scholarly journals Velázquez, Wagner and the Red Skull. Intermediality and the Genesis of Meaning in a Particular Scene of Captain America: The First Avenger

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 117-131
Author(s):  
Dániel Nagy
Keyword(s):  
High Tech ◽  
Huge Amount ◽  
Captain America ◽  
Precise Identification ◽  
Terrorist Organization ◽  
Title Character

Abstract In the 2011 superhero movie, Captain America: The First Avenger (produced by Marvel Studios, directed by Joe Johnston) the main opponent of the title character is a Nazi officer, Johann Schmidt, who turns out to be a kind of superhuman entity, the Red Skull. Throughout the movie, viewers can follow the process of him gradually leaving behind his identity as a Nazi officer, and presenting himself as the leader of the occult-high-tech terrorist organization, the Hydra. At a certain point we can see him visited by one of the scientists working for him, Doctor Zola, whom he puts wise to his plans. During the conversation a portrait is being painted of the Red Skull, but we cannot see his face, only that the artist uses a huge amount of red paint. In the background, excerpts of Wagner’s operas are being played, which is very unusual in a Marvel movie. The question is, should the viewer recognize the diegetic music and notice the possible reference to the painting Las Meninas by Velázquez? How the detection of these intermedial references and the awareness of the act of trespassing media borders would affect the semiotic processes of interpretation? And also, how would the more precise identification of the cited materials change the semiotic modality of intermediality here? The article tries to answer these questions by interpreting the scene and the role of the references in question within the entire film through the prism of intermedial semiotics.

The Indices of Creative Cities: the Global and Local Aspects

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 95 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomas Kačerauskas
Keyword(s):  
High Tech ◽  
Melting Pot ◽  
Creative Cities ◽  
Global And Local

The paper deals with the indices of creative cities. Author analyses the different creativity indices suggested by both the followers and the critics of R. Florida. The author criticizes the Florida’s indices such as Bohemian, Melting pot, Gay, High tech, Innovation, Talent indices, as well as Minor integrative (diversity) and Major integrative indices. The indices of other authors presuppose the questions about the role of the region in defining certain creativity indices. The author makes conclusion that the uniform formula of creativity indices is impossible for two reasons. First, the creativity indices depend on the region of a city. Second, the very strategy to have the uniform creativity indices makes the cities similar to each other and no more unique, consequently, no more creative; as result, this strategy is anti-creative.

scholarly journals The Role of Internal Control in Firms’ Coping with the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence from China

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 6294
Author(s):  
Peiqing Zhu ◽  
Jianbo Song
Keyword(s):  
Internal Control ◽  
Manufacturing Industry ◽  
Firm Heterogeneity ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Risk Prevention ◽  
High Tech ◽  
Obvious Effect ◽  
The Difference ◽  
The Impact

Internal control plays a role in risk prevention for firms when dealing with serious emergencies, which ensures the sustainable development of firms during a crisis. Based on the rapid outbreak of COVID-19 in China, this paper empirically tests whether internal control alleviates the negative impact of the pandemic on firm performance. Using a sample of Chinese listed firms from the first quarter of 2019 to the third quarter of 2020 and employing the difference-in-difference (DID) method, we find that the firms with a higher quality of internal control achieve better financial performance during the pandemic period; the more serious the pandemic is, the more obvious effect internal control plays. Furthermore, we consider the industry heterogeneity and firm heterogeneity of the risk resistance effect of internal control. In the manufacturing industry, which is a “disaster zone” of the pandemic, and the non-high-tech industry with a low degree of digitization, internal control can play a more important role in firms’ performance. Moreover, for state-owned enterprises, and firms with strong financing constraints, the role of internal control is more prominent. The above results provide empirical evidence for the risk prevention function of internal control and shed new light on the measures for firms to resist emergencies in the future.

CONCEPTUAL PRINCIPLES OF ACHIEVING INTELLECTUAL LEADERSHIP

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 100-104
Author(s):  
Liudmyla Tsymbal
Keyword(s):  
Economic Development ◽  
Intellectual Capital ◽  
Global Economy ◽  
Physical Capital ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Educational Process ◽  
High Tech ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Intellectual Leadership

The article identifies the key conceptual foundations for the formation of intellectual leadership of economic entities, including countries as specific actors in the global economy. Thorough preconditions for increasing the level of economic development and the impact of education have been identified. It is determined that historical concepts and modern realities of economic activity only actualize the role of education and enlightenment in the economic development of the national economy and ensuring its competitiveness. The strategies of increasing the competitiveness of individual countries of the world are analyzed, their key priorities in the conditions of formation of the knowledge economy are determined. The evolution of views on the role of human and intellectual capital in increasing the welfare of countries, the impact on GDP and other macroeconomic indicators is described. The ratings of countries are analyzed, in particular by the level of investment in intellectual capital and the structure of their GDP, which confirms the dominance of science-intensive economic activities. In addition, it was determined that the leading countries are characterized by increasing the role of knowledge-intensive activities, increasing the share of intangible assets, redistribution of capital of leading international companies and increasing research spending, increasing investment in human and intellectual capital, increasing exports of high-tech products. Analytical assessment confirms the advanced development of science-intensive industries in countries with developed economies, which creates the need for training and retraining of specialists needed for such industries. In modern conditions, the educational process ceases to be predominantly the prerogative of young people, and becomes a lifelong process, which increases spending on education in developed countries, but without denying the significant asymmetries on this indicator. Research confirms the direct relationship between the quality of human and physical capital and economic development, which is typical of highly developed countries, one of the main reasons for the development lag of the poorest countries. In addition, the article substantiates the key factors of intellectual leadership and their impact on the development of economic development strategies.

scholarly journals Unleashing The Growth Potential Of Indian MSME Sector

2017 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 35-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sumanjeet Singh ◽  
Minakshi Paliwal
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Economic Structure ◽  
Total Export ◽  
Growth Potential ◽  
High Tech ◽  
Policy Measures ◽  
The Government ◽  
Future Growth ◽  
Innovation And Entrepreneurship

The MSME sector occupies a position of strategic significance in the Indian economic structure. This sector contributes nearly eight per cent to country’s GDP, employing over 80 million people in nearly 36 million widely-dispersed enterprises across the country; accounting for 45 per cent of manufactured output, 40 per cent of the country’s total export, and producing more than 8000 valueadded products ranging from traditional to high-tech. Furthermore, these enterprises are the nurseries for innovation and entrepreneurship, which will be key to the future growth of India. It is also an acknowledged fact that this sector can help realise the target of the proposed National Manufacturing Policy to enhance the share of manufacturing in GDP to 25 per cent and to create 100 million jobs by the end of 2022, as well as to foster growth and take India from its present two trillion dollar economy to a 20 trillion dollar economy. Despite the sector’s high enthusiasm and inherent capabilities to grow, its growth story still faces a number of challenges. In this light, the present paper examines the role of Indian MSMEs in India’s economic growth and explores various problems faced by the sector. The paper also attempts to discuss various policy measures undertaken by the Government to strengthen Indian MSMEs. Finally, the paper proposes strategies aimed at strengthening the sector to enable it to unleash its growth potential and help make India a 20 trillion dollar economy.

FROM SUBCONTRACTED R&D TO JOINT COLLABORATION: THE ROLE OF TRUST IN FACILITATING THIS PROCESS

2004 ◽  
Vol 01 (02) ◽  
pp. 205-231 ◽  
Author(s):  
PAUL RYAN ◽  
MAJELLA GIBLIN ◽  
EDEL WALSHE
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Behavior ◽  
Operations Management ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Selection Process ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
High Tech ◽  
Effective Selection ◽  
Unstable Environment ◽  
Consumer Tastes

High-technology companies operate in a dynamic and unstable environment due to rapidly changing technologies and consumer tastes. An increasing number of companies are engaging in joint R&D projects to subvent the constraints to competitiveness in this turbulent environment. Collaborative R&D activity has been studied from the perspectives of strategic management [Dodgson (1992)], organizational behavior [Powell et al. (1996)], operations management [Nooteboom et al. (2000)] and business-to-business marketing [Turnbull et al. (1996)]. Within the literature, trust has been identified as highly significant to alliance effectiveness, governance and the development of a long-term mutually beneficial relationship. [Perry et al. (2002); Ramaseshan and Loo (1998); Morgan and Hunt (1994); Ganesan (1994); Nooteboom et al. (2000)]. This paper describes a collaborative R&D project between two high-tech companies to trace the development of trust between the partners. It specifically considers the role of trust in facilitating the progression of their relationship from subcontracting to joint collaboration. Reaffirming existing theories, the findings of the paper identify partner compatibility and an effective selection process as well as openness and honesty as the foundations for trust. Moreover, sound management practices were found to foster high levels of co-operation and commitment to the relationship. The main contribution of the paper is the identification of opportunistic behavior as a possible positive phenomenon. This provides new insight to existing literature which traditionally assumes a negative relationship between trust and exploitative behavior.

scholarly journals THE ROLE OF HUMAN CAPITAL IN THE MANAGEMENT OF INNOVATIVE DEVELOPMENT OF AN ENTERPRISE

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 199-203
Author(s):  
Tamara A. Samoyluk ◽  
Anastasia S. Popova ◽  
Aelita V. Shaburova
Keyword(s):  
Human Capital ◽  
Human Resources ◽  
Market Economy ◽  
High Tech ◽  
Innovative Development ◽  
Highly Qualified ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Main Factor

In a market economy, the competitiveness of an enterprise is ensured by the introduction of innovations. In order to remain innovative, enterprises need high-quality human resources. Investments in human resources, as the main factor of innovative growth, determine the ability of employees to transform their existing knowledge, skills and abilities into high-tech products, highly qualified services.

scholarly journals Jihadist war or a challenge of disintegration?

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 233-250
Author(s):  
Péter Balogh
Keyword(s):  
Developed Countries ◽  
Actual State ◽  
Islamic State ◽  
Global Context ◽  
Terrorist Organization ◽  
Socio Demographic Factors ◽  
The Developed Countries ◽  
The One ◽  
Foreign Fighters

In this paper we introduce some relevant research results about the role of social embeddedness and social resources in the sphere of social conflicts and violence. In accordance with the actual state of the investigation process the outcomes presented in this analysis are focusing on the activities of the so called ‘Islamic State’or ISIS – considered to be a rather effective terrorism exporter recently. After briefly outlining the broader – global – context of terrorist organizations, the particular characteristics of the activities of ISIS and some elements of the conceptual frame, the study highlights empirically two potential explaining factors of the success of the terrorist organization. On the one hand the influencing network – primarily linked to the cyber sphere – of the Islamic State is explored, demonstrating a notable focus on the developed countries of Europe. On the other hand the paper summarizes the main conclusions from a case study on the recruitment base of the militants in Brussels of the terrorist organization investigating the relationship between the territorial distribution of the ISIS foreign fighters in city and the extent of segregation of the Islamic population in the different districts, including also certain socio-demographic factors to shed light on the significance of the broader – unfavourable – social context.

scholarly journals Fetishizing Captain America’s sidearm: iconography, exceptionality, and the politics of representing guns

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tim Posada
Keyword(s):  
News Media ◽  
Cultural Landscape ◽  
State Of Exception ◽  
Giorgio Agamben ◽  
Captain America ◽  
Fan Communities ◽  
Digital Discourse ◽  
Digital News ◽  
The Times

Abstract In 2007, Captain America, or Cap to his peers, died outside the courthouse where he would answer for leading a band of superheroes against the government’s Superhuman Registration Act in a plot line Fox and Friends took issue with, condemning Marvel Comics for killing Cap “while we’re at war,” referring to President George W. Bush’s war on terror. In 2008, former sidekick Bucky took up the Cap banner. Legacy characters are common in comics, but fans noted an unexpected addition to the costume: a handgun. Cap’s shield, a symbol of defense, now had an offensive accent. News media outlets lauded the new gun as a “sign of the times,” as Rolling Stone said, considering it a critique on the post-9/11 cultural landscape, but fan communities felt uneasy about the decision. The gun’s presence on Bucky Cap’s belt marks a continuous period of exceptionality, the kind Giorgio Agamben warns against in State of Exception. When Bucky’s predecessor would return to the role of Captain America, the sidearm would no longer remain, but the character would confront issues related to guns, and media and fans would once again respond. Even though Cap only encounters guns a few times during the 2010s, reception to these moments is more significant than that of characters who regularly use lethal weapons. Fetishistic emphasis on Captain America’s gun exposes the state of exception inherent in all superhero media, prompting a digital discourse across professional and amateur platforms on gun-related subjects. This project analyzes how superhero media portray gun use and the subsequent reception from both news media and digital fandom. A sampling of comics, television series, and films are textually analyzed, along with digital news media and online fan forums pertaining to those examples.

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