Chinese Musicking free essay sample

?3. Research on an aspect of Chinese musicking based on one or two Chinese musical activities or events that take place anywhere in the world except for countries where â€Å"Chinese† is spoken as one of the main languages (which means that you are not to write about musical events or activities in China, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau etc. ). Check with the lecturer before writing, if unsure Musicking basically refers to taking part, in any capacity, in a musical performance; whether by performing, listening, rehearsing, practicing, or providing material for the performance. Anybody who contributes to the nature of the event is involved in the musicking event; and this involves the cleaners, roadies, ticket collectors, ushers and many more. In this paper, we will be focusing in depth, Beijing Opera as a Chinese musicking event in Vienna Golden Hall. Beijing opera plays are currently experiencing a rise in popularity in the West as evident by Beijing Opera troupes making their performance tours in Europe. Some of these troupes include †Peking Opera†,. In this paper, I will only be focusing on the performance of the (li hua song) by (shi yi hong) in the Golden Hall of Vienna. Vienna, also known as the City of Music, is where grand scale musical concerts are held. Musicians who are performing or had performed there are deemed as â€Å"extraordinary† and are mostly well-renowned. The performance of Beijing Operas in Vienna has shown how far Beijing Opera has progressed throughout the years; from being only well-known in the East all the way to staging a performance in the prestigious concert halls of Vienna. Beijing Opera is a traditional Chinese theatre which combines music, vocal performance, mime, dance, and acrobatics1. It started becoming popular in the 19th century, especially in the Qing dynasty, and since then, many opera troupes began budding in all parts of China. In Beijing Opera, costumes distinguish the rank of the role played2. And the colors painted onto the performers’ faces symbolizes the different qualities of the characters3. The skills of the performers is based on how beautiful their moves are, and the layers of meaning within each movement must be expressed in time with music. For e. g. The smoothing of ones beard, raising ones foot, walking around in circles, are all movements that are meant to express a particular feeling or emotion. The performers require music to indicate the duration and speed of a certain movement, and the transition to another. In Beijing Opera, there will normally be 2 orchestras, playing the percussions and strings respectively. They will accompany the singing, which follows a fixed pattern, but has a variety of melodies and rhythms4. Beijing Opera represents an important part of Chinese culture and has become a refined form of art as a result of the hard work of hundreds of artists over the past two centuries. Its repertoire includes historical plays, comedies, tragedies and farces. Many historical events are adapted into Beijing Opera plays, which in the past were an important primer on history and ethical principles for poorly educated folk5. For e. g. The Peking Opera Red Cliff is based on true events in the Three Kingdoms where Liu Bei and Sun Quan form an alliance to defeat Cao Cao. Beijing Opera thus serves as a platform to educate people on the history and culture of ancient China in an entertaining and interactive way. It is also a method to preserve and facilitate the passing down of Chinese culture from generation to generation. As seen in the YouTube video, the Beijing Opera is actually a fusion between the East and the West. Normally in Beijing Opera, the music used would be purely produced from Chinese instruments such as Luo, Bo, Jinghu, Pipa, Dizi and Yue Qin. However, in this particular Beijing Opera performed in Golden Hall, the music used is produced mainly from Western instruments like Violin, Double bass, Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, and Bassoon, with a few complementary Chinese instrument like erhu. There is also a conductor leading the orchestra in playing the music required for the performer. This is a scene seldom seen in Beijing Opera as the main focus would be on the performers and the musicians would be at the side and is considered â€Å"negligible†. However, in this Chinese musicking event in Vienna, both the musicians and the performer are equally important. Since the music used in this context is no longer purely â€Å"Chinese†, then should Beijing Opera in this case still be considered a Chinese musicking event? Well, some might argue not because Chinese musicking obviously refers to a performance involving the use of Chinese instruments only. Personally I think that it should still be considered. Firstly, because Beijing Opera budded from China and it has been prospering there ever since 19th century. Secondly, it is a troupe consisting mainly of Chinese artistes, and the songs are sang in Chinese lyrics; mainly based on characters and plots in the ancient Chinese dynasties. For e. g. (Gui fei zui jiu) and (Tai zhen wai chuan) are based on the story of Yang Gui Fei in Tang Dynasty. Since Beijing Opera is currently trying to venture into the West, it needs to more or less modify and fuse with some of the Western elements so that the Westerners are more receptive towards this â€Å"new† type of performance, and in this case, it is the â€Å"East-West fusion† of Beijing Opera music. The modified Beijing Opera in this context, is still considered Chinese musicking in the sense that Chinese culture and message is conveyed through this â€Å"musicking† event. In conclusion, Beijing opera is a chinese musicking event where chinese music is used as a pace and rhythm for the performers to convey the underlying message, which is the chinese heritage and culture, to the audiences. Even as it goes on to influence people in the West, the main essence of this chinese musicking event has not changed, though there might be some modifications or â€Å"East-West† fusion observed in the opera.

Student Preferences Regarding Fast Food free essay sample

Executive Summary We were interested to find out student preferences regarding fast food. We have conducted a survey at a well-known college in the Klang Valley to find out students preferences regarding fast food. The survey was conducted for about 1 week. 50 respondents were randomly selected and interviewed with 24 female and 26 male A related literature review showed that most of the younger respondents prefer Domino’s for home orders followed by others fast food outlet in India 2007. Their preference to visit a particular fast food outlet is influenced by friends in 93 percent followed by other factors. The survey revealed that consumers predominantly were between below 20 and more than 26 years of age. It’s about 26 people 20 to 22 years of age, 20 people below 20 years of age, 3 people 23 to 25 years of age and 1 people only more than 26 years of age. In the research, 100 percent who the student involves in the fast food it mean 50 respondents have eaten fast food. We will write a custom essay sample on Student Preferences Regarding Fast Food or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page We have 5 choices fast food and the result is 64 percent choose McDonalds over others fast food outlet, 28 percent KFC, 4 percent Wendy’s, 2 percent Burger King, and 2 percent Carl’s Jr. It show different people have different preferences regarding fast food. The analysis of the findings revealed that Majority respondents have chosen McDonald’s and KFC as their preferences fast food outlet. Most of the respondents have rate good for the quality of foods of their preferences fast food outlets. Some of the respondents’ rate a poor for the service and the price of the food of their preferences fast food outlet. They normally go fast food outlet with their friends to build their relationship. McDonald’s and KFC should give more promotions such as discounts or free vouchers to students who are in the Klang Valley since the majority of respondents like to visit the fast food outlets. The fast food outlets should produce more products that have higher nutritional value. The fast food outlets should also launch or produce set value meals that are worthy and attractive. The staff at the fast food outlets should give the best service to the customers, for example, they should provide prompt service and always be polite. Introduction This introductory section includes the background of the problem, statement of the problem, purposes of the study, and scope of the study. Background We were interested to find out student preferences regarding fast food. We have conducted a survey at a well-known college in the Klang Valley to find out the above. Statement of the Problem The focus of this study was to determine (1) student preferences regarding fast food, and (2) the recommendations on ways to improve the services. Purposes of the Study The purposes of this study were as follows: ? To determine the students preferences regarding fast food. To determine how often does the students visit to their favourite fast food outlet. ? To help the fast food outlet improve their services by relevant recommendation providing. Scope The scope of this study included analyses of student preferences regarding fast food. The study was limited to a college in the Klang Valley. Related Literature The literature on studies of studentsâ⠂¬â„¢ preference regarding fast food is extensive. While this broad expanse of research was generally helpful, one recent studies of consumer were found to be especially valuable for this study. A study entitles consumer perception about fast food in India: an exploratory study which was conducted by Anita Goyal and N. P. Singh in 2007. The study consisted of 200 Indian youth from New Delhi in the age group of 20 to 27. It was found that the consumer preferences regarding fast food mostly are McDonalds. Most of the younger respondents prefer Domino’s for home orders followed by others fast food outlet. Their preference to visit a particular fast food outlet is influenced by friends in 93 percent followed by other factors. In their study, most of the respondents visit to McDonald’s it is because the service and hygiene is the best compare with other fast food outlet. However, some of the respondents visit to Nirula’s it is because there have variety of foods. The respondents of the study were majority in 21-25 years age category. Procedures A survey was conducted by giving out questionnaires to a convenience sample. The procedures followed included: 1. A questionnaire was developed to find out students preference regarding fast food. 2. The researchers handed out questionnaire to students at the college. 3. The survey was conducted for a week. 4. The data were tabulated using Microsoft Office. 5. The results were analyzed and this report prepared. Findings These findings are presented using the study objectives as a framework. Gender As shown in Figure 1, 54 percent of the respondents are male and 46 percent of the respondents are female. [pic] Age Based on the analysis of data, it was found that the most of the students were in 20 to 22 years age category which is 25 respondents in this category. 0 respondents were in below 20 years age category, with 3 respondents 23 to 25 and 1 respondents 26 and above. (See figure 2). [pic] Consumption of Fast Food Base on the feedback from students of the collage, we found that and as indicated in Figure 3, 100 percent which mean 50 respondents have eaten fast food. [pic] Fast Food Outlet Preference As indicated in Figure 4, 64 percent of the respondents usually choose McDonald s over others fast food outlet, 28 percent of the respondents choose KFC, 4 percent Wendy’s, 2 percent Burger King, and 2 percent Carl’s Jr. It shown different people have different preference for choosing their fast food. [pic] The number of visits/week Figure 5 shows that the number of visits in a week to a fast food outlet of respondents. Majority the respondents visit to their preferences fast food outlet 1 to 2 times in a week which have 41 respondents. Thus 7 respondents visit 3 to 4 times in a week to a fast food outlet. 2 respondents visit 5 to 6 times in a week to their preference fast food outlet. [pic] Companion of fast food restaurant As shown in Figure 6, 86 percent of the respondents usually go to a fast food outlet with their friend. percent of the respondents have chosen others, and 6 percent of the respondents go with their siblings. Which means most of the respondent will go to the fast food outlet with their friend for chatting build their relationship. [pic] Rating of the Fast Food outlet As indicated in Figure 7, the respondents have rate the fast food outlet of their preferences regarding quality of food, decoration, seating space, service, variety of food, and price of the food. 29 respondents rate good of the quality of food regarding their preference fast food outlet. However in the category of decoration and seating space majority of the respondents have rate for average, which 22 voted average for decoration and 25 voted for seating space. Thus the service and the variety of foods at their preference fast food outlet, majority of the respondents were vote for good, 25 respondents were voted for the service and 27 respondents were voted for variety of foods. The prices of the food of the fast food outlet, 22 respondents were rate the average category. Figure 7. Rating of the fast food outlet [pic] Analysis In the Klang Valley area, the respondents of this study majority are below 20 and 20 – 22. They almost have chosen McDonald’s or KFC as their preferences fast food outlet; mostly they think the quality of food, decoration, seating space, and variety of food of the fast food outlet that they have chosen is important and the rating is in good category. The analysis of Goyal and Singh’s 92. 8 percent respondents were in 21-25 years age category, and their study found that McDonald’s is the most favoured fast food outlet followed by Pizza Hut, Nirula’s and Domino’s. According to their study, most of the younger consumers prefer Domino’s for home orders followed by Pizza Hut, Nirula’s and McDonald’s. In our study found that most respondents visit to fast food outlet with their friends. However in Goyal and Singh’s study, it said that the consumers’ preference to visit a particular fast food outlet is influenced by friends in 93 percent followed by relatives and other factors. In Goyal and Singh’s study, the young Indian consumer has passion for visiting fast food outlets for fun and change but home food is their first choice, because homemade foods have highest nutritional value than fast food outlets’ food. In our study, majority customers visit to their preferences ast food outlet 1 to 2 times a week. Conclusions and Recommendations Conclusions 1. Majority respondents have chosen McDonald’s and KFC as their preferences fast food outlet. 2. Most of the respondents have rate good for the quality of foods of their preferences fast food outlets. 3. Some of the respondents’ rate poor for the service and the price of the food of their prefere nces fast food outlet. 4. They normally go fast food outlet with their friends to build their relationship. 5. The respondents will normally visit the fast food outlet 1 to 2 times per week. Recommendations 1. McDonald’s and KFC should give more promotions such as discounts or free vouchers to students who are in the Klang Valley since the majority of respondents like to visit the fast food outlets. 2. The fast food outlets should produce more products that have higher nutritional value. 3. The fast food outlets should also launch or produce set value meals that are worthy and attractive. 4. The staff at the fast food outlets should give the best service to the customers, for example, they should provide prompt service and always be polite.

Convergence Of Twain Essays - United States, Canada, United Kingdom

Convergence Of Twain Thomas Hardy experienced great difficulty believing in a forgiving, Christian God because of the pain and suffering he witnessed around him. He also endured some pain, with the loss of his wife and suffering during the five years he spent in London that made him ill. As a young man, Hardy wanted to become a clergyman. This vocation was quite a turn around of what he pursued--a career as a famous agnostic writer. He lost faith in his religious, Victorian upbringing. As such, he shared a belief with many modern poets in the futility and waste of human existence. Hardy did believe in a "supreme being" or as he liked to call him "The Immanent Will," but he did not think of Him as a forgiving God like other Christians. Instead, Hardy believed Him to be portrayed as a vengeful God, which we learn from his poem, "The Convergence of the Twain: (Lines on the loss of the 'Titanic')". Thomas Hardy wrote this poem with a very noticeable chronological disruption midway through the poem. Unlike most poets who keep their poems in chronological order to maintain suspense throughout the poem, Hardy believed that the subject of the Titanic was so well known that there was not any reason to keep the readers in suspense of what impending doom awaited the Titanic. Instead, he commenced his poem with a description of the Titanic at present: "grotesque, slimed, dumb, indifferent"(st III). Then he proceeds to the "fashioning"(st VI) of the famous ship and continues to that famous April evening where the "consummation"(st XI) of the two "titanic" masses occurred--the grand ship made from human hands and the silent iceberg made by the "Immanent Will"(st VI). Hardy does not confine himself inside the walls of set syllables per verse; every stanza has a different number of syllables in each verse. In the first part of his poem the rhythm is very alluring. With proper uses of caesuras, stresses and slacks, Hardy seems to capture the solitude of the sea that he is describing with his steady, gentle sway of words, a "rhythmic tidal lyre"(st II). While reading this poem, the words seem to move persistently slowly up and down like the tide: I In a solitude of the sea Deep from human vanity, And the Pride of life that planned her, stilly couches she. (lines 1-3) Hardy also numbers all of the eleven stanzas of his poem. The numbering indicates the separation of each one of the stanzas as if to imply that we have to look at this poem as eleven different poems in one. This method gives us a chance to understand the poem more efficiently by studying one stanza at a time. A first reading of the poem would reveal five stanzas describing the "gilded gear"(st V) at the bottom of the sea and six stanzas that refer to the ship and to the iceberg converging at a point so "far and dissociate"(st VII). However, an enjambment occurs between stanza VI and stanza VII, as if these two stanzas were meant to be one: "The Immanent Will that stirs and urges everything / Prepared a sinister mate"(lines 18/19). Ironically, these two stanzas describe both the creation of the ship and the creation of the iceberg that are destined to come together later in time. Hardy takes more of an antithetical approach toward the story of the Titanic than most people think of or 'chose' to think of when they hear of the tragedy. Most people want the story to be told through a tragic, yet romantic, point of view that relates the tragedy of the men, women, and children who were lost on that gruesome night. People relate emotionally to the story of the Titanic by watching the movie that was released in the past year because it is from the point of view of the people on the ship. We see a romantic mood portrayed be the people on the ship and the tragedy suffered in the loss of their loved ones. Consequently, Hardy does not want us to share in this travesty that they have experienced. Instead of a tragic poem of the people involved in this tragic event, Hardy distances himself from the picture, far enough just to see the two grand and noble objects, a Godlike view solely focused on the two gigantic entities. Through his poem, Hardy explains to us that it is a vengeful God that planned the collision. In the section of the poem that contrasts both

Free Essays on Town and Country Lovers

Social and Racial Boundaries Between â€Å"Lovers† The social and racial boundaries in South Africa are clearly portrayed in Nadine Gordimer’s short story â€Å"Town and Country Lovers†. There are two characters in the story that come from completely different backgrounds. They become lovers and are found out by the police. Gordimer illustrates the differenced between the two lovers and how their society reacts to them. Dr. Franz-Josef von Leinsdorf is a well-educated man from Austria. Gordimer describes him as being a â€Å"geologist absorbed in his work† (1854). He is a well-cultured man who enjoys â€Å"an occasional skiing trip, listening to music, [and] reading poetry† (1855). Leinsdorf’s work has taken him to many different places, including Peru, New Zealand, the United States, and South Africa. â€Å"He has no interest in the politics of the countries he works in† (1855), or of becoming a permanent resident in South Africa. Dr. Franz-Josef von Leinsdorf â€Å"[accepts the] social distinctions between people but [doesn’t] think they should be legally imposed† (1861). The girl in the story is young and black. She comes from a poor family and is of low class, so low that she does not even have a name in the story. The girl works in a supermarket where she assisted Dr. Leinsdorf in purchasing razor blades, and later did all his shopping for him. â€Å"She was one of nine children of a female laundry worker. She had left school in Standard Three (Eighth Grade) because there was no money at home for gym clothes or a school blazer. She had worked as a machinist in a factory and a cashier in a supermarket† (1861). The young girl followed Dr. Leinsdorf’s habits, learning how to make real coffee, not â€Å"synthetic flavoring† (1857); how to cook; and she learned how to type Dr. Leinsdorf’s notes. These two manage to come together as lovers and friends, but still the differences between them a prevalent. When they are caught, n... Free Essays on Town and Country Lovers Free Essays on Town and Country Lovers Social and Racial Boundaries Between â€Å"Lovers† The social and racial boundaries in South Africa are clearly portrayed in Nadine Gordimer’s short story â€Å"Town and Country Lovers†. There are two characters in the story that come from completely different backgrounds. They become lovers and are found out by the police. Gordimer illustrates the differenced between the two lovers and how their society reacts to them. Dr. Franz-Josef von Leinsdorf is a well-educated man from Austria. Gordimer describes him as being a â€Å"geologist absorbed in his work† (1854). He is a well-cultured man who enjoys â€Å"an occasional skiing trip, listening to music, [and] reading poetry† (1855). Leinsdorf’s work has taken him to many different places, including Peru, New Zealand, the United States, and South Africa. â€Å"He has no interest in the politics of the countries he works in† (1855), or of becoming a permanent resident in South Africa. Dr. Franz-Josef von Leinsdorf â€Å"[accepts the] social distinctions between people but [doesn’t] think they should be legally imposed† (1861). The girl in the story is young and black. She comes from a poor family and is of low class, so low that she does not even have a name in the story. The girl works in a supermarket where she assisted Dr. Leinsdorf in purchasing razor blades, and later did all his shopping for him. â€Å"She was one of nine children of a female laundry worker. She had left school in Standard Three (Eighth Grade) because there was no money at home for gym clothes or a school blazer. She had worked as a machinist in a factory and a cashier in a supermarket† (1861). The young girl followed Dr. Leinsdorf’s habits, learning how to make real coffee, not â€Å"synthetic flavoring† (1857); how to cook; and she learned how to type Dr. Leinsdorf’s notes. These two manage to come together as lovers and friends, but still the differences between them a prevalent. When they are caught, n...

Sonoco Products Company Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Sonoco Products Company - Essay Example It is evident from the study that to become globally competitive in its industry and ensuring the reduction of functions’ cost by 20% or significantly $2.8 million were the primary reasons of Sonoco’s new CEO Harris DeLoach in mandating Cindy Hartley, senior vice president of human resources (HR), to go for alternative restructuring of HR. This significantly is in line with the new CEO’s goal to control companywide cost to support a new business model that is expected to compete in the global setting and would ensure the top-line growth of the said company. It is in line with this that Hartley is faced with two alternative organisational structures for HR, the centralization and hybrid. In either of them, Sonoco’s CEO is concerned with the corresponding cost to be incurred. On the other hand, in either of them, Hartley would be more concerned on meeting three essential objectives in the HR such as the following (quoted from the case): 1. To increase GM’s accountability for talent management. 2. To distribute HR talent and support more evenly across the company’s divisions and make HR systems and process consistent. 3. To optimise HR’s ability to provide customized, strategic support to the GM’s businesses. It is important to implement strategies to meet these objectives considering the fact that the packaging industry was facing major transformation due to evident tough competition. Key players were looking forward to look for their competitive advantage. For instance, heavy manufacturing moved from the United States to countries like China and India where a substantially low labor cost could be possible. Moreover, many firms from the US started to invest outside the country. In addition, packaging companies essentially were able to draw on the full potential of emerging technologies and application of innovative tools. Most importantly, companies learned to appreciate the importance of reducing the initial-packaging-concept-to-market-delivery cycle just like in the case of Hershey which originally relied on hundreds of packaging suppliers but decided to reduce them into 20 by the end of 1990s. These were substantial reasons that Sonoco should consider to formulate effective strategies in order to stay in its business. As a result, Sonoco decided to consider being more attentive to the needs of the end consumer by the late 1990s and not only to the needs of Gillette, Kraft, Nestle and Procter and Gamble. These companies were actually also looking forward to the needs of their customers and what necessarily attracted them. Between 1998 and 2008, customers significantly viewed packaging as more influential than advertising. Thus, it was for this reason that Sonoco should potentially create a move to consider not only the needs of its primary customers but the end customer as a whole just to be able to create the right response in the ongoing trend in its entire market industry. In this paper, the proponent tries to create an important link between the prevailing events in Sonoco’s industry and its eventual moves in the midst of them most specifically from the point of view of its human resources. Diagnosis Unfortunately for Sonoco, talent was not viewed as a corporate resource. Furthermore, compensations were not viewed as costs in need of control or tools that can drive behavior. These are some of the problems faced by Sonoco as impacts of its contemporary organisational structures for HR.

Education In the US Prison System Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Education In the US Prison System - Essay Example This subject matter is what will be discussed in the following. Since 1980, America's prison population has "more than tripled" (Patel and McMurray, n.d.). Out of this abundant figure, 19% of adult inmates are illiterate; while the United States' national adult illiteracy stands at a comparatively mere 4%. Stemming from this figure are the rates of recidivism in the United States, which are also at a particular high - 41% to 71% of prisoners who are released into the community end up back in prison only a short time after their acquittal. This can quickly be assessed as the obvious impact of expecting unskilled, undereducated, and often improperly socialized persons to be released into the community and make it on their own. In a world where high education is required for practically anything and everything, the thought of having high expectations for a person being thrown back into the world from a life of solitaire and no education in prison seems highly impractical. Although at one time rehabilitation was a critical goal of the prison system, funding for most educational and rehabilitative programs "has been severed, prioritizing punishment and profit over people." ("PARC", n.d.). The real mission of the prison system now seems to be that of total containment, rather than assistance. Recent studies have shown an increasing need for special skills for America's workforce for the future. "Inmates, who traditionally do not have good workplace skills, can benefit from education provided during incarceration." (Yeonopolus, n.d.). There are numerous innovative programs for inmates available in prisons across America, some of which are even enforced with penalties if persons decide to resist. In certain prisons, prisoners are being compelled to attend school for specified periods, and those who refuse to comply may be denied parole hearings or "be prevented from participating in alternative forms of 'treatment' until they comply." (Davidson, 1995). The educators who teach in the prison system understand they the persons they are educating require more than just educational skills, they also lack the knowledge of proper personal skills, such as making decisions, working with others, using resources appropriately, and so on. It is this understanding that has, and seemingl y will continue to, keep prisoners from reentering the prison system after their release. There are two basic types of correctional education programs - vocational training, which focuses on the learning of skills that are related to the workplace, and literacy development, which is used to heighten a persons reading and mathematical skills. Each state has a separate list of educational programs offered to inmate; Colorado for example, employs the Correctional Education Program, which strives to provide inmates with skills which will be transferable and useful to them once they leave the penal system by: ensuring their reach the highest academic achievement level possible, preferably obtaining the General Educational Development (GED) Diploma, and

Neighbourly Relations Essay Example for Free

Neighbourly Relations Essay Examine the argument that neighbourly relations are characterised by friendly distance. Neighbourly relations are an aspect of life which affects every single one of us at some point in our lives. When we look to live somewhere we not only consider the property and general area, but are also curious about our neighbours. A common question when viewing a property is ‘what are the neighbours like? ’ and the answer is usually ‘they are really nice’ whether they are or not! But what makes a good neighbour? Some people get on with their neighbours but just as many don’t and usually it’s due to what can appear as trivial disputes. This essay will look at the term ‘friendly distance’ which plays a huge part in how neighbours interact with each other. Many studies have asked the question ‘what makes a good neighbour? ’ and social scientists have found that despite different back grounds or settings the majority of people want the same set of standards from the people living near or around them. People need to be friendly and be there for each other but at the same time respect each others’ ‘need for privacy and reserve’ (Willmott. , cited in Byford, 2009, p. 253). So you have to be friendly but keep your distance at the same time. So how do we do this? Neighbouring relations comes with it’s own set of unwritten rules. These rules are constantly being portrayed and carried out in our day to day lives subconsciously. A 2004 study carried out in Manchester neighbourhoods further shows that this is a widespread practice. Neighbours of various areas demonstrated similar actions and practices of what is expected from neighbours, a common one being that they will chat with their neighbour when they are outside of the house if they see them but wouldn’t they wouldn’t go in each other’s house (Harris and Gale, cited in Byford, 2009, p. 55). This type of understanding of what is expected of a neighbour is also echoed in another study where neighbouring is seen as an ‘occasioned activity’ (Laurier et al. , cited in Byford, 2009, p. 256). This study showed that whilst neighbours can exchange pleasantries quite happily with one another if they meet in a public place, they would only directly go to the neighbours house and ring their door bell if there was something specific they wanted of if something was wrong. Although similar studies were carried out in the USA and findings were very much the same as the UK, other countries and cultures can be quite different. In 1970, the anthropologist Stanley Brandes visited Spain to study how modernisation and urbanisation affected small rural communities there. He resided in the village of Becedas and observed the daily life of it’s residents. What he found there was quite different to the UK, in that neighbours would enter each other’s houses without knocking or a second thought. They introduced themselves immediately by name and offered their help and went out of their way to make Brandes feel welcome. (Brandes, 1975, cited in Byford, p. 260). But as Brandes resided there longer he came to understand that what appeared at first as welcoming and friendly practices, it actually belied a community that in reality was quite mistrusting and critical of each other. Privacy was not seen as necessary and someone who required it would be considered rude and impolite. The poor status of the village meant that the villagers relied on each other for daily help with manual labour and other traditional activites. Without each other they felt they couldn’t surive even, but this high dependence on each other masked the underlying feeling of distrust they had for each other. But what about when neighbouring goes wrong? As human beings we can’t get it right all the time and relations can break down leading to disputes and disagreements. Noisy neighbours is a common complaint and one that is suffered more commonly in overcrowded housing estates where insulation is poor. This in turn leads to a lack of privacy and leads to a neighbours making adjustments within their daily life to prevent embarrassment of being overheard. These adjustments can referred to as ‘distancing mechanisms’ (Bourke, 1994, cited in Byford, p. 266). Such adjustments could include turning the bed away from the adjoining wall, and other ways of preventing noise from being heard. So although people can do what they like in their own homes, they are expected to take necessary steps to minimise what other’s can hear. Another much more serious example of neighbourly relations going wrong is exhibited within the cases of the murders of Catherine Genovese and James Bulger. Although neighbours assume they offer security to one another and ‘look out for each other’ (Attwood et all. , cited in Byford, p. 271) the public exposure of both the above cases uncovered a massive breakdown in neighbourly relations. In both cases a large number of residents heard screams, or observed unusual behaviour which left them concerned but they failed to do anything. A number of studies were carried out to study ‘bystander intervention’ to determine why these people didn’t help. One study carried out showed that if one person helps out then nother may do as well, but people are led by each other’s actions (Latane and Darley, cited in Byford, p. 279) and this was referred to as the ‘bystander effect’. In another study by Levine (1999) he found that the percieved relationship between the three boys in the Bulger case led to the reason why no-one intervened. People failed to get involved because they assumed the boys were all brothers and it was nothing to do with them. As neighbours we commonly share a social identity, or even a collective identity through our relationship with each other. This shared identity should profer a loyalty to each other as people within a shared group usually ‘stick together’. However, it would seem neighbourly relations are alot more complex than merely a shared identity. Neighbouring practices are carried out without thinking within our normal day, and these practices allow us to manage the fine line of private and public space. Neighbourhood life is ordered and defines how people should live together, and go about their daily lives without interfering but also by being there for each other too.