Essay On Multicultural Experience - 875 Words

In sixteen years of life, I have received an opportunity to experience different cultures, learning styles, and languages. To start of, I am an American since I was born here, but the reality is that I was raised in India. My parents’ main motivation for moving back to India was because they wanted us to embrace our traditions, and most importantly, value our family relationships. We relocated back to the US at the start of 9th grade. This transition was a huge factor for transforming me as a person. I am cognizant of the two systems, cherish both, and realize that these multicultural experiences have encouraged me to grow and mature beyond my years. Relocating from a place is not as easy as one can imagine. When compared to the US, India†¦show more content†¦Next, science is the light that keeps us out of the dark ages. If science did not evolve, we would have many unanswered questions related to real life, die with terrifying diseases, and starve without hygiene and nutritious food. Because science has an impact on every aspect of our lives, I am eager in exploring this immense field of study and improve society through healthcare. When it comes to STEM field and school, on top of maintaining good GPA and grades, I devote my time well to my extracurriculars. Starting 7th grade, my passion for opting the medical field has strengthened due to my influential pediatrician. This enhanced drastically as I started gaining many volunteering and shadowing experiences throughout high school. As a freshman, I started taking advantage of majority of the opportunities around me like joining HOSA (Health Occupations Students Of America), Steminism, NHS, UPMC Passavant, Senior Living Facility. Covering a wide range of areas in healthcare-- volunteering/shadowing a geriatrician, pharmacist, nurse, surgeon and more-- solidified my aspiration. However, when I think about the medical field, clinical is not the only side. Research plays a huge role in medicine be cause without this, we would have inadequate knowledge about science and also would not have access to all these sophisticated treatments. Bayer School Scholars Program is a great opportunity for students like me toShow MoreRelatedMultiracial Identity in Essays by Julia Alvarez and Danzy Senna876 Words   |  4 PagesMultiracial Identity in Essays by Julia Alvarez and Danzy Senna The essays of Julia Alvarez and Danzy Senna address issues of multiracial identity important in their younger years as they grew up daughters of a multiethnic and multiracial background. Despite the slight generational differences, the same issues are as important today as they were twenty or thirty years ago. The concept of one being multiracial is a relatively new concept. 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Classical Style vs the Renaissance Essay Example For Students

Classical Style vs the Renaissance Essay Classical Style vs The Renaissance One of the most influential artistic styles in western culture is the Classical Style. This term describes the art and architecture produced in Ancient Greece between the late sixth and early fourth centuries B. C. E. The harmonious order that governs almost all the aspects of Ancient Greek Civilization, including politics and philosophy, was the basis of this rich artistic period which has always had a strong influence on Western culture. Nevertheless, there have been some periods in history where the Classical influences were more prevalent. This influence could not be more evident than in the Renaissance, which refers to the rebirth of the Classical Style. The Renaissance which spread through Europe started in Italy around 1300 C. E. And lasted though the seventeenth century. In this period, the artisans did not Just copy the Greeks but also revived their principles of harmony, order, proportion, and realism. In this paper, Im going to exam one sculpture and one building from each of these two periods to identify the similarities and differences between them. Hermes with the young Dionysus by Parallaxes vs David by Michelangelo Hermes with the young Dionysus was made by Parallaxes around 340 B. C. E. This marble statue represents Hermes, which was the messenger of the Greek Gods, holding the young Dionysus (Cambric). This freestanding Greek statue was made during the Golden Age of the Classical Style, and it features the key characteristics of this period (realism, harmony, and proportion). Hermes appears nude leaning against a tree trunk draped with material which is wrapped around his arm. He is leaning in a relaxed pose with most of his body positioned on the left side of the artwork. Parallaxes balances the overall composition by putting the young Dionysus on Hermes arm which connects the figure to the supporting tree trunk on the right side. Like other sculptures from this period, Hermes with the young Dionysus is very realistic. According to Gloria Firer, author of the book The Humanistic Tradition the male nude of the High Classical Age seems to fulfill Aristotle idea of excellences as the exercise of human will dominated by reason. Hermes idealized body is perfectly symmetrical, and it absolutely fits into the Greek canon (set of rules for determining hysterical proportion). In addition, the almost tactile texture of the smooth marble exposes Hermes well developed muscles and bones which seem to be alive and moving under his soft smooth skin. His facial features are symmetrical and proportionate, and his expression is relaxed while smiling as he looks upon the baby Dionysus. In this statue, Parallaxes reflects the Greek ideal of beauty. The realism and perfection of the Greek statues of the Classical period were the inspiration for sculpture of the Italian Renaissance. Michelangelo created David between 1501 and 1504. The work is a representation of the young shepherd who slays the giant Goliath with his meager sling and who later goes on to become the king of Israel (Firer). Like Hermes with the young Dionysus, David is a freestanding, statue of a nude male, created at the peak of its period, the Renaissance. Michelangelo created this sculpture in the early sixteen is very realistic, and the smooth marble shows the perfectly developed muscular structure beneath the skin. However, unlike Hermes, Davits posture is not relaxed but rigid with his muscles tense and veins protruding from the surface. He appears alert and focused on his opponent, awaiting some action that is about to happen. In addition, while Hermes scale and proportion are realistic, Davits is oversized standing 14 Ft. 5 in. Sigh, and his head hands, and feet are oversized and not proportionate to the rest of his body. Michelangelo deliberately violated classical proportions by making the head and hands of his figure to large for his trunk. The body of the fearless adolescent is tense and brooding, powerful rather than graceful says Firer. Although both sculptures share common characteristics, David is different room Hermes in that Parallaxes creation is Just a celebration of beauty and perfection while Michelangelo creates be auty and also enhances human accomplishment. During protestant reformation EssayParthenon vs.. Saint Pewters Basilica The Parthenon (448-432 B. C. E. ) is a Classical Greek temple that was designed by architects Stations and Calibrates. It is located in Athens, Greece, and it crowns the high plateau called the Acropolis. The temple is dedicated to the citys main Goddesses, Athena, and it is surrounded by other smaller temples (Firer). Like most of the buildings from this period, the architects used the post-and-lintel system, and hey did not use mortar. The Parthenon floor plan is rectangular and very simple. It only has two rooms surrounded by a colonnaded walkway. The order used for the columns is Doric, which has no base, and its capital is a simple cushion. The Greek principles of perfection such as order, harmony, and symmetry govern the whole construction. The ideal and concern with perfection of order and balance caused the architects to use wider columns on the corners of the structure to offset the visual reduction of their size due to the bright light of the sky behind them according to Firer. In addition, the Parathions pediment was decorated symmetrically and balanced with relief carvings of the Greek Gods featuring the king of the gods, Zeus, directly in the center. Similar to the revival of the classical style in Renaissance sculpture, the principles of the Classical Greek architecture were the inspiration for building during the Renaissance. Saint Pewters Basilica (1506-1612 C. E. ) is a catholic church constructed during the high Renaissance. Ten architects worked on its construction including Donation Aberrant, who started the project, and Michelangelo, who designed of the dome (The World Book Encyclopedia). Similarly to the Parthenon, it is intended for worshiping and is located in the middle of a religious area, Vatican City. It is dedicated to Saint Peter who is considered the fist pope of the Christian Church and whose remains lay beneath the building. Saint Pewters Basilica has also some decorative features that resemble the Greek temple. The columns in the fade are inspired by the Classical Style although they are a different order, Corinthian, and above the columns there is a pediment. Crowning the fade are thirteen statues upon the balustrade, which although are not exactly the same, they mimic the ones in the Parthenon. The figure in the center is Jesus, king of heaven, and the rest are Saint John the Baptist and eleven apostles. The major differences between the two temples are the construction methods. Saint Pewters Basilica uses mortar, and it has stone arches inside supporting plan is a Latin cross that is inspired by the medieval cathedrals. In addition, the building is crowned with a huge dome, which is an architectural feature and innovation from the Renaissance. Although the Renaissance architecture is more omelet than the Classical, the architects included key classically styled features in their designs and the Classical ideal of proportion and order in their construction. After examining the sculpture and architecture from these two periods, it is clear that they have a direct relationship to each other. The renaissance borrowed the Classical principles of order, harmony, and proportion from the Greeks. This is clear in the comparison of the two statues. In the case of the architecture, the Renaissance took the Classical elements, but they utilized more advanced techniques. Although the Renaissance was a brilliant period in which innovation and creativity was rich, the use of the Classical examples and the honoring of them clearly confirm their timeless and lasting influence. Works Cited Firer, Gloria. The Humanistic Tradition Volume l. 5th edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson-Prentice Hall, 2005. Print. Cambric, E. H. The Story of Art. 15th edition. All Saints Street, London: Phaeton Press Limited, 1999. Print The World Book Encyclopedia. Merchandise Mart Plaza, Chicago: Field Enterprises Educational Corporation. 1962. Print.

An Occurance at Owl Creek Bridge essays

An Occurance at Owl Creek Bridge essays For as long as videos have been available to the public, there has been the question of whether or not they are as stimulating to the mind as the written story. Ambrose Bierces, An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge, and the short film it became when director, Robert Enrico adapted it to a visual medium, would be a good set to study to answer this question. They have their similarities, such as preparation, themes, and plot. Both also bring their own tactics to the storytelling table. The two versions of this story give a sense, by placing union troops around a perimeter, that the main character is surrounded, with no chance of escape. He has a love for nature, family, and life in both. This is illustrated by the way that he thinks of his wife and shows love for the earth when he is alive. Both consist of a series of escapes ending with a sudden, shocking death. Time is imaginary, and is warped and deliberately mishandled in both. Both use death to end the warp in time and bring the audience back to reality. The film version of this story adds a definite sense of sound with a soundtrack. This helps to stir emotions, and the lyrics help get a point across. The film also brings into play a bit of symbolism, leading to many parallels with the crucifixion of Jesus. The written story tells us some background of who the main character is, and fills in the story behind his hanging. Both Robert Enricos film and Ambrose Bierces written work tell approximately the same story, but both have their own way of doing it. As for all films and books, the same may be true. Both are beneficial to audiences in their own way. ...

Creative Writing How to Get Started with Creative Writing [+ 9 Exercises]

Creative Writing How to Get Started with Creative Writing [+ 9 Exercises] Creative Writing: How to Get Started with Creative Writing [+ 9 Exercises] Creative writing is one of those skills you can eternally get better at.Now, were not saying your creative writing is bad necessarily, but just that if you want to continue to push yourself in this industry, youll need some work.You might not like to face that truth, but it is indeed a truth. I’ll go into more detail about that in a little bit but every writer out there needs some writing tips to help them get better.And one of the best ways to get better at creative writing is to first learn and understand the craft of it, and then challenge yourself by completing writing exercises.Heres what youll learn about creative writing:What is creative writing?Creative writing topicsElements of creative writingExamples of creative writing9 powerful creative writing exercisesNOTE: We cover everything in this blog post and much more about the writing, marketing, and publishing process in our VIP Fiction Self-Publishing Program. Learn more about it hereWhat is Creative Writing?Creative w riting is a form of writing where creativity is at the forefront of its purpose through using imagination, creativity, and innovation in order to tell a story through strong written visuals with an emotional impact. It’s often seen as the opposite of journalistic or academic writing.When it comes to writing, there are many different types. As you already know, all writing does not read in the same way.Creative writing uses senses and emotions in order to create a strong visual in the reader’s mind whereas other forms of writing typically only leave the reader with facts and information instead of emotional intrigue.Creative Writing TopicsIf you’re looking for a few creative writing topics to dive into (which you’ll need if you’re going to use some of our top writing exercises), we have exactly what you need.These are our top creative writing prompts all compiled for you.Just fill out the form below and your writing prompts will be delivered promptl y! What are the Elements of Creative Writing?In order to get better at creative writing, you have to understand the elements of what makes writing a book great.You can’t build a car engine without understanding how each part plays a role, right? That’s the same case with writing.Here are the elements that make up creative writing and why each is just as important as the other.Unique Plot What differentiates creative writing and other forms of writing the most is the fact that the former always has a plot of some sort and a unique one. Yes, remakes are also considered creative writing, however, most creative writers create their own plot formed by their own unique ideas. Without having a plot, there’s no story.And without a story, you’re really just writing facts on paper, much like a journalist.Character development Characters are necessary for creative writing. While you can certainly write a book creatively using the second person point of view (which Iâ⠂¬â„¢ll cover below), you still have to develop the character in order to tell the story.Character development can be defined as the uncovering of who a character is and how they change throughout the duration of your story. From start to end, readers should be able to understand your main characters deeply.Underlying themeAlmost every story out there has an underlying theme or message even if the author didn’t necessarily intend for it to. But creative writing needs that theme or message in order to be complete. That’s part of the beauty of this form of art. By telling a story, you can also teach lessons.Visual descriptions When you’re reading a newspaper, you don’t often read paragraphs of descriptions depicting the surrounding areas of where the events took place. Visual descriptions are largely saved for creative writing.You need them in order to help the reader understand what the surroundings of the characters look like. This pulls readers in and a llows them to imagine themselves in the characters’ shoes which is the reason people read.Point of view There are a few points of views you can write in. That being said, the two that are most common in creative writing are first person and third person.First Person In this point of view, the narrator is actually the main character. This means that you will read passages including, â€Å"I† and understand that it is the main character narrating the story.Second Person Most often, this point of view isn’t used in creative writing, but rather instructional writing like this blog post. When you see the word â€Å"you† and the narrator is speaking directly to you, it’s second person point of view.Third Person Within this point of view are a few different variations. You have third person limited, third person multiple, and third person omniscient. The first is what you typically find.Third person limiteds narrator uses â€Å"he/she/they† wh en speaking about the character you’re following. They know that character’s inner thoughts and feelings but nobody else’s. It’s much like first person, but instead of the character telling the story, a narrator takes their place.Third person multiple is the same as limited except that the narrator now knows the inner thoughts and feelings of several characters.The last, third person omniscient, is when the narrator still uses â€Å"he/she/they† but has all of the knowledge. They know everything about everyone.Dialogue While non-creative writing can have dialogue (like in interviews), that dialogue is not used in the same way as it is in creative writing. Creative writing (aside from silent films) requires dialogue to support the story.Your characters should interact with one another in order to further the plot and development each other more.Imaginative language Part of what makes creative writing creative is the way you choose to craft the visio n in your mind. And that means creative writing uses more anecdotes, metaphors, similes, figures of speech, and other comparisons in order to paint a vivid image in the reader’s mind.Emotional appeal All writing can have emotional appeal. However, it’s the entire goal of creative writing. Your job as a writer is to make people feel how you want them to by telling them a story.Examples of Creative WritingSince creative writing covers such a wide variety of writing, we wanted to break down the different types of creative writing out there to help you make sense of it. You may know that novels are considered creative writing, but what about memoirs?Here are examples of creative writing:NovelsShort storiesPoetryPlaysMemoirs TV show scriptsMovei scriptssongsspeeches9 Creative Writing Exercises to Improve Your WritingWriting is just like any other skill. You have to work at it in order to get better.It’s also much like other skills because the more you do it, the stro nger you become in it. That’s why exercising your creative writing skills is so important.The best authors out there, including Stephen King, recommend writing something every single day. These writing exercises will help you accomplish that and improve your talent immensely.Have you checked out our fiction writing and self-publishing program? Learn more about it here#1 Describe your day with creative writingThis is one of my favorite little exercises to keep my writing sharp and in shape.Just like with missing gym sessions, the less you write, the more of that skill you lose. Hannah Lee Kidder, a very talented author and Youtuber, gave me this writing exercise and I have used it many times.Creative Writing Exercise:All you have to do is sit down and describe your day starting with waking up as if you were writing it about another person. Use your creative writing skills to bring life to even the dullest moments, like showering or brushing your teeth.#2 Description Depict ion If you’re someone who struggles with writing descriptions or you just want to get better in general, this exercise will help you do just that and quickly.In order to improve your descriptions, you have to write them with a specific intention.With this exercise, the goal is to write your description with the goal of showing the reader as much as you can about your character without ever mentioning them at all.Creative Writing Exercise:For this one, craft a character in your mind. It can be one you already created or a completely new one.Pick 5 key qualities about them you want to highlight within your description. Then, without ever mentioning the character at all, describe either their living room or their bedroom to meet that goal.#3 Edit your old writingBelieve it or not, editing does count as writing and can actually sharpen those creative writing skill more than you think.It can be a little scary to pull up a story you wrote last week or even two years ago and tear it apart. But that’s exactly what I want you to do.Check out this video of me editing my old writing in order to replace weak verbs with stronger, better ones to get a taste of what this can look like and how it can help you get better. #4 Voice VariationsOne of my favorite parts of writing is giving unique voices to each character. I believe that’s what truly brings them to live. Their dialogue as the power to pull readers in, or push them out of the book completely.Obviously, you want the former.During this creative writing exercise, your focus will be to pick 4 different emotional states and write dialogue and narrative of how your character feels and interprets those feelings.Creative Writing Exercise:For this one, craft a character in your mind. It can be one you already created or a completely new one.Choose your 4 emotional states and get creative. You can choose sadness, anger, happiness, and excitement BUT you can also go a bit further and choose to use drun k, flirty, terrified, and eager.After you have 4 emotional states, write one page of each using dialogue and narrative your character would use.#5 Single SensesCreating strong visuals is one of the most powerful ways to become a great creative writer. In fact, practicing this will help you craft books that really hook readers.This exercise’s goal is to help you develop writing the senses in ways that not only make sense, but are also imaginative and unique.#6 Dialogue DestructionDuring this exercise, you will learn a lot about how to shape a scene using entirely dialogue.Now, this isn’t something you’ll always do in your writing, but it’s very important to know how to move a scene forward using dialogue if you need to.This will also help you understand how to show and not tell in creative writing.Creative Writing Exercise:To start, choose a scene you wrote previously that has little to no dialogue, but is still very important.Next, rewrite the entire th ing using dialogue (including dialogue tags and body language descriptions). You will quickly become better at using dialogue to show and not tell.#7 Tell the origin story of the Tooth FairyThis writing exercise will really help you think creatively about something a large part of the world knows about.However, you have to think of a very unique, interesting way of presenting this common idea. The purpose of this is to help you dig deeper within your own story and plot in order to come up with the very best, most unique ideas because that is what will stand out in your book.Creative Writing Exercise:Begin this story like you would any other. Develop who the very first Tooth Fairy is and understand their character. Then, start creating a backstory that coincides with how they ended up becoming the tooth fairy.Write this in full, ending with the Tooth Fairy taking their first tooth.#8 Thematic AtticThis is a fun one! The idea behind this creative writing exercise is to focus on int erpreting themes through story.Since all creative writing has an underlying theme behind it, it’s really important for you to be able to accurately depict that theme throughout the story you’re telling.Otherwise, it can get lost. Not knowing the theme can often leave readers feeling unsatisfied and rightfully so.Creative Writing Exercise:For this exercise, pick an overarching theme you want to focus on. This can be anything from equality to the difference between right and wrong.Next, craft a short story with the setting being and do your best to make sure that theme shines throughGet creative! Your attic can even contain a portal to another dimension if you really want it to.#9 Break Language BarriersThis isn’t quite what you think it is. So no, we will not be creating new languages with this exercise.Instead, we’ll be working on using unique language to describe very common, everyday occurrences and experiences.One of the beauties of creative writing is that you have the power to change the way someone sees the world. You can make it more appealing and special to them if you know how.This exercise will help you develop the skill of using a unique narrative within your story.Creative Writing Exercise:In this creative writing exercise, you’ll start by reading. You can read a new book or even some of your old writing.Highlight or copy sentences or paragraphs you think are very common experiences that most everyone in the world knows of. For example: the sunset, brushing your teeth, looking up at the sky.Your job is to rewrite these experiences in the most unique way you can using visuals that you don’t normally see in writing.Here’s an example:BEFORE The sun set beyond the trees.AFTER The trees tucked the sun in for the night.[su_box title=Creative Writing Exercise box_color=#112947 title_color=#ffffff radius=0][/su_box]Turn Your Creative Writing Idea into a Novel PUBLISH!Now that youre more ready than ever to produce a high quality book, its time to take action.

Daisyworld Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 10000 words

Daisyworld - Coursework Example The surface temperature of a lifeless planet would have changed dramatically with the increase in luminosity of the sun over geological timescales; on Earth, it has remained remarkably constant around temperatures suitable for life (s Harvey, 2003). Daisyworld is a simplified model of an imaginary planet with just two species of daisies, black and white in order to demonstrate the way it happens. The growth rate of the daisies depends on their local temperature but the daisies modify this due to the differences in the way of absorbing radiation; black daisies have low albedo i.e. reflectivity and thus they heat up easily. On the other hand, white daisies with higher albedo tend to reflect the sun's radiation. The Gaia hypothesis (Lovelock, 1972, 1979, 1988) came into the scene with the problem of determining the possibilities of life on Mars1. To carry out the experiments, it was neither easy not necessary according to Hitchcock and Lovelock (1966), to go to Mars. They claimed that all that was required is determination of the composition of the atmosphere of Mars. The atmosphere of Mars should be at chemical equilibrium (which is true) in the absence of any form of life on the planet. Similarly, if the atmosphere were not at equilibrium just like Earth, then this would strongly support the possibility of life on mars. Lovelock believed that the Planet Earth should be studied as an organism due to the analysis that the general activity of the planet can effectively indicate the existence of life on it. The characteristic properties exhibited by the living things like respiration, metabolism, self-regulation, irritability and reproduction can be studied for the determination of life. To consider earth as an organism is just a matter of choice of great researchers but it certainly posses many properties similar to organisms. The key objections that have been raised to the Gaia hypothesis are based on the evolution theory. Arguments are there on the consideration of Earth as an organism believing that organism properties arise only through natural selection. There is no particular mechanism so that the Earth can maintain the favourable conditions for the biota and hence there is no need to consider the matter (Dawkins, 1982). Continuous arguments were present about the

Comparison of Alphaville with Today Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Comparison of Alphaville with Today - Essay Example The plot unleashes gradually when a secret agent is sent to catch Alphaville who is controlled by a computer Alpha 60 and the creator of this invention, Professor Von Braun (Constantine and Karina, 1965). This movie is basically symbolic of the fact that human beings have been dominated by the scientific inventions. They have lost their ability to feel and think. They have become robots like Alphaville and their behavior is termed as â€Å"outlandish†. In this scenario the relationship between Natacha Von Braun and Lemmy Caution, the secret agent, is quite significant because Natacha is unable to voice her feelings. It is not that she does not want to. She just doesn’t have the words to describe what she feels. On the other hand the poignancy of the scene touches the audience immensely where Natacha tells Lemmy that he is looking at her in a strange way to which he agrees. Then she asks if he is waiting for her to say something to him and to this also he agrees. Here, N atacha admits that she is clueless because she has never been taught the words to say what is expected of her here and that Lemmy should help. Lemmy replies that he will not be able to help her because she needs to help herself; that is the only way she will be saved. However, if she doesn’t, she would be â€Å"as lost as the dead ofAlphavile† (Constantine and Karina, 1965). ... The fact that a person, Alphaville, is being controlled by a computer also reflects the concept of totalitarianism. This is a concept or phenomenon according to which a state or government has the right to interfere with the private life of the citizens and the opinion of the citizens do not matter. The same idea has been portrayed in the 1965 film. The computers decide what is good and bad for the human beings and the human beings are not allowed to have any say in their own lives. According to Professor Bon Braun who is the creator of Alpha 60, everything is in control of science and machines(Conquest, 2001). It can be said that this movie was way ahead of its time but it still managed to capture the very essence and causes of the human decline, which is evident today. This movie made it clear that there is a very thin line between the human world and machine world and that time is not very far away when this line will be crossed by the human beings. A famous essayist,Professor Sus an Greenfield opines that people will have to wake up from their gadget-drugged and â€Å"pharmaceutically enhanced† slumber that has made their brains immune. According to him, soon there will be little if any difference between humans and machines. This quote can be related to â€Å"Alphaville† as well. The characters portrayed in the movies are expressionless and emotionless. They even talk like robots, without pausing and without much feeling with a poker face. Like Natacha Van Braun speaks rarely and whenever she does, it is on the professor’s command. For instance, when she is asked about how she is, she says, â€Å"I’m very well thank you you’re welcome.†(Greenfield, n.d.). If on one hand, this film is

Performance Management and Executive Compensation Essay Example for Free

Performance Management and Executive Compensation Essay Introduction In the history of modern economies, from the late 1800s to today businesses have faced ethical challenges regarding compensation for executives and its relation to job performance. In response to major economic crises during the 20th century, the United States enacted broad-based legislation measures as attempts to prevent what were seen as ethical challenges and agency conflicts surrounding both performance management and executive compensation. To understand the current issues facing businesses and regulators, it is important to look at three of most significant legislative acts Congress has passed. The Securities Exchange Acts of 1933 and 1934, as well as the Sarbanes–Oxley Act of 2002 represent legislative interventions regarding corporate financial accounting toward the goal of curtailing the ethical challenges and the conflict of agency problems that can arise from performance management and executive compensation. Yet even after these laws were enacted, ethical conflicts can and still do arise when it comes to the compensation for employers and executives. Securities Act of 1933 The Securities Act of 1933 was born in response to the stock market crash of 1929. Just as it was then, companies who issue securities to raise money for funding new investments or to expand operations have an inherent incentive to present their company and its plans in the rosiest light possible to investors (Sarkar, 2013). The Securities Act of 1933 serves the dual purpose of ensuring that issuers of securities to the public disclose material information to investors as well as ensuring that any securities transactions are not based on fraudulent information or practices (Sarkar, 2013). The Securities Act of 1933 affects public disclosures through a mandatory registration process for sellers and brokers and applies to the sale or trade of any regulated security type (Sarkar, 2013). Securities Act of 1934 (a.k.a. the Exchange Act) The Exchange Act primarily regulates transactions of securities that take place after its initial offering by a company (Sarkar, 2013). These transactions often take place between parties other than the issuer, such as through trades that retail investors execute via brokerage firms (Sarkar, 2013). The biggest effect of The Exchange Act was the creation of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), a federal agency responsible for regulating the securities markets (Sarkar, 2013). Since 1934, the SEC has taken on the role of mitigating fraud, abuse, and other ethical issues in the financial reporting of publicly traded entities. Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 The Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) Act of 2002 was the most significant legislation passed since the 1930s and came in the aftermath of the corporate scandals at companies such as Enron, WorldCom, and Arthur Andersen (Amadeo, 2013). Sarbanes-Oxley created the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB), a new organization whose purpose is to help oversee the accounting industry (Amadeo, 2013). To prevent the sort of conflicts of interest that had led to the Enron fraud, SOX established new prohibitions for auditors when engaging in consultation work for their auditing clients. It also banned company loans to executives and gave increased job protections to whistleblowers (Amadeo, 2013). Performance Management and Executive Compensation Even after the passing of the Securities and Exchanges Acts of 1933 and 1934 and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, there are reasons to be concerned about ethical violations in financial accounting. Two areas where there still exist possibilities for unethical activity which could harm the supply of reliable information to investors are the performance management within a company and the compensation packages of executives. Current Ethical Challenges When evaluating situations to support ethical decision-making, one must first identify the ethical problems as they arise (Eldenburg, 2005). Performance measurements are most often measured in terms of time or financial figures – â€Å"how long† or â€Å"how much.† When selecting a new CEO, the board of directors is required to offer a financial package that is both lucrative enough to attract the most qualified individual and yet also appears fair to other ranking executives of the company. Such financial packages need to be approved by the major shareholders when the salary will impact the company’s financial reports. During an economic recession, firms may significantly downsize their workforce as well as benefits and labor rates employees receive, yet often find themselves contractually obligated to hand-out large bonuses and increasing salaries for their executives. This is potentially a major ethical issue for a company and its executives, with the fibers of the company being reduced while executives are earning more and more – even though the firm is struggling. â€Å"CEOs at the countrys 200 largest companies earned an average of 20 percent more last year than in 2009, according to recent corporate filings. By comparison, average pay for workers in the private sector rose just 2.1 percent last year—nearly the smallest increase in decades† (Harkinson, 2011). It is also not unheard of for CEOs to be forced to step down while still receiving their lucrative compensation packages only to also be given a generous â€Å"golden parachute† as they leave. Excesses like this can have detrimental effects on employee morale as the majority of the company often consists of those earning the least. Boards of directors should take into consideration the financial standing of the firm before they offer an over-the-top compensation package to a CEO. As an illustration of the contrary, Steve Jobs volunteered to work at Apple for a salary of only $1 per year: â€Å"A regulatory filing shows Apple CEO Steve Jobs’ compensation package remained the usual $1 in fiscal 2010†¦ as is customary, Jobs got no bonus or perk† (Steve Jobs, n.d.). In terms of ethical challenges and executive compensation, Jobs proved by his example that it is possible to put the company first – even if that meant earning a salary of $1. CEOs do not often have to settle for such low salaries to show leadership and camaraderie; however, accepting less exorbitant amounts can help avoid accusations of greed and impropriety altogether. Current Agency Issues â€Å"Principals hire agents to make decisions for them and to act in their behalf† (Eldenburg, Wolcott, 2005, pp. 591). Often, agents may go on to hire agents of their own, delegating authority and establishing sub-units known as responsibility centers which can decentralize decision-making and accountability. A particularly special case of the principal-agent relationship involves the executives of companies who are effectively agents of the shareholders selected to run the company. â€Å"Four common types of responsibility centers are cost centers, revenue centers, profit centers, and investment centers.† (Eldenburg Wolcott, 2005, pp. 595) Those agents who possess decision-making authority over a responsibility center use demographic financial data provided by the accountants for budgets and reviews of sales, profits/losses, value appraisals, and costs. Accountant and audit provided information is used to evaluate and measure performance, monitor the effectiveness of managers, reward performance, and influence decisions. (Eldenburg Wolcot, 2005) The audit information accountants prepare and present is vital to the principal/agent relationship and performance measurement, but also has its costs. The primary challenge presented by the principal/agent relationship concerns the high level of pressure to perform that an agent can experience in the form of the agent’s compensation. Money, as well as other forms of compensation such as bonuses and stock options, increased authority, and ownership expectations are direct motivators of challenges to the ethical foundation of agent performance. When principals evaluate the performance of agents, their decisions are likely to be based on the same accounting information their agents also used. This common use provides a potential incentive for an agent to alter, falsify, or otherwise misrepresent certain data that principals receive. As decision-making authority is granted from a principle to an agent, the agent’s performance is evaluated to some degree from each authority level. Evaluating the effectiveness of the decisions made in each agency level or responsibility center is the core of measuring, monitoring, and motivating performance. Poor performance leads to a loss of decision-making authority, responsibilities, compensation, and other benefits within the entire principal-agent structure. Conversely, outstanding performance has the opposite effect and benefits everyone up the principal-agent ladder. Conclusion The Securities Exchange Acts of 1933 and 1934 are essential because of their transparency as spelled out in their objectives, and for providing prospective investors detailed information about investment decisions. Their main purpose was to protect shareholders from misrepresentation and scam in the selling of security. The Acts mandated that securities sold to the public within the United States of America must be listed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Later, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX) was established to make sure that CFOs and CEOs authenticate and approve the financial reporting of their companies. Despite these monumental pieces of regulation, which resulted in the creation of two separate oversight agencies, there are still situations susceptible to ethical challenges and agency issues; particularly concerning performance management and executive compensation. References Amadeo, K; 2013. Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Retrieved from http://useconomy.about.com/od/themarkets/p/sarbanes-oxley.htm Eldenburg, L. Wolcott, S. (2005). Cost management: Measuring, monitoring, and motivating performance, (1st ed). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley Sons. Harkinson, J. (2011). Americas 10 Most Overpaid CEOs. Retrieved from http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2011/04/10-most-ridiculously-overpaid-ceos McConnell, C., Brue, S. (2005). Economics: principles, problems and policies (16th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill. Sarkar, D; 2013. Securities Act. Retrieved from http://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/securities_act_of_1933 Steve Jobs again earned $1 for work. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.timesleader.com/stories/Steve-Jobs-again-earned-1-for-work-at-A,115771