The artist and the city Essay Example For Students

The artist and the city Essay As Athol Fugard approached his 60th Birthday Celebration, an October-November festival of his works in Atlanta, Ga., he had a last-minute twinge of misgiving. Girding himself for the revealing readings from his published Notebooks, adapted by Theater Emory, the prodigious South African playwright cracked to one of his hosts, I feel as though you should carry me onto the stage in an open casket. As it turned out, no one was more alive to the words than their author. Listening, with head lowered and eyes closed, to the 1960s entries about his dying father (the unseen, pain-wracked figure that haunts his diaries, as well as the plays Hello and Goodbye and Master Haroldand the Boys), Fugard wept. When the lights came up, he mingled for a while with the audience, remembering names with the kindly care most famous artists can only manage for wealthy backers. The reading and reception set the tone for an often joyous and occasionally confrontational encounter between the artist and the city: five productions at three theatres, as well as an array of debate-sparking forums during his three-week resi dency. Fugard was hardly the Great Author on a Delta Stopover collecting a life-achievement award; he came as a working artist, and needed every ounce of energy enhanced by his daily five-mile jogs (whose pace frustrated a rollerblade-mounted cameraman from CBS Sunday Morning) around Piedmont Park. We call the festival a partynot a retrospectivefor good reasons, said Theater Emory artistic director Vincent Murphy. We celebrate a man whos as engaged today, artistically and politically, as hes ever been. Indeed, when Fugard wasnt acting as assistant director (a title he relished) to Del Hamilton on his stirring 7 Stages production of My Children! My Africa!, he was directing brush-up rehearsals of the American premiere of his Playland, a co-production of Californias La Jolla Playhouse and Atlantas Alliance Theatre Company. An intense, exorcistic encounter between a black night watchman and a white ex-soldier in a deserted amusement park on New Years Eve, 1989, Playland is unquestionably Fugards most overtly theatrical work since Master Harold more than a decade ago. (The playwright joked that the whimsical-garish-brooding carnival set by Susan Hilferty, and the masterfully coordinated lighting and sound designs by Dennis Parichy and David Budries, will shock a lot of my critics in terms of production values.) And as his first major utterance since the release of Nelson Mandela, Playland may be Fugards most politically provocative play since the height of his anti-apartheid writings. As my country moves forward, said the playwright in his precise, lilting tenor, no amount of political blueprinting or committees can cross the real hurdles in the hearts and minds of men. That is: forgiveness. Coming to grips with the violence in our past, having the courage to say, Yes, I did thisplease forgive me. De Klerk keeps saying apartheid was misguidedthats not good enough, man! To hell with misguided it was evil! Fugards voice has risen so that it is shaking with rage as he spits out the last word. We must acknowledge that evil, as Germany did with the Holocaust. Otherwise, well have as our first inheritance only lies and hate and bitterness. The New South Africa will be a hollow phrase. Fugard chose to continue Playlands premiere in the spiritual hub of the Civil Rights Movement, immediately after the La Jolla run, out of a sense of poetic justice. In the welcoming words of Michael Lomax, a leading Atlanta politician and creator of the National Black Arts Festival; Mr. Fugard, we have a kinship with you. The playwright has corresponded for years with Atlanta friends, among them Nancy Kearns, a former 7 Stages dramaturg who wrote to him in South Africa from out of the blue; and actor-director Brenda Bynum, a Fugard specialist who met and befriended him at the 1987 Spoleto Festival USA production of his The Road to Mecca. The womens letters stoked his fascination with Atlantas civil rights history and its place as Mecca for the black professional class. Even to this day, it seems to me Atlanta is a touchstone, asserted Fugard, whose bristly beard and weathered face recall the tough-nut merchant seaman he was in his youth. Perhaps the essential American drama is being played out here certainly the greatest experiment. It was at a Theatre Communications Group conference in 1990 that Fugard met Alliance artistic director Kenny Leona 36-year-old black man whose past performances in Fugard plays are part of Atlanta lore. They became instant friends and vowed to collaborate. Wagging his finger as they parted, Leon said, Remember, we have an appointmentmischievously using the playwrights favorite word for his personal destinies. Fugard has sensed he had an appointment to write a play about forgiveness and South Africa since the late 70s. I was in New York, and I found myself in a bar late at night I was still drinking at this pointand I saw this man who seemedto have a cloud over him. Just staring at his shot glass. I sat down near him, and he looked up and said, Im not a killerIm not a killer. It became clear that I was talking to a Vietnam vet, and that something terrible I couldnt grasp the detailshad happened in Nam. Playland may have begun at that moment. The haunted vet became Gideon Le Roux, the bedraggled ex-soldier wandering into the carnival at nightfall, who fought the black SWAPO forces on the Namibian frontier. The image that torments him is one that Fugard came upon in a newspaper. There were two white soldiers standing in a truck full of black bodies, which they were dumping into a pit. Each of them had an arm as they had dragged this dead young man to the edge of the truck, and I thought, My God its like two Roman Centurions taking an African Christ-figure down from the Cross.' By making Gideon one of those centurions, Fugard created a character so wracked with guilt that he drunkenly, desperately seeks out a black man to beg for redemption. By a strange fluke, it turns out to be a night watchman, Martinus Zoeloe, who also bears the invisible scar of Number 6 (as in the 6th Commandment: Thou Shalt Not Kill) on his head. His compassion is tested to the extreme when the viciously taunting Gideon demands, Kill me or forgive me. Leon, whose two-and-a-half-year tenure has been marked by some white flight among subscribers in spite of a balanced, eclectic repertoire, saw that Playland had a message that Atlanta needs to heara message that doesnt make whites feel guilty or make blacks angry. As the director received freshly written pages of the play over the transatlantic fax last spring, America was reeling from the beatings of Rodney King and Reginald Denny; Atlantas street disturbances were among the worst in the country, second only to Los Angeles. It was uncanny to me, Fugard avows, his eyes wide with amazement, that my play was going straight into the two areas of the country where the pain had been the worst. I couldnt imagine how it would be received. One of those who took part in peaceful demonstrations in Atlanta in spite of classmates involvement in the near-riotswas Saul Williams, a 20-year-old student at prestigious Morehouse College. In his acclaimed professional acting debut in My Children! My Africa!, he was on the far shore of the debate, playing an enraged student who defies his teachers courageous plea for peace. I met Mr. Fugard with mixed emotions. I didnt know if such a play could be written by a white man. But I spoke to black South Africans who knew much of his work, and I was very impressed with the man himself. It was obvious the story came from the goodness of his soul. As much as the playwright appreciated newfound friends such as Williams, he was also profoundly affected by the angrier black students he addressed on local campuses and in the Alliance audience following preview performances. These exchanges, startlingly blunt even to the veteran of the apartheid wars, helped him clarify some of my own thinking about the situation in South Africa. Fugard quoted from his own Atlanta diary in an essay commissioned by the Atlanta Journal and Constitution: A black South African female student in her early 20s. She stared at me unflinchingly out of what I sensed was a deep well of smouldering resentment. I hesitate to use the word hate but it might well have been as strong as that. When she eventually spoke, the question was for Kenny, sitting next to me. How can you be his friend after what his people did to the black people of South Africa? Kenny spoke quietly. I will never forget his words. He is not a friend. He is my brother. If I do not forgive him, there is no hope for us in this world. Theater Emorys shrewdly selected repertoire of early, lesser-known Fugard worksHello and Goodbye (1965), Statements After an Arrest Under the Immorality Act (1972) and the two-part readings of the adapted Notebooks: 1960-77opened a window of personal history through which to appreciate the most recent plays. For instance, the troubled anti-hero of Hello, Johnnie Smits, is spiritually shackled to and (in a transformation prefiguring Sam Shepard) ultimately becomes his crippled father. Johnnie was described by Fugard as that very timid side of me, always at war with the brave devil in me. Notebooks contained the germinal idea of nearly every Fugard play. Foreshadowing Statements, based on the true case of a black principal and white librarian who were prosecuted under apartheid law for their secret love affair, the playwright recorded the eerily beautiful sight of two cobras first mating almost upright on a garden wallthen hacked to bits by the gardeners spades: Six seconds in which me n destroy something only God can make. Directed by Bynum with an intimate, Beckettian spareness that brought its streaks of poetry into sharp relief, Statements was the festivals surprising gem. Its principals, Rob Cleveland and mary Lynn Owen, had just celebrated their first wedding anniversary. There had never been a way for us to express all the difficult things about our relationship, the uncomfortable vibrations we get from both whites and blacks, said Owen. Suddenly we had a place for all of that feeling to pour out, to come into focus. The actresss sense of vulnerability was only heightened by the knowledge that the creator of her character would be sitting only a few feet away. But Fugard put her fears to rest by approaching her at a pot-luck dinner that 7 Stages threw for the playwright and Atlantas theatre community. Mr. Fugard said to me, Youll find Im a wonderful audience. I eat up everything you give me.' .uf181d8ccd02ab2a43ac68b49e2ccdde4 , .uf181d8ccd02ab2a43ac68b49e2ccdde4 .postImageUrl , .uf181d8ccd02ab2a43ac68b49e2ccdde4 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .uf181d8ccd02ab2a43ac68b49e2ccdde4 , .uf181d8ccd02ab2a43ac68b49e2ccdde4:hover , .uf181d8ccd02ab2a43ac68b49e2ccdde4:visited , .uf181d8ccd02ab2a43ac68b49e2ccdde4:active { border:0!important; } .uf181d8ccd02ab2a43ac68b49e2ccdde4 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .uf181d8ccd02ab2a43ac68b49e2ccdde4 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .uf181d8ccd02ab2a43ac68b49e2ccdde4:active , .uf181d8ccd02ab2a43ac68b49e2ccdde4:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .uf181d8ccd02ab2a43ac68b49e2ccdde4 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .uf181d8ccd02ab2a43ac68b49e2ccdde4 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .uf181d8ccd02ab2a43ac68b49e2ccdde4 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .uf181d8ccd02ab2a43ac68b49e2ccdde4 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .uf181d8ccd02ab2a43ac68b49e2ccdde4:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .uf181d8ccd02ab2a43ac68b49e2ccdde4 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .uf181d8ccd02ab2a43ac68b49e2ccdde4 .uf181d8ccd02ab2a43ac68b49e2ccdde4-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .uf181d8ccd02ab2a43ac68b49e2ccdde4:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: McTeague Persuasive Essay We will write a custom essay on The artist and the city specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now One the amusement park setting of Playland:Â   I came across an old entry from my notebooks about such a parkan icon of my youth! As hard-up as our family was, my mum always scraped together a few pennies so that we could have a few rides. That was my Christmas and my New Years. It was exclusively for whites in those days, but with a few matinees set aside for other races.Years later, I was driving through Karroo and I saw this sad little amusement park, encamped on the outskirts of a little town. It struck me what a visual setting it would be for a play, and what a metaphora place where people could go to play and to forget the harsh realities of their lives. On turning 60 and the New South Africa:Â   Just when there was the temptation to start thinking, Okay, its the home stretch now, my country throws the biggest drama of my entire life |the release of Nelson Mandela~ right in my face, and says, No, man! Wait a minute! Youve got another guess coming: weve only just started!The past was simple: I was ready to stand and be counted as a dissident voice. The future will be infinitely more complexrich, and provocative. There was some disturbing talk recently of cultural commissars and the correct thing for artists to sayit sounded a little like the old South Africa but from a different perspective. So I expect Ill go on as before, the outsider. On writing, and a sense of place:Â   When I sit down and face what I still lovingly call the Inquisition of Blank Paper, I feel I must be in South Africa, so thats why I spend half the year there. That country gives me my stories, for I understand its codes of life down to my bones. I have a house in the Karroo, outside of a little village with only 10 or 12 permanent residents. I become a bachelor when I writethank God Sheila |his wife of over 30 years~ understands this. Im self-sufficient there, with my windmill and my orchards, in my island of serenity and silence. Playland was mostly written there. On spirituality and his themes:Â   As I looked over what I had written in Playland, I was amazed to find more religious imageryor let me say instead, spiritual concernsthan I had been aware of. This was certainly a departure for meBut as Gideon tells Martinus, Gods forgotten usits just you and me tonight. Thats the essential theme in all my writing. Its what we do to each other, and with each other, one-on-one, on thefaceofthisearth! Thats the arena. Thats our damnation, man, or our salvation.

Kiss me kate essays

Kiss me kate essays The Play Kiss Me Kate was a very good and entertaining musical. I enjoyed the humor and liveliness of the musical. Cole Porter accompanied the musical with great songs that made you want to get up and dance. It was like you never knew what was going to happen next or what was going to be said because there were so many surprises. The many comical scenes of the play made it enjoyable to watch. With the many dancers, songs, costumes, and lighting changes the musical incorporated many theatrical elements, that made the musical all the better. One of the most outstanding things about the play Kiss Me Kate was the way all of the characters portrayed their roles in such a realistic way. One character that really stood out to me was Lois Lane (Bianca). I loved her character because she portrayed the blonde ditsy bombshell very well. It was very realistic because she always talked in a upbeat voice and with little squeaks. She was also very sexy in her actions. The actor did a wonderful performance of allowing the audience to see these characteristics of Lois. I also liked the character of Fred Graham (Petruchio) who was a very bossy and a male chauvinist. The actor portrayed the character very well in his cockiness and deep male voice. The actor would also always walk around with his head up to show he was better than everyone else. The character of Lilli Vanessi (Katherine) was also a very well portrayed character. She was a character who portrayed a high-class lady of importance, which was a bit conceited. At the beginn ing of the play she walked in with her head held high and a stride in her walk. You could absolutely tell she thought very highly of herself. She was also very stubborn and did not want to let her real feelings show. The actor did a wonderful job in her portraying her character by always keeping her chin up and using a very strong voice. The play was performed in a proscenium stage theatr...

Good Students = Good Grades †Here’s 10 Ways to Be That Student

Good Students = Good Grades – Here’s 10 Ways to Be That Student 10 Ways to Become A Good Student Good Student Equals Good Grades We pretty much still define a good student as one who gets good grades. While this may seem a bit narrow for a definition, it is what it is. We could argue that a good student is one who does not just accept what he is told by a professor or a text book, who questions the status quo, who has mastered course content even though his assignments and test don’t show that, and who is able to think outside the box of normal content and learning activities. Bill Gates was not a particularly â€Å"good† student, for example; Einstein was a terrible student. But, if you want the grades that will impress future employers, you have to do those things that will make you a â€Å"good† student in the eyes of the people who give you those grades. Here’s 10 ways to be that â€Å"good† student. Attitudes You Must Have Drive. Sometimes this is called a high level of ambition. The point is, you have to be committed to getting the best grade possible in every course and to doing what it takes to get that. You Must Have Persistence. We never have to be persistent when things come easily. It’s when we fail and we have to start again or when we don’t understand something that persistence kicks in, if we have it. There will definitely be times when you fail and when you don’t â€Å"get† something. Do you give up or do you stick with it until you do it right or understand it? Know When You Need Help. A â€Å"good† student will know when he cannot master a skill or content and when s/he will not be able to fulfil an assignment. And that student will then take steps to get the help that is necessary. Maybe you form a study group; maybe you meet with your professor or TA to get additional help; perhaps you can find a fellow students who can help you. Take Responsibility. Good students understand that they have to get homework done and get all assignments in on time. They know they have to study for exams. And they make certain that they do these things. Develop Flexibility. You will be exposed to a great variety of teaching styles, professor personalities, and types of learning activities. You will need to adapt to all of this variety, â€Å"changing gears† as is called for by a situation. Behaviors Attend Class. Important stuff goes in class. You can’t re-attend a lecture; you can’t generate notes from nowhere, and you can’t capture anything on a whit board once it has been erased. If you have to miss a class, be certain that you get the notes from a trusted peer. Don’t Procrastinate. Waiting to the last minute, especially to write your essays and papers, is a dangerous game. What if you haven’t finished your research and there is an Internet outage? What if you get sick? Get a calendar and a schedule, and construct a timeline for completing each step of a major assignment. Take Notes as You Read Your Texts. If you do this, and put them in a folder along with your lecture notes, you will have everything you need when it comes time to study for an exam. If you don’t do this, you will be re-reading that text, and that is really a waste of valuable time. Find a Good Writing Service. Even the most organized student will sometimes face a crisis and realize that all of those essays and papers simply cannot be completed on time. That's when they will ask "write my essay in 12 hours"  It is re-assuring to know that you have an essay helper that you can trust to come through for you. Use Technology. Record or video lectures; take screen shots of everything that is presented visually Get tools and apps that will keep you organized and format your papers for you and that will remind you when things are due. Get a good grammar checker and plagiarism detection software. If you cannot establish a study group on campus, use one of the online study group options Find a good app that you can use to make flash cards. These are great study devices. If you want good grades, then you have to accept the traditional definition of a â€Å"good† student. Hopefully, you will also learn to question and think outside the box. And a bonus tip? Call your parents even when you don’t need money!

Sustainable Management Futures Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words - 1

Sustainable Management Futures - Essay Example This issue raises a number of specific questions regarding ethics and morality. Discussion There are a number of considerations when evaluating the ethics and morality of the free market. Classic economic theory rooted in Adam Smith largely painted free market economics not only as an ethical and moral system, but as the necessary processes that occurred during transactions (Scott 2004, p. 34). Smith’s ‘invisible hand’ posited that the invisible hand of the market would, eventually rectify supply and demand factors, as well as immoral business practices (Scott 2004, p. 34). While to an extent it’s clear that modern economic systems abide by Smith’s invisible hand of the market, there are further ethical and moral constraints that are not entirely articulated by Smith’s theory. From an overarching perspective one of the prominent criticisms has emerged from 19th century thinker Karl Marx. Marx not only criticized the free market, but the entire ty of the capitalist system (Scott 2004, p. 70). This perspective considered that capitalist operations resulted in the increased exploitation of workers. In this sense, the very notion of ‘profit’ is the extraction of value from the employee’s portion of work. ... In the modern Western world one of the most prominent examples of this occurred with Standard Oil who had consolidated the petroleum industry in the 20th century; this organization was later divided into smaller subsidiaries as a means of allowing for increased competition (Shaw 2009, p. 45). There is the recognition that if the government was to allow unhinged capital expansion and the development of monopolies and oligopolies then there would be a corresponding increase in prices. Without competition businesses have no motivation towards lower prices. Strictly speaking this perspective eschews traditional notions of the free market as operating without government regulation. This recognition then would simply posit free market economics as an unethical system as it limits fair competition. Another prominent consideration within the ethics and morals of the free market system are considerations related to the environment and social welfare. In terms of the environment many industrie s have a potential considerable impact on environment sustainability. Most prominently one recognizes these industries with petroleum companies that have been involved in costly oil spills or other processes of environmental degradation. Another prominent consideration involves companies that produce high amounts of pollutants. Notably, in regions such as China such pollution has resulted in considerable degradation to the skyline and available oxygen (Mathews 1997; Gray 2006; Gray 2002). Finally, there is the consideration of wage rates. Most prominent in emerging economies such as China, but also in the developed world, are concerns related to factory labor. Replete with poor wages and long hours these

Air pollution Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 3

Air pollution - Essay Example The world today is facing many disasters that include various forms of pollution. The most dangerous pollution that is accelerating at a very fast pace is air pollution. The pollution of the air is important as it effects the environment and provides for long lasting effects. The main cause of air pollution that is most evident is the lack of concern and measures for controlling air pollution. The motor vehicles provide for the most important cause of air pollution and the lack of installation of emission control devices adds noxious gases into the atmosphere. The industries are also major contributors to harmful gases into the environment. The installation of devices which filter these harmful gases is expensive. It is for this purpose that these devices are not used and the environment is polluted (Turk et al 1974). The ignorance and lack of attention for tackling air pollution can provide to affect the present and the future of Earth. People living in urban areas are highly affected by air pollution but still fail to understand the complexity of the situation. Elderly people and those with pulmonary diseases are advised to stay indoors to avoid the harmful substances in the air as these pollutants would worsen their health condition. Other people who are exposed to these obnoxious substances in the air may complain of stinging eyes, irritated sinuses and scratchy throats. The air pollution is spreading at a fast pace and the rural areas which were considered to be clean and pure from harmful substances are not safe anymore either  (Williamson 1973). Air pollution not only effects human beings but it also tends to affect other forms of life. The trees, flowers and crops are also affected. Trees can be of assistance in keeping the air clean but the life of trees has also been reduced. The animals are also exposed to the hazardous substances in the

Explain Why Treasure Island Is So Highly Regarded Essay Example for Free

Explain Why Treasure Island Is So Highly Regarded Essay Treasure Island is written using a first person narrative, which has its own advantages and disadvantages. One of the advantages consist of being able to experience how the character narrating feels, in this case we get to learn a lot about Jim Hawkins and how he feels throughout the novel just because he is the narrator of the novel. However, when Jim decides stow away in one of the boats heading for the shore R.L. Stevenson is faced with a problem in that he cannot let the reader know what is happening on board the Hispaniola. \ Stevenson finds a way around this problem by swapping the narrator to Doctor Livesey. This seems to sort out the problem for a while but if the reader was reading the novel at a fast pace then he might not read the chapter headings and know that the narrator has changed and therefore get confused with whats happening in the story and where the characters are. I think that R.L. Stevenson knew that this problem would occur somewhere in the novel and anticipated it, he may have even planned it. But he still chose to use the first person narrative, although it is not always the easiest narrative to follow as I and we are used which often makes it hard to distinguish who I and we are, and who the speech is being directed at. However, I believe Stevenson chose this narrative as it makes it easier to let the reader know and understand the feelings of the character that is narrating the novel at any time in the novel. R.L. Stevenson describes the island very well throughout the novel by using all of the senses of a human being: Sight The appearance of the island when I came on deck next morning was altogether changed. Sound and the whole ship creaking and groaning, Taste like someone tasting a bad egg. Smell a smell of sodden leaves and rotting tree trunks. Touch The Hispaniola was rolling scuppers under in the ocean swell. The quotation I chose for sight was one of the many I could have used as part three of Treasure Island has many references to sight and how things look. Although there is not nearly as many R.L. Stevenson still makes a point of describing the sounds that are a part of the island and boat, like the creaking of the boat, and the sounds that the birds make. Chapter thirteen contains only one reference to taste and that is in the form of a simile. The effect this has is that most people know or can at least guess what a bad egg tastes like which gives the reader a good idea of how bad the island smelt. The chapter also has only one reference to smell which can also give the reader a good idea of how he island smelt, giving them quite a clear image of the island in their minds eye. Explaining how movement and how something feels is a difficult task to achieve when writing a novel, however I feel that R.L. Stevenson manages to accomplish this quite well. Describing how the boat was rolling gently in the water, how the temperature was very hot and describing how Jim had to hold on because he felt as though everything was spinning around him. Part of the tension of Treasure Island is built up at the end of part one when Dr. Livesey tells Squire Trelawney that he is afraid that the Squire will tell someone what the voyage is about and that there is treasure involved, Theres only one man Im afraid of. `And whos that? cried the squire. `Name the dog, sir! `You, replied the doctor; `for you cannot hold your tongue.' The feeling this gives to the reader is one of untrustworthiness and a lack of faithfulness between friends which may cause the reader to become somewhat tense as there is a part of them that knows what is going to happen but they are not completely sure what or when it is going to happen. And when Jim and the doctor receive a letter from the squire it brings the doctors fears to light as the letter he receives from the squire says that the squire told every man, woman and child that he met, and that he had hired a man with one leg. At this news, the reader may again feel tension in them, as they do not know what the people the squire told will do or if the man with one leg is the same person that Billy Bones was so scared of. Personally, I think that there are five reasons that this novel is so widely known and read; Firstly the book appeals to people of all ages, it has something that appeals to everyone that can read. Secondly, R.L. Stevensons choice of narrative, it lets the reader know exactly how the character narrating feels, making you feel like apart of the novel. Thirdly, The way in which R.L. Stevenson chose to describe the island and everything surrounding it, almost making the Island a character. Fourthly, the amount of tension that is built up throughout the novel is huge; some readers might find the book hard to put down because of the tension as they feel they need to know what will happen next. Lastly, R.L. Stevenson thought up ideas about the setting, story, and narrative issues for Treasure Island himself, instead of doing what a lot of writers might do which is to take ideas from other people, modify them a bit, and then pass them off as their own. Due to this Treasure Island is unpredictable and lively, yet it is as easy to follow as a nursery book. I found Treasure Island to be quite an enjoyable book even though I do not usually read adventure novels.

The Use of Narratives to Express the Religious Beliefs of People in Wes

The Use of Narratives to Express the Religious Beliefs of People in Western Religions For the layman, familiarity with the major religions stems from the stories that are associated with them. Using the narratives that are derived from the sacred texts is the most prominent way in which our society identifies the Western religions. The Jewish tradition is best correlated to stories like the Exodus and the parting of the Red Seas, for example, as are the many tales of the miracles of Jesus connected to Christianity. This essay will present narratives as an easy method of providing the basic groundwork for the Western religious traditions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam because of their simplicity and easily transmittable nature. Furthermore, narratives impart many of the rules, laws, and moral fundamentals for these faiths, and are used by religious writers as a novel method of initiating discussion or providing a parallel for other narratives. From the beginning of the book of Genesis in the Holy Bible, it is evident that the identity of Jews, Christians, and Muslims in the West hails from Biblical narratives. Genesis and its two accounts of creation are an essential starting point for Jewish, Christian, and Islamic beliefs. It provides a foundation for devotees of these religions to worship their God as the ultimate creator of the heavens and earth, day and night, sun and moon, all the animals and vegetation that inhabits the world, and human beings. For Jews and Christians, God created the world in six days, taking rest on the seventh day. However in the Islamic tradition of creation, Allah's actions on the seventh day are quite different from the Judeo-Christian beliefs. In the Koran, it states, "In six days He c... ...the preferred method of transmitting the religious beliefs of peoples. Furthermore, our modern Western society easily portrays the identity of Christians, Jews, and Muslims through narratives in media, such as the news, movies, comic books, and television. Because of the way in which stories help people easily grasp the lessons and morals taught by religions, narratives are at the core of the teachings of Islam, Christianity, and Judaism, presenting fundamentals as well as being a resource for writing upon subject matter dealing with the those theologies. Works Cited Buber, Martin. Hasidism and Modern Man. New York: Horizon Press, year? The Holy Bible. New International Version. Nashville, Tennessee: Broadman and Holman Publishers, 1995. The Koran. Trans. N. J. Dawood. New York: Penguin Books, 1997 Wiesel, Elie. Night. New York: Bantam Books, 1960.

Economy of Russian

In recent times, Russian presses have been full of articles analyzing the Russian economy and making forecasts, most of them pessimistic. Many would say the Russian economy has failed miserably in the past one hundred years. After the 1917 Revolution, an attempt was made by the Communists to create an economy based on socialist principles. The thought was that the capitalist system led to a chaotic economy, cruel exploitation of workers and unemployment. The Russian socialist economy rests on the basic principles formed by Karl Marx: A centrally planned economy. This â€Å"planned economy† would be in use for the next sixty years. â€Å"In 1929-1930, under the process of collectivization, the land of Russia became state-owned and cooperatively-owned. There was no longer any private land ownership.† (Torchinsky, 48) The state became the monopolist of the economy. Economy planning bodies worked out the famous â€Å"Five-year plans.† The plans regulated everything from production of aircraft to nails and even eggs. They believed that since the means of production belonged to the state, and hence, collectively, to the people, (because a socialist state is a state belonging to the people) the state should control everything. This was to include planning, financing, and salaries. Under this system, â€Å"people are to be content and peacefully work for the benefit of society.† (Diller, 168) The Socialist economic theory assumed that people would work hard because they were working for the collective good, and hence their own good; therefore there would be no reason for them to be lazy or dishonest. Thus, the defects of capitalism would not show its face. â€Å"The five-year economic plans would make it possible to wisely distribute society†s resources and to promote development.† (Flint, 17) However, over the long term, this style of economy seems to have failed in Russia. At certain times-for instance, in restoring the national economy after World War 1, the Civil War, and World War II, â€Å"The states rigid economic monopoly achieved certain successes, but later the basic principles of socialist economic management became an insuperable obstacle blocking economic progress in the Soviet Union and in Russia.† (Flint, 12) Abolishing private ownership of businesses and land killed people†s desire to succeed or to create and increase their own property. The driving force of personal gain was absent from all work activity by the people. The socialist lifestyle assumed that tireless and selfless labor for the benefit of society would succeed. Under this system, there was no reason for the common man, or anyone who was not a fanatical supporter of socialism, to work hard or to improve or create anything. Everything disappeared into the state†s bottomless pockets. â€Å"A person could work well or badly-either way, he received the same meager wages.† (Torchinskii, 51) Many people were satisfied, but some did not work for many years, yet were still guaranteed their wages or salaries by the state. Centralized planning also had a ruinous effect. â€Å"Workers and peasants merely had to fulfill the orders passed from ‘above† regardless of their practicality.† (Hughes, 33) This sometimes resulted in goods being produced that no one needed and seed being sown into barren or frozen soil. Personal initiative was neither encouraged nor expected. As the years passed, the economic situation steadily worsened. For some time, â€Å"the country lived on ‘petrodollars† by selling oil and gas at low prices.† (Flint, 19) Rivalry in the arms race with the United States devoured tremendous wealth; plus a lot of money and energy was spent on supporting â€Å"friendly Communist regimes in Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.† (Flint, 19) At the 28th Party Congress in 1991, when the delegates started talking at last about the critical economic situation and the necessity of reforms, it was already too late. â€Å"The collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990†³s, and the rupture of economic ties between the former Soviet republics that once constituted an economic whole exacerbated the economic downslide, which rapidly became critical.† (Diller, 121) In the early 1990†³s, production continued to decline. Economic contacts weakened with other republics of the former Soviet Union. The balance of payments crisis increased. There was a lack of funds, especially hard currency, necessary for purchasing raw materials. â€Å"As a result of inflation, the purchasing capacity of the population fell and inventories grew.† (Torchinskii, 51) Although the situation in Russia is very difficult, positive aspects offer hope for a recovery. The privatization process in different industries is progressing, though with great difficulties. The agricultural industry is waiting for the transference of land to the peasants-a very risky step that could either save the country or ruin it completely. Russia has to create a successful agricultural base to thrive economically. â€Å"As of July 1, 1993, the number of private farms in Russia was 258,000; they occupied a territory of 27 million acres.† (Flint, 33) Most farmland is still controlled by former state farms or collectives, but now they are reconstructed to be joint-stock companies. Agricultural output and grain production has been declining since the early 1990†³s. Russia†s military defense industry includes aircraft building, rocket manufacturing, and the space industry. In all of these industries, Russia has a major place in the world market. Russia is also a leading arms producer and supplies countries all over the world. One of the most widely used assault rifles, the AK47, was even invented in Russia. â€Å"This remains the basic weapon of the Russian Army and of many other Communist countries.† (Hughes, 53) Finally, the country has immense manpower-the people who are able and want to work despite many decades of nearly losing the habit. There can be no doubt that regeneration is not far away. â€Å"Russia†s labor resources constituted 86.2 million people in 1992, or 58 percent of the population.† (Flint, 65) In 1993, this number was 85.7 million. The number of people in Russia that are actually employed has been dropping steadily since the early 1990†³s. In conclusion, the economy of Russia is by no means the epitome of a great economy, but many of the resources they have do help. Many people have tried to help boost the Russian economy, (Gorbachev, Stalin, Lenin, Yeltsin, and the Tzar) but all of them had their many moments of failures. The new â€Å"Commonwealth of Independent States† or the CIS has worked hard to make new plans for an economy that can rise to the occasion and become the best it has ever been before. With their abundance of natural resources, manpower, and knowledgeable people, Russia can become a major power quickly, but all they need is a guiding hand.

Responsibilities and Rights of Employees and Employers

1. Know the statutory responsibilities and rights of employees and employers within own area of work.  1.1 List the aspects of employment covered by lawThe law in UK covers the following aspects:Minimum wage, Hours worked, Discrimination, Health and safety, Holiday entitlements, Redundancy and dismissal, Training, Disciplinary procedures, Union rights and consultation, among many others. Labour law covers the deal between employee and employer, Health and safety cover the work conditions, and minimum wage and other law set basic compensation levels. Within our area of work we also have the Disability Act, Manual Handling Operations and Regulations, Data Protection Act, The Medicine Act, General Social Care Council code 2001, RIDDOR 1995 and more.1.2 List the main features of current employment legislation PayBeing paid and payslipsCompany sick pay rightsPerformance-related payEmployment contracts and conditionsContracts of employmentChanges to employment conditionsBreach of contrac tThe National Minimum WageThe National Minimum Wage ratesCalculating the National Minimum Wage: the basicsHelp getting paid the National Minimum WageTime off and holidaysAnnual leave and holidaysTime to train, request time at work to learn new skillsTime off for dependantsWorking hoursWorking time limits /the 48-hour week/Rest breaksOvertimeFlexible workingTe right to request flexible workingWorking form homePart-time workSickness absenceTime off for sicknessStatement of Fitness for Work /fit note/How work can keep you healthyBusiness transfers and takeoversEmployment protection during business transfers and takeovers Transfers of employment contracts1.3 Outline why legislation relating to employment existsTo ensure a more cost efficient and safer working environment. There is an increasing responsibility for employers to protect the health and safety of their employees. To protect workers, to guide, regulate and set standards, to provide rights and restrictions on workers and manag ement though a legal relationship.1.4 Indentify sources and types of information and advice available in relation to employment responsibilities When I need information and advice with regards to employment responsibilities and rights, I can find these within my contract provided by my employer and the start of my employment, or I can find this information written within my staff handbook . There are policy documents available within my work place. I can also ask member of staff if I am unsure of my responsibilities.2. Understand agreed ways of working that protect own relationship with employer2.1 Describe the terms and conditions of own contract of employment With regards to the terms and conditions of my contract it states the date on with my continuous employment began, the Place of work, Duties, Salary per hour, Working hours per week, Holidays, Holiday Pay, Sickness Absence Policy, Pension, Probation Period, Rights to Notice, Smoking, Data  Protection Act 1998, Maternity rig hts; Ante/natal care, Maternity leave, Statutory Maternity Pay, Adoption Leave & Pay, Statutory Paternity Pay, Parental leave, Time off to care for dependants, Retirement, Right to Search, Short Time Working, Lay Offs & Redundancies, Extended Leave,Variation of Terms and Conditions, Contradiction Between These Terms & Conditions and my Individual Employment Letters, Intellectual Rights, Use of The Internet, Email, Company Rules, Disciplinary Procedures, Principles, Table of Disciplinary Offences and Penalties, The Procedure, Stage One – Verbal Warning, Stage Two – Written Warning, Stage three – Final Written Warning, Stage four / Dismissal, Appeals Procedure, Other Dismissals, The formal grievance procedure, Equal Opportunities Statement, Anti-Harassment Statement, Management’s Responsibility, Additional information, Restrictive Covenants.2.2 Describe the information shown on own pay statement On my own pay slip I have my full name, the name of the compan y that employs me, Tax period, Interval, Date, Staff ID number, NI Number, NI Code, Tax Code, PAYE Reference, Taxable Gross, Gross to Date, Tax to Date, Employer’s NI, Employer’s Pension, NI Gross, Net Pay.2.3 Describe the procedures to follow in event of a grievance If I have grievance relating to my employment, I should attempt to resolve this informally by speaking with your line manager. If, however, I fail to get a satisfactory resolution within a period of 5 days of speaking with my manager of if my grievance is about my manager and I do not wish to discuss it with him or her, the Company has a formal grievance procedure. If I have a complaint, which cannot be resolved, it is essential that I use this procedure in all circumstances.2.4. Identify the personal information that must be kept up to date with own employer Employees personal data should be kept safe, secure and up to date by an employer. Data an employer can keep about an employee includes name, address , date of birth, sex, education and qualifications, work experience, National Insurance number, tax code, details of any known disability, emergency contact details.They will also keep details about an  employee such as: employment history with the organisation, employment terms and conditions (pay, hours of work, holidays, benefits, and absence), any accidents connected with work, any training taken, and any disciplinary action. Each types of personal information must be kept up to date all the time with my employer will be: Change of name, marital status, address, GP, Next of Kin, nationality, change of sex.2.5 Explain agreed ways of working with employerThe Policies and procedures based on sector standards and guidelines and individuals care plans. To implement agreed ways of working I follow the care plan. Duty of care is the obligation I have to exercise a level of care towards an individual, as is reasonable in all the circumstances, to avoid injury to that individual or his /her property. Dilemma can occur when an individual makes a risky choice. They have a right to do this and I must respect and support their choices but I also have a duty to keep them safe.3. Understand how own role fits within the wider context of the sector3.1 Explain how own role fits within the delivery of the service providedMaintain high standards of care and service toward service users. Assist service users in maintaining their personal hygiene, washing and dressing, toileting, shaving male residents, going to bed, promote independence and dignity, and assist in enabling to live their chosen lifestyle. Report complaints directly to the Manager in charge as son as they are made.3.2 Explain the effect of own role on service provisionOur work is on one to one basic. Provide good quality of care, promote independent and dignity, assist in enabling to live their chosen lifestyle, makes clients happy and keep them in good living condition, make them to live longer, by this thing w e can increase peoples confident in the Health and Social Care sector. I work in a care home as a care assistant. My responsibilities includes: assist the residents with personal care, dressing and feeding, helping them to move around, incontinence care, generally assisting with overall comfort, monitoring conditions.3.3 Describe how own role links to the wider sectorI work in a care home where I take care of elderly and mentally ill people suffering from dementia. Old and demented people have problem with loss of short-term memory. I see people as individuals, focus on their strengths, treat them with dignity and respect, and protect the individual from abuse, injury and harm.3.4 Describe the main roles and responsibilities of representative bodies that influence the wider sectorThe main roles of these representative bodies are: to represent the people and be their voice in the senate, to be able assist the people they represent in asserting their humanitarian rights, to ensure tha t their government's financial allocation for the sector they represent is enough basing on their immediate or basic needs.Representative bodies my include: government departments, professional bodies, trade unions, sector skills councils, regulatory bodies, consumer groups. European Union is our representative bodies. The employee must again take all reasonable steps to attend the appeal meeting and will have the right to be accompanied by a trade union representative or fellow employee of his or her choice.4. Understand career pathways available within own and related sectors 4.1 Explore different types of occupational opportunitiesDifferent types of occupational opportunities for example: social worker, specialist, speech therapist, General Practitioner, children social worker, care specialist, Manager, Adult nursing, Child nursing, Mental health nursing, Learning disabilities nursing.4.2 Identify sources of information related to a chosen career pathway Sources of information: i nternet, books, Code of Practice, media /TV, radio, magazines, Newspapers/, individuals, training, Alzheimer’s Society, Supportive care for the Person with Dementia – edited by Julian C. Hughes, Mari Lloyd-Williams, Greg A. Sachs4.3 Identify next steps in own career pathwayI would like to complete the upcoming courses and become a manager in a care home.5. Understand how issues of public concern may affect the image and delivery of services in the sector5.1 Identify occasions where the public have raised concerns regarding issues within the sector Care home abuse and neglect is Britain’s next major scandal. The Panorama footage showed images of aggression and violence against residents at the care home, near Bristol. Staff pinned residents to the floor and forced one into the shower fully dressed and then outside until she shook from cold.5.2 Outline different viewpoints around an issue of public concern relevant to the sector The Government will give greater as surance to families that their complaints or concerns are being properly listened to. Anyone with worries about how their loved one has been treated at the end of their life will have access to an independent assessment of their case.To support this independent assessment, the Government will make available a list of experts to provide local support for patients if needed – and all NHS hospitals will be asked to appoint a Board member with responsibility for overseeing any complaints about end of life care and for reviewing how end of life care is provided.5.3 Describe how issues of public concern have altered public views of the sector The bad practices and scandals in the social and health care sector arouse the public. People lose their confidence and keep their family members away from the care homes.5.4 Describe recent changes in service delivery, which have affected own area of work I like to work with service users alone when the situation and their health condition al lows. My clients are suffering from dementia. They may become unusually emotional and experience rapid mood swings for no apparent reason, which may cause a dangerous situation. I make sure to call for help if necessary.

The Law of All Land essays

The Law of All Land essays A Study of Diplomatic Immunities and Privileges I. Introduction A Brief History of Diplomacy B. Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act of 1976 and Diplomatic Relations Act of 1978 IV. U.S. Policy on Diplomatic Immunity V. Abuses of Diplomatic Immunities and Privileges I. INTRODUCTION A Brief History of Diplomacy Sadaam Hussein emerged as public enemy number one because of his blatant disregard to international law and relations, in his continued hostage hold of U.S. diplomats. As a result, foreign and national security policies had to be enacted to handle the hostile foreign affair. Diplomacy became one of the chief instruments of foreign and national security employed in the Iranian hostage crisis and other international conflicts preceding and succeeding. The history of diplomacy can be traced to the intense diplomatic intercourse between ancient Egypt and its neighbors long before 1000 BC. Not until the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, however, did diplomacy begin to assume its modern form. Rules were developed by the Italian city-states to govern the appointment and conduct of ambassadors, and in 1455, Milan established the first permanent embassy in Genoa. In the sixteenth century, other European states followed the Italian example and appointed permanent ambassadors. Under the inf luence of sixteenth and seventeenth century writers, such as Hugo Grotius and Alberico Gentili, the privileges of diplomats were more precisely defined and incorporated in international law. The Congress of Vienna in 1815 and the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic and Consular Relations in 1961 and 1963 defined and redefined, respectively, classes of diplomatic representatives. In the twentieth century, consular and diplomatic services, formerly separate, have been merged in many countries, including the United States (1924). Diplomacy is the activity of preventing and solving conflicts by representatives, namely diplo...

Acid test ratio vs current ratio

The Current ratio and the Acid-test ratio, both fall under the category of financial ratios.   These two ratios examine the capability of an organization to pay those creditors, whose debts are below the stipulated period of twelve months.   Such short-term debts usually consist of 30 or 60 days credit period.   Indeed under the two ratios the Current Liabilities are considered as the debt to be covered by the assets considered on the numerator of the ratio. The higher these ratios, the better are the financial position of the firm.   However, a number of factors have to be considered by both ratios before remarking on the financial position of the company.   For instance, one has to consider the nature of the business and the effect of seasonal variations before giving drastic conclusions.   In fact, such ratios are frequently examined by analyzing the financial position of the same organization over time or in relation to the industry average in which the firm operates. The main difference that lies between these ratios is the analyses of the liquidity of the current assets taken.   Under the current ratio, all the current assets of the firm are considered in the formula.   However, the acid-test ratio examines the assets that can be easily converted into cash in relation to the current liabilities of the firm.   As a result, the stock value, which is the least liquid asset, is deducted from the current assets in this ratio. Under these ratios, the short-term assets are divided by the current liabilities in order to see by how many times can such assets cover these liabilities.   For instance, if at the financial year ended 31st December 2006 a firm had a total current assets of $200,000, and the current liabilities added up to $100,000, the current ratio would be calculated as follows: This result indicates that the current assets of the firm can meet by two times as much the present current obligations of the organization.   The same principle applies for the acid-test ratio with the exception that stock is removed from the current assets as already stated in the previous paragraph.

Comparison Pratt's Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Comparison Pratt's - Essay Example Therefore, presentation of conflict and tranquility at individual, local, social and international levels form the major components of contact zones. In that vein, media, time periods, traditions and faculties form major points of reference while exploring a film. Consequently, zones describe and identify origins of conflict; explanations on how occurrences of conflicts reach others and to strive to understand ways that ordinary statesmen can work for peace (Grossman, 2013). Mary concept of contact zones encompasses colonialism, slavery, and results as is witnessed in various parts of the world. Mary eventually uses the word to reconsider most models of communities that many people use to teach and theorize conflicts in the world today. It is important to note that, Guaman Poma huge letter to Philip III exemplifies some social complexities that culminate to conquests and empires. The letter was written in two languages, Spanish and Quechua and in two parts. Nueva is the name of the first part that was constituted of the main official discourses. New chronicles by Guaman Poma’s gives an instance that mary proposes to call an autoethnographic text. A text that individuals undertake to describe themselves in ways that other people talk of them in presentations they make (Grossman, 2013). Unlike ethnographic texts used by people in European metropolitan subjects to represent themselves, autoethnography represent texts that the so-defined others develop in response to other texts. Important to note, autoethnogrsphics are not equivalent to autochthonous way of expression or self-representation that many fondly mistake. Rather, it involves choosing collaborations that can are appropriated with idioms of the conqueror (Grossman, 2013). The texts are merged and blended in at different degrees with idioms to form a self-representation that strives to get involved in metropolitan