A Cultural History of the Zoot Suit

In the 1944 Tom and Jerry short The Zoot Cat—only the thirteenth cartoon ever made starring that famous duo—Toms would-be girlfriend lays it on him straight:  Boy, are you corny!  You act like a square at the fair, a goon from  Saskatoon.  You come on like a broken arm.  Youre a sad apple, a long hair, a cornhusker.  In other words, you dont send me! The sad cat goes out and buys himself some new duds from Smiling Sam, the Zoot Suit Man, prompting his wide-eyed gal pal to do a one-eighty.  Youre really a sharp character! A mellow little fellow. Now you collar my jive! Around the same time on the American scene—but, culturally speaking, light-years away—a young Malcom X, then known as Detroit Red, also sang the praises of the Zoot Suit, a killer-diller coat with a drape shape, reet-pleats, and shoulders padded like a lunatics cell. (Apparently, people in the 1940s liked to rhyme more than they do today.) In his widely read autobiography, Malcolm X describes his first Zoot Suit almost in religious terms: Sky-blue pants thirty inches in the knee and angle narrowed down to twelve inches at the bottom, and a long coat that pinched my waist and flared out below my knees... hat angled, knees drawn close together, feet wide apart, both index fingers jabbed toward the floor. (We wont even mention Cesar Chavez, the famous Mexican-American labor activist who wore Zoot Suits as a teen.) What was it about Zoot Suits that united such disparate cultural icons as Malcom X, Cesar Chavez, and  Tom and Jerry? The origins of the Zoot Suit, characterized by its wide lapels, padded shoulders, and baggy pants tapering down to narrow cuffs—and usually accessorized with a feathered hat and a dangling pocket watch—are shrouded in mystery, but the style seems to have coalesced in Harlem nightclubs in the mid-1930s and then worked its way out into the wider urban culture. Essentially, Zoot Suits were the pre-war equivalent of the sagging, low-hipped pants sported by some African-American youths in the 1990s or the huge Afro hairstyles popular in the 1970s. Fashion choices can be a powerful statement, especially if youre denied more mainstream modes of expression because of your race or economic status. Zoot Suits Move Into the Mainstream By the time they  were referenced by Tom and Jerry, Zoot Suits were well-ensconced in mainstream culture; you can bet that the studio execs at MGM would never have green-lighted  this cartoon if the style were still restricted to Harlem nightclubs. The apostles of Zoot, you might say, were early 1940s jazz musicians like Cab Calloway who played in front of white and black audiences and were emulated in their dress by youths of all races, though not necessarily their elders. (Before and during World War II, jazz was the dominant cultural musical idiom in the U.S., much like hip-hop still is today, albeit in vastly mutated form.) At this point, you may be wondering from whence the zoot in Zoot Suit derives. Most likely, it was yet another token of the vogue for rhyming in wartime America; zoot simply seems to have been  a jazzy repetition of suit. The young people who donned Zoot Suits as a mild form of rebellion surely enjoyed mystifying their parents with their snappy language and the strange names they assigned to household objects, the same way kids who spend all day texting like to throw out random, impenetrable acronyms. Zoot Suits Get Political: The Zoot Suit Riots In late 1930s Los Angeles, no ethnic group adopted Zoot Suits with more enthusiasm than Mexican-American teenagers, some of them low-level gang members known as pachucos. Shortly after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, however, the U.S. government instituted strict wartime rationing of wool and other textiles meaning Zoot Suits, with their wide lapels and copious folds, were technically off-limits. Even still, many Angelenos—not only Mexican-Americans—continued to wear their old Zoot Suits, and obtained new ones from the black market. Around the same time, L.A. was convulsed by the Sleepy Lagoon trial, in which nine Mexican-American pachucos were accused of murdering an innocent civilian (also Mexican). In the summer of 1943, these explosive circumstances detonated when a group of white servicemen stationed in Los Angeles viciously attacked random pachucos (and other ethnic minorities) wearing Zoot Suits in the so-called Zoot Suit Riots. Ostensibly, the aggressors were incensed by the waste of fabric entailed by Zoot Suits, as well as the flaunting of rationing laws by the youths wearing them. The anti-Mexican feeling stirred up by the Sleepy Lagoon trial, combined with the unabashed racism of small-town soldiers stationed in a big city, were more likely explanations. Amusingly, after the smoke had cleared, a California state senator alleged that the riots had been instigated by Nazi spies trying to estrange the U.S. from its Latin American allies! The Afterlife of the Zoot Suit In the U.S., no fashion trend ever goes truly extinct—even if there are no more 1920s flappers sporting bangs and curls or pachucos dressed in Zoot Suits, these fads have been preserved in novels, newsreels, magazines, and are occasionally resurrected as fashion statements (either seriously or ironically). The Cherry Poppin Daddies landed their only Billboard hit in 1997 with the song Zoot Suit Riot, and in 1975, Zoot Suit was a cut from The Whos ambitious rock opera Quadrophenia. In 1979, a play called Zoot Suit—based on the Sleepy Lagoon murder case and the Zoot Suit Riots—lasted for 41 performances on Broadway. Whats more, the outlandish garb sported by inner-city pimps in countless exploitation movies is based on the Zoot Suit. And, of course, you can always watch The Zoot Cat on YouTube, not to mention various electrifying performances by Cab Calloway in full Zoot Suit regalia.

Explain and Discuss Why the Definition of Family Is...

Explain and discuss why the definition of family is problematic from the perspectives of history, ideology and policy. How does violence within families challenge the functionalist approach to family? I am discussing how history, ideology and policy perspectives establish problems with the definition of family. My main focus will be identifying how family violence and abuse within families challenge the functionalist approach to family. The definition of ‘family’ is extremely broad; however I will only be focusing on the functionalist approach which is the nuclear family. Functionalists believe that the nuclear family is the ‘ideal’ family type and is seen as the traditional family. The history perspective will explore how domestic†¦show more content†¦When domestic violence was seen as acceptable, it would not have disputed the functional family as it was seen as ‘normal’. Policies have been put in place now to prevent and help decrease domestic violence. Laws relate to domestic violence help change the ideology of individuals. If a law states that domestic violence is not acceptable then this will influence others to realise it is not acceptable behaviour. Therefore this shows that ideology, policy and history all relate to each other. A great deal of changes have changed regarding laws, peoples ideologies etc throughout history. For example, men are encouraged to participate more in domestic life and not see being the breadwinner as a necessity. In the past, it was not normal for a woman to work, however, in modern society it is seen as normal for women to work. The definition of family may be seen as problematic in relation to history because there have been different ideologies throughout history on what types of family are acceptable. For example, in the past, the traditional family was seen as the most suitable family and the ‘norm’ which could provide for the family best and gave structure. However new family types such as a single-parent family and same-sex couples are now accepted by society and many people will class them as a family. Throughout history, there will have been discussion a nd debates on what types of family are acceptable and what should not be classes as a family. However everyone has theirShow MoreRelatedOrganisational Theory230255 Words   |  922 Pages. Organization Theory Challenges and Perspectives John McAuley, Joanne Duberley and Phil Johnson . This book is, to my knowledge, the most comprehensive and reliable guide to organisational theory currently available. What is needed is a text that will give a good idea of the breadth and complexity of this important subject, and this is precisely what McAuley, Duberley and Johnson have provided. They have done some sterling service in bringing together the very diverse strands of workRead MoreOne Significant Change That Has Occurred in the World Between 1900 and 2005. Explain the Impact This Change Has Made on Our Lives and Why It Is an Important Change.163893 Words   |  656 PagesCritical Perspectives on the Past, edited by Susan Porter Benson, Stephen Brier, and Roy Rosenzweig Also in this series: Paula Hamilton and Linda Shopes, eds., Oral History and Public Memories Tiffany Ruby Patterson, Zora Neale Hurston and a History of Southern Life Lisa M. Fine, The Story of Reo Joe: Work, Kin, and Community in Autotown, U.S.A. Van Gosse and Richard Moser, eds., The World the Sixties Made: Politics and Culture in Recent America Joanne Meyerowitz, ed., History and SeptemberRead MoreStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words   |  1573 Pages10.5/12 ITC New Baskerville Std Credits and acknowledgments borrowed from other sources and reproduced, with permission, in this textbook appear on the appropriate page within text. Copyright  © 2013, 2011, 2009, 2007, 2005 by Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Prentice Hall. All rights reserved. Manufactured in the United States of America. This publication is protected by Copyright, and permission should be obtained from the publisher prior to any prohibited reproduction, storage in a retrieval

Crucible Salem Witch Trials and Elizabeth Free Essays

The Crucible: Elizabeth Proctor â€Å"Let them that never lied die now to keep their souls† (1353). This quote, spoken by John Proctor, in the Crucible represents what the Salem Witch Trials were about. The Crucible, written by Aurthur Miller, was a playwright based in the 1600’s of the Salem Witch Trials in Province, Massachusetts. We will write a custom essay sample on Crucible: Salem Witch Trials and Elizabeth or any similar topic only for you Order Now The Salem Witch Trials were during the time of McCarthyism; McCarthyism suggested people were guilty without hard proof. Elizabeth Proctor was a character in the Crucible that stood by her husband John, even through the lies, miscommunications, and even his death. Elizabeth was a typical housewife, and honest women who had many mixed emotions about her marriage. Elizabeth Proctor was a Puritan housewife that tended to her husband and children. She never showed anyone of her emotions. Elizabeth was all was content and kept to herself. She also tried to please John every chance she could. â€Å"I took great care† (1292). This quote taken from the Crucible was Elizabeth making her husband stew after a long day. She wanted the stew to be up to standards so that John would be happy with her. In Act II Elizabeth had been accused of sending her spirit out. â€Å"I will fear nothing. Tell the children I had gone to visit someone sick† (1307). The line represented here was spoken by Elizabeth after Herrick and Cheever had taken her away to the court to be questioned. Being a good housewife and mother she feels the need to keep her children happy and not worried. She tells John not to worry because she knows she is innocent and she â€Å"will fear nothing† (1307). Elizabeth Proctor was John Proctors wife and their children’s mother who looked after everyone else before herself making her a typical housewife. Honesty was a key trait to Elizabeth Proctors personality. Elizabeth had a good heart and never told a lie. When she and John were discussing Abigail and the girls, they knew they were lying about seeing the devil and being with the devil. Elizabeth Proctor says to John â€Å"I think you must go to Salem, John; I think so. You must tell them it is a fraud† (1293). Knowing that the girls are frauds could potentially jeopardize anyone in the community if they didn’t tell anyone. She is an honest person who does not want to keep anything hidden. â€Å"I do not judge you. The magistrate sits in your heart that judges you. I never thought you but a good man, John only somewhat bewildered† (1295). Elizabeth was honest toward the man she loved. She knew that he was a good man inside and that no matter what would happen to him that she couldn’t be the one to judge his wrong doings. Elizabeth was an honest individual with good morals. `Last, Elizabeth had many mixed emotions about her marriage. Elizabeth and John Proctor were in a silent war so to say. John had had an affair with Abigail and to get back at John, Abigail had said Elizabeth Proctor had been with the devil. Elizabeth was furious when she found out about Johns affair. Elizabeth screams, â€Å"Then go and tell her she’s a whore. Whatever promise she may sense-break it. John, break it† (1299). Elizabeth had told John to tell Abigail this. Elizabeth was hurt and felt betrayed by John, and by telling this to Abigail I think it would have brought Elizabeth a sense of pride. Elizabeth felt guilty about never showing her emotions to John. In this quote, â€Å"John, I counted myself so plain, so poorly made, no honest love could come to me, Suspicion kissed you when I did; I never knew how I should say my love. It were a cold house I kept! † (1295), she expresses that love could never find its way to her. When she finally found John she was happy but never showed how happy she was with him. John was going to be killed in the end and he knew it. Judge Danforth wanted John to sign over his name that he himself was a witch. John Proctor refused and said that he would not sign away his name for something that wasn’t true. When John was taken away to be hanged, Elizabeth cried and was so sad. They, as a couple, finally had a chance to talk about their love for each other. â€Å"He have his goodness now. God forbid I take it from him† (1358). Elizabeth Proctor spoke about her husband in this quote. He finally did something honorable and lived up to the person she knew he was and she didn’t want to take that away from him. John and Elizabeth Proctor had a confusing marriage, but in the end they figured each other out. Elizabeth Proctor was a women in the Crucible that was honorable and trustworthy. She made sure her husband died with respect and that she, herself, was also respected. She was a good mother to her children, a good housewife to her family, and learned to be a loving women to her husband John. Elizabeth Proctor may have had mixed emotions about her marriage, but she was honest and a housewife that would do anything to make her family happy and her husband proud. How to cite Crucible: Salem Witch Trials and Elizabeth, Papers

Investment Opportunities in Sports Tourism

Question: Discuss about the Investment Opportunities in Sports Tourism. Answer: Introduction The arena of sports is growing a fast pace. According to the Australian sports commission Australia is keenly into the sports activities of Cycling, Table tennis, Baseball, Softball, badminton and squash and other sports. According to the sports commission the Australian government is going to invest in sports to the tune $134 million (ausport.gov.au 2016). Sports tourism can be viewed as the activity of travelling to a sporting destination for watching / participating in the sporting activity. A survey by the Herald Sun found that most of the tourists visiting Melbourne will watch a sporting event (Heraldsun.com.au 2015). Hence Melbourne has been said to be the sporting capital of Australia. The investment opportunities in sports tourism is both in private and public sector. A sports activity at in a particular city enhances the image of the city, providing it with further economic development and business development opportunities. In this initial research proposal we look at the previous studies done to evaluate the investment opportunities in sports tourism. Later on we develop hypothesis regarding the investment opportunities available and some questions. In addition we would also develop some strategies to measure the investments possible in the arena of Sports tourism. Finally we present an expected research outcome for the present research proposal. Literature review Sport tourism involves the travel of people in different countries in order to see sports events (Weed and Bull 2012). There are various kinds of sports events that are taking place all over the world. They are cricket matches, football matches, rugby matches, tennis matches, badminton matches and many others. On the other hand, there are different kinds of sports events like Olympic, football world cup, cricket world cup, commonwealth games and many others. Due to the occurrence of all these kinds of sports events, the sports tourism all over the world is growing in a very fast pace. As per the latest data, the sports tourism industry all over the world has contributed $ 7.68 trillion (Lamont 2014). Sports tourism can be classified in two categories. They are hard sports tourism and soft sports tourism. On the other hand, as per some people, there are three kinds of sports tourism. They are sports events tourism, celebrity, nostalgic tourism, and active sports tourism. Hard sports t ourism depends on the quantity of people that are attending the particular sports event. All over the world, some specific sports events help to attract many people. The examples of these events are Olympic Games, FIFA World Cup, Wimbledon Tennis events, Grand Prix, F1 and many others (Naranjo and Snchez 2016). These are the events that are known by the people all over world and for this reason, this type of events help to attract many people all over the world. On the contrary, there are other kinds of sports events that happen at the state or within the country. These are the kind of sports events that attract the people from the country or from the state. The examples of soft kind of sports tourism are the country level sports tournaments like club football, club cricket and many others. The celebrity and nostalgia sports tournaments refer also help to attract a lot of people all over the world. In the celebrity and nostalgia sports tourism, the top sports personalities all over the world gather in a single place for a special event. Usually people come in these kinds of events to see these top sportspersons in a single place (transport and tourism forum 2014). There are other sports tourism events like the active sports tourism. The active sports tourism also helps to attract many people all over the world because of the high quality of the sports events. Active sports tourism is an essential part to develop the economic condition of the country. Australia is one of the fastest growing economies of the world. Several factors are helping the country to develop its financial condition. Like business sector, tourism sector, manufacturing sector and many others. One of the most important factors that are contributing towards the economic development of the country is the presence of sports tourism. Sport is a crucial factor of Australia. It has been seen that Australia is one of the best countries all over the world in terms of various kinds of sports as the sports culture of the country is very effective (Reisinger 2013). This is the reason Australia has been the leading country to host various kinds of sports events like the ICC Cricket World Cup and different other sports. Many people all over the world are coming to Australia to witness these biggest sports events of the world. This reason also contributes to the improvement in the sports tourism of the country. One portion of the Australian tourism is based on the tourists c oming in Australia to watch various kinds of big sports events and the sports tourism sectors is flourishing day by day (Kennelly and Toohey 2016). This aspect has contributed to the development of the investment opportunity of the country. Various big corporations in Australia are investing in the sector of sports tourism, as it has become one of the potential to earn high revenues. Big companies around the Australia are developing big hotels to encourage the sports tourism in the country. On the other hand, Government of Australia is not behind in the race of sports tourism. The government of Australia is investing in various kinds of projects to encourage sports tourism. They are investing in the making of world-class stadiums for various kinds of sports like cricket, football, tennis, rugby and others. Hence, from the above discussion it can be concluded that Australia is creating many investment opportunities in the field of sports tourism by encouraging the various aspects of sports tourism. All these steps of the top most companies of Australia and the government of Australia help in the improvement of the Australian economy. Research Questions and Hypothesis For the present business research proposal the research questions are Have there been any investments in the hospitality sector prior to a sports meet? Does sports meets provide business opportunities to manufacturers of sports gear? Is there an increase in tourists visiting the restaurant during sports meets? The hypothesis that can be developed on the basis of the above research questions are There are no investment opportunities in the hospitality sector for sports tourism. Sports tourism does not offer investment opportunities to sports gear manufacturers. There is no increase in footfalls at the restaurant during sports meets Research methodology An analysis of the business opportunities of the present research assignment would use secondary data (Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill 2015). The data on hotels being made or renovated prior to a major sports event would be collected. Also information on investments done at local tourists done would be collected. In addition the data on the economic activity at the hotel, tourist destination during the sports meet would be taken. For the purpose of analysis quantitative data would be used. Data can also be collected on any business of sports gear that took place during the sports event (Holmes at al., 2015). The quantitative data obtained would be the income that took place during the sports meet. The data on the number of people visiting at the hotel, local tourist destination would serve to provide information regarding the number of tourists visiting the city during sports events. The information on the investments, return on investment, number of tourists, earnings from the restaurant and other factors during the sports meet would provide an insight into the range of investments that can be made. Information regarding any business dealings that took place during the sports meet would provide an opportunity regarding the economic opportunity. For the purpose of the present research data regarding investments in the hospitality sector, improvement in tourists amnesties, business opportunities and dealings by manufacturers of sports gear would be collected. The data on the ROI from the hospitality sector, footfalls at tourists locations, economic activity at restaurant and fast food joints would also be collected. This data would then be evaluated to investigate the investment opportunities in sports tourism. Expected outcome Studies by different authors have shown that Australian cities like Melbourne, Sydney are ideal locations for sports tourism. Sports tourism has been found to have contributed positively to the hospitality and transportation industry. Sports activities also give rise to employment opportunities for the local people as well as growth in certain other businesses. The public sector investments in sports particularly building new sporting complexes promote employment opportunities. Previous literature has shown that the Australian government is investing into sporting bodies and for development of sporting infrastructure. These investments would contribute towards the growth of GDP of Australia. The present research proposal would show the different investment opportunities possible for the growth of sports tourism. Conclusion Hence it can be concluded that sports tourism provides an adequate environment opportunity for investment. From the preset research proposal we also find that sports tourism provides ample business development opportunities for different sporting goods manufacturers, increases the image of the city and its tourists locations and has increased construction activities. The present research has to some extent analysed the sports tourism investment opportunities. The research would provide a thought into how sports tourism increases business opportunities for manufacturers of sporting gear. References Heraldsun.com.au. (2015). Melbourne truly is sporting capital. [online] Available at: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/melbourne-attracts-more-sporting-tourists-than-anywhere-else-in-australia/news-story/bc0fdb7cd3090698a9e0fd6b660d15d0 [Accessed 15 Dec. 2016]. Holmes, K., Hughes, M., Mair, J. and Carlsen, J. (2015). Events and sustainability. 1st ed. Routledge. https://www.ausport.gov.au/supporting/investment_announcement_2015-16 Kennelly, M. and Toohey, K., 2016. National Sport Governing Bodies and Sport Tourism: Agency and Resources.Journal of Sport Management,30(5), pp.506-520. Lamont, M., 2014. Authentication in sports tourism.Annals of Tourism Research,45, pp.1-17. Naranjo, H.V. and Snchez, M.C., 2016. Influence of sports events in local tourism.Sport Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Reisinger, Y. ed., 2013.Transformational tourism: Tourist perspectives. CABI. Saunders, M., Lewis, P. and Thornhill, A. (2015). Research methods for business students. 7th ed. Pearson Education Limited. Tourism Transport Forum. (2014). Backing major events: Australian support for major events and why governments should get behind them. Sydney: Tourism Transport Forum. Weed, M. and Bull, C., 2012.Sports tourism: Participants, policy and providers. R