The Relationship Between Religion and Morality Free Essays

Morality (sometimes called â€Å"true morality† or â€Å"high morality†) should be distinguished from those rules which are simply those which are considered necessary for the efficient running of a society. Such rules of a society are enshrined in law, custom and convention; and are supported and enforced by society through the legal system and public opinion. These rules are usually obeyed because of self-interest, a kind of â€Å"social contract† in which, for example, we agree not to steal from anyone else in the society if they agree not to steal from us. We will write a custom essay sample on The Relationship Between Religion and Morality or any similar topic only for you Order Now In very early societies these social rules were supported by religion, and presented as behaviour which the gods insisted humans obeyed. It is arguable that some (ie numbers 5-9) of the Ten Commandments (13th Century BCE) are just such social rules. However such a system of social rules may break down, particularly in a secular or pluralistic society. For example some people may consider that the society in which they live is unfair, and only benefits certain groups in it; or the legal system may be too inefficient to prevent other people stealing. In such situations individuals may think it is no longer beneficial for them to continue to agree to the social contract, and then there would be no compelling reason why they should continue to obey society’s laws. What we consider to be true morality is different from social rules in two important respects: 1. It is based on real concern for others as human beings of equal value to ourselves 2. Our motivation for behaving morally is that such behaviour is â€Å"right† and we feel we â€Å"ought† to do it, even when it is inconvenient to ourselves. Is Morality dependent upon Religion? The evidence to support this view is: * All religions insist upon a moral code as a central part of the religious life. * Even non-religious people when discussing where ethical values came from will refer to religious sources, such as the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20. 2-17), or the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5. 3- 7.27). * When people (eg newspaper reporters) require an expert opinion on moral issues they will ask religious leaders. * People expect higher standards of moral behaviour from religious people (a story of an adulterous vicar is more likely to appear in the newspapers that a similar tale about a bank manager – unless, of course, the latter is a churchwarden!). * Even in our largely secular society, â€Å"high† morality is often referred to as â€Å"having Christian values†. * When people talk of someone being â€Å"a good Christian† they are usually referring to their moral behaviour (ie how they treat others) and not to their doctrinal orthodoxy (ie whether they hold the traditional Christian beliefs). * True morality sprung up within religion. Arguably the first clear and unequivocal expression of true morality was the insistence by the Israelite prophet Amos in the 8th Century BCE that Yahweh (God) required honesty, truth and justice among his people more than religious observances (sacrifices, etc): â€Å"Even though you offer me [Yahweh] your burnt offerings†¦I will not accept them;†¦but let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream† (Amos 5.22-4). * No society developed morality without having developed religion first, and all morality was originally proclaimed in the name of religion. It could be asserted, therefore, that morality is a product of religion, and true morality can only derive from religion. * Conscience can be interpreted as the voice of God telling us what is right and wrong. * It can be argued that even when societies lose their interest in practising a religion, they still maintain the moral values which that religion originally instilled into the society. Thus it can be claimed that in Britain today, where about 1 person in 30 is a practising Christian, the moral values which the society proclaims, believes in and tries to live by are Christian moral values (secularised). * It can be claimed that people will not chose to be moral unless encouraged to do so by religion. Is Morality independent from Religion? The evidence to support this view is: * Religions existed for many thousands of years before they developed a real morality. This suggests that morality is not an essential part of religion. * Atheists and agnostics, who do not believe in or follow any religion, can still live truly moral lives, with a selfless compassion for other humans. * Whole societies (eg China and the former Soviet States) can be officially atheistic, and there is no evidence that such countries or governments are necessarily more wicked than ones which claim to be religious states. * The origin of moral values can be explained in terms of Evolutionary Ethics (ie as societies develop and become more complex and sophisticated so social rules become more demanding, evolving into true morality). * Conscience can be explained in other ways (eg Sigmund Freud’s concept of the internalisation of parental norms). * Agriculture, families, medicine and learning all developed within a religious context, as did morality. They have now all entered the secular domain, and are considered independent of religion, so the fact that morality developed in a religious context does not mean that it is necessarily dependent upon religion. * Plato posited the â€Å"Euthyphro Dilemma† which raised the question that good must be independent of God, or there would be no way of knowing if God’s commands were actually good or not. Can we come to some kind of conclusion? How you evaluate the above evidence, and the conclusion you come to about where the balance of the evidence lies is something you have to do for yourself; but you must do it honestly, thoughtfully and intelligently. You may like to consider the following thoughts: * All people have some kind of beliefs concerning the nature of humanity, what is of real importance and value, and what one should do with ones life. * Religious people will refer to these beliefs as their religion, and associate with groups of like-minded people who share the same religion. Atheists and agnostics will tend to refer to their beliefs as their philosophy of life, and may consider them a more individual matter. * These beliefs (whatever we call them) affect our behaviour, and we legitimately judge a person’s philosophy of life by how it affects their moral decisions and actions. * So ones beliefs determine ones morality. How to cite The Relationship Between Religion and Morality, Papers

Rape of Lock ; The Eve of St Agnes Essay Example For Students

Rape of Lock ; The Eve of St Agnes Essay The differences between eighteenth-century literature and romantic poems, with respect to history is constituted here. This is seen through the influential works of John Keats and Alexander Pope. These works are acknowledged as, The Rape of Lock and The Eve of St. Agnes. Alexander Pope takes his readers on a hatred filled epic. A robust piece of literature and love induced psychoses in, The Rape of Lock. On the other hand, The Eve of St. Agnes told a tale of life, love, death, and eternal fate in heaven. These two brilliant writers have given two magnificent poems. Pope exhibits many characteristics of a narcissistic human being. His independence in life shows through his writings in fiction. Which inevitably portray his deeper feelings of life. Popes efforts here are of outstanding quality. However, his poem did fail to convince Arabella to rsum her engagement to Lord Petre. Most of Popes efforts here were written with time. Now, Keats has romantically serenaded his reader with desc riptive lust and desire, which can be compared with popes efforts by the difference in eighteenth century literature and romantic poems, their descriptive natures and ideas they portray to the reader through their writing. Pope has written an eighteenth-century poem which he calls, An Hero-Comical Poem. This poem has exalted an over all sense of worthlessness for common rules. The mentioning of Achilles and the ever-popular Aeneas, are symbols of Popes Gothic style. Pope speaks (almost) G-D like throughout, The Rape of Lock. Contrary to Keats, who is more down-to-earth with his sense of realism in his writings. In the beginning of Keats romantic premise to life in St. Agnes, all is cold. The opening sequence brings a sense of realism to this bitter cold scene. Cold owls, rabbits, and numb fingers on a holy, Beads man. The Beads man symbolizes the sense of age and spirit. Much of this poem is a test of Keats inner soul or spirit. He has lead himself to St. Agnes for his own personal account of life in a time long gone. Keats romantic style has brought visionary raw emotion to the aching hearts of all his readers. Then, both poems go separate ways in their tales of body and spirit. Taking account of all differences in these two works, has brought out a sense of unknown extasy. Pope displays morality with his own twists on fate and man kinds inability to rationalize right decision making in life. He complicates this with, Moral superiority and his visions of old styles blended with his attitude for recognition. Pope has indulged the reader in consistent religious order, and awkward justice for mankind. However, when viewing Keats poem stanza by stanza, much is revealed. Keats tale starts as a direct eagerness for future considerations. His image of love and old age creates a stifled knot in the stomach of the reader. Enthusiastic resistance is overcome by Keats smooth flow, and harmonizing beauty in heaven. Angels and death are brought together like osmosis. His ability to start off in a cold bitter atmosphere of regret, and then sway the readers emotion to a peaceful loving atmosphere is in itself astonishing. Desire brings Keats to the heightened point of emot ional gratification within, The Eve of St. Agnes. St. Agnes is such a peaceful age-old memory for Keats. He presents strength when pain is being inflicted. His early images of purgatory, show Keats in a bind of human emotion and regret for past sins. However, Pope does thisas well throughout, The Rape of Lock. Although, Pope is less likely to find a happy medium in his tale of tolerance. He does manage to relinquish all his desires for the sake of his own inner strength. This strength is portrayed more intensely through his soul. Memories are key to the anguish of the poem. In all of Keats mediocre issues come love and honor. The entire tenth stanza is caused by the emotions involved with love. However, this must leave some readers at a loss. Keats doesnt seem to really care whether anybody understands him. Keats only concern is to repent and achieve harmony in life with his body and soul. Each of these two poets has signified their lack of realism with a substantial concern for age -old myth, and undeniable love. The portrayal of love in each poem has brought most of the emotional satisfaction from the reader. Hence, having observed these two magnificent artists for their personal adherence to the reader, it is necessary to delve into the emotional collaboration of imagery and its effect on the mind, body, and soul of the two sides involved in each reading. .ucf98abb0d9fc0bd5ed89586aa552274f , .ucf98abb0d9fc0bd5ed89586aa552274f .postImageUrl , .ucf98abb0d9fc0bd5ed89586aa552274f .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ucf98abb0d9fc0bd5ed89586aa552274f , .ucf98abb0d9fc0bd5ed89586aa552274f:hover , .ucf98abb0d9fc0bd5ed89586aa552274f:visited , .ucf98abb0d9fc0bd5ed89586aa552274f:active { border:0!important; } .ucf98abb0d9fc0bd5ed89586aa552274f .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ucf98abb0d9fc0bd5ed89586aa552274f { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ucf98abb0d9fc0bd5ed89586aa552274f:active , .ucf98abb0d9fc0bd5ed89586aa552274f:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ucf98abb0d9fc0bd5ed89586aa552274f .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ucf98abb0d9fc0bd5ed89586aa552274f .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ucf98abb0d9fc0bd5ed89586aa552274f .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ucf98abb0d9fc0bd5ed89586aa552274f .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ucf98abb0d9fc0bd5ed89586aa552274f:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ucf98abb0d9fc0bd5ed89586aa552274f .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ucf98abb0d9fc0bd5ed89586aa552274f .ucf98abb0d9fc0bd5ed89586aa552274f-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ucf98abb0d9fc0bd5ed89586aa552274f:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Ernest Che Guevara EssayImagery can sustain many possible contradictions on the writers intentions. For instance, Keats hides his characters(Porphro and Madeline) in order to present a more lustful in-depth love. Safety is a key to Keats prolific attitude on the secrecy of a womans virginity. A wholesome outlook is always in the future, it would seem. However, this outlook is never reached throughout the poem. In comparison with Pope, Keats has distinguished himself in his writing. Pope relies on old myths and obscure legends in order to achieve his outcome of clarity. Each writer has their own hero of the day. In each writers mind is the idea that one can be g-d through t heir own scripture. Each must be excused for not always being able to know what is still real and what is fiction in life. Their expensive minds have brought their own personal truth to light. Can they hear the crying of their love sick pasts? In classic style, Pope has brought dreams to reality. While Keats has more realistically attended to his personal experiences. In addition to women, love, g-d, sex, soul, mind, and body, Keats and Pope have taken different outlooks on many similar issues. Keats has given the reader a more intense feeling of desire and lust, then Pope. However, when myth and love collide Alexander Pope has answered with his tale of g-ds, angels and afterlife. As an empirical narcissistic person, I have romanticized about the romances Keats has described. His inner thoughts are more clear, then those of Pope. Additionally, Pope is more morbid and in a way sour about his shortcomings in life. Which are expressed significantly in many of Popes images. For instance , poetic eyes is used by Pope on line 124. This image can be expressed as a better way for the reader to see that life imitates art! Now, viewing both works in detail has brought out an arousal of insecurity and misunderstood quality. However, each has distinguished its own identity by its style. Referring back to the comparison of Pope and Keats styles can be quite an enhancement upon the cerebral context in each poem. Pope has strictly concerned himself with literary merit, and ghostly apparitions of old tales that haunt all writers of the possibility for brilliance. Keats however, has staked his claim as a romantic idealist of love and thought. Mind, body and soul are key factors in both of these works. Heaven is portrayed as a savior to man, and an unforsaken goal for others. Spirituality reigns deep within the hearts of both Keats and Pope. Consequence is not an issue, but the ability to repent through words of wisdom is. This is what keeps Keats and Pope sane(As well as many other writers, including myself). With wisdom comes age, and with desire comes lust. Therefore, romantic poets need to be preserved for their tremendous ability to stretch the common ability to comprehend all of lifes trials and tribulations as seen here in all its glory!Category: English

Effects of Air Pollution in Delhi Essay Example

Effects of Air Pollution in Delhi Paper Air supplies us with oxygen which is essential for our bodies to live. Air is 99. 9% nitrogen, oxygen, water vapor and inert gases. Human activities can release substances into the air, some of which can cause problems for humans, plants, and animals. There are several main types of pollution and well-known effects of pollution which are commonly discussed. These include smog, acid rain, the greenhouse effect, and holes in the ozone layer. Each of these problems has serious implications for our health and well-being as well as for the whole environment. One type of air pollution is the release of particles into the air from burning fuel for energy. Diesel smoke is a good example of this particulate matter. The particles are very small pieces of matter measuring about 2. 5 microns or about . 0001 inches. This type of pollution is sometimes referred to as black carbon pollution. The exhaust from burning fuels in automobiles, homes, and industries is a major source of pollution in the air. Some authorities believe that even the burning of wood and charcoal in fireplaces and barbeques can release significant quantities of soot into the air. Another type of pollution is the release of noxious gases, such as sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and chemical vapors. These can take part in further chemical reactions once they are in the atmosphere, forming smog and acid rain. The freshness of the air in ones environment has a direct impact on the quality and length of ones life. Air is more of a necessity of life than food or water. Imagine you live In a city where a grey-brown noxious haze of smog permeates the streets in your district. We will write a custom essay sample on Effects of Air Pollution in Delhi specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Effects of Air Pollution in Delhi specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Effects of Air Pollution in Delhi specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Imagine that these streets are filled with jam-packed traffic, a slow moving assembly of automobiles which blow UT unhealthy exhaust fumes of carbon monoxide and other harmful chemicals. You cover your nose and mouth with a handkerchief to avoid excess exposure to dust and chemical particulates in the air. The air is not pleasant to inhale in deeply, and it gives you breathing trouble, making you co ugh and wheeze. In addition, your eyes water, your nose runs, and you have headaches and irritated eyes regularly when you are outdoors. As you walk on a street in this particular city on a weekday afternoon, a jogger passes by you wearing a face mask, and you observe children playing in a nearby school, inside a giant glass bubble to shield them from the city air. This circumstance is faced by many people living in metropolises of the world like Los Angels and Mexico City. But the situation back home is no better. Air Pollution in India Industrialization and arbitration have resulted in a deterioration of Indians air quality. India has more than 20 cities with populations of at least 1 million, and some of themincluding New Delhi, Iambi, Achaean, and Kolaare among the worlds most polluted. Urban air quality ranks among the worlds worst. Of the 3 million premature deaths in the world that occur each year u to outdoor and indoor air pollution, the highest number are assessed to occur in India. Sources of air pollution, Indians most severe environmental problem, come in several forms, including vehicular emissions and untreated industrial smoke. Continued arbitration has exacerbated the problem of rapid industrialization, as more and more people are adversely affected and cities are unable to implement adequate pollution control mechanisms. Delhi In Delhi today pollution is one of the most critical problems facing the public and concerned authorities. According to the World Health Organization WHO), Delhi is the fourth most polluted city in the world in terms of Suspended Particulate Matter (SUM). The growing pollution is responsible for increasing health problems. The deteriorating environment is the result of population pressure and haphazard growth. Industrial development has been haphazard and unplanned. Only about 2% of the industrial units are in approved industrial areas; the remainder are spread over the city in residential and commercial area Road transport is the sole mode of public transport; there has been a phenomenal increase in the vehicle population, which was increased from lake in 1 971 to 2 lake in 1999. Data from continuous monitoring of air quality reveals that suspended particulate matter levels still far exceed stipulated standards, there is a significant downward trend as indicated in the following tables. Due to phenomenal growth in the number of motor vehicles Delhi and power generation based on a fired power stations, total amount on coal fired power stations, and total amount of pollutants received by the city is around 3000 tones as compared to 100 tones a decade ago. Sixty five percent of these allotment are produced by motor vehicles. Annual average maximum, levels of SUM in Delis air has increased from 7. 6 times the permissible limit in 1987 to 16. 7 time in 1995. The steep increase in vehicle population has resulted in a corresponding increase in pollutants emitted by vehicles. Petrol consumption has increased from 133 thousands tons in 1980-81 to 449 thousand tons in 1996-97 and HAS consumption from 377 thousands tons to 1,234 thousand tons during the same period, Two wheelers, which constitute 66% of the vehicles registered in Delhi, are the major source of air pollution. Thermal power plants contribute to of air pollution. The main pollutants are stack emissions; fly ash generations and fugitive emission in coal handling. All thee thermal power plants Delhi need better use of their emission control devices and the fly ash that they generate. The air pollution generated from industrial activity in Delhi is about 12% of total air pollution. More than 1,300 industrial units that were not allowed to operate under the MAD 2001 norms have been closed. The 1991 reports by the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (INNER), Nagger comments the amount of pollution that is contributed by different sectors in Delhi: In relative terms, the quantum industrial air pollution has decreased over the years. However, vehicular pollution has increased rapidly. The drop in share of domestic air pollution is due to the increased number of LAP connections in Delhi, which have replaced other forms of fuel. Effects of Air Pollution Air pollution can affect our health in many ways with both short-term and long-term effects. Different groups of individuals are affected by air pollution in different ways. Some individuals are much more sensitive to pollutants than are others. Young children and elderly people often suffer more from the effects of air pollution. People with health problems such as asthma, heart and lung disease may also suffer more when the air is polluted. The extent to which an individual is harmed by air pollution usually depends on the total exposure to the damaging chemicals, I. E. , the duration of exposure and the concentration of the chemicals must be taken into account. Examples of short-term effects include irritation to the eyes, nose and throat, ND upper respiratory infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia. Other symptoms can include headaches, nausea, and allergic reactions. Short-term air pollution can aggravate the medical conditions of individuals with asthma and emphysema. In the great Smog Disaster in London in 1952, four thousand people died in a few days due to the high concentrations of pollution. Long-term health effects can include chronic respiratory disease, lung cancer, heart disease, and even damage to the brain, nerves, liver, or kidneys. Continual exposure to air pollution affects the lungs of growing children and ay aggravate or complicate medical conditions in the elderly. Particulate air pollution has less overall impact on unidiomatic deaths in Delhi, India, than in U. S. Cities. But the deaths occur earlier in life in Delhi, which could mean a larger loss in life-years. Cropper, Simon, Albertan, and Sahara report the results of a time-series study of the impact of particulate air pollution on daily mortality in Delhi. They find: CIA positive, significant relationship between particulate pollution and daily unidiomatic deaths as well as deaths from certain causes (respiratory and radionuclide problems) and for certain age groups. C In general, these impacts are smaller than those estimated for other countries, where on average a 100-micrograms increase in total suspended particulates (TTS) leads to a 6-percent increase in unidiomatic mortality. In Delhi, such an increase in TTS is associated with a 2. 3-percent increase in deaths. The differences in magnitudes of the effects are most likely explained by differences in distributions of age at death and cause of death, as most deaths in Delhi occur before the age of 65 and are not attributed to causes with a strong association with air pollution. L] Although air pollution seems to have less impact on mortality counts in Delhi, the number of life-years saved per death avoided is greater in Delhi than in U. S. Cities;because the age distribution of impacts in these two places varies. In the United States particulates have the greatest influence on daily deaths among persons 65 and older. In Delhi, they have the greatest impact in the 15-to-44 age group. That means that for each death associated with air pollution, on average more life-years would be saved in Delhi than in the United States. What Delhi is Doing Today, Delhi is a showpiece example of making air quality safe with its entire public transport fleet converted to Compressed Natural Gas (CNN) on a scale unparalleled anywhere else,000 CNN vehicles including 9,000 buses. Delhi has banned taxis, buses and auto rickshaws older than 15 years. For its efforts, Delhi won the US Department of Energys first Decide Cities International Partner of the Year award for efforts to curb air pollution and support alternative fuel initiatives. The great vehicle explosion continues in Delhi. Yet, this rush of clean vehicles keeps the air relatively sparkling. The initiative was entirely driven by the judiciary pushing and prodding a reluctant government. Every step was a struggle till implementing agencies were threatened with contempt of court for their innovative excuses to not implement the CNN programmer. What You Can Do C] Encourage your family to walk to the neighborhood market. Downriver possible take your bicycle. C] As far as possible use public forms of transport. C] Dont let your father drop you to school, take the school bus. C] Encourage your family to form a car pool to office and back. CLC Reduce the use of aerosols in the household.

The Influences of Immigrant Cultures on American Cuisine Essay Example

The Influences of Immigrant Cultures on American Cuisine Essay Example The Influences of Immigrant Cultures on American Cuisine Essay The Influences of Immigrant Cultures on American Cuisine Essay p. 9. Collins, G. (1997, January 9). With Mexican Food Tamed, Big Business Looks Abroad. New York Times. Retrieved from http://nytimes. com Garson, M. (2009, November 3). Tribal Elder, Dinee Navajo Nation. (T. J. Smith, Interviewer) Kolpas, N. (1982). The Gourmets Lexicon, 165. New York: G. P. Putnams Sons. Simone, J. (2009, May 27). As American as General Tsos Chicken. Campus Progress. Retrieved from htp://www. campusprogress. org Zender, J. (2009, November 12). Executive Chef. (T. J. Smith, Interviewer)

The Summer of Sam Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Summer of Sam - Essay Example The film then cuts to a car driving through New York. In these opening scenes great emphasis is placed on the juxtaposition off sonic and visual elements to create impact and viewer interest. As the film advances it begins to assume more of a traditional linear narrative format. As it follows a man and his wife as they go into a nightclub, and the follows the man as he leaves and engages in intercourse with a woman he picked up there; they are ultimately interrupted by a mysterious car. The next scene at 7:32 includes another murder. It’s clear that while the narrative appears to be centered around these characters, in reality the viewer has in part been placed in the position of the mysterious murderer, who hovers in the background throughout these narrative developments. The film then cuts back to the man in who has returned to the nightclub. These characters, in contrast to the murderer, represents the film’s first developed parallel narrative structure. At 13:00 the film introduces the third narrative element, considering the life of Richie, a punk rock youth. At 20:25, the film then combines these parallel narratives as Richie and the man from the nightclub meet-up. At 30:00, the narrative then seamlessly gives way to an encounter between two cops and perceived Mafioso.

Evolution Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Evolution - Term Paper Example Moreover, such explanation (Mayr, 2002) of the evolution has emphasized primarily the God, foremost and final cause of appearances of first organism in this world that is the cell. From this cause, there has been evolution involving millions of years that enabled the single cell to evolve and transform into a mammal, or more specifically, the humans. In this regard, the theistic interpretation of evolution has been a factual explanation of the human evolution while involving the role of supernatural dynamics in the form of God that commenced everything. On the other hand, there exists the theory of evolution by Darwin (Larson, 2004) that has been the most popular name in this area of study, and has been successful in influencing and convincing a huge number of world populations. Especially scientists that follow Darwin in the case of human evolution, and agree that all creatures in this world have come after evolving from organisms of one cell, and millions of years turned them into multiple-celled organisms. Another explanation of the human evolution exists in the story that points out the location of East Africa, a heavily forested region that was a home for primate inhabitants of varying kinds approximately ten million years ago. However, after five million years, the region began to experience radical climatic alterations that altered from wet to more dry and barren conditions, and subsequently, the forested region changed from wet jungle to a desolated land. Such alteration inclined the primates to change their habitat from tree to the land that brought together the most atrocious forces of marauders on the land area of the globe. Such stories then connect the different varieties of wild animals found in African forests these days. In addition, such transformation from tree dwelling to ground-inhabitants provided the opportunity of humans to

Music In Advertising And The Media Media Essay

Music In Advertising And The Media Media Essay Music is all around us. It is a constant in our lives. Although the music that we hear changes over time it is always there. What is in today may be out tomorrow. We hear it in the car in the way to work, and once we get there it is playing in the background in the office. It is at the stores where we shop, in the elevators we ride, during the commercial breaks of our favorite television programs, at the gym where we exercise, and many more places we go. With the astronomical amount of music that surrounds us in our everyday lives is no wonder that companies use it as a median to advertise their services and products to us. Advertising is the means by which on party attempts to convince or entice another into purchasing a particular product or service. It differs from the sort of one-on-one sales pitch an individual might encounter at the point of sale in that it addresses a larger, more general audience (Huron). Advertising is instrumental to the success of businesses. If no one kno ws that the business exists or they have no idea what products or services are offered, how will they get customers? The key to business is to advertise, to make sure that a companys products or services are known to the world. People love music. Combining the two is sheer genius. Music can accomplish many things when integrated with advertisements. In advertising it is used to entertain, as a mnemonic device to trigger memory, and to target a specific demographic. When music is used in advertising for entertainment purposes it makes the advertisement more appealing to its targeted audience. A good advertisement gets and holds the attention of the audience. It is simply used for aesthetic purposes. Creating an attractive advertisement allows it to appeal more to an audience thus engaging the audiences attention. Music is also used in advertising as a technique to aid in memory. Early advertising embraced this technique. Rhyme and repetition were used to keep a brand or name of a product in mind. There are several reasons that consumers purchase certain goods or services. According to an article in The Economic Times one of the major factors in consumer purchasing is the fact that the human brain releases the chemical dopamine in response to the product. Usually sound or fragrance are the stimuli that cause this effect. The reason this happens is that the human mind is complex and Because consciously or not, we calculate purchases based on how they might bring us social status-and status is linked with reproductive success (Dobhal). There are several different options for advertisers to choose from to promote their product or service. There is print, radio, and television to name a few. The following is a brief history of advertisements from print to television: Early print advertisements appeared in the newspaper and as posters with pictures and text in popular locations. This form of advertisement is still in use today and is also successful and is found everywhere from newspapers, magazines, to popular trade journals. Billboards are another form of print advertising, they a rather large signs that are located in a conspicuous location that people will notice (Phillips). Radio advertising is one of the earliest forms of advertisement is mass media. The first speech transmission by radio was in 1915 from New York to San Francisco, five years after this historic day, the first radio program aired. A revolution had begun. With thousands of Americans tuning in to hear the radio programs, this is where advertisers hit the jackpot. Television advertisements soon followed. Since the television has such a broad reach, from the beginning it became an attractive medium for advertisers. U.S. advertising rates are determined by Nielsen ratings which are audience measurement systems that were developed by the Nielsen Research Company. The time of day and popularity of the channel are factored in to determine the advertising rates. The television become commercially available in the 1930s but did not gain popularity until the 1950s. Today 99 percent of households in the United States have at least one TV and 66 percent have three or more. The average American watches one thousand five hundred hours of TV per year (Television and Health). In the early 1980s the interest in using music to advertise dramatically increased. Following a study dubbed the attitude towards the ad which showed that consumers responded negatively towards the manipulative and pressured approach that advertisers were using. The study concluded that consumers were left with a more positive feeling towards the product music was introduced into the advertisements. The study also proved that when pairing popular music with the product consumers would associate the two and if they like the music they would like the product. (Chingning Wang)This approach has been criticized however it the lyrics are catchy and remain in your head the advertiser has effectively accomplished their task. Advertisers originally wrote their own catchy tunes to market a product. These are known as jingles. There are many jingles for products that you may still remember to this day although you havent heard them in years. One such jingle is for Oscar Mayer, and goes like thi s My bologna has a first name. Its O-S-C-A-R. My bologna has a second name. Its Mayer. Oh, I love to eat it every day and if you ask me why Ill say cause Oscar Mayer has a way with B-O-L-O-G-N-A. That is one jingle that most likely has been heard by nearly all Americans. Prior to the 1980s these are the kinds of music that one would here in a commercial occasionally the lyrics of a popular song would be changed to create a theme song for a particular product or service. On one occasion a theme song that was written for coca-cola called Id Like to Buy the World a Coke was re-recorded by the New Seekers as a pop song called Id Like to Teach the World to Sing (The Hilltop Ad: The Story of a Commercial). This song became a hit. The use of previously recorded pop songs was eventually integrated into commercials. In 1985 Burger King used an original song by Aretha Franklin called Freeway of Love in an advertisement to promote the fast food restaurant (TV Commercials in the United States). In 1987 Nike adopted the Revolution by The Beatles to advertise their shoes and other athletic gear as well as using as an effort to overhaul their advertising and marketing campaigns to compete with the number one shoe brand at the time which was Reebok (The Pop History Dig). An interesting but unproven theory is subliminal messages. A subliminal message is a hidden message within a commercial, music, or even a movie. These messages are meant to be unnoticed by the listener yet they are meant to provoke the listener to respond in some way. According to an article by Robert Fink in the Journal of Ancient of Ancient Music advertisers have claimed that they can make anyone buy anything by including subliminal messages within their advertisements (Fink). In 1957 James Vicary, a market researcher stirred up trouble with consumers when he announced that by embedding subliminal messages in the music of radio advertisements he could persuade consumers to purchase anything. The public feared that this was true and thought that they were being hypnotized with advertisements (Crossen). One company that probably comes to mind when you think of music and advertising is the popular soft drink Pepsi. The company, PepsiCo has a history of mixing popular music into their advertisements. Some of the many artists Pepsi featured in their advertisements include Michael Jackson, Britney Spears, Akon, Bob Dylan, and many more. PepsiCo is a very successful company. Consumers are bombarded with music and advertisements throughout their typical day. Advertising is a powerful and effective tool, it is meant to inform the listener of the product or service, and then persuade them to purchase it. It is obvious to point out that the better an advertisement is the more effective it will be at persuading the customer to purchase the product. Advertisers employ many techniques some of which are peer pressure and manipulation. Advertisers target an audience and use these techniques to try to convince the listener that they will be part of the in crowd if they purchase the product. This is a highly effective form of advertisement. Advertisers target a specific demographic such as 18-24 year olds. To use music effectively in this demographic they would obviously use music that most 18-24 years olds would listen to and not something like classic rock although some people in that demographic may enjoy classic rock they are trying to reach the majority. Think about this, can you remember a particular jingle or song and automatically associate it with a product. I am sure that most everyone can. Researchers have shown that the most effective commercials advertisements are the ones that stir up emotion and create an association with the product (Vaughn). Since people are bombarded with so many advertisements every day advertisers are increasingly using unconventional techniques. One such technique involves the use of incongruent advertisements. This is where advertisers mix things up a little. They use music and other art that would normally be unexpected. This works because of something called brand schema which is when a person becomes so familiar with a product from advertisements it becomes almost invisible to them, they dont really pay much attention to it. Advertisers now are trying to mix it up and once again regain their attention to the product that they are selling. This research was conducted to determine the impact of audiovisual congruency in ads and the moderating role of product involvement on three aspects of consumer response: attention to the ad, attention to the brand, and purchase intentions. The participants were shown one of eight TV ads for 30 seconds, afterward they were asked to rate the ads on several dimens ions. The results indicated that congruent product and music type invoked favorable responses from the consumers. (Lalwani). What is it about music that makes it so important in advertisements? First and foremost, it is so much easier to remember a song or jingle than spoken words. Second, it is entertaining. Whether the listener really cares about the product or not they may create a mental association with the song and the product. Imagine this scenario, two friends are talking and one says that they are in need of a cleaning service for their home but are new to the area and have no idea who to choose. The other friend says I just heard an advertisement on the radio for a cleaning service, I dont know their name but they have that catchy song in the advertisement. The friend in search of the service replies with Oh yeah, I heard that too. Ill give them a call. The advertiser has created a successful advertisement and the music or song that they chose was to thank. This is a scenario that occurs quite frequently and advertisers count on this. As you have seen, music is everywhere it is no wonder that advertisers tapped into the music source. Music is a beneficial and constructive addition to our society. It has many purposes and definitely holds its own in advertising. The business of advertising has clearly come a long way in the United States, from only having print advertisements available to the creative and catchy television and radio advertisements. Just think, if you had to watch a commercial without music, you would just be listening to someone talk. There wouldnt be catchy lyrics to aid in your memorization of the product nor would it even be interesting. Advertisers hit big when they integrated music and advertisements. Next time you are watching television or listening to the radio pay attention to how many of the advertisements contain some form of music, whether its a pop song, a creative jingle, or just a little background music.