Joan Of Arc Essays (599 words) - Jules Bastien-Lepage, Art Movements

Joan Of Arc "Joan of Arc," was painted by the French realist artist Jules Bastien-Le Page in 1879. "After the province of Lorraine was lost to Germany following the Franco-Prussian War in 1821, The Frenchmen saw in Joan of Arc a new and powerful symbol. In 1875, Bastien-Lepage, a native of Lorraine began to make studies for a picture of her. In the present painting, exhibited in the Salon of 1880, Joan is shown receiving her revelation in her parents garden. Behind her are Saints Michael, Margaret, and Catherine. (Caption next to painting in The Metropolitan)" Jules Bastien-Lepage creates a realistic atmosphere, including a supernatural, religious-like presence within his painting. Oil on canvas was used to create the realistic quality of the work. By closely examining the artist's technique, it is clear that he uses delicate brush strokes in a true to life manner. The colors, and use of light seem to be painted in a layered fashion to give the landscape a sense of depth. The background of the painting is a garden which include foliage and brush that surrounds the primary focus of the painting, Joan of Arc. The artist put a great effort into the details of the scene. Bastien-Lepage uses a distinct realistic quality in his painting which is visible in each individual leaf and branch. Various hues of earth tones, green and brown being the most evident, are blended together in the garden scene. In the foreground of the painting is Joan of Arc. She is painted with a seemingly thicker paint technique. This makes her a more easily visible aspect in the painting, and catches the onlookers eye. Joan is dressed in a long brown skirt and blue-gray shirt with white underneath which is the typical clothing style of the 19th century. The clothing is painted to show its wear and tear. Her features and her figure are quite realistic. She seems to have a calm, but troubled expression on her face, as though she is deep in thought. Overall she is painted in a very detailed manner. A less visible, yet still present and important aspect of the painting are the three figures positioned behind Joan, and in front of the house. The figures are somewhat transparent, and ghostly. Their presence adds a spiritual and or religious feeling to the scene. These three figures presence blends into the scenery. Al three have halos above their heads, and serene looks on their faces. The saint on the right is dressed in what looks to be armor. He looks brave, and as if he is standing guard or going into battle. The middle saint is a praying angel. She is in a dress with a gauzy, white presence around her. This whiteness gives her an ethereal quality which Bastien-Lepage has painted quite effectively, and adds to the spiritual feeling of the scene. Her presence in the painting seems to represent chastity and virtue. The last figure looks like a young girl or child, who is kneeling with her face hidden in her hands almost as if she is upset. Perhaps Bastien-Lepage painted these three saints not only to illustrate Joan receiving her visions, but to illustrate the bravery, religious yet childlike figure that she was. Behind Joan of Arc, in the background of the picture is a house. Bastien-Lepage painted the house so that the masonry is visible. The house seems to be small in size, plain, and quaint. Surrounding the house is shrubbery, trees, and more of the garden which is seen throughout the painting. This painting of Joan of Arc is very significant. Bastien-Lepage is able to effectively depict Joan as the true heroine that she was. This is significant because at the time there were not so many women heroines like her.

13 Funny Thanksgiving Quotes to Keep Fights Off the Table

13 Funny Thanksgiving Quotes to Keep Fights Off the Table Thanksgiving is a time for families to get together, share snippets from their lives and enjoy the company of their dear ones. But what if your Thanksgiving becomes a time for family fights, shouting matches, complaints, and one-upping competition? If you have invited guests over for a Thanksgiving dinner, you can help break the ice with some funny words. However, if you crack jokes about a persons gender, color, or nationality, you may offend some people. The best way to keep the mirth flowing is to use funny words of the famous. Use these quotes smartly and you will have a room full of laughter. Enjoy the warmth of the Thanksgiving holiday with a round of humor. Louie Anderson At Thanksgiving, my mom always makes too much food, especially one item, like 700 or 800 pounds of sweet potatoes. Shes got to push it during the meal. Did you get some sweet potatoes? Theres sweet potatoes. Theyre hot. Theres more in the oven, some more in the garage. The rest are at the Johnsons. Berke Breathed, Bloom County Dear Lord, Ive been asked, nay commanded, to thank Thee for the Christmas turkey before us- a turkey which was no doubt a lively, intelligent bird, a social being, capable of actual affection, nuzzling its young with almost human-like compassion. Anyway, its dead and were gonna eat it. Mitch Hedberg I hate turkeys. If you stand in the meat section at the grocery store long enough, you start to get mad at turkeys. Theres turkey ham, turkey bologna, turkey pastrami. Someone needs to tell the turkey, man, just be yourself. Tony Snow If you think Independence Day is Americas defining holiday, think again. Thanksgiving deserves that title, hands-down. Alistair Cooke It has been an unchallengeable American doctrine that cranberry sauce, a pink goo with overtones of sugared tomatoes, is a delectable necessity of the Thanksgiving board and that turkey is uneatable without it. Phyllis Diller It took me three weeks to stuff the turkey. I stuffed it through the beak. Aaron Neville Its a thanksgiving to God. Its something I have wanted to do for a long time, but the record company wasnt ready for it. So I did it myself. Marilu Henner Its better to pace yourself throughout a big day like Thanksgiving by having something healthful for breakfast and something light for lunch. Rita Rudner Most turkeys taste better the day after; my mothers tasted better the day before. Ted Allen My whole problem is that all of my favorite things at Thanksgiving are the starches, and everyone is trying to go low-carb this year, even a green vegetable has carbs in it. David Letterman Thanksgiving is the day when you turn to another family member and say, How long has Mom been drinking like this? My mom, after six Bloody Marys looks at the turkey and goes, Here, kitty, kitty. Jim Gaffigan Thanksgiving. Its like we didnt even try to come up with a tradition. The tradition is, we overeat. Hey, how about at Thanksgiving we just eat a lot? But we do that every day! Oh. What if we eat a lot with people that annoy the hell out of us? David Letterman When I was a kid in Indiana, we thought it would be fun to get a turkey a year ahead of time and feed it and so on for the following Thanksgiving. But by the time Thanksgiving came around, we sort of thought of the turkey as a pet, so we ate the dog. Only kidding. It was the cat.

Customer Service Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Customer Service - Assignment Example The needs and requirements of the different types of customers visiting the hotel are as follows: Backpackers and Solo Travellers These travellers spend a lot of time exploring the city alone and prefer convenient amenities and services at affordable prices. They are regarded as one of the most important customers as they are regarded as one of the most important customers, which contribute highly to the hospitality industry (Capozzi, 2013). Couples They form an important part of the hotel industry and have tailor made hotel accommodation like couple and honeymoon suites. These customers also expect special types of discount and incentive packages to be offered to them (Capozzi, 2013). Families Families visiting the hotel have few specific needs, like kid friendly environment, spacious rooms, and discounts. They also require some additional amenities like booster chairs, wide stroller friendly paths and changing station (Capozzi, 2013). Corporate Customers Their requirements are very different from the individuals and services like fast speed internet access, detail to quality of hotel accommodations rooms and services, and various other service offerings (Capozzi, 2013). (b) The reliance on customer service methods like, feedback survey would be significant in improving the hotel structures, procedures and quality, which would be for the betterment of the entire organization (Capozzi, 2013). A customer feedback survey was drafted to understand the customer requirements and is provided in the appendices. (c) Service Current Policy Feed Back Evaluation Method Customer Expectations Travel services Customer is supposed to book the rental car and travel facilities six hours before the required time. It includes travel facilities only to immediate travel locations. The feedback was collected through the customer information filled in the complaint register (Chilisa, 2011). Customers want booking of travel services through telephone and also flexibility of timings. T ourist services As per the current policy only visitors of the hotels are allowed for the service and need to book the tourist service 3 months in advance. The information was collected through the feedback form during their travel visits. Customers are happy with the existing services only the timing factor poses to be a hindrance. Customers want to book the travel prior to one month instead of three months. Pubs, nightclubs and bars. The bars and the nightclubs, pubs are located separately and the timings of these facilities are 10:00 am to night 2:00 pm. The members of the hotel and the visitors are only allowed to visit the hotel. The feedback was collected through the survey conducted by the researcher. Customer wants the extension of timings of the nightclubs, pubs and bars till 3:30 pm. Catering The catering services are offered to corporate and individual customers as per advance booking. The feedback was collected through the survey polls conducted through an opinion form. The catering service needs to be upgraded as per the menu by inclusion of more menus. Membership Clubs The member ship clubs are given on the annually and half yearly basis and discounts, special privileges are provided to customers. No customer survey was conducted, but the opinion of the members was taken into general consideration. None The management has considered various changes in

Literacy Narrative Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 3

Literacy Narrative - Essay Example The mode of realism that Eliot employs and her focus on the issues of gender has affected the way my fiction has been. This is a literacy narrative in as much as it was a shaping influence on my writing and the ways in which I read and understood literature. Apart from being the reading of a text, it was also the reading of a culture and an age in which that culture was set. The prospect of reading arguably the finest British novel ever was a daunting one. Prior to the reading of the book, I undertook a study of the Victorian age and looked at the general characteristics of this age. Set in one of the most turbulent eras of England, Eliot is able to look at the different aspects of Middlemarch as a town and look at the ideas of tradition and progress in an incisive manner. The process of reading the book in itself was an emotionally draining one as the fates of Dorothy Parker and the other characters in the novel seemed to unfold in front of my eyes. The sheer size of the novel and t he networks that it created was mind-boggling. Apart from this, it was also interesting to read of the ways in which the lives of different members of a society were interconnected and vital for the progress of another one. The process of reading the book also opened up many avenues through which to analyse the position of women even in contemporary society. This was thus, a profoundly unsettling experience. It was also, however, an experience that taught me to value the position of literature in the world. Following the process of reading the book, I was better informed regarding Victorian society and its culture. Apart from this, the intense positivity that comes from the climax of the novel stayed with me beyond the time that I was actually reading the novel. This event remains one that shaped the way I write poetry and prose. I have incorporated elements of the social realist style in my narratives. Also, the focus on women-centric issues is also something that I have tried to i nclude in my writing. The methods that Eliot employs in order to provide a clearer understanding of the society continue to inspire me as a writer. The incisiveness with which she analyses the electoral and social changes that took place during the Victorian era is something that I also look for in other writers. Middlemarch has become a work that I look to as part of the larger canon of works that has inspired me to write and read a greater number of works of literature. The importance given to the lower classes in this work also inspires me to always look at the condition of the subaltern in literature. This has greatly shaped the kind of books that I like. The event was, in the ultimate analysis, one that shaped the very way in which I looked at and analysed literature. Literature from then on was not something that merely was read for pleasure. It was intrinsically connected to the society from which it emerged. Eliot’s commitment to social issues was something that has s tayed with me and affected my love for literatures from postcolonial societies across the world. Her goal of representing the subaltern has led me to a greater commitment to literatures of this kind. However, the effect of this great novel was also to make me realize that the work of a novel was not mere analysis but also to move the audience. The fates of

Employee Motivational Theories and Concepts Essay Example for Free

Employee Motivational Theories and Concepts Essay Numerous theories on the subject of employee motivation have been developed and published for the better part of this century. While early employers thought of their workers as just another input into the production of goods and services (Lindner, 1998), employees were becoming increasingly dissatisfied with working conditions and malevolent management. As post-war, labor tensions mounted in the 1920s, employers needed to change their approach to employee relations if they were to avoid costly, and sometimes violent, labor strikes. Early motivational theories set the foundation for the development of 20th century concepts, including the move to get â€Å"Googled† and motivational techniques based on business strengths found in the corporate toolbox. Early Motivational Theories George Elton Mayo, an Australian-born psychologist and Harvard Professor, began significant research in 1927 in an attempt to demonstrate that employees, if appropriately motivated, are more productive and can achieve greater return through appropriate human relationship management techniques (Trahair Zaleznik, 2005). This research, referred to as the â€Å"Hawthorne Studies,† found that employees are not only motivated by financial gain, but also by the behavior and attitude of their supervisors. During these studies, the employees responded positively to the mere fact that they were receiving attention from their supervisor as a result of the experiment. In his article, Gordon Marshall (1998) noted that â€Å"the term ‘Hawthorne effect’ is now widely used to refer to the behavior-modifying effects of being the subject of social investigation, regardless of the context of the investigation. More generally, the researchers concluded that supervisory style greatly affected worker productivity† (para. 1) and that â€Å"enhanced productivity therefore depends on management sensitivity to, and manipulation of, the ‘human relations’ of production† (para. 2). This represented a dramatic paradigm shift for employers and theorists alike. Subsequent to the conclusion of the infamous Hawthorne Studies, five primary motivational theories have developed that have increased the understanding of what truly motivates employees. They are Maslow’s need-hierarchy, Hertzberg’s two-factor system, Vroom’s expectancy theory, Adam’s equity theory, and Skinner’s reinforcement theory. Maslow identified that employees, in general, have five primary levels of needs that include psychological (e.g. air, food, shelter), safety (e.g. security, order, stability), belongingness (e.g. love, family, relationships), esteem (e.g. achievement, status, responsibility), and self-actualization (McLeod, 2007). Maslow further noted that, in order to provide motivation, the lower levels would need to be satisfied before one progressed to the higher levels. Hertzberg classified motivation into two, distinct factors. He believed that intrinsic factors (or motivators) produce job satisfaction through achievement and recognition while extrinsic (or hygiene) factors produce dissatisfaction. He identified extrinsic factors to be associated with compensation and perceived job security, or lack thereof. Vroom theorized that demonstrated effort would lead to performance which, in turn, would lead to reward (either positive or negative). The more positive the reward the more highly motivated the employee would be. To the contrary, negative rewards would result in a lesser motivated employee. Adams found that employees want to ensure that there is a sense of fairness and equity between themselves and their co-workers. He believed that equity is achieved when employees are contributing, in terms of input and output, at the same rate. Skinner’s theory was likely the most simplistic, He established that employees will repeat behaviors that lead to positive outcomes and eliminate or minimize behaviors that lead to negative outcomes. He conceived that, if managers positively reinforce desired behavior, it would lead to positive outcomes and that managers should negatively reinforce employee behavior that leads to negative outcomes (Lindner, 1998). James R. Lindner, Professor of Management and Research at Ohio State University, has conducted extensive research on this topic. In his paper â€Å"Understanding Employee Motivation,† he further extrapolated on the five theories, providing a comparative analysis, and offering a summary definition that focuses on the psychological process and â€Å"inner force† associated with the accomplishment of personal and organizational goals (Lindner, 1998). 20th Century Concepts In addition to studying popular theories associated with employee motivation, Lindner (1998) includes the methodology and outcomes of an independent study, conducted at Ohio State University, that sought to rank the importance of ten motivating factors. The results of this study were compelling; with â€Å"interesting work† ranking as number one over other more commonly identified motivators, such as wages and job security. In comparing these results with Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, among others, he found that the results are mixed, with the highest ranked factor (interesting work) being one of self-actualization and contrary to Maslow’s findings (Lindner, 1998). This presents a divergent result that challenges Maslow’s assumption that the lower needs must be satisfied before a person can achieve their potential and self-actualize (McLeod, 2007, para.16). This does not negate Maslow’s work, but rather demonstrates that a natural evolution may have taken place with the modern workforce due to the progression of motivation strategies. This is a credit to the work of early theorists, and a call to arms for those that continue this research. Get Googled But history has yet to definitively answer the question, â€Å"what is the best method(s) to motivate employees?† The imprecise answer continues to be: it depends. Many successful organizations incorporate a variety of programs aimed at motivating their employees, based on their specific population. Google Inc., for example, is leading the way to restructure management so that employees can streamline creative ideas that produce blockbuster new products. They are rewarding employees with perks like onsite swimming pools, allowing employees to bring their pets to work, providing onsite child care, and all the free food employees want (â€Å"How Google Inc. Rewards Its Employees,† 2010, Thinking Leaders, para.1). While this may not be realistic for every organization, there is something to be said about the fact that Google, Inc. is consistently ranked by Fortune magazine as the best place in the U.S. to work. However there are things that a company can do to motivate their employees that are low or no cost and likely already exist in their corporate toolbox. The Corporate Toolbox Most successful organizations pride themselves on their ability to promote their product or service to achieve the desired level of profitability. They develop strategic plans, set production goals and persuade their customers that they are best of the best in their field. They are advertisers and peddlers of wares. So what does this have to do with motivation? Robert Hershey, Director of James E. Rogers College of Law at the University of Arizona and contributing author to the Journal of Managerial Psychology, contends that there is a significant correlation between an organization’s ability to successfully promote their business and thrive at motivating their employees. He notes that â€Å"we do not need one more theory of motivation; we need better insight into the psychology of advertising. We can take some tried-and-true product advertising techniques that have been found to be effective and use them in a human resources and management context. But before we do that, the point must be made that, as a practical matter, our vocabulary and attention require a shift from the motivation jargon of needs, expectancy, two-factor theories, etc., to an emphasis on communications practices, because persuasion requires the transmission of information† (Hershey, 1993). If Hershey is correct, then an emphasis on communication and inclusion would create an environment ripe for employee motivation. One could also argue that, if communication is key, allowing input and empowered decision making is the next logical step to producing a motivated employee. Carolyn Wiley, Professor of Business at Roosevelt University, concurs with this notion and provides the following supporting statements in her article â€Å"Creating an Environment for Employee Motivation†: When employees have an opportunity to provide input, this increases their survival rate and their sense of commitment. In many very small companies, a natural sense of owners hip often develops among the employees. However, as companies grow, feelings of ownership and commitment start to decline. To increase commitment as the organization grows, managers must change how they define who retains control. Shared decision making is essential both to company success and employee survival. Workers generally do not resist their own ideas and decisions. Rather, they are motivated to fulfill them. (Wiley, 1992, para.14) While this may seem threatening to traditional leaders, it should not be viewed as surrendering control. Employees that are empowered through inclusion are ambassadors for organizational success. It is only through mutual success that both the employee and company thrive. It seems so simple, but eludes even the most progressive of companies. Most organizations are more inclined to spend thousands of dollars creating recognition programs, building home office environments, developing bonus structures and hosting employee appreciation events rather than recognizing that most employees are merely looking to be valued. The same attention that motivated the Hawthorne workers applies to the modern employee who just wants to contribute and receive credit for their effort. Conclusion There is certainly compelling evidence to indicate that employee motivation comes in many forms. Whether one places their belief in the theoretical assumptions of a Maslow or Hertzberg, their financial backing in the creation of a Google-esque environment, or capitalize on their organizational strengths to communicate and persuade, there is clear agreement that the ability to successfully motivate employees is essential for corporate success and sustainability. The concept of positive human relation management has finally taken its place at the forefront of organizational strategies and, with it, the evolution of employee motivation. References Trahair, R. Zaleznik, A. (2005). Elton Mayo: The Humanist Temper. New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction Publishers Marshall, G. (1998). A Dictionary of Sociology; Hawthorne Studies. Retrieved from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O88-Hawthornestudies.html Lindner, James R. (1998). Journal of Extension; Understanding Employee Motivation. Retrieved from http://www.joe.org/joe/1998june/rb3.php McLeod, S. A. (2007). Simply Psychology; Maslow Hierarchy of Needs. Retrieved from http://www.simplypsychology.org/maslow.html How Google Inc. rewards its employees. (2010). Retrieved from Thinking Leaders website: http://www.thinkingleaders.com/archives/517 Hershey, R. (1993). A practitioner’s view of motivation. Journal of Managerial Psychology, 8(3), 10-10. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.arbor.edu:80/login?url=http://search.proquest. com/docview/ 215865845?accountid=13998 Wiley, C. (1992). Create an environment for employee motivation. HR Focus, 69(6), 14-14. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.arbor.edu:80/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/ docview/206781828?ac countid=13998

Wind Power - Harnessing the Power of Nature Essay -- Exploratory Essay

  Abstract:   Wind power is an up and coming form of energy production in the United States and on the world stage.   Wind energy production is the process of harnessing the power of the natural world for the benefit of humans.   It has developed from incipient stages in tenth century Persia to highly sophisticated systems which take advantage of modern knowledge of physics and environmental science to maximize energy potential.   Many challenges to its success exist, including public apathy, governmental disinterest, and environmental hazards, but on the whole it is among the cleanest and most promising means of producing electricity.   Without understanding wind power, one cannot hope to adequately comprehend the future of energy.       Introduction   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Wind power is among the fastest growing and least polluting forms of energy available today.   The recent rise of public interest in renewable energy over the past few years has inspired an explosive twenty-five percent growth per year in the wind industry.   Though wind power currently provides just one percent of the world’s energy, it is for the most part an untapped resource.   Estimates place its potential for energy production at twenty percent of the world’s total needs.   In short, wind power is going places, and it is important that scientists and citizens keep up.   (Botkin and Keller, 357)    History   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Wind power originated under the most practical of circumstances:   the need to crush grain for flour.   Originally a labor-intensive process of hand pressing between stones, the challenge to find a better way to mill flour soon engaged the human imagination.   This led to hand cranks, horse- drawn axles, and eventually watermill... ... Wind Power and Other Energy Options.   Ann Arbor, Michigan:   The University  of Michigan Press, 1978.    National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).   â€Å"Clean Energy Basics:   Introduction to Wind Energy.†Ã‚   2003.   27 April 2003.   clean_energy/wind.html>    Righter, Robert.   Wind Energy in America.   Norman, Oklahoma:   University of Oklahoma Press, 1996.    Tse, Lawrence, and Duane Bong.   â€Å"Environmental Impact of Wind Turbines.†Ã‚   Vision Engineer.com.   2003.   29 April 2003.   www.visionengineer.com/env/wind environmental_impact.shtml>    United States Department of Energy.   â€Å"Wind Energy Program.†Ã‚   2001.   28 April 2003.  Ã‚      Union of Concerned Scientists.   â€Å"Bush Budget Slashes Funds for Renewable Energy Sources.†Ã‚   News.   2003.   29 April 2003.   www.ucsusa.org/news.cfm?newsID=328>

The Go-Between

The Go-Between Essay †The Go-Between† is a short story written by Ali Smith in 2009. The story was written for a collection of short stories written to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the United Nations’ adoption of the universal declaration of human rights. The writer found inspiration in article 13, which describes the right to freedom of movement. The story follows the 33-year-old former microbiologist who gives us a direct insight into what it means to be African refugees on the border between Morocco and Spain. â€Å"I was a microbiologist, before. † (Page 3, line 32-33)The narrator is even, for some reason, fled his native Cameroon, and has on several occasions tried to flee across the border to Europe. None of his attempt is successful, and they have cost him part of his ear and a finger. He explains in detail about how flight tests were done and what treatment he has received from the authorities. The narrator has abandoned himself to escape and ha ve now settled in the Spanish city of Ceuta, located in Morocco. Here he lives in a small room with three others, where he works as a guide (Go-between) for newly arrived refugees.He establishes contact between aid organization doctors and refugees. He speaks several languages and can put the switch in position. â€Å"The French doctors can be Italian, Spanish, French, English, for instance. I speak these, and also some others. † (Page 2, line 31-32) The novel provides a powerful insight into the miserable and tragically conditions refugees in North Africa. The story is told through a first person narrator, who tells the story in the past tense. The narrator seems to be at a distance of the actions he describes.The narrator is authoritarian by virtue of the fact that he is anticipating the events of the story. Given the fact that the story is told by a first person narrator, there is only one point of view. Obviously we are dealing with an inner point of view; the events are being viewed with inner sight from the narrator's point of view. We are only told about the narrator's own thoughts and what he feels and senses. As mentioned, the narrator has several times attempted to flee to Europe, but all the experiments have failed, and he has every time been sent back.The first time the narrator is trying to reach Europe, his ladder number two breaks, and he gets caught out in nowhere between the two fences that separates Europe and Africa. Here he lives for six weeks, with the help of the workers who are about to put the fence up. Finally prisoners police him and send him back to Africa. The second time the narrator, along with 500 other refugees, tries to jump over the two fences that separate them from Europe. During the trial he, loses a part of his ear, then they all get caught and sent back to Africa.Before repatriation, they are chased by dogs, beaten with sticks and shot at. They are not officially recorded, as is supposed, but are simply sent back to Africa. The third and fourth escape attempt takes place in the water, but the narrator gets picked up by patrols boats both times. One of those times he loses a finger on one of the barbed wire fence that is set up under water. After the many unsuccessful escape attempts, the narrator helps the African refugees who arrive from Ceuta. â€Å"†¦ I help the French doctors. Borders are not always visible!I can go between people and places. I can go to the bits of the city they can’t, or the buildings they can’t, or the people they don’t know about, or the people who don’t wish to be seen. I can take them with me; I can tell the people its okay. † (Page 2, line 39-42) The writer uses an unusual writing style in his short story, which starts in medias res with a question; â€Å"You know what Spain is? † (Page 1, line 1) That the story starts in medias res means that there is no introduction or opening, and the reader is not presented to the situation, persons or setting of the story.So you don't know what has happened in advance of the situation you are presented to. The most conspicuous feature in the story in terms of writing style is the fact that it is written like if the narrator is talking to somebody. That we can tell by the questions, the informal, the casual language and the missing questions marks. It is almost like you are reading a part of a conversation between the narrator and someone else. We are only introduced to the narrator, which makes him the main character.The only things we know about him is his former work and his physique. As mentioned before, he is a educated man who speaks several languages. He does also quote the scientist Van Leeuwenhoeck. We are told that he is 33 years old, and in the end of the story he describes himself as a slight man. â€Å"I’m a small, slight man. I’m not a big man. I’m lean and slight. My stature is slight. My coat is a bit too slight – here comes the winter. † (Page 4, line 120-121) The story seems to be critical of the problems concerning freedom of movement in the world.We’ve been given an insight in a world where freedom of movements is non-existent. To show this, Ali Smith uses irony as a very effective way of calling people’s attention to the problem, which he is perfectly illustrating through the short story. He wants to draw people’s attention to the fact that the human right are not fulfilled, and that politicians all over the world has to look at this problem, because the people who are supposed to register the refugees apparently don’t know how to do their job.The refugees are injured, humiliated and chased, â€Å"†¦ with dogs, sticks, electric shock sticks and gun†¦ † (Page 1, line 23-24) The short story can be seen as a wake-up call to the world. Instead of celebrating the anniversary, action should be taken. â€Å"Now it the time to actually fulfil the rights we have given people and not just be satisfied with the ways things are functioning at the moment. † – Ali Smith