Showboat - Production Critique Essay - 668 Words

This paper is a critique of a production of Show Boat, a musical classic with compositions by Jerome Kern and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, which was performed and produced by NETworks Presentations LLC at Emens Auditorium on the 14th of February 2001. Clayton Phillips, the director of the production, attempted to test the waters of racial discrimination by exploring controversial themes such as prejudice and interracial relationships. Show Boat takes an enlightened approach to ethnic controversy by using both music and drama to express the feelings and hopes of the characters to the audience. Even though I enjoyed the production, I felt that it was lacking in terms of its plot and may have overused its melodic reprises. However, Show†¦show more content†¦The scenes and props complimented the attire of the performers, blending together create a magnificent display. The scenery was realistic enough to afford the viewer an escape into depths of the show. The setting was beau tiful and the structures almost lifelike, excepting the absence of a front screen door. It seems that almost all plays and television shows I have viewed neglect this detail. The stage lighting played a key role in the show by setting the mood of the performance during soulful, pensive songs. In contrast, the lighting proved to be a detriment by overbearing the performance of the artists, in that one’s attention was drawn to the glare of extreme quantities of makeup rather than the actions of the characters. This was most notable during the final portions of the production. The entertainers gave their characters genuine life through their gestures, attitude and charm. Even the way the voices led one to believe that the characters were actually presenting their own thoughts and ideas, not those of fictional characters. During the play, the voices of the performers were quite audible, excepting certain musical presentations when the lyrics of the songs were at points nearly indiscernible. Even with consideration given to this technical glitch, the sound quality was quite agreeable and the songs enjoyable. The voices of the performers were strong

The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn By Mark Twain - 1680 Words

Nathan Zimmerman Ms. DeJong English 1 1 Dec. 2015 The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, 230 pages Character List Tom Sawyer - Huck’s best friend. He disappears often and shows up at random times. He tries to start a gang but it didn’t last long. Huckleberry wishes for Tom to be with him throughout the book. Jim - The slave of the widow, Miss Watson. He deeply believes in spirits and consequences of small actions such as killing a snake. He runs away and finds Huckleberry Finn when he learns he is going to be sold. Huckleberry Finn - Starts off rich, but then his father shows up and he gives his money to the judge. He was living with the widow, but his father took him back. He fakes his death to run away from his father and ends up finding Jim on accident. Miss Watson – The widow. She takes care of Huck, even though he eventually takes care of himself. She taught him to read and taught him manners, which he did not like. Huck does not like her that much. Buck – Appears when the raft is broke. Huckleberry goes up to a house, which is where Buck lives with his family. Buck is a country person. He isn’t very good at spelling, and eventually gets killed. The Duke - The King Sally and Silas Phelps – Tom Sawyer’s aunt and uncle. They bought Jim. Tom and Huck try to get Jim from them. Chapter Journals Chapter 1-3 – (pg. 15-25) – This chapter tells who Huckleberry is and who the Miss Watson is. Miss Watson, the widow, tries to civilize Huckleberry, because she sees himShow MoreRelatedThe Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain830 Words   |  3 PagesThe Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain is â€Å"A Great American Novel†, because of its complexity and richness. Twain writes dialogue that brings his characters to life. He creates characters with unique voice and helps the reader connect to the book. Anyone who reads it is forced to develop feelings for each character. Even though there is a great amount of controversy over the use of some choices, such as the â€Å"n word†, it makes the book more realistic. In the beginning of the novel Huck,Read MoreThe Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn By Mark Twain1103 Words   |  5 PagesDmitri Van Duine Jr English Mr. Nelson November 27th The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Written by Mark Twain filled his stories with many examples of satire as to convey a message while also writing an interesting story. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn revolves around the adventures of a young boy called Huckleberry Finn, who is about thirteen years old. Tom Sawyer is Huck’s best friend and around the same age as Huck. He is onlyRead MoreThe Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn By Mark Twain Essay1055 Words   |  5 PagesZambrano Mrs. Patmor AP Lit-Period 5 28 September 2016 Adventures of Huckleberry Finn 1835 Mark Twain embodies realism in almost every aspect of his writing not excluding The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, which in he portrays such a lifelike setting that it almost gives you this sense of reality through the point of view of a young man that has an urge for freedom yet struggles to conform to society s norms due to his adolescence. Twain s ability to unmask the true identities of the charactersRead MoreThe Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn By Mark Twain931 Words   |  4 PagesWolski Mrs. Goska English 2H Period 3 22 October 2014 The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Mob mentality is the way an individual’s decisions become influenced by the often unprincipled actions of a crowd. Mark Twain penned The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Twain grew up in America’s southern states during the early 1800’s, a time in which moral confusion erupted within the minds of humans. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn s protagonist is a young boy named Huck who freely travels alongRead MoreThe Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn By Mark Twain1375 Words   |  6 Pagesmention the years spent growing and maturing physically. Teenagers are stuck in an inbetween state where they must learn who they want to become and what they want to be when they grow older. The same is true for Huckleberry Finn, from the book â€Å"The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn† by Mark Twain. This is a book that was written in a time of great confusion over moral codes and standards. It was a world split in half by two different worlds of people; those who opposed, a nd those who promoted slavery.Read MoreMark Twain and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn1575 Words   |  6 Pages Mark Twain and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Controversy Mark Twain, born Samuel Langhorne Clemens, is a highly recognizable figure in American literature. Born in Florida, Missouri Mark Twain and his family moved to Hannibal, Missouri where Twain discovered and fell in love with the mighty Mississippi River. The river and his life in Hannibal became his inspiration and guiding light in most of his writing. 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At the time this book was made however, this novel provided serious socialRead MoreThe Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn By Mark Twain810 Words   |  4 PagesBefore Mark Twain started to write two of his most famous novels, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark was known to use his characters to display his own thoughts and opinions. â€Å"This device allowed him to say just about anything he wanted, provided he could convincingly claim he was simply reporting what others had said.† (Twain, 1283). Mark Twain used this process to be a foundation of his lectures, by manipulating his popularly with his readers. During the storyRead MoreThe Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn By Mark Twain1005 Words   |  5 Pages In the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn written by Mark Twain in the 19th century is about a young boy named Huck Finn and Jim, a runaway slave who go on an adventure. The two travel on a raft along the Mississippi river creating a bond and making memories. Mark Twain presents Huckleberry Finn as a dynamic character who at first views Jim as property and eventually considers Jim as a friend, showing a change in maturity. In the beginning of the book, Huck Finn clearly sees Jim as nothing more thanRead MoreThe Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn By Mark Twain1335 Words   |  6 Pagesyear The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is placed in the top ten banned books in America. People find the novel to be oppressing and racially insensitive due to its frequent use of the n-word and the portrayal of blacks as a Sambo caricature. However, this goes against Mark Twain’s intent of bringing awareness to the racism in America. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain is classified under the genre of satire and is narrated by a fictional character named Huckleberry Finn. The novel

Non-Violence the Need of the Hour Free Essays

Non-violence, in essence, is the use of peaceful means to bring about a positive and lasting social or political change. Use of non-violence as a solution is tantamount to giving aid to the injured, water to the thirsty and food to the hungry. One can legitimately ask: why should non-violence be used when violence offers more tangible and faster solutions? Firstly, it is important to realize that the use of violence to solve a social or political problem creates a host of other problems in its wake. We will write a custom essay sample on Non-Violence: the Need of the Hour or any similar topic only for you Order Now No matter how pure and sublime one’s aim is, use of violence to achieve it can never be justified. In the words of Mahatma Gandhi: â€Å"Violence breeds violence. .. Pure goals can never justify impure or violent action†¦ They say the means are after all just means. I would say means are after all everything. As the means, so the end†¦. If we take care of the means we are bound to reach the end sooner or later. † Secondly, non-violence is a â€Å"tool† that is available to all. One doesn’t need either time or resources to acquire this tool. Every single person in this world can practice non-violence right from this moment, if one realizes its importance. Thirdly, and most importantly, non-violent approach breaks the cycle of violence and counter-violence, which is usually triggered by the use of violence as a solution. If one group attacks another one violently, the attacked group is naturally instigated to retaliate with violence. This, in turn, provokes the first group to counter-attack with fiercer violence. This chain reaction continues until the government agencies effectively quell it or one of the groups is completely wiped out i. e. until a group has â€Å"won†. How can we term this outcome as a â€Å"win† when there’s no one to celebrate the â€Å"win† because this disastrous cycle results into nothing but massive bloodshed and deaths? Ethnic cleansing and communal riots are the obvious examples in which there is widespread bloodshed resulting in the death of countless innocent people. Non-violence, on the other hand, doesn’t have such disastrous repercussions. It provides an effective method of conflict resolution that does not discriminate one group against another and ensures the welfare of all in society. Unfortunately, our country has had to bear the brunt of one communal riot after another.And each one of them leave a trail of destruction and loss of lives. Non-violence adopts a fair and rational approach and rationality says that followers of each religion have their right to worship the Almighty in their own way. No religion justifies the use of violence unless for self-defence against an aggressor. When we turn the pages of history one thing becomes clear: wars or military action does not bring about permanent peace. It only replaces one crisis with another. Therefore, in today’s world of increasing international conflict, racial hatred, and political turmoil, non-violence is indeed the very need of the hour. How to cite Non-Violence: the Need of the Hour, Papers

J.M. Smuckers External Environmental Analysis Essay Example For Students

J.M. Smuckers External Environmental Analysis Essay MGT 599: Strategic Management TUI University Winter 2010 External Environmental Analysis Case Assignment Module 2 Professor: Executive Summary This external analysis is critical in the development of a well rounded, cohesive strategic plan and will enable the JM Smuckers Company to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the current external operating environment and situational awareness of both future threats and opportunities. This analysis establishes a basic industrial framework, and then utilizes Porter’s 5-Forces model and PEST analysis in attempting to develop a common understanding of the industry and economic environmental threats and opportunities. Porter’s Five Force model indicates that the greatest threats and opportunities facing the J. M. Smuckers company are likely in the form of substitution in the specialty segments due to the emergence and growth of CSAs and farmers markets providing locally grown organic foods, and the threat to profit margins are due to the high degree of rivalry among food manufacturers across all product segments. The analysis also indicates that Smuckers can leverage its product depth and brand name to gain market share as consumers are driven towards value, and use its strong balance sheet to potentially seek additional products to further expand its broad product portfolio . The PEST analysis indicates that current political factors such as the national debt, state immigration laws, healthcare reform, social-cultural conditions driven primarily by the increasing demand to develop and utilize safer and greener energy, and emerging technology innovations will have the biggest impact on the global business environment. What should also be taken from this macro analysis is that rarely should an issue be considered solely a threat or opportunity. Instead every threat should be seen as an opportunity to distance the company from its competitors and every opportunity a chance to fall behind. The ability to understanding the threats and opportunities better than the competition should enable the development of mitigation strategies for threats, the creation of plans to exploit opportunities, and guide further industry and greater economic assessment for inclusion in strategic development that leads to greater competitive advantage. Intro In attempting to develop and formulate a comprehensive strategic business plan, corporations need to assess both their internal and external environment. This is typically accomplished through SWOT analysis. In SWOT analysis the internal assessment focuses on strengths and weaknesses, while the external assessment focuses on opportunities and threats. The objective of this paper is to conduct an external analysis that will identify and provide insight into potential threats and opportunities facing the JM Smuckers Company and will facilitate strategic planning efforts. This external analysis should enable corporate planners to fully appreciate and understand the opportunities and threats that face the JM Smuckers Company and in turn facilitate the development of a strategic plan that incorporates mitigation strategies for threats and features resource utilization strategies that exploit opportunities. This analysis will include setting the industrial framework or scope of the J. M. Smuckers company analysis, an industry environment analysis using Porter’s 5-Forces model, and a greater business environment analysis utilizing PEST analysis, and conclude with the threats and opportunities that face the JM Smuckers Company. SCOPE In order to identify and comprehend the opportunities and threats to the JM Smuckers Company, it is important to establish a framework for the external assessment. This will enable the analysis to cull the seemingly limitless threats and opportunities and focus on those that are more relevant. This framework will be comprised of a company overview and establishment of critical facts from the annual report that will drive our analysis. For over 100 years, the JM Smuckers Company has engaged in the manufacturing and marketing of branded food products in the United States, Europe, and Canada. (The J. M Smucker Company, n. a. ) The company markets the following products: coffee, peanut butter, shortening and oils, fruit spreads, canned milk, baking mixes and ready-to-spread frostings, flour and baking ingredients, uices and beverages, frozen sandwiches, dessert toppings, syrups, pickles and condiments, and potato side dishes under various brand names. â€Å"Today, Smuckers is the leading marketer and manufacturer of fruit spreads, retail packaged coffee, peanut butter, shortening and oils, ice cream toppings, sweetened condensed milk, and health and natural foods beverages in North America. † (J. M. Smucker Co. , n. a. ) Because the primary business activity is fruit sp reads, Smuckers has a North American Industry Classification Code (NAICS) of 311421 â€Å"for the purposes of collecting, analyzing, and publishing statistical data related to the U. S. business economy. † (NAICS, n. a. ) The J. M. Smuckers Company NAIC hierarchy 31Manufacturing 311Food manufacturing 3114Fruit and Vegetable Preserving and Specialty Food Manufacturing 31142Fruit and vegetable canning, pickling, and drying 311421Fruit and Vegetable canning The 2009 J. M Smuckers Annual Report Key facts: †¢The Company has four reportable segments: U. S. retail consumer market, U. S. retail oils and baking market, U. S. retail coffee market, and special markets. †¢The three U. S. etail market segments comprised nearly 80 percent of the Company’s net sales in fiscal 2009 †¢In U. S. retail market segments products are sold primarily to food retailers, food wholesalers, drug stores, club stores, mass merchandisers, discount and dollar stores, and military commissaries. †¢In special market segments products are distributed domestically and in foreign countries through retail channels, foodservice distributors and operators (i. e. , restau rants, schools and universities, healthcare operators), and health and natural foods stores and distributors. The Company realized strong sales and margin growth in 2009. Despite the impact of a global recession and credit crisis, the impact of the Folgers transaction and improved profitability in the Company’s U. S. retail oils and baking market segment contributed to the strong 2009 performance. †¢Company net sales increased 49 percent, led by the contributions from Folgers. The Company generally benefited from the consumer trend of preparing and eating more meals at home. Operating and net income increased 59 percent and 56 percent, respectively. †¢Net income per common share – assuming dilution increased approximately four percent reflecting the impact of additional common shares issued, increased interest expense, and increased merger and integration costs, all related to the Folgers transaction. Porter’s 5-Forces: The Industry External Environmen t Porter’s 5-Forces model will be used in conducting the assessment of Smuckers industry external environment. The greatness of little red riding hood EssayThe PEST Analysis will provide a greater understanding of the macro business environment in which the Smuckers Company is operating. This analysis will assess the impact of political, economic, social, and technological forces that are beyond the control of Smuckers but which will impact strategy development and decision making. As with the previous analysis, the PEST Analysis will be limited to the identification and evaluation of one or two key items per element. Political Factors The current assessment is that the impact due to political factors on the greater business environment is high. The three factors driving this assessment are the global focus on national debt issues, state immigration laws, and healthcare reform. Perhaps the biggest concern and impact will be felt due to the effort to reduce the National debt which is expected to exceed $14 trillion dollars (Johnson, 2010). â€Å"Republican Alan Simpson and Democrat Erskine Bowles told a meeting of the National Governors Association that everything needs to be considered including curtailing popular tax breaks, such as the home mortgage deduction, and instituting a financial trigger mechanism for gaining Medicare coverage. (Johnson, 2010) Clearly the U. S. will be called on to implement a get out of debt strategy that is acceptable to the World. The likely increase of taxes will be compounded due to stiffer state immigration laws that potentially decrease available labor pools and finally there will be the added requirement to provide enhanced health care benefits to seasonal workers. The food manufacturing industry will likely be hard pressed to maintain current pricing models as raw goods suppliers are forced to adapt to the changing employee requirements. Economic Factors The assessed impact of economic factors on the greater business environment is assessed as medium. This is primarily due to slowing of the U. S. economic recovery and the increasing possibility of a double dip recession. Across there is a great amount of uncertainty from national debt issues in the Euro zone, China’s nagging labor issues, and India’s potential inflation issues, which are long term issues that will impact international business. While there is much confusion and uncertainty opportunities exist for ompanies that have strong balance sheets to expand through mergers and acquisitions or lower borrow costs as a result of low long term interest rates due to global demand for U. S. treasuries. Socio-Cultural Factors The impact from social-cultural issues is assessed to be high. This is being driven primarily by the growing demand for the use of safer renewable energy sources and the desire to conserve precious resources like water, oil, and gas . While the motives behind green energy solutions may vary, there is no denial that demand for green energy is increasing among consumers, corporations, and nations. In fact the recent BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has only strengthened the argument for the development of green energy solutions. The impact to the economy will likely manifest itself in higher energy costs as current green energy sources are more expensive than traditional sources, there will likely be taxes to support government subsidies to foster development of green energy, and the initial cost of developing green infrastructure are all likely to affect the bottom line. Technical Factors The impact of technology on the greater business environment is assessed to be very high. Like most industries the food manufacturing industry will feel the impact of advancements in research, technology development, and implementation. Failure to leverage emerging technologies will result in competitive disadvantage. Nano coatings are one example of emerging technology that will have an impact on the food manufacturing industry. The impact will be felt through enhancing food safety and reduction in production cost. Nanocoatings can be applied to machinery to inhibit bacteria growth, which means they need less cleaning† (Harrington, 2010). Conclusion In conclusion, The J. M. Smucker’s corporation will face multiple challenges and opportunities. Porter’s Five Force model indicates that the greatest threats are due to substitution in specialty segments due to the emergence and growth of CSAs and farmers markets providing locally grown organic foods and the high degr ee of rivalry among food manufacturers that threatens profit margins across all segments. While the PEST analysis indicates that current political factors, social-cultural, and technology will have a significant impact on both near and mid-term business planning and strategy development. This analysis should enable the development of mitigation strategies for threats, the development of plans to exploit opportunities, and guide further industry and greater economic assessment for inclusion in strategic development. What should also be taken from this analysis is that rarely should an issue be considered solely a threat or opportunity. Instead every threat should be seen as an opportunity to distance the company from competitors and every opportunity a chance to fall behind. Bibliography Carrying out a PEST Analysis. (n. a. ). Retrieved APRIL 26, 2010, from TheFreeLibrary. com: http://thefreelibrary. com/carrying+out+a+PEST+analysis-a0141751272 Connelley, D. (2005). Strategy for the External Environment. Retrieved from Power Point Presentation. Economic Growth Report. (n. d. ). Retrieved JUL 12, 2010, from Institute for Supply Management: http://www. sm. ws/about/MediaRoom/newsreleasedetail. cfm? ItemNumber=20290 Eilperin, J. , Mufson, S. (2009, APR 16). Renewable Energys Environmental Paradox. Retrieved JUL 12, 2010, from Washington Post: http://www. washingtonpost. com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/15/AR2009041503622. html Food Manufacturing. (2010, April). Retrieved JUL 12, 2010, from Bureau of Labor Statistics Industries at a Glance: http://www. bls. gov/iag/tgs/iag311. htm Harrington, R. (2010, MAY 31). Spec ial Edition: Nano Technology. Retrieved JUL 12, 2010, from Food Production Daily. com: http://www. foodproductiondaily. com/Processing/Is-the-food-processing-industry-poised-to-embrace-nanocoatings Industry Packaged Goods . (2010). Retrieved JUL 12, 2010, from Yahoo Finance : http://finance. yahoo. com/q/in? s=SJM+Industry Industry Concentration. (2007). Retrieved APRIL 26, 2010, from QuickMBA. com: http://www. quickmba. com/econ/micro/indcon. shtml J. M. Smucker Co. (n. a. ). Retrieved JUNE 16, 2010, from BNET: