William Grant Still free essay sample

Still was self-taught in saxophone, clarinet, and cello along with an assortment of other instruments while also taking violin lessons. A man with humble beginnings, William Grant Still became the first person of African descent to conduct a major American Symphony (William Still). Still is most famous for his Symphony No. 1 Afro-American†. He was the first African-American man to write a symphony and then have it performed by the leading Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. Still also wrote Operas, but they never gained the notoriety of his aforementioned symphony. He composed such operas as Troubled Island and A Bayou Legend. Still made a name for himself during a time when African Americans were oppressed. William Grant Still was married to Verna Arvey, who played a big part in his music. They were married in Mexico due to the fact that interracial marriage was illegal in the United States. Still defied all social stigmas and became a man who broke down barriers in music and fought equality (J. We will write a custom essay sample on William Grant Still or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Smith). The list of his groundbreaking achievements ranges from being the first African-American to conduct a symphony in the Deep South to being the first to have a symphony televised over a national network. Still was a pioneer in the Modern era of music in the early 20th century by creating music that interests all of the greats, but had a definite American influence to it. When William Grant Still died on December 3, 1978, a great deal of his work was forgotten. Today, his music has been rediscovered and he is cited as â€Å"the Dean† of African-American composers (William Grant Still). He wrote the music for the controversial opera, Troubled Island, while his wife, Verna Arvey, along with Langston Hughes wrote the libretto. The Troubled Island, tells the story of Jean Jacques Dessalines and his corrupt leadership in the Haitian revolution. After declaring himself emperor of Haiti, he is eventually assassinated by opponents of his regime. The Opera was well received and garnered 20 curtain calls after its first performance. Critics panned opera and which caused it to close after only three performances. The opera’s score mixed modern American influences with native Haitian influences to create a masterpiece (Murchison 42-74). Still’s most well-known Opera was A Bayou Legend. This opera would eventually become a television movie that would eventually rekindle interest in Still’s catalog of music. The story involves the beautiful and rancorous Clothilde as she enacts a plan of revenge against Bazile, a man who does not return her affection. Clothilde tries her hardest to gain his affection, but in the end, her feelings unrequited by Bazile, she orchestrates a scheme which leads to Bazile being lynched. The Opera was awarded the distinction of being his most well-known work, and being held as a lyrical masterpiece. The libretto was written by his wife, and longtime collaborator and wife, Verna Arvey (Smith 23-56). In my opinion, William Grant Still is by far one of the most influential composers in American Music. His music, held true to a lot of the beliefs that he was taught and showcased the African-American struggle, while also appealing to a wider public. Still was a true artist, who also worked with W. C. Handy as his arranger.

David Humes Moral Skepticism †Philosophy Essay

David Humes Moral Skepticism – Philosophy Essay Free Online Research Papers David Hume’s Moral Skepticism Philosophy Essay David Hume’s moral skepticism concluded that an individual’s morals are matters of their feelings about the fact, resulted from ones own experience. This was Hume’s empiricist method. Hume’s argument shifted philosophy in general from the norm to a radical point of view. Hume believed that the materials of thinking, our perceptions, are derived either two categories our ideads and our impressions. After reviewing Hume’s argument one can conclude that facts have no impact on a individual’s actions and morality never consists in any single matter of fact that could be perceived by reason alone. Today astonishing achievements in biomedical science and technology have led to an amazing ability to harvest stem cells. The debate over this issue is that of abortion. The opposition of stem cell research argues that the embryo is being destroyed during this process. This issue is one of our society’s morals. It is a promising area of research that can ultimately lead to the cure of many diseases. But why is it immoral to explore a process that can heal individuals suffering from such conditions as diabetes, Alzheimer’s and Parkinsons. Hume had argued that an individual’s â€Å"sentiments and affections,† not reason, is what leads us our actions. One can conclude that this stem cell research is moral because of their feelings about the subject. Not how they â€Å"ought† to feel about it, but how they really feel about it. The feelings associated with certain facts change from person to person. One may favor this research because they have personally been affected by it. Society says how we ought to feel about something and it is subjects that encounter this issue will reason it immoral because they have never had previous experience with it. So an individual who supports stem cell research had deemed it moral because his reason gave way to his â€Å"sentiment and affections.† Hume creates a point in that an individual ought to feel a certain way about something but they really feel different due to the impact of our feelings. It is our preception of the subject that creates a division amoung our people. I agree with Hume in that facts are neutral in determining an action. Somone can know all the facts about this issue but until they experience it personally they will continue to denouce stem cell research as immoral. Yet, when they experience first hand the outcomes and benefits of it their feelings will overpower their reason. In contrast to David Hume, Immanuel Kant’s philosophy of categorical imperative argued that the individuals are able to make decisions free from ourside forces. We have a free will which acts under the laws of itself. According to Kant, in each of us there is a noumenal reality, and a phenomental reality. The noumenal reality is that of which is unexplainable and unknown. It is everything the mind cannot explain, like an individual calculating how long they will live. It is just not possible, one can only The phenomental reality is that in which is known, or experienced. It is the natural world in which we live in. For instance, like how many days are in a week. The individual knows because they personally experience it weekly. Moral law of our own will means that we are able to make decisions by themselves and freely. To be subject to moral law of our own will is to question yourself whether or not the subject matter is ultimately good or bad. It is a point in which you decide that something is bad and you will not condem it. For instance, road rage results in many individuals raising the middle finger, but one may be subjected to their own moral law and decide it imoral to conduct such behavior. Moral law from an external source is those laws in which we are subject to by outside forces. It can be one’s society, religion, or family that pronouce what is right and wrong. For example, in the Jewish faith, tattoos are frowned apon. So if the individual wishes to remain a good jew, then they will condem tattoos. Kant emphasized the way in which the moral life was centered on duty. He believed that duties are created by rules or laws of some sort. For example the laws of a club lay down duties for its officers or city and state laws establish the duties of citizens. So when the subjects of these legislators do something because it is because of their duty to do so. The motivation we have for these duties comes from our own will to do so, if one wished not to conform to the laws, then one can choose not be be part of that city, state, or organization. Kant looks to the motives to see if the motive has true moral worth or not. He does not determine the moral worth on the consequences of an action. According to Kant, if a person is motivated purely by the good will, then does the motive have true moral worth? If the motive of doing inclinations, then the motive does not have true moral worth, even if such a motive brings about happiness for others. Kant isnt concerned about the consequences of whether your actions bring happiness or not. The problem with motives is that they are always changing. They are never absolute or constant feelings, emotions, or desires. The answer to the question on why there is so much violence and hate in the world is because peoples incentives or motives are based on desires and self-interest and NOT on the good will. So therefore inclinations cannot be relied on for making moral decisions. 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Motivation Theories Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Motivation Theories - Essay Example 121-123). In fact, without this fuel human beings would be inactive, leading a mundane life. According to the dictionary meaning of motivation, it is 'an internal state or condition (sometimes described as a need, desire, or want) that serves to activate or energize behavior and give it direction'. In the field of psychology, human motivation has long been studied as a way to explain an individual's behaviour. In reality, motivation is inferred rather than measured. The inference is made due to behavioural changes that result from external stimuli. It is also a performance variable because changes in a person's motivation are frequently of a temporary nature; with many people, what is high priority today may become singularly unimportant tomorrow. Abraham Maslow first introduced the theory of Motivation in the year 1954 in his book Motivation and Personality which stated how people satisfied various personal needs in the context of their work. He postulated, based on his observations as a humanistic psychologist, that there is a general pattern of needs recognition and satisfaction that people follow in generally the same sequence. He also theorized that a person could not recognize or pursue the next higher need in the hierarchy until her or his currently recognized need was substantially or completely satisfied, a concept called Prepotency (Gawel, 1997). His theory influences a number of fields, including education. This wide influence is due in part to the high level of practicality of Maslow's (1954) theory. Many people find they can understand what Maslow (1954) says. They can recognize some features of their experience or behavior which is true and identifiable but which they have never put into words. Below is given th e original model of Maslow's hierarchy of needs (1954). According to Maslow et al. (1954), there seems to be a hierarchy into which human needs arrange themselves, as per the above figure. The psychological needs form the base of the model and hence require being satisfied first. These are the basic human needs to sustain life itself-food, clothing, and shelter. Until these basic needs are satisfied to the degree needed for the sufficient operation of the body, the majority of a person's activity will probably be at this level, and the others will provide little motivation. When these needs are somewhat satiated, other needs emerge. Once physiological needs become gratified, the safety, or security needs become predominant. These needs are essentially the need to be free of the fear of physical danger and deprivation of the basic physiological needs. In other words, this is a need for self-preservation. In addition to the here and now, there is a concern for the future. Once physiological and safety needs are fairly well satisfied, social or affiliation will emerge as dominant in the need structure. Since people are social beings, they have a need to belong and to be accepted by various groups. When social needs become dominant, a person will strive for meaningful relations with others. After individuals begin to satisfy their need to belong, they generally want to be more than just a member of their group. They then feel the need for esteem- both self-esteem

Marketing Mix Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Marketing Mix - Essay Example All the element s of the marketing mix can affect consumers is multiple ways. Therefore, marketing mix is used by firms to achieve its objectives (Lancaster and Reynolds 2003). This happens when these marketing tools are employed by an organization to pursue the target market marketing of a product entails creating an excellent marketing mix with the right product being matched with the right price, suitable proportions and in the right place. When developing a befitting marketing program for an organization, the marketing manager is required to weigh behavioral forces before juggling marketing mix elements while taking into account the resources at his disposal. The organization must consider itself as a single organism in a world of complex forces. Many other industries are competing with the industry in which the firm is only a part of (Brassington and Pettit 2006). The marketing department must develop a mix of procedures that make maximum use of the available resources. Marketer s are required to look for opportunities in the method of operation. A small organization cannot use procedures from large organizations. Though the two companies may deal with similar products, they are likely to be different in many respects. A compelling example is the industrial goods industry. Small companies go for regional sales as opposed to national distribution that is practiced by large corporations. Small companies go for limited and specialized fields of operation while large organizations seek to patronize full lines. The marketing mix of a company is largely the result of evolution that comes from day-to-day marketing. The marketing mix represents programs that marketers have evolved to meet challenges with which they are constantly faced in a dynamic and ever changing market. They can be referred to as tactical maneuvers. New products are faced with aggressive promotions. Sometimes a price change initiated by a competitor must be met and accurately considered. In cas e of faltering sales must be stimulated while declines must be remedied. Marketing mix helps replace advertising approach, which has lost effectiveness (Lancaster and Reynolds 2003). Marketers need to maintain effective channels for information that relates to the operation of companies. This includes consumer behaviors, trade and competitors. Short range forces contribute a large part of the marketing mix which helps in the allocation of expenditures. Dynamics of the 4Ps Past empiricism and foresight dictate the plans and procedures that contribute to the marketing mix. Marketers need to have an idea as to what should be done so as to be remaining successful in a dynamic market. Long-range plans are vital in economic, technological and natural trends must be successfully managed by marketers in a turbulence market. Marketing mix allocation of resources and planning has taken prominence in many companies whose aim is to optimize spending. Marketers are under intense pressure achieve their targets with the available resources. Marketing mix seeks to strike a balance with regard to strategy and achieving organizational goals (Brassington and Pettit 2006). Marketing mix is both strategy and procedure that facilitates effective allocation of organizational resources with an aim of striking a proper balance. Marketers must use the mix in order to make the goals and organizational progress sustainable. Pricing must take into account the quality of the product and the prices of similar commodities in the market without affecting the profitability of the organization. Marketers can plan accurately when they have a functional marketing mix. Marketing mix concept is relatively simple. The concept reveals facts about areas which should be addressed. They serve as a guide to management

Love Medicine Research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Love Medicine Research - Essay Example At the same time it assures a reader about the fact that love is the most important aspect of life to identify and relish the felling of fulfillment as human beings. The element of hope is prevalent in the story and the optimism that has been reflected in the story has been churned from interaction between the characters as well as through their actions. Lipsha Morrissey’s life, since his birth, was never a fairy tale story and he has been saved from her mother who wanted to kill him. In that way he has never been lucky enough to feel the charm of parental love. However under the guardianship of Grandma and Grandpa Kashpaw he realized that love and that love is one of the main sources for him to make him feel that he is complete as a human being. As Grandpa Kashpaw achieved several things within his span of life always had a strong influence over Lipsha. However, since Grandpa’s mind was gradually failing it stated all the problems and conflicts but he never seemed to have any worry about that thing and it seems as if welcomed it, â€Å"I’m getting into my second childhood.† â€Å"I been chosen for it. I couldnâ€⠄¢t say no.† (Erdrich, 109) Though both Grandma and Grandpa never escaped from the bond of their mutual love but during his momentary fit of lunacy his elopement with Lulu Lamartine has never been appreciated by Grandma. Consequently, Lipsha was assigned with the responsibility to prepare a love medicine. (Erdrich, 116) In the context of preparing love medicine for both of them we not only see dominance of hope in Lipsha’s quest but at the same time conspicuous elements of Native American rituals have also been explicitly presented by the narrator. Presentation of such ritualistic elements has intentionally been introduced by the author to heighten the element of optimism in the story. Lipsha have always felt that without the mutual love both from

Examining The Blood Disorder Of Haemophilia Biology Essay

Examining The Blood Disorder Of Haemophilia Biology Essay Haemophilia, or hemophilia is a group of inherited blood disorders in which the blood does not clot properly. Known as a rare disease to individuals, Haemophilia has two main inheritable types, Haemophilia and Haemophilia B. Haemophilia is due in part to defective blood vessels, coagulation mechanisms or blood platelets. An affected individual may bleed spontaneously or for longer than a healthy person after injury or surgery. The paper will discuss in detail and in parts what exactly these diseases are, who suffers from them, what causes them, characteristic traits, statistics, locations , what are symptoms and treatments , research on the subject as well the social impact of these diseases. Many of those who suffer from these diseases have many changes and things they must do so they will not die from the complications of their diseases. The paper uses much information from many distinguished sources and cites them at the end of the paper. The paper also uses diagrams to help show how the genetics of passing down the defective genes. What is Haemophilia ? Hemophilia is a group of inherited blood disorders in which the blood does not clot properly. Known as a rare disease Bleeding disorders are due in part to defectsive blood vessels, coagulation mechanisms or blood platelets. An affected individual may bleed spontaneously or for longer than a healthy person after injury or surgery. The blood coagulation mechanism is a process which transforms the blood from a liquid into a solid, and involves several different clotting factors. The mechanism generates fibrin when it is activated, which together with the platelet plug, stops the bleeding. When coagulation factors are missing or deficient the blood does not clot properly and bleeding continues. Hemophilia can be divided into two major types: hemophilia A or hemophilia B. 9 out of 10 people who have hemophilia will have type A hemophilia which means the body is missing or has low levels of clotting factor 8. If the person has type B, then they are missing or have low levels of clotting f actor 9. In addition, hemophilia is usually genetically acquired but some can develop hemophilia during their lifetime. This can happen if the body forms to the clotting factors in your bloodstream. The antibodies can prevent the clotting factors from working. What causes haemophilia ? Haemophilia is caused by a malfunction in the X chromosome. To most recessive sex-linked, X chromosome disorders, haemophilia is more likely to occur in males rather than females. This is because females have two X chromosomes while males have only one, lacking a back up copy for the defective gene; meaning, the defective gene is guaranteed to manifest in any male who carries it. Because females have two X chromosomes and because haemophilia is rare, the chance of a female having two defective copies of the gene is very low, thus females are almost exclusively asymptomatic carriers of the disorder. Female carriers may inherit the defective gene from either their mother, father, or it may be a new mutation. Only under rare circumstances do females actually have haemophilia. (Center for Disease Control) Who suffers from Haemophilia Females possess two X-chromosomes, males have one X and one Y chromosome. Since the mutations causing the disease are recessive, a woman carrying the defect on one of her X-chromosomes may not be affected by it, as the equivalent allele on her other chromosome should express itself to produce the necessary clotting factors. However, the Y-chromosome in men has no gene for factors VIII or IX. If the genes responsible for production of factor VIII or factor IX present on a males X-chromosome are deficient there is no equivalent on the Y-chromosome, so the deficient gene is not masked by the dominant allele and he will develop the illness. Since a male receives his single X-chromosome from his mother, the son of a healthy female silently carrying the deficient gene will have a 50% chance of inheriting that gene from her and with it the disease; and if his mother is affected with haemophilia, he will have a 100% chance of being a haemophiliac. While, for a female to inherit the disease, she must receive two deficient X-chromosomes, one from her mother and the other from her father (who must therefore be a haemophiliac himself). Hence haemophilia is far more common among males than females. However, it is possible for female carriers to become mild haemophiliacs due to inactivation of the X chromosomes. Haemophiliac daughters are more common than they once were, as improved treatments for the disease have allowed more haemophiliac males to survive to adulthood and become parents. Adult females may experience heavy periods due to the bleeding tendency. The pattern of inheritance is criss-cross type. This type of pattern i s also seen in colour blindness. A mother who is a carrier has a 50% chance of passing the faulty X chromosome to her daughter, while an affected father will always pass on the affected gene to his daughters. A son cannot inherit the defective gene from his father. As with all genetic disorders, it is of course also possible for a human to acquire it spontaneously through mutation, rather than inheriting it, because of a new mutation in one of their parents gametes. Spontaneous mutations account for about 33% of all cases of haemophilia A. About 30% of cases of haemophilia B are the result of a spontaneous gene mutation. Demographics/Location Haemophiliacsa re primarily male although there are a rare instances of femleas having it too. The disease it self does have any numbers to any particular ethnicity but Haemophilia was featured prominently in European royalty and thus is sometimes known as the royal disease. Queen Victoria passed the mutation to her son Leopold and, through several of her daughters, to various royals across the continent, including the royal families of Spain, Germany, and Russia. In Russia, Tsarevich Alexei Nikolaevich, son of Nicholas II, was a descendant of Queen Victoria through his mother Empress Alexandra and suffered from haemophilia. Statistics Annual incidence of haemophilia is estimated at 1/5,000 male births and the prevalence is estimated at 1/12,000. About 400 babies are born with hemophilia each year. The exact number of people living with hemophilia in the United States is not knownbut the current estimate is about 20,000. In the United States, most people with hemophilia are diagnosed at a very young age. What Symptoms are shown? The major signs and symptoms of hemophilia are excessive bleeding and easy bruising. Bleeding can occur on externally or internally. Signs of excessive external bleeding include: bleeding in the mouth from a cut or bite or from cutting or losing a tooth, nosebleeds, heavy bleeding from a minor cut, bleeding from a cut that resumes after stopping for a short time. Signs of internal bleeding include blood in the urine (from bleeding in the kidneys or bladder) and blood in the stool (from bleeding in the intestines or stomach). Internal bleeding in the brain is a very serious complication of hemophilia that can happen after a simple bump on the head or a more serious injury. Many serious complications can also arise from bleeding into various body systems. Hemarthrosis is a bleeding into joint spaces and may be prevalent to those with a more serius from of the disease. How is it Diagnosed? Genetic testing and genetic counselling is recommended for families with haemophilia. Prenatal testing, such as amniocentesis, is available to pregnant women who may be carriers of the condition. Based on CDC data, the median age at diagnosis is 36 months for people with mild hemophilia, 8 months for those with moderate hemophilia, and 1 month for those with severe hemophilia. In about two thirds of cases, there is a family history of hemophilia. The diagnosis of hemophilia is made using a special blood test and most babies can be tested soon after birth. Sometimes prenatal genetic testing is done to diagnose hemophilia before birth. Research With the severe problems that arise with Haemophilia, numerous doctors are currently working to find a cure to treat this disease. One research study that may help to understand and find a cure dealt with Inhibitors in mild/moderate haemophilia A. Haemophilia A is caused by a deficiency of factor (F) VIII. Therapy is based on the replacement of FVIII to haemostatically adequate levels for the prevention or treatment of bleeds. Inhibitors neutralising the haemostatic effects of FVIII have been recognised as a complication of haemophilia since the introduction of replacement therapy. In MMHA, they occur later in life than in severe haemophilia and are generally associated with a change in bleeding pattern. Many of these patients experience severe spontaneous bleeding in joints and muscles Two cases were studied , patient 1 and patient 2. In the first , the patient was given drugs that prevented the formation of inhibitors and allowed the factor to prevail. In patient 2 , the patient re ceived a different treatment and still getting that treatment ot prevent inhibitors from forming. In the second the patient did not get the same type of treatment and thus still suffered from bleeding. A range of therapeutic options to eradicate the inhibitor is currently available and a variety of treatments can also be used to treat the bleeding episodes. However, the optimal treatment regimen for the eradication of inhibitors in MMHA and for the treatment of bleeding episodes have yet to be established. Social Impact Many think people with hemophilia cannot live a normal life, which is not true. In order for people with hemophilia to live normal lives, they must take steps to prevent bleeding problems. The first step they do is to get in contact with the federal government about finding a hemophilia treatment center. This center will provide resources for families and people affected by hemophilia. Precautions one can take to avoid complications is to follow your treatment plan exactly, get regular checkups and vaccinations, and tell all of your health care providers that you have hemophilia, get regular dental care, and know the signs and symptoms of bleeding in joints and other parts of the body. People who have mild hemophilia can take part in a variety of activities. Those who have severe hemophilia should avoid contact sports and other activities that are likely to lead to injuries that could cause bleeding. Physical therapists at Hemophilia Treatment Centers can develop exercise programs tailored to your needs and teach you how to exercise safely. Its usually not safe for people who have bleeding problems to participate in contact sports, such as football, hockey, and wrestling and thus they should exercise extreme caution.. To prevent bleeding, one may be able to take clotting factors prior to exercise or a sporting event. Patients with hemophilia should avoid medicines that increase the risk of bleeding like aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines and should go to a doctort if there is bruising or tingling in their joints as this may cause them to bleed internally.

Comparing Violence in Kanes Blasted, Bonds Lear and Pinters The Home

Displays of Violence in Kane's Blasted, Bond's Lear and Pinter's The Homecoming In Sarah Kane's Blasted, a woman and a man are raped on stage, eyeballs and dead babies are consumed and a man shoots himself through the head. In Edward Bond's Lear, several men and women are shot, a man is severly beaten and another is blinded, and the body of a woman is disected on stage. Both Kane and Bond claim that the use of violence on stage is vital for the message they want to get across. Harold Pinter, however, seems to deliver the same message by referring to violence without actually displaying it on stage. By looking at the authors' reasons for staging violence, questioning the effect on the play's audience and the plausability and necessity of the violent acts on stage, it can be said that the portrayal of physical violence on stage is a hallmark of shallow melodrama, gratuitously pandering to the sensationalism of the audience. Sarah Kane's intention was to present her audience with the horrors of real life : war, cruelty and death, in the hope to bring it closer to the audience and to get people to think about what was happening beyond their safe homes, for instance in Jugoslawia, by drawing comparisons between local and global violence. She felt the horror of the war in Jugoslawia very strongly herself, and suffered from depressions that drove her to suicide in 1999. In the preface to Lear, Edward Bond says that it would be 'immoral not to write about violence' (v). He claims that violence originates through unnatural circumstances, and that this can be proven by comparing the behaviour of animals in their natural surroundings with animals in captivity. '[...] in normal surroundings and conditions, members of the same spec... ...al executions on stage would hade made : it shows the human side of violence, namely that of the victims. As a conclusion it can be said that, although the violence itself is well-argumented by the authors and serves its purpose in the plot, the actual act of violence needs not be shown on stage. It does not contribute to the plot, and its shockeffects are questionable. Furthermore, it might even make people aggressive. Staging violence turns the action into melodrama : it can no longer be distuinguised from the violent actionfilms meant to entertain and lure people to the cinema. Works Cited Bond, Edward. Lear. London : Eyre Methuen LTD, 1972. Abelard. Children and Television Violence ; Gerbner. Online. Internet. 2 July 2002. Kane, Sarah. Blasted. London : Eyre Methuen LTD, 1995. Pinter, Harold. The Homecoming. London : Eyre Methuen LTD, 1965.