the CBC test are within the norms. Increased WBS count may signify inflammation of infection. Increased hemoglobin may signify pulmonary fibrosis or congenital heart disease.

Signature: ________________

References

1. College of American Pathologists. All common checklist: CAP accreditation program. Northfield: College of American Pathologists; 2015.
2. Joint Commission International Accreditation Standards for Hospitals. 6th ed. Oak Brook: Joint Commission International; 2017.
3. Health Authority of Abu Dhabi. HAAD clinical laboratory standards. Abu-Dhabi: HAAD; 2011.
4. Laposata M. Clinical diagnostic tests: how to avoid errors in ordering tests and interpreting results. New York: Demos Medical Publishing; 2016.

Introduction

Mental health is an integral part and most important component of health. Mental disorders are illnesses that cause disturbances in a person’s thinking, behavior, and emotional state. The patient has abnormal thoughts and perceptions of reality (hallucinations, suicidal tendencies, paranoia), unstable emotional state and behavioral reactions (aggression, depression), and difficulties communicating with others. People with these illnesses desperately need professional help because negative attitudes toward such diseases persist even in today’s society. Psychiatric problems can be treated with therapy, medication, or a combination.

The Development of the Recovery Model

The main figures who influenced the development of the recovery model are Judy Chamberlin, Clifford W. Beers, John Percival, and Rachel Grant-Smith. John Percival contributed to the emergence of this model because he was dissatisfied with the work of the doctors who treated his psychosis (Tambling, 2022). For centuries, people who had suffered spiritual, mental, or bodily trauma often recovered (underwent spiritual, psychological, and sometimes physical rehabilitation) in numerous monasteries. The recovery model began to gain popularity at the end of the 20th century. In England and the United States after World War II, rehabilitation principles were developed, which later became the basis for rehabilitating the sick and disabled in different countries. Rehabilitation is the use of various opportunities to reduce the impact of factors that limit a person’s vital activity or lead to a loss of ability to work. At the same time, such a branch of science and practice as physical science and practice as physical and rehabilitative medicine is an independent medical specialty aimed at providing physical and cognitive functioning (behavior including), participation in social life (primarily quality of life) and modification of personal and environmental factors.

Defining the Recovery Model

The advantage of the recovery model over others is that it makes a person believe in recovery. People facing mental illness often lose hope because society imposes the view that they are incurably ill. This is why a person becomes completely immersed in their illness and cannot be completely cured. Many treatment models focus on suppressing the symptoms but do not address the true cause of the illness (Mullen et al., 2020). Treatment of symptoms can lead to a temporary sense that the illness is over, but patients soon return to their previous condition, continuing to live their old way. The recovery model focuses on full recovery, not treating these symptoms (Morales & Moreno, 2020). This process involves an in-depth analysis of life and changing every aspect on the way to full healing (Pincus et al., 2016). In this connection, it is necessary to pay more and more attention not only to clinical but also to psychological and social factors and personal and social features of the individual in their interaction and, thus, to provide more versatile and effective care.

Recovery model therapy involves facilitating the growth and development of the patient through the phases of recovery. For the recovery model to have long-term effects, it must be linked to more objective measures of disease course and functioning in society. The authors believe that the main limitation of the consumer model of personal and social recovery is that it needs to be based on established psychological principles and is built on vague, objectively defined constructs. However, the recovery model, as many authors believe, should be recognized when patients, usually due to treatment and rehabilitation, no longer have serious symptoms of illness affecting personal independence and can function relatively normally in their families, social life, work, studies, self-management and leisure time activities (Llewellyn-Beardsley et al., 2019). In other words, the form of recovery follows functioning.

The Major Concepts of the Recovery Model

Hope, empowerment, self-responsibility, and social connections can be considered the main concepts of recovery. The patient needs to participate in community activities for recovery (Eddie et al., 2019). It is important to understand that recovery is a complex path. There will be deviations along the way, which may entail a return to old behaviors, and the person may or may not return to their previous level of functioning. It is important to believe in recovery and not give up, which is the concept of hope.

Empowerment is shifting the focus from the clinician to the patient. People must rely on their abilities, not the doctor, to do all the work. Self-responsibility is the patient following up on his or her actions for a speedy recovery (Eddie et al., 2019). The patient needs to understand what his or her actions are causing the disorder and try to get rid of the underlying cause on his or her own. As bearers of experience, people are not simply automatons driven by neurocognitive processes. Self-efficacy represents the power of one’s control of internal and external experience; confidence in one’s abilities, including others’ capabilities, contributes to self-esteem and life satisfaction. Social bonding is the patient’s avoidance of self-isolation. In order to successfully get rid of the disorder, it is necessary to be an active member of society, which can help eliminate depression and other serious disorders.

Similarities Between Postmodernism and Social Constructionism and the Recovery Model

The goal of social constructivism is to identify how individuals and groups create their perceived reality. This theory looks at how people create social phenomena that are institutionalized and turned into traditions (Chiara & Romaioli, 2021). In the recovery model, some aspects are shaped by society, after which the patient adopts them and forms his or her treatment. Scientists have developed a postmodern approach in practical psychology, according to which the problem of mood is a problem of perceiving the surrounding present tense; it is a problem of the ability to regulate processes of spontaneous “slipping” of consciousness from the “here and now” into the future or the past (Holtz, 2020). In practice, the provisions of these theories are applied very widely. The patient’s perception and vision of the world play an important role in the recovery model. Doctors encourage the patient on the road to recovery by changing preconceptions, if any. In this way, people overcome the disease with their strength, completely changing their lives and their view of life. This is the similarity between Social Constructionism, Postmodernism, and the Recovery Model-they are based on man’s perception of the world around him.

The Importance of the Recovery Model to Marriage and Family Therapy Practice

Gradually, the approach to the family as a unit of psychological analysis and psychological influence began to gain more and more popularity. In this connection, the “identified patient,” the one for whom the family has gone to therapy, is viewed by family therapists not as a patient but as an element of a dysfunctional family system. Accordingly, the family therapist’s work focuses not on the intrapsychic problems of individuals but on the interaction patterns, structure, and processes of the family as a whole (Bohley & McGuire, 2022). Consequently, family therapy creates the conditions for forming a functional family organization that will ensure the realization of the potentialities of each family member.

Marriage is a socially regulated permanent bond, usually between a man and a woman, based on personal feelings and sexual relationships to create a family. Each person is an individual with his or her outlook on life. This can lead to conflicts that escalate into hurting each other. Gradually, an approach to the family as a unit of psychological analysis and psychological influence became more and more popular (Wittenborn et al., 2019). Accordingly, the “identified patient,” the one for whom the family went to therapy, is viewed by family therapists not as a patient but as an element of a dysfunctional family system. Accordingly, the family therapist’s work focuses not on the intrapsychic problems of individuals but on the interaction patterns, structure, and processes of the family as a whole. Consequently, family therapy creates the conditions for forming a functional family organization that will ensure the realization of the potentialities of each family member.

There can be many problems in family life that lead to the development of mental disabilities. Individuals may be disadvantaged in their marriage and society, causing them to lose faith in their abilities. Such cases lead to a person’s dysfunction, and they become dependent on their partner (Tadros et al., 2021). The recovery model can help individuals believe they can control their life and mental health. The model can also help to get to the root cause of the problem in the marriage.

How Applying the Concepts of the Recovery Model Will Make Me a More Effective MFT

With the recovery model, MFT will provide quality care that is different from other treatment approaches. The person will treat the therapist as an assistant rather than the main actor, making for a different relationship between the two. The relationship between the patient and the therapist is important in treatment (Coyne et al., 2019). In the majority of cases, with correct and timely diagnostics of mental diseases, prescription of early and adequate treatment, and application of the recovery model, combined with methods of social rehabilitation and psycho-correction, it is possible not only to stop acute symptoms quickly but also to achieve full restoration of the patient’s social adaptation.

Conclusion

Thus, the recovery model can be a very effective method of treatment. People begin to analyze the disorder from within, getting rid of the root causes. This model is superior because the doctor cannot fully influence the patient’s life. People with mental disorders take responsibility for themselves and help themselves get back on track. However, this treatment method can only be accepted for adequate patients who can assess their condition and take the necessary steps.

References

Bohley, T., & McGuire, M. E. (2022). Family Systems. Social Workers’ Desk Reference, 263.

Chiara, G., & Romaioli, D. (2021). The challenge of migratory flows in the Mediterranean sea to psychology: A single case study from a social constructionist perspective. Journal of Constructivist Psychology, 34(1), 98-115. Web.

Coyne, A. E., Constantino, M. J., & Muir, H. J. (2019). Therapist responsivity to patients’ early treatment beliefs and psychotherapy process. Psychotherapy, 56(1), 11. Web.

Eddie, D., Hoffman, L., Vilsaint, C., Abry, A., Bergman, B., Hoeppner, B.,… & Kelly, J. F. (2019). Lived experience in new models of care for substance use disorder: a systematic review of peer recovery support services and recovery coaching. Frontiers in psychology, 10, 1052.

Holtz, P. (2020). Does postmodernism really entail a disregard for the truth? Similarities and differences in postmodern and critical rationalist conceptualizations of truth, progress, and empirical research methods. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, 545959. Web.

Llewellyn-Beardsley, J., Rennick-Egglestone, S., Callard, F., Crawford, P., Farkas, M., Hui, A.,… & Slade, M. (2019). Characteristics of mental health recovery narratives: systematic review and narrative synthesis. PloS one, 14(3), e0214678. Web.

Morales, D. R. Z., & Moreno, J. R. C. (2020). The mental health recovery model and its importance for Colombian nursing. Revista Colombiana de Psiquiatría (English ed.), 49(4), 305-310. Web.

Mullen, A., Isobel, S., Flanagan, K., Key, K., Dunbar, A., Bell, A., & Lewin, T. J. (2020). Motivational interviewing: Reconciling recovery-focused care and mental health nursing practice. Issues in mental health nursing, 41(9), 807-814. Web.

Pincus, H. A., Spaeth-Rublee, B., Sara, G., Goldner, E. M., Prince, P. N., Ramanuj, P.,… & Patton, L. (2016). A review of mental health recovery programs in selected industrialized countries. International Journal of Mental Health Systems, 10(1), 1-9. Web.

Shanley, E., & JUBB‐SHANLEY, M. (2007). The recovery alliance theory of mental health nursing. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 14(8), 734-743.

Tadros, E., Schleidan, C., Jenkins, L., & Aguirre, N. (2021). The experiences of marriage and family therapists working in incarcerated settings. The American Journal of Family Therapy, 49(5), 461-479. Web.

Tambling, J. (2022). Brute Meaning: Essays in Materialist Criticism from Dickens to Hitchcock by David Trotter. Modern Language Review, 117(3), 474-476.

Wittenborn, A. K., Blow, A. J., Holtrop, K., & Parra‐Cardona, J. R. (2019). Strengthening clinical research in marriage and family therapy: Challenges and multilevel solutions. Journal of marital and family therapy, 45(1), 20-32. Web.

Assessment is the process of interpreting and collecting relevant information used to give information to students and parents about the progress they are making academically towards attaining the skills, knowledge, and behaviors taught Miller, Linn & Gronlund (2009). The performance of student A is excellent and it show that the student solved the problem correctly, and he included the correct units for Area and Perimeter; thus he scores all the marks.

• Identify, which students will need to be re-taught the math content.

The assessment results show that student’s B and D need to be re-taught.

• Briefly describe (suggested length of 2–3 paragraphs) at least two mathematical strengths of each student whose response indicates the need to re-teach the math content.

Student B: Student B shows some strength in his performance. His first strong point is in the calculation of perimeter where he used the correct formula to get the correct answer, and he applied the correct units. He performed the multiplication bit of the task successfully. Secondly, his strength is that he first indicates the formula he will use before doing the actual calculations and this gives him an advantage. His calculation makes some algebraic sense in terms of getting the perimeter of the figure. He understands that perimeter is all round the figure and by doing so; he is able to arrive at the correct answer. This shows that the student’s ability to undertake the mentioned tasks as regards the assignment indicates his understanding of the mathematical skills.

Student D: Student D’s strength is that he is in a position to correctly state what the perimeter of the polygon is, he states correctly the formula of calculating the perimeter of the rectangle, and he correctly performs the related additions of the task. The student’s knowledge to conduct these tasks as it regards the assignment shows a clear understanding of the mathematical skills.

• Briefly describe (suggested length of 2–3 paragraphs) at least two mathematical weaknesses of each student whose response indicates the need to re-teach the math content.

Student B: The weakness of student B is that he does not show a clear understanding of the ability to determine the correct area of the polygon using the correct method. This is shown in the explanation and calculation of this part of the worksheet. The other weakness is that the student fails to correctly identify the unit representation of the area computation. The student fails to provide the cm² notation, and in addition to this, the student does not provide any unit in this task. These two weaknesses provide the basis to reteach the student the correct mathematical formula for calculating the area of the rectangle.

Student D: The weakness of student D is in the provision of the correct unit for the perimeter of the rectangle. The student writes the answer as cm². This is a clear indication of a weakness in determining the difference in unit representation when calculating the perimeter and area of the polygon. The student neglects an important procedure of showing how they calculated the work essential to compute their answer. The student does not know how to do multiplication. He cannot distinguish between addition and multiplication. His answers (7 & 14) are for perimeter. This shows that the student needs re-teaching in the way he presents his answer in the correct mathematical format (Salvia, 2009)

In conclusion, the comments encourage the student to correct his errors and point out the inconsistencies in the student’s performance Slavin (2009). The comments clarify a given point as evidenced by the performance of the student. From the discussion, it is evident that the students perform differently in the test, which can be linked to factors such as health of the student, background and the attitude of the student towards the subject Borich (2007).

References

Borich, G. D. (2007). Effective teaching methods : research-based practice. New York: Upper Saddle River, N.J. : Pearson Merrill/Prentice Hall.

Miller, M. D., Linn, R. L., & Gronlund, N. E. (2009). Measurement and assessment in teaching. New York: Upper Saddle River, N.J. : Merrill/Pearson.

Slavin, R. (2009). Educational psychology: Theory and practice. Boston: Pearson.

Introduction

• The knowledge passing through learning is a torch.
• The role of teacher is not only in passing this torch, but also keeping it lit, through accumulating new knowledge and experiences.
• The main phases are: igniting, keeping lit and passing on.

Portfolio Highlights – Torch Ignited

• The ignition is traced back to school years:
  • playing school with my friends in elementary school;
  • the participation in a teaching program in high school;
  • volunteer tutoring elementary students after school.

Torch Ignited

• Literacy retrospective:
  • Instructions teacher-directed instead of child-directed, using images of control.
  • methods such as rote memorization, skill-based instructions and competitive learning.

Keeping the Torch Lit

• The knowledge gained can be summarized through various courses, with each course adding to my overall experience;
  • LYST 218- modeling different areas of literacy through reading aloud, incorporated in Center Street School, Herricks School District with third graders.
• LYST 240- patience, social context, and focus on strengths in assessments and evaluation, incorporated ever since:
  • Three influential strategies of evaluation:
    • Process observation and analysis;
      • Multiple processes making writers’ decision;
    • Reader Response to Literature;
      • Focus on known information, rather than what they are unable yet to achieve;
    • Writing Document Analysis;
      • a system for accurately assessing meaningful feedback.
• LYST 241- Miscue analysis, a window on the reading process, according to Goodman, Watson, and Burke, “Those who look through the ‘window’ at the reading process have a way to describe, explain, and evaluate a reader’s control or ownership of the process:
  • Shanna’s profile – miscue analysis procedures helped in evaluating Shanna’s developmental level, and focusing on her strength will help improving reading fluency and word pronunciation.
• LYST 242 – Biographic Profile:
  • Lien Profile;
  • Applying learned concepts with Lien as a period of transferring theory into practice;
  • Period of accommodation determining the strengths;
  • Focus on those strengths.

Influential Lighters

• Denny Taylor:
  • Learning Denied (1991)– Students learn differently and at different rates, and standardized tests does not help at that;
  • From the Child’s point of View (1993) – Testing practices dilemma, “Teachers can use their informed opinion to develop narrative descriptions of the ways in which students use their academic abilities.
• Cristina Igoa:
  • The Inner World of the Immigrant Child The book is personally close to my experience, outlining the special case of the immigrant child and the need for support “to facilitate their transition between two worlds”.

Conclusion- Passing the Torch

• Passing the torch marks the beginning stage of a long journey.
• The challenge remains not in passing the torch to the students, but in keeping their torches lit, as were mine during my learning experience.
• The creation of a learning environment, in which the strengths are emphasized, solutions are found, and in which every child is satisfied with the learning process, just as much as I am.

Marginal productivity in relation to wages is the change in total revenue earned by a firm from employing one more unit of labour. According to Keen, a firm may hire many employees at prevailing wages. However if the input is fixed in the short run, then output will be subject to diminishing returns. This is because each additional worker adds a less amount to output than the preceding worker. The effort applied by that extra worker to the firm may be variable while the wage per unit remains constant. Therefore as long as the wage is equal to the additional employees output that is sold, a firm will continue hiring. Furthermore, if a firm is competitive the extra unit may be sold without reducing the firms’ price. The returns an industry will gain by hiring its prior employees is equal to the price it sells its output, multiplied by marginal product of the last worker (2004, 112-113).

Benjamin, Gidde and Gunderson (2002) argue that “a firm can vary the quantity of labour by either hiring more employees or increasing working hours”. If it opts to increase working hours, then it has to pay higher wages for overtime hours. However, non wage benefits like pensions and medical plans will not fluctuate with each extra working hour. Therefore, it is more cost-effective for a firm to extend working hours for current workers than to hire new employees. Hiring will result in a firm incurring some “quasi fixed” costs that are independent of the number of hours worked. Moreover, non wage benefits costs will be incurred. Furthermore, recruitment and personnel costs, training and termination costs will also be included.

Benjamin et al (2002) suggests that by representing the “quasi fixed” cost of employing a new worker by a constant F. A firm will hire a worker up to the point where the cost of hire is F plus discounted current and future wage payment W, is equal to the current and future Value of Marginal Product of Labour (VMPL).Thus, hiring takes place at F+W=VMPL. Moreover, in an infinite time it will hire labour up to a point where F+W/r=VMPL/r; where r represents discounted interest rate. However, the wage received W will be less than VMPL because a portion of VMPL is used to pay the cost of hire. This can be represented in the diagram below (Para. 1-2).

According to Benjamin et al (2002), for” zero fixed cost” at W0 and VMPL0 a firm hires L0 employees at point A. during recession it will loose L0-L1 employees due to layoffs. For “positive fixed cost” at W0 the firm hires Lf employees at point C. As a result, the fixed cost of hiring shifts the demand curve downwards or backwards to the left. During recession when a firm hires Lf workers layoffs may be avoided. As a consequence, the schedule will shift back to the left. Furthermore, the fixed cost associated with regulating the number of employees generates a lodge between VMPL and the wage rate. This will reduce the rate of layoff for a worker. In addition, a trained worker is important to the firm even if the rate of VMPL is more than the wage rate. This is because the firm will be recovering some of the sunk fixed cost. Therefore, if a firm layoff a skilled worker then W+F will be great than VMPL; this will result into a loss. Hence, a firm tends to hire more skilled workers than unskilled workers and does not dispose of them easily (para.2-4).

Reference

Benjamin, D. Ride, C & Gunderson, M. (2002). Labour market economics: labour Demand, non wage benefits and quasi- fixed cost. (5^thE.d). Web.

Keen, S. (2004). Debunking economics: the naked emperor of social sciences (3^rdE.d). Zed books. London. New York. United States of America.

Introduction

Niccolò Machiavelli (1469-1527) is a prominent Italian philosopher who is widely known for his works on politics and the art of governing. One of these most famous works is the treatise named The Prince, which provides much useful advice to those who have gained or would gain some of the most influential political posts in their state. At the same time, many principles and recommendations provided in The Prince can be successfully employed in the modern world of business.

In this paper, we will analyze several quotes from Machiavelli’s The Prince, and, after explaining their political meaning, will provide a possible reading that they may have for the world of business. Further, we will consider whether the principles expressed in the quotes can be used to describe the modern motor vehicle company, Bayerische Motoren Werke, which is widely known simply as BMW.

“He who has relied least on fortune is established the strongest.” “Those who by valorous ways become princes… acquire a principality with difficulty, but they keep it with ease”

Chapter VI of Machiavelli’s book deals with the problem of dependence on retaining the principality upon the way through which it was acquired. The author emphasizes that “he who has relied least on fortune is established the strongest,” and that “those who by valorous ways become princes… acquire a principality with difficulty, but they keep it with ease” (Machiavelli 16, 17). The philosopher stresses that principality can be obtained either via skills and ability or via luck and fortune (Machiavelli 16). The chapter states that an individual who has become a prince via significant personal effort, hard, work, and the application of one’s skills, has deserved their position, and it will be easier for them to keep it; on the other hand, after becoming a prince simply via the fortune of fate, one will have to struggle hard to retain it.

This claim appears to be true for virtually any political system. Both a monarch who not simply inherited the throne but made much effort to prepare for their future position, and a contemporary politician in a parliamentary democracy who gained their position via lengthy and hard work, will at least be used to working hard, and they will be much better prepared to face the challenges of the politics. It is also noteworthy that continuous effort will be required in the position, and their previous experience and acquired skills will prove useful in making this effort, which will help them to stay on this post for a longer period by deserving the respect of the subordinates or the voters.

Machiavelli’s statement also seems applicable to the world of business. Indeed, if an enterprise becomes successful only as a result of luck, it might be hard for it to resist any adverse conditions that may emerge in the market. For instance, if an entrepreneur is lucky to find an area in the countryside where people live, but where there are no shops, and they open a shop that offers low-quality products for high prices, they may be initially successful due to the lack of proper alternatives; but should any new shops open in the area, the entrepreneur will have to adjust the quality and price of their goods, which may take much additional effort.

On the other hand, if a business operates in a highly competitive market, and from the very beginning it strives to provide its customers only with good value for their money, this company will be accustomed to the rough conditions of the market and will be more resistant to its competitors, both the current and future ones.

The discussed principle appears to hold for the Bayerische Motoren Werke. BMW has become the leader of the market because the vehicles it builds are comfortable, reliable, and provide some of the best values offered in the marketplace for the customers’ money. Because of this, BMW has better positions in the vehicle market than, for instance, Mazda or Toyota.

Of course, BMW still has to stiffly compete with Audi and Mercedes-Benz, but the fact of being used to this competition stimulates BMW to watch its rivals and promptly respond to any innovations or enhancements that they implement in their cars. Therefore, it can be stated that BMW uses this principle offered by Machiavelli; having achieved its “principality” in the vehicle market through skill and effort, and the company remains the leader in the marketplace. Even if Audi or Mercedes-Benz takes the leading position in the future, BMW will likely retain its position as one of the top manufacturers of cars in any case.

“Whoever shall fortify his town well…will never be attacked without great caution,… it will be seen not to be an easy thing to attack one who has his town well fortified and is not hated by his people”

In Chapter X of his work, one devoted to measuring the strength of principalities, Niccolo Machiavelli states: “Whoever shall fortify his town well…will never be attacked without great caution,… it will be seen not to be an easy thing to attack one who has his town well fortified and is not hated by his people” (Machiavelli 29).

In this chapter, Machiavelli provides a way to assess the strength of a prince – whether he can support himself by employing the resources of his own, or if he has to rely on others. For the second type of the prince, the one who has to rely on others, and thus is unable to gather a sufficient army, the author advises to “fortify his town” and not to defend the country, for he will be unable to do the latter; however, he may very well be able to do the former if his people do not disdain him and value him.

This quote applies directly to the art of ruling a country or a city, but some conclusions can also be drawn for business. If a business has clients who do not hate the enterprise, but, on the contrary, respect it and like it, it will not be easy for competitors to “attack” the firm and lure these loyal clients away from the business in question. It is also interesting to point out the fact that Machiavelli emphasizes that a prince who has the support of his people will not be attacked (29); this statement can also be used to describe another feature of the modern market, namely, the risk of new rivals entering the marketplace.

If a business is known for satisfying its clientele well by providing them with high-quality goods or services for which it is hard to create a substitute of similar quality at an approximately the same price, this will decrease the chance of the market entrants to be able to compete with the business in question, for it will be difficult for them to meet the quality standards that were already set by the leading enterprise. Therefore, high standards of the product, as well as “the absence of hatred of the people,” have a positive effect on the situation of the business.

The described implications of the quote from Machiavelli apply to the company of BMW. The BMW’s products are widely known for their high quality; the company strives to provide its clients with ultimate driving vehicles and unique pleasure of driving. This forces the new entrants to the market to spend large amounts of money on marketing, creating a new brand and attracting customers, as well as to invest much in high technology and design. This serves the company of BMW well, for, as a result, the threat of new entrants to the BMW’s target market is low to moderate; potential enterprises are forced to “attack” the market with “great caution.”

“Every prince ought to desire to be considered clement and not cruel”

In chapter XVII, Machiavelli discusses such characteristics of a prince as cruelty and clemency and states that “every prince ought to desire to be considered clement and not cruel” (44). However, the author then comes to a question: is it better to be loved or feared? The philosopher states: “one should wish to be both, but, because it is difficult to unite them in one person, it is much safer to be feared than loved, when, of the two, either must be dispensed with” (44). This issue is directly applicable to the sphere of politics; indeed, if a politician is considered clement, they will have additional respect and support from the people, whereas a cruel politician risks earning hatred for their acts.

On the other hand, if a politician is feared, but, at the same time, is not considered cruel (this may be reached via building the image of a very lawful person who judges perhaps harshly, but justly), they are capable of earning respect for such actions, while at the same time being (relatively) safe from the enemies who will be afraid to attack them. On the other hand, if a politician is loved, but not feared, it is a possibility that they will not have any support in a crucial and dangerous situation, for the politician’s subordinates will not care about the politician, for they will know that they, being clement, will forgive them in any case.

At the same time, it should be stressed that this statement is true for such forms of government as monarchy, where the monarch has rather much power and is doubtful e.g. parliamentary democracy, where politicians share power with numerous colleagues and opponents, and where they have to regularly compete with rivals to gain more votes from the country’s population in the elections.

Both these quotes can be interpreted to describe the modern world of business, but the first one appears to be more applicable to it. Indeed, it is useful for any firm to be considered clement and not cruel. Being clement here can be understood as taking part in charity events, providing good working conditions and high salaries for the employees, caring about the environment, supplying high-quality goods or services for the customers and caring about them. It is clear that all these traits will significantly better the image of a business and attract new clients, talented workers, and other important stakeholders to the enterprise.

Google is known as such a company; even though the company has gained its fame for an extremely effective search engine, its efforts aimed at being sustainable and creating reliable, user-friendly products attract even more clients to the firm. On the other hand, being cruel can be understood as transferring the factories to the “cost-effective nations” and establishing sweatshops where employees would be forced to work overtime while being underpaid, not caring about nature and e.g. building ecologically dangerous factories or other constructions that pollute or ruin the environment and have adverse effects on the health of the local population, and so on.

The second type of business will gain a negative reaction from many people, perhaps attract the attention of social and environmental activists, and suffer from losses due to the adverse reputation among clients.

The second quote, one that states that it is preferable to be feared than loved, apparently does not apply to the world of business. Indeed, because a company (normally) does not have power granted by law, it is incapable of making somebody fear them; because people can choose whether to buy from this business, invest in it, etc., the enterprise has to earn the trust of the stakeholders (and it is good if “love” is also earned).

At the same time, if a business is trying to become feared, it will only incur the wrath of some people, which will harm its reputation and lead to a drop in profits. For instance, the recent actions of companies that are currently attempting to build dams on several rivers in Honduras, and are harassing and murdering the social activists that are trying to resist their construction, have led to media reports, the wrath of many people, and to even more social campaigns aimed at stopping the construction of the dams (Watts n. pag.).

BMW adheres to the principle provided by the first quote. For instance, Hall provides some examples of how BMW supplies good conditions for its factories’ workers (n. pag). Also, it is known that the company strives to create more fuel-efficient cars, and endeavors to design the vehicles in a way that would allow them to meet all the emission and environmental standards. This, along with the high quality of the company’s product and a high degree of attention to the customer’s service, has supplied the company with the respect and support of its clients, employees, and numerous other shareholders. The company does not attempt to be “feared’ by anybody, for, as it was noted, it would only harm its reputation.

Conclusion

To sum up, it should be stressed that Machiavelli’s principles can not only be applied to politics but also the world of business. It is worth emphasizing that The Prince can supply several useful insights that may help one to conduct business. At the same time, not all the recommendations provided by the philosopher can be useful for an enterprise; some of them might even be harmful in the modern world of politics. Therefore, before using Machiavelli’s recommendations in any sphere, it is necessary to critically assess them and check whether they are still applicable to politics and if they can be used to improve the situation of an enterprise.

Works Cited

Hall, Alan. Built by Mature Workers: BMW Opens Car Plant Where All Employees Are Aged Over 50. 2011. Web.

Machiavelli, Niccolò. The Prince. n.d. Web.

Watts, Jonathan. Berta Cáceres, Honduran Human Rights and Environment Activist, Murdered. 2016. Web.

IE Matrix is ​​a strategic portfolio management tool aimed at researching the current position of a business in the market and planning for future strategic development. In order to interpret the results illustrated in the matrix, it is important to understand that the intersection of the horizontal and vertical lines of the EFE matrix and the IFE matrix indicate points of potential strategic development for the company (Rajak, n.d). Depending on the score from 1 to 4, the values ​​on each of the matrix axes are determined.

The Domino’s Pizza matrix shows that the company’s strongest indicator is the supply chain, within which both internal and external scores are extremely high. The domestic franchise has the weakest scores, but its performance is strong and does not identify a strategic threat. The domestic company-owned stores indicator is average, which seems to be a potential field for the company’s strategic development, but is not a priority. In contrast, the international franchise indicator has low scores both on the internal and external axis, which identifies the company’s most relevant point of strategic development.

Thus, based on the interpretation of IE Matrix Domino’s Pizza, it can be concluded that the company needs to focus on the development of an international franchise as the basis of its business strategy. Considering how strong the company’s supply chain scores are, achieving this goal seems viable and potentially profitable. At the same time, the company is actively engaged in the development of franchising in the domestic market, which identifies a developed infrastructure to achieve a strategic goal. The company should focus on the international franchise and the additional development of the domestic franchise as a secondary task.

Reference

Rajak, H. (n.d). Internal External Matrix. HM HUB.

Formal Analysis. The Nativity: Medieval Art of the XIII Century in a Nutshell

Mediterranean Medieval art delights with the seeming simplicity of its themes and the numerous underlying ideas that are revealed as one takes a closer look at the artwork in question. Even though the artworks delight with their diversity of themes and motifs, there is still a common threat with each of them.

Although the influence of art pieces created in different regions of the Mediterranean on each other and on the next generations of artworks can hardly be traced nowadays, very intriguing and peculiar conclusions can be drawn from the analysis of one of these works, and The Nativity by Master of Gerona is a perfect example of the given phenomenon.

Subject matter: the influence of Christianity

Despite the fact that Christianity had been the official state religion of the Byzantine Empire for quite long by the time that similar works appeared in the art heritage of the state, religion related themes continued to manifest themselves in the works of Byzantine artists even ten centuries after.

Centered around the birth of the Christ, as one can easily guess, The Nativity touches upon both the event and the journey that the Magi had to make in order to bring gifts to the Son of God and the son of a man. The painting itself depicts the Manger with the Christ and two Magi standing next to it.

Formal elements: what lurks in the shadow

Like any visual medium, The Nativity uses the best of the formal elements in order to get the key message of joy and happiness of the event across to the general audience. One of the most remarkable features of the given work is that, though clearly meant for the Christian audience, it nevertheless addresses the universal values, such as mother – child love, the need for wonder, etc., therefore, making the context accessible for literally everyone.

Curved lines are used a lot in the picture to get the idea of harmony across. The picture gives the characters enough space to breathe, yet the Virgin Mary and Jesus are drawn close to each other, which emphasizes the power of maternal love. The light shed on the Virgin Mary and her Son implies the idea of holiness, while the colors (beige, orange, green and dark blue) help create the feeling of grandeur (green and dark blue) and the aforementioned bond between the Mother and her Child.

Organization: the delicate balance

One of the first features of the painting that fall into the eye of an average observer, the lack of symmetry and straight lines in the painting serves the purpose of stressing the delicate air of care and love, as well as the idea of a miracle happening within the realm of gruesome reality. Because of the delicate harmony that the two curves create, the concept of the Nativity as the joyful event in the midst of an ocean of misery comes out in full blue.

Medium: the chick of gold on parchment

The painting was created by using tempera leaves and gold on parchment. Both gold and parchment, being rather expensive materials, are the sign of the depicted event being worshipped greatly by the author. Thus, the choice of the material shows the significance of the Christian thought in the XIII century in the Mediterranean.

Meaning: Celebrating the Nativity of Christ

As it has been stressed above, the artwork is supposed to glorify the Nativity; and, in fact, it does so very graphically. The color cast of the painting, its organization and the rest of the elements of the paper create the atmosphere of humility and festivity simultaneously, therefore, setting a rather religious mood.

Literature Analysis: Specimens of Medieval Art

It should be noted that the Medieval art has been explored quite thoroughly by a number of researchers. Not only did they arrange the major Medieval artists and their artworks chronologically, but also studied the ideas and concepts, which manifested themselves in Medieval artworks. Offering a timeline of the Medieval art evolution, such works not only help track down the progress of the Medieval art, but also to analyze the influences that affected Medieval artists and their creations.

Analyzing the major papers devoted to the subject of Medieval art in general and the artwork in question (i.e., The Nativity) in particular will help define the key features of the period pieces, as well as help interpret other layers of meaning in The Nativity.

Medieval artworks: an overview

Embracing quite a wide range of artworks, starting with paintings and frescos, and up to sculpture and architecture, Medieval art can only be defined by using traditional commonplace ideas, such as the overwhelming impact of Christianity on the inspiration of most of Medieval artists, the influence of the Ancient Roman art on the evolution of the Mediterranean one, etc.

However, when picking a particular set of artworks created in a certain era, one is most likely to view the specifics of the Mediterranean art development and analyze the numerous influences that it was under on the specified time slot. To understand the implications hidden in the depth of The Nativity, it will be, therefore, most reasonable to consider some of the milestones of the ear and evaluate their impact on art.

Kousis, Maria Contested Mediterranean Spaces: Ethnographic Essays in Honor of Charles Tilly. Oxford, NY: Berghan Books, 2011.

One of the most famous works that handle the subject of the Medieval art, the book by Kousis analyzes the art created in the Medieval era through the lens of the works of another famous historian and politician, Charles Tilly.

Although Kousis does not pick a [particular period within a comparatively long era of the Medieval, she still manages to define the key features of the Medieval art quite successfully. However, with a rather noticeable influence of the late Charles Tilly on Kousis’s viewpoint, the research takes a very unexpected turn and discusses the key features of the Medieval art from the sociological, historical and political perspective.

When it comes to defining the key strengths of the research, one must mention that the sometimes controversial attempt to analyze art from the position of politics and economics works surprisingly well in the given paper.

In contrast to most of the authors writing on the topic in question, Kousis addresses not only the diversity of the medieval art, but also the factors that shaped and changed it. Seeing how art is supposed to reflect the objective reality as viewed by the artist, it is quite reasonable to tie the concepts of politics, economics and art together.

Therefore, the obvious strength of Kousis’s paper concerns her ability to trace the cause-and-effect links between the most impressive and grandeur period pieces, as well as the major tendencies in the Medieval art forms, and the political and economical changes that Byzantine was suffering at the time^[1].

The paper, however, has its problems, the key one being the fact that Kousis actually introduces little to no original ideas. Granted that Tille’s viewpoint was very unique and deserved being used in a massive research, it still should not steal the show, leaving the research results in the shadow.

In Kousis’s case, sadly enough, it does; therefore, the given paper is a very graphic example of methods triumphing over results. Speaking of which, the research results were rather expected, with the emphasis put on the economical and political connections that Byzantine established with the rest of the states and the Roman legacy shaping the stylistic features of the Byzantine artworks. Though Kousis’s paper mostly recycles Tille’s idea, it still provided enough foil for the analysis of the artwork in question.

Jeffreys, Elizabeth, John F. Haldon and Robin Cornack. The Oxford Handbook of Byzantine Studies. Oxford, UK: Oxford Handbooks, 2008.

Another detailed research on the specifics of the Medieval art, the given paper helps define the basic features of the Medieval paintings and other artworks, much like Kousis’s paper. However, in contrast to the aforementioned source, the given one merely provides an analysis of the influences that other art movements had on the Mediterranean art in general and Byzantine art in particular.

Without the analysis of the economical and political aspects of the state functioning, it is easier to track down the trail of changes that occurred to the Byzantine art, as well as define the cultures responsible for these changes, which is definitely a positive aspect of the research. The book allows focusing on the phenomenon of Medieval art without being distracted with the implications of complex political moves and the designs of economic strategies; as a result, the essence of the Medieval art is exposed to the reader.

However, the book clearly lacks efficient methodology. As it has been stressed above, the Medieval art is far too great a phenomenon to be encompassed in a single book, even such a well-written one as Barber’s one.

Granted that the writer did set certain boundaries to his research by encompassing only paintings that were created in the Medieval era in Byzantium in the XI century, he still had to embrace a large amount of works and obviously had too much material to work efficiently with. Anyway, the given paper allowed understanding the premises for The Nativity to be created on^[2].

The Nativity through the prism of time

Wharton, Annabel Jane. Art of Empire: Painting and Architecture of the Byzantine Periphery: A Comparative Study of Four Provinces. University Park, PA: Pennsylvania State University Press, 1988.

Some researches address a particular artwork or a set of artworks created by a certain person, and the paper by Wharton is a graphic example of the given research types. While devoting her paper to the art of Byzantine in general, she analyzes particular artworks in her book, and The Nativity^[3], which is being discussed, is also mentioned in her work. Wharton offers a fairly decent overview of the key Byzantine artworks, yet she could have explored the ideas behind these artworks somewhat deeper.

Bibliography

Jeffreys, Elizabeth, John F. Haldon and Robin Cornack. The Oxford Handbook of Byzantine Studies. Oxford, UK: Oxford Handbooks, 2008.

Kousis, Maria Contested Mediterranean Spaces: Ethnographic Essays in Honor of Charles Tilly. Oxford, NY: Berghan Books, 2011.

Wharton, Annabel Jane. Art of Empire: Painting and Architecture of the Byzantine Periphery: A Comparative Study of Four Provinces. University Park, PA: Pennsylvania State University Press, 1988.

Footnotes

1. . Maria Kousis Contested Mediterranean spaces: ethnographic essays in honor of Charles Tilly (Oxford, NY: Berghan Books, 2011), 3.
2. . Elizabeth Jeffreys, John F. Haldon and Robin Cornack, The Oxford Handbook of Byzantine Studies (Oxford, UK: Oxford Handbooks, 2008), 5.
3. . Annabel Jane Wharton, Art of Empire: Painting and Architecture of the Byzantine Periphery: A Comparative Study of Four Provinces (University Park, PA: Pennsylvania State University Press, 1988), 9.

Art is a highly expressive and vague technique for expression. There is a constant questioning of the artist’s motives or theorizing as to the meaning of a piece. The real wonder of art is that it can really take any form, use any medium, and is relatable to everyone. Additionally, even though an artist may have a genuine intent for what they want their work to say, it becomes exceedingly convoluted as others’ highly varied views come into contact with it. Rarely does a viewer see exactly what the producer of the work is trying to say? In fact, it usually takes statements from the artist as to the actual meaning of a specific work. One of the greatest aspects is that the generator may not even have a goal in mind, but based on the worldview of other individuals it may bring up hidden significances.

For this assignment, I chose an old classic that I have had experience with in the past. It is Salvador Dali’s “Persistence of Memory”. It resides in the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. This is Dali’s most well-known piece, although many of his other works follow the same general styling. This is an example of modern art, even though it was created in 1931. This work is somewhat of an enigma, because it holds the tradition of a classic, yet is exceedingly modern.

When one thinks about adjusting its setting, it really could be placed anywhere, due to the fact that it is highly progressive for its time, while congruently being iconic. It seems to have found its ideal home in New York City, an area where there is an excessive tradition, while at the same time being forward-thinking and a hub of expression. Truly, this painting could call any popular gallery home. It may not fare as well in heavily traditional art institutions, but due to its excessive notoriety, any knowledgeable curator would want this as an addition.

As to the actual meaning behind Dali’s “Persistence of Memory”, there have been many speculations. Dali was an extremely complex individual that incorporated many different elements into his works. As for the “Persistence of Memory”, Dali has alluded to the fact that it may have some connection with the world inspired by Albert Einstein’s Theory of Relativity. However, when Dali was asked about this relation, he responded that the melting clocks were inspired by melting cheese in the sun. Additionally, Dali utilized dream experience in this work, especially with the creature in the middle of the composition.

It is very similar to the occurrence when one sees something in a dream, but is unable to actually identify what they are seeing. Furthermore, Dali included one of his trademark signatures, a clock covered in ants. It is located in the bottom left corner of the piece and as with many of Dali’s methods, has been studied and speculated upon often. What most individuals conclude is that it stands for death or female genitalia. I believe that the inclusion of the latter is more of a symbol of rebirth, rather than a sexual reference. Lastly, Dali included a human figure, which is actually located in the creature that was already described. Many believe that Dali was attempting to include himself in his works and this seems to be his motive for this addition.

When seeing this painting for the first time, I believed that it was just creative work. It took highly diverse, convoluted, and adaptable elements to make a strange but beautiful composition. As time went on, however, I began to look more into the history behind it and realized that it had some societal commentary as well. The world has been very religious in its past, and with that comes a large dislike of secular belief, as well as a scientific explanation.

As said before, this painting may have been a statement about the Theory of Relativity, which on a personal level I feel as if it is attempting to say that science can be loved and adored. Although Dali’s work may come off as confusing and twisted, there is a basic goodness that communicates beauty in all art methods, not just the traditional. Moreover, this work, although popular, was created quite a long time ago, where traditional values were regarded as life principles. This work seems to be a forward statement on the future that utilizes Dali’s creative brilliance.

As to the actual interpretation, there are obviously millions. Everyone has their own opinion, even if it strays from what the artist has highlighted the focus as being. Clearly, based on Dali’s input regarding the actual meaning, there is definitely a focus on worldly progression, secular thinking, and the evolution of art. Individually, my interpretation is quite different from the meanings introduced above. Although I believe that it certainly incorporates those ideas, I am confused by the title, which really does not connect to the explanations of progressive and secular themes. The piece’s title gave me inspiration as to what the artist was trying to communicate. “The Persistence of Memory”, is not only a title but a comment on life.

I always thought the painting to be an idea of memories themselves. Even though time fades, seen as the melting clocks, our memories remain. Things will pass on, symbolized by the dying creature in the middle of the composition, yet our memories will stay intact forever. Additionally, the clock as stated prior as being a symbol of death and female genitalia, or rebirth is yet another reflection of the continuing strength of memories.

People will pass on and others will be born, time will fade, but memories never truly die. Even though the one that holds the memories may no longer be with us anymore, the times that were made with others will continue on. As with most artwork, the artist wanted viewers to see their work and enjoy it. It is concurrently effective to allow the audience’s minds to forge their own interpretations, which gives the capability to see art from many different viewpoints.

This is a classic work and due to its consistent popularity, it has been a highly respected and positively received piece. I genuinely enjoy this composition, but after creating personal interpretations I now regard it with much more esteem. Even if some of the audience does not understand what Dali was attempting to say to his viewers, they can at least respect the creativity, effort, and beauty of this artwork. I also applaud Dali for pushing the boundaries of art at the time period and being unafraid of experimentation with new methods. Additionally, Dali took an exorbitant quantity of vague and underused material and presented it in such a way that its brilliance and beauty will never be matched in the same way again.

Dali was also able to create such an intricate and mysterious work that gave such an amorphous quality that it truly has been difficult to make a clear assumption as to its meaning. With some modern art pieces is really can be argued as to whether or not it is truly an art. It is so easy to make something and call it “art” even though there are no effective properties. Dali was able to keep to an untraditional artistic method while giving us true elegance. One of the reasons that this work has had so much notoriety over the years is the fact that its meaning is always speculated.

How does such an amazing and fantastical work have no distinct meaning? It seems, as with most artwork and clearly with Dali’s “Persistence of Memory”, interpretation is left up to the audience. This attempted translation is directly related to how our brains function, our past and memories, and environmental conditioning as a whole. Therefore, there is the ability to get millions and millions of varied theories, each with its own minute and unexpected details. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, as well as translation.

Art Education 160, Art and Music Since 1945

Checklist for Midterm Critical Art Paper Winter 2012

This checklist of requirements for the midterm has two purposes:

1. to help you prepare for the midterm
2. to use as your guide to verify that your midterm paper meets all requirements and expectations.

When you upload your midterm to the Carmen Midterm dropbox, please upload with it a copy of this checklist. Make sure that you have checked the items you have verified to be in your paper.

Description

• ___x_____ Thoroughly describes the work visually
• _____x___ Uses art vocabulary from class
• _____x___ Articulates a sense of the movement through the work, where the eye goes
• _____x___ If the work moves in any way
• _____x___ Gives relational descriptions
• _____x___ Vividly describes to the reader what the work looks like
• _____x___ Uses lots of adjectives

Contemplation on Interpretation

• _____x___ Thoughtfully uses description to formulate well thought out and developed interpretations
• _____x___ Uses evidence from description and relationships within the work to support statements
• _____x___ Paper reads fluidly and intertwines the description and judgment to the interpretations
• _____x___ Clearly states how you interpret the work and gives some narrative and story to the work

Social Interaction and Judgment

• _____x___ Thoroughly explains what you think of the work; specifically, how it is art., and gives evidence of why you do or don’t like it
• _____x___ Shows sound understanding of judgment
• _____x___ Discusses the interactions, contexts, and other influences that impact one’s judgment
• _____x___ Critically discusses the social interactions that informed the interpretation and judgment and gives sound reasoning

Mechanics

• ____x____ No to very few spelling errors, typos, and meets stated mechanical requirements, including length
• ____x____ Sufficiently meets all content requirements.