Sunday, January 19, 2020
African American Culture Essays -- Papers
African American Culture Culture is not a fixed phenomenon, nor is it the same in all places or to all people. It is relative to time, place, and particular people. Learning about other people can help us to understand ourselves and to be better world citizens. One of the most common ways of studying culture is to focus on the differences within and among cultures. Although their specifics may vary form one culture to another, sociologists refer to those elements or characteristics that can be found in every know society as cultural universals. For example, in all societies, funeral rites include expression of grief, disposing of the dead, and rituals that define the relations of the dead with the living. And on the most significant cultural universals is the incest taboo, a cultural norm prohibiting marriage or sexual relations between certain kin. Whether the underlying basis of human behavior is biological or purely learned, how we channel that behavior is an important aspect of culture. From the time we are born, we are socialized to believe that our way of life is one that is good, civilized, and above reproach. Such ideals usually sets the tone for what sociologist would refer to as ethnocentrism, the attitude that oneââ¬â¢s own culture is superior to those of others. Though it exists from one degree or another in every society, it may also serve as the glue that holds a society together. In the event that ethnocentrism is taken out of context or has reached an offensive tone, it may be suppressed with cultural relativism, the belief that a culture must be understood on its own terms. From the African American perspective, culture encompasses all we know, all we feel, and all we have absorbed from our elder... ...unting the lives of people who struggled for African and African American freedom. People who celebrate Kwanzaa hope to strengthen the black community by adhering to the seven guiding principles, designated by the terms from the Swahili language: umoja (unity), kujichagulia (self-determination), umija (collective work and responsibility), ujamaa (cooperative economics), nia (purpose), kuumba (creativity), and imani (faith). Although many African Americans share some culture similarities with those of the dominant culture, there are some aspects of their culture from the dominant ancestry of sub-Saharan West Africa in which they have retained. Culture is not a fixed phenomenon, nor is it the same in all places or to all people. It is relative to time, place, and particular people and African American culture plays a significant role in the United States today.
Saturday, January 11, 2020
Electronic Dance Music Essay
Electronic dance music (also known as EDM, dance music, club music, or simply dance) is a set of percussive electronic music genres produced primarily for dance-based entertainment environments, such as nightclubs. Dance music is generally produced for use by DJs and is most often presented in the context of a DJ mix.[1] So called ââ¬Å"DJ producersâ⬠often perform live sets of their own dance music productions via a live PA.[2][3] In 2010, the acronym ââ¬Å"EDMâ⬠was adopted by the American music industry and music press as a buzzword to describe the increasingly commercial US electronic dance music scene.[4][5] Other dance music communities have questioned the idea of EDM as blanket term for all electronic dance music and the term has instead been associated with specific dance sub-genres that became popular in the US, such as electro house and brostep.[6] A notable example of an early form of EDM is the 1977 collaboration between producer Giorgio Moroder and vocalist Donna Summer on the song ââ¬Å"I Feel Loveâ⬠, a groundbreaking dance/discothà ¨que hit with no traditional instruments.[7] The first era of electronic music comprises the instruments and music created prior to 1945.[8] The new field of information science inspired composers to explore the use of computers to compose and synthesize music, beginning in the 1950s.[9] The development of computer technology historically paralleled the development of the modern electronic music studio and synthesizer, leading to a cross-fertilization of the two fields that greatly benefited electronic music.[10] Birth of club music See also: Hi-NRG, Electronic body music, Euro disco, Synthpop, Italo disco, Electro (music), Garage music (North America), Post-disco and House music Hi-NRG (pronounced ââ¬Å"high energyâ⬠)[11] is a style of uptempo disco or electronic dance music that originated in the United States and United Kingdom during the late 1970s. As a music genre, typified by a fast tempo (c. 140 bpm), staccato hi-hat rhythms (and the four-on-the-floor pattern), reverberated ââ¬Å"intenseâ⬠vocals, ââ¬Å"pulsatingâ⬠octave basslines, was particularly influential on the electronic dance music scene. Its earliest association was with Italo disco, which incorporated new American electronic sounds of post-disco and hi-NRG. Later, the genre became essential in the evolution of techno, and, to a lesser but importantà degree, house music.[11] Artists like Daft Punk, Jusâ⬠ice or Calvin Harris represent only a small portion of those artists, coming mostly from a house music and electro-funk background, who gained a renewed interest in hi-NRG.[citation needed] Acid house and Rave See also: Acid house, Techno, Rave and Second Summer of Love Roland TB-303: The bass line synthesizer that was used prominently in acid house. Love Parade 1997 in Berlin. By 1988, house music had exploded in the UK and Germany with acid house becoming increasingly popular.[12] There was also a long-established warehouse party subculture based around the sound system scene. In 1988, the music played at warehouse parties was predominantly house. That same year, the Balearic party vibe associated with Ibiza based DJ Alfredo Fiorito was transported to London, whenDanny Rampling and Paul Oakenfold opened the clubs ââ¬Å"Shoomâ⬠and ââ¬Å"Spectrum,â⬠respectively. Both night spots became synonymous with acid house, and it was during this period that the use of MDMA, as a party drug, started to gain prominence. Other important UK clubs at this time included ââ¬Å"Back to Basicsâ⬠in Leeds, Sheffieldââ¬â¢s ââ¬Å"Leadmillâ⬠and ââ¬Å"Music Factory,â⬠and in Manchester ââ¬Å"The Haà §ienda,â⬠where Mike Pickering and Graeme Parkââ¬â¢s Friday night spot, ââ¬Å"Nude,â⬠was an important testing ground for American u nderground [13] dance music. Acid house party fever escalated in London and Manchester, and it quickly became a cultural phenomenon. MDMA-fueled club goers, faced with 2 A.M. closing hours, sought refuge in the warehouse party scene that ran all night. To escape the attention of the press and the authorities, this after-hours activity quickly went underground. Within a year, however, up to 10,000 people at a time were attending the first commercially organized mass parties, called raves, and a media storm ensued.[14] The success of house and acid house paved the way for Detroit Techno, a style that was initially supported by a handful of house music clubs in Chicago, New York, and Northern England, with Detroit clubs catching up later.[15] According to British DJ Mark Moore it was Derrick Mayââ¬â¢sâ⬠Strings of Lifeâ⬠that eased Londonà club-goers into acceptance of house, with Moore stating that: ââ¬Å"I was on a mission because most people hated house music and it was all rare groove and hip hopâ⬠¦Iââ¬â¢d play Strings of Life at the Mud Club and clear the floor. Three weeks later you could see pockets of people come onto the floor, dancing to it and going crazy ââ¬â and this was without ecstasy.â⬠[16][17] During the 1990s, events such as the Love Parade in Germany attracted large numbers of attendees, but this subsided after the start of the next millennium.[citation needed] One of the popular raves or EDM concert in the United States of America is Electric Daisy Carnival also known as EDC. EDC 2012 rave had over 85,000 people at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.[18] EDC at Las Vegas Motor Speedway has 6 stages for the DJ.[19] Not only there have 6 stages, they have amusement rides such as ferris wheel and numerous amounts of roller coasters.[20] Ever since EDC moved from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, they have been making more ticket sales.[21] EDC sold more than 230,000 tickets.[22] Also, another popular EDM concerts or raves in the United States of America is called Hard Summer.[23] Hard Summer is more an EDM concert that consist hip-hop, reggae, and rock that is infused with EDM style.[23] Los Angeles sold more than 40,000 tickets[23] North American commercialization of EDM Initially, electronic dance music achieved limited popular exposure in America when it was marketed as ââ¬Å"electronicaâ⬠during the mid to late 1990s.[24] At that time, a wave of electronic music bands from the UK, including The Prodigy, The Chemical Brothers, Fatboy Slim and Underworld, had been prematurely associated with an ââ¬Å"American electronica revolution.â⬠[25][26] But, instead of EDM finding wider mainstream success, it was relegated to the margins of the industry.[25] Despite the domestic music media interest in ââ¬Å"electronicaâ⬠during the latter half of the 1990s, American house and techno producers continued to travel abroad to establish their careers as DJs and producers.[25] By the mid-2000s, a number of factors led to an increased prominence for dance acts in North America that was larger than previously observed. Daft Punkââ¬â¢s performance at the 2006 Coachella Festivalââ¬âthe first in the duoââ¬â¢s Alive 2006/2007 tour, which featured the introduction of a unique pyramid-shaped stage design and lighting rig, influenced what Spindescribed as an ââ¬Å"arms raceâ⬠for visualà effects in electronic music. Spin also considered the act to be a ââ¬Å"tipping pointâ⬠for EDM, as the appearance fueled nostalgia of the electronica era, and introduced the duo to a new generation of ââ¬Å"rock kidsâ⬠.[25] In 2009, French house musician David Guetta began to gain prominence in mainstream pop music after the 2009 release of ââ¬Å"When Love Takes Overâ⬠(featuring the vocals of Kelly Rowland), which was internationally popular on both pop and dance music charts. The success of the song led to further collaborations with other pop and hip-hop acts, such asAkon (ââ¬Å"Sexy Bitchâ⬠) and The Black Eyed Peas.[27] His collaboration with the latter, ââ¬Å"I Gotta Feelin gâ⬠, was a major success for both The Black Eyed Peas and Guettaââ¬âin the U.S., the song achieved sales of 249,000 downloads and debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at number two, behind their previous single ââ¬Å"Boom Boom Powâ⬠.[28] The song eventually reached number 1 on July 30, 2009, and Billboard magazine reported that the song, along with ââ¬Å"Boom Boom Pow,â⬠helped the group maintain a 17-week run at the top of the Hot 100, the longest time period achieved by a single, duo or group.[29] The increased prominence of EDM was also fueled by concerts and festivals, such as Electric Daisy Carnival, that placed an increased emphasis on visual experiences (such as video and lighting effects), fashion (which The Guardian characterized as an evolution from the 1990s ââ¬Å"kandi raverâ⬠into ââ¬Å"[a] slick and sexified yet also kitschy-surreal image midway between Venice Beach and Cirque Du Soleil, Alice In Wonderland, Willy Wonka and a Gay Pride paradeâ⬠), and the DJs themselves, who began to attain celebrity-like statuses. Websites such as YouTube and SoundCloud also helped fuel an increased interest in house and other types of electronic music, such as electro house and dubstepââ¬âboth of which had also developed a hard rock-influenced sound popularized by producers such as Excision, Knife Party, Rusko and, most prominently, American producer Skrillex.[30][31] In 2011 Spin declared the start of a ââ¬Å"new rave generation,â⬠led by names such as Guetta, Canadian producer Deadmau5, and Skrillex, that was followed by a new wave of mainstream consumers.[25] Elements of EDM also began to emerge in songs by mainstream artists, as collaborations occurred with artists such as Afrojack and Calvin Harris.[25]EDM producers and DJs also began experiencing success playing club shows in U.S. cities such as Las Vegas; at the time, Diplo argued that promoters could generate higher profits from DJsà over other acts, stating that ââ¬Å"a band plays, itââ¬â¢s 45 minutes; DJs can play for four hours. Rock bandsââ¬âthereââ¬â¢s a few headliner dudes that can play 3,000-4,000-capacity venues, but DJs play the same venues, they turn the crowd over two times, people buy drinks all night long at higher pricesââ¬âitââ¬â¢s a win-win.â⬠[25] Other major acts gaining prominence during this period, such as Avicii and Swedish House Mafia, elected to hold concert tours at major venues such as arenas alongside nightclub appearances; in December 2011, Swedish House Mafia became the first electronic music act to sell out New York Cityââ¬â¢s Madison Square Garden.[30] In November 2013, Music Trades magazine called EDM the fastest growing genre on the planet.[32] In addition to the growth of EDM through live events and the Internet, radio and television were also credited with helping to increase mainstream attention: analysts noted that sales of Calvin Harrisââ¬â¢s ââ¬Å"Feel So Closeâ⬠and Swedish House Mafiaââ¬â¢s ââ¬Å"Donââ¬â¢t You Worry Childâ⬠dramatically increased after they began receiving contemporary hit radio airplay.[33] EDM songs and artists have been featured in television commercials and programs, while some artists have produced more pop-oriented songs to make their work more accessible to a mainstream audience.[34] In January 2013, Billboard introduced a new EDM-focused Dance/Electronic Songs chart, tracking the top 50 electronic songs based on sales, radio airplay, club play, and online streaming.[35] Corporate investment in EDM In accordance with the significant growth in mainstream popularity, EDM became increasingly attractive to outside investors, with some comparing it to the dot-com boom of the late-1990s. The beginning of corporate consolidation in the EDM industry began in 2012; especially in terms of live events. In June 2012, media executive Robert F. X. Sillerman (founder of what is now Live Nation) re-launched SFX Entertainment as an EDM-focused conglomerate, and announced his plan to invest US$1 billion for the acquisition of EDM-related properties. His purchases included a number of regional promoters and festivals (including ID&T, organizers of the annual Tomorrowland festival in Belgium), along with two nightclub operators in Miami, U.S., and Beatport, an EDM-oriented online music store.[36][37] The current Live Nation has also made investments into EDM, with its acquisition of Cream Holdings and Hardà Events, and announced a ââ¬Å"creative partnershipâ⬠with Insomniac Events in 2013;[38] CEO Michael Rapino believed that EDM was the new ââ¬Å"rock ââ¬Ënââ¬â¢ rollâ⬠of the generation.[39][40][41] Advertisers have also increasingly associated themselves with the EDM industry; for example, alcoholic beverage companies such as Heineken and Anheuser-Busch have maintained marketing relationships with the Ultra Music Festival and SFX, respectively. Heineken also incorporated Dutch producers, such as Armin van Buuren and Tiesto, into their marketing campaigns. Aviciiââ¬â¢s manager Ash Pournouri compared the increasingly commercial EDM industry to the transformation and commercialization of hip hop, which occurred in the early 2000s, arguing that the ââ¬Å"corporate worldâ⬠was beginning to ââ¬Å"catch onâ⬠to EDM.[34] iHeartMedia, Inc. (formerly Cl ear Channel Communications), the largest commercial U.S. radio conglomerate, launched a dance radio format in Boston on December 20, 2012 under the brand Evolution 101.7. Marketed as the ââ¬Å"first real EDM stationâ⬠in the United States, the station, which changed its call letters to WEDX, was an extension of the Evolutioninternet radio channel on the companyââ¬â¢s iHeartRadio service. The company also hired prominent British DJ and BBC Radio 1 personality Pete Tong to produce content for Evolution.[42] In June 2014, the dance/EDM format of WEDX was dropped in favor of country music; the format, however, was moved to the HD Radio subchannel of a sister station.[43][44][45] The 2014 business report by International Music Summit (IMS), estimates the EDM industry market worth $6.2 billion a year.[46] Criticism of commercial EDM Despite the growing mainstream acceptance of EDM, a number of producers and DJs, including Carl Cox, Steve Lawler, and Markus Schulz, have raised concerns that the perceived over-commercialization of dance music has impacted the ââ¬Å"artâ⬠of DJing. Cox sees the ââ¬Å"press-playâ⬠approach of a new generation of EDM DJs as not being representative of what he calls the ââ¬Å"DJ ethosâ⬠.[30] Writing in Mixmag DJ Tim Sheridan questioned whether or not EDM was responsible for affecting the art of traditional DJing.[47] Sheridan contends that the emergence of ââ¬Å"push-button DJsâ⬠who use auto-sync functions and pre-recorded sets featuring ââ¬Å"obvious hitsâ⬠rather than a diverse selection of music has led to a situation where ââ¬Å"the spectacle, money and the showbiz [had] overtaken allââ¬âeven notions of honesty.â⬠[47] Some houseà producers have openly admitted that ââ¬Å"commercialâ⬠EDM required further differentiation and creativity. Avicii (whose 2013 album ââ¬Å"Trueâ⬠featured songs incorporating elements of bluegrass music, such as its lead single ââ¬Å"Wake Me Upâ⬠) stated that there was ââ¬Å"no longevityâ⬠in the majority of EDM.[48] Deadmau5 has also criticized the homogenizationof EDM, stating that the music he hears ââ¬Å"all sounds the sameâ⬠ââ¬âhe emphasized his diversification into other genres, such as techno and, in 2014, he released a techno song under the moniker ââ¬Å"testpilotâ⬠for Richie Hawtinââ¬â¢s label, Plus 8. During the 2014 Ultra Music Festival, Deadmau5 made remarks attacking up and coming EDM artist Martin Garrix, and during his set later in the evening (where he filled in for Avicii, who was unable to attend due to medical issues), he played an edited version of Garrixââ¬â¢s song ââ¬Å"Animalsâ⬠remixed to the m elody of ââ¬Å"Old McDonald Had a Farmâ⬠. Following the performance, Deadmau5 was also criticized on Twitter by fellow electronic musician Tià «sto for ââ¬Å"sarcasticallyâ⬠mixing Aviciiââ¬â¢s ââ¬Å"Levelsâ⬠with his own ââ¬Å"Ghosts ââ¬Ënââ¬â¢ Stuffâ⬠, asking in response ââ¬Å"How does one play a track sarcastically? ââ¬Å"Am I supposed to sneer while hitting the sync button? Or is that ironic?â⬠[49][50][51][52] In May 2014, the NBC comedy series Saturday Night Live parodied the stereotypes of EDM culture and push-button DJs through a Digital Short entitled ââ¬Å"When Will the Bass Drop?â⬠. The short featured a DJ named Davvinciiââ¬âwho is seen performing a number of unrelated tasksââ¬âincluding playing a computer game, frying eggs, and collecting money rather than actually mixing, and pressing a giant ââ¬Å"BASSâ⬠button to cause the heads of attendees to explode.[53][54][55] Terminology The term ââ¬Å"electronic dance musicâ⬠was used in America as early as 1985,[56] although the term ââ¬Å"dance musicâ⬠didnââ¬â¢t catch on as a blanket term for the genre(s) until the second half of the 1990s, when it was embraced by the American music industry with their ââ¬Å"Danceâ⬠charts (which continue to this day), as well as the consistent use of the term ââ¬Å"dance musicâ⬠in reference to artists in reviews.[56] In July 1995 Nervous Records and Project X magazine held their first award ceremony titled ââ¬Å"Electronic Dance Music Awards.â⬠[57][58] Writing in The Guardian journalist Simon Reynolds noted that music industry adoption of the term EDM was part of a drive to re-brand ââ¬Å"rave cultureâ⬠in the USA; an attempt to ââ¬Å"draw lineà between todayââ¬â¢s EDM and 90s raveâ⬠.[59] While ââ¬Å"EDMâ⬠has become the common blanket term for dance music genres in the USA, in many parts of Europe and online, in the UK the usage of ââ¬Å"dance musicâ⬠or ââ¬Å"danceâ⬠is more commonly used.[60] What is widely considered to be club music changes over time includes different genres depending on the region and whoââ¬â¢s making the reference, and may not always encompass electronic dance music. Similarly, electronic dance music sometimes means different things to different people. Both terms vaguely encompass multiple genres, and sometimes are used as if they were genres themselves. The distinction is that club music is ultimately based on whatââ¬â¢s popular, whereas electronic dance music is based on attributes of the music itself.[61] Genres Main article: List of electronic music genres Just as rock, jazz and other musical genres have their own set of sub-genres, so does electronic dance music. Continuing to evolve over the past 30 years dance music has splintered off into numerous sub-genres often defined by their varying tempo (BPM), rhythm, instrumentation used and time period.[62] The broadest categories include house,techno, trance, hardstyle, UK garage, drum & bass, dubstep, progressive, electro, trap and hardcore. Electronic body music (EBM) is a music genre that combines elements of post-industrial music, EDM and synthpunk.[63] It first came to prominence in Belgium and was considered a part of the European New Wave movement.[63] Pure electronic body music is referred to as ââ¬Å"old-school EBMâ⬠and should not be confused with aggrotech, dark electro or industrial music.[64] Production Typical tools for EDM production: computer, MIDI keyboard and mixer/sound recorder. In an April 2014 interview with Tony Andrew, the owner and founder of the Funktion-One sound systemââ¬âconsidered a foremost model of audio technology and installed in venues such as Berghain, Output and Trouwââ¬âAndrew explains the critical importance of bass to dance music: Dance music wouldnââ¬â¢t be so successful without bass. If you think about it, weââ¬â¢ve really only had amplified bass for around 50 years. Big bass is only a couple of generations old. Before the invention of speakers that could project true bass frequencies, humans really only came across bass in hazardousà situationsââ¬âfor example, when thunder struck, or an earthquake shook, or from explosions caused by dynamite or gunpowder. That is probably why it is by far the most adrenaline-inducing frequency that we have. Bass gets humans excited basically. Below 90 or 100 Hz, bass becomes more of a physical thing. It vibrates specific organs. It vibrates our bones. It causes minor molecular rearrangement, and that is what makes it so potent as a force in dance music. The molecular vibration caused by bass is what gives dance music its power. It is what makes dance music so pleasurable to hear through a proper sound system.[65] Andrew also warns that too much bass, as well as too much sound overall, can be harmful and a ââ¬Å"good sound engineer will understand that there is a window between enough sound to give excitement and so much that it is damaging.â⬠[65] Festival goers, celebrate at the AustralianFuture Music Festival (2013) Festivals Electric Zoo Festival 2011 at the Hilltop Arena See also: List of electronic music festivals and List of Electronic dance music festivals Other festivals, including Lollapalooza and Coachella have increased the number of EDM acts represented.[citation needed] Coachella in particular took an adventurous path giving electronic acts a high profile in a time when they were seldom booked alongside rock bands, in the United States at least. Rawley Bornstein, an MTV music and talent programmer, described EDM as ââ¬Å"the new rock and roll,â⬠[66] as has Lollapalooza organizer Perry Ferrell.[67] Ray Waddell, touring editor at Billboard magazine, noted that festival promoters have done an excellent job at branding.[66] Tomorrowland, a popular EDM music festival in Belgium has amassed millions of followers through YouTube and other social media. Tomorrowland broadcast the show live over YouTube and over 16.8 million viewers tuned in. The 20 minute recap video of Tomorrowland in 2012 amassed over 90 million views on YouTube, a testament to the growing popularity of electronic dance music.[68]
Friday, January 3, 2020
Book Review The Color Purple - Free Essay Example
Sample details Pages: 5 Words: 1604 Downloads: 8 Date added: 2019/08/06 Category Literature Essay Level High school Tags: The Color Purple Essay Did you like this example? The Color Purple was published in the year of 1982; the author of the book is Alice Walker. This book became the inspiration behind a film and musical. I watched the movie and fell in love with it. Donââ¬â¢t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Book Review The Color Purple" essay for you Create order The film featured Whoopi Goldberg as Celie and David Glover as Albert. The Color Purple was able to win a Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and a National Book Award for Fiction as well. The book is filled with letters written by Celie to God. She writes to him about her life and struggles. God is somewhat Celies best friend; she tells him all the things she cant or wont tell anyone else. I like that the author chose to create a personal relationship between her and God. In the beginning, Celie writes about giving birth to her second child. She is only about 14 years old, yet she has been pregnant twice, which was a result of her being raped. Celie had a baby boy (Adam) and then a baby girl (Olivia). The father of both children is her father, Alphonso. Because Nettie and Celies mother was ill and could not meet her husbands sexual expectations, he turned to Celie. Once the children were born, they were taken away from Celie, leaving her clueless to where they would go or if they would be safe. After the passing of their mother, Celie and Nettie were left with their abusing father. Celies goal was to protect her younger sister, Nettie, from having to endure the same rapes and beatings that she did. Although Celie wished to protect her sister, soon other men were finding an interest in her.Change comes knocking on their door when Mister arrives wanting to marry Nettie, but ends up with Celie in the end. Eventually, Mister and Celie got married and she moved in with him and her new stepchildren. She did not receive and warm welcome, but instead was hit in the face with chaos and violence. After quickly coming to terms with her new life, Celie gets to work. Celie discovers Mister has a mistress by the name of Shug Avery who she becomes infatuated with. Everything Shug is, Celie wishes to be. She also dreaded leaving Nettie behind, but there was nothing she could do. I love the bond between Celie and Nettie. Alice Walker, the author, does a magnificent job at making the audienc e understand the relationship between the sisters. They are obviously all one another have and it is described and depicted well in the book. A great example of their shared love is when Nettie runs away from home to reunite with her sister. Unfortunately, Nettie could not stay for too long. Because Celie never heard from her sister again, she was under the impression that she was dead which left a deep pain within her. Another important even in the book is when Mr.s sisters come to visit. They both approve of Celie, which is not something she is used to. Kate, his sister, feels bad for Celie after realizing what she goes through in that house. She encourages Celie to fight back, which is an ability she does not feel she has. Celies self-esteem is very low due to the talking down she has had to endure her whole life by her father and Mister. So when she is told to have some form of control or confidence, this contributes to the evolution of her character. Sofia is also a contributor to Celies rise of independence. Sofia is the woman that Harpo, Celies step son marries. She is an independent woman who is unafraid to stand up to a man. I found it interesting many of the characters she stands up to are men and I did not feel this was coincidental. Standing up to a man is something Celie was incapable of doing and even seemed wrong to her. After settling their differences, Celie and Sofia became close. Yet, Sofia leaves after becoming fed up with the treatment she got from her husband Harpo. They would fight one another physically and verbally but she had enough. Once again, Sofia was able to do something Celie would never even think of doing-leaving her husband. Shug is finally coming to town, but she is ill and stays with Celie and Mister. Celie is the one to take care of her, nursing her back to health. She loves everything about Shug; Shug Avery is the beautiful, independent woman she wishes she could be. All Celies life she has been beaten and controlled, while Shug is in control of her own life. Celie is poor, yet Shug is wealthy. They have many differences, but when Shug comes to town they create a bond. I feel this a very important part of the book due to the fact that the wife and mistress of Mister become fond of one another and even confide in each other. Two women from different backgrounds, find their similarities and help each other through their negative obstacles. As their bond grows, Celie tells Shug how Mister beats her when shes not there. This makes Shug stay longer, feeling pity for Celie. Her pity turns into more of a sexual attraction and they find themselves yearning for one another in a more intimate sense. Shug could only stay so long before she had to move on to continue her blues singing career and had to leave Celie behind. As Celie continues to write her letters to God, she goes on to inform him of Sofias return. Sofia initially gets into an altercation with her ex-husbands mistress (Squeak). It is obvious Harpo is following in the footsteps of his father Mister, but they are both following the wrong path. Sofia then gets into a disagreement with the mayor who slaps her for being disrespectful to his wife. She retaliates by punching the mayor to the ground. The stand she took landed her a cell in jail and Sofia is then required to be a maid for years at the mayors home. In my opinion, this was a way for Sofia to feel like Celie has for a majority of her life. This is another aspect they could bond over. Celie was also able to build a relationship with the mistress of Harpo, Squeak, because they were both raped. Alice Walker finds a way to bring all these women back together and connecting them through life experiences. They are able to relate to one another, building a sisterhood that will last foreve r. After about twelve years, Shug returns with her husband, Grady. When she returns, secrets begin to come to the light. Shug begins to question Celie about her sister, Nettie. To Celies knowledge, she is dead because she never heard anything from her after they were torn from one another. Nettie swore she would write letters to Celie, but nothing ever came. Shug confesses she has witnessed Mr. hiding letters from the mail. They manage to find the stash of letters, addressed to Celie, after searching through his things. After reading the letters, Celie is fully informed that her sister and her children are alive and well. Nettie, Adam and Olivia are together in Africa on a missionary trip. Nettie also informs Celie that the man they called their father was not their biological father, which means Celies children were not conceived through incest. As tension and anger have built, Celie finally stands up for herself. She cursed Mr. out of pure hatred for the years of abuse she has endured from him. After being influenced by the independent women around her, she was able to do the same for herself. Shug, Sofia and Kate pushed Celie to be the woman she always wanted to be but was afraid of being. Originally, Shug was the blueprint of the perfect woman but overtime her flaws were revealed as well. These women grew together, filling in the gaps in each others lives. Shug backed Celie up, saying she would be taking Celie with her to Tennessee. Squeak announced that she would be going as well. After breaking free from the slavery she lived in all her life, Celie was able to live up to her full potential. Soon afterwards, Celie was reunited with her sister and children, making her the happiest woman alive. The Color Purple tells the story of a poor, black girl in Georgia. Alice Walker presents a bit of racism, sexism, and the power struggle. She also depicts the struggle within oneself. I truly enjoyed the book as a whole. I love that not only was there a strong relationship created between all the characters, but there was also a relationship sparked between the reader and the characters. Walker had a way of making you feel for Celie as she lived in hell for years on end and I also had empathy towards Nettie. I also believe the storyline of the book was a success. I feel that everything fell in place and intertwined smoothly. Another aspect of this book that I fell in love with was the choice of the receiver of Celies letters. Walker chose God to be the character Celie writes to throughout the entire novel, which I find to be genius. There also letters written by Nettie towards the end. Many believe in a higher power and he/she always seems to be present and here it is in this book . In the beginning, Celies stepfather also tells her that she better not ever tell anyone but God, in regards to the children she had from him. She does just that.
Thursday, December 26, 2019
Rebelled Emily Dickinson - Free Essay Example
Sample details Pages: 3 Words: 849 Downloads: 3 Date added: 2019/07/03 Category People Essay Level High school Tags: Emily Dickinson Essay Did you like this example? Growing up Dickinson was a rebel she rebelled in matters of religions and social prosperity. When Emily was younger she secretly created bundles of poetry and wrote hundreds of letters. Emily Dickinson was born December 10,1830 in Amherst, Massachusetts where she lived nearly her entire life. She died on May15th, 1886. Dickinson died of kidney disease. She was 55 years old when she died. Her parents were Samuel Dickinson and Emily Norcross. The couple had three children William Austin, Lavinia Norcross and middle child Emily. Dickinson and her siblings were very close growing up they always depended on each others. Emily Dickinson had a strange relationship with both of her parents. She never moved out of her familys home. Her and her mother did not always have the best relationship. Emilys mother was a stay at home mom and made sure that everything got done around the house. Samuel Dickinson emilys father worked as It wasnt until her mother got very ill till they had a good relationship. As her mother got very ill she needed a lot of help and support. Emily Dickinsons parents were big into the farming and having everything being done at home. Donââ¬â¢t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Rebelled Emily Dickinson" essay for you Create order Dickinson ended school in her teenage years to help on the homestead. After helping on the homestead for several years she finally went back to school and she attended Amherst Academy (college) for seven years then attended Mount Holyoke female seminary for a year. After she finished college is when she really started her writing. While she was in school is enjoyed it and made she is would finish on top. Schooling was very important to her when she finally went back. All of Dickinsons teachers knew that she had so much potential and knew that should could go far and had a huge desire to succeed. As Dickinson got older she got better about getting out of the house. Dickinson never got married or had any children that was just something she was not into. She never thought having kids was really for her. Dickinson did help out a lot with her nieces and nephews she loved be able to watch them grow up. As she grew older she spent a lot of time at her brothers house because her best friend married her brother. As Dickinson began to get older she ended up getting kidney disease at age 55 and it killed her. Her death was a big impact on her family and the world. Dickinson inspired many of the time in America. She was also one of the most famous early female poets ever which added to the womens rights movement. Dickinson had a very driven mind. She had her heart on something and wasnt letting it go till it was complete. Some of her poems reflect on her loneliness and sadness. She went through a lot of hard times in her life but she always reflected it back on her writing. She never let anyone know she was hurting or suffering till she wrote about it. Dickinson started writing at a very young age and thats the reason she had such a big drive for it. Some of the poems Dickinson wrote were Hope is the thing with feathers, I felt a Funeral, in my Brain, Tell all the truth but tell it slant. You can tell by the name of the titles that she writes about special events or something that has impacted her in many ways. Dickinson always wrote things that other people could relate to. People could always read her poems are relate to things that are going on in there life. Looking through some of these poems I can see where I can relate to certain things in them. Even after Dickinson passed away her best friend made sure her work didnt go away. The poems that she hadnt totally finished were still published. My opinion on Emily Dickinson is that she seemed like a very hard worker and if she set her mind to something she made sure it got done and that it was successful. It is amazing to me that she kept her feelings in till and not express herself till she wrote her poems. She was very independent person and always wanted to do better. She always made her writing stick out where people wanted to read it. You could tell that she wanted people to look up to her and wanted to be known as someone people looked up to and wanna be known as someone that and changed things for the better. One of my favorite quotes from Emily was Saying nothing sometimes says the most. This quote to me means that silence can have more of a meaning than words. You should not always have to say something for someone to realize that something has happened or changed or that you have done something wrong.This quote makes a big impact on my life. Dickinson will always be remembered as one of the best American poets to ever live and her legacy will live on for many years to come.
Wednesday, December 18, 2019
Outline Of A Day Midterm Exam - 1515 Words
Kennedi Alsop 10/18/14 Start Time: 7:54 PM End Time: 9:08 PM FYS Will China Democratize? Dr. Kate Kaup Take Home Midterm Exam: Due In Class on Monday Please use no more than *75* minutes to complete your midterm. Please write the start and finish time on your midterm. Please do not consult your notes or readings (or classmates! Ã¢Ë º ) Part One: Identify and explain the significance of **four** of the following terms. Give the date where appropriate. (8 points each, 32 points total. Recommended time: 20 minutes) Household/Agricultural Responsibility System Anti-Rightist Campaign: Spring of 1957; against anyone who did not support the CCP; rightist was defined however Mao saw fit; followed the 100 Flowers Campaign in order to purge the opposition. Hukou: The House Registration System. This system registered Chinese citizens as residing in a certain area to restrict the movement of people and keep them from moving around from the rural areas to the urban areas. This system was used by Mao to insure stability. This system is not very efficient because people illegally move and work in places that arenââ¬â¢t listed on their Hukou registration. Regional Ethnic Autonomy Law: Allows regions to have some form of self-government. This law protects the rights of the ethnic minorities in China (Uyghurs, Tibetans, etc.). Soviet Model Social Realism Four Cardinal Principals: 1. Support of Ma Zedong Thought, Marxism, and Leninism 2. Democratic Dictatorship 3. CCP 4. SocialismShow MoreRelatedSyllabus: Human and Tutorial Assignments1366 Words à |à 6 PagesReading week - no class Midterm Archaic Homo sapiens and Neandertals Modern Homo sapiens Upper Paleolithic/Journey to N. America Origins of Agriculture First Civilizations Ch. 8 Appendix A [p. 415-422] Ch. 9 review p. 191-196 Ch. 10 p. 295-297 ------------Ch. 11 Ch. 4 p. 279-295 p. 297-333 p. 333-338 Ch. 14 Ch. 15 Evaluation Course grading will be based on the following: Midterm exam (25 June): 25% Essay (16 July): 25% Tutorial assignments (2 x 5%): 10% Final exam: 40% (There will beRead MorePosition Paper1066 Words à |à 5 Pagesunauthorized material to prepare for her Intro to Politics midterm exam and was not honest in her glimpse of seeing the major essay topic. Lucy obtained the midterm exam from the photocopying machine. The definition of ââ¬Å"obtainâ⬠in the Merriam Webster Online Dictionary means ââ¬Å"to hold on to, or possess.â⬠In the case of Lucy she had possession of the test when she picked it up from the photocopy machine. This fact shows that Lucy did obtain the exam. The UHD Academic Honesty Section 2.2 labeled AcademicRead MorePersonal Financial Planning1579 Words à |à 7 Pages | | |2011-2012 Academic Year | ADM 3445 (FR01B) Personal Financial Planning Course Outline Instructor: E. Otuteye Term: Winter 2012 Office: SH 362 Day(s): W Phone: 506 458-7354 Time: 7:00-9:50pm Email: otuteye@unb.ca Classroom: SH 161 Office hours: Th, F 2:00 ââ¬â 3:00; by appointment; also, usually available immediately after class. COURSERead MoreF14 ADMS 4561 course outline Sept 2 14 1 4742 Words à |à 19 Pagesï » ¿School of Administrative Studies Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies Taxation of Personal Income in Canada ADMS 4561 course outline for all sections Fall 2014 last updated September 2 2014 1 Contact Information ââ¬â Course Director Section Day Time Location Course Director Email address Section D Wednesday 4-7 pm HNE 030 Joanne Magee jmagee@yorku.ca Section E Thursday 7-10 pm HNE 035 Margaret Riggin mriggin@vfmy.com Section F Wednesday 7-10pm HNE 032 Joanne Magee jmagee@yorkuRead MoreComm 222 Outline2369 Words à |à 10 Pagesà 16 à Final à exam à period à Topic à Introduction à Personality à and à Learning à Perception à à Attribution à Values, à Attitudes à à Work à Behaviour à Theories à of à Work à Motivation à Motivation à in à Practice à Readings à from à Textbook/Activity à Chapter à 1 à Chapter à 2 à Chapter à 3 à Chapter à 4 à Chapter à 5 à Chapter à 6 à Assignments/ à Evaluation à à à à à à à MIDTERM à EXAM à à GroupsRead MoreLGMT 536 Online Syllabus 08122707 Words à |à 11 PagesQuestions (7) 20% Term Paper 15% Case Analysis (2) 10% Midterm Exam 20% Final Exam 20% Total 100% Course Grade Scale 90 ââ¬â 100% A 80 ââ¬â 89% B 70 ââ¬â 79% C 0 ââ¬â 69% F Note: Graduate courses do not use a ââ¬ËDââ¬â¢ letter grade. Grade Center Naming When looking in ââ¬Å"My Grades,â⬠you will see the names of the activities have been shortened. Below is an explanation of the abbreviations: Abbreviated Version Ch. DQ Focus DQ TP (Topic, Outline, Rough Draft, and Final) CA (1 or 2) Full Name Chapter DiscussionRead MorePrinciples of Finance943 Words à |à 4 PagesLearning, 2014. Calculator: Please bring your calculator to the class every day and to the exams. Programmable calculators, smartphones, and laptop computers are not allowed in the exams. FINANCE 3110 (CRN 83872) Principles of Finance Fall 2014 COURSE TOPICS OUTLINE Topics to be covered include: ïÆ' ¼ ïÆ' ¼ ïÆ' ¼ ïÆ' ¼ ïÆ' ¼ ïÆ' ¼ ïÆ' ¼ ïÆ' ¼ ïÆ' ¼ ïÆ' ¼ ïÆ' ¼ ïÆ' ¼ ïÆ' ¼ ïÆ' ¼ ïÆ' ¼ An Overview of Managerial Finance (Ch 1) The Financial Environment (Ch 3) Time Value of Money (Ch 4) EXAM 1 ââ¬â Tuesday, September 9 The Cost of Money (Interest Rates) (Ch 5) BondsRead MoreThe Relationship Between Study Habits and Academic Performance of It Students4427 Words à |à 18 PagesTherefore, study habits are done regularly in order to expand learning. It is the way how students accomplish their homework and how they prepare for an exam. This research discusses how important study habits are in achieving studentsââ¬â¢ academic good performance. This also presents how many hours the students are studying, how they prepare for an exam, and what is the comfortable place and time for them to study in order to show if these factors are contributors in attaining better academic performanceRead MoreWhy Do Students Cheat?1065 Words à |à 5 Pageshas ââ¬Å"learned their lessonâ⬠but with no official record of the incident there is no way of knowing whether the student had cheated before or cheats again. Too Much Work, Too Little Time? Students often have multiple assignments due on the same day and in some courses may have only a few opportunities to demonstrate what they know. Cheating can be a tempting path when they have difficulty managing their time. Some may have little remorse because they rationalize doing what it takes to get allRead MoreMKTG 2001 COURSE OUTLINE 2014 2015 SEMESTER 2 12009 Words à |à 9 PagesPRINCIPLES OF MARKETING COURSE OUTLINE Semester 2, 2014-2015 Lecturers: Joseann Knight Tutorial Leaders Jacqueline Harper; Colin Wiltshire, Ro-ann Smith Email Addresses: joseannknight@yahoo.com (Knight); cwiltshire_2001@yahoo.com (Wiltshire) jharperuwi@yahoo.com (Harper); smithroann@yahoo.com (Smith) Office: S9 Phone: 417-4540 Office Hour(s): Wednesday 4-5 pm ââ¬â If this time is not convenient, e-mail for an alternative appointment. Lecture Times: Monday 1-3 pm (DAY- Medical Sciences Lecture
Monday, December 9, 2019
Qdoba free essay sample
These ads are made specific for the Bemidji store because this store was built in a non-traditional place compared to most Qdobas (most stores built in very large cities). Our overall goals for advertising would be to better promote ur little Bemidji store and gain a larger percentage of college students as consumers. We are looking to have at least 75% of college students to have eaten at Qdoba at least once by the end of the school year. College students makeup a large percentage of the Bemidji population that is why we are choosing to aim most of our ads at them. Since Qdoba is based out of Colorado and there arenââ¬â¢t many in Minnesota, it is important for us to get the name out there and have people associate it will good things like fast, fresh, healthy, fun etc. and just getting our name out to the college campus. The rewards cards are going to help us get a better estimate on our customer growth. Introduction Qdoba Mexican Grill, a hybrid fast food and casual sit-down restaurant chain, has become one of the finer choices of Mexican cuisine dining since it first opened its doors. This is done by offering food at a higher quality standard, when compared to most other fast food chains, while still maintaining fast walk in service and preparation at an affordable price and casual environment. The company was founded in 1995 by Anthony Miller and partner Robert Hauser in Denver, Colorado. The company franchised the next year and was acquisitioned by Jack in the Box Inc. in 2003. In fifteen years, Qdoba has opened at over five hundred locations throughout forty states. Qdoba offers a vast line of fresh products made from fresh ingredients prepared custom to the satisfaction of each customer. Some of Qdobaââ¬â¢s products include burritos, tacos, taco salads, tortilla soup, nachos, and their newly featured Mexican Gumbo; all of which you can order with your choice of ingredients. Qdoba also offers catering services where they claim they have as much variety as there are occasions to cater. A new store prototype called the Craft 2 menu started in January 2010 allowing customers to pair two smaller portions together so they may test out new menu items. Another area they have branched into is a kids menu which started in December 2009. The kids menu offers healthy options such as 100% juice and Lilââ¬â¢ Naked Chicken Burrito. Operating mainly in fast food, yet still participating in the restaurant industry, this restaurant chain is focused on providing the finest Mexican products and service to its market. Competitors in the industry include Taco Bell, Taco Johns, Chipotle, and a number of other chains. Mexican food consumption is rapidly increasing faster than any other segment of the restaurant industry. The Bemidji Qdoba has great market opportunities in that it has virtually no direct competition because the other restaurants in this area are either purely fast food or sit down; compared to Qdobaââ¬â¢s versatility of being a high end fast food, sit down restaurant. Target Market Qdobaââ¬â¢s target market includes both males and females who occasionally enjoy eating different cultured foods. Age ranges from 18-49 but for this proposal we are focusing on college students as our target market (age 18-24). Generally our target market includes people with busy lives who need convenient meals, but donââ¬â¢t want to give up good quality when looking for convenience. Qdoba generally serves dual-income families with time restricting schedules as well as serving a wide spread of generations. It is typical to see grandparents, parents, and children all coming in together. Qdoba has many competitive factors that come into play. Being a ââ¬Ëfast casualââ¬â¢ (meaning sit down food at a fast pace) restaurant is a huge competitive advantage among other Mexican restaurants. Another thing that puts Qdoba ahead of other restaurants is that it offers a wide variety of sauces and salsaââ¬â¢s made at different heats. Another competitive factor associated with Qdoba and other Mexican food chains is buying real-estate. Every Mexican food chain wants to be in that ââ¬Ëprime spotââ¬â¢; a place with not much competition and a lot of people. For example right now, the owner of the Bemidji Qdoba is looking to open another store in Duluth, MN. Not only is land expensive up there, but there is not another Mexican restaurant around the area which makes it possibly a very profitable place to start a store. Qdoba isnââ¬â¢t the only Mexican restaurant to notice this though; right now they are competing with Chipotle to get the best possible location in Duluth where they can maximize their profits. Qdobas main attraction for consumers is that it offers high quality food at a fast pace. It is especially alluring to those who have busy schedules and would like good, cultural food on their lunch breaks. If they really enjoy the quality of the food and service, they are more likely to keep coming back. Using social media sites such as Facebook also helps to attract customers and help them in making a decision to come to their restaurant. To alert younger generation customers of great deals and other offers, Qdoba uses Facebook to market the company. Deals include free drinks for students with every purchase and half-off priced meals Wednesdays; however, this second deal is only offered in Baltimore. Promotional Objectives and Marketing Plan Qdoba meets the rational appeal of the physiological need of appetite because the food they offer is practical and functional. It also meets the need of health because Qdobaââ¬â¢s main philosophy is their passion for fresh ingredients. One of Qdobaââ¬â¢s long term goals is for half of the Bemidji State University students to be familiar with the brand and to have been there at least once. Another long term goal for Qdoba is to offer delivery to the dorms so they can compete against other food delivery restaurants like Erbert and Gerbertââ¬â¢s Sandwich Shop.
Monday, December 2, 2019
Raelene Morey Interview - Founder of Words By Birds and Former WPMU DEV Editor
Hey, WordPress folks! What have you been doing lately? Here at ThemeIsle, weve been busy making WordPress a better CMS, just like todays interviewee, Raelene Morey. Raelene is a writer who describes herself as a lover of words. She has a strong background in content marketing and web development, so if youre interested in WordPress and content, you should check this one out!If you missed our previous interviews, you can see them all in theirà dedicated category. Our last interview featuredà Mortenà Rand-Hendriksenà discussing ethics in web design.Now, back to Raelene. ðŸâ¢âRaelene hasnt always worked with WordPress she started her career as a journalist, working for Australias biggest media publications and receiving many awards during this time.After years of writing for newspapers, she turned back to what she loved more technology by finding a job that allowed her to blend both web development and writing. Specifically working with content at WPMU DEV.If you read a lot about WordPress, youve probably come across some WPMU DEV articles either written or edited by Raelene. Moreover, you might have heard about The WhiP newsletter, also delivered by WPMU DEV, which Raelene was behind until not too long ago. Personally, I am a fan of The WhiP. Not only for its great resources but also because its really fun.At this very moment, Raelene Morey is doing more of the same, only no longer for a single company. Recently, she started her own business Words by Birds where shes working on copywriting and editing for a growing list of clients.Thats enough from us! Heres the complete Raelene Morey interview: When and how did you start working with WordPress?Raelene Morey:In high school, I loved building websites; playing with HTML and CSS and hitting refresh to see my code come to life. I built sites so I could share photos with friends, sites around my school workââ¬âI built so many sites! I wanted to experiment with the code I was learning from magazi nes and websites.When it came time to choose what to study at university, I was torn. I loved web development and technology, but also loved writing. So like the Old El Paso add, I thought, ââ¬Å"à ¿Porque no los dos?â⬠and chose both. I studied journalism and computer science.After graduating, I worked as a newspaper journalist and editor, which I absolutely loved. Meeting people and writing their stories for a living was amazing. In my spare time I was still building websites, but for my family and community groups. It was around this time that I discovered WordPress. I loved that it was so easy to customize and I could set up a self-hosted website with little effort.In 2012, I left journalism to work as a wordsmith for WPMU DEV and loved that I was finally able to combine my love of writing and web development. I went on to become managing editor, looking after a team of contributors, and enjoyed working with a distributed team of awesome, talented people from all over the world. It was sad to leave, but after 4+ years there, I left last November to start my own business, Words By Birds. Itââ¬â¢s been amazing working with other WordPress businesses over the past nine months.How would you describe this transition from journalism to writing content for marketing purposes? Was it a big challenge for you to adapt?Raelene Morey:The challenge for me early on was adapting to working in the WordPress community. While I was familiar with how to use the WordPress software, I was less familiar with the huge community around it. So it was a learning curve getting up to speed on all that.As far as transitioning from journalism to marketing goes, it wasnââ¬â¢t a big challenge. I worked in public relations for a couple of years after graduating from uni, so I was able to leverage those promotional skills. But at the end of the day, marketing is about storytelling, and as a former journalist, Iââ¬â¢m uniquely qualified to do that. I spent 8 years working in journalism telling peopleââ¬â¢s stories and have refined those skills for my own business.The amazing thing about writing content for digital marketing is that there are so many different means of communication, from websites and blogs to email, in-site messaging, chatbots and social media. Writing for all these channels presents different challenges, i.e. writing a 2000-word blog post is very different from writing a targeted marketing message for a website homepage. But I enjoy the variety and working with clients to help refine their brand voice.You used to write for WPMU DEV, then you started an independent business. How different is managing everything on your own now?Raelene Morey:Itââ¬â¢s not all that much different, to be honest. At WPMU DEV, I worked closely with different teams on different projects, but had a lot of autonomy to manage the blog and the Academy (WPMU DEVââ¬â¢s online learning portal).At first, I loved working from home. Since WPMU DEV is based in Melbourne where I lived, I worked in an office for several years. Working from home was a nice changeââ¬âuntil it wasnââ¬â¢t a nice change. I quickly got tired of working alone. I love being around people and collaborating. Working from cafes quickly lost its shine!So recently I started working from One Roof, a fantastic female-focused co-working space that supports women in business. It has been a lovely change and incredibly motivating working with other women who run businesses.Whats your technique for staying productive throughout the day?Raelene Morey:To-do lists! I donââ¬â¢t know what Iââ¬â¢d do without my to-do lists. Iââ¬â¢m a Mac person so I use Notes to sync my notes between my devices.I keep a running to-do list of what I need to do each day and get a lot of satisfaction from ticking off items. I also use Trello to organize my business, with lists for current and upcoming projects, clients, and other things I need to keep on top of. I recently went hiking with a new friend who happens to work for Trello! So it was great to pick his brains and get tips for using it effectively, but also make suggestions for how to improve it.I think the most important thing for productivity is getting enough sleep. When I first started my business, I would work really long days and not spend enough time winding down before going to bed. So Iââ¬â¢d have restless sleep and not wake up refreshed. Having a good nights sleep is critical.Really, productivity is tough! Thereââ¬â¢s no magic pill. I just wing it and see what happens.How do you define being successful?Raelene Morey:The definition of success is different for everyone. For me, itââ¬â¢s about gratitude and taking the time to appreciate what I have. But also living without regretsââ¬âsaying ââ¬Ëyesââ¬â¢ to new challenges even when things are hard, spending as much time as I can with loved ones, constantly learning, and trying to be the best version of myself.Where do you get your clients from? Do you have any strategy to get yourself promoted on a regular basis?Raelene Morey:When I first started out, I approached a couple of companies I wanted to work with and offered to do some free work in return for testimonials. From there, things started snowballing.I donââ¬â¢t have a particular strategy in place right now, but I do have content marketing plans in mind for the next couple of years. Growth has been organic so far. Clients usually find me through word of mouth and stick aroundââ¬âmost have stayed with me from the beginning. I do my best to provide clients with top-notch, quality content, but also help them understand the impact of content marketing on their business and give them advice on how to leverage it.What do you like to do when youre not WordPress-ing?Raelene Morey:Hiking, riding my bike around Melbourne, searching for good coffee, and spending time with my boyfriend, friends and family. I also love travelingââ¬âright now Iââ¬â¢m wr iting this on the Spirit of Tasmania, a ferry that travels between Melbourne and Devonport across Bass Strait. Iââ¬â¢m originally from Tasmania and Iââ¬â¢m on my way to visit my family for a few days.What do you wish more people knew about WordPress?Raelene Morey:I wish more people outside of WordPress knew that itââ¬â¢s developed and supported by a huge international community of volunteers and businesses that help build it. So many people think itââ¬â¢s just another privately-owned solution like Wix or Squarespace. But itââ¬â¢s so much more than that.Whos doing things that are just cutting-edge and incredible in the WordPress space right now?Raelene Morey:Two WordPress businesses come to mind: Prospress and Nextend.Prospress launched Robot Ninja last year, the first automated testing tool for WooCommerce. When you connect Robot Ninja to your online store, it runs a comprehensive suite of tests, checking that your store is functioning as it should be. So many store o wners set up WooCommerce and neglect to test it, and then get complaints from customers when their checkout inevitably breaks. Iââ¬â¢ve been working with the Robot Ninja team on case studies about their product and their customers have only overwhelming praise for what theyââ¬â¢ve developed. They have a couple of exciting new projects in the works, too.Nextend is also doing incredible work. Theyââ¬â¢re the company behind Smart Slider 3, which is easily the best-designed WordPress plugin Iââ¬â¢ve ever used. I mean, I used to be like everyone else, I thought sliders were a waste of time. But when I started using Smart Sliders 3, I was blown away by what I could do with it. The Nextend guys have obviously put a ton of work into design and development, and I hope people recognize it!Describe the WordPress community in one word.Raelene Morey:Diverse.Whats the one thing youd like to change about WordPress?Raelene Morey:I wish WordPress were easier for noobs to use. For people whoââ¬â¢ve used WordPress for 10+ years like me, using it is second nature. But I know so many people who run their own small businesses and flock to Wix and Squarespace because WordPress scares them. Then they quickly reach the limitations of those platforms and get stuck and donââ¬â¢t know what to do.Butâ⬠¦ at the same time, many people donââ¬â¢t value the work of skilled designers, developers and content creators. They think their work should be cheap or even free. This is a big reason why Wix and Squarespace are so attractive to small businesses starting outââ¬âthey donââ¬â¢t want to invest in a website. Many donââ¬â¢t understand the value, which is crazy because having a cheap, poorly-designed website with basic functionality is like renting a physical storefront on the edge of town where no oneââ¬â¢s going to find you or trust your products or services.Youre currently hosting a video course about content on Skillshare. Is there room for growth in this direction?Raelene Morey:Yes, definitely! Earlier this year, Skillshare approached me about working on a content creation course for their platform, which resulted in my course Creating Content That People Love to Read (and Google Loves to Rank). So far, 400 students have joined the course. Itââ¬â¢s been amazing seeing so many people benefit from the content. Itââ¬â¢s also nice to see it get positive reviews.Just this week, Iââ¬â¢ve agreed to work with Skillshare again on a second course, which will be focused on helping businesses learn new ways they can promote their product/service on a shoestring budget. When youââ¬â¢re running a business, time and money is usually tight and marketing takes a back seat behind product/service development. So I want to help business owners learn about free and actionable ways they can get their business known online.This new course should be available on Skillshare later this year. So watch this space! @raemoreywrites #interviewed at T hemeIsle | #WordPress Click To Tweet That sums up our Raelene Morey interview. If you have any questions for her, please leave them in the comments section. Also, if you have any suggestions for who we should talk to next, feel free to give us some names, as well!Free guide5 Essential Tips to Speed Up Your WordPress SiteReduce your loading time by even 50-80% just by following simple tips.
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