The company's effort to establish a discernible identity is muddled somewhat by nomenclature.
SINCE its premiere in 1742, Handel's "Messiah" has been interpreted, reinterpreted and, some say, misinterpreted so many times that its identity has become muddled.
But some analysts say its identity is still muddled: is it a destination for bargain hunters in search of the cheapest can of beans, or for upwardly mobile shoppers who want measuring cups in colors chosen by Martha Stewart? "Unlike Wal-Mart, Kmart has this tremendous dichotomy in their business," said Walter K. Levy, a managing director at Kurt Salmon Associates.
"Or will that in any fashion muddle their identity?
By contrast, Mr. Eubanks had come to the show with an artistic identity, which has since been muddled, and not just by his network responsibilities.
Their season-opening four-game stretch, dominated by offensive breakdowns and defensive volatility, has muddled the definition, creating a crisis of identity and personality.
It needs to gain a sense of its own identity, it's become a bit muddled.
Since then, the company has muddled through a lengthy review of its strategic options and its broader identity.
It doesn't help that Vinnie's mother is muddling through her own identity crisis.
Instead, a handful of anchors, including Ms. Ifill and Judy Woodruff, share the two host chairs in constant rotation, further muddling the program's identity, critics said, and adding to costs.
