Virginia Woolfs Modernism Essay Example For Students

Virginia Woolfs Modernism Essay Virginia Woolf is regarded as one of the most significant authors of the modernist period. She experimented with different techniques, forms and structures and it is this experimentation and introduction of a new style that defines her as a modernist writer. Modernism was a cultural movement over the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries that was not only in literature but in art, music and architecture. It was a rejection of the traditional, conventional past and embodied experimentation and the challenging of established conventions. There were many factors that lead to the establishment of modernist characteristics such as WWI, Sigmund Freuds theory on psychoanalysis, Charles Darwins Theory of Evolution and the Industrial Revolution. These introduced a new way of thinking which was ideas of existentialism, the subconscious, and the sense of a lonely, isolated individual trying to make sense of a fragmented and almost alien society. I will explore these ideas further in this essay with discussion of how Virginia Woolf represents a modernist writer by using the following points. We will write a custom essay on Virginia Woolfs Modernism specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Virginia Woolf was influenced by events and developments to challenge the classic writing conventions, and Virginia Woolf not only used the conventions of the modernist period but developed them further. Virginia Woolf was influenced by events and developments to challenge the classic writing conventions. In the previous literary period, writers spoke in a third person omniscient voice with patriarchal values, religion and a clear unchangeable social hierarchy present. Sigmund Freuds theory of psychoanalysis was not the first but was the one that became popular and well-known around the world. Virginia Woolf became inspired by the writing of Freud and therefore incorporated the exploration of the subconscious and the underlying psychological and emotional motives of characters in her writings. The facets of Freudian aspects that Woolf mainly focuses on are especially evident through her use of stream of consciousness, where the thoughts and feelings of a character are written simply as a jumble of thoughts that however are still connected. The syntax gives a long flow of sentences and continuous access into the characters mind which, before this time, was not done. An example of this is in Woolfs novel Mrs Dalloway where it is narrated through the point of view of what is happening inside the characters minds. Another major event of the time was WWI. This novel is based post-WWI and consequently reflects the insecurities felt after this war. For example, in Mrs Dalloway Woolf writes in such a way that produces confusion for the reader, especially through the lack of closure in the novel leaving the reader more uncertain. Woolf also directly focuses on the war and its unsettling consequences in Mrs Dalloway as she talks about how a boy was killed and now his Manor House must go to a cousin. The traditional English hierarchy has been disturbed and the war has directly damaged their conventional world. This changing of conventions is a key factor of modernist writing. Another major occurrence in the modernist period that Virginia Woolf took inspiration from was the technological advancements which were the first stages of globalisation. The invention of the wireless and other communications made people feel so much smaller in contrast to the huge and growing world. This idea is emphasised by the discovery of other galaxies, playing with peoples conceptions of time and space. Ideas about time and space play a major role in modernist writing and the writings of Virginia Woolf are no different. In her novel Mrs Dalloway all the action happens over the course of one day. Novels before this time took much longer for the plot to unfold, from weeks to even decades. However Woolf also incorporates flashbacks which play with the idea of time further producing an unnerving effect from this change of tenses. The effect of Woolfs short time frame is that it varies with the readers expectations of the novel and changes the way they look upon the passing of time. .u7728c06665f3ecca0e548053ff2cd5c2 , .u7728c06665f3ecca0e548053ff2cd5c2 .postImageUrl , .u7728c06665f3ecca0e548053ff2cd5c2 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u7728c06665f3ecca0e548053ff2cd5c2 , .u7728c06665f3ecca0e548053ff2cd5c2:hover , .u7728c06665f3ecca0e548053ff2cd5c2:visited , .u7728c06665f3ecca0e548053ff2cd5c2:active { border:0!important; } .u7728c06665f3ecca0e548053ff2cd5c2 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u7728c06665f3ecca0e548053ff2cd5c2 { 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; } .u7728c06665f3ecca0e548053ff2cd5c2:active , .u7728c06665f3ecca0e548053ff2cd5c2:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u7728c06665f3ecca0e548053ff2cd5c2 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u7728c06665f3ecca0e548053ff2cd5c2 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u7728c06665f3ecca0e548053ff2cd5c2 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u7728c06665f3ecca0e548053ff2cd5c2 .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; } .u7728c06665f3ecca0e548053ff2cd5c2:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u7728c06665f3ecca0e548053ff2cd5c2 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u7728c06665f3ecca0e548053ff2cd5c2 .u7728c06665f3ecca0e548053ff2cd5c2-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u7728c06665f3ecca0e548053ff2cd5c2:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: The Influence of Modernist Art EssayAnother interesting aspect is that the novel, instead of focusing on the unfolding of events, focuses on the characters and their thoughts and impressions of everything around them. This again relates both to the short time frame and also the stream of consciousness that Woolf uses in many of her writings, and is a key theme of modernist writing. Virginia Woolf was influenced by events and developments to challenge the classic writing conventions. Virginia Woolf not only used the conventions of the modernist period but developed them further. She was one of the first modernist writers so society took notice of her as a radical writer challenging the boundaries of writing. This was because her writing style and novel structure was different to what was previously used, for example the use of the short time frame and stream of consciousness allowing access into the readers head. These conventions had not been used before so Woolf was noticed as the author who moved the world into a new, radical, less traditional era. Woolf developed the conventions of the modernist period as her style changed subtly through each new novel that was published. The main way that this occurred in was that Virginia Woolf created inspiring impressions on her readers rather than recreating reality, and she experimented with her writing rather than conforming. Another example of how Woolf developed the conventions of the modernist period further is that she explores aspects of society that were issues at the time. She took inspiration from previous female authors such as Jane Austen and the Bronte sisters and examined women and their struggles in society. An example of this in her literary work is her creation of William Shakespeares sister, a woman named Judith. Woolf incorporated this into her extended essay A Room of Ones Own to try to get her point across about womens need for independence. Gender issues is one of Woolfs themes common to her works, along with the hierarchy of society and the consequences of war, as discussed in her novel Mrs Dalloway. The final way in which Virginia Woolf developed the conventions of the modernist period further is how she reflects her personal life within her work. Woolf had a nervous breakdown at age 13 after the death of her parents and from then on she was battling a mental illness for most of her life. This is incorporated in her work in her novel Mrs Dalloway where she incorporates most likely the experiences of herself into the character Septimus Smith who was shell-shocked from the war. Woolf imagined her novel Mrs Dalloway as a study of insanity and suicide; the world seen by the sane and the insane side by side. Mental illnesses were not something that were well known and widely accepted in Virginia Woolfs context, and Woolfs incorporation of this in her writings progressed the modernist era by the introduction of a new issue discussed. In these ways, Virginia Woolf not only used the conventions of the modernist period but developed them further. In this essay I have discussed the ways in which Virginia Woolf is regarded as one of the most significant authors of the modernist period using the two points that Virginia Woolf was influenced by events and developments to challenge the classic writing conventions, and Virginia Woolf not only used the conventions of the modernist period but developed them further. Virginia Woolfs Modernism Essay Example For Students Virginia Woolfs Modernism Essay Virginia Woolf is regarded as one of the most significant authors of the modernist period. She experimented with different techniques, forms and structures and it is this experimentation and introduction of a new style that defines her as a modernist writer. Modernism was a cultural movement over the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries that was not only in literature but in art, music and architecture. It was a rejection of the traditional, conventional past and embodied experimentation and the challenging of established conventions. There were many factors that lead to the establishment of modernist characteristics such as WWI, Sigmund Freuds theory on psychoanalysis, Charles Darwins Theory of Evolution and the Industrial Revolution. These introduced a new way of thinking which was ideas of existentialism, the subconscious, and the sense of a lonely, isolated individual trying to make sense of a fragmented and almost alien society. I will explore these ideas further in this essay with discussion of how Virginia Woolf represents a modernist writer by using the following points. We will write a custom essay on Virginia Woolfs Modernism specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Virginia Woolf was influenced by events and developments to challenge the classic writing conventions, and Virginia Woolf not only used the conventions of the modernist period but developed them further. Virginia Woolf was influenced by events and developments to challenge the classic writing conventions. In the previous literary period, writers spoke in a third person omniscient voice with patriarchal values, religion and a clear unchangeable social hierarchy present. Sigmund Freuds theory of psychoanalysis was not the first but was the one that became popular and well-known around the world. Virginia Woolf became inspired by the writing of Freud and therefore incorporated the exploration of the subconscious and the underlying psychological and emotional motives of characters in her writings. The facets of Freudian aspects that Woolf mainly focuses on are especially evident through her use of stream of consciousness, where the thoughts and feelings of a character are written simply as a jumble of thoughts that however are still connected. The syntax gives a long flow of sentences and continuous access into the characters mind which, before this time, was not done. An example of this is in Woolfs novel Mrs Dalloway where it is narrated through the point of view of what is happening inside the characters minds. Another major event of the time was WWI. This novel is based post-WWI and consequently reflects the insecurities felt after this war. For example, in Mrs Dalloway Woolf writes in such a way that produces confusion for the reader, especially through the lack of closure in the novel leaving the reader more uncertain. Woolf also directly focuses on the war and its unsettling consequences in Mrs Dalloway as she talks about how a boy was killed and now his Manor House must go to a cousin. The traditional English hierarchy has been disturbed and the war has directly damaged their conventional world. This changing of conventions is a key factor of modernist writing. Another major occurrence in the modernist period that Virginia Woolf took inspiration from was the technological advancements which were the first stages of globalisation. The invention of the wireless and other communications made people feel so much smaller in contrast to the huge and growing world. This idea is emphasised by the discovery of other galaxies, playing with peoples conceptions of time and space. Ideas about time and space play a major role in modernist writing and the writings of Virginia Woolf are no different. In her novel Mrs Dalloway all the action happens over the course of one day. Novels before this time took much longer for the plot to unfold, from weeks to even decades. However Woolf also incorporates flashbacks which play with the idea of time further producing an unnerving effect from this change of tenses. The effect of Woolfs short time frame is that it varies with the readers expectations of the novel and changes the way they look upon the passing of time. .u1c007653b19f3f0a612eff59516e9010 , .u1c007653b19f3f0a612eff59516e9010 .postImageUrl , .u1c007653b19f3f0a612eff59516e9010 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u1c007653b19f3f0a612eff59516e9010 , .u1c007653b19f3f0a612eff59516e9010:hover , .u1c007653b19f3f0a612eff59516e9010:visited , .u1c007653b19f3f0a612eff59516e9010:active { border:0!important; } .u1c007653b19f3f0a612eff59516e9010 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u1c007653b19f3f0a612eff59516e9010 { 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; } .u1c007653b19f3f0a612eff59516e9010:active , .u1c007653b19f3f0a612eff59516e9010:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u1c007653b19f3f0a612eff59516e9010 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u1c007653b19f3f0a612eff59516e9010 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u1c007653b19f3f0a612eff59516e9010 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u1c007653b19f3f0a612eff59516e9010 .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; } .u1c007653b19f3f0a612eff59516e9010:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u1c007653b19f3f0a612eff59516e9010 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u1c007653b19f3f0a612eff59516e9010 .u1c007653b19f3f0a612eff59516e9010-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u1c007653b19f3f0a612eff59516e9010:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Modernism in British and Irish literature EssayAnother interesting aspect is that the novel, instead of focusing on the unfolding of events, focuses on the characters and their thoughts and impressions of everything around them. This again relates both to the short time frame and also the stream of consciousness that Woolf uses in many of her writings, and is a key theme of modernist writing. Virginia Woolf was influenced by events and developments to challenge the classic writing conventions. Virginia Woolf not only used the conventions of the modernist period but developed them further. She was one of the first modernist writers so society took notice of her as a radical writer challenging the boundaries of writing. This was because her writing style and novel structure was different to what was previously used, for example the use of the short time frame and stream of consciousness allowing access into the readers head. These conventions had not been used before so Woolf was noticed as the author who moved the world into a new, radical, less traditional era. Woolf developed the conventions of the modernist period as her style changed subtly through each new novel that was published. The main way that this occurred in was that Virginia Woolf created inspiring impressions on her readers rather than recreating reality, and she experimented with her writing rather than conforming. Another example of how Woolf developed the conventions of the modernist period further is that she explores aspects of society that were issues at the time. She took inspiration from previous female authors such as Jane Austen and the Bronte sisters and examined women and their struggles in society. An example of this in her literary work is her creation of William Shakespeares sister, a woman named Judith. Woolf incorporated this into her extended essay A Room of Ones Own to try to get her point across about womens need for independence. Gender issues is one of Woolfs themes common to her works, along with the hierarchy of society and the consequences of war, as discussed in her novel Mrs Dalloway. The final way in which Virginia Woolf developed the conventions of the modernist period further is how she reflects her personal life within her work. Woolf had a nervous breakdown at age 13 after the death of her parents and from then on she was battling a mental illness for most of her life. This is incorporated in her work in her novel Mrs Dalloway where she incorporates most likely the experiences of herself into the character Septimus Smith who was shell-shocked from the war. Woolf imagined her novel Mrs Dalloway as a study of insanity and suicide; the world seen by the sane and the insane side by side. Mental illnesses were not something that were well known and widely accepted in Virginia Woolfs context, and Woolfs incorporation of this in her writings progressed the modernist era by the introduction of a new issue discussed. In these ways, Virginia Woolf not only used the conventions of the modernist period but developed them further. In this essay I have discussed the ways in which Virginia Woolf is regarded as one of the most significant authors of the modernist period using the two points that Virginia Woolf was influenced by events and developments to challenge the classic writing conventions, and Virginia Woolf not only used the conventions of the modernist period but developed them further.

Free Essays on Egocentric America

The American school setting is the perfect environment for the egocentric self to be learned by children and is clearly opposed to the development of a sociocentric self. From the first day of nursery or even before that, children are all considered special, in their own way, which sets each one apart from everyone else. Schools particularly reinforce the belief of individualism and competitiveness in almost every aspect of the American school day. This is key to American society due to the fact that success here is based on standing out from everyone else and incorporating the aspects of assertiveness, intelligence, uniqueness, and common sense. In the early elementary school years of childhood development in America, children as â€Å"individuals† get focused on by the teacher. This is established by one on one interaction between the student and teacher relationship, that is children need personalized attention and not only focusing on the â€Å"whole† mentality. Demand for smaller class sizes emphasizes this. Another example that could be provided for the egocentric self is the rewards a student will receive if they strive for the best, in the giving out of gold stars. Many American school teachers reward a child’s successful homework, project, participation, friendliness, etc. with the â€Å"gold star.† Either in the teacher’s book or better yet, on a chart displayed for everyone to view, are how many stars each child has. Some children will receive more stars than others, thus receiving more praise, rewards, and self fulfillment from both teachers and parents who reestablish their chi ld’s individuality. This conditioning process clearly promotes each child to strive for more stars, to be the best, to stand out from the crowd and proclaim his or her own uniqueness. Upon later years of schooling, the egocentric teachings in America become more prevalently displayed, accepted, and incorporated in each individual student. Gold... Free Essays on Egocentric America Free Essays on Egocentric America The American school setting is the perfect environment for the egocentric self to be learned by children and is clearly opposed to the development of a sociocentric self. From the first day of nursery or even before that, children are all considered special, in their own way, which sets each one apart from everyone else. Schools particularly reinforce the belief of individualism and competitiveness in almost every aspect of the American school day. This is key to American society due to the fact that success here is based on standing out from everyone else and incorporating the aspects of assertiveness, intelligence, uniqueness, and common sense. In the early elementary school years of childhood development in America, children as â€Å"individuals† get focused on by the teacher. This is established by one on one interaction between the student and teacher relationship, that is children need personalized attention and not only focusing on the â€Å"whole† mentality. Demand for smaller class sizes emphasizes this. Another example that could be provided for the egocentric self is the rewards a student will receive if they strive for the best, in the giving out of gold stars. Many American school teachers reward a child’s successful homework, project, participation, friendliness, etc. with the â€Å"gold star.† Either in the teacher’s book or better yet, on a chart displayed for everyone to view, are how many stars each child has. Some children will receive more stars than others, thus receiving more praise, rewards, and self fulfillment from both teachers and parents who reestablish their chi ld’s individuality. This conditioning process clearly promotes each child to strive for more stars, to be the best, to stand out from the crowd and proclaim his or her own uniqueness. Upon later years of schooling, the egocentric teachings in America become more prevalently displayed, accepted, and incorporated in each individual student. Gold...

Organisation structured by product and organisation which is organised Assignment

Organisation structured by product and organisation which is organised by function - Assignment Example is divided into three main divisions: lighters, pens and razors, and Hewlett Packard that is divided into five main divisions: image and printing group, personal system group, enterprise group, HP services and finally HP financial services (Biz/ed 2006 and Business case studies 2014). Each business structure has its advantages and disadvantages. Among the advantages of product structured business includes specialization, accountability and clarity. Specialization allows every division to focus and concentrate on one line of product that is its own work. Accountability is an advantage because the structure makes it clear who is responsible for that department. Clarity plays in where everybody knows not just their role but also the roles of others. On the other side organization structure by product has down sides. Among the downsides are communication, rigidity and coordination. Such a structure encourages closed communication that may lead to lack of focus. Due to the fact that departments are divided upon what they do, some may end up becoming resistant to change. This structure also makes coordination difficult as there is a big gap between the top and the bottom which may make coordination take too long (Biz/ed 2006). Structuring by function is simply done by dividing the organization into departments with similar specializations such as marketing, finance and accounts, human resources, and many others. The marketing department for instance will have marketers who are charged the responsibility to market the company’s products. This type of structure best suits companies that make standard goods and services in large quantities at prices that are considered low. Another characteristic is that they have a large degree of formalization that leads to reliance by each function on standardized way (Businessmate.org 2010 and). An example of a business with functional structure is ABC which has its departments divided into accounting department, corporate

Paragraph Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Paragraph - Essay Example Best Buy’s trip to Memphis encourages racial diversity among managers and employees through immersion, encouraging them to observe the strengths and weaknesses of other managers and employees that they could use to improve their own services. Learning from a wider variety of racial mixture gives managers the chance to widen their scope of observation as well especially when it comes to preferences, attitudes and customer service desired. Seeing other people do their responsibilities in a setting where racial and gender diversity is encouraged will also benefits the managers and employees by letting them see that there is no harm in showing their true natures. That, they do not have to pretend to be somebody they are not only to impress other people, which could be limiting their ability to perform well in their workplace. Diversity also encourages people to work together in unity regardless of gender and race. This eventually promotes a safer and more comfortable atmosphere fo r customers. Such a welcoming mood increases customers visiting the place which would mean higher sales and therefore, higher bottom lines.

Index funds and their investment policy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Index funds and their investment policy - Essay Example Unlike index funds, actively managed funds aim to reach results, which exceed whole market results or some of its components. It's important for their managers to select the stocks, necessary to buy, correctly, and also to define exactly the best selling/purchasing moment. Unlike actively managed funds, which aim to reach results, which exceed whole market results or some of its components (it's important for their managers to select the stocks, necessary to buy, correctly, and also to define exactly the best selling/purchasing moment), index funds demonstrate more passive investment strategy. Index funds invest assets to some basic asset classes, each of them characterized by its own flights and drops. That's why combinations of investing into funds, based on various indexes allow reaching some balance, reducing the risk and increasing invested money return. There are five five members, who represent Standard & Poor's and the ASX. They set policy, determ index composition and administer the indices in accordance with the S&P/ASX index methodology. The investment policy includes adding, removing or by-passing any company or during the selection process. And what about the portfolio investment... An index addition generally will be made only if an index vacancy is created by an index deletion. The Index Committee determines S&P/ASX index additions based on historic analysis of a stock's market capitalization, free float, and liquidity. The Fund is a style-based fund that seeks to provide a total return that is broadly in line with the S&P/ASX 200 Index (excluding listed property trusts) before taking into account Fund fees and expenses. The Fund is targeting a grossed-up dividend yield that is 1% above that of the index. Grossed-up dividend yield is calculated taking into account both cash dividends and associated franking credits. Surely, the Committee analyses every merger, spin-off, acquisition, or scheme of arrangement. Index funds are popular among investors thanks to their wide portfolio diversification, low expenses and high efficiency from taxation point. 2. ASX200 composition determining and it's changing. There are indexes for some certain market branches (municipal, technological, financial etc.), regions and states and even different investment styles. For instance, "growth" indexes are composed from the stocks of the companies, which are waited to demonstrate fast profit growth tempos, while "cost" indexes - from the stocks, which can be undervalued on the base of financial results or company assets. The S&P/ASX 200 Index is recognized as one of the leading investment benchmarks for the Australian equity market. The index represents the 200 largest and most liquid publicly listed entities in Australia. The S&P/ASX 200 Index provides investors and fund managers with an effective benchmark for Australian equity performance, as it offers a broader representation of the Australian market. What companys' stocks are included in ASX 200 list The

History of Theatre: From Greek to Modern Day

History of Theatre: From Greek to Modern Day Modern American Theatre Modern American theatre has changed a lot since the time of traditional Greek Tragedies and Roman Theatrics. Technology changes have changed many of the different methods that we use to convey artistic styles and themes. Todays theatre has many contrasting and diverse styles; it contains both higher levels of musical and acting talent. The Broadway sensation Wicked for instance, is a great example of modern theatre. It contains a very interesting script, and the theme of the story is a combination of comedy and tragedy. Technology changes in costuming, prop building and even acting has changed everything about the theatre. Wicked also took on an international presence, unlike past theatre, which was isolated to regional performances and even seasonal performances, Wicked has been shown on every continent on the planet. Even though there have been a lot of changes in modern theatre, the core components of modern theatre are still the same as they have been in the past. Although theatr e has evolved a lot from historical theatre, many of the same themes, styles and developments are still consistent with the past. Theatre had its origins in the earliest parts of human history. Before there was actual theatre and actors, the first form of theatre can be found in the development of dance culture. Dances were originally performed in commemoration of major events, celebrations and religious ceremonies. At first, they were very informal affairs with little practice, but dancing as rituals evolved into very sophisticated forms of artistry by the 3000B BCE era. The foremost reason that dancing occurred was for religious rituals. The theme of religion that first originated in ritualistic dancing will continue in theatre for more than four thousand years. Famed critic Ellis Havelock explains, Religious dances, it may be observed, are sometimes ecstatic, sometimes pantomimic. . . . Pantomimic dances, with their effort to heighten natural expression and to imitate natural process, bring the dancers into the divine sphere of creation and enable them to assist vicariously in the energy of the gods. The dan ce thus becomes the presentation of a divine drama. As dancing became more sophisticated with time, and they were eventually performed at every level, especially before major events such as wars, seasonal changes, or religious celebrations. Eventually, rituals evolved further into sophisticated displays that took on themes and styles, this was the first development of drama as we know it (Bellinger, 1927). The evolution of dance from tribal and informal affairs into very complicated rituals can be seen in Persian and Asian early civilizations, they exhibited the most complex form of evolving dance culture. Despite the early development of dance, there are many similarities to modern theatre. First, ritualistic dances had heavy religious overtones and only performed during key periods of time. This was the foundation of Greek theatre, which directly evolved from these tribal dances and dramas. Another similarity is the development of story-telling through theatre, as dances took on more sophistication; they took on story-lines, complicated plots and a common theme that is carried in the dance. The emerging concept of stories through dance was very important because it led to the creation of theatre. This type of dance culture evolved slowly into a new type of theatre during the Greek era, this era saw the rise of theatre, not as a religious experience, but rather as an art form. Greek theatre is where modern theatre draws its roots from. It is the start of the Western tradition of theatre because not only did the Greeks enjoy theatre as part of religion, but also saw it as an art form. The first steps towards Greek theatre occurred when dances and rituals to the ancient Greek God of Win, Dionysus, became more and more sophisticated. The biggest change was the addition of style and theme that led to the development of plays, where spoken word was used rather than only song and dance. Formal Greek theatre is renowned for its style, themes and physical constructions. Every element of modern theatre can be traced to Greek theatre. The great Greek playwrights were very interested in the development of theme in their plays. They were the first to create category of themes suited for different plays. These themes included tragedy, comedy and satire. Tragedy was the most common element in Greek plays, in particular, the biggest development that the Greeks made as in the concept of a Tragic hero, or a hero who is ultimately defeated by their hubris (Bates, 45-47). Stylistically, Greek plays had a very specific structure; they were created primarily to be played once, therefore, they were often staged in a series of four plays. With the first three being tragedies and the final one a comedy that tied them all together to lighten the mood of the crowd. The development of style and a system for organizing plays along scenes and acts was very important and is still something that persists in modern theatre. Finally, the Greeks were also known for their actual physical constructions of theatre areas. Unlike, the previous era where rituals were performs at religious centers and in preparation for battles, the Greeks created amphitheaters within every city where they would hold yearly plays and contests. Amphitheaters were large central stages that are surrounded by raised stairs for seating. They became the popular form of theatre construction for the next thousand years. Greek theatre can be seen as the roots of all modern theatre because they added many of the different core elements that we see in theatre today. They were also the first to have professional actors and playwrights rather than religious figures. Greek theatre started the trend of having professional performers by introducing the actor’s guild where they trained very skilled troupes that would travel around Greece and perform for cities and rural areas along the way. Following Greek theatre, the next evolution of theatre occurred during the Roman era. Roman theatre was not extremely original because it took many of the elements of Greek theatre and made it their own. Many Roman plays were adaptations or even direct copies of Greek plays, so much of their architecture, styles and themes were the same. The biggest difference between the two is that Romans made theatre much more secular. Their plays did not focus on religion nearly as much as Greek theatre, which meant that they were more focused on the aesthetics and art of theatre. This led to the extended use of props to communicate different meaning. For instance, a black wig was used to mean that a character is a very young man. The use of props and elaborate backgrounds surrounding theatre made them more attractive and accessible to the masses. This meant that theatre was one of the main forms of entertainment during the Roman era. Because Roman theatre was less sophisticated than Greek theatr e in many ways, and it did not have a religious focus, they performed many more comedies than tragedies. Overall Roman theatre is important to the history of theatre because it represented easier access to the arts and a secular approach to theatre. Theatre during the medieval era however, took a very large step backwards. While the Roman era expanded on the Greek era, the Medieval or Dark Ages represented a period of chaos and seclusion. The fall of the Roman Empire meant that Europe became less focused in the cities and more agrarian. Without a large audience to appeal to, the concept of theatre almost died completely. During this era, theatre and plays were exclusively religious in nature and were performed by monks and priests as they traveled around the country. The only type of theatre that was available related strongly to the Bible. Rather than having props or physical stages, plays were performed by traveling monks as they moved from village to village, there ewes no formal staging areas. From a style perspective, plays were performed as if they were direct translations of the Bible and all of the different scenes and acts corresponded with Biblical stories. One of the most famous plays of this era was the English Cycle s, which portrayed the birth and death of Jesus. Theatre during this era took a very large step backwards from the advances made from the Greek and Roman era, however, the majority of theatre development did not die, but they were not explored until much later during the Renaissance revival period. The era that had the most influence on modern theatre was the Renaissance era. American theatre draws most of its influences from this era because it closely relates to the style, themes and structures that we are use to in our modern era. The Renaissance was a period of revival that took place across Europe as changes in technology, art, science and all aspects of life took place at the same time. There were many different theatre movements during this era; the two largest of these was the Spanish theatre movement and the English theatre movement. In Spain, theatre evolved during the Golden Age of around 1550 to 1700 when Spain was the most powerful country on the planet. During this era, theatre became divided into three areas, religious, comedic and musical. The greatest development in theatre occurred in England during this period, English theatre is best known for the Elizabethan period, where theatre as an art form flourished. English theatre is known for two areas, theatre construction and its famous actors and writers. English theatre was the first to construct very large theatres solely for the use of plays and musicals. These â€Å"hubs† were where the most famous plays were performed, and the most famous of these was the Globe theatre where Shakespeare held his performances. The construction of these theatres was very influential to modern theatre because it resulted in the development of standalone arenas for performances. This was a much bigger step towards more stylized displays, better props and most importantly, permanent actors. Elizabethan era produced the most well known and famous writer, William Shakespeare. During Shakespeare’s career, he almost single handedly propelled theatre to the top of entertainmen t and national attention. His Globe theatre would attract royal donors and he was sponsored by the Queen. During this era, English theatre took theatre to new heights of success and as a result, many of today’s conventions are adopted from this era. Even today Shakespeare’s plays are reproduced in theatres around the country. The neo-classic era was known for using very formal decorum around each performance, where every part of the display had to be picture perfect. Modern theatre is very hard to explain unless we can see it through the lenses of history. American theatre is very diverse, it contains many different styles of theatre that includes traditional theatre in the form of Shakespeare plays, but it also extends out as far as Cirque De Soleil and the modern Broadway musicals. All of these different forms of theatre have common similarities however that were inherited from the past. One of the major developments of modern theatre is the location of a central theatre â€Å"Mecca† in New York City. The development of Broadway, especially in the early 1900s made it one of the most prominent areas of theatre culture in the world. Broadway brought out a new culture to theatre because it created â€Å"theatre as art† to a new level; it also brought social distinction between classes. The theme that is consistent in American theatre is Realism, a concept that was developed as early as the Roman era, but only became mainstream during the Renaissance and beyond. Realism is theatre that depicts real life, both its pitfalls and its brutality. This is best seen in a classic American play, â€Å"The Death of a Salesman†. Which showed how the American dream can sometimes be only a dream for the majority of the American middle class? Theatre has now diversified to many different thematic focuses however. Musicals, theatre, and classical theatre are very different each with their own â€Å"Mecca† and focus. Another major development is in the educational system for actors and writers, within modern theatre it is no longer a guild system as in previous generations and eras, but now there are formal schools and colleges that teaches the art of acting and theatre. Actors and writers formed their own guilds that were able to leverage their talents to help increase theatre within the US in general. As technology increased, theatre is now more accessible than ever, stages are much easier to construct and skilled actors and writers can travel the world in order to stage their performances. Technology has also made it much easier to build props, so performances today are becoming more realistic with better props and better technology. Theatre has a very strong place in our society because of its culture and history. However, even with the success of theatre it has changed because of the emergence of television and radio, which compete with theatre in terms of entertainment venues. As a result, theatre has become a more upper class or â€Å"sophisticated† enjoyment, which has led to the emphasis on musicals. In the new millennium, theatre will change even more, this can already be seen with the new types of musicals such as â€Å"Wicked† that are being performed on Broadway, as well as new theatre troupes like Cirque De Soleil which are revolutionizing how we see theatre and theatrical performances. In both cases, theatre is very much alive, and many of the elements of today’s theatre can be seen throughout history. For thousands of years, theatre has developed and become a very important part of our society. Therefore it only makes sense that it will continue to be more important as time goes on. References Lectures on Dramatic Art and Literature. August Wilhelm Schlegel. London: George Bell Sons, 1904. pp. 200-12 Manual of Greek Literature from the Earliest Authentic Periods to the Close of the Byzantine Era. Charles Anthon. New York: Harper Brothers, 1853. pp. 160-174. The Drama: Its History, Literature and Influence on Civilization, vol. 1. Ed. Alfred Bates. London: Historical Publishing Company, 1906. A Short History of the Drama. Martha Fletcher Bellinger. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 1927. A Short History of the Drama. Martha Fletcher Bellinger. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 1927. pp. 3-8. Book Title: The Dance of Life. Contributors: Havelock Ellis author. Publisher: Houghton Mifflin. Place of Publication: Boston. Publication Year: 1923. Page Number: iii.

Hurricanes A-level :: essays research papers

Ø  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Caribbean region and the South Eastern United States of America are regularly subjected to the impact of tropical hurricanes; (A)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Briefly outline characteristics of such hurricanes. The hurricanes that occur over the Caribbean region and the United States of America usually eventuate between August and October. For these hurricanes to occur the surrounding ocean temperatures must be minimal, also there must be a prolonged spell of equable temperature, pressure and humidity in the lower troposphere in conjunction with anti-cyclonic conditions in the upper troposphere. These conditions cause intense low pressure and strong winds at the earth’s surface. For their to be enough energy for the hurricane to move, it is essential that there is a considerable source of heat. This is necessary to maintain a consistent supply of rising air in the form of currents. There needs to be a large supply of moisture, as it is necessary for condensation to take place in order to release latent heat and it is the latent heat that initiates the development of the storm and consequently produces heavy rainfall. When the hurricane reaches its maturity an eye develops in the centre, in the eye there is a relative area of subsiding pressure. Which is what causes clear skies, anomalous high temperatures and light winds. Eventually the eye disappears as a result of the descending air increasing instability, which in turn warms and increases the storms intensity. Around the eye there are towering Cumulo-nimbus clouds. The hurricanes decline as soon as the source of heat is lost/or removed. Although it can take between 9 and 15 days for this to happen. Winds immediately around a hurricane’s ‘eye’, which is usually about 32km (20 miles) across, reach more than 300 km/h (190 mph). But in the eye itself seen in the centre of the spiral-the weather is clear and calm. (B)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Identify the various types of damage caused by the passage of these hurricanes CATEGORY 1   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Winds 118-152 Km/hour (64-82 Knots). Damage primarily to shrubbery, trees, poorly constructed signs, and unanchored mobile homes. No significant damage to other structures.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Storm surge 1-1.5m above tide. Low lying coastal roads inundated, minor pier damage, some small craft in exposed anchorages torn from moorings. CATEGORY 2   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Winds 154-176 Km/hour (83-95 Knots). Considerable damage to shrubbery and tree foliage; some trees blown down. Extensive damage to poorly constructed signs. Major damage to exposed mobile home. Some damage to exposed mobile homes. Some damage to roofing materials of buildings; some window and door damage.