Paper based on your own version of a walking tour of religious sites Essay

Paper based on your own version of a walking tour of religious sites in New Jersey or New York City - Essay Example e and 29th Street I came across the not so well-known Episcopal Church of Transfiguration, also known as the, â€Å"Little Church Around the Corner.† Later on my walk, I explored the famous St. Patrick’s Catholic Cathedral at 51st Street. And lastly, at 63rd Street, I found the Jewish Temple Emanu-El, the largest synagogue in the United States. At the beginning of my tour, the Little Church Around the Corner didn’t necessarily jump out at me as it’s rather hidden by the mammoth contemporary buildings along the block. The church was founded in 1848, and was originally a rather simple church lacking ornate design and magnitude. As the years have gone by, various architects have built additions to the church that now gives it a hodge-podge like architectural style of buildings that have been glued together. Upon arrival, the first thing I noticed was the quaint garden at the entrance of the chapel. The low gate that surrounds the property gives the feeling of a friendly playground rather than a church. Near this entrance is the Chapel of the Holy Family designed in a style reminiscent of the 1940s, but then, the Lady Chapel from 1906 is a jeweled room of bits of glass. The over-sized decorations are more fitting for a majestic cathedral, but this is what gives this little church its eccentricity. The church gain ed popularity in 1870 when a famous actor/comedian of that time passed away and his funeral was refused at the Marble Collegiate Church, the executor of his will was referred to the â€Å"Little church around the corner,† and has since then been considered a church for theatre misfits, immigrants, and those who see the lighter side of religion. It has also become a popular place for marriage ceremonies because of its romantic history and because the parish quickly accepts marriage situations from all walks of life. Considering the long history of this church, and the way its clergy have continued to creatively add to its physical size, it still

True Blood vs Twilight Essay Example for Free

True Blood vs Twilight Essay The year 2008 saw the book-to-screen translation of two human/vampire love stories: Twilight and True Blood. True Blood, a television show on HBO, is a single volume of the book series Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris. Twilight is an adaptation of the book series by Stephanie Meyer that has transformed into multiple motion pictures. Twilight is set in Forks, Washington where vampires are merely a myth to humans, and True Blood is set in the fictional town Bon Temps, Louisiana, where vampires have come out of hiding to try and cohabitate themselves into human society because of the invention of synthetic blood. When considering the legend and lore of vampires, the characters, and the actual production value of the story, True Blood and the Twilight series run as two dynamically opposite tales. The mythology of vampires puts forth the notion of the undead and their supernatural abilities. True Blood respects the original vampire culture by never straying too far from it’s familiar conventions, such as having fangs, requiring blood for nutrients, burning when exposed to sunlight or silver, and having the ability to fly. As for the under-played Twilight version, the mocking ability of a vampire’s skin sparkling when they step into the sun is almost as threatening as â€Å"My Little Pony†, and taking away the monstrous quality of having fangs completely destroys the classic horror theme. Another over-dramatic trait of Twilight’s vampires is that they do not require sleep, yet they have an immeasurable amount of strength. True Blood holds the more logical approach that vampires must rest during the day or else they will get weak and develop a condition known as â€Å"the bleeds,† where they bleed out of the orifices of their face. Besides the physical characteristics, Twilight has stunted the belief that vampires are an â€Å"equal race†, by giving each of their characters a different ability. For example, in the Cullens family (Twilight), Jasper has the ability to calm a room, Alice can predict the future, and Edward can read humans’ minds (except for Bella’s). Despite these enchanting traits of a rather vicious creature, True Blood keeps it simple and understandable by all of their vampires having the same ability to â€Å"glamour† a human, or mesmerize them, and have super speed and strength (when well rested). Twilight’s â€Å"glamour vamps† lack excitement and originality while True Blood’s vamps wear their entire being on their cold, lifeless sleeves. A crucial component for building hope and suspense for a reader would consist of having well-suited characters that add spark to the story. Twilight tells the viewers about the potential plot that could unfold, leaving no suspense, whereas True Blood’s viewers have a visual component, making it easier to connect and empathize with the characters. Twilight’s Bella Swan is a self-conscious, introverted human teenager, while True Blood’s Sookie Stackhouse is an independent, strong-willed human waitress. Both heroines seem to find themselves fascinated with the vampires they each encounter and eventually struggle with their lovers’ â€Å"dark side†. When Bella first sees Edward, she is instantly attracted to him but does not outwardly express it and does not initially insert her interest in any way, unlike Sookie who strikes a conversation with Bill as soon as she sees him and later saves his life all within the first episode. Twilight’s Edward Cullen seems to be an egotistical snob that talks a big talk but takes action demonstrating his â€Å"vampire† abilities, especially when compared to True Blood’s Bill Compton, who will use his supernatural powers to any extent when it deems necessary to him, even though his being a vampire shames him. Edward only speaks of being a threat to his lover, Bella, while on the other hand, Bill stakes another vampire in the second season to save Sookie’s life (a criminal act worth the death penalty in the vampire world). Both vampires demonstrate their love, but Bill clearly acts on his feelings and instincts as a supernatural creature rather than Edward, who basically sits and complains about his negative self image. True Blood, being a television show of three seasons, has had the luxury of thirty-six hours of run-time to shape their story, describe their world, and add depth to their characters, whereas Twilight has had less than eight hours (including all three motion pictures) to evolve it’s repetitive love story. While Meyer’s story revolves around teenage angst, True Blood caters to a more mature audience by giving them heaping doses of adult content, like: sex, violence, and tons of blood. By True Blood integrating vampires into a modern-type society, it allows the show to tackle things that are normally controversial like racism, segregation, and religion. In contrast, Twilight simply keeps vampires hidden away from the human race, spending most of their budget on special effects and young, attractive actors, serving to the youth culture. Twilight strains its ability to genuinely connect with the audience by having one of the main characters, Bella, narrate the movie from a first-person perspective, limiting the audience to her emotions and point-of-view. Although Sookie Stackhouse is the main character of the story, the plot is not limited solely to her perspective; True Blood makes sure that there is plenty of time spent developing the other main characters’ story lines that solidifies the show’s strong ensemble cast that includes: Sookie’s younger, air-headed brother Jason, her strong best friend Tara, Tara’s gay cousin Lafayette, Sam the bar-owning shapeshifter, and Eric the vampire sheriff of Louisiana. When diving into possibilities of a fantasy on screen, there is always a pinch of realism needed in the story in order keep the viewer grounded in reality. By basing the series on the possible outcomes of vampires and humans incorporating their worlds, True Blood stays true to the egregiousness of the vampire reputation. Twilight minimally does the same thing every year or so, while lacking the excitement that True Blood gives it’s viewers on a weekly basis. True Blood is a fiendishly fun and breath-takingly baleful series featuring insane characters filled with life and thrill, while Twilight is a teen centric sulk-fest filled with silence and shame.

Oregon Trail :: essays research papers

Oregon Trail Overland pioneer route to the northwestern United States. About 3200 km, about 2000 mi long, the trail extended from Independence, Missouri, to the Columbia River in Oregon. Part of the route followed the Platte River for 870 km (540 mi) through what is now Nebraska to Fort Laramie in present-day Wyoming. The trail continued along the North Platte and Sweetwater rivers to South Pass in the Wind River Range of the Rocky Mountains. From there the main trail went south to Fort Bridger, Wyoming, before turning into the Bear River valley and north to Fort Hall in present-day Idaho. In Idaho the Oregon Trail followed the Snake River to the Salmon Falls and then went north past Fort Boise (now Boise). The route entered what is now Oregon, passed through the Grande Ronde River valley, crossed the Blue Mountains and followed the Umatilla River to the Columbia River. Shorter and more direct routes were developed along some parts of the trail, but they were often more difficult. Originally, like many other main routes in the United States, sections of the Oregon Trail had been used by the Native Americans and trappers. As early as 1742, part of the trail in Wyoming had been blazed by the Canadian explorer Pierre Gaultier de Varennes, sieur de La VÃ ©rendrye; the Lewis and Clark Expedition, between 1804 and 1806, made more of it known. The German-American fur trader and financier John Jacob Astor, in establishing his trading posts, dispatched a party overland in 1811 to follow the trail of these explorers. Later, mountain men such as James Bridger, who founded Fort Bridger in 1843, contributed their knowledge of the trail and often acted as guides. The first emigrant wagon train, headed by the American pioneer physician Elijah White, reached Oregon in 1842.

Euro Disney

Case Study: 1 The Not-So-Wonderful World of Euro Disney BONJOUR, MICKEY: In April 1992, EuroDisney SCA opened its doors to European visitors. Located by the river Marne some 20 miles east of Paris, it was designed to be the biggest and most lavish theme park that Walt Disney Company (Disney) had built to date – bigger than Disneyland in Anaheim, California; Disney World in Oralando, Florida; and Tokyo Disneyland in Japan. Much to Disney management’s surprise, Europeans failed to â€Å"go goofy† over Mickey, unlike their Japanese counterparts.Between 1990 and early 1992, some 14 million people had visited Tokyo Disneyland, with three-quarters being repeat visitors. A family of four staying overnight at a nearby hotel would easily spend $600 on a visit to the park. In contrast, at EuroDisney, families were reluctant to spend the $280 a day needed to enjoy the attractions of the park, including les hamburgers and les milkshakes. Staying overnight was out of the ques tion for many because hotel rooms were so high priced.For example, prices ranged from $110 to $380 a night at the Newport Bay Club, the largest of EuroDisney’s six new hotels and one of the biggest in Europe. In comparison, a room in a top hotel in Paris cost between $340 and $380 a night. Financial losses became so massive at EuroDisney that the president had to structure a rescue package to put EuroDisney back on firm financial ground. Many French bankers questioned the initial financing but the Disney response was that their views reflected the cautious. Old world thinking of Europeans who didn’t understand U. S. -style free market financing.After some acrimonious dealings with French banks a two-year financial plan was negotiated. Disney management rapidly revised their marketing plan and introduced strategic and tactical changes in the hope of â€Å"doing it right† this time. A Real Estate Dream Come True : The Paris location was chosen over 200 other poten tial sites stretching from Portugal through Spain, France, Italy, and into Greece. Spain thought it had the strongest bid based on its yearlong temperate and sunny Mediterranean climate, but insufficient acreage of land was available for development around Barcelona.In the end, the French government’s generous incentives, together with impressive data on regional demographics, swayed Disney management to choose the Paris location. It was calculated that some 310 million people in Europe live within two hours’ air travel of EuroDisney, and 17 million could reach the park within two hours by car – better demographics than at any other Disney site. Pessimistic talk about the dismal winter weather of northern France was countered with references to the success of Tokyo Disneyland, where resolute visitors brave cold winds and snow to enjoy their piece of Americana.Furthermore, it was argued, Paris is Europe’s most-popular city destination among tourists of all nationalities. Spills and Thrills: Disney had projected that the new theme park would attract 11 million visitors and generate over $100 million in operating earnings during the first year of operation. By summer 1994, EuroDisney had lost more than $900 million since opening. Attendance reached only 9. 2 million in 1992, and visitors spent 12 percent less on purchases than the estimated $33 per head. If tourists were not flocking to taste the thrills of the new EuroDisney, where were they going for their summer vacations in 1992?Ironically enough, an unforeseen combination of transatlantic airfare wars and currency movements resulted in a trip to Disney World in Orlando being cheaper than a trip to Paris, with guaranteed good weather and beautiful Floridian beaches within easy reach. EuroDisney management took steps to rectify immediate problems in 1992 by cutting rates at two hotels up to 25 percent, introducing some cheaper meals at restaurants, and launching a Paris ad blitz tha t proclaimed â€Å"California in only 20 miles from Paris. An American Icon : One of the most worrying aspects of EuroDisney’s first year was that French visitors stayed away; they had been expected to make up 50 percent of the attendance figures. A park services consulting firm framed the problem in these words; â€Å"The French see EuroDisney as American imperialism – plastics at its worst. † The well-known, sentimental Japanese attachment to Disney characters contrasted starkly with the unexpected and widespread French scorn for American fairy-tale characters.French culture has its own lovable cartoon characters such as Asterix, the helmeted, pint-sized Gallic warrior who has a theme park located near EuroDisney. Hostility among the French people to the whole â€Å"Disney idea† had surfaced early in the planning of the new project. Paris theater director Ariane Mnouchkine became famous for her description of EuroDisney as â€Å"a cultural Chernobyl. † In fall 1989, during a visit to Paris, French Communists pelted Michael Eisner with eggs. The joke going around at the time was, â€Å"For EuroDisney to adapt properly to France, all seven of Snow White’s dwarfs should be named Grumpy (Grincheux).Early advertising by EuroDisney seemed to aggravate local French sentiment by emphasizing glitz and size, rather than the variety of rides and attractions. Committed to maintaining Disney’s reputation for quality in everything, more detail was built into EuroDisney. For example, the centerpiece castle in the Magic Kingdom had to be bigger and fancier than in the other parks. Expensive trams were built along a lake to take guests from the hotels to the park, but visitors preferred walking. Total park construction costs were estimated at FFr 14 billion ($2. 7 billion) in 1989 but rose by $340 million to FFr 16 billion as a result of all these addons. Hotel construction costs alone rose from an estimated FFr 3. 4 billion to FFr 5. 7 billion. EuroDisney and Disney managers unhappily succeeded in alienating many of their counterparts in the government, the banks, the ad agencies, and other concerned organizations. A barnstorming, kick-the-door-down attitude seemed to reign among the U. S. decision makers. â€Å"They had a formidable image and convinced everyone that if we let them do it their way, we would all have a marvelous adventure. One former Disney executive voiced the opinion, â€Å"We were arrogant – it was like ‘We’re building the Taj Mahal and people will come – on our terms. † STORM CLOUDS AHEAD Disney and its advisors failed to see signs at the end of the 1980s of the approaching European recession. Other dramatic events included the Gulf War in 1991, which put a heavy brake on vacation travel for the rest of that year. Other external factors that Disney executives have cited are high interest rates and the devaluation of several currencies against the franc.EuroDisney also encountered difficulties with regard to competition – the World’s Fair in Seville and the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona were huge attractions for European tourists. Disney management’s conviction that it knew best was demonstrated by its much-trumpeted ban on alcohol in the park. This proved insensitive to the local culture because the French are the world’s biggest consumers of wine. To them a meal without unverre de rouge is unthinkable. Disney relented. It also had to relax its rules on personal grooming of the projected 12,000 cast members, the park employees.Women were allowed to wear redder nail polish than in the United States, but the taboo on men’s facial hair was maintained. â€Å"We want the clean-shaven, neat and tidy look,† commented the director of Disney University’s Paris branch, which trains prospective employees in Disney values and culture. EuroDisney’s management did, however, compromise o n the question of pets. Special kennels were built to house visitors’ animals. The thought of leaving a pet at home during vacation is considered irrational by many French people. Plans for further development of EuroDisney after 1992 were ambitious.The initial number of hotel rooms was planned to be 5,200, more than in the entire city of Cannes on the Cote d’ Azur. Also planned were shopping malls, apartments, golf courses, and vacation homes. EuroDisney would design and build everything itself, with a view to selling at a profit. As a Disney executive commented, â€Å"Disney at various points could have had partners to share the risk or buy the hotels outright. But it didn’t want to give up the upside. â€Å"From the time they came on, Disney’s Chairman Eisner and President Wells had never made a single misstep, never a mistake, never a failure,† said a ormer Disney executive. â€Å"There was a tendency to believe that everything they touched w ould be perfect. † The incredible growth record fostered this belief. In the seven years EuroDisney opened, they took the parent company from being a company with $1 billion in revenues to one with $8. 5 billion, mainly through internal growth. Telling and Selling Fairy Tales: Mistaken assumptions by the Disney management team affected construction design, marketing and pricing policies, and park management, as well as initial financing. Disney executives had been erroneously informed that Europeans don’t eat break fast.Restaurant breakfast service was downsized accordingly, and guess what? â€Å"Everybody showed up for breakfast. We were trying to serve 2,500 breakfasts in a 350 – seat restaurant (at some of the hotels). The lines were horrendous. And they didn’t just want croissants and coffee, they wanted bacon and eggs. † In contrast to Disney’s American parks where visitors typically stay at least three days, EuroDisney is at most a two- day visit. Energetic visitors need even less time. One analyst claimed to have â€Å"done† every EuroDisney ride in just five hours.Typically many guests arrive early in the morning, rush to the park, come back to their hotel at night, and then check out the next morning before heading back to the park. Vacation customs of Europeans were not taken into consideration. Disney executives had optimistically expected that the arrival of their new theme park would cause French parents to take their children out of school in mid-session for a short break. It did not happen, unless a public holiday occurred over a weekend. Similarly, Disney expected that the American-style short but more frequent family vacation, usually taken in August.However, French office and factory schedules remained the same, with their emphasis on an August shutdown. In promoting the new park to visitors, Disney did not stress the entertainment value of a visit to the new theme park; the emphasis was on the s ize of the park, which â€Å"ruined the magic. † To counter this, ads were changes to feature Zorro, a French favorite, mary Poppins, and Aladdin, star of the huge moneymaking movie success. A print ad campaign at that time featured Aladdin, Cinderella’s castle, and a little girl being invited to njoy a â€Å"magic vacation,† at the kingdom where all dreams come true. Six new attractions were added in 1994, including the Temple of Peril, Storybook Land; and the Nautilus attraction. Donald Duck’s birthday was celebrated on June 9 – all in hopes of positioning EuroDisney as the No. 1 European destination of short duration, one to three days. Tomorrowland: Faced with falling share prices and crisis talk among shareholders, Disney was forced to step forward in late 1993 to rescue the new park. Disney announced that it would fund EuroDisney until a financial restructuring could be worked out with lenders.However, it was made clear by the parent company, Disney, that it â€Å"was not writing a blank check. † In June 1994, EuroDisney received a new lifeline when a member of the Saudi royal family agreed to invest up to $500 million for a 24 percent stake in the park. The price has an established reputation in world markets as a â€Å"bottom-fisher. † Buying into potentially viable operations during crisis when share prices are low. The prince’s plans included a $100 million convention center at EuroDisney. One of the few pieces of good new about EuroDisney is that its convention business exceeded expectations from the beginning.MANAGEMENT AND NAME CHANGES Frenchman Philippe Bourguignon took over at EuroDisney as CEO in 1993 and has navigated the theme park back to profitability. He was instrumental in the negotiations with the firm’s bankers, cutting a deal that he credits largely for bringing the park back into the black. Perhaps more important to the long-run success of the venture were his changes in m arketing. The pan-European approach to marketing was dumped, and national markets were targeted separately. This new localization took into account the differing tourists’ habits around the continent.Separate marketing offices were opened in London, Frankfurt, Milan, Brussels, Amsterdam and Madrid, and each was charged with tailoring advertising and packages to its own market. Prices were cut by 20 percent for park admission and 30 percent for some hotel room rates. Special promotions were also run for the winter months. The central theme of the new marketing and operations approach is that people visit the park for an â€Å"authentic† Disney day out. They may not be completely sure what that means, except that it entails something American. This is reflected in the transformation of the park’s name.The â€Å"Euro† in EuroDisney was first shrunk in the logo, and the word â€Å"land† added. Then in October 1994 the â€Å"Euro† was eliminated completely; the park is now called Disneyland Paris. In 1996 Disneyland Paris became France’s most visited tourist attraction, ahead of both the Louvre Art Museum and the Eiffel Tower, 11. 7 million visitors (a 9 percent increase from the previous year) allowed the park to report another profitable year. THEME PARK EXPANSION IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY With the recovery of Disneyland Paris, Disney embarked on an ambitious growth plan.In 2001 the California Adventure Park was added to the Anaheim complex at a cost of $1. 4 billion and Walt Disney Studios Theme Park was added to Disneyland Paris. Through agreements with foreign partners, Disney will open Disney-Sea in Tokyo and plans are underway for a theme park in Shanghai that Chinese officials hope will open in time for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing and a park in Hong Kong is to open in 2006. A decade after being slammed for its alleged ignorance of European ways with EuroDisney, Disney is trying to prove it’s go tten things right the second time around.The new movie-theme park, Walt Disney Studios, adjacent to Disneyland Paris, is designed to be a tribute to moviemaking – but not just the Hollywood kind. The Walt Disney Studios blend Disney entertainment and attractions with the history and culture of European film since French camera-makers helped invent the motion picture. The park’s general layout is modeled after an old Hollywood studio complex, and some of the rides and shows are near replicas of Disney’s first film park, Disney-MGM Studios.Rather than celebrating the history of U. S. Disney characters, the characters in the new theme park speak six different languages. A big stunt show features cars and motorcycles that race through a village modeled after the French resort town of St. Tropez. Small details reflect the cultural lessons learned. â€Å"We made sure that all our food venues have covered seating,† recalling that, when EuroDisney first opened, t he open-air restaurants offered no protection from the rainy weather that assails the park for long stretches of the year.On the food front, EuroDisney offered only a French sausage, drawing complaints from the English, Germans, Italians, and everyone else about why their local sausages weren’t available. This time around, the park caters to the multiple indigenous cultures throughout Europe – which includes a wider selection of sausages. Unlike Disney’s attitude with their first park in France, â€Å"Now we realize that our guests need to be welcomed on the basis of their own culture and travel habits,† says Disneyland Paris Chief Executive.Disneyland Paris today is Europe’s biggest tourist attraction – even more popular than the Eiffel Tower – a turnaround that showed the park operators’ ability to learn from their mistakes. The root of Disney’s problems in EuroDisney may be found in the tremendous success of Japanâ₠¬â„¢s Disneyland. The Tokyo Park was a success from the first day and it has been visited by millions of Japanese who wanted to capture what they perceived at the ultimate U. S. entertainment experience. Disney took the entire U. S. theme park and transplanted it in Japan. It worked because of the Japanese attachment to Disney characters.Schools have field trips to meet Mickey and his friends to the point that the Disney experience has become ingrained in Japanese life. In the book, Disneyland as Holy Land, University of Tokyo professor Masako otoji wrote: â€Å"The opening of Tokyo Disneyland was, in retrospect, the greatest cultural event in Japan during the ‘80s. † With such success, is there any wonder that Disney thought they had the right model when they first went to France? The Tokyo Disney constitutes a very rare case in that the number of visitors has not decreased since the opening.While Disney Japan was a success the company also admitted making a major fina ncial error when the park was launched. It had licensed its name and image to another company that actually owns and operates the park as well as the land where it sits. Disney collects only a small fraction of the revenues that run into hundreds of millions of dollars every year. Since they were not certain of the success of the first international venture, it was the price they were willing to pay; however, it vowed never to repeat that error and to never have its hands tied again.As a consequence, when they began the jParis Park, they were fanatically intent on owning and controlling the park as well as enough adjacent property for its own exclusive hotels – â€Å"they were sure they had the right model and they were going to own it all. † Thus, they began planning EuroDisney. QUESTIONS 1. You as Disney’s Chairman Eisner Present the Euro Disney project as success of Global marketing. 2. To what degree, you as Eisner,consider the disturbing factors were (a) fo reseeable and (b) controllable by the parent company, Disney? 3. What then you think as the factors that stop standardized marketing practice.

Duke Ellington: the Music, Politics, and His Story Essay

Duke Ellington was a musical and political genius; he was â€Å"America’s only original musical mind. † He was not only a performer, but a composer. He learned the craft of composing by observing others instead of disciplined study. One important factor of Ellington’s music was its relation to black heritage and African American history. His symphony â€Å"Black, Brown, and Beige† displayed the African American struggle in America. Not only did Ellington use his music to portray the struggle, voice, and triumph of black Americans, he used his professionalism, originality, persuasiveness, and political performances. Edward Kennedy Ellington was born in 1899 and composed, arranged, and performed music for the majority of his life. Ellington was born and raised in a middle-class family in Washington D. C. , and that is where he first acquired his racial beliefs. During his grade school years, an emphasis of identity, pride, and history was instilled in the minds of him and his classmates. He was taught to command respect, not demand it. This meant that he was to act and speak in a respectable manner if he expected to be respected. He first began taking piano lessons at the age of seven but did not have particular interest in the trade at that time. In high school, he became interested in ragtime music. Also in his high school years, he acquired the nickname â€Å"Duke† because of his exotic choice of attire, and today, many believe that is his actual name. At age sixteen, Ellington was inspired by a â€Å"hot† pianist and decided that he wanted to be able to play like that. His knowledge of music was predominantly learned by ear, although he eventually learned to read music and took harmony lessons. Although he did have some music lessons, most of his musical mastery was self-taught by experimentation. Ellington became a professional pianist by the remarkable age of seventeen. Music was not his only artistic interest; he also excelled at visual arts. He was awarded an art scholarship to the Pratt Institute, but he preferred to play gigs instead. Duke eventually started a band of his own, originally containing only four players other than him. As the band expanded, he used the new members as resources to create a better product. Ellington and his band began a six-month residency at the New York Hurricane restaurant. There, he accompanied floor shows until he became the featured artist and broadcasted on the radio. In 1927 after the residency, he and his orchestra known as the Washingtonians moved to the Cotton Club in Harlem. He and his band were said to have â€Å"put the Cotton Club on the map†. While at the Cotton Club, his music was often referred to as â€Å"jungle music† due to his band’s trademark use of plunger mutes to create growling sounds. Often while his orchestra played, there would also be a skit being performed that was nearly primitive. At the Cotton Club, the families of African American performers had to sit in a separate section of the audience. Although Ellington was upset by this, he continued to perform at the Cotton Club because it was his opportunity to enhance his career and popularity. Duke always made sure that he and his band were dressed and behaved as gentleman in order to represent African American pride, beauty, and artistry. Unlike other African American artists of the time, Ellington’s compositions were used for the sake of listening purposes, in comparison to just background music. Silence was demanded. People who broke the silence were given a warning and then asked to leave if they disregarded that warning. This was the first time an African American band was regularly broadcasted nationally. As Duke’s music gained popularity, this became many white Americans’ first encounter with African American music. A radio popularity poll concurred: â€Å"They are heartily admired by the white as the colored people. † One of Ellington’s most prominent composing techniques was that he composed parts for the particular individual in the band rather than the different instruments. When he wrote a composition, he did so with the characteristic sound of the soloist in mind. An example of a musician with a distinctive sound is Johnny Hodges. Johnny Hodges was a member of Duke’s orchestra who had â€Å"complete independence of expression†, Ellington said. Ellington also stated that Hodges was the only man he knew who could pick up a cold horn and still play in tune. The specific sound of the individual was so important to a piece that if a member was to leave, the composition would almost always be omitted. Solos were atypically transferred to another musician. When Ellington composed pieces, he only had his own band in mind. This is why his orchestra’s sound cannot be imitated without sounding watered down. The unique style and tone qualities of the individuals made the orchestra nearly impossible to replicate. One thing that was often misunderstood about Ellington’s career was that he had two of them: bandleader and composer. He was famous for recording his own compositions as well as endorsements. He often composed music all through the night, and it has been said that he never went a day without composing something, whether it be a couple lines of a song or an entire piece. He would write music whenever and wherever he had the time to do it. Once, he even had to write a piece by the light of his band manager consecutively lighting matches. Ellington believed that music allowed him to express himself without reservation. Music, unlike words, provided Ellington with a way to express himself in a less controversial manner. It was a non-confrontational approach to expressing his beliefs to the world. In his compositions, he rarely wrote articulations, dynamics, or tempos. He expected the section leaders to decide the style indications. It is commonly know that Duke had finesse for placing an emphasis on colors in his compositions. The colors he used in the titles of his pieces often symbolized racial issues. He did a lot of experimenting with tone and color. Most of his music was instrumental and few incorporated lyrics. Some say his music is reminiscent of Bach. He mostly wrote short compositions with improvised solos, but when he did compose larger arrangements, they were often criticized for having a lack of inner coherence. He used the element of surprise instead of chorus succession to unify the arrangements. Ellington relied on sudden contrasts in theme, tempo, and key. He would also interchange swinging and non-swinging melodies. Some critics argued that his music should be danceable all of the time. Ellington clearly disagreed. Ellington’s compositions differed from other artists’ of his time because he employed a variety of instruments. Not only did he integrate a reed section, brass section, and rhythm section; he featured a valve trombone, a saxophone trio, and a baritone saxophonist who unusually played high notes. The reed section often provided the melody rather than the typical brass section. Ellington would apply asymmetrical themes such as parallel saxophone parts and improvised piano parts. He eventually stopped referring to his music as jazz. He called it â€Å"freedom of expression†. Ellington wanted to express the struggle of the Negro in his music, â€Å"We put the Negro feeling and spirit in our music. † Although his message was very serious, his music generally uplifted and entertained audiences around the world. When Ellington wrote compositions, he allocated certain measures for improvised solos. While it may seem that all of the solos in Ellington’s pieces are improvised, he actually composed the solos to seem as if they were improvised. This became known as â€Å"preconceived improvisation†. Only minor improvisations were allowed during the solos. In 1940, Ellington reached the peak of his compositional career. African American media deemed Duke Ellington the â€Å"race man† because he changed the image of African Americans in mass media. He was the first African American artist taken seriously without stereotypes. His music described the life of black Americans. He exuded his love of Harlem through is compositions. He used color in his music to radiate his appreciation and understanding of African Americans. His early arrangements represented the struggle of blacks during the Great Depression. Ellington was a strong believer that music could undermine the labels associated with how African Americans dressed and acted. His concern with blacks being portrayed as primitive encouraged him to strive to create a new identity for blacks in America through music. Ellington learned at a young age that a positive demeanor was crucial in order to earn respect. Since he was taught this so early, he always tried to be professional and as efficient as possible. He spoke of the significance of having a dignified stature and level of sophistication. Through radio, sound recordings, sheet music, advertising, and stagecraft; Ellington changed people’s conceptions of race and culture. In his advertising techniques, he focused on creating an image of desegregation. Black and white entertainers began to share advertising space, which was one step toward African American equality. His overall goal was to conquer racial and cultural stereotypes in and out of the media. He was forced to break through the barriers of the Eurocentric idea that African American music was not a form of art. He stopped using minstrel stereotypes that he had previously used at the Cotton Club. By the 1930s, he had differentiated many stereotypes from reality. It was important to Ellington that his marketing approach attracted all races and classes. He eliminated some prejudice by proving that music has no race. He always made sure to articulate the achievements, history, and value or African American culture. He trusted that the most efficient manner to protest was to â€Å"live and create in a way that undermined racial barriers and stereotypes†. Ellington, contrasting from many other African American artists, succeeded without using the white-dominated recording style. He was actually playing African American music and his pieces were on the record charts. Normally African American traveling performers struggled while on the road. Hotels and restaurants would not allow them. They would be physically and verbally attacked which often led to alcoholism. When Duke traveled in the South, he also brought two Pullman cars, a baggage car, lighting equipment, a stage, and an electrician. These assets made for a more secure trip. Ellington received the high honor of the Spingarn Medal which was the highest achievement for the American Negro. During his acceptance speech, he stated that he makes music for freedom. He later joined the Emergency Committee of the Entertainment Industry. This committee was opposed to race riots and poor treatment of minorities. This group advertised on stage, screen, and radio. In 1929, he played at a benefit performance. The proceeds when to the memorial fund for Home for Negro Performers. Another political act he did was assisting Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by performing during the Montgomery Bus Boycott to raise funds for the Montgomery Improvement Association. Duke was described as a â€Å"symbol of power of multiracial appeal, the artistry and respect that African Americans could achieve, the money that could be made from the neglected African American market, and the possibility of a comfortable and mutually profitable meeting point for African Americans and whites. † This quote explains how the integration of blacks and whites could be beneficial to society as a whole. When Ellington traveled internationally, he came to realize that jazz music was more popular outside of the United States of America than inside. His overall goal of disproving African American stereotypes was a world project, not just a national project. He and his orchestra became the first jazz band to perform at Carnegie Hall when they premiered â€Å"Black, Brown, and Beige†. Ellington’s success created a new market for African American musicians. One of the first mixed race performances was â€Å"Cotton Club Medley† by Ellington. At this point in time, African American music had become a popular music genre. Racial lines were crossed within music advertising. White and black performers were featured on entertainment ads. Not only had Ellington become the most written about celebrity in this phase of time, his earnings were in the five figures. At the age of sixty, Ellington composed and recorded a song with John Coltrane and Charles Mingus for a motion picture. In the 1960s, he was considered the best known musician and composer in the world. In 1964, he composed a piece to defend the termination of segregation and discrimination entitled â€Å"Non-violent Integration†. Listening to the music of Duke Ellington began to symbolize looking at African Americans in a new light. Ellington’s final works submitted his vision of music, peace, brotherhood, and love. Ellington said, â€Å"The Negro is not merely a singing and dancing wizard but a loyal American in spite of his social position. I want to tell America how the Negro feels about it. † When he stated this, he denoted that black people were more than just a device for entertainment purposes; they were American citizens. One of Duke Ellington’s longest and influential pieces was â€Å"Black, Brown and Beige†, which was composed and performed in 1943. Ellington described this work as â€Å"a tone parallel to the history of the American Negro. † This composition was established to portray the history of the Negro from Africa to the present. The title â€Å"Black, Brown and Beige† symbolized the different skin tones of African Americans. Each color in the title also represented a different movement of the composition. When composing this work, Ellington incorporated music from the opera â€Å"Boola† and transformed it into a tone poem. He did not finish editing the arrangement until the day of his Carnegie Hall performance. This explains that Duke believed a piece could be altered numerous times in order to create a great product. Ellington and his orchestra premiered the full symphony, â€Å"Black, Brown and Beige† at Carnegie Hall in 1943. Five days later, they performed once again, only this time at Boston’s Symphony Hall. These two performances became the only full performances of â€Å"Black, Brown and Beige† for many years to come. Duke decided to only play excerpts from the piece in the future. The six most popular excerpts were â€Å"Work Song†, â€Å"Come Sunday†, â€Å"The Blues†, â€Å"West Indian Dance†, â€Å"Emancipation Celebration†, and â€Å"Sugar Hill Penthouse†. The premiere of the piece was deemed confusing and disappointing by critics. People who were not accustomed to Ellington’s musical style were also perplexed by â€Å"Black, Brown and Beige†. Ellington and his band began performing sections of â€Å"Black† and â€Å"Brown†, but rarely performed sections of â€Å"Beige† until 1965. He refused to play â€Å"Brown† in its entirety because he claimed that people did not understand the important story behind it. Ellington often spoke of his message prior to performing a piece, also called programming. His first biographer, Ulanov, said that â€Å"Black, Brown and Beige† was â€Å"more successful without programming†. Ulanov also stated that people â€Å"didn’t need to know about the American Negro to understand the music. † The first movement of â€Å"Black, Brown and Beige†, â€Å"Black† was worked at the most thoroughly of the movements. The first movement interpreted the sorrows and joys of the Negro when brought to America from Africa through work songs and spirituals. According the Ellington, the second movement, â€Å"Brown†, represented the recurring hopes and disappointments of blacks in America. It also symbolized the pain suffered through whippings, the bravery of the African Americans who attempted and/or succeeded at escaping, and the triumph of their emancipation. The last movement, â€Å"Beige†, was said to be a â€Å"vague and unfinished working of ideas†. Originally, the finale of â€Å"Black, Brown and Beige† consisted of the lyrics, â€Å"We’re Black, Brown, and Beige, but we’re red, white, and blue. † Although Ellington was advised to remove the line from the performance completely, he simply omitted it from the finale and instead, announced it in his programming prior to the final movement. This line was evidently very significant to Duke Ellington. It represented the point that although African Americans were different shades than white people, they were still Americans and deserved equal rights. â€Å"Black, Brown and Beige† was performed in segments for a few decades. The version recorded in 1958 was criticized because it was believed to have expanded the flaws of the original premiere at Carnegie Hall. During the 1958 recording, there were only four other musicians, excluding Ellington, remaining from the original orchestra that performed in 1943. These musicians were Ray Nance, Lawrence Brown, Johnny Hodges, and Harry Carney. Ellington took another large step toward presenting the African American struggle when he and his orchestra performed â€Å"Black† at the Festival of the American Arts in 1965. The audience included approximately four hundred members including President Lyndon B. Johnson.

Shakespeares comedy Twelfth Night conveys an undertone of sadness Essay Example

Shakespeares comedy Twelfth Night conveys an undertone of sadness Essay Example Shakespeares comedy Twelfth Night conveys an undertone of sadness Paper Shakespeares comedy Twelfth Night conveys an undertone of sadness Paper Essay Topic: Literature Twelfth Night The beginning of this scene is set with Orsino in his house, looking very grand yet depressed, with his servants Curio and Cesario. Orsino asks his servant Curio to bring Feste, Olivias clown to him. Curio exits. Orsino carries on with his general chatter about Olivia to Cesario. He goes on to ask if Cesario is in love. Cesario replies by describing Orsino but in a ladys form. Curio and Feste enter. Orsino orders Feste to sing the song he had sung the night before because it had made him happy. Feste then sings the song, which was about love. As soon as Feste has finished, Orsino decides that he has had enough of him and tries to get rid of him by paying him. After a short conversation, Feste takes the money and exits. Cesario tries to find out if Orsino could ever love anyone else apart from Olivia. Orsino replies by saying that no one could have such a great love for anyone as he has for Olivia. Cesario tells Orsino about his sister who died of not telling the man she loved what she felt for him. On this note, Orsino tells Cesario to go to Olivia and give her a jewel as a token of his great love for her. Cesario exits. Twelfth Night is funny to a contemporary audience because they can see that Cesario is really a woman (Viola) and that there is a love triangle between Viola-Orsino-Olivia-Cesario (Viola). This is Dramatic irony because the audience can see the love triangle. They can also observe that Orsino is besotted with Olivia and that he over expresses his love for her. Orsino also acts very effeminately by looking in mirror every 5minutes (he is also extremely vain) and by having very feminine colours all over his house. They can follow Feste s jokes well and find them funny. It is also sad to a contemporary audience because they can see Violas heart breaking over the loss of her brother and her unrequited love for Orsino. Over the loss of her brother because he had never been parted from him like that before. In loving Orsino, because she thinks that he could never love anyone apart from Olivia. In addition, she cannot reveal her identity to Orsino. Twelfth Night is funny to a pre 21st century audience because they can see the love triangle between Viola-Orsino-Olivia-Cesario (Viola) and because they know, that Cesario is a woman but played by a man. They follow Feste s jokes well and find them funny. Orsino will seem less funny to a 21st century audience because it is more common for men to act very effeminate in the 21st century. It is sad to a pre 21st century audience because they can see the heartbreak of Viola in her feelings towards Orsino and how she cannot reveal her true identity. If I were to present the play, it would be set in modern times because you can show the different costumes and be theatrical with them because people in this era do what they want with their clothes. You can express your emotions through this. The scene would be set with Orsino sitting on an aristocratic red and gold throne. I would try to make the set look like an old and classy house, with pictures and sumptuous drapes all over the set. I have chosen this because it shows how overdramatic Orsino can be. There would be red and gold all over the set because these colours are often associated with love and Valentines Day. Little details of props like a mirror and pictures of Orsino are important because they show that Orsino is vain and that he loves himself. There should be at least one servant on the stage all the time. This is to show that Orsino is very high up on the social ladder. All of these would show Orsino s character fully because of his feelings towards love. During the lines About your years my lord ~ Cesario Too old by heaven. Let the woman still take an elder than herself. ~ Orsino Shakespeare wanted this moment in the play to be intense for Cesario because of whom hes describing (Orsino). I would show this through his movements on stage. Cesario needs to be walking around thinking what to say but still needs to be quite close to Orsino. Orsino needs to be sitting very majestically on his seat until he says the line Too old by heaven. He should stand up and walk around a bit, holding himself tall. This expresses his opinion on the matter. Shakespeare puts in the line Too old by heaven to show that Orsino has his say in everything and that his opinion should count on every matter. The spotlight should be on both Cesario and Orsino at all times, the same spotlight. As they move further apart the spotlight should separate and they should have a spotlight each. This should happen because they are having a conversation. It would be different if one of the characters were giving a speech. When Cesario says About your years my lord he should say it as if he was thinking what to say, this should remind the audience that Cesario is hiding his real identity from Orsino. When Orsino says Too old by heaven, his voice should go high and shrill. Then when he carries on saying, Let still the woman take an elder than herself his voice should back to normal and talk as if he is giving Cesario some advice. During this line Truly, Sir, and pleasure will be paid for one time or another. ~ Feste Feste needs to be stood up and ready to take a bow. And after the quote he should walk backwards still in a bow. The spotlight should be on Orsino and Feste during this quote because Feste is speaking but Orsino is listening. This shows who the quote is aimed at and that theres a conversation going on between the two characters. Shakespeare wanted this moment to be quite cheeky and a male joke I would show this by the characters tone of voice. When Feste says Truly, Sir, he should say it in a very cheeky voice. But when he carries on saying and pleasure will be paid for one way or another. He should say this as though he is very masculine. And still in a very cheeky voice. During this line Thy mind is very opal. ~ Feste. Feste needs to be heading for the door before he says this line. Then when he gets to the door he needs to call out his line out. The spotlight needs to be on Feste all the time while saying this line and while he exits. Shakespeare wanted the mood at this moment to be comical yet serious and I would make this happen by the tone of Feste s voice. When Feste says, Thy mind is a very opal he needs to say it in a very low and disapproving voice to show that he thinks that Orsino changes his mind too often. His voice should also sound annoyed yet clever to show he is fast because the audience need to remember that Feste can be serious and clever even though hes the fool. During this line, She never told her love. But let concealment, like a worm in th bud, Feed on her damask cheek. She pind in thought. ~ Cesario. Cesario needs to have a sad expression on his face and look concerned about this little story. He needs to be stood up and staring into the sky and then come back down to earth when he has finished his lines. Shakespeare intended this moment to be like story time I would enhance this through the lighting. The spotlight needs to be on both Orsino and Cesario because Cesario is the storyteller and Orsino is the listener. It shows the connection between the two characters. Although there should be a brighter spotlight on Cesario. To show who is talking. Cesario needs to sound like he is quite upset about the whole story and to be quite interested about what Orsino s reply will be. During this line, I am all the daughters of my fathers house, And all the brothers too - ~ Cesario Cesario needs to be looking quite suspicious because although hes not making much sense he only just adds And all the brothers too - at the end of the quote. Cesario needs to have his back to Orsino when he says, I am all the daughters of my fathers house, And then swing round to face Orsino when he says And all the brothers too - to face his mistake. The spotlight still needs to be on both Orsino and Cesario. However, the spotlights need to be dull to show the mood of the moment is sad. This is what Shakespeare intended. Cesario needs to be speaking his line I am all the daughters of my fathers house, with sadness in his voice and a dull expression on his face. When he says his line And all the brothers too - he needs to say it like it is obvious to him. During this line, Give her this jewel: say My love can give no place, bide no delay. ~ Orsino Shakespeare intended this moment to be the definite end of the scene I would enhance this by the characters actions during this moment. Orsino needs to be pulling a ring off his finger to give to Cesario. Cesario needs to respond by putting his hand out to take the ring to Olivia. Orsino needs to be rushing to do this act and to get Cesario out of the door to see Olivia. After this line, Orsino should stand up from his seat, and then go to the door with Cesario and see that he leaves the grounds towards Olivias house. The spotlight needs to be on both Orsino and Cesario as they move throughout this quote. Then as Cesario leaves the spotlight should break. There should not be a spotlight on Cesario at this point. Only one on Orsino. Orsino s voice should sound as though this errand was very urgent and that it should be done right away. This is because after hearing the story he thinks that he might come to an end like Cesarios sister. Dramatic Irony is used in this play because this is what makes it entertaining. You know things that the characters do not. It makes you feel that you are keeping the secret from the characters, so you want people to know but you cannot tell them. Shakespeare uses dramatic irony, many metaphors and similes to make Twelfth Night a comedy which people from all eras of time will enjoy.

The Grea Calamity essays

The Grea Calamity essays The Great Fire of 1871 was one of the most colossal disasters in American history. Overnight, the flourishing city of Chicago was turned into a smoldering wasteland. The damage was so profound that few people believed the city could ever rise again. There had been little rain that year, and various other fires occurred. More than 600 fires occurred in 1870, and 27 in the first week of October alone. Murphy 19-20) Most of these fires originated in barns because of the highly flammable hay located there. Lanterns would be knocked over, and flames would catch the hay causing fire to break out. The evening of October 8, 1871 was unusually warm. There had been a strong wind coming off the prairie all day. Chicago had also been going through a drought that made grasses, wood, and everything else in the city extremely dry. (Murphy 13) These conditions were just right for a fire. Little did people know, that the wind and drought were going to help destroy their magnificent city. Moreover, Chicago in 1871 was a city ready to burn. The city boasted having 59,500 buildings, many of them such as the courthouse and the tribune building large and intricately decorated. The trouble was that about two-thirds of all these structures were made entirely of wood. Even the sidewalks and heavy streets were paved with wooden blocks. (Murphy 18-19) It was a Sunday evening, and a normal one for Catherine and Patrick O'Leary, which means they had gone to bed early because they had to awaken early in the morning for chores. Daniel "Peg Leg" Sullivan just happened to be riding by the house numbered 137 on DeKoven Street at the time the blaze broke out. As the hungry flames licked the side of the tool shed, Sullivan, in panic, began to yell, "Fire! Fire!" (Murphy 14) All the neighbors were alerted and the fire had their attention too, as the swirling wind drove the fire into their yards. The O'Leary's remained asleep until one cit...

The Odyssey Study Guide

The Odyssey Study Guide The Odyssey is an epic poem attributed to the ancient Greek poet Homer. Most likely composed in the late 8th century B.C.E., it is the second-oldest-known work in Western literature. (The oldest-known work is Homers Iliad, for which The Odyssey is considered a sequel.) The Odyssey first appeared in English in the 17th century and has been translated more than sixty times. Many of the words and phrases employed by Homer are open to a wide range of interpretation, causing not-insignificant differences between translations. Fast Facts: The Odyssey Title: The OdysseyAuthor: HomerDate Published: Composed during the 8th century B.C.E.Type of Work: PoemGenre: Epic Original Language: Ancient GreekThemes: Spiritual growth, cunning vs. strength, order vs. disorderMajor Characters: Odysseus, Penelope, Telemachus, Athena, Zeus, Poseidon, CalypsoNotable Adaptations: Ulysses by Lord Tennyson (1833), Ithaka by C.P. Cavafy (1911), Ulysses by James Joyce (1922) Plot Summary At the start of The Odyssey, the author addresses the Muse, asking her to tell him about Odysseus, the hero who spent more time traveling back to his Greek home than any other Greek hero at the Trojan War. Odysseus has been kept captive by the goddess Calypso. The other gods, except Poseidon (god of the sea) fell sympathy for Odysseus. Poseidon hates him because he blinded his son, Polyphemus. The goddess Athena, Odysseus’ protector, convinces her father, Zeus, that Odysseus needs assistance. She disguises herself and travels to Greece to meet with Odysseus’ son, Telemachus. Telemachus is unhappy because his home is beset by suitors who want to marry his mother, Penelope, and take over Odysseus throne. With Athenas help, Telemachus sets out to search for his father. He visits other veterans of the Trojan War, and one of his father’s old comrades, Menelaus, tells him that Odysseus is being held by Calypso. Meanwhile, Calypso finally releases Odysseus. Odysseus sets out on a boat, but the vessel is soon destroyed by Poseidon, who harbors a grudge against Odysseus. Odysseus swims to a nearby island where he is warmly greeted by King Alcinous and Queen Arete of the Phaeacians. There, Odysseus recounts the story of his journey. Odysseus explains that he and his companions left Troy on twelve ships. They visited the island of the lotus-eaters and were captured by the cyclops Polyphemus, son of Poseidon. When making an escape, Odysseus blinded Polyphemus, inspiring Poseidons wrath as a result. Next, the men nearly made it home, but were blown off course. They first encountered a cannibal, and then the witch Circe, who turned half of Odysseus men into pigs but spared Odysseus thanks to the protection provided to him by the sympathetic gods. After one year, Odysseus and his men left Circe and reached the edge of the world, where Odysseus summoned spirits for advice and learned of the suitors living in his home. Odysseus and his men made their way past more threats, including the Sirens, a many-headed sea monster, and an enormous whirlpool. Hungry, they ignored warnings and hunted the sacred cattle of the god Helios; as a result, they were punished with yet another shipwreck, stranding Odysseus on Calypsoâ€℠¢s island. After Odysseus tells his story, the Phaeacians help Odysseus disguise himself and travel home at last. Upon returning to Ithaca, Odysseus meets his son Telemachus, and the two men agree that the suitors must be killed. Odysseus wife Penelope arranges for an archery competition, which she has rigged to guarantee Odysseus win. After winning the competition, Odysseus slaughters the suitors and reveals his true identity, which Penelope accepts after putting him through one final trial. Finally, Athena saves Odysseus from the vengeance of the dead suitors families. Major Characters Odysseus. Odysseus, a Greek warrior, is the protagonist of the poem. His journey home to Ithaca after the Trojan War is the primary narrative of the poem. He is a somewhat non-traditional hero, as he is known more for his cleverness and cunning than his physical strength. Telemachus. Telemachus, the son of Odysseus, was an infant when his father left Ithaca. In the poem, Telemachus goes on a quest to figure out his fathers whereabouts. He ultimately reunites with his father and helps him kill Penelopes suitors. Penelope. Penelope is the loyal wife of Odysseus and mother of Telemachus. Her cleverness equals that of her husband. During Odysseus 20-year absence, she devises numerous tricks to stave off the suitors who seek to marry her and gain power over Ithaca. Poseidon. Poseidon is the god of the sea. He is angry with Odysseus for blinding his son, the cyclops Polyphemus, and makes various attempts to hinder Odysseus journey home. He can be considered Odysseus primary antagonist. Athena. Athena is the goddess of cunning and intelligent warfare, as well as the crafts (e.g. weaving). She favors Odysseus and his family, and she actively helps Telemachus and advises Penelope. Literary Style As an epic poem written in the 8th century B.C.E., The Odyssey was almost certainly intended to be spoken, not read. It was composed in an ancient form of Greek known as Homeric Greek, a poetic dialect specific to poetic compositions. The poem is composed in dactylic hexameter (sometimes referred to as epic meter). The Odyssey begins in media res, starting off in the middle of the action and providing expository details later. The non-linear plot leaps back and forth in time. The poem employs flashbacks and poems-within-a-poem to fill in these gaps. Another key feature of the poems style is the use of epithets: fixed phrases and adjectives that are often repeated when a characters name is mentioned- e.g. bright-eyed Athena. These epithets serve to remind the reader about the characters most important essential traits. The poem is also notable for its sexual politics in that the plot is driven as much by the decisions made by women as it is by male warriors. In fact, many of the men in the story, like Odysseus and his son Telemachus, are passive and frustrated through much of the story. By contrast, Penelope and Athena take numerous active steps to protect Ithaca and assist Odysseus and his family. About the Author There is some disagreement about Homer’s authorship of The Odysseyï » ¿. Most ancient accounts refer to Homer as a blind poet from Ionia, but todays scholars believe more than one poet worked on what we know today as The Odyssey. Indeed, there is evidence that the final section of the poem was added much later than the previous books. Today, most scholars accept that The Odyssey is the product of several sources that were worked on by several different contributors. Sources â€Å"The Odyssey - Homer - Ancient Greece - Classical Literature.† Oedipus the King - Sophocles - Ancient Greece - Classical Literature, www.ancient-literature.com/greece_homer_odyssey.html.Mason, Wyatt. â€Å"The First Woman to Translate the Odyssey Into English.† The New York Times, The New York Times, 2 Nov. 2017, www.nytimes.com/2017/11/02/magazine/the-first-woman-to-translate-the-odyssey-into-english.html.Athens, AFP in. â€Å"Ancient Find May Be Earliest Extract of Epic Homer Poem Odyssey.† The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 10 July 2018, www.theguardian.com/books/2018/jul/10/earliest-extract-of-homers-epic-poem-odyssey-unearthed.Mackie, Chris. â€Å"Guide to the Classics: Homers Odyssey.† The Conversation, The Conversation, 15 July 2018, theconversation.com/guide-to-the-classics-homers-odyssey-82911.â€Å"Odyssey.† Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 13 July 2018, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odyssey#Structure.

The Man Who Would be King Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Man Who Would be King - Essay Example But when one of the men decided to marry a native girl, their deceit became disclosed: the girl became known that Dravot was not a god, he was just an ordinary man. After that the natives "dropped Dravot to his death and crucified Carnehan between two pine trees" (The Man Who Would Be King). Carnehan survived, was revised, but soon he died of exposure to the mid-day sun. Nothing of his personal belodgings was found with him. Rudyard Kipling's The Man Who Would be King has two clear themes: British colonialism and exploitation of physical nature. These themes are directly connected to each other. Dravot and Carnehan used the politic situation in colonial India for achieving their personal mercenary goals. They wanted to use naivety and primitiveness of native tribes and untended to become their kings and gods. British soldiers, as Dravot and Carnehan, used weapons and other achievements of Western civilization, so they supposed the native tribes to consider them as kings. The main characters of the story, as the representatives of British Empire, had faith in themselves, and they wanted to spread their will on the natives. They decided to establish their own law which should be more progressive than that of the natives.

Economics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 21

Economics - Essay Example Cones home began to slide, and stated that he would resort to simply killing any of the woodpecker that he saw without informing others, so that he may use his land as he pleases; Cones disregard for the Act made it pointless. To protect endangered species, the government would have to front a massive amount of money if they wish to see success in their plans. The cost of the plan, though, would depend on each endangered species; the species would be funded for individually, not as an entire group of all endangered animals (Keim, 2009). The benefit of the government interfering would be that these species would have a chance to breed and strive, rising above the status of an endangered species. The government would have rules and regulations set down to force people to be aware of their natural surroundings and the environment, in hopes of saving these species. By not protecting an endangered species, the government does not lose money to a cause that may or may not work. Small, individual groups and organizations will have to depend on themselves if they want to see something done. The benefits of the government not helping are that others would not feel forced into helping a cause that they do not care about and that their money is going to something that they themselves can personally benefit from. The downside to the government interfering is that homeowners begin to lose their say in how they keep and tend to their property. These people may not feel the same way about saving a species as someone else might, yet they would be required to adhere to any rules and regulations that are set down for the purpose of protecting these animals. There can also still be instances when the homeowners disregard the regulations, feeling that it is not the governments business to tell them how to tend to their yard, as Cone shows. In fact, as Cone did by threatening to just kill off the woodpecker, people can just cause more harm to the species, even if the government

Colorado Water Supply to California Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Colorado Water Supply to California - Essay Example This water is around 95 million acre feet and while most of it is absorbed by the forests and rangelands, some 16 MAF goes into rivers and creeks from where it is supplied to 4.6 million people in Colorado alone. Colorado has a legal obligation to serve other states and thus 8.8 MAF of water goes to south western states including Utah, Nevada, California, New Mexico, Arizona, and Mexico. Even though California is dependent on Colorado for water supply, it needs to understand that water resources of the state are limited and droughts are common in Colorado causing even faster absorption of water. Colorado finds it increasing hard to serve a state as big as California and there are concerns about possible water shortage. California is a huge state and in order for Colorado to supply water, it needs to extract additional 6 MAF of water from reservoirs and storage systems. This has largely had a huge burden on Colorado's water system and during some heavy droughts, its agriculture, recreation, municipalities, and the environment suffered a serious blow. But Colorado is legally obligated to supply water to California due to several interstate compacts, international treaties, and court ordered apportionment. While the state is suffering because of heavy demand of water and not adequate supply, it has managed to somehow been the main supplier for decades. However this will increasingly become difficult as Colorado's population increases. Colorado's population is expected to increase by another 2.8 million by 2030. And this would mean greater demand for water. Colorado would then need an additional 630,000 AF of water supplies to meet its new obligations. Colorado is working on different plans to increase its water supply. Some of these include planning for new reservoirs and dams, expanding existing storage systems and conservation. Summers also place an additional burden on Colorado's water supply. As summer arrives, not only the demand for water increases, the supply also shrinks due to evaporation and heat. This puts Colorado in a precarious situation. We need to understand that while many neighboring states depend on Colorado water, the supply is still not enough and these demands are placing a huge burden on Colorado's capacity to generate water. 1 ("Colorado wrestles", 2007) California needs to exploit other ways in which in can meet the water demands of its people. Placing excess burden on one state is highly dangerous for the health of the state and its people. California has also been warned to limit its dependence on and use of Colorado water. The state is currently drawing much more water than it has been allotted but promises to reduce its dependence by 2015. In a news article, it was reported that, "Dubbed the "4.4 Plan," it lets California receive surplus Colorado River water that would otherwise go to the other states, in return for California's pledge to reduce reliance on the river within 15 years. California is entitled to 4.4 million acre feet of water a year under the 1928 Boulder Canyon Project Act. That agreement was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1964. Nevada is allotted 300,000 acre feet. Arizona gets 2.8 million acre feet. An acre foot of water is about 326,000 gallons, or roughly the amount needed for an average family of five fo r one year. In recent years, California's annual draw has grown to as much as 800,000 acre feet above its allotment."2

Compare and contrast and discuss similarities and differences of the Essay

Compare and contrast and discuss similarities and differences of the setting , narrative strategies (Point of View ,Characteriza - Essay Example Circumstantial marriages and love affairs are the most affected kind of affairs around the globe and always end up in painful circumstances as they occur due to the pre-meditated intensions that certain people involved harbors from the beginning usually without the knowledge of the other innocent parties. Once these plans are achieved, the affairs always have a painful ending as the two part ways. Most love affairs today are of such kind as is what is often narrated in most of the love novel commonly referred to as the romantic novels. The pledge novel by Friedrich Durrenmatt and Sheltering Sky by Paul Bowles are among the many romantic stories that have been written by various authors to air out what goes on in the world of romance. The two stories involve the circumstances surrounding the two men and women and the feelings they bear as the aftermath of their affair. Though the two stories have different settings, they carry almost the same message to the reader. The pledge novel by Friedrich Durrenmatt is a narration of a love story between two German citizens. The pledge has its setting in a small ton in Switzerland where the couple lives and spends the rest of their lives. The novel narrates the story of a police officer, Matthai, who falls in love with and marries a German lady and a house keeper whose daughter, Annemarie, he uses as a spy to trace the disappearance of a serial killer. On the other hand, the sheltering sky has a double setting with one instance in Africa and another in New York, America. The two novels narrate the stories of two set of couples trying to solve their problems in different ways. The setting of these two novels on the first instance suggests the difficulties that underlie the whole process of conflict resolution in each case. While north Africa where the couples in Bowles story moves to settle their disputes is a dry and does not show signs of live, the pledge has its setting in a small town in Switzerland where life is at its full as evidenced by the presence of enough wealth circulating within the city as Matthai has enough money to purchase a petrol station while in search of a murderer who has been noted to be a serial killer in the region. â€Å"Immediately when you arrive in Sahara, for the first or the tenth time, you notice the stillness†¦ Once he has been under the spell of the vast luminous, silent country, no other place is quite strong enough for him; no other surroundings can provide the supremely satisfying sensation of existing in the midst of something that is absolute. He will go back, whatever the cost in time or money, for the absolute has no price.† (Bowles 240) We can argue that the pledge is a narration of a love affair which is circumstantial as Agee terms it. While Matthai knows very well what he wants in his got lady and daughter, the two remains in total darkness and when his plans fails to work out as he aspires, the two parts ways without the knowledge of the woman . On the other hand, the sheltering sky narrates the story of a real or an almost real love affair a direct contrast of the other affair. These two novels therefore give the sharp contrast in the two contradicting affairs giving an explicit and tacit controversy which goes on in a life shared between two people. It reveals that in most marriages where we see the couples laugh from outward perspective, the inner

Nonconsequensialists and Consequensialists Essay

Nonconsequensialists and Consequensialists - Essay Example As in consequentialism, a consequentialist may argue that lying is wrong, and the reason he or she will gave is that it generates negative consequences or the results. But a consequentialist might allow this in some foreseeable consequences, and where lie is good enough, so people can lie in those situations. On the other hand a deontologist may argue that lying is always wrong, no matter what good it can bring to the liar. They will never allow this in any situation or the circumstances. G. E. M Anscombe, in 1958, came up with the term consequentilism first time in her essay "Modern Moral Philosophy". In her essay, she expressed what she thought as the major error of some moral theories, for example by Mill and Sidgwick. 1 The term, consequentilism became popular further and many authors used it in their writings. The ethical theories are sorted into two groups, one theory is regarding the wrong and right actions, and this is called consequentialist theory. The other theory is non-consequentialist theory; utilitarianism is an example of consequentialist theory. And that judgment in consequentiatlist theory is done by the rightness ad wrongness of any action and also the results of those acts. ... On the other hand, the non-consequentialist theory in ethics concludes the right or wrong acts not on the base of consequences but on their properties and attributes. Libertarians support this theory and believe that people should be free to do whatever they want to. If someone's action is hurting or harming other people than it does not mean that people should stop doing things on their own will. They should do what ever they want to but they should respect the privacy and freedom of others too, but should not hold back their actions only because of people. The major difference between consequentialist and non-consequentialist is the judgment of action and in consequentialist theory; the final conclusion is based upon the consequences and results whereas in non-consequentialists theory, it checks the nature of the action. What happens normally is that non-consequentialists limit the scope and range of facts, which should be reviewed to perform the right action. Non-consequentialists try to ignore the consequences, which is not actually possible and can create a lot of problems in future. So the non-consequentialist theory limits the range of considerations that could be used in determining the rightness and wrongness of any action. Though it is proved psychologically that the acts by people are limited because of many constraints, for example, time limit, finite processing capacities etc. So non-consequentialist ethics is suitable for the decision procedures, where the empirical restrictions are rationality talked about. Many philosophers agreed that non-consequentialist theory can be successful only after the proper judgment of

Compare and contrast and discuss similarities and differences of the Essay

Compare and contrast and discuss similarities and differences of the setting , narrative strategies (Point of View ,Characteriza - Essay Example Circumstantial marriages and love affairs are the most affected kind of affairs around the globe and always end up in painful circumstances as they occur due to the pre-meditated intensions that certain people involved harbors from the beginning usually without the knowledge of the other innocent parties. Once these plans are achieved, the affairs always have a painful ending as the two part ways. Most love affairs today are of such kind as is what is often narrated in most of the love novel commonly referred to as the romantic novels. The pledge novel by Friedrich Durrenmatt and Sheltering Sky by Paul Bowles are among the many romantic stories that have been written by various authors to air out what goes on in the world of romance. The two stories involve the circumstances surrounding the two men and women and the feelings they bear as the aftermath of their affair. Though the two stories have different settings, they carry almost the same message to the reader. The pledge novel by Friedrich Durrenmatt is a narration of a love story between two German citizens. The pledge has its setting in a small ton in Switzerland where the couple lives and spends the rest of their lives. The novel narrates the story of a police officer, Matthai, who falls in love with and marries a German lady and a house keeper whose daughter, Annemarie, he uses as a spy to trace the disappearance of a serial killer. On the other hand, the sheltering sky has a double setting with one instance in Africa and another in New York, America. The two novels narrate the stories of two set of couples trying to solve their problems in different ways. The setting of these two novels on the first instance suggests the difficulties that underlie the whole process of conflict resolution in each case. While north Africa where the couples in Bowles story moves to settle their disputes is a dry and does not show signs of live, the pledge has its setting in a small town in Switzerland where life is at its full as evidenced by the presence of enough wealth circulating within the city as Matthai has enough money to purchase a petrol station while in search of a murderer who has been noted to be a serial killer in the region. â€Å"Immediately when you arrive in Sahara, for the first or the tenth time, you notice the stillness†¦ Once he has been under the spell of the vast luminous, silent country, no other place is quite strong enough for him; no other surroundings can provide the supremely satisfying sensation of existing in the midst of something that is absolute. He will go back, whatever the cost in time or money, for the absolute has no price.† (Bowles 240) We can argue that the pledge is a narration of a love affair which is circumstantial as Agee terms it. While Matthai knows very well what he wants in his got lady and daughter, the two remains in total darkness and when his plans fails to work out as he aspires, the two parts ways without the knowledge of the woman . On the other hand, the sheltering sky narrates the story of a real or an almost real love affair a direct contrast of the other affair. These two novels therefore give the sharp contrast in the two contradicting affairs giving an explicit and tacit controversy which goes on in a life shared between two people. It reveals that in most marriages where we see the couples laugh from outward perspective, the inner

Reinforcement Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Reinforcement - Research Paper Example mber Scholarship Program introduced in the year 1973, which has now been renamed as the Leadership Scholarship program encourages the restaurant employees to participate in community activities and enhance their leadership skills. The company has so far offered over $32 million in financial assistance to team members (Chick fil A, 2014). At McDonalds the positive reinforcement strategy is used in tune with its pay and rewards program whereby the employees are rewarded based on their performance. The "pay for performance" management philosophy incorporated by the management ensures that the employees are motivated to perform better in order to earn greater pay opportunities (McDonalds, 2014). McDonalds uses both short-term as well long-term incentives, over and above the base pay, to motivate employees to perform better. The short-term incentives refer to incentives offered to the employees based on their annual performance while the long term incentives refer to LTI stock awards that are granted to eligible employees who are likely to continue working at McDonalds for a long-term and contribute to its growth and development (McDonalds, 2014). The company offers various recognition programs whereby the strong performers are recognized and reward for their contribution. The awards are offered to both - individuals as well as teams for their effort. For instance, the Presidents Award is given to the top 1 % of individual performers worldwide, thus providing a strong incentive / motivation to work harder and perform better. The company also gives away the Circle of Excellence Award to top teams for the efforts and contribution in helping the company achieve its desired goals and objectives (Mcdonalds, 2014). The Company Car Program is a type of incentive offered by the company to its eligible employees whereby the selected employees are afforded an opportunity to choose from a range of vehicles, based on their designation and level at workplace, to be used for

Fresh Direct Essay Example for Free

Fresh Direct Essay I. Statement and description of central issue (1 page; 2 minutes) II. Identification/description of alternatives (2 pages; 4 minutes) III. Rationale for selection of best alternative (3 pages; 6 minutes) IV. Description of implementation plan (1 page; 2 minutes) V. Conclusion (1/2 page; 1 minute) Statement/description of central issue †¢ Clearly states issue to be responded to with recommendations †¢ Explains underlying tension to justify why this is an issue †¢ Cites case facts as evidence to clarify why uncertainty requires attention Identification/description of alternatives †¢ Presents viable possible solutions to central issue †¢ Explains how each proposed alternative will address/resolve central issue Rationale for selection of best alternative †¢ Explains pros/cons of each alternative †¢ Explains why chosen alternative is preferred to others despite limitations Analysis †¢ Uses facts and data from case appropriately †¢ Uses appropriate techniques and frameworks December 10, 2012 Group 12H Kaizer Budhwani Chanwoo Lee â€Å"Our food is fresh, our customers are spoiled. Order on the web today and get next-day delivery of the best food at the best price, exactly the way you want it, with 100 percent satisfaction guaranteed.† Section. I – Statement and description of central issue FreshDirect was launched in July 2001 and it offers over 5,000 perishable products and 3,000 packaged goods through online shopping and delivery service to more than 300 zip codes in New York City, Long Island, New Jersey, and Connecticut. The central issue for FreshDirect which came as the online grocery retailing business continued to mature is environmental concerns. First, because of the conveyor packing system at the central processing facility in Long Island, FreshDirect is forced to use lots of cardboard boxes to deliver the groceries. Produce came in on box, dry goods in another, and a single tube of toothpaste in its separate cardboard delivery container. Although FreshDirect had transitioned to the use of 100 percent postconsumer recycled paper, the reusability of the cardboard boxes is limited. There is no system of returning them to FreshDirect to be recycled. Second, the additional exhaust fumes that FreshDirect trucks contribute to the urban atmosphere is an environmental issue. As the company relies on the central processing facility in order to avoid expensive rent for a retail space, the company uses its owned refrigerated trucks which can hold 500 orders to deliver the goods to their customer’s doorsteps and office parking lots. When the minimum order is $30 and the company’s revenue is $250 million, anyone can guess how many trucks have been operated and produced exhaust fumes. Third, FreshDirect trucks double parked in busy city streets had only made the traffic congestion problems worse. The trucks park in city streets in order to deliver goods to each customer’s doorsteps and it takes substantial amount of time. Section. II – Identification and description of alternatives In order to reduce the amount of cardboard boxes usage, FreshDirect can promote recycle system. Every time when customers finish orders, the company emphasizes on the after-order page that if the customer returns the cardboard boxes, FreshDirect will give credits to the customer for the next purchase discount. This promotion will increase customers’ awareness of recyclability of the cardboard boxes and encourage them to return the boxes to a delivery agent. Another alternative to the cardboard boxes usage is to use the current SAP manufacturing software system to reduce the cardboard boxes usage. Instead of putting almost everything separately, develop a software system that will figure out the minimum number of cardboard boxes used to pack an order. This will reduce the cardboard boxes usage in the first place. In order to reduce the additional exhaust fumes that FreshDirect trucks contribute to the urban atmosphere, FreshDirect will use electric trucks and hybrid trucks that will consume less or no gas at all. With the recent electric and hybrid car movement, FreshDirect could get fund from government which will help the company to buy trucks needed. Another alternative to the additional exhaust fumes is the company to build partnerships with local retail stores to hold onto FreshDirect customers’ packaged goods. FreshDirect will pay handsome money to local retailers and customers will pay less on delivery charges due to the customers themselves picking up the goods at the local retailers. FreshDirect will operate fewer routes and produce less exhaust fumes since the delivery agent will drop off packaged goods in one place. In order to solve the traffic congestion problems, FreshDirect will also apply the system of partnering with local retailers. Instead of the delivery truck parked on a city street and delivers the goods to each customer’s houses, if the delivery is made at one place, the truck will save some time on delivery and it will reduce traffic congestion. One alternative is instead of hiring just a delivery person at a minimum wage, hire experience delivery person and train them with high quality training program in order to achieve faster and efficient delivery process. The delivery time reduction will reduce traffic congestion. Another alternative is to build a partnership with existing delivery service companies such as FedEx or UPS. This partnership will reduce the number of FreshDirect trucks running. If the goods don’t required refrigerating, then another delivery service company can deliver them and reduce traffic congestions.

Study Of Symptom Management Strategies For Palliative Care Nursing Essay

Study Of Symptom Management Strategies For Palliative Care Nursing Essay This essay revolves around Claire, her symptoms, her ability to cope as well as her husband Andrew. More precisely, it will focus on strategies which can be employed for symptom management. Central to any form of management strategy for Claire is a holistic assessment of her circumstances followed by planning, implementation and evaluation. This can often be accomplished by with the assistance of an assessment model which are all, to a large extent, broadly based on this plan, but each can analyse the problem from a different perspective. (Fawcett J 2005) If one first considers the situation under the aegis of the Roper Logan Tierney model (Roper, Logan Tierney 2000), this model analyses the major issues of patient management in terms of solving the patients difficulties in adapting to and coping with daily living, particularly if such coping is affected by either a physical disability or a disease process. In terms of those with malignant disease, this is clearly one of their major issues. Even a brief overview of the literature demonstrates that this model is extensively utilised and is possibly one of the most widely accepted models of patient management (Holland, Jenkins, Solomon Whittam 2003). One of the major weakness of this model can be seen in the fact that it is not particularly effective in producing management strategies that can be effective in dealing with patients who are frankly manipulative or are presenting with symptoms that are overtly psychological in nature. Whilst there is no suggestion that Claire is overtly manipulative, Johnson points to the fact that the management of psychological issues in palliative care is every bit as central to a successful outcome, as dealing with ostensibly more obvious symptom features such as pain control (Johnson 1999.) Management of such patients can be better if the healthcare professional views such functional behaviour as a adaption process to the illness role as described by the Roy adaption model. (Roy 1991) which seeks to describe patient behaviour in terms of the ability of the patient to adapt to whatever stimulus is generating the behaviour. In the case of the patient with malignant disease, knowledge of a terminal diagnosis is a potent stimulus for behaviour change. Utilisation of this model allows for the nursing management decisions to respond to the evolving trajectory of the illness. This model can prove useful insofar as it determines why the patient tends to exhibit different behaviour patterns or coping strategies in response to their illness trajectory but it is of no real value in circumstances where a patient enters a period of overt denial of their terminal situation. To use Claire as a case in point, it would appear that she is presenting her symptoms individually rather than as part of a spectrum associated with the primary pathophysiological cause. It is not uncommon, in such circumstances, for a person to present with an illness that is obviously terminal, but who insists on trying to continue their daily life pattern as if there was no immediate problem. To a degree, her expression of surprise at the fact that people have come out of the woodwork to visit her is an demonstration of this fact. In contrast to the other two models discussed, the adaption model would describe this as a variety of cognitive distortion rather than overt denial. Clearly the patient cannot adapt to something that they are choosing not to overtly confront. (Steiger Lipson 2005) Claire appears to be somewhere between these two eventualities. Obviously she is aware of her diagnosis, but is expressing surprise that people would suddenly want to visit her. The Johnsons behavioural model would probably be the most appropriate for this scenario as Claires behaviour pattern will almost certainly change as her symptomatology progresses. It follows that one has to take a view on the specific causation of the symptoms before one can take a rational view of the evidence base supporting any management strategies. Prior to the active consideration of the management of the symptoms, in the context of the behavioural model of patient management, one must comment on the huge spectrum of skills and requirements that are currently expected of the modern professional nurse. Yura et al. state, in their authoritative overview paper, that to be functional and effective the nurse must understand the human condition from the viewpoint of the pathophysiology, the psychology, the human dynamic and socio-economic elements of the patients presentation and disease trajectory . (Yura Walsh 2008). In Claires case, this is particularly appropriate. In terms of exploring the evidence base for symptom control. If one uses a biomedical symptom model, then the only significant symptoms are increasing breathlessness, cough and fatigue. There is also an element of insomnia which leads to tiredness during the day. Other, harder to define symptoms, which nevertheless stem from the underlying pathophysiology, but are not generally described in biomedical terms, include her feeling of lack of control of her life, and, by inference there is the issue of her increasing dependence on her husband, Andrew. If one considers the evidence base for symptomatic treatment, one should ideally first consider the four primary dimensions of palliative care as outlined by Cicely Saunders as they are particularly relevant to Claire, namely the physical, social, spiritual and psychological dimensions. (Saunders Regnard 1989). It follows that, although this essay will primarily consider symptomatic treatment of breathlessness, it must be understood that this should be delivered within the context of the holistic assessment of the patient discussed in the early paragraphs of this essay. In the words of Valente et al., The patient, whole and entire, has relatives, friends, beliefs and previous experiences all of which must be integrated into management strategy. (Valente Saunders 2010 Pg 25) Breathlessness, as a specific symptom, is the result of a complex interaction between the physical body and the conscious mind. It is the most commonly reported symptom found in association with lung cancer and one of the most potentially distressing. (Knower, Dunagan, Adair Chin 2007). Breathlessness, unlike the pain commonly associated with malignancies, is difficult to treat with any degree of success. The huge evidence level IIb Higginson trial of lung cancer patients clearly demonstrated that the prevalence of breathlessness rose as death approached and that treatment became progressively more ineffective (Higginson McCarthy 2008). In another large prospective evidence level IIb study by Edmonds et al. it was found that although clinicians and patients both tend to associate lung cancer primarily with pain, breathlessness has a similar incidence to the extent that 85% patients with lung cancer experienced pain and 78% had significant breathlessness in the last year of their li fe. (Edmonds, Karlsen, Khan Addington-Hall 2007) Treatment of breathlessness is particularly problematic. According to Knower et al. this is because the symptomatology is both varied and multifactorial. It is not simply a matter of too little tidal volume in the lungs, it is a multisystem disorder with many possible subtle neurohormonal abnormalities and interactions in skeletal and respiratory muscle structure and function. In addition, the experience is extremely subjective with the feeling of breathlessness being modified by not only previous experience of the symptom but also by pathways from a number of different areas within the central nervous system. Dorman et al. classify malignancy-associated breathlessness into four groups by their different causative mechanisms. An increase in the sense of respiratory drive or effort to overcome an imposed load (e.g. chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, COPD) An increase in the proportion of available respiratory muscle force required for breathing, observed in neuromuscular weakness in which respiratory motor output and the sense of effort increase (e.g. paraneoplastic syndromes) An increase in the patients ventilatory requirements (e.g. anaemia, hypoxaemia) The contribution of higher cortical experience to the sensation. Memory and previous experience as well as fear and anxiety will all modify the sensation of breathlessness. (Dorman, Jolley, Abernethy, Currow et al. 2009) The evidence base for treatment shows that one effective mechanism is to treatment any underlying additive cause, such as anaemia, hypoxia or bronchospasm. (Hatley, Laurence, Scott Thomas 2008) If one considers the physical elements first, a common factor in the experience of breathlessness in all these circumstances is anxiety. One common effective strategy to reduce the subjective sensation is for the patient to learn relaxation and calm breathing techniques and then to consciously use them whenever they feel anxious and breathless. Oxygen therapy is frequently useful in relieving the symptoms of breathlessness and the presence of a nasal catheter or mask is often reassuring for the patient. The main evidence base for symptomatic control however, comes from the use of the opioid and benzodiazepine group of medications. Opiates have by far the strongest evidence base with the evidence level Ib paper by Pharo et al. clearly demonstrating the reduction of both subjective and objective measurements of breathlessness in patients with lung cancer. (Pharo Zhou 2005). The authors point out that the side effects of opiates, as a class, must be carefully weighed against their probable clinical benefits. Careful examination of the evidence base supporting benzodiazepine use shows that it is less secure. Some authors (viz. Wotton 2004) reporting that they have reduced the sensation of dyspnoea in patients, the majority of randomised controlled trials (viz. Maher, Selecky, Harrod Benditt 2010,) have not been able to demonstrate any convincing benefit whilst showing significant side effects. They are also known to decrease respiratory drive and compromise lung function, worsening exercise tolerance. ( Franco-Bronson 2006). On balance, the evidence base does not support the use of the benzodiazepine group for t he relief of breathlessness in malignant disease. Anxiety and depression, both common associations of malignant disease, are commonly associated with increased perceptions of breathlessness. There is a substantial evidence base to show that aggressive treatment of both can produce significant improvement in subjective assessments of the symptom. Treatment of these conditions are complex and specialised and therefore will not be considered in detail. Kunik et al. have demonstrated in an evidence level IIa study that both anxiolytics (buspirone ) and psychological relaxation techniques are capable of producing significant decreases in levels of both anxiety and dyspnoea, as well as improved exercise tolerance among breathless patients. (Kunik, Azzam, Souchek, Cully, Wray, Krishnan, et al. 2007) In the interests of providing a comprehensive and balanced argument, note should be taken of the recent evidence level IIa paper by Lewith et al. which noted the positive, but not statistically significant effect of acupuncture on patients suffering from breathlessness. It should also be noted that these were patients with breathlessness as an all-cause symptom rather than specifically from malignant disease. (Lewith, Prescott Davis 2006) The evidence base relating to treatment of cough, a common symptom in lung cancer. It is generally taken to indicate involvement of the airways rather than the lung parenchyma, primarily because of the location of cough receptors. Kvale published a particularly helpful Medline review in 2008 which explored the evidence base for treatment options. (Kvale 2008). The paper itself is both extensive and comprehensive. Confining the discussion to the relevant portions of the paper shows that both surgery and radiotherapy (where appropriate) are both effective in reducing troublesome cough symptoms. A patient undergoing chemotherapy is less likely to have their cough symptoms reduced. There is a substantial evidence base to support the view that the use of inhaled bronchodilators and corticosteroids can be useful, but not in all cases. Specific antitussive centrally acting drugs that have been subjected to randomised controlled trials include codeine, hydrocodone, and dextromethorphan. Each of these has a strong supporting evidence base and minimum side effects. Dihydrocodeine has been specifically noted as having the dual purpose of both pain relief and cough suppression. (Homsi, Walsh, Nelson 2001). The opiate group in general, in addition to relieving pain and breathlessness are also strongly active in cough suppression. The authors make the point that many trials have noted the cough suppression effect of placebos in randomised controlled trials. This has not only the effect of adding an element of bias into the results, but also offers a line in management of cough in resistant cases. Fatigue is a common symptom associated with malignancies and certainly with lung cancer. This latter association is postulated to be related to the levels of chronic hypoxia in the later stages of the disease. (Higginson, McCarthy 2008) The Dagnelie et al. study is particularly useful in this respect as it considered the effect of fatigue on the quality of life of patients with lung cancer and found that it has clear statistical associations with the stage of the disease process, the degree of support that the patient has and also the mental state of the patient. (Dagnelie, Pijls-Johannesn, Lambin Beijer 2007). They found that those patients who had good support networks, and who were not depressed and who were able to maintain a good level of physical activity were the ones who were least likely to report significant levels of fatigue. A substantive literature search has failed to reveal any good quality trials which support these findings from a therapeutic perspective but intuitively, one might suggest that including the maintenance of a support network and direct assessment for depressive symptoms into a holistic management plan is likely to reduce levels of fatigue experienced by the patient. In passing, one can consider the very recent Breitbart study which looked at the use of psycho stimulants in cases of malignancy-related fatigue and found promising results from Modafinil, which is a new category of psychostimulant commonly referred to as wakefulness-promoting agent in the literature. It appears to be well tolerated and with few side effects. The results are too new to have yet been replicated with a larger randomised controlled trial and the authors also point to a large possible placebo effect in their trial. In these circumstances, the evidence base should perhaps be considered unproven until further evidence emerges. (Breitbart Alici 2010) The case study makes reference to passing reference to Andrew, Claires spouse, who retired two years ago and is clearly the main carer in this scenario. He does the shopping, cooking and various other domestic duties for Clare. Although we are told that this makes him feel useful the experienced and empathetic healthcare professional should be aware that the levels of occult depression in cancer-afflicted patients spouses is extremely high. (Kim, Duberstein, Sorensen Larson 2005) It has commonly been found to be the case that as the focus of care and intervention is generally targeted towards the patient, the carers, and particularly the spouses, do not have their needs either explored, considered or addressed. (Braun, Mikulincer, Rydall, Walsh Rodin 2007) It is part of the holistic assessment of the patients situation that the carers should be actively considered and managed as actively as the patient. This has the direct effect not only of trying to optimise the overall levels of care for the patient, but also promoting the spoken exchange of information, thoughts and feelings which are very likely not to be addressed of recognised, if not explicitly facilitated. (Kim, Schulz Carver 2007) The evidence base for these interventions is not strong. There is a considerable evidence base, from a large number of qualitative studies, which underlines the fact that spouses and carers, if supported, can improve the quality of life for the patient. It also appears to be the case that spiritual well being of the patient is improved if spouses and carers are encouraged and facilitated to talk about the situation, especially impending death, which is often regarded as a taboo subject in a household with a patient with a malignancy. Qualitative studies certainly strengthen the evidence base, but, in terms of guidelines and management strategies, they are generally not seen as being as robust as quantitative studies. (Gomm Davies 2008) In conclusion, the evidence base to devise a management strategy for Claire is dependent primarily on the mechanisms used to define her symptom base as well as her circumstances. It appears likely that Claire is adapting to her illness trajectory with a minimum of cognitive distortion, and is taking a rather fatalistic view of her situation. Management should clearly be primarily supportive, both of her and her spouse. The evidence base for symptom control is fairly strong. Pain is not a feature at the moment. Breathlessness could be tackled, initially by the instigation of anxiety-relieving behaviours and possibly by small doses of opiods. Cough can be helped by the use of dihydrocodeine if it is troublesome and fatigue needs careful evaluation to determine whether there is any depressive or psychological factors which are either primary of additive to the symptomatology. Claire may also need to be given permission to rest during the day and be told to pace herself with physical activity so that her fatigue is not such a problem for her. Healthcare professionals need to consider their interventions with the family very carefully. Claire perceives that they come out of the woodwork, which suggests that they are an unwelcome reminder of the fact that they are only there because she has a serious and ultimately terminal illness. Claire may need to be encouraged to talk and expand on this issue as the family may find it difficult if they are not welcomed, and Claire may need to be helped to confront the reality of her situation more directly. Andrew must not be overlooked when constructing a management strategy for this situation. It is a common finding for healthcare professionals to perceive that the spouse is being strong, but this may be a faà §ade for their partner. It is a useful strategy for the healthcare professional to make time to talk to Andrew on his own so that he can have the opportunity to raise issues that he may be unclear about. It may be that he does not know what to expect and is uncertain of the best way of handling the situation. Although possibly premature at the moment, part of the management plan should be to discuss how Andrew is going to approach a worsening situation. An essay such as this can only realistically consider the situation from a general approach. It is clearly the case that every strategy and intervention should be considered on the basis of a holstic assessment of the individual and the management tailored directly to the specific circumstances of the individual. Appendix I Classification of evidence levels Ia Evidence obtained from meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Ib Evidence obtained from at least one randomised controlled trial. IIa Evidence obtained from at least one well-designed controlled study without randomisation. IIb Evidence obtained from at least one other type of well-designed quasi-experimental study. III Evidence obtained from well-designed non-experimental descriptive studies, such as comparative studies, correlation studies and case studies. IV Evidence obtained from expert committee reports or opinions and/or clinical experience of respected authorities. (SIGN 2001) Appendix II Case Details Clares general practitioner has just referred her to the community palliative care service. Clare is a 65 year old woman, with lung cancer, an eventually fatal condition. She lives with her husband Andrew in their family home. Her two grown children are married and live interstate. Clare suffers from breathlessness, cough and fatigue. She gets distressed by her inability to catch her breath. Sometimes she has trouble sleeping at night and is frequently sleepy during the day. Clare says she doesnt have many strategies to help her manage her symptoms. She views her illness as a challenge as it impacts on what she can do and she doesnt feel in control of her life. Clare tells you that personal relationships are more meaningful for her now and she misses seeing her children, even though she keeps in frequent phone contact. She is surprised by the number of people who have come out of the woodwork and have come to visit her at home. Andrew retired two years ago so is able to do the shopping, cooking and other domestic duties for him and Clare. He says this makes him feel useful and its easier for him to do things than to talk about things. Andrew asks you if there is anything more he can do to help Clare.