Tuesday, December 31, 2019

North Dakota Colleges and Universities Pursuing Online and Campus Based Education in North Dakota 2019

Single parents and working professionals are heading back to school in search of career advancement throughout the state of North Dakota. Colleges and universities are providing more flexible education options than ever before. Whether looking for a nursing degree, business degree, or criminal justice degree, North Dakota college students are now finding programs that fit their educational and financial needs. Graduates of North Dakota Colleges and Universities Discover Lucrative Career Opportunities in a Growing Labor Market Although agriculture is the leading state industry, North Dakota college graduates are finding lucrative career opportunities. Efforts to diversify the state economy have lead to an increasing variety of North Dakota employers, including: North Dakota Trade, Transportation, and Utilities Employers. North Dakota Government. North Dakota Educational and Health Employers. North Dakota Leisure and Hospitality Employers. North Dakota Professional and Business Employers. North Dakota College Graduates are Top Competitors in a Strong Local Economy The best opportunities are going to North Dakota college graduates. North Dakota colleges and universities are training students to compete in a local economy that has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the nation. Boosted by a strong tourism industry to the Badlands, International Peace Garden, and recreational facilities, North Dakota boasts: The September, 2017 North Dakota unemployment rate was 3.6%, compared to the national average of 4.4%. 353,400 people are employed in North Dakota. The 2016 2017 North Dakota median household income was $41,362. The 2017 North Dakota gross state product was $24.3 billion. .u8ac3c01eaec600cc552ea01b32cdba2e { padding:0px; margin: 0; padding-top:1em!important; padding-bottom:1em!important; width:100%; display: block; font-weight:bold; background-color:#eaeaea; border:0!important; border-left:4px solid #34495E!important; box-shadow: 0 1px 2px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.17); -moz-box-shadow: 0 1px 2px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.17); -o-box-shadow: 0 1px 2px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.17); -webkit-box-shadow: 0 1px 2px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.17); text-decoration:none; } .u8ac3c01eaec600cc552ea01b32cdba2e:active, .u8ac3c01eaec600cc552ea01b32cdba2e:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; text-decoration:none; } .u8ac3c01eaec600cc552ea01b32cdba2e { transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; } .u8ac3c01eaec600cc552ea01b32cdba2e .ctaText { font-weight:bold; color:inherit; text-decoration:none; font-size: 16px; } .u8ac3c01eaec600cc552ea01b32cdba2e .post Title { color:#000000; text-decoration: underline!important; font-size: 16px; } .u8ac3c01eaec600cc552ea01b32cdba2e:hover .postTitle { text-decoration: underline!important; } READ Associate's Degree in Paralegal Studies On the InternetNorth Dakota Universities and Colleges are Offering Unique Combinations of Campus-based and Online Degree Programs Students are taking advantage of the flexible education options offered by North Dakota colleges and universities. North Dakota university students can now choose to combine online degree programs with their campus-based education through programs, such as: Kaplan University North Dakota Online Degree Programs. University of Phoenix North Dakota Online Degree Programs. ITT Technical Institute North Dakota Online Degree Programs. Capella University North Dakota Online Degree Programs. For an extensive list of programs available to North Dakota university residents, students are encouraged to explore College-Pages.com, the leading education and career resource website. Prospective students will also find links to informative articles on making education and career decisions in the state of North Dakota. Related ArticlesMinnesota Colleges and Universities Pursuing Online and Campus Based Education in MinnesotaMontana Colleges and Universities Pursuing Online and Campus Based Education in Montana, the Treasure StateKansas Colleges and Universities Pursuing Online and Campus-based Education in Kansas, the Sunflower StateKentucky Colleges and Universities Pursuing Online and Campus-based Education in Kentucky, the Bluegrass StateIowa Colleges and Universities Pursuing Online and Campus-based Education in Iowa, the Hawkeye StateArizona Colleges and Universities Pursing Advanced Education in The Grand Canyon State .uc0f941405ca982cc40728ddb41e6b0b8 { padding:0px; margin: 0; padding-top:1em!important; padding-bottom:1em!important; width:100%; display: block; font-weight:bold; background-color:#eaeaea; border:0!important; border-left:4px solid #34495E!important; box-shadow: 0 1px 2px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.17); -moz-box-shadow: 0 1px 2px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.17); -o-box-shadow: 0 1px 2px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.17); -webkit-box-shadow: 0 1px 2px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.17); text-decoration:none; } .uc0f941405ca982cc40728ddb41e6b0b8:active, .uc0f941405ca982cc40728ddb41e6b0b8:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; text-decoration:none; } .uc0f941405ca982cc40728ddb41e6b0b8 { transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; } .uc0f941405ca982cc40728ddb41e6b0b8 .ctaText { font-weight:bold; color:inherit; text-decoration:none; font-size: 16px; } .uc0f941405ca982cc40728ddb41e6b0b8 .postTitle { color:#000000; text-decoration: underline!important; font-size: 16px; } .uc0f941405ca982cc40728ddb41e6b0b8:hover .postTitle { text-decoration: underline!important; } READ BSN Degree Neonatal Nurses Care for Newborns with Special Needs

Monday, December 23, 2019

The E-Commerce Opportunity Essay - 633 Words

The E-Commerce Opportunity A secure e-commerce Web site can provide businesses with powerful competitive advantages, including increased online retail sales as well as streamlined application processes for products such as insurance, mortgages, or credit cards. E-commerce credit card sales can be especially lucrative: according to independent analysts, cash transactions on the Internet will reach $9 billion in 2000, and $30 billion in 2005. By offering products and services on the Web, businesses can gain unique benefits:  · New customers: Anyone with an Internet connection is a potential customer: millions around the world are already using the Internet for business transactions. Web storefronts are open 24 hours a day, and†¦show more content†¦The Web facilitates one-to-one marketing by enabling businesses to capture information about demographics, personal buying habits, and preferences. By analyzing this information, enterprises can target merchandise and promotions for maximum impact, tailor Web pages to specific consumers, and conduct effective, tightly focused marketing campaigns. No business can afford to ignore this opportunity. But businesses also can’t ignore the potential pitfalls. Before entering the fiercely competitive e-commerce arena, businesses must carefully assess and address the accompanying risks. A. The Risks and Challenges of E-Commerce Trust To succeed in the fiercely competitive e-commerce marketplace, businesses must become fully aware of Internet security threats, take advantage of the technology that overcomes them, and win customers’ trust. Eighty-five percent of Web users surveyed reported that a lack of security made them uncomfortable sending credit card numbers over the Internet. The merchants who can win the confidence of these customers will gain their loyalty—and an enormous opportunity for expanding market share. In person-to-person transactions, security is based on physical cues. Consumers accept the risks of using credit cards in places likeShow MoreRelatedE Commerce : An Opportunity For Fashion Retailers795 Words   |  4 PagesBRAND BUILDING Talking Commerce and Growth with Katie Rose of The Bridge Co. FUTURE COMMERCE Commercialising Fashion in the Digital Age E-COMMERCE / RETAIL Mobile Commerce: What Fashion Retailers Need to Know FUTURE COMMERCE Sustainability: A Dirty Word for a Clean Cause FUTURE COMMERCE On Production, Provenance and Supply Chain Ethics FUTURE COMMERCE Future Luxury: Recalibrating Luxury for the Digital Economy E-COMMERCE / RETAIL In-Store Mobile Technology: An Opportunity for Fashion Retailers AheadRead MoreMarket Opportunities in E-Commerce, South Africa11786 Words   |  48 Pagesdisadvantages of online retailing as opposed to traditional retailing. 1.3 Literature study This study is encompassed around the E-commerce sector in the business field. E-commerce is the buying and selling of goods on the Internet. Through this channel, we have various different types of transactions but the one that is dealt with in this study is retailing otherwise known as e-tailing. The world as we know it is constantly changing, technology is getting more advanced daily and the effects this hasRead MoreMarket Opportunities in E-Commerce, South Africa11779 Words   |  48 Pagesdisadvantages of online retailing as opposed to traditional retailing. 1.3 Literature study This study is encompassed around the E-commerce sector in the business field. E-commerce is the buying and selling of goods on the Internet. Through this channel, we have various different types of transactions but the one that is dealt with in this study is retailing otherwise known as e-tailing. The world as we know it is constantly changing, technology is getting more advanced daily and the effects this hasRead MoreE-Commerce - A World of Opportunities for the Small Business Owner1666 Words   |  7 PagesE-commerce is one of the grandest trademarks of the 21st century. By allowing anyone with a credit card to purchase any product - at any time - at the click of a mouse, e-commerce has opened a world full of opportunities for the small business owner and the shopaholic. But e-commerce is not without its apparent flaws. It has the advantage of speed, a variety of products, and a great start up for e-commerce businesses, but product quality, bad businesses, and hackers are its main foibles. â€Æ' WhenRead MoreHow D B Created A Digital Culture, Embraced The Opportunities Of E Commerce2154 Words   |  9 Pagesstrategy called the â€Å"Blueprint for Growth† and announced their aspiration to become a â€Å"growth company with an important presence on the Web† (DNB, 2013). The purpose of this essay is to assess how DB created a digital culture, embraced the opportunities of E-Commerce, improved their data management systems, created a business continuity plan and took extra measures to secure their customers data. Creating a Digital Culture In the early 2000’s, DB realized that in order to transform their business, theyRead MoreThe Challenges of E-Commerce1403 Words   |  6 PagesThe Challenges of E-Commerce MKT552 The Challenges of E-Commerce Today’s business managers face many challenges when migrating a traditional ‘brick and mortar’ company to that which is now known as the evolutionary ‘click and mortar’ business model – that is, a business that operates in the Internet market space. To stand boldly in the face of challenges presented by the networked economy, firms must develop competencies that enable not only high performance market interactivity and adaptiveRead MoreCase Study of Tencent’s E-Commerce Strategy1327 Words   |  6 PagesCase study of Tencent’s E-commerce Strategy Executive Summary Tencent’s E-commerce strategy didn’t work well. The company’s core business is QQ which is an online instant messenger. All of tencent’s other business will be rolled out base upon the QQ. They want people who use QQ can also shop online easily. So they made the strategy according to that point. They developed E-commerce websites which made no difference with Taobao and Tmall but didn’t make them to success. Why does this happen?Read MoreImpact Of Electronic Commerce On Physical Stores891 Words   |  4 Pagespurpose of this document is to study what is the impact of electronic commerce to physical stores, it is necessary to look at e-commerce development brought opportunities and challenges on physical stores. In order to obtain real results, first of all, There is a comparison e-commerce and physical stores, And then analyze the electronic commerce brought opportunities and challenges on physical stores. Advantages of electronic commerce With the accelerated pace of life, some people do not have muchRead MoreImpact of E-Commerce to Malaysian Economy854 Words   |  4 PagesIMPACT OF E-COMMERCE ON THE MALAYSIAN ECONOMY E-commerce is the new buzz word. With the advent of the Internet, the development of e-commerce in both the developed and developing economies has developed at a rapid pace. Developing countries such as Malaysia are catching up fast as there are already 1.2 million Internet users. The private sector and the Government have taken initiatives to implement e-commerce. Physical and legal infrastructure for e-commerce in Malaysia have been put in placeRead MoreTo What Extent Is an E-Commerce Strategy the Best Way for Businesses to Increase Their Profits? (40 Marks)1398 Words   |  6 PagesTo what extent is an e-commerce strategy the best way for businesses to increase their profits? (40 marks) E-commerce is the online transaction of goods and services, which has completely revolutionized business and the way in which businesses can operate. It’s now easier for customers to compare prices/products with a little time spent browsing the Internet opposed to dragging themselves to the stores. This means that e-commerce is having an impact on what and how much businesses sell, therefore

Sunday, December 15, 2019

My Bedroom Free Essays

Homework, music, and tranquility are three things that come to my mind whenever I think of my bedroom. It’s a special place that’s important to me and holds many memories, even though other people may not see it that way. This is a place where I spend most of my day to relax and forget about the problems of everyday life. We will write a custom essay sample on My Bedroom or any similar topic only for you Order Now My bedroom is like a sanctuary to me because it’s quiet and peaceful like a walk through misty woods in the early morning hours. It’s somewhere I look forward to going when the â€Å"ordinary day at school† is done. The first thing I see when I walk into my bedroom is my clothes dresser. It’s a cherry wood color, and is furnished with a stereo, small ceramic statues, a small white lamp, and a 3-dimensional wood carving of my first name. These items hold some level of significance to me in that they were given to me by people I care about. The next thing I notice is the two display shelves that are positioned directly above my dresser and are of the same cherry wood tone. These hold the memories of friends and loved ones in the form of pictures, seashells, and small trinkets. On the right and left sides of these two shelves hang two pictures: one of my family during the Christmas of 2009, and the other of three angels flying carelessly through Heaven’s beachside paradise. Another item that stands amongst everything else in my bedroom is my bulletin board. Here, important events and notes are kept within reach whenever they may be needed for future reference. How to cite My Bedroom, Papers

Saturday, December 7, 2019

Ethical Dilemma And Ethical Problem Samples †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Ethical Dilemma And Ethical Problem. Answer: Ethical Dilemma refers to the ethical problem of decision-making of a person,whena person goes through thecontroversy of the right and the wrong moral philosophy. In the article, the ethical dilemma is on the part of legislation, and it pivots around the fact that even after molesting six girls in a single week, the culprit was punished only with three year jail and ten strikes of cane. The judge, Sandra Looi herself admitted that it was a heinous crime and for each molests the culprit deserved 2years imprisonment, yet, the sentence given to him was too liberal (Lee, 2018). The law is stuck with ethical dilemma between the intensity of the crime and the punishment assigned. The ethical theory that can be complied with this context is Utilitarianism, that focuses on the benefit of the maximum (Christians et al., 2015). The laws were framed to benefit the mass so that the system remain unbiased. However the theory of Utilitarianism puts the judges into ethical dilemma where the crime was potent enough to negatively impact on nascent minds, yet the shackles of law restricts the court to make the punishment severe. References Lee, G. (2018).Nurse molested 6 girls in 2 weeks; he stuck masking tape on fingers to avoid detection.The Straits Times. Retrieved 7 April 2018, from https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/jail-caning-for-nurse-who-molested-six-girls-in-two-weeks Christians, C. G., Richardson, K. B., Fackler, M., Kreshel, P., Woods, R. H. (2015).Media Ethics: Cases and Moral Reasoning, CourseSmart eTextbook. Routledge.

Friday, November 29, 2019

Schopenhauer-Metaphysics of Love and Sexes free essay sample

WantIn Schopenhauer’s view, whose will is at work when two people fall in love? What reasons does Schopenhauer give for this view? In Schopenhauer’s view it is the will of the unborn baby which is at work when two people fall in love. The baby’s will is born when two lovers meet. The real aim of love’s romance, although the persons concerned are unconscious of the fact, is that a particular being may come into the world. Romantic love is nature’s way of selected breeding.. It makes you think, that you need the person to make you happy when all it is the baby’s will to be born. Thus, when two people are in love, they think they want sex, because they connect sex to love, but it is actually the baby that makes us think so. Thus, sex is for procreation but we think we want it because it makes us happy. We will write a custom essay sample on Schopenhauer-Metaphysics of Love and Sexes or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page When we choose our lovers, we choose someone who compliments us, someone who has qualities that we lack. (symposium) In this case as well, it is the baby looking for the best traits. We are attracted to body parts and traits that the baby wants. Thus, it is ultimately the baby that makes us choose our partner. For example, men like women with big hips but it actually because they can carry their baby. Thus, we do everything that the baby makes us do. Even when some people don’t want kids, still have kids because it is the baby’s will to be born. For example, when a woman is pregnant she needs the father of the baby more than he needs her even though before the pregnancy he wanted her more. This is because it is the baby who wants the father to be around when it is born. The mother acts unpredictable and this confuses the father and makes him stay. But it is the baby that makes her this way. But if the father continues to love the mother even after the mood swings stop, then it means the mother is doing a good job. However, when we follow our own will we don’t need sex as we are happy without it. For example, when a couple doesn’t want a baby, it is not romantic love, it is deep attraction. Thus, the fact that sex makes us happy is only an illusion to make us procreate Love can often make us go against our own interest in order to follow the baby’s will. Men often fall in love with other men’s wives and enter the relationship in spite of knowing that it is risky. Thus, love is a mere illusion to ensure the continuity of the species.

Monday, November 25, 2019

Persuation essays

Persuation essays Have you ever driven down the road in some town somewhere and saw a person wearing different clothes than you or selling their cultural arts and crafts, that are unusual to you, but not to them? Have you wondered where they got that idea from, or who taught them that? Im talking about a persons general ignorance about someone elses culture and beliefs. About how concentrating more time in school as a kid learning about your American History. More than just Columbus came here and discovered America, and that the Indians were discovered by the Europeans. What about who was here before Columbus landed? How long had they been here for? These sort of things will lead the minds of our young into real stories of tribes and kings, and wars, and the realization that there was more beyond 1776 when our founding fathers founded our country. You know, I think also that it would open our eyes to each other more and less towards turning away. So lets take a look at Americas History, not the United States of America, but the island of America. According to The Smithsonian Encyclopedia, traditional theory held that the first Americans crossed the land bridge from Siberia to Alaska around 11,500 years ago (par 1). These folks were the Clovis people, named after a town in New Mexico, where their fluted spear points used for hunting mammoth were in 1932. Then there were indications that boats were actually in use as far back as 25,000 to 40,000 years ago and now there is evidence suggesting that people with boats moved along the coast of Canada, California, Peru, Ecuador, and Chile date between 10,000 and 12,000 ago and others are buried under the coast line(par 3). Now looking beyond the remains, there are people who are trying to uncover the truth about the New World. These people are scientists who are researching theses remains and others like them to determine the biological as...

Friday, November 22, 2019

Intellectual Property Rights Protection in China Research Paper

Intellectual Property Rights Protection in China - Research Paper Example Yet, it is also a fact that resource rich and technology intensive MNCs can only wholeheartedly commit themselves to their Chinese ventures, only if they are sure that their massive investments in the intellectual property will not be diluted in China owing to a scant regard and concern for intellectual property rights (Ordish 27). Thus upholding of the intellectual property rights in China is synonymous with creating just the right kind of business and investment environment. A section of the Chinese intelligentsia holds that intellectual property rights is a legal tool devised by the West to counteract the rising might and potential of the Chinese scientists and experts (Mertha 42). What China needs to understand is that the stakes exploiting the intellectual property related loopholes within China can also resort to the similar mechanisms and stratagems to undermine the indigenous intellectual property wealth. Thus a potent intellectual property rights regime will guarantee the security of both the Western and Chinese intellectual property related investments, and will definitely prove to be beneficial for China in the long run. There is no denying the fact that a developing nation like China has a big population, and the sta

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Cost Effectiveness Evaluation of Villa at Royal Commission in Jubail Literature review

Cost Effectiveness Evaluation of Villa at Royal Commission in Jubail - Literature review Example 2000 p. 15). Measures of effectiveness are also in relations with the achieved results of the designed project. This success factor is represented by the budget, time, quality, client satisfaction, user satisfaction, operational assurance, and learning and exploitation. According to the Roshana Takim’s Analysis of Effectiveness Measures of Construction Project Success in Malaysia, effectiveness is synonymous with success, the degree to which the project objectives are achieved. Therefore effectiveness is the extent to which the project budget, time, and technical specification and mission are met. Project success which is synonymous with its effectiveness is hence measured against the top project priority objectives in terms of the project time, project quality, project cost, and project mission. On the other hand, efficiency is broadly mastered as output maximization for a particular level of resources or input. In this regard, effectiveness of a project is directed towards a ccomplishing the objectives and goals of the project. Project success is therefore identified in terms of measures of efficiency and effectiveness. This is adherence to the budget scheduled and the basic expectations of project performance. ... Effectiveness is hence vital to a project as it deals with the project outcomes. Project will hence be termed effective if it accomplishes its objectives. The basis of the monitoring project performance is costs, time and resources and how the variables help achieve success in completion. Project success or effectiveness has two components, that is, project product success and project management success (Vince & Iranmanesh, 2008). We can therefore infer that cost effectiveness of the Villa at Royal Commission in Jubail, can be achieved through ensuring that the project fits within the proposed budget, is delivered in time, and is within the specification of the project plan. Quality is an important aspect of satisfaction. We can therefore consider that the satisfaction of the clients should be based on the comfort of the clients. If the construction of the Villa is based on the prescribed conditions and using the mentioned construction components, then the Villa would possibly satisf y the clients and hence achieve cost effectiveness in building construction. Achievement of cost effectiveness in the Villa at Royal Commission in Jubail would be done right from planning and scheduling of the process of the project. It is also important and necessary to schedule activities and develop a work-based structure in order to identify the shortest time possible for completing the project to enable the deliverables be delivered within the time stipulated for the project (Zeng, 2002 p. 25). The cost effectiveness of a project is therefore a combination of time, budget, and quality specifications. The cost of construction and resources also make but of the

Monday, November 18, 2019

Concert report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 7

Concert report - Essay Example Other artists such as the rising star by the name Ray Ushikubo and just twelve years of age also joined with a Bach performance together with Joanne Pearce Martin for Mozart performance. In concert one, Jeremy Denk dominated where he performed Ligeti selections as well as Beethoven’s piano (Starnley & Chardly 18-19). During the first half of the program, Mozart performance by Joann Pearce Martin did happen. To be in particular the Mozart piece that was played is Mozart concerto number ten in E-flat major for two pianos, K. 365. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart composed this piece of work; he was a prolific and competent composer during the style period of classical era. This piece was composed between the period of 1775 and 1777, at this time; he was dismissed from his Salzburg position. The Mozart piece belongs to a class of genre called piano concerto. A closer look at the piece reveals that the piece fitted well with the style period. This is because; the piece was composed in such a way that it dictates its deliverance. This is to say, at the initial stage, there is lyrical spell followed by middle movements characterized by slow but refined movements (Speyer & Edward 178). During the second half of the program, performance of Ligeti selections entitle Etudes for piano book I & II took the center stage. Hungarian composed Ligeti selections by the name Ligeti Gyorgy Sandor, he was a legendary composer who specialized in contemporary classical music (Saarinen & Claude 56). Etudes for piano book I & II was composed during the second half of twentieth century; as a result, he was regarded as one of the most important composers by then. Etudes for piano book I & II belongs to the piano concerto genre and this piece in particular fits the style period. This is because; he blended virtuoso technical abilities with contents that were expressive, therefore resulting into a superb piece of work that stood up during that period

Saturday, November 16, 2019

History of Sensory Theatre

History of Sensory Theatre What does sensory theatre mean to the modern audience? Asone of the oldest art forms and as one of the primeval kinds of humanexpression, the nature of theatre is as varied across the continents aspainting, pottery, sculpture or any of the classic art-forms. Each civilization, each society, each gathering of humankind has had its personalform of theatrical performance from street artists to court jesters to nomadicplayers. Many would say that this variety at the very core of theatrical achievement is what has permitted theatre to take such a respected and crucialpart of our modern societies. Too often it is claimed that our present daylifestyles leave little time for abstract thinking and artistic appreciation orachievement. This is lamentable but thankfully not usually true. One need only observe the continuation of events such as the Welsh National Eisteddfod forhundreds of years to realize that the human desire and need for theatre willnever diminish. However, this is not to say that modern society has not changed theatre. It is only natural that artistic output should be modeled by the lifestyle surrounding it. After all, warlike civilizations such as the Vikings delighted in the narrating of age-old sagas whereas more enlightened peoples like the Ancient Greeks would draw inspiration from mythical dramas which detailed the flaws at the heart of humanity and their relationships with their gods, representing a search for elements greater than themselves. However,we can take it as certain that the theatrical productions of the last fiftyyears have overwhelmingly been part of a resurgence of theatrical diversity. Asthe free market has made nations more accessible to each other, a rise ininterest for all sorts of artistic expression has been felt around the world.Herein, we shall focus on the analysis and comprehension of one of these.Sensory theatre, or at least the old meaning of the term, is not a new concept.At its very core, much of what constitutes theatre relies heavily on the senses,both those of the audience and that of the actors. Nevertheless, at a time whenour fast-paced lifestyle seems to reject anything out of the ordinary or whichcan be labeled as different, it is refreshing to feel that this resurgence hasregenerated one of the truly great aspects of theatre, oft labeled as post-modernistbut one which links so much of relatively recent artistic output across theboundaries of different art forms: Post-modernity,in attacking the perceived elitist approach of Modernism, sought greaterconnection with broader audiences. This is often labelled accessibility andis a central point of dispute in the question of the value of postmodern art.It has also embraced the mixing of words with art, collage and other movementsin modernity, in an attempt to create more multiplicity of medium and message.Much of this centers on a shift of basic subject matter: postmodern artistsregard the mass media as a fundamental subject for art, and use forms, tropes,and materials such as banks of video monitors, found art, and depictions ofmedia objects as focal points for their artPostmodernisms critical stance isinterlinked with presenting new appraisals of previous works. As implied abovethe works of the Dada movement received greater attention, as didcollagists such as Robert Rauschenberg, whose works were initiallyconsidered unimportant in the context of the modernism of the 1950s, but who, bythe 1980 s, beganto be seen as seminal. Post-modernism also elevated the importance of cinema in artisticdiscussions, placing it on a peer level with the other fine arts. This is bothbecause of the blurring of distinctions between high andlow forms, and because of the recognition that cinema representedthe creation of simulacra which was later duplicated in the other arts. (Wikipedia,2005) Inthis dissertation, we shall be analyzing aspects of sensory theatre as has beenexplored and toyed with by some great artisans of the craft. Despite anyproblems we have with wholesale rejection of this type of theatre, in the interestof fair-minded and complete research, we shall pay due attention to theAristotelian school of thought. That which claims that theatre is a particulartype of experience, one from which the audience member should feel cleansed andhave learnt a lesson. This is a valid point of view, one which we shallthoroughly explore in order to see if it is indeed more artisticallyjustifiable than sensory theatre. Afterexploring Aristotles opinions, we shall look in further depth at the nature ofsensory theatre. What does this term mean? How is each sense tapped? Can themelding of experiences of several senses which are simultaneously stimulatedprovide an elevating experience? For this exploration, we shall use the casestudy of Dwr (water in Welsh), a sensory piece of theatre put on in2003, using water, light and various materials to explore reactions amongst itsaudience. The reasons for using this play are that it was an audiovisualexperience as well as a mere theatrical one as projections and cameras were anintegral part of the performance. Furthermore, the sensory effect of theaudience can be better analyzed as members of the audience were also used inthe play, their reactions helping to define the type of sensory experience. However, Dwr also gives us a good example of Brechtian theatre for the number of levels the play takes on. The actors themselves act as facilitators for the audience to receive personal sensory experiences. With only a minority of audience members taking part in the play, we can gain two further levels of emotional depth and complexity. The general background of the audience will see their emotions and senses assailed by the movements, gestures and decisions of those taking part while this minority will be subjected to sensory input and emit feedback with no room for forethought or planning ahead. Thus, we shall provide a very definite and interesting example to back up any clear defining of sensory theatre we come to. We shall also look at how Dwr fits into the patterns of sensory theatre created by Brecht and Artaud and how its attitude towards its audience defines this multi-tiered theatre as one of the crucial points of sensory theatre. However,no analysis of sensory theatre without detailed research into the works ofpioneers of the genre. Here, we have chosen to look at Bertolt Brecht andAntonin Artaud, each for specific reasons. Brechts attitude, utterly inconflict with the age-old Aristotelian views of theatre, helped build hisreputation as an agitateur who decided to stamp his own distinctive markupon an art form he viewed as static. Thus, the habits of Brechtian theatre oftotal acknowledgement of the audience caused as much mirth as it did anger. Onthe other hand, Artaud provided his audience with a completely integralexperience. By using sensory theatre to deny audience members their usual rightto involve themselves in a performance to a degree of their choice, Artaud madesure his plays would deeply shock his audiences. We will be exploring Artaudstechniques as well as his reasons for providing this kind of theatre. It is the goal of this dissertation to highlight the differences that make sensory theatre an integral genre of its own, containing so many outlets for creativity, expression and emotional impact as to make it not only an interesting part of theatre but an essential one. Its recent resurgence will thus provide us with an ideal platform from which to assess its meaning to a modern audience. TheAristotelian view of theatrical norms Goodoratory can blow the walls off brick buildings. Not just in the real world ofpolitical speeches or rallies but in the arts as well. As one of the only formsof human expression where no point of view is unheard, no eventuality unconsidered,no leaf left unturned, theatre has throughout its history naturally overthrownand shrugged off any shackles or conventions attached to it. This idea couldgive rise to an impression of mayhem and anarchy in an art form that had runaway with its own importance. As one of the leading figures in the history ofliterature, Aristotles views on the nature and importance of theatre arewell-documented and naturally thought of as still relevant today. Aristotlehad the very human characteristic of harking back to the good old days, andthinking them much better than the days in which he lived. Taking scant accountof Aeschylus,he regarded Sophoclesand Euripidesas models in tragedy. His chief complaints were that the poets of his own timespoiled their work by rhetorical display; that the actor was often of moreimportance than the play; and that the poets tampered with the plot in order togive a favorite actor an opportunity of displaying his special talent. He saidthat the poets were deficient in the power of portraying character, and that itwas not even fair to compare them with the giants of the former era. (FletcherBellinger, pp.61, 1967) However,in the matter of sensory theatre, we run into an area of some problems. Beingof a conservative mind-set which appreciated theatre for the moral lessonscontained within the narrative, Aristotle worshipped Sophocles with hisstraight and narrow approach to theatrical drama whilst eschewing the work ofhis contemporaries as being too popular, too watered down to meet the needs ofa public desirous of less preaching and more fun within the theatre. Aristotlepossessed perhaps what could be interpreted as a rather narrow view in that hesaw tragedy as the greatest form of dramatic expression, almost utterly passingoff on comedy as mere fluff as compared to tragedy with the great lessonscontained within it. Furthermore, Aristotle also considered tragedy to bemagnificent when it also contained a clear and well constructed narrativeframework and mythological references to the deeds of greater men and gods in anobler past. Although Aristotles writings on these topics did make a lot ofsense, they are considered somewhat restrictive and far too imbued with theirown authority to be seen as of much use today. After all, in a society wherethe possibilities of theatre are slowly catching up with those of television orcinema as directors, playwrights and stage designers are always exploring newavenues of performance, Aristotles three unities of time, place and actionseem ready to be retired. Their far-too stringent requirements of both cast andcrew make them almost impossible to operate in the modern world of freetheatre. This is no longer a society where the writings of one man, whoever he may be, carry enough influence to truly make as significant an impact as in Ancient Greece. It is not to say that Aristotle should be disregarded but concerning sensory theatre, rules relating how plot should be more important than character and how all the action in a tragedy should be centered around a personage of importance to better capture the attention of a fickle audience seem slightly moot. Its relevance is in the fact that much of what is known of theatrical conventions among a lay audience is heavily based on Ancient Greek theatrical philosophy, particularly Aristotle. It is precisely this philosophy that sensory theatre will have to overcome in order to claim its place as a rightful and deserving genre of theatrical achievement across the globe. Visual,auditory, tactileDwr Choosingan example to illustrate the nature of sensory theatre is a tricky balancingact as one must therefore, in some way at least, pre-define ones understandingof the genre. How do we choose between the senses? After all, since the name ofsensory theatre does not make any kind of distinction, do we consider thesenses of sight and hearing more important than the other three since they areoverwhelmingly the most stimulated in matters of theatre? A distinction such asthis would make sense certainly but since sensory theatre is often seen asstanding alone from usual theatre, perhaps it would be unfair to appraise itthanks to assumptions based on more conventional modes of theatre. Instead,the best way to gain a true idea of sensory theatres range of potentialimpacts would be to base an example upon several criteria. Firstly, although itwould be somewhat over-expectant to try and find a play which could tap allfive of our senses, several attempts at sensory theatre have successfullyenga ged audiences on three senses, if not four. Herein has been chosen Dwr,a Welsh piece put on in 2003 in Aberystwyth and then broadcast on S4C on thearts programme, Croma. Theset-up of the piece was simple. The audience were seated on one side of thestage on a raised-up area, overlooking a long perpendicular dinner table. Theinside of the table, rather than being an ordinary flat surface, had beenhollowed in order to form a shallow pool about six inches deep along thetables entire length. The pool was filled with a level amount of clear waterat the bottom of which a table had been set ready for dinner, complete withplates, cutlery, glasses and napkins. Above the audience, shining down upon thetable was a strong projector which reflected the pool of water onto a backprojection screen in a way which magnified and increased the shadows cast byany ripples in the water. Six audience members were asked to be seated at thetable, as if for dinner before being submitted to a range of experiences by theactors whilst cameras recorded their reactions. These sensory experiments allinvolved stimulation of an audience member in matters of sight, sound, taste orfeelin g. We shall look at the manner in which each of these senses was tappedas well as Dwrs technical set-up. Firstof all, if one were to ask any theatre-goers, it would be certain that even themost intermittent of these would claim the two most stimulated senses in thetheatre are that of sight and hearing. Whilst conventional thinking would allowthis to be true, a cynical perspective would add that since our behinds orfeet, depending on posture, contribute much to the enjoyment of a theatricalperformance three senses, not two, must all be satisfied for a performance tobe considered praise-worthy. After all, although stage design is an oftforgotten art among those who are not privileged to the inner workings oftheatre, the choice of venue often signifies how an audience will feel duringthe performance. Stage design is often considered only in terms of sets, propsand technical apparatus whilst the idea of crowd comfort is often overlooked. In the case of Dwr, the crowd comfort was adequate but the truly interesting phenomenon for the audience of this play was that their peers were submitted to the action contained within it. The stage design was such that the light poured onto the water was bright enough to cause the right amount of shadow reflection whilst not blinding either the audience or the actors. This careful use of projection in order to achieve the desired effect was a technique made famous of Josef Svoboda who pioneered the use of audiovisual projection in theatre to enhance the general experience. The stimulation capabilities of a performance, when combined with camera and sound equipment, is vastly heightened thus cementing Svoboda as one of the great names of sensory theatre. Asfar as the audience members who became a part of the performance itself, thesenses stimulated were done so in a way which gave every sense the time tofully absorb the impact of its experience. First of all, each audience memberwas seated at the table in the guise of a dinner guest but asked not to talk toeach other or carry out any action except if indicated to do so by one of thesurrounding cast. First of all, each dinner guest was asked to remove theirshoes and socks before climbing onto the table into the water. The stage itselfwas kept at a warm temperature in contrast to the cold water, making the changein surroundings quite drastic. Then, the audience member was asked to burst aplastic bag full of water with a long hooked pole. The water would thus droponto the audience member along with a fake plaster egg. The audience member would then be lead back to their seat, given a towel to dry off before being given two chopsticks. After breaking the egg on the side of the table, the contents would then be spilt onto the plate just below the surface of the water. Each egg contained some food coloring, spreading across the table along with the ripples, along with a small piece of paper. Each piece of paper showed the face of a man, wearing different emotions, whilst a brief poem on the back seemed to explain the expression, a poem that would be read by one of the surrounding cast to the relevant audience member. The relationship between the pictures and the poems may not have been immediately obvious but the reactions of the audience members were still assured to be both personal, if not natural due to unusual surroundings and odd experiences. These reactions were filmed by the technical crew on video cameras, adding another level of complexity to the performance as the traditional boundaries between cast and crew become blurred. Furthermore, Dwrs entire performance was played out under a constantly shifting pattern of music which although always instrumental would speed up in tone or gently slow down in function of events happening in the play. Thepurpose of using Dwr as an illustration of the modern applications ofsensory theatre and its meaning to a present-day audience is threefold. Firstof all, the timing of the piece and its broadcasting on a national channelalong with subsequent interviews with the chosen audience members proves theinterest placed in it by a major broadcaster as the BBC has major impact uponS4C scheduling. Secondly, the sensual experience of the show provided afascinating outlet for the audience members, both for those who took an activepart or a passive part, to find out more about what constitutes modern sensorytheatre. Although the audience numbers for this show were relatively small and thus can only provide us with a minor cross-section of theatre-goers, the positive feedback gained at the end during the interviews can give a lot of hope as to the future of sensory theatre. Finally, to use an example such as Dwr gives us a view as to what kind of reaction this genre of theatre would meet with. Dwr covers a broad base of sensory theatre as its performance, not only stimulating several of the senses themselves, dealt with a range of theatrical theories and ideologies which we shall look at in further detail. By separating audience members from each other, creating many layers of reality between crew and cast, audience and cast and audience and crew, Dwr rejectedmany traditional aspects of theatrical performance. However, by engaging its audience/cast members with an individual experience through the messages contained within the eggshells and filming their response, Dwr could be said to have engaged with a more conservative Aristotelian version of theatre. Each audience member not involved with the show directly as a dinner guest will have experience the play as a visual and auditive experience but it is for the six members of the audience at each performance that Dwr transcended the limits of ordinary theatre and became a emotional and sensory journey felt by each in their own individual way. Below, we will be casting an eye at the ways in which theatrical pioneers such as Brecht and Artaud tackled the rigours and the conventions of an art form that they viewed as being a free form, lacking in any structural restrictions. Before doing so, we can still observe that even if Dwr did pander even the slightest bit towards an Aristotelian theatre, the main body of its performance was firmly in the territory of Artaud as we can see when applying this passage to precisely the type of theatre Dwr tries to avoid. If people are out of thehabit of going to the theater, if we have all finally come to think of theateras an inferior art, a means of popular distraction, and to use it as an outletfor our worst instincts, it is because we have learned too well what thetheater has been, namely, falsehood and illusion. It is because we have beenaccustomed for four hundred years, that is since the Renaissance, to a purelydescriptive and narrative theater storytelling psychology; it is becauseevery possible ingenuity has been exerted in bringing to life on the stageplausible but detached beings, with the spectacle on one side, the public onthe other and because the public is no longer shown anything but the mirrorof itself. Shakespeare himself is responsible for this aberration and decline,this disinterested idea of the theater which wishes a theatrical performance toleave the public intact, without setting off one image that will shake theorganism to its foundations and leave an ineffaceable scar. If, in Shakespeare,man is sometimes preoccupied with what transcends him, it is always in order todetermine the ultimate consequences of this preoccupation within him, i.e.,psychology. (Artaud,No More Masterpieces, 1976) Evensuch divides as between audience and actors, theatrical conventions that are sohabitual as to often be altogether forgotten, were not sacrosanct enough fordirectors, playwrights and actors such as Brecht, Artaud and Svoboda. TheBrechtian impact or the alienation of theatrical tradition Earlierin this dissertation, it was suggested that Aristotles views on theatre andsubsequent impact thereon had diminished somewhat with the dawn of a time wherethe philosophies of the Ancient Greeks mattered little. However, the centuriesthat his views transcended have signified that they could not dissipate soquickly. Many modern opinions on theatre, however avant-garde or post-modernistthey wish or claim to be, are still formed largely on the back of the opinionsof men such as Aristotle. However, this obstacle would be taken to piece by menand women like Brecht, who wished not to merely co-exist with existing viewsbut confront their defenders and destroy the ideological entrenchment that manytheatre critics had resorted to in the face of the changes sweeping throughtheir beloved art form. In his early plays, Brechtexperimented with dada and expressionism, but in his later work, he developed astyle more suited his own unique vision. He detested theAristotelian drama and its attempts to lure the spectator into akind of trance-like state, a total identification with the hero to the point ofcomplete self-oblivion, resulting in feelings of terror and pity and,ultimately, an emotional catharsis. He didnt want his audience to feelemotionshe wanted them to thinkand towards this end, he determined todestroy the theatrical illusion, and, thus, that dull trance-like state he sodespised. The result of Brechts research was a technique known asverfremdungseffekt or the alienation effect. It wasdesigned to encourage the audience to retain their critical detachment. (Imagi-nation,2003) Thisis not to say though that to achieve such an accomplishment was possible formerely any theatrical commentator. It took men of special gumption, gravitasand guts to dare attack such a powerful establishment as that of traditionaltheatre. Bertolt Brecht was one of these. Blessed with the ability to fightbattles on several fronts whilst still maintaining a clear head, Brecht beganto cause controversy early on in his career. Looking to fulfill a desire formore relevant and modern theatre amongst German theatre-going audiences,Brecht, through plays such as Drums in the Night and with therecognition of director Erich Engel, flirted with an expressionistic style thatbefitted his rising status but left Brecht himself feeling uncomfortable.Although his style was becoming fashionable and it would undoubtedly havebrought him his time in the spotlight, Brecht felt that he should discover aplaywriting identity which was his own and not borrowed from anybody else. Ifwe consider that at this ti me Brecht was writing in post World War I Germany,we can observe the bravery it must have taken for him to make this type ofdecision. Duringthe turbulent years of the socialist rise in Germany and the Weimar Republic,Brecht knew a modest amount of success in both theatre and literature thanks toplays such as In the Jungle of the Cities and his partnership with Engeland Hans Eisler but he was only just beginning to find his feet in a style allof his own. The final step in this direction would be his years with his owncollective of writers, the most famous fruit of which would be the Lehrstuckewhich would form the root of the theatrical changes and theories we thinkof as Brechtian today. Lehrstucke propounded that passive audiences werea thing of the past in matters of theatre and that it was necessary foraudiences to become more actively involved in a performance whilst keeping astrong level of emotional distance in order to remain capable of rational thoughtand criticism. This collection of thoughts would slowly pass into commonpractice in theatrical troupes and communities around the world, a practiceknown as epic theatre. Epictheatre today may seem as historical and passÃÆ'ÂÂ © as Aristotles views did forBrecht but the truth is that the numerous and varied adaptations of epictheatre have formed much of todays common theatrical practices. Before Brecht,the demarcation between the audience and the actors was sacrosanct. SinceAristotle, the status of the star actor had risen so much that now actors wouldmerely be cast in a role that was known to be in their repertoire, a fact whichcould lead to truly spectacular levels of diva treatment or ridiculouscastings. Take for example Sarah Bernhardt whose notoriety had reached suchproportions that she cast herself as Hamlet. This is not to say there isanything wrong with female actors playing traditionally male Shakespeareanparts but it is the manner in which Bernhardt carried out this casting that madethe situation ridiculous. Aristotle lamented this type of situation as beingone of the great plagues striking tragedy theatre whilst Brecht merely laughedat it and lambasted it in his own style. His patented Verfremdungseffekt (or estrangement effect) was a sweepingly original style which not only acknowledged the audience as a part of a theatrical production and encouraged them to change their own attitudes to theatre. Instead of allowing traditional suspension of disbelief and letting audiences feel as if they were watching a truthful event, Brecht went out of his way to remind them that what they saw was a representation, a mirror onto reality and never reality itself. This was carried out by having actors suddenly break character and address the audience to explain the plot, grossly over-exaggerated props or sets in the middle of an otherwise serious play or great placards on the stage asking the audience to behave in a certain way by ignoring a particular happening or to stare less romantically. These unusual situations for an audience confused them and alienated them from the play, hence the name alienation or estrangement effect. This separation from conventional thea trical theory became very fashionable after the war in both America where he lived until being pestered by HUAC and in communist East Germany where he resided until his death in 1953. The appeal of Brechts type of theatre across the globe speaks volumes about how the traditions of theatre were rejected by a large section of theatre going audiences. The sensory feel of the Verfremdungseffekt were indirect but by creating this new separation of audience and stage in an allegorical as well as in a physical sense, Brechtian theatre enabled its audiences and directors to experiment with new sensations. The greatest example of this is in some of Brechts later plays such as The Good Person of Szechwan and Galileo. For example, in Galileo, the portrait he paints of the astronomer is of a tortured soul wracked between his scientific duty to tell the truth to an unsuspecting world and the threat of vengeance from the dark figure of the Grand Inquisitor. This moral dilemma was planned by Brecht as a way to get his audience to think rationally about the situation and contemplate what they would do in such a situation rather than feeling sorry for Galileo. However, if Brecht had one failing, it was that despite his ability to meld together a myriad of sources into a convincing single narrative, he did not understand the human nature of his public. Persuaded that with the right play, he could force his audience into abandoning their emotional side, whether he realized it or not Brecht was asking people to set aside the precise reason most of them came to the theatre. His theories resulted in a number of epic dramas, among them Mother Courage and Her Children which tells the story of a travelling merchant who earns her living by following the Swedish and Imperial armies with her covered wagon and selling them supplies: clothing, food, brandy, etc As the war grows heated, Mother Courage finds that this profession has put her and her children in danger, but the old woman doggedly refuses to give up her wagon. Mother Courage and Her Children was both a triumph and a failure for Brecht. Although the play was a great success, he never managed to achieve in his audience the unemotional, analytical response he desired. Audiences never fail to be moved by the plight of the stubborn old woman. (Imagi-nation, 2003) Anemotional journey where characters could and should be empathized with orcondemned was much of what has always constituted theatres engagement. Eventhe averagely smart and aware audience member does not need the moral absolutesof right and wrong as claimed by Aristotle but the desire to identify with oneor more of the central characters instead of merely rationalizing about theirfates without feeling was too strong in the vast majority of theatre-goers. Brechtis claimed doubly to be both a modernist or one of the first post-modernists.Although some claims have been made that a taste for his kind of theatre quicklyinspires in the face of so much cynicism, his importance and the size of hisimpact upon world theatre cannot be underplayed. Today, many of his conventionsare so common as to be taken for granted whilst a collective of Brechtiansstill operates and remains as long-standing proof to the glory of his genius. Conventionalrelief in theatre and Artauds rejection of it Everygeneration is locked in a perpetual struggle with those that come both beforeand after to break free from the shackles of their ancestral traditions, carvetheir own identity and thus prepare the way for a similar fight with thegenerations that are to follow. Although social morays may seem to remain stilland constant, this is only an illusion, one that can only too easily be piercedby artistic expression. Artists have often been marginalized as second-ratemembers of society, ones that are not indispensable to the everyday running ofour lives. Seen as not producing useful since all their efforts did not feed,clothe or warm anybody, it became a painful reality that if actors or musicianswanted to survive, they were required to curtail any creativity and pander toprecisely what their audiences desired. While this unfortunate turn of events could be passed off as a mere passage in the history of theatre, it left behind some highly tell-tale signs. The simplest of these is that from the Renaissance onward through the Classical period, theatre had become significant with escapism. The majority of plays, and here one cannot deny Aristotles continuing influence, harked back to former days lamenting a fallen age of glory, honour and noble deeds. Whilst this fond reminiscing was unimpeachable in its desire to awaken a better side of humanity in audiences, it often met with boredom and

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

American Literature and Society :: essays research papers fc

Literature is a very powerful tool that is used to make a huge impact on society or in someone’s perspective. Literature comes in different forms and each literature form fits in a certain category or role to help understand the true meaning of it. From playwrights to short stories, each one has moral lesson, a message or a reflection of the author. I have witnessed the power of literature several times. Literature has moved teens to better being; it has motivated unfortunate people to fame, used as an educational process of teaching and most of all, entertainment. Back in the day, plays were on of the most famous forms of entertainment. Without television and radio present, plays served as a substitute to entertain certain groups of people like the royal family or just for the whole public. This was one way of making money by the actors and the authors that wrote the play. Also present during those times were the poem recitals. This is similar to a play but fewer people are present in the stage or sometimes solo performance. Today, Literature is still being used as a form of entertainment and educational intentions. Hollywood made a lot of money by revising the great masterpieces of famous authors such as â€Å"Rome and Juliet† by William Shakespeare. Also, they made movies out of hundreds of literary works for educational purposes and better understanding of the literature piece. Each form of literature has its own style. The style determines how it influences the audience to absorb the true meaning and moral of the story or poem. William Shakespeare and Benjamin Franklin were truly persuasive while Washington Irving and Edgar Allan Poe mixed mystery and adventure to their works. The style touches the readers which really makes a good relationship from the reader to the author’s literary masterpieces. Being a foreigner to this country, I have viewed American Society in a different way. There are a lot of factors that changed my perspective to the American society and of them is the literature I have studied during the process of having English as on of my major subjects. I can strongly say that American society is very much different than the environment I used to live. There may be similarities but there are few. American society tends to change a lot of times, its culture slowly evolves the American society to a whole different level.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Bassano’s Last Judgment

The Last Judgment, by Leandro Bassano 16th century Venetian Artist, religious painting of Christ Finished in 1596, currently residing in the National Museum of Western Art; Tokyo, Japan (Ueno). Visited on 11/2/09 from 10:15-11:30 Bassano’s The Last Judgment Painted by Leandro Bassano, a 16th century Venetian artist, The Last Judgment is a stunning work of scared art that takes one’s breath away upon first sight. Finished in 1596, the oil painting stands 73 x 51 cm tall and currently resides in the National Museum of Western Art in Tokyo, Japan. Visiting this piece on a Monday, I had the pleasure of seeing it mostly to myself. Most people walking by stopped to take a brief look at the well lit painting and I couldn’t help but wonder if they were Christian or not and whether or not the piece would have had a bigger impact if they were. At first glance it was pretty easy for me to see this piece’s relationship to Christianity and the event that it depicts. The painting, to me, appears in 3 sections: the central and most eye drawing section on top, the middle section, and the bottom section. The top section depicts Jesus of Nazareth basked in a glowing light holding a white flag of salvation while a man, most likely his father God, floats above him. He is surrounded by angels and pure followers of Christ at, what the title suggests, is the last judgment. This section is the brightest and most eye catching part of the painting due to the well played contrasting colors surrounding it. All other parts following this are duller and darker in color and really help to create a glowing light in the darkness effect for this top portion. The middle section, duller in tone to its predecessor, appears in two parts. The left side portrays people of the church while the right side shows commoners. I felt this section depicted those who were neither tainted nor completely pure; those who were almost in reach of salvation but who could yet still fall. I thought this section, although smallest in portrayal, represented the largest portion of the Christian community as we are often on the path to salvation but can still easily sway. This middle section was what I believed to be the middle way. As it appears, the top portion of the painting conveys salvation and Christ, while the middle section depicts the church and the people, so all that remains are those in redemption and those who are already damned. This is the bottom and darkest part of the piece. On the left side sits those who can still be saved; the image of angels helping men stand up covey great feelings of regret and redemption. The right side of the section, the darkest and grimmest part of the painting, depicts devils and demons carrying and torturing the tainted and damned. When I first saw The Last Judgment I was curious as to why the brightest piece was on top and not dead center as it was what drew my eye first and foremost; however a quick look at the other sections of the painting quickly draws one to the conclusion of an order with heaven on top, earth in the middle, and hell down below. The colors and style of the painting resemble that of other renaissance pieces surrounding it and really does well in drawing one back in time; giving the viewer a wonderful feel of the Christian religion. Overall this was an amazing piece depicting a holy and scared event in the Christian religion. The Last Judgment, by Leandro Bassano 16th century Venetian Artist, religious painting of Christ Finished in 1596, currently residing in the National Museum of Western Art; Tokyo, Japan (Ueno). Visited on 11/2/09 from 10:15-11:30

Saturday, November 9, 2019

English Civil War and French Revolution Essay

The English Civil War and the French Revolution are characterized by a change in power that took place within their existing governments in a relatively short period of time. In addition, the English Civil War and the French Revolution were both initiated from the citizen’s unhappiness with the king’s rule. These were caused by a multitude of political, social, and economic problems residing in the English and French monarchies. In England, the civil war was a rebellion by parliament against the king. There was a direct conflict and struggle in determining each of their roles in governing the nation. After the Tudor dynasty ended with the death of Queen Elizabeth in 1603; her cousin, King James VI of Scotland became King James I of England and thus began the Stuart lineage. Though he was influential in his homeland, he knew little about the English laws, institutions, and customs. James believed in divine right and consequently alienated the parliament who were accustomed to the Tudor’s â€Å"balanced polity†. Parliament did however manage to keep the power of the purse and expressed their unhappiness by refusing the king’s money requests. King James’ additional failure was stemmed from religious affiliations. The Puritans in the country wanted James to eliminate the Episcopal system of the church organization in which bishops or episcopos held a major role in the administration and replace it with the Presbyterian model. This model was used in Scotland, replicated after Calvin’s church in Geneva where ministers and elders played an important governing role. However, their pleas were pushed away by James’ refusal because he realized in the Anglican Church, the bishops were appointed by the crown. This gave the monarchy supreme authority over church and state. At this time there was a growing opposition of the king and now the Puritans joined in with other English gentry. Conditions continued to worsen under the reign of James’ son, Charles I. He went as far to dismiss parliament altogether from 1629 to 1640 after recanting his previous agreement to the Petition of Right. The document prohibited taxation without parliament consent, arbitrary imprisonment, quartering soldiers in private homes, and declaration of martial law in peacetime. Charles collected taxes for his excessive spending without Parliament’s consent. Alienating himself further, Charles’ marriage to Henrietta Maria aroused suspicions about the king’s faith. She was the Catholic sister of Louis XIII of France and this upset the English Puritans. Charles attempted to introduce more ritual practices with the archbishop of Canterbury, William Laud. This struck Puritans as an effort to return to Catholicism. Charles’ fatal error was trying to impose the Anglican Book of Common Prayer to the Scottish Presbyterian Church, which caused many Scots to rebel. Without the financial backing needed to raise troops, Charles was forced to call the disbanded parliament. From November 1640 to September 1641, the new Long Parliament created a series of laws to limit royal authority such as abolishing arbitrary courts, repealing the taxes the king collected without their consent and the passage of the Triennial Act, which made sure Parliament met at least every three years. Some were satisfied with these reforms while radicals pushed for even more change. Charles tried to take advantage of this division by arresting some radicals including a large group led by John Pym. This final act made it clear that the king had gone too far which resulted in the English Civil War. Unlike the English Civil War, the French Revolution was closer to an uprising against the power of the monarchy and rich nobility by the peasants and middle class. Fifty years before the time the war broke out in 1789, France experienced a period of economic growth due to expansion of foreign trade and an increase in industrial production. France was broken up into three unbalanced estates. The first and second estates were made up of the clergy and nobles, which dominated society and led lavish lives and paid little taxes. The third estate was made up of peasants who were not included in the nation’s prosperity. The taxes necessary to maintain and pay for the first and second estate’s luxuries heavily burdened the peasants. They constituted 75-80% of the population but consequently only owned 35-40% of the land. Their discontent and struggle for survival played a vital role in the course of the revolution. The consumer prices rose faster than their wages, which resulted in urban groups unable to purchase necessities to live. A hardened resentment grew from both the lower and middle classes. Even the bourgeoisie were excluded from the social and political privileges dominated by nobles. At the same time, new critical ideas of the Enlightenment deemed attractive to groups aggravated by the monarchial system. The majority of French society was fed up with the old, rigid order based on estates and privileges and responded by taking drastic action against the regime. Crisis struck in 1787 and 1788 with bad harvests and the beginning of a manufacturing depression. This led to food shortages, rising prices and unemployment. One-third of the entire French population was poor. These people saw the lavish lives of the first and second estates, which led to increased criticism of their existing privileges. The parlements gained new strength and judges took on the role of â€Å"defenders of liberty† against the arbitrary power of monarchs. However, these efforts failed when they pushed their own interests and often blocked new taxes. The immediate cause of the revolution was the entire collapse of government finances. The court’s luxuries and costly wars took a toll and their expenditure grew to new heights. The government reacted by borrowing money, which created a huge interest on the debt they already owed. Charles de Calonne, controller general of finance, proposed a complete reconstruction of the fiscal and administrative system of the state. He convened an â€Å"assembly of notables† to gain support, but they refused to cooperate and once again their efforts at reform failed entirely. The French king, Louis XVI was forced to call a meeting of the French Parliamentary body, known as the Estates-General. At this point, the government was basically confessing that the consent of the nation was required to raise taxes. Louis initially thought this would be just a way to solve the immediate financial issues of the monarchy but actually ended up reforming the government completely and destroying the old regime. The revolution was officially initiated on July 14, 1789, when several starving, working people of Paris stormed into the castle of Bastille, demanding change. Despite their differences, the French Revolution and English Civil War stem from unrest of their citizens and their desire to transform and improve society. Clearly the main problem lay within the corruption and greed of people with authority. The powerful have influence over the political, social, and economic facets of society. However, in these instances, each monarchy failed to compromise by ignoring their own citizen’s frustrations and struggles. This left the civilians no other choice but to begin a revolution.

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Continuous writing Essay Example

Continuous writing Essay Example Continuous writing Paper Continuous writing Paper The weather has been hot lately as summer was coming by. Sunny days with gentle wind at the beaches welcomed every people near Madonna beach to stop by. My family and I also grabbed this chance to go for a family outing. We went to Madonna beach by car. We went there in the morning excitedly until we forgot to take our breakfast. When we arrived, I saw the beach was full of people doing variety of activities. Some of them were swimming under the sun, cannoning, boat riding and some of the people were taking selfless. My mother enjoyed herself by looking at the lovely scenery of the beach. While me and my mother were taking our things out of the car, my younger sisters ran as fast as lighting to the beach and started to build their own sandcastle as their first activity there. I took out my DSL camera and started to take some pictures with my mother to keep it as a precious memory of our family. As we were tickled pink enjoying our own activity, suddenly the black sky overcast with heavy rain clouds. The trees along the beach dance frantically in the wind. The rain started like cats and dogs. We packed our things quickly and jumped into the car as a big storm might happen anytime. We took a look at the sea waves and it was surprising that it became wild in a blink of an eye. There was a bad traffic Jammed on our way back home. The street was crowded with cars, vans, busses and even motorcycle waiting to pick up the children after school. They parked haphazardly along the street make It difficult for people to cross the street. Other vehicles were speeding along even there was speed limit sign. Suddenly, I saw a young boy who was running quickly without looking to the left or to the right to cross the street. The vehicles honked mercilessly on the street. Unfortunately, a tricycle hit the unlucky young boy. The boy was flung up In the air for a moment before his books scattering everywhere on the street. The accident happened In Just a blink of an eye. The motorcyclist speed up and run away before the people nearby could stop him. My father started to have a conversation with my mother after she woke up and told her what had happened Just now. While both of them were talking, I saw a woman with a brown backpack rushed to the boy and she had to fight her way through the crowd. l am a doctor! Make a room! as the crowds of people limit her movement. I could saw through my cars window that she took out a stethoscope from her backpack. I was worried about the boy so much because he Is such a young boy to experience all of these things. At that moment, I heard the siren wall of the ambulance. I was never felt so relieved In all my life. The doctor with the backpack had a talk with the paramedic before they pushed the boy Into the ambulance. As the crowd started to continue their normal actively, I saw blood splattered everywhere on the scene when my father passed by. There was a man who picked the boys book which scattered everywhere on the road to help the raffia moving. It was my first experienced an accident In front of my eyes. It gave me a shocked and I could not close my eyes at night when I was thinking If the boy would survived after the accident. The accident taught me that anything unexpected could happened anytime and everywhere without defined age or gender. So, we must take every step to say safe whenever or wherever we are. Continuous writing By catastrophic boat riding and some of the people were taking selfless. My mother enjoyed herself by parked haphazardly along the street make it difficult for people to cross the street. Motorcycle hit the unlucky young boy. The boy was flung up in the air for a moment before his books scattering everywhere on the street. The accident happened in Just stethoscope from her backpack. I was worried about the boy so much because he is wail of the ambulance. I was never felt so relieved in all my life. The doctor with the backpack had a talk with the paramedic before they pushed the boy into the ambulance. As the crowd started to continue their normal activities, I saw blood traffic moving. It was my first experienced an accident in front of my eyes. It gave me a shocked and I could not close my eyes at night when I was thinking if the boy would

Monday, November 4, 2019

The Field of Religious Studies Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

The Field of Religious Studies - Assignment Example Evaluation skills also employ analysis skills such as semiotics and hermeneutical (Kessler 26). Explanations according to some scholars have the same meaning as interpretation. It is the comprehension gained through interpretation of data within a religious context. Explanation is independent and resistant to theory influence as opposed to unstable description and interpretation. Explanation can also be functional, structural or causal all of which assist in appealing arguments advanced in religious discipline. Interpretation also integrates the comparative aspects of the determination of the meaning of a religious data. Interpretation comprises of evaluation, explanation, and comparative studies. There is a close relationship between a descriptive analysis of religious theory and its interpretation. Pure description requires integration of interpretation and evaluation skills. Some research hypothesis accepts that explanation and understanding presents the most efficient platform for comprehension of religious literature and theory. Approach of explanation and understanding integrates the phenomenology of religion subject in self-generation of ethical arguments. Phenomenology discipline helps in self-generation of spiritual knowledge, which is imperative, as nonreligious theories cannot explain religious ideas (Kessler 23). Phenomenology discipline is more applicable than reductionism concepts that some scholars

Saturday, November 2, 2019

The itc echoupal intiative harvard case study Essay

The itc echoupal intiative harvard case study - Essay Example To tap this opportunity, ITC-IBD has created an IT-enabled rural ‘channel’ called eChoupal to procure and process the soybeans in a productive way. So, using eChoupal, ITC-IBD wanted to streamline the input and output sides of the soybean supply chain, throughout its distribution network particularly in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. Through this process, they set an objective of giving the farmers access to quality inputs such as accurate weather report, correct information about sowing seeds, herbicides etc. Then in the output side, ITC’s objective through e-Choupal is to remove the dominance and clogging of the middlemen, by using Information Technology. The main problem this initiative of ITC faced is to do with the rules of the State Government. That is, the state government had stipulated that all purchases or procurement of the soybeans from farmers should be done in Mandi, to protect the farmers from unscrupulous buyers. So, the ITC had to convince the Government about the potential of procurement outside the Mandi for the farmers as well as the rural economy. Also, the need to provide the infrastructure to start eChoupal initiative is one of the problems faced by ITC. That is, with computer, telecommunication and Internet being in the infancy in India, with minimum spread, ITC had to built the whole structure independently with little backing from the Government. All these problems were overridden and the implementation was successful because of the full co-operation of the farmers, who were happy with this productive arrangement. Apart from the valuable information, they received for the effective cultivation, they also got profitable price for their soybeans. The role played by the liaison person named Sanchalak contributed to eChoupal success as well. The transparency of the process also made it into a successful venture. Supply Chain Management is the lifeline of any business.

Thursday, October 31, 2019

Exploratory Methods Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Exploratory Methods - Research Paper Example Exploratory research is also known as unstructured or informal form of research. This is generally done for conducting a background study of the research. The nature of the research keeps changing as the researcher uncovers the different aspects of the research area. In exploratory method of research no well-defined objective, sampling plan or questionnaire is prepared for collecting data. Generally secondary sources of data are concluded in this form of research (Parasuraman, Grewal & Krishnan, 2007, p. 57). The exploratory research method is applicable in: a) Gaining the information regarding the background of the study. It is used when the researcher has very little information about the problem and the problem statement of the research could not be appropriately formulated. It becomes necessary for the reader to develop a background analysis to see the larger picture of the situation, b) It is used to measure the terms and concepts to be used in the research, and c) The hypothesi s and the problem areas can be clarified through exploratory research (Burns, & Bush, 2007, p. 57). Case Study The intensive analysis of any individual unit is called case study. It mainly stresses the developmental factors in relation to the given context. It may be descriptive or exploratory. Case study is used in exploratory research to find the causes so as to find relevant answers for the stated principles. The case study may be prospective one or a retrospective one. The case is the subject, which is discussed on the basis of a particular organization, issue or problem. Case study is also denoted as research study as it gives us an empirical analysis of the phenomenon in real-life situations. Case study is generally formulated to answer the research questions. The research problem is first carefully formulated and then answers are found based on the research conducted by the researcher. The answers derived from the research is explained or interpreted by the researcher with th e help of a real-life situation. The theories used while deriving the solution are utilized and a case is formulated to present the practical problem situations and strategies that were used to solve them. The type of research question defines the type of case study to be formed. Case studies help to find the bottle necks and ways to reach the solutions. It also enables the researcher to monitor the changes. Psychobiography The term psychobiography means analyzing the importance of lives by using the psychological theories and conducting research. The aim of this type of research is to unearth the public motives behind a particular activity or behavior. Psychobiographical research does not involve any form of standardized format. It generally depends on the subject, the researcher and various other aspects. It is actually considered as a qualitative form of research technique. This method of conducting research is generally used for celebrities, outstanding personalities or leaders. Psychobiographical research provides an in-depth analysis to the researcher regarding the behavior of the person and the reason behind such behavior. This methodology was actually invented by Sigmund Freud. It deals with unfolding the personality and psychology of an individual. This method is use in form of qualitative research technique because it deals with human behavior, psychology and emotions. It is also used to explore

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

The amount of violence in films Essay Example for Free

The amount of violence in films Essay Prompted by some incidents of television and film inspired crimes, the issue of whether the government should control the amount of violence in films and on television has been a contentious discussion. Views on the topic vary greatly. Advocates claim that the practice of controlling the amount of violence in mass media is a brazen violation of the peoples basic right to know the truth of the world. For example, some films contain some violence, but they reflect the things happened around us. Rather than producing negative effects on audience, to some extent, these films educate them. Furthermore, violence in films or on television programs cultivates peoples senses of crisis and responsibility, which makes ordinary people and police work better for public security. Consequently, it is irresponsible and foolish to blame the media for violence in our society. However, opponents argue that violence in films and on television is detrimental to audiences psychology. Taking fantasy for reality, people become aggressive and eccentric. They believe things can be solved by violence. In addition, violence has negative impacts on the stability of society. Research findings reveal that 60 percent of crimes are committed by teenagers after watching films or television which had a large amount of violence. Teenagers are so vulnerable and immature that they cannot judge whether the activities performed in mass media are right or not. As an illustration, a boy killed his younger sister in Australia because he imitated the violent scenes from television programs.

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Behaviour Modification Case Studies

Behaviour Modification Case Studies BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION SOPHIA A. JOHNSON 24 year old Marla suffers from extreme fear of social situations, she is employed to an advertising firm where she is expected to interact in multiple social setting as a means of networking. Marla is afraid if she does not get help she may lose her job. Marla is suffering from a fear of social situations, the operant behavior is her inability function in a social setting such as maintaining eye contact, she holds her head down, eyes lowered and her words are often inaudible. She often displays a slight nervous shaking almost in a trembling manner and her palms also becomes moist and sweaty making it socially inappropriate to shake hands. A flushed complexion also results from being in any social situations. This extreme fear of social situation is overcome by Marla escaping or engaging in an avoidance response known as the operant behavior, which is exhibited when the fear producing-stimulus (social settings) is present. In this case study Marla’s respondent behavior we see where she is unable to function in any social situation and prior to being employed she was able to avoid attendance to social events or gatherings. When Marla is in a social situation or functions this known as the CS (conditioned stimulus) that causes the CR (conditioned responses) which is fear or anxiety. Respondent behavior aids in the development of an anxiety problem by how the fear is able to be developed through conditioning as a result of the response received when the fear is encountered. Such as Marla avoiding going to parties or attending functions or public events. Systematic and in-vivo desensitization are from a list of techniques used to modify the behavior of those suffering from fear or anxiety. Systematic desensitization was developed by Joseph Wolfe and â€Å"practices relaxation while imagining scenes of the fear producing stimulus†, (Miltenberger, 2012, p. 480). There are three steps for a successful systematic desensitization technique to be effective, learnt relaxation skills, hierarchy list of fear producing stimuli’s and use of both relaxation and fear producing stimuli’s being repeatedly shared with the client until the fear is extinct. In-vivo desensitization differs in that it moves beyond imagining to actually exposing the client to that which he/she fears, the client must then learn to remain relaxed and use the substituted reaction while engaging in the experience of fear or anxiety. One advantage of systematic desensitization is its ease and convenience for the client, not an immediate interaction with the fear. The disadvantage is that the client may be able to maintain composer while imaging the fear but is unable to follow through of maintaining the relaxation technique when faced with the real stimuli. (Miltenberger, 2012, p. 485), notes that the most effective of the two are usually in-vivo desensitization, the advantage of choosing this method is the encounter is real and allows for the fear to be addressed on the spot and any adjustment to the relaxation technique can be noted or corrected. The disadvantage however, is it is difficult depending on the type of fear and can be time consuming and expensive for both client and therapist. Marla’s Behavior Modification Procedure Relaxation techniques deep breathing, head up and maintain eye contact she will learn to take (rapid, shallow breaths that come from her chest and quietly exhales to decrease her heart rate and calm the nervousness). Create a list of Marla’s fears with rating scale for effectively facing fears and utilizing respondent techniques starting with family gatherings (20), school functions (20) office gatherings (20), and work functions (40). Practice the relaxation techniques by doing a mock function at the therapy center, then have Marla host a small party at home for family and friends, attend office gatherings and move unto the business functions). Using the in-vivo desensitization behavior modification procedure to help Marla deal with her fear of social situations, this procedure was chosen because it was time sensitive for the client to have her fear under control as if affected her job functioning. The hierarchy was chosen by first using a familiar surroundings and group to give her the support and opportunity to practice the relaxation techniques without fear of incidents, then she would move on to less comfortable situations as she gained confidence she would finally be allowed to attend a business function and face her biggest platform for her fear. It is expected that through each mock stage the alternative response will replace the fear response. Other ABA-based treatment that can be used to decrease fear and anxiety are flooding which is the process of â€Å"exposing the individual to the feared stimulus at full intensity for a prolonged period†, there is also modeling which is used with children it allows a â€Å"child to observe another person approaching the feared stimulus or engaging in the feared activity, which hopefully helps the child to then be more likely to engage in similar behavior† (Miltenberger, 2012, p. 486) The different procedures are dependent on the type, level and degree of fear as well as the age of the person being treatment, often times multiple treatment options may have to be used to successfully help the individual overcome their fear. 6 year old Jon has a hair pulling habit/ self-stimulatory behavior, he is of normal intelligence and is known to only engage in the behavior while being inactive, this can be while watching television, quiet time in school, or waiting in line with his parents. Target behavior of hair pulling defined as the fingers-to-hair contact with or without a pulling motion and twirling. It also includes taking hand to head and grabbing a hand full of hair in a continuous downward motion. (Miltenberger, 2012), defines a behavior excess as an â€Å"undesirable target behaviorthe person wants to decrease in frequency, duration, or intensity†. In the case of Jon, we would like to decrease or eliminate the number of times he engages in hair pulling while inactive. Short-term implications that may affect Jon is that he may have headaches from the continuous pulling of his hair or scalp irritation may occur. He may also engage in pulling the hair of others causing harm. The long-term implications are bald spots or trichotillomania. (Functional Analysis and Treatment of Chronic Hair Pulling in a Child with Cri du Chat Syndrome: Effects on Co-Occurring Thumb Sucking, 2008) Since the sensory stimulation from manipulating his hair between his thumb fingers reinforces Jon’s behavior, a recommended habit reversal inclusive of â€Å"awareness training, a competing response training, social support, generalization strategies, and motivational strategies† (Miltenberger, 2012, p. 516) will be used. Based on the information share we are aware of the times that the hair pulling occur, we now need to engage Jon and his caregivers into becoming aware of the moments leading up to the hair pulling. Once awareness training has been established we can engage in a competing response training using the differential reinforcement method of reinforcing Jon non-hair pulling with praise and a token system. Social support of his caregiver using cues such as hands from hair, or no pulling of hair, or giving him a book to color while they wait in line, or hands in lap as he sits during quiet time will help to reinforce the desirable behavior. Use of motivational strategies such as letting him know how neat and nice his hair looks can help to dissuade him from engaging in hair-pulling. If Jon had an intellectual disability and was unable to comprehend why pulling his hair is bad, I would utilize a different habit reversal procedure to increase its effectiveness, I would suggesting keeping his hair short to alleviate his hair pulling action. Since hair pulling is often maintained due to automatic reinforcement using other appropriate methods of removing the stimulation received from the action will aid in reducing behavior. References Functional Analysis and Treatment of Chronic Hair Pulling in a Child with Cri du Chat Syndrome: Effects on Co-Occurring Thumb Sucking. (2008). Retrieved from Association for Behavior Analysis International: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2846574/ Miltenberger, R. (2012). Behavior Modification: Principles and Procedures. 5th Edition. Wadsworth.

Friday, October 25, 2019

Satan in Paradise Lost and The Myth of Sisyphus Essay example -- Parad

Satan's predicament after he falls in Paradise Lost is utterly hopeless, yet he chooses to persevere. He reasons that he should continue to struggle, even though he is aware that it is entirely in vain. The process he follows to arrive at this choice is similar to the process Albert Camus will use to justify the unrelenting toil of his 'absurd man.' Before this becomes apparent, portions of Satan as a character must be eliminated from consideration, because they present an intractable set of problems. Prior to his rebellion, Satan is a divine being, who "stood'st in Heav'n, upright and pure," (IV, 936-37) like God and the other angels. We do not get a clear portrayal of this character, only Satan's and Raphael's memories and reconstructions of what he must have been like, and God's statement that He "made him just and right, sufficient to have stood" (III, 98-9). Like other angels, he has an "intuitive" (V, 488) way of knowing that Milton defines as far from human apprehensio n, particularly in our fallen state. We can on Earth only see "but the shadow of Heav'n" (575), which in this case is useful, because we are off the hook to even try to explain why Satan chooses to rebel in the first place. Milton too, by placing the godlike mind off limits to human reason as it is commonly understood, is off the hook as well to entirely "justify the ways of God to men" (I, 26). Instead we are presented with the paradoxical claim that God made his creatures "free to fall" (III, 99) "without least impulse or shadow of Fate" (120), and so somehow put bounds on his own omnipotence so that his omniscient "foreknowledge had no influence on their fault" (119). To try to enclose this tortuously defined causality within the mind of a mere huma... ...others is not. Milton's impulse to produce so much of his most beautiful poetry while speaking in the persona of Satan suggests something to the contrary: the need to share one's appreciation for life and the precious beauty of the world that is born of a completely demolished and irreparable condition. Many people, not just the heroic and kind Camus, or the blind and defeated poet Milton, have been inspired towards good from the depths of despair. Like much else that is thrust upon him, Satan is instead forced into what seems an unnatural role to serve the purposes of his Author. In any case, he toils on, unceasing. Works Cited Camus, A. The Myth of Sisyphus and Other Essays. New York, NY: Vintage. (1991). Milton, John. â€Å"Paradise Lost.† The Norton Anthology of English Literature. Ed. 8. Logan, Greenblatt, Lewalski, Maus. New York, 2006. 1831-2055. Print. Satan in Paradise Lost and The Myth of Sisyphus Essay example -- Parad Satan's predicament after he falls in Paradise Lost is utterly hopeless, yet he chooses to persevere. He reasons that he should continue to struggle, even though he is aware that it is entirely in vain. The process he follows to arrive at this choice is similar to the process Albert Camus will use to justify the unrelenting toil of his 'absurd man.' Before this becomes apparent, portions of Satan as a character must be eliminated from consideration, because they present an intractable set of problems. Prior to his rebellion, Satan is a divine being, who "stood'st in Heav'n, upright and pure," (IV, 936-37) like God and the other angels. We do not get a clear portrayal of this character, only Satan's and Raphael's memories and reconstructions of what he must have been like, and God's statement that He "made him just and right, sufficient to have stood" (III, 98-9). Like other angels, he has an "intuitive" (V, 488) way of knowing that Milton defines as far from human apprehensio n, particularly in our fallen state. We can on Earth only see "but the shadow of Heav'n" (575), which in this case is useful, because we are off the hook to even try to explain why Satan chooses to rebel in the first place. Milton too, by placing the godlike mind off limits to human reason as it is commonly understood, is off the hook as well to entirely "justify the ways of God to men" (I, 26). Instead we are presented with the paradoxical claim that God made his creatures "free to fall" (III, 99) "without least impulse or shadow of Fate" (120), and so somehow put bounds on his own omnipotence so that his omniscient "foreknowledge had no influence on their fault" (119). To try to enclose this tortuously defined causality within the mind of a mere huma... ...others is not. Milton's impulse to produce so much of his most beautiful poetry while speaking in the persona of Satan suggests something to the contrary: the need to share one's appreciation for life and the precious beauty of the world that is born of a completely demolished and irreparable condition. Many people, not just the heroic and kind Camus, or the blind and defeated poet Milton, have been inspired towards good from the depths of despair. Like much else that is thrust upon him, Satan is instead forced into what seems an unnatural role to serve the purposes of his Author. In any case, he toils on, unceasing. Works Cited Camus, A. The Myth of Sisyphus and Other Essays. New York, NY: Vintage. (1991). Milton, John. â€Å"Paradise Lost.† The Norton Anthology of English Literature. Ed. 8. Logan, Greenblatt, Lewalski, Maus. New York, 2006. 1831-2055. Print.