13 Theatrical Terms in Popular Usage

13 Theatrical Terms in Popular Usage 13 Theatrical Terms in Popular Usage 13 Theatrical Terms in Popular Usage By Mark Nichol The rich vocabulary of the theatrical world has inspired use of various terms of the art in other realms of human endeavor. Many of them are also employed in (or to refer to) politics which, we note with various emotions, has always been an activity akin to theater. Here’s a list of such words and phrases. 1. Backstage This term for the area behind and to either side of a stage where actors and technicians, unseen, perform tasks or await entrances and make exits now also denotes behind-the-scenes activities, especially ones that are secretive because of their unsavory nature. 2. Break a Leg The origin of this traditional theater slang for â€Å"Good luck† is disputed: The prevailing theory is that theatrical folk, being superstitious, pretend to wish others bad luck before a performance so that doing the opposite will not provoke supernatural retribution. An alternate notion is that it refers to the act of bowing (which previously involved the bending, or â€Å"breaking,† of one’s legs) and is meant to convey a hope that one will be enthusiastically applauded for one’s performance. 3. Bow The genuflection of a performer to acknowledge applause probably stems from when performances were presented to royalty. To take a bow, in common usage, is to figuratively do the same, to respond to positive attention received for some accomplishment. 4. Cue A cue is a signal, as for an actor to go onstage or undertake some audible activity offstage that is part of the script, or for a technician to perform a task, such as activating a light source. In general usage, the word refers to responding to some stimulus or hint. 5. Curtain Call When audience applause persists past the point at which the performance’s cast has taken a bow (or two or three), the principal performer may stride out onto the lip of the stage, in front of the curtain, which has fallen to the stage for the final time, to humbly incline one’s head and upper body in acknowledgment of adulation (or, in the case of a woman, to curtsy that word, by the way, is a corruption of courtesy). The term also refers to any such final gesture in any arena. 6. Dress Rehearsal The final run-through of a performance before presentation in front of a full audience is called a dress rehearsal because it is traditionally the first time that the production is presented in costume. In general usage, it can refer to practice for any presentation or activity. 7. Green Room The green room refers to one or more areas backstage where actors can remain when they are not performing or about to go onstage. Supposedly, the term originated when a green material was attached to the walls of such a chamber to prevent costumes from being soiled by dirty surfaces and/or to muffle sound. It now refers as well to any staging area where one awaits relocation before a performance or activity. 8. House The house, in entertainment parlance, is the auditorium or the audience within it. The word persists in this sense in the phrase â€Å"full house† and the expressions â€Å"brought down the house† (meaning â€Å"to produce an eruption of applause†) and â€Å"there wasn’t a dry eye in the house,† meaning that a performance was so affecting that everyone in the audience was brought to tears. (The word in the phrase â€Å"on the house† is similar but refers to a complimentary offering by an eating or drinking establishment.) 9. Limelight Before the age of electricity, stage lighting was often produced by directing flame at a piece of calcium oxide, or quicklime. The illumination so produced was called limelight. Even though this method is obsolete, the term limelight persists in the phrase â€Å"in the limelight† to refer to one who is a center of attention. 10. Prop A property, also known as a prop, is any handheld item actually used by an actor, as opposed to something that could conceivably be handled (such as a drinking glass or a candleholder) but, because the script does not call for it, is not. A prop is, by extension, also anything so used to obtain a reaction, such as when a public speaker brandishes a photograph of a person or object to evoke an emotional response in the audience. To prop up oneself or another person, or an object, and to give props (meaning â€Å"respect, recognition†), stem from different meanings. 11. Staging This verb was originally used (and still is) to refer the mounting of a theatrical production, or, more specifically, the manner in which it is presented. By extension, when events are planned in such a way to derive a certain effect, we say that they are staged. The stage manager of an entertainment, in contrast to the director, who is responsible for the creative process during preparation for a production, is the coordinator of all backstage activities during the actual performance. From this term has derived the verb phrase â€Å"stage managing† to refer to behind-the-scenes manipulation of events. 12. Upstage In noun form, this word refers to the area toward the back of the stage. The term and downstage are relics of a time when some stages were raked, or tilted, for better audience visibility; later, the audience area was often raked instead. As a verb, upstage refers to an actor moving upstage so that the audience’s attention is on him or her instead of a performer who is supposed to be the focus of the scene. One actor may also upstage another by otherwise calling attention to himself or herself. Either action, when deliberately done counter to the director’s instructions during rehearsal, is considered highly inappropriate and unprofessional. In popular usage, the verb upstage is used in reference to anyone who calls attention to himself or herself at the expense of another person. 13. Wings The wings are the areas to each side of the stage, generally not visible to the audience, where actors stand by before going onstage or where set pieces or props are kept ready to be brought onstage by technicians between scenes or actors during scenes. The phrase â€Å"waiting in the wings,† in general usage, refers to someone prepared to be available, either to take over for someone else or to come to their assistance. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! 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Euthanasia..Justifying Your Right to Die essays

Euthanasia..Justifying Your Right to Die essays Over the years, the practice of physician-assisted suicide, affectionately know as euthanasia, has evolved into one of the biggest social issues in the United States and the world. There have been many controversies over whether or not euthanasia is justified. To some people in the United States, euthanasia is considered murder while to others it is seen as completely understandable. Life belongs to the one person living it. The decision whether to end or continue that life is completely up to that one party. If someone felt, for very good reason, that there was nothing left for them on earth but more pain and suffering, there is no one who should legally be allowed to tell them they are wrong and force them on until natural death. With the right steps taken and specific rules surrounding guided suicide, making it a legal practice makes sense and is something this country should take serious steps towards looking into. The argument is often made that if a person is in a lot of pain and has been suffering for quite a while; their mental capacity to make a life or death decision is impaired. For others who oppose euthanasia, fear of a slippery slope would follow its legalization. This means that once it is legal to do this, the procedure may be taken advantage of and administered too often and for more selfish reasons either from the family or the health care professional. And a third reason why many disagree with helping someone along the way to suicide would be the religious aspect of the procedure. Some say it should be left into the hands of God to decide the fate of human being. Taking a life is playing the role of God and is strongly opposed and sometimes equated with murder. If physician-assisted suicide was to be made legal, before anything is done it is up to the doctor to not only get a second opinion on the physical aspects of the patients condition, but to evaluate his or her state of mind as well. ...

Computer Science project reprot Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Computer Science project reprot - Essay Example Live Search) had not introduced this concept initially and a smaller company as compared to Google, Yahoo and Microsoft had introduced this concept of personalized search. In case of personalized search various types of information’s from users are collected and based on that information’s the search content is filtered and displayed to users. Now these days internet (Web) contains lots of information and by searching and specific keywords there is possibility that irrelevant information is returned. Now search engines are working in this regards and comes with the solution of personalized search so as give its users search results based on the user demographic information and interests and taste. In addition these days search history can be also maintained by search engines which users can see on later days. Aim of Study: The study of â€Å"Profile-Based Web-Searching† will provide an opportunity to learn how different personalized search engines works and make use of user specific information for assisting web searching process. According to Johnson (2005), personalized search drives financial benefits both in short term and long term. In the short term, advertisers increase revenue by targeting ads and promotions at the users who are most likely to click and buy. In addition, consumers want personalization and are more willing to stay with sites and services that ‘know’ them and respond to their specific lifestyles and preferences. Moreover, sites that employ personalized search automatically filter the Web for consumers based on their individual preferences and saves consumers time and frustration, and bonds users to the site. The techniques used in personalizing Web content are used to personalize Web Search. According to Johnson (2005), there are many ways, but they all require ability that is discussed here. The first thing that a search engine requires is the preferences and demographic information of the users. This can be achieved by search

Explaining and evaluate principles Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Explaining and evaluate principles - Essay Example Second, the necessity of checks and balance, again with the end view to avoid or thwart tyranny that the people must give its consent on important matters of governance. We can take an extreme case as an example to illustrate this point such as leaders cannot just do whatever they want with the governed such as throwing anybody in jail they dislike or disagree with. The political liberties (including physical liberties) of the people must be ensured for a leader to govern. If a government or leader will do the example such as illegally detaining people it do not like or disagreed with, then it is also the right of the people to rebel and the options available to do this are in multitude but that would be digressing to discuss them. Important aspects of governance that affects the people must also have the consent of the people. One example is the choice of leader, which Locke also agreed, must have the consent of the people through an election. ... Mill also put forth the consequential theory on freedom that an individual’s course of action is acceptable for as long as it is good for the majority of the people which in a way modern government uses a guide when it disposes policies into action. With regard to freedom of speech John Stuart Mill is quite liberal in his point of view and it seems that he make an exception to this general theory that freedom must be regulated. In general, Mill argues in his consequential theory that an individual is free to pursue a course of action or interest for as long as it do not harm to other. But in the expression of thought and discussion, Mill argued that it should not be abridged. His contention is that an individual’s capacity to express opinions and to discuss must be exercised in full and not to be suppressed. He did not argue for this naively. Mill knows that not all opinions are truthful and good. In fact, he mentioned that opinions and thoughts can be entirely false, p artially true and wholly true which in all, is an inestimable and could benefit the common good. Mill argues for this as; First, if any opinion is compelled to silence, that opinion may, for aught we can certainly know, be true. To deny this is to assume our own infallibility. Secondly, though the silenced opinion be an error, it may, and very commonly does, contain a portion of truth; and since the general or prevailing opinion on any subject is rarely or never the whole truth, it is only by the collision of adverse opinions that the remainder of the truth has any chance of being supplied. Thirdly, even if the received opinion be not only true, but the

Nutrition in Infancy Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Nutrition in Infancy - Assignment Example After an assessment, the public nurse reveals no acute distress and normal signs as per the limit of age with the current length and weight of 68cm and 6.6 kg respectively. This paper will provide a detailed medical check-up of the review of systems, physical assessments and develop a care plan for the infant, including diagnosis, treatment, referral, education, and patient follow-up. The nine-month visit provides an opportunity for the healthcare provider to assess the child’s health and teach caretakers how to ensure their future health. It is important first to take the history from the parents/caregivers in order to first determine the medical history and evaluate any medications taken. In this case, examination of the nutrition is paramount to a child’s health as at this moment, children take a formula and soft foods. In order to determine the nutritional wellness of the child, a historical analysis of bowel movements is important. Babies are expected to have at least 2 bowel movements and wet their diapers 4-6 times in a day. Nursing diagnoses is characterized by psychosocial data, daily routines, and living patterns. Thus, medical history must take into consideration data collection of economic issues that directly or indirectly impact on the quality of an infant’s quality of daily living. At this stage, assessing the history of the development of the child would be important in determining their ability to talk, imitate any vocals, make movements with their legs, hands and bottom, pick and/or drop objects, play, show feelings and record any eruption of teeth, prompting the review of the child’s ears and eyes. The review of systems would include conducting a screening visual exam of the eyes to inspect and view the structural normality of the eye and its response to light. In addition, the ears should be screened to prove that the child demonstrates the

Analysis Of Divine Command Theory Philosophy Essay

Analysis Of Divine Command Theory Philosophy Essay Divine command theory is an ethical view based on theism or the belief that God exists. Followers of the theory accept that all moral judgment is derived from an understanding of Gods character or his direct commandments. In other words, what is in accordance with Gods command is moral and what is contrary to that command is immoral (Farnell, 2005). The holy books of each religion (e.g. The Bible, Koran, and Torah) contain Gods directions. Therefore, they can be used as guides to distinguish between morally good and bad actions. The idea that ethics and religion are connected is far-reaching, and it leads us to examine religions role in our society. Advantages Although divine command theory has been rejected as a working ethical theory, there are a few ways in which it does provide an advantage as an ethical framework. First, Gods commands set forth universal moral rules. The rules can be applied to anyone, at all times and places. The belief that God is eternal and never changes means that his commands are as relevant today as when they were first recorded. Second, Gods commands dont depend on what others think are right or wrong. His commands are completely objective. For example, one of Gods commandments is not to commit murder (Exodus 21:13). Even if your friends believe that murder is acceptable (for instance, capital punishment), they are still wrong because their beliefs oppose Gods will. Under this theory, morality exists outside of human reasoning because God is the ultimate authority. Third, if you disobey God, you will be punished. If you follow his commands, youll be rewarded. God is both omnipotent and omnipresent. If you choose to disobey, your punishment is inescapable. If you obey, God will bless you with eternal life and a place in heaven. Those who believe have a strong incentive to follow his commands. Finally, traditional religions are centuries old and have recorded many of Gods commands. Religious texts allow us to know and understand the character of God, and they make it easier to know how to act morally. For Christian believers, the Word of God is in The Bible and they are secure in the concrete, moral teachings written in its pages. Critiques There are several reasons why divine command theory falls short as a working ethical viewpoint. One objection focuses on the sheer number of world religions and their different interpretations of the nature of God (or their gods). How does a divine command theorist know that their Gods commands are the right ones to follow? It is impossible to prove that the insights of Allah overrule the laws of Yahweh. Even within Christianity, a schism has existed between Catholic and Protestant believers since The Reformation in 1517. Under divine command theory only one religion can be correct and the followers of that God are the only ones leading moral lives (Austin, 2006). This leads into the next objection. Gods commands can be easily misconstrued. That is, how do we determine the correct interpretation of the sacred texts? When God states that we should not commit murder, does that mean murder is always immoral, or should we take into account the specific context in which God gave this command? During this process of interpretation, we are actually exercising our own sense of morality. We must rely on our own understanding of Gods goodness and act on moral laws we deem consistent with Gods commands (Adams, 1999). We cannot take ourselves completely out of the picture when determining Gods position on ethical issues. Perhaps the most convincing argument against divine command theory is that it leaves open the idea that immoral acts might not be wrong. That means Gods commands are arbitrary in nature. Murray and Rea (2008) state that, the [divine command] process that determines what is moral or immoral does not actually involve moral considerations. If God omitted the command forbidding murder, then it would no longer be an immoral action. On the other hand, if God is restricted from commanding the murder of children or stealing from the poor, then the logic behind divine command theory falls apart. God is no longer the sole source for moral knowledge and some knowledge outside of God makes those acts immoral. Platos Euthyphro Platos classic dialogue Euthyphro will always be brought up in discussions about the relationship between God and ethics. The dialogue features a discussion of piety between Socrates and Euthyphro. Socrates is on trial for corrupting the youth of Athens by leading them away from their belief in gods. Euthyphro is prosecuting his own father for manslaughter in the death of a servant. About midway through the dialogue, Socrates asks his famous question: Is the pious loved by the gods because it is pious, or is it pious because it is loved by the gods? (Plato Church, 1987) This is the same as saying: Does God command an action because it is morally right, or is it a morally right action because God commands it? If the latter is true, then God can either command or refuse to speak against immoral acts and that will make them moral. In the Bible, God commanded his most devout follower, Abraham, to sacrifice his favorite son Isaac (Genesis 22:1-24). Abraham bound Isaac on a hilltop and was just about to commit filicide when an angel of the Lord came down to stop him. There is no doubt that Abraham would have murdered Isaac had God not intervened at the last second. Although there is a happy ending to this parable, the inferred message here is that God has the power to upend morality at any time. If God is the ultimate authority, then nothing should stop us from honoring his will not even our ethical boundaries. If the former is true, then morality has a source outside of God. Of course God will command what is morally right every time, because God is all-knowing. In fact, he already knows what is right or wrong before he even commands it. That means Gods commands are in line with an independent moral standard. Gods perfect nature restricts him from making immoral acts moral. Thus, right and wrong are not based on Gods will alone. This places God in the same situation that we are in. We also base our behavior on an ethical standard that we discover rather than invent. We have just made God irrelevant when it comes to moral authority. Faith vs. reason Faith in God seems diametrically opposed to reason and common sense. The main allure of religion is the intense passion that believers bring to their faith. Christianity is a powerful force in our society because it asks for the most suspension of disbelief in its followers. The commitment involved in maintaining that the Son of God was born a mortal man infused with the Holy Spirit is enormous. On the other hand, if faith fell directly in line with reason then it wouldnt inspire the passion it has throughout the ages. There are many who keep faith and reason as separate and distinct parts of their lives. St. Thomas Aquinas believed that reason alone is sufficient to understand between right and wrong (Clark Poortenga, 2003). He also believed that human reason was an expression of Gods will. If God did create us in his image, then our understanding of morality is an extension of that. God could have chosen to create us some other way, but ultimately, our human nature demands that we lead a good and moral life to be fulfilled. As an ethical construct, divine command theory fails under rigorous, philosophical critiques, but that doesnt mean ethical reasoning and faith cannot coexist. Those who believe in God can use reason to responsibly determine how best to conform their behavior to his commands.

Privacy in the Workplace Essay -- Employee Privacy Monitoring Workplac

"Privacy. There seems to be no legal issue today that cuts so wide a swath through conflicts confronting American society: from AIDS tests to wiretaps, polygraph test to computerized data bases, the common denominator has been whether the right to privacy outweighs other concerns of society†¦" This quote from Robert Ellis Smith explains, in one sentence, the absolute need to ensure privacy in the workplace. One of the most interesting, yet controversial, areas concerning public personnel is employee privacy. What limits are there to employers’ intrusions into, and control over, employees’ behaviors and personal properties? There are five major areas which trigger privacy matters in the area of public sector employment: background checks, cognizance of off duty conduct and lifestyles, drug testing, workplace searches, and monitoring of workplace activity. Of these five, the fifth area of privacy, monitoring of workplace activity, is the most controversial. The reason for this is the advance of technology. These conflicts open anew the basic questions as to what is private, what is propriety, what legal rights an employee possesses, and what an employee’s obligations and responsibilities are within the sphere of public employment. Privacy has been defined as "the claim of individuals, groups, or institutions to determine for themselves when, how, and to what extent information about them is communicated to others". The privacy claims of employees can vary in terms of the privacy interest involved and the conception of a need for privacy. In terms of background checks, the issue of autonomy is presented. Autonomy involves ones own personal and individual liberties. Autonomy embraces areas of central life choice and lifestyle that are important in terms of individual expression, but irrelevant to an employer and of no public concern. It has been associated with marital and other intimate relationships, home and family life, and association and reproductive choices. Employees have raised issues of employer intrusion into this area where the employer makes employment decisions on the basis of something in an employee’s personal history, or conditions employment on appropriate responses to inquires about per sonal activities which are not job-related. An employer may have interests which permit some limited intrusion into this area, if the behavior involves m... ...duals from fear, abuse and annoyance when it upheld the constitutionality of 47 U.S.C. 233, which makes the communication of obscene or harassive phone calls a federal crime. Employers have no less a responsibility. The responsibility is reinforced through anti-discrimination statutes like Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which has been interpreted to prohibit direct harassment and creation of hostile environments in the workplace. The U.S. Constitution gives substantial protection to privacy in the home, but not where Americans make a living. To make up for federal inadequacy, some states have enacted their own privacy statues. Federal law takes precedence, but where state laws provide greater protection, employers are usually subject to both. Several states have banned various activities, including the paper-and-pencil honesty test, which have not been scientifically validated. No state gives strong privacy protection to workers using e-mail, voice mail or telephone, nor does any state prohibit intrusive psychological testing. Unless or until national workplace laws can be passed, state laws will continue tp provide only spotty overall support for worker privacy.

Ibnu Khaldun Biography

Accoring to Issawi , C. (2009) Ibn Khaldun is the greatest Arab historian, who develop one of the earliest nonreligous philosophy of history, contained in his masterpiece, the Muqaddimah (â€Å"Introduction†). He also wrote a definitive history of Muslim Norh Africa. Mahmoud Dhaouadi (1997) stated that Ibnu Khaldun’s full name is ‘Abdu-ar-Rahman Abu Zaid Wali-ad-Din Ibn Khaldun. He was born in Tunis (1332) and died in Cairo (1406). His family was of Arab Yemenite descent who had first settled in Muslim Spain and later moved to Tunisia. When Ibn Khaldun reached the age of schooling, he began to learn and recite the Qur’an as did most pupils of that time. The education he received in Tunis in his youth was concentrated in three areas : (1) Islamic studies, which cover the sciences of the Qur’an, the Hadith (the prophet’s sayings and behaviour) as well as Islamic Fikh (jurisprudence) , particularly the Malikite School ; (2) the sciences of the Arabic language which deal with grammar , conjugation and the art of eloquent written and spoken language (al-Balagha) ; and (3) logic , philosophy, natural sciences and mathematics. Muhsin Mahdi (1968) explain that the teacher he admired most during this period was the mathematician and philosopher Muhammad Ibn Ibrauhium al-Aubiliu (1282/3-1356), whom he considered the most proficient of his contemporaries in the philosophic disciplines. His studies with Aubiliu extended over five years, from 1347 to 1352. They began with mathematics and logic and then branched out to include various other philosophic disciplines. Aubiliu introduced him to the major works of Avicenna and Averroes and acquainted him with the more recent philosophic and theological writings of the heterodox Shruites in Eastern Islam. Ibn Khaldun’s early work (1351) provides direct evidence for his philosophic interest and ideas during this period. His other early philosophic works, including treatises on logic and mathematics and a number of paraphrases of Averroes’ works, have not been recovered as yet. IBN KHALDUN ACHIEVEMENT. During his previous life, he has received many achievements in his life. He is known as Father of Modern Social Science and Cultural History. He is also the founder of sosiological sciences. . At the early age, he manage to cope with different type of knowledge such as Qur’anic science, Arabic, Poetry, Traditions, Classical Education (Qur’an, Science, Arabic Language and Fiqh) which he recive certification to these subject. Then, he has involved in political career as he held a post at the court of Tunisia at the age of 20. After three years later, he has worked as a secretaryship to the Sultan of Morocco for about two years. He once given a ministerial positio n by Abu Salem. After that, at the chancellery of the Tunisian ruler, Ibn Takrakin, he hold the position of Katib al-‘alamah which is consisted of writing in fine calligraphy or introductory notes of official documents. After that, at Cairo, he became a noted professor, judge and sheikh or better known as manager of Baybars, the greatest sufi institution during that time. Then he become an ambassador of the Sultan of Granada to Pedro the Cruel, Cristian king of Castile in 1363. This showed how people trust him in everything. In addition, he used to be a teacher and magistrate at Ta’rif. Ibn khaldun has inspired many people. In studied, he is excelled in Arabic Literature, Phisiolophy, Mathematics and Astronomy. At the age of 19, he has wrote his first book, Lubabu I-Muhassal under the supervision of his teacher, al-abili in Tunis. Next, he also manage to wrote Mukaddimah or known as Prolegomena in Europe. He wrote Prolegomena At the Castle of Ibn Salama when he receive inspiration to wrote it during his retirement. He only takes five month to finish writing Mukaddimah. Mukaddimah has been evaluate and fully appreciate by Europe scholarship. Unfortunedly, his work doesn’t get more attention at Asian. His work on the book, Mukaddimah has been appreciated by the whole world and his book has been translated into various language around the world. For example, English and malay. His final work on autobiography, has been translated to English. His book also available at all nation. Ibn khaldun is a great thinker that gives inspired to many people in various way. (Faridah Hj Hassan, Universiti Teknologi Mara Malaysia) WHY HE IS A GREAT THINKER? Almost everybody agrees that Ibn Khaldun is a great thinker. There are many relevant reasons or factors that contribute to this statement. First, Ibn Khaldun starts his political career at the very young age, only at twenty years old. From this, it is obviously that this historian has a very high determination and self-confidence. Apart from this, he can also be considered as a great thinker for his well-known book, Al-Muqaddimah. This is amazingly because Al-Muqaddimah was written by Ibn Khaldun for a really short period,that is 3 years only. He wrote the prominent book when he was staying in a small village, Qalat Ibn Salamah in Algeria. This actually proved that Ibn Khaldun is really a brilliant man who is never wasting his precious time. Besides that, the great thinker Ibn Khaldun has observed and and studied carefully the situations of every community that he has lived with. According to Mahmoud Dhaouadi (1997), Ibn Khaldun has made a conclusion regarding types of people. He divided mankind into three groups. The first group belongs to the primitive good human nature (types I + II) of the Arab-Muslim Bedouins. The first group’s excessive materialism led to the weakness and disintegration of Al-Assabiya among the Arab-Muslim sedentaries. The second group belongs to the strong Assabiya among the Arab-Muslim Bedouins. Their excessive materialism led to the weakening of the religion of Islam among the sedentaries. Last but not least, Ibn Khaldun state that the third group belongs to the strong commitment to the Islamic faith by the earlier Arab-Muslim Bedouins. He also mentioned that the excessive materialism led to the spread of human nature type III among all social categories of the Arab-Muslim sedentary culture. Mohammad Abdullah Enan (1941) suggests that Ibn Khaldun is an undoubtedly great Muslim thinker. â€Å"He was the first man to study the social phenomena, to understand and explain the events of history, and to deduce from them social laws,in such a wonderful scientific manner. Tonybee and Lacost,among the few Western scholars familiar with Ibn Khaldun’s thought, claimed that Ibn Khaldun was truly a unique phenomenon in humankind’s long history of idea. Yet, Ibn Khaldun’s legacy in the science of society continues to be ignored by both professionals and students of contemporary social sciences. This paragraph will stress more on his ideas of eastern sociology. Ibn Khaldun’s social thought may be considered to be the only authentic intellectual sociohistorical knowledge about human society which the Third World possesses. Yves Lacoste’s evaluation of the Muqaddimah makes this point very clear. He affirms that Ibn Khaldun’s fluent and systematic approach to the study of history and human civilisations has no parallel in the history of social thought of other societies and civilisations pervious to his own time. This can be proof more by Arnold Toynbee’s laudatory assessment of the mature sociohistorical thought displayed in The Muqaddimah strongly concurs with that of Lacoste which mentioned Ibn Khaldun had conceived and ormulated a philosophy of history which is undoubtedly the greatest work of its kind that had ever yet been created by any mind in any time and place. In establishing his New Science of the social objective reality, principally through his positivist outlook of social phenomena, Ibn Khaldun appears to have remain strongly attached and influenced as well by his view of the internal â€Å"in there† human nature. Ibn Khaldun’s notion of human nature and its deterministic impact on his assumptions, conceptualizations and theories of societies and civilizations have been largely if not completely neglected by those who have studie Ibn Khaldun’s work. We hardly encountered a study which preoccupies itself seriously with the subject of human nature in Ibn Khaldun’s thinking. This is due to the prevailing positivist spirit of the author’s works, especially in his Muqaddimah . His concept of human nature and its implications on the individual’s behaviour and civilization’s destiny ought not to be discarded or neglected in any rigorous analysis of Ibn Khaldun’s works. No doubt that there are a number of references to human nature in the Muqaddimah. But the difficult task lies in identifying with precision specific categories referred to by the author. In reading Ibn Khaldun’s statements on Man’s nature, three types seem to emerge. a)Human nature as reflected in Al –Fitrah In Islamic thought, Al-Fitrah is either than human state devoid of bad traits and customs at birth or at worst it is that human state that predisposes human nature more toward virtues than vices. Ibn Khaldun’s use of Al-Fitrah concept is inspired by the Qur’an as well as by the Hadith. In these two basic Islamic sources, the notion of Al-Fitrah still appears to mean, also, a balanced human inclination that lives according to the laws of the natural divine order. As a conclude, the closer they remain to the primitive or innate state of human nature in terms of goodness the better they are. b)The dualistic human nature Ibn Khaldun’s second type of huma nature resembles, in its dynamics very much that of Al-Assabiyya. The latter is a conflicting set of historical moving forces which often clash with each other, thus creating a chain of conflicts and antagonisms. Viewed that way, Al-‘Assabiyya’s dynamics offer a compelling explaination to human history as an endless chain of exhaustion, rotation and evolution. Likewise, the author’s second view of human nature shows the conflicting nature of the human being’s make up. The roots of the conflicts are the result of the dualistic constituting component of human nature itself. Human nature has equal inclinations toward doing good and evil. With this even emphasis on the weight of good and evil elements ,the Qur’anic perspective appears to give human nature a fundamental dialectical characteristic. c)The aggresive human nature Ibn Khaldun had bluntly stated that the roots of human aggression as well as injustice are to be found in the animalistic side of human nature. Like some contemporary ethologists and psychologists studying Man and animal’s behaviour, the author of the Muqaddimah considers aggression as a fundamental inborn feature whose infrastructure is widely observed among all living beings including Man. Ibn Khaldun’s observations and experiences enabled him to unveil other complex forms which human aggression could take. He had noticed injustice committed by humans, not because their physical survival was at stake, but rather it appeared to be the result of a sort of human readiness to do injustice to others in the Hobbesian sense of the term. On the contrary, Ibn Khaldun considers them to be fundamentally destructive and disruptive to Man’s advancement collectively as well as individually. In looking at these three form of Man’s humannature, one can assert that there is unambiguous Qur’anic or Islamic influence on the author’s thinking concerning Man’s nature. The first type (Al-Fitrah state) and the second one the dualistic nature) are drawn from the Islamic outlook on the range of human nature as expressed especially in the Muslim Holy Book. These two categories depict Man’s nature at its very natural state either as good more and less or neutral towards good or bad doing. In both cases Man’s nature is overwhelmingly dialectical. However the third type of the Human Nature is strikingly an ugly one, Man falls nto this state when he becomes dominated by his animalistic or known as materialistic desires. I n the luxurious sedentary milieu, Man is transformed from a human being to an animal. With this taking place, the undermining of Islamic as well as natural values becomes a fait accompli. It is hardly an exaggeration to state that the studies which has dealt, both in the Arab world and outside of if ,bwith Ibn Khaldun’s remarkably distinct achievement in social thought have, in general, extended to explain the Khaldunian phenomenon by social variables and not by the personality traits of the author of the Muqaddimah. In other words, creative and innovative thought is seen here as the result of the imperative of the laws of stringent social determinism. The consequences of this kind of perspective has ultimately led to a general disinterest in the study of the role of Ibn Khaldun’s personality traits that might have contributed to the unfolding of his pioneering social thought . In light especially of modern psychology’s insights and finding about the role of human personality traits in triggering and promoting the spirit of creativity and innovation among certain individuals of the general population, it is hardly acceptable to seek an objective assessment of human creativity and innovation without seriously taking into account the entire profile of the creative person innovator’s personality in its own right.

Roman Sports essays

Roman Sports essays Throughout history entertainment has varied. The ancient Romans set a prime example as a people who loved sports and games. Similarities between the Romans and the modern sports fan can be seen with their love for races and violence. Vespasin, who is considered to be one of the greatest builders of roman time, built the Colloseum in A.D. 80 (Scarre 70). To honor the occasion he held one hundred days of continuous competition. Over five thousand gladiators were believed to have taken part in the one hundred days of games, but no accurate record of the match outcomes exist to this day (Cowell 173). Known as the Flavian Amphitheatre in its time, the Colloseum held fifty-five thousand spectators (Scarre 70). It stood a height of one hundred fifty nine feet and is one of the greatest architectural achievements of mankind (71). The crowds of the gladiatorial games were spiteful and excited by the amount of blood that was shed in the arena (Rowell 160). Criminals were forced to fight to their death, and the loser of each match was often executed by his opponent upon condemnation of the crowd (161). After the bloodletting of the gladiatorial combat, men dressed as demonic figures removed the disemboweled corpses from the arena (Arnott 40). These warriors of all shapes and sizes entrenched themselves in combat. One category of gladiator was the Samnite. They wore cumbersome armor along with a visor helmet accented by a crest and plume. In one hand they carried a large oblong shield, and in the other a sword or a lance with a sleeve on the arm. The remainder of the gladiators fell under the category of Thracian. These combatants attire featured bands of leather around the leg or thigh. For their weapon they brandished a curved scimitar and used a small round shield opposed to the Samnites large oblong defense. These different types of gladiators often fought against each other and the contrast in the way they dresses he...

The White House as a Cultural Symbol in US

The White House as a Cultural Symbol in US Introduction Cultural symbols are often images that embody specific ideas amongst the populace thus denoting the culture of that group. These may range from national flags, buildings, monuments and the like. Usually, cultural symbols have an emotional appeal because they have the capacity to motivate and appeal to a wide range of people.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The White House as a Cultural Symbol in US specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The United States has a diverse population and there is a need to bring together these variant groups through a cultural symbol synonymous to the entire nation. The white house has been instrumental in achievement of this objective from the early nineteenth century. History of the white house President George Washington is credited with the idea of the white house. In 1790 this leader announced that there would be a residential area for all subsequent US presidents and their fa milies and that this would be in Pennsylvania Avenue. He was responsible for selection of the architect who would build this historical building. Ten years later, the building was completed and the first president moved in. There were several changes that the building underwent especially after the 1929 and the 1814 fires that took place. Some parts of the building have been altered but the main section remained as it was originally (Whitcomb, 33). How the white house acts as a cultural symbol The white house is quite easy to recognize in Washington DC. It architectural design is rather simple when compared to other national buildings. However, it is this simplicity that has endeared it to a number of people. The founding fathers had intended for it to be that simple because they probably felt that this would be a representation of the principles and ideals that they had in mind for the United States. When one sees an image of the white house, the first thought that is likely to com e to one’s head is it is a residential home for the head of state. In other words, citizens often view this building to be synonymous with leadership because this is where the nation’s leader resides. In essence, this can be translated to mean liberty and democracy in that the country has a leader who was elected democratically by the people of the United States and the place where he resides therefore captures these values. To many, the white house symbolizes power or the ability to control and influence such a large nation as the US.Advertising Looking for essay on cultural studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The white house is able to trigger these deep associations because of plenty of reasons and one of them is its history. The white house was first completed in 1800 but its beauty was soon to be interrupted in 1814 when British soldiers came and burned it. However, it was rebuilt with even be tter improvements. With time, a number of features kept being added such as the wings, green houses, offices and the like (Johnson, 83). These subsequent changes represented a critical aspect of the American culture; resilience. Even after the white house had been burnt down by the British soldiers, the country was still able to pick itself up again and rebuild. Many Americans have carried forward that message into their lives because even when life presents certain predicaments, Americans can still pick up the pieces and try again. The continual redesign of the white house also illustrates the creativity inherent in many citizens. Most presidents who resided in the building would customize it so that it could suit their needs. Sometimes this necessitated tearing down certain elements and in certain scenarios it necessitated building others. Therefore, most changes made to the building represented the character of the leaders that created it. Furthermore, interior decorations made a lmost always represent the preferences of the residing families. Americans have come to identify with this principle because most of them will utilize their creative talent in order to make situations workable. The white house is therefore able to appeal to citizens emotionally because most of them will reexamine the history of the building and relate it to their own lives (Johnson, 12). Presidents usually have the prerogative of hosting visitors of the state in whichever way they would like. In the past, this was done very openly in that the public could enter the white house. Most often, the public would be allowed in after the inauguration ceremony. However, that culture changed because of security concerns for the president. Notable presidents who kept the white house open to the public included Jefferson, Andrew Jackson and Abraham Lincoln. With time, inaugurations came to be marked by the inaugural parade that is often displayed in front of the white house. Instead, most dinne rs are organized based on the preference of the leader in office. All these different ways of hosting reflect the diversity of American Presidents in the past. Consequently, this is also synonymous to the diversity of the American people; conversely, it also shows their hospitality. The existence of a committee for the preservation of the white house illustrates how historic this building is. Every time a single president intends on making changes to the building, he must present the draft to the latter committee and wait for feedback from them. This is done in order to protect the historic integrity of the building.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The White House as a Cultural Symbol in US specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This implies that most first families are aware of the fact that they are only in those premises temporarily although they still have the opportunity to make their mark in the country’s his tory. The relative ease with which one can recognize the white house today even after two centuries of habitation is a testament of how historical this building really is to the American people. The white house is also unique to the United States because even though other countries of the world have official residents for their heads of states, none of them have designs like the white house. Indeed when receiving Presidential visitors from other countries of the world, it is the white house which is usually used for these purposes. Therefore the contrasts between visiting nations and the host country often demonstrate how representative the white house is to the nation. Usually, visiting heads of state will be expected to land at the South lawn in the white house and their receptions will be carried out in a grand way through minor ceremonies (Whitcomb, 33). It is quite interesting how many external developments in the country have been incorporated into the white house. In 1890, th e white lawns were made up of green buildings where plants were grown through the use of glass buildings. This represented the growth and development of green houses around the country. Therefore because of this, one can say that the White house epitomizes technology and development in the country because new inventions will often be tried out in this building. For example, in the carter administration, computers were just getting introduced into the world of work. This was the reason why President Carter felt it necessary to bring them to the white house. He also did this alongside the laser printer. He also wanted to be proactive when it came to green energy and added solar heating panels in the white house. The subsequent president Ronald Reagan continued to improve computer technology within the white house and he therefore encouraged other people who were interested in making similar changes in their lives to do the same. The white house normally contains state of the art machi nery and technology and therefore can be seen by many as an instrument of development (Seale, 11). The white house also contains a press briefing room. Usually, when there is an important state development or some information that the President or his staff wish to give to the public then they will normally employ the press briefing room. With time, the white house has therefore become a source of news and information on public policy.Advertising Looking for essay on cultural studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Many presidents have often stated their opinions on crucial issues such as public education and terrorism using this very room. In fact, it has been synonymous with policy dispensers. White house representatives are often politically oriented as most of them must be highly aware of the issues going on in the country and the presidential stand on them. It should be noted that although the white house is unique in its own right, its design was inspired by several Irish based buildings including the Leinster house in Ireland’s capital. The latter building used to host members of the Irish parliament. Other inspirations for the building include the Rastignac country house found in France. Although it is debatable to what extent the white house borrowed from either buildings, it is essential to acknowledge that the work was not completely unique to the US and that there were foreign elements in it. This indicates that the United States, much like the white house, depends on other nations in order to survive. The country cannot deal with its challenges without networking with other partners in just the same way that it did when building the white house. It should be noted that the actual construction was done by a number of immigrants with some coming from Scotland and others emanating from other parts of Europe (Seale, 40). The white house therefore needed input from different types of people without discriminating upon them. The same applies to the country which often requires input from a number of people so that the idea can be workable. The white house can be seen as a representation of the independence of the United States. The country would not have been able to construct premises for its head of state if it was not independent. In deed the reason why British soldiers came and burnt the building in 1814 was because they opposed that independence and wanted to make a point about it. Citizens of the country often reflect upon this history and think of th e astounding progress that the nation has made through self governance. The residential home of these leaders who have taken the country through such a journey is therefore precious to the eyes of the Americans. One may wonder why the white house has not changed much over the years especially since heads of state tend to be highly opinionated. However, for something to have sentimental value or to act as a cultural symbol, then it must remain the same or as close to the original as it possibly can be. The white house today still has very close resemblance to the white house of 1800 because most of it was preserved for posterity’s sake. Conclusion The white house is in the same league as many cultural symbols of America. It is often identified with leadership, liberty, independence and freedom. Others think of it in terms of power while others appreciate the creativity incorporated by most heads of state in incorporating some of their preferences in the interior design. The wh ite house also represents the resilience of the American people and their diversity as seen through the design’s influences. Whitcomb, John. Real life at the white house: 200 years of daily life at America’s most famous residence. NY: Routledge, 2000 Johnson, Micheal. A chateau fit for a president. International herald Tribune, September 2006 Seale, William. The White house, the history of an American idea. American institute of Architects press, 1992

Culture and Mental Health Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Culture and Mental Health - Essay Example The definition of normality is undoubtedly value laden; the issue of culture must be addressed, not only in the treatment process, but in evaluation and diagnosis as well. Embedded in one's culture are beliefs and attitudes regarding spirituality, family structure, gender roles, and health care, all of which affect relationships, the choice of activity, and the preferred environment. In addition, cultural values vary tremendously and must be taken into account when planning any aspect of intervention. The effects of mental illness reach far and beyond the afflicted individual. They touch the family, friends, and caregivers as well. How the symptoms are managed depends on a great degree on the amount of information provided by the mental health professional. In addition, the cultural perspective will often dictate the level of shame and stigma that must be overcome and how treatment will be provided by the mental health system. Russia acknowledges their need for development in terms of their mental health system's community-based programs due to the country's diverse regional contexts. Since 1997, a series of projects were undertaken by Community Rehabilitation and Disability Studies and Moscow Research Institute of Psychiatry are working hand in hand to facilitate the country's need for more community-based programs. Projects are being implemented in Central and South Russia and Siberia regions. The joint venture introduced the ideas and most outstanding performance of community mental health rehabilitation through specialized education and developing local pilot schemes, and assisted growth of parent and consumer support associations. The mental health system in Russia is at a premature phase of modification from an institution-based to a community-based practice. The modification is being strengthened by two factors: a rising perception that community behavior and maintenance is much more pleasing than extensive hospitalization; and, the monetary obligation to augment the proportion of outpatients getting psychiatric care, in opposition to those who are hospitalized. With a growing quantity of people with psychiatric illnesses, the demands upon the existing system of institutionalized care are at an all time elevation. About one fourth of all inpatients in Russia have been hospitalized for more than 12 months and this speed remains fairly steady. Among the patients who were hospitalized less than 12 months, the regular length of their infirmary stay go beyond 70 days per admittance, a very extended time in association with Western nations, with yearly readmission charges relatively high at roughly 23% (Moscow Research Institute of Psychiatry statistics). Given the nonexistence of substitute community service models, there is no choice but to relocate a considerable fraction of long-term inpatients to specialized nursing homes for chronic mental patients, resulting in a course of 'transinstitutionalization' as a replacement for the more desirable 'deinstitutionalization'. An added problem is that existing federal health policies forbid transmittal of finances from institutional services to community alternatives, and no capital has been owed to the improvement of latest community services. Such strategies limit the potential for modification in the mental health system, and will have to be altered. The reform is progressing in the context of very limited knowledge of effective means whereby community-based services might be

Accounting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 23

Accounting - Essay Example The company is in a stiff competitive industry. Some of the Toyota competitors are general motors, Ford motors company, Nissan motors, Honda motor company and Volkswagen AG just to mention but a few. The financial statements in the year 2010 have shown a declining performance in Toyota performance. This has been attributed to the economic conditions in Japan, US, Europe and the other parts of the world. Despite the economic downturn the management of Toyota is still geared at ensuring customer satisfaction by putting first the interest of the customers and at the same time looking at the demands and expectation of the society by remaining socially responsible to all stakeholders. The company has undergone major restructuring in order to correct the disturbing performance. The company has also planned to manufacture reliable and cheap car models that are environmentally compliant to gain market power. According to the financial report of 2010, the company 2010 total asset amount ed to $326196 million while the total liability for this year was $208715million dollars. The net stockholders equity was $117481 million (Toyota 63). These values are adverse compared to the 2009 financial performance. For instance, the total asset in 2009 was 29062037milion yen. The revenue for 2010 as per the income statement was $190507 million and the net profits attributed to the corporation were $2251million (Toyota 62). The basic earnings per share for this particular period was $ 0.72 a value equivalent to the diluted EPS. It must be noted that this profit values are an improvement when compared to the year 2009 where the company incurred a net loss in their income statement. The improved result is attributed to the reduction in cost of manufacturing and operation as championed by the