Waiting for Godot Persuasive Essay Example For Students

Waiting for Godot Persuasive Essay Going to see Joseph Chaikins production of Waiting for Godot at Seven Stages in Atlanta, I found myself wondering what effect the directors own divine aphasia would have on the fundamental sounds of this cornerstone of contemporary theatre. Chaikin has long had a love hate relationship with Becketts work. While hes been repeatedly drawn to it as actor and director, he has usually found himself enervated after the work, and at times questioned the morality of producing nihilistic texts in a society where hope is already a rare commodity. One walks out with a little less, he once said about the audiences experience of Endgame. We will write a custom essay on Waiting for Godot Persuasive specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now The Seven Stages Godot (which traveled to The Hague as part of the International Samuel Beckett Festival in April) is a traditional one. The usual suspects are there: the tree, the mound, a boy, two pairs of men in bowlers trapped in the performance of endless clown acts. Chaikin has always been concerned with Becketts musicality, and has stuck closely, although not blindly, to the authors score. The result is the most accessible Godot I have seen, one that, like Becketts own directorial work, sacrifices neither humor nor nihilism at the others expense. At the heart of this production is Del Hamiltons Didi. Hamilton, Seven Stages artistic director, makes Didi into an agnostic Holy Fool, whether he is daintily hopping over Luckys rope or deciding that Tell him that you saw me is a sufficient report to Godot. This Didi is obviously aware that the fix is on when the Boy returns at the end of the second act. As the lights fade, and They do not move, Hamilton casts his eyes heavenward, a gesture that both pleads for deliverance and reveals the endurance of a contemporary Prometheus. Didi is the true protagonist of this Godot, carrying the burden of memory through Becketts wasteland. Next to him, Don Finneys Gogo is a live-action cartoon, blissfully forgetful of all thats come before, although the gesture that marks his response to Were waiting for Godot (right forefinger in the air, with a smile to the audience) seems increasingly less confident. This is a production of Godot extremely aware of the audience. Chaikin has always stressed the vaudeville aspects of Beckett and the mutual awareness between actor and audience: The characters in his Godot inhabit a liminal space between performer and character. Is it Didi or Del Hamilton who implores the audience Will this night never end? After Luckys (Rick Rogers) surprisingly lovely dance no hard stool this is greeted with applause, is it Didi, Gogo and Pozzo glaring at the audience until the applause stops, or Hamilton, Finney and John Purcell? While this sort of thing could descend into mugging, it doesnt, because the actors in Godot, especially Hamilton and Rogers, maintain contact with that sense of astonishment Chaikin calls for in his book The Presence of the Actor. As a result, Waiting for Godot possesses the wise innocence that has characterized Chaikins best work through his career. This wise innocence is the productions great strength. Becketts form has lost much of its original novelty after 40 years. The urge to break down our sense of familiarity with Beckett lies behind many conceptual productions. Compared with MTV, Holly Hughes or Nicholson Baker, Godot seems almost conventionally narrative. Chaikin takes the opposite tack. He revitalizes our experience of Godot by acknowledging the familiarity. His Gogo and Didi inhabit the world we consciously live in, whether our personal Godot is God, love, a sane society or merely faith in politics (writing this, the headline Waiting for Perot on the national edition of the Washington Post is a reminder how much Beckett permeates our collective self-image). .uacf58e5f096ab297006635b2973317f8 , .uacf58e5f096ab297006635b2973317f8 .postImageUrl , .uacf58e5f096ab297006635b2973317f8 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .uacf58e5f096ab297006635b2973317f8 , .uacf58e5f096ab297006635b2973317f8:hover , .uacf58e5f096ab297006635b2973317f8:visited , .uacf58e5f096ab297006635b2973317f8:active { border:0!important; } .uacf58e5f096ab297006635b2973317f8 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .uacf58e5f096ab297006635b2973317f8 { 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; } .uacf58e5f096ab297006635b2973317f8:active , .uacf58e5f096ab297006635b2973317f8:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .uacf58e5f096ab297006635b2973317f8 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .uacf58e5f096ab297006635b2973317f8 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .uacf58e5f096ab297006635b2973317f8 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .uacf58e5f096ab297006635b2973317f8 .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; } .uacf58e5f096ab297006635b2973317f8:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .uacf58e5f096ab297006635b2973317f8 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .uacf58e5f096ab297006635b2973317f8 .uacf58e5f096ab297006635b2973317f8-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .uacf58e5f096ab297006635b2973317f8:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Alien nation: an interview with the playwright EssayThis is not a perfect production some of the turns lack a definite end, as if the characters have just stopped, rather than been abandoned by their own thoughts, and Finney and Purcell occasionally push too hard but it is one capable of giving power and energy and faith, as Athol Fugard wrote of Beckett. Or, to paraphrase Chaikin, one walks out of Waiting for Godot with a little more.

Legalization of Marijuana misc essays

Legalization of Marijuana misc essays As I take back a step and look at all the wrong that encompasses our world, the one thing that sticks out to me the most is the problems that we have with drugs. Drugs flow through our country like water does in a river and they dont seem to cease. One of the most highly abused drugs, marijuana, has become the foremost stimulant leading to harder and deadlier drugs. What makes this case even worse is the fact that people have formed groups with the sole purpose of legalizing this drug. With all the things people waste their time on, I believe this one tops them all. I am clearly against the legalization of all drugs because as research has shown, marijuana effects the human body in only negative ways. To begin, marijuana has been proven to burn the chemicals in the brain which relate to thinking habits and patterns, self esteem, and relationship traits. John Weber, author of High Times magazine that promotes marijuana, says that even though marijuana can be used to make manufactured materials and to help slow the spreading of the aids virus, the drug still has the ability to negatively alter the way the brain functions. This alone should keep people away from using this drug. In the same magazine, statistics show that there is a 60% decline in grades at the high school and college level. Marijuana also effects the body as well as the mind. The preferred saying is that smoking one joint is equivalent to smoking one whole pack of cigarettes at a time. The smoke intake from a joint will normally cause the lungs of a human to become so overwhelmed that one might not be able to breath properly causing a great deal of coughing. Also, the chemicals in the drug cause the body to slow in the growing process, not allowing for a fully developed person neither physically or mentally. What I believe the drug does best is attract users to other drugs. It is proven that ...

Biotechnology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 3

Biotechnology - Essay Example In the paper, Dickos (2011) gives a detail account of the background of the science behind the various genetic engineered animals. The current regulatory framework existing through agencies like FDA is examined and exhorts that its authority to regulate new animal drugs (NADs) should be fully implemented. The paper examines the problems with the current regulatory scheme in the light of three recent examples concerning the GE animals. Starting with the first commercial GE food the Flavr Savr tomato in 1994, human beings have manipulated the genetic makeup of more than 60 plants and animals to introduce both agriculturally beneficial traits like disease and pest resistance and also for nutritional benefits like modified oil in soybean. While GE organisms opens up innumerable benefits including mass production of beneficial hormones and proteins and increasing the nutritional value of the product, Dickos (2011) also warns the risk of unintended effects of the manipulated genes which ca n result in the formation of changed metabolites and also health risks like toxicity, environmental risk and can prove to be harmful for the animal itself. The paper provides the case study of three GE animals the GloFish as pet, the ATryn Goat as drug and, the AquAdvantage Salmon as food provide prime examples for evaluating FDA’s 2009 Guidance and it also raises the concern of non-labeling of GE products by FDA. Dick also provides necessary recommendation for proper governance of development and use of GE animals and products. A similar article about the development of genetically modified cows to produce healthier milk was reported in The Telegraph (2012, June 17) by Richard Gray. Genetically modified cow capable of producing milk which can be consumed even by people with lactose intolerance and a second animal whose milk

Nuclear power plant Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Nuclear power plant - Essay Example This is due to their devastating effects on the environment and people generally. Radiation exposure can also lead to DNA damage and this can result in dysfunction or cell death. Underground uranium mining is the most dangerous than other underground mining because uranium ore emits radon gas. This has led to miners in uranium ores developing small cell carcinoma a lung cancer. Even the decay product of uranium has been shown to be cancer causing agent which is a serious health problem. Employees in nuclear reactors and the surrounding society can be affected by radioactive radiation which can leak through the piping system or pressurizers. Radioactive substances released to the air or rivers leads to contamination which ends as a cause of cancer. Nuclear power is however clean because it does not involve projection of dust to the environment like in the case of fossil burning. Most power plants are located near a large water body like an ocean or a lake to get enough supply of water for cooling effects to expel heat from the reactor. The use of natural water bodies adversely affects the aquatic life e.g. fish, of the ecosystem under which heat has been released to because this heat can be the cause of anomalies in the sea or cause fluctuations in the river flow rates. This use of water bodies can be avoided through the use of cooling towers in the nuclear reactors which are located beside the reactors to cool the reactor. The civilians living near nuclear reactors should be properly educated to avoid responsible response during disasters. It can be described as healthy since they produce clean energy that does not pollute the environment while it’s used. Accidents in nuclear reactors are very rare but devastating when they happen. The worst nuclear reactor accident at Chernobyl nuclear plant in Ukraine was as a result of flowed reactor design and mistakes of the plant operators. It destroyed the reactor killing 30 people within 3 months and

The Impact of Culture on Medical Care Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Impact of Culture on Medical Care - Essay Example The Hispanic culture plays a dominant role in determining the approach to medical care and delivery, as well as the communication of symptoms and prognosis. Good communication skills are the key, as culture, more than any other factor, will determine the best approach to the type, delivery, and communication of a patient's medical needs. As an American nurse practicing in a US setting, I have accepted the science, ethics, and traditions of American medicine. While I believe that spirituality and religion play an important role in promoting good health, they are separate from the healing process that comes from medicine. The spiritual aspect of healing is similar to the support of family and friends, and its benefit is derived from the psychological support that it provides to us. However, science is the foundation of modern medicine and understanding the science is the critical factor in assessing a patient and administering a treatment program. While I do not dismiss herbal renedies and traditional treatments out of hand, I do require a thorough scientific study to verify that the process will obtain the desired results. A proper diet and exercise are two aspects of natural medicine that have been repeatedly proven to improve our health. Yet, while I believe that modern medicine is a rather calculated science, I al so understand the abstract influences of humor, confidence, self-esteem, and motivation in the healing process. In essence, medicine is a very personal factor in ones well-being. Advancements in drugs, genetics, and electronics all contribute to a more beneficial outcome from medicine. I believe that these are the foundations that have improved the prognosis of the Americans that are in need of health care today. Culture begins to impact medical care from the first moment the patient is asked to describe their illness and relate their symptoms. Ethnic background and culture will play a part in the ability of the health care worker to create an open forum of communication with the patient, and gain important self reporting from the patient. According to Barakzai, Gregory, and Fraser (2007), "Beliefs and norms within a culture affect decisions about which phenomena are considered to be signs and symptoms of illness" (pp. 265-266). In addition, language differences can be a significant barrier to good communication. While an English speaking American may be able to relate detailed feelings and symptoms, Latinos rely heavily on the Spanish language and poor communication skills are one of the biggest obstacles to providing effective assessment and treatment among the Latino population (Antshel, 2002, p. 439). It is recommended to have a Spanish speaking health care professional when possible, and it is imperative to have written instructions available in Spanish (Antshel, 2002, p. 439). It should be noted that poor communication is not restricted to foreign language barriers. A recent study revealed that "only about 20 percent of adult Americans have the ability to read, understand and act on health care information", and many misunderstand the routine medical terms of "colon, bowel, rectum, screening, blood in the stool, tumor and polyp" (Dent, 2000). The confusing culture of medical communication is made even more complicated when it

How Increased Portion Sizes Effect Obesity Drama Essay

How Increased Portion Sizes Effect Obesity Drama Essay Would you like to supersize that? Its a simple question asked to patrons at many national fast food chains. Its actually quite a deal, for cents more you can increase the amount of food and drink you are given. What if by increasing the amount of food you were eating actually increased your chances of developing severe health issues? A persons risk for developing many life-threatening health conditions can be measured by how much excess fat is stored in their fat cells. The United States has had an influx in the number of individuals who are overweight; could supersizing be to blame? While there are other causes for weight gain, increased portion sizes combined with inactivity have had a direct effect on the growing obesity cases. Obesity is a condition in which an individuals body accumulates and stores more fat than what is considered healthy. To determine the amount of fat stored in a persons body, a Body Mass Index (BMI) number is calculated. The formula for determining a persons BMI is the weight (in pounds) divided by the height (in inches) squared multiplying that number by a conversion factor of 703. For example, to determine the BMI number for a person who weighs 150 pounds and is 65 inches tall, the formula would be: [150 Ã · (65) 2] x 703 = 24.96. A BMI range of under 18.5 is considered underweight, the normal range is between 18.5 and 24.9, while 25 29.9 is considered overweight, finally a BMI score of 30 and above is categorized as obese. (CDC, About BMI for Adults, 2009) The BMI calculations are only one small part in determining a persons health risks in relation to weight issues. This calculation does not take into account the difference between muscle and fat weight, so it is possible for som eone to receive a higher BMI number but not have a high body-fat content because of muscle weight. It is important to take this into account when calculating ones body mass index number. One of the first actions taken by a technician when a patient is seen by a physician is they are asked to step on a scale. Then they are either asked how tall they are, or are physically measured. It is not a coincidence that these are the two measurements needed to calculate an individuals body mass index. The BMI ranges are based on a documented relationship between body weight, disease and death and are used as a tool to identify increased risk for diseases and health conditions. Obesity is a contributing factor for several severe health conditions and diseases, most of which have proven to be life-threatening. These conditions include hypertension, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, gallbladder disease, sleep apnea and respiratory problems, dyslipidemia, osteoarthritis, and some cancers to include endometrial, breast and, colon cancer. Even though being overweight contributes directly to the development of such severe health problems, the rates of diagnosed cases of obesity have steadily increased over the past two decades. (CDC, Overweight and Obesity, 2007) According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, during the past 20 years there has been a dramatic increase in obesity in the United States. (2007) The CDC collected information on the rise in obesity through the CDCs Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, (BRFSS). In 1985, the CDC had gathered data for only 21 states which showed no more than 14% of each states population diagnosed with obesity. In 2008, the CDC collected data on all 50 states; of which Colorado held the lowest percentage of obesity cases at 15-19%; however all other states were recorded between 20-30% of their population were severely overweight. (CDC, Overweight and Obesity, 2007) Andrew Cates, Portion distortion analysis of food portion size to aid in weight control (2003), states According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the average number of calories Americans eat each day has risen from 1,854 to 2,002 during the past 20 years. That increase of 148 calories per day works out to 15 pound s of extra weight each year. (2003) This data shows Americans are eating more today than what they were twenty years ago. However, the increased calorie intake alone is only part of the cause for the increased obesity in the United States. While other causes for obesity include genetics, disease, and medication side effects; consuming large portions of food without expending enough energy to compensate is considered to be the root cause of weight gain. For example, a typical meal from a popular fast-food restaurant consists of a cheeseburger with condiments (760 calories), medium fries (360 calories) and a 22 fluid ounce soft drink (200 calories) for a minimum total of 1320 calories ingested. An average adult weighing 180 pounds would have to walk at a pace of four miles per hour for 4.02 hours or run at a pace of 6.7 miles per hour for 1.6 hours to burn off the calories ingested at this typical meal. However, the average American does not maintain physical activities for extended periods after each meal; therefore not exerting enough energy to fully expend the large number of calories. This results in excess calories to be in the bodys fat cells, thus causing an increase in weight. Consider the diet of a professional athlete, these individuals can take in roughly 12000 calories per day, but maintain a lean muscle mass and body strength. They use every calorie ingested for fuel during physical training. For the average human, this high calorie diet is highly dangerous. While the increased consumption of calories is a global trend, the supersizing of fast food menu items has made the obesity epidemic worse for those living in the United States. (CalorieLab, 2007) Lisa R. Young, PhD, RD and Marion Nestle, PhD, MPH conducted and documented a study titled The Contribution of Expanding Portion Sizes to the US Obesity Epidemic. This study compared past food portions to those currently sold to document historical changes. One example of the effect supersizing has had on the typical caloric intake was the comparison of soft drink sizes served at a McDonalds in the United States versus those sold at McDonalds in the United Kingdom. Notably, the sizes of chain fast-food portions in Europe are smaller than those in the United States. McDonalds Extra Large soda portions in London, Rome, and Dublin weigh the same as the US Large.' (Young and Nestle, 2002) The study also noted the largest size of McDonalds fries sold in the United States in 1998-1999 contained 610 calories, during that time the United Kingdoms largest fry size contained 446 calories. While the serving sizes at fast food restaurants in America seem to be larger in comparison to other count ries, this does not mean the restaurants are the only cause for Americas increases in obesity cases. Are restaurants largely at fault for the increase obesity rates in the United States? Because of data on portion sizes, it wouldnt be incorrect to place some blame on the food marketing industry. But this industry runs off supply-and-demand, if there was no demand for larger portion sizes theoretically the sizes would be reduced. Additionally, when faced with the increased portion sizes, consumers are more likely to ignore the recommended sizes and will attempt to ingest what they are served. In addition to high-calorie meals, additional excess calories are taken in throughout the day by snack foods, sodas, flavored waters, candy, and even gum. Nearly everything taken into a persons body through consumption contains a number of calories. As discussed before, the ingestion of excess calories is not what causes the build-up in body fat, but rather the lack of energy used to expend the calories. So does supersized food lead to supersized people? This seems to be the case for the average person who dines on large portions without expending the needed energy to burn through the extra calories. While there are other causes for weight gain, increased portion sizes combined with inactivity have had a direct effect on the growing obesity cases. The amount of food ingested is only part of the cause for the obesity epidemic, combine it with the decrease in daily activity and what is left is the formula for an unhealthy, possibly fatal medical condition that takes years to overcome. Would you still like to supersize that? Reference Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.(2007).Overweight and Obesity: Home.Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/obesity/ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2009). About BMI for Adults. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/assessing/bmi/adult_bmi/index.html CalorieLab. (2007). Burger King Calorie Counter. Retrieved from http://calorielab.com/restaurants/burger-king/3 Cates, A. (2003). Portion Distortion Analysis of Food Portion Size to Aid in Weight Control. Retrieved from http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0826/is_6_19/ai_111111456/ Rolls, B.J., Roe, L.S., Meengs J.S.(2007).The effect of large portion sizes on energy intake is sustained for 11 days.Department of Nutritional Sciences, Pennsylvania State University.Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17557991 Young, L.R. Nestle M. (2002). The Contribution of Expanding Portion Sizes to the US Obesity Epidemic. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1447051/

Trypanosoma cruzi :: Essays Papers

Trypanosoma cruzi Life History: Trypanosoma cruzi, a protozoan parasite, is the causative agent of Chagas disease. It is most commonly found among people, dogs, cats, and wild mammals in Central and South America, especially in rural communities where people reside in houses constructed from mud or thatch. The vector is the reduviid or kissing bug, which lives in the cracks of buildings and substandard houses8. Often substandard housing/living conditions are shown to have these structural fractures, which provide suitable habitats for reduviid bugs. The reduviid bug transmits T. cruzi by rubbing its own contaminated feces into an abrasion (wound or bug bite) or a mucous membrane of the host. Two other modes of infection are blood transfusions/organ transplants and perinatal/vertical transfer from mother to child3. In addition, there have been reports that infections originated from undercooked food that was contaminated8. The life cycle of T. cruzi: The vector, reduviid bug, bites and defecates on host. Parasites, in the form of trypomastigotes, are able to enter the blood via mucous membranes or a cut. During cell invasion, the trypomastigotes transform into amastigotes and undergo multiplication. Parasites are then released into the blood stream as trypomastigotes where they either spread to other tissues or are taken up by the vector to perpetuate the life cycle2. Chagas disease: Chagas disease exists in three stages: acute, indeterminate, and chronic. 1. The acute stage manifests shortly after infection from a bite or alternate mode of transmission and is generally found in only 1% of reported cases8. Although it is often asymptomatic, symptoms can include Romaà ±a’s sign (one swollen eye), fever, fatigue, enlarged liver/spleen, swollen lymph nodes, rash, loss of appetite, diarrhea, and vomiting. In adults, these symptoms generally subside within 4-8 weeks and may or may not require treatment. Very young children are a concern because they may sustain severe brain damage or die as a result of infection8. 2. The indeterminate stage may also be asymptomatic. Onset of this stage is reported about 8-10 weeks following infection and may persist for years. 3. The chronic stage is the most severe and the most common manifestation of Chagas disease. Chronic Chagas disease usually presents itself 10-40 years after infection, in about 30% of infected individuals. On average, developing this class of Chagas