A Brief History Of Musical Theater essays

A Brief History Of Musical Theater essays Though it has its roots in European forms such as opera and operetta, what we know as musical theatre today is a form that developed in America during the 20th century. The birth of musical theatre can be traced to an 1866 production called The Black Crook, a far-fetched melodrama scheduled to open in New York City. At the same time a French ballet troupe was scheduled to appear but the theatre where the ballet was to take place burned to the ground. The producer of The Black Crook, having little faith in his show, hired the ballet troupe to be part of his production. The dances were performed in between scenes of the play, thus joining a play with music and dance. It was widely successful. Following this, most of the musicals that were seen came from the vaudeville type show. They were primarily revues with scenes and songs. Little vignettes that were separate entities, featuring very popular songs and usually a large chorus of pretty female dancers. The subject matter was light and frivolous. Popular composers of this time included Irving Berlin, Jerome Kern, George Gershwin, Cole Porter and Richard Rodgers. The lyrics were generally witty and clever, and they reflected a high order on intelligence. For example, in Youre the Top Cole Porter compares the singers beloved to a wide range of objects, stating that the person is the Colosseum and the Louvre Museum, a Bendel bonnet and a Shakespears sonnet, they rhyming the Tower of Pisa with the smile on the Mona Lisa. Another major milestone in the early development of musical theatre was the work of George M. Cohen. Cohen was a performer, writer and composer who wrote music with a very definite American strain, such as Yankee Doodle Dandy and Give My Regards to Broadway. He wrote dialogue for his shows that was more down-to-earth and was used to move the story forward. This was the birth of the book musical. A musical te...

The Graduate Essay

The Graduate Essay The Graduate Essay The Graduate The Graduate is 1967 film that was based on a 1963 novel, The Graduate. I have viewed both the screenplay and the trailer of this film. The trailer took important scenes and presented them in such ways that could actually change the plot of the movie in some ways. The trailer combined so many key shots of the film that gives you just enough to engage you emotionally and spark your curiosity. As the trailer begins you immediately hear an asynchronous sound (Sikov, 79) of background music. The song playing is The song of Silence by Simon Garfunkel (wikipedia.com). The trailer opens up with a long shot of a young man sitting outside in front of a fountain and there’s a flag waving right above him. The camera then cuts to an extreme long high shot to capture the entire landscape of the university and students walking around the campus behind the young man. The next few shots are various close-up shots complied together that shows several people coming up to Ben rubbing his head a nd hugging him congratulating him on his graduation. You hear a one lady ask him â€Å"what are you going to do now?† And his reply was â€Å"I was going to go upstairs for a minute†. This showed that he was definitely clueless that the question pertained to his future career. In the first thirty seconds of the trailer you are already aware that the movie is based on a guy named Ben who just graduated college and with only a few spoken words you can derive to the conclusion that he is undecided about his future. The trailer then shoots to a close-up shot of Ben sitting in front of an aquarium with a very depressed look on his face. From this shot you can assume that Ben is troubled or in some sort of way. A nervous looking Ben is seen sitting with a drink in his hand staring at something or someone. You then see a women who he refers to as â€Å"Mrs. Robinson† sitting on a chair with a cigarette in her hand giggling as she lifts her leg onto a chair. This is an eyeline match shot due to the fact that you see Ben staring at someone but you don’t actually see the person and in the very next shot you see Mrs. Robinson staring back at Ben, but you don’t see physically see Ben in this shot. In the next shot Ben is now standing up in front of Mrs. Robinson, but you only see her leg that she has raised up on a chair next to her. The framing of the camera is shooting Ben through the opening under Mrs. Robinson’s leg. You hear him say â€Å"You’re trying to seduce me† and she giggles and then he ask â€Å"aren’t you†. This to me implies he was confused but yet curious as well when he asked for confirmation. Also, from this shot you can assume that â€Å"Mrs. Robinson, is married. It’s never shown in this clip whether or not Mrs. Robinson confirmed or denied Ben’s allegations. The trailer then immediately takes you to another scene where Ben and Mrs. Robinson are sitting at a table in an establishment. They exchange a few words regarding if Ben had gotten a room. So this leads you to believe that they are in a hotel and Ben’s allegations may have been true but it also tells you that he may have taken her up on the offer. In the next scene you see the both Ben and Mrs. Robinson in a low key lit room and she’s is trying to remove her clothing and states that she’s about to get undressed as a nervous he watches as the scene ends. This leads viewers to assume that believe that they have had sexual intercourse but it is not shown. In the film they do engage in sexual intercourse for the first time, not realizing that this would be a full on affair. In the next scene you see Ben and a younger women sitting in what looks like a car, due to part of the steering wheel that you see in the corner of the shot. With a concerning look on her face she asks Ben â€Å"Are you having an affair with someone?† This raises eyebrows as it makes you wonder what made her ask that question and also who is this young woman. She calls him Benjamin which makes me think she close to him, maybe a

Delta Airlines Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Delta Airlines - Essay Example The company survived the tough market conditions in the aftermath of 9/11 to become the top player in the industry. Delta Airlines has benefited from implementing innovative marketing strategies. The use of marketing alliances has enabled Delta to increase its travel destination offerings by 54%. A branding strategy allows a company to charge a premium price for its services while retaining a higher proportion of its customers. Branding strategy develop over time. Delta has been in the industry over 85 years. Delta has been able to increase the value of its brand by being a good corporate citizen. The company has great environmental record. The company hired ENSR, a leading environmental service provider to implement a recycling program in order to reduce the amount of waste generated in its flights (Lohas, 2007). The grand marketing strategy Delta is utilizing is a differentiation strategy. Differentiated marketing involves operating in several market segments and designing products or special service offering for each segment (Kotler, 2003). Two factors that enabled the company to differentiate itself from its competition are product variety and the quality of its service offerings. With the help of marketing alliances and partnerships the company is able offer its customer 572 different travel destinations. The company’s ability to enter into partnership agreements with other airlines allowed the enterprise to increase its target market. The marketing alliances at Delta have increased the scope of the companies market. The company’s customer profile includes both business travelers and people who travel in leisure trips. The markets the company targets are not limited to domestic travelers. The marketing alliances Delta established helped the company increase its presence in foreign marketplaces. Delta airlines utilizes a segmentation marketing strategy. The company uses its strategic alliance as tool to penetrate different

Discourse on Method Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Discourse on Method - Essay Example In his work, Descartes argues that Science is not the only way of dealing with difficulties in the society. He indicates that Science is full of flaws and that human beings should not confine themselves in the practicality of scientific experiments. In this context, therefore, he indicates that, the human soul is the origin of truth, as it allows human beings go through a process of soul and self searching, in an endeavor to come up with answers to questions of nature. To prove this point, in part four, he gives an example of the incapability of Mathematics to distinguish the truth from fallacy. This is an interpretation of the fact that, Science does not encompass all aspects of problem solving skills and that human soul allows an individual go through a process of soul search; thus, allow an examination of facts from a first hand experience on the organs and they determine the existence of beings. For one to get answers regarding nature, they must have one on one experience with th e attributes and not just by creating formulae and theorems to explain the facts. He gives an example of feeling the heat through the fingers to the blood; thus, ascribe meanings to the same. In part 4, (pp.54) he indicates that, in the case that the human did not have a body, and the physical world did not exist, the existence of the soul is an explanation of existence in the world. The body is distinct from the soul and each exists on their own. This is an evidence of Descartes; part 6 is concurrent with the works of part 4 and 5. Just like in part 6, Descartes’ thoughts concur with those of part 4. He argues for, and proves the subsistence of the soul as well as God. This can be evidenced from his argument that the senses are unreliable from the nature of dreams. From this example, Descartes aims at proving his existence, and that he thinks that he exists. An analysis of facts leads to Descartes thinking and belief that the soul and the body are separate and the senses in the human body are not beneficial in coming up with the exact aspect of issues in the environment. From his thoughts, Descartes goes to an extent of doubting that he exists and that perfection is way beyond unreachable. He insists that perfection is only possible in God, and attests to the fact all things form Him and that He is the only one who has answers to the seemingly extremely difficult concepts to understand. From part 5, the thoughts of part 6 seeds of truth have a great correlation. Descartes explains human anatomy being almost perfect yet their ability to reason has a lot of flaws. Human beings, for instance, are rational beings whose soul, in his argument, must be alienated from the body. The human soul is way beyond death, and must not diminish with the fatality of the body of the human. This is an interpretation of the immortality of the human soul. In search for truth, Descartes argues that, aspects of fame and fortune may not be beneficial. Descartes’ pursuit prone to error Descartes confirms to the fact that all forms of undertakings are prone to errors. In his work, Descartes (pp.51) indicates that, in the quest to search for truth, human beings tend to relay on their senses to have an understanding of the facts that are around them. In this context, therefore, he

My Personal Faith Essay Example for Free

My Personal Faith Essay My personal faith and beliefs contribute to every aspect of my life. I come from a Christian family and a congregation of baptized believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. My parents have always given me unconditional love and dedication, while teaching me healthy boundaries pertaining to life. Such as always putting the Lord first, being more concerned about the pain of consequences for irresponsibility, the rights and wrongs of my behavior, and what pain any of my actions may cause for others and God. My faith has enabled me to handle life challenges from my past and present. Some of these challenges have been series of events that I could hardly believe were happening, while others came with great joy. At five years old, my younger brother, Chandler, died unexpectedly. This was a tough challenge for my whole family to face. This challenge could have easily torn my family apart but together, as a team with God, we worked hard at picking up the pieces and moving forward even when there were days that seemed to be impossible. In the fifth grade, I was diagnosed with a common learning disability known as Attention Deficit Disorder. I am faced with this challenge on a daily basis. I have learned to cope with this disorder over the years by making prayer and patience priorities in helping me conquer this challenge. This challenge was especially difficult during my SAT and ACT tests. Certain scores on these tests were required to get into college and play NCAA football. The stress and pressure of taking these tests felt unbearable at times. While studying and before and during each test, I would remind myself that, through God, all things are possible. With God by my side, I was able to achieve the scores needed to reach my college and athletic goals. Varsity football has had an enormous impact on me during high school because it taught me how dedication and determination would help me succeed in academics as well as in extracurricular activities. Being part of a team helped me develop leadership skills within myself. Each time I step on the field, I put forth an effort to play my best. For me, each game started with a prayer that God would help me make good decisions and keep me and my team safe, win or lose. I earned many Regional and State awards for my achievements in football. All District First Team Defense 2011 and All Region Second Team Defense 2011 were two of my greatest achievements. Again, through God, all things are possible. Strong faith, good character and determination to succeed and live â€Å"a life that matters† can help anyone overcome any challenging situation that they are faced with in their lifetime. They also produce hope within oneself and set the foundation for an integral person to build on their morals and values. I plan to influence others to live â€Å"a life that matters† by staying true to my faith and hope within myself and allowing patience and perseverance to always be a strong characteristic of my character. I am going into the nursing program at Shepherd University in the fall. I plan to further my education into physical therapy. After my education is finished and I enter the working world, I want my greatest accomplishments to be encountering someone daily that I can portray my faith and integrity to that will make a difference in both our lives. I want to be able to reflect back on myself as a person who lived my entire life as one that mattered regardless of what stage of life or challenge that I am faced with at that time. As Christians, we are called and obligated to serve God with our time, talents, and material possessions but we must also recognize these areas as being entrusted to us to be used for the glory of God and helping others. God wants us to seek to bring others under the sway of righteousness, truth, and brotherly love.

Realism vs. Romanticism in Hawthornes Young Goodman Brown Essays

     Ã‚   Nathaniel Hawthorne’s classic tale â€Å"Young Goodman Brown† is a good example of a short story embodying both characteristics of realism and characteristics of romanticism. M. H. Abrams defines romantic themes in prominent writers of this school in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries as being five in number: (1) innovations in the materials, forms and style; (2) that the work involve a â€Å"spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings†; (3) that external nature be a persistent subject with a â€Å"sensuous nuance† and accuracy in its description; (4) that the reader be invited to identify the protagonist with the author himself; and (5) that this be an age of â€Å"new beginnings and high possibilities† for the person (177-79).    Let us examine â€Å"Young Goodman Brown† in light of the above. First of all, Hawthorne was a real innovator in his use of the psychological approach to characters within a story. A. N. Kaul considers Hawthorne â€Å"preeminently a ‘psychological’† writer – â€Å"burrowing, to his utmost ability, into the depths of our common nature, for the purposes of psychological romance. . . .† (2). Q. D. Leavis says: â€Å"Hawthorne has imaginatively recreated for the reader that Calvinist sense of sin. . . . But in Hawthorne, by a wonderful feat of transmutation, it has no religious significance, it is as a psychological state that it is explored† (37). The reader experiences most of the story through the eyes and feelings of the protagonist, Goodman. In the following passage the reader is allowed, as is typical, to read his thoughts:    "Poor little Faith!" thought he, for his heart smote him. "What a wretch am I, to leave her on such an errand! She talks of dreams, too. Methought, as she spoke, there was troubl... ... Swisher. San Diego, CA: Greenhaven Press, 1996.    Hawthorne, Nathaniel. â€Å"Young Goodman Brown.† 1835. http://www.cwrl.utexas.edu/~daniel/amlit/goodman/goodmantext.html    James, Henry. Hawthorne. http://eldred.ne.mediaone.net/nh/nhhj1.html    Kaul, A.N. â€Å"Introduction.† In Hawthorne – A Collection of Critical Essays, edited by A.N. Kaul. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1966.    Leavis, Q.D. â€Å"Hawthorne as Poet.† In Hawthorne – A Collection of Critical Essays, edited by A.N. Kaul. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1966.      Ã¢â‚¬Å"Nathaniel Hawthorne.† The Norton Anthology: American Literature, edited by Baym et al.   New York: W.W. Norton and Co., 1995.    Swisher, Clarice. â€Å"Nathaniel Hawthorne: a Biography.† In Readings on Nathaniel Hawthorne, edited by Clarice Swisher. San Diego, CA: Greenhaven Press, 1996.   

Hawthorne’s Young Goodman Brown Essay

Nathaniel Hawthorne is famous for using allegory and symbolism in his writings, and this technique is obvious in his short story, â€Å"Young Goodman Brown. † One major symbol of the story is Faith, Brown’s wife. Faith symbolizes Brown’s strong faith as he struggles between good and evil. In fact, with this very obvious representation, it can be interpreted that Faith is not a character but a mere physical representation of Brown’s own trust in God and belief in the goodness of mankind. Her name is no accident either as the author appropriately named her to show how the main protagonist’s morality regresses as the story progresses. The pink ribbon in Faith’s cap highlights this symbolism as it signifies the condition of Brown’s faith at that time. Pink is a combination of white (a sign purity) and red (a symbol of sin and corruption), which means that he is caught between good and evil and his faith is starting to waver. Faith, his wife, is Brown’s stronghold as he tries hard to resist evil around him. It is Faith who causes him to be hesitant on his journey in the first place. However, Brown’s confidence in his wife is seen as a mere representation of a deeper reality: Brown is not actually getting strength from his wife; but, rather, he is trying to convince himself that his faith in God is strong and he can resist evil. He knows that he is a sinner too, but he wants to uphold whatever goodness is left in him. His own faith, and not his wife, keeps him strong. He stands valiantly on his own disposition, but the truth that everyone, including him and his wife, is a sinner gives him a sense of hopelessness, which eventually weakens his faith. His wife’s joining the devil symbolizes the complete destruction of his faith. He is losing the battle, but he gives a last effort to save himself from the clutches of evil. Here again, Brown’s vehement urging to his wife to resist evil is actually his last effort to convince himself that his faith in God is intact. He is doing it not for the sake of his wife but for himself. However, it is too late; his faith finally dissolves and he gives in to the dark side.