Miscommunications in the Workplace Essay Example for Free

Miscommunications in the Workplace Essay Recently we have had two of our retailers contact us with problems regarding shipments they have received or have failed to receive. I know this is not the first time this has happened but I would like to minimize the possibilities of it happening again. It seems the root of our problem is miscommunication in the workplace. As a shipping manager that has seen this kind of issue before in past work experiences and I believe I know what we can do to solve our breakdown in communication between the various departments, retailers, and co-workers. As CFO I know you will see this proposal can benefit the company both financially and operationally. First, I propose that the company implement a required form of communication. I believe hand written notes are a thing of the past and that we should upgrade our communication requirements to electronic mail. If we had an e-mail only policy we could have record of all communication on file without the risk of losing a post-it note. E-mail also includes the option of a read receipt, which allows the user to know when the receiver has opened and read the message or if they have not seen the message yet and another form of  communication, such as a phone call, might be required to meet a deadline. The policy might also include that all e-mails must receive a reply no matter how simple the message. I can head a short meeting at the end of the day to cover the implementation of this plan. The idea here is to eliminate hand written notes as well as informal communication such as instant messengers and social network communications. We will need to upgrade a few of the employees company cell phones and instruct them on how to use e-mail on these devices. Even though e-mails are good for keeping a history of communications, public relations expert Lisa Elias states, When delivering delicate information, pick up the phone. A gentle tone of voice can soften bad news or express warmth and caring, whereas an email or text can easily be misconstrued, (Kouremetis 2013). Although e-mail can help eliminate the outside forms of communication, another possible resolution would be to implement task management software into the office. This alone may solve the issue. There are many different task management programs available but one that has caught my eye is AtTask, which is used by corporations such as HBO, Samsung, and Adobe. AtTask will allow us to run a free trial of the software prior to purchasing and claims the product will allow us to see what is going on with our projects, if we are on time, and when it will be done (Services, 2012). You will even have access to the task manager to see what is going on in our shipping bay. AtTask even has an integrated communications technology that allows for instant messaging between co-workers and a notes system for the client list. That way, if one person speaks with a client of ours and they request a change to their order he can enter the message in the clients message folder and we can all receive the notification straight to our smart phones and computers. Even though, task management software will ultimately benefit company wide communication, another area that lacks focus is education on the subject matter of the workplace. A few of these men have worked here for over ten years and they know every part number by memory, but communication technology is outgrowing these few at a rapid pace. On the other end of the  spectrum, these younger men have keen senses of current technological advancements, but they could use some more time in learning the step-by-step processes we face on a daily basis. I propose that we run a workshop meeting once every two weeks for a total of eight weeks to teach the young ones about the process of shipping from us, the supplier, to the consumer/retailer. This workshop could possibly be run during hours if the time comes available, but will most likely need to take place on Saturday from 12:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. The instructors will be chosen from 3 of our most experienced workers who will earn overtime from these extra hours. A separate workshop on communication technology for the employees that have been here should happen once a week for an hour, probably on Wednesday evenings after work. The employees will be eligible for overtime with this extra hour on the job. I believe that being educated on the subject matter of the workplace is vital to our success. In addition to knowledge of the workplace being significant, another part of the communication process that has lacked in certain areas is feedback. Feedback is one of the four major communication functions (Belch 2012). It is the key to knowing your communication was successful. We need to emphasize in the training process that it is okay to ask questions. I have seen it happen before where someone is afraid to ask a question for fear of disapproval only to have to go back re-work what has been done. Asking the right questions can help us to do it right the first time (D.I.R.T.Fi.T.). I feel the previously mentioned workshops would be a great time to re-emphasize the importance of asking questions. Also, as mentioned in the first proposal, all e-mails must receive a reply or they will be followed up with a phone call. We must remember that sometimes in order to receive feedback it must be asked for. After explaining a work order or process it is vital to ask, Do you understand? or Do you have any questions for me? Another way of obtaining feedback would be through face-to-face technology. With our smartphones and office computers we can send a more personal message with FTF video conferencing. Google Hangouts are part of the Google suite of applications that support multi-party video chat as well as other Google applications including Sketch-UP, Docs, Spreadsheets, Presentations, and screen sharing and these types of technologies are being recommended as  teaching formats to doctors and professors around the globe (Roseth, 2013). In conclusion, I do believe there is work to be done in regards to the communication process in the workplace. I have proposed four strategies to minimize the possibility of future communication breakdowns. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions you may have. You may decide to choose one or to integrate all four, the choice is yours, but I do ask that you please take your time in considering the possibilities and I do trust you will choose what is best for the company. References Belch, G. E., Belch, M. A. (2012). Advertising and Promotion: An Integrated Marketing Communications Perspective, 9th Edition. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill/Irwin. Kouremetis, D. (2013). Choosing Communication Methods Wisely for Your Small Business. Forbes. Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com/sites/denakouremetis/2013/01/28/choosing-communication-methods-wisely-for-your-small-business/ Roseth, C. (2013). Blending Synchronous Face-to-face and Computer-Supported Cooperative Learning in a Hybrid Doctoral Seminar. Techtrends: Linking Research Practice To Improve Learning, 57(3), 54-59. Services. (2012). AtTask software services retrieved from http://www.attask.com/services

Saving Private Ryan Critique :: essays research papers

June 6th 1944 is known as the day that turned the tides of World War II. Allied troops both Para dropped and landed on French occupied territory via the English Channel. For Captain John Miller, the beach was enough, but after only three short days of recovery, Miller and his squad of men are sent in search of what has become a very important soldier. Receiving his orders from the â€Å"very top†, Miller and his men set out in search of a James Francis Ryan from Iowa. Along the way, Germans kill two of Miller’s men, provoking the question, â€Å"How many men are worth one man’s life?† As the movie progresses, Captain Miller’s team finally finds Private Ryan, the man they were sent to save. John explains to him that all three of his brothers were killed in action, and as a result of this, James Ryan, the last surviving brother of the Ryan family, is ordered to be returned home so that he may carry on the family name.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  However the conflict arises when James is reluctant to leave and is determined to stay with â€Å"the only brothers he has left†, in order to defend a strategic bridge who’s defense is vital in determining the immediate tide of the war. Again, Captain Miller, after already loosing two of his men, decides that Ryan and his fellow soldiers cannot hold the point on their own, and that he and his men will aid the already weakened defenders in hopes of not only defending the bridge from the Germans, but also to save Private Ryan from what would other-wise be his inevitable death.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  After hasty preparations and decisive planning, the French ghost town previously torn apart by war, erupts to life once again with the sounds of conflict. The town of Rommel is slowly but surely being overtaken by the Germans, their numbers too great for Miller’s men to fend off. On top of that, Captain Miller’s squad is diminishing by the minute and all hope seems lost. John gives the order to fall back to the predetermined point of retreat called â€Å"the Alamo†. This is the point of no return, and their last resort is to blow the bridge in order to prevent the Germans from gaining a strategic stronghold in the region. With bullets whizzing by and ricocheting in every direction, Captain Miller stands up, thus revealing himself to enemy fire, and moves to get the device needed to trigger the bridge to explode.

Language and reason as ways of knowing Essay

Knowledge is also said as ‘ways of knowing’. It means ‘information and skills acquired through experience and education’. The acquisition of knowledge is done by three main factors; perception, language and reason. In this essay we sought to see the strengths and limitations of those learning approaches. Let’s take an example, how do we know that in a bottle, labeled crystal, there is water? We would use this example to explore the three cases. Perception is the way of taking messages and processing it by the brain to obtain meaningful information. Using the example above, we would do anything possible to conclude that what we are consuming from the bottle is water. That is we would observe, smell, taste, etc. We can see that we use our senses to identify the substance. We would observe the bottle, its labeling (name, ingredients etc.), colour of the substance and advertisement on the substance; we would smell the substance and even taste it (this would be last because we fear it might be harmful). All this shows that using our senses, we can identify objects and moving organism; this is the major strength of perception (immense knowledge is gained). Another point would be upon losing one of the senses; we are able to intensify the others, which help us even more in detection but surplus always comes with its difficulties. Subliminal perception is the way trying to identify objects with the memory only, for example a patient may not remember someone’s name but seems to know that person, and thus that patient tries to associate a name that goes well with that person that he/she declares to be unidentifiable. The problem is that even with our senses, we are limited in perception and it’s very frustrating to know how little we know. Sometimes our senses may deceive us, we may see the substance transparent but it is not necessarily water but another liquid. We can have perceptual illusions where we believe an object to have a specific shape but actually differs from what we have thought of. We may also have hallucination, we may feel, see, hear, taste and smell something when there is really nothing of such kind. We also tend to conclude on the very first bit of information received as we have been in such situation before (experience). Language is a method of communication which involves a sender, a message and a receiver to express thoughts. It was developed by humans and when using it, the rules were grammar and the symbols were words. The advantage of this method of learning is that it’s very simple (user-friendly) to use and every person in the world uses it. So communication is easy, thus enriching the ability to acquire knowledge. The greatest advantage is that there are many ways to communicate the thought, therefore enabling people to understand in a way or other. Using the example above, we can give important information, express what we feel and enquire about the substance in the bottle and also in different ways so that all the people involved can understand. There are also seven functions of language, which guides us to where each piece of information acquired can be classified. Despite language having a strong face of learning, it still has its disadvantages. The example above, the bottle of supposedly water, we have used our senses to identify it but without language it is impossible to give the facts, views etc correctly and even harder to communicate the information in different ways; some people uses too many words to explain only a word(can be a different language). Also different people have different views and not all will agree on what one has said about the substance. Reason is a way to justify what we have acquired as knowledge based on previous experiences. If we cannot do so, therefore we have not gained any knowledge. Taking the above example again, we say if that substance is water because it’s tasteless; we say so because we have heard, read and experimented on water. The strength of reasoning would be the rationality and logic arguments. Rationality is what allows us to say things that do make sense, we will not say that the substance in the bottle is water because of the shape of the bottle; it does not make sense. The rationality of a statement shows how the processing of all the information acquired is done and says whether it’s â€Å"good† or not (there is really a bad reason as long as a person can justify it). Being logical depends on the argument put forward as example given above. To be logical, the deductive argument must be correct and validate the argument; this differentiates between a â€Å"good† reasoning and â€Å"bad† reasoning, using above example, 1) all liquid that is pH 7 is water and the substance in the bottle is of pH 7, thus the substance in the bottle is water (this a valid deductive argument) . But sometime the arguments may be valid but does not sound, all substances that are colourless are harmless and the substance in the bottle is colourless, therefore it’s harmless (concentrated hydrochloric acid is also colourless but is very harmful).  To conclude knowledge gained through perception, language and reason is a great advantage to us, human beings but often can be deceptive and invalid. We should be more careful when taking in information, processing, expressing and justifying it. Here again we see that they are all linked!

Homosexuality and University Press - 5666 Words

Homosexuality (male). Definition Homosexuality refers to sexual behaviors and desires between males or between females. Gay refers to self-identification with such practices and desires, like homosexual, both terms mostly used only for men. Lesbian is its female counterpart. Such definitions have run into major problems, and nowadays the concept â€Å"queer† is used to indicate the fluency of sexual practices and gender performances. Sociological context Since the 1970s, homosexuality has become the topic of an interdisciplinary specialization variously called gay and lesbian, queer or LGBT studies (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender to which sometimes are added QQI: Queer, Questioning and Intersexual). The field is far removed†¦show more content†¦The Dutch physician and homosexual rights activist Lucien von Rà ¶mer worked with Hirschfeld on sexual statistics. In a survey of 308 Amsterdam students done in 1904, he not only counted the men who identified as homosexual (2%) and bisexual (4%), but as well those who had gay sex during puberty (21%) or homosexual fantasies (6%). In the first Dutch gay novel that appeared this same year, the author Jacob Israà «l de Haan told how he as a student made fun answering the questions. He already made clear how unreliable such data often are. Hirschfeld also came with the first urban geography, â€Å"Berlin’s Third Gender† (1904) in which he described the city’s gay subculture of bars and parks and the elaborate world of male prostitution. Mainly German books on the history of sexual morality (â€Å"Sittengeschichte†) that often included chapters on homosexuality, preceded and influenced the work of later sociologists and historians, like Norbert Elias and Michel Foucault. The work of these psychiatrists who started to give names, definitions and identities to disease, crime and perversion, made possible the work of sociologists creating labeling theory. In many ways, this early research paved the way for what would become a sociology of (homo)sexuality (Schmeidler 1932). The enormous body of work, available mainly thanks to early, prewar German sexology, was largely forgotten when the main location of sex research after World War II movedShow MoreRelatedRoman Empire Views on Homosexuality1501 Words   |  7 Pagestoward Homosexuality A popular topic of discussion, when referring to historic Roman culture, is the topic of sexuality. Even more specific is the subject of Roman attitudes toward homosexuality. During the time period of 753 B.C. to 476 A.D. the Roman Empire was arguably one of the most powerful and advanced empires of its age. With such a powerful empire of citizens that were fixated on their pride and, for the males, masculinity, one must wonder what their thoughts on homosexuality were.Read MoreBiological Influence Of Male Homosexuality882 Words   |  4 Pages (1) LeVay, S. and Hamer, D., 1994. Evidence for a Biological Influence in Male Homosexuality. Scientific American, [e-journal] Available through: Research Gate website [Accessed 17 March 2016]. The research article suggests a structure within the human brain and a genetic link indicate the biological factor for male homosexuality. The journal investigates an experiment about the role of male genetics in sexual orientation by analysing the hypothalamus in autopsy specimens from homosexual andRead MoreTelevision Role in Preserving American Values During the Cold War1715 Words   |  7 Pagesrule in preserving American social values and it became an effective tool for politicians and the government goals and agendas. Television keept the American culture and values untouched by promoting television shows that confronted Communism, homosexuality, a long with promoting religious shows that preserved American’s morals and traditions. The danger of Communism spread in the United Sates was a major concern for many politicians and citizens in the United Sates of America. It was JosephRead MoreThe Forgotten Victims : The Holocaust1450 Words   |  6 Pages Spitzer Friday June 3rd, 2016 During the reign of the Third Reich, the symbolization of the pink triangle was used to identify the thousands of gay prisoners who were sent to extermination camps under Paragraph 175, the law that criminalized homosexuality between men. Researchers say that an estimated 5,000 to 15,000 gay men died in these camps, however this figure does not include those who were interned and later released, let alone those who died undocumented and forever forgotten to historyRead MoreEssay about Homosexuality661 Words   |  3 PagesHomosexuality Homosexuality is said to be a preference for affiliation and sexual activity with a person of the same sex. The potential for homosexual behavior appears to be a basic part of human sexuality, since many people experience homosexual interest, curiosity, or activity at some point in their lives. Homosexual behavior has also been observed in most animal species. Many homosexuals prefer to be called gay or, in the case of women, lesbian because of the exclusively sexual connotationRead MoreHomosexuality in Ancient Greece and Rome Essay example1353 Words   |  6 PagesHomosexuality in ancient Greece and Rome Americans endlessly recycle the old conflicts: first we fought about slavery, then segregation, then gender, and now sexual orientation-(Anon). Homosexuality is an on-going conflict in America, as well as other countries. The history of homosexuality goes back to the ancient civilizations. As we have different ideas and ways of dealing with it, so did the ancient civilizations of Greece and Rome. Ancient Greece is consideredRead MoreMedia Analysis of a Current Controversial Issue875 Words   |  4 Pages Homosexuality is the current controversial issue that has hit the media. One cannot avoid the topic of homosexuality in the news, movies, books, social media, newspapers, and even in politics. Homosexuality has become a controversial issue around the globe today. After Uganda outlawed homosexuality in its country, the topic has been trending everywhere in the mainstream media, and the social media. Some nations like the US have legalized homosexuality and this is why there has been uproar afterRead MoreEssay about Sexual Orientation1077 Words   |  5 Pagesorientation is considered highly controversial in our world today. There are many issues that society is faced with concerning homosexuality. When thinking of homosexuality most people refer to the Bible for an answer. There is even more controversy within the Bible’s text. Not only is there reference to the Bible, but also to our mind to answer whether or not homosexuality is a moral issue. Psychological and Biological research is searching for an answer to this illustrious area of confusion. AccordingRead More Homosexuality in William Shakespeares The Merchant of Venice1474 Words   |  6 PagesHomosexuality in William Shakespeares The Merchant of Venice With every great story line comes a theme. William Shakespeare created an art of intertwining often unrecognizable themes within his plays. In Shakespeare’s play, The Merchant of Venice, one hidden theme is the idea of homosexuality. This theme might not have even been noticed until modern Shakespeare fans discovered them. According to Alan Bray’s book, Homosexuality in Renaissance England, â€Å"the modern image of ‘the homosexual’Read More Homosexuality in the Film Latter Days and in Sexual Perversion by Nagel1369 Words   |  6 Pagesbetter understanding on one of the most controversial types of relationships, homosexuality. The topic of homosexuality isn’t easy to openly talk about but it is important as philosophy students, to have an open-mind about topics that we don’t partake in. Doing so allows us to promote new ways of thinking about the world around us and see them in a whole new light. In this personal response paper, I will discuss homosexuality in connection with the film Latter Days to determine why a homosexual relationship

The Value Of Chinese Language - 1322 Words

The value of Chinese Language The knowledge of Chinese language opens many new perspectives for the people who have good command of this language. First of all, Chinese language opens the way to different important fields. These include: Chinese politics, economy, history or archaeology. The knowledge of Chinese language can help to study the unique culture of the ancient civilization. At the heart of Chinese civilization is its rich heritage of novels, short stories, poetry, drama, and other pieces of literature. One should also not to forget about the fact that language itself reflects the values, the struggles, the sensibility, the joys and the sorrows of this great people. Also, it offers insights even into the most intimate feelings†¦show more content†¦The estimations show that about one fifth of the planet speakers speak Chinese. The dominant language in the country is Mandarin language. This language is spoken by the most influential Chinese communities of Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, the Philippines, and Mongolia. At present, China has achieved the major dominance in the world. Chinese Language In this part of my paper I want to draw your attention to some surprising facts that pertain to the Chinese language. The research shows that the Chinese language has a relatively uncomplicated grammar. Contrary to French, German or English, Chinese has no verb conjugation (in other words tense inflection). Also, this language has no noun declension, including gender and number distinctions. While learning Chinese you do not have to memorize different verb forms of â€Å"tell/told/told.† Under such circumstances, all you have to remember is just one word: kan. Also, while learning English a person has to distinguish between â€Å"hat† and â€Å"hats†. In Chinese we have a totally different situation. The only form that is present in this language is the word mao. The basic word order of Chinese is subject is the verb object. The object exists just in the same form as it exists in English. The research proves that there is quite a number of the key terms. These are concerned with Mandarin

The Corporation - Ethical Analysis - 2751 Words

Traits associated to a psychopath include irresponsibility, manipulation, grandioseness, lack of empathy, asocial tendencies, inability to feel remorse, refusal to take responsibility for ones actions and superficial relations with others. Modern day corporations display every one of the previously listed characteristics. Is it right that an institution, whose power now rivals that of the State that once created it to seek the better welfare of its citizens, display the psychological traits of a dangerous personality disorder? Many say no: there is a rising discomfort with the corporation and its pervasion into every sphere of human life and it is this uneasiness that has prompted many academics to further study the corporation and its†¦show more content†¦The problem with the personification of the corporation was the kind of person it would become. The best interest of the corporation concept which is now enshrined in most countries corporate law pushes the mantra that executives only goal is to maximize shareholders profits. This has given the corporation a self-interested, uncompassionate personality that promotes its limitless pursuit of profit and power. Corporate social responsibility has been one the key business buzz words of the 21st century. Consumers discontent with the corporation has forced it to try and rectify its negative image by associating its name with good deeds. Social responsibility has become one of the corporations most pressing issues, each company striving to outdo the next with its philanthropic image. People feel that the corporation has done great harm to both the environment and to society and that with all of its wealth and power, it should be leading the fight to save the Earth, to combat poverty and illness and etc. Corporations are now expected to deliver the good, not just the goods; to pursueShow MoreRelatedStakeholder Analysis Essay1335 Words   |  6 PagesPRIVATE PRISON CORPORATION OF AMERICA Nowadays, we are facing a major experiment in privatization. For example, private companies have entered the business of managing public schools, or religious schools. Also, they even run in prison industry. Among them is Private Prison Corporation of America, which is growing fast in prison industry in the United States. Especially, immigration detention business has brought up massive profit for Private Prison of America. Therefore, corporation is planningRead MoreRole Of Corporate Ethics On Financial Performance945 Words   |  4 Pageselements of ethical thinking of executives and accountants that consciously put the financial system in catastrophic situation. The study discusses cause-effect relationships between the ethical attitude and professional responsibility. The study is important because it investigates motivational objectives of accounting professionals, values of professional judgment, and actions that fail responsibility, integrity, and objectivity. The authors consider two problems of the study: 1) ethical and culturalRead MoreEthical Discernment: The Adelphia Scandal1655 Words   |  7 PagesEthical discernment Adelphia scandal Statistical analysis This paper relies on secondary data on a past phenomenon. It combines data from journal and other internet sources to bring out aspects of unethical behavior by Adelphias top executive. The analysis of data takes two ethical frameworks. Ethics involve an individuals moral judgments concerning what is right and/or wrong. Individuals or groups of people are responsible for making decisions in an organization (shaw, 2008). Decisions withinRead MoreEthical And Legal Importance Of Social Responsibility1612 Words   |  7 Pages(1575)An Analysis of the Ethical and Legal Importance of Social Responsibility in Corporate Culture This business study will analyze the ethical and legal importance of social responsibility in corporate culture. Friedman (1970) defines the dangers of ‘social responsibility† as a threat to the individualism and profit motives of corporate executives that must serve the corporation before the larger society. More so, Friedman argues that the corporation is an â€Å"artificial person† that relies onRead MoreNike Corporation Essay732 Words   |  3 Pagesinteractions outside the United States. Define the issue and provide an overview of how it became an issue in the organization. Prepare an analysis of the ethical and social responsibility issues your organization must deal with as a result of being global. Write a 1,050- to 1,400-word paper summarizing the results of the analysis. Include the following: Identify ethical perspectives in the global organization. Compare these perspectives across cultures involved in the organization. Describe a viableRead MoreThe Integration Of Law And Ethics945 Words   |  4 Pages2012). There is a view that laws are rules meant to be followed and not necessarily understood for its ethical value. This in turn is a major factor as to why ethical violations exist. New regulations are created often times in the corporate environment or society in response to ethical petitions for change (Blodgett, 2012). In order to have â€Å"ethical sustainability† (Blodgett, 2012, p. 39), the ethical component of laws must be incorporated with new regulations (Blodgett, 2012) The article examinesRead MoreLiving Up to Ethical and Social Responsibilities: The Case of Occidental Petroleum Corporation1394 Words   |  6 PagesLiving Up to Ethical and Social Responsibilities: The Case of Occidental Petroleum Corporation Introduction The recent assassination of a U.S. ambassador in Libya and the rampant anti-American sentiments being expressed in other parts of the world is proof positive that many American-based multinational are faced with a hostile operating environment that demands informed and timely responses. 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Rock and elaborate spectacle Free Essays

â€Å"Editors of Rolling Stone later summarized, ‘Rock ‘n’ roll has always been a frank and sometimes vulgar music, with plenty of things for its critics not to like.’ † (Fore 1999:96). There is no doubt about it. We will write a custom essay sample on Rock and elaborate spectacle or any similar topic only for you Order Now Rock and elaborate spectacle were meant to be together; Like chocolate and red roses on Valentine’s Day†¦ only more dysfunctional (where the roses are tattoos and the chocolate gets to be licked off someone). From Elvis’ swiveling hips to Jimi Hendrix making love to and then â€Å"sacrificing† his guitar (to whatever) by setting it on fire and smashing the hell out of it to KISS and their incredible costumes and make-up to Prince and his ass-cheeks-cut-out pants to etc. All part of the random theatrics enthralled fans expect from the rock show. The more attention you can get, the better your chances of becoming a rock star. Welcome to the world of glam rock. â€Å"We just get out there and rock. If your amp blows or your guitar packs it in, smash it up and pick up another one. And that’s how it always was with us. We can’t even stop and tune up. Those kids are all wound up. A second or two is too much for them. They’ve gotta have it.† -AC/DC guitarist Angus Young (Friedlander 1996:232) The simplest, most recognizable used form of rock spectacle is, of course, the destruction of thousands of dollars worth of instruments and sound equipment for the pure sake of breaking or blowing â€Å"shit up† (although in some instances, as in the case of Jimi Hendrix, it is a sign of respect). No one is really sure who first started this phenomenon (actually no one can agree) but rock fans have seen this act about a million times over, still remaining shocked and amused by the simplicity and perverse beauty of it. In fact, many people believe that you have not truly earned the title â€Å"Rock Star† until you have broken some piece of equipment in front of a live audience elevating the act to not only a way to satisfy the spectators’ craving for damage but also to initiate yourself into a select few. And why not bang the hell out of a five thousand dollar guitar or nail all the furniture in your hotel room to the ceiling? You can afford it! Furthermore, as a rock star you are expected to be wild and do the things the average fan could only dream of doing. However, breaking guitars was only the beginning of rock’s more aggressive attempts to shock the audience. While the act is still pretty cool to witness, by the 70’s, rockers were ready to shock the hell out of you instead of just make you jump. Which leads us into make-up, hair, costume and the adoption of an outer-worldly persona. â€Å"Absent were the flower children and euphoria of psychoactive enlightenment, replaced by personal narratives of heroin addiction, ghetto drug connections, and sexual perversity. These shocking explorations of self-destructive behavior tested society’s cultural sensibilities; they also didn’t have much of an impact on the rock/pop mainstream.† (Friedlander 1996:250) The first band to come to mind when 70’s rock, make-up, and costumes collaborate are the Knight’s In Satan’s Service, or more commonly known by their abbreviation: KISS. KISS, like many glam rockers, performed to huge stadium audiences. They had to be larger than life to get the attention of all the people in the middle and back rows as well as the front. Furthermore, their personas were highly marketable (From t-shirts to comic books to action figures, etc.). Despite their name and appearance though, their songs such as â€Å"Rock an’ Roll All Night†, â€Å"Detroit Rock City†, â€Å"Calling Dr. Love†, were tame compared to the likes of Iggy Pop or David Bowie. â€Å"David Bowie’s The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust (1972) carries advice on the back cover: TO BE PLAYED AT MAXIMUM VOLUME.† (Gracyk 1996:100). The epitome of androgyny, Ziggy Stardust was Bowie’s first persona, an intergalactic rock star, with orange hair, make-up, and futuristic costumes, trying to save the world but doomed to fail (Campbell 1999:196). As with all his personas, the music on the album served to complete his mysterious character. Fans could probably guess that Gene, Paul, Ace, Peter, Eric, and Vinnie of KISS did not walk around all day in their outfits but Bowie could play his part so well that it was hard to tell whether or not he was only trying to be the most outrageous or if he was like that in the real world too. † ‘As we approach the ‘8o’s, the country is literally laughing, dancing, jogging and dressing up again. We have entered The Glitter Era.’ † -John Davidson (Calder 1992:274) Androgyny became a trend in 70’s rock that held over into 80’s rock. It was the ultimate way to shock your audience and make a statement. In the 70’s there was of course, Bowie, Marc Bolan, Freddy Mercury, and the immensely popular Rocky Horror Picture Show featuring everyone’s favorite transvestite from the planet Transexual in the galaxy of Transylvania, Dr. Frank N. Furter. The 80’s brought in Prince, Boy George, Grace Jones, and sometimes Madonna. All challenging society’s set gender roles. Why androgyny though? Many say that rock music itself, while still predominantly performed by males, is an androgynous form of music because it combines all other forms of music considered â€Å"male† or â€Å"female†. Others maintain that the trend was in response to the sexual revolution. Though these rock shockers succeed in getting the attention they so adamantly strive for, the most successful rock stars had always been presented as â€Å"real people.† The illusion that we could know the real Elvis, McCartney, or even the real Monkees was fostered by such superficial means as fan magazine interviews or facts on the back of bubble-gum cards, but it was also implicit in Elvis’s insistence on his own style of recording the songs of others, and explicit in those performers who wrote their own songs. (Shumway 1992:131) Still, the diversity and color that glam rockers add to the spectrum is not something to discourage. Many fans strive on the fact that their heroes are super heroes, gods and goddesses with fantastical powers who they can fantasize about being. Who wants to be a â€Å"real† person all the time anyway? We get to be that everyday. How to cite Rock and elaborate spectacle, Papers