Alliance Design analysis of alternatives Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Alliance Design analysis of alternatives - Essay Example The industry Alliance Design Concepts is involved in is quite lucrative, and the company seems to be doing well, but it can do better. The challenges faced by the company are not new. In fact, they are common in all companies that conduct any form of purchases and that deal in different currencies as part of their operations. The crux of the matter lies in the strategy used to manage these issues, and not the fact that they exist. From the information provided, it is clear that the company is struggling to stay abreast of fluctuations in exchange rates and avoid the risk created by fluctuations in exchange rates. Looking at the processes and mechanisms the company uses in price quotation, equipment acquisition, and exchange rate management is not as effective as it should be. If they were effective, the company would not be experiencing the challenges it currently faces. It is safe to say that poor management is at the heart of Alliance Design Concept’s struggles. Better financial and management, together with efficient and effective operations management, is sufficient to get the company out of the rut. The company’s profit margins are good enough to give it a clean bill of health financially, but this will not be sustained for long if it keeps losing money through exchange rate fluctuations. In fact, since it has been stated that the company’s profit margins are affected by monies lost to the unpredictability of exchange rates, the profit margins may start reducing gradually until they reach worryingly low levels. Effective management, in any business, involves blocking all avenues through which funds are lost, and reducing expenditure as much as possible. Alliance Design Concepts’ failure to apply this fundamental business principle has significantly contributed towards the dwindling of its fortunes. The best way for Alliance Design Concepts to manage its issues is to streamline its processes and reduce any

Late Travel company (LT) Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4750 words

Late Travel company (LT) - Research Paper Example DBMS uses various models including relational model. DBMS utilizes query language to get information. A query language can analyze and update data. It takes care of the security of the database. Unauthorized users are prevented from viewing, updating etc of the database. Modeling language, query language, data structure and transaction mechanism are the main parts of DBMS.With the help of 'Data Manipulation' subsystem the user can add, delete or change information in a database. Relational Databases are so popular in that they are the absolute choice for storage of financial records, logistical information, manufacturing in formation, personal information etc. The software is Relational Database Management System. (RDMS) Constraint restricts the domain of an attribute and also the data to be stored in relations. . SQL makes use of 'check constraints'. There are also domain constraints as every attribute has a related domain. , Normalization is an integral part of relational model. It checks duplication of data and simultaneously loss of data integrity. The Relational Model has three parts. Structures are objects which store the data. Data has to remain the same during all the operations. It should not get disturbed during transfer, storage and retrieval. Data Integrity takes care that the data will always be consistent, correct and accessible. It remains faithful to its source. Referential integrity is the mos... It checks duplication of data and simultaneously loss of data integrity. The Relational Model has three parts. Structures are objects which store the data. Operations manipulate the structure and the data it contains. They follow a set of rules. Integrity rules decide the operations on the data and structure. In fact it protects both. Data has to remain the same during all the operations. It should not get disturbed during transfer, storage and retrieval. Data Integrity takes care that the data will always be consistent, correct and accessible. It remains faithful to its source. However in the internet, the data is broken into packets, before being transferred. Data integrity ensures that, even then the data is put back to shape and recovered. Data integrity can be disturbed by malfunctioning of hardware, attack of software applications by viruses. Human error in data entry is another cause. Referential integrity is the most common. In this, the errors in the relationship between a foreign key and primary key are avoided. Proper use of integrity constraints will prevent end user from writing invalid matters. Also unauthorized persons cannot alter the data. 'Server enforced data integrity' is the most dependable data integrity. RDBMS is considered the authority to accept or reject data. Normalize: It is advisable to normalize the database while designing a relational database. Normalizing to 'Third Normal Form' is always recommended. It means, the attributes in each table should depend on the key. Normalization takes care that errors in data input at are reduced. It removes excess data from records. Data model is an integrated collection of concepts for describing relationship between various data, constraints on

Love, Death and Fascist Iconography Essay Example for Free

Love, Death and Fascist Iconography Essay To the fascist artist, his or her own art is merely a vessel that encapsulates his or her own socially-motivated beliefs. The works of Yukio Mishima and Leni Riefenstahl, for instance, embody the essence of their individual nationalities at the height of their individual careers—nationalities that might transcend origin and geography, yet extol   culture, tradition, ritual and society.   Mishima and Riefenstahl exhibit incredible parallelism in their works. Mishima, in his short story Patriotism, describe the human form with such detail and meticulousness reminiscent of Riefenstahl’s style in her 1930’s films. Much like Riefenstahl’s The Last of the Nuba, the naked body is depicted as a means of fascist iconography—the body, perfect and pure in its own way, merges with a bigger community of bodies of like characteristics (Evans 31). Susan Sontag’s treatise on the works of Riefenstahl, Fascinating Fascism, breaks down the latter’s appreciation and fascination of the strong and beautiful Nuba figure as examples of Nazi ideology corresponding to the idea of aesthetics for fascists. Sontag writes, â€Å"Riefenstahl’s portrait of them evokes some of the larger themes of Nazi ideology: the contrast between the clean and the impure, the incorruptible and the defiled, the physical and the mental, the joyful and the critical (par. 27).† This description is echoed in Mishima’s Patriotism, when the lead character Takeyama decides to commit seppuku—ritual suicide by disembowelment—as an act of redemption from the dishonor incurred when his comrades formed alliances with the mutineers.   Mishima’s imagery of Takeyama and his wife Reiko’s preparations for the ritual, as well as the metaphors he uses in describing the couple’s physical forms conveys a fascination for perfection and beauty a la Riefenstahl—remarkable symbols of fascist iconography, as Sontag would consider. In its own effect, Takeyama, Reiko and the Nuba become examples of the â€Å"master race†, where everyone is beautiful, strong, and does not age (Trimborn McCown 256). Mishima and Riefenstahl’s works are also parallel in such that their depictions of death are detailed, beautiful and almost enthralling.     In Patriotism, death in is portrayed as a reward, a happy and celebrated ceremony that requires the utmost preparation. In the Nuba culture, death is a central event, along with fighting. In the Japanese culture, as evidenced by Mishima’s paramount detail in describing Takeyama’s death, death is a way for one to demonstrate his or her enduring loyalty and nationalism to the Imperial system. Death in both Mishima and Riefenstahl’s works surpass life’s merriest events—birth, marriage, love—at times besting even life itself. Mishima writes, â€Å"All around, vastly and untidily, stretched the country for which he grieved. He was to give his life for it. But would that great country, which he was prepared to remonstrate to the extent of destroying himself take the slightest heed of his death? He did not know; and not matter (par. 63).† Takeyama’s examination of self not only mirrors the authors suggestions of his own death wish, it also echoes the sentiments of those under the spell of a fascist ideology—their so-called patriotism—that converts their idea of nationhood as something not only territorial, but equally and incredibly spiritual. The young lieutenant and his bride chose their own death by seppuku, which may be seen as either an honorable and extremely devout approach, or as a self-destructive and deadly consequence of their fanaticism. Mishima unintentionally diverts the reader’s attention from this concept with his alluring illustrations of fascist ideals and concepts, again reminiscent of Riefenstahl’s imagery in her Nazi films. Sontag would consider it an absolute expression of fascist art, in the sense that it â€Å"glorifies surrender, exalts mindlessness, and glamorizes death (par. 36).† Above everything, Mishima verifies in his work and own life the burden that comes with the duty to abide by cultural tradition—duty can be all in one beautiful or ugly, life or death. Works Cited Evans, Mark. Movement Training for the Modern Actor. London, UK: Taylor and Francis,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   2008. Mishima, Yushio. â€Å"Patriotism.† Trans. Geoffrey W. Sargent. Mutantfrog Travelogue. 27   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   June 2009. http://www.mutantfrog.com/patriotism-by-yukio-mishima/ Sontag, Susan. â€Å"Fascinating Fascism. â€Å" University of California Santa Barbara. 27 June 2009.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://www.history.ucsb.edu/faculty/marcuse/classes/33d/33dTexts/SontagFascinFas  Ã‚  Ã‚   cism75.htm Trimborn, Jurgen McCown, Edna. Leni Riefenstahl: A Life. New York: MacMillan, 2007.

Vessel Traffic Management System (VTMS)

Vessel Traffic Management System (VTMS) Literature Review The aim of this chapter is to capture the main idea of the research in depth and provide a review on literature related to the study and go through the ideas of various authors towards the relevancy of the study and establish the need for the research. 2.1 Evolution Vessel Traffic Management System A vessel traffic management system (VTMS) is a nautical vessel movement observing system established by harbor or port authorities. According to TRANSAS (2014) the VTMS system utilizes information collected by advanced sensors, for example, radar, AIS, closed-circuit television (CCTV), Meteo-Hydro and other electronic object detection systems. The primary purpose of VTMS is to improve the safety and efficiency of navigation, improve features of port services, protection of life at sea and the safeguard marine environment. In 1946 a demonstration was done in order to identify the helpfulness of coast based radar system in Liverpool. The initial effort in developing harbour controlled radar was done by establishing a system at the end of Victoria Pier, Douglas, Isle of Man in 1948. (Hughes, 2009) With the rapid growth of marine industry marine safety and efficient navigation has been addressed as one of the issues that have major consideration. Different methods for improving the marine safety have been developed the past few decades. Some of them can be stated as radio-communications, navigation rules, electronic chart systems and identification systems. (Goralski, Ray, Gold, 2011) Goralski et al. (2011) further describes that most recent technological developments in improving vessel traffic management includes radar, electronic charting like Electronic Chart Display Information Systems, (ECDIS), vessel traffic control and management (VTMS) and automatic identification system (AIS) and communication. Several sources of data are combined from sensors such as GPS, radar and AIS in order to improve the vessel traffic monitoring. The final objective of this is offer more precise understanding of the navigational situations. Many developed countries utilize the services of highly sophisticated VTMS. The Port of London is one of the UKs busiest ports utilize an exceptionally advanced VTMS. In this VTMS the data from radars are associated with a mass of other data inside a very advanced computer system. This gives an ongoing picture and a thorough record of all developments at Port of London. (Goldman, 2011) 2.2 Vessel Traffic Management Systems in Commercial Setting As described by Goralski, Ray, Gold, (2011) many researchers have presented theories of developing an efficient vessel monitoring systems. The need for diminishing human error and decreasing the number and danger of accidents at sea is a need to be addressed. Developing such system to be used in real-time situations is a challenging task. Not much research has been done in this area. The world’s first three dimensional ECDIS prototype was demonstrated in Brest in 2007. This was a research led by Dr. Rafal Goralski and his team. It’s possible to incorporate data from many sensors around a port to produce a real time three dimensional traffic management visualization tool. (Goralski, Ray, Gold, 2011) As stated by Goralski, Ray, Gold, (2011) an interface has been developed and presently being trialed in the Port of Milford Haven. This system is used in real-time for navigation observing and control. The system is considered to be the first commercial operation of a 3D VTS. Transas Marine Limited and GeoVS Limited offer 3D vessel traffic monitoring solutions. Transas Group is a worldwide pioneer in marine navigation systems. Transas presented its initial 3D vessel activity monitoring system to the business in 2008. This system gives most extreme backing to VTS administrators. (TRANSAS, 2011). Sri Lankas first home-developed vessel movement administration system was the result of investigation led by the modeling and simulation group of University of Colombo, School of Computing. The system includes two dimensional and three dimensional views of the harbor. The three dimensional VTMS was established at the Colombo-South harbor in 5th August 2013. (UCSC,2014) 2.3 Need for more improved Vessel Traffic Management System The commercial 3D VTMS that were mentioned above are closed proprietary and extremely expensive solutions. This fact raised the need to implement a novel vessel traffic monitoring solution. The modeling and simulation group of University of Colombo, School of Computing developed the Sri Lankas first home-developed vessel movement administration system. This proposed and developed solution is entirely based on the free and open source structures (Sandaruwan, et al. 2013). There are limitations of the existing solution. In the existing solution, real-time movements of the ships can be visualized. However in the existing solution the path of a moving ship is not continuous. Goldman (2011) discussed that one of the major considerations in improving the VTMS is to enhance the use of Automated Identification System (AIS). The objective is to provide more data about the vessel’s positions. Furthermore a significant feature of the VTMS upgrading has been to further increase the continuity of the vessel display and resilience. In a research carried by Popovich, Christophe, Vasily, Cyril, Tianzhen, Dmitry, (2009) states that some of the important issues to consider in VTMS. The concerns are operability, accuracy and completeness of moving and positioning of vessels. Moreover a key problem in the vessel’s location estimation is addressed. That is in the occasions where the estimated location is different with the actual location of the vessel, and then the system should avoid such circumstances. 2.4 Automatic Identification System (AIS) The SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) Convention by the IMO (International Maritime Organization). According to that the Automatic Identification System (AIS) is an automatic system utilized on ships and other vessels for distinguishing and finding vessels by electronically trading information with other adjacent vessels, AIS base stations, and satellites. AIS play a vital role in managing vessel traffic and improving maritime security. Vessel engaged in international voyages AIS is required from registered tonnage (RT) of 300. A vessel travelling in national waters AIS is required from registered tonnage (RT) of 500. (SOLAS Chapter v, 2002) AIS information is classified as 2 types of information static and dynamic. Vessel name, call sign, MMSI number (user ID), IMO number, dimension, type of the ship are static information. Position, course over ground, speed over ground, true heading, rate of turn are dynamic information. (Vesseltracker, n.d.) AIS transponders naturally transmit information at regular intervals through a VHF radio incorporated with the AIS. The position and speed originate from the ships GPS or, if that comes up short, from another GPS receiver. Other information is incorporated when AIS transponder is installed on the ship. (Weatherdock, 2014) The AIS signals are then received by other shore-based facilities like VTMS or nearby vessels. The received information is then used to display ships on two dimensional marine charts. This helps to observe ships activities. This enables ports and coastal states to recognize ships in their waters and regulate the vessel activity. (Weatherdock, n.d.) . In Sri Lanka such receivers located at Colombo and Mirissa, receive AIS signals emitted from vessel at Colombo harbour. This information is used to display the vessel on two dimensional marine charts. The ships are represented by arrow heads. 2.5 Applications of AIS There certain usages in AIS data. To enhance security nautical activities To safeguard the maritime surroundings To support collision avoidance. To manage vessel traffic in busy harbors. 2.6 State Estimation Problems The objective is to estimate the states of a dynamic system sequentially, utilizing set of noisy measurements. Orlande et al. (2012) describes that in state estimation problems, the accessible measured information is utilized together with prior learning of the physical phenomena. This task is undertaken by minimising the error. There are many applications in state estimations numerous fields. Orlande et al. (2012) describes that the position of an aircraft can be found using estimation. Also it may also be possible to locate the position using GPS system and altimeter. Usually these measurements are not always accurate. In state estimation combines the model predictions and GPS measurements to obtain more accurate estimates of air craft position. This idea can be incorporated in the research since the measurements are available during the course of the ship. It is possible to make estimations for the locations of the ship for the places where measurements are missing. Also it is possible to check whether the estimations are reliable with the measurements. 2.7 Kalman Filter The Kalman Filter also known as linear quadratic estimation was developed by Rudolf E. Kalman around 1960. Peter Swerling developed a similar algorithm in 1958. Richard S. Bucy of the University of Southern California backed the theory, making it often being called the Kalman–Bucy filter. As stated by Madhumitha Aich (2010) the Kalman Filter is a mathematical system used to correct observed values that contain inaccuracies and other disturbances and produce values with are nearer to true values. In many military and space operations Kalman filter is widely used. The fundamental operation done by the Kalman Filter is to produce estimates of the true and calculated values. Then the uncertainty is calculated along with a weighted average of both the estimated and measured values. A considerable amount of literature has reported that there exist different variants of the Kalman Filter. Discussions such as that conducted by Madhumitha Aich (2010) presented that different variants of the Kalman Filter including Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) and Unscented Kalman Filter. The Extended Kalman filter is an extended variant of the original Kalman Filter. The requirement of linear equations for the measurement and state-transition models is relaxed; instead, the models may be nonlinear. The Unscented Kalman filter (UKF) is an improved alternative to the (EKF) for a variety of application. According to Kandepu, Bjarne, Lars, (2008) the performance of the UKF is better than the EKF in terms of robustness and speed of convergence. However computational effort in both EKF and UKF are almost the same. Webb, Prazenica, Kurdila Lind (2007) addresses a problem of obtaining a robust, real-time estimation of aircraft states from a set of measurements. The solution is gotten through by implementing implicit extended Kalman filter, a variation of the classical Kalman filter. The approach taken in this paper is to use the Kalman Filter to provide reliable state estimation. The resulting estimates are implicit functions of the aircraft states, the tracked feature points, and the camera parameters. In a research carried out by Freeston (2002) the Kalman Filter has been implemented for robot localization. Robot localization means the method whereby a robot locates its own position in the world in which it functions. The measurements of the robots x and y components of the position and the orientation is available. The information can be represented by a state vector. In order to find out its position, the robot uses beacon distance and angle measurements and kinetic data. This data consists of error. The Kalman Filter is one of the better methods to incorporate measurements into estimates. The Kalman Filter identifies that the measurements are noisy and that occasionally they are discarded. Furthermore the Kalman Filter identifies measurements that have only a small effect on the state estimate. The Kalman filter smooth out the uneven effects of noise in the state variable being estimated by add in more information from trustworthy data than from untrustworthy data. The user is able to provide the value of the error in the data and the system as an input in the filter. The Kalman filter computes an estimate of the position by considering the noise in the data and the system. The Kalman Filter algorithm can be used to combine measurements from different sources such as vision measurements and kinetic information and different times updates as a robot is moving. In addition the algorithm provides an estimate of the state variable vector uncertainty which is a measure of how accurate the estimate. This situation is somewhat similar to the situation discussed in the research. This idea can be utilized in the research to obtaining better estimates of the state variables by minimizing the effect of the noisy measurements. (Freeston, 2002) 2.8 Particle Filter The Kalman filter (KF) has revealed tremendously useful, however has stern assumptions about linearity and Gaussian noise. This is not always satisfied in real world applications. In such situations Particle Filter can be used to obtain solutions. (Orlande, et al., 2012) The Particle Filter Method is a Monte Carlo technique that can be utilized to obtain the outcome of state estimation. Particle filtering methods can be used in situations which are non-linear and/or non-Gaussian. Particle Filter otherwise called as bootstrap filter, condensation algorithm, interacting particle approximations and survival of the fittest. (Orlande, et al., 2012) In Karlsson (2005) the Particle Filter is adapted to some positioning and tracking applications. Particle Filter is constructed on a model which is linearized and a Gaussian noise assumption. A method for estimating position of industrial equipment that works underwater is developed. The data is collected from sonar sensor and surface direction finding system using radar readings and sea chart data. The problem is approached by using Bayesian methods and data collected from maps are used to improve the estimation performance. A real-time application of the Particle Filter as well as hypothesis testing is presented for a collision prevention application. A situation is somewhat similar to the condition talked about in the research is discussed by Ceranka Niedzwiecki (2003). A navigation system for the estimation of the pedestrian position, based on evidence from sources like GPS, is created using the Particle Filter approach. Although the GPS provide accurate information obstacles such as high buildings, trees, bridges may weaken or reflect the signals. This leads to significant growth of errors or even creates loss of GPS signals completely. The Particle Filtering approach is suggested to be suitable in this situation in order to estimate the missing locations and make sure the estimates comply with the constraints of the digital map. 2.9 Chapter Summary In this chapter the past studies and discoveries presented by various researchers related to the research is discussed. The details about the development of vessel traffic management systems (VTMS) up to the present day commercial vessel traffic management systems are presented. The problems associated with the VTMS are addressed. Then the facts about the AIS data are presented. Then the chapter addressed the solutions to improve the VTMS such as state estimation. The theoretical background of the Kalman Filter is presented as a solution to the state estimation problem. In the instances the Kalman Filter is not applicable the Particle Filter is presented as a better approach.

Second Language Acquisition Essay -- teachers, psychologists, research

Introduction Through the years, language teachers, psychologists and others have had varying ideas of how languages are learned. Second language acquisition has multiple models, including cognitive based models, sociocultural models, and models regarding input and interaction. In this paper, my goal is to take one prominent model of SLA, the interactionist model, and determine how this model actually plays out in the classroom. I seek to answer the following questions: How does interaction support the development of interlanguage as shown in SLA research? And what does this imply about teaching practice. The discussion of these questions will follow from an analysis of four articles on interaction research. First, I will discuss an article called â€Å"Talking, tuning in and noticing: exploring the benefits of output in task-based peer interaction† by Philp & Iwashita (2013). Then I will discuss Iwashita’s work, â€Å"Negative Feedback and Positive Evidence in Task-Based Interacti on† (2003). I will move on to the work of Mackey and Silver, â€Å"Interactional tasks and English L2 learning by immigrant children in Singapore† (2005). Finally, I will analyze McDonough’s work from 2005 on â€Å"Learner-learner interaction during pair and small group activities in a Thai EFL context.† Through these articles I will gain more information on how to answer my chief questions. Before diving into the research, let us briefly investigate what the interactionist view of SLA is, and how it differs from other views of SLA. Long (1981, 1983, 1996) proposed that interaction is crucial to SLA. One key idea in Long’s perspective on SLA is negotiation for meaning. When interlocutors struggle to understand one another during a difficult language task, they modify their... ...rs and parents for background information. Works Cited Iwashita, N. (2003). Negative Feedback and Positive Evidence in Task-Based Interaction: Differential Effects on L2 Development. Studies In Second Language Acquisition, 25(1), 1-36. doi:10.1017/S0272263103000019 Lightbown, P., & Spada, N. M. (2014). How languages are learned (4th ed.). Oxford [england: Oxford University Press. [Kindle Edition] Mackey, A., & Silver, R. E. (2005). Interactional tasks and English L2 learning by immigrant children in Singapore. System, 33(2), 239-260. McDonough, K. (2004). Learner-learner interaction during pair and small group activities in a Thai EFL context. System, 32,207-224. Philp, J., & Iwashita, N. (2013). Talking, tuning in and noticing: exploring the benefits of output in task-based peer interaction. Language Awareness, 22(4), 353-370. doi:10.1080/09658416.2012.758128

Formal Analysis of Woman and Bicycle by Willem de Kooning Essay

Formal Analysis: Woman and Bicycle by Willem de Kooning Woman and Bicycle is an abstract expressionist painting created by Willem de Kooning in 1952-53 as part of his collection of Women paintings. It roughly measures 6ft. by 4ft. in size and is an oil painting on canvas. The image can be understood to be figurative, however the figure is difficult to decipher on account of the haphazard style in which it was created. It appears that the picture has been altered a great many times, as if it is just one picture deposited upon the remains of or intentions of ones prior. It is easy to decipher a pair of large jaunty eyes with their gaze intently directed back towards the viewer over a pair of particularly large breasts. The insinuation of a body remains just that, wildly gestural brushstrokes that only imply the presence of hips and thighs. De Kooning himself makes note of the illusive nature of his forms saying, â€Å"Content is a glimpse of something, and encounter like a flash. It’s very tiny—very tiny, content,à ¢â‚¬  (Hess p.148). Another more distinguishable element in this painting is the pair of legs centered at the bottom of the canvas. Beyond this, the theory of content in this piece is at the discretion of the viewer’s imagination. The gestural and heavy working of the paint and the contrasting colors make the painting appear active yet are arduous to follow. The defining element of Woman and Bicycle is the presence of the black lines that do most of the work in terms of identifying the figure. Through the wild nature of the brushwork, color, and composition of the painting, it can be implied that the artist is making an implication towards the wild nature of even the most proper of women. The most... ...ess in such a vulgarly constructed work of art. The contrasts between depth and surface, figure and landscape, promiscuity and modesty, beauty and vulgarity all present themselves in de Kooning’s Woman and Bicycle. Although the figure is a seemingly normal woman out for an afternoon with her bike, she becomes so much more through the artist’s use of color, contrast, and composition. The exotic nature of woman presents itself in her direct stare and slick buxom breasts in spite of a nearly indiscernible figure. It is understood that, on the whole, de Kooning did not paint with a purpose in mind, but rather as an opportunity to create an experience, however, that does not go to say that there isn’t some meaning that can come of this work. Even Willem de Kooning once said that art is not everything that is in it, but what you can take out of it (Hess p.144). Formal Analysis of Woman and Bicycle by Willem de Kooning Essay Formal Analysis: Woman and Bicycle by Willem de Kooning Woman and Bicycle is an abstract expressionist painting created by Willem de Kooning in 1952-53 as part of his collection of Women paintings. It roughly measures 6ft. by 4ft. in size and is an oil painting on canvas. The image can be understood to be figurative, however the figure is difficult to decipher on account of the haphazard style in which it was created. It appears that the picture has been altered a great many times, as if it is just one picture deposited upon the remains of or intentions of ones prior. It is easy to decipher a pair of large jaunty eyes with their gaze intently directed back towards the viewer over a pair of particularly large breasts. The insinuation of a body remains just that, wildly gestural brushstrokes that only imply the presence of hips and thighs. De Kooning himself makes note of the illusive nature of his forms saying, â€Å"Content is a glimpse of something, and encounter like a flash. It’s very tiny—very tiny, content,à ¢â‚¬  (Hess p.148). Another more distinguishable element in this painting is the pair of legs centered at the bottom of the canvas. Beyond this, the theory of content in this piece is at the discretion of the viewer’s imagination. The gestural and heavy working of the paint and the contrasting colors make the painting appear active yet are arduous to follow. The defining element of Woman and Bicycle is the presence of the black lines that do most of the work in terms of identifying the figure. Through the wild nature of the brushwork, color, and composition of the painting, it can be implied that the artist is making an implication towards the wild nature of even the most proper of women. The most... ...ess in such a vulgarly constructed work of art. The contrasts between depth and surface, figure and landscape, promiscuity and modesty, beauty and vulgarity all present themselves in de Kooning’s Woman and Bicycle. Although the figure is a seemingly normal woman out for an afternoon with her bike, she becomes so much more through the artist’s use of color, contrast, and composition. The exotic nature of woman presents itself in her direct stare and slick buxom breasts in spite of a nearly indiscernible figure. It is understood that, on the whole, de Kooning did not paint with a purpose in mind, but rather as an opportunity to create an experience, however, that does not go to say that there isn’t some meaning that can come of this work. Even Willem de Kooning once said that art is not everything that is in it, but what you can take out of it (Hess p.144).

Diary entry for Helen Stoner Essay

Write a diary entry or entry’s as if you are Helen Stoner. Review the cases and recount how Holmes solved it. Focus on an appropriate style. Diary entry for Helen Stoner I can not tell you how relieved I feel to be finally in my aunt’s cosy house! I would be most contented to have a good nights rest, but before I do I would like to note down the events that occurred today. This day was a day to remember as it will have an effect on me, in many ways for the rest of my wretched life. It all started when I got up at the break of dawn and travelled all the way into town to see Sherlock Holmes in Bakers Street. I was taken aback as to why such a remarkable detective like Sherlock would even consider seeing me. Even more so, Sherlock gave me quite a fright when he told me what time I departed home and how I travelled to Bakers Street. However, it just proved to me how observant Sherlock is, which made me feel safe in leaving the mystery of my sister’s fate in his hands. I had to relive that tragic night, (two years ago from now) of my dear sister’s fate and the events before and after that had occurred, in order to give as much detail as possible to Mr Holmes. I was absolutely thrilled when Sherlock Holmes assured me he would do all he could to solve the mystery of beloved Julia’s death. Sherlock had then skilfully noticed, under my frill of lace reviled marks of four fingers and a thumb on my wrist. This was from the night before when my stepfather (DR Roylott) had become angry and given me a firm hand. I did not wish to tell Sherlock about this as I was scared of the consequences if my stepfather had found that I had visited Sherlock Holmes. After all DR Roylott barely knows his own strength. I felt so lightened after talking to Holmes about my troubles, as he was the first person I have ever told about those horrifying events. Later that day when I met up with Holmes, I then discovered Sherlock had crossed paths with my stepfather after I had left. I instantly felt as though my life had crumbled before my eyes. I was now unsure weather to go ahead with the mystery. However it was too late to change my mind now, Sherlock was already fall steam ahead and investigated all of the Moran, as anticipated. Later that day I discovered many secrets that I had never thought about in depth. Holmes had shown me a small ventilator that was in my sister’s room and lead to my stepfather’s room. The bell pull in my sister’s room was indeed a dummy and he also cunningly observed that there was no logical reason whatsoever for me to have been moved into my sisters room, as there were no ‘repairs’ that needed seeing to in my own room. The bed was strangely clamped to the floor as Sherlock had pointed out. All of this information didn’t make sense to me. My mind was buzzing with so many possibilities but my main focus was clearly to find out the cause of my sister’s death. Holmes is a remarkable man, but sometimes gave me doubts on things when asked the question does your stepfather keep a cat in the safe? How peculiar that must have sounded! When Sherlock Holmes had finished inspecting every room top to bottom for the slightest thing out of place, to my horror he told me my very life depended upon my obedience of him. As you may have guessed, I felt very fearful and anxious of what clues he had found that made him say such a thing. Holmes requested to spend a night in my sister’s room while I was to still stay in my original room. Dr.Watson, Holmes and I, had agreed that when my stepfather had retired to his chamber for the night I was to give them a signal from my sister’s room that all was okay to carry on as planned. This I did and I then slipped back into my own room. I spent all night tossing and turning under the security of my bed covers. Plenty of thoughts were whizzing around my head, too many to sleep upon. I pleaded that my stepfather would not awake and see to a noise, as he would be most dismayed with what he would have seen. When finally getting to sleep, I awoke not long after to hear the sound of something striking my sister’s wall. I heard the most ghastly shriek through the night, just like the one my sister had described the night before her death. I was so panic-stricken all I wanted to do was to run and get help from someone. My heart was telling me where to go, despite this I stayed put, just as Holmes had strictly told me. Show preview only The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE Arthur Conan Doyle section.