Performance Theory Essay Example For Free At Magic Help - Free Essay Example

Discuss ways in which Richard Schechners Performance Theory may be of use to contemporary practitioners. Illustrate your answer with reference to at least one dance or theatre performance which you have seen live. The influence of Richard Schechner (b. 1934) on both theatre production and academic theory has been profound and, in some ways, revolutionary. Schechner has consistently challenged traditional practices and perspectives of theatre, performance and ritual for almost half a century. His principal contention is that drama is not merely a province of the stage, but of everyday life, and is a cross-cultural phenomenon. It is important to develop and articulate theories concerning how performances a regenerated, transmitted, received and evaluated in pursuit of these goals, performance studies is insistently intercultural, inter-generic and inter-disciplinary. (Schechner, 1995) As with all academic studies, performance theory is founded on certain key principles, which include such terms as presentation of self, restored behaviour and expressive culture, and incorporates social drama and ritual. His concept of performance, which contrasts sharply with previous, principally modernist, approaches to the arts, asserts the importance of different systems of transformations, which vary enormously from culture to culture, and throughout historical periods and movements. The radical nature of performance theory is demonstrated by its all-encompassing, even holistic, approach to theatre and performance, with popular culture, folklore, and ethnic diversity incorporated into the cross-disciplinary mix. In examining the ways in which the theory can be useful to theatre practitioners, it is important to examine in more detail the main strategies it deploys, including the concept of performativity. The word performative was originated by J.L Austin, a linguistic philosopher, who coined the term for the first time during lecture s at Harvard University in 1955. Expressions such as I take this man to be my lawfully wedded husband are an example of an action in itself, rather than simply the description of an action. As Austin put it, to say something is to do something. (Austin, 1962) Performativity as a concept is closely related to postmodernism. The postmodern view does not see the idea of performance as intrinsically artistic or theatrical, but as something that pervades the fabric of the social, political and material world. It is an inalienable part of what constitutes power and knowledge. Teaching and lecturing, political speech-making and religious sermonising illustrates this characteristic of performativity. The postmodern view of things posits a standpoint that culture has become a commodity in itself, rather than a critique of commodity. It is inseparable from the context of post-World War II Western society, where new goods and technology, and corresponding cultural developments, emer ged from the rubble of post-war austerity. This shift from modernist to postmodernist thinking in the arts can be located in the 1950s, with movements such as abstract expressionism, modernist poetry and existentialism in literature and philosophy representing a high flowering of the modernist impulse. The postmodern world, originating in the 1960s, represented a blurring of distinction between high art and popular, mass-communicated mediums, formerly derided as low art. Recognising, analysing, and theorising the convergence and collapse of clearly demarcated realities, hierarchies, and categories is at the heart of postmodernism. Such a convergence or collapse is a profound departure from traditional Western performance theory. (Schechner, 2002, P. 116) In the Schechner universe, the previously solid foundation of modernism, with clearly defined borders of reality and representation in performance, has been wrenched away, and many of the assumptions in the western artistic tradition, from Plato and Aristotle on, such as the notion that theatre reflects, imitates or represents reality, in both individual and social life. Representational art of all kinds is based on the assumption that art and life are not only separate but of different orders of reality. Life is primary, art secondary. (Schechner, 2002, P.116) In Performance Studies, Schechner asserts that performing onstage, performing in special social situations (public ceremonies, for example), and performing in everyday life are a continuum. (Schechner, 2002, P. 143) His contention that each and every one of us is in some sense a performer is difficult to dispute. Engaging in real life is often indistinguishable from role play, and in todays surveillance societies of Western culture, with CCTV cameras seemingly everywhere, the scope for performance as an extension of simply being has never been wider. The evident logical development of this is the ubiquitous reality TV show , as well as the do-it-yourself webcam and personal websites on the internet, both of which have contributed a new dimension to the style of being. 2 Pop artist Andy Warhol would surely have embraced the new medias possibilities for exhibitionism, and reflected wryly on his own pioneering role in this phenomenon. His films of the1960s and 70s were forerunners of reality TV, and his mantra of 15 minutes of fame has never seemed more applicable. At first glance, Schechners hypotheses appears to fulfil both Warhols philosophy and Shakespeares oft-quoted All the worlds a stage, and all the men and women merely players as an approach to performance. The key concern of the drama ordnance practitioner is to place this into the context of performing a in a way beyond simply being in itself to the portrayal of a self-contained thing in itself- an abstract presentation of a text or idea, for the purposes of entertain mentor education. (E.g. Theatre-in-education) The actor or pla yer is not alone in presenting self-contained performances, with a beginning, middle and end. As Schechner observes, various figures in the public arena adopt strategies of performance and role play, such as politicians, religious leaders, and businessmen and women, conducting presentations at meetings: Paid performers all seeking attention, adulation, re-election, and money. (Schechner, 2002, P. 146) They all have their own strategies and scenarios to achieve effects, towards a specific goal, and, like the theatre/performing arts practitioner, their performances are predicated on self-consciousness. Across this very wide spectrum of performing are varying degrees of self-consciousness and consciousness of the others with whom and for whom we play. The more self-conscious a person is the more one constructs behaviour for those watching and/or listening, the more such behaviour is performing. (Schechner, 2002, P.146) The application of role playing in many context s, from psychotherapy sessions to teacher training exercises, follows similar approaches as drama improvisation classes, albeit with different objectives, but no less in addressing the self-conscious and unconscious impulses which lie at the basis of performance. It reflects the in-built routines, rituals and conventions of everyday life, instilled from birth, and through childhood experience. The Jungian theories of archetypes and the collective unconscious would suggest that the individuals mind is not a tabularasa (blank page) at the time of birth the implications of which are potent with creative possibilities for the practitioner/performing artist. The concept of performing in everyday life is a central aspect of performativity, as envisaged by Schechner. Performativity is everywhere in daily behaviour, in the professions, on the internet and media, in the arts and in the language. (Schechner, 2002, P. 110) It is a natural progenitor of role play and improvisation. Th e expression showing off is heard frequently throughout childhood, but is equally applicable to adult behaviour. Certain jobs and professions have evolved traditional codes of conduct, some of which have emerged as specific character traits, behaviour patterns and tones of voice. These have in turn been stylised into stereotypical representations: the roles of dignified clergyman, ardent reporter, solemn court judge, et al. They usually adhere to custom, but have evolved into modes of performance. The implication is that many individuals, going about their everyday business are not being themselves all of the time. They are acting out roles, predetermined to the point of being programmed in some cases. Performing in everyday life involves people in a wide range of activities from solo or intimate performances behind closed doors to small group activities to interacting as part of a crowd. (Schechner,2002, P. 175) Schechner observes that the social codes of our daily lives are adapted to greater or lesser degrees by everyone. The unconventional or rebellious resist the rules, but only revolutionaries seek to break them to achieve permanent change a principal equally applicable to artists. The arts, and particularly the theatre, have always made use of stereotypes and archetypes, often parodying or subverting them. Those practitioners who set out to achieve truthful performances, to get under the skin of a character, can identify with these typical representations, as role play exercises reveal, but the underlying personality lies a layer or two deeper. In the theatre the actor and the audience both know that the actor is not who she is playing. But in real life a person is simultaneously performing herself and being herself. The matter is, of course, nicely complicated because in some methods of realistic acting, actors are taught how to use their own selves to construct theatrical roles. (Schechner, 2002, P. 177) In approachi ng the role of , for example, a science teacher, and avoid a one-dimensional portrayal, an actor must discover the character as not simply a teacher, carrying out a teachers role, but as an individual when off duty during times, as Schechner puts it, when the performance aspect of ordinary behaviour is less obvious, but not absent. (Schechner, 2002, P. 177) 4 The actor can draw on his/her own experience, be it of a personal kind (i.e. they may have previously been a teacher) or from memories and observations based on an actual person, or persons. (E.g. a teacher who had taught them) Naturally, this approach places more demands on the actor, enabling him/her to enact a performance of a person who is also a science teacher, rather than simply a science teacher with no identity beyond his/her teaching duties. A-Gender, produced in 2004 by Joey Hately, artistic director of Transaction Theatre Company, was a postmodern theatre piece that adopted many of the elements of new thea tre and performance theory very effectively. Ostensibly a presentation of gender politics portrayed as a personal case history, A-Gender presented the issue of transsexualism in a powerfully theatrical manner, deploying methods of performance outside the restrictions of conventional theatre. The use of the one man (or one woman) show format (a prototypical popular cultural form) and the stand up routine, interwoven with visual media (video sequences) and other performance modes, enabled the artist/performer to convey the confusion, pain and anger of person whose gender identity causes them to believe that they have been born in the wrong body, the wrong gender. A-Gender adopted a modus operandi of style and performativity that placed it squarely in the new theatre approach. Its subject matter determined this, and evident devices to unsettle, or even alienate, the audience were adopted by Hately effectively. Some of these devices were not exclusively of postmodernist orig in, having close links to the Theatre of the Absurd and Brechtian strategies of alienation, but the multi-media technique of juxtaposing live theatre with pre-filmed video sequences, was pure new theatre. In fringe, community, and street theatre performances, the scope for applying Schechners performance theory is virtually limitless. The roots of street theatre are varied and eclectic, having both a primitive, ritualistic dimension, with antecedents in ancient and tribal cultures, as well as avant garde origins of performance art at the start of the 20th century (e.g. surrealism, dada, etc), culminating in the pop art, post-modern dance and Happenings of the 1960s, a movement from which Schechners early work in the theatre emerged. Street theatre performances contain some elements derived from Happenings, which Allan Kaprow outlined in The seven qualities of Happenings. (Kaprow, 1966) There are essential differences. Street theatre is usually played out for the benefit of an audience, albeit one of a generally random nature, some of whom may become participants, but not in the same way as in Happenings with everyone performing and no audience. One element they do share is the idea of the found space, which is crucial to environmental theatre. Kaprow stated, it doesnt make any difference how large the space is. Its still a stage. (Kaprow quoted in Schechner,1977) Schechner elaborated on this principle with his axiom that the theatrical event can take place in a totally transformed space, or found space. (Schechner, 1977) Whereas traditional theatre restricts the special place to an area (the stage) marked clearly as the space for performance, new theatre creates a space that is organically defined by the action. As in the Happening, and street theatre, space is transformed by the participants, who discover their own sets and scenery, using their surroundings, the various elements found in the environment of the space, including dà ©cor, textures and acoustics. Outdoor stage performances have adopted this principle, with many touring theatre companies using castle ruins, woodland clearings and riversides to stage Shakespeares Hamlet, A Midsummer Nights Dream and The Merchant of Venice. This use of transformed space is perhaps a more conservative application of Schechners theory, as it retains many of the conventions of traditional theatre. The theatrical stage is simply substituted for its outdoor counterpart. Much of street theatre approaches adopt a radical use of space in the environment. There are innumerable ways in which performance theory and new theatre are a useful alternative to traditional theatre. The application of other (visual) media has already been noted, as in the example of A-Gender. Schechner proposes others: I suggest other tools, other approaches. Mathematical and transactional game analysis, model building, comparisons between theatre and related performance activities all wil l prove fruitful. (Schechner, 1988, P. 27-28) This demands a high level of intense physical and mental rigour from the practitioner, as Schechner sees theatre as alive, experiential, organic, rather than something that merely replicates or reconstructs reality. His theory offers many practical methods for both student and practitioner to follow, in the form of both things to think about and things to do. These are inter-disciplinary and encourage an expansionist outlook, which is cross-cultural, as well as making explorative use of the inner life of the performer. This dynamic and multi-faceted approach can be adopted by the full range of performing arts, which the theory so comprehensively reflects. For both actors and directors it creates new space and new possibilities, especially to the experimental and fringe theatre practitioner.

Relationship of Jim and Huck - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 4 Words: 1146 Downloads: 6 Date added: 2019/05/18 Category Literature Essay Level High school Tags: Huckleberry Finn Essay Mark Twain Essay Did you like this example? The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, composed by Mark Twain, is an anecdote about a young man named Huck attempting to get himself and is torn between what he ought to do by law and what he ought to do by instinct. For Huck and his companion Jim, an outlaw slave, the Mississippi River is a definitive image of flexibility. Hucks dad Pap, while he was as yet alive, had beaten Huck over and over, captured and terrified his child to the degree, that Huck, out of dread, pretends his own particular demise to get away from Paps grip. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Relationship of Jim and Huck" essay for you Create order While Huck and Jim travel down the stream it ends up obvious that Jim is to a greater degree a dad figure to Huck than his organic dad. Pap educates the temperances of an existence not worth living, while Jim gives Huck the correct caring help, sympathy, and learning for Huck to wind up a man. In spite of the fact that Huck and Jim originate from discrete racial foundations their opportunity together enables them to outperform their ethnic isolation and turn out to be genuine companions, and family. All through the novel, Mark Twain shows the bond shaped between Huck, the youthful white hero, and Jim, Hucks dark sidekick. A dads ascribes are intended to be cases for which his posterity can base their own lives. Pap achieves non-of these traits. Pap is an oblivious alcoholic who endeavors to cheat and trick any conceivable individual. He goes so far as to try and filch from his-own particular child. Pap sees Huck as somebody upon whom he can stand up for himself. He endeavors to deplete Huck of all qualities that would make Huck better than himself. Youre instructed, as well, they say; can read and compose. You believe youre bettern your dad, now, dont you, since he cant? Ill remove it from you Aint you a sweet-scented dandy, however? A bed; and bed-garments whats more, your own dad got the opportunity to lay down with the swines I wager Ill take some o these ornamentations out o you before Im finished with you.(Twain 21-23) In the story, everything that is remotely associated with arrive radiates peril and shrouded traps that could be turned on Huck and Jim at any minute. All that they go over including land, regardless of whether it is creatures, individuals, water crafts, undermine the security of Jim and Hucks wonderful life on the stream. There is likewise dependably the peril that they will be gotten. Huckleberry Finn and Jim are no ifs ands or buts the most joyful and most a peace when gliding down the waterway on their pontoon. In any case, in spite of their flexibility, they before long find that they are not totally free from the indecencies and impacts of the towns on the streams banks. As the story advances and additionally Huck and Jims adventure, what was once appeared a heaven and a wellspring of flexibility, turns out to be just a transient ways to get out that in any case pushes Huck and Jim ever promote toward threat and pulverization. Huckleberry Finn ends up confronting the void of a futile life. He attempts to make a move and pick his own predetermination, however he is rather controlled by the activities of others and, frequently, left feeble to make himself. The stream, at that point, does not speak to genuine flexibility; for, there are times on the waterway when Huck isnt really allowed to pick his own behavior. Toward the start of the novel, Huck, caught in the Widows hold, states: I felt so solitary I most wished I was dead. Huck feels limited by the social desires for progress and needs to come back to his basic, lighthearted life. He detests the social and social trappings of clean garments, Bible investigations, spelling exercises, and conduct that he is compelled to take after. Hucks battle for normal opportunity, that is flexibility from society mirrors the more essential battle for Jim, who battles with the opportunity inside the general public. For sure, all through the novel, Huck frequently wishes for death. Hucks yearning for death is normally the aftereffect of society attacking his inner voice, as when he reevaluates helping Jim to get away: I got to feeling so mean and hopeless I most wished I was dead(Twain ). Hucks faked passing is progressively his very own declaration want for death than of any genuine dread of being trailed by Pap or the dowager. As Huck and Jim move down the stream, they understand how solid their kinship has moved toward becoming, regardless of their disparities in skin shading. One of Hucks real problem is whether to hand Jim over or not on account of he is an outlaw slave. In the event that Jim is turned in, Huck loses a closest companion and creating father figure. Opportunity, the one thing that both Huck and Jim are scanning for, is just found on the stream. Twain is demonstrating the peruser that occasionally one must split far from society and what the world perspectives as right and just. We have the quality inside to remain without anyone else and settle on choices for ourselves. The topic of death and fierceness, at that point, is available in all features of society. This is a period when the United States was engaged with the Civil War and the tranquility of the waterway is never more obvious to Huck and Jim and this is the defining moment where Huckleberry grows up. At the point when Huck comes back to his pontoon, he discovers Jim. Huckleberry has discovered that Jim resembles a dad figure. He has no compunctions about showing fondness for his embraced tyke, embracing him, kissing him, and giving him unlimited love. He is far from home and he composes a letter to Miss Watson specifying where Jim is and signs it Huck Finn. After he completes the letter, he feels passing alleviation and is certain that he has spared himself from going to hellfire for helping a slave. The impetus for Hucks activity is the offer of Jim once more into bondage. Huck trusts that the network will disregard him and hell be destined himself to exacting hellfire on the off chance t hat he helps Jim. In spite of this acknowledgment, Hucks decree OK, at that point, Ill go to hellfire, closes his battle in a brief and intense minute. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn doesnt end in a traditional sense that the peruser finds his shrouded honorability, since he is as yet the child of an alcoholic. It was through Jim that frees Huck and gives him the truth of Hucks dads passing that frees him from the tyrannical patriarch. Huck will proceed to attempt and evade the trappings of human progress and look for his own particular opportunity.

Learning Systems And The Education System - 1228 Words

In the past, the learning system was non complex. Students invariably learned in classrooms. They would learn from and be educated by their teacher and grasped other facts from textbooks. The teachers would ask them questions and students would answer them to display they understood. Other information about other parts of the world, they learned from books. Throughout the years, the learning system changed. Issues or flaws in the system were addressed and improved. Different learning systems that were superior were invented for the purpose of improving the education of students. Every time the learning system surpasses the others, the students and world’s education exceeds. The quick changes and the increase of difficulties of the current world causes new challenges and needs of improvement in our education system. The American education system in the past and present has changed because of the issues and flaws found in it, because of those issues, the students do not have the knowledge they are required to have in college or a successful career.We are realizing we have to change the way our learning system functions to fit the way the world is now. To overcome the difficulties in our learning system, we have to look at the problems and how to improve it. Any strategies we use must deal with the multiple factors that affect the education system, the influence of its part, and the complicated interdependencies within it and its environment. The learning system in the presentShow MoreRelatedLearning Systems And The Education System1228 Words   |  5 Pagesthe past, the learning system was really simple. Students always learned in classrooms. They would learn from and be taught by their teacher and grasped other facts from textbooks. The teachers would ask them questions and students would answer them to show they understood. Other information about other parts of the world, they learned from books. Throughout the years, the learning system changed. Issues or flaws in the system were addressed and improved. Different learning systems that were betterRead MoreThe Education System And The Learning Process1608 Words   |  7 Pagescharacter in the education system and the learning process. Her revolutionary philosophy on learning and how it should be introduced works so well that it is still being used over a hundred years after she invented it in 1907. She was born in 1870 and went to an all boys technical school to be a n engineer. After that, Maria tried for the University of Rome to become a medical professional but was rejected. She later became a teacher, physician and innovator who discovered the use of learning by buildingRead MoreWhy Learning Is The Core Of The Education System1730 Words   |  7 PagesLearning is the core of the education system and one of the most important activities needed for a child’s development. Philosophers and psychologists such as B.F Skinner (1948) have†¯been working for many years†¯trying to understand how learning occurs and how teaching styles can have an effect on said learning. There are many different learning theories†¯which provide an†¯understanding†¯on how†¯students absorb, process and retain information†¯during learning. Due to the observational and experimentalRead MoreEducation As A System Of Empowering Learning And Securing Of Data1144 Words   |  5 PagesEducation is portrayed as a system of empowering le arning and securing of data. Education happens under the course of an educator. 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This system was constantly revampedRead MoreTeaching And Learning Environments At The New Zealand Education System Essay1735 Words   |  7 PagesTeaching and learning is a pivotal process that is constantly evolving. The previous notions of education being about an expert in the field teaching those who do not know, are being challenged with the belief that students should be prepared for jobs that do not yet exist, using technology that isn’t yet invented and solving problems that we have not yet faced. This new stance on learning has initiated the upheaval of the New Zealand education system with the reformatting of many schools into modernRead MoreCooperative Learning Should Be Considered The Natural Progression Of The America n Education System1611 Words   |  7 PagesCooperative learning should be considered the natural progression of the American education system. Traditional education techniques place students in a competitive atmosphere. Cooperative learning requires students to work together to achieve success. A democratic method for a democratic society. Cooperative learning does not allow for a single winner, instead through group efforts, each student’s strengths help the collective achieve success. This paper will address the history of cooperative learningRead MoreA Brief Note On Abolish Grading And The American Education System Values Grades And Test Scores More Than Students Value Learning847 Words   |  4 Pagesmuch as I can in this class.† So why should the system that educators believe works and have used for so long change? The American education system values grades and test scores more than students value learning. Teachers expect their students to work hard for good grades and achieve the highest possible test scores on standardized test. If all teachers are concerned about is the grades their students are getting and not whether or not they are learning the material being taught to them. They can’tRead MoreThe Rigidness of the Higher Educational System1032 Words   |  5 PagesIn todays society, the higher education system has been a very controversial topic for many years. There are many problems that people have with the higher education system in America. People have questioned its tactics and debated the pros and cons of the higher education system. One of the many problems that higher education presents is that learning is linear. Many educators do not go into further detail with their lesson. Most teachers and professors in colleges have a set plan, and this isRead MoreA Brief Note On Open And Distance Learning1729 Words   |  7 Pages1.0 Introduction Open and Distance Learning has become a force to be reckoned with and is contributing immensely to both social and economic development and has become an accepted as an indispensable part of the mainstream of educational system both in developing as well as in the developed countries with particular emphasis for the former. This growth has been the result of the interest that has been evinced both by the trainers as well as the educators in the use of new, Internet-based and multimedia

Analysis Of Shooting An Elephant By George Orwell - 727 Words

George Orwell is an internationally acclaimed author that has been praised for his awareness of social injustice and opposition to totalitarianism. Although in his later life he realized some of his previous misdeeds when Orwell was a young man he served as a police officer in a British controlled Burma. The Burmese people at the time were rightfully scornful towards the Europeans; this includes the young Orwell. The time that Orwell spent in Burma was not all wasted, as it inspired him to come up with a story that questions human morality. Orwell wrote the short story â€Å"Shooting an Elephant† based on the experiences that he had when he was a young police officer in Burma. Orwell likely waited around a decade or so to write this story†¦show more content†¦Orwell wrote this to show the effects that imperialism has on those being conquered and oppressed, as well as those who live under the empire. Later on in â€Å"Shooting an Elephant† Orwell finds himself in a situation where he has hunted down the elephant that killed a coolie. After finding the elephant a crowd of Burmese citizens has gathered to watch Orwell kill the elephant, as he brought a rifle with him to defend himself. Orwell started to feel pressured by the natives to kill the elephant, as the crowd watching him were anticipating him shooting it. At this point Orwell had a decision to make; does he kill the elephant to appease the crowd, or does he leave it alone because it is minding its own business? He eventually kills the elephant to appease the crowd, but it makes one wonder, did Orwell have a choice in the matter? Did the social pressure make Orwell do it, or did he consider it a part of his duty? I think that the social pressure is what made Orwell shoot the elephant. With a crowd of two thousand natives that Orwell was trying to appease (and possibly impress), he felt that the only way out was to sh oot the elephant. The story tells us what can happen when someone feels cornered due to the entrapments of social pressure. If I was in Orwells place I think that I would have shot the elephant as well. Sure, in my right mind I would not shoot the elephant; but one has to consider the situation at hand. Being surrounded by twoShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of George Orwell s Shooting An Elephant 941 Words   |  4 PagesKylie Murphy Professor Wilson WR 122 5 February 2015 Analysis Essay   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   George Orwell’s  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Shooting an Elephant† is a story about the experience of the narrator who was asked to shoot a wild elephant. He was a police officer who worked for British imperialists and killing the elephant would help him receive good judgement from the villagers in Burma. Orwell says that imperialism is evil and should be eliminated while others think that it is good for the public. The purpose of Orwell’s storyRead MoreAnalysis Of Shooting An Elephant By George Orwell988 Words   |  4 PagesEric Arthur Blair, or commonly known as George Orwell, is the author of many compositions. Blair, the author of two of the most famous novels of the 1920s; Animal Farm and Nineteen Eighty-Four, was born in Eastern Indian. He joined the Indian Imperial Police in Burma but resigned in 1927 to become a writer (BBC). Orwell’s style of writing can be described as bold and vivid. He puts the truth in his writing. Orwell’s novel, â€Å"Shooting an Elephant,† was published in 1936. In the novel, a colonial policemanRead MoreAn Analysis Of Shooting An Elephant By George Orwell1147 Words   |  5 Pageswhere he is hated and pressured by a large number of people. George Orwell had made up his mind that imperialism was an evil thing and the sooner he chucked up his job and got out of it the better. As for his believe, â€Å"he was theoretically and secretly all for the Burmese and all against their oppressors, the British.† In the short story, â€Å"Shooting an Elephant†, George Orwell is face with an incident that leads him to shoot the elephant at the end of the story. Trough out the story he is faced withRead MoreRhetorical Analysis Of George Orwell s Shooting An Elephant 1272 Words   |  6 PagesRhetorical Analysis of George Orwell’s â€Å"Shooting an Elephant† George Orwell, a journalist and an author of 1903 through 1950, is not only the author of â€Å"Shooting an Elephant,† but surprisingly, he is also the narrator and the main character. Orwell’s narrative essay of 1936 takes place in squalid, British-occupied Moulmein, lower Burma. To begin, in the opening of his piece, Orwell describes himself as a young, British police officer who, ironically, despises the British imperial project in BurmaRead MoreAnalysis Of George Orwell s Orwell Shooting An Elephant 1189 Words   |  5 Pages   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Orwell’s Shooting an Elephant†: Effect of Imperialism in Burma Imperialism is a state of mind, fueled by the arrogance of superiority that could be adopted by any nation irrespective of its geographical location in the world. 1. Evidence of the existence of empires dates back to the dawn of written history in Egypt and in Mesopotamia, where local leaders extended their realms by conquering other states and holding them, when possible, in a state of subjection and semiRead MoreAnalysis Of George Orwell s Shooting An Elephant 1010 Words   |  5 Pagesforced to make can have long-lasting effects on them.†¯In Shooting an Elephant, by George Orwell, the author goes back to a situation in his life when he was a young adult where he had to make a choice between evil deeds. Many years later, the decision still haunted him. It takes place back when Orwell was a British police officer in Burma. He reevaluates his situation in life when he encounters a moral dilemma; to kill or save an elephant. Orwell is a confused and unhappy young policeman who lives inRead MoreAnalysis Of George Orwell s Shooting An Elephant 1265 Words   |  6 Pages  Shooting an Elephant is an essay by George Orwell, first published in the literary magazine New Writing in the autumn of 1936 and broadcast by the BBC Home Service on October 12, 1948. The essay describes the experience of the English narrator, possibly Orwell himself, called upon to shoot an aggressive elephant while working as a police officer in Burma. Because the locals expect him to do the job, he does so against his better judgment, his anguish increased by the elephant s slow and painfulRead MoreAnalysis Of George Orwell s Shooting An Elephant 951 Words   |  4 Pagesthe iron first, does not necessarily rule. In George Orwell’s â€Å"Shooting An Elephant,† the narrator clearly illustrates that power, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. He implicates that power is an illusion of the oppress, and instead held by the oppressed, which ultimately renders the holder impotent. â€Å"Shooting an Elephant† is the story of Orwell’s experience as an officer of the Imperial British government during a stint in Burma. Orwell constructs a parallel between the devastation ofRead MoreAnalysis Of George Orwell s Shooting An Elephant 989 Words   |  4 PagesPride{1} Unanticipated choices one is forced to make can have long-lasting effects.{2} In Shooting an Elephant, by George Orwell, the author recounts an event from his life when he was about twenty years old during which he had to choose the lesser of two evils. Many years later, the episode seems to still haunt him. The story takes place at some time during the five unhappy years Orwell spends as a British police officer in Burma. He detests his situation in life, and when he is facedRead MoreAnalysis Of George Orwell s Shooting An Elephant 1233 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"Shooting an Elephant† â€Å"Shooting an Elephant† is about the guilt of British colonialism that George Orwell faces as a sub-divisional police officer. Based on his experiences, he has seen the real wickedness of imperialism. In â€Å"Shooting an Elephant†, Orwell displays the evil of imperialism as harsh, belligerent, and provoking. First, Orwell encounters the harshness of imperialism. Furthermore, Orwell says, â€Å" the sneering yellow faces of young men†¦ the insults hooted me when I was at a safe distance

The Concept Of State Of Nature - 918 Words

The Concept of State of Nature A British philosopher and an egoist, Thomas Hobbes believes that humans are selfish by nature. He believes that we are all potential enemies and that we need authorities such as police, the military and courts of law to protects us from each other. He also believes that laws and morality only exist due to fear of living in a state of chaos and conflict. Hobbes describes life without any incentive to be good as â€Å"nasty, brutish and short† otherwise known as State of Nature. When Hobbes refers to State of Nature, he is referring to the result of a society in which authority and incentive to be good are taken away. The words that he uses to describe life in this state include â€Å"nasty, brutish and short†. Hobbes adapted this theory from his belief that all humans are inherently selfish. With this belief comes the question of how we all get along in a society if we are all selfish human beings. Hobbes explanation to this is in his notio n of the social contract. This basically means that we give up some of our freedom in exchange for security, An example of social contract would be speeding. Yes, many people would love to go well over the speed limit, but we wouldn’t want everyone doing the same thing in fear of our safety. Therefor we give up speeding for safety and agree to be governed by police that enforce speeding laws that everyone is required to follow. Some philosophers have compared Hobbes’ state of nature to a famous novel written byShow MoreRelatedThomas Hobbes And John Locke928 Words   |  4 Pagessociety continues to progress and shape, comes along ideas to help create a foundation to stabilize citizens. Perspectives on human nature itself and the purpose of a government must be explicated to generalize what is needed and why. To create a positive and successful political institution these values must be viewed to attain the prime government. The state of nature is the freedom of indivi duals in a civilization where there is no formed society, government, laws, safety, etc. both Thomas HobbesRead MoreConceptions of the Social Contract Theory924 Words   |  4 Pagestheories and the ways that he believed reminds me of present day America. If we do not have political and civil rules, we as mankind, will result back into a state of nature. Hobbes states that when man is in the state of nature that, â€Å"the life of man, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.† I do agree with Hobbes that living in the state of nature would be hard for us to do in present day because we have more knowledge than they did back then. Intern, people did not know that they were poor becauseRead MoreRalph Waldo Emerson s Philosophy On Truth And Lies1172 Words   |  5 Pagesessay, Nature further examines the ideas of truth and concepts introduced by Friedrich Nietzsche in On Truth and Lies in a Non-Moral Sense. Nietzsche interpretations of the truths of the universe and the lang uage we use to enforce those truths were wrong. Nietzsche, like Emerson, believed we had to conceive our own knowledge and truth in the universe, however, he did not introduce how to go about doing so. Emerson, furthers Nietzsche’s theory on truth and concepts into his own theory on Nature and proposesRead MoreDualism of Human Nature Essay684 Words   |  3 PagesThe Dualism of Human Nature and Its Social Conditions- Emile Durkheim According to Durkheim’s work The Dualism of Human Nature and Its Social Conditions (DHN), a man has a dual nature which is made up of the body (individual) and the soul (social). He sheds light on this by citing post-Durkheim theories which he does not agree with and which do not solve the problem of this dual nature. Durkheim also uses The Elementary Forms of the Religious Life (EFRL) to discuss the religious aspect of theRead MoreThomas Hobbes State of Nature in Leviathan Essay847 Words   |  4 Pagesparamount. Within the State of Nature that is, outside of civil society we have a right to all things ‘even to one another’s body’, and there would be no agreed authority to ensure the moral grounds of our decisions. Therefore since there are no restrictions and no shared authority; man is naturally un-guarded and prone to conflict and each individual is deemed a potential threat to our resources. From this concept Hobbes deduces that the state of nature is thus primarily a state of war, which leadsRead MoreHobbes Laws of Nature Essay700 Words   |  3 Pagesread one segment of his works†¦) at least in regard to human nature. Hobbes takes the position that in a â€Å"state of nature† there are no laws and as such the concept of justice and injustice is null, because there is no law to violate or enforce. Which, in the most basic, factual and literary sense, is true. But in application, I don’t believe that the theory holds much merit. Hobbes’ basis for the state of nature is that in such a state, there is no authority, and without authority, there are noRead MoreHow Does Private Property Begin1140 Words   |  5 PagesAccording to the Rousseau the state of nature which he mentioned was suppositious, primordial habitation where humans live uncontaminated by the society. He said men are born with the blank face which is neither good nor bad, but the society and social environment in which he is brought up plays an important role in shaping their nature. People have complete physical and emotional freedom for doing anything in society. But he also mentioned some of the drawbacks of humans are that they have not yetRead MorePolitical Theory: Property1369 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction One of the most confounding concepts in the discipline of political theory is the issue of property. Classical philosophers like Plato and Aristotle dedicate a large part of their works to speculations about the state of nature and property ownership. However, a comprehensive theoretical exploration of the concept of private property ownership is credited to relatively modern philosophers like Thomas Hobbes, John Locke and Jean Jacques Rousseau. The writings of Locke and Rousseau onRead MoreEssay about The Nature of Evil1552 Words   |  7 Pageswhen one investigates the meaning of evil from religious, social, and philosophical vantage points that they may truly discover the nature of evil. In religion, the concepts of good and evil refer to a range of objects, desires, and behaviors which constitute morally positive and morally negative consequences on a spiritual level. Good is a broad concept typically comprised by associations with charity, happiness, love, and prosperity. Evil, on the other hand, can represent deliberateRead MoreThe Physics Of Mathematics And Mathematics Essay1236 Words   |  5 Pages Introduction There are reasons to doubt the physical nature of reality, tenets taught by society through heredity and ones’ own consciousness, simply because of the fallacies and imperfections of the human condition. Thus, it is reasonable that any human thought can be questionable. However, Mathematics is not to be doubted. Although, limitations, paradoxes and problems exist in mathematics and is a product of human intelligence, Nevertheless, Mathematics is a continuum of understanding of the universe

Code of Ethics for Business free essay sample

Code of Ethics Company A is committed to providing expertise management consulting to nonprofit organizations that serve and meet the needs of citizens and communities. This Code of Ethics sets forth standards of behavior for our employees and managers. It is intended to assist them in fulfilling their duties and public representation of Company A. Employee Standards The success of Company A depends on our clients and their confidence in our services. We need to value that nonprofits are supported by individuals, corporations and foundations through charitable contributions and volunteer efforts. Many nonprofit organizations are also funded by government through contracts and grants. Therefore, Company A has adopted to use a Code of Ethics to promote ethical practices and accountability from our employees that will be working with these nonprofit organizations and representing Company A. Based on fundamental values, such as honesty, integrity, fairness, respect, trust, responsibility and accountability- Company A Standards are our foundation and we will strive to be ethical and accountable in our program operations. We will write a custom essay sample on Code of Ethics for Business or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Employee Conduct Employees are responsible for their own actions and job performance. All employees will have an annual review at the beginning of the calendar year to evaluate performance and company expectations. In addition all employees and managers are expected to abide by the following: Â ·Treat fellow employees with respect at all times. No forms of abusive language, harassment and discrimination will be tolerated. Â ·All employees are expected to maintain client confidentiality and keep client information secure at all times. Â ·Employees are expected to have good attendance and punctuality with the exception of vacation and sick leave. During company time or hours of employment, employees are expected to refrain from/ or use alcoholic beverages. Company A has a zero tolerance for employees that use illegal drugs. Employees of Company A must submit to random drug testing if there is reasonable suspicion of drug use. Â ·Professional attire is to be worn during hours of business by all employees and managers. Â ·Take reasonable care of property owned or use d by the company, and do not use company property (computer equipment/ internet/ telephones/office supplies) for personal purposes without authorization from management. Theft of any kind is not acceptable and will not be tolerated. Failure to observe the above rules represents misconduct and may lead to disciplinary action being taken against the individual, in accordance with Company As disciplinary procedures. Actions may include written warnings, suspension without pay, dismissal with notice, and summary dismissal without notice. The penalty applied will correspond with the degree of seriousness of the misconduct, and consideration will be given of the employees service, work record, previous behavior, and other extenuating circumstances. Conflict of Interest Staff members and management shall act in the best interest of the company, rather than in personal interests or the interests of third parties. Company A has a policy that requires all employees to sign a Non-Compete/Non-Disclosure form before beginning employment. Company A will routinely and systematically review this policy annually with employees to prevent actual, potential, or perceived conflicts of interest. Ethics Training Company A requires that ethics training be mandatory for all new employees. Training will be conducted by the Human Resources Department and should last two days, depending on the number of employees being trained at the time. The purpose of this training (in addition to your department and/or position training) is to focus on principles of good character, ethical decision-making, and respect. Within these principles, employees learn to treat others with fairness and strive for the highest ethical behavior at work. During ethics training, employees will be given real-world examples of what is acceptable and unacceptable behavior in the work place. Employees will have an opportunity to role play and find problem-solving solutions[-0] to ethical dilemmas they may be faced with in their positions. In addition, employees will be given ample time to ask questions about any information covered during training. Once new employees of the company review the ethics policies and procedures, they will be provided with a copy of the ethics policies to take home. All employees will be required to complete ethics training prior to starting any other training for their hired positions. When we reach the end of training, an assessment will be given to employees to show their knowledge of the information covered during training. At that time you will be required to sign a copy of the Code of Ethics Policy to attest to your compliance. Please recognize that every employee and manager currently employed with company A has completed ethics training and corroborated by signing an agreement to abide by our code of ethics. Every employee and manager at Company A is required to complete an annual review of the code of ethics and policies. It is a short refresher course done at the end of every calendar year. Each department attends as a group and is expected to re-sign a current pledge to follow the guidelines established within the policy. Monitoring, Auditing and Reporting Monitoring: Company A has an Ethics Committee that is made up of the following members: upper management, Human Resources and the owners of the company. The committee will take reasonable steps to monitor and audit compliance of the Code of Ethics. Company A has established monitoring and auditing systems that are reasonably designed to detect conduct in violation of the Code of Ethics by managers and employees of the company. The committee is expected to conduct a thorough evaluation within 24 hours after a violation is discovered or reported. Quarterly meetings will be held with the ethics committee and department leaders to review and discuss any ethical situations that have commenced and how they were handled, as well as how to prevent reoccurrence. The Code of Ethics may be amended or modified by the committee at any time in order to ensure a proper and proficient work environment for the employees of Company A. Auditing: When a violation is reported to the committee, an appointed representative is required to prepare a report of the described violation. At that time an informal inquiry or a formal investigation shall be started. Any and/or all discoveries and findings will be documented. Documents shall include results of the investigation, including recommendations and/or resolution of the violation. Any abuses found to violate state or federal laws will be reported to authorities without delay. Twice a year, Company A has an external ethics audit team review existing audit records and other information. The external team evaluates the processes and practices of Company A and our Ethics Committee. The purpose and goal behind this is to make sure the Ethics Committee of Company A is compliant with the latest standards and abiding by current laws. They will also certify that correct actions were taken and if any modifications need to be made to the Code of Ethics policy. Reporting Misconduct: Company A encourages a free and open atmosphere that allows and encourages employees and others to convey work-related concerns about ethical issues, and/or to report violations or suspected violations of laws, regulations, and company policy. Violation reports should be made to a member of the Ethics Committee or the Human Resources Department. All reports will be handled confidentially to the greatest extent practicable under the circumstances. The existence and nature of the reporting system shall be communicated to all employees. The reporting system shall include an Ethics Hotline and Email with the option to report information anonymously. It shall be a violation of company policy to intimidate or impose any form of retaliation /retribution on any employee who utilizes the reporting system in good faith to report suspected violations. Any employee, who feels that he or she has been retaliated against or threatened with retaliation for these reasons, should report the matter immediately to a Human Resources Representative or any member of the Ethics Committee. Updating/Improving Ethics Policy It is the responsibility of Company A and the Ethics Committee to ensure that changes and updates to the Ethics Policy are made in order to stay up-to-date with the modifying of laws and industry practices or standards. Over time there are different issues and threats a company’s policies must address. We will also update our training programs and manuals to reflect the changes in any policies. If and when policies are altered, employees will be notified in the following ways: Â ·Company Email will be sent out to all employees. Managers will hold department meetings to announce and clarify changes. Â ·New inserts will be given to every employee to add to their Code of Ethics manuals at home. Â ·Signatures will be required from each employee verifying that they understand and will abide by the modifications or changes made to the Ethics Policies. Any questions, comments or concerns in regards to the Ethics Policies should be directed to the H uman Resources Department or any member of the Ethics Committee. [-0] http://www. ehow. com/how_2076438_provide-employee-ethics-training. html

Voluntary Administration And Its Applicability †Free Samples

Question: Discuss about the Voluntary Administration And Its Applicability. Answer: Introduction: The objective of the report is to make a clear conception regarding the voluntary administration and its applicability on the company-based disputes. In this report, problem faced by the TS Development has been described and a back history of the company and the problem faced by the company has been discussed. The definition of the voluntary administration in this case and the achievement, if any, of the administrator has been highlighted[1]. It is important to decide the issue whether there is any necessity to apply this formula to resolve a company related problem or not. Discussion: History of the company: The present company is a building company having its head office at Adelaide, Australia. The main subject of the company is to make middle density construction and the company has fifteen years experience in this ground. Tom Morgan has founded the company and he is the present Managing Director of the company. The company is running its trade business under the purview of two subsidiary companies such as Somerset Morgan and Evoque Construction. It has been reported that the company is recently suffering from the family dispute and that affected its business and remain many customers being dissatisfied with its services. Mishap to the company: For many times, the company has been suffering from certain family disputes and the financial dispute regarding the company has been pointed out regarding the southern suburb property. It has been observed that the company is running its business through two subsidiaries companies. However, the projects undertaken by both the companies were lengthy and the company has to face various problems regarding the same. The foremost affected version regarding the problem is the financial crisis and it has been noticed that the company failed to complete the project and many clients have gotten incomplete flats. This affected the reputation of the company and sustained millions of dollar liabilities for the property development[2]. Voluntary administration: Voluntary administration can be treated as an option for the liquidation of an insolvent company. In this process, the responsibility of assessing the assets of the company is being entrusted on the hands of an independent person and he summarise all the availabilities resolving the crisis and states the best option for the improvement of the condition of the company as well as the owner and the creditors[3]. The company can appoint a voluntary administrator if majority of the company will deliver their consent for the settlement. Necessity of voluntary administration: It is a speedy process and the parties are choosing the option to avoid the complexity of the court. It is an established provision of the law that when the process of voluntary administration has been going on, no personal guarantee against the director of the company can be taken by anyone. The creditors of the company can get certain chances to chalk out certain review regarding the director of the company and it facilitates the process of negotiation in between the company and the creditors. Role of the voluntary administrator in this case: Mackay Goodwin was appointed as the voluntary administrator in the case and the reason behind the appointment or choosing the option of administrator was that the founder of the company did not want to wound up the company. The role of the administrator is to assess the probabilities and prepare a Deed of Company Agreement (DOCA). The administrators investigate into the company affairs and help to facilitate the process of implementation. DOCA is an agreement where the process of assets division of the company is described. To resolve the issue whether the problem regarding the company has been sought out by the administrator or not, the opinion of the director of the company should take into consideration[4]. Result of the case: It has been noticed that the managing director of the company was very much pleased with the works of the administrators and it has been observed that the administrators, to certain extent, succeed to resolve the financial crisis and problem between the company director and the creditors. The administrators had able to save the company from being wound up. Recommendation: It is a reported fact that the success parameters regarding the administrators process is not good. It has been noticed that only 27% cases has achieved the main goal. The recommendation should be in favour of the court process for the long lasting effect as the advice of the voluntary administration is lasting for five weeks. Besides that, the process is also hectic some. It is not required that every party will follow the guidelines of the administration. On the other hand, the decision of the court is binding in nature and the parties are forced to abide by the order, else judicial process will be initiated against them. It is also recommended that the process of voluntary administration be based on the DOCA and initiate negotiation process between the company and the creditors. Conclusion: It can therefore be stated that the present case has been solved by the interference of the voluntary administration[5]. However, apparently the process is low expensive and it enhanced to avoid the complexity of the court. Still, the decision process of the court and the validity of the court judgment is far better than the administrators. Bibliography: de Guglielmo, Giordano, et al. "Voluntary induction and maintenance of alcohol dependence in rats using alcohol vapor self-administration."Psychopharmacology234.13 (2017): 2009-2018. Fu, Jenny, and Roman Tomasic. "The Use of Noncourt?Based Corporate Rescue: Does the Australian Voluntary Administration Procedure Provide a Model for China?."International Insolvency Review26.2 (2017): 153-175. Harris, Jason. "Voluntary administration: Using voluntary administration to dilute minority shareholdings."Australian Restructuring Insolvency Turnaround Association Journal28.1 (2016): 22. Hibberd, Marelda, and Sam Kingston. "Voluntary administration-Is your appointment valid?."Australian Restructuring Insolvency Turnaround Association Journal29.1 (2017): 18. Pitsis, Tyrone S., et al. "Governing projects under complexity: theory and practice in project management."International Journal of Project Management32.8 (2014): 1285-1290.