Ibsen in a box Essay Example For Students

Ibsen in a box Essay I suppose we should all be grateful to television. The most massive of the mass media has, after all, made it possible for millions of people to see a wide range of dramatic literature a larger exposure for Shakespeare in one night, say, than Ashland and Stratford together might hope to gain in 10 years. And the Mobil Oil-supported Masterpiece Theatre showings of BBC productions of A Dolls House (1992) and Hedda Gabler (1993) probably have reached more homes by now (not to mention college English and drama classes, through the magic of pirated video copying) than did Ibsens entire output during his 50-year career as playwright and cultural revolutionary. But our gratitude for this catholic distribution of the drama might be tempered by a quick rewind through some of the offerings: How many of those BBC Shakespeares did you really finish watching? And think about the last televised grand opera you saw. Didnt it seem faintly ludicrous? Or consider Bette Midlers turn as Mama Rose in the recent CBS Gypsy: What was she doing in those longish stretches between musical numbers? I, for one, didnt recognize the activity as anything from the human lexicon. The common problem here, adduced by someone who loves Shakespeare, the opera and Gypsy, can be located in the nature of the television medium. The small, flat, cold screen; the four-inch speakers; the restrictive point of view of the camera; they all add up to a packaged experience ill-suited to the aesthetic and emotional characteristics of work intended for the stage. These include, but are by no means limited to, the following: heightened language, sharper/bolder/ cruder psychology and motive, simultaneity of event, multiplicity of plot, greater scale of gesture, metaphorical versus literal environment and articulated rather than merely felt passion. The BBC Ibsens provide vividly contrasting examples of the challenges of getting great stage writing into the little box. A Dolls House, starring Juliet Stevenson as Nora and directed by David Thacker, goes beyond being handsome and mannerly Masterpiece Television, while Hedda Gabler, with Fiona Shaw in the title role, boldly directed by Deborah Warner, makes little sense either of the play or the medium. The strengths of Stevenson and Thackers effort can be traced to several intelligent decisions. Their text, credited as being from an original translation by Joan Tindale, is at once unobtrusively contemporary and attentive to some of Ibsens subtle repetitive motifs, such as Noras progressively more complex use of the word wonderful throughout the play, from its early, materialistic context right up to the famous ending where she hopes in vain for the most wonderful thing of all. And the necessary cuts managed not to leave out anything of profound importance. Another virtue of this production lies in its accommodation to television technique. Responding to the ruling aesthetic of the medium intimacy Thacker plays scene after scene in extreme closeup, using delayed over-the-shoulder cut-away shots to relieve the claustrophobia. His camera is a fascinated if somewhat uncomfortable observer in Noras private world she is, after all, on stage or screen for virtually the entire play except when shes upstairs dancing her tarantella. Even his slightly wider shots are tighter than normal, trapping two actors in a too-close-for-comfort portrait frame, inviting the audience to participate in a kind of formalized voyeurism that is impossible in the comparative expanse of the proscenium stage. We edge closer to see Torvalds wandering fingers play over Noras bodice; we are uncomfortably aware of the extent of Dr. Ranks decline as his eyes settle with frail heaviness on Noras silk stockings; and we are visibly in the way as she practices her tarantel la, whirling out of focus in front of the camera, which seems to be trying to back itself into a comer. .u4b10cad1bd180a3253dc754a7082201f , .u4b10cad1bd180a3253dc754a7082201f .postImageUrl , .u4b10cad1bd180a3253dc754a7082201f .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u4b10cad1bd180a3253dc754a7082201f , .u4b10cad1bd180a3253dc754a7082201f:hover , .u4b10cad1bd180a3253dc754a7082201f:visited , .u4b10cad1bd180a3253dc754a7082201f:active { border:0!important; } .u4b10cad1bd180a3253dc754a7082201f .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u4b10cad1bd180a3253dc754a7082201f { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u4b10cad1bd180a3253dc754a7082201f:active , .u4b10cad1bd180a3253dc754a7082201f:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u4b10cad1bd180a3253dc754a7082201f .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u4b10cad1bd180a3253dc754a7082201f .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u4b10cad1bd180a3253dc754a7082201f .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u4b10cad1bd180a3253dc754a7082201f .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u4b10cad1bd180a3253dc754a7082201f:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u4b10cad1bd180a3253dc754a7082201f .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u4b10cad1bd180a3253dc754a7082201f .u4b10cad1bd180a3253dc754a7082201f-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u4b10cad1bd180a3253dc754a7082201f:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: The Ayckbourn sting EssayJuliet Stevensons lively, quirky and supremely human Nora represents one of the most satisfying television performances of a great stage role that I have ever seen, because she maintains the boldness, variety and clean lines of the stage-Nora within the stillness, detail and smaller scale that television enforces. Her declaration of independence from Torvald from that revolutionary moment that begins, Come and sit down, Torvald you and I have a lot to talk about, through to the final door slam perfectly captures the sense of a woman who has had a sudden, cataclysmic rush of insight, and now, in the presence of her husband, is in the process of f inding words for her entirely new understanding of the world. Destroyed by her fears   Stevenson avoids two of the more obvious ways to diminish this crucial scene; the slough of discovery, in which Nora comes to one painful realization after another like so many light bulbs switching on just over her head, each discovery requiring its own momentum-killing pause; and the tirade temptation, which leads many Noras to deliver their triumphant castigation of Torvald as if it is a rehearsed set-piece which had merely lain in wait for the proper cue. Stevenson retains possession of her wits, but the emotional effect of her insights on both husband and wife is manifest. She gives Torvald (affectingly played by Trevor home: Ten oclock then. Not a grand curtain, but aggressively ordinary instead. Warners direction does employ a few bold visual gestures that hint at the potential energy of her stage production, even within the confines of the small screen. The first shot seems to show Hedda crying, then opening her dressing gown to check between her legs for menstrual blood. Finding none further evidence of a hateful pregnancy she chokes, rushing to a window to throw open the curtains on a predawn grayness that matches her psyche. There is nothing new in this reading of Heddas state of mind, but Warner and Shaw play it with palpable energy and verve, as Hedda passes through terror and frustration into rage and finally a suffocating entrapment: a promising beginning, signaling that something extra-ordinary might be going on. But for every inspired touch, there are a hundred deadening counterweights. Heddas calculated insult to Aunt Julie about the maids old hat seems like a little bit of household discomfort instead of the high comedy moment it might be, and this makes hash out of Heddas later protestation to Judge Brack that these things just come over me. We never see Hedda manipulate Thea all reference to the younger womans irritating hair is gone, along with Heddas once-and-future threat to burn it off. Even her all-too-deliberate mistake with her visitors name Thora for Thea seems like a real honest bit of confusion, and she seems genuinely sorry for it. This is a domesticated Hedda indeed. Synthesis of forms   The sum of these diminishing choices is a Hedda whose boredom is real (in that pseudo-Chekhovian sense that finally doesnt serve Chekhov either), but whose soul seems more at home with Tesman and Thea and even the caddish but stultifying Judge Brack than with the fallen Dionysian, Lovborg. Her suicide, therefore, seems unearned, the accidental coda to a life of accumulated small mistakes rather than a sudden seismic shock to a world grown too sure of its smug and tedious serenity. And for that, I aver, we partly have television to blame. I cant imagine these artists making Hedda this small, domestic and ordinary for their stage production, whatever its interpretive intentions may have been. It is as if Warner and Shaw embraced their new medium the ultimate purveyor of middle-class truths to the middle class too completely, cutting the character to fit the box rather than trying to find the synthesis of forms that Juliet Stevenson and David Thacker frequently achieved. .ua66ba4bc180789059da904a66407aaf9 , .ua66ba4bc180789059da904a66407aaf9 .postImageUrl , .ua66ba4bc180789059da904a66407aaf9 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ua66ba4bc180789059da904a66407aaf9 , .ua66ba4bc180789059da904a66407aaf9:hover , .ua66ba4bc180789059da904a66407aaf9:visited , .ua66ba4bc180789059da904a66407aaf9:active { border:0!important; } .ua66ba4bc180789059da904a66407aaf9 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ua66ba4bc180789059da904a66407aaf9 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ua66ba4bc180789059da904a66407aaf9:active , .ua66ba4bc180789059da904a66407aaf9:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ua66ba4bc180789059da904a66407aaf9 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ua66ba4bc180789059da904a66407aaf9 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ua66ba4bc180789059da904a66407aaf9 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ua66ba4bc180789059da904a66407aaf9 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ua66ba4bc180789059da904a66407aaf9:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ua66ba4bc180789059da904a66407aaf9 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ua66ba4bc180789059da904a66407aaf9 .ua66ba4bc180789059da904a66407aaf9-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ua66ba4bc180789059da904a66407aaf9:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Barbara Damashek: a moving target EssayTelevision is obviously not a very congenial form for the communication of great plays; but it is the only form we have for reaching out to an audience beyond our local and regional limits. Thats all right. The danger is that people may come to believe that televised Ibsen (or Shakespeare or Gypsy) offers a fair substitute for the real theatrical article, when it hasnt yet proven consistently able to deliver those goods.

The Role of Women (Duddy Kravitz) Essay Example

The Role of Women (Duddy Kravitz) Essay 1) What is the role of women in the novel? Make specific references to female characters. What does this tell us about the Kravitz world? In Mordecai Richler’s novel, The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz, women are represented to have a lower class than men. The women who are present in the novel include Yvette Durelle, Ida Kravitz, Minnie Kravitz, Linda Rubin and Sandra Calder. Each of these female characters are seen as helpless individuals unable to bear for themselves and left unsuccessful without men. Through Duddy’s never ending quest to own land to ultimately be successful, Richler depicts women in a negative way. They are seen as instruments to help men succeed and every so often used as traps for others. Therefore the women in this novel do not have lives of their own as they are portrayed solely as part of other men’s lives. Such exists because the lives of the women were not once explored throughout the novel, it was always through the eyes of a man and since the women are not explored, therefore this results in a male dominated novel. Women are portrayed to be items of sexual desires; worthless and unworthy of a man’s second thoughts. As was the case with Max, his wife and Josette. We will write a custom essay sample on The Role of Women (Duddy Kravitz) specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The Role of Women (Duddy Kravitz) specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The Role of Women (Duddy Kravitz) specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Josette is one of the whores whom Max is pimping for and is described as being a â€Å"handsome whore with splendid black hair and enormous breast. †(22) Such indicates that she is revered only for looks and her sexual abilities. Another such instance is when a women was being described by Max only for her features while they were at the bar â€Å"†¦sitting beside him is the greatest little piece you ever saw. Knockers? You’ve never seen such a pair. I mean just look at that girl†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (20) Furthermore, Josette’s feelings are disregarded and ignored even though she is human and has every right to be treated fairly and humanely. Max grabs her forcefully and practically drags her. â€Å"You’re hurting me †¦Ã¢â‚¬  (24) She is thought to be someone who can only perform sexual tasks and the readers read that she has no place in society outside or other than that. Max’s poor treatment of his whores, Josette included, likely influenced Duddy’s poor opinion of women. The way he regards women and the way he is with them is reminiscent of his father being a pimp and man-handling Josette at the beginning of the novel, as such treatment has likely been occurring since the death Max’s wife and Duddy’s mother Minnie Kravitz, if not starting with his treatment of her. In sense, it could be argued that Max disrespects his deceased wife by resorting to pimping, using Josette as an instrument to pay for the bills and having a successful family. This revels that Max does not possess the feelings a man should have for his wife. There were types of woman seen in the novel which were those who could not be trusted because they were only out for themselves. Such women were not treated well and are to be hated and laughed at for their stupidity. One of such women, Linda is featured very briefly during Duddy’s time at Hotel Lac des Sables, who Irwin Shubert convinced to go out with him. She is described in great detail; with more attention on her appearance and no mention whatsoever of her having a personality or feelings at all. â€Å"Soft, curvy, and nifty enough for one of those fashion magazines†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (78). She uses him and is still thought to be more worthwhile than the caring Yvette, and is thrown around later on. Sandra is the girl Lennie attempts to perform an abortion for, and consequently nearly loses his place at school. Her father is on the board for the university and he can convince the board to allow Lennie to stay. She is only depicted as being weak and whore-ish, being impregnated by her boyfriend, Andy Simpson. Not much is known about her, but she is seen as being emotional, desperate and hysterical. Riva Kaplan is Lennie’s girlfriend and though much is not known about her either she is said, by him to be quite the terrible person. â€Å"She’s not better than a whore† (186). He fights with her and she is not mentioned again, indicating that a woman who fights and stands up for herself against a man is to be left and disposed of, not reasoned with or listened to. Furthermore, Duddy was never fully loved by his family. There is no concrete evidence that shows any of them ever cared for him or wanted to take part in his life. Though Lennie seems to somewhat appreciate Duddy, he is still somewhat distant to him and he focuses on his own studies and life. The first person to truly love him, for who he was, unconditionally, was his â€Å"Girl Friday†, Yvette Durelle. She is treated and shown to be beneath the men she is around, and is to be dominated and ordered around without defiance. Duddy’s girlfriend, Yvette, was the first person, male or female, to ever truly love Duddy for who he was, faults and all. Yvette gave Duddy many chances to be with her, but he consistently turned to his desire for land and money in place of her. â€Å"Three weeks. Duddy, if you start running again, I’ll leave you† (291). The last chance she gave him he ignored, and he preferred to stay alone and unhappy (whether conscience of it or not) with his precious land than the woman who loved him. The only time Duddy seems to show any feelings of affection towards Yvette was shorty after they had relations, just before he was shown the land by her. Her purpose to him then was clear; she would be used for sex and for the acquisition he his precious land. The fact that she stayed with him through his emotional abuse towards her indicated that she was weak and subservient, as all women are to be. His inability to appreciate women can be traced to his opinion of himself, his family, or both simultaneously. Specifically concerning Duddy Kravitz, many women were portrayed as traps, nags and instruments helping him succeed. There was woman in particular who helped Duddy to exponential levels and who ultimately led him to be ‘successful’. Yvette never lived in her own right or more than the foil for Duddy’s ambition, which in the end, consumes everything else in the novel. Therefore Yvette’s portrayal is entirely dependent on Duddy. (Richler never explores her family in Montreal) Yvette is seen as a trap to Duddy, despite wanting to pursue his land, he does not want to commit to Yvette and be trapped by her. She does not want Duddy to fulfill his dreams because she would rather settle down and start a family. Consequently Duddy’s lack of interest in Yvette is shown when â€Å"I feel so good, she said. Do you feel good? He could watch the lake over her shoulder and in his mind’s eye it was not only already his but the children’s camp and the hotel were already going up† (Richler, 100) As a nag, Yvette constantly suggest her opinion to Duddy; as a result this frustrates him and her â€Å"I’ve seen you do lots of dishonest thing, Duddy, but never in my life did I expect you to cheat a boy like Virgil† (216) Duddy’s French Canadian girlfriend, Yvette functioned not as a person in her own right but simply as a moral conscious for Duddy. This shows that Yvette acts as authority figure in Duddy’s life, something he lacks. Yvette also acts as a mother figure in Duddy’s life. Duddy does not show an interest in Yvette; although she harasses him constantly and keeps showing her affection, it irritates Duddy because he is just using her. Yvette is used as an instrument as although she shows genuine love for Duddy, he never seems to have feelings for her. Since Duddy is a minor he employed Yvette as tool in acquiring his land, and manipulates her to his liking. She is an instrument used to get Duddy his land so he can fulfill his dream. Such goes to say that women during the 1950s were to be disregarded and called upon only for tasks, relations and served only as indicators of a man’s wealth and worth by her attractiveness.

The Palace of Minos at Knossos in Ancient Crete

The Palace of Minos at Knossos in Ancient Crete The Palace of Minos at Knossos is one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world. Located on Kephala Hill on the island of Crete in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Greece, Knossos palace was the political, social and cultural center of the Minoan culture during the Early and Middle Bronze Age. Founded at least as early as 2400 BC, its power was greatly diminished, but not completely dissipated, by the eruption of Santorini about 1625 BC. Whats perhaps more important, perhaps, is that the ruins of Knossos Palace are the cultural heart of the Greek myths Theseus fighting the Minotaur, Ariadne and her ball of string, Daedalus the architect and doomed Icarus of the wax wings; all reported by Greek and Roman sources but almost certainly much older. The earliest representation of Theseus fighting the minotaur is illustrated on an amphora from the Greek island of Tinos dated 670-660 BC Palaces of the Aegean Culture The Aegean culture known as Minoan is the Bronze Age civilization that flourished on the island of Crete during the second and third millennia BC. The city of Knossos was one of its main citiesand it contained its largest palace after the shattering earthquake that marks the beginning of the New Palace period in Greek archaeology, ca. 1700 BC. Palaces of the Minoan culture were likely not simply residences of a ruler, or even a ruler and his family, but rather held a public function, where others could enter and use (some of) the palace facilities where staged performances took place. The palace at Knossos, according to legend the palace of King Minos, was the largest of the Minoan palaces, and the longest-lived building of its type, remaining throughout the Middle and Late Bronze Ages as the focal point of the settlment. Knossos Chronology In the early 20th century, Knossos excavator Arthur Evans pegged the rise of Knossos to the Middle Minoan I period, or about 1900 BC; archaeological evidence since then has found the first public feature on Kephala Hilla deliberately leveled rectangular plaza or courtwas constructed as early as the Final Neolithic (ca 2400 BC, and the first building by Early Minoan I-IIA (ca 2200 BC). This chronology is based in part on that of John Youngers plain-jane Aegean chronology, which I highly recommend. Late Helladic (Final Palatial) 1470-1400, Greek take over of CreteLate Minoan/Late Helladic 1600-1470 BCMiddle Minoan (Neo-Palatial) 1700-1600 BC (Linear A, eruption of Santorini, ca 1625 BC)Middle Minoan (Proto-Palatial) 1900-1700 BC (peripheral courts established, heyday of the Minoan culture)Early Minoan (Pre-Palatial), 2200-1900 BC, court complex started by EM I-IIA including the first Court buildingFinal Neolithic or Pre-Palatial 2600-2200 BC (first central courtyard of what would become the palace at Knossos begun in FN IV) The stratigraphy is difficult to parse because there were several major episodes of earth-moving and terrace building, so much so that earth moving must be considered a nearly constant process that began on Kephala hill at least as early as EM IIA, and probably starts with the very end of the Neolithic FN IV. Knossos Palace Construction and History The palace complex at Knossos was begun in the PrePalatial period, perhaps as long ago as 2000 BC, and by 1900 BC, it was fairly close to its final form. That form is the same as other Minoan palaces such as Phaistos, Mallia and Zakros: a large single building with a central courtyard surrounding by a set of rooms for various purposes. The palace had perhaps as many as ten separate entrances: those on the north and west served as the main entry ways. Around 1600 BC, one theory goes, a tremendous earthquake shook the Aegean Sea, devastating Crete as well as the Mycenaean cities on the Greek mainland. Knossos palace was destroyed; but the Minoan civilization rebuilt almost immediately on top of the ruins of the past, and indeed the culture reached its pinnacle only after the devastation. During the Neo-Palatial period [1700-1450 BC], the Palace of Minos covered nearly 22,000 square meters (~5.4 acres) and contained storage rooms, living quarters, religious areas, and banquet rooms. What appears today to be a jumble of rooms connected by narrow passageways may well have given rise to the myth of the Labyrinth; the structure itself was built of a complex of dressed masonry and clay-packed rubble, and then half-timbered. Columns were many and varied in the Minoan tradition, and the walls were vividly decorated with frescoes. Architectural Elements The palace at Knossos was renowned for its unique light emanating from its surfaces, the results of the liberal use of gypsum (selenite) from a local quarry as a building material and ornamental element. Evans reconstruction used a grey cement, which made a huge difference to the way its seen. Restoration efforts are underway to remove the cement and restore the gypsum surface, but they have moved slowly, because removing the greyish cement mechanically is detrimental to the underlying gypsum. Laser removal has been attempted and may prove a reasonable answer. The main source of water at Knossos initially was at the spring of Mavrokolymbos, about 10 kilometers away from the palace and conveyed by way of a system of terracotta pipes. Six wells in the near vicinity of the palace served potable water beginning ca. 1900-1700 BC. A sewer system, which connected toilets flushed with rainwater to large (79x38 cm) drains, had secondary pipelines, lightwells and drains and in total exceeds 150 meters in length. It has also been suggested as the inspiration for the labyrinth myth. Ritual Artifacts of the Palace at Knossos The Temple Repositories are two large stone lined cists on the west side of the central court. They contained a variety of objects, that were placed as a shrine either in Middle Minoan IIIB or Late Minoan IA, following earthquake damage. Hatzaki (2009) argued that the pieces were not broken during the earthquake, but rather were ritually broken after the earthquake and ritually laid down. The artifacts in these repositories include faience objects, ivory objects, antlers, fish vertebrae, a snake goddess figurine, other figurines and figurine fragments, storage jars, gold foil, a rock crystal disk with petals and bronze. Four stone libation tables, three half-finished tables. The Town Mosaic plaques are a set of over 100 polychrome faience tiles which illustrate house facade), men, animals, trees and plants and maybe water. The pieces were found between in a fill deposit between an Old Palace period floor and an early Neopalatial period one. Evans thought they were originally pieces of inlay in a wooden chest, with a linked historical narrativebut there is no agreement about that in the scholarly community today. Excavation and Reconstruction The Palace at Knossos was first extensively excavated by Sir Arthur Evans, beginning in 1900. in the earliest years of the 20th century. One of the pioneers of the field of archaeology, Evans had a marvelous imagination and a tremendous creative fire, and he used his skills to create what you can go and see today at Knossos in northern Crete. Investigations have been conducted at Knossos off and on since then, most recently by the Knossos Kephala Project (KPP) beginning in 2005. Sources This glossary entry is a part of the About.com guides to the Minoan Culture, and Royal Palaces, and the Dictionary of Archaeology. Angelakis A, De Feo G, Laureano P, and Zourou A. 2013. Minoan and Etruscan Hydro-Technologies. Water 5(3):972-987. Boileau M-C, and Whitley J. 2010. Patterns of Production and Consumption of Coarse to Semi-Fine Pottery at Early Iron Age Knossos. Annual of the British School at Athens 105:225-268. Grammatikakis G, Demadis KD, Melessanaki K, and Pouli P. 2015. Laser-assisted removal of dark cement crusts from mineral gypsum (selenite) architectural elements of peripheral monuments at Knossos. Studies in Conservation 60(sup1):S3-S11. Hatzaki E. 2009. Structured Deposition as Ritual Action at Knossos. Hesperia Supplements 42:19-30. Hatzaki E. 2013. The end of an intermezzo at Knossos: ceramic wares, deposits, and architecture in a social context. In: Macdonald CF, and Knappett C, editors. Intermezzo: Intermediacy and Regeneration in Middle Minoan III Palatial Crete. London: The British School at Athens. p 37-45. Knappett C, Mathioudaki I, and Macdonald CF. 2013. Stratigraphy and ceramic typology in the Middle Mnoan III palace at Knossos. In: Macdonald CF, and Knappett C, editors. Intermezzo: Intermediacy and Regeneration in Middle Minoan III Palatial Crete. London: The British School at Athens. p 9-19. Momigliano N, Phillips L, Spataro M, Meeks N, and Meek A. 2014. A newly discovered Minoan faience plaque from the Knossos town mosaic in the Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery: a technological insight. Annual of the British School at Athens 109:97-110. Nafplioti A. 2008. â€Å"Mycenaean† political domination of Knossos following the Late Minoan IB destructions on Crete: negative evidence from strontium isotope ratio analysis (87Sr/86Sr). Journal of Archaeological Science 35(8):2307-2317. Nafplioti A. 2016. Eating in prosperity: First stable isotope evidence of diet from Palatial Knossos. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports 6:42-52. Shaw MC. 2012. New light on the labyrinth fresco from the palace at Knossos. Annual of the British School at Athens 107:143-159. Schoep I. 2004. Assessing the role of architecture in conspicuous consumption in the Middle Minoan I-II periods. Oxford Journal of Archaeology 23(3):243-269. Shaw JW, and Lowe A. 2002. The Lost Portico at Knossos: The Central Court Revisited. American Journal of Archaeology 106(4):513-523. Tomkins P. 2012. Behind the horison: Reconsidering the genesis and function of the First Palace at Knossos (Final Neolithic IV-Middle Minoan IB). In: Schoep I, Tomkins P, and Driessen J, editors. Back to the Beginning: Reassessing Social and Political Complexity on Crete during the Early and Middle Bronze Age. Oxford: Oxbow Books. p 32-80.

Healthy People 2020 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Healthy People 2020 - Essay Example One of the various objectives healthy people 2020 has provided for the well being of Americans is the promotion of Nutrition and Weight Status. It encourages the choice of healthy, nutritious diet to reduce the risk of any chronic disease and to maintain a healthy body weight. Good nutrition is especially essential for children’s physical as well as their mental growth. Moreover, it is important in reducing the risk of many health problems such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease and malnutrition, etc. (Healthy People.gov, 2013). Obesity is one of the most prevailing health problems among adults and children. Being overweight is a result of excessive intake of calories and underweight is directly linked with food insecurity that means limited or no availability of healthy and nutritious food. It is obvious that the amount of caloric intake affects an individual’s health whether it is high or low. Other than this, it is important to keep this in mind that what is the source of the calories a person is taking. There are many foods, which help prevent various diseases and are also helpful in weight control. These foods include fruits, vegetables, whole grains and nuts. Plenty of researches show that making these foods a huge part of the diet will protect against diabetes, heart problems, high blood pressure and many other health issues. On the other hand, excessive fat and sugar intake increases the possibilities of various health problems (Brug, Starlen, & Maskini, 2012). Most important thing for health is a healthy weight.

Case Analysis (Continued 2) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Case Analysis (Continued 2) - Essay Example So, in the remainder of the present segment, we shall attempt to determine Otis’s position on the Global Integration / Local Responsiveness Grid to determine the extent of the veracity of the statement. So, it is evident that Otis in Russia is influenced both by global as well as local factors. Thus, from this perspective, the notion of Otis being solely Russian does not hold. It is true that local factors play an important role, but the impact of global integration factors is not insignificant enough to validate the statement. However, if we consider the facts that the Russian operation is self financed with all employees and traditions being Russian, along with the strength of the local responsiveness factors, the statement cannot be so easily invalidated. The most important part is that Modernization, which is the most important part of the business, was invented and introduced by Otis in Russia, the statement does seem to be at least partially true. To facilitate an enhanced perception of the possible areas that can be focused upon to increase the extent of value created, the value creation at various stages is presented in the following table. The accorded comments for each stage in resources, assets and competencies are explained thereon through a more detailed narration. Otis’s prime strength lies in its R&D capabilities. Being a part of United Technologies Company (UTC), Otis strives on its constant innovations which in fact account for a significant part of the company’s budgets. UTC has a considerable number of engineering centers spread all over the globe and the culminated know how is efficiently utilized for all major subsidiaries. As a result resources, assets as well as competencies, all are significantly value generating for the R&D stages. Particularly in case of Otis-Russia, it benefits from not only this

Marketing Situational Analysis Essay Essay Example for Free

Marketing Situational Analysis Essay Essay The following essay is a situation analysis of the macro-environment for a Melbourne based Australian phone cover manufacturing organisation, called Kind. Kind creates a range of covers for all types of mobile phones which are recyclable, biodegradable and trendy. Kind conducts their own research, development, design and manufacture. The organisation was founded by a group of generation Y, tech savvy and environmentally conscious people who saw an opportunity to create accessories in an industry considered to be consumerist. A view supported by Downie and Glazebrook (2007), â€Å"Mobile phones have been described as the ultimate example of consumerism. †(p. 1). Kind’s idea for their latest range of covers specifically include hypo colour, (cover changes colour when activated by heating or cooling through personal touch), mood sensitive covers (cover changes colour relative to the emotion being felt by the person), and gel moulded covers with finger grips. They believe their value proposition is to provide a range of products that offer their customers socially responsible fun, feelings and functionality by being a customer-centred company. The following discussion under the sub-headings will analyse the six components of the mobile phone industry macro-environment specifically identifying trends that may impact Kind’s target market, marketing-mix and planned marketing strategies. Demographic â€Å"The demographic environment shows a changing age structure in the population, changing family patterns, geographic population shifts, a better-educated and more-white-collar population, and increasing ethnic diversity.†, (Kotler, Brown, Adam, Burton Armstrong, 2010, p. 160). This holds true for Kind’s market in Australia with the population ageing, birth rates falling and increased life expectancy, older people are predicted to outnumber younger people by 2050. This may pose a potential threat to Kind’s target market in that there will be greater competition for customers entering the market or more creativity required to find new markets. Kind may need to expand their product range to cater for the older generations with covers that address issues like restricted mobility and loss of coordination from conditions such as arthritis. Reinforced by Kotler, et al., (2010) â€Å"The Boomer market will only grow in importance in coming years, as more boomer reach retirement age.† (p. 145). This is a trend that Kind should keep a close eye on and begin research and development in. Looking at Australia’s current family pattern Kotler, et al., (2010), states â€Å"smaller family sizes resulting from a desire to improve personal living standards, the increased number of women working outside the home†, (p. 141), supports the view that there is market for the mobile phone industry because the parents feel there is a security need to stay connected to their children. â€Å"For children aged 5-8 years, almost all of them (95%) used their mobile phone more to contact family (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2010). This new group is otherwise referred to as â€Å"’tweens’ aged between six and 13.† (Downie Glazebrook, 2007, p. 1). It must be noted that Kotler, et al., (2010) defines the tweens as aged between 10 and 14, regardless, this group is increasing in market share and are demonstrating a trend towards strong purchases of entertainment products. Added pressure is placed on parents by the tweens who have grown up accustom to consumerism and â€Å"are motivated by status and aesthetics in their purchasing decision.† (Downie Glazebrook, 2007, p. 1). This trend may be met by the inter-changeability of mobile phone covers because they are an economical means of maintaining the tweens attention and status with their existing phones. An economical argument for parents to easily identify with and one which Kind can target. Kind has a product that appeals to a variety of demographic group for varying reasons. The youth group, often further defined as Generation X and Y demonstrate trends which Kind should consider when analysing their target market. Generation X is environmentally conscious, financially wary, value quality and is well educated, contributing to the growth in white-collar population significantly. Generation Y are technically savvy, communicate using mobile phone, email and chat rooms and have driven the â€Å"Markets for teens’ toys and games, clothes, furniture and food† (Kotler, et al., 2010, p. 144). Whilst they are often viewed as selfish, statistics support the fact that they are â€Å"a civic-minded generation with a conscience†, (McQueen, 2007, p. 43). â€Å"figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics which showed that in 2002, 28% of young people aged 18-24 had undertaken voluntary work in the previous 12 months†, (McQueen, 2007, p. 43). A response to these characteristics may be a marketing-mix which communicates the social conscious benefits of Kind’s products whilst promoting the professional business use it also contains and the interchange ability making the product fun, easily. Kind would be remiss to not target the civic-mindedness of Generation Y by setting up a charity fund or trade-in cover exchange that gives something back to the community. Given Kind’s target market is Australia wide, population changes between states is not really relevant. However, shifts between rural and urban areas should be considered given the Australia Bureau of Statistics (2010) reports increases in urban population and decline in rural populations, particularly those affected by drought. The relevance in this statistic is that more households with access to mobile phones are located in the metropolitan area, Australia Bureau of Statistics (2010). Economic In developed countries such as Australia, mobile phones are moving towards no longer being considered a luxury item and more one of necessity given the use of mobile phones as the preferred method of communication for generation Yers and white-collar Xers use as a business tool. The Bureau of Australian Statistics (2007) survey results have indicated a 7.7% growth in communications services each year on average with most of this attributed to the household use of mobile phone and internet services. This is relevant to the consumer spending habit in the current economic context which has affected income levels and household expenditure. â€Å"More recently, the global financial crisis has led to a sharp decline in demand for luxury products, as more people have become unemployed, or are unsure of their job security.† (Kotler, et al., 2010, p. 149). This is a win-win situation for a mobile phone cover manufacturer given that sales will continue at a steady rate or if people do decide to maintain an existing mobile phone, they will want to ensure that it is adequately protected to last longer or give it a new look, therefore the consumers spending pattern is less likely to alter for this kind of product. Natural Environment Kind creates a range of covers for all types of mobile phones which are recyclable and biodegradable which would place their products in a very favourable position from a pollutant perspective. â€Å"Some trend analysts believe that the decade after 2010 will be seen as the ‘Earth Decade’ and that protection of the natural environment will be the main worldwide issue facing business and the public.† (Kotler, et al., 2010, p. 151). Kind would be wise to examine their use of non-renewable resource they may use in the production of their products as well as the operations of their organisation. It is not just about the products they product being environmentally friendly, but the way in which they produce them as well. Knowing their carbon footprint and those within their supply and distribution chains would speak volumes. Even the way in which they market their products could be an opportunity to reinforce their green message, i.e. no use of print media in the marketing-mix. Kind has to also keep up with the issues affecting the mobile phone issues, such as the growing public concern of the mineral tantalum use in mobile phones. Research using Wikipedia (2010), reports that this is a product which is mined, with great affect on the natural environment. Exports of this mineral have been cited as helping to finance present-day civic conflict over areas in the Congo which are abundant in natural resources. Kind may find benefit in highlight the fact that the use of their product protects the longevity of a mobile phone, thus minimising the reliance on mining and people may actually view a purchase of this product as actually helping the people in Congo. Technological The fast pace of technological advance is probably the most challenging aspect to Kind’s products. Given the current variety of shapes and sizes of mobile phones in the market and the constant stream of new models, keeping up with this market requires Kind to be highly adaptable and have the ability to implement changes in products quickly. It may be savvy to target only the most popular makes and models dependant on the demographic being targeted. Political â€Å"The political environment consists of laws, government agencies and pressure groups that influence and limit various organisations and individuals in a given society.† (Kotler, et al., 2010, p. 155). Given that Kind is a manufacturing business, distributing Australia wide, they need to keep abreast of developments which may affect manufacturing and marketing throughout all the States and Territory. Kind will be required to ensure that any packaging they develop conforms with current legislation along with any competitions run Australia wide meet all the State laws on gaming and lotteries. Again, in with reference to the mobile phone industry, who are in media reports regarding concerns over public health risks from the radio waves they emit causing an uncommon form of brain tumour as discussed by Lavelle (2005), Kind could assign some research and development actions towards addressing a solution to these concerns. This could be view by consumers as dangerous positioning as they are actually agreeing with a pressure group that there is a risk and attacking the market that directly feeds them. Cultural â€Å"The cultural environment shows long-run trends towards the use of branded products as a means of self-expression, decreasing organisational loyalty, an increasing appreciation for nature, and a search for more meaningful and enduring values.† (Kotler, et al., 2010, p. 160). Kind produces products which fit this trend fantastically as long as they market their environmental and social conscience and continue to develop products which allow the consumer to express themselves. The cultural environment is made up of secondary beliefs. Central to societies need to communicate is the belief that they cannot do so unless they have a mobile phone. It could be argued that the secondary belief is that they have to look good and have the trendiest cover while they do it supported by Kotler, et al., (2010). â€Å"Many people use products, brands and services as a means of self-expression†, (p. 157). There may also be an opportunity for Kind to tap into the different subcultures as they are open to shifts in values and are impacted by popular activities. The possibilities are endless for Kind, in that if their organisation is highly adaptable, and new product lines can be easily implemented, they can keep pace with these subcultures. For example, monthly covers with the latest number one hit music artist on it. Kind can decide to take a proactive approach to the marketing and really build their products into something that shapes public opinion. As an example, the health risk on mobile phones and the potential for Kind to capitalise on providing a solution may seem risky but they are could make a real statement, leading the way and would be shaping the public opinion. Conclusion Kind’s analysis of target market has demonstrated that are a few areas demographically that hold value. These are the change in age structure with Baby Boomer demands on a solution for mobility and coordination issues, Gen X parents demanding to feel safer by being connected to their children, but notably highly influence in their purchasing decisions by the status and aesthetic tweens and finally the youth groups demanding to be socially networked via technology. Economic trends are not of great concern on these target markets as the need to communicate using mobile phones is demonstrating continued strong growth. The predicted trend towards the ‘Earth Decade’ being the main worldwide issue provides the greatest opportunity for Kind. Their marketing-mix, product range and company values are well positioned to maximise the benefits associated with this trend. Kind is in an industry that is at the forefront of technological advances and must pay close attention to ensure that they maintain connection meaning they may have to restrict their product line to only the most popular makes and models. Political and cultural trends on the health risks associated with mobile phones are a concern to the target market. However, the consumers appear to be remaining ignorant. This could be an opportunity for Kind, but the risks associated with this should be carefully researched before taking any action. The long-run trend towards an appreciation of nature and products being used to express ones self is primed for the products that Kind produces. Further supported by the secondary belief that people have to look good while they communicate using their phone is an almost perfect market for Kind’s products. The adaptability of Kind’s products and organisation can easily lend itself to different subcultures and any such changes within them. In summary, Kind’s value proposition, to provide a range of products that offer their customers socially responsible fun, feelings and functionality by being a customer-centred company, has a large potential market with what appears to be matched by an actual market. The key is to translate this into demand. References Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2010). Measures of Australia’s Progress, Communication, Children and Mobile Phones, Australia. Cat. No. 1370.0. Retrieved from http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/[emailprotected]/Lookup/by%20Subject/1370.0~2010~Chapter~Children%20and%20mobile%20phones%20(4.8.5.3.2) Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2003). Measures of a Knowledge-based Economy and Society, Australia, 2003. Cat. No. 1377.0. Retrieved from http://www.abs.gov.au/Ausstats/[emailprotected]/46d1bc47ac9d0c7bca256c470025ff87/817903E27C4FFBE0CA2571960017E512 Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2010). Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2008-9. Cat. No. 3218.0. Retrieved from http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/[emailprotected]/Products/3218.0~2008-09~Main+Features~Main+Features?OpenDocument#PARALINK11 Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2007). Australian Social Trends, Trends in Consumption. Cat. No. 4102.0. Retrieved from http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/[emailprotected]/Latestproducts/0485BB5550FE5799CA25732C00207C77 Downie, C. Glazebrook, K. (2007), â€Å"Mobile phones and the consumer kids†, Australian Institute Research Paper, No. 41. Retrieved from https://www.tai.org.au/documents/downloads/WP97.pdf Kotler, Brown, Adam, Burton Armstrong (2010), Marketing (8th Edition), Pearson Education, Sydney, NSW. Lavelle, P. (2005). â€Å"Mobile phone: a health risk?†, ABC Heath Wellbeing, The Pulse. Retrieved from http://www.abc.net.au/health/thepulse/stories/2005/01/27/1285335.htm McQueen, M. (2007). The ‘New’ rules of Engagement, Hyde Park Press, Richmond, SA. Wikipedia. (2010). Coltan. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coltan

Marriage: Easy Divorce :: essays research papers

Marriage: Easy Divorce   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Although I do not agree with getting married until you are positive that you want to have a huge commitment to another person, I favor the easier divorce. I think that a divorce is not really anyone's fault. (unless it is) The divorce should be done as quickly as possible in either case.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  If you find yourself getting married to the person that you thought you loved-but later on in life you find that you weren't ready for marriage, then it's not really anyone's fault. You may have made a mistake by getting married to quickly, but people make mistakes.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Sometimes, you may find that your spouse and you make better friends than husband and wife. That could happen and I'm sure it's probably already happened once or twice. In this case, it is not really anyone's fault. You just go on with life just as you always had before.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I think that people shouldn't get married until they are totally positive that their spouse is the person that they want to have a lifetime commitment with. If they even think twice, then they are not ready for marriage. I know that not everyone will feel the same way that I do on this subject, but if everyone did, it could improve the divorce rate. I think that we should just get the divorce over with as quickly as possible and get to living our lives again.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I know someone's dad who got into a relationship with another woman. This person's mother got married at a very young age. She thought she was ready, but she wasn't. After being married and having three children, her husband told