Une Petite Mort: Death, Love and Liminality in the Fiction of Ali Smith :: Ali Smith Death Love Essays

Death, Love and Liminality in the Fiction of Ali Smith The morbid marriage of love and death is not an original topic to postmodernist writing or to Scottish literature. Diverse forms of literature from Greek myth to Shakespearian tragedies have hosted stories of tragic love and romantic deaths, with varying nuances of darkness and romance. Nonetheless, this paper will attempt to establish a link between Ali Smith’s writing, postmodernist fiction and Scottish fantasy, while looking at the topic of love and death in conjunction with the concept of liminality. Liminality (from the Latin limen: limit) is an intermediate state, it refers to passage rituals and to existence between borders. Stories of love and death often suggest the abrupt interruption of the former because of the sudden occurrence of the latter. Sometimes, however, love and death share the same intermediate dimension between life and afterlife: the liminal stage. As this paper will stress, Smith’s writing deals with love and death in the context of liminality. Characters’ identities fluctuate and sometimes crumble altogether. Rational boundaries of time and space lose coherence. Stories develop in the uncanny limbo left after a death or some other form of disappearance. It is in this liminal dimension that love and death are sinisterly married in Smith’s work. When asked to comment on the love and death motif in her stories, Smith admitted that the two are closely related. In her words: Of course love and death are linked, from the French notion of orgasmic small death through the metaphysical poets all the way to something Winterson sums up in the perfect opening sentence, in Written on the Body: ‘why is the measure of love loss?’ (Germanà  , p.370) In Smith’s fiction, ‘petite mort’ is a more complex motif than the French metaphor for sexual climax. In her stories the trope of love and death does not refer only to the erotic sphere of love. In fact, because of its close relationship to liminality, the traditional topic acquires a more metaphysical twist throughout Smith’s fiction. The coexistence of love and death questions the boundaries between life and death, overcomes the threshold of the physical world to reach beyond this limit, and explores all the possibilities in between. In fact, death often seems to be a paradoxical vehicle through which life and love are manifested and asserted. The notion that death may overcome the borders between life and afterlife suggests a deeper analysis of the concept of liminality.

Hrm and Ir

Introduction â€Å"Human Resources Management† and â€Å"Industrial relations† has different concepts about the determination and functions of the both spheres. The essay deliberates the comparison and contrast on the key features of Human Resource Management and Industrial Relations in academic fields. Definitions of terms HRM and IR will be identified through the review of the origin and development of these two areas. Moreover, I have pointed out the theoretical scope of the two subjects and key features of HRM and IR.Finally, there is comparison and contrast between given subjects through the historical retrospective and paper review. Definition of Industrial Relations Why don’t we mention the fact that Industrial Relations have become a subject of scientific analysis since the end of the nineteenth century, when Sidney and Beatrice Webb (1984) couple published their studies of the regulation of employment in Britain. According to Dale Yoder,† industria l relations† describe â€Å"relationships between managements and employees or among employees and their organisations that characterise or grow out of employment. The study of industrial relations may therefore be described as a study of the institutions of job regulation† – suggested Flanders (1965, 10). It is prevailed for a time is beyond satisfaction of the academic study at present. â€Å"The view that IR is the study of processes of control over work relations, and among these processes, those involving collective worker organization and action are of particular concern is more adaptable to generalise specific and precisely for the subject†. Hyman, 1975) Definition of Human Resource Management Progression of the Human relations movement in the USA was the key point of the HRM terminology’s emergency. There have been a large amount of published studies investigating the definition of HRM in diverse standing and approaches, since the first Brit ish book on HRM published in the late 1980s, which was notably known as New Perspectives on Human Resource Management (Storey 1989).Storey (1989) considers that HRM can be regarded as â€Å"set of interrelated policies with an ideological and philosophical underpinning†. However, He determined HRM as a specific approach to employment management which aims to achieve competitive advantage through the strategic deployment of a highly committed and capable workforce, using an integrated array of culture, structural and personnel techniques, which is a comprehensive understanding of HRM. Storey (2007).Sisson (1990) sees HRM of four aspects of employment practice: an integration of HR policies with business planning; a shift in responsibility for HR issues form personnel specialists to line managers; a shift from the collectivism of management and, finally, an emphasis on commitment has further understanding of HRM. Ackers (2003) provided a general term on the definition of HRM, à ¢â‚¬Å"HRM refers to all those activities associated with the management of work and people in firms and in other formal organisations†.Basic Research Interest of Human Resource Management The emergence of courses and models in HRM in universities and colleges is related to the fact that two influential journals, Human Resource Management Journal, edited by Keith Sisson at Warwick University, the International Journal of Human Resource Management, edited by Michael Poole at Cardiff were launched in 1990. The amount of literature was increased. Among these papers two appreciable theories is predominant leading, Fombrun et al (1984) matching model and the Harvard framework.Matching model focused on the connection between organizational strategy and HRM, in the meanwhile Frombrun et al divided HRM into four integral parts – selection, development, appraisal and reward stressing the significance of efficiency of work performance enhancement. (Marchington, 2005) On the other hand, the Harvard framework (Beer et al, 1985) involve six basic components with a broader expand from the inside out , that is, situational factors, stakeholder interests, policy choices, outcomes, long-term consequences and a feedback loop.However, neither of the models pays close attention to the respects of employment relationship. John Storey’s (2007) model is worth considering framework in HRM studies. Four key elements are summarized as foundational structure of HRM, that is beliefs and assumptions, strategic qualities, critical role of managers and key levers which activate HRM as an essentially tool and techniques for use by practitioners. However, currently HR changes and extends its functions beyond simple administration and personnel management.This area is becoming one of the strategic and reactive activity in the management of both organizations and other bodies. Basic Theory of Industrial Relations Colling et al (2010) comment that â€Å"Academic industrial re lations is now outdated† either the problem of the â€Å"human factor† in work have all been solved, or they are better addressed by new approaches such as â€Å"human resource management† or â€Å"organisational behaviour†Ã¢â‚¬â„¢, however, in the statement by the British Universities Industrial Relations Association (BUIRA), they strongly disagree the claim. BUIRA) During the initiative academic research in IR, predominant focus upon collective institutions and processes which embody trade unions, collective bargaining and strikes are the mainstream scope of IR study. Compared with the origin IR, modern IR emphasized on the experience of work, both individual and collective, and with all sources of the rules that govern the employment relationship. Therefore, IR was widely regarded as having two major subdivisions within it.The first dealt with the management of labour, the second with collective bargaining and methods of workforce governance (Russell Sa ge Foundation, 1919). It should be pointed out, that industrial relations today are in â€Å"crisis†. In academia, its traditional positions are threatened on one side by the dominance of mainstream economics and organizational behaviour, and on the other by postmodernism. The importance of work, however, is stronger than ever, and the lessons of industrial relations remain vital. Purcell) Comparison and contrast of Human Resource Management and Industrial Relations The interrelation between HRM and IR is complicated. From the one sight, HRM was considered as one of the branch of IR in the early 1960s for majority of scientists, then in modern conditions HRM has largely been regarded as a separate subject underlying distinguish perspectives and divergent points of the field. However, HRM and IR do have some parallels and common ground in employment issues, concerns about personnel and departments and humane labour.From the above, it can be concluded that to a large extent HRM has an â€Å"inside† view of the problem according to the employment, highlighting and labour issues. While IR takes an â€Å"external† prospective with an emphasis on workers and communities. The purpose and functions are not one and the same for the two spheres. The main purpose of personnel management is an organizational effectiveness using an instrumental approach to the promotion of employees nd interest. As for the IR, the goal â€Å"is a combination of organizational performance and employee well-being, as well as the workers’ interest priorities. Generally, IR provides a multi-layer discernment of employment relationships and interconnections between the workplace, the company, the sector, the national regulatory framework in the light of multi-disciplinary approach involving sociology, political science, economics, history and law.HR assumes conflict not inevitable and can be minimized by management; IR sees conflicts as inevitable requiring third-pa rty intervention. HRM and IR are distinguished in various respects with different standpoints and approaches. (Sisson) Frequently, HRM teaching accepts management’s objectives uncritically, concentrates on activities at company level without exploring the societal and institutional environment, and has its disciplinary basis primarily in psychology and organizational sociology rather than the social sciences more broadly.Despite of the inevitable irreconcilable antagonisms between the two subjects, there is a closely link of HR and IR providing a complementary foundation of the exchange and development of the employment issues. (Ackers) Conclusion The essay discusses the definition of HRM and IR and significant features in academic fields largely through an historical analysis of the two fields’ respective origins and development. HRM and IR fields are distinguished by numerous differences in their approach to research and practice. ReferenceAckers, P. and Willkinson, A. 2003. Understanding Work and Employment, Oxford University Press Bach, S(ed), 2005, Managing Human Resources, 4th edition, Balckwell Publishing Boxall, P and Purcell, J, 2008, Strategy and HRM, 2nd edition, Palgrave Bruce E. K, 2001,Human resources and industrial relations Commonalities and differences, Human Resource Review, 11(2001) 339-374 BUIRA 2008. What’s the point of Industrial Relations? A statement by the British Universities Industrial Relations Association Colling, T. and Terry, M. 2010. Work , the employment relationship and the field of Industrial Relations’, in Colling, T and Terry, M (eds), Industrial Relations: theory and practice (3rd ed), Chinchester:Wiley, 3-25 Guest, D. (1987) ‘Human resource management and industrial relations’, Journal of Management Studies, 24(5), September: 503-521 Hyman, R. 1975. A Marxist Introduction to Industrial Relations. Basingsotoke: MacMillan. Paul Edwards edit , Industrial Relations Theory & Practice in Britain, Blackwell Publishers Ltd, 1995 Marchington. M and Wikinson. A, 2005, Human Resource at work, 3th editon, CIPD, London Miller, P. 1987) ‘Strategic industrial relations and human resource management – distinction, definition and recognition’, Journal of Management Studies, 24(4) July:347-361 Sisson, K. (1990) ‘Introducing the Human Resource Management Journal’, Human Resource Management Journal, 1(1):1-11 Sisson K. â€Å"In Search of HRM†, op. cit. at 209 Strorey, J(ed), 2007, HRM : A critical text. 3rd edition, Routledge Redman, T . Wilkinson. A, 2001, Contemporary Human Resource Management, Financial Times Yoder Dale, 1948, Personnel Management and Industrial Relations. 3rd edition, New York, Prentice-Hall,Inc.

Civilization In 1984 - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 4 Words: 1325 Downloads: 9 Date added: 2019/04/10 Category Literature Essay Level High school Tags: 1984 Essay Did you like this example? In the book 1984, Winston says, â€Å"It is impossible to found a civilization on fear and hatred and cruelty. It would never endure.† (page 45) These words spoke to me on such a deep level, as I continued reading 1984 I learned why. This book will completely change your perspective on civilization now and will open your mind to resilience. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Civilization In 1984" essay for you Create order We are manipulated in many ways that we are not yet aware of. In the book they promoted, â€Å" War is peace, freedom is slavery and ignorance is strength.† Which anyone in there right mind knows that is not true but the complete opposite. By this statement is clear that the government of big brother is trying to send the wrong messages to the people and to manipulate and control, so that the people will not thrive to greatness and freedom. Throughout the book they continued to try to control the people and keep them closed minded. Thoughts can be very powerful and can lead to great life changing ideas, which is a threat to their governmental system. They would much rather keep the people of this era close minded. The thought police are a group of people who aim to suppress ideas that deviate from the way of thinking that they believe to be correct. At times when they would catch you having thoughts they didnt approve of they would vaporize you, meaning they would kill you and wouldn’t leave a trace of your existence. An example of this would be the posters they had on display all around the streets, these posters contained quotes saying,† Big brother is watching you,† obviously they had the people threatened and they were scared to define them that is how they controlled them as well. You see a lot of this in today’s society, they send subliminal messages to manipulate us through the social media’s we use the most. Maybe not for the same reason but for many more to try to get us to purchase things or vote for certain people. We can all agree that a lot of the things we do in our everyday life are much influenced by the Tv and social medial. Furthermore, the two minute hate from George Orwell’s book 1984 is a period in time in which party members of the society of Oceania are forced to watch a film depicting the party’s enemies, such as Emmanuel Goldstein and engage in hatred acts for two minutes. This comes to show that the party intentends to raise hatred among the people and remind them why they should continue to hate them. In other words, hate week is a psychological manipulation designed to expand the hatred of the population of the current enemy of the government. Any who oppose to join part of this hatred act is killed by the thought police, like I mentioned before the people have no choice but to be a part of the two minute hate. In one occasion George says that even when trying to avoid becoming a part of this abomination, you willingly can’t avoid feeling everyones hate and destroying what is in your path. This seems very relatable to me, as this has happened to a lot of us when you surrounding yourself with negative and hateful people there is no way to avoid becoming just like them. We sometimes find ourselves surrounded by the wrong people and most of the time we can’t even recognize it because that is all we’ve ever known, but it is in our power to remove ourselves from these types of situations. In this time and age we have freedom to do with our lives as we please and I think a lot of people take that for granted, but it is our responsibility and duty to make a change and cut those ties. Regardless of where we come from and what our ancestors did we don’t have to be like them. All things considered in this era impurity was every mans desire in a women, In the book Winston says,†he loves to hear about Julia’s claims of sexual promiscuity. He thinks the more raw animal sexual impurity that exist, the greater the party does not control as much as they would like to.† I know this may seem odd considering most men would much rather prefer a innocent women in other words a virgin. For that reason George loves promiscuous women such as Julia. Winston dreams of the party being shattered by primal human passions. As the relationship continues George begins to see that not only is she beautiful but they also share similar interest and opinions about big brother. As a women I have grown up in a society that has idealistic opinions of what a women should be or look like. If you are not a virgin you are not respected as much as a virgin is because they believe the more people you have slept with the less you are worth as a women and won’t be taken serious by a man. You would think that things would have changed but women are still judged very harshly for the the sexual relationships and in many other aspects. There is still progress to be made changing those idealistic of women that have made every girl insecure at one point in their lives, there is still more to be done. It is unbelievable that after all these decades women and minorities are still fighting to be equal. Changing history has always been in the works back in 1984 and now. The only differences was that not many people thought of change back in that era everyone was afraid of change. Not George though he knew the consequences he was brave enough to write his diary to better the future. He knew exactly what he was getting into but he also knew how to keep it on the down load and make it appear as if he is just an ordinary person. He participates in the 2 min hate and all big brother activities so that the thought police don’t start speculating. Another point is how big brother wants to control all the people and for them to be easily manipulated and controlled. In this time and age we see a lot of history repeating itself although we now have freedom we are still watched and manipulated. We are manipulated by the social media we spend most of our time on our phones, not living in the moment. Since we spend a lot of time with meaningless things we forget about what is important and miss out on opportunities. It’s more than obvious that the government is doing exactly the same with us like big brother did but in a less obvious strategy, giving us freedom in areas were it is meaningless and we conform. They are manipulating us but when you start to realize and understand the system you become a threat to their society and if you aren’t disappeared you end up in jail or in a mental hospital. We are obligated to summit to the system even if we don’t agree with how they run things, but we learn to just live with it and play the system so that it doesn’t play us. All things considered, George was a futuristic thinker who wrote about issues ahead of his lifetime. He lived in a time when people couldn’t even have their own thought’s the government had complete control over society. He risked his own wellbeing to protect those of the future, which whom he didn’t not know. Although George couldn’t make a change in his lifetime, he could for the future risking everything in the process. 1984 represents a period in time that opened one mans mind to greatness to better everyone’s future even if he couldn’t better his.