Cost advantage Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Cost advantage - Essay Example Learning: Productivity improves as the process of learning to do a task attains peak level. It provides opportunities - from a complex machine center operation to even routine tasks like collecting stores or selecting a channel for distribution. It is one of the drivers behind the success of suggestion-box schemes, where employees with hands-on experience are rewarded for suggestions for improving efficiency. (your last name) 2 Capacity utilization: Resources of a firm in the form of different assets like men, machinery, money etc. are put to different levels of utilization. It is possible to improve the levels and achieve better balance in order to reduce fixed/variable costs per unit, with better volumes. Linkages: This explains the interrelationship between activities both within and without a firm. At the broadest level, the critical path method (CPM) or project evaluation and review techniques (PERT) can be seen as typical study of linkages in project planning operations. The id ea is to see that wastage and inefficiency is eliminated in completing different tasks that have dependencies. The Japanese inventory control system, just-in-time (JIT), is typical of the examples of deriving cost efficiencies of input supplies, a process in which even suppliers’ value activities are studied and improved upon to create win-win situation for both. Interrelationships: This is the process of identifying interrelationship of activities of the different units of a firm, which are amenable to improved efficiencies e.g., administration, recruitment/training or purchases. Integration: Popularly called backward and forward integration processes, this identifies activities upstream or downstream of the current operations with a view to locate opportunities for (your last name) 3 integration which would result in cost efficiencies/value addition or both. For example, a steel rerolling unit may examine setting up facilities for steel melting (backward) or end-product fab rication (forward). Timing: First-mover or late-mover advantages/disadvantages play a role in operational costs. First-movers gain brand advantage and enjoy premium prices but may be tied up with expensive/obsolete machinery or methods over a time; Late-movers learn from the mistakes of early-movers, employ more modern and efficient machines but have to fight entrenched players to gain market share. Also, market conditions and seasonal factors influence operations and underscore the importance of timing. Finally, a firm’s discretionary policies as per its objectives and goals, and institutional factors of agencies like the local/state/national governments and creditors, drive the cost advantage of a firm. Porter’s analysis also emphasizes the interplay of the different cost drivers and searches for scope for improved efficiencies, going beyond conventional cost accounting method. In other words, for gaining cost advantage, it is less important to know ‘how muchâ €™ an activity costs than ‘why so much’. 2. Analyzing and deciding steps The competitor enjoys an average price premium of 0.6% and lower costs of 0.5% on account of maintenance and scrap, resulting in net higher pre-tax margin of 5.1%, compared to my 4%. These cost benefits accrue to him due to the modern machinery employed by him. Since (your last name) 4 replacing my 30-year old machinery or charging higher prices is ruled out, I have to look for alternative ways to generate

The Free Movement of Goods Within The European Union Essay

The Free Movement of Goods Within The European Union - Essay Example The framework of the EC Treaty encompasses a free and open market among the Member States. Articles 23-31 which is headed ‘Free Movement of Goods’ is designed to promote this concept. Article 23 provides for the exemption of customs duties on all imports and exports throughout the Member States. Article 28 forbids the implementation of ‘Quantitative restrictions on imports and all measures having equivalent effect †¦between the Member States.’ Article 29 makes the same provision in respect of exports. Article 30 provides that †¦Articles 28 and 29 shall not preclude prohibitions or restrictions on imports, exports or goods in transit justified on grounds of public morality, public policy or public security; the protection of health and life of humans, animals or plants; the protection of national treasures possessing artistic; or the protection of industrial and commercial property. Such prohibitions or restrictions shall not, however, constitute a means of arbitrary discrimination or a disguised restriction on trade between the Member States. It is against this background that the Netherlands may pursue an action against the UK. The position taken by the UK authorities in relation to the lifting of the poultry ban on the Netherlands is a contravention of the spirit of free and open trade within the European Community. The European Community has set as its goal the facilitation of a free enterprise market while simultaneously protecting the consumer interest within the Member States.

Strategic Planning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Strategic Planning - Essay Example A careful analysis of an organizations Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) helps in assessing the performance of current strategies, developing new ones to overcome the weaknesses, integrate new decisions to avoid threats and strategic decisions made to avail the opportunities. Strategic planning is the process whereby, organizations put the strategies and ideas developed by strategic thinking into action. Strategic thinking supports strategic planning which result in strategic decision making of an organization. Strategic thinking is not merely an imaginative approach of thinking and analyzing situations which may arise as a result of a particular step, investment or change in the organization. Strategic thinking involves a goal oriented approach which is supported by critical analysis of the forces which surround the results of a particular decision and the ability to develop responses to those forces. Hence, strategic thinking is the first process of implementi ng strategic management concepts. Strategic planning is the process whereby, organizations struggle in order to integrate the strategies developed by strategic thinking. Strategic planning is the struggle to practically apply concepts and ideas developed through strategic thinking in the business and assess the predictable future of the changes or strategies introduced. In order to implement the planned strategies, strategic leadership provides a vision and direction to successfully achieve the aims of an organization. Strategic leaders are responsible to direct the workforce with appropriate instructions, guidance and directions to achieve the goals which are developed through strategic planning process. (3)Present the Mozilla/Firefox SWOT analysis clearly, using a bullet, list, or tabular format with categorical headings, providing a clear delineation of individual items. Strengths: Open-source community Faster in opening web pages Ability to resist hackers and viruses High-tech w ith many new technologies embedded such as the tabbed browsing system, the download manager attachment, etc. Command over 15% market share for browsers Open nature for discussion within the organization. Weaknesses: Revenues are dependent on Google (contractual basis) Highly dependent on external volunteers/developers The high dependence on external volunteer/developers may not be useful or highly innovative and may waste time of the organsation to pursue such ideas. The company being a non-profit organization waits for voluntary investors, this may lead to untimely funding which may not be useful as the funds would not be available at times when the actual research/design is actually carried. Opportunities: Building a network of volunteers that would help in the provision of technical support through telephone, email, etc. Further innovation through technological advancement. Threats: High innovation requirements due to competition The company’s inability to cope with techno logical advancement at any point in time would lead other competitors to take over. Lack of confidentiality issues. The success of Internet Explorer 7 or any other web browser. (Freedman, 2007) (4) Indicate the implications of your analysis for planning and implementation, including recommendations that seem to follow your analysis. Strategic management requires a three part structure for thinking about strategy: Strategic position, strategic choices and finally implementation of those strategies

Freud's interpretation of the dream of Irma's Injection Essay - 1

Freud's interpretation of the dream of Irma's Injection - Essay Example When studying ideas such as Freud’s from secondary sources one may find that some of them are in conflict with each other and others even controversial; a situation that raises questions about the reliability of the sources used in such a study. An analysis of the Freud’s interpretation therefore ought to be first preceded by an analytical discussion of these sources detailing how one may discern their reliability and scenarios where imperfect sources may be used. In light of this, the first goal of this study is to analyze such sources as described previously. This will then be followed by the second goal which is to analyze some of Freud’s interpretation of the dream of Irma’s injection. The guiding theme for this study is reliability of sources that offer proper and correct analysis of Freud’s interpretation of the dream of Irma’s injection. Analysis of Sources of Study. Several descriptions of the era that the world is currently in have been put forward but one that stands out and stands strong in scrutiny is that we are living in the information era. Information is being generated at higher rates than seen before, analyzed and critiqued by several individuals followed by distribution from the primary and secondary sources involved. This results in varied perspectives of looking at even a single line of study. Furthermore, the advent of the internet has made distribution, availability and sharing of information quite easy. While this is to a large extent advantageous, the issue of information literacy crops up. That is, the lifelong capability of students and researchers to discern which source is reliable, conceptually correct and replicable (Armstrong 17). The implications of using unreliable sources include the fact that incorrect information may be amplified besides disregard of an individual’s entire work i f it is realized that their sources are

Piaget and Vygotsky Essay Example for Free

Piaget and Vygotsky Essay In this Essay I will compare and contrast the theories of Piaget and Vygotsky. They both were influential in forming a more scientific approach to analyzing the cognitive processes of the child active construction of knowledge. They both developed their own ideas of child development and they believed cognitive development in children took place in stages. However they were distinguished by different styles of thinking. Piaget thought that children actively construct their own cognitive worlds and they adapt their thinking to include new ideas because additional information furthers understanding. He stressed that to make sense of our world we organize our Schemata or experiences. We connect one idea to another. We also adopt new ideas. Adaptation is by assimilation, which occurs when individuals incorporate new information into their existing knowledge into an existing pattern of behavior of schemata (example). Piaget refers to Schemata or schemas to the way we organize our knowledge. We can think our knowledge as units and each of them related to aspects of the world including actions, objects etc. (referencing ) Accommodation occurs when individuals adjust to new information. Piaget thought that equilibrium occurs when is a balance between assimilation and accommodation. He believed equilibrium schema is both the category of knowledge as well as the process of acquiring that knowledge. As experiences happen and new information is presented, new schemas are developed and old schemas are changed or modified. An example is, say a child sees a crow and a pigeon in the sky, and is told that they are birds. The child then forms a bird schema defined as something that flies. The next day, he goes out and sees a seagull, which easily fits into his existing bird schema. This is called assimilation, when we take new experiences/knowledge and put them in our existing schemas (or categories). The next day, a child goes out and sees a plane in the sky. Whilst this fits the definition of something that flies, it seems to be quite different than the other birds he has seen, and he is told that this is not a bird. To explain this, the child forms one large category of flying things, with two sub-categories; birds and planes. This process is called accommodation, where we change our existing knowledge structures to account for new information that doesnt fit. Piaget also believed that we go thought four stages in understanding the world. Each stage is aged related and consist of a distinct way of thinking, a different way of understanding the world. This theory is known as Piaget’s Stage Theory because it deals with four stages of development, which are sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational and formal operational. ( referencing ) On the other hand, Vygotsky believed that children actively construct their knowledge. He gave social interaction and culture far more important roles in cognitive development than Piaget did. Vygotsky socio cultural cognitive theory emphasizes how cultural and social interactions guide cognitive development. He portrayed the child development as inseparable from social and cultural activities. Vygotsky argued, learning is a necessary and universal aspect of the process of developing culturally organized, specifically human psychological function (1978, p. 90). In other words, social learning tends to precede development. He believed that the development of memory, attention and reasoning involves learning to use the inventions of society, such as language, mathematical systems and memory strategies.( referencing) Piaget believed that development had to come before learning; Vygotsky believed that development and learning worked together though socialization and language. Vygotsky gave language a huge role in development. For vygotsky Language plays two critical roles in cognitive development. First language is the main means by which adults transmit information to children. Secondly, Language itself it is a very powerful tool of intellectual adaptation. Vygotsky believed that language develops from social interactions, for communication purposes. Later language ability becomes internalized as thought and â€Å"inner speech†. Thought is the result of language. Piaget thought that there was a connection between biological and cognitive development. Vygotsky believed that knowledge from social interactions spurred cognitive growth and development. Even they had really big differences; they both believed that social interactions played an irreplaceable role in cognitive development. Piaget thought that cognitive development is influenced by social transmission (learning from others). Vygotsky believed that social interactions were an instrument in development and that it heavily influenced thoughts and language. Piaget strongly considered that the developmental ages of students determined where they should be in the learning process. Vygotsky took that idea further by comparing the learner’s actual development to their potential development. He called this area of â€Å" zone of proximal development. ZPD is the range of tasks that one cannot yet perform independently, but can accomplish with the help of a more competent individual. For example, a child might not be able to walk across a balance beam on her own, but she can do so while holding her mothers hand. Since children are always learning new things, the ZPD changes as new skills are acquired. Piaget stages are hierarchical. Each of Piaget’s stages must be complete before moving to the next one. Vygotsky’s theory does not depend on time. Piaget stages imply that children cognitively develop on their own, without the help of someone or something. Vygotsky concentrates more on social interactions and aide given to a child when develops. Vygotsky Scaffolding is the kind of help, assistance and support that enables a child to do a task which they cannot quite manage yet alone and which it will help them in the future to be able to make that task or similar on their own. For example: In a school laboratory science class, a teacher might provide scaffolding by first giving students detailed guides to carrying out experiments, then giving them brief outlines that they might use to structure experiments, and finally asking them to set up experiments entirely on their own. ‘What the child can do with assistance today she will be able to do by herself tomorrow’ (Vygotsky, 1978, p.87). Both these educators contributed to the present day ideas of constructivist learning. Both offer some incredible insight into possible ways children learn and byusing there theories it is possible to create a more conductive learning environment for the child.

Human Cloning and the Future Essay Example for Free

Human Cloning and the Future Essay In his work from 2002 â€Å"Religion and Human Cloning: An Exploratory Analysis of the First Available Opinion Data†, John Evans proudly states a few possible benefits, or advantages, of human ‘therapeutic’ cloning. While talking about embryonic stem cells, he states â€Å"these cells can eventually be used to treat diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and kidney failure, to name but a few†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (748). These possibilities have mostly been confirmed since the publishing of Evans’ piece and other more incredible possibilities have come about. The benefits of both reproductive and therapeutic cloning are endless, yet many still disagree. They say that cloning is dangerous and that it would end human evolution and bring disaster to society as we know it (Mautner, 68). Do most people really think this is true? Or is modern society simply scared of the unknown and not ready for change? Many scientists and authors constantly debate the ethics and possibilities of human cloning, both for reproductive use and therapeutic use. A couple of possible risks would accompany the beginning of human cloning, however the benefits are legitimate, and we as a species should reconsider. It is common knowledge that mother and father love one another. And it’s the classic ideal for a family to begin, in the act of spousal love through sexual reproduction. Alix Magney, in his work â€Å"Cloning Me, Cloning You: Reflections on the Ethics of Cloning for Individuals, Families and Society†, argues that since human cloning would cause childbearing to lose its proper origins as an act of spousal love, it â€Å"†¦plainly poses a threat to the dignity and equality of women†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (25). I don’t think this is true at all, as adopting a child has been practiced for thousands of years and in vitro fertilization was invented in 1978. In vitro fertilization is where an egg is fertilized by sperm outside the female body and then inserted into the uterus for maturation only once the egg is fertilized. Sperm donors have been used for decades, completely negating any ‘spousal love’ from the equation that is reproduction. While people continue to fight over equality for women, which has been true since the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment to the Constitution in 1920, other people continue to debate greater concerns about cloning. I have always heard it said ‘You’re special’, or ‘Just be yourself’, and these are sayings of encouragement to develop your own identity, not to follow others when unnecessary, and to accept that everyone is different. Giovanni Berlucchi, in his work â€Å"The Myth of the Clonable Human Brain†, states that â€Å"†¦most human values are corollaries of the concept that each person is unique and identical to himself or herself through space and time. (160) and â€Å"†¦that this kind of genetic manipulation may interfere with psychological and biological diversity, and therefore with the distinctiveness and autonomy of the individual† (160). I do think that the overuse of a single genetic identity for reproductive cloning would cause a disruption in the common value of individuality, but only in that physical aspect of things. Th e benefits of reproductive cloning and the possibilities of advancing the individual through therapeutic cloning could greatly outweigh any disruptions. Berlucchi continues, â€Å"Nature has, of course, been producing genetically identical humans from time immemorial†¦ in trifling pairs of monozygotic twins, and even less frequently in batches of monozygotic triplets†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (160). Prenatal uterine environment differences, along with other environmental differences post-conception, can significantly affect the psychological outcome of the child and is a main reason for psychological differences between monozygotic twins. The concept of environmental determinism dispels the myth that cloning humans would eliminate the core value of individuality. The controversy over abortion is one of the biggest issues for politicians and the rest of society alike. The debate over whether or not an embryo is to be considered a human being with rights is a ‘hot topic’ among the public and continues to be an important argument for almost everyone. In his aforementioned piece â€Å"Religion and Human Cloning†¦Ã¢â‚¬ , John Evans says that the Roman Catholic Church has the most clear-cut position against cloning, simply based on the status they give to a human embryo. They believe embryos are equivalent to fully grown humans: â€Å"Embryos are to be treated the same as born persons and therefore cannot be used as means toward an end. Most obviously, they cannot be destroyed to benefit others† (748). The church also opposes cloning because it â€Å"†¦severs human reproduction from sexuality† (748). If a couple is attempting to have a kid with each other, by any means, they are more than likely sexually active with one another, and therefore cloning doesn’t remove the sexuality from the overall situation, even if it is not directly involved with the contraception. Also, new technology has been developed since the writing of this article, and it is now possible to extract stem cells from embryos without destroying the embryo. You can take a single stem cell, or blastomere, and coax it to become an endlessly proliferating stem cell. Although these cells cant form embryos, they can form major types of human tissue just as any embryonic stem cells do. So, therapeutic cloning is possible without the destruction of embryos. Other people fear the end of what Charles Darwin so valiantly discovered and explained to us all over 150 years ago – human evolution. Michael Mautner, in his piece â€Å"Will Cloning End Human Evolution? †, argues that a result of human cloning would be the end of human evolution. He states â€Å"Cloning will, in contrast, reproduce the same genetic makeup of an existing individual. There is no room for new traits to arise†¦ The result: Human evolution is halted† (68). Only an insane situation where cloning was the only method for reproduction and the same genetic makeup was used over and over again would lead to the end of human evolution. This is an extreme situation and would almost definitely never happen. New science behind non-embryonic stem cell research has shown incredible potential for stem cells in general, as embryonic stem cells show significantly more potential than stem cells extracted from other parts of the human body, like the yellow bone marrow. Stem cells are beginning to be used to regrow hair, teeth and cartilage in damaged joints. Since the procedures and research are incredibly expensive, treatment is limited to those wealthy enough. Professional North-American athletes have led the way, being human guinea pigs for the non-invasive procedures in hopes of returning their bodies to their prime, pre-injury, form. Stem cell treatments are growing in popularity and legitimacy, and the use of embryonic stem cells shouldn’t be limited as it can only advance our species. Scientific tests and studies have proven limitless benefits to stem cell transplants, yet ethical concerns and moral-based laws are constraining what could be groundbreaking and life-saving science. There is possible potential for embryonic stem cells to be grown into whole, functional, organs or entire limbs of the human body. The uses could range from a ounded amputee war veteran in need of a new leg, or an elderly woman in need of a new kidney as hers is failing, and the possibilities are endless. Human fear of the unknown is instinctual, but as the realm of the previously impossible comes more into the lights of reality, we need to change our minds on the practicality and usefulness of cloning and embryonic stem cells. For our ailing parents, for our children, and our children’s children, we need to advance as a society, and take hold of the opportunities and benefits sitting right in front of us.

Is Pop Art Celebration Or Critique Film Studies Essay

Is Pop Art Celebration Or Critique Film Studies Essay Pop-art was an art movement that emerged in America and Britain in the mid 50s and culminated between 1960 and 1965. Pop art was a result of a post war era and a sudden influx of mass production and popular culture. Pop art included images from popular culture such as consumer goods, magazines and advertisements as opposed to more serious elitist culture art like abstract expressionism. It was used as a bridge between contemporary life and art, often using found images/objects and a tendency toward using mechanical rendering/production techniques. In Britain:- Independent group In 1952, a collection of artists in London by the name of the Independent Group began to meet regularly to discuss topics such as the found object, science and technology and mass cultures place in fine art. Members in the group were,  Eduardo Paolozzi,  Richard Hamilton, architects  Alison  and  Peter Smithson, and critics Lawrence Alloway and Reyner Banham. In the early 1950s Britain was still escaping the austerity of the post-war years, and the British citizens were dubious about American popular culture. Although the group was suspicious of the American commercial character, they were still enthusiastic and excited about the fruitful world popular culture seemed to promise for the future. The material, mainly in images they discussed at length were of that found in Western movies, comic books, science fiction, automobile design, billboards, and rock and roll music. Richard Hamilton Richard Hamilton was a big name in pop art in Britain, with his famous collage just what is it that makes todays homes so different, so appealing which was produced for ThisIsTomorrows catalogue. Richard was part of the Independent Group that had sensed post war culture would be democratically inclusive and accessible and argued that art should follow suit. The independent group also aimed toward removing the academia behind modern art such as high art like Rothkos light red over black and toward a more figurative, unambiguous language of art portrayed in the transparent language of advertising and iconography. This new art didnt need particularly skilled or difficult process to be produced and tried to link the realms of art and everyday life. The interchange-ability between advertising and art allowed Richard to show viewers that modern art repeatedly celebrated physical pleasure and inspiration was often gathered from previous movements. Hamilton stated that this New art, should be: Popular, transient, expendable, low cost, mass produced, young, witty, sexy, gimmicky, glamorous and big business! this subsequently laid down the path for the movement Just What is it That Makes Todays Homes so Different, So Appealing? In this piece Richard Hamilton used popular images and symbols as a gateway or library to explore the interior of a house of that time and to comment on the swift and important change in the way of everyday life.  Just what is it that makes todays homes so different, so appealing?  Is so iconic because it was created during an era in which all people internationally and worldwide became leisure shoppers, watchers of television, drivers of cars, and disposable buyers. At the same time, the boundaries between old world civilizations and of international politics were disintegrated by capitalism; a few countries made the choice to adopt the trimmings of that economic system without inviting its basic values of competition, efficiency, legitimacy of profit, which all ultimately make the consumerist structure work and mature properly. The travesty of Westernized ideas of an effective business conduct is interpreted in this collage by the excess of items obtained through conspicuous consumption. They are shown as symbols of leisure. And the observer is reminded of how quickly that people forget about the consequences of irresponsible spending, since the buy, buy, buy lifestyle continues at a continuingly faster rate, even after the nations of the world were warped as a result of the economic disasters in 1929. This is evident in the technological advancements that have permeated into this skewed interior, with a television playing an advertisement of a lady talking on the telephone, the vague cube-like recording device on the floor, the fanciness and glamour related to the theatre past the lounges window, and the ornament of a Ford hood bejewelled on the lampshade. Apart from the subject matter related to financial history, Hamilton also recognises the presence of Communism portrayed as a crescent of a planet which also acts as the houses ceiling. This segment of the globe is inconspicuously there, looming over and haunting the American homeowners with the vague signifier of all that was unfamiliar during the 1950s: communism. The reference to planets and space begins to attract attention to the informal Space Race between Russia and America, an important rivalry that would supposedly declare the more proficient country to be the symbolic leader of the world. Modernity, material comfort, and desirability present in Hamiltons labour were icons that undoubtedly have broadened the potential of Pop Art by promising an ideal kingdom of the imminent buyers paradise, while conveying a doubtful and ironic tone articulating the mode of sheer parody. This piece is therefore not only a creative playing field aesthetically, but also a milestone in the history of the art world and in the context of social critique. Eduardo Paolozzi Dr. Pepper Eduardo Paolozzi was like Richard Hamilton a member of the Independent Group, who brought a lart Brut perspective to things, which means he brought an outsiders perspective, supposedly because of his connections to dada and surrealism. This piece is made up of images from American magazines that he had obtained from American people in Paris. It is hard to understand why Paolozzi mustve been sucked into the exotic society portrayed in American magazines having been in poverty himself due to the Second World War. In dr pepper there are happy and healthy people surrounded by an abundance of food and automobiles, this all portraying a Wealthy life, with happiness being the key here. Paolozzi wasnt just attracted to the material value or message of consumerism or happiness. Paolozzi genuinely believed these images from advertisements to be artistically wealthy and an icon of the modern world. Paolozzi had once said in his opinion of American Popular images where the event of selling tinned pears was transformed into multi-coloured dreams, where sensuality and virility combined to form, in our view, an art form more subtle and fulfilling than the orthodox choice of either the Tate Gallery or the Royal Academy (Eduardo Paolozzi, Retrospective statements in Robbins, p.192). This new outlook was soon to be embraced on an international scale as this work is actually a predecessor to Pop Art and wasnt actually part of the movement. Paolozzi was trying to respond to dada-ism and surrealism although his work is almost ingenious in seeing the future of art. In America:- It seemed that the American dream was no longer defined by political freedom, but instead was measured by the number of commodities a citizen could acquire. America was consuming popular magazines, cinema and television, pop music and rock n roll, automobiles and domestic appliances in steadily increasing numbers. They were encouraged to spend by a vast advertising sector that deliberately interpreted consumption as a measure of ones financial success and psychological wellbeing. American Pop Art was a very unified, more organised movement than the British. There were more obvious common characteristics such as the contemporary imagery, the obscurity of surface, and bold, strong colours. As opposed to the British also, American artists had a tendency to be more ambiguous and less like the transparent communication through British pop art. Many of the American artists suggested with humour that art was like any other consumer product that could be marketed. Andy Warhol Andy Warhol is probably the most famous pop artist and one of the most well-known artists in the west, with his work being placed on t-shirts and mugs and any other sort of merchandise. Known best for his Campbell soup cans, marylin Monroe prints and velvet underground album cover, in all of these pieces hes used bold bright colours, quite a common character within American pop art. Most of, if not all of his Pop Art work was screen printed, this semi mechanized way of producing works further pronounced the new era mass production, Andy Warhol was so fond of this whole idea that he dubbed his studio the Factory. Campbells Soup Cans Warhol had a more creative and positive view on ordinary culture than most and felt that abstract expressionists had gone out of their way to discern the wonder of modernity. The Campbell Soup Cans as well as his other series were the ideal opportunity to express this view on modern culture. However, Warhols blank manner laboured to be empty of emotional content and unable to be commented on on a social level. In fact the work was designed to be with the least amount of emotion or individual expression. According to Marcel Duchamp if you take a Campbells Soup can and repeat it fifty times, you are not interested in the retinal image. The depictions of the multiple cans are almost an abstraction in themselves with attention focused on the panorama rather than the individual cans and their details.it could be said that the symbolic identity of the multiple can depictions (freedom of choice, mass production etc.) became more important than the individual symbols. Warhol had a big interest in in factory like production in his early days of pop art which was mistaken by fine artists in general as their value system disagreed with mechanization. To further resonate the message of consumerism and mass production behind his art along with the silk screen printing, naming his studio the factory and creating series, he also took on a pop persona as he and his work became more noticed by the media.He began to adopt the image of a teenager of the time, engaging himself in pop culture like rock shows, so much so that he produced an album cover for the velvet underground and had famous friends hangout in his factory. I shop therefore I am Barbara Kruger I shop therefore I am is a print of a hand holding a red card with white lettering, by photographer Barbara Kruger.   It is a bold statement about Western culture and consumerism and is great in how implicates viewers by giving no clear notion of who is speaking, so it could be personal to her, personal from someone else, or relative to everyone, sucking the viewer in and making them think about the art on a more personal level. The message behind the piece is saying that we dont just shop for the things we need.   We shop to obtain an identity, persona and certain status and we do this so that we feel that we fit in and belong to a certain group in society. Conclusion Pop Art was evidently considerably different between America and Britain with the rest of Europe not quite producing fully fledged pop art works or taking the movement so seriously. Britain was quite clearly optimistic for the future of consumerism although it had undertones of concern and fear of the unknown as you would expect. In my opinion, the reason why the two natures were different is that America had evolved from the war economy before Britain so the advertisements being filtered through to Britain seemed alien and astounding, hence the large numbers of cut-outs being the primary base of pop art in Britain. America then acknowledged the movement and kept quite an intellectual spin on it all, with ambiguity present and narratives, part of what the British independent group was against, trying to keep the art open and objective rather than subjective and could be called the peoples art an art for everyone that requires no preliminary knowledge or particular understanding. The American pop art was a mixed movement with Andy Warhol producing the Campbell soup cans as a statement of mass production and consumerism but also as a statement that there is freedom and opportunity to choose what you want, almost as an echo of individuality which was very welcome and fantasized about. Although this is one of the more noticeable works of American pop art this should not be seen to represent all of American work, Barbara Krugers work is of a different style again. Krugers work was mainly made up of found black and white photographs with bold white lettering on a red background. Each of her works had a bold statement on the photograph, encouraging the viewer to think more about it, the statement, usually an ambiguous one would be based on society and topical. I shop therefore I am doesnt say who its referring to and has a message behind it rather than being obvious and clear of its nature. This evidence amongst many other American works further perpetuates my opin ion that American work is more ambiguous and therefore more intellectual rather than pure aesthetic information. Therefore my answer to the question is pop art a celebration or critique of consumer culture is that in the beginnings consumerism was heavily welcomed and a great relief celebrated by many, but still with some sceptical artists stating that consuming was becoming a reliance and for obvious reasons people worry when they have to rely on things. Pop art in Britain was much more hedonistic, optimistic and transparent, probably as a notion of hope to cling on to as they emerged out from austerity. Pop art in America could be more pessimistic at times and narrated with hidden messages having to be prized from the works, but as with Britain I think the idea was still celebratory although there was a little more critique from America than Britain, this would only be expected though as America being much larger would have more of a variation in opinion.