Advertisements Analysis and Comparison

When it comes to ensuring the commercial/aesthetic appeal of an advertised product, it is crucially important to remain thoroughly aware of what accounts for the specifics of the targeted audience’s consumer-behavior. In their turn, these specifics are best discussed within the context of how the targeted consumers’ cultural affiliation affects their cognitive leanings/existential attitudes, in general, and their purchasing decision-making, in particular (Mooij 2007, p. 27).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Advertisements Analysis and Comparison specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More It is understood, of course, that this suggestion contradicts the assumption that, due to the rise of Globalization, the qualitative aspects of people’s consumerist behavior in different parts of the world grow increasingly unified. Hence, a ‘universalist’ theory of marketing, which implies that there is no t much of a sense in adjusting advertisement-campaigns to be fully observant of how targeted buyers tend to perceive the surrounding reality. This theory, however, cannot be referred to as such that represents an undisputed truth-value. The reason for this is simple – despite an ongoing economic Globalization, there is a plenty of evidence that the manner, in which consumers perceive the actual value of advertised goods and services, continues to be highly reflective of what happened to be the particulars of these people’s culturally defined ‘brain wiring’. In my paper, I will aim to substantiate the validity of this thesis at length, in regards to the American (Western) and Korean (Oriental) advertisement-posters of beer, seen bellow: â€Å"Appreciation unfolds in the morning!† Advertising Looking for essay on advertising? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More â€Å"King of beers† Semiotic analysis American (Western) Semantics. The advertisement-message, conveyed by American poster is clearly object-oriented. The depicted bottle of beer is meant to emphasize both: the promoted beverage’s coldness/tastefulness and the fact that it is specifically Budweiser that ‘reigns’ over the rest of the beer-brands. This is also the reason why the bottle’s lid is flipped upside down – it makes the bottle appear as if it was wearing a ‘crown’. The bottle of Budweiser beer is situated at the poster’s very center, which increases the extent of viewers’ emotional/cognitive comfortableness with the conveyed message even further. Syntactics. The typed message, seen above the depicted object, thoroughly correlates with the poster’s visual semiotics, because it does encourage consumers to assume that in the ‘world of beer’, Budweiser dominates. The message’s strongly defined affirmativeness does not pro vide observes with much of a liberty to interpret the promoted idea’s ideological connotation. Pragmatics. The pragmatic subtleties of this particular advertisement-poster are concerned with the poster’s assumed ability to encourage beer-consumers to believe that, by drinking Budweiser beers they become ‘empowered’. This, of course, increases the emotional appeal of the Budweiser beer-brand to American (Western) audiences even further, because they predominantly consist of people endowed with the so-called ‘Faustian’ (domination-seeking) mentality (Greenwood 2009, p. 53).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Advertisements Analysis and Comparison specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Korean (Oriental) Semantics. The overall message, conveyed by Korean poster, is best defined as a context-oriented. That is, by observing this poster, consumers are expected to think of the actual reaso n why they drink beer, as such that is being concerned with helping them to explore their individuality, rather than with allowing them to experience a purely sensory pleasure. This is exactly the reason why the image of a smiling young woman clearly dominates the poster and why the advertised bottle of beer is situated at the poster’s bottom-right corner. Syntactics. The typed message, seen in this poster, appears context-oriented, as well. This is because it merely encourages potential consumers to establish a dialectical link between the notions of ‘appreciation’ and ‘beer’, without forcing the audience’s members to assume that such a link exists de facto. As such, it is being fully consistent with the poster’s visual semiotics. Pragmatics. While exposed to this poster, potential consumers are expected to consider the possibility that, by drinking the advertised beer, they will be able to substantially increase the sheer intensity of their perception of the surrounding reality’s emanations, which in turn will make them more appreciative of their life-experiences. This implies that the poster is being fully attuned to the workings of the so-called ‘Apollonian’ (Oriental psyche), concerned with Oriental people’s strive to coexist with the nature peacefully, rather than with trying to dominate it (Greenwood, p. 54). Overt vs covert messages American (Western) As it was implied earlier, the commercial appeal of American advertisement-poster reflects the designers’ awareness of the fact that the foremost psychological trait, on the part of the targeted audience’s members, is their deep-seated anxiety to dominate others. In its turn, this explains why the overt messages, conveyed by this poster (such as the logo ‘king of beers’), exploit the ‘appeal to masculinity’. Nevertheless, there are also a number of covert (subliminal) overtones to this particu lar appeal. For example, the color of the poster’s background is dark-red, which is supposed to evoke in potential consumers the image of the ancient Roman god of war Mars. The poster’s vertically-aligned format is clearly reminiscent of the notion of hierarchy, which has traditionally been associated with the notion of masculinity.Advertising Looking for essay on advertising? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Apparently, while exposed to this poster, male beer-lovers are expected to grow increasingly comfortable with the idea that by drinking Budweiser beer, they will be more likely to attain a social prominence in male-dominated societies. Moreover, because the bottle of Budweiser beer, depicted in the poster, appears visually subliminal of an erect penis, the targeted buyers’ prolonged exposure to it will inevitably result in encouraging them to think that the consumption of Budweiser beer, on their part, is the direct pathway towards ensuring the undermined integrity of their sexual powers. Korean (Oriental) Even though that, formally speaking, Korean poster does convey the overt message that the activity of drinking beer does make people more appreciative of the surrounding reality, the actual appeal of this poster is concerned with the sheer potency of the promoted message’s covert undertones. Apparently, poster’s designers never ceased being fully aware of the fact that, while deciding in favor of buying a particular product, Orientals tend to act in an essentially intuitive manner (Norenzayan et al. 2002, p. 653). The validity of this statement can be well illustrated in regards to the poster’s horizontally-aligned format, which correlates with these people’s tendency to think and act ‘holistically’ – that is, without trying to exercise a ‘hierarchic’ control over the surrounding reality. The large image of a smiling young woman, contained in the poster, encourages onlookers to think of the process of consuming alcoholic beverages in terms of a ‘relaxation’, rather than in terms of an ‘aggression’. The poster’s blue-colored background emphasizes this particular perceptual aspect even further. Because poster’s designers knew perfectly well that it is in the very nature of the targeted audience’s members to contextualize informational inputs, they made a deliberate point in downsizing the advertised product visually and in placing it in the poster’s right-bottom corner. By doing it, they succeeded in confirming the potential consumers’ intuitive insight that the consumption of alcoholic beverages cannot be thought of as ‘thing in itself’ (as Westerners tend to do), but rather as something that makes one more emotionally comfortable, while socializing with others. In light of what has been said earlier, it will only be logical to suggest that, when it comes to advertising commercial products, meant to appeal to Western audiences, on the one hand, and to Oriental audiences, on the other, advertisers should remain observant of the following: Westerners tend to cognitively subjectualize themselves within the surrounding social/natural environment. As Bower (2000) noted, â€Å"In a variety of reasoning tasks†¦ (Westerners) adopt an ‘analytic’ perspective. They look for the traits of o bjects while largely ignoring their context† (p. 57). In its turn, this implies that the marketing campaigns, aimed at Westerners, should provide would-be-consumers with a rationale-based reason to purchase the advertised products. Orientals tend to think of themselves in terms of the surrounding reality’s integral part. Hence, the Orientals’ culturally predetermined tendency to think of causes and effects, as such that derive out of each other cyclically (contextually) rather than linearly (Masuda et al. 2008, p. 1265). What it means is that, while trying to make a particular product emotionally appealing to Oriental consumers, advertisers should focus on emphasizing this product’s ability to help the targeted buyers to celebrate their existential self-identity. The earlier conducted semiotic analysis of both posters points out to the fact that, contrary to the provisions of a ‘universalist’ marketing theory, consumers’ ethno-cultural affiliation does play an important role in how they perceive the de facto relevancy of commercial advertisements. Therefore, even though that the application of Maslow’s ‘theory of needs’ (within the context of designing marketing-strategies) continues to remain fully appropriate, marketers should never cease being aware of the fact that consumers’ first-order, second-order and third-order priorities cannot be discussed outside of what happened to be the particulars of the concerned individuals’ cultural leanings. The same analysis also suggests that, in order for a particular advertisement to be considered fully effective, it must be ‘covertly sound’ – that is, potential buyers should not only be in a position to recognize the legitimacy of the conveyed message consciously, but also unconsciously. In its turn, this again implies that it represents the matter of a crucial importance for marketers to be able to understand what acc ount for the workings of the targeted audience’s ‘collective psyche’. As it was shown throughout the course of this paper’s Analytical part, there is nothing accidental about the fact that, despite being concerned with advertising the same line of products (beer), the analyzed American and Korean posters do not correlate with each other semiotically. This is because they were designed to appeal to the groups of people, who due to the characteristics of their cultural affiliation, differ in how they indulge in cognitive processes. Thus, it will be only logical to reinstate once again that there can indeed be very little uniformity to the deployment of marketing strategies in different parts of the world. I believe that this conclusion fully correlates with the paper’s initial thesis. References Bower, B 2000, ‘Cultures of reason’, Science News, vol. 157 no. 4, pp. 56-58. De Mooij, M 2004, Consumer behavior and culture: consequences for g lobal marketing and advertising, Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks. Greenwood, S 2009, Anthropology of magic, Berg Publishers, Oxford. Masuda, T, Gonzales, R, Kwan, L Nisbett, R 2008, ‘Culture and aesthetic preference: comparing the attention to context of East Asians and Americans’, Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, vol. 34 no. 9, pp. 1260-1275. Norenzayan, A, Smith, E, Beom, J Nisbett, R 2002, ‘Cultural preferences for formal versus intuitive reasoning’, Cognitive Science, vol. 26 no. 5, pp. 653-684. This essay on Advertisements Analysis and Comparison was written and submitted by user Marlee Ratliff to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Noel Gallagher Essays - Oasis, Noel Gallagher, Tony McCarroll

Noel Gallagher Essays - Oasis, Noel Gallagher, Tony McCarroll Noel Gallagher I believe that it is the music of our time that will be remembered long after we are gone, and it is bands like Oasis that led the revolution which took place recently. Oasis, headed by brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher was the first band after The Beatles to lash out against what had become the normal way a band should be, and that is why they will be known for years to come as the band who changed rock music. Noel Gallagher was born on May 29, 1967 in Manchester, he was the second son of Thomas and Margaret Gallagher. Thomas, Tommy to the boys at the pub, was a construction worker. He and his wife, known to her pals as Peggy, resided in the working-class Manchester suburb called Burnage with their first boy, Paul. "God was playing a joke when He made me," Noel Gallagher once said. "You know, 'Let's make this guy a writer and a guitar player, but let's make him write with his left hand but play with his right, and let's have him born in the middle of May and give him a Christmas name like Noel. Little did Noel know that when he grew up he was to become the frontman of one of the most influential rock bands in music history at a time when music was the most influential form of speech on the planet. Little Liam arrived in the Gallagher household five years later, on September 21, 1972. He and Noel were forced to share a bedroom, something that always bothered Noel to no end, seeing how Paul, just a year-and-a-half older than him, had his own room. But Liam and Noel made the best of it, and the bedroom saw the beginnings of the somewhat loving, often heated relationship between the brothers. The boys kept a running record of their childhood by scrawling on their wall, later described by Tommy as their "wonderwall", later to become the title of one of their biggest selling singles. Bits of songs, poems, favourite bands, football teams and the like were all immortalised on their bedroom wall. In addition to their love of football, the lads also became engrossed with rock'n'roll. Both Noel and Liam were big fans of tubby '70s glamrocker Alvin Stardust. "When he came on telly they'd mime along and pretend to be Alvin," their father remembers, "and I'd always catch them singing into hairbrushes and playing air guitar." Most important to Noel's musical growth was the North's all-time greatest band, the Beatles. Like many youngsters, the songsmith first fell in love with the Fab Four via their Red and Blue hits collections, and they formed the basis of his musical sensibility for years to come. "I was about six when I started hearing the Red Album " he recalled in an interview "They're songs to grow up with, really...The Red Album documents the Beatles as the greatest pop band ever and The Blue Album documents them as the greatest rock band ever." Noel's school life was problematic at best. While he was plainly a bright young man, he battled with a minor case of dyslexia, which, topped with the poor quality of Manchester's schools, was a dangerous combination. "School didn't really hold anything for me," he explained later. "I knew from a very early age what I wanted to be, I wanted to be a musician." A chronic childhood kidney infection gave Noel his first taste of standing apart from the crowd. Because of his ailment, young Noel was not required to adhere to his primary school's dress code. "I was the only kid allowed to wear long trousers," he remembered. "The others had these little grey shorts and I had these dead cool black skin-tight trousers with little Doc Martens. Everybody hated me." "I was a bit of a rogue when I was young," Noel once said, "I used to wag school and be into... glue sniffing and stuff. Then me and this lad robbed our corner shop, which is a very stupid thing to do, cos everyone knows exactly who you are.? Noel was put on probation and was grounded for six months. He had absolutely nothing to do so he just sat there playing one string on an acoustic guitar. ?I thought I was really good for about a year, until someone tuned it up. Then I thought, 'I can't play the thing at all now. I'm gonna have to start all over again. When Noel was around 13, he ordered his

Business report on ZARA Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Business report on ZARA - Essay Example Zara operates in a highly competitive industry. In analyzing its external environment, this paper will use the PESTEL model, which details the various external factors that favor or affect the general performance of the company. The external factors in the analysis are political factors, economic factors, socio-cultural factors, Technological factors, Environmental factors and the legal factors in place (Brooks & Wilkinson, 2011, p.68). The PESTEL model generally measures the market of a company (Wetherly & Otter, 2011, p.10).Political factors The Governments and political parties in a country are key factors in the establishment of a political environment (Halbert & Ingulli, 2009, p.21). The Spanish government is relatively stable and has provided measures that boost the performance of businesses. Since the main production plant is in Spain, and it's being centralized, this makes it the backbone of the company. The favorable political environment made possible by the political stabi lity in the country and favorable government policies have been a key silent factor in the success of Zara’s production unit. In addition, the government tax policies and investment policies have been favorable for the past decade of its operation in Spain and can be attributed to influence the performance of Zara positively. The company faces normal economic fluctuations like other companies such as movement in interest rates, changes in foreign exchange rates and a shift in inflation rates.  ... Further, in its expansion into other countries of operation, the political support and stability was critically assessed before the decisions were made. Economic factors The company faces normal economic fluctuations like other companies such as movement in interest rates, changes in foreign exchange rates and a shift in inflation rates. However, Zara, for all its time of operation has only been dealing in a single currency. Though this had seemed to pose many transactional problems due to their large scale of operations, the company preferred to use a safer currency. This is believed to be the reason that Zara was not affected by the recession, which was caused by adverse movement in the dollar. Before its entry into new markets, the company evaluates the economic conditions of the country it wants to launch operations to ensure stability and relative predictability. Socio-cultural factors Social-cultural factors mainly include the cultural aspects in the region of operation includi ng factors such as population trends, the attitudes of the populations (Collison, 2003, p.32). Trends in socio-cultural factors have a great impact on the demand of a firms products and the operational processes of the company (Cadle & Yeates, 2010, p.33). For Zara, their element of trend chasing has led to them studying the cultural trends in terms of fashion and their attitudes towards dressing in order to give their customers a specific customised experience according to the region of operation hence gaining more market share. In addition, the company is located in a country that has firm cultural roots that contributes to its performance. Technological factors Technology is a key factor in the efficiency and effectiveness of business operations today (Kew &

American Civil War Description Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

American Civil War Description - Term Paper Example "Defeat and emancipation destroyed the slave society of the Old South, and gave birth to a different southern society." (Roark, et al; Page 370). "All Americans experienced the crucible of war; but the war affected no group more than the four million African Americans who saw its beginning as slaves and emerged as free people" (Roark, et al; page 370). "Abraham Lincoln faced the worst crisis in the history of the nation: the threat of disunion. He revealed his strategy on March 4, 1861, in his inaugural address, firm yet conciliatory. First, he vowed to avoid any action that would push the Upper South out of the Union; second, he reassured the Lower South that the Republicans would not abolish slavery. (Roark, et al; Page 370)Always, Lincoln denied the right of secession and upheld Union. "His counterpart, Jefferson Davis, however, fully intended to establish the Confederate States of America as an independent republic." (Roark, et al; Page 370). "To achieve permanence, Davis had to sustain the secession fever that had carried the Lower South out of the Union" and add new stars to the Confederate flag." (Roark, et al; page 371). However, both wanted to achieve their objectives peacefully; but, as Lincoln later observed, "both parties deprecated war, but one of them would make war rather than let the nation survive, and the other would accept war rather than let it perish." (Roark, et al; page 371). Masterfully, Lincoln thus shifted the fateful decision of war or peace to Davis." (Roark, et al; page 371). "On April 9, 1861, Davis and his Cabinet met to consider the situation in Charleston harbor. Territorial integrity of the Confederacy demanded the end of the federal presence, Davis argued, but his secretary of State Robert Toombs of Georgia pleaded against military action. Davis rejected Toombs' prophecy and sent word to Confederate troops in Charleston to take the fort. Bombardment reduced the fort to rubble.

History, Point of View, Interpretation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

History, Point of View, Interpretation - Essay Example 1 History is normally viewed as just a written narrative of past events. Allan Munslow however argued that although the facts are correctly stated, history is presented by historians through a narrative as to how he understands and interprets these facts, which is mainly biased towards how he interprets and understands the events of the past. As Munslow put it, history â€Å"cannot escape its authorship†¦ the past is not just re-interpreted according to new evidence but also through self-conscious acts of re-writing as well.†2 As such, there is a tendency of historians to offer their point of view according to their personal interpretation of events. Munslow contends that present day historical authors and is more inclined on presenting events according to their interpretation. The emphasis now is less on history as a process of objective discovery and report but, rather, accepts its unavoidably fictive nature, that is, its literary contractedness. By this I mean recognizing the figurative assumptions that underpin authorial activity in creating the text†¦often determining the selection of evidence and its most likely meaning†¦Postmodern history, because it is a literary†¦ cannot escape its authorship†¦the past is not just re-interpreted according to new evidence but also through self-conscious acts of re-writing as well†¦include the historians pre-narrative assumptions and how we translate those assumptions†¦Ã¢â‚¬ 3 Antonia Castaneda’s, Spanish Violence against Amerindian Women present two different interpretations of events in the history of California. These different views are due to different ideological perspectives of the two authors. Castaneda focused on the oppression and sexual exploitation of Amerindian women by Spaniards. Her study discussed brutality of soldiers to the women, critically analyzing of situations of the Amerindian women before and during the Spanish conquest of California and how natives

Septic Arthritis and Reactive Arthritis Comparison

Septic Arthritis and Reactive Arthritis Comparison Septic infectious arthritis and reactive arthritis are two arthritic disorders that result from an infection. Though they both are related in their etiology and in their characteristic of causing arthritic joints, each of them are actually different in the way the infection triggers the condition. The main difference between the two conditions may be further clarified with the examination of the terminology used for each. Origin of Terminology Septic arthritis derives its name from the term sepsis which pertains to the systemic compromise due to the spread of infection  [1]  ; this is the reason why the term is at times used interchangeably with infectious arthritis. Reactive arthritis was previously known as Reiters Syndrome named after the late German physician Hans Conrad Julius Reiter who was instrumental in the identification and description of the condition.  [2]  The term Reiters syndrome has lost popularity due to the exposure of Reiters history as a Nazi party member during his prosecution in the Nuremberg trials as a war criminal because of his alleged participation in the forced human experimentations in the Buchenwald concentration camp; this urged a group of doctors to campaign for the renaming of term Reiters syndrome into reactive arthritis back in 1977.  [3]  The condition may also be known as arthritis urethritica, polyarteritis enterica, or venereal arthritis. (1) The term arthritis urethritic a was coined due to its tendency to occur after a genitourinary infection, (2) the term polyarteritis enterica was coined due to its tendency to affect multiple joints and its tendency to occur after a gastrointestinal infection, and (3) the term venereal arthritis was coined due to the tendency of the condition to occur after a known venereal disease infection. The main difference between reactive arthritis from septic arthritis is that septic arthritis caused by the infection of the joint. However, reactive arthritis is not caused by an infection to the joint itself, but is rather an autoimmune response in reaction to an infection on another part of the body. Each disorder will be discussed further in depth in this chapter. Overviews, Microbiology, and Prevalence Septic Arthritis Septic arthritis is an infection resulting in an arthritis characterized by purulent invasion and intense pain at the infected joint.  [4]  Aside from being interchangeable with the term infectious arthritis, this condition may also be known as suppurative arthritis due to its characteristic of producing purulent substances or pus, and may also be known as bacterial arthritis, even though the condition may at times be of fungal or viral origin instead of the commonly bacterial origin. The causative infectious agent in septic arthritis can spread to the joint from other previously infected areas of the body. The infection may sometimes only affect a single joint without affecting other parts of the body, but the infection may still spread to other body parts. Septic arthritis commonly affects the knee or wrist, and may also affect other joints such as the ankle, hip, elbow, shoulder, and shoulder. The infection infiltrates and damages the joint causing severe pain, suppuration, he at, and swelling. This severe form of arthritis also develops along with the sudden onset of fever, chills, and joint pain.  [5]  On the occasion that the sufferer of some forms of septic arthritis do not seek rapid medical attention for diagnosis and treatment, the joint may incur irreversible and permanent damage and in a period of days. Therefore, the situation should be regarded as a medical emergency. Gonococcal arthritis is the most prevalent form of septic arthritis in the United States  [6]  . This class of septic arthritis is less prevalent in other areas of the world such as Western Europe where it is presently uncommon. The causative organism behind this form of the condition is the gram-negative diplococcus bacteria called Neisseria gonorrhoeae which was most likely spread to the joint systematically due to disseminated gonococcal infection (DGI). This specific condition can be manifested as either arthritis-dermatitis syndrome which is a bacteremic infection accounting for sixty percent of gonococcal arthritis cases, or it can be manifested as an arthritic infection localized to a single joint which accounts for the remaining forty percent of cases.  [7]   Reactive Arthritis Reactive arthritis is an autoimmune condition caused by the bodys immune response to an infection. The causative infection is not located at the affected joint itself (cross-reactivity).  [8]  The triggering infection is usually or often already in remission by the time the patient presents with arthritic symptoms, thus making it difficult to ascertain the initial cause. Cultures taken from the synovial fluid of the joints affected by reactive arthritis will characteristically yield negative results indicating the cause is not a direct infection to the joint, but instead may be plausibly due to the over-stimulation of the autoimmune response or by the depositing of bacterial antigens in the joints by an unknown manner. Though the mechanism of reaction from the infection is still unknown, it is said that reactive arthritis often manifests within one to three weeks after a known infection. Microbiology of Arthritis The etiology of septic arthritis is commonly bacterial in naturemycobacterial, viral, and fungal arthritis occur in rare cases.  [9]  The pathogen responsible for septic arthritis must reach the synovial membrane of the joint. The micro-organisms are usually carried to the joint by the bloodstream from an infectious source such as wound infections and abscesses located elsewhere on the body, introduced by skin lesions or trauma that penetrates into the joint, or by extension of the infection from adjacent body tissue such adjacent soft tissue infections or bones suffering from an osteomyelitic condition. Being the most common cause of septic arthritis, there are various strains of bacteria that may be the culprit behind this condition. Staphylococcus aureus is the common causative pathogen in adults, while streptococci is the second-most likely causative pathogen in adults.  [10]  Neisseria gonorrhoea is the most prevalent causative microorganism in young adults, although thi s is now thought to be rare in Western Europe.  [11]  Moreover, Haemophilus influenzae was the most prevalent causative pathogen in children but is now declining in areas where haemophilus vaccinations have been introduced.  [12]  Escherichia coli (E. coli) are the most likely causative micro-organism among the elderly, the seriously ill, and users of intravenous drugs. Salmonella, brucella, and tuberculosis are the causative pathogens behind septic spinal arthritis.  [13]  Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which is the bacterium responsible for endocarditis, has also been identified as a causative pathogen for septic arthritis in children who have suffered a penetrating wound directly to the joints.  [14]   Reactive arthritis may also be caused by bacterial infection. It is triggered by a recent preceding infection; the most common culprit in the United States would be the genital infection Chlamydia trachomatis. The bacterium known as Ureaplasma urealytium, which is a pathogen of the urinary tract, is also known to trigger the condition. The condition may also be triggered by bouts of gastrointestinal infection or food poisoning from Salmonella, Shigella, Yersinia, and Campylobacter, which are all enteric bacteria genera.  [15]  The infection is not located in the ailing joint, and may no longer present elsewhere on the body by the time the reactive arthritis develops. Other microorganisms may still be behind a case reactive arthritis but the evidence indicating them to be the actual cause is still circumstantial.  [16]   Prevalence of Septic Arthritis and Reactive Arthritis Young children, older adults, and individuals with artificial joints are at greater risk than the general population to develop septic arthritis. Those with artificial joints may be infected with different organisms in comparison with the general population, and may present with slightly different symptoms.  [17]  In general, if an individual affected by septic arthritis seeks medical attention and treatment within a week after the first symptoms appear, they will most likely make a full recovery. On the other hand, individuals aged twenty to forty years of age are more likely to be affected by reactive arthritis. Men are more likely to be affected by the condition than women. Caucasian people are more likely to be affected than individuals of African-American descent; this is due to the frequent occurrence of the HLA-B27 gene within the white population.  [18]  Patients infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) also have an increased risk of developing this condit ion. Arthritis makes it extremely difficult for affected individuals to remain physically active as many individuals become bound to their homes. These individuals will increase their risk for obesity, depression, and heart disease due to their inactivity and anxiety from worsening disability.  [19]   The Immune Systems Role in Arthritis Septic arthritis and reactive arthritis are both conditions that involve the immune systems autoimmune response. However, septic arthritis is the result of the bodys normal immune response to an actual infection present at the ailing joint. On the other hand, reactive arthritis is the result of the immune systems abnormal immune response to what it believes is a present infection at the joint but is, however, absent or is an infection on a part of the body aside from the joint; this mistaken response which may be due to misinterpretation or oversensitivity is considered abnormal and is classified as an autoimmune disease. An overview of the human bodys immune system can better explain the mechanism by which these two conditions come into fruition. Overview of the Human Immune System The human immune system is an intricate defense system designed to specifically defend against the many different types of pathogens. Pathogens are any organism, usually a live organism, which can cause disease. Pathogens include bacteria which are single celled organisms capable of living outside the body, protozoa which are single celled organisms that live and are spread through water, pathogenic proteins which are multi-celled organisms that can only reproduce in another more complex living organism, fungi which are plant-like multi-celled organisms that take nutrition from other living organism such as plants and animals, viruses which are actually multi-celled organisms that invade and reproduce inside another microbial organism, and parasites which are full complex organisms which feed off the nutrients of another complex organisms and which tend to live in the intestinal tract or bloodstream of the human body. In theory any one of these organisms can cause septic arthritis or reactive arthritis, but parasites are very unlikely to cause these conditions and bacteria are the most prevalent culprit. In the event that a pathogen passes through the bodys outer physical barriers, such as mucus and the skin, and penetrates into the internal structures of the human body, the immune system kicks in.  [20]   The human bodys immune system response is composed of the non-specific response and the specific response. Non-specific response consists of the complement response, the interferon response, fever response, and the inflammatory response. The complement response is conducted by the activation of complement proteins which bind with pathogens with lipid layers, such as bacteria, to destroy their lipid layers allowing water to shift into the pathogen to drown them, or by the activation of macrophages which engulf the invading pathogen. Interferon response is conducted by a cell that has been infected with a virus. The infected cell produces a chemical protein known as interferon which will bind to uninfected cells preventing the virus from readily infecting them. The fever is conducted in response to toxin present in the body which may or may not be produced by bacteria; pyrogen, which is a chemical also known as Interleukin 1, is responsible for resetting and increasing the bodys temper ature and may cause gradual joint degeneration. Inflammatory response is the result of the release of histamines in response to tissue damage or infection; histamine is capable of causing capillary dilation which allows for greater capillary permeability, which in turn allows for white blood cells to gather at an infected site, for fluid to create inflammation and swelling at the site to create cushioning, and for an increase in temperature at the affected site. The inflammatory response and fever response are the main responses responsible for the signs and symptoms present during both septic arthritis and reactive arthritis. The human bodys specific immune response is mostly managed by the different types of leukocytes which are better known as white blood cells (WBCs). White blood cells can be classified as eosinophils, macrophages, and lymphocytes. Eosinophils serve to produce interleukins which are chemicals that serve a vital role as immune system neurotransmitters that relay messages between the many different white blood cells to ensure that they work together and cooperate as an effective system against pathogens and to ensure that the immune system does not attack the bodys own cells. Macrophages are also known as phagocytes, meaning they are capable of conducting phagocytosis which is the process of engulfing, killing, and digesting of pathogens and cellular debris; after digestion, the degraded pathogen is turned in peptides which can act as antigens. The antigens produced by the macrophages are then carried by the macrophages into the lymph nodes where the helper T-cells utilize them to signal the B-cells to create antibodies. The last type of white blood cell is collectively called lymphocytes. The lymphocytes can be further subdivided into B-cells, NK cells, and T-cells. B-cells are responsible for creating immunoglobulin, or antibodies, that are specific to a certain pathogen as identified by their antigen. Antigens are protein peptides that exist on the outer surface of pathogens; these antigens are used to differentiate and identify cells and pathogens that are foreign to the host body. The helper T-cells who receive the antigen produced by the macrophage produce lymphokines which instruct the B-cells on the production of the specific antibody. When the B-cells produce the specific antibody, B plasma cells begin to create more copies of its own self to create more antibodies. These antibodies, when released into the bloodstream, will then proceed to bind with the antigens on the actual pathogens to signal the killer T-cells to attack these foreign organisms. The B-cells will also produce B memory cells, which are inactive B plasma cells. These inactive B memory cells last longer than their active B plasma cell counterparts, which last for about five to seven days; the presence of the B memory cells in the bloodstream allows them to respond faster to secondary exposures to the same pathogens in the future. Natural killer (NK) cells are cells that are activated by interferons, which interfere with virus replication, and chemicals produced by macrophages which have ingested a virus. Natural killer cells engulf virus pathogens to prevent them from reproducing until a killer T-cell is developed to kill the contained virus. T-cells are responsible for identifying and destroying specific pathogens and consist of helper T-cells, killer T-cells, memory T-cells, and suppressor T-cells. Helper T-cells receive antigens from macrophages which have ingested a pathogen and instruct the B-cells to produce antibodies which will in turn signal the killer T-cells. Killer T-cells are responsible for finding and destroying pathogens by injecting them with cytotoxins. Memory T-cells are derivatives of helper T-cells which circulate around the body and perform the same functions as their parent cells. Suppressor T-cells are responsible for slowing down and deactivating the immune response once the foreign o rganisms and pathogens have been eliminated. What Goes Wrong with the Immune Response Septic arthritis is really the result of the damage caused by the invading organisms and the normal immune response of the body to the infection in that specific joint or set of joints. In septic arthritis, the macrophages ingest a pathogen that has infected a joint. The macrophages then degrade the pathogen into antigens and relay them to the helper T-cells in the lymph nodes. The T-cells then create antibodies specific to the antigens on the pathogens. The inflammatory response also releases histamine which increases the blood flowing into the affected joint to cause swelling, redness, and pain, which in turn causes stiffness and difficulty moving in the joint to cause arthritic symptoms. Meanwhile, the invading organisms cause damage to the joints. Such damage incurred by the joints may be irreparable if medical attention is not immediately sought after. Suppuration which is the result of the white blood cells fight against the invading microorganisms may also contribute to the ar thritic condition. The fever response that triggers the release of pyrogen may also contribute to the degeneration of the joint. Although the exact etiology of the condition is still uncertain, unlike septic arthritis, reactive arthritis is caused by a faulty immune system response. The condition occurs in the absence and aftermath of an actual infection that is located in a part of the body aside from the affected joints. Two theories exist for the purpose of explanation. The first theory speculates that there are antigens deposited in the affected joint; the second theory speculates that the immune system has become faulty in detecting the actual presence or absence pathogens and creates an exaggerated immune response in the joints even though there is no infection or the infection is located elsewhere on the body. These theories causes the immune system to believe in a current infection and will release histamine and pyrogen to produce inflammation and fever. The inflammation will again cause the joint(s) to be stiff, painful, and immobileall of which are arthritic symptoms. The absence of an actual pathogen may mean that the inflammation and fever will last for an uncertain length of time but the absence of an actual pathogen will also mean that there is little to no actual damage to the affected joint. Distinguishing Characteristics There are over a hundred forms of arthritis, all of which involve some degree of inflammation, pain, and immobility of an affected joint.  [21]  The many different types are the result of several different causes and these causes may point towards what distinguishes each form of arthritis from the other. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease and is the most common presentation of arthritis; it can result from trauma to the joint, direct infection to the joint, daily wear and tear, muscle strain, fatigue, or simply from old age. Other forms of arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis are attributed to autoimmune diseases. The main thing that differentiates septic arthritis and reactive arthritis from other types of arthritis is that they are mainly results of infection. This means that they will most likely present with fever. The main difference between reactive arthritis from septic arthritis is that the latter is when infection of the joint itself is the cause of the suppuration leading to the arthritis. However, reactive arthritis is not caused by an infection to the joint itself, but rather the inflammation is caused by an autoimmune response to an infection located on another part of the body; this is known as cross reactivity.  [22]  Septic arthritis will most likely affect an individual joint (monoarthritic) if only one joint is infected. Nonetheless, the possible systemic nature of reactive arthritis allows it to most likely affect several joints (polyarthritis). Septic arthritis will also most likely yield positive culture results and present with suppuration, unlike reactive arthritis which may not yield the same results due to the absence of an infection at the actual site of arthritic symptoms. Techniques and Research Diagnostic Techniques The diagnosis of arthritis in general is made through a clinical examination that is conducted by a duly licensed and qualified health professional, who may require other examinations such as blood tests and radiology to create a differential diagnosis for the suspected arthritis. However, radiographs (x-ray) and sonographs (ultrasound) are mostly used only to assess and monitor the severity and progression of the condition. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is also an effective diagnostic tool. The history of the current disorder may guide diagnosis; some significant markers include: speed and time of onset, pattern and symmetry of joint involvement, aggravating and relieving factors, quality and severity of pain, and other systemic symptoms. An example of this is the use of pain patterns; for example, rheumatoid arthritis is generally worse in pain and stiffness during mornings, but in comparison, osteoarthritis is usually aggravated after strenuous activities such as exercise. There is no diagnostic test to completely rule out septic arthritis; however, it should be considered whenever a patient presents with rapid onset of joint pain. Usually it only affects one joint (monoarthritis); however, several joints can be affected simultaneously in cases involving staphylococcus or gonococcus infections. The affected joints may present with pain, swelling, redness, and warmth, often affecting joints in the limbs instead of deep joints such as the hips or shoulders. A fever of a bove 38.5 degrees Celsius and history of septic arthritis may also be indicative of the condition. The Gram stain can rule towards a septic arthritis diagnosis but cannot rule it out.  [23]  Gram stain and culture of fluid from the joint and blood test serums can also rule towards a positive diagnosis when yielding elevated neutrophils, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), c-reactive protein (CRP), and WBCs. Being a sort of systemic autoimmune disorder, reactive arthritis can be expected to cause polyarthritis which is a multiple joint arthritic condition. The affected joints may also present with pain, swelling, redness, and warmth. Swabs taken from the urethra, cervix, stool, urine, or the throat can be cultured in an attempt to identify the causative organisms. Blood tests and synovial fluid cultures may also be done to reveal elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and CRP to support the diagnosis. A blood screening may be done to identify the presence of the gene HLA-B27, which is present in an estimated eighty percent of all patients suffering from reactive arthr itis.  [24]   Treatment Techniques Treatment for arthritis in general includes lifestyle changes such as exercise and weight control, physical therapy, orthopedic braces, and medications. The main goal of treatment for both septic and reactive arthritis is to identify and eradicate the causative pathogen with the appropriate antibiotics. In the meantime, the treatment is symptomatic. Medications such as antibiotics, NSAIDS, steroids, and analgesia can help decrease inflammation in the joint resulting in decreased pain and hampered joint damage.  [25]  Reactive arthritis may require immunosuppressant medications in addition to the above medications to reduce oversensitivity of the immune system. Extreme pain, redness, and swelling may require drainage by needle puncture to alleviate these signs of inflammation. Surgical replacement of the joints may also be needed in eroding types of arthritis such as certain strains of septic arthritis. Surgical debridement or arthrotomy is usually indicated for infections involvi ng prosthetic joints. Individuals for whom surgery is contraindicated will have to undergo long-term trial antibiotic therapy.  [26]   Analysis Septic arthritis and reactive arthritis are two arthritic conditions that result from the human immune systems response to infection. Septic arthritis is the result of an infection on the arthritic joint; if one joint is infected, only one joint shall be suffer arthritic symptoms. Reactive arthritis is the result of an exaggerated immune response to an infection that does not involve the arthritic joint; this condition may be systemic and may affect multiple joints. Septic arthritis and reactive arthritis may both be caused by any pathogen including bacteria, mycobacterium, virus, and fungi; however, bacterial infections are the most prevalent culprit. Since both septic arthritis and reactive arthritis are the result of an infection, what distinguishes them from most other forms of arthritis is that both of them may present with fever and some degree of suppuration in addition to the usual symptoms of inflammation which include pain, swelling, redness, and warmth at the joint. Septic arthritis will however prove to be the more destructive of the two conditions because it directly infects the joint and may cause permanent and irreversible damage. Since both of the conditions are the result of an infection, both of their treatments include antibiotics, which may usually be given intravenously, and medications that may deal with the symptoms of pain and inflammation may be given. Orthopedic bracing for support and surgical intervention for damaged joints may also be needed in certain cases.

An Analysis of Komanuyakaa Facing It Essay -- Komanuyakaa Facing It E

An Analysis of Facing It  Ã‚      Yusef Komanuyakaa's poem "Facing It" is a brutal examination of the affects that war leaves upon men. The reader can assume that Komanuyakaa drew upon his own experiences in Vietnam, thereby making the poem a personal statement. However, the poem is also a universal and real description of the pain that comes about for a soldier when remembering the horror of war. He creates the poem's persona by using flashbacks to the war, thereby informing the reader as to why the speaker is behaving and feeling the way he is. The thirty-one lines that make up "Facing It" journey back and forth between present and past to tell the story of one man's life. The informal language and intimacy of the poem are two techniques the poet uses to convey his message to his audience. He speaks openly and simply, as if he is talking to a close friend. The language is full of slang, two-word sentences, and rambling thoughts; all of which are aspects of conversations between two people who know each other well. The fact that none of the lines ryhme adds to the idea of an ordinary conversation, because most people do not speak in verse. The tone of the poem is rambling and gives the impression that the speaker is thinking and jumping from one thought to the next very quickly. His outside actions of touching the wall and looking at all the names are causing him to react internally. He is remembering the past and is attempting to suppress the emotions that are rising within him. The first two lines of the poem set the mood of fear and gloom which is constant throughout the remainder of the poem. The word choice of "black" to describe the speaker's face can convey several messages (502). The most obvious meaning ... ..." the speaker is telling his audience that the dead soldier was a young man. The tenderness of his age further amplifies the horrific nature of war. The poem's persona and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall depend on each other to express the poem's intention. The poem's intention is to show that war is lethal, less than gloriful, and extremely real. Although years have gone by, these recollections are still affecting how he lives. Simply standing in front of the wall reminds the speaker of all of this. The Veterans Memorial takes on a life of its own. While the speaker is in its presense, the wall controls him. It forces him to remember painful memories and even cry, something he promised himself he would not do. The persona in the poem reacts to the power the wall has and realizes that he must face his past and everything related to it, especially Vietnam.