Our Essays - Our Town, English-language Films, Thornton Wilder

Our Town By Thornton Wilder 1. Thornton Wilder was one of the most cosmopolitan and sophisticated of American writers. Born in the Midwest on April 17, 1897, he was educated in China, in Germany language schools, in America, and in Rome. He was thoroughly familiar with classical literature. In 1938 he wrote Our Town. In this play Wilder gained admiration for his serious philosophical concerns and use of theatrical techniques. When reading Our Town it is difficult to find one major conflict. The ideas imbedded behind the scenes deal with the importance of love, the continuity of human life, the beauty of life, and the meaning of life. The topic of love is seen many times throughout the play. All the characters are brought together by love however, each relationship and each love is different. Throughout the play it is very easy to notice the different loves. In act one love is centered on the family, the main characters seem to show unconditional love for one another. In the second act the word of love changes to romance, as Emily and George fall in love. In act three love is shown in the most unconditional way. Unselfish love that expects no return. As the play moved forward we work constantly reminded that like this one continuous cycle. The play itself begins with birth and ends in death. The stage manager also insinuates this idea by comparing generations. The strongest theme in Our Town is the beauty of life. This theme helps show us the wonderful happenings of everyday existence that most people will ignore and is only sometimes grasped by poets and saints. 2. After a short analysation of Our Town the plot reveals itself very easily. It has been said that Our Town has no plot at all, in that the stage manager tells a few stories about life in Grover's Corners and sends the audience on their way. The simplicity behind the plot is what brought excellence to the play. Wilder tries throughout the play to show the importance of ideas not personalities, and let each individual audience member gain something different from the play. The play begins while people are still entering the theater and being seated. A character known only as the stage manager enters a bare, partly lit stage. He begins rummaging around on stage acting as a stagehand setting up for the first act. The stage manager begins by telling you that you are in Grover's Corners, New Hampshire, in 1901. The first action seen on stage is everyday activity between the Webbs and the Gibbses. Dr. Gibbs comes home from the hospital and the wives catch up on gossip while they work. The stage manager interrupts with some more information and the children come home from school. Time passes very quickly. The stage manager tells you that act two will be love and marriage. George and Emily by the end of the act will be wed. In the middle of this act they take you back to a scene from George and Emily's courtship. Act three opens in the graveyard; the stage manager tells you that nine years have passed. Emily has died and her grave is being prepared. Night comes to Grover's corners, and the stage manager wishes the audience a good night. 3. In Our Town, the actors have plenty of room for their own influences to fit in, because Wilder depicts types rather than individuals. All the people in Grover's Corners are individualistic. By doing this Wilder left room for each audience member to connect with each character in their own way. Emily Webb is the daughter of the editor of the town paper. She marries George Gibbs and dies giving birth to their second child. She is the girl who grows up during the play. Her speeches at the end of the play are very important George Gibbs, the son of Dr. Gibbs, is the boy next door who marries Emily. Both George and Emily represent typical American children. He is nice and polite, but not very bright. Throughout his whole life he was always lagging behind in maturity. Doctor Frank Gibbs is the loving father and husband every man wants to be. He is at total peace with his living conditions and life. Mr. Charles Webb is the editor of the local newspaper and enjoys studying Napoleon. As presented before the parents of George and Emily are also typical and alike. Julia Hersey Gibbs is Doc Gibbs's wife and the mother of George and Rebecca.

How to Make Connections with College Professors

How to Make Connections with College Professors By all means, form as many bonds and make as many friends as possible while in school, but don’t neglect the connections you form with college professors. Those can come through in tight spots professionally, and professors are typically well-connected amazing people. Let’s talk about 5 solid ways to get close without stepping over any bounds. 1. Impress the Connections out of Them There’s so many faces like yours coming and going; so many papers to grade, cups of coffee to drink and meetings to attend. You’re going to have to stick out without being a jackass. If you’re trying to get either the professor or other students to laugh during class, you’re probably not impressing anyone. Here’s a couple tips: Details: Pay attention to the little things because your professors will be. The quickest way to impress is to NOT do all the things they expect students to do. Be THAT person who takes the time to understand protocol, be prompt and pay attention to details! Now, don’t make light of this practice, just realize that it IS noticed and appreciated. Study Up: Has the professor written a book? Many books? Do they have a blog? If you take the time to get to know them as a person, you can see what motivates them. This way you can add nuances to everything you do that will catch their interest. Barely anyone does this, so it can work like a charm. Show interest in them. 2. Be Available Willing to Serve It’s not about what your professor can do for you, but what you can do for your professor. Don’t sit in the back of class, but don’t attempt to be a teacher’s pet either. Make it obvious what you’re doing, which is no different than your professor did. Making connections in college is par for the course (forgive the pun). Consistent: Don’t pester, but be consistent. Let them know you’re standing at the ready to be of service in any way possible. The Word: Don’t treat only one of your professors this way, but all those whom you think could become a mutually beneficial connection. Options: If they’ve already got their assistants covered and don’t need your help in the office, is there something you could do for them in their private lives? Cut the lawn? Landscaping? Perhaps just a some quality conversation on interesting class-related topics? 3. Set Up Communication Early On Don’t wait, quickly stop by their office to personally introduce yourself. Don’t be bubbly and overflowing with youthful angst, just relax and act as professionally informal as possible. Now, try not to mention grades, period. Instead, focus on these three things. Your Goals: Your goals are what you intend to learn from the professor. Don’t dehumanize them by only referring to â€Å"class.† Their Goals: Let them know you appreciate their position and knowledge without kissing their backside. Make it clear that it is your intention because you would like to impress them and get to know them better. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with this, and they know it. Keep it Short: No long-winded conversations for your first couple visits. Keep it short and stay well behind the informal boundary. A couple minutes is all it takes to make a great impression. 4. Don’t Ask to Be Called On Your professors should know you’ve got your act together. You study, you take the course seriously, you intend to get to know them better and you’re a star player. But, never make this obvious in class and NEVER try to upstage the professor in front of students. Wait: Don’t be a jabber jaw and or a Mr. Know it all. Why speak in class if you’re not called on? What’s the point? Are you really going to argue with someone and de-rail the professor’s plan for class? Defer: Instead of hogging the class conch, say what you need to say to make a good point and then pass it along. Do what you can to let other people keep the lime light. Listen: Keep your ears open and listen to the issues, concerns and problems that other students are having. This information can come in handy. If the professor sees you making their job easier, they’ll notice you for it. 5. Be Human Ask for Help If you’re having a hard time, or going through a crisis, don’t complain in class or complain to other students in the class. Instead, bring your very human issues to your equally human professor. Oftentimes they will bend over backwards to help students that need and ask for it without being a pain. Hope this helps. Remember, your professors are like windows into professional worlds. Don’t neglect them and do what you can to form mutually beneficial connections. So, what have you done to get closer to your professors? What’s working or not working for you?

Types of War and Terrorism and the Root Causes of War and Terrorism Essay

Types of War and Terrorism and the Root Causes of War and Terrorism - Essay Example The researcher states that the last two and a half decades have witnessed a tremendous growth in statistical research conducted in war. However, the significance and meaning of war are still not clear due to certain inconsistencies in the research. The world has witnessed major conflicts and on they can be classified based on the reasons for conducting war. State building wars are those conducted in a bid to expand the territories and examples are the creation of Italy and Germany. Imperial wars are those wherein war wedged against the weaker countries by stronger nations Wars by major power; but limited in numbers like Franco-Prussian war and Crimean war. Terrorism is a new form of war and research has emphasised on problems related to practical deterrence or normative meaning. Terrorism is further grouped into three classes. These are: When the terror is in the centre: this kind of terrorism is found when a particular state or nation witnesses collective violence resulting in the severe crisis. In other words, there is infighting between various groups in a particular state or nation. Struggle against oppression: The emergence of terrorist groups in the borders and semi borders of local governments and their consequent attacks are known as the struggle against oppression. Transnational terrorism: This kind of terrorism develops in a particular region of the world but these groups divide labour in order to conduct terrorist attacks in major outposts worldwide, important people, governmental or civilian areas or destruction of architectures worldwide.   The 9/11 terrorist attack in the United States of America is a perfect example of this type of terrorism (Lizardo & Bergesen, n.d.) The U.S. government’s entire strategy towards disaster capitalism has been revamped in the year 2004 – 2005 and the American policies have witnessed major revision to witness incorporation of disaster capitalism as an important element. Previously, after a war was waged on a particular nation, ad hoc strategies were made in accordance with the situation prevalent at that time. Nowadays, the U.S. government, has made a watch list and keeps an eye at all times of high risk nations in coordination with the National Intelligence Council. This is done in order to plan before a war and deploy personnel at a moment’s notice after a clash has broken out. The post terrorism attacks of 9/11 saw a revision in strategies by U.S.A. and three military operations have been initiated. a) Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) – This was launched mainly in Afghanistan and other small countries like Philippines and Djibouti in order to counter the immediate terrorist infiltrations which began post 9/11 and exists even now. b) Operation Noble One (ONE) – Security was tightened in home and military bases in the United States of America. c) Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) – This was commenced with the U.S.A. – Iraq war conducted in March 2003. This was renamed as Operation New Dawn and U.S. military now acts as a helper and advisor in Iraq (Belasco, 2011). It has been alleged that the crisis followed by the aftermath of a severe earthquake is being used as an opportune moment to gain profits by the International Monetary Fund, U.S. Corporations, Washington and private army. They have made unpopular neoliberal policies in order to gain economic and military control over this nation. The U.S. is deploying scores of armed troops and has managed to take control of the Haiti capital airport. In fact prominence is given to U.S. international flights over other airlines at this airport. In fact, this nation is trying to rule this nation undercover and is giving the name of sending and deploying aids to