Fast Food Nation - 2114 Words

The story of the fast food industry and its effect on the world is well told in the book Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser. Schlosser makes the claim that, what started out as a special treat for the kids eventually ended up defining a way of life. During a brief period of time, the fast food industry has helped transform not only the American diet, but also our countryside, economy, workforce, and popular culture. The book thoroughly describes how important the two factors of money and power are in todays society. The book clearly establishes the broader thesis that as consumers, we should know what we eat even if it makes us uncomfortable by the knowledge. On any given day in the United States about one quarter of the adult†¦show more content†¦(p.230) Because of this, obesity is now spanning the globe as other countries have adopted the American fast food culture. Fast Food Nation is comprehensively researched and dreadfully convincing. Most of the research comes from ab undant first hand accounts and interviews that Schlosser conducted while traveling throughout the country. Schlossers writing style is very interesting as he mixed personal stories with a landslide of facts and observations. He uses numerous sources including newspapers, journals, books, news reports, articles, and personal accounts. During the two years that he researched the book, he ate a lot of fast food and visited places that affect the fast food industry from the ground up. Schlosser documents all of his claims that he makes in the book. Fast Food Nation was one of the most well researched books that I have ever read. Overall, the book has more strengths than it does weaknesses. Given the popularity of fast food by Americans and people across the world, this was information that needed to be spread to consumers everywhere. Schlosser does an incredible job of presenting the fast food industry from the grass roots up. But all of the problems that Schlosser identifies essentiall y bring up more questions than he can possibly answer in his book. The book proposes solutions to the evils of the industry but he doesnt really elaborate on the issues to make them understandable.Show MoreRelatedFast Food Nation1271 Words   |  6 PagesIntro  to  Political  Science 5/12/2013 Fast  Food  Nation The  investigative  journalist,  Eric  Schlosser,  has  written  a  book  to  illuminate  an  epidemic  that started  in  America  and  is  now  becoming  one  of  the  world’s  largest  problems.  In  Fast  Food  Nation, Schlosser  frames  today’s  Fast  Food  giants  in  history,American  entrepreneurialism,  and  over consumption  in  respect  to  consumer  and  employee  wellbeing.  The  power  of  all  modern  Fast  Food giants  combined  have  eclipsed  the  power  of  any  one  government.  Marketing  has  become  a  keyRead MoreFast Food Nation1487 Words   |  6 PagesThe Changing of the Food Industry â€Å"In many respects, the fast food industry embodies the best and worst of American capitalism at the start of the twenty-first century – its constant stream of new products and innovations, its widening gulf between gulf between rich and poor† (Schlosser 6). In 2001 Eric Schlosser published â€Å"Fast Food Nation.† Eric Schlosser’s early 21st century muckraking text, â€Å"Fast Food Nation,† attempts to shed light on the consequences of the fast food industry on AmericanRead MoreFast Food Nation1133 Words   |  5 PagesFast Food Nation Fast Food Nation, by Eric Schlosser, is a stark and unrelenting look into the fast food industry that has ingrained itself in not only American culture, but in culture around the world. There is almost no place on earth that the golden arches has not entered. Aside from Antarctica, there is a McDonalds on every continent, and the number of countries that have fast food restaurants is growing on a daily basis. Schlosser describes in detail what happens behind the scenes, beforeRead MoreFast Food Nation2536 Words   |  11 PagesDialectical Journal – Fast Food Nation 1. â€Å"Hundreds of millions of people buy fast food every day without giving it much thought, unaware of the subtle and not so subtle ramifications of their purchases. They rarely consider where this food came from, how it was made, what it is doing to the community around them. They just grab their tray off the counter, find a table, take a seat, unwrap the paper, and dig in† (Schlosser 10). In this passage from the introduction, Eric Schlosser directly statesRead MoreFast Food Nation Examines The History Of The Fast Food1847 Words   |  8 PagesFast Food Nation examines the history of the fast food industry as the world began to consume the idea of quick and easy cuisine. This piece of investigative journalism really gives it s readers a look at the fast food industry and its development over time. This book is divided into two sections. The first section delves into the beginnings of the industry and how it developed into the large corporational business it is today. Th e second section examines the business behind the scenes. The bookRead MoreFast Food Nation: The Inconvenient Truth of Fast Food Essay572 Words   |  3 Pages ‘Fast Food Nation’ by Eric Schlosser traces the history of fast food industry from old hot dog stands to the billion dollar franchise companies established as America spread its influence of quick, easy and greasy cuisine around the globe. It is a brilliant piece of investigative journalism that looks deep into the industries that have profited from the American agriculture business, while engaging in labor practices that are often shameful. In Fast Food Nation, Schlosser goes beyond the factsRead MoreEric Schlossers Fast Food Nation And The Jungle1698 Words   |  7 PagesFast food restaurants exude bright colors, distribute meals with toys, and create a sense of happiness, but what truly goes on behind the scenes of this magical industry? In Eric Schlosser’s Fast Food Nation and Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle, the authors use similar rhetorical strategies to reveal the motives and unconventional practices of the food industry. Schlosser conveys his purpose through the utilization of pathos, ethos, anecdotes and imagery as compared to Sinclair who uses historical referencesRead MoreFast Food Nation Essay804 Words   |  4 Pagesstudy called â€Å"Fast Food Nation 2008. The panel consisted of 1,000 respondents of ages 16-65 who provided their inputs with an online survey which was conducted between March 13 through 2008. Which was based on results on fast food restaurants like McDonald’s, Burger King , and Wendy’s are gaining popularity even through the economic hardship and recession. Marketing strategy has become more of influence on kids and young American’s. As population grows and the demand increases of fast food restaurantsRead MoreFast Food Nation By Eric Schlosser1678 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"Congress should ban advertising that preys upon children, it should stop subsidizing dead-end jobs, it should pass tougher food safety laws, it should protect American workers from serious harm, it should fight against dangerous concentrations of economic power (Schlosser). People must wonder how is it that a fast food company has so much customers. Advertising is the answer. The power advertisers have to be able to influence so many people s decisions and affect people’s lives especially the livesRead MoreFast Food Nation, by Eric Schlosser Essay1928 Words   |  8 Pagesthe most shocking books of the generation is Eric Schlosser’s Fast Food Natio n. The novel includes two sections, The American Way and Meat and Potatoes,† that aid him in describing the history and people who have helped shape up the basics of the â€Å"McWorld.† Fast Food Nation jumps into action at the beginning of the novel with a discussion of Carl N. Karcher and the McDonald’s brothers. He explores their roles as â€Å"Gods† of the fast-food industry. Schlosser then visits Colorado Springs and investigates

There’s nothing wrong in buying terms papers Free Essays

On-line paper assistance services are a fast growing kind of business. When we browse the internet, a large number of sites are available in giving paper assistance services. This kind of business saturated the internet. We will write a custom essay sample on There’s nothing wrong in buying terms papers or any similar topic only for you Order Now These sites earn a great amount of money everyday and they continue to grow and reproduce in number. This has been one of the most serious issues that schools all over world are dealing. They deem that this kind of business is unethical and immoral. The academic world views this kind of business as a business that teaches the students to be dishonest and lazy in their academic performance instead of teaching them to be responsible and hard working for the attainment of their academic advancement. Indeed, most people view this business as an academic disease. This is a disease that slowly eats the integrity of the academic world and slowly erodes its ethical status, a disease that is very hard to battle. Most students nowadays are fond of ordering papers from the said businesses above. Students just visit sites and after a moment, their term papers are ready for submission. Instead of making their own paper, they would rather opt to order and buy a paper made by these sites in the internet because of the promise of getting a high standard that will result to goods for the students. Students don’t work hard and sweat anymore for their papers. Given the situation in today’s academic world, a question arises. Is it ethical to buy terms papers? This paper is a position paper regarding the posed question. The position of the writer is â€Å"There’s nothing wrong in buying term papers’. This paper will provide arguments regarding the claim and hopefully make the academic world view term papers’ buying as not a wrong act but rather an act of helping students achieve their dreams of a better and fulfilling life in the future. REASONS FOR THE CLAIM There’s nothing wrong in buying term papers in paper assistance businesses. This claim comes from the reason that this kind of business helps a lot of people achieve their dreams of a better life. This macro-level reason for the position will be backed up by three sub- reasons. First, students can save time in buying term papers and the saved time can be used in working in order to earn. Second, an academically poor student does not necessarily mean a poor employee in the future. Third, the assistance students get from paper assistance sites will most probably give them high grades which are vital in their employment application in the future. It is of a great fact that many students are not full-time students. Many students are also working to help support their own education. A lot of families are in financial crisis all over the world. Students’ as also workers give great relief to their families in terms of being able to find means to support their studies. In ordering term papers, students can save time and effort in making it themselves. After ordering, the student will just wait for the order to arrive. The trade in of costs of payment to sites where they order and the cost of students’ potential income as working is beneficial to the students. This statement will be further discussed below. Let us try to examine a baby- sitting job. A baby sitter earns $7 an hour. A student will spend time writing a 5- page paper for 10 hours including research of the topic. Ten hours is already a significant amount of time. A paper assistance business will probably charge their clients at an average of $8 per page. A 5-page paper will then cost $40. The income of an 8 hour work by a baby sitter is $ 56. In this situation, the benefit that a working student will get from ordering a term paper is $16 in quantity. $16 then is of big help in support for his daily needs. In the situation above, not only the student benefits from the income he gets but also it lightens the load of his parents in supporting his studies. This is a manifestation of a good son or daughter to his parents. The opportunity from saving time gives a student the means to continue his education and achieve his goal of graduating. The student will benefit financially from ordering a term paper and the financial benefit will be vital for his education and his life in general. An academically poor student does not necessarily mean a poor employee in the future. Many employees achieved the top in a certain company or organization without a very good college grades record to show. They just achieved their success by working hard and never ceasing the determination to succeed. Achieving success in working careers does not reside in having high grades in college but in the determination of the person to be on top of the company or organization, to be successful. Determination is the biggest element of success. To say that a student who is poor in academic performance will become poor in his performance as an employee is a fallacy. Many teachers are caught up with looking at the academic performance of their students instead of looking at the attitude of perseverance and determination. Ordering a term paper will help poor academic performers have good grades. Having good grades will make them graduate and will give them an opportunity to be employed. Being an employee does not mean writing term papers again. Let’s try to look at one example. A teacher in philosophy advised his students to make a term paper regarding Plato’s definition of love. In an employee’s life, there can be no way that he can ever put Plato’s love in the context of the organization he is working and to the nature of his job. What is needed for an employee is not how wide is his understanding on Plato’s philosophy but on his performance in the nature of his job or career. Only if a student will become a teacher himself that he needs that kind of knowledge to be applied. Most people are caught up with grades as the basis for judging the capacity of a person. Ordering terms papers which has the high possibility of having good grades will then be a way of a student to have good grades. Having good grades will produce a big possibility of good employment. A good employment status is what most or perhaps all people aim in life. Therefore, ordering term papers can help the students to get high grades and have a good employment in the future. There is nothing wrong ordering term papers. In the discussion above, ordering term papers only becomes an avenue for a lot of good opportunities and benefits. The act of ordering is a great means in achieving the dream of most people to graduate in college. The end in this situation is of good side. These businesses are means in making people achieve their dreams. This act is so vital in people’s lives that it must not be condemned and looked upon as unethical and immoral, rather, this kind of act must be looked upon as essential to many people’s lives. In helping people achieve their dreams, another good thing will be given birth. The family of the students will benefit from the success of their sons and daughters. Finding a good job for the students would mean earning a significant amount of money. Earning a significant amount of money would then give an employee a capacity of not only supporting himself but also in giving help to his parents. This is the aspect of life that people must look upon, the aspect of life that entails responsibility of a son to his parents, an aspect of life that is essential. Another good situation that will arise by benefiting from ordered term papers is the situation of giving the next generations a good life. Every student that became an employee will have his own family in the future. In having his own family in the future, he will surely raise children. These children need a good life for them to grow in a good environment. The ability of the children’s parents to give them a good life comes from good employment. Good employment comes from good grades in college and good grades in college come from ordered term papers. The discussed reasons above are the one’s giving grounds to the claim that there’s nothing wrong in ordering term papers. The basis for my arguments is J. S. Mills’ â€Å"Utilitarianism†. His philosophy states that â€Å"the end justifies the means†. It is very true that ordered term papers will give birth to a lot of good effects. As long as the end benefits a lot of people and as long as it gives happiness to a greater number of people, the means are ethical. CONCLUSION Therefore, ordering term papers are only means to a desired end that will benefit a greater number of people, thus, making it a right thing to do. This is due to the fact that ordered term papers will give students a chance to get good grades. Having good grades will then produce a good employment opportunity for them. Being employed in a good earning job, they will be able to help their parents and give their future children a better environment to grow. BIBLIOGRAPHY Ferrari, Joseph R. Impostor tendencies and academic dishonesty: Do they cheat their way to success?. Social Behavior and Personality An International Journal, 2005. Underwood, John, and Szabo, Attila. Academic offences and E-learning: individual propensities in cheating. British Journal of Educational Technology, 2003. Ethical Issues involving On-line Paper Services. 15 Dec. 2006 http://cse. stanford. edu/class/cs201/projects-00-01/honor-code/ethics. htm#bought http://plato. stanford. edu/entries/mill/ How to cite There’s nothing wrong in buying terms papers, Papers

Emerging Trends and Practices of HRM

Question: Discuss about the Emerging Trends and Practices of HRM. Answer: Introduction In the contemporary business scenario, Go Adventuring has identified some significant management challenges such as change management, leadership development, retention of best employees, and outsourcing hindering the performance of the human resources (Srivastava Agarwal, 2012). Through the identification of the management issue such as outsourcing, the paper has been described to show the impact of the issues on the business activities of Go Adventuring. Contemporary management issue On the given scenario of the travel and tourism business of Go Adventuring, outsourcing has become one of the leading management issues (Lohr, 2003). Due to the failure of significant change management activities, outsourcing of the tasks has become a massive problem for the organisation. On the other hand, leadership development has another vital management issues to be considered in the discussion (Srivastava Agarwal, 2012). The organisational leaders of Go Adventuring have failed to develop critical strategic initiatives to influence the performance of the subordinates. Meanwhile, the leadership strategies have lacked essential structures, the point of views, and knowledge resources to develop the performance of the human resources. Conversely, the outsourcing of tasks has not been up to the market. As a result of the scenario, experience employees have left the firm in fear of losing jobs (Mohan Kumar, 2006). Due to outsourcing issue, the long-term objective of the firm has adv ersely hit. Impact of contemporary management issue for Go Adventuring The primary impact of outsourcing is the loss of control of the management of Go Adventuring over its operations. As the operations are outsourced to some other organisation, it becomes the core responsibility of the outsourced company to conduct those operations (Singh Dhawan, 2013). Hence, the management of Go Adventuring does not have any control over the functions of the outsourced processes. On the other hand, the permanent employees of the company feel insecure due to fear of losing their jobs (Lohr, 2003). The outsourcing process reduces the need of permanent employees for the organisation and makes the current workforce feel unsatisfied and insecure while working for Go Adventuring (Mohan Kumar, 2006). Hence, insecurity and loss of control of management over the operations may lead to fall in the productivity and performance of the organisation. On the other hand, it may lead to conflict between the management of two firms in case of poor performance. Furthermore, poor perf ormance is the primary impact of contemporary management issue in an organisation like Go Adventuring (Lohr, 2003). Outsourcing leads to delay in shipments and production that further may lead to loss of reputation of the company. Hence, it is important for the management of Go Adventuring to consider the impacts of contemporary management issues before implementing the outsourcing process (Suki Suki, 2010). Conclusion The identification of the contemporary issues has given the organisation a chance to rectify the problems as quickly as possible. On this note, Go Adventuring can influence the role of the employees in ensuring significant training and development programmes leading to the career development of the management staffs. References Lohr, S. (2003).New Economy; Offshore Jobs In Technology: Opportunity Or a Threat?.Nytimes.com. Retrieved November 2016, from https://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/22/business/new-economy-offshore-jobs-in-technology-opportunity-or-a-threat.html Mohan, A. Kumar, G. (2006). The Emerging Trends and Practices of HRM.Management And Labour Studies,31(2), 99-110. Singh, B. Dhawan, S. (2013). Challenges Faced by H R Managers in the Contemporary Business Atmosphere.International Journal Of Management Business Studies,3(2), 90-92. Retrieved from https://www.ijmbs.com/32/1/balwinder2.pdf Srivastava, E. Agarwal, N. (2012). The Emerging Challenges in HRM.International Journal of Scientific Technology Research,1(6), 46-48. Retrieved from https://www.ijstr.org/final-print/july2012/The-Emerging-Challenges-In-HRM.pdf Suki, N. Suki, N. (2010).Contemporary issues in marketing management(1st ed.). Hauppauge, N.Y.: Nova Science Publisher's.

Paradise machine Review Essay Example

Paradise machine Review Paper Essay on Paradise machine A new novel by the famous Krasnoyarsk writer Michael Assumption (if you have not read the trilogy of the author of the adventures of Zhiharev not heard anything about the cast iron Horseman and Look at the monsters eye is not on your shelf -. Then run to the bookstore Assumption Books can be found even with us.) Paradise machine discouraging. Michael Uspensky wrote a novel that changes the habitual attitude of the writer as the author funny, burlesque, rollicking postmodern books full of explicit and implicit quotations, references, allusions, refined literary games . Something spilled in todays air such that even Mikhail Uspensky wrote the book grim, harsh, bleak and hopeless. Thanks to the visit of an alien visitor, earthlings have the opportunity to move into another galaxy, where there is no life, just a celebration of some kind. This is more than important, because the ground approaching asteroid collision which leaves no chance to survive. Meanwhile, the first to be sent to another world prepare the elderly and infirm. Against the background of this planetary nightmare of taiga in the hometown of voluntary returns hermit Roman Merlin. And it does not understand where he was: a world permeated with the expectation of the relocation, the old foundations swept away, how to live and what to do in this world sane person a mystery We will write a custom essay sample on Paradise machine Review specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Paradise machine Review specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Paradise machine Review specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The future of the Assumption draws paints thick and dark.. In Russia the external board, in Siberia mysterious boss Hindus-Sikhs. Confused mankind with joy conducted on the dubious idea. Lost, thanks to the good work of the TV and the other instruments of propaganda, the ability to soberly assess the situation becomes a fertile ground for any well prepodnesonnogo occult delusion. Strictly speaking, the Assumption does not say anything new. Described by the author of tomorrow. a logical development of the Today What is considered to be the trademark humor of the Assumption is present, of course (see, at least, the quote below), but it is on the edge of humor. The accuracy of the writer in detail in the characters, in the forecasts like tracer bullets: dodge impossible. Signs of the future in todays superstitions. And here it is carried out not only in Russia, but rather about humanity. About sunset civilization, about the substitution values ​​of the displacement sy stem of moral coordinates. The diagnosis of Paradise Machine a diagnosis of the whole of humanity as a whole  «Paradise car. one of the best novels of Michael Assumption. In one of the earliest texts of the writer telecast featured a spectacular called Speaking the truth out loud. Here is the truth the novel. The overall picture is gradually, the general feeling confusion mixed with anxiety. And outside traditional prose of the Assumption the final novel gives an extra shade. And you have already set for themselves decide where is actually turned the main character, and along with it, and all the other  «Paradise car. oppressive foreboding of what we can become if we try not to stay people.

Free Essays on The Professors House

that Willa Cather lived by. In the novel, The Professor’s House, Cather’s life is directly parallel to the life of the main character, Professor Godfrey St. Peter. Through St. Peter, the reader is able to observe the struggles as well as triumphs that occurred at that point in Willa Cather’s life. Her struggle with materialism versus idealism, discovery of religion, and her own mid-life crisis are all shown through the character of Godfrey St. Peter. In 1922, Cather became â€Å" increasingly distressed with the growing mechanization and mass-produced quality of American society† (Norton). This was the time her writing took a new direction and became more concerned with finding alternative values to the materialistic life she increasingly felt around her. This is shown through St. Peter’s character in many instances. St. Peter was extremely idealistic and generally avoided anything that even remotely seemed materialistic. In Book 3 of The Professor’s House, St. Peter reflects on Tom Outland’s untimely death. He describes how the only way to remain idealistic in today’s society is to die. â€Å"A hand like that, had he lived, must have been put to other uses, His fellow scientists, his wife, the town and State, would have required many duties of it†¦.he had escaped all that. He had made something new in the world-and the rewards, the meaningless conventional gestures, he had left to others† (237). St. Peter believes that Tom was only able to retain his idealism through his death, leaving all the materialistic matters behind for others to handle. One of the more subtle ways that St. Peter demonstrates his idealism is through his new house. â€Å"He couldn’t make himself believe that he was ever going to live in the new house again. He didn’t belong t... Free Essays on The Professor's House Free Essays on The Professor's House The Professor’s House: The Life of Willa Cather as Compared to the Life of Godfrey St. Peter Write what you know. These are words that Willa Cather lived by. In the novel, The Professor’s House, Cather’s life is directly parallel to the life of the main character, Professor Godfrey St. Peter. Through St. Peter, the reader is able to observe the struggles as well as triumphs that occurred at that point in Willa Cather’s life. Her struggle with materialism versus idealism, discovery of religion, and her own mid-life crisis are all shown through the character of Godfrey St. Peter. In 1922, Cather became â€Å" increasingly distressed with the growing mechanization and mass-produced quality of American society† (Norton). This was the time her writing took a new direction and became more concerned with finding alternative values to the materialistic life she increasingly felt around her. This is shown through St. Peter’s character in many instances. St. Peter was extremely idealistic and generally avoided anything that even remotely seemed materialistic. In Book 3 of The Professor’s House, St. Peter reflects on Tom Outland’s untimely death. He describes how the only way to remain idealistic in today’s society is to die. â€Å"A hand like that, had he lived, must have been put to other uses, His fellow scientists, his wife, the town and State, would have required many duties of it†¦.he had escaped all that. He had made something new in the world-and the rewards, the meaningless conventional gestures, he had left to others† (237). St. Peter believes that Tom was only able to retain his idealism through his death, leaving all the materialistic matters behind for others to handle. One of the more subtle ways that St. Peter demonstrates his idealism is through his new house. â€Å"He couldn’t make himself believe that he was ever going to live in the new house again. He didn’t belong t...

An Introduction to Irregular Verbs in English

An Introduction to Irregular Verbs in English Although fewer than 200 verbs are classified as irregular, these include some of the most common words in English. Here, after briefly reviewing regular verbs, well look at the principal parts of irregular verbs. Review of Regular Verbs Regular verbs have three basic forms: the present (or base form), the past (ending in -ed), and the past participle (also ending in -ed). These three forms are referred to as the principal parts of a verb. Heres how we might list the principal parts of the regular verb laugh: I always laugh at her jokes. (present)She laughed nervously during her speech. (past)We have often laughed together. (past participle) The past participle form works with different auxiliary verbs (has or have; had) to form different tenses. (See Forming the Past Tense of Regular Verbs.) What Are Irregular Verbs? Irregular verbs are those verbs that do not end in -ed in the past tense. Though their endings differ from those of regular verbs, irregular verbs rely on the same auxiliary verbs (also called helping verbs) to indicate past, present, and future time. Principal Parts of Irregular Verbs Irregular verbs have three principal parts: I tell a joke. (present)I told a joke. (past)I have told a joke. (past participle) Some irregular verbs, such as tell, have the same form in the past and the past participle. Others, however, have different forms: I wear a cap. (present)I wore a cap. (past)I have worn a cap. (past participle) With irregular verbs such as wear, we need to learn the different forms for the past and the past participle. Auxiliaries with Irregular Verbs Just like regular verbs, irregular verbs are used with various auxiliaries to form different tenses. For instance, we use has or have with the past participle of an irregular verb to form the present-perfect tense: Tom has worn out his welcome. Similarly, we use had with the past participle of an irregular verb to form the past perfect tense: I had never worn a seat belt before you told me why I should. And we use will with the present form of an irregular verb to form the future tense: I will wear a seat belt from now on. In short, irregular verbs work the same way as regular verbs; they just have different endings. Tables of Irregular Verbs The tables linked below contain the most common irregular verbs in English. Although you are probably familiar with many of them already, study the verbs in all three lists and look for patterns that will help you remember the forms of all these verbs. Irregular Verbs: Arise to GrowIrregular Verbs: Hang to SinkIrregular Verbs: Sit to Write

Play review of Richard Nilson's Some Americans Abroad at Second Stage Essay

Play review of Richard Nilson's Some Americans Abroad at Second Stage Theater, New York - Essay Example The play revolves round Joe Taylor, who is the new head of the English department of a New England college, his colleagues and students. On the tour they race from one literary landmark to another. As they do so the director showcases the character of these people. They are shown as spineless, arrogant, penny pinching, pompous individuals who in spite of all the knowledge they have are quite ill-equipped to handle conflicts that arise when they come out of their orderly campus and step into the real world. Mr. Nelson’s script is finely crafted pointing out a basic fact concerning tourists. Tourists are often too busy rushing from one tourist attraction to another without actually seeing. Even though the script was written nearly twenty years ago, the story is still topical and interesting and does not appear outdated. The comic and the serious elements that run throughout the play make for some interesting viewing. Gordon Edelstein, the director, has been able to get some fine performances from the cast. The acting is strong throughout the play and all the characters, though stereotyped at times, come across as fully formed characters. They are convincing and professional in portraying their empty but complicated and tense lives. Tom Cavanagh is excellent as Joe Taylor, the department head, who is friendly but aloof. John Cunningham and Pamela Payton-Wright play the politically incorrect Anglophiles. Anthony Rapp is good as the timid Henry, who is shown taking desperate measures to save his job (even dressing like his boss). Emily Bergl, who plays Betty, Henrys loyal wife, has a small part to play but stands out in the crowd with a compelling performance that has bitterness and anger written all over it. John Cunningham, a veteran and seasoned actor is able to make the audience laugh as the retired department chair with a mean streak. All the characters have a common thread among them,