Tuesday, December 31, 2019

What Peasants and Laborers Wore in the Medieval Ages

While the fashions of the upper classes were changing with the decade (or at least the century), peasants and laborers stuck to the useful, modest garments their progenitors had been clad in for generations during the Middle Ages. Of course, as the centuries passed, minor variations in style and color were bound to appear; but, for the most part, medieval European peasants wore very similar clothing in most countries from the 8th to the 14th century. The Ubiquitous Tunic The basic garment worn by  men, women, and children alike was a tunic. This appears to have evolved from the Roman tunica of late antiquity. Such tunics are made either by folding over a long piece of fabric and cutting a hole in the center of the fold for the neck;  or by sewing two pieces of fabric together at the shoulders, leaving a gap for the neck. Sleeves, which werent always part of the garment, could be cut as part of the same piece of fabric and sewn closed  or added later. Tunics fell to at least the thighs. Though the garment might be called by different names at different times and places, the construction of the tunic was essentially the same throughout these centuries. At various times, men and, less often, women wore tunics with slits up the sides to afford more freedom of movement. An opening at the throat was fairly common to make it easier to put on over ones head; this might be a simple widening of the neck hole; or, it might be a slit that could be tied closed with cloth ties or left open with plain or decorative edging. Women wore their tunics long, usually to mid-calf, which made them, essentially, dresses. Some were even longer, with trailing trains that could be used in a variety of ways. If any of her chores required her to shorten her dress, the average peasant woman could tuck the ends of it up in her belt. Ingenious methods of tucking and folding could turn the excess fabric into a pouch for carrying picked fruit, chicken feed, etc.; or, she could wrap the train over her head to protect herself from the rain. Womens tunics were usually made of wool. Woolen fabric could be woven rather finely, though the quality of the cloth for working-class women was mediocre at best. Blue was the most common color for a womans tunic; though many different shades might be achieved, the blue dye made from the woad plant was used on a large percentage of manufactured cloth. Other colors were unusual, but not unknown: pale yellow, green, and a light shade of red or orange could all be made from less-expensive dyes. All these colors would fade in time; dyes that stayed fast over the years were too expensive for the average laborer. Men generally wore tunics that fell past their knees. If they needed them shorter, they could tuck the ends in their belts; or, they could hike up the garment and fold fabric from the middle of the tunic over their belts. Some men, particularly those engaged in heavy labor, might wear sleeveless tunics to help them deal with the heat. Most mens tunics were made of wool, but they were often coarser and not as brightly colored as womens wear. Mens tunics could be made from beige (undyed wool) or frieze (coarse wool with a heavy nap) as well as more finely woven wool. Undyed wool was sometimes brown or gray, from brown and gray sheep. Undergarments Realistically, there is no telling whether or not most members of the working classes wore anything between their skin and their woolen tunics until the 14th century. The contemporary artwork depicts peasants and laborers at work without revealing whats worn underneath their outer garments. But usually the nature of undergarments is that theyre worn under other garments and are therefore ordinarily unseen; so, the fact that there are no contemporary representations shouldnt hold much weight. In the 1300s, it became the fashion for people to wear shifts, or undertunics, that had longer sleeves and lower hemlines than their tunics, and therefore were plainly visible. Usually, among the working classes, these shifts would be woven from hemp and would remain undyed; after many wearings and washings, they would soften up and lighten in color. Field workers were known to wear shifts, hats, and little else in the heat of summer. More affluent people could afford linen undergarments. Linen could be fairly stiff, and unless bleached it wouldnt be perfectly white, though time, wear, and cleansing could make it lighter and more flexible. It was unusual for peasants and laborers to wear linen, but it wasnt altogether unknown; some of the clothing of the prosperous, including undergarments, were donated to the poor upon the wearers death. Men wore braes or loincloths for underpants. Whether or not women wore underpants remains a mystery. Shoes and Socks It was not at all uncommon for peasants to go about barefoot, especially in warmer weather. But in cooler weather and for work in the fields, fairly simple leather shoes were regularly worn. One of the most common styles was an ankle-high boot that laced up the front. Later styles were closed by a single strap and buckle. Shoes were known to have had wooden soles, but it was just as likely for soles to be constructed of thick or multi-layered leather. Felt was also used in shoes and slippers. Most shoes and boots had rounded toes; some shoes worn by the working class might have somewhat pointed toes, but workers didnt wear the extreme pointy styles that were at times the fashion of the upper classes. As with undergarments, its difficult to determine when stockings came into common use. Women probably didnt wear stockings any higher than the knee; they didnt have to  since their dresses were so long. But men, whose tunics were shorter and who were unlikely to have heard of trousers, let alone wear them, often wore hose up to the thighs. Hats, Hoods, and Other Head-Coverings For every member of society, a head-covering was an important part of ones attire, and the working class was no exception. Field workers often wore broad-brimmed straw hats to keep off the sun. A coif, a linen or hemp bonnet that fit close to the head and was tied under the chin,  was usually worn by men undertaking messy work such as pottery, painting, masonry,  or crushing grapes. Butchers and bakers wore kerchiefs over their hair; blacksmiths needed to protect their heads from flying sparks and might wear any of a variety of linen or felt caps. Women usually wore veils, a simple square, rectangle, or oval of linen kept in place by tying a ribbon or cord around the forehead. Some women also wore wimples, which attached to the veil and covered the throat and any exposed flesh above the tunics neckline. A barbette (chin strap) might be used to keep the veil and wimple in place, but for most working-class women, this extra piece of fabric may have seemed like an unnecessary expense. Headgear was very important for the respectable woman; only unmarried girls and prostitutes went without something covering their hair. Both men and women wore hoods, sometimes attached to capes or jackets. Some hoods had a length of fabric in the back that the wearer could wrap around his neck or his head. Men were known to wear hoods that were attached to a short cape that covered the shoulders, very often in colors that contrasted with their tunics. Both red and blue became popular colors for hoods. Outer Garments For men who worked outdoors, an additional protective garment would usually be worn in cold or rainy weather. This could be a simple sleeveless cape or a coat with sleeves. In the earlier Middle Ages, men wore fur capes and cloaks, but there was a general view among medieval people that fur was worn only by savages, and its use went out of vogue for all but garment linings for quite some time. Though they lacked todays plastic, rubber, and Scotch-Guard, medieval folk could still manufacture fabric that resisted water, at least to a degree. This could be done by fulling wool during the manufacturing process, or by waxing the garment once it was complete. Waxing was known to be done in England, but seldom elsewhere due to the scarcity and expense of wax. If wool was made without the stringent cleansing of professional manufacturing, it would retain some of the sheeps lanolin and would, therefore, be naturally somewhat water-resistant. Most women worked indoors and didnt often have need of a protective outer garment. When they went out in cold weather, they might wear a simple shawl, cape, or pelisse. This last was a fur-lined coat or jacket; the modest means of peasants and poor laborers limited the fur to cheaper varieties, such as goat or cat. The Laborers Apron Many jobs required protective gear to keep the laborers everyday wear clean enough to wear every day. The most common protective garment was the apron. Men would wear an apron whenever they performed a task that could cause a mess: filling barrels, butchering animals, mixing paint. Usually, the apron was a simple square or rectangular piece of cloth, often linen and sometimes hemp, which the wearer would tie around his waist by its corners. Men usually didnt wear their aprons until it was necessary and removed them when their messy tasks were done. Most chores that occupied the peasant housewifes time were potentially messy; cooking, cleaning, gardening, drawing water from the well, changing diapers. Thus, women typically wore aprons throughout the day. A womans apron often fell to her feet and sometimes covered her torso as well as her skirt. So common was the apron that it eventually became a standard part of the peasant womans costume. Throughout much of the Early and High Middle Ages, aprons were undyed hemp or linen, but in the later medieval period, they began to be dyed a variety of colors. Girdles Belts, also known as girdles, were common accouterments for men and women. They might be made from rope, fabric cords, or leather. Occasionally belts might have buckles, but it was more common for poorer folk to tie them instead. Laborers and peasants not only tucked up their clothing with their girdles, but they also attached tools, purses, and utility pouches to them. Gloves Gloves and mittens were also fairly common and were used to protect the hands from injury as well as for warmth in cold weather. Workers such as masons, blacksmiths, and even peasants cutting wood and making hay were known to use gloves. Gloves and mittens could be of virtually any material, depending on their specific purpose. One type of workers glove was made from sheepskin, with the wool on the inside, and had a thumb and two fingers to offer a little more manual dexterity than a mitten. Nightwear The idea that all medieval people slept naked is unlikely; in fact, some period artwork shows folk in bed wearing a simple shirt or gown. But due to the expense of clothing and the limited wardrobe of the working class, it is quite possible that many laborers and peasants slept naked, at least during warmer weather. On cooler nights, they could wear shifts to bed,  possibly even the same ones theyd worn that day under their clothes. Making and Buying Clothes All clothing was hand-sewn, of course, and was time-consuming to make compared to modern machine methods. Working-class folk couldnt afford to have a tailor make their clothes, but they could trade with or purchase from a neighborhood seamstress or make their outfits themselves, especially since fashion was not their foremost concern. While some made their own cloth, it was far more common to purchase or barter for finished cloth, either from a draper or peddler or from fellow villagers. Mass-produced items like hats, belts, shoes and other accessories were sold in specialty stores in big towns and cities, by peddlers in rural areas, and at markets everywhere. The Working-Class Wardrobe It was sadly all too common in a feudal system for the poorest folk to own nothing more than the clothes on their back. But most people, even peasants, werent quite that poor. People usually had at least two sets of clothes: everyday wear and the equivalent of Sunday best, which would not only be worn to church (at least once a week, often more frequently) but to social events as well. Virtually every woman, and many men, were capable of sewing, if only just a little, and garments were patched and mended for years. Garments and good linen undergarments were even bequeathed to heirs or donated to the poor when their owner died. More prosperous peasants and artisans would often have several suits of clothes and more than one pair of shoes, depending on their needs. But the amount of clothing in any medieval persons wardrobe, even a royal personage, couldnt come near what modern people usually have in their closets today. Sources Piponnier, Francoise, and Perrine Mane, Dress in the Middle Ages. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1997.Kà ¶hler, Carl, A History of Costume. George G. Harrap and Company, Limited, 1928; reprinted by Dover.Norris, Herbert, Medieval Costume and Fashion.: London: J.M. Dent and Sons, 1927; reprinted by Dover.Netherton, Robin, and Gale R. Owen-Crocker, Medieval Clothing and TextilesBoydell Press, 2007. Jenkins, D.T., editor. The Cambridge History of Western Textiles, vols. I and II. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2003.

Monday, December 23, 2019

The War Film Genre - 538 Words

The war film genre includes films about warfare, including naval, air or land battles. Films in this genre may focus on the battles, prisoners of war, military training, life during wartime or morality and humanitarian issues of warfare. This genre commonly includes works of fiction, works based on historical facts and occasionally works based on alternate-history fiction. According to American Cinema/American Culture, the genre also includes four narrative elements: the suspension of morality during times of war, the prioritization of collective goals over individual motivations, the rivalry between men and their objectification of women and the issues of reintegrating veterans. (Belton 165-71) The 1986 Oscar winning film Platoon (Stone) is a classic example of this genre and why it is so popular. As such, Platoon is a fictional work that follows Chris Taylor, a young American who gives up college and volunteers for combat duty in Vietnam. Following Taylor’s tour of Vietnam, the film’s main focus is not only his life during the war, but also the mortality issues he must find a way to deal with. Furthermore, Platoon includes all four of the narrative elements necessary to fit into this genre. The first and third narrative elements, the suspension of morality during times of war and the rivalry between men, even though demonstrated throughout the film, really becomes prevalent when the platoon discovers a food and weapons cache in a village. While searching this village,Show MoreRelatedThe Vietnam War Film Genre1313 Words   |  6 PagesThe Vietnam film is a specific sub-genre of the conventional Hollywood war film that arose as a result of the 1960s counter culture. According to Elliot Stegall’s article Ideological, Dystopic, and Antimythopoetic Formations of Masculinity in the Vietnam War Film many American war films depicted the glorification of war and emphasized the concept of American masculinity (Stegall). Previous to the Vietnam period, Hollywood war films stuck to contemporary tropes. These films often re-enact the ideaRead MoreWar Film Genre: Platon523 Words   |  2 PagesThe war film genre includes films about warfare, including naval, air or land bat tles. Films in this genre may focus on the battles, prisoners of war, military training, life during wartime or morality and humanitarian issues of warfare. This genre commonly includes works of fiction, works based on historical facts and occasionally works based on alternate-history fiction. According to American Cinema/American Culture, the genre also includes four narrative elements: the suspension of morality duringRead MoreEssay on War Film Genre1668 Words   |  7 PagesM Avodian September 20, 2012 War from the Beginning War films have been around for quite some time. They have many different aspects to them. Each film has a little bit different view, depending on what the director wants the audience to get out of the movie. 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This company used to be one of the main 5 in the 50’s, and is a well – known conglomerate company, recognised for their Sci-fi genre. Star wars and X-files are two other of their best-known productions. The institution that made the films is one similarity; the main difference in the films is theRead MoreMovie Analysis : Film And Film Genre Essay1182 Words   |  5 PagesThere are many different types of film and film genres. A film can fit into more than one genre, but there are some genres that are more general than others. Some examples of film genre are animated, science fiction, documentary, comedy, and historical fiction. Within each genre, there are also specific characteristics that help support themes and story lines within that genre. An animated movie is a drawing, painted, or digitally created film that uses stop-frame cinematography to simulate movementRead MoreFilm Noir: A Style Spanning Genres Essay1016 Words   |  5 Pagescategorize items applies also to objets d’art, including film – and the recognition or dismissal of film noir as a genre has been argued since the term was coined. While the term itself is valid, film noir as a genre is a misnomer. More properly, film noir should be considered a style unto itself, but definitively not genre, defined by the very definitions of the words â€Å"style† and â€Å"genre†. We will limit our subject matter here to the classic film noir period of 1941-1958, recognizing that all modernRead MoreThe Science Fiction Film Genre Essay1683 Words   |  7 PagesScience Fiction Films The science fiction film genre has been around almost as long as movies have, but like the cinema it is still a fairly young art form. This genre came into existence shortly after the invention of the movie camera in 1888 and has endured for over one-hundred years. Science fiction is adaptive; it changes with the times and this trend can be seen in its incorporation of other genres, cultural history and technology. This essay will attempt to define the genre, chronicle the history

Saturday, December 14, 2019

The Garden Free Essays

I remember my first day of finishing school clearly. Nightingale finishing school for Girls was buzzing with pupils, ready for the new school year ahead of them, and telling tales of their . I felt out of place. We will write a custom essay sample on The Garden or any similar topic only for you Order Now It might have been that I had the wrong hairstyle, or that my shoes were not the right style, maybe it was the fact that I had nobody to talk to, maybe it was all of these. I know now that it was something much stranger than that, a power that repelled certain people away from me – it was like trying to attract wrong ends of magnets together. I saw a group of girls and decided they must have been the â€Å"popular† clique. There was a buzzing air around them, as well as a larger crowd. They were all stunning; with not a hair out of place. They looked over to me as I stood alone. The look was icy, and I presumed this was just because I was the â€Å"new girl†, an outcast. I turned away and found a place to sit alone, when I felt a sharp tap on my back. It was one of the girls from the corner. She had waist-long, wavy butter-coloured hair. Some of her hair was secured with a very ornate cameo pin. Her fluttering eyelashes curled upwards in the most graceful fashion. Even her drab school uniform seemed to suit her perfectly. She had the elegance and beauty of an exotic white tiger. I turned around and said nothing; I was far too intimidated to answer. It seemed as if the tiger was ready to pounce. â€Å"Who are you?† There was a sharp pause. â€Å"You must be the new girl then.† I tried to reply but simply couldn’t. It was like trying to talk when under the pressure of deep water. She looked at me as if I were a leper. Offended, she mumbled something inaudible and snarled like a dog, â€Å"What’s the matter with you? I want to warn you not to get in the way here. Don’t mess with us and you might just get along here.† All eyes seemed to be on me as she hurried back to her crowd, to regain her place as â€Å"queen bee†. Her friends laughed and then went back to their conversation as if nothing had happened. Half way through my day, I knew that I wouldn’t fit in very well; I was frustrated at the fact that I might not find any friends at all. As soon as we were allowed a free period and retire to the hall again, I escaped to the great library. It was a large, magnificent room, which looked as if I could blend in and not be noticed by anyone. The walls, books and floor were my only company. I reflected over my day and what had happened. Nobody understood what I was going through, and how difficult it was for me to speak to them. This triggered thought about my late mother. She died at the tender age of 33. Mostly, I’m over the death of my mother. At the time of her death, I didn’t understand what was happening. I thought that I was too young to be wearing a black dress; only older women seemed to wear them. It was more uncomfortable than my normal dress and I didn’t want to wear it at all. I didn’t understand at my young age that it would have been unacceptable, and disrespectful to my dead mother, for me not to. The clothes my mother dressed me in were much more comfortable, and they smelt of her scent wherever I went. The week after her death, I started to wonder where she had gone. I missed her greatly after a few weeks, because my father was much stiffer and stricter, if he was there for us at all. He seemed more into his work and gambling than caring for his children. My personality, as well as my brothers’, changed at this point. I became much more reserved, unwilling to talk to anyone other than my brothers. I didn’t particularly feel like talking to them either; I only talked to them when it was necessary. Nobody seemed to worry about me, either. I spent most of my time in our luscious garden. I enjoyed the cool shade of the willow tree in the summer; there I could hear the sweet birds chirping. I could smell the blooming flowers, their rich colours like confectionery to the eyes. Here was the only place I could find peacefulness, and shut myself out from the rest of the uncaring world. I disliked my father for what he had done; he was responsible for sending me here†¦ â€Å"Hello.† My quiet thoughts were interrupted. â€Å"I wondered if you knew where the gardens were.† I looked up at my intruder, confused. There were no gardens, as far as I knew, at this school. He was a tall boy, of about fifteen years. I noticed that he wasn’t very handsome, but there was a mysterious air about him which made him seem attractive. I wondered what he was doing here; this was a girls’ finishing school after all. I attempted to say that I was new here, and didn’t know where it was, but all that came out was a muffled squeak: â€Å"No, sorry.† He started to walk away. He turned around and said â€Å"Oh, okay. Good night. And may I say that you have the prettiest eyes I have ever seen.† I blushed violently, and went back to my book about wild animals. * That night I had a spectacularly vivid dream. I could see luscious green grass and fragrant flowers filled the space. I saw the beautiful colours of the wildlife; exotic birds and unidentifiable mammals. There was a small spinney which caught my eye; the branches were waving slowly in the cool breeze, and a pool of sparkling water beside it. The landscape was truly beautiful; it was like being in a different world. I saw my mother reflected in the water where I leant over. She looked as beautiful as ever, as beautiful as a rose. She was slightly different from what I remember, as if she had bloomed further. Her face was a little more blushing and her nose was slightly more pointed. Her strawberry-blonde locks looked just like mine, as well as her beautifully deep blue-green eyes. I realised after a few seconds that this was not my mother, but I. I was truly taken aback by how much I looked like my mother; I suppose I had not before looked into my own reflection properly. That was the day that changed my life. I had not experienced such a vivid dream before, but they started to happen much more often. They started to affect my concentration in the school; I longed to be outside, free, with no cares and responsibilities. I thought that it was just my imagination running wild, and longing for my comfortable past back. Having an appearance like my mother’s helped my self-confidence. I was sure that she was extremely beautiful. I knew that I could never look as dazzling, as striking as her, but I knew that I was certainly not ugly. I noticed that my voice was coming through once again; no longer a muffled squeal. However, I still felt like hardly anyone liked me. I spent my evenings in the library, my secret hideaway. I was starting to get used to this school; life wasn’t as bad as it used to seem. * A year later, and my evenings were still as normal, uninterrupted and peaceful. I felt a wave of sleep come over me, so I closed my book and curled up into a ball. I didn’t realise at the time that this was not in a most ladylike fashion; my tiredness seemed to take over. It was not unusual to feel tired after a long day, so thought nothing of it at the time. Whilst in my sleep, I had another vivid dream. It was pleasant, the season in my world seemed to have changed to winter, but it was still beautiful. A soft blanket of snow covered the grass, and sparkling ice covered the pool of water where I often sat and thought about my mother. The leaves had left the trees in the spinney, and a layer of frost covered them. It was quite spectacular, everywhere sparkled and dazzled in the midday sun. I stumbled over a root in the spinney, but a striking evergreen bush broke my fall. â€Å"I’m sorry for my impoliteness,† I was awoken. It was a boy, the same boy that I had come across on my first day at this school. â€Å"But I wondered if I could talk to you?† I felt shy, but also warmed by his presence. Something about him made me feel slightly more comfortable than usual. This feeling was similar to the one I had when my mother was still alive. I was daydreaming, and didn’t realise; there was a pause in the conversation. â€Å"It’s just that†¦ I feel as if we are in the same situation.† He said, and sat down on the couch next to me. As I was slightly taken aback by this, I said nothing. My face asked the questions. â€Å"My mother died when I was young. I came here because I sensed that someone with the power was near.† He said, gently. â€Å"I know that you’ve had trouble fitting in, just like I did. People like me and you don’t, generally. People can sense that you have something different, which wards them off.† I was slightly confused, so I decided to ask him what the power was. Was it the power to enter a secret garden in my sleep? â€Å"What is the power?† â€Å"It is when you have the ability to enter a supernatural world, full of peace and harmony whenever you wish. I gained mine a few years after my mother died; she passed the power on to me. That is why I asked you last year whether you knew the way to the gardens.† I began to understand. This boy truly knew what I was feeling, and I could talk to him, as if I were a normal girl and my feelings mattered to him; he could empathise with me and vice versa. We instantly connected and I felt at ease. I couldn’t believe that I had met someone who knew how I felt, and what my life was like! We had been talking for two hours before I noticed that I was late to my dorm room. â€Å"I have to go†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I said. He asked me if I could stay for just a little while longer. I knew that inside, I wanted to stay. I wanted to stay with him forever, but simply had to go. I left after a couple of minutes. I was ecstatic; I couldn’t have asked for more than a friend at that point in my life. I don’t know what I would have done without somebody to understand me, at least for one day. I never did ask what he was doing at our girls’ school that day; the thought never crossed my mind whilst our conversation was flowing. It flowed like a river, never ending, and as we continued to meet it stayed that way. We shared our secret desires and passions, as well as sharing the stories of our past. Together, we also discovered that we could enter the garden with each other. I don’t know how it happened, but as we held each other in a warm embrace, the light appeared. We did so more and more, and over the days, weeks and months, the garden appeared to bloom – just like our friendship. The garden’s wildlife became more and more stunning. Even the non-living pool appeared to be spilling with life. He was my only friend, and I wanted it to stay that way, forever. How to cite The Garden, Papers

Friday, December 6, 2019

Resort World Sentosa free essay sample

1. History Background of the Industry The very first outdoor theme park built in Singapore is Escape Theme Park. It was opened in May 2000 at the East side of Singapore, Downtown East, Pasir Ris. It has attracted over 4 million people since its opening. However due to redevelopment of Downtown East, Escape Theme Park was ceased on 26 November 2011. The first water theme park in Singapore was Wild Wild Wet. It opened in June 2004 at the same location as Escape Theme Park. Wild Wild Wet has received several awards since it’s opening. Universal Studios Singapore (USS) was set up at Sentosa, Waterfront station. It is the largest theme park in Singapore and has attracted 2 million visitors in the first nine months of their opening. USS celebrated their 10 millionth visitor in April 2013. Recently, there was another water theme park build at Sentosa. Adventure Cove was opened on 22 November 2012. It has more rides available than Wild Wild Wet. Since then, it was seen as a worthy competitor to Wild Wild Wet. 2. Industry in Detail – Players (Firms/Companies), Brands, Trends Universal Studios has the highest market share in Singapore as they offer unique rides that no other theme parks have. Their main competitors are Adventure Cove and Wild Wild Wet. However, both Wild Wild Wet and Adventure Cove are of the same type of theme parks which provides only water rides. With similar attractions, both have a split share of the market. Barriers to enter There is a very high barrier for entry in the theme park industry as it requires a lot of financial capital as well as land space. Singapore being a small country has very limited space. It is not easy to find an ideal land to set up a theme park. It also takes time to clear away the land to build a theme park which requires a large space. Competition / Brand competition There is not much intense competition in this industry as three firms are mainly promoting their services through advertisements and price promotions. USS has very unique rides and is also a very well-known theme park all over the world. Hence, they do not have to worry much on the competition against Adventure Cove and Wild Wild Wet. On the other hand, Adventure Cove and Wild Wild Wet will have more tough competition against each other as both provide similar rides and that now Wild Wild Wet is undergoing expansions so that they will have the same standard as Adventure Cove. Issues facing the industry With no issues with the government, only issue they face is that each firm could see a cut in their profits as there are already other firms showing interest in the theme park market here in Singapore, an example would be Disneyland. Disneyland being the biggest player in this industry is finalizing their plans to open a theme park in Singapore. With much more experience than any other companies, it is also higher recognized by all hence they would not have troubles making a claim on the market share. Long term prospects (profit / loss) With the expectation of increasing visitors in the theme park industry, there will be a profiting in the long run as these theme parks are considered one of the tourist attractions in Singapore. 3. Product Differentiation How the various firms / product brands / services compete with each other? Product/Service comparison Comparing the 4 firms in this industry, we found that there are two main categories for the product/service provided. Universal Studios Singapore and Escape Theme Park provides its customers with mechanical thrill rides while Adventure Cove and Wild Wild Wet provides its customers with water thrill rides. Location Location-wise, the four firms are divided into two areas, Sentosa and Downtown East. Sentosa is an island off mainland Singapore and is a tourist attraction. So Universal Studios Singapore and Adventure Cove have a large number of tourists at their location that they can attract as visitors. For Escape Theme Park and Wild Wild Wet which is located in Downtown East, Pasir Ris, A local heartland. They are more appealing to locals who seek to distress with their family over the weekends. Services Being in the theme park industry, all four firms provides a similar main product which are thrill rides. But inside the parks, they do provide different services that increase their value as a firm. For example, Universal Studios Singapore provides users with a shopping and dining experience. They have mascots and characters from movies that the customer can take pictures with too. For Adventure Cove, they have a package ticket where visitors can visit the aquarium that is also part of the company that runs the theme park. Escape Theme Park and Wild Wild Wet both have restaurants within their compounds. All these extra services make each theme park more differentiated from their competitors. Physical Characteristics of the product/service Both Escape Theme Park and Universal Studios Singapore provides mechanical thrill rides for its users and Wild Wild Wet provides Water Thrill Rides. The different rides between the different parks are mostly similar. The main difference is the size of the rides and the complexity of the ride.  Universal Studios Singapore has bigger and more complex mechanical thrill rides than Escape Theme Park. And Adventure Cove has bigger and more complex water thrill rides than Wild Wild Wet. Product Image For product image, Universal Studios Singapore is carrying a well-known and established theme park brand name: Universal Studios. Universal Studios is a film-making company that has expanded into the theme park industry and now has 4 different theme parks with one of them being the one in Singapore. Adventure Cove is opened by Resort World at Sentosa brand name, which is also responsible for the theme park and resort at Genting in Malaysia. So they are experienced and well known in South East Asia. But for Wild Wild Wet and Escape Theme Park, They are opened by NTUC club, a local corporation without any prior experience in the theme park industry. Price – sensitivity of consumers and suppliers to changes in price For consumers, price is not really a main issue in considering the theme park they want to go to. Theme Parks are not something that customers go to daily or even regularly. They usually go on holidays or for a celebration. Customers look more into the services, the rides that they are interested in and the location of the theme park. Promotion – advertisement In promotion, all the firms are more inclined in advertising what rides they have and boasting its own rides. Not as much to do product comparison with their competitors and how they are better than the competition. They also provide promotion to encourage visitors to come again. Like Universal Studios and Adventure Cove provides annual passes for a certain price. This annual pass can be used by visitors to return any day of the year except for public holidays and the weekends. Wild Wild Wet provides a reward program for people that are a member of NTUC, the corporation that runs the theme park. This benefits them as NTUC is a large corporation in Singapore and with the reward program, they are able to attract visitors. 1. Recommendations A new theme park in Singapore would be difficult because of the high barrier for entry. It is still possible to set up one if there are a lot of financial capital is available and an ideal land space is acquired. The  best idea for a new mechanical theme park in Singapore would be an indoor one, with Orchard Road as the location. Right now, only USS is offering a mechanical theme park and with only one competitor available we would have a better chance in succeeding and sustaining. So the theme park in our plan is a 2 – 3 floors of theme park built on top of an existing shopping center at Orchard Road. What can the firm / the brand do to excel in present market condition? Orchard Road is a tourist spot with a lot of local traffic too. This enables us to reach both markets that the other firms are targeting. We could promote the theme park through advertisements in media, at tourist brochures, maps, and linking up with restaurants and stores in the shopping center to provide discounts for shared customers. Both these promotion techniques would propel us to be one of the main players in the local theme park industry. What are your team predictions for the future of these players in the market? For the current players of the industry, their business will definitely be impacted by a new player, maybe a cut in profit. But with the rise of tourism, we are sure there will be enough customers for all the players including us to be profiting and sustain in this industry.