Abstract This paper discusses the music and message of straight edge punk. The paper explains that straight edge punk music and musicians not only encourages young people to stay away from drugs and irresponsible sex, but also encourage its followers to make choices that allow them to take responsibility for their own actions and for the effects that their actions have on the world around them. The paper explains that the movement emphasizes simplicity and a rejection of the excesses of modern life.
From the Paper "When most people, at least most people, think about punk and other teen-based musical lifestyles they tend to think of excess - as much sex, drugs and rock-and-roll or punk or reggae or rap as possible. But some subcultural corners of youth music have actually preached a lifestyle of restraint and abstinence. This paper examines the development and ethos of straight edge punk, perhaps the most extremely restrained of these music-based subcultures. Straight edge punk not only encourages young people to stay away from drugs..."
Tags: punk, straight edge, subculture, rock, music
Abstract This paper discusses the 1997 movie, "The Edge" starring Alek Baldwin and Anthony Hopkins. The paper explores the use of symbolism and the types of conflicts found in the movie, such as man vs. himself, man vs. nature and man vs. man.
From the Paper "In the movie, "The Edge", starring Alek Baldwin and Anthony Hopkins, the bear symbolizes nature's true power over man. The bear provides the main source of conflict in the movie. Nature is seen as the enemy of the millionaire and his employee as they struggle with hunger, cold and a man-eating bear when their plane crashes in a remote part of the Alaskan wilderness. The bear is indifferent to the weather and satisfies its hunger by consuming one of the three survivors of the plane crash..."
Tags: The edge, movie, anthony hopkins, alek baldwin, reviews, criticism, comments, plot, allegory, recurring themes
Abstract The paper examines the similarities and the differences between the novel and film "Postcards from the Edge," both as artistic expressions and as representatives of their historical period. The paper discusses how the novel is told in brittle, episodic fashion in contrast to the more linear storyline of the film. The paper shows how both forms of the story "Postcards from the Edge" have merit.
Outline:
The Novel as History
The Novel as Literature
The Film as Art
Comparing the Novel and the Film
The Film as History
Conclusion
From the Paper "Postcards from the Edge is an examination of the Hollywood culture from the point of view from someone who has survived it and who has suffered some of its vagaries. This perspective makes the novel semi-autobiographical, although it is a work of fiction. Through Fisher's eyes, and through the eyes of her protagonist, the reader glimpses the life of an insider. Although it can be difficult to read due to its disjointed nature, Postcards is well worth the effort to attempt."
Abstract This paper will discuss the book "Edge of Taos Desert: An Escape to Reality" by Mabel Dodge Luhan and seek to understand why this author is so entranced with this geographic site. By revealing the people that lived there in the time that the book was written, we can see why the author used this book as a sort of return to her self in the scope of the desert. The scope of this paper will be to understand why she chose to see the desert as a home, rather than a barren and lifeless place.
Abstract In his novel, "The Razor's Edge", author W. Somerset Maugham, made sure to include deep character development and interactions, which serve to show how the character, Larry, is different from almost everyone else. The paper shows that, sadly, the 1984 movie version, starring Bill Murray and directed by John Byrum, failed to accurately transmit this to film. The paper shows that, as a result of glossing over and changing characters and situations, we are left with a shell of a story, one which fails to compare to the original written version in terms of the depth of several characters and the society Larry is trying to flee.
From the Paper "Another way in which the movie severely does an injustice to the story is in its treatment of the character of Elliot Templeton. In the novel Elliot is a central character, and in fact most of the information we receive as readers comes from first hand conversations between the narrator, Maugham, who is also mysteriously left out, and Elliot. The novel is marked by passages which serve to deepen the character of Elliot and which make him stand out from the others, especially Larry."
Abstract This paper discusses two female literary protagonists, Babette from "Babette's Feast" by Isak Dinesen and Sophie from Somerset Maugham's "Razors Edge". The paper examines the role of food and drink in these two stories. The paper explores these two female characters' use of food and drink in each story.
From the Paper "Food and drink are two of the great pleasures and reliefs of life's cares-along with love. So suggests the character of Babette from Isak Dinesen's short story "Babette's Feast" and Sophie from the novel Razors Edge by Somerset Maugham. But food ultimately has the power to sustain the soul, while drink, although it may provide a temporary respite, ultimately can only kill what is good inside of a person. Both Babette and Sophie are symbolic and minor, rather than fully fleshed out characters, which enable different characters in the novel to establish connections between one another that they otherwise would not have been able to. For instance, Babette's decision to have a feast brings together the elder sisters whom she serves with the rest of their surrounding community."
Abstract The writer examines the article "Weeping at the Water's Edge" where Anne MacNeil discusses the history of the opera "L'Arianna" by Claudio Monteverdi. The writer discusses MacNeil's thesis that the performance of "L'Arianna" by Claudio Monteverdi was a representation of the marriage rite that was performed in 1608. The writer then relates what this article has taught him.
From the Paper "Throughout the article, Anne MacNeil uses many different points of persuasion to defend her thesis. In an effort to solidify her argument, she used the thoughts of scholars like Suzanne Cusick to argue against their personal thesis to support her own. MacNeil also used examples and illustrations from many famous early writers, including Aristotle and Greek dramatists like Aeschylus, Euripides, and Sophocles, to show that the performance of Arianna by Claudio Monteverdi was a representation of the marriage rite that was performed in 1608."
Abstract The paper discusses the common ideas among Color Field and Hard Edge painters including the rejection of illusion in painting, utilization of reduced forms and concern with contemporaries working too closely with European movements. The paper describes the methods and styles of painters such as Newman, Rothko, Frankenthaler, Olitski, Gottlieb, Louis and Noland and shows how although they were diverse in method and concept, they all shared similar ideas. The paper includes color images.
From the Paper "Within the New York School during the 1940s and 1950s, artists were developing individual styles which culminated to forge the first completely unique American movements.
"Attempts to categorize these artists inherently results in a paradoxical situation because of their strong individuality and differing ideas about art. Yet among the contradicting viewpoints, these American born artists are grouped together in the movements of Color Field and Hard Edge painting. Shared ideas among these artists include rejection of illusion in painting, utilization of reduced forms, and concern with contemporaries working too closely with European movements."
Tags: modernism, expressionism, avant, garde, Abstract, Expressionists, color, form
Abstract "Good Will Hunting", directed by Gus Van Sant, has been described as an 'edge' or 'independent' film. The paper defines an independent film as one which provides an alternative point of view to the dominant discourse provided by mainstream films. The 'edge' or 'independent' genre of the film is discussed in this paper.
From the Paper "Secondly, the choice of subject matter of the film is highly idiosyncratic. Rather than choosing an ?every person,? the film selects a very gifted individual with an intellect most filmgoers cannot identify with. Rather than validating American notions about success, the Will of the title spurns such notions. He is more interested in his own gifts, in a very personal and arrogant way, than of conventional collegiate success. To find himself and to realize his gifts, the protagonist must abandon his friends and old way of life as well as conventional American notions of monetary and intellectual achievement."
Abstract This paper discusses two strategy formulation frameworks: scenario planning and competing-on-the-edge. The author points out the complexities involved in managing change and stresses that effective strategy formulation requires that the management takes into account decision variables operating in both the internal environment and the external environment. The author underscores that the planned and emergent approaches to strategy formulation under scenario planning and under competing-on-the-edge frameworks facilitate the process of striking a balance between change and the status quo. The paper concludes that the process of strategy formulation has to be improvisational in terms of combining approaches with frameworks innovatively.
From the Paper "The benefits of the emergent approach applied in the context of competing on the edge may be limited by the disadvantages of making the firm a follower. However, according to the analysis above, the disadvantages have minimal effects because the operational requirements of the emergent approach demand that the organizational culture promotes novel ways of doing things. In other words, the emergent approach, particularly when applied in competing on the edge, demands constant process of business process reengineering."
Abstract The paper examines the competitive edge by looking at the issues that face companies in today's business environment. The paper explores several large corporations such as Dell and Walmart and looks at the strategies of successful managers, the concept of outsourcing and the importance of customer satisfaction.
Outline:
Creating Barriers to Gain a Competitive Edge Outsourcing
Marketing Strategy
Customer Satisfaction is Competitive Advantage
Conclusion
From the Paper "The importance of the competitive edge in the world of business today has probably never been more important than it is today. Modern technology has created a playing field that has given rise to competition and opportunities beyond the restrictions of geographic location or an office in a particular city. By the same token, it has created opportunities, and it is the skilled, motivated, and creative leadership of an organization that seizes upon the opportunities to increase their company's profit margin by meeting the competition head on, rather than pulling back in fear of it (Corrigan 2004). K. Corrigan says that a business approaches competition as a "compilation of process," and meets those competitive challenges with five pillars of performance that lead to success: strategic vision; innovation; ideas; performance, and leadership."
Abstract "Woman on the Edge of Time" is a complex novel often characterized as a feminist utopian science fiction in which Marge Piercy tackles an assortment of issues that concern her. This paper looks at how these issues are addressed in the novel and how feminist agendas could possibly not be that different in 150 years time.
From the Paper "First published in 1976, Woman on the Edge of Time is a classic amongst fans of feminist utopian fiction. The novel gives us vivid multiple pictures of lives lived in that present time and of possible futures, 150 years hence. A rich book, which can be interpreted on many different levels. Consuelo Ramos is a Chicano woman in her mid-thirties, Connie has, all through her life, contended both poverty and drug abuse together with the restrictions inborn in the stereotypes of her race and sex. While grief-stricken over the death of her good friend and lover, Claud, Connie slips into a phase of drug abuse and is detained and placed in a mental institution for maltreatment of her young daughter. Although Connie is treated in this institution and considered healed she never reclaims custody of her child, nor is she able to get work due to her history as a mental patient. Years afterwards she is put back into an institution for a different violent act when, while trying to defend her niece from an abusive boyfriend, she hits him with a bottle and ends up breaking his nose."
Tags: feminist, future, utopia, female, novel, book, story
Abstract This book discusses the black slaves struggle for independence and freedom from their slave owners and their attempt for economic Independence and freedom of mobility. It explains how the African Americans of the South have always had the ability to "vote with their feet" and the greatest way they did this was by fleeing to the North.
From the Paper "African-American individuals have always achieved a form of essential, human freedom through motion. But simply because individuals view themselves as possessing inalienable rights of freedom and of motion does not mean that these ideals have been upheld by the legal structures of the United States government. During the slavery era, African-American mobility in its most essential form was curtailed by the Supreme Court through the court's Dred Scott decision. ("Dred Scott Case" The Columbia Encyclopedia Online) The Dred Scott decision labeled black American slaves as property that could be returned from northern free states to southern slave states."
Abstract This paper draws a line at the edge of ethics, focusing on genetic engineering. It uses the book "Frankenstein" by Mary Shelly to illustrate some its points and to draw the reader to certain conclusions, while giving a summary of the book.
From the Paper "Cloning, genetic engineering, DNA mapping, these words are no longer terms of science fiction, but terms that exist in our lives. While we, as a people, applaud our scientific achievements, there are questions that remain. Is it dangerous? Can there be unpredictable outcomes? What will happen?"
Abstract This paper provides an analysis and response to the book "From the Center to the Edge: The Politics and Policies of the Clinton Presidency" (Brown & Littlefield: 2002) by author William C. Berman. In this work, Berman provides a brief account of the Clinton Administration, with an emphasis on how Clinton addressed a wide range of diverse political issues to such an extreme that he was often stretched thin in terms of his attention span and his resources
