Cross-Culture Issues in Business Communication - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 6 Words: 1921 Downloads: 3 Date added: 2017/09/11 Category Advertising Essay Did you like this example? Cross-culture Issues in Business Communication Introduction When travelling in other countries, we often perceive differences in the way people live and work. In the United States dinner is commonly eaten around 6. 00pm; in Spain, it’s not served until 8. 00 or 9. 00pm. In the United States most people shop in large supermarket once or twice a week; Italians tend to shop in smaller grocery stores nearly every day. Everybody has their own culture so businesspeople must keep in mind of their client’s culture. This paper exploring the aesthetics, values and attitudes, manners and customs and language of cultural will affect business practices and national competitiveness. Background Cultural can be grouped into two kinds, such as nation-culture and subcultures. Nation-states support the concept of a national culture by building museums and monuments to preserve the legacies of important events and people. Nation-state also intervenes in business to help preserve their nation cultures. Most nations, for example, regulate culturally sensitive sectors of the economy, such as filmmaking and broadcasting. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Cross-Culture Issues in Business Communication" essay for you Create order France continues to voice fears that its language is being tainted with English and its media with U. S. programming. To stem the English invasion, French laws limit the use of English in product packaging and storefront signs. At peak listening times, at least 40 percent of all radio station programming must be reserved for French artists. Similar laws apply to television broadcasting. The French government even fined the local branch of a U. S. university for failing to provide French translation in its English-language site on the World Wide Web. A group of people who share a unique way of life within a larger, dominant culture is called a subculture. Companies must be mindful of subcultures when formulating business strategies. For instance, the customary portrait of Chinese culture often ignores the fact that the total population of China is comprised of more than 50 distinct ethnic groups. Decisions regarding product design, packaging and advertising must consider each group’s distinct culture. Aesthetics Issues Aesthetics is what a culture considers to be in â€Å"good taste† in the arts, the imagery evoked by certain expressions, and the symbolism of certain colours. Aesthetics played an important role in business communication when a firm considers doing business in another culture. Firms must control on selection of appropriate colours for product packaging, advertisement, workers uniform and even the website design to make way of success in their business. For example, red is the favorite colour for Chinese. They believe that red will bring luck to them while for Malays, they love green. Across much of Asia, on the other hand, green associated with sickness. Most of the countries taking black colour as the colour of death and mourning while Japan and most of Asia, it is white. Shoe manufacturer Nike experienced firsthand the importance of imagery and symbolism in international marketing. The company emblazoned a new line of shoes with the word â€Å"Air† written to resemble flames or heat rising off blacktop. There were other names given to the shoes such as Air Bakin’, Air Melt, Air Grill and Air B-Que. But what Nike did not realize that the squiggly lines of the â€Å"Air† logo resembled Arabic script for â€Å"Allah†, the Arabic name for God. Under threat of worldwide boycott by Muslims, who considered it a sacrilege, Nike recalled the shoes and agreed to build several playgrounds in Muslim communities as part of its apology. The importance of aesthetics is just a great when going international using the Internet. When going global an internet presence, the more a company localizes the better. For example, a black-and-white Web site is fine for many countries, but in Asia visitors may think you are inviting them to a funeral. So, the web designer must beware and take concern on choosing colour scheme. Finally, music is also deeply embedded in culture and should be considered when developing promotions. When used correctly, music can be clever and creative addition to a promotion; if used incorrectly, it can be offensive to the local population. The architecture of buildings and other structures should also be researched to avoid making cultural blunders attributable to the symbolism of certain shapes and forms. Values and attitudes Issues Values are important to both individuals and groups. Values are ideas, beliefs and customs to which people are emotionally attached. Values include things like honesty, marital faithfulness, freedom and responsibility. While, attitudes mean to positive or negative evaluations, feelings and tendencies that individuals harbor toward objects or concepts. Attitudes reflect underlying values. Cultural knowledge can help managers decide whether promotions must be adapted to local attitudes in order to maximize the effectiveness of promotional efforts. For instance, it is often believed that people around the world respond similarly toward technological products, so advertising agency Euro RSGG Worldwide surveyed consumers about their attitudes toward technology and their use of technological products in purchasing situations. Among other things, the survey revealed that consumers in the United Kingdom were far more likely to purchase online than Italian and German consumers. It also found that Web sites were useful in Finland as a source of information on technological products but were considered not at all useful by Italians. There are three important aspects of life that directly affect business activities which is attitudes toward time, work and achievement, and cultural change. Examples for attitudes toward time, people in Latin American and Mediterranean cultures are casual about their use of time if compare to the people in Japan and the United States. The Latin, they maintain flexible schedules and would rather enjoy their time than sacrifice it to unbending efficiency. In contrast, people in Japan and the United States typically arrive promptly for meetings, keep tight schedules, and work long hours. An American who has worked in the Middle East for 20 years explains the Middle Eastern concept of the time this way:†A lot of the misunderstandings between Middle Easterners and the foreigners are due to their different concepts of time and space. At worst, there is no concept at all of time in the Middle East. At best, there is a sort of open-ended concept. † (Irwin McGraw-Hill, 1999, p. 263). For attitudes toward work, people in southern France like to say, â€Å"We work to live, while people in the United States live to work. † Work, they say, is for them a means to an end. In the United States, they change; it is an end in itself. Not surprising, the lifestyle in southern France is slower-paced. People tend to concentrate on earning enough money to enjoy a relaxed, quality lifestyle. Businesses practically close down during August, when many workers take month-long paid holidays, usually outside the country. In contrast, this attitude is unheard of in many Asian countries, including Japan. Manners and Customs Issues Understanding others manners and customs helps managers to avoid embracing mistakes and improve the ability to negotiate in other cultures, market products effectively and manage international operations. Appropriate ways of behaving, speaking, and dressing in a culture are called manners. In Arab cultures from the Middle East to northwest Africa, one does not extend a hand to greet an older person unless the elder first offers the greeting. In going first, a younger person would be displaying bad manners. Moreover, because Arab culture considers the left hand the one used for personal hygiene, using it to pour tea or serve a meal is considered very bad manners. Good manners are just as important internationally as when doing business in the home market. Conducting business during meals is common practice in the United States. In Mexico, however, it is poor manners to bring up business discussions in Mexico typically begin when coffee and brandy arrive. Likewise, toasts in the United States tend to be casual and sprinkled with lighthearted humor. In Mexico, where a toast should be philosophical and full of passion, a lighthearted toast would be offensive. When habits or ways behaving in specific circumstances are passed down through generations, they become customs. Customs differ from manners in that they define appropriate habits or behaviors in specific situations. Sharing food gifts during Islamic holy month of Ramadan is a custom. Although giving token gifts to business and government associates is customary in many countries, the proper type of gift varies. A knife, for example, should not be offered to associates in Russia, France, or Germany, where it signals the severing of a relationship. In Japan, gift must be wrapped in such a delicate way it is wise to ask someone trained in the practice to do the honors. It is also Japanese custom not to open a gift in front of the gift giver. So, businesspeople must always keep in mind to their clients’ customs to avoid making embarrassing mistakes or offending people. Personal Communication and Body Language Issues People in every culture have a communication system or a body language to convey thoughts, feeling, and information. Understanding a culture’s spoken language gives us great insight into why people think and act the way that they do. Understanding a culture’s body language helps us avoid sending unintended or embarrassing messages. A lingua franca is a third or â€Å"link† language that is understood by two parties who speak different native languages. The importance of understanding the local language in business is becoming increasingly apparent on the internet. English is the language of roughly two-thirds of all Web pages on the Internet. That is why software solutions providers are assisting companies from English-speaking countries in adapting their Web sites for global e-business. Advertising slogans and company documents must be translated carefully so that messages are received precisely as intended. There are many stories of companies making terrible language blunders in their international business dealings. General Motors’ Chevrolet division made perhaps the most well-known blunder when it first launched its Chevrolet Nova in Spanish-speaking markets. The company failed to notice beforehand that â€Å"No va† means â€Å"No go† in Spanish. Body language communicates through unspoken cues, including hand gestures, facial expressions, eye contact, physical greetings and the manipulation of personal space. For example, navigating all-important handshake in international business can be tricky. In the United States it is a firm grip and can include several pumps of the arm. But in the Middle East and Latin America a softer clasp of the hand with little or no arm pump is the custom and some country, like Japan, people do not shake hands at all, but bow to each other. Bows of respect carry different meanings, usually depending on the recipient. Associates of equal standing bow about 15 degrees toward one another. But proper respect for an elder requires a bow of about 30 degrees. Lastly, bow for apology is about 45 degrees. Conclusion Essentially, we are experiencing differences in culture which the set of values, beliefs, rules, and institutions held by a specific group of people. Culture is a highly complex portrait of a people. It includes everything from high-tea in England, to the tropical climate of Barbados, to Mardi Gras in Brazil, to segregation of the sexes in Saudi Arabian schools. Every country got theirs aesthetics, values and attitudes, manners and customs and personal communication and body language. Businesspeople must be always sensitive to the local culture, so that, they will be success in their business in international. References Ball, D. McCulloch, W. (1999). International Business: The Challenge of Global Competition 7th edition. The McGraw-Hill Companies. Griffin, R. Pustay, M. (1996). International Business: A managerial Perspective. Addison-Wesley Publishing Company. Phatak, A. (1997). International Management: Concepts and Cases. South-Western College Publishing.

Essay Characteristics of Non-coding RNA - 1285 Words

1.1 Non-coding RNAs The central dogma of molecular biology states that genetic information is conveyed from DNA to mRNA to protein implying that proteins are the main functional genetic output (Crick 1970). Even those few early known non-protein-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) such as transfer RNA, ribosomal RNA, snoRNAs and splicosomal RNAs were in the end required for mRNA processing and translation. The dogma might still be applicable to prokaryotes whose genome consists of approx. 90 % protein-coding genes. In eukaryotes, however, only about 2 % of the genes are protein-coding (Alexander et al. 2010) and those have been studied intensively. The remaining major fraction of the genomic output has for a long time been†¦show more content†¦1.2 Long non-coding RNAs Although the heterogeneous group of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) account with approx. 80 % for the majority of ncRNAs in the mammalian transcriptome (Kapranov 2007), miRNAs have been in the main foc us of ncRNA research in the last years. However, there is recent increase in publications describing key functions of lncRNAs in central biological processes (Taft et al. 2010) and diseases. Trying to categorize non-coding transcripts, lncRNAs have been defined as 200 nt long sequences with low or no protein-coding potential. They are weakly conserved between species and undergo (in most cases) 5- capping, canonical polyadenylation and splicing just like mRNAs. LncRNAs can also be grouped by their genomic proximity to neighboring coding transcripts (Johnsson et al. 2014): - Sense - Antisense, when overlapping with exons of another transcript on the same or opposite strand - Intronic, when derived from an intron of another transcript - Bidirectional, when its expression and a neighboring coding transcript on the opposite strand is initiated in close genomic proximity - Intergenetic, when transcripted from a sequence betweenShow MoreRelatedOverexpression Of Mirna1441 Words   |  6 Pagesthat overexpression of miR-210 leads to increase in capillary like structure formation, when miR-210 was inhibited the tube formation and migration was decreased (15). In another study it was reported that miR-221 and miR-222 had antiangiogenic characteristics in endothelial cells. This study came up with a result, the endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase (eNOS) is indirectly decreased by the overexpression of miRNA miR-221 and miR-222. 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The Mind Is the Best Medicine free essay sample

The mind is the most powerful tool a man can use. The body is nothing without the mind. It gives us power to have a wild imagination and have infinite ideas. If the mind has delightful ideas, your body will survive and prosper. If the mind has immoral ideas, your body will stress and decay over time. Although the mind is very powerful, it is up to the person to control it. In As A Man Thinketh, James Allen elaborates on how the body is the servant to the mind. He also states how good thoughts are key to achieving a healthy body. Man can achieve prodigious health in the mind, and body, by simply having pure thoughts. Disease and health, like circumstances, are rooted in thought. Sickly thoughts will express themselves through a sickly body (Allen12). Thoughts are the foundation of the body (Chu). Our body works off of what we think and feel everyday. We will write a custom essay sample on The Mind Is the Best Medicine or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page If you have negative thoughts, your body will be very ill. A healthy body shall not have immortal thoughts. A healthy body has positive thoughts that pass through the body. The people who live in fear for disease will usually get it. This is because of the negative thoughts running through the body affects your health. Anxiety will completely demoralize the body (Cramer), which will give disease a great chance to attack. While impure thoughts will shut down the nervous system. Strong, pure, and happy thoughts build up the body in vigor and grace. The body is a delicate and plastic instrument, which responds readily to the thoughts by which it is impressed, and habits of thought will produce their own effects, good or bad, upon it (Allen 12). Pure thoughts will clean the body of anxiety. Whenever thoughts are pure, it detoxes the body of all the negativity. The results of pure thinking will only shed good results. When the mind is pure, the body is healthy. Men will continue to have impure blood as long as they propagate unclean thoughts. Negative thoughts only harm the body, which will cause harm in the future. Change of diet will not help a man who won’t changes his thoughts (Allen). Although diet is important to stay healthy, thought is much stronger than food. A man who eats ruthless will also have impure thoughts. Men who can’t control what they eat, usually have trouble controlling their mind. If you can’t control your stomach, you certainly wont be able to control your thoughts. Temptation is very strong, but you mind is even stronger. When a man makes his thoughts pure, he has no longer desire for impure food. If you would perfect your body, guard your mind. If you would renew your body, beautify your mind. Thoughts of malice, envy, disappointment, despondency, rob the body of its health and grace. A sour face does not come by chance; it is made by sour thoughts (Allen12). Having a thick face is also important for a healthy body and mind. You shouldn’t let others get in your way of pure thoughts. Envy is the cause of impure thoughts. You shouldn’t envy a person, bur rather succeed and surpass the person. Disappointment also causes impure thoughts to the body. You shouldn’t be disappointed but rather appreciative of what you have. All of these thoughts can be controlled by the mind. Having these feelings will cause depression, which means you can’t control your thoughts. Impure thoughts will slowly harm the body causing major damage to the mind. There is no physician like cheerful thought for dissipating the ills of the body; there is no comforter to compare with goodwill for dispersing the shadows of grief and sorrow. To live continually in thoughts of ill-will, cynicism, suspicion, and envy, is to be confined in a self-made prison-hole. But to think well of all, to be cheerful with all, and to patiently learn to find the good in all such unselfish thoughts are the very portals of heaven; and to dwell day by day in thoughts of peace toward every creature will bring abounding peace to their possessor (Allen 12). You don’t need a doctor to tell you how to use your mind. You should be your own doctor, because you are the one controlling your thoughts. Positive thoughts will keep you away from the doctor. If you have corrupted thoughts, you are just digging a whole for yourself (Cramer). If you have constant impure thoughts, the body will be under major stress. When the stress builds up so does all the impure thoughts. The body does not function efficiently with these impure ideas. Causing harm to the mind and body, one shall get rid of impure thoughts. They who have no central purpose in their life fall an easy prey to petty worries, fears, troubles, and self-pitying, all of which lead, just as surely as deliberately planned sins (though by a different route), to failure, unhappiness, and loss, for weakness cannot persist in a power-evolving universe (Allen 14). People who don’t know what to do in life will have impure thoughts. One who thinks of small problems will have major anxiety causing harm to the body. If you can’t control your thoughts, little things will tend to bother you. Even though these problems are not major, it can lead you to bigger problems. These impure thoughts ill only lead you to failure. Having small problems on your mind will only cause you to think of more problems that you already have. When all the impure thoughts build up, it will be very difficult to have any pure thoughts in your mind. A man should conceive of a legitimate purpose in his heart, and set out to accomplish it. He should mak e this purpose the centralizing point of his thoughts. It may take the form of a spiritual ideal, or it may be a worldly object, according to his nature at the time being; but whichever it is, he should steadily focus his thought forces upon the object which he has set before him. He should make this purpose his supreme duty, and should devote himself to its attainment, not allowing his thoughts to wander away into ephemeral fancies, longings, and imaginings (Allen 14). You are the one controlling yours thoughts. Another person should not be the creator of yours thoughts. You should think deeply of your thoughts and not let them go to waste. The mind is very powerful and the thoughts are its artwork. You should take your time in making a great piece of artwork. If your thoughts are impure, the art will come out with dark colors. If your thoughts are pure, your art will come out with extravagant colors. You should have a legitimate purpose for your ideas. Once a great thought has come to you, you should set forth and try to accomplish it. Thoughts are just in your head if you don’t do anything about it. The important part is accomplishing your pure thoughts. With great accomplishments comes a great thought. A man can only rise, conquer, and achieve greatness by uplifting his thoughts. Thinking positive is very important because it gives you a sense of direction. If a person has negative thoughts, they usually wont come up with many pure thoughts. Negative thinking can harm the body and mind to look at the downside of things. Positive thinking on the other hand, is essential to pure ideas. A positive thinker has a pathway to pure ideas. You cannot achieve a lot of things with negative thinking. Men will remain weak, and abject, and miserable by refusing to lift up his thoughts. The body is nothing without the mind. Our mind is the creator of our thoughts. Whether our thoughts are pure or impure; our body does not function properly without our mind. To sustain a healthy lifestyle, one should have pure thoughts. Your body is not healthy if your thoughts are not pure. Strong, pure, and happy thoughts build up the body in vigor and grace. The body is a delicate and plastic instrument, which responds readily to the thoughts by which it is impressed, and habits of thought will produce their own effects, good or bad, upon it (Allen 12). Impure ideas will only cause harm to the body. Impure thoughts lead the body to undergo stress, which leads to disease. One should not worry so much because harm will come to the ones who worry most. Anxiety will only cause harm, and ruin your positive thoughts. Having pure ideas is important to staying healthy. Man can achieve prodigious health in the mind, and body, by simply having pure thoughts. Works Cited Allen, James. As A Man Thinketh. White Plains, NY: Peter Pauper Press, 1970. Chu, Chin-Ning. Thick Face Black Heart. NY,NY: Warner Books , 1994. Cramer, Michael. Power moments: positive motivation and powerful inspiration. Brentwood, TN: JM Press, 2002. Deci, Edward L. Why we do what we do: the dynamics of personal autonomy. New York: Putnams Sons, 1995.

The Life and Works of Arnold Schoenberg Essay Example

The Life and Works of Arnold Schoenberg Essay The lives and works of people vary according to the way that people have lived and what they have accomplished. Some individuals manage to create a lasting impact on the world, while many try and fail to do so. Those that do create a last impact are ones are individuals who are remembered specially. Arnold Schoenberg is one individual who is remembered for his works to this day. In addition to his works that have had a lasting impact, his life has been eventful, and is worth taking note of. Arnold Schoenbergs surname was Schà ¶nberg before he left Germany in 1933, and converted back to Judaism. He was born on September 13th, 1874, was Austrian, and later became American, and was renowned for becoming an American composer. He came to be associated with the expressionist movements in the early 1900s German poetry and art. Among many of Arnold Schoenbergs work, he is perhaps most popular for his twelve-tone technique, which is an approach that makes use of tone rows (Schoenberg, 2006, 89-95). Aside from this, Schoenberg was known as an artist, a theorist of music, and a composition mentor. As mentioned earlier, Arnold Schoenberg was born in the home of an Ashkenzai Jew in Vienna. Although Schoenbergs mother [Pauline] was a pianist and piano teacher, he was a talented self-taught individual. The only lessons Schoenberg did take were from composer Alexander von Zemlinsky, who later became his first brother-in-law. By the time, Arnold Schoenberg was in his 20s, he orchestrated operettas along with composing famous pieces of work like the Verklà ¤rte Nacht [Transfigured Night] (1899)[1]. We will write a custom essay sample on The Life and Works of Arnold Schoenberg specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The Life and Works of Arnold Schoenberg specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The Life and Works of Arnold Schoenberg specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer In order to comprehend how and why Arnold Schoenberg composed his music in the manner that he did, it is worth beginning with his own words: Had times been normal (prior and after 1914) then the music of our time would have been very different. Clearly this meant that he believed that it was situations and periods that people went through that triggered their creativity. From this, one might say that he was a man who adhered to ideas. Schoenberg is known as a Jewish intellectual who firmly believed in the idea of an inexpressible God. He also adhered to pursuing truth (Shawn, 2002, 34-45). Schoenberg witnessed music develop through exquisite works of the greats like Strauss, Wagner and Mahler. He listened to these greats and reached a state of saturation. He resolved that to refresh the simplicity in music, there was need to introduce a new language. This was around the time when abstract art developed and flourished in the western world (Bailey, 1999, 928-928). These were the same years when the Western world developed abstract art as well as psychoanalysis. In fact, many people at this point in time felt that thought and reason had developed to a point where there would be no return. They further thought that there was no more room for repetition of what had been achieved earlier (Shawn, 2002, 34-45). Crucial Years in Schoenberg’s Life: Between the years 1901 and 1910, Schoenberg created Five Pieces for Orchestra, and his music began to evolve quickly as time went by. By the time Schoenberg created his String Quartet opus 7 as well as his Chamber Symphony opus 9, he believed that he had achieved a personal style that was much more mature than he had achieved earlier, regardless of earlier success and satisfaction with what he created. However, in the second String Quartet opus 10 and the Three Piano Pieces opus 11, there were signs that were clear to him that reflected saturation. This was in the added notes in harmony that had reached level where it carried little meaning, between consonance and dissonance. Richard Strauss and Gustav Mahler were both taken up by Arnold Schoenbergs and accepted his work as significant compositions (Shawn, 2002, 34-45). During 1909, Strauss went down a conservative idiom path, and during this period he rejected Schoenbergs work. Mahler, in contrast, adopted Schoenbergs style. Schoenberg, in return, was won over by Mahlers first symphonies, especially the 3rd one. Later, he even said that Mahlers work was one of a genius, and thought of Mahler as a saint. This was surprising, as Schoenberg himself was Jewish. However, Schoenberg did convert to Lutheranism, and remained a Lutheran till 1933 (Shawn, 2002, 34-45). Public Recognition: After some early setbacks, Schoenberg began to gain public recognition. His works such as the poem Pelleas und Melisande performed at Berlin [1907], and, the Gurrelieder at Vienna on 13 February 1913 were important to his success. In particular, it was the latter that received an ovation that went on for a quarter of an hour. In contrast to this work, there were other works of Schoenbergs that were not received, as they probably should have. Much of his work, however, was not well received. Schoenbergs Chamber Symphony No. 1 [1907] was performed before a small audience, which gave him a mild reaction (Shawn, 2002, 34-45). In 1908, Schoenbergs wife [Mathilde] left him for a younger artist [Richard Gerstl]. She later returned to her husband and children. Schoenbergs work apparently changed during this period. A work worth taking note of during this time is You lean against a silver-willow (Shawn, 2002, 34-45). After 1908, Schoenbergs music changed fromality. This prompted polarized responses to what he created. This was perhaps when Schoenbergs followers and students recognized him as one of the most important and influential figures in music. Critics, however, continued to hate his work. During this time, he also created a revolutionary composition, known as the String Quartet No. 2. Another one of Schoenbergs well-known works is Pierrot Lunaire   [1912] (Bailey, 1999, 928-928). Disruptions and Incomplete Work: The First World War had sparked a crisis in Schenbergs life, and he remained interrupted from his work. This caused him to leave many pieces of work incomplete. By the time he was 42, he was drafted into the army, leaving many unfinished works behind, and also denying him the time he needed to work on his at. While he was in the army, many soldiers asked whether Schoenberg was the same composed. To them he replied: I admit it, but its like this. Someone had to be, and no one else wanted to, so I took it on myself. Once Schoenberg was back from serving his time in the army, he embarked upon developing order. He did this to make his musical texture simpler and clearer. This is what helped him to create the method of composition with twelve tones (Schoenberg, 2006, 89-95). Schoenberg’s Music Theory: The method of 12 tones was actually the twelve pitches of an octave that are regarded as equal. There is also no single note or tonality that is given the importance it had in classical harmony. Schoenberg referred to it as the equivalent in music of Albert Einsteins theories (Schoenberg, 2006, 89-95). This is how he once told a friend [Josef Rufer] about it when he went out for a walk one day: I have today made a discovery which will ensure the supremacy of German music for the next hundred years. Often, this quote is misunderstood. Schoenbergs remarks were most probably his wry and ironic humor, which he was known for, and it is most likely that he referred to the deterioration of the dominant political stand of the German-speaking world in the past. It is further thought that he would have liked to stand with Bach and Beethoven (Shawn, 2002, 34-45). Arnold Schoenberg was given the duty as Director at the Prussian Academy of Arts for a Master Class in Composition [1925]. However, he could not begin his work there until 1926 because of ill health. Schoenberg carried on working in this position until Adolf Hitler was elected in 1933, when he was exiled. Schoenberg’s new Life in America: Arnold Schoenberg re-affirmed his Jewish faith and left behind Lutheranism at this point in time. Schoenbergs first appointment as a teacher was at Bostons Malkin Conservatory. Then, he taught at the Los Angeles University of Southern California as well as at the University of California, Los Angeles. Later, he settled in Brentwood Park. Here, he met and became friends with the composer, George Gershwin. This is where Schoenberg lived for the rest of his life (Shawn, 2002, 34-45). The work Schoenberg created during his time in California had apparently returned to the quasi-tonal harmony. However, this harmony he created was very distinctive, and he did not re-use classical harmony. From this creation of his, one can say that Schoenberg did believe that music evolved naturally from its past. Schoenberg once said: my music is not really modern, just badly played (Schoenberg, 2006, 89-95). Schoenberg’s Creativity in America: In subsequent years, Arnold Schoenberg produced musical works that demonstrated his method of creating newer classical music, which was different from what had been created in the past. It is thought that one of these pieces of music was supposed to an opera [Moses und Aron]. However, it is thought that it was not completed because of Schoenberg’s psychological condition. In this piece of music, he depicts Moses crying out his frustration due to not being able to express himself. With this work, it is also said that Schoenberg might have considered himself to be a prophet too (Shawn, 2002, 34-45). During Schoenbergs final phase of his life, he created some works that he was most noted for, which included the tedious Violin Concerto , created during the period (1934/36). He also created the Kol Nidre for chorus and orchestra in 1938,   the haunting Piano Concerto in 1942, the Ode to Napoleon Buonaparte, in 1942, as well as the memorial for Holocaust victims, A Survivor from Warsaw in 1947. Schoenberg could not complete his work on the opera, Moses und Aron (1932/33). In 1941, Schoenbergs citizenship was neutralized, and thus, was known as a neutralized citizen of the United States (Shawn, 2002, 34-45). Schoenberg’s Superstition: Like many people Schoenberg too had beliefs and superstitions. He had triskaidekaphobia, which fear of the number thirteen [13]. It is thought that it was this superstition that brought about his death. Schoenberg had feared that the year he would die in would be a multiple of the number 13, which is why he feared his 65th birthday. So well known was this fear to his friends, that one of them requested Dane Rudhyar to produce Schoenbergs horoscope. Schoenbergs fear might have been reinforced when he heard what the horoscope read; it was a dangerous year for him, but not necessarily a fatal one. However, on Schoenbergs 76th birthday, a Viennese musician and astrologist Oscar Adler warned Schoenberg of what could lie ahead inthis year. He wrote a message to Arnold Schoenberg alerting him that this year was a critical one for him. Adler wrote: Schoenbergs age 76 meant: 7 + 6 = 13. This note shocked Schoenberg because he had never thought o it the calculation of 13 in this way. Schoenber g now was obsessed with this, and many who were close to him quoted him: If I can only pull through this year I shall be safe. It was Friday, July 13, of Schoenbergs 76th year; he lay in bed, sick, depressed and anxious over what could happen to him. The whole day went by, and just before midnight, his wife told him, You see, the day is almost over. All that worry was for nothing. Just as she finished uttering those words, Schoenberg looked at her and died (Shawn, 2002, 34-45). Final Thoughts on Arnold Schoenberg’s Life and Works: It is very apparent from the life and works of Arnold Schoenberg, as well as the circumstances within which he created his work, Schoenberg was an individual who was affected by his surroundings. He was not one of the many individuals who shut themselves up and ignore the world to create what they want. Instead, Schoenberg admits that his work, and other music as well created during the times in which he lived is affected by situations. This is reflected in his quote mentioned earlier as well: â€Å"Had times been normal (prior and after 1914) then the music of our time would have been very different† (Bailey, 1999, 928-928). Schoenberg was not only a person who was open to outside influences. He was an individual who experienced the harshness of life too. This can be said because of the fact that he fought in the army during the First World War, and also suffered marital problems. His change in composing was clearly visible when he experienced war and marital problems. In addition to experiencing a major war as well as personal relationship breakdown, Arnold Schoenberg also witnessed major regime change in the country that he lived in, Germany. He watched Germany sink into fascism, and subsequently witnessed the war, knowing that his originating country was region around which the war pivoted. Apart from the unpleasant experiences, Schoenberg was influenced by great musicians. These musicians such as Mozart helped him form the basis of his listening skills. This is an important consideration due to the fact that Arnold Schoenberg was a self-taught musician with little formal education in music. Not only did this music and other pleasant experiences help Schoenberg create his own unique musical compositions, but it also gave a slant to his personality. Schoenberg was also known for his wry humor that was sometimes misunderstood, and an example of this is his commonly misinterpreted quote about him ensuring â€Å"the supremacy of German music for the next hundred years†. It is quite clear what he meant by this because today one knows more about his personality and his style of humor.