Subconscious Rebellion in the Novel The Metamorphosis Essay

The Metamorphosis, a novella by Franz Kafka, is about a man who has been transformed into a giant beetle overnight. This transformation is a form of rebellion that turns out to be a punishment for that rebellion. The Metamorphosis is a story of subconscious rebellion and isolation to avoid ones responsibilities. The story begins, When Gregor Samsa woke up one morning from unsettling dreams, he found himself changed in his bed into a monstrous vermin. (Kafka, 3) This is quite surprising. Most people would be extremely shocked and frightened to wake up as a giant beetle, but this matter-of-fact tone Kafka uses makes it seem as if Gregor is not shocked at all. It sounds like this is completely normal. In fact,†¦show more content†¦He planned on sending his sister, Grete, to the conservatory ...precisely from the parents opposed wish... (Kaiser, 150) Gregor knows that ...[his] parents would have opposed it. There was a faint sign of rebellion hidden behind this idea... (Politzer, 76-77) All of these rebellious thoughts and wishes built up to the metamorphosis. When, it occurs he becomes free of his wishes. Gregors new identity as a giant beetle doesnt allow him to go to work, hereby setting him free from his intolerable job. Walter Sokel writes that ...the metamorphosis is a rejection of all responsibility... and that The immediate function of the metamorphosis, then, is to prevent an imminent rebellion of the son... (Sokel, 170) But instead of preventing a rebellion, the metamorphosis acts as one. It accomplishes the goal of his longed-for rebellion, and it relieves him from any kind of responsibility he once had. When Gregors office manager shows up at his house to find out whats wrong it becomes known that Gregor may have been in some trouble at work. His office manager says that [Gregors] performance of late has been very unsatisfactory. (Kafka,12) This helps to confirm that Gregor underwent this metamorphosis to avoid all of his responsibilities. At first, it may not seem like this is what Gregor wanted. He does try very hard to convince the manager that he can still come into work. He says Im in a tight spot, but IllShow MoreRelatedHow to Read Lit Like a Prof Notes3608 Words   |  15 Pagesc., coded sex avoided censorship ii. Can function on multiple levels iii. Can be more intense than literal descriptions 17. †¦Except Sex. When authors write directly about sex, they’re writing about something else, such as sacrifice, submission, rebellion, supplication, domination, enlightenment, etc. 18. If She Comes Up, It’s Baptism a. Baptism is symbolic death and rebirth as a new individual b. Drowning is symbolic baptism, IF the character comes back up, symbolically reborn. But drowning on purposeRead MoreStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words   |  1573 PagesBusiness School, Greenberg founded Rebellion Research Technologies with two other recent Amherst College graduates (Alexander Fleiss and Jonathan Sturges) and another partner (Jeremy Newton) who was still in college. Greenberg and his compatriots are, of course, very young to be leading a New York investment firm. What is even more interesting is the way they’re doing it. All investment bankers and hedge fund managers are comfortable with analytics. What makes Rebellion unusual is the degree to which

The Role Of Ethnicity And Its Effects On The Development...

Ethnicity was a major factor in the colonization of Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia and still has a large impact on LDCs today. The different ethnicities or regional, political, economic and cultural factors were often manipulated by the European rulers to contrivance a ‘divide and conquer’ technique and hegemony in the LDCs. The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of ethnicity in LDCs in Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia on contemporary politics. First, a brief overview of the importance of ethnicity is addressed. Second, a brief discussion of the colonial rulers used ethnicity to their advantage is provided. And, in conclusion, this paper will conclude the overall role of ethnicity in the LDCs in Africa, Latin†¦show more content†¦86). The caste system consisted of six categories. One, a person of full European descent. Two, a person of full African descent. Three, a person of half European and half African descent. Four, a person wi th a European father and indigenous mother. Five, a person of half African, half indigenous descent. Six, a person of indigenous descent. The caste system and use of ethnicity as a tactic to gain social, economic, and political power in LDCs proved to be a vital source in maintaining hegemony and power in these regions. Lastly, religion was a strong factor in establishing ethnicity and kinship. Many LDCs in Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia, believed in some form of animism or paganism. The introduction of Christianity and Islam by European rulers provided a basis for them to achieve and maintain power. For example, the case study in Malaysia pinpoints the strife between the poor or peasant populations and Buddhist beliefs, which increased the acceptance of Islam in the region. In conclusion, ethnicity has a strong impact on the success of colonizers. Ethnicity like many other aspects of colonization still has a prevalent role in modern day LDCs. Ethnic background allowed European powers to exploit the culture, tradition, and beliefs of LDCs to their advantage. In retrospect, ethnicity played a role in kinships during the precolonial era and will continue to be a key factor inShow MoreRelatedOne Significant Change That Has Occurred in the World Between 1900 and 2005. Explain the Impact This Change Has Made on Our Lives and Why It Is an Important Change.163893 Words   |  656 PagesTiffany Ruby Patterson, Zora Neale Hurston and a History of Southern Life Lisa M. Fine, The Story of Reo Joe: Work, Kin, and Community in Autotown, U.S.A. Van Gosse and Richard Moser, eds., The World the Sixties Made: Politics and Culture in Recent America Joanne Meyerowitz, ed., History and September 11th John McMillian and Paul Buhle, eds., The New Left Revisited David M. Scobey, Empire City: The Making and Meaning of the New York City Landscape Gerda Lerner, Fireweed: A Political Autobiography Read MoreBrazil Culture17445 Words   |  70 Pagesto IMF. 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Lamb The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal Chapter 12 Free Essays

Chapter 12 Well, by pretending to have an overactive bladder, I’ve managed to sneak enough time in the bathroom to finish reading this Gospel of Matthew. I don’t know who the Matthew is that wrote this, but it certainly wasn’t our Matthew. While our Matthew was a whiz at numbers (as you might expect from a tax collector), he couldn’t write his own name in the sand without making three mistakes. We will write a custom essay sample on Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal Chapter 12 or any similar topic only for you Order Now Whoever wrote this Gospel obviously got the information at least secondhand, maybe thirdhand. I’m not here to criticize, but please, he never mentions me. Not once. I know my protests go against the humility that Joshua taught, but please, I was his best friend. Not to mention the fact that this Matthew (if that really is his name) takes great care in describing Joshua’s genealogy back to King David, but after Joshua is born and the three wise men show up at the stable in Bethlehem, then you don’t hear from Joshua again until he’s thirty. Thirty! As if nothing happened from the manger until John baptized us. Jeez. Anyway, now I know why I was brought back from the dead to write this Gospel. If the rest of this â€Å"New Testament† is anything like the book of Matthew, they need someone to write about Joshua’s life who was actually there: me. I can’t believe I wasn’t even mentioned once. It’s all I can do to keep from asking Raziel what in the hell happened. He probably showed up a hundred years too late to correct this Matthew fellow. Oh my, there’s a frightening thought, edited by the moron angel. I can’t let that happen. And the ending? Where did he get that? I’ll see what this next guy, this Mark, has to say, but I’m not getting my hopes up. The first thing that we noticed about Balthasar’s fortress was that there were no right angles, no angles period, only curves. As we followed the magus through corridors, and from level to level, we never saw so much as a squared-off stair step, instead there were spiral ramps leading from level to level, and although the fortress spread all over the cliff face, no room was more than one doorway away from a window. Once we were above the ground level, there was always light from the windows and the creepy feeling we’d had when we entered quickly passed away. The stone of the walls was more yellow in color than the limestone of Jerusalem, yet it had the same smooth appearance. Overall it gave the impression that you were walking through the polished entrails of some huge living creature. â€Å"Did you build this place, Balthasar?† I asked. â€Å"Oh, no,† he said, without turning around. â€Å"This place was always here, I simply had to remove the stone that occupied it.† â€Å"Oh,† I said, having gained no knowledge whatsoever. We passed no doors, but myriad open archways and round portals which opened into chambers of various shapes and sizes. As we passed one egg-shaped doorway obscured by a curtain of beads Balthasar mumbled, â€Å"The girls stay in there.† â€Å"Girls?† I said. â€Å"Girls?† Joshua said. â€Å"Yes, girls, you ninnies,† Balthasar said. â€Å"Humans much like yourselves, except smarter and better smelling.† Well, I knew that. I mean, we’d seen the two of them, hadn’t we? I knew what girls were. He pressed on until we came to the only other door I had seen since we entered, this one another huge, ironclad monster held closed with three iron bolts as big around as my arm and a heavy brass lock engraved with strange characters. The magus stopped and tilted an ear to the door. His heavy gold earring clinked against one of the bolts. He turned to us and whispered, and for the first time I could clearly see that the magus was very old, despite the strength of his laugh and the spring in his step. â€Å"You may go anywhere you wish while you stay here, but you must never open this door. Xiong zai.† â€Å"Xiong zai,† I repeated to Joshua in case he’d missed it. â€Å"Xiong zai.† He nodded with total lack of understanding. Mankind, I suppose, is designed to run on – to be motivated by – temptation. If progress is a virtue then this is our greatest gift. (For what is curiosity if not intellectual temptation? And what progress is there without curiosity?) On the other hand, can you call such a profound weakness a gift, or is it a design flaw? Is temptation itself at fault for man’s woes, or is it simply the lack of judgment in response to temptation? In other words, who is to blame? Mankind, or a bad designer? Because I can’t help but think that if God had never told Adam and Eve to avoid the fruit of the tree of knowledge, that the human race would still be running around naked, dancing in wonderment and blissfully naming stuff between snacks, naps, and shags. By the same token, if Balthasar had passed that great ironclad door that first day without a word of warning, I might have never given it a second glance, and once again, much trouble could have been avoided. Am I to bl ame for what happened, or is it the author of temptation, God Hisownself? Balthasar led us into a grand chamber with silks festooned from the ceiling and the floor covered with fine carpets and pillows. Wine, fruit, cheese, and bread were laid out on several low tables. â€Å"Rest and refresh,† said Balthasar. â€Å"I’ll be back after I finish my business with Ahmad.† Then he hurried off, leaving us alone. â€Å"So,† I said, â€Å"find out what you need to from this guy, then we can get on the road and on to the next wise man.† â€Å"I’m not sure it’s going to be that quick. In fact, we may be here quite some time. Maybe years.† â€Å"Years? Joshua, we’re in the middle of nowhere, we can’t spend years here.† â€Å"Biff, we grew up in the middle of nowhere. What’s the difference?† â€Å"Girls,† I said. â€Å"What about them?† Joshua asked. â€Å"Don’t start.† We heard laughter rolling down the corridor into the room and shortly it was followed by Balthasar and Ahmad, who threw themselves down among the pillows and began eating the cheeses and fruits that had been set out. â€Å"So,† Balthasar said, â€Å"Ahmad tells me that you tried to save a bandit, and in the process blinded one of his men, without so much as touching him. Very impressive.† Joshua hung his head. â€Å"It was a massacre.† â€Å"Grieve,† Balthasar said, â€Å"but consider also the words of the master Lao-tzu: ‘Weapons are instruments of misfortune. Those who are violent do not die naturally.'† â€Å"Ahmad,† Joshua said, â€Å"what will happen to the guard, the one I†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"He is no good to me anymore,† said Ahmad. â€Å"A shame too, he was the best bowman of the lot. I’ll leave him in Kabul. He’s asked me to give his pay to his wife in Antioch and his other wife in Dunhuang. I suppose he will become a beggar.† â€Å"Who is Lao-tzu?† I asked. â€Å"You will have plenty of time to learn of master Lao-tzu,† said Balthasar. â€Å"Tomorrow I will assign you a tutor to teach you qi, the path of the Dragon’s Breath, but for now, eat and rest.† â€Å"Can you believe a Chinaman can be so black?† laughed Ahmad. â€Å"Have you ever seen such a thing?† â€Å"I wore the leopard skin of the shaman when your father was just a twinkle in the great river of stars, Ahmad. I mastered animal magic before you were old enough to walk, and I had learned all the secrets of the sacred Egyptian magic texts before you could sprout a beard. If immortality is to be found among the wisdom of the Chinese masters, then I shall be Chinese as long as it suits me, no matter the color of my skin or the place of my birth.† I tried to determine Balthasar’s age. From what he was claiming he would have to be very old indeed, as Ahmad was not young himself, yet his movements were spry and as far as I could see he had all of his teeth and they were perfect. There was none of the feeble dotage that I’d seen in our elders at home. â€Å"How do you stay so strong, Balthasar?† I asked. â€Å"Magic.† He grinned. â€Å"There is no magic but that of the Lord,† Joshua said. Balthasar scratched his chin and replied quietly, â€Å"Then presumably none without his consent, eh, Joshua?† Joshua slouched and stared at the floor. Ahmad burst out laughing. â€Å"His magic isn’t so mysterious, boys. Balthasar has eight young concubines to draw the poisons from his old body, that’s how he stays young.† â€Å"Holy moly! Eight?† I was astounded. Aroused. Envious. â€Å"Does that room with the ironclad door have something to do with your magic?† Joshua asked gravely. Balthasar stopped grinning. Ahmad looked from Joshua to the magus and back, bewildered. â€Å"Let me show you to your quarters,† said Balthasar. â€Å"You should wash and rest. Lessons tomorrow. Say good-bye to Ahmad, you’ll not see him again soon.† Our quarters were spacious, bigger than the houses we’d grown up in, with carpets on the floor, chairs made of dark exotic hardwoods carved into the shapes of dragons and lions, and a table that held a pitcher and basin for washing. Each of our rooms held a desk and cabinet full of instruments for painting and writing, and something neither of us had ever seen, a bed. A half-wall divided the space between Joshua’s room and mine, so we were able to lie in the beds and talk before falling asleep, just as we had in the desert. I could tell that Joshua was deeply troubled about something that first night. â€Å"You seem, I don’t know, deeply troubled, Josh.† â€Å"It’s the bandits. Could I have raised them?† â€Å"All of them? I don’t know, could you?† â€Å"I thought about it. I thought that I could make them all walk and breathe again. I thought I could make them live. But I didn’t even try.† â€Å"Why?† â€Å"Because I was afraid they would have killed us and robbed us if I had. It’s what Balthasar said, ‘Those who are violent do not die naturally.'† â€Å"The Torah says, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. They were bandits.† â€Å"But were they bandits always? Would they have been bandits in the years to come?† â€Å"Sure, once a bandit, always a bandit. They take an oath or something. Besides, you didn’t kill them.† â€Å"But I didn’t save them, and I blinded that bowman. That wasn’t right.† â€Å"You were angry.† â€Å"That’s no excuse.† â€Å"What do you mean, that’s no excuse? You’re God’s Son. God wiped out everyone on earth with a flood because he was angry.† â€Å"I’m not sure that’s right.† â€Å"‘Scuse me?† â€Å"We have to go to Kabul. I need to restore that man’s sight if I can.† â€Å"Joshua, this bed is the most comfortable place I’ve ever been. Can we wait to go to Kabul?† â€Å"I suppose.† Joshua was quiet for a long time and I thought that he might have fallen asleep. I didn’t want to sleep, but I didn’t want to talk about dead bandits either. â€Å"Hey Josh?† â€Å"What?† â€Å"What do you think is in that room with the iron door, what did he call it?† â€Å"Xiong zai,† said Josh. â€Å"Yeah, Xiong zai. What do you think that is?† â€Å"I don’t know, Biff. Maybe you should ask your tutor.† Xiong zai means house of doom, in the parlance of feng shui,† said Tiny Feet of the Divine Dance of Joyous Orgasm. She knelt before a low stone table that held an earthenware teapot and cups. She wore a red silk robe trimmed with golden dragons and tied with a black sash. Her hair was black and straight and so long that she had tied it in a knot to keep it from dragging on the floor as she served the tea. Her face was heart-shaped, her skin as smooth as polished alabaster, and if she’d ever been in the sun, the evidence had long since faded. She wore wooden sandals held fast by silk ribbons and her feet, as you might guess from her name, were tiny. It had taken me three days of lessons to get the courage up to ask her about the room. She poured the tea daintily, but without ceremony, as she had each of the previous three days before my lessons. But this time, before she handed it to me, she added to my cup a drop of a potion from a tiny porcelain bottle that hung from a chain around her neck. â€Å"What’s in the bottle, Joy?† I called her Joy. Her full name was too ungainly for conversation, and when I’d tried other diminutives (Tiny Feet, Divine Dance, and Orgasm), she hadn’t responded positively. â€Å"Poison,† Joy said with a smile. The lips of her smile were shy and girlish, but the eyes smiled a thousand years sly. â€Å"Ah,† I said, and I tasted the tea. It was rich and fragrant, just as it had been before, but this time there was a hint of bitterness. â€Å"Biff, can you guess what your lesson is today?† Joy asked. â€Å"I thought you would tell me what’s in that house of doom room.† â€Å"No, that is not the lesson today. Balthasar does not wish you to know what is in that room. Guess again.† My fingers and toes had begun to tingle and I suddenly realized that my scalp had gone numb. â€Å"You’re going to teach me how to make the fire-powder that Balthasar used the day we arrived?† â€Å"No, silly.† Joy’s laugh had the musical sound of a clear stream running over rocks. She pushed me lightly on the chest and I fell over backward, unable to move. â€Å"Today’s lesson is – are you ready?† I grunted. It was all I could do. My mouth was paralyzed. â€Å"Today’s lesson is, if someone puts poison in your tea, don’t drink it.† â€Å"Uh-huh,† I sort of slurred. â€Å"So,† Balthasar said, â€Å"I see that Tiny Feet of the Divine Dance of Joyous Orgasm has revealed what she keeps in the little bottle around her neck.† The magus laughed heartily and leaned back on some cushions. â€Å"Is he dead?† asked Joshua. The girls laid my paralyzed body on some pillows next to Joshua, then propped me up so I could look at Balthasar. Beautiful Gate of Heavenly Moisture Number Six, who I had only just met and didn’t have a nickname for yet, put some drops on my eyes to keep them moist, as I seemed to have lost the ability to blink. â€Å"No,† said Balthasar, â€Å"he’s not dead. He’s just relaxed.† Joshua poked me in the ribs and, of course, I didn’t respond. â€Å"Really relaxed,† he said. Beautiful Gate of Heavenly Moisture Number Six handed Joshua the little vial of eye drops and excused herself. She and the other girls left the room. â€Å"Can he see and hear us?† Joshua asked. â€Å"Oh yes, he’s completely alert.† â€Å"Hey Biff, I’m learning about Chi,† Joshua shouted into my ear. â€Å"It flows all around us. You can’t see it, or hear it, or smell it, but it’s there.† â€Å"You don’t need to shout,† said Balthasar. Which is what I would have said, if I could have said anything. Joshua put some drops in my eyes. â€Å"Sorry.† Then to Balthasar, â€Å"This poison, where did it come from?† â€Å"I studied under a sage in China who had been the emperor’s royal poisoner. He taught me this, and many other of the magics of the five elements.† â€Å"Why would an emperor need a poisoner?† â€Å"A question that only a peasant would ask.† â€Å"An answer that only an ass would give,† said Joshua. Balthasar laughed. â€Å"So be it, child of the star. A question asked in earnest deserves an earnest answer. An emperor has many enemies to dispatch, but more important, he has many enemies who would dispatch him. The sage spent most of his time concocting antidotes.† â€Å"So there’s an antidote to this poison,† Joshua said, poking me in the ribs again. â€Å"In good time. In good time. Have some more wine, Joshua. I wish to discuss with you the three jewels of the Tao. The three jewels of the Tao are compassion, moderation, and humility†¦Ã¢â‚¬  An hour later, four Chinese girls came and picked me up, wiped the floor where I had drooled, and carried me to our quarters. As they passed the great ironclad door I could hear scraping and a voice in my head that said, â€Å"Hey kid, open the door,† but the girls made no notice of it. Back in my room, the girls bathed me and poured some rich broth into me, then put me to bed and closed my eyes. I could hear Joshua enter the room and shuffle around preparing for bed. â€Å"Balthasar says he will have Joy give you the antidote to the poison soon, but first you have a lesson to learn. He says that this is the Chinese way of teaching. Strange, don’t you think?† Had I been able to make a sound, I would have agreed, yes, indeed it was strange. So you know: Balthasar’s concubines were eight in number and their names were: Tiny Feet of the Divine Dance of Joyous Orgasm, Beautiful Gate of Heavenly Moisture Number Six, Temptress of the Golden Light of the Harvest Moon, Delicate Personage of Two Fu Dogs Wrestling Under a Blanket, Feminine Keeper of the Three Tunnels of Excessive Friendliness, Silken Pillows of the Heavenly Softness of Clouds, Pea Pods in Duck Sauce with Crispy Noodle, and Sue. And I found myself wondering, as a man does, about origins and motivations and such – as each of the concubines was more beautiful than the last, regardless of what order you put them in, which was weird – so after several weeks passed, and I could no longer stand the curiosity scratching at my brain like a cat in a basket, I waited until one of the rare occasions when I was alone with Balthasar, and I asked. â€Å"Why Sue?† â€Å"Short for Susanna,† Balthasar said. So there you go. Their full names were somewhat ungainly, and to try to pronounce them in Chinese produced a sound akin to throwing a bag of silverware down a flight of steps (ting, tong, yang, wing, etc.) so Joshua and I called the girls as follows: Joy, Number Six, Two Fu Dogs, Moon, Tunnels, Pillows, Pea Pods, and, of course, Sue, which we couldn’t figure out how to shorten. Except for a group of men who brought supplies from Kabul every two weeks, and while there would do any heavy moving, the eight young women did everything around the fortress. Despite the remoteness and the obvious wealth that the fortress housed, there were no guards. I found that curious. Over the next week Joy tutored me in the characters that I would need to know to read the Book of the Divine Elixirs or the Nine Tripods of the Yellow Emperor, and the Book of Liquid Pearl in Nine Cycles and of the Nine Elixirs of the Divine Immortals. The plan was that once I became conversant in these two ancient texts, I would be able to assist Balthasar in his quest for immortality. That, by the way, was the reason that we were there, the reason that Balthasar had followed the star to Bethlehem at Joshua’s birth, and the reason that he had put Ahmad on notice to look for a Jew seeking the African magus. Balthasar sought immortality, and he believed that Joshua held the key to it. Of course we didn’t know that at the time. My concentration while studying the symbols was particularly acute, helped by the fact that I could not move a muscle. Each morning Two Fu Dogs and Pillows (both named for their voluptuousness, which evidently came with considerable strength) would pull me from bed, squeeze me over the latrine, bathe me, pour some broth into me, then take me to the library and prop me in a chair while Joy lectured on Chinese characters, which she painted with a wet brush on large sheets of slate set on easels. Sometimes the other girls would stay and pose my body into various positions that amused them, and as much as I should have been annoyed by the humiliation, the truth be told, watching Pillows and Two Fu Dogs jiggle in paroxysms of girlish laughter was fast becoming the high point of my paralyzed day. At midday, Joy would take a break while two or more of the other girls squoze me over the latrine, poured more broth into me, and then teased me mercilessly until Joy returned, clapped her hands, and sent them away well scolded. (Joy was the bull-ox concubine of them all, despite her tiny feet.) Sometimes during these breaks, Joshua would leave his own lessons and come to the library to visit. â€Å"Why have you painted him blue?† asked Joshua. â€Å"He looks good blue,† said Pea Pods. Two Fu Dogs and Tunnels stood by with paintbrushes admiring their work. â€Å"Well, he’s not going to be happy with this when he gets the antidote, I can tell you that.† Then to me Joshua said, â€Å"You know, you do sort of look good blue. Biff, I’ve appealed to Joy on your behalf, but she says she doesn’t think you’ve learned your lesson yet. You have learned your lesson though, haven’t you? Stop breathing for a second if the answer is yes.† I did. â€Å"I thought so.† Joshua bent and whispered in my ear. â€Å"It’s about that room behind the iron door. That’s the lesson they want you to learn. I got the feeling that if I asked about it I’d be propped up there next to you.† He stood up. â€Å"I have to go now. The three jewels to learn, don’t you know. I’m on compassion. It’s not as hard as it sounds.† Two days later Joy came to my room in the morning with some tea. She pulled the tiny bottle from inside her dragon robe and held it close in front of my eyes. â€Å"You see the two small corks, a white one on one side of the vessel and a black one on the other? The black one is the poison I gave you. The white one is the antidote. I think you’ve learned your lesson.† I drooled in response, while sincerely hoping she hadn’t mixed up the corks. She tipped the little bottle over a teacup, then poured some tea down my throat, with half of it going down the front of my shirt as well. â€Å"That will take a while to work. You may experience some discomfort as the poison wears off.† Joy dropped the little bottle down into its nest of Chinese cleavage, then kissed me on the forehead and left. If I could, I would have snickered at the blue paint she had on her lips as she walked away. Ha! â€Å"Some discomfort,† she had said. For the better part of ten days I’d had no sensation in my body at all, then suddenly things started to work again. Imagine rolling out of your warm bed in the morning into – oh, I don’t know – a lake of burning oil. â€Å"Jumpin’ Jehoshaphat, Joshua, I’m about to crawl out of my skin here.† We were in our quarters, about an hour after I’d taken the antidote. Balthasar had sent Joshua to find me and bring me to the library, supposedly to see how I was doing. Josh put his hand on my forehead, but instead of the usual calm that accompanied that gesture, it felt as if he’d lain a hot branding iron across my skin. I knocked his hand aside. â€Å"Thanks, but it’s not helping.† â€Å"Maybe a bath,† Joshua suggested. â€Å"Tried it. Jeez, this is driving me mad!† I hopped around in a circle because I didn’t know what else to do. â€Å"Maybe Balthasar has something that can help,† Joshua said. â€Å"Lead on,† I said. â€Å"I can’t just sit here.† We headed off down the corridor, going down several levels on the way to the library. As we descended one of the spiral ramps I grabbed Joshua’s arm. â€Å"Josh, look at this ramp, you notice anything?† He considered the surface and leaned out to look at the sides of the tread. â€Å"No. Should I?† â€Å"How about the walls and ceilings, the floors, you notice anything?† Joshua looked around. â€Å"They’re all solid rock?† â€Å"Yes, but what else? Look hard. Think of the houses we built in Sepphoris. Now do you notice anything?† â€Å"No tool marks?† â€Å"Exactly,† I said. â€Å"I spent a lot of time over the last two weeks staring at walls and ceilings with nothing much else to look at. There’s not the slightest evidence of a chisel, a pick, a hammer, anything. It’s as if these chambers had been carved by the wind over a thousand years, but you know that’s not the case.† â€Å"So what’s your point?† Joshua said. â€Å"My point is that there’s more going on with Balthasar and his girls than he lets on.† â€Å"We should ask them.† â€Å"No, we shouldn’t, Josh. Don’t you get it? We need to find out what’s going on without them knowing that we know.† â€Å"Why?† â€Å"Why? Why? Because the last time I asked a question I was poisoned, that’s why. And I believe that if Balthasar didn’t think you had something that he wants, I’d have never seen the antidote.† â€Å"But I don’t have anything,† said Joshua, honestly. â€Å"You might have something you don’t know you have, but you can’t just go asking what it is. We need to be devious. Tricky. Sneaky.† â€Å"But I’m not good at any of those things.† I put my arm around my friend’s shoulders. â€Å"Not always so great being the Messiah, huh?† How to cite Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal Chapter 12, Essay examples

Made in Montgomery sighting heroes and villains on ASF stages, and off Essay Example For Students

Made in Montgomery: sighting heroes and villains on ASF stages, and off Essay The first fruits, tangible and intangible, of the Alabama Shakespeare Festivals Southern Writers Projecta new play-commissioning program designed to cultivate writers and stories from the theatres own regionwere unveiled on the frosty January weekend preceding Martin Luther King Jr.s birthday at ASFs sprawling red-brick complex in Mongomery. The timing was anything but accidental. Since 39-year-old artistic director Kent Thompson assumed its reins in 1990, the festival has sought to enlarge the scope of its programming beyond the European and American classics that were founder Martin Platts specialty for 20 prior yearsand in the process roll out the welcome mat to the African-American half of Montgomerys population. Judging from the stylish, animated and thoroughly bi-racial audiences at the winter seasons opening weekend, Thompson has in significant measure succeeded. The fact that a real-life Ku Klux Klan rally was scheduled Saturday on the Capitol steps a scant five miles from ASFs stages added a cashet of urgency to the first full production of the Writers Project, Grover, Anniston playwright Randy Halls fervid account of the anti-Klan crusade conducted in the 1920s by his great uncle, Montgomery Advertiser editor Grover Hall Sr. (Alabamas progress in racial matters since Hall Sr.s day was evident when a motley three dozen diehard Klansmen, sans hoods, showed up for the noon rally; hours later, a performance of Grover packed ASFs 250-seat downstairs theatre to the rafters.) As it launched the Writers Project, the theatre also initiated an annual Pioneer Award, this year recognizing the achievements of four indomitable Alabama women, among them busboycott legend Rosa Parks (who lives today in Detroit, and whose award was accepted by Morris Dees of the Southern Poverty Law Center) and other heroines, black and white, of the early Civil Rights Movement. The awards were handed out, somewhat incongruously, on ASFs mainstage after the opening-night curtain of Flyin West. Pearl Cleages melodrama about pioneering black women in turn-of-the-century Kansas was given a lyrical and polished reading by associate artistic director Edward G. Smith, who joined ASF this season after helming A Raisin in the Sun last year. But Flyin Wests evident embrace of violence as a legitimate tactic in the struggle for African-American enfranchisementthe plays central conflict is resolved by the cheerfully coldblooded extermination of a villainous, wife-beating mulattowas thrown into sharp relief by the principled nonviolence of the evenings honorees. At a question-and-answer session the following day, Cleage stood by her plays thematic values. Im not a nonviolent person, she confirmed, going on to suggest that African Americans today, like those on the frontier, should be willing to consider the use of violence to combat racism and deal with problems in their communities and even within familiesgang violence, for example, or spousal abuse. The kind of hearthside lawlessness Cleage hopes African Americans can turn to their advantage has, of course, been wielded as a tool of oppression for generations in the South and elsewhere by the Klan and other hate groups, and ASFs focus on the most incendiary aspects of its regions history has included seminars with Klanwatch officials from the Law Center as well as outreach to the myriad churches, many of them politically active, that dot Montgomery. For Grovers mixed audiences, the images of organized racism that materialize in the plays climactic scenesheeted nightriders, a malevolent white crossprovoke powerful, sometimes uncomfortable responses. People are seeing their immediate past on stage, playwright Hall suggests. Unfortunately, the plays themes are as current today as they ever were. True, the Klan nowadays is not much more than a lunatic fringe. But the fact of racism is evident in our fear of immigration and of NAFTA, as well as in that irreduceable element of the population that subscribes to supremacist ideas. At their highest, LORT contracts accounted for 63,100 work weeks in the 198788 season, while Broadway represented 27,100 work weeks and the road 20,300 for a Production Contract total of 47,400. By contrast, by the 199293 season five years later, LORT work weeks had fallen 21 percent to 49,700, Broadway work weeks had decreased 3 percent to 26,200 and work weeks on the road had grown fully 50 percent to more than 30,600 for a Production Contract total of 57,000 work weeks. Rick Fisher: over there, over here EssayConverted banks are being used as theatre spaces in Philadelphia and Laguna Beach, Calif. The Philadelphia Arts Bank, which officially opened in January, was transformed from the Broad Street branch of the South Philadelphia National Bank and has two facilitiesa fully equipped professional theatre and a rehearsal hallavailable for rental use by performing arts groups. On the West Coast, Laguna Playhouse has chosen a former Bank of America branch as its second theatre. Projected to hold 250 seats, the new theatre will enable the Playhouse to offer a second season of contemporary, issue-oriented plays. The renovation is estimated to cost at least $500,000. The revolutionary Beijing opera Shajiabang: Spark Amid the Reedsthe first modern Beijing opera ever staged in the U.S.was presented last month by the University of Hawaii at Manoa as a full-scale production in English. In order to prepare students for the singing, stylized speaking, dance-like movement and martial acrobatics involved in the production, three master Beijing opera performers, Shen Xiaomei, Shen Fuqing and Lu Genzhang, were in residence through the fall and early winter. The Commercial Theatre Institutes 12th annual seminar, Producing for the Commercial Theatre, will feature 18 working professionals documenting their Broadway and Off-Broadway production experience. Included in the six panel discussions will be in-depth case histories of such productions as The Kentucky Cycle, Damn Yankees, She Loves Me and Jeffrey. The seminar will be held April 29May 1. For information contact director Frederic B. Vogel, CTI, 250 West 57th St., Suite 1818, New York, NY 10107; (212)-581-9450. The Phil Killian Directing Fellowship has been established by the Killian family in memory of the Indiana-based director and actor who died in August. The fellowship will be awarded annually to an outstanding young candidate chosen from a national search. Contributions may be sent to the Phil Killian Directing Fellowship, Indiana Repertory Theatre, 140 W. Washington St., Indianapolis, IN 46204-3465. OPPORTUNITIES Two playwriting fellowships of $10,000 are being offered by the Manhattan Theatre Club to writers age 35 or under. Applications for the fellowships, which include a one-year residency at the theatre and a commission for a new play, must be postmarked by March 15. For information, contact Bruce Whitacre, literary manager, Manhattan Theatre Club, 453 West 16th St., New York, NY 10011; (212) 645-5590 ext. 161. The Princess Grace Foundation offers competitive grants of up to $10,000 to emerging artists in theatre, dance and film to help realize their career goals. Individuals must be nominated by artistic directors of professional companies or department chairmen of academic programs. For information about the program, which has a March 31 deadline, contact Jennifer B. Reis, director of grants program, Princess Grace Foundation-USA, 725 Park Ave., New York, NY 10021; (212) 744-3221. The Fund for U.S. Artists at International Festivals and Exhibitions provides grants of up to $2,000 for individual performing artists and up to $25,000 for organizations that have been invited to participate in international festivals. This years deadlines are May 2 and Sept. 1. For information, contact Arts International, Institute of International Education, 809 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017; (212) 984-5370. L.A. Theatres Ride Out Quake Despite the devastating earthquake measuring 6.6 on the Richter scale that shook the city in January, the majority of Los Angeles theatres have suffered only minor setbacks to their ongoing operations. According to Theatre LA, the membership service organization for professional theatres and producers, most theatre buildings suffered limited damage, such as chipped ceilings, cracked walls and electrical failure. But the earthquakes more tangential effects impacted many theatres more substantially: Performances were canceled or delayed, due less to structural damage than to the citys dusk-to-dawn curfew in the days following the quake and the traffic congestion that resulted from the collapse of freeway overpasses.

Pastorius Essays - Bass, Weather Report, Bassist, Word Of Mouth

Pastorius Encouraged by his father, a drummer and vocalist, to pursue a career in music, Pastorius learned to play bass, drums, guitar, piano, and saxophone while in his teens. As a result of a football injury to his arm, his ambitions were mainly orientated towards the drums, but he soon found work playing bass for visiting pop and soul acts. After backing the Temptations and the Supremes, he developed a cult following, and his reputation spread. In 1975, Bobby Colomby, drummer with Blood, Sweat And Tears, was impressed enough to arrange the recording of Pastorius' first album, and a year later Pat Metheny asked him to play bass on his own first album for ECM Records, additionally he worked with Joni Mitchell. But the most important stage in Pastorius' career came in 1976: joining Weather Report to record the highly influential Heavy Weather, his astonishing technique on the fretless bass and his flamboyant behaviour on stage consolidated the band's popularity and boosted his own image to sta r status. He established his own band, Word Of Mouth, in 1980, and they enjoyed three years of successful tours, while Pastorius himself recorded intermittently with some of the top musicians in jazz. However, Pastorius suffered from alcoholism and manic depression. In 1987, after increasing bouts of inactivity, he suffered fatal injuries in a brawl outside the Midnight Club in his home town of Fort Lauderdale. Pastorius was one of the most influential bass players since Charles Mingus, and extended the possibilities of the electric bass as a melodic instrument in a way which has affected many bassists since. Music

Free Essays on What Factors Caused The Collapse Of Palatial Mycenaean Civilization

What factors caused the collapse of palatial Mycenaean civilization and what theories support this collapse? The Mycenaeans were a warlike people - warriors who set out from their fortified cities of Southern mainland Greece for the Mediterranean Sea, looking for metals such as copper, tin and gold. Establishing their society around 1700 BC, the Mycenaeans came to power at 1600 BC and ruled to 1100 BC, with the city of Mycenae as the focal point of their civilization. Flourishing for roughly five hundred years, the collapse of Mycenaean society occurred at approximately 1100 BC. Though there are various theories offered for the collapse, actual suppositions remain to be completely authenticated. Theorists propounding as to what caused the collapse of Mycenaean civilization, present numerous suppositions. Desborough posed one of the theories in 1964. He cautiously suggested that an attack from the north by the Dorians instigated the collapse. While he theorized, Desborough was acutely cognizant of the reality that there was virtually no evidence, with the exception of the destruction levels and widespread abandonments themselves, for the presence of such invaders. A new type of sword, (from Central Europe, named the ‘Naue II’), and an inventive type of pin called a ‘fibula,’ (or safety pin), were both perceived to be Dorian trademarks by archaeologists. Unfortunately, there is a principal protestation to this theory - only half a dozen of these goods were found for the fifty years that the Dorians were supposed to have rampaged. Furthermore, neither item appeared at the same time as the other, so they could not be related to a single invasion, a further objection to Desborough’s theory. A decade earlier, in 1954, Andronikos posed a supposition that deals with a wholly different matter than Desborough’s theory. Andronikos proposed that the collapse came about as the result of extreme social unrest, with... Free Essays on What Factors Caused The Collapse Of Palatial Mycenaean Civilization Free Essays on What Factors Caused The Collapse Of Palatial Mycenaean Civilization What factors caused the collapse of palatial Mycenaean civilization and what theories support this collapse? The Mycenaeans were a warlike people - warriors who set out from their fortified cities of Southern mainland Greece for the Mediterranean Sea, looking for metals such as copper, tin and gold. Establishing their society around 1700 BC, the Mycenaeans came to power at 1600 BC and ruled to 1100 BC, with the city of Mycenae as the focal point of their civilization. Flourishing for roughly five hundred years, the collapse of Mycenaean society occurred at approximately 1100 BC. Though there are various theories offered for the collapse, actual suppositions remain to be completely authenticated. Theorists propounding as to what caused the collapse of Mycenaean civilization, present numerous suppositions. Desborough posed one of the theories in 1964. He cautiously suggested that an attack from the north by the Dorians instigated the collapse. While he theorized, Desborough was acutely cognizant of the reality that there was virtually no evidence, with the exception of the destruction levels and widespread abandonments themselves, for the presence of such invaders. A new type of sword, (from Central Europe, named the ‘Naue II’), and an inventive type of pin called a ‘fibula,’ (or safety pin), were both perceived to be Dorian trademarks by archaeologists. Unfortunately, there is a principal protestation to this theory - only half a dozen of these goods were found for the fifty years that the Dorians were supposed to have rampaged. Furthermore, neither item appeared at the same time as the other, so they could not be related to a single invasion, a further objection to Desborough’s theory. A decade earlier, in 1954, Andronikos posed a supposition that deals with a wholly different matter than Desborough’s theory. Andronikos proposed that the collapse came about as the result of extreme social unrest, with...

Discussions of Food Safety Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Discussions of Food Safety - Essay Example Medical practitioners from various hospitals in New York responded to the outbreak and treated the victims according to their symptoms. On the other hand, Centre for Disease Control and Prevention set out an investigation that confirmed the presence of ciguatera. Unfortunately, no food was recalled as the types of fish that had the toxin could not be detected prior to being marketed. In addition, there is no field test that could be used by inspectors especially when fish is in the market (Santora, Para 8). It is worth noting that foods borne illness emanate from improper handling of food giving room for harmful bacteria to grow. Mishandling of fish could happen in quantity food kitchens, over and above, food processing plants. Hence, it is important to understand the nature of food borne illness causing bacteria to assists both consumers and food handlers to take preventive measures. In light of this, fish processing plant and the marketers should improve their handling measures (Santora, Para

Significance of Mehmet Ali Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Significance of Mehmet Ali - Essay Example Most important decisions that Mehmet Ali took, were regarding the reformation of Egyptian society based on European patterns. He brought up the idea of Bureaucracy which separated Egyptian social system from the earlier patterns where Kings were very much the final authorities and every smaller decision would make sure that it takes place according to the pattern that would have pleased the king. Although, Mehmet Ali’s pattern of Society was not like a democratic system yet it made the state very powerful as it almost bound producers to sell the entire outcome to the state that will take care of reselling. Such authority of State helped Egypt to develop faster because Khedive himself would take care of revenues contrasting to modern communist systems where State is provided with power but restricts liberal policies for traders outside the state. This system turned Egyptian society and politics into a self-regulating society which paid very much for the future development in ec onomy and army. On the other hand, Mehmet Ali also rebuilt the army structure based on different segments controlled by separate department united as whole army under Khedive. It was more structured pattern compared of any military system Egypt has seen before. Consequently, Mehmet Ali also succeeded in ruling a bigger land that any earlier king of Egypt could manage to. Mehmet Ali had been a successful emperor for a long time, succeeding to establish his dynasty to work for future and to take Egypt towards the upcoming new era of modernism (Vatikiotis, 1991, p.70). Even after such a long rule over Egypt, Mehmet Ali was considered as a Turk by a number of natives. Further, progression of revolutions had been paid by this fact on large amount. Another charge revolutionaries had against Mehmet Ali’s dynasty was about their conceiving the state in limited bureaucratic structures providing no liberty for producers. However, as this fact comes up as a truth during modern society, it has paid much in Egypt’s development in earlier times. Still when it did not fit into a changed world prone to democracies, Egypt also demanded liberty and further Mehmet Ali’s dynasty led to its terminal with the revolution. Portrait of Omai- By Sir Joshua Reynolds One of the cult figures of simultaneous time of painting art is the portrait of Omai by Sir Joshua Reynolds. It holds significance as an artifact as well as a representation of Egyptian culture to the western civilization. Joshua Reynolds is known wildly among the most recognized landscape painter. In his portrait of Omai, he has used an authorized technique of expression which comes out as one of his greatest portraits. Reynolds has painted certain number of portraits of Omai which are considered on different aspects. However, best knows of his portraits of Omai is the one that was shows at Royal Academy at 1776. It has achieved a cult status in Landscape painting. Some earlier portraits painted by Reyn olds are considered previous attempt as appears that Reynolds himself was not satisfied with the outcome and wanted to make it grand. (Connaughton, 2005) Specific importance of Omai is as an encounter between East and west. It is the background of Omai’s visit to London.  

Report on Media Legal Issues (Digital Movie Revolution) Research Paper

Report on Media Legal Issues (Digital Movie Revolution) - Research Paper Example In fact, a good number could not make independent films until they attended a certain school to acquire the equipment or they grew up with the set. In the past, most people faced challenges until they went to Hollywood to land a job on a movie set of the needed equipment. Conversely, today in as much as there is a lot of networking and dues paying to venture in the movie business, the internet radically has altered what looks like and more especially change has been in the accessibility (Silver, 2003). It has simplified almost for everyone to do video project and have seen as wished. This is possible since the advent of less expensive digital technology. Websites like Vimeo and YouTube have played a role in allowing anyone with camera to post a video. The computers made it possible to edit enabling anyone tweak their projects or other peoples projects to make them even look much better. As a result, many aspiring filmmakers, who would otherwise have lacked the resources to be seen, can now go public on their own. The movie industry probably will soon take the lead from the independent colleagues that have made significant steps towards digital filmmaking (Prince, 2012). This facilitates the digital revolution found in every setting of the movie industry. Indeed, this is a landmark development concerning the evolution in the field of entertainment. Allowing customers to be able to access and even own movies digitally by downloading via broadband internet connections has allowed them more power to be entertained to their satisfaction. Unfortunately, in the period when the movie industry was in aid of embracing digital distribution onl y a handful of the companies already had started the trend which did not include the video clip download sites (Silver, 2003). Already video streaming and the download sites have been able to provide content including the

Case study of alzheimers disease

Case study of alzheimers disease My first administrative position in mental health was working on a Geriatric Psychiatric unit of the local hospital. Many of the patients were elderly patients with Alzheimers. This was my first experience with Alzheimers disease and the effects it has on their families. Alzheimers is the most common type of dementia and is incurable, degenerative, and terminal (Wikipedia) . Symptoms of Alzheimers begin slowly and become worse until they interfere with daily life and patients are unable to even carry on conversations. Families become caregivers for their loved ones who dont know who they are any more. The prognosis is not good for patients afflicted with this type of dementia but researchers continue to look for new treatments and possible preventions. A few of the Alzheimers patients I worked with on the Geriatric unit are very memorable. There was a gentleman who was in the moderate to severe stage of the disease. His job for most of his life was that of a hospital administrator. M y office door was always open and some patients would wonder in time and again. My office must have triggered something in him because he would come in and need to sign papers. He would sit in my office for hours and sign papers. Another patient was a woman who had 12 children. She was always wondering the unit looking for her babies. The nurses bought her a baby doll and she carried it everywhere and it also calmed her down. Another aspect of Alzheimers is sundowners syndrome. Many of the Alzheimers patients would start to get agitated between 4:00 and 5:00 p.m. They would become more aggressive, oppositional and agitated. Sundowners syndrome is an increased time of memory loss, confusion, agitation, and even anger. For family members who care for Alzheimers patients, witnessing an increase in their loved ones symptoms of dementia at sunset can be nothing short of troubling, if not also painful, frightening, and exhausting (Sundowners Syndrome). Alzheimers is not a new disease. Alz heimers was first described by German psychiatrist and neuropathologist Alois Alzheimer in 1906. In 1901, Alzheimer observed a patient at the Frankfurt Asylum named Mrs. Auguste Deter. The 51-year-old patient had strange behavioral symptoms, including a loss of short-term memory. This patient would become his obsession over the coming years. In April 1906, Mrs. Deter died and Alzheimer had the patient records and the brain brought to Munich where he was working at Kraepelins lab. Together with two Italian physicians, he would use the staining techniques to identify amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles (Wikipedia). Amyloid plagues are extracellular deposits that consist of a dense core of a protein known as B-amyloid, surrounded by degenerating axons and dendrites, along with activated microglia and reactive astrocytes, cells that are involved in destruction of damaged cells. Neurofibrillary tangles consist of dying neurons that contain intracellular accumulations of twisted f ilaments of hyperphosphorylated tau protein (Carlson, 2008). These abnormal structures are also found in brains of patients with Down syndrome. Unlike Down syndrome, Alzheimers is a progressive degenerative disease that gradually destroys a persons memory and daily functioning. Currently Alzheimers is diagnosed by symptoms, and only confirmed by brain examination after death. There are warning sides of Alzheimers disease that include memory loss that disrupts daily life. Challenges in planning or solving problems when there were no problems before. Difficulty completing familiar tasks or leisure activities they a person used to do. Confusion with time and place, which is what most people know about Alzheimers. This is when family members forget where they are going or days of activities. Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships or new problems with words speaking or writing. Misplacing things and the inability to retrace steps. Decreased or poor judgment and wit hdrawal from work and social activities. Changes in mood and personality, which is another warning sign that most people are also familiar with from media, etc. Grandma turns from sweet to irritable (Stages and Warning Signs of Alzheimers). The Alzheimers Association is a strong national organization that supports and funds Alzheimers research. Their website has a vast amount of information on symptoms, treatment, prevention and research of this disease. Taken from their website there are seven stages of Alzheimers. They include: Stage 1 where there is no impairment. Stage 2 there is very mild decline. Stage three there is mild decline. Stage four there is moderate decline. Stage five there is moderately severe decline and stage six and stage seven there is severe decline and very severe decline (Stages and Warning Signs of Alzheimers). The current major treatment for Alzheimers is medication management and each stage of Alzheimers requires a different medication. Mild to moderate A lzheimers is treated with cholinesterase inhibitors. These types of medications are prescribed because they may help delay or prevent the symptoms from becoming worse for a time and also help manage behaviors. The medications include: Razadyne (galantamine), Exelon (rivastigmine), and Aricept (donepezil). Another drug, Cognex (tacrine), was the first approved cholinesterase inhibitor but is rarely prescribed today due to safety concerns (Alzheimers Disease Medications Fact Sheet, 2010). Most people have heard of Aricept because is used often and advertised on the media more so than others. Moderate to severe Alzheimers is treated with a drug that regulates glutamate, an important brain chemical. The medication known as Namenda (memantine), an N-methyl D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonist. Aricept has also been approved by the FDA to treat moderate to severe Alzheimers. These drugs main effect is to delay progression of some of the symptoms and they may allow patients to maintain certain da ily functions a little longer than they would without the medication. The medication may help a patient in the later stages of the disease maintain his or her ability to use the bathroom independently for several more months, a benefit for both patients and caregivers (Alzheimers Disease Medications Fact Sheet, 2010). There is research going on to provide diagnosis by a simple blood test, this was reported by American researchers just last month. Also, other researchers have shown spinal fluid tests, which require a spinal tap, can detect early changes that signal the onset of Alzheimers. Imaging companies such as privately held Avid Radiopharmaceuticals, General Electrics GE Healthcare and Germanys Bayer are racing to finish clinical trials on new agents that can make brain lesions called plaques visible on positron emission tomography or PET scanners (Anonymous, 2010). Researchers also are looking at any possible prevention or slow down of the disease. Currently at Rush University is leading a nationwide clinical trial of a nutritional drink to determine whether it can improve cognitive performance in people with mild to moderate Alzheimers. The study follows recently released results from an earlier trial conducted in Europe showing that the drink, called Souvenaid, improved verbal recall in people with mild disease who were followed for three months (Anonymous., 2010). Alzheimers affects approximately 10 percent of the population above the age of 65 and almost 50 percent of people over the age of 85 years (Carlson, 2008). The number of Americans age 65 and older who have this condition will increase from the 5.1 million today to 13.5 million by mid-century. A recent report from the Alzheimers Association states that the cost of Alzheimers to the United States will be $20 trillion over the next 40 years. Changing the Trajectory of Alzheimers Disease: A National Imperative shows that in the absence of disease-modifying treatments, the cumulative costs of car e for people with Alzheimers from 2010 to 2050 will exceed $20 trillion, in todays dollars (Report: Alzheimers disease to cost United States $20 trillion over next 40 years, 2010). Statistics taken from the Alzheimers Association break it down as follows; Alzheimers disease costs business $24.6 billion in health care. In the US 7 out of 10 people with Alzheimers live at home where 75% of costs are absorbed by the family. The remaining 25% of care costs cost an average $19,000 a year. It is estimated that Alzheimers caregivers cost business $36.5 billion. This includes the costs of absenteeism and lost productivity. The average cost of a nursing home in the US is $42,000 a year. However in some areas those costs can be at least $70,000. Medicare costs for beneficiaries with Alzheimers disease were $91 billion in 2005. Medicare costs are expected to increase by 75% to $160 billion in 2010. Medicaid expenditures on residential dementia care were $21 billion in 2005. These costs are est imated to rise by 14% to $24 billion in 2010( (Kennard, 2010). The stress of caregivers for loved ones with Alzheimers is high. The frustration and challenges of caring for an adult who no longer complies with reasonable requests is a daily consequence of a loved one with Alzheimers. There are many support groups and resources for caregivers. Some tips for managing an Alzheimers patient is to have patience, be flexible, reduce frustration, reduce choices, reduce distractions to create a safe environment (Research, 1998-2010). Patience and flexibility are easy to figure out. Patience because a patient with Alzheimers will be oppositional at times, will not know their caregiver at times as well as not remember family members. The Alzheimer patients mood and reactions to daily tasks will change sometimes daily as the disease progresses. Flexibility with caring for Alzheimers patients is tied into their changing needs and abilities from day to day. Reducing frustration, choices and dist ractions would be like raising a toddler. Not too many choices or distractions for them to be overwhelmed with. A safe environment is pretty clear and we hear about Alzheimers patients wandering off reported on the news more often. Alzheimers patients who have been left in an unsecured house or got into a unlocked car. Doors should always be locked so the Alzheimers patient is unable open or figure out how to open. The car is easy to figure out, keep it locked! Take the car keys are keep them on you or hidden. There was a poem on the Geriatric unit wall where I worked. The author is unknown and it is taken from Coach Frank Broyles Playbook for Alzheimers Caregivers. The poem is a good reminder of what Alzheimers is all about and a good conclusion to this report. Do not ask me to remember. Dont try to make me understand. Let me rest and know youre with me. Kiss my cheek and hold my hand. Im confused beyond your concept. I am sad and sick and lost. All I know is that I need you, to be with me at all cost. Do not lose your patience with me. Do not scold or curse or cry. I cant help the way Im acting, cant be different though I try. Just remember that I need you, that the best of me is gone. Please dont fail to stand beside me, love me till my life is done.

Andrew Johnson - A Short Analysis :: essays research papers

President Andrew Johnson lifted himself out of extreme poverty to become President of the United States. He was a man with little education who climbed the political ladder and held many different high offices. As a strict constitutionalist, Johnson believed in limiting the powers of the federal government. President Johnson was one of the most bellicose Presidents who â€Å"fought† Congress, critics, and many others. President Andrew Johnson faced numerous problems post-Civil War Era including reconstructing the Southern states to combine peacefully with the Union, his battles with Congress, and his career ending impeachment. Following Lincoln’s tragic assassination, President Andrew Johnson took on the accountability of making Reconstruction a reality. Andrew Johnson wanted to use Lincoln’s ideas of reconstruction but in a modified form. Since Congress would be in recess for eight more months Johnson decided to go ahead with his plan. Johnson's goal in reconstruction was to grant amnesty to all former Confederates (except high officials), the ordinances of secession were to be revoked, Confederate debts would repudiate, and the states had to ratify the Thirteenth Amendment. Once the states swore to a loyalty oath to abide by the conditions they would be allowed to return to the Union. After swearing to the oath Confederate States would be allowed to govern themselves. With this power the states implemented the creation of a system of black codes that restricted the actions of freed slaves in much the same way, if not exactly the same way, that slaves were restricted under the old law. The e nd result of his plan was a hopeless conflict with the Radical Republicans who dominated Congress, passed measures over Johnson's vetoes, and attempted to limit the power of the executive concerning appointments and removals. As soon as Johnson was made president he began to disagree with Congress, particularly those Congressional members of his opposing party. Later, he even broke ties with his own party citing the fact that he wouldn’t endorse a new amendment to the Constitution granting blacks the rights of citizenship. Congress did not approve of President Johnson’s plans for Reconstruction. The Wade Davis Plan returned power to the same people who had tried to break the Union by granting them amnesty. The Congress mainly opposed this plan because it contained no provision to protect the free slaves. The Freedman’s Bureau Act was intended to help former slaves to shift from slavery to emancipation and assured them equality before law.

English Literature Coursework: “But why, Mum?” shouted Sonny

â€Å"But why, Mum?† shouted Sonny. â€Å"I love it here. I have loads of mates, all our family are here and I'm actually enjoying the school I'm at!† â€Å"We just can't afford to live here anymore, son. Believe me, I would love to stay here but it just isn't possible. Don't be angry, Sonny,† pleaded his mum. But it was too late; Sonny was already clambering up the stairs with tears in his eyes. Sonny's mum looked down to the floor and sighed with a feeling of guilt and depression. She felt terrible that she was the person who had to ruin his day. Meanwhile, Sonny was in his room, face in pillow, crying. He felt terrible. He was only just starting to enjoy school; he had just started to become popular and most importantly of all, his mum had found a long term boyfriend and had gotten engaged. He finally felt stable and happy in life but in a matter of seconds his world had been tipped upside down! In the car, on the way to Hackney, the car pulled up at some traffic lights. Whilst Sonny gazed relentlessly out of the window his eye was caught by a conker tree. He noticed the way that it had a hard, spiky, cruel exterior but contained a yielding, gentle and attractive centre. Sonny thought about his new life in Hackney and how he could never see the conker emerging from its shell. Despite this he still desperately hoped that it would be nice in Hackney and not be as spiky, cruel and hard as it is perceived to be. He thought longingly of the friends he was leaving behind and wished that all this was just a dream and that soon he would wake up. He was tossed back into reality a few seconds later when the family drove past a road sign labelled Hackney, twenty five miles. â€Å"Nearly there, Claire,† said Clarence, Sonny's ‘Dad'. â€Å"I bet you're exited, aren't you?† â€Å"Yeah, I'm thrilled.† replied Claire half heartedly and with a raise of the eyebrows. Sonny's eyes caught his mothers as she turned around to look at him. â€Å"What about you, Sonny, you looking forward to seeing your new home?† asked Clarence. â€Å"No, not really.† replied Sonny, rather bluntly, and then fell silent. â€Å"Hey, cheer up lad. It won't be that bad.† said Clarence reassuringly, â€Å"I'm sure that you'll love it here. We'll make the flat look like home in no time.† The car fell silent again and Sonny continued to look out of the window, his head held up by his hand. As the family pulled up onto the pavement Sonny realised that they must be at their new home. This thought emotionally overwhelmed him and the tears streamed from his eyes. His mum looked over at him and ran around the car to comfort her upset son. As she wrapped her loving arms around him she muttered to him: â€Å"I'm sorry, Sonny, I'm sorry. I have completely ruined your life and I'm sorry. We'll be alright. We'll be fine. I'm so sorry!† Clarence thought it was best to stay away and let them have their moment together. While he was waiting Clarence heard a call from across the street: â€Å"Mummy's boy, Mummy's boy. Oi, Mummy's boy, wot up wiv you? Ya lost ya cuddly toy? Eh?† shouted the first boy belligerently whilst the other two laughed simultaneously. â€Å"Go away!† snarled Claire. â€Å"Oh, sorry ‘ard!† hurled the second child whilst the other two drew out a pair of ‘BB' guns and shot Claire three times in the chest. Clarence's anger grew and he let out a huge roar as he sprinted after the three children. Unfortunately to his, Claire's and Sonny's disappointment he lost them after only a few yards! As Clarence walked back to his fiancà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½e and Sonny, he stared disappointedly at Claire. Sonny continued to frown and then began to walk towards the entrance of the block of flats and then to their new home. They finally got to the door of the flat and Claire put the key in the door. As the door swung open Sonny began to see inside bit by bit. Once the door was fully open Sonny stood in silence and just stared into the prison like room. The floor was cold, grey concrete, no carpets, the windows were small and didn't look like they could open very far, the walls were painted a dark blue but the paint was chipped and was beginning to crack off of the wall! Sonny felt like he had been hit hard in the chest. He felt as though he couldn't breathe. A sudden image of his old home in Windsor flashed through his head. He couldn't believe that his parents couldn't afford something better than this! He still hadn't entered the room when Clarence looked over at him and noticed the censuring expression on his face. â€Å"Don't worry, Sonny, the removal van will be here soon and we'll have this place looking like home in no time!† said Clarence heartily. Sonny just looked over at him, unimpressed, then continued to observe the beaten up cell which was to become his home. That night while Sonny lie in bed, he once again began to think of his old world which he missed so dearly. He knew that Hackney was a lot different; the only time that you heard about it was on the news being linked with murders and rapes! They had only been here for a few hours and they had already been shot by BB guns, someone had stolen the dust caps off of Clarence's car and eggs had been pelted at the patio doors of his first floor flat! Sonny knew that he would never fit in around here and that he was going to have to toughen up quickly. He had school in a weeks time and he had to prepare himself, there would be a lot of problems to face and he would have to overcome them. Sonny was tired so he turned over and cried himself to sleep ready for the bumpy road ahead. The week dragged by slowly and more of the kids around the area had begun to vandalise their property. The balcony wall had been sprayed with the words ‘Mummy's Boy', the kids had been shouting abusive words to him and when Sonny's mum was returning home from shopping, the kids jumped out and stole one of the bags from her! Had Sonny just stepped into a war zone? Was he behind enemy lines? Why was everyone treating him so badly? Clarence was getting angry but Sonny thought that he was too frightened to do anything. Whenever Sonny saw him he was always looking out of the windows checking that the kids were well away. Sonny was still feeling low and he became consternated instantly when he realised that he was going to his new school the next day. He swallowed hard and rushed to his bedroom. He spent most of the night wondering what to do and the only solution he could think of was to just accept that he would not be liked and try to stand up to them. Unfortunately, Sonny's plan fell to pieces the next day. â€Å"Oi, Mummy's boy!† As Sonny looked up his heart sank and his eyes widened. It was the same kid, along with his two mates, who shot his mum with the BB gun. â€Å"Yes?† replied Sonny as politely as possible. â€Å"What you doin' ‘ere?† snapped the first kid. â€Å"I go to this school now.† Sonny replied charily. â€Å"Yeah I nowe dat, it's just dat we own dis part o da playground, mate!† retorted the first kid. â€Å"I'm sorry, I didn't know. Please forgive me.† pleaded Sonny. â€Å"Oh, please forgive me,† said the second kid, mockingly, â€Å"Scared are you Mummy's boy?† Sonny breathed in heavily and took a step backwards. The third kid look nervously at the first kid and Sonny caught a glance from him as the gang begirded him. â€Å"Where ya goin' Mummy's boy? You ai n't gettin away from us! We're gonna make you pay for thinkin you can jus walk away from us when we're talkin to ya! Get im Joe!† The second kid, apparently named Joe, grabbed Sonny around the waist and then thrusted both of his arms behind his back. While Joe had hold of Sonny, the first kid gave him a few jabs to the ribs. Sonny's legs gave way in pain but Joe continued to hold him up so that the attacker could continue to castigate him. After a few minutes Sonny's lip was bleeding and the only support he had was coming from the boy behind him holding him up whilst the bully continued his attack. â€Å"Hey, guys, that enough now! He's already gonna collapse! Just leave him now, you've ‘urt I'm enough! Sam, get off of him!† Sonny felt heartened by this but his vision was beginning to blur and he knew that soon he was going to pass out, he had to do something. â€Å"Oh shut up, Zack! He deserves all dis!† replied Sam, apparently humoured by Zack's outburst. Suddenly, Joe fell to the ground with a thump. Sonny looked behind him and glanced up at Zack who was standing over Joe with a worried expression on his face. He realised that he had to take this opportunity to get away so he leapt to his feet and sprinted towards the toilets. As he ran he heard: â€Å"You wait, bitch, we'll av you!† The rest of Sonny's lunch hour was spent sitting on a hard, black toilet seat sweating with fear and using a tissue to clear up his bleeding nose and patch up a cut which had opened up on his forehead. Whilst he was there he thought about Zack. Why did he help him? There was no need to do that, what's going to happen to him? Sonny was in to much pain to think about the answers and so he sat there in the cubicle, in silence until the end of lunch. Sonny managed to avoid the gang for the rest of the school day but as he walked home that evening he froze when he heard a call from behind him: â€Å"Alrite Mummy's boy?† called Sam. â€Å"Did ya fink dat you were gonna get away from us today? We followed you outta school jus to finish you off.† At this Sam pulled out a blade. Sonny's eyes widened but his expression remained stern. Sonny ran for it but only to be pounced on by Joe and held down whilst Sam approached. Sonny was panicking and was beginning to think that this was the end. Just as this thought emerged, a shining, glimmer of hope floated around the corner. Sonny looked up and caught another glance into the intense, furious eyes of Zack. He looked dreadful! One eye was black and he had a huge gash across his left cheek. It was obvious what had happened to Zack but Sonny was definitely glad to see him now. Zack took one deep breath and then sprinted towards Sam. As Zack reached him he leapt at his right hand and grabbed hold of it. Sam stumbled and fell onto his knees as his hand was prised open by Sonny's helper. Sam eventually lost grip of the blade and Joe let go of Sonny as Zack walked forebodingly towards the bullies. Joe and Sam looked and each other and then decided to run for it. Once both the bullies had gone Zack helped Sonny to his feet. â€Å"Cheers.† Said Sonny â€Å"Ah, it nuttin. Dey do dat ta every new kid. If ya stand up to em or beat em when they start on ya they respect ya! It's kind of a test. Stupid if ya ask me.† replied Zack, looking over his shoulder as he spoke. â€Å"Well why did you help me out then?† asked Sonny. â€Å"How come you didn't join in with them?† â€Å"Them two av bin doin dat for agez now an it getz a bit borin after a wile. I started feelin sorry for the kidz az well.† Said Zack â€Å"Sum ov dem were coughin up blood every now an den! I realised dat dey were bein too physical an fought dat I shood do summat bout it.† As he spoke he gazed into the sky every now and then as if he was reflecting and looking back on old times. The pair of them spoke for a good half hour and Zack decided to walk home with Sonny. When they got near to Sonny's flat, Sonny thanked Zack for everything and told him that he would see him the next day. They exchanged respectful nods and turned their backs to one another and headed in opposite directions. When Sonny got in he smiled for the first time in weeks. His insides were warmed at the sight of his mum and Clarence sitting, cuddled up on the sofa watching T.V together and all their chattels put up around the flat. The ‘cell' looked a lot better now and that night he slept through the whole night without a tear! Sonny finally felt good to be alive!

Nature and Nurture on the human development Essay

Nature and Nurture on the human development Introduction   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In the history of human beings, there have existed a lot of theories discussing how nurture or nature influences the development of humans. Not only did this debate happen in the past, but also even today many individuals and nations are debating on this issue to decide which factor impacts more to the humans. To put it in the layman’s language, nature is the natural processes which are mostly inherited and hence cannot be changed. Nurture is the processes that are caused by the environment and these characteristics could be changed by the outer surrounding. So in this paper I will present the argument on the nurture impact on human behaviors.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The factors that affect the people’s perception and change their behaviors include: their own perception, the people’s perception about them, the societal or cultural believes and even what they view the surrounding. For instance the cloths have been seen to influence behaviors of people. For instance, a person wearing a doctor’s white coat has been proofed to be more attentive than when wearing a painter’s coat. According to the experimental social psychology journal, there is a finding that shows that people think not only with their brain but also their bodies. According to Dr. Galinsky, our thinking processes are based on the physical experiences that are seen to set off the associated abstract concepts and these experiences also include the cloths that people’s wear. It has been known for long now that people are perceived by others by the way that they dress. A person dressing in some manners can be perceived to be what a direct opposite of what they exactly are is. Many experiments that have been previously carried shows that ladies who dress in masculine cloths at the time of interview are more likely to be absorbed and also a person who wears the official cloths are mostly seen as more intelligent in a teaching assistant job and they are most likely to be hired than a person who dresses casually.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Also the way people perceive themselves is another nurture factor that affects mostly the people’s behavior. According to an article on â€Å"why men don’t last: self destruction as a way of life†, it is revealed that men commit more suicide than women. This could be explained by the way men have trained themselves and the way they feel that they are capable of handling their own problems without seeking any help from outside. This is owing to the fact that people who are more open to discuss their problems are mostly likely able to evade the suicide trap. It has  been proofed that women are more open in discussing their problems and hence their suicidal cases are very minimal. Men always conceal their problems and this leads to them committing suicide. In the face of changing circumstances, men feel helpless and trapped but a woman takes risk of discussing the circumstance and hence they are novelty seekers and grea t risk takers. This is a behavior that is passed to all generations and hence changes the people’s perception.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In the article, â€Å"HERS; Why Boys Don’t Play With Dolls†, by Pollitt Nkatha, it is evident that for many years boys have been seen to incline on the trucks and guns but on the other hand girls mostly incline on wearing party dresses and holding Dolls. This could be explained through inborn hormonal influences along with the genetic configuration and the brain chemistry. Even though these factors hold, the surroundings shape the perception of these children to act in this trend for a long period of time. The behaviors which are perceived to be girlish are passed from generation to generation and this becomes a habit that is artificially inherited through nurture.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   To conclude, nurture and nature both have great impact on the development of humans. The nature will decide the depositions of human being which can be changed by nurture. Nature will give the in born abilities but nurture will help to develop them. Nature gives the inborn attributes but nurture changes these innate attributes accordingly and this result to people having different lives hence nurture is the one that highly impacts on the behaviors of human beings and their development. References KATHA POLLITT. â€Å"HERS;Why Boys Don’t Play With Dolls†, October 8, 1995 â€Å"Why Men Don’t Last: Self-Destruction as a Way of Life†, February 17, 1999 SANDRA BLAKESLEE. â€Å"Mind Games: Sometimes a White Coat Isn’t Just a White Coat†, April 2, 2012 Source document

Minorities in Broadway Musicals Essay

Minorities in Broadway Musicals Essay Minorities in Broadway Musicals Essay Minorities in Broadway Musicals Essay Broadway musicals have become a real brand. Hollywood stars then participate in local productions; and theater lovers eagerly read in the newspapers some reviews of new plays. The famous theatre was started as a minstrel show and the first theatre. The Role of Minorities in Broadway Musicals The minstrel theatre as a genre of the American origin appeared, according to researchers, between the 18th-19th centuries. All roles in the Minstrel Show were performed by men, originally being the white troupe of actors (Stempel 24). A basis of the plot was a comic presentation of the life of blacks and their owners. In the theatre of minstrels several types of characters have developed: a dressed in rags laborer, a simpleton, a dandy African-American and a rogue African-American. The African-American women were portrayed satirically stupid, but very sensual (Lewis 55). Finally, the genre in all its components was formed by the middle of the 19th century. In this regard, a remarkable creative activity of D. Emmett and his Virgin of Minstrels have to be mentioned (Betz, Carnes, and American Council of Learned Societies 207). The first part of his show was a song and some musical numbers, the performance of which was accompanied by a playful dialogue. In the second part, Olio, there were the scenes from the life of African dances (Lewis 59). The third part is a view similar to the ballad opera. And the reception was a brilliant use of intelligence of the city, which was to act as a theatre of minstrels. Before the troupe entered the city, the actor reconnaissance learned in advance all the local gossips and topical issues. Then, much to the delight of spectators, this information was used in a humorous satirical aspect, in the third part (Hischak 85). The show was a success! Of the particular importance to the American culture, there was the musical legacy that kept the theatre of minstrels. It has turned out that many African songs have come from Scottish and English songs. However, in the final version, they are a synthesis of the European and African musical thinking (Stempel 32). They have become a fount of creative American composers in the 20th century. It should be noted that in the heyday of the genre, to the end of the nineteenth century, many minstrel troupes were accompanied by a speech sound of the orchestra (Betz, Carnes and American Council of Learned Societies 210). African-Americans were not considered by a minstrel theatre with its art. Moreover, presented in grotesque images, it evoked their contempt and resentment, although performers ridiculed not only blacks imitating them and white masters, but also the white masters depicting them boastful, haughty and often short-sighted (Green 76). Nevertheless, the image of a minstrel buffoon was received with resentment especially by the generation of the 1930s-1940s during the struggle of American blacks for their human rights (Betz, Carnes and American Council of Learned Societies 215). At the present stage, these types of characters are present in the concert programs, for example, in the famous musical dance show River dance of 1996 and 1999 years. Several parts were addressed specifically to this heritage of the American culture. The major elements of the initial Broadway shows were revues. Revue is a genre of the French origin, the peculiarity of which is similar to vaudeville. This pop display consists of parodies, comic numbers, songs, and dances. However, the vaudeville revue is used for a typical thematic unity of design and music (Betz, Carnes and American Council of Learned Societies 205). A special role in the promotion of this genre in the American theatre scene was played by a director and producer F. Ziegfeld (Suskin 153). His productions have determined the face of Broadway theatre shows for many years. An undoubted advantage of revue Ziegfeld was a harmonious blend of the French and American elements in the representation, the reliance on high professionalism of all performers, directors and composers. The researchers of F. Ziegfeld’s creativity have noted that this was a highly paid work of all project participants. In the genre of the revue, such composers as I. Berlin, George Gershwin, W. Herbert, J. Kern, and others were working (Suskin 36). A significant impact upon revue was caused by cinema, especially the emergence of the sound cinema. The musical revue absorbed ability to combine the most diverse and seemingly incompatible elements including jazz (Hischak 56). Another significant part of Broadway shows was operetta. This genre originated in Europe in the middle of the 19th century. However, operetta was popular thanks to such European composers like Johann Strauss, Offenbach, and others. In America, this genre enjoyed a great success. In addition, the existence of the feature of European operetta in America gets a name change to operettas. For example, the operetta Die Fledermaus by Johann Strauss was titled as The Merry Countess and displayed in 1912. Later, it appeared to be performed in 1929, under the title Amazing Night. As the researchers have noted most Americans of the last century drew creativity of British operetta’s composers. Much popularity was gained by the products of V. Gilbert and Sullivan A. Her Majesty’s Frigate that was formed in 1878 and then The Mikado in 1885 (Suskin 19). Under the influence of European and American operettas, there The First Team Brighton Patrolled by JS Kraus, Desert by D. Buck in 1880, and The Little Tycoon by Spencer W. in 1887 appeared. The heyday of American operetta’s composers is associated with the names of R. Coven, G. Cracker, G. Lauders, Romberg B., Prick-Bertha, and others (Suskin 55). The Americans imitated the European operetta, its romanticism and exoticism. Nevertheless, the theatricality definitely attracted, but did not meet the needs of modern times and the needs of the society. Reality, topical satire and humor, connectedness with the American reality are the elements that were necessary and interesting to the American public. So the answer to the problem, opposed to other genres and the operetta, was a musical, which absorbed all the best from its predecessors. It is important to mention the role of jazz in the musical. Jazz and musicals were the brainchildren of one time basis and the musical language of performances in the 20th century becoming jazz. However, in its pure and original form, jazz could not be used in a musical score. It is well known that the core of jazz is rhythm and improvisation. The latter one was not possible to dynamically pull, which musical is. Improvisation in jazz is a free and creative artist’s statement, which cannot be constrained by time. The most important thing is to express an idea. The musical is a surprisingly dynamic performance where the effectiveness is very significant. So the musical language of the genre comes primarily by jazz rhythm, harmony, the style of performance as instrumental and vocal, characteristic sounds, wind and percussion instruments. The names of the composers of the American musical, which was synthesized in its work elements of jazz, symphonic thinking, pop songs are well known. Their works constitute the wealth of the musical culture. They are Arlene G., Berlin I., Leonard Bernstein, George Gershwin and others (Suskin 4). The history of the musical genre spans a century. This original creation has been much associated with the existing culture in the American theatrical genres like revue, vaudeville, and operetta. Thus, the first two decades of the 20th century were marked by a gradual growth of the economic welfare of the country. They have generated the extraordinary demand for entertainment genres contributing to the growing popularity of jazz. But, as the researchers note, subjects were superficial. They were dominated by the operetta to a greater extent. A significant step towards the formation of a new genre, i.e. the musical, was done by Showboat by J. Kern in 1921 and A Connecticut Yankee by R. Rogers in 1927. The latter one was based on the novel written by Mark Twain (Filichia 45). They differed from the earlier performances as they seriously had affected the depth of the problems in conjunction with brightness, dynamic and spectacular views. The third decade of the 20th century was a very difficult period for the American theatre due to the economic crisis of 1929 in the United States. Many theaters were closed due to the fact that the ticket to the cinema was much cheaper than theatrical. Operettas, revues, and musicals have become a fertile basis for the film industry. The musical continued as a genre and changed qualitatively, enriching some social problems to its topical nature. For example, such satirical musicals by Gershwin as Grand Orchestra in 1930 and Of Thee I Sing in 1931 ridiculed the corruption of those ones in power, the electoral system, and some political machinations. In the same vein, there are the musicals Facing the Music by E. Berlin in 1932, Johnny Johnson by K. Weill in 1936 and many others devoted to this topic (Filichia 117). The trend towards some more diverse musicals has continued in the 1940s. It covered the following themes: folklore and legends of the African Americans, i.e. Cabin in the Sky by V. Duke; a psychoanalysis Lady in the Dark by K. Weill; the Civil War in Annie, Take the Gun by E. Berlin, the World War II in In the South Pacific by R. Rogers, and the American image during the pre-industrial era were depicted in Oklahoma by R. Rogers (Stempel 318). In parallel with the expansion of musical themes, there was an improved form. At this time, in the American musical, the significant role of sculpture and dance dominated the performance, for example, in the musical On Pointe by R. Rogers. In the 1950s-1960s, in the fate of the musical genre, there were truly stellar. Its themes expanded the boundaries that had been formed; and the expressive musical emerged. At this time, the genre was characterized by the high professionalism of its creators. The international fame on the stage was later acquired in cinematography performances. Among the most popular ones there are My Fair Lady by Frederick Loewe of 1956, The West Side Story by Bernstein L. of 1957, The Sound of Music by R. Rogers in 1959, Hello, Dolly by J. Herman in 1964, Cabaret by J. Kander in 1966 and many others (Suskin 10). However, the 1960s became the time of the crisis beginning for the musical genre. The coming era of the rock movement brought the new problems, i.e. acute, civil, social and topical. The musical entertainment with its predominantly oriented themes became temporarily irrelevant. The development of the Broadway Theatre does not stop even today. Theatres are looking for some new solutions and approaches to provide viewers for the Broadway show. Nowadays Broadway is a synonym for the commercial theatre, the embodiment of the proverbial American dream. Now, there are only 26 theatres compared to 80 ones in the 1920s. Much has changed, including the cost of performance. Before the war, the play cost has been $10 thousand contrary to the contemporary price of $10 million (Stempel 456). However, for the money, the viewers get the enchanting sight: the amazing scenery, catchy melodies; choreography of the highest level, beautiful voices, dynamics, colors, and etc. The artists’ work flat out completely; they play with passion, being uninhibited and free, demonstrating the high level of professionalism. The last performance should not differ from the premiere: people pay for tickets a lot of money. The flowering of the modern musical is associated with the name of the composer Lloyd Webber, a director Trevor Nunn and a producer Cameron Mackintosh. It all started with the grand success of the play Cats, based on the Book of P ractical Cats written by Thomas Elliott. It had been lasting in the Broadway Show Theatre for 18 years and took place in the Winter Garden. Over the years, there were completely 3 of the principal performers replaced. The themes have changed and tended to have more open views and disclose problems that there were earlier. There is a great impact on Broadway of the creative efforts of sexual minorities, especially in the performances with homosexually (Benton 59). But among them there is the only noteworthy performance of Minetta Lane Theatre called Jeffrey. The subtle humor and skills of its creators were able to defeat the prejudice of the audience. The rest of the presentation of this kind, including the sensational show Whoop-Dee-Doo, are the lack of professionalism and the poor pictorial means that resemble amateur theatricals. The best remake of the year in this thematic network is called The Normal Heart, staging Larry Kramer. Her first appeared on Broadway a quarter century ago. This play addresses the problem of the emergence of the AIDS in New York City and the problems of sexual minorities (Benton 148). The performance and its recognized problems are still relevant. In the same category, the musical award went to Anything Goes by Cole Porter (Benton 103). One of the beginners of the open demonstration and protection of rights of sexual minorities was Mae West. The first starring role on Broadway was in her own play, which she called Sex. Despite the terrible criticism, the tickets for the show were sold out very quickly. The opponents of her play yet have achieved the result that the show was discontinued. West with her troupe was arrested. She was accused of moral indecency, and, on 19 April 1927, she was sentenced to ten days in jail. However, she was released after 8 days for the good behavior. This episode of her life brought Mae only benefits, as her popularity has grown rapidly. Her next play Hitch was not less controversial, as it covered a homosexual theme and talked about the work of Karl Heinrich Ulrich. The play was a huge hit on the stage, but it was staged only in New Jersey. It was banned on Broadway. Mae was one of the first ones being not afraid to talk openly about sex. She was also was one of initiators of the movement for the rights of sexual minorities. Speaking about the contemporary Broadway shows, they have diverse programs that cover a number of social, political, gender, professional, sexuality and other themes. The composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim said that he decided to turn his protagonist of the popular 1970s’ musical Company into a gay. This was reported by The New York Times. The author of the original version of the musical is currently working on its transformation along with the director John Tiffany. The latter one created the musical Once. The first private screening of the show took place on 18 October 2013. After this, the representatives of the company Roundabout producing the show will determine the further fate of the musical. Roundabout often holds similar displays for the company’s management, after which they cancel a number of productions. All changes in the musical will be based on a sexual orientation change of the protagonist named Bobby. Bobby dating many girls will turn into many young guys in the new version. The main theme is the protagonist’s inability to create a family and his fear of commitment in a relationship will remain unchanged. It is still a musical about family ties. Just the marriage in 2013 looks very different than that in the 70s. They are not dealing with the issue of gay marriage as such, but on the question of relations in the new version, they look from a different point of view. This was the main idea of the interview with Sondheim in The New York Times. The composer has noted that he rewrites the musical, but just a little, correcting some dialogues and monologues. live CHAT The action in the musical Company, which was released for the first time on Broadway in April 1970, is set in New York and describes the relationship of several couples and their friend Robert (Bobby). He dates to many women, but cannot marry. Critics and audiences have repeatedly speculated that Bobby is not able to start the family because he is a hidden gay. However, Stephen Sondheim and his collaborator George Firth always rejected this version. The original production of Company has withstood more than 700 shows on Broadway. It was awarded 15 nominations for the major American theatre award Tony and won in six categories, including the Best Musical. The musical libretto was translated into several languages. The show actions place in Brazil, Singapore, Germany, Italy and other countries. Their versions of the play were done by many well-known theatre and film directors, including Sam Mendes. Broadway has a long history of its development. It presents an example of the greatest birth of the most amazing theatrical shows in the world. Theatre actors and actresses dream to be able to sing on its stages and perform in its plays. Broadway Shows are of the great interest for the tourists all over the world. At the same time, it is one of the spectators of the social, political and economic changes in the society and the whole country. Social problems and tendencies have been reflected in the plays since its beginning. It started with minstrel shows and the African-American problem and developed to a wider approach to the problems of sexual and other minorities. The spectators of the show can see the show and get to know more about the particular culture and its history. As a matter of fact, Broadway is a live history of the whole nation and the whole country.