Merce Cunningham Essays - Guggenheim Fellows,

Merce Cunningham Merce Cunningham: Pioneer of Modern Dance In the age of conformity, Merce Cunningham has resisted the temptation to remain aligned with his peers. Cunningham has pioneered a new school of thought in dance, and has set the standard for future pioneers. He is passionate about what he does and it has been evident in his works as a dancer and a choreographer. Cunningham was born on April 16, 1919, in Centralia, Washington. At the age of twelve, Cunningham became interested in dance and started informal instruction. Upon graduation from high school, Cunningham began his formal dance instruction at the Cornish School of Fine and Applied Arts. After two years at the Cornish School, he studied at Mills College and at Bennington College; this is where he was invited to join Martha Grahams dance company in 1939. Graham was an incredible dancer who also choreographed during her career. While dancing for Graham, Cunningham began to make a name for himself in the dancing community. It was with Grahams encouragement that Cunningham started to choreograph on his own. His decision to start choreographing can be looked at as one of the most important decisions in the history of dance. With the encouragement of John Cage, a composer, Cunningham left Martha Grahams Dance Company in 1945 to pursue a fulltime partnership with Cage. The two men would go on to have a very storied career. On the night of April 6, 1944, at the Humphrey Weidman Studio, Cunningham and Cage performed their first solo recital. In attendance that night was acclaimed dance critic, Edwin Denby. When he was actively reviewing, Edwin Denby was this countrys most respected critic of the dance(Klosty 215). Cunninghams first performance captured Denby from the very beginning with Cunninghams amazing steps, runs, and knee bends and he described them as brilliant in lightness and speed. Denby was also impressed by Cunninghams gifts as a lyric dancer. Denbys first review of Cunningham helped launch his career forward. Denby ended his review of Cunninghams first solo performance by saying I have never seen a first solo recital that combined such taste, such technical finish, such originality of dance mat erial, and so sure a manner of presentation. Before the 1940s, expressionist was the leading form of modern dance. Cunningham on the other hand, was opposed to this type of dance and started to develop his own unique form of dance. While Graham had usually structured her dances around a certain narrative, Cunningham developed choreography by chance, a technique in which isolated movements are assigned sequence by such random methods as tossing a coin(Britannica Online). Cunningham rejected the literary and psychological themes of Graham(Encarta). In 1953, Cunningham began the Merce Cunningham Dance Company at Black Mountain College. Cage became instrumental in the success and future of Cunninghams newly started Dance Company. Cage would help out in all facets of the dance company ranging from program designer to fund raiser. Cunningham and Cage shared the same belief that dance and music can survive independently of one another. This type of thought was completely different from what Cunningham had experienced with Graham. Howe ver, in some sense all of their dancing somehow revolved around music in one way or the other. The music Cunningham used in his productions would sometimes be impossible to dance to in the conventional way. John Cage was once quoted as saying: Merce Cunningham developed his own school of dancing and choreography, the continuity of which no longer relies on linear elements, be they narrative or psychological, nor does it rely on a movement towards and away from climax. As in abstract painting, it is assumed that an element (a movement, a sound, a change of light) is in and of itself expressive; what it communicates is in large part determined by the observer himself. (Merce Biography) This new style of dance demanded the most out of the dancers in Cunninghams company. Everything they knew about traditional dancing had to be forgotten in order to be successful in Cunninghams innovative style. Traditional stage space was even something that Cunningham had abandoned. Since the Renaissance Period, the center of the stage had always been the center of gravity(Klosty 12). Klosty compared the stage to a class society where the center of

Essay on Business EthicsEssay Writing Service

Essay on Business EthicsEssay Writing Service Essay on Business Ethics Essay on Business EthicsHuman life is priceless. It is impossible to attach a monetary value to human life because it would be unethical to devalue human life. According to Daniel Statman (2005), â€Å"the idea that human life is priceless might be interpreted as meaning that it is strictly incomparable with any other value†(p. 80). However, business has a strong impact on human life through its products or services. There are many examples which demonstrate close relationship between human life and business practices. Many people have to take unnecessary risks, which may lead to losing their lives. Therefore, businessmen should orient their business practices around business ethics, placing emphasis on moral and social value of business activities. According to Daniel Statman (2005), business ethics promotes the â€Å"transition of the products of business activity into usable goods that can support human life and functioning†(p.100). Thesis statement: Businesses influ ence the value of human life through the quality of products and services, but individual’s own preferences often form the basis of reckless decisions, which may lead to the end of life.As business has certain role in putting a value on a human life, it should take the lead from an individual’s own preferences. If people tend to act reckless, e.g. speeding, amateur body piercing, using over the counter medications to excess, or misusing products, like a lawnmower to trim a hedge, the government could step in, although human rights could be limited in some way. People, who do not value their lives and who prefer to act reckless, demonstrate indifference to the value of human life. The degree of knowledge regarding the reckless indifference to the value of human life stands for the awareness of an individual’s actions as intentional behavior (Gibson, 2006; Kolb, 2008).Finally, should business be held liable? In fact, it would be wrong to hold business organization s liable. People who lost their lives due to their wrongful actions or decisions are weak people.   In other words, ethical decisions depend on an individual’s responsibility. The products and services provided by business organizations cannot influence an individual’s decision, which may lead to the end of life (Machan Chesher, 2002; Statman, 2005). Businesses should not be liable because ethical decision making is an individual’s responsibility.As a matter of fact, the government could step in with the proper regulations and policies to help people realize the significance of ethical principles and moral responsibility and to assess the negative consequences of recklessness in decision making. As business organizations have developed high responsibility towards their clients, there is maximum protection provided by businesses in terms of safety and the proper testing of products before entering the market (Newton, 2008). It would be wrong to place a price t ag on human life. Human life should be protected by the government. However if an individual is going to do something reckless, holding a business organization responsible for his/her actions would be unfair.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In conclusion, it is necessary to conclude that business ethics can be applied to any individual, but businesses are not liable for the recklessness of individuals. Businesses play certain role in putting a value on a human life. However, an individual’s preferences form the basis of many reckless decisions. In other words, if people tend to act reckless, the government could step in by means of certain policies and programs. Essay on Business EthicsEssay Writing Service Essay on Business Ethics Essay on Business EthicsHuman life is priceless. It is impossible to attach a monetary value to human life because it would be unethical to devalue human life. According to Daniel Statman (2005), â€Å"the idea that human life is priceless might be interpreted as meaning that it is strictly incomparable with any other value†(p. 80). However, business has a strong impact on human life through its products or services. There are many examples which demonstrate close relationship between human life and business practices. Many people have to take unnecessary risks, which may lead to losing their lives. Therefore, businessmen should orient their business practices around business ethics, placing emphasis on moral and social value of business activities. According to Daniel Statman (2005), business ethics promotes the â€Å"transition of the products of business activity into usable goods that can support human life and functioning†(p.100). Thesis statement: Businesses influ ence the value of human life through the quality of products and services, but individual’s own preferences often form the basis of reckless decisions, which may lead to the end of life.As business has certain role in putting a value on a human life, it should take the lead from an individual’s own preferences. If people tend to act reckless, e.g. speeding, amateur body piercing, using over the counter medications to excess, or misusing products, like a lawnmower to trim a hedge, the government could step in, although human rights could be limited in some way. People, who do not value their lives and who prefer to act reckless, demonstrate indifference to the value of human life. The degree of knowledge regarding the reckless indifference to the value of human life stands for the awareness of an individual’s actions as intentional behavior (Gibson, 2006; Kolb, 2008).Finally, should business be held liable? In fact, it would be wrong to hold business organization s liable. People who lost their lives due to their wrongful actions or decisions are weak people.   In other words, ethical decisions depend on an individual’s responsibility. The products and services provided by business organizations cannot influence an individual’s decision, which may lead to the end of life (Machan Chesher, 2002; Statman, 2005). Businesses should not be liable because ethical decision making is an individual’s responsibility.As a matter of fact, the government could step in with the proper regulations and policies to help people realize the significance of ethical principles and moral responsibility and to assess the negative consequences of recklessness in decision making. As business organizations have developed high responsibility towards their clients, there is maximum protection provided by businesses in terms of safety and the proper testing of products before entering the market (Newton, 2008). It would be wrong to place a price t ag on human life. Human life should be protected by the government. However if an individual is going to do something reckless, holding a business organization responsible for his/her actions would be unfair.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In conclusion, it is necessary to conclude that business ethics can be applied to any individual, but businesses are not liable for the recklessness of individuals. Businesses play certain role in putting a value on a human life. However, an individual’s preferences form the basis of many reckless decisions. In other words, if people tend to act reckless, the government could step in by means of certain policies and programs.

Rebellious RiskTaking Youth More Likely to Smoke essays

Rebellious RiskTaking Youth More Likely to Smoke essays Results of a recent study suggest that rebellious, risk-taking kids as young as 11 are more likely to smoke by the time they reach high school. According to the report, children who demonstrate these personality traits in the 5th grade are most likely to smoke in the 12th grade. Targeting smoking in high school students is important since studies have shown that adolescents who smoke daily in the 12th grade are likely to become established smokers as adults. Results of the study, published in the March issue of Preventive Medicine, show a strong association between rebelliousness in males in the 5th grade and daily smoking in the 12th grade. For example, the most rebellious males were three times more likely to become smokers than the least rebellious males. Risk-taking most strongly correlated with smoking among females, the investigators found. To be sure, a youngster who is a rebellious risk-taker is not necessarily destined to become a smoker. While these children may be may be more likely to smoke than their more conventional peers, the influence of family and peers also plays a role. The risk of smoking for a rebellious individual may either increase or decrease depending on whether his or her social environment also involves smoking parents, siblings, or peers. About 19% of 12th-grade students are daily smokers. Despite efforts to reduce the prevalence of smoking among adolescents, rates have climbed over the past decade ...