The American society has been realized to be a part of the new age nations of development and expansive progress. Even during the time of the financial issues and problems in the worldwide scope, the world looked through carefully as to how the nation would actually be able to manifest its operative competitiveness as it faces economic downfall. At present, the country’s President claims that the advancements have already been done and the accomplishment of development and recovery has been realized true. In his State of the Union Speech, he further points out specific guidelines that are better able to outline the different progressive approaches the country is expected to take towards defining the future of America. In the discussion herein, a definition of the themes of the speech presented by the President himself shall be identified and analyzed based on the theories of Durkheim and Marx about social development, capitalism and labor issues.

The State of the Union Speech of 2011

Understanding Its Idealisms through Durkheim’s Theories of Social Development

America is the cradle of development and the home of the free people. This is what President Barack Obama repeatedly mentioned in his speech during the State of the Union in 2011. He pointed out how through the years, the American society has become the source of inspiration and hope for many people, both the Americans themselves and the immigrants who come in the country. In his speech, he pointed out four important themes of focus which he imposes as the basic considerations that the American society must give attention to at present. What are these particular themes? One is the Nature Unity. Herein, he discusses the different forms of developmental factors that could assist America in its growth. One of which is the existence of immigrants in the country who share the responsibility of boosting up the nation’s economy through their labor. In his words, he imposes the need to stop putting too much stress on these individuals as they too, as part of the “free nation” deserves to be compensated well through giving them the education they need to be more productive and become an asset to the country’s growth more than what they already are. He tends to stop the idealism of Displaced Peasantry that is described as the massive effect of industrialization where workers are paid less for what they are actually putting forth (pp 700-717 taken notes). The President then points out that it is just right to give everyone a fair chance on the life that they deserve based on the effort that they are willing to put forth. To fix the situation, the application of the options of organic society could be taken into consideration. How could this be applied? As the president pointed out, the Tucson tragedy has marked this year’s American history as the people of different ages, color and perception in life get together to think of what has happened even to a young nine year old girl [along with all the others who died that day] who simply wanted to be a part of the movement towards her country’s development. Herein, the President points out how America is a family that needs to function with the help of everyone else taking their own role into serious consideration.

Another aspect of the speech focuses on the economy. This part of the discussion focused upon the need of creating more jobs, innovating businesses and welcoming more investors from all around the globe. Obama hopes to empower the industry and not to increase competition among the capitalists who are to entre in the country as per suggested in the idea of the theory that when capitalists compete, they reduce the skill of the workers, they introduce new machines for higher production rate; thus resulting to heightened unemployment rate (pp 480-481, taken notes). Instead of making them compete with each other, the President hopes to establish camaraderie among these capitalists hence assuming their capability to increase the number of job positions opened to for public appreciation.

The third aspect discussed is that of the welfare and education of the people. The common idealism of the Organic Solidarity depends on the people being closely balanced together and their role specifically defined by their desire to become a part of the growth of the society. As it is said by Durkeheim, organic solidarity is based on the complementary differences between the teachers and the students and how they make those differences work towards the benefits of everyone else (pp 157 taken notes). Through this, the President hopes to pursue programs that would not simply educate the students and the people with basic skills but would empower them with great consideration to honing their skills to make them more productive for the nation’s benefit and their own satisfaction as well.

The fourth and the most common among all the different State of the Union Speeches is that of the pursuance of the development of world leadership, whereas the president hopes to created a unified society as lead by the American desire to promote peace among all nations. The idea of imposing progress through unity is not a new idea anymore as this has been described by Durkheim as the oxygen of the social system as he points out that social cohesion for the sake of developing morality among all nations is necessary to put forth “world function” into a realized state (pp 40 Taken notes). Truthfully, it could be realized that the desire of the President is not only to establish America as a nation for the Americans, but a nation that stands as the epitome of hope for all the people of the world.

Understanding President Obama’s Thoughts of the American Future

Through the Thinking of Karl Marx

Communism or Capitalism: which is the real key to social solidarity? The President of the United States says neither. Instead, President Obama points out the fact that the key to social development and national recovery from the past challenges that the country has dealt with is the people of the nation. Regardless of their race or their origin, so long as they can empower the American community and economy, they are supposed to be regarded important by the government. There were four particular aspects of attention that the President mentioned in the speech. The four themes include education, nature unity, economy and world leadership.

He hoped to make the best out of the American society through developing the educational system of the nation that is directed towards all the people of the country. Marx practically hoped of assuming the idea of improving the society through developing the capability of the people to use their labor efforts more (pp 147 Taken Notes). And doing so requires of the people to be properly trained through education. This is what the President hopes to promote as part of his discussion. While education is improved, it is expected that employment rate opens up to further growth hence ending the struggle of unemployment among individuals in the society. This is in complete opposition to Marx’s promotion of social peasantry where he seeks to develop a system that would make the people work whether or not they are being compensated properly for their effort (pp 700-717 Taken Notes). The President hopes to create natural unity in the nation through manifesting the capability of each individual to realize the kind of satisfaction that they deserve in par with the work that they are willing to offer in exchange of a means of living. Yes, it is believed by the president that creating a more sufficient society that is able to make the best out of every opportunity there is for growth is dependent on the satisfaction that the people realize.

To finish up his speech, the President gears towards the development of world leadership that is expected to make a definitive effect on the process by which economic stability is supported by the government. He repeatedly called to his fellow democrats and the other party of the republicans to work together in unity towards developing oneness in the leadership that should accompany the American society towards prosperity and growth. Unlike the course taken by competitive capitalism as per mentioned in Marx’s ideas of a strong society based on achievements of the higher classes and the sustenance of the lower class (pp 556-573, Taken Notes), the President of America hopes to empower everyone and give everyone a chance to realize their worth in the society. How could this be done? He simply hopes to call on the possibility of establishing workable camaraderie among the capitalists and the cooperative relationship that they establish not only with the government but the people as well; and this assumption of roles and situations goes vice-versa. Through the assumptions of development that the President has outlined in his speech, it could be realized how he simply hopes to affect the being of each individual who has become a part of the American society thus pursuing a path towards peace and unity in the whole nation as they face the new era of world industrial revolution.

References:

Mark and Engel’s Theory of History. History as a Succession of Modes of Production.

Durkheim’s Future Good Society. Natural Abilities and External Conditions.

Understanding the Predictive Factors of Teen Homelessness

“There is a difference between being put out and being put outdoors. If you are put out, you go somewhere else; if you are outdoors, there is no place to go. The distinction was subtle but final… Knowing that there was such a thing as outdoors bred in us a hunger for property, for ownership” (Morrison, 1970).

According to the National Coalition for the Homeless (2007), homeless youth “are individuals under the age of eighteen who lack parental, foster, or institutional care. These young people are sometimes referred to as unaccompanied youth.”

More than a decade ago, the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) revealed that there are approximately 100 million homeless youth worldwide and between 500,000 and 2 million homeless youth in the United States of America (Ensign & Panke, 2002). This data has not improved in the coming years. The global crisis and recession threw several families out in the streets, and the most vulnerable segments, those who neither had the education and skill were the ones frequently left behind.

A study by Ensign and Panke (2002) mentioned that of the homeless youth, adolescent women were among the most vulnerable. They are often exposed to hazardous work conditions, often forced to sell sexual favors just so to meet their daily survival needs, often deprived of basic health care, and often suffer from the stigma of homelessness from government institutions such as health centers. Aside from this, the homeless youth have to deal with substance abuse issues, HIV, and early pregnancy. Ensign and Panke (2002) added that culture and personal experiences were not pivotal in addressing the needs and concerns of homeless youth. Thus, palliative methods such as health care and food stubs are met with nonchalance – a means to survive for another day, but not as means to get out of the state of homelessness. This nonchalance is manner of coping, for it would only be through apathy and detachment, and a sense of mistrust to authorities could the homeless youth be capable of survival. To further understand this let us take a look at the basic and common experiences of the homeless youth in Washington D.C., the state which registers one of the highest cases of youth homelessness in the United States of America.

“For the destitute living on the steps of St. John’s, the Salvation Army van stops by each evening to distribute dinner (which usually consists of soup or stew, a sandwich, and hot chocolate). DC Central Kitchen, which ‘recycles’ surplus food from stores, restaurants, hotels, and other sources, prepares 4,000 meals each day. Martha’s Table, where volunteers prepare soups and sandwiches to feed approximately 1,200 homeless each day through the McKenna Wagon program, is another source of food. Many other charitable organizations and churches, along with countless volunteers, do what they can each day to feed the homeless in Washington, D.C. Every year at Thanksgiving, the TV cameras capture the images of thousands of homeless receiving a turkey dinner. The bigger challenge, though, is making sure there are meals the other 364 days of the year” (Hatfield, n.d.).

This is a stark description of homelessness in the very seat of American democracy. Because most of the time, women carry the burden of rearing an unwanted child after his/ her father has ran away, and with the needs to survive and work, children from these broken families almost always find themselves in foster homes. These children suffer from not having a permanent family, and the pressure of having to provide for oneself at the age of 18, children from foster homes are the most prominent victims of homelessness. In spite of this, there is little information about how the interplay of different factors such as race, family background, and placement records contribute to youth homelessness. As such, child welfare agencies often face dilemmas in the provision of preventive programs and services that can address the problem of homelessness among the youth (Dowrsky & Courtney, n.d.).

Dworsky and Courtney (n.d.), however have identified predictive factors for youth homelessness in their study of the American homeless youth in Washington DC. The major predictive factors include the absence of supportive and nurturing parental relationships and care from other family members and residential instability brought by foster care. Aside from this, Dworsky and Courtney (n.d.) identified common characteristics that can be found among homeless youth. These include early engagement in pre-marital sex, dropping out of school, and abuse of illegal drugs. Cohen, Mackenzie and Yates (1991) further pointed out that homeless youth “experience higher incidence of sexual abuse and prostitution and are six times more likely to be at risk for HIV infection.

Another primary cause of concern is the result of a study conducted by Cohen, Mackenzie and Yates (1991). According to them, the distorted environment in which homeless youths were reared and socialized contribute to reasons why “half of the homeless youth (that have been subject of the study) scored above borderline or clinical concern cut-offs for externalizing and internalizing disorders. The experience of homelessness therefore distorts the basic perspectives of almost the majority of homeless youths. While this cannot immediately qualify the assumption that homeless youths suffer from personality and behavioral disorders, we could also take into account the factors (which are normally absent in a healthy home environment) that lead to such disorders. While homelessness per se could not be perceived to be a direct cause of disorders among the youth, the condition itself undeniably paves the way for other predictive factors of behavioral and other personality disorders.

“Whether caused by genetic predisposition, poor prenatal care, or complications during birth, there is a growing body of evidence that many homeless youth enter childhood ‘hard-wired’ for behavior and attention problems” (Burt, 2001).

In this context, foster care plays a major factor. According to Burt (2001), children in foster care may suffer from abusive or neglectful treatments, which may hamper their natural development of trusting and fruitful attachments with other people. These children also have to endure changing school environments and thus could not be able to develop deeper attachments with other peers compared to other children with homes and families of their own. Aside from this, because foster homes only assume responsibility of the child until the age of 18, the sudden breaking of ties often leave the child with neither skill nor experience at a huge risk of homelessness.

According to the National Coalition for the Homeless (2007), a significant percentage of youth become homeless because their families faced severe “financial crises resulting from lack of affordable housing, limited employment opportunities, insufficient wages, lack of medical insurance and inadequate welfare policies.” Aside from these, the children suffer from early separation from their parents as they are placed in shelters and other housing facilities to facilitate the provision of their basic needs.

In Washington D.C., one out of three children lives in poverty. It ranks first in terms of child poverty rate and family poverty rate in the United States. Because economic factors are major predictive factors for youth homelessness, it follows that the state also deals with a huge number of homeless youth and children. Washington also ranks first in terms of the rate of persons contracting HIV and AIDS – a risk that further implicates the dire living conditions of runaways and homeless youths in the area.

A 1999 survey of the Journal of Adolescent Health in Washington D.C. revealed that out of 288 homeless youth respondents, 7.6 percent have ran away from home with sexual abuse as the predominant reason. Majority of those who were sexually abused were females. While in the streets, one in three was coerced to perform a sexual act against his or her will (National Coalition for the Homeless, 2007).

The aforementioned data and statistics are the alarming features of youth homelessness in Washington D.C. and in the United States of America. While there are numerous agencies that seek to address their welfare needs, the country has a long way to go to prevent children from being homeless and from being separated from their family. Because poverty is a multi-faceted problem, addressing the problem of homelessness requires the government and civil society groups to study and look at it in a multi-sectoral perspective. Policy reforms that address the problems of low wages, lack of housing tenure security, insufficient welfare programs, and racial discrimination are only a few of the measures that can be undertaken to address the problem of homelessness. Foster care policies need also to be reviewed, considering that they have registered unanticipated consequences on the lives of the children that have been targeted by the interventions. It is likewise necessary to take into account the psychosocial impact of temporary placements to children who have unfortunately experienced being constantly transferred to one foster home into another, as the lack of an atmosphere of warmth and trust is also one of the major predictive factors of youth homelessness.

References

Burt, Martha, Aron, Laudan, Y., Lee, Edgar & Valente, Jesse. (2001) Helping America’s

Homeless. Washington DC: The Urban Institute Press.

Cohen, Eric, Mackenzie, Richard and Yates, Gary (1991). “A Psychosocial Risk Assessment

Instrument: Implications for Designing Effective Intervention Programs for Runaway

Youth.” Journal of Adolescent Health, 12(7): 539-544. Accessed 13 February 2011 from

www.jahonline.org

Dworsky, Amy and Courtney, Mar E. (n.d.) “Homelessness and the Transition from Fostercare

to Adulthood.” Child Welfare, 88(4): 1-35.

Ensign, Josephine and Panke, Aileen (2002). “Barriers and Bridges to Care: Voices of Homeless

Female Adolescent Youth in Seattle, Washington, USA.” Journal of Advanced Nursing,

37 (2): 166-172. Blackwell Science, Ltd.

Hatfield, Dolph L. (n.d.) The Homeless in Washington DC: Reaching out to Help the Other

Population. Accessed 13 February 2011 from www.cosmosclub.org

National Coalition for the Homeless (2007). “Homeless Youth.” NCH Factsheet # 13. Accessed

13 February 2011 from www.nationalhomeless.org

Recruitment isn’t merely appointing personnel and putting them through the paces; it involves a lot more than that. When an organization has the task of appointing a replacement for a vacancy created by retirement or transfer or job-hopping, it has the arduous task of finding a suitable replacement to fill the void. This is  serious business, as the time taken to find a suitable replacement and train that person to do the job as efficiently as the person who left it, would take time, money and energy. This can have a telling effect on the organization’s productivity and growth. Therefore, an organization must plan its strategies to enhance employee participation or better still introduce policies which are supportive of their employees needs. It is no secret that one’s work environment influences their attitude and the better the work environment, the more will it instigate positive work. Having said this, a vacancy can create a void and this is where finding suitable replacements becomes mandatory.

Because of the way Jennifer and her father have been hiring people for their firm, there was no doubt that they were only finding temporary means to engage people to run the business so that the firm didn’t come to a standstill. This is not the solution to their problem. By continuing this way, Jennifer and her dad would only increase the overheads of the stores and decrease its turnover.

In order to get better applicants for jobs with them, the company needs to spell out what they offer and what they expect from the applicants. If the company continues to pick up just about anyone who walks in through the door, they will forever have to keep that door open. Instead of spending their time in productivity, they will spend most of their time screening and interviewing job applicants. Advertisements can make a lot of difference to their needs. Picking up someone from a weekend ad will only bring immediate relief and not a permanent solution. This is where an effective advertisement can deliver the solution. Jennifer’s advertisement should clearly state what kind of personnel they are looking for, what are the benefits the organization will offer, what are the organization’s expectations and question them why they think they suit this job. Such an advertisement will have a positive impact on the hiring process and will make the task interesting and satisfying. Only those who fill the eligibility criteria will walk in for the interview and this will reduce unnecessary time spent on unqualified applicants and increase the databank of suitable and qualified applicants for similar positions later on should it mandate.

The CNBC advertisement of Oshkosh Corporation (http://www.cnbc.com) is a standing example of a great way to advertise the company to potential applicants. The advertisement reveals the organization’s plans, how big the organization is; what the organization expects from their employees and what sort of personnel they are looking for.

Word of mouth is probably the most powerful form communication in the business world. It can either hurt a company’s reputation…or give it a boost in the market” (McKenna, 1985). While there are many tools for advertisers, the most common tool is the print media. Then there is the internet and television, hoardings and flyers. In the case of Jennifer, since she is recruiting people who generally have no more than a high school education (often less), and the market for them is very competitive, the options of advertising on the internet is inconsequential. This leaves her with the possibilities of advertising her requirement through the print media. Newspaper ads could be expensive, but they will deliver the goods and bring better applicants.

The idea to good advertising and marketing is in studying their potential applicant’s behavior (Tutor2u, 2006). Consumers or potential applicants behaviors can be quite unpredictable at times, but on most cases, it’s just a question of getting the basics right. To understand an applicant’s behavior and make their advertisement effective, Jennifer will have to formulate strategies which highlight the benefits of working for the company, what the company expects from them, and what the company offers them. The advertisement shown below is a good example of how a company can target the right applicant for their job:

Picture Courtesy: http://www.southwest.com/images/ad_gallery/careers_peanuts.jpgIf

Another way of getting better applicants is by word-of-mouth. Even though the company is faced with the prospect of recruiting personnel on a regular basis, Jennifer could encourage her employees to work as a team and reward them for their hard and efficient work. This will eliminate the risk of recruiting personnel on a regular basis and should someone leave the company, the others could be asked to spread the word of the vacancy to their friends or relatives who might be more efficient or hardworking than they are. This way, Jennifer will have the security of knowing who is who and what they seek to stay with the firm.

References

McKenna, R, 1985, The Regis Touch: Million Dollar Advice from America’s Top Marketing, Addison Wesley Publishing Company

CNBC: Oshkosh Corporation, retrieved 9 February, 2011, from <http://www.cnbc.com>

Current statistics show that global unemployment rates have skyrocketed. Moreover, it is alarming to know that the unemployment rate for young people aged 18 to 35 is typically double that of the general population. Closer scrutiny will reveal that the main causes for these dismal numbers are lack of skills; frictional unemployment; and, minimum wages.

The first cause for high unemployment rates among young people is a shortage in employee skills. Lack of skills among young people disqualifies them from taking more stable type of employment. They are relegated to part-time work or low-paying jobs on temporary basis. The lower the education level is, the more it is unlikely for a young    person to get a respectable job on a regular basis. They have to be content with any job.

A.    Young people have skills that are not in demand. Participants in the labour force work in  industries that are dynamic, and as such, have demands that are continuously revolving. Going to school to acquire specialized skills takes time, and so does seeking employment. Usually, by the time a job seeker enters a particular industry, it is to discover that the skills one has acquired are sadly lacking, or is somehow not relevant anymore.

B.   Young people lack skills altogether. One of the most pressing needs for employers is a  shortage in employee skills. Emerging evidence culled from the labour market implies that a good number of industries are confronted with a serious shortage of “high-skilled technical and non-technical workers.” More jobs now require skills in technology.

C.   A positive development in Canada is that the youth are generally staying in school much longer, and pursuing higher education that will be expected to meet the skill requirement for many industries.

The second cause for high unemployment rates among young people is called frictional employment.

A.   Employees’ job seeking takes time. The reason for this is simply that fully-qualified unemployed people are yet to find job openings.

B.    Employers’ selection processes take time because they want to ensure that they do not    lose money in terms of hiring the wrong people for a particular job.

C.    Young people are less attached to work so they enter, withdraw and re-enter labour markets more often.

The third cause for high unemployment rates among young people is the imposition of minimum wages.

A.  Young people who are considered less skilled are blocked from employment.

B.   Employers have to justify new hires by calculating their possible contributions to the company, against their minimum-wage costs.

Conclusion

A.    The three causes of high unemployment among young people are lack of skills, frictional employment and the imposition of minimum wages. These are not, however, hopeless because they can still improve their skills.

B.     Students staying in school for longer periods will help address the causes of high unemployment which are typically based on skills. The longer they stay in school,   the higher will the younger people’s market value.

The most recentsis continues to take its toll, and according to the International Labour Organization, young workers aged 18 to 35 years old may have been the hardest hit – resulting in a compelling rise in the population of unemployed young people all over the world (Moody, 2010). In a report published by the ILO entitled “Global Employment Trends for Youth,” the United Nations agency disclosed that by the end of 2009, there have been 81 million unemployed young people world-wide. This high unemployment rate “typically hovers around roughly double” the normal rate for the general global population (CBC News, 2010). Canada is no ex global economic criception. According to Statistics Canada, national unemployment rate was at 8.2% as of March 2010; and among youths, the rate escalated to 15.6% (CBC News, 2010). The Depository Services Program of the Canadian government points out that youth unemployment relative to that of adults is at a worse level since the country’s 1990-1991 recession (DSP, 2011). Closer scrutiny will reveal that the main causes for these dismal numbers are lack of skills; frictional unemployment; and minimum wages.

One of the most pressing needs for employers is a shortage in employee skills. Emerging evidence culled from the labour market implies that a good number of industries are confronted with a serious shortage of “high-skilled technical and non-technical workers” (OAYEC, 2003, p. 5). As the “Baby Boom” generation reaches retirement age, the current knowledge-based economy continues to demand a more highly-skilled labour force and the more recent concerns pertain to not having the sufficient number of workers who possess the required skills-set to match. A positive development in Canada is that the youth are generally staying in school much longer, and pursuing higher education that will be expected to meet the skill requirement for many industries (OAYEC, 2003, P. 5-6). For now, the dilemma is that a lot of young people find themselves marginalized from the labour market, mainly because the sill they have are not in demand, or simply because they do not have the required skills.

Participants in the labour market move in a very dynamic environment and the usually require time before they finally understand their objectives. In light of this, it is not therefore surprising that unemployed individuals and job vacancies do not co-exist. The reason for this is simply that fully-qualified unemployed people are yet to find job openings. This phenomenon is called frictionally unemployed. Job seekers collect information on available jobs, while employers go through a selection process from a line-up of candidates. Moreover, frictional unemployment has a high rate among young people because they have a low attachment to the labour force. More alternatives are available to them so, typically, they enter, withdraw and re-enter the labour market at will, more often. For instance, young people do not have the financial responsibilities like more adult workers and consequently, may elect to work for a while, then withdraw from the labour market – sometimes to travel perhaps or go back to school (ILO, 2010, pp. 9-10 and DSP, 2000).

Meanwhile, certain policies adopted by countries may exacerbate unemployment. One example of this in Canada is the minimum wage legislation. A minimum wage which “exceeds the competitively determined rate” will have a tendency to decrease the level of employment in a covered sector. To note, a covered sector refers to employees who are covered by minimum wage legislation (DSP, 2000). Thus, laws that mandate minimum wages for employees block the lowest skilled workers from the labour market – and this demographic is largely made up by young people. In order for an employer to justify a new hire, they need to calculate its costs: a new employee must be able to contribute more per hour than what they are actually being paid (Moody, 2010). Hence, less experienced young people with more or less the same qualifications will have to compete with more experienced adult workers for employment.

Conclusion

Global statistics show that the unemployment rates have escalated. It is alarming to note that the unemployment rate among young people, is typically double that of the general population. Three main reasons for this are lack of skills, frictional employment and minimum wages. In Canada, global trends are reflected in the country’s employment rate. A positive development in Canada is that students generally stay in school longer. This will be a great advantage in addressing the three causes of unemployment, which are largely associated with an individual’s skills-set.

References

CBC News. (2010). Youth unemployment skyrockets: OECD. Retrieved on 03 February 2011

from http://www.cbc.ca/money/story/2010/04/21/youth-unemployment-oecd.html

Depository Services Program. (2000). Youth Unemployment in Canada. Retrieved on

February 3, 2011 from http://dsp-psd.pwgsc.gc.ca/Collection-R/LoPBdP/CIR/824-e.htm

International Labour Organization. (2010). Global employment trends for the youth.

Retrieved on February 3, 2011 from http://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/—

ed_emp/—emp_elm/—trends/documents/publication/wcms_143349.pdf

Moody, Chris. (2010). Unemployment among young people way up; Does the minimum wage

play a part? Retrieved on February 3, 2011 from http://dailycaller.com/2010/08/15/

unemployment-among-young-people-way-up-does-the-minimum-wage-play-a-part/

Ontario Association of Youth Employment Centers. (2003). Models of economic impact in a

skills shortage context. Retrieved on February 3, 2011 from

http://www.oayec.org/res/userfiles/PDF/past_research/economic_impact.pdf

Nowadays, the number of young people that are unemployed has exploded significantly. Analysts believed that this scenario will bring negative impact to millions of young people upon losing their lifetime earning potential. Thus, this event holds the chance of many young people to take their transition of being productive citizens. There are reports that “the unemployment rate of 18 to 35 rose significantly” (CBC, 2011). Apparently, until now most cities have no clear economic recovery plan particularly in the creation and improvement of entry level jobs. This paper aims to explore on the factors that caused high unemployment among young people.

Causes of High Unemployment among Young People

Based on statistics, unemployment rate among young people has been steadily rising and analysts forecasted that this event will remain at its peak for the succeeding years. Thus, the ration of unemployment rate further increased during the recent recession and until now there is still no sign of slowing. It is prevalent among young people to receive temporary work contracts and most often they are the first to eject every time companies wish to reduce their people. Furthermore, many young people are often forced to work in sectors like construction and other related works wherein they are asked to spend larger amounts of time, with much physical tasks, and lower earnings. In the analysis, “one of the major contributory factors is the recession causing young people to have slimmer chance to find long term and stable jobs” (Kerr, 2011). Another distinct factor for this event is the insufficient support coming from the government to give emphasis on unemployment among young people, and assist them in finding work. There are also findings that significant numbers of young people are at risk due to poor educations and low skills. It seems that the government is lacking effective support to young people such as in giving apprenticeship programs. Furthermore, it shows that local economies are more centered on finding cheaper labor so majority of them tend to import people. Several analysts believed that rapid globalization created uncertainty and insecurity among countries with vulnerable situations considering that globalization will only open the way for much cheaper labor force and more experienced workers. Overall, many young people have to face stiff competition in finding stable jobs since most work opportunities are also being offered to wider applicants. Their chances of entering into a more stable work are lessened and as a result many young people failed to gain a firm foothold in the labor market. Most of the young people ended up in dead end jobs with limited protection, low paid jobs, and poor quality jobs. There are reports that many young people don’t have enough knowledge and skills which are necessary for social development and economic growth. It shows that many countries are lacking enough attention on education and training systems which are crucial in fostering the development among young people to succeed in labor market. In this context, schools and educational institutions have important roles in creating values that will prepare young people to adapt rapid changes in labor market and have competitive advantage. In the statistics, many young people are being affected by the rapid changes in labor market along with the obsolescence of their skills.

Conclusion

Overall, unemployment rate for many young people continue to rise considering that most educational institutions neglect to give further attention on values concerning lifelong learning (Kerr, 2011), business competitiveness, and continuing employability of workers. It shows that the government has crucial roles in assisting the young people to find stable work and giving them essential programs to further improve their competitiveness in the labor market.

Reference

CBC. Youth Unemployment. Retrieved February 3, 2011, from:

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2009/07/10/bc-unemployment-youth.html

Kerr, Kevin. Youth Unemployment in Canada. Retrieved February 3, 2011, from:

http://dsp-psd.pwgsc.gc.ca/Collection-R/LoPBdP/CIR/824-e.htm

Marijuana or “cannabis,” is one of the oldest known and, perhaps, most controversial illicit drugs around. Used for treatment for millennia particularly in China, India as well as the Middle East, it eventually became accepted in mainstream medicine in the West by the middle of the 19th century. However, in the United States, marijuana would later be subjected to prohibition. In the 1930s, the United States Congress passed the Marijuana Tax Act despite the vehement objection of the American Medical Association (AMA) representative. By 1941, cannabis was removed from the U.S. Pharmacopoeia and with the passage of the 1951 Boggs Act, marijuana came to be regarded as a narcotic drug. With the passage of the Controlled Substances Act under President Richard Nixon, marijuana was declared to be without any accepted medical use and even regarded as unsafe even if used with medical supervision (Boire and Feeney 13-15 & 19-20).

Recently, there has been considerable debate as to whether marijuana can give medical relief that is at least comparable with currently accepted pharmaceutical drugs (Shohov vii). It is believed by medical marijuana advocates that the criminalization of the use or possession of cannabis in the U.S. is an unfortunate development that has deprived the country of the benefits of medical marijuana. While those who object to marijuana claim that it has no medical use whatsoever and is even unsafe, no less than a judge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Francis L. Young, described marijuana to be the “safest therapeutically active substance known… safer than many foods we commonly consume” (quoted in Roth).  This paper will attempt to look into why the U.S. should act to legalize medical marijuana nationally.

One reason why the medical use of marijuana should be legally allowed is because congressional moves to prohibit it have been unsound from the beginning. The passage of the first legal step that led to the substance’s prohibition, Marijuana Tax Act was marked by deception. During the floor debate in Congress on the Tax Act, Congressman Fred M. lied outright in answering the query as to the position of the AMA on the bill. Vinson claimed that AMA, through its representative, Dr. William C. Woodward, expressed “one hundred percent” support to the bill when the truth is that the latter opposed it, saying that “it may serve to deprive the public of the benefits of a drug that on further research may prove to be of substantial value” (quoted in Boire and Feeney 19).

When the Controlled Substances Act was passed in 1970, marijuana was placed under Schedule I, the category of substances that are supposed to have the greatest abuse potential, no medical value, and which are regarded as unsafe to use even under doctor supervision. However, the compromise classification (pending a federal research investigation) was done even without scientific evidence. The bias against marijuana seems politically motivated because President Richard Nixon engaged in “stacking the deck” when he later picked the members of the Shafer Commission tasked to determine the substance’s medical value (Boire and Feeney 21-22). Marijuana, at that time, was associated with the anti-war movement that opposed Nixon’s Vietnam War policy. Moreover, even when the Shafer Commission later came out with the report noting how marijuana could be useful in treating “glaucoma, migraine, alcoholism and terminal cancer”), Nixon rejected the body’s recommendations, including the withdrawing of criminal penalties for personal marijuana use (Boire and Feeney 22).

The chief argument for legalizing medical marijuana is the many evidence of its therapeutic benefits. A celebrated case of effective medical marijuana use involves the glaucoma of Robert Randall, the first American citizen allowed to receive federal marijuana supplies under the “Compassionate” Investigational New Drug program began in 1976. Randall managed to be part of such a program only after being acquitted in his criminal trial. The judge was convinced by medical evidence Randall presented in collaboration with several doctors that showed the effectivity of marijuana in treating glaucoma (Boire and Feeney 22-23).

There is also plenty of reference to the therapeutic benefits of marijuana in ancient or early texts. Ancient Chinese pharmacopoeia shows that marijuana, referred to as “hemp boiling compound” was used along with wine in anesthetizing patients during surgeries. It is also recorded that in 16th century China, cannabis was used as antibiotic, antiemetic, anthelmintic, treatment of leprosy, and in containing hemorrhages (Mathre 35-36).

That marijuana today presents medical benefits has been shown by many doctors, health experts and patients during the 1986 hearings in connection with the petition to reschedule marijuana. The testimonies during the hearings led DEA’s Young to rule that:

“The evidence in this record clearly shows that marijuana has been accepted as capable of relieving the distress of great numbers of very ill people and doing so with safety under medical supervision” (quoted in Mathre 51).

Current studies show that marijuana may benefit cancer patients by relieving nausea that result from chemotherapy; increasing the appetite of AIDS patients; lessening spasticity and pain in patients with neurological disorders; treating long-term chronic inflammatory pain; and in helping autoimmune disease patients by suppressing the excessive activity of the immune system (Cannabis)

Another argument why marijuana should be allowed for medical use is the fact that it has considerable public support. Evidence for this is the number of states that held referendums and approved the legalization of marijuana, including Arizona and California (Roth). Today, a total of 14 states have already legalized medical marijuana (Stemple).  A recent survey by the Pew Research Center showed that around 73% of Americans favor the legalization of medical marijuana in their states (Marijuana Survey). Perhaps, the strongest support for medical marijuana comes from the patients who stand to benefit from its effects. Numerous cancer patients strongly believe that marijuana presents greater effectivity than other treatments based on their first-hand experience (What’s the Problem). As earlier mentioned, patients themselves testified as to the medical benefits of marijuana during the 1986 hearings (Mathre 51).

The American public deserves access to the medical use of marijuana. The prohibition and eventual criminalization of marijuana were unsound and scientifically baseless. Evidence for the therapeutic benefits of marijuana abounds both in ancient pharmacopeia and in modern literature. The American public is well aware of the substance’s therapeutic benefits and safety under medical supervision. They have shown their approval of medical marijuana, including through referendums and surveys. The federal government should listen and show compassion to the patients in need by decriminalizing medical marijuana.

Works Cited

Boire, Richard Glen and Kevin Feeney. Medical Marijuana Law. Ronin Publishing, 2007.

Cannabis in the Clinic?: The Medical Marijuana Debate.  18 January 2010. Web.

http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/addiction/issues/marijuana.html

Marijuana survey: Legalize it. 5 April 2010.  Web. 18 January 2010.

http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/health/2010/04/public_support_for_legalizing.html

Mathre, Mary Lynn. Cannabis in Medical Practice: A Legal, Historical, and Pharmacological

Overview of the Therapeutic Use of Marijuana. McFarland, 1997. Print.

Roth, Rebecca. (2001). Medical Marijuana.  Web. 18 January 2010.

http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/exchange/node/1901

Shohov, Tatiana. Medical Use of Marijuana: Policy, Regulatory, and Legal Issues. Nova

Publishers, 2003. Print.

Stemple, Hillary. New Jersey Governor Signs Bill Legalizing Medical Marijuana. Jan. 2010.

Web. 18 January 2010. http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/paperchase/2010/01/new-jersey-governor-signs-bill.php

What’s The Problem? Web. 18 January 2010. http://www.duke.edu/~sgr5/p2.htm

The Post-War era in the United States gave rise to a counterculture called Beat Generation.  Strictly speaking, the beat generation was for a group of writers who emerged in the 1950s that included Jack Kerouac.  An expanded definition would include other artists, such as musician Miles Davies, who influenced how music became a high art form.  In essence, it was a literary movement that later evolved to include changing attitudes and perspectives in people (Crystal).  This counterculture movement was born out of disgust for the consumerism that gripped society after the war.  People had more money to buy things they did not use to need, which had worsen over time (Belden).  The rise of the American middle class reshaped the landscape and put values on newer things.  The beatniks, as how people who followed this bohemian lifestyle were called, were often associated with “crime, delinquency, immorality, and amorality” (Parkins).  However, for the beatniks, they simply followed a lifestyle that was characterized by liberation of the spiritual and sexual selves while demystifying the use of drugs.  The beat generation revolutionized art, music, and writing in post-war America.  These mediums expressed protest against the middle-class culture that was prevalent during this period.

Kerouac and Davis had been among the most influential in their own forms of art.  Kerouac created influence through his books, such as On the Road, Visions of Cody, and The Remembrance of Things Past (Clark 103).  Both of these artists had their own shares of criticisms, Kerouac in particular for the way he brandished his lifestyle in the books he wrote.  Criticisms against Davis were mostly targeted on his temperamental and demanding nature (Advameg).  Despite the negative things written about these two artists, it cannot be denied that they were truly influential in reshaping arts and culture during their time.  Kerouac and Davis were not self-egotists but voices of their times.  Davis made it possible to resurrect Jazz in its pure form and elevate it to high art; Kerouac epitomized the bohemian life and the weariness that came to people who lived in a world that was focused on materialism.

Miles Davis

Miles Davis became a voice of the time because he was able to use his talent not only for self-fulfillment but to separate from what was in fashion in the musical industry.  Rather than become just another member of a bebop band, Davis rose into prominence by innovating and developing new musical styles between the 1950s and the 1990s.  He led the way in changing the musical landscape through his own “lyrical, introspective, and melodic style,” as well as through his recordings and choices of collaborators.  Jazz evolved because Davis pushed it forward (All About Jazz).

Davis was born in Alton, Illinois on 25 May 1926 to a middle-class family.  He began to play the trumpet at 15, and was a professional musician only two years after.  It was in 1947 to 1948 that Davis rose to fame as a member of Charlie Parker’s bebop group.  But he left the group to restore the more melodic elements of jazz.  Davis participated in a project with arranger Gil Evans, Gerry Mulligan, John Lewis, and Johnny Carisi.  This resulted to the release of Birth of the Cool in 1949, which was also the birth of the West Coast jazz school.

His career almost came to halt because of his addiction in the 1950s.  Fortunately, he was able to bounce back to record solo hits, such as “Airegin,” “Doxy,” “Oleo,” and “But Not for Me.”  He formed the most celebrated quintet in 1955, which dominated the jazz scene until the 1960s (Advameg).  The quintet disbanded, and Davis formed a sextet in 1964.

Davis recorded Kind of Blue in 1959, which showed his innovativeness in creating music.  Kind of Blue was a jazz improvisation that has an elegantly simple and resoundingly beautiful sound (Teichroew).  This record featured musicians, John Coltrane, Cannoball Adderley, Paul Chambers, Jimmy Cobb, Wynton Kelly, and Bill Evans, who were also part of the quintet.  Kind of Blue was important because it established modal jazz.  It was endowed with a “mysterious tension” with a shocking but not unpleasant simplicity (Teichroew).

The collaborations that Davis engaged in with his fellow musicians showed that he was not self-centered or merely acting out his egotism.  He wanted to create a new brand of music that would better appeal to his sense of artistry.  Perhaps this attitude was shared by others during this time because they were able to appreciate what Davis had done to music.  The music industry was likely looking for something in music to elevate it to greater depths.  Despite his temperamental side, Davis was regarded even during his time as a genius in his craft.  This kind of acknowledgement would not be lightly given to people who did not deserve it.  Being difficult to work with sometimes is often attributed as an artistic quality.  Davis then can be excused for this weakness in light of his influence in the music industry.

Jack Kerouac

Jack Kerouac became the official voice of the beat generation through his writings, which chronicled his unconventional lifestyle and work.  Like the other beatniks, he shied away from conventional mentality through the study of Eastern religions, use of drugs, and sexual liberation.  It can be said that Davis’ experimentation with music and his desire to separate from bebop was influenced by Kerouac’s writings (Parkins).

Kerouac epitomized what it was to be a beatnik writer.  He has lived what he has written.  This means that he travelled extensively in order to transcend from the humdrum of existence (Johnson 131).  “The only people that interest me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, desirous of everything at the same time,” Kerouac said in his book On the Road (Kerouac 30).  Kerouac’s travels and experiences have become his own subjects in his books, revealing what the beat generation was all about.  His kind of writing and his lifestyle ultimately made him an icon of the era.  One Road has catapulted him to fame, even if he did not get rich for that book.  From the conventional section of society, the book was superficially accepted.  Some called it off-beat, pleasurable, or intriguing.  To the beatniks, however, it was their essence that was described in its pages (Millstein 27).

Kerouac was Canadian-American, being born in Massachusetts of Canadian parents.  He lived a life of conventionality until an injury during his football years introduced him to Celine and Shakespeare.  Since then, he never went back (Johnson 129).  During the 1950s, he became associated with other beatniks, particularly Allen Ginsberg.  He was always observing and writing about things and people in his environment.  Kerouac, however, was often attacked by anxieties and fears about his personal life.  He was assailed with doubts about the wisdom of writing his thoughts and hoping to make a living out of it, especially that he has a mother to support.  His family and relatives all thought that he should get a job in order to help provide for the family (Clark 106).

In other words, Kerouac did not have a very supportive environment when he was just starting out.  Still, he kept on despite pressures from his family to lead a more stable lifestyle. Other artists would have surrendered in the face of difficulties and extreme pressure from family and relatives.  This kind of attitude cannot be considered an expression of egotism.  As an artist, Kerouac was convinced that he was doing the right thing (Clark 106).  His defiance and his persistence to lead the life that felt right for him became the reason why he became an icon or the voice of the beat generation.  There were many people who did not like what they were seeing society after the war and tried to show their protest by living lives that opposed conventions and expectations.  Kerouac, in opposing materialism and consumerism, reduced his needs to a knapsack, sleeping bag, notebook, and pen (Johnson 131).  Joyce Johnson herself found it “heartbreaking beautiful” to see how a man could reduce his needs to necessities (131).  Other beatniks were also profoundly influenced by Kerouac even if mainstream America had not liked the values espoused in his writings.

Conclusion

Both Kerouac and Davis were not egotists who only acted for self-gratification.  Instead, they were real voices of their times.  Kerouac changed not only writing conventions but essentially the way of life.  Davis refused to succumb to what was popular and instead sought to find the kind of music that would please him as an artist.  These two people have been in the midst of the counterculture that opposed the consumerism that was taking root in America.  They opposed the buying frenzy that equated happiness with material possession.  Kerouac, in particular, was brave enough to pursue a path that lacked support from his family.  His steadfastness to an ideal has rightly placed him as an icon of the 1950s.

Works Cited

Belden, Joshua.  “Consumerism in American Society.”  2010.  Ezine Articles.  15 December

2010 <http://ezinearticles.com/?Consumerism-in-American-Society&id=3571337>

Clark, Tom.  Jack Kerouac: A Biography.  New York, NY: Thunder Mouth’s Press, 1984.

Crystal, Gary.  “What Was the Beat Generation?”  2010.  wiseGEEK.  15 December 2010

<http://www.wisegeek.com/what-was-the-beat-generation.htm>

Johnson, Joyce. A Beat Memoir.  USA: Houghton Mifflin, 1983.

Kerouac, Jack. On the Road. USA: Penguin Group, 2007.

“Miles Davis.”  2010.  Advameg.  15 December 2010 <http://www.notablebiographies.com/

Co-Da/Davis-Miles.html>

“Miles Davis: Biography.”  2010.  All About Jazz.  15 December 2010

<http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/musician.php?id=6144>

Millstein, Gilbert.  “Books of the Time.”  New York Times, p. 27.  ProQuest Historical

Newspapers.

Parkins, Keith.  “Jack Kerouac.”  2005.  15 December 2010 <http://home.clara.net/

heureka/art/kerouac.htm>

Teichroew, Jacob.  “Album Review: Kind of Blue by Miles Davis.  About.com: Jazz. 15

December 2010 <http://jazz.about.com/od/classicalbums/fr/KindofBlue.htm>

In order to effectively lead a team and build an excellent sustainable organization, leadership tolerance is highly important. Tolerance, as suggested by Ralph Stogdill in his trait theory in 1974, is one of the traits and characteristics which make a great leader (cited in Northouse 2010). Tolerance is a state of mind and behaviour at the same time, and it necessitates patience, open-mindedness, and controlling of one’s ego and individual desire. To be able to control one’s mind, ego and desire corresponding to a given situation is required in undertaking an unemotional and rational consideration of other people’s opinions, values, beliefs, or ideas towards a fair decision-making. Tolerance, in other words, neutralises biases or any other form of preconceptions and, therefore, allows an individual to be more open to new possibilities and to think creatively. Wilkinson, in his Modes of Leadership Theory that is mostly founded on the construct of ambiguity tolerance, suggested that individuals who are more tolerant about the various ambiguities of life are more likely to be the innovators and inveterate learners (Marchington and Wilkinson 2002). Moreover, tolerance leads to emotional stability which is, according to Zaccaro, Kemp, and Bader, especially significant when settling interpersonal differences (Northouse 2010; Kirkpatrick and Locke 1991).

Currently, Al-Khulaifi is having a conflict between being open and agreeable, which are significant aspects of being tolerant, and the result of her Big Personality Test supports this conflict. Al-Khulaifi scored high on openness which communicates her being appreciative of new things and, probably, new ideas, beliefs, and opinions of people. However, her low score on agreeableness complicates her openness because her disapproving attitude and low interest in the feelings and ideas of others can affect the way she receives new opportunities. Due to Al-Khulaifi’s reluctance to conform, trust, and accept she has become impatient and hostile sometimes, which the group collectively believes to be an important trait that should be corrected. In order for Al-Khulaifi to be more tolerant, the group recommends her leadership in group activities in order to be more exposed to different views and ideas, and to learn how to compromise and solve issues. The group also recommends her participation in some of the school’s established organization for her to be around different kinds of people

Behaviour – Relationship Oriented

Being a great leader does not only entail being efficient in getting things done. Most importantly, a great leader knows how to build and maintain good relationships with his/her team members and ensure that everyone is comfortable with each other. With the continuous diversification of various organizations, it has become important for a leader to be highly adaptive to any given situation. Fiedler’s situational contingency theory suggests that effective leadership results from the interaction of leadership style and situational control (Northouse 2010). Therefore, it is equally important to learn how to carry out tasks through developing good-relationships with the group.

Currently, Al-Khulaifi centers her concern on accomplishing the task in the most efficient manner. She does not have any difficulty in completing assigned projects and other responsibilities. However, she fails to perform quite well the moment the group is involved in the task. She tends to be focused on her interest and own ideas, and sometimes fails to consider and appreciate the effort of the group, and thus creates a conflicting working environment within the group. Therefore, the group recommends that Al-Khulaifi be more relationship-oriented through improving her bond with the other members of the team. We further recommend that she involves herself in voluntary works in which a lot of communications and interactions are required.

Situation – Relationship Motivated

Belbin’s Team Role Theory suggests that every individual plays a different role within a team, and each role people play has a major contribution to the success of the team (Belbin 2010). It is essential, therefore, to find the balance within these varying team roles to strengthen the team’s flexibility and stability. Similarly in leadership, it is important to find the balance between being task-oriented and relationship-oriented to easily adjust one’s leadership style given a certain circumstance (Northouse 2010).

Al-Khufaifi is recommended to continue being task-oriented; however, the group also finds the importance of improving her relationship with the group to find her balance in leading people. Also, improving her relationship with other people can help her increase her tolerance to stressful and disagreeable situations.

The group finds it appropriate for Al-Khulaifi to participate in sports team, for instance volleyball, in which teamwork and constant communication are highly required. Through participating in such sports team, Al-Khulaifi will be able to allow herself to set aside her personal interest and learn to consider and appreciate the feelings and ideas of other people. This will help her develop her tolerance to unfavourable situations because she will be compelled to compromise her own interest to achieve success.

List of References

Belbin, RM 2010, Management teams: Why they succeed or fail? Elsevier, Ltd., Oxford, UK.

Kickpatrick, SA and Locke, EA 1991, ‘Leadership: Do traits matter?’, Academy of Management Executive, vol. 5, no. 2, pp. 48-60.

Marchington, M and Wilkinson, A 2002, People management and development: Human resource management at work, Cromwell Press, Wilshire.

Northouse, PG 2010, Leadership: Theory and practice, SAGE Publications, London.

The Greek drama is considered as the most developmental form of art in the history of human society. It could be observed that through the years, the Grecian culture has been recognized as the most developmental aspect of human traditions that offered a whole new vision of what art is as recognized by the world today. Note the fact that the Grecian art consisted of many different aspects of interest and one of them is that of the Greek Drama. In the discussion that follows, a comprehensive presentation on how the Greek drama flourished through the years shall be tackled. The history that provided a clear definition of what the Grecian theater art was really for shall further define the implicative condition that made it easier for the modern society to respond specifically to the artful redefinition of this crafty work.

Etymology

The definitions that pertain to ancient theater art in Greece consist of the words τραγῳδία pronounced as ‘tragoidia’ which means tragedy which is further divided into two words  τράγος pronounced as ‘tragos’ meaning goat and ᾠδή pronounced as ‘ode’ meaning song. These elemental factors of presentation specifically pertain to the developmental procedures of redefining the worship of Dionysius in the early Grecian religious culture. Most of the rituals performed under these particular aspects of development involve the desire for fertility among the performers. How did this completely different aim of presentation actually came to develop as the basis of the theatrical art in the Grecian culture?

The Origins and the Culture of Theatre Presentations

The conditional development of the ancient Greek art has been observed to have dated originally from c.550 and 220 BC (Harsh, 1944, 76). Athens was specifically considered as the breeding ground of artists and performers. The excellence of the city in providing proper education to the society has made a mark that defined it as the city-cradle of development. The honor for Dionysus has been better imposed during this era of cultural growth in Athens. Dionysus was known as the Greco-Roman deity who is worshiped for the believed blessing that he provides for grape wine making which was one of the most expensive export products of Greece in the trading field. The praise for the economic development that the Greeks believed to have been imposed by the power of Dionysus is then inclusive of the major presentations made to supposedly entertain the god of wine and celebration.

During this era, the theatrical genre of tragedy has been among the most important forms of presentations on stage. Likely, these presentations are specifically dedicated to make indicative relation to the lives of the Greeks in the early parts of their history in a rather comedic-satiric way. The combination of such field of presentation makes it more expansive in the process of defining the aspects of human life in the early years of Grecian existence. From here, the aspect of developing theatrical art came into existence.

The Entrance of the Classical Period

Considered as the remaining element of the Athenian cultural pride, the theatrical art of Greece remained an intact presentation of what the Golden Age of Greek drama was all about. Theatrical art has become the basis of the civic pride that even in the middle of colonization and Great Destruction, the mark of the Grecian culture remains intact as it has already been passed on to other civilizations that the Greek society have been in direct contact with. Observe that it was during this era that the competition of excellence between the three particular genres of theatrical presentations came into existence. Each drama presentation submitted a piece of work that defined its effective representation of the society and the elemental factors that makes it an imaginative source of artful dramatic definition of life.

The beginning of the competition in 486 BC provided a better view on how satirical themes further enhanced the messages of tragic drama, comedic drama and satyr drama as it is. From these presentations came the realization of the fact that the playwrights were indeed fond of utilizing female characters in their story although these characters were not portrayed by women performers. Instead, because of the flexibility of the roles, men performers were assigned to take on the challenge (Lesky, 1975, 65). After this competition, the society have now defined the more specific option of manifesting specific messages about life and living through the dramas that were performed during that particular day.

The Hellenistic Era

The coming in of the Persian Empire within Athens specifically provided a rather wider conception of the ideas of comedic theatrical art. Menander was the very specific playwright noted within this era and was hailed to be the best one in handling comedic plots that provide a new essence of comedic art. The succeeding workers of theatrical art that follows the pattern set by Menander during this period of theatrical development are that of Plautus and Terence (Ley, 2006, 89). During this era, several developments on the process of presenting the ideal messages of the dramas have been introduced. These developments include the heightened number of performers staying on stage to give a deeper sense of the realistic presentations made through these theatrical art creations.

Introducing the Facilities

Observe from this diagram (Padilla, 1999, 77) that the dome-formation of the old theatrical facilities established to host theatrical presentations were fashioned to allow all the audiences to have a clear view of the presentations being performed (Padilla, 1999, 78). The levels of viewing section provided the viewers a clear view of the actors and their performance during every theatrical drama presentations. The stage is considered to be where the scenes are to be performed hence has been called as ‘scene’. The parodoi served as the entrance and exit passage ways for the performers on stage (McDonald, et al, 2007, 86). The divisions on the stage allowed for the separation of the actors from that of the choral singers.

Identifying the Crafts and Props

The Scenic Elements

Scenic elements were used to better impose setting and plot redefinition in each performance hence making it easier for the audience to respond to the message being sent out by each playwright in every performance. These scenic elements include the machine which is a crane that provides flying effects for the performers. Another is the Ekkyklema which is a wheeled wage that aims to bring in dead characters for the audience to see. The trap doors are secret openings at the floor of the stage that allows characters to come out from in the middle of the stage through a dramatic entrance [used to lift performers up the stage]. Pinakes on the other hand are the scenic backdrops behind the stage used to suggest the setting of each scene.

The Masks

To impose facial expression which obviously cannot be seen through the distance of the audience from the stage, masks are used to impose the emotions of the actors.

The Creative Costumes

Created to add in life, color and vigor to every presentation, the creative costumes also set a definite understanding on the part of the viewers with regards the class division that the characters belong to within the society.

The Progressive Music

Progressive music entails to redefine the emotional bearing of each scene within each character. It could be observed that somehow, such definition makes it easier for the audiences to relate to the characters’ moods as each scene changes and each setting evolves towards the next.

Summary and Conclusion

The Greek theatrical art indeed set a foundation for the modern western and European dramatic presentations on stage that are now considered as a definite indication of cultural and social development in the human society (Moulton, 1890, 65). The generations that passed the history of Greek Theater towards the next made a definite mark on how the past theatrical presentations should actually affect the future imitations of such theatrical craft which is now being enjoyed by many.

References:

Harsh, Philip Whaley. A handbook of Classical Drama. Stanford University, California, Stanford University Press; London, H. Milford, Oxford University Press, 1944.

Lesky, A. Greek Tragedy, trans. H.A., Frankfurt, London and New York 1965.

Ley, Graham. A Short Introduction to the Ancient Greek Theatre. University of Chicago, Chicago: 2006

McDonald, Marianne, Walton, J. Michael (editors), The Cambridge companion to Greek and Roman theatre, Cambridge ; New York: Cambridge University Press, 2007.

Moulton, Richard Green, The ancient classical drama; a study in literary evolution intended for readers in English and in the original, Oxford, The Clarendon Press, 1890.

Padilla, Mark William (editor), “Rites of Passage in Ancient Greece: Literature, Religion, Society”, Bucknell University Press, 1999.