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A book review/Analysis of All God’s Children: The Bosket Family and the American Tradition of Violence by Fox Butterfield

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A book review/Analysis of All God’s Children: The Bosket Family and the American Tradition of Violence by Fox Butterfield

Authored by Fox Butterfield and published by Vintage books in the year 2008, All God’s Children: The Bosket Family and the American Tradition of Violence is probably one of the most outstanding texts in the areas of social science and criminology. In a total of 389 pages, Butterfield seeks to express the fundamentals of a tradition that has habitually been characterized by counts and episodes of violence and crime. In seeking to review the underlying factors that are causative of violence, he achieves a writing that tells the story of how violence can cumulatively affect a society when inherited. In this review, he tackles a transcending trend over five generations of black Americans that have lived in the culture of violence. Not only does he explore the causative factors of this violence and its inheritance but also analyses the effects of the violence in the American society (Regoli, Hewitt & DeLisi, 2008). One outstanding point is the existence of racism and the way it interrelates to violence in this same community. The author of the book is also the writer of an award winning text of the National Book Award, China: Alive in the Bitter Sea, and a previous Times correspondent, writing about crime and its effects on the society as well as violence (Lubin, & Coe, 1982).

In a considerably inhumane way, Butterfield reviews the high amounts of disregard, brutality, unkindness, percipience, discrimination, and cruelty that blacks in the American society experience over this duration of time. To an extent, he samples them out as an overally oppressed society that remains at pains and generally bitter. The way they are treated is quite wanting. In essence, this treatment elicits desires of revenge and tendencies of retaliation in them. It is in this that Butterfield takes the case of Willie Bosket to analyze how the effects of cumulative oppression can be transferred down through generations. In this case, the considerations have five generations in line that are analyzed. At the age of five, Bosket was already a criminal. As early as age fifteen, he had the potential of slaying and killing two subway riders without the help of anyone else. Markedly, this activity led to the establishment of law that subsequently authorized the trial of children as adults in murder cases, forming a unique precedent in the American criminology and legal landscape (Worth, & Sarat, 2001). By going back through to South Carolina and tracing the lineage of Bosket, Butterfield finds out something unique. Bosket is from a black family, who have considerably undergone seasons of perceived and existent oppression over the years. It is therefore possible to conclude that his act is a culmination of the effects of this; possibly the achievement of societal revenge and the expression of internal resentment, pain and overall reprisal (Butterfield, 2008).

These generations characterized by racism, slavery practices, and discrimination in national fronts run from the eras of reconstruction to the years in 1970s. In his examination and review, Butterfield reveals very outstanding points and realistic presentations of the situations.

All God’s Children: The Bosket Family and the American Tradition of Violence is presented in a prologue, sixteen chapters with each confronting a specific issue at a specific time and an ultimate epilogue (Butterfield, 2008).

Chapters one to four make up part one of the book which runs from page one to seventy and through the titles: “Bloody Edgefield,” “Masters and Slaves,” “Aaron after Freedom,” and “PUD ‘Don’t Step on My Reputation,’” respectively. In these chapters, Butterfield introduces the book and covers an infinitely significant perspective of the background and source of societal violence (Butterfield, 2008). In the opening of the prologue, Willie is presented in prison and the opening statements indicate an aggressed individual who throws excrement at prison guards. He is numerously subjected to solitary condemnation and kept under tight surveillance. In other cross examined episodes, it is revealed that he had previously hurled a typewriter at a female teacher and ultimately got thrown out of school by a judge at the age of nine. In Butterfield’s narration, he does not survive long in reformatory institutions. Possibly, he sets inmates on fire, escapes, or assaults the caregivers in the institutions. If this is the extent of aggression that societal oppression, discrimination and racism can ultimately build in an individual, then Butterfield achieves his point of proving the negative effects of the American tradition of violence (Cooney, 1998).

Nonetheless, it should be worth noting that these effects are across a group of individuals and not Willie alone. The essence of this explanation is the fact that the murders Willie commits bring him out a celebrity, luminary and superstar rather than the criminal we would expect him to be. It is his acts of bravery that make Willie a scarecrow to the judiciary that quickens the passing of laws that will see juveniles tried as adults if they commit acts like that of Willie (Butterfield, 2008).

Yet narrated from his own perspective, Butterfield tells us that Willie’s story too was worth listening to. Although unaware about his family’s background, Butterfield finds the elements of upbringing in poor Harlem, subjection to a chaotic and inconsistent juvenile and justice system, and the obsession with recklessness and violence all had something to do with his then status. The personalities in Edgefield where part of Willie’s life takes place make it an outstanding county in South Carolina. To the extent Butterfield refers to it as bloody. Another review on the interaction of slaves and the slave masters equally indicates this unprecedented trend of oppression that occurs in the American society (Springer & Roberts, 2011).

Part two of the book is made up of three chapters; five, six, and seven and starts from pages 71 to 130. The subtopics handled in this part of the book are presented as “James and Butch coming up in the Terry,” “Butch The Promised Land,” and “Butch The Pawn shop.” The first of these chapters reveals quite a tantalizing detail about the lifestyle in Augusta (Butterfield, 2008). The conditions are not quite favorable for healthy development. To begin with, it is marked by Butterfield as the “The Sin City,” that is characterized with gambling, violence and a lot of illegal products like liquor and drugs. With the presence of unpaved streets and deplorable conditions, this indicates a neglected society wallowing in violence and crime. Yet this is the backyard of the black society. In a way, Butterfield uses these settings to indicate the origins of Willie’s ultimately experienced personality (Cooney, 1998).

The presentations of chapter eight to eleven bring out the character of Willie as whe grows from a small child to middle ages. All with his name, these include him as a Bad Little Booby, Little Man, The boy No One Could Help, and The Baby Face Killer. Named as Booby because of his daring acts, Willie reveals the character of a very young child who cares very little about anything considerably repercussion (Butterfield, 2008). He has an internal belief that he is superior and is ready to commit anything to defend this position including violence. As narrated by a character called Debbie, he was among the toughest in the block, never giving up and remaining ready to fight individuals or groups of persons. In one episode, he picks up an iron rod, hits a fellow male boy, and then slashes at another girl so badly that the whole episode stands out as threatening and scary. At the same time, he can pick and assume to own anything that is not his as indicated in the case of the family court about the watch he has on his hands.

Probably, some of the most outstanding natures of this character is indicated when Willie tells another boy, “I will just kill you….”. As his case goes on, the family courts command confidentiality of trial information. As such, his name is not easily let out, and it is at this point that he acquires the name Baby-Face Killer (Butterfield, 2008). In all spheres, Willie’s character is indicative of violence and obsession with crime. He lacks feelings of humanity and does not fear reprieve of any form. The investigations carried out by Butterfield truly reveal the effects of violence he wishes to lay open, just as he plans them.

Still on Willie’s character, the last two chapters focus on the prison life, the defense process, the point at which Willie gains freedom and the character in him, whose source is the American social system. This character, Butterfield refers to as a monster. A clear review of Willie’s background indicates the presence of societal discrimination and oppression. In their lineage yet, there is the element of slavery and the existence of the harshness with which blacks were treated. In the ultimate, it is quite true as Butterfield puts it that Willie’s the monster and the killer is a creation of the system.

By using Willie and his family, Butterfield seeks to express to us the theme as he places it in his book, the American Tradition of Violence (Butterfield, 2008). In this tradition that is characterized by numerous controversies, he employs wonderful collection of evidence for proof of the activities that cause this violence. He outlines the stratification in the society that is both social and economic. He achieves the review of sensitive topics like racism and societal discrimination. And he lines up a great extent of evidential facts that support his supposition and prove various claims. In reality, his analysis brings the truth about America’s state of crime as well as its source. Most notable is the cumulative effects such cultures can have on individuals within a society as in the case of Willie. Considerably, he achieves his goal and comes up with an important text that is quite relevant for individuals interested in social structures, violence and crime, and the relation of the American black community through history. In sum, this is a well-researched Masterpiece of writing in criminology.

References

Top of Form

Butterfield, F. (2008). All God’s children: The Bosket family and the American tradition of violence. New York: Vintage Books.

Cooney, M. (1998). Warriors and peacemakers: How third parties shape violence. New York: New York University Press.

Lubin, M., & Coe, P. (1982). Good guys, bad guys: Violent crime and psychiatry’s dilemma. New York: McGraw-Hill.

Regoli, R. M., Hewitt, J. D., & DeLisi, M. (2008). Delinquency in society. Boston: McGraw-Hill Higher Education.

Springer, D. W., & Roberts, A. R. (2011). Juvenile justice and delinquency. Sudbury, Mass: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.Bottom of Form

Worth, R., & Sarat, A. (2001). Children, violence, and murder. Philadelphia, PA: Chelsea House Publishers.

The Philippines’ Tourism Industry

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The Philippines’ Tourism Industry

Asia is one of the best travel destinations for tourists around the world. The region is famous for having several tourists’ attraction sites, for example, mountains, monuments, and water bodies. According to many people today, tourism has become an activity of everyday life. Tourism includes all the activities involved in the movements that happen away from individual’s place of work or even their places of residence. It is the right way of one using or instead of spending their free time or what is called leisure time. Many states have the industry of tourism, and many tourists all over the world visit them to enjoy their free times (Goodall & Ashworth, 2013). The Philippines is one of the many countries involved in tourism, and it has a diversity of cultural, religious traditions and also a lot of wealth tourist attractions.

The Philippines serves as one of the most visited areas in Southeast Asia. Tourism in the Philippines has contributed to about 10.6% of the total GDP. Worldwide, among other industries, travel and tourism are considered as the most critical industry. It has created jobs for too many people all over the world and thus has helped in the mitigation of poverty (Aguda et al. 2013). When tourism is well enhanced, it helps in boosting a country’s economy. It has always affected the cultural, life as well as in society as a whole. It has helped in enriching many lives throughout the world. Tourism has helped in the development of the economy in the Philippines. The government of Philippine has even considered all the positive effects of tourism and thus made it an important priority in economic development. It is regarded as the fast-growing industry in the Philippines as many tourists tend to be specialized in different sectors of tourism. Tourism which involves traveling to heritage areas has improved in most of the regions today having Philippine included, and the same is expected to continue. For the tourism industry in Philippine to grow and keep growing, then it is essential to look at the marketing plan, strategies, and marketing work of the industry as a whole.

One may start by understanding what marketing means as many people have always had confusion on this. It is defined as the process of business that involves developing relationships between customers as well as satisfying their needs. It can also be said to be the action of promoting and selling products and services and which could include market research and advertising as well (Gonzalez, 2013). Tourism in many countries as the Philippines is seen as a business and therefore, it is of importance that this industry observes the following concept that brings out that every organization or company should:-

They should ensure that they have selected destinations that are per what the customers need and thus be able to meet the needs and wants of the tourists.

Give the tourists different destinations to enable them to choose from the very many choices of destinations

Marketing efforts should also be put in place to ensure that they have well fitted in the tourism industry as a whole and also the other set objectives.

The tourism industry should also set objectives and goals that they should all work towards achieving and in the long run satisfy the customers’ needs and wants.

When an industry like that of tourism observes the following concept of marketing, then it’s able to come up with viable destinations and of high demand by the tourists. It also helps in avoiding time wastage as well as wastage of money in the development of a destination that is of no or less appeal which would have instead been used in the development of a more wanted destination by the tourists.

A product can be a service, a good or even an idea. Therefore tourism under this context can be classified as a service. It is intangible, and thus it is tough for a customer to be able to compare between two different services as products. It is as well challenging to market a service as a product, and this can be translated as being difficult then to promote tourism as a product in the market.

It is, therefore, the role and responsibility of the industry that deals with tourism to ensure that it provides a right product that is of high quality as it might be hard for customers to gauge this. For an industry to be able to improve their effectiveness as well as the efficiency, then it is of importance that they look so much in their marketing plan (Cochrane, 2007). A marketing plan is an outline that clearly shows the marketing strategies that the industry is to employ in the coming year or even month. Any marketing plan of an industry if well-constructed helps in the allocation of resources and also helps in making of good crucial decisions. Different elements should be featured in a good marketing plan for the industry. These are as stated below:-

The objectives of the sector

The marketing strategies also called the 4 P’S

The market environment

The Country profile

Market identification

Market objectives under each mentioned segments

Budget

Plan implementation

Evaluation and control

Objectives

Objectives can be defined as the goals or aims that are set by an organization or an industry when it’s promoting its products and services. They are meant to target the potential customers or consumers, and they should be achieved within a set frame of time. Tourist destinations in the Philippines should come up with set goals and objectives to be able to assess the progress of the industry. All decisions should be put in place in the objectives for instance: finances and other critical decisions of the industry. Some of the purposes of the Philippines tourism industry are as follows:-

To promote tourism with dignity and respect

To build confidence and also pride among all the local communities

To also encourage community-based as well as responsible tourism among many others.

The Marketing Environment.

In the marketing environment, the tourism industry is required to analyze the social, political and economic factors that can affect it. It is after they analyze these factors that they can deal with them and thus ensure the steady running of the business. An industry should put a lot of focus on the changes noted on demographics. Let the industry tell whether the population is growing or not. They can also focus on the number of people whether employed, not employed or even retired who can travel. The industry can also look at the economic status of the people (Gooroochurn & Sugiyarto, 2005). Let the industry know how many people can afford traveling and how does that affect the industry. Is there a crisis of unemployment and if yes, how does it affect the sector may it be directly or indirectly. Technology today is a significant concern in many industries, and in the tourism industry, it is not left behind. As an industry, come up with new tourist activities that are up to date. Individuals always want new ways of doing things, and thus tourism industries should provide some different ways of doing things and at the same time be able to satisfy their customers. The Philippines has recently been involved in many innovations that have helped in boosting the tourism industry as a whole.

Every industry has potential competitors. It is therefore wise for each industry to identify their potential competitors and be able to know what they do better than them and also how they can be able to outdo them. It is at this point where the analysis of the industry’s strengths and weaknesses comes in. Know the competitive advantage that you have over your competitors and thus utilize it to beat them. In order to do this, then the industry should be able to analyze the competitors set prices, the features of the products they offer, what type of customers they do attract and all these should be in comparison to what the industry in question provides.

Marketing Strategies (4P’S).

It is a combination of different factors that can be controlled and influenced by industry in order to determine the consumers’ purchase levels of the product(s). Some of the elements that are controlled by the industry to influence the purchase level of consumers include:-

Product

Price

Place/location

Promotion

Product

Can be referred to anything offered to the market to satisfy the needs and wants of a consumer. It can either be tangible or intangible. The recreational services that tourism industry provides are the product they offer to their consumers. It is imperative that the services the tourism industry decides to provide not to be based on what they think is the best, or what the management believes should be in place but instead, it should be based on the needs, wants and desires of the potential customers (Winter et al. 2002). It is then good for the industry to ensure that they have improved on the quality of the product they offer and should not be necessary for accordance with what the competitors are offering. The Philippines is composed of 7641 islands.

It is known to have vibrant biodiversity and thus the main tourist attraction in the country. It has several monuments, mountains, beaches, and many other tourist attraction areas. It is therefore of importance that this country takes great care of these areas which are among the products offered to the tourists and also improve them and thus would have improved the quality of the product, the service, they deliver.

Price

Price can be referred to as the cost incurred in order to get a product or a service. It is the cost that a customer or a consumer has to incur for them to get a product or a service. In the tourism industry, it costs the tourists a cost to travel from their areas of work, residences and other places to move to the destinations they want as tourists. It is one of the common things or outcomes in tourism. When the tourism industry, as well as any other industry, plans to set prices for their products and services, it is of importance for them to consider different factors before doing it:-

Let them know the prices that their competitors have set for the same services or products before establishing their own prices.

Know the cost that you will incur before providing or rather offering the service to the tourist, consumer.

Are the consumers, in this case, the tourists willing to pay the price that you have set?

What are the objectives and goals that the industry has set?

Know the economic climate around your industry to be able to set realistic prices.

The tourism industry also looks at the peak periods or the non-peak periods when they are setting prices.

Place or the Location

This is the area your business is located. How accessible is the place by the potential customers? It is the responsibility of a tourist industry to come up with ways of accessing the location of their business as well as also how to leave the area. When a tourist finds it hard to locate a specific site of attraction, no matter how good it seems, they might opt not to visit the place ever again. Therefore, tourism industries should not only focus on the services inside the industry but rather should also know how easy one can access them and leave without being affected and finding it a bad experience. It earns an industry an extra credit when they can provide some maps; they can also give what we call estimate of travel time especially from some well know landmarks and many other things.

Promotion

Promotion is simple terms can be said to be the publicizing of a product, maybe a venture or even an organization in order to increase public awareness or even the sales. Promotion helps the customers, in this case, the tourists to decide whether they are going to visit your industry or not. It is essential that the industry especially a tourist attraction industry not to make some exaggerated claims as it would end up disappointing potential customers and you, industry, may as well lose their trust and them as your customers forever (Porananond & King, 2014). This is the reason as to why the Philippines tourism industry puts a lot of emphasis on the promotion part to ensure public awareness.

Market Identification

Marketing identification can also be referred to as market segmentation. It is the process of dividing the potential customers into different groups, or what is called the segments and this is done according to the characteristics of the customers. It makes it easier for marketers to be able to specialize and personalize their marketing campaigns. This also helps on saving on time used, money, as well as other resources used as all these, will be allocated to groups rather than to individuals and thus reducing the costs. Personalization by marketers also comes along with market segmentation especially when they see a specific group of customers is likely to buy a product than the other customers (Gooroochurn & Sugiyarto, 2005). They then try to put more focus on such customers and not the others. Tourism industries always make a huge mistake when they try to be everything to all the people who come by. This always puts the tourism industry under lots of risks as it is hard to create a market strategy that can be able to consider a mass market.

The Country Profile/ Destination Profile.

For a tourist industry or destination to be able to market itself well, they need to tell people where they get their resources from and how well they have been able to satisfy their customers. Describe all the activities and recreation facilities that your industry offers may it be the entertainment facilities, historical, cultural or even restaurants. Make sure to mention the quantity, quality as well as the availability of the things you have mentioned (Theobald, 2012). Give clear descriptions of all the areas you have specialized in and how it would be of benefit to your customers. For instance, as for the Philippines, they should mention all the monuments, mountains, beaches and any other tourist attraction areas they have and all the activities and services they offer to their customers.

Budget

A budget is a calculated and planned estimate of income and the expenditure for a given set of time. When the overall budget gets too high, it is then appropriate for the industry in question to check and change the set objectives and goals. As per 2019, Philippines tourism budget was proposed to be P3.39 billion. Every industry should ensure that the budget they come up with is very realistic (Spiller, 2014). Budgets are always meant to be so flexible, but again it is crucial that an industry learns to have personal discipline which enables them to adhere to it. Philippines’ tourism industry is an excellent example in this as it has been seen coming up with different budgets at different times in the years that has always enabled it to carry out its tourism activities smoothly as well as improve it.

Implementation

It is at this stage the things put in the marketing plan are implemented or put in practice. Many industries have been seen to fail due to poor execution of various strategies. Every industry should always strive to improve the likelihood of proper implementation. During the implementation, it is good to try as much as possible to adhere to the set budget and also to set some timelines and as well give deadlines for the same.

Evaluation

It is suitable for the tourism industry to monitor the progress always and be sure to evaluate it. Evaluation is the determination of the significance of something regarding some set standards and can see the worth. It is mainly carried out to be able to make some informed judgments. The tourist industry in the Philippines has always made some informed decisions based on their evaluations, and this has helped the industry be where it is today (Leung & Baloglu, 2013). At this stage, the results are always compared with the set objectives and also determining any need for change. This stage is critical as it helps in taking the appropriate measures in case of any deviation from the expected results.

Conclusion

The Philippines is one of the major visited areas in Southeast Asia. Therefore it should ensure that it has improved its marketing plan and also look at what they have done well and strive even to do much better. It can be summed up that customer satisfaction in tourism is mostly gauged by how well the service was delivered. It is therefore essential that the tourism industry improves the way of providing their services to be able to satisfy the customer needs and wants.

References

Aguda, L. A. E., Tamayo, M. R. B., & Barlan Jr, L. (2013). Effects of Heritage Tourism to the Municipality of Taal, Batangas, Philippines. Educational Research International, 2(1), 91-95.

Cochrane, J. (Ed.). (2007). Asian tourism: Growth and change. Routledge.

Gonzalez, V. V. (2013). Securing paradise: Tourism and militarism in Hawai’i and the Philippines. Duke University Press.

Goodall, B., & Ashworth, G. (2013). Marketing in the Tourism Industry (RLE Tourism): The promotion of destination regions. Routledge.

Gooroochurn, N., & Sugiyarto, G. (2005). Competitiveness indicators in the travel and tourism industry. Tourism Economics, 11(1), 25-43.

Leung, X. Y., & Baloglu, S. (2013). Tourism competitiveness of Asia Pacific destinations. Tourism Analysis, 18(4), 371-384.

Porananond, P., & King, V. T. (Eds.). (2014). Rethinking Asian Tourism: Culture, Encounters and Local Response. Cambridge Scholars Publishing.

Spiller, J. (2014). History of convention tourism. In Convention Tourism (pp. 27-44). Routledge.

Theobald, W. F. (Ed.). (2012). Global tourism. Routledge.

Winter, T., Teo, P., & Chang, T. C. (Eds.). (2002). Asia on tour: Exploring the rise of Asian tourism. Routledge.

The Pianist critical analysis

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The Pianist is a 2002 film based on war biographical drama. Roman Polanski directed the production of this film. The movie was a masterpiece that won several awards. It was based on the autobiographical book “The Pianist” written by the pianist and composer Wladyslaw Szpilman. The director coalesced several scenes that allured the audience into the timeline of the Holocaust. As a result, the movie was shot in several countries that participated in the war namely; France, Poland, the UK, and Germany creating the intended pictures. The scenes display the horrific nature of the war, which had deleterious outcomes on the survivors. The movie received global critical acclaim, many of the persons praising the director and lauding Brody’s performance as well as Harwood’s screenplay. This film won several awards, such as the best director, best-adapted screenplay, and best actor at the 75th academy awards. It is also included in the BBC’s Greatest films list (Prince, 2015).

The story is based on the autobiography of Szpilman. He was playing his piano live on the radio in Warsaw when the radio station was bombed by the Nazi Germans. The story focuses on the tremor and survival instincts of the main protagonist. At the time of the war, the German troops had advanced their war plans. Hitler was determined to eradicate the Jews from the face of the earth, and they were the primary victims of the war that lasted till 1945. After the attack on the radio station, Szpilman rushed home thrilled that Britain and France had declared war on Germany. He hoped that the war would last only briefly. Warsaw became entangled in the war between the Germans and the Soviet armies. Many lives were lost on both fronts. The Jews were the most affected in this war. They were killed, raped, experimented upon, and displaced from their homes. For a few months, Warsaw became part of the Nazi-controlled government.

Szpilman and his family were displaced from their home into the isolated Warsaw Ghetto. The conditions here were worse for everyone due to the scarcity of food and proper sanitation. There were heaps and heaps of dead bodies scattered everywhere. The Szpilmans witnessed the murder of an entire family. In August 1942, the Szpilmans are relocated to the Treblinka camp as part of Operation Reinhard. One of his friends in the Jewish Ghetto Police recognized him and separated him from his family. Things take a run of twisted events that see him learn how to survive the war. It was during this time that he learns of an upcoming Jewish revolt. Szpilman serves as an aide to the revolutionists by smuggling in weapons to them. During this mission, he narrowly escapes being noticed and captured by a suspicious guard. A non-Jewish sympathizer Bogucki and his wife facilitate his escape. Since he could not return to the camp, he becomes a passive participant in the revolt. He watches as the war manifests and his comrades are humbled by the Germans in a crushing defeat. A neighbor discovers that there is an intruder amongst them, which forced him to flee his ‘paradise’. He finds himself in a new hideout with a piano. However, his health worsens at this moment as symptoms of jaundice begin to slowly torment him but to avoid capture, he chooses to remain silent amidst the pain.

In August 1944, the Home Army attacks a German building a few blocks from Szpilman’s hideout. The raid becomes a threat to his safety, and therefore, once more, he is forced to flee. The raid flattens Warsaw leaving the victim in pursuit of food and proper shelter. On several occasions, he drinks dirty water to quench his thirst. Szpilman slowly adapts to the way of the early man in search of food. His hunting and gathering lead him to a house where he finds a can of pickled cucumbers. Unfortunately, while he tries to open the can, Szpilman is noticed by Wilm Hosenfeld, who identifies him as a pianist. The piano saved his life. Hosenfeld leads him to a grand piano and requests him to play it. Szpilman plays Chopin’s “Ballade in G minor” which thrills Hosenfeld and, as a result, chooses to supply him food. Their relationship would last a few months.

In January 1945, the Germans are losing the war and begin retreating. Hosenfeld and Szpilman meet for the last time, and Hosenfeld promises to listen to his music on the polish radio when the war is over. The two had become close, and Hosenfeld gives him his coat to keep warm. However, this would not come to pass since the Germans are defeated, and Hosenfeld is captured. Hosenfeld meets a friend of Szpilman, a violinist, who he begs to ask Szpilman to return the favor. Unfortunately, the happy ending is only for Szpilman while his friend dies while in Soviet captivity.

The story is a parallel experience of the director Roman Polanski. This partly elaborates why he chose to direct the film and also its success. The screenplay deviates from the hero narrative to survivor instincts. It is a film whose creativity was shaped by trauma. The film is practically a one-person story set within their surroundings. The protagonist experiences painful horrors of traumatic isolation, loss, suffering, and ultimate survival. Music is one of the themes of the film. Szpilman is a classical pianist. His piano skills convinced Hosenfeld to spare his life. Music is a powerful force capable of connecting people even during dark moments. The director was selective and used parallelism at the start and end of the narrative to show the significance of music (Stein, 2004).

The movie is set up in the war-torn area of Warsaw amidst the onset of the holocaustic experience. The characters wear old costumes that were typical at the time of war. The director chose to use different tones and moods, ranging from seriousness, dramatic, suspenseful, disturbing to moving ones. Tragedy and PTSD were predominant aftermaths of persons who made it through World War 2. All these victims of the war give stories about how the war affected their mental health (Waterhouse-Watson & Brown, 2015). Szpilman is steadfast to make it through the war despite the pain he went through. His will to survive was greatly tested when he managed to be the sole survivor in the abandoned hospital. At the Jewish Ghetto, the Szpilmans were starving, yet he refused to take up the opportunity to beat up fellow Jews for a few pennies and food. He chose a higher moral ground that he could live without regrets.

War brings the destruction of life and property. Most of the victims are permanently mentally affected. War brings out the worst in people. During this war, the Germans tortured and experimented on live human beings, something that the people of today would call terrorism. Nevertheless, the director did an excellent job of demonstrating the aforementioned themes. The screenplay earned its place among the greatest of all movies.

References

Prince, S. (2015). Movies and meaning. An introduction to film. Boston: Allyn.

Stein, A. (2004). Music and trauma in Polanski’s The pianist (2002) 1. The International Journal of Psychoanalysis, 85(3), 755-765.

Waterhouse-Watson, D., & Brown, A. (2015). Playing for their lives: music, musicians, and trauma in Holocaust film. Dapim: Studies on the Holocaust, 29(1), 1-16.

A Book Review In Understanding The Development And Social History Of Los Angeles

In the book Mildred pierce by James Cain I would give it grade B because it gives a better understanding of development of literature about los angels. in that it portrays the great depression when Mildred and her efforts to build a restaurant business made it vivid the twin pillars of los Angeles life of self possessed free-standing which los angels had more than any other American city. He portrays well the social history of Los Angeles, California and United States which comprised of small population of immigrants to draw for domestic work also these cities were made up of middle class and lower middle class components (Cain 89).

In Walter Mosley always outnumbered always out gunned, I would give it a grade A because, He describes Los Angeles in the 1950s turn the city character into novels. In understanding the social history of Los Angeles, South California and United States he shows perfectly how racial and social complexities took place in mid twentieth century, which really affected these cities. He is ample with the transplanted southern culture and how it came about.

In Yxta Maya Murray, Locas, I would give it grade E because the book doesn’t show clearly the forms of development that took place in Los Angeles it only shows a development of one’s life from one stage to another i.e. from gang bangers to saved people. It is freaking to many readers. It portrays Los Angeles, South California and United States’ culture and social history as one that had been dominated by gangs and how that culture has dominated the cities.

In Burd Schulberg’s ‘what makes Sammy run’ , I would give it a grade F because the book represents lack of ethics that the Hollywood film industry has created in its origin. It shows a unit in the American traditions that is shriveling that is the customs and traditions that were added over in the end of the 19th century (Marmer 149).

American history is known for certain signature triumphs. Anna Deavere Smith’s Twilight is a crucial exploration of what is arguably American culture’s signature tragedy: that whatever it is that one thinks makes the United States “great”, that thing exists side by side and in constant tension with our ongoing failure to address social injustice, economic inequality, and the clash of race, power, and privilege. For those who may not be familiar with Anna Deavere Smith’s w…morIn Anna Deavere Smith, Twilight, I would give it a grade B because it is an essential exploration of what arguably American culture’s signature tragedy is. That whatever it is that one thinks makes the United States “great”, that thing exists side by side and in perpetual tautness with our current failure to deal with social injustice, economic inequality, and clash of race power and privilege. It demonstrates how race is the most dogged dividing line among the Americans and how the whites is the los Angeles live their entire lives without having black neighborhoods like the south central(Plagens 126).

In Nathaniel west- the day of the locust I would give it a grade C because as much as it shows the development that took place in los Angeles in and Hollywood movies it only centers itself to fringe players in the movie industry. It depicts the cultural and social history of the United States, Los Angeles and south California as one that was centered on lesbianism, extra marital sex, prostitution, Hollywood excess and brutality of cockfights and mob violence.

In Karen Yamashita-Tropic of Orange I would give it a grade C because in this book it does not really show the developments that have taken place in Los Angeles the characters were flat may be because of “multiculturalism” in Los Angeles. But the exiting part of it is that it shows Los Angeles in the new millennium. It animates the American history through voices sounds and visions of magical characters in crux of Los Angeles. Also the characters are from different background ethnicities of which it portrays the Los Angeles history and culture well (Marmer 151).

In Christopher Ishe wood –a single man I would give it a grade A because it shows the struggle of which Los Angeles has undergone to develop through the gay man whom his partner has just died and his adjusting to life. One clearly understands the cultural and social history of Los Angeles, south California and United States when he brings out the modern gay literature in the community.

Conclusion

All in all these all books try to portray the developments that have taken place in Los Angeles and Hollywood in the olden times till present. They have also tried to picture out the cultural and social history of los angels, south California and United States.

Works Cited

Cain, James. Mildred Pierce. New York: vintage books, 1989.

Marmer, Nancy. Pop Art in California. New York: Pragear publishers, 1966.

Plagens, Peter. Sunshine Muse:Contemporary art on the west coast. New York: Paragear Publishers, 1974.

A Book Review of Energy Politics by Brenda Shaffer

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Energy Politics by Brenda Shaffer

Authored by Brenda Shaffer and published by the University of Pennsylvania Press in the year 2009, the book; Energy Politics offers any reader interested in energy and how it affects economies and international relations a lot of valuable information. The book tackles major areas that include: international relations, economic policies and their roles in energy trade, public policy and its relation to energy, political science and security as it relates to energy. Shaffer seeks to establish the inseparable link between politics, especially with regard to international politics, and energy. Admittedly, energy forms the basis of almost every activity in today’s life. Because of its vitality, having more energy resources becomes a mode of determining richness and security status of a country. Energy wealth is used to establish regional collaborations between states, at the same time; it intermittently sparks war between producers and consumers of energy or both groups in occasional instances.

In Energy Politics, Shaffer goes out of her way to explore unexplored fields in relation to energy. Confessedly, a lot of texts have been authored on the role of oil in international politics and security. Nonetheless, not many authors did explore natural gas and its role in influencing international politics before Shaffer. Shaffer reviews emerging issues like climatic implications of energy use and various resultant repercussions of energy and its politics on a global spectrum. She analyzes energy oriented conflicts and shows clarity of the various factors that interact to instigate them. Similarly, she reviews security related issues that emerge from production and consumption of energy. She does not stop at this point, but goes ahead to explore policies that would work wonderfully well in combating the controversial issues that arise from energy and related politics. She winds up her text by providing an insight into the modulus of interaction in six regions which are considerably the largest energy producers and consumers in the world.

Within 200 pages, and in an introduction, twelve chapters and a conclusion, Shaffer presents an insight into the ever increasing position of natural gas and its resultant connotation in the field of energy. She shows consistency in establishing major issues between all stake holders in energy politics; including producers of energy, consumers of energy and how the policies that govern their interplay are formulated. She does extensive research and responds to most of the questions that frequently arise in energy related politics. Additionally, she shows the role played by other states who only involve in the transit of energy from one region to another. Endowed with academic research and wonderful presentation skills, the book Energy Politics by Brenda Shaffer provides an outline that would act as a guide to academicians, politicians, economists and policy makers relating with the 21st century energy and politics related to it.

Shaffer’s introductory text covers the first eighteen pages of the book. By citing an example of the war in Iraq, she begins by the assertion that several governments and political leaders have inseparable interests in oil in particular and energy in general. She goes ahead to affirm that the link between energy and politics is central and admittedly inseparable. Possession and trade in energy is a basic determinant of nations’ economic status, environmental stability and national security. She gives a number of reasons for the existing nexus that links energy and politics. Energy is a key player in the establishment of local and foreign policies of trade in several nations. She points out that resource nationalism; where governments tend to nationalize even private companies is a common phenomenon in tight oil market situations for states that produce oil. She further posits that trade restrictions on oil exportation is almost never effective. This is because most of the exporting countries continue to export throughout, only with the consumers implementing these restrictions at times. Stating the use of energy weapon, she posits that the act of disconnecting energy supply by transit countries through which pipelines and other energy transfer infrastructure are located is common. She cites cases of Ukraine and Belarus denying Russia access to oil and gas through this process. Other than stating the vulnerability of the physical security of energy trade, she ascertains distinguishing development characteristics of energy exporting nations. Through a horst of several other factors, the text authenticates the inseparability of energy and politics in the modern world.

Under the title ‘Energy and regime type,’ chapter one of the book places much focus on oil exporting states. The impact of exportation of energy on each economy is given a keen review with clear distinctions of the responsibility performed by the state on the exportation circle. Major categories in the practice include energy producers and energy exporters. Energy exporters are further divided into exporters and major exporters depending on the percentage of gross domestic product contributed by energy exports to the state. From Shaffer’s point of view, due to the existence of constantly soaring and descending revenues from oil, economies of energy exporting countries tend to be relatively unstable. She posits that the general economic welfare of energy rich and exporting states is worse than that of energy poor states. The reasons given for this is the adoption of nationalistic tendencies and poor economic policies. Nonetheless, many of the states are trying to adopt a remedial trend by establishing oil revenue funds to help raise other economic sectors within the states. Most of major oil producers have illegitimate governments that are characterized by lack of democracy and dictatorship in rule. This is because they gain much of their resources from the natural resources and do not have to levy heavy funds on their citizens in order to remain operational.

Chapter two of the book majorly deals with the subject of foreign policy in the context of energy. All energy importing states tend to develop strategies that enhance security of their supply; this is done by assuring the exporting states of the provision of a stably available market for their export. At the same time, the exporting states tend to screw their national policies in directions that ensure them a continued supply of market. This chapter takes note that due to infrastructural advancement in energy network, better efficiency and improved modes of transfer prevent possibilities of energy cutoffs for energy importing states. Therefore, energy is seen to influence foreign relations and policies of all exporting, importing, and transit states. Many states seek to nationalize energy companies with the aim of taping in more of the gains made from energy trade. Nonetheless, Shaffer notes that after the nationalization, performance efficiency of such companies reduces due to decrease in technology and professional management. Consequently, energy production and subsequent profits from energy sales reduce tremendously. Most countries that nationalize energy companies also mention concerns of environmental issues as well as indigenous resource right endowment. A given example of a state that has commonly used such reasons to develop nationalization policies is Libya. Even though this policy may work well for the government locally and domestically, it is internationally unviable as it scares investors and potential international business partners in energy. This chapter also notes the fact that since the 1970s, natural gas has gained quite a large amount of share of the energy market. The volatility and susceptibility of issues relating to natural gas influencing politics are higher compared to other forms of energy. This is because infrastructural requirements for trading natural gas are quite costly. Due to this, most countries use infrastructure laid down by suppliers, or have single line infrastructures like pipelines. As such, various countries can easily manipulate systems to favor their politics and national policies.

In chapter three of the book, Shaffer handles the topic of Pipeline Trends and International Politics. Natural gas consumption has generally increased with time. Similarly, the amount of exported oil has also increased significantly. It is because of this reason that various pipelines have emerged as the available means by which transportation of both natural gas and oil is possible. A number of pipelines that play an important role in international relations are mentioned in this chapter. One of such examples is the Druzhba pipeline which aids in supply of natural gas and oil from Russia to the old Union of Soviet. In terms of trends of relation and international politics, Shaffer mentions that the presence of pipelines has led to the rise of new trends in the 21st century. The way various producers, distributors through pipelines and consumers interact leads to different political ramifications. There are situations where some pipelines do not move explicitly to the international markets, but to direct country markets, thereby establishing the direct link of a producer and a consumer. Political issues and trade policies between such countries tend to be friendlier compared to other countries not involved in energy trade through the pipelines. Similarly, various countries may make interruptions on pipeline supplies that go though their states because of trends, ideological or political differences. Pipeline creates a way through which some amount of states interdependency and cooperation must go on among the states involved in energy trade through pipelines. According to Shaffer, oil and natural gas pipelines form unparalleled infrastructural endowments that have both direct and indirect effect on laws. Local and international policies and various dimensions of local and international politics.

Chapter four of Shaffer’s text is on the topic of conflict. This chapter handles various perspectives of conflict that emanate from struggles over energy resources, supplies and markets. On a notable ground, Shaffer shows that despite no visible armed conflict over energy resources by states, she notes that cross border issues caused by poor delimitation on areas endowed with natural gas and other energy deposits spark controversy between nations. She reviews the proposition to solve conflict problems by the laying of peace pipelines; but reiterates that most of these projects are propositions existing in paper form without any implementation carried out. The reasons given for their not having been implemented include absence of peace and the costly nature of their requirements. A clear potential of no battle for control over energy resources in the Middle East is established between China and the United States. This arises from the fact that they compete for a limited number of resources, although they bear various similarities in ways of production. Conversely, others still argue that the United States and China face a potential position of conflict over the resources of energy, especially the large deposits of energy reserves that are not yet exploited. A case of regional conflict mentioned by Shaffer in chapter four is the conflict between China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan, Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan over the islands of Spratly and Paracel in the South China Sea. Shaffer posits that gas and oil can act as catalysts of conflict, especially in gas producing and exporting states. The reasons advanced for this claim is the presence of laxity in administration and corruption in leadership, which lessen security grip of the governments on their populations. She moves on to forward the argument that most unstable oil exporting countries are characterized by recurrent civil wars, and consistent threats of security even for legitimate governments. On the overall, Shaffer succeeds in proving that energy and practices related to energy are causes of current and potential conflicts. These are also influenced by countries’ political standpoints and international policies.

Chapter five of the book places focus on security; physical security and security of energy. The process of ensuring energy security is posed as being much dependent on a country’s ability to diversify on factors related to energy supply, energy sources, infrastructural layout for distribution of energy, and flexibility in the use of fuel. Different countries have divergent views on how energy security can be ensured for their development. For example, while the United States lays emphasis on a reliable supply of energy to ensure energy security, the European Union prioritizes factors related to cost and the fact that energy can be affordable, as well as considerations of environmental friendliness in energy policies of energy trade partners. A significant fact in security is that energy security plays along physical security. In countries where terrorism is rife and war is the order of the day, security of energy in terms of resources and infrastructure is as elusive as physical security in the same regions; a mention of examples include Iran. In Brenda Shaffer’s words, necessity of energy in a population is quite important. This is to extents that limitations to energy supplies like power black outs may cause extensive losses in activities as well as psychological effects. Because of the priority given to energy security, many governments have integrated energy laws and policies alongside their national security and policy issues. Nonetheless, Shaffer posits that the policies set by most governments and the bureaucratic procedures laid down in implementing them do not adequately address energy security. One of the strategies she identifies as effective in ensuring energy security is the storage of reserve fuel which she says, has served NATO member states well. She also notes that the International Energy Agency (IEA) contributes to energy security by ensuring its member states encourage practices that ensure clean, affordable and reliable distribution and use of energy. She finalizes by observing that the relationship between energy security and climate change cannot be ignored. It is because of this that most countries tend to initiate processes of using nuclear energy as a substitute to other forms.

The concerns on effects of various forms of energy on the environment may be the driving force behind chapter six of the book which centers on climate change. Shaffer opens this chapter by acknowledging the interconnectedness between policies formulated to govern issues of climate change, energy and environment. She mentions that the relationship between the environment and energy is one major issue with the requirement of constant attention and priority. Shaffer goes ahead to state that despite natural processes being responsible for portions of change in the climate, the role played by human activities on land surfaces and industrial actions is significant in climate change. Attempts to remediate conditions on climate change target the reduction of the extent to which humans depend on fossil fuels. Shaffer cites the common grounds taken by humans in various conferences, to help curb negative effects of energy consumption on the environment. Mentioned among these include the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol Framework. Noting that the concern and outcry for policies that would curb green house gases emission is high, Shaffer goes ahead to criticize the making of these policies as their implementation remains a great challenge to most governments. She closes the chapter by recognizing that a successful remediation to climate change will remain elusive for some time, and has several challenging factors that touch on sovereignty of states as well as international politics and policies.

The chapters that run from seven to twelve deliver various details on ongoing and predictable ways of relation, and interaction between the countries that lead in producing energy and those and those that lead in energy consumption. Shaffer highlights the state of energy in the major producers which include Russia, Iran and Saudi Arabia. Those identified within this chapter as leading consumers include; the European Union, China and the United States of America. Not only does Shaffer illustrate the interaction between these blocks, but she expands to show how the positions these groups hold as leading producers and consumers of energy, influence their interaction with the rest of the world and shape international politics and policies.

Besides being identified as number one energy exporter in the world, Russia is also marked as leading gas supplier to the EU and second in the world as an overall producer of energy. Since the EU depends largely on Russia for energy, it gets apprehensive about the possibility of facing various risks, of which Russia always offers reassurance over. Nonetheless, if the EU were to drop Russia as a supplier, Russia would still have access to and the United States as alternative markets.

As a long time world leading producer of oil, Saudi Arabia has maintained its supply of energy to the US. This factor has played key roles in policies of US towards the Middle East, ranging from provision of security to less critique of the human rights situations. A strain in the long-lasting corporation seems to have been sparked by the 9/11 attacks on the US. On other grounds, the use of position of dominance by Saudi in OPEC policies has also been visible but has developed a diminishing trend in the onset of the 21st century.Iran also falls among world energy leaders in terms of oil production and gas reserves and exportation. It however faces the paradox of importing more gas than exports despite such large reserve endowment. It also imports electricity. The state is highly dependent on energy for revenue but the energy field is characterized by nationalization, corruption, several international sanctions and bureaucratic processes. Trend analysis shows prediction possibilities of Iran ending up an oil importer with increased gas exports.

Due to lack of a common point of view in the EU, it is faced with the challenge of low bargaining power in its desire to increase importation of gas from Russia. Though it has made various efforts in an attempt to increase environment friendly use and storage of surplus energy, the EU still lags behind in achieving this because of the absence of unilateral policies in relation to energy production, distribution and consumption. This places the EU at a critical condition as projections place its energy imports at sixty percent by the year 2020.

Not only is the US the richest nation globally, it also leads in consumption of global energy. Although coal production is controversial with environmentalist policies, the US seconds this sector which serves for 50% production of its electricity. 20% of its electricity comes from nuclear energy which it leads in producing globally. Energy policies in the US and internationally tend to serve its local political interest with several monopolistic and control tendencies.

A review of China’s energy situation by Shaffer presents a nation characterized by energy inefficiency; depending heavily on coal, importing a lot of energy from the Middle East, and adopting policies that encourage increased foreign ownership of energy resources. Due to its overuse of coal for energy, China is noted for avoiding the Kyoto Protocol to remain in an unbinding position in relation to environment degradation controversy. It also faces several health and environmental problems as a result of this.

On the overall, Energy Politics by Brenda Shaffer offers a rich literature on energy and its global political role. Listing how energy interacts with conflict, security, administrative policies, infrastructure, and climate change, Shaffer travels across all world continents with an explorative and evaluative approach. She goes ahead to canvass the results of the interaction between humans and energy issues and particularly how this interaction affects or influences politics. Just as its name suggests, Shaffer’s work is a true representation of the world’s energy politics.

Bibliography

Shaffer, Brenda. Energy Politics. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2009.

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Topic: the picture of Dorian Gray.

The novel, written by Oscar Wilde, is about a young man Dorian Gray a subject of Basil Hallward; the artist found Dorian’s beauty to be a new mode for his artistic work. Dorian was a young man who viewed and idolized his self image that he sold his soul to ensure that the portrait that Basil drew of him would age rather than him (Wilde 1992).

The interesting things about this book are the extremes Dorian went in the name of preserving his image. It displays the sins and bad things he did, and how his portrait grew older as the number of hideous acts increased which is rather illusion.

The book offers moral knowledge through the revealing, if viewed metaphorically or if reflected to the society, the things people selfishly do to satisfy their own desires. The book also reveals ignorance and neglecting of personal responsibilities and blaming ones mistakes on other parties. The book is a psychological horror comic in the form of endless paradoxes.

The book has rich writing skills with interesting turn of events that are both a source of entertainment to the reader. At first after reading the book, one does not clearly understand what the book is about but with time you get to learn the moral importance of the text. In the end of the text, Dorian who feels guilty for all the evil self centred acts he has committed, he thinks through stabbing of the picture his sins will be gone only to die.

Through trying to hide or push away ones sins is not the way to deal with ones wrongs.

Wilde, O. (1992). The picture of Dorian Gray (1992 Modern Library ed.). New York: Modern Library.

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Death of A Salesman

The play ‘Death of A Salesman’ by Arthur Miller follows the lives of the Loman family made up of Willy, his wife Linda and their two sons Happy and Biff. Willy worked as a traveling salesman, but during the play, it is clear that he has lost his touch in the business and has become a failure at his job. However, he refuses to accept reality and keeps going on long trips, which yield nothing. Willy’s failure at work results in delusional episodes where he talks to himself and imaginary people only he can see. His two sons come home to visit and are astounded at the mental state of their father. Linda, Willy’s wife, is a long-suffering wife and mother who has stood by her husband despite his failures and unrealistic dreams (Thompson 53). The two couldn’t be more different. Willy is an impractical man who believes that personal attractiveness and being liked by people is the only way to succeed, while his wife is a realistic character who sacrifices her happiness for her husband and sons.

Willy is a delusional man stuck in the past and refusing to accept the reality of the present. When the play opens, he gets home from a failed business trip but cannot bring himself to acknowledge it. His wife Linda tries to tell him that he is too old to be traveling so much, but he does not listen to her. Instead, he tries to emphasize the important position he holds in his place of work by saying, “They don’t need me in New York. I’m the New England man. I’m vital in New England.” (Miller 4) This statement shows the reader just how out of touch Willy Loman is with reality. Linda, on the other hand, is a realistic woman. She tells Willy that at sixty years old, he is just too old to be traveling regularly. Willy brushes aside her concerns. When she tells him that his eyesight might be the reason for his bad driving, he gets upset at her. It is clear that the two are polar opposites with Willy ready to assign blame on anyone and everything but himself, while Linda tries to reason with him.

To further illustrate Willy’s sense of denial, he kept thinking of his son Biff’s past as a celebrated high school football player. In the play, both of Willy’s sons, Biff and Happy, are grown men who came back home to visit their parents. Willy is angry that at thirty-four years old, Biff is yet to make something of himself (Miller 6). Willy hoped that by that time his sons would have made a lot of money and had stable jobs. He reminisces on the boy’s time in high school and shows some regret that things turned out badly for his family. Linda tries to tell her husband to give the boys time to find themselves, but Willy will have none of it. He voices his disappointment in his grown sons with much bitterness. Linda is far more rational and accepts that their children are still trying to find their path (Zorn 223). She urges Willy to be more accommodating with them.

In contrast to his wife Linda, Willy spent a lot of time complaining. He would complain about his car, his sons, his boss, his neighbor Charlie among many other things. About his work, he tells Linda, “I’m very well liked in Hartford. You know, the trouble is, Linda, people don’t seem to take to me.” (Miller 23) He also regrets not going to Alaska with his brother Ben. Willy’s life is full of regrets and complaints instead of focusing on what he can do to make things right. He also refuses to accept help from his neighbor Charlie who offers him a job. Instead of being grateful, Willy is insulted by the offer. He should have taken it rather than keep asking Charlie for loans that he wouldn’t be able to pay back. Linda is the voice of reason in her household (Gale). She rarely ever complains but always encourages her husband that things will get better. For many years, she kept up with Willy’s unreasonable expectations at work and for his sons. It must have been a draining task, but she managed to do it without fail.

Willy and Linda are quite different in their sense of loyalty to each other and their family. Willy had an affair with a woman in earlier years, and during his delusions, he talks to her. His son Biff walked in on his father and his mistress, though Willy tried to brush it off, claiming the woman was a customer. Biff was not deceived by his father’s lie and that marked the beginning of a troubled relationship between them. Biff tells Linda that his father is a fake, “Because I know he’s a fake, and he doesn’t like anybody around who knows!” (Miller 42). Willy threw Biff out of the house because he knew about the affair. On the other hand, Linda is a devoted wife and mother, who does her best to keep her family together. She tells Willy to stop being angry at the boys. She also tells her sons not to be so hard on their father because he has many problems and has even contemplated suicide.

The one common factor between Willy and Linda’s characters is their love for their children. Willy had high expectations for his sons to live a good life. Despite his failure to instill the right values, his dreams for them can be considered a sign of love. Parents usually want the best for their children, and Willy was no different. The problem was that he lacked the right guidance and motivations on how to achieve the American Dream. According to him, all his boys needed were to be attractive and have other people like them. Biff and Happy grew into adults without specific goals in mind, and hence in the play, they are still struggling to find themselves. Biff blames his father, “And I never got anywhere because you blew me so full of hot air I could never stand taking orders from any- body! That’s whose fault it is!” (Miller 105) Linda loves her children as well and makes excuses for their lack of achievement in life. She tells Willy not to be so harsh on them but give them the chance to explore their path (Thompson 54). The two boys had hopes of opening up a business, and this greatly encourages their parents.

In conclusion, Willy Loman and his wife Linda are two very different people. In the play, Linda is a grounded and reasonable woman who has spent her life caring for her family. She has no dreams of her won; all she does in support her husband. Willy, on the other hand, loves to complain about how everything has conspired against him. He is angry, bitter, and disappointed with his work and his sons. He is a disloyal man who betrayed the wife and sons who loved him by having an affair outside his marriage. His betrayal is what drove a wedge between him and his son Biff. At the end of the play, Willy commits suicide and leaves his wife and sons ‘free and clear’.

Works Cited

Gale, Cengage Learning. A Study Guide for Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman. Gale, Cengage Learning, 2015.

Miller, Arthur. Death of a Salesman: Revised Edition. Penguin, 1996.

Thompson, Terry W. “The Baggage Handlers: Arthur Miller’s DEATH OF A SALESMAN.” The Explicator 75.1 (2017): 52-54.

Zorn, Theodore E. “Willy Loman’s lesson: Teaching identity management with Death of a Salesman.” Communication Education 40.2 (1991): 219-224.

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A Book Review of Mastering Self-Leadership: Empowering Yourself for Personal Excellence

Authored by Chris Neck and Charles Manz and published by Pearson Education, Limited, the book Mastering Self-Leadership: Empowering Yourself for Personal Excellence presents itself as one of the most powerful guides to self-improvement for the purpose of enhancing one’s leadership capabilities. As commented by the authors, this is an offer of an awakening process that begins at an individual’s personal level. It presents the true belief that individuals capable of managing themselves in the best way stand better chances in managing others through leadership skills. In sum, it offers a comprehensive collection of tools and skills that truly empower an individual to personal excellence, brilliance, and perfection of leadership at personal and group levels.

It is worth noting that Chris and Charles approach the issue of leadership mush objectively. In their approach, they offer real-life and existent examples of ways to apply leadership skills and horn them to produce the best of them. Further, it is adequately considerable that the vast of these samples draw from across different professions and societal fields in which leadership skills are found and applied. To this extent, they cover active, passive, and other forms of leadership in the corporate world and other entrepreneurial fields. It is also evident that this book contains a collection of research provisions which add to its credibility. Borrowing largely from scholarly sources offered by renowned authores it endeavours to cultivate improved emotional intelligence, the application of social responsibility, and a broadly improved leadership skill in the overall.

In its presentation, the book journeys through ten chapters and two other sections named as Some Additional Thoughts and an Epilogue. The first three chapters form the foundation of the book. They lay the ground upon which the book gets written. Their titles include: The Journey, Mapping the Route or We Do Choose, and Rough Road, Detours, and Roadblocks or Leading Ourselves to do Necessary but Unattractive Tasks. In the first chapter, they define leadership, establish the sources from which it is pulled and end by establishing the fact that we all engage in individual leadership by leading ourselves. Thus, the book emphasizes on the relevance and need for self-leadership. This is followed by a peer into the factors we must consider when when choosing the paths of leadership to take. In this, the authors outline both external and internal; personal factors involved in the choice of leadership. Chapter three establishes the strategies relevant for enhancing self-leadership. In these, the ability to apply self-generated strategies is contrasted with existent world strategies to settle on the best interpretations of an individual’s scores.

The next four chapters cultivate the take-off in one’s journey to self-leadership and apply them its application in team leadership. Overviewing the relevance of natural rewards, activities relating to natural power, and the way to enhance this, the book goes ahead to kick of the psychological journey that establishes the power in the mind in preparation for a take-off to the thinking-travel that sums leadership. The whole of these directions on thinking get summed up in two chapters that establish thinking as a central tool to establishing and enhancing personal and team leadership abilities. To sum up this part of the book, the authors conjoin various mental aspects, balancing, and self-leadership tools to achieve a greater team leadership.

Considerations towards achieving the greatest outcomes in self-leadership are probably found in the last chapter of the book which runs from chapter eight to ten. The beginning of these chapters is characterised by real-life examples that make learning self-leadership even easier. Using various tale perspectives; the authors sum up the book in the last chapter which is named The Journey Completed. This is purely based on thoughts of Personal Effectiveness where the authors finally outline it as the greatest tool of achieving self and team leadership.

Considerably, the concepts presented in this book actually achieve the essence of the purpose for which the book is written. Mastering Self-Leadership: Empowering Yourself for Personal Excellence: may seem an easy goal to achieve. However, it is only after one reads the text that they realize the authors took time and did incisive research on the real issues that determine how self and team leadership is controlled and propelled. The concepts presented in the book are quite useful: they awaken ones hidden self, reminds individuals of their secret leadership abilities, and equips them with real tools to improve where they have limitations.

Perhaps, the fact that the book is a collection of information from varied resources makes it one of the strongest in its field. Added to this strength is the fact that it still applies psychological, psychosocial, and other effective tools in applying its concepts, Further still is the fact that varied professional and societal perspectives get considered in its applications. Examples of these include leadership in academics, corporations, other businesses, and administrative units.

Substantially, the book altered my way of thinking in various approaches. One of such is the understanding of the application of integrative frameworks in applying self-leadership growth and development. This would entail integrating the environment, individual abilities, and skills from other individuals in achieving self and team leadership.

Work Cited

Neck, Christopher P, and Charles C Manz. Mastering Self-Leadership. 1st ed. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2010. Print.

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A Book Review/Report of Triangle: The Fire that Changed America by Daveid, Von Drehle

Authored by Daveid Von Drehle and published by Grove Press in the year 2004, Triangle: The Fire that Changed America offers a recount and reevaluation of one of the deadliest and most damaging fires in the history of New York occurring on the 25th of March 1911. In the setting of its context, Drehle presents the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire an avoidable disaster that probably came because of negligence.

In the months and years preceding this fire, Drehle indicates the existence of the belief good life could only be found in America, this was the American dream that saw many wives of the Jewish and Italians migrate to America, only to find out that they had to work for this. At the same time, shirtwaist business was booming, and Triangle was one of the largest producers. Yet the working conditions had been unfavorable, and obsession with controlling theft and workers led the factory owners into ordering that one of the two major exits be locked. Nonetheless, the trial and inquest did not prove all this. Drehle recounts as the fire started on eighth floor while most of the workers worked on ninth floor. As for the case of the owners of the factory, they were alerted via a phone call in their tenth floor office from where they proceeded to jump to adjacent rooftops. A total of 123 women and 23 men died, making the whole death toll come to 146.

After the fire, there was the aftermath of the event. Drehle indicates that it is only then that America realized the way employers unequally related to employees. So, 2, 000 sweatshop factories had to be inspected by a commission step by step. In the end came rules about minimum wage standards, and working hours. Occupational health safety was given an important consideration and a total of thirty labor laws came into existence.

The book is quite comprehensive and organized, with all events in the pre, during, and post fire period organized sequentially. Drehle outstandingly notes that previous protests and demonstrations had occurred in an attempt to change the oppressive work conditions, yet no one took notice of these. Instead, factory owners like Blanc saw this as interference in private business. The common belief then was that the owners owned the business and so was the right to dictate conditions of work at the factories. To this extent, it had to cost 146 lives for changes demanded for decades to be implemented. Recounting the massive shirtwaist workers’ strike brings the reality of the fact that these changes were truly due and the fire was just an awakening call.

Considerably, Triangle: The Fire that Changed America by Drehle remains one of the most outstanding presentations on the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire. This text moves step by step and enlists the most notable characters as they participated in the events leading up to the fire and those after the fire. It not only lists the major events in this industry and fire history but also does an incisive analysis of the interplay of various factors at the time of work. Considering the sorrowful and sad nature of the death of the workers, Drehle embodies their death as the starting point of and for transformations. Ultimately, inquiries and trials culminate into various legal implications. Further to these are numerous political transformations and changes in civil and urban liberalism. Quintessentially, it truly serves its topic, Triangle: The Fire that Changed America.

Work Cited

Drehle, Daveid Von. Triangle: The Fire that Changed America. New York: Grove Press, 2004. Print.

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The performance artists Guillermo Gomez and Coco Fusco for two years have traveled through the world, performing the couple in the cage tour. They presented themselves as the unexposed Amerindians from an island in the Gulf of Mexico that had for five centuries been unnoticed by the rest of the world. The two voyaged through numerous western cities, calling their homeland Guatinau and them the Guatinauis. From watching the television to the sewing of the voodoo dolls, the couple performed traditional tasks while being displayed in the cage. They even made a spectacle out of it, placing a donation box outside the cage and offering to do various performances for free. The female Guatanaui would perform a traditional dance, and the male would tell conventional stories in a made up language. The two would also pose with visitors. Security guards stood next to the cage, and their primary job was to answer the questions asked by the visitors and as well as feeding the couple and taking them to the bathroom on leashes. Everything that the couple did was too palpably theatrical. The couple had their skulls measured, they were fed on bananas and were deemed as being a specimen. The reason behind is that all these were a characteristic specimen of the monkeys at a zoo being enclosed in a cage.

The documentary served to scrutinize the audiences’ responses to the particular display that was exhibited by the couple. What was so surprising was that a considerable portion of the audience believed in the authenticity of the couple. The intent was to create a commentary to which exaggerates the western perceptions of a primitive and a primordial other for a satirical and comedic edge, but it led to the realization of how prominent racist beliefs are in our postcolonial society. The documentary serves as an indirect proof that the colonial ideas, that compromise the notions of the non-westerns, still have penetration to the world to which we lived today. It is in fact that the ideas tie back to those of N’gugi, of how orature is consistently underplayed today because its origin and development took place in the colonized, or more primitive lands.

Another intriguing aspect was the incorporation of the discussion of morality, and the human beings were quite merely treating the other human people as exotic curiosities. There seemed to be a complete disregard for the notion on that they too were human beings, being of the same species, a similar body as well as a similar brain. It quite plainly serves to illuminate the underlying arrogance to which seemed to paralyze the people’s ability to question, analyze and to evaluate. The documentary also helps to challenge the conventional notions of performance to which revolves around line memorization as well as the rehearsed body movements and a stage in the auditorium. The kind of performance in the documentary was all the more potent for me as merely being in a particular location at a specific time, performing specific behaviors that were not rehearsed for a stage. It propelled the audience into a field similar to an auditorium or a theatre possibly even a more evocative one, while at the same time challenging them to rethink their roles in the society. Moreover, the audience hasn’t the slightest clue that what they are watching is indeed a performance, unlike in a theatre, making it all the more an intriguing experience to watch their responses as a third party.

The experiment resulted in a point that only a few individuals saw the display and the reason behind is that it was believable, the message that was supposed to be to be satirical in commentary did not translate well through the audience. It is true that when people are at the museum, they tend to think that whatever they are going to see is a fact and therefore turn off all the observational skepticism and automatically take whatever they see as being a fact. It did not result in massive fame for the couple nor did it become a staple in the modern American art. It was successful in being a satirical commentary and proved that people believe what they are told without the utilization of any rational thinking, especially when whatever is being said is confirmed by an expert.

In overall, the act did trigger a response, whether awe, sympathy or even outrage from the audience. It is however that the message to which the group was trying to convey, precisely the idea that it is a satirical message about conquering land and claiming it as your own, did not filter through the entire audience, to which resulted in some people believing to what they saw. The couple in the cage would undoubtedly satisfy the requirements of being considered art in the public interest piece because it took an issue affecting the society and manipulated it into an art form for the general public. However, there are two main reasons as to why the exhibition should be not be considered as an art. The first reason is that a majority of the people being the audience did not understand the message that was trying to be conveyed by the couple. Gomez-Pena and Fusco are preaching that conquering another area where there are already people is inhumane, drawing parallels between the discovery of America and being caged for display. There was no apparent connection to the audience took the exhibit at face value and didn’t understand the actual message. The second reason is that the premise is based on lies. There is no such island, and the couple dressed up to trick the audience. If the message were more explicit, then the people would not be fooled as easily, and therefore it could be considered as an art.

Reference

Fusco, C., & Heredia, P. (1993). The Couple in the Cage: A Guatinaui Odyssey; a Video. Third World Newsreel.