How does Generation Gap affect the society in the United States Term Paper

How does Generation Gap affect the society in the United States - Term Paper Example Isolation of the younger generation from societal activities is a major impact of the generational gap in the U.S. the current century has changed the ideologies of the young and the youth unlike in the previous centuries. Technology advancements, research, and personal autonomy differentiate the ideals and methods of the young from the old (Gardner et al, 2008). The adult take upon this disparity to self-impose habits and practices to the young. Due to the gap created, the young feel compelled to rebel against the old that do not understand. This consequentially has led to isolation and other psychological disorders that leave the young prone to societal ills such as crimes, suicide and engagement in drugs. The existence of a generational gap in the American society has led to the over-reliance of the old in important institutional positions in the societal set up. The older generation tends to be inclined to the ideologies of the young, while the former think they are always right in any capacity thinking. Political positions, important religious and educational positions are allocated to older people. Incidences of allocating the young with such positions to sharp their experience in societal responsibility are shunned away with the notion that they cannot get things done accordingly. In the event of providing the young with opportunities, the older generation individuals marginalize. The youth in the American society had been set back from the older generation from their fear of disappointment. Until recently, the youth are now compelled by the current contemporary times to come out of the older generations’ ‘shadows’ (Connerney, 2009). The young people are curre ntly inventing influential positions in the society, thereby creating positions for the older generation to. An example is Mark Zuckerberg, the C.E.O of

Development of Youth Culture Essay Example for Free

Development of Youth Culture Essay There is no single reason for the development of culture; rather, it came about as a result of the number of different social changes occurring at the same time. These developments included the increasing economic power of young people, the influence of the USA and globalisation, social changes at the end of World War 2, development of the media, demographic change in the numbers of young people and the transition to adulthood. Defining youth culture can be difficult because different cultures and interruptions in employment status’s can affect the perspective of what â€Å"youth† is. Culture is the way we live within our culture and youth culture is the way youth lives within it but because of the difficulties youth culture could mean different things to different cultures. Youth culture developed in the early 1950’s, although the idea of youth as a phase in life has a longer history. Youth culture was first developed in America after World War 2, which then Britain decided to follow due to media and other influences from America. In my opinion the most important factor that developed youth culture was the economic changes in society. Due to the demand in workers after the Second World War there was an economic growth. The first person to realise the impact this was having on young people was Abram’s (1959) who analysed the increased economic power of the ‘teenage consumer’. There was a noticeable pattern in what was getting most money spent on, because young people were the age group spending the highest proportion of their income on leisure activities and music, clothes and cosmetics. This increase in economic power created the conditions for the emerging youth culture to develop. For the first time, young people had significant amounts of money to spend. Another extremely important factor for the development was the social change at the end of World War 2. There was much more opportunities for young people and possibilities at this time. Before the war, Britain was characterized by a class structure. By the time it came to the 1950s, we started to see a change in the economy and this opened up oppurtunities and individual expression. Judging on conventional standards, opportunities were becoming bigger. Cinema, art, literature and theatre began to explore new ideas. Amongst many new ideas was that young people were a distinctive group with new values and ideas about their place in society. The next important development for youth culture in my opinion was the influence of the USA and globalisation. With the changing culture and the growth in affluence of the 1950s, there was a ready market for American goods and culture, which included rock and roll music and other products aimed at the new ‘teenage market’. A quote from Leech (’76) saying ‘youthquake’ explained how a change in the new youth was such a sudden change it was like an earthquake. Globalisation recognised what young people wanted and advertised it more. I think the next development of the youth culture which was important was the growth and specialization of media. Media was becoming a lot more popular and so was advertisement. The media started to advertise the products that young people during that time wanted and this was a massive boost for the economics and spread quickly across the world. The 1950’s saw an explosion of different sorts of media. This was only possible because of the growth in social diversity and an increase in spending power that persuaded companies to spend large amounts of money advertising the new media. As a high-spending and newly discovered group, young people became the target for advertisers and hence the commercial media competed to attract this market. Another social condition that made the development of youth culture possible was transition to adulthood. Transition refers to the movement from being economically and socially dependent on parents, towards independence. The length of transition increased over the 20th century as the average period in education. Due to the longer age of being in education, it meant that typical adult responsibilities were taken on increasingly later in life, leaving young people with a number of years where they were physically mature but without the responsibilities of adulthood. This caused young people to want their own place in society. The last social condition that helped youth culture become possible was the demographic change in numbers of young people. After the war because couple had been split for so long because of hundreds of men being sent abroad, many sexual experiences had been delayed for years. The result was that when the men were released from the armed forces in 1945/46, there was a huge increase in birth rate. Although many of the children born at this time were not ‘teenagers’ until the end of 1950’s, they did ensure that youth culture continued and grew as a cultural form. Around 50 to 60 years ago, for the first time, a youth culture appeared to be emerging – young people appeared to be developing their own values, customs, tastes, clothes, music and language. After studying and discussing all the different social conditions that developed youth culture I have discovered that youth culture wasn’t made overnight. It took all these 6 main factors to create this culture and carry it on until this day. Economics was the most important condition in my opinion due to the fact that it all started because of the economic boost after World War 2. America was the country that started this youth culture and Britain followed it after the war ended. Abercrombie et al. (2000) has suggested that youth culture has three distinguishing features: leisure, style and peer group.

Hollywood Dominance of the Movie Industry

Hollywood Dominance of the Movie Industry There are many contributing factors to how Hollywood became such a dominant business. Most of these factors rely on the history of Hollywood and how the film companies that founded it adapted. Hollywoods dominance stared to grow in 1915. This was when the foundations were laid for studios such as: Paramount, Fox, Universal, MGM and Warners. These companies would form the core of the Studio System from 1930s onwards. During this time Hollywood promoted itself by promoting the war. January 1916, the Hollywood film community made an alliance with Washington, DC to try and raise awareness of the war through film.  Hollywood was able to get involved in the War effort by making films to educate the community, producing entertainment features with patriotic, morale-boosting themes and messages about the American way of life. After World War 1, Hollywood put a structure in place that would dominate for 40 years and more. Influential producers like Adolph Zukor set up vertically integrated companies. He was part of Paramount Pictures of which he served as president until  1936  when he was made chairman. He revolutionized the film industry by organizing production, distribution, and exhibition within a single company. Zukor was also an accomplished director and producer. He retired from Paramount Pictures in  1959. Also after the war, budgets rose 10 times pre-war levels, so Hollywood then became a national industry. During the so-called  Golden Age of Hollywood, which lasted from the late1920s to the late 1950s, thousands of movies were issued from the Hollywood studios. The start of the Golden Age was arguably when  The Jazz Singer  was released in 1927, ending the silent era and increasing box-office profits for films as sound was introduced to feature films. Most Hollywood films stuck closely to this method -  Western, slapstick comedy,  musical,  animated cartoon and biographical picture. After  The Jazz Singer  was released in 1927,  Warner Bros gained huge success and was able to obtain their own army of movie theatres.  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  By the 1930s, most Americas theatres were owned by the Big Five studios -  MGM,  Paramount Pictures,  RKO,  Warner Bros and  20th Century Fox.   These Major studios owned 75% of first-run cinemas. The  studio system  was a means of film production and distribution dominant in  Hollywood  from the early 1920s through the 1950s. Some have compared the Hollywood studio system to a factory. Their product output in 1937 surged to over 500 feature films. By the 1980s, this figure dropped to an average of 100 films per year. During the Golden Age, the studios were remarkably consistent and stable enterprises. The rise of the studio system also relied on the treatment of the stars of Hollywood, who were created and exploited by the studio to reflect their image and agenda. Actors and actresses were bound by contracts to one studio for several years, and the studio usually had all of the power. These stars were loaned out to other studios. Studios also had the power to force actors into bad roles and control their image. [Directors were] to make sure the actors hit their marks while the camera was running (Biskind, Easy Riders, Raging Bulls, p.19) However, studio heads realized that they couldnt repeat movie storylines and roles and still make a profit. This resulted in different studio styles as they tried to differentiate themselves from other studios. Falling attendance and the  Paramount  decision broke apart the studio system, depriving the studios of the financial controls that made sure of regular profits, paid the studio overhead, and thereby restructured their factory-based operations. The major studios survived by adapting the system, fundamentally changing the ways they did business and establishing methods (still in use today) that reduced their controls of production. This stopped the system of mass movie production that had occupied Hollywood for decades. Essential to the studios survival was their collective control of distribution, the one aspect of their monopolistic operations not affected by the  Paramount  decision, and their willingness to share control of filmmaking with independent producers, top talent, and talent agencies. Simply stated, the studios became primarily financing-and-distribution entities, reviewing projects that were developed and packaged by the growing ranks of inde pendent producers, then in the event of a green light, leasing their production facilities and providing a portion of the production cost in exchange for the distribution rights-and, frequently, for the eventual ownership of the completed film. The studios themselves began producing fewer, big pictures-biblical epics and big-screen westerns-during the 1950s, precursors of the blockbusters that now rule the industry. The studios shared control of film production not only with independent producers and freelance directors, but also top stars whose marquee value gave them tremendous leverage. And because most filmmaking talent operated freelance by the 1950s, talent agencies like William Morris and MCA (Music Corporation of America) also became a major force in postwar film (and television) production. The major studios initially resisted but soon came to terms with television in the 1950s, selling or leasing their older films to TV syndication companies while revamping their factory-based production operations for telefilm series production. By the 1960s, movies were running nightly on prime time television and the studios were turning out far more hours of telefilm series than feature films. Meanwhile, movie attendance continued to erode, despite rapid population growth, and the studios gambled on high-stakes blockbusters like  Cleopatra  (1963) and  The Sound of Music  (1965) but relied primarily on television to pay the bills. Studio fortunes by the late 1960s were at an all-time low, rendering them prime acquisition targets, and many were swallowed up by large conglomerates like Gulf + Western (Paramount), Transamerica (United Artists), and Kinney Services (Warner Bros.), as well as real estate tycoon Kirk Kerkorian (MGM). The MCA-Universal merger i n 1962 was the first and by far the most successful alliance at the time, due to its savvy integration of film and television operations and its maintenance of at least a semblance of the old studio-based mode of production. After the fall of the studio system and the influence of Television, Hollywood adapted to become New Hollywood, a term used to describe a new generation of directors who had taken inspiration from Europe in the 1960s. These new directors influenced the types of films that were produced, how they were produced and how they were marketed. This impacted the way major studios approached filmmaking. Jaws was devastating to making artistic, smaller films. They forgot how to do it Peter Bogdanovich One of the films that changed Hollywood forever was Jaws. This film raised the bar for New Hollywood. Released in June 1975, at 460 theatres simultaneously, on an unprecedented wave of TV advertising, Jaws was everywhere at once. The film needed only 78 days to surpass The Godfather as the top-grossing movie of all time (at least until 1977, and Star Wars). Jaws  was regarded as the father of the summer  blockbuster film  and one of the first high concept films. Due to the films success in advance screenings, studio executives decided to distribute it in a much wider release than ever before.  The Omen  followed in the summer of 1976 and then  Star Wars  one year later in 1977, cementing the notion for movie studios to distribute their big-release action and adventure pictures (commonly referred to as  tentpole pictures) during the summer.   By making Jaws, Universal spurred the movie industrys recovery with its phenomenal success that spawned a new breed of blockbusters like  Star Wars  (1977),  Grease  (1978), and  Superman  (1978), summer releases launched via nationwide marketing that resulted in record box-office profits and were the dominant, defining products of the New Hollywood. The success of these blockbusters reinforced an economic recovery in the industry that continues today, and it enabled the studios to regain some of their lost authority as well, as they became increasingly adept at transforming blockbuster hits into entertainment franchises-multimedia product lines comprised of movie sequels, TV spinoffs, video games, theme-park rides, soundtrack albums, music videos, and an endless array of licensed merchandise. Hollywoods recovery accelerated during the 1980s, fueled by a range of factors that complemented the studios burgeoning blockbuster mentality. One fact or was the rapid growth of new media technologies and new delivery systems, most notably home video and pay-cable television (i.e., subscription movie channels like HBO), which proved to be as hit driven as the box office. Foreign markets were equally receptive to Hollywood blockbusters, and thus the studios international distribution operations grew steadily during the 1980s, going into high gear in the 1990s, when the fall of the Soviet Union and the concurrent economic reforms in China created a truly global market for Hollywood films. The Hollywood that we know today has been shaped by its history, the drive to produce movies that make a profit. Studios now focus on relying on very expensive blockbusters to remain profitable. Studios now also rely on star power and large advertising campaigns to market every new up-coming movie and attract a huge audience. In conclusion, Hollywood has become the dominant cinema producer in the world and has retained its pre-eminence by changing and adapting to its audiences. It must also be remembered that Hollywood is a business, therefore to survive it has had to make good business decisions to continue making a profit.

Exploring Freedom in Edward Bellamys Looking Backward Essay -- Looking

The definition of freedom depends entirely on how the phrase â€Å"freedom from†¦Ã¢â‚¬  ends. Perhaps a most straightforward understanding of freedom is the laissez-faire emphasis on limiting the power of government to interfere in economic and social matters. In this state of absolute freedom, however, inequalities exist between people, so that freedom from a controlling government does not imply individuals’ freedom of contract, movement, legal protection, equal rights through citizenship, or political voice. In light of the persistence of slavery in the US through the 19th century, freedom as an individual’s legal status separated people who could be citizens from people who were lifelong slaves. Even among legally free people, economic inequalities restricted the practical freedom of many, particularly through voting requirements and dependence on a crop lien system that severely restricted mobility and freedom of contract and trade. In the boom of industr y, terms like â€Å"wage slavery† drew attention to the lack of freedom of working class people to assemble as unions, to contract for a family wage, to receive education and medical care, and to fulfill the â€Å"American Dream† of to improving their living conditions through hard work. These inabilities were imposed not by a government that infringed upon personal liberties, but from a harsh capitalist economy that created an increasingly poorer lower class and, despite capitalist rhetoric, restricted social mobility based on merit and sharpened the division between socioeconomic classes. By the turn of the twentieth century, groups like the Populists and Progressives were calling for radical changes in government oversight of business, expansion of national currency, and subsequent redist... ... repressive. Though our world is certainly more troubled than Bellamy’s in some ways, and though we still have plenty of room for improvement, our more moderate approaches to stabilizing the economy and providing for social welfare have improved the situation since the 19th century. Legislation establishing minimum wage, safety inspections in workplaces, workman’s compensation, a graduated income tax, welfare and social service programs, family medical leave and maternity leave, affirmative action, anti-discrimination statutes, public schools and universities, federal grants for post-secondary education, social security for retirees and those with disabilities, and a host of other reforms over the last century have proven that the democratic government structure that existed during Bellamy’s day was capable of bringing about significant, though gradual, change.

Public Schools vs Private Schools

Description Description tells a reader about the physical characteristics of a person, place or things or place. Description relies on five sense, hearing, sight, smell, touch and taste. That is description essay tells what something looks like, taste like, smells like and sound like. in college description is used in many different ways, such as when writting a comparism essay, you use description to tell the diffrence between the two things. as a student, through description you communicate the view of the world to your readers. Therefore in almost every essay you write, using proper descriptive methods will be very important.Descriptive essay can be objective or subjective. In objective description, you focus on the object or person, you describe exactly what you see, hear, feel, or smell. Not base on you personal reactipon to it. In using objective description your visual has to add something to your papar, that is you could use a diagram to help describe a person or a chartt to help explain a process. You visual has to be located as close to as possible to where it is located in your paper. You must also have to document your visual. In subjective description, you convey your personal response to a subject.Your perspective is not stated directly it is revealed indirectly through your choice of words and phrasing. Subject description is more useful example if your teacher as you to describbe a place that has special meaning to you. A subject description should convey not just a literal record of sight and sound but also ther significance. Both objective and subjective Description depends on language to apeal the reader's senses. These two types of descriptive uses language differently. Objective description relies on precise factual laguages that presnt a writers observation without conveying his or her attitude toward the subject.

Essay on PSGC Recommendation Report

Essay on PSGC Recommendation Report Essay on PSGC Recommendation Report Penn State Golf Courses Recommendation Report Prepared by Bobby Grech, Mac Farber, Matt Rakowich Smeal College of Business Pennsylvania State University August 7, 2013 Introduction As society continues to evolve it is essential for companies to expand upon their business practices and communication techniques in order to remain profitable and expand upon their success. Due to the current state of the economy, a business must act strategically in order to operate at the best of its potential. Although you, the Penn State Golf Courses, are currently a profitable business, this recommendation report will present innovative ways for you to improve your business practices and better your company as a whole. The purpose of this report is to provide effective solutions to the particular problem areas that you are encountering at the golf courses. These problem areas begin with overall involvement at the courses, as the amount of golfer activity has been on the decline. One of the main reasons for this is the lack of participation from the Penn State community. Also, you have expressed a disappointment in the effectiveness of your Facebook page as well as in the sale of your merchandise. In this report we will recommend and provide particular initiatives and deliverables that will support the solution to these problems. Background The problem involving overall participation at the golf courses is one that is industry-wide, as the amount of golfers throughout the United States has been on a decline since 2003 (The Golf Consumer). Although this problem may continue to exist due to the struggling economy, we have realized through research and discussion with your staff, that there particular problems that are specific to your golf courses here at Penn State. Being located just down the street from Penn State’s campus, home to over 40,000 students, your golf courses do not see nearly enough interest from the Penn State community. After communicating with your staff we learned that there are only about 100 student memberships per semester and the courses see roughly 25 students per week other than those members. The courses have not only been disappointed by these student levels of participation, but have also been unable to attract Penn State parents and alumni. The Penn State community as whole lacks interest and awareness of your courses. The Facebook page for your golf courses has been improving in the recent past, but it can definitely still be improved upon. The 510 â€Å"Likes† that the Penn State Golf Courses page has been able to obtain is less than half of that of your largest competitor, Toftrees Golf Resort. Your Facebook page could definitely be more insightful with the addition of more information and frequent updates. The visual appearance of the page can also be improved by adding more pictures and making some minor adjustments. As your staff has shown interest in renewing its page, Facebook can become a more effective tool in gaining awareness for your courses. Lastly, through communication with your staff and observation of your clubhouse, we have noticed you are having trouble when it comes to selling merchandise. As a result, the clubhouse is overstocked with products that see little interest and you are being forced to offer products discounted over 70%. Deliverables & Business Initiatives While being in contact with your staff over the past few weeks, we have been able to develop some physical deliverables as well as certain business initiatives that we believe will help solve your current problems. These include: A completely revamped Facebook page Flyers and Coupons Direct advertising within the Penn State community Offering incentives and selling merchandise at highly populated events Expanding merchandise to more lucrative retailers, such as McLanahan’s We will now go into to detail- considering costs, benefits and feasibility- on how we feel that you should utilize our proposed