Supply Chain Risk Management

Supply Chain Risk Management Introduction Risk is one of the concepts that continuously attract the attention of business administrators and scholars. This paper is aimed at discussing this notion within the context of supply chain management. In particular, it is necessary to examine the theories and models that can be used to manage risks and increase organizational resilience to internal and external threats. This report will consist of several sections.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Supply Chain Risk Management specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More First, one should provide the definitions of main concepts such as internal and external risk. Furthermore, this paper will include a review of research articles that can be used to identify different theoretical frameworks or models of supply chain risk management. Overall, one can say that the current research is oriented toward two aspects of risks, namely probability and impact on the sustainabi lity. It should be noted that existing approaches to supply chain risk management cannot be universally applied. As a rule, they were designed to respond to the problems faced by certain types of companies or industries. This is one of the limitations that should be considered. Definitions of the main concepts Overall, the notion of risk can be interpreted as the possibility of loss, hazard, or any other undesirable event. However, researchers, who examine this term from an organizational perspective, describe it as a â€Å"variation in the distribution of possible outcomes, their likelihoods, and their subjective values† (Christopher Peck 2004, p. 4). Therefore, risk is closely connected with the deviation from the established norm. It should be noted that there are two types of risks, namely internal and external. Internal risks take their origins in the inside operations of an organization, in particular, the decisions of the management, structure, RD policies, planning, and so forth (Lin Zhou 2011, p. 164). Each of these aspects lies within the scope of managerial responsibilities. This is one of the details that should be considered. In turn, external risks can be attributed to the factors cannot be controlled or eliminated by the management. For example, one can speak about such threats as natural disasters, political upheavals, or technological catastrophes that can produce detrimental effects on a company. Additionally, it is important to examine such a concept as supply chain management (SCM). Certainly, one can offer several definitions of this term. Yet, researchers usually describe it as the way to control the flow of goods from the suppliers of raw materials to the end users of a product (Sinha, Whitman Malzahn 2004, p. 154). This term is important for understanding the questions that will be discussed.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Le arn More Overall, supply chain risk management (SCRM) can be described as a set of activities that are aimed at identifying various risks and minimizing their probability or influence on an organization. To a great extent, it is a set of activities that are supposed to make a company less vulnerable or susceptible to various threats. For example, the development of a contingency plan is one of the activities included in SCRM. This plan is supposed to give step-by-step instructions that should be carried out provided that a certain event takes place (Christopher Peck 2004). In particular, many companies develop contingency plans to reduce the impact of disruptions. This is one of the possible problems that should be addressed. There are different types of supply chain risks, for instance, one can mention delays, disruptions, forecast risks, procurement risk, the failure to collect receivables, and many other threats (Chopra Sodhi 2004, p. 54). These risks can be attributed to be internal and external factors. These are the main details that can be identified. Literature review It is possible to single out various sources that can throw light on different theories and models that can be helpful for identifying, assessing, or mitigating supply chain risks. On the whole, one can argue that various authors do not always explicitly identify a theory or model that they follow while conducting their research. Yet, it is possible to understand what kind of frameworks they rely on. For example, it is possible to discuss the article written by Martin Christopher and Helen Peck (2004) who discuss the methods of constructing a resilient supply chain. The authors focus on the strategies adopted in various industries such as food retailing, automotive manufacturing, food packaging, and so forth (Christopher Peck 2004, p. 2).The scholars attempt to answer several research questions. First, they try to determine how organizations can reduce the impact of external th reats on their business processes (Christopher Peck 2004, p. 1). Secondly, researchers want to reduce the costs associated with SCRM. These scholars attempt to develop a model of a resilient supply chain. To a great extent, it is based on the contingency theory according to which the management should concentrate on the environment in which the business operates. This theoretical framework implies that one cannot fully eliminate the probability of a certain risk. However, business administrators can develop strategies that can help a company withstand the influence of these environmental factors. This approach can be distinguished because it can enable an organization to remain sustainable at the time of crisis.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Supply Chain Risk Management specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In their article, Omera Khan and Marting Christopher (2008) discuss the relevance of product design to SCRM. Th ey study this question within the context of such industries as fashion retail and clothing manufacturing (Khan Christopher 2008, p. 412). These authors show how companies can improve their SCRM by viewing design as a component of supply chain. Moreover, they demonstrate how this partnership can be established. These are the main questions that these researchers examine. One of their arguments is that designers and suppliers should closely interact with one another in order to reduce the probability of supply chain risks (Khan Christopher 2008, p. 418). This study illustrates the application of the stakeholder theory which is used for the management of risks. According to this approach, the stakeholders, who may have various interests, can represent the supply chain. More importantly, different problems can be addressed or avoided if various participants are able to cooperate with one another in order to resolve conflicts and misunderstandings. This is the main principles that sho uld be followed. This framework should be disregarded because in many cases, supply chain problems can be attributed to miscommunication or lack of coordination. It can be a valuable tool for reducing the probability of risk. The importance of design is examined Yong Lin and Li Zhou (2011). In particular, these scholars explore the impact of changes in design on various supply chain risks (Lin Zhou, 2011, p. 162). They look at the way in which this issue manifests itself in the special-purpose vehicle industry. There are several questions which these researchers discuss. First, they try to determine whether a certain risks can occur due to design changes requested by clients (Lin Zhou, 2011, p. 164). Secondly, they focus on the impact of such requests on the functioning of the supply chain. Overall, their findings suggest that such changes in design often lead to external and internal supply chain risks that can be related to production process or delivery of goods to clients. Thi s study is also based on the stakeholder theory of risk. Additionally, it is possible to review the article written by Sunil Chopra and ManMohan Sodhi (2004) who study the ways of avoiding supply-chain breakdowns. These scholars discuss a variety of supply chain risks to which a business can be exposed. Overall, they do not test a certain hypothesis or answer research questions. Instead, they survey a set of methods that can mitigate various risks. One can say these scholars present a model of a resilient supply chain that is able to withstand the impact of environmental factors. Such an approach is useful for reducing the impact or risks.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More One can also speak about the work of Pankai Sinha, Larry Whitman, and Don Malzahn (2004). These researchers strive to develop techniques for the mitigation of risks that can affect the supply chain in the aerospace industry. They scholars do not discuss a specific research question or a hypothesis. They are more interested in identifying techniques which enable the managers to reduce the probability and impact of risks. This article illustrates the so-called IDEFO model of managing risk (Sinha, Whitman, Malzahn 2004, p. 166). The model is premised on the idea that supply chain managers should be ready for the worst-case scenarios. By relying on stress testing, they can identify the strengths and weaknesses of the organization. Furthermore, these professionals should adopt the policy of continuous improvement (Sinha, Whitman, Malzahn 2004, p. 166). This model can be singled out because it is a useful technique for evaluating the resilience of the supply chain. The article written b y Steen Christiansen and Jesper Jensen (2009) is also worth attention because it illustrates the application of such a model as the fishbone diagram as a method of improving the work of the supply chain. This study is aimed at discussing packaging performance qualification (Christiansen Jensen 2009, p. 77). In particular, the scholars want to determine â€Å"the minimum performance qualification batch size for assembly and packaging processes† (Christiansen Jensen 2009, p. 77). These processes can be viewed as important elements of the supply chain. The writers show how a fishbone diagram can be used to identify the causes of various problems or variations in the functioning of the supply chain (Christiansen Jensen 2009, p. 83). This model is helpful for understanding the pinpointing the weaknesses in the supply chain. This is why it should not be overlooked. This use of this model is also described in the article by Angela Tidwell and Scott Sutterfield (2012). The main go al of their study is to discuss the selection of suppliers with the help of such a tool as Quality Function Deployment (2012, p. 284). They researchers focus on the needs of businesses that are engaged in toothpaste packaging (Tidwell Sutterfield 2012, p. 284). The main task is to exemplify the common challenges that companies face when choosing among various suppliers. These authors also illustrate the application of the fishbone diagram. Apart from that, it is possible to look at the article written by Craig Carter and Dale Rogers (2008). To some degree, it can throw light on the use of resource dependence theory. These authors carry out a survey of scholarly articles illustrating theoretical perspectives on the causes of supply chain risks and ways of mitigating them. In this way, they attempt to single out the most relevant approaches to SCRM. For instance, large manufacturers prefer vertical integration. In other words, they prefer to take complete control of their suppliers ( Carter Rogers 2008, p. 272). This strategy is consistent with the principles of resource dependence theory according to which organizations strive to maximize their control of resources such as labor, technologies or raw materials (Carter Rogers 2008). In turn, vertical integration of the supply chain is a way of reducing the probability of risk. Overall, this perspective is useful for explaining the long-term strategies of large manufacturers. Furthermore, one can look the article written by Anthony Paulrai and Chen Injaazz (2011). These authors discuss such a phenomenon as environmental uncertainty and its impact on SCM of various businesses. They want to show how organizations try to become more self-sufficient and reduce the threats to its supply chain. This is the main research question that they focus on. In their opinion, the main trend in SCRM is the integration of supply partners (Paulrai Injaazz 2011, p. 37). This study is also based on the use of resource dependence th eory. The peculiarities of vertical integration are examined in the study carried out by Wei Guan and Jacob (2012). These researchers examine the use of this approach by timber manufacturers (Guan Rehme 2012). The scholars intend to understand the factors that prompt various businesses to adopt this approach. This is the main issue that they are interested in. Overall, timber manufacturers focus on vertical integration because it is critical for responding to the needs of clients (Guan Rehme 2012). In order to do it, they need to make sure that suppliers are effectively managed. So, this way of removing risks takes its origins in the resource dependency theory. These are the most important aspects that can be identified in these articles. Conclusion This analysis indicates that there are different models of supply chain risk management, and each of them has its strengths and weaknesses. First of all, one can say that some of the existing models and theories are mostly aimed at imp roving organizational capacity to respond to risks or threats. For instance, a contingency theory of risk implies that a company should be ready to respond to the changes in external environment. Therefore, their main purpose is to mitigate the impact of risks. In turn, other frameworks show how the probability of risks can be reduced. It seems that an organization should combine these approaches in order to become more effective. However, one should critically evaluate the applicability of different models and theories. Many of them have been tested only within the context of some specific industries or organizations. These are the main arguments that can be put forward. References Carter, C. Rogers, D 2008, ‘A framework of sustainable supply chain management: moving toward new theory’, International Journal of Physical Distribution Logistics Management, vol. 38, no. 5, pp. 360-387. Chopra, S Sodhi, M 2004, ‘Managing Risk To Avoid Supply-Chain Breakdownâ€℠¢, MIT Sloan Management Review, vol. 46, no. 1, pp. 53-61. Christiansen, S.H. Jensen, J.B.T. 2009, Packaging Performance Qualification-A Risk-Based Approach, Journal of Validation Technology, vol. 15, no. 2, pp. 77-85. Christopher, M Peck, H 2004, ‘Building the resilient supply chain’, International Journal of Logistics Management, vol. 15, no. 2, pp. 1-13. Guan, W. Rehme, J. 2012, ‘Vertical integration in supply chains: driving forces and consequences for a manufacturers downstream integration’, Supply Chain Management, vol. 17, no. 2, pp. 187-201. Khan, O Kristopher, M 2008, ‘The impact of product design on supply chain risk: a case study’, International Journal of Physical Distribution Logistics Management, vol. 38, no. 5, pp. 412-432. Lin, Y Zhou, L 2011, ‘The impacts of product design changes on supply chain risk: a case study’, International Journal of Physical Distribution Logistics Management, vol. 41, no. 2, pp. 162 -186. Paulraj, A. Chen, I.J. 2007, Environmental Uncertainty and Strategic Supply Management: A Resource Dependence Perspective and Performance Implications, Journal of Supply Chain Management, vol. 43, no. 3, pp. 29-42. Sinha, P., Whitman, L., Malzahn, D 2004, ‘Methodology to mitigate supplier risk in an aerospace supply chain’, Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 154-168. Tidwell, A. Sutterfield, S 2012, Supplier selection using QFD: a consumer products case study, The International Journal of Quality Reliability Management, vol. 29, no. 3, pp. 284-294.

Art Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Art - Essay Example This â€Å"something that can be conceived but not seen nor made visible† is often referred to as the sublime, a quality of transcendent greatness â€Å"with which nothing else can be compared and which is beyond all possibility of calculation, measurement or imitation† (Wikipedia, 2006). The presence of this sublime element, then, inspires the imagination in a specific direction based on which elements remain visible or understandable. Its significance is in the way in which it brings attention to the uncertainty of meaning inherent in the work, such that no resolution makes itself apparent. To understand how emotions or the sublime can be communicated through visual art, the work of modern artists Marcel Duchamp, with his â€Å"Nude Descending a Staircase #2†, and Amedeo Modigliani, with â€Å"Head of a Woman†, will be compared in terms of their materials, subject matter, content, composition, color and impacts of context or the time period in which they were produced. In terms of materials, both works of art are oil paintings placed on stretched canvas. Thus, they each represent a two-dimensional surface with little room for actual depth or movement. Although numerous means had been devised to create the illusion of depth in flat surfaces such as this, neither artist makes much use of these devices, instead allowing their backgrounds to remain relatively dark and formless. There are hints, however, at some form of space created in each. In Duchamp’s painting, for example, there is a hint of the stairway mentioned in the title in the bottom left corner offset by a somewhat smoother, flatter surface in the upper right corner. Because of the juxtaposition with the figure in the center, this latter surface seems to fall back, providing a shallow space within the painting. Modigliani also provides some sense of depth in his painting with unidentifiable dark-colored spaces to the right of the

Expansion of Airport and Health Issues Case Study

Expansion of Airport and Health Issues - Case Study Example Air emissions are generally defined as "The release of pollutants into the atmosphere from stationary sources and vehicles" (Business Dictionary). This indicates that the multi-source context should include air emissions from the expansion of the airport, the existing airport, local industries, homes, and vehicular exhaust. In order to be in the proper context it must also consider other exposure risks of asthma within the communities of concern. The Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology reports these risks to include animal dander, pollen, cigarette smoke, weather changes, scented products, food products, medications and emotional stress to name a few (Topic; January 2007). It is my belief that the airport acted properly by responding to concerns that the citizens put forth. The Federal Aviation Administration order titled Prevention, Control and Abatement of Environmental Pollution at FAA Facilities specifically requires the establishment of policies pertaining to environmental pollution at all of its facilities (1). These concerns are required to be addressed according to the National Environmental Policy Act: Implementing Instructions for Airport Projects at a very early stage and must be prepared to address the concerns of the community to avoid just such a conflict (Chapter 5). It is my belief that the proper multi-source context was established by the airport. That context requires them to include the air emissions of the existing airport to allow them to establish the risk of exposure due to the expansion. However, to consider the exposure risks of the existing airport as part of the exposure risks of the expansion is out of context. In this case it appears that the proper context has not been clearly defined and established between the concerned parties. The citizen groups maintain that their source of asthma is attributed solely to the air emissions as a result of the operations of the airport, and have thus failed to approach to problem in proper context. Clearly the citizen groups will benefit from the expertise of health care and risk professionals for help with their concerns. It is commonly accepted that citizens expect experts and officials to get involved in making decisions that affect communities; they do not think they should be left to the desires of corporate decisions without proper investigation and monitoring by local and national agencies designed to protect them. For this reason it is important that the airport planning staff recruit expert help from both local and national levels. The Framework for Environmental Health Risk Management (FEHRM) indicates that the inclusion of experts in environment, health, risk management, regulatory agencies and related industries allows for collaboration toward an acceptable conclusion for all concerned (17). The FEHRM goes on to report that collaboration of this nature is necessary to engage, interpret and deal with the variety of perspectives that each stakeholder brings to the table (17). The FEHRM clearly states that identification of problems and stakeholder involvement should occur in synchronicity early in the process and continue throughout the stages of developing a risk management assessment (13). The FERHM clearly states recommended guidelines for stakeholder invol

Is it better to use GDP per Essay Example for Free

Is it better to use GDP per Essay Many numbers could be calculated to make a judgment on an economy. But we need a general number that measures the total economys strength, but is it better to use the cruel GDP number to measure the level of growth of a particular economy, or calculate the GDP per head number to get a better judgment? On March 13th under the title of Grossly distorted picture in the Journal The Economist an article talked about that issue and compared between the two measures with evidences and examples. The writers opinion The writer tries to grab our attention to the fact that maybe using the total GDP does not show the real state of the economy, but a better way to measure the economy is the GDP per head which the writer is considering it a rough guide to average living standards. (GDP, 2008). So, according to the writer (2008) opinion the amount of total GDP doesnt necessarily indicates to the real growth of the economy, even sometimes the level of economic growth in a particular country could be higher than another country that has a higher GDP number because of the lower level of growth in population. The writer (2008) in this article demonstrates two obvious examples which they are America and Japan, while the US economy made a growth of 2. 9% Japans economy made a growth of 2. 1%, so most people would say immediately that the US economy scored better but we must consider also the level of population growth, while the GDP per head growth in US was 1. 9% it scored 2. 1% in Japan, higher domestic increase in population and a very high level of new people come from abroad cause a 1% growth in population, but in Japan the GDP per head growth reached the level of 2. 1% because Japans population has been decreasing. (GDP, 2008). Shortcomings Anonymous (2008) also gives other example of how using GDP per head tells a completely different story than using the GDP, as using the GDP growth doesnt necessarily provide the right image of a countrys welfare, but population growth must be regarded too. The writer (2008) provides examples like Brazil which has been in a fast growing economy, but for the last fast year the GDP per head increase by only 2. 3% because of the high growth of population, and the writers (2008) gives the opposite example which is Russia who has a GDP growth near the level of Brazil, but yet still the GDP per head tripled for Russia because population rapidly decrease. In general, the GDP is a tricky measure but GDP per head provides a clearer image according to what the writer (2008) say. Should recession be redefined? the standard definition of a recession—a decline in real GDP over some period . (GDP, 2008). But, should this definition still be used? The writer (2008) disagrees with that as recession doesnt necessarily mean an actual decrease in GDP but simply a decrease in GDP per head, and for example he imagines that in Japan where the population is decreasing if the GDP growth was 0% the GDP per head will increase, but in America the GDP per head growth will be considered dropping over the past couple of months because the population growth exceeded the GDP growth, so the writer (2008) suggests that the right definition of recession should be a fall in average income per Person. Conclusion The writer (2008) suggests GDP per head not just for the fact the GDP per head considers the growth of population, but he thinks that using GDP per head can boost up economies. By giving Japan as an example the writer (2008) recommends that government announces GDP per head which is increasing because of decreasing population instead of disappointing GDP number, this will make people optimistic and make them consume more and economy gains. References Grossly distorted picture. (2008, March 13). Retrieved April 6, 2008, from http://media. economist. com/finance/displaystory. cfm? story_id=10852462

Female Genital Mutilation in Islam Essay -- Argumentative Persuasive T

Female Genital Mutilation in Islam      Ã‚   Female circumcision is a practice not uncommon in Muslim society.   Although this practice does not only occur within Muslim society, this paper will focus on the practices that do occur within Islamic society.   The Islamic countries with the most prevalence in practicing this form of genital mutilation are Sudan (98%), Somalia (98%), and Egypt (75%) (El Saadawi 34).   Other Islamic countries that practice this are Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, and India, which practice this under the name of sunnah circumcision.   Sunnah refers to the Muslim religion, although it is not clearly defined within the religion. There are three major types of female circumcision that are commonly practiced within Islamic society.   These types are:   sunnah; clitoridectomy or excision; infibulation or pharaonic circumcision.   Sunnah is performed according to the tradition of Mohammed.   Religious circles who favor this method of circumcision usually do not give details as to what the act actually entails.   Some circles say that is the complete removal of the clitoris and labia minora, whereas others tend to say that it is just the cutting of the kernel-shaped external skin above the genitals (Falk).   A cliteridectomy consists of ablation of the clitoris as well as the labia minora.   Infibulation involves complete removal of the clitoris, labia minora, and part of the labia majora.   Then the two sides of the vulva are sewn together with silk, thorns, or slivers of wood in order to close the vulva, except for a passage of urine and menstrual flow (Falk).   Even with minimal excisions, th is experience undoubtedly traumatizes the female.   "To some extent all excisions involve some degree of irreparable loss.   A... ...Facts.   In Global Problems [On-line].   4 paragraphs.   Available HTTP: www.earlham.edu/earlhamcollege/polisci/globalprobs/fgm/Biology.html Brownlee, Shannon, and Jennifer Seter.   "In the Name of Ritual."   U.S. News and World Report 7 Feb 1994:   56-58. Cloudsley, Anne.   Women of Omdurman.   London:   Ethnographica, 1983.   105-125. El Saadawi, Nawal.   The Hidden Face of Eve, Women in the Arab World.   tr. & ed. Sherif Hetata.   London:   Zed Press, 1980.   30-44. Falk, Geoffrey.   11 August 1995.   Circumcision Information and Resource Pages [On-line]. Available:   halt.culture.Internet.Netscape.html Gaudio, Attilio, and Renee Pelletier.   Femmes.   Paris:   Donoel/Gonthier Press, 1980.   52-54. Mire, Soraya.   "A Wrongful Rite."   Essnece June 1994:   42. Sanderson, Lilisan P.   Against Mutilation of Women.   London:   Ithaca Press, 1981.   25.

Brecht’s The Good Person of Szechwan is an apt representation of the theory of epic theater

Brecht’s Epic Theatre is a theatre of destroyed illusions and a wide awake audience which took birth from the theory of Korschian Marxism which saw ideology as a material force that served as an important tool of dominance. It is a theatre of instruction and hence is also termed Didactic theatre and because of the binary opposition present in its themes it is also known as Dialectical Theatre. The biggest aim of Brechtian plays is to alienate the audience to bring about an understanding which can affect change, Brecht terms this phenomenon as the Verfremdung’s Effekt (Alienation Effect or the A-effect), which comes from the Chinese play tradition. The audience is never one with the actor, they are always aware that the play is not real and that whatever is being presented on stage is not reality but a depiction of a certain reality. The ‘A-Effect’ is also known as the technique of defamiliarization wherein the familiar is made strange through alienation tropes such as addressing the audience directly, changing clothes in front of the audience, use of songs etc, which ensures that the audience is at all times rational, intellectual, and act as scientific observers so that they are able to question the industrial world and its authoritarian structures. As Walter Benjamin while summarizing Brecht’s theatre said â€Å"for its public the stage is no longer ‘the planks which signify the world’ (in other words, a magic circle), but a convenient public exhibition area. For its stage, the public is no longer a collection of hypnotized test subjects, but an assembly of interested persons whose demands it must satisfy. For its text, the performance is no longer a virtuoso interpretation, but its rigorous control. For its performance, the text is no longer a basis of that performance, but a grid on which, in the form of new formulations, the gains of that performance are marked†¦Ã¢â‚¬ 1 and so Bertolt Brecht’s theory of Epic Theatre transforms into its praxis in his play The Good Person of Szechwan. The Good Person of Szechwan is a purely Marxist play that deals with the social conditions of its milieu and how the people who are put in those situations react to it and towards one another. The major theme being that of survival in a world that is ruled not by goodness of character but by the evil and corruption of the society. The juxtaposition of poverty with plentitude is a leit motif in the play. Wang’s ‘The Water Seller’s Song In The Rain’ brigns forth this juxtaposition beautifully when he laments, â€Å"I sell water. Who will taste it? -Who would want to in this weather? All my labour has been wasted Fetching these few pints together. I stand shouting by my Water! And nobody thinks it Worth stopping and buying Or greedily drinks it. †2 Since its rainy season and there is plenty of water no one bothers buying the water from Wang and this plentitude becomes poverty for Wang. We start to pity Wang’s character when we realize that he is a proletariat and is burdened by poverty, but Brecht alienates us from Wang’s character by showing us his cheating and swindling side so that we rationalize his character and see him as the representative of the proletariat ideology of swindling and cheating. There is no Bourgeois enemy present in the play. The problem is within the proletariat and not amongst the proletariat and bourgeois. The problems that Shen Teh or the other characters face are due to their social conditions. The province of Szechwan can be seen as a microcosm of what is happening all over the world. Throughout the play there is constant reference to â€Å"hunger. † Hunger is seen as annihilating honor. Shen Teh’s hesitancy to take the God’s in is because she has an empty stomach. She says â€Å"†¦I’m afraid that a rumbling stomach is no respecter of persons. 3 The motif of hunger and poverty can also be seen in Brecht’s other play The Life of Galileo. The play starts with Galileo saying â€Å"Put the milk on table†¦Ã¢â‚¬ 4 and Andrea replying â€Å"Mother says we must pay the milkman, if we don’t he’ll be describing a circle round us, Signor Galilei†5 and later on when Galileo says â€Å"†¦an d I like to eat decently. It’s when I’m eating I get most inspiration. A rotten age. They haven’t paid me as much as the man who drives their wine-carts. †6 We are always reminded of the juxtaposition of plentitude with poverty. The play is dialectical in its split between Shen Teh’s self fulfillment and Shui Ta’s self preservation. It is the â€Å"inevitable clash between desire and fact and as the paradox of ends and means. These are two sides of the same coin. Shen Teh’s wish to be generous must employ Shui Ta’s profiteering meanness, or else she would be deprived of her charitable self. †7 Prosperity is associated with lack of goodness and â€Å"social conditions twist the natural goodness of human beings into opposites†8 and hence if Shen Teh wants to prosper then she needs to give into Shui Ta’s calculating nature. In The Good Person of Szechwan we have constant interruptions that are brought about by the musical interludes and all these songs work to alienate the audience from the play and to make them question the situation being presented in front of them. They are made to question the worth of Shen Teh’s goodness as it leaves her not ennobled but economically emaciated. Walter Benjamin says that, â€Å"the interrupting of action is one of the principle concerns of epic theatre. Therein lies the formal achievements of Brecht’s songs with their crude, heart rendering refrains. 9 and hence ‘The Water Seller’s Song In The Rain’ comes just after the love scene between Shen Teh and Yang Sun, disrupting the audience from getting involved in the play and again bringing their attention to the dialectics between poverty and plentitude. Brecht says that â€Å"in the epic theatre moral arguments only took second place. Its aim was less to moralize than to observe. â € 10 So we see that Shen Teh’s goodness is constantly thwarted by the social circumstances and harsh necessities of survival in a competitive world but no moralizing comments are made. The play begins on a note of despair and ends with one. For Shen Teh to survive it is necessary that Shui Ta also survives. The God’s in the play are ignorant, humanized and a satire on the hegemony in Christianity, questioning the absolutism of Christianity in the early twentieth Century. Instead of one god head we are presented with three Gods and none of them can do anything to lift Shen Teh out of the drudgery that she is a part of even though she is good. In the trial scene the gods are seen as nothing but impostors, their omniscience and all powerful stature is questioned. The idea of justice is questioned, deconstructed and done away with. Neither is virtue rewarded nor vice punished, instead vice is seen as a means to an end. Shui Ta is not punished for any of the crimes and Shen Teh is not rewarded for her goodness. Brecht here blends divine justice with legal justice by making the Gods don on the attire of the magistrate to mock at divine justice. It is a Marxist onslaught on the institutionalization of religion. In his other play The Caucasian Chalk Circle we have the character of Azdak whose method of delineating legal justice is more serious in purpose and intent as compared to the three Gods here who appear as mere fools. One is forced to question if justice is being delayed or if there is no concept of justice in an industrial world. The open ended-ness of the trial scene erodes the moralistic nature and it prises upon the mind of the audience and affects change. Brecht in all his plays comments on â€Å"Jetztzeit†, a term that Walter Benjamin coined for the presence of â€Å"now† in Brechtian plays. According to Walter Benjamin, â€Å"history for Brecht was an ever present arena, never as with Lukacs a thing of past† and hence we see that Mother Courage and her Children, The Good Person of Szechwan or The Life of Galileo all have topical references in the World War I and II, the failure of the Russian Revolution/Communism/Dictatorship and questioning of the viability and feasibility of science in a post Hiroshima-Nagasaki world, respectively. Also epic theatre is literarized. â€Å"The literarization of theatre by means of verbal formulas, posters, captions, is intended to, and will, make what is shown on the stage unsensational. 11 The performance is not aimed to draw the audience into the play but to make them stand at the periphery so that they question the bourgeoisie ideology and break free from it, so that the proletariat is emancipated and socialism can be constructed. Brecht believes that society can be changed through intellectual action and that is the reason t hat his plays are so highly dialectical. We see the dialectics between Good and God when Shen Teh as Shui Ta sings the ‘Song of the Defencelessness of the Good and The Gods’ â€Å"The good Cannot remain good for long in our country Where cupboards are bare, housewives start to squabble. Oh, the divine commandments Are not much use against hunger. So why can’t the god’s share out what they’ve created Come down and distribute the bounties of nature And allow us, once hunger and thirst has been sated To mix with each other in friendship and pleasure? †12 Gods here are seen as privileging the aristocrats and Christianity is seen as a perpetrator of class difference. The motif of hunger is again visible in the song. Hunger can not be satiated by following the commandments, one need to have money to buy food and that money comes not from praying but by being economically independent and well of. When the audience hears the song they realize the futility of religion in an economic world. It brings to the forefront the debate between spirituality and materialism. It makes the spectators question both the value of a bourgeoisie society and that of religion. Being but a Marxist play every theme is given a Marxist interpretation, even the idea of love and marriage. Shen Teh has to choose between Yang Sun and Mr. Shu Fu. It is as Shui Ta that she favors Mr. Shu Fu for he can provide her with a future but as Shen Teh her emotions sway her towards Yang Sun. In a direct address to the audience Shen Teh sings; â€Å"I would go with the man whom I love. I would not reckon what it costs me. I would not consider what is wiser. I would not know whether he loves me. I would go with the man that I love. †13 â€Å"As Shui Ta she knows the worthlessness of her charming but rascally lover Sun. But with her emotional feminine self, as Shen Teh, she cannot give up the physical passion and tenderness that bind her to him. In Shen Teh’s love the drive for self-fulfillment and the need for self preservation clash in hopeless combat that can never be decided. 14 Brecht in The Good Person of Szechwan presents us with a Marxist theme, a dialectical debate between poverty and plentitude, goodness and god, religion and materialism etc, all of which is made apparent to the audience by the alienation effect brought about by the musical interludes that are present through out the course of the play, Shen Teh’s changing clothes in front of the audience, direct address to the audience; in an attempt to make sure that the play raises questions in the minds of the audience and breaks their identification with the bourgeoisie ideology. In totality Brecht’s play The Good Person of Szechwan is an apt representation of his epic or intellectual theatre that is built on the concept of critical theory translating into intellectual action on stage wherein Brecht seeks to illumine historically specific features of a milieu in order to show how that milieu influenced, shaped and often battered and destroyed the individual. Instead of focusing on the universal elements of human situations and fate, Brecht on the other hand is interested in depicting the attitude that people adopted towards each other in a specific historical situation or context.

George Washington And The President Of The United States

Since the start of the United States, there have been politics. Starting with those in charge of the new colonies, leaders of battles for land all the way to the leaders of the revolution, politics have played a role in American life. Once the revolution occurred and it was determined that George Washington would be the nation’s first president, a new track for politics was formed. It was from this line of presidents and official democratic government that political parties, ways of voting, and the various branches of our government were created. Since the time of the Federalists and Democratic- Republicans, many things have changed about the way that elections work, how candidates are elected, what the candidates are expected to do and how to act, and the civility of elections. However, one thing has remained the same, in order to be elected into office as the President of the United States, one must find a way to appease voters. In the most recent presidential campaign between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, many new election tactics were presented – especially the use of social media, reality entertainment personalities and trying to gain millennial support by relating to them in various ways. As the use of this new tactic went up, the extremities in other aspects of the campaign only increased as well. There became an almost lack of seriousness and rise in hate and bullying, especially in advertising pro their campaign and against their candidates. PoliticalShow MoreRelatedGeorge Washington : The First President Of The United States1415 Words   |  6 PagesGeorge Washington, the First President of the United States, one of the most famous people in his time and in our time, was not always the President of the United States of America. 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First and foremostRead MoreGeorge Washington s President Of The United States2433 Words   |  10 PagesIn 1789, George Washington became the first elected President of the United States. President George Washington stayed in office for two terms (eight years), after which he decided to â€Å"step-down† or not to run again. His friends tried to convince him to run again, but he already had his mind made up. His successor John Adams continued to follow in George Washington’s footsteps and only served two terms. This started a tradition where Presidents generally only serve as Chief of State, Chief ExecutiveRead MoreGeorge Washington s President Of The United States Essay1793 Words   |  8 Pagesthroughout its rich history. What is a president, is it not just another word for leader? George Washington was a military leader during the american revolution and later became the first president of the United States of America. 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He was elected on April 30, 1789500 Words   |  2 PagesGeorge Washington was the first President of the United States. He was elected on April 30, 1789 Washington had the respect of everyone. Washington had many intriguing qualities. An example would be his quality of concern for his men. Throughout the Revolutionary War, Washington lost many of the battles, but he chose to lose them, rather than to win and risk all of his men’s lives. He made tactical retreats to save his men. George Washington, our first President, won over the hearts and earned theRead MoreWhy Was George Washington The Greatest President827 Words   |  4 Pages On September 19, 1796, George Washington presented his famous Farewell Address to the American people. One quote from that address that truly highlights Washingtons firm belief that the American people share the same, deep love of liberty is, â€Å"Interwoven as is the love of liberty with every ligament of your hearts, no recommendation of mine is necessary to fortify or confirm the attachment.† (Goodreads). Georg e Washington became the first president of the United States of America on April 30, 1789Read MoreGeorge Washington Farewell Address Essay1663 Words   |  7 PagesGeorge Washington, a very famous man known as the first President of the United States of America, was born on the 22nd of February, 1732 in the colony of Bridges Creek, Virginia. (George Presidential Early Life sec.1 para.3) He was born into a wealthy, land-owning family and was a very political individual. Washington served as a Major in the Virginia militia and also fought in the French and Indian War from 1754 to 1763. 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Not everyone who agrees with these thoughts is going to agree with the answer each other gives. However, I bet many of those same people would argue that George Washington was the best president out of all of them. There are many more reasons to why George Washington is the best president to ever come