Evaluation of Canon’s Strategies Essay

The first part of this investigation involves an evaluation of the strategies used by Canon and the key factors for success. In order to being this review, it is first necessary to consider how the company has performed in recent years. Table 1 provided below provides an overall review of the organization’s performance in recent years. The data clearly suggests that Canon has made notable progress toward developing market share, revenues and profitability. In addition to reducing its debt to asset ratio in 2008, the organization also increased its stockholder equity to assert ratio. Table 1: Key Performance Indicators for Canon, 2004-2008 [pic] Data courtesy of: http://www. canon. com/ir/annual/2008/report2008. pdf Other indicators of Canon’s success are provided in Figures 1 and 2 below. These illustrations provide a review of net sales and ROE/ROA for 2003-2007. Figure 1: Net Sales for CanonFigure 2: ROE/ROA for Canon Data courtesy of: http://www. canon. com/ir/annual/2007/report2007. pdf With the realization that Canon has performed so well in recent years, it is pertinent to consider the specific areas which have promulgated success for the organization. A crucial review of the case information provided on the organization suggests that there are a number of pertinent strategy elements which have been pertinent to the success of the organization. In particular the organization has worked to develop a mission and vision which it has incorporated on all levels of its operations. The development of a guiding mission for the organization is essential for success (Henry 2007). Missions provide the foundation for the development of actionable processes which can be used for moving the organization toward specific goals (Johnson, Scholes & Whittington, 2008). In addition to developing a mission and vision which provided the organization with a directive for action, Canon also developed a firm strategy focused on attainable goals for operations. Specifically, the organization set the specific goal of obtaining 30 percent of the world market by the 1980s. Research regarding the current state of achieving this objective suggests that even though Canon has not been able to maintain a 30 percent market share in the industry, it has overcome competitor Xerox to become second only to Hewlett Packard. Figure 3 below provides a review of global market share for companies competing in Canon’s industry. Figure 3: Global Market Share for Canon and Competitors [pic] (Data courtesy of â€Å"Office electronics industry profile,† 2008, p. 12) The focus on a specific goal for the organization has clearly had an impact on outcomes for operations. By using this specific goal for development, Canon has been able to set clear, measurable objectives which can be evaluated by the organization to determine outcomes. Setting measurable goals is an important component of developing a strategic plan for the organization (Huang, 2009). Measurable goals are viewed as essential to the successful implementation of a strategic plan which provides significant results for the ongoing development of the organization. Another issue which appears to have had notable implications for the successful development of Canon is the use of specific core competencies to ensure the outcomes of operations. In addition to developing a strategic plan which provided clear and measurable objectives, the organization delineated specific core competencies which it has been able to optimize in order to coordinate its strategic objective and achieve its goals. A review of what has been noted regarding the use of core competencies suggests that core competencies can provide the organization with the ability to focus development in particular areas (Zook, 2007). This process, in turn, sets the stage for the development of management practice and shapes how the organization approaches the market and its competitors. Collis and Montgomery (2008) provide a more integral review of core competencies noting the importance of review intended core competencies in the context of the external environment in which an organization competes. As reported by these authors, organizations need to consider the external environment and competitors in developing core competencies. While it is evident that core competencies must meet the internal demands and capabilities of the organization, Collis and Montgomery assert that improper alignment of core competencies in light of competitors and the larger industry in which the organization operates will result in failure of core competencies to be effective. In developing its core competencies, Canon appears to have taken these issues into consideration. The specific outcomes in this area are witnessed by the fact that in the 1970s, Xerox held a majority market share, which it has subsequently lost to Canon. In the 1970s, Canon recognized that the formula for success being used by Xerox was not the same formula which it wanted to pursue in the development of its organization. In this context, Canon chose to pursue a different pathway for competitive development; one which enabled the company to synthesize its internal capabilities with the market environment to create a unique competitive advantage against its largest rival. Because of this process of developing particular core competencies for operations, Canon was able to maximize its internal capabilities and use this as a strategic advantage in the marketplace. In summarizing the overall approach used by Canon to develop its strategic plan and subsequent management processes, it seems reasonable to argue that Canon did more than just place words on paper to establish a foundation for the organization. Rather, the organization developed a comprehensive plan for vision, strategy and development which were implemented on every level of the organization’s operations. In addition to delineating the larger objectives for the organization, Canon developed all of the intermediate steps that would be needed to achieve these objectives. In doing so, the organization aligned all of its activities toward the achievement of the organization’s overall strategy. The development of strategy in this manner is commensurate with what scholars note about the strategic planning and management processes. Kaplan and Norton (2008) assert that the strategy planning and development processes for the organization often end in failure because of the inability of the organization to effectively execute its strategy. Further, these authors assert that strategy failure is common because of implementation problems which manifest as organizations attempt to make critical connections between strategy objectives and specific outcomes which will be achieved to ensure that objectives are reached. Placing this information into the case of Canon, it becomes evident that these issues did not arise. Rather than struggling to implement, the organization developed to tools and resources needed to effectively ensure that it built a foundation which would enable success. It is this specific process which has enabled the success of Cannon. When strategy development is formulated as more than just specific words on paper the end result is the development of a strategic plan which provides concrete action steps for the organization to take. With these action steps in place, the organization is better poised to control the development of the strategic plan and its implementation (Neilson, Martin & Powers, 2008). This element of control in the strategic planning process has been noted to be an important contributor to the success of strategic implementation. When control is established in the strategic planning process, the organization is able to dictate the specific changes which will occur and respond to outcomes in a manner that is commensurate with the capabilities of the company and responsive to the specific external environment which will impact the outcomes of operations. What Other Companies Can Learn With a basic review of the success of Canon in the development of its strategy provided, it is now possible to consider what, if anything, can be learned by other companies from this case. In examining the development and outcomes of Canon, it becomes evident that the specific protocols and practices which have been used by the organization to achieve success should not be mimicked by other companies. Even though Canon has been quite successful in its efforts to develop its products and services, the reality is that other companies cannot expect to use the same formula for success and to achieve the same outcomes achieved by Canon. Other companies have attempted to use this approach in the past—i. . Circuit City, K-Mart, etc. Even though mimicking another organization may provide some benefits in the short-term, the reality is that the outcomes achieved will not provide an organization with a long-term foundation for development. Even though companies examining the case of Canon may not be able to use the same specific tactics employed by the organization, Canon did employ a number of general models for strategic planning and development which could be considere d by other organizations. In particular, the development of core competencies for operations is an important tool which other companies could consider for success. An examination of models for the development of core competencies in the organization suggests that companies need to begin with a core strategy for the development of their operations. Once this core strategy has been delineated, it is then possible to articulate specific areas of organizational development by attaching them directly to the core strategy. Figure 4 on the following page provides a generic model of how core competency development for the organization has been conceptualized in for translation of core competencies into organizational practice. The application of this model to the development of core competency planning for the organization would serve as the foundation for the development of the basic ideas which could then be used for the further development of the organization. Based on the specific core competencies decided upon by the organization, a formal strategic plan for organizational development could be implemented. This plan would need to reflect the development of measurable goals to ensure the overall success of achieving core competencies. Figure 4: Generic Model for Core Competency Planning [pic] Image courtesy of: http://www. ulv. edu/cbpm/business/img/mba_exp_graphic. jpg Once the core competencies for the organization have been delineated, it will then be possible for companies to consider the development of a strategic plan. Examining the specific steps used by Canon, it becomes evident that solid advice for planning and development in this area are provided in the case. In addition to developing a driving vision and mission, the organization also implemented critical success factors which enabled the organization to formulate goals. The goals were codified in the context of action steps which provided a concrete foundation for the organization to achieve success. All of these issues were supported by the core competencies established by the organization. Figure 4 below provides a review of this process and demonstrates how other organizations could effectively adopt this process to generate success in their strategic planning and management processes.

Christ above Elijah and Moses Essay

The relation between Jesus and Elijah or between the book of Kings and the New Testament is one of the most controversial issues in modern theology. As a matter of fact this is also one of the crucial issues regarding the divinity of Jesus. It is also one of the main issues that divide Christianity and Judaism. The main problem arises from the actual term Messiah which in literal translation means the â€Å"anointed† one. Therefore many that claim that Jesus was only a human Messiah and not the son of god, put Jesus and Elijah on the same level together with Moses. Even though the transfiguration of Christ in the second Epistle of Peter supposedly puts Christ above Elijah and Moses, the text does not give such clear evidence about Jesus actually being above them or being the son of god. Coming back to the term messiah or the anointed we should remember that in Jewish terminology Messiah could be any prophet including Moses, Elijah or even David. As a matter of fact in first century Judaism it was more likely for the Jews to expect two messiahs; a political and a spiritual one. Therefore it was widely speculated that there is a possibility that Barabbas might actually have been the other Messiah and that the account of that was lost during the years while Christianity was an underground religion. The second biggest problem regarding the identity of Jesus and his relations with other prophets is the metamorphosis (or transfiguration) of both testaments by the Nicaene Creed, it is where Jesus was adapted to become the new god of the Roman Empire as it is said: â€Å"the time when Constantine the Great tricked the Messianic Jews into worshiping the Roman Emperor in disguise. † It is actually by comparing Elijah’s and Jesus’ Messianic deeds that we can see the similarity between the two of them. As a matter of fact if one compares 2 Kings 4:1-44 with the Gospels of the New Testament like Mark 6:30-44, Mark 8:1-9, and John 6:1-13 one can notice striking similarities that are too similar to simply be coincidence. (1) In other words they pretty much perform the same miraculous deeds and seem to act and speak in quite a similar way. Is this the way the 1st century Jews expected their Messiah to act and behave. Both Jesus and Elijah raised people from the dead as well as they provided for the needy on several occasions. (2) (2 Kings 4: 1-44) On the other hand Elijah and Jesus are different to Moses for having gone to heaven while being alive while Moses died as a mortal never rising people from the dead , but the fact that Jesus and Elijah are so similar shows us a precedent in the Old Testament, of a prophet that is so similar to Jesus that it is logical to assume that Jesus is finally only one of the prophets that was god-sent to help his flock in turbulent times and leave a legacy of how one should live her or his life. (3) If one assumes the original Jesus was a Jewish prophet that was not the incarnation of god himself but a very mighty mortal that finally resurrected from the dead and went to heaven then there is no difference between him and Elijah except the resurrection part, which could be explained by a different will of god or by historic misinterpretation. Nevertheless the main differences between Jesus and Elijah are actually some additions to the personality and life of Jesus that were included to the scriptures to satisfy the pagan populations of Constantine’s Rome. Like the Virgin birth (proper of Sun Gods like Horus and Mithras) birth on December 24th (4) (proper of Sun Gods like Horus and Mithras), and the resurrection also proper of Sun Gods like Horus and Mithras. Footnotes: 1. 2 Kings 4: 42 A man came from Baal Shalishah, bringing the man of God twenty loaves of barley bread baked from the first ripe grain, along with some heads of new grain. â€Å"Give it to the people to eat,† Elisha said. 43 â€Å"How can I set this before a hundred men? † his servant asked. But Elisha answered, â€Å"Give it to the people to eat. For this is what the LORD says: ‘They will eat and have some left over. ‘ † 44 Then he set it before them, and they ate and had some left over, according to the word of the LORD. John 6: 10Jesus said, â€Å"Have the people sit down. † There was plenty of grass in that place, and the men sat down, about five thousand of them. 11Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish. 12When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, â€Å"Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted. † 13So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten. Mark 6: 38He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes. 39And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass. 40And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties. 41And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all. 42And they did all eat, and were filled. 2. 2 Kings 4: 32 When Elisha reached the house, there was the boy lying dead on his couch. 33 He went in, shut the door on the two of them and prayed to the LORD. 34 Then he got on the bed and lay upon the boy, mouth to mouth, eyes to eyes, hands to hands. As he stretched himself out upon him, the boy’s body grew warm. 35 Elisha turned away and walked back and forth in the room and then got on the bed and stretched out upon him once more. The boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes. 36 Elisha summoned Gehazi and said â€Å"Call the Shunammite. † And he did. When she came, he said, â€Å"Take your son. † 37 She came in, fell at his feet and bowed to the ground. Then she took her son and went out. 3. One of the main points of those who argue the humanity of Jesus is that he is no god incarnate and a direct path to heaven that came to reaffirm the rule of the church. Quite the contrary, his teachings concentrate more on one’s inner struggles in very logical ways rather then the controversial dogma imposed later by the Roman Church. 4. Constantine had to combine the Jewish faith and rituals with Roman sun god faith and rituals in order to make the new religion more understandable to the pagan population of the empire. Therefore the modern Jesus is a mixture of Roman sun God and historic, Jewish Jesus. The Jewish Jesus can raise people from the dead, just like Elijah and can feed many with little food, just like Elijah and finally ascends to heaven alive just like Elijah. On the other hand Jesus is born of a virgin, unlike Elijah but very much like many Sun Gods, he is born on December 24th like many Sun Gods, he dies and is resurrected like all the Sun Gods, finally, modern Christians do not celebrate the Sabbath like Jesus did but Celebrate the Calends (Sunday) as the Romans did when worshiping their Sun God. Works cited: Bible Gateway, KJV, Books of: 2 Kings, Mark, John. Retrieved on March, 3rd 2009, from: http://www. biblegateway. com/passage/? search Davies, Steven L. New Testament Fundamentals, Santa Rosa, Polebridge Press, 1994.

The Integrated Sport Injury Model Is The Best Model That

The integrated sport injury model is the best model that could explain Matt’s psychological response to his reaggravating his shoulder injury. In this paper I will give a complete analysis of Matt’s psychological response for set backs in his rehabilitation process. This will be done in three main points: First I will explain what specifically the integrated sport injury model is. Then I will explain how Matt’s psychological response fits in this model. Lastly, I will conclude psychological rehabilitation process in relation to Matt’s case. The Integrated Sport Injury Model The integrated sport injury model consists of three main components. These components are cognitive appraisal, emotional response and behavioral response. The model†¦show more content†¦Matt’s personal history of power lifting and it’s success garnered him positive social support. However once he received negative feedback for following the â€Å"wimpy† exercises this led to his negative mood and thinking. This will lead to the next component of emotional response. Emotional Response There are many emotional response factors that play a role in the rehabilitation process. These could include: fear of the unknown, feelings of tension, anger, and depression and grief associated with an injury. As eluded in the behavior response negative social support leads to non-adherence to rehabilitation in which many of these negative emotional responses can be notice. The factors of grief associated with the injury, depression and the fear of the unknown are most prevalent in this case study. The negative feedback that Matt is receiving from his peers is leading to these negative emotional responses. This feedback is leading to his grief of the injury thus making him depressed. He shows signs of depression due to the fact that he is fearful that this injury will take away from his goals of being a top power lifter thus taking away from his identity. 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Physical Property Definition and Examples

A physical property is a characteristic of matter that can be observed and measured without changing the chemical identity of the sample. The measurement of a physical property can change the arrangement of matter in a sample but not the structure of its molecules. In other words, a physical property might involve a physical change but not a chemical change. If a chemical change or reaction occurs, the observed characteristics are chemical properties. Intensive and Extensive Physical Properties The two classes of physical properties are intensive and extensive properties: An intensive property does not depend on the amount of matter in a sample. It is a characteristic of the material regardless of how much matter is present. Examples of intensive properties include melting point and density.An extensive property, on the other hand, depends on sample size. Examples of extensive properties include shape, volume, and mass. Examples Examples of physical properties include mass, density, color, boiling point, temperature, and volume.

Comparing Macbeth And Great Expectations - 2215 Words

There are more than enough examples from Macbeth and Great Expectations to prove that â€Å"subversion of gender roles,† a term that describes someone acting in a way that is not expected from those of their said gender, is evident in both writing pieces. There are a number of connections between the women of the play and novel; this can be seen in their stern, powerful and leader-like and always changing personalities that a number of female characters share. For instance, Miss Havisham’s burning hatred for men that she implemented into Estella s mind, to Lady Macbeth’s level of ambition to have her husband become king. Others include similarities in levels of knowledge, even though they were considered â€Å"commoners† on a part of the social ladder where a lack of knowledge is expected, and examples of how they use their high levels of knowledge to their advantage. 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Best Evidence Essay Example For Students

Best Evidence Essay Best Evidence Best EvidenceThe book, Best Evidence: Disguise and Deception in the Assassination of John F. Kennedy, would be a tedious read to a person less familiar with the JFK assassination, but offers many important revelations to those who have read other books on the subject. The author, David Lifton, gives an insightful and highly researched look into one of the most tragic events in our nations history. Lifton brings into question the sincerity of the Warren Commissions investigation of President Kennedys assassination, as well as the use of false evidence and autopsy reports. The first faulty evidence described by Lifton is the Zapruder film. The Zapruder film is the only animated evidence available to help study the assassination. Lifton brings up an observation I had never noticed, in that the Zapruder film did not have the background clarity to track the presidents limousine position. I was shocked to learn that the sign in the film had been removed, and later reinstalled perhaps at a new position. I was also surprised to read descriptions of four different versions of the film. Lifton proposes that the official locations of the bullet hits were modified twice: once to accommodate only three bullets, and the other to accommodate two bullets hitting (plus a miss). The Zapruder film was then modified to match that scenario. Lifton proposes this modification was done by removing original frames and substituting them with touched-up frames. Lifton backs up his theory by discussing Zapruder film artifacts that point to special effects modifications. The ma in points are jiggle blurring of highlights that are incompatible between the limousine and the background of many frames. Next, Lifton discusses the fraudulent autopsy photos and X-rays. He proposes an elaborate theory, in which the presidents body was modified before the official autopsy was performed at Bethesda Naval Hospital in Washington DC. According to Lifton, the Presidents body did not arrive at Bethesda in its original coffin. Therefore, he believes that Kennedys body was altered, before the autopsy, in a way that supported the authorities claim of the President being shot from behind. But by using photographical evidence taken while the president was at Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas. These photos illustrate a clear difference between the presidents body at Parkland, and later at Bethesda. Lifton continues supporting his theory that the body was altered before the autopsy. He uses eyewitness accounts of people noticing the flaps of the presidents coffin close up. T he witnesses stated that the flaps were popped open or worked loose during shipping. (256) I particularly liked Liftons theory that the neck bullet and head fragments were fished out of the upper chest cavity in a pre-autopsy. Again, Lifton uses photographs taken at Parkland Memorial and Bethesda to help support this new theory. The body definitely appears to have been modified, just as Lifton had professed. In his most convincing theory, Lifton exposes the weaknesses of the Warren Commissions investigation, as well as its conclusions in the Warren Report. He states noticeable differences in what actual witnesses of the assassination say they saw, and what the Warren Report says happened. The Warren Report is singled in on Lee Harvey Oswald as being the lone assassin. However, eyewitness statements as well as the Zapruder film show that Kennedys fatal shot came from the direction of the grassy knoll directly to the front right of the president. Oswald, however, was allegedly situated behind the president in the Texas Schoolbook Depository. Lifton continues using photographical evidence that appears to show smoke coming from the direction of the grassy knoll area. Lifton states that: The Warren Commission had direct access to every piece of evidence that I did, but still neglected to report the apparent facts of the assassination (124) Lifton eventually comes to the conclusion that the Wa rren Commission was simply used as a method of cover-up for the governments involvement in the assassination. Liftons evidence definitely supports this conclusion. .ufdf1cede9686bec7a626d3581972a89a , .ufdf1cede9686bec7a626d3581972a89a .postImageUrl , .ufdf1cede9686bec7a626d3581972a89a .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ufdf1cede9686bec7a626d3581972a89a , .ufdf1cede9686bec7a626d3581972a89a:hover , .ufdf1cede9686bec7a626d3581972a89a:visited , .ufdf1cede9686bec7a626d3581972a89a:active { border:0!important; } .ufdf1cede9686bec7a626d3581972a89a .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ufdf1cede9686bec7a626d3581972a89a { 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; } .ufdf1cede9686bec7a626d3581972a89a:active , .ufdf1cede9686bec7a626d3581972a89a:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ufdf1cede9686bec7a626d3581972a89a .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ufdf1cede9686bec7a626d3581972a89a .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ufdf1cede9686bec7a626d3581972a89a .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ufdf1cede9686bec7a626d3581972a89a .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; } .ufdf1cede9686bec7a626d3581972a89a:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ufdf1cede9686bec7a626d3581972a89a .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ufdf1cede9686bec7a626d3581972a89a .ufdf1cede9686bec7a626d3581972a89a-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ufdf1cede9686bec7a626d3581972a89a:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Emotional Intelligence EssayBest Evidence has many strong points, as well as many weaknesses. First, the book has very little name-calling and attacks on other researchers. Many times, I have come across a book whose author is very critical of another books research. Instead of bashing other authors, Lifton focuses on supporting his own thesis by using hard evidence, instead of contradicting with another researcher. Despite this strong point, the book appears to be lacking editing. Throughout my reading, I noticed many typographical errors in the body of the book. It is possible that Best Evidence was rushed to publication to get important material out in a timely fashion, or to get the jump on other writers. The reading is very worthwhile if you can make it through the many footnotes of references. The book does succeed very well in exposing the Zapruder film and the autopsy photos and X-rays as fakes. Although Lifton had completed massive research on the subject of Kennedys assassination, most of his statements were still very theoretical. There is no possible way for any person to know the exact events that took place, unless they lived through each one on them. The truth to what happened in Dallas on November 22, 1963 may never truly be known. David Liftons book gives notice to only one of a possible million scenarios, which took place on that November day in Dallas. In the year 2017, the final pieces to the Kennedy assassination puzzle are to be released from the National Archives, and I guarantee you Ill be there to find out the truth. Until then, we can only speculate as to who really assassinated President Kennedy.

Rap MusicViolence an Example of the Topic Psychology Essays by

Rap MusicViolence The music alone with sudden charms can bind The wandring sense, and calm the troubled mind These words were written about three hundred years ago by William Congreve in his Hymn to Harmony. Many years before him the Greeks had believed that musical education was the most powerful weapon as far as the rhythm and harmony could penetrate the deepest places of the human soul. The accuracy of these words is confirmed in our days by parents of young people. If their children are constantly listening only to the heavy-metal or rap music they very often become reserved and unsociable. Something like that was occurring in fascist Germany where the swarms of people were exposed to exiting martial music that prepared them to hypnotic speeches delivered by Hitler. Undoubtedly, the music has an impact on the human mind and thus it can be used to set people either for the good or for the evil. The pronounced violence and open glorification of sex in some rap songs give grounds to state that rap music may be improper in terms of social standards and tend to encourage violence. Need essay sample on "Rap Music&Violence" topic? We will write a custom essay sample specifically for you Proceed Evidently, the enormous influence of the music upon a person can be useful. However, there is a real reason to worry, while if misused the music may become a deadly weapon. Some researchers have revealed a direct linkage between antisocial behavior and certain kinds of music. To support this statement there is evidence that certain kinds of music tend to contain high levels of violent and sexual imagery. One of the articles published in Psychology of Women Quarterly says that the facts lead us to conclusion that the videos of rock concerts influence people in the same way as pornography, while the men, who watched videos of rock concerts with violent elements, treated women more violently and boldly than those who watched the videos of rock concerts without violent elements (St. Lawrence & Joyner, 1991). People Very Often Tell Us: I'm not in the mood to write my paper. Because I don't have the time Specialists suggest: Academic Papers For Students Buy Essay Online Cheap Review Essays For Money Write Your Paper Online Cheapest Essay Writing Company The article in Sex Roles journal refers to the similar fact. It says that the researchers have shown that if adolescent girls are reared in troubled families and are keen on rap music at that, it contributes to the development of promiscuity in their views and behavior (Adams et al., 1995). The journal Adolescence came to the conclusion that according to the adolescents themselves as well as their parents, for the young people who listen to heavy metal and rap, the life is in more turmoil. Such youngsters are aggressive, they tend to roster and have poor academic achievement results (K. J. Took & D. S. Weiss, 1994). So the linkage between the certain kinds of music, such as rap, and promiscuity, suicides, antisocial behavior and general social degradation is supported by results of numerous researchers. Rap music exploded in popularity during the 1990s. Although rap as a musical genre was several decades old, the 1990s witnessed the rise of hip-hop culture to prominence not just among young urban blacks but across America's youth culture. Sometimes funny, sometimes ominous, rap lyrics and the sampled tracks that accompanied them could be heard on the streets of Harlem and in the fraternity houses of Harvard. Rap tracks consistently climbed to the highest levels of the charts. MTV, accused by some in the 1980s of discriminating against black artists, placed hip-hop videos in heavy rotation by the mid-1990s. Rap, considered primarily the music of young Black urban males, features themes similar to those in heavy metal, within this genre, the police are often the target of violent fantasies, women are often viewed as sex objects and objects of rage, and racism and sexism are viewed as acceptable norms of behavior. One of the most famous and controversial at the same time rap star, Emin em, in his music relies heavily on absolutism, stereotyping, scapegoating, and dehumanization, the very thought patterns that underlie hatred and violence in modern society. In fact, he elevates the thought patterns of hatred to outrageously obvious levels rarely seen anywhere else in popular culture. Often comic and ironic in his approach, though, Eminem leaves listeners guessing about his real meanings: is he advocating violence or is he its most sarcastic critic? As such, the very ambiguity of his intentions embodies the fascination with hatred. But does it mean that any music produces such evil effect upon people? And why does music touch people? Music and speech are two exclusively human skills. It is difficult to imagine life without them. Both music and speech reflect the human need for communication. Music is like speech when music speaks persons feelings listen to it. To understand how and why music touches people it is necessary to consider three things what music consists of; how human mind perceives it; and finally how the perception of music depends on persons emotional makeup and cultured surroundings. The first of music elements a person meets in life is its rhythm. The first contact with rhythm occurs in mothers womb when a child hears mothers heartbeat. It is supposed that persons heartbeat and even breathing rate subconsciously influence their perception of rhythm. That is why, probably, it is notable that most people prefer music tempo of approximately 70-100 beats per minute. This is an average pulse of a healthy adult person. Harmony, dissonance, and melody are also the elements of music. Harmonious sounds are pleasant while dissonance grates on ears. However, without the combination of these two parts, the music would be boring and dull. Entwinement of harmony and dissonance, evoking scarcely noticeable oscillation and tension of sound, impose strong emotional impression upon hearer. Melody expresses the idea of music, and depending on the intervals between notes, it can be sad or merry, dramatic or smooth. All these elements together heavily influence people and can either impel them to some actions or set their mind at rest. The effect produced by music depends on the processes that occur in persons mind when they listen to the music. The reaction to certain melody or song often depends on persons state of mind or circumstances in which this music is heard. For instance, a certain melody can be related to some sad event or unforgettable adventure and in future, it will always hold these associations. Moreover, music helps words and ideas to penetrate peoples hearts. Thus, hardly any commercials go without music score. Usually, the wording means little in the advertisement but properly matched music helps produce an emotional effect upon the recipients. While the advertisements can hit customers pockets, the music, and lyrics sometimes bear far more serious danger. Repeated again and again words from songs infuse adolescents with feelings that they are cool and that it is quite unnecessary to respect others opinions. Ideas, present in rap songs with morally objectionable sense, become ingrained in hearers minds and spur them on violent actions. Is it possible to avoid the malign influence of rap songs by listening solely to their music and ignoring words? In fact, the most rap songs have slurred wording, and it is difficult to catch them because of thunderous music. But whether or not one listens attentively to the words, the pulsating beat and iterative melody or rap music already have a definite idea. And more often than not this idea inculcates the cult of strength, power, and sexual victories. The main topics of rap songs are the rebellion against all and any, violence, debauchery, and even promiscuity and perversion. How much dirt have I done My life has just begun I sleep with my gun My problems weigh a ton... Live by the gun die by the gun (from Snoop Dogg Presents The Eastsidaz, Doggystyle Records, 2000) Im from where the guns love to introduce theyself Reduce your health, little bulletproofs get felt Make way for krill, I dont play I spray for real Blow your top with the glock, thats my favourite kill Blaze your crib with like thirty shots I'm already hot, but my last one is with some dirty cops Blow a hole through your ribs just for runnin your lips The streets a trip; either you deep or you sleep with the fish (from Endangered Species, released posthumously, Loud 2001) I caught him with a blow to the chest My hollow put a hole in his vest I'm bout to send two to his dome Cry babies go home! I just bought some new guns my mama said it aint worth it But Im at the shooting range just cause practice makes perfect (from Word of Mouf, Defjam, 2001) Some young people agree with that statement but they believe that they do not undergo sinister influence of rap music. They usually assert that this kind of music helps them find their identity. But is it really so? As noted in the article in Journal of Youth and Adolescence deviant behaviors in adolescence, antagonism, and cult of power, absorbed by some of the adolescents from rap music, specially impress those who dont enjoy cognitive endeavors, who spent the whole day at school where they are told that they are slowwitted and stupid. The same article states that the irony of it is that while striving to find confidence and discover own self these adolescents resort to stereotypes. Instead of searching for own precious features they resort to the ready-made notions prepared by the music industry (G. T. Fouts & K. D. Schwartz, 2003). In other words, the young people are told what to do and what to feel. In another relevant experiment, J. D. Johnson, Jackson, and Gatto (1995) studied three groups of African-American males between the ages of 11 and 26. One group saw a music video featuring violent rap; a second group saw a video featuring nonviolent rap, and a third group saw no music video. Compared with participants in the other two groups, those in the violent rap group expressed a greater acceptance of the use of violence and reported a higher probability that they would also engage in violence. Interestingly, when a group of juvenile offenders was asked about their views on rap music, most believed that such music was a reflection of their lives rather than a cause of their behavior. To protect childrens mind and soul from sinister influences of popular rap music the adults must first reconsider their attitude towards the role of rap in violent behaviors. Children have to be raised not only just to deplore violence but also to recognize the inherent fallacies behind hatred and to be active, critical consumers of popular culture instead of passive receivers ready to accept any message that flashes across the screen. Unfortunately, it is not true of most kids today. Moreover, by blaming rap icons for childrens attitudes toward hatred and violence, adults themselves are role-modeling for children one of the fundamental thought processes of hatred - that of scapegoating. Another thing to remember, while scapegoating violence onto influences from popular rap culture, is that this dangerous music is not a part of some foreign invasion it is a product of American culture. Most rappers were born and raised in America within the confusing cauldron of messages that long h as resulted from peoples obsession with hatred and violence. Thus, while people must concern themselves with the messages rap music now sends to youth, people also must remember that these messages did not arise out of a vacuum. Works Cited Adams, M. S., Ashburn, L., Johnson, J. D., Differential Gender Effects of Exposure to Rap Music on African American Adolescents Acceptance of Teen Dating Violence. Sex Roles: A Journal of Research. 33. 7-8, (1995): 597+. Big Pun. Brave In The Heart Endangered Species, released posthumously, Loud, 2001. Fouts, Gregory T., Schwartz, Kelly D. Music Preferences, Personality Style and Developmental Issues of Adolescents. Journal of Youth and Adolescence. 32. 3, (2003): 205+. Johnson, J. D., Jackson, L. A., Violent attitudes and deferred academic aspirations: Deleterious effects of exposure to rap music. Basic and Applied Social Psychology. 16. 2741, (1995).