Social Media

Introduction Advancement in technology has provided an opportunity for the development of new forms of technologies. Social media, which has become a reality through the employment of technology, is a term used to refer to various internet networks that allow people to interact, as well as share ideas and opinions in different remote locations.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Social Media specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Examples of these social media include facebook, twitter, MySpace, and LinkedIn amongst others. Social media has revolutionalized the way people interact. Social Network It is only around 40 years since digital technology was invented. However, the changes that have been experienced are overwhelming. One of the potentials that digital media has realized is in its social network. This platform has turned the world into a global village besides making life much easier as people can communicate and interact anywhere in real time. The first kind of network was Myspace.com. Thomas Anderson and Chris Dewolfe created this network in August 2003 (Khristopher, 2008, p. 24). Since its creation, it has attracted approximately 200 million users in America and worldwide. Users can use their email addresses to post pictures, videos, and information about their personal status and issues in life such as political affiliation, hobbies, careers, marital status, and annual incomes just to point a few. Facebook Another social media that has become popular is facebook. Mark Zuckerberg, Dustin Moskovitz, and Chris Hughes created this network (Khristopher, 2008, p. 25). The three were students at the Harvard University when they came up with this idea. They successfully managed to launch the network in their dormitories at the University. At that moment, they targeted University students since the network was applicable or operational on a college-administered email address for registration. In 2006, the creators successfully managed to roll out their network to worldwide users who had an e-mail account (Khristopher, 2008, p. 24). When facebook allowed users to open their facebook account, News Corp had acquired MySpace.Advertising Looking for essay on communications media? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Then, it had captured 106 million users. Other networks began to surface, which included blogs, LinkedIn, and twitter among others. As technology advanced, these networks have been used to link people in different areas of the world. The users of facebook can create their own profiles that are customized with facts and any information they want. Photos can also be attached to the profiles. They enhance the interface besides adding aura in the interaction process. The users of the platform have continued to expand over time. The major use of these networks was to communicate and share opinions and ideas. However, as the digital technology continues to advance, users have also expanded. The platform enables them to interact and make new friends. Many people have met friends through the networks that have influenced their lives positively. According to Ingrid (2010), facebook has provided an opportunity for people to meet with different people from different cultural backgrounds (p. 265). The platform has changed the lives of many across the world. A good example is Sarah Fielding, a social worker. The platform helped her develop her writing skills that elevated her towards becoming a good writer. She received support and motivation through a friend in the social media who advised and trained her to become a good writer (Ingrid, 2010, p. 265). This move is therefore a clear indication of the magnitude these social media are doing to the society. Twitter Sacks and Graves (2012) affirm that the complexities in the network diffusion require that students be trained on social media usage (p. 80). Tw itter is one of the social media networks that are popular among students. However, many of these students lack skills and knowledge to use the platform in their interaction. For instance, one of the benefits of twitter is that it allows users to send their messages quickly. Users need to keep their message short and precise because the word limit is 140 characters. Therefore, having knowledge on such attributes ensures that the networks are used well in the required manner. These networks may be abused or used in the wrong way that may cause career-damage to the students. This may arise due to issues such as using the platform for finding opposite sex friends and or communicating about immoral messages. Therefore, education is paramount.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Social Media specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Advantages of the Social Media A message can be transmitted to many users within few seconds. This has therefore helped to speed up communication. In the past, communication that involved two parties at a distant arrived late. Sometimes, the message became obsolete upon arrival (Brydon, 2010, p. 6). This platform has changed this case. Nowadays, companies are using the platform to market their products to potential customers across the world. This stands out as a strategy that many companies have resorted to due to low cost, higher transmission speed, and the huge number of people who are accessing the internet and using the social media. Social Media Issues: Is it Secure? Even as the popularity of these social media increases, many questions have arisen concerning the security of using the networks (Abbe, 2011, p. 34). The identity of the account holder is one of the issues that raise concerns. Many cyber crimes are omitted using information from facebook. For example, a person can impersonate another and solicit money from the unsuspecting users. These cases have been on the r ise since the networks emerged. An individual can create an account with false information. This has made people commit crimes of all manners in the social media. Another issue that has arisen is whether a journalist or any third party has the prerogative to use information of an individual posted on the profile (Khristopher, 2008, p. 24). The issue is unclear. It has stirred mixed reactions from members of the public. Those opposed argue that the consent of the person should be granted before using such information. On the other hand, those proposing argue that, once an individual has decided to post information on the profile, the information can be used by anybody. Social Media: Its Impact to People’s Lives These platforms therefore have both advantages and disadvantages that need to be looked into to ensure that they provide better services without risking or putting the life or the identity of an individual at risk. In the digital technology, most networks in social medi a came into the limelight in 2003. Since then, the number has increased at a tremendous rate (Khristopher, 2008, p. 24). The coming of this media was right because this was the time that the living standards of people had gone down due to economic problems. They have made communication easier and cheap as people can socialize and share information across the world in any location.Advertising Looking for essay on communications media? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The technology was the right initiative that resonated with the current living styles among many young people who are always optimistic wanting to learn more about what is happening across the world. This social media has turned the dreams of such young people into reality as they can learn and share what is happening around the world at their homes in real time. The creators of these networks therefore provide motivation to millions of young people who indeed can explore opportunities in digital technology to innovate new technologies to spur economy forward (Moore, 2010, p. 179). The outcome of these technologies has also motivated the creators to aspire for more ways of making them even better. The networks have rocked the world: they have reshaped the way people communicate and share information. How Technology Influences the Development of Social Media Emerging digital technologies played a fundamental role in the development of social networks. The creators used the existing t echnologies in coming up with their own technologies. For instance, the three creators of facebook used the existing college email account to enable fellow students to register and share information amongst them. Therefore, the available technologies were fundamental in bringing the ideas of the social networks into reality. The internet platform was already in operation. Therefore, they pegged their ideas on such platforms in coming up with the idea of social media such as MySpace, LinkedIn, and facebook amongst others (Khristopher, 2008, p. 25). What to put in Place to Improve Social Media Services Social media is an important case in the development of digital technology that is worth studying. Already, various researchers have begun their studies on social networks. The platforms required a lot of understanding to ensure that they are used appropriately for good and not destructive reasons. The potential of technology to cause harm is evident. Therefore, a study on the best stra tegies to curb such loopholes is important. As far as I am concerned based on my experience with the use of social media, there are various things that need to be looked into to ensure that the media does not cause harm to the users. Security measures should be enhanced. Information requested by the service providers should be kept confidential to avoid access by third parties. This stands out as one of the fundamental things that need to be looked into in the future to guarantee security when it comes to the use of these social media. Furthermore, there should be precise international laws and regulations that concern the use of media. People should not use the platform to cause animosity or mayhem with others. Such communication should be tracked with the culprits being identified and persecuted. The increased rate of user-falsifying personal information should be factored in. These issues, if corrected, will influence the future of social media positively. People innovate through various ways. Some innovate through default, others do it through research while others too invent through experience. Conclusion In conclusion, advancement in technology has changed the way people carry out their businesses. The creators of these network technologies like facebook and MySpace had an idea of what they wanted to achieve. Therefore, they finally managed to succeed in fulfilling their dreams. Therefore, through the social media, the digital world is one of the highest achievements that technology has brought. People can share information, photos, research, entertainment, market their business, and any other activity that the platform can support. The innovation was appropriate and important. However, there is still the need for more efforts to ensure that these platforms are well managed to guarantee their future reliance. Reference List Abbe, E. (2011). The buzz on social media. Writer, 124(3), 34-55. Brydon, D. (2010). Social Media’s Research Potential. Engli sh Studies in Canada, 36(4), 4-8. Ingrid, T. (2010). Social Network Analysis and the Language of Sarah Fielding. European Journal of English Studies, 4(3), 265. Khristopher, B. (2008). Social networking sites. The Quill, 96(1), 24-26. Moore, M. (2010). Adaptation and New Media. Adaptation, 3(9), 179-192. Sacks, M., Graves, N. (2012). How Many Friends Do You Need? Teaching Students How to Network Using Social Media. Business Communication Quarterly, 75(1), 80-88. This essay on Social Media was written and submitted by user Vaughn H. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. 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Essay on Amazons Vertical Integration

Essay on Amazons Vertical Integration Essay on Amazons Vertical Integration Essay on Amazons Vertical IntegrationThe marketing mix includes four essential components: product, price, promotion and place. Place denotes the approach to distribution and pertains to the methods of delivering the product or service to the target customers. The methods of distribution are shaped by the nature of the product or service, by technological factors, by the strategies of competitors, by the strategies of other participants of the supply chain or distribution chain, etc.In particular, there exist several distribution methods which include integration. The most frequently used methods are horizontal integration the inclusion of companies or business activities pertaining to the same level of the value chain, and vertical integration the integration of different levels of supply chain in one company or one union. The purpose of this paper is to analyze backward integration in publishing undertaken by Amazon, to review the facts of the battle between Amazon and Barnes and Noble, to discuss Amazons decision to get into publishing and to consider the perspectives of signing contracts with Amazon from the position of a well-known and a novel author.Key facts on the battle between Amazon and Barnes and NobleAmazon was one of the pioneers of e-commerce, and its department dealing with online sales of print books quickly became successful. Amazon paid a lot of attention to its book business and started investing into e-books and devices for reading e-books in order to attract the audience. Although Amazon clearly chose to focus on the segment of electronic books, it also entered the publishing segment and offered exclusive publishing services to the authors.Besides the bold decision on backward integration, Amazon also undertook several predatory marketing campaigns which were focused on directing customers from other book stores such as Barnes and Noble. In particular, Amazon offered an $15 discount for those customers who visited traditional bookstores and used Amazon price check app to purchase print versions of the necessary books in Amazon (instead of purchasing the books at the store they were visiting) (Hertner, 2012).Although Amazon managed to drive customer interest, publishers and book retailers united in a protest against such practices (Hertner, 2012). The companies also protest against Amazon tax protection: the company is allowed not to pay taxes across the United States because it has no physical presence in the states with sales tax (Hertner, 2012). Furthermore, Barnes and Noble made a public statement calling authors to avoid agreements with Amazon since such agreements strengthen Amazons monopoly and threaten to undermine the whole publishing industry (Turner, 2012).Despite the united efforts of publishers and book retailers, Amazon is clearly winning the game. Barnes and Noble reports that the sales of electronic and printed books are decreasing as well as the sales of electronic devices and accessories (Gelles, 2 014). The revenues of Barnes and Noble are declining, and the Nook department of Barnes and Noble is no longer able to compete with Amazon Kindle devices and the variety of tablets and smartphones available at the market. Barnes and Noble is planning to use the services of third-party manufacturers to upgrade its Nook line of e-readers or to sell the department to G Asset Management (Gelles, 2014). Although Barnes and Noble managed to optimize costs and therefore increase the overall profits despite the drop in revenue, the prospects of brick-and-mortar bookstores are not very optimistic. At the same time, Amazon is actively pursuing its vertical integration strategy and growing the market of electronic books and e-readers.Assessment of Amazons entry into publishingAmazon started as online retailer and its major competitive advantage was formed by the benefits caused by early entry into the industry (Krug, 2012). At the same time, Amazon quickly expanded its presence in innovative m arket segments. One of these segments was the publishing segment. Amazon started offering publishing services to authors and focused on selling both printed and electronic versions of books. From the authors perspective, such idea is fruitful as it allows to gain access to a large audience and helps to target both the fans of printed books and the new generation of readers who prefer e-ink devices for reading.Amazons conditions are exclusive and the authors might be unable to publish their books with other publishers. In this way, Amazon manages to eliminate intermediaries and therefore decrease publishing costs. Furthermore, Amazon receives the opportunity to capitalize on publishing books and strengthens its supply chain. At the same time, Amazons exclusive publishing conditions result in the weakening of other publishers and book retailers and in the strengthening of Amazons market position. Therefore, vertical integration is highly beneficial for Amazon as it helps the company t o expand the market of e-books and at the same time to retain its leadership in selling printed books.Author choices in different situationsFrom the perspective of a popular author of childrens fiction, it might be not very beneficial to sign a contract with Amazon since this company requests exclusive rights, and a popular author might want to choose more beneficial contracts with other publishers in the future. Furthermore, book retailers and publishers often boycott Amazons printed books and therefore signing a contract with Amazon might limit access to readers audience for a popular author. Therefore, it would be reasonable for a popular author to reject Amazon offer and to retain the relationships with the traditional publisher.In the case of a new author working on a first book it is best to accept Amazons offer because of several reasons. First of all, it is difficult for beginning authors to attract the attention to traditional publishers because of numerous procedures and r equirements as well as competition in this sphere. Every publisher also targets a particular audience and it is hard for a new author to choose the right publisher and to win the contract. In Amazons case, the risks for a new author are lower and the author can quickly gain access to a worldwide audience (especially in the case of electronic books).Conclusions and recommendationsThe development of technology has dramatically changed distribution channels in the publishing industry. The dynamics of the recent decade shows that the sales of e-books are increasing and the sales of print books are declining (Trachtenberg, 2014). Amazon is the global leader in selling e-books while the sales of Barnes and Noble are declining (Trachtenberg, 2014). However, there are specific categories of print books the demand for which is growing or keeps at the same level: these are textbooks, books for entertainment (detectives, fiction), books for children and illustrated books such as recipe books ( Herther, 2012).The major strategic advantage of Barnes and Noble is its brick-and-mortar chain of stores. At the same time, this chain of stores incurs significant costs. It is recommended for Barnes and Noble to track the categories of print books the demand for which is still high, and to optimize its store layout to offer only these categories of books available for instantaneous purchase. Other categories of books should be sold in online store of Barnes and Noble.Furthermore, to stay in the publishing business, Barnes and Noble needs to keep in touch with technology. In this context, acquisitions of new technologies might be helpful for the company if these technologies can enhance reading experience. Currently Barnes and Noble can improve its market position if the company focuses on delivering ultimate reading experience and empowering it with technology. The company made a bold move by introducing Nook reader, and it would be efficient to empower this device with break-throu gh technology. In any case, Barnes and Noble should focus on online distribution of print and electronic books, and use its brick-and-mortar stores in combination with its digital strategy.

Possible Problems in Air Arabia's Future Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Possible Problems in Air Arabia's Future - Essay Example and Europe tourist trade, where travelers are more affected by high oil prices than are local travelers. Low-cost airlines have been able to supply routes previously unserved or underserved by traditional network airlines, with local customers taking advantage of low cost. What are the factors that allow an airline to compete successfully with ticket prices It is necessary for an airline like Air Arabia to look to their competition and find ways to offer lower prices than any other airline and still maintain customer satisfaction (Sector; Air). 1. "No frills" services such as not serving food on board or by charging customers for food and drink. Air Arabia maintains competitive pricing by offering a single class with a simple fare structure, and by charging money for on-board food, drinks, and headsets through agreements with various companies to sell consumer items on board, thereby providing a good complimentary income to the low cost model. By focusing on short direct flights, it might not even be necessary to offer food at all (Air 19). 3. Creating package deals through cooperation with hotels and car rental companies.

Juvenile delinquency Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Juvenile delinquency - Essay Example And with the change in the family values in the modern world the pressure exerted on the juveniles according to the nature of their families has increased. Usually it is seen that the children who have a small family tend to make friends outside i.e. in their schools. These children then tend to get involved in peer activities which can at times result in delinquency. Thus family size can matter in curbing or increasing the rate of delinquency in the juveniles. Similarly the way the juveniles are being treated at their homes is also a strong factor in determining that a child would get involved with criminal activities or not. For e.g. child from a divorced couple may be more likely to get involve with these activities. Divorce is an important aspect which can lead to a distortion in the behavior of parents which can further lead the children to go into a state of trauma. This trauma can therefore lead to the involvement of children in unusual activities of criminal nature. On the ot her hand it can be noted that children who have been provided with proper care and treatment in their homes are less likely to be involved in such activities. Furthermore the social class to which the child belongs also plays an important role in determining his future. By social class here it is meant as to which class of the society does he belong to, i.e. race, ethnicity and status. Race and Ethnicity can be important in the lives of children as nowadays all over the world there is a widespread discrimination amongst certain castes. This discrimination can lead to negligence of the children by his other peers or teachers which may lead to distortion in his behavior. School plays an important role in the life of a child as it is the first public institution to which he is exposed in life. And if his first experience in school is loaded with taunts and abuses then he may land up in getting involved in criminal activities.

Is Murdoch empire will collapse Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Is Murdoch empire will collapse - Article Example Although she was born in the year 1968, nevertheless, her association with the use of psychology for the purpose of governing the masses relates back to the nineteenth century. She got married to the great grandson of Sigmund Freud – a psychoanalyst who is well-known for his work on transference, unconscious mind and sexual drive. Her husband, Mathew Freud, is PR tycoon as well. This marriage related Elizabeth Murdoch to the Freud’s cousin, Edward Bernays who is known as the father of public relations and propaganda. The organizations of the Murdoch family are based upon that premise as their personal and professional agenda is one of manipulating minds through maintaining public relations and thereby, controlling the news. They transformed the information in to entertainment for the purpose of distracting the people for their own interest. The Rupert’s holdings have been tainted in three continents, so far. He had to be testified in front of the British Parliame nt. Some members of the inner circle of the New Corp have resigned or been arrested. Julia Gillard, the Prime Minister of Australia has declared that News Corp’s Holdings could possibly have to face an inquiry in her country.

Distinctions Between Whats True, Whats False

Distinctions Between Whats True, Whats False The statement There are no absolute distinctions between what is true and what is false is both correct and incorrect when examining certain areas of knowledge and ways of knowing. To evaluate the statements accuracy we must understand the meaning of the words true, false and absolute. In my opinion something that has been proven as correct or real is true. On the other hand, something which has failed to be proven true is false, yet this definition itself may be incorrect as others might argue that a claim which has not been credited as true does not necessarily mean it is false. Lastly, the term absolute is something perfect or unlimited. However, how can something be proven true, and if it has, then who determines when there is enough proof to make it true? Normally we rely on evidence to help us prove the validity of a claim, particularly for historical and scientific claims. On the other hand, evidence used could contain problems of knowledge due to bias which could be associate d with it. Therefore, what kind of evidence is needed to have a justified truth in the different areas of knowledge? In my opinion, perception is one of the most important ways of knowing, since we often depend on it to determine whether a claim is true or false. For example, the existence of light is considered a fact due to perceptionyet to a person who has been blind their whole life, light would be considered a myth since they have never perceived it. On the other hand, perception can deceive us and lead us away from the truth. Take for instance a schizophrenic patient. Science has proven that people who suffer schizophrenia are delusional.  [1]  The people they interact with are true to them but their existence to us is false. What gives us the right to deny their existence? Perhaps we are the ones who have a barrier to our senses that stops us from seeing what schizophrenic patients see. Therefore perception could be considered relative as it creates different truths to different individuals and is therefore subjective. Nevertheless it is not just perception alone which leads us to the tr uth. Science is a discipline that is based on hard, objective and systematic evidence before truths can be reached. Through tests and observations possible explanations or hypotheses are formed and later developed into scientific claims which could be regarded as true or false. For example, the cell theory, which states that all living organisms are composed of cells, that cells are the smallest units of life and that they come from pre-existing cells, was derived from several similar hypotheses and then confirmed after many scientists experiments and observations.  [2]  The cell theory is considered true by a large number of scientists yet it can be argued that we cannot claim that the theory is an absolute truth since new evidence can appear and contradict explanations to the theory which could lead, after further experimentation, to new and improved knowledge and a more accurate truth. This is apparent when examining the induced-fit model by Koshland which was discovered after the lock and key model was developed to describe the mechanism of enzyme action.  [3]  The induced model highlighted that certain enzymes could catalyse several similar reactions contradicting the belief that enzymes were as rigid as previously proposed by the lock and key model. From the above examples we can see that scientists are able to distinguish between a true claim and a false one, to a certain extent, and that new truths are built from previous claims which were/are believed to be true but, that it is almost impossible to state that a claim is the absolute truth. I believe the problem with scientific claims is that most scientists have not tested the validity of the previous scientific truths on which they build their new scientific claim. This makes the previous scientific truths, subjective truths, but scientists use these subjective truths in the hope of finding objective truth. Meanwhile, not all scientific claims which have been proven true remain true. Science has witnessed paradigm shifts such as the shift in the belief that stress and spicy food were the causes to stomach ulcers. This was thought because the idea of bacterium surviving in the acidic environment of a stomach was not a possibility, yet it was later proven that the true cause of ulcers was a bacterium known as Helicobacter pylori which lives in the mucus layer near the stomach wall cells.  [4]  This example shows that science has its limitations at certain points of time and that what we believe is true today may not be true tomorrow, therefore embracing Karl Poppers idea of falsification. These paradigm shifts also lead to the idea that there may be no absolute proof in science that can verify nor falsify the validity of a scientific hypothesis. Therefore, should science embrace the concept of relativism, the idea that some claims are true for some people but not necessarily true for all?  [5]  If we deny the concept of relativism, would it prevent us from moving forward and gaining new knowledge since scientific knowledge comes from known truths? I believe that we should bear in mind the chance that any scientific claim known now could be altered or changed at any moment, but as knowers ourselves we should avoid gullibility by continuing to question these scientific claims especially during classes such as the sciences where we as students are exposed to these claims through secondary sources. History is an area of knowledge where determining true historical claims is very different from in science since knowers cannot directly observe the past.  [6]  It is up to historians and the evidence left behind to develop historical claims and prove their validity. During a History class, I was asked to evaluate a few sources of evidence in relation to the Vietnam War. Each source showed different aspects of the war. Here, I was introduced to propaganda and how far off from the truth it can lead people. Certain evidence such as photographs can deceive us again due to our perception as each person may conclude something different. The media is often accused of using certain photographs which appear to convey a certain message leading to biases. Reasoning, one of the ways of knowing, is used in order to conclude on past events. However, how reliable is the historical evidence? Is it all correct, or does it consist of fabricated facts? I once gave a seminar on the Arab-Israeli conflict, the central conflict in the novel One More River, by Lynne Reid Banks. Countries such as the US have failed to solve this conflict due to the two stories of each nation. For both Palestinians and Israelis, most of the evidence they have is based on their beliefs and stories. However stories in history are often not considered as legitimate evidence, for the truth to be determined. Where does the truth really lie with the assumption that previous generations of both sides may have tried to hide the truth in order to insure that future generations could continue to claim the land as their own? Other nations are involved in trying to resolve this conflict, and emotions can play a major part in determining whose side you take through religious or linguistic affinity. The media play on emotion and help shape peoples opinions towards certain topics through the very language, tone and imagery that are used. Language and emotions can either mask the truth or make it clearer. The media are full of news stories that project their own biases, often negatively influencing the perception of the readers/viewers. In such instances, it is almost impossible to establish what is true and what is really false. Mathematics is an area of knowledge which begins logically from a set of axioms (assumptions)  [7]  from which objective truth is stereotypically claimed to be present. For example, 1+1 will always equal 2 yet this example faces counter-claims such as the fact that 1+1= from an artistic perspective forms a window. It could also be argued that when looking at a real life situation where 1 man and 1 woman enter a house we should have 2 people in the house according to the definition, but what if the woman is in the early stages of pregnancy? Therefore in contrary to perception, there would be more than two living human beings in the house, disproving the mathematical definition. An example of objective truth in mathematics is the fact that parallel lines never meet. If they meet, then they would no longer be parallel. In my opinion, math is the not the strongest area of knowledge which agrees with the statement at hand since distinctions between true and false mathematical claims i s possible. However, some areas in mathematics remain subjective. For instance, it could be argued that in order to solve a mathematical equation, mathematical theories and laws must be accepted, making the truth in maths subjective. Over all, after examining three of the six main areas of knowledge, mathematics seems to least support the claim that There are no absolute distinctions between what is true and what is false, as there is much objective truth in mathematics. We see that different areas of knowledge use different ways of knowing as evidence to distinguish between true and false statements in addition to the problems associated with them. Lastly we see how difficult it is to state that absolute truths exist as well as form an absolute distinction between what is true and what is false. Word count: 1598

Dom Casmurro by Joaquim Maria Machado de Assis, and Chronicle of A Deat

Dom Casmurro by Joaquim Maria Machado de Assis, and Chronicle of A Death Foretold by Gabriel Garcà ­a Mà ¡rquez Works Cited Not Included Religion is supremacy, perfection and spirituality. A typical Latin American religious community heavily relies on religion to provide a moral framework to guide and protect its citizens. However, projecting religion in the light of perfection is superficial. In actuality, it often contains flaws underneath its idealistic teachings. The inadequacy in maintaining the idealistic doctrines is deeply rooted in society. Such notion is reflected and commented upon in the novels Dom Casmurro by Joaquim Maria Machado de Assis and Chronicle of A Death Foretold by Gabriel Garci ­a Marquez. In both novels, the authors effectively criticize religion through their satiric portrayal of religious authorities and other characters' attitudes towards religion. The two novels reveal the practical result of religion in a critical light. The ideal doctrine of religion adjusts itself to the imperfect world in ways that some times do not command respect. The actual practice of the doctrine allows flexibility, which is often abused. In Dom Casmurro, Bento and Jose Dias imagine that a journey to see the Pope will undo Dona Gloria's promise to God. Eventually they settle the matter much more conveniently by resorting to the local church. As shown in Escobar's speech, the characters are constantly manipulating with the power of the religious authorities: "Consult the protonotary about it and if he hesitates, we'll speak to the bishop" (171). This implies that the people often seek and take advantages of the plot holes in religion. The concept of religion as an obligation becomes obvious through... ...o to mirror the Church's failure to uphold high moral standards and use their authority effectively and seriously. Through the subtle and detailed portrayals of the characters in the novels Chronicle of A Death Foretold and Dom Casmurro shed a criticizing light on the hypocritical Church present in the community. Bento's repulsion to be religiously devoted bluntly reveals the blemishes in the practical result of religion hidden underneath seemingly deep devotion. The tragedy of Santiago Nasar explores the other defects of religion, one that is present in the Church itself, and how failure to uphold moral standards in Church upsets the community. Of course the authors do not write solely to condemn religion, they also bring forth the concept that people must adjust their attitudes toward religion and then irrational, old values set by the past Church.