Akira Kurosawas RAN :: essays papers

Akira Kurosawa's RAN In this explication of this movie RAN several items will be discussed. Culturally the movie will be critiqued on how the Japanese culture is shown throughout the movie, and the structure of how the characters progress throughout the movie. The conflict between characters will also be discussed in reference to the obstacles they face and how they deal with them. This movie deals mainly with loyalty and tradition (bushido), and how a traditional Japanese family handles not only their personal problems, but also relating to their society and surroundings. The main character or focal point of the movie is Lord Hidetora Ichimonji. He has bequeathed his is kingdom and his three castles to his three sons: Taro (eldest), Jiro, and Saburo (youngest). With his bequeath he has also given up his authority in society as well as militarily to Taro. With this announcement, Taro and Jiro show great hesitation in this yet Subaro shows defiance claiming this is a foolish mistake. Because of these comments Saburo is banished. This is a good example of loyalty to elders and creates an immediate conflict among family. Kurosowa attempts to show how important loyalty can be in the face of change, and even though Subaro does not agree, having a bit of faith in elders reflects also the loyalty that this culture believes. With retirement at hand, Lord Ichimonji goes to the first castle to visit Taro. Taro shows great disloyalty to his father. Taro has had a rush of power and is now dishonoring his father with contracts to sign and so on. Within this culture, dishonoring one’s father is very humiliating, and, with no power, Hidetora leaves to the second castle to find refuge with Jiro. This conflict with Taro represents shibui in the fact that even though Taro has all this power and greatness, he has loss the love of his father all because he felt threatened by him because of his fathers respect through the land. As Hidetora makes way to seek shelter with Jiro, he finds out that Taro sent orders to Jiro to not help his father in any way and to not allow Hidetora’s men to enter the castle. Even though Jiro is crushed, he follows these orders and dishonors his father. This is the opposite of Bushido because the father has been banished by family and family is a strong bushido trait.

Impact of Unemployment in Economics Essay

There are many people who are looking for jobs but cannot find them mostly because of the slow economic growth rate in the country. South Africa faces structural unemployment where people loose their jobs due to introduction of new technology or relocation of the company, these economic disruptions have resulted in high crime rates, low production and income as well as lost human capital. The NDP has been put in place to solve the problem of unemployment, and if supported well there can be job creation because they promise on expanding work programme, reduce costs of doing business and support entrepreneurship. Body South Africa faces the greatest challenge of a very high unemployment rate, which is highly influenced by the slow growth of the country hence resulting in slow employment growth as well (Parkin et al, 2010:449). Unemployment has been defined in two forms: a narrow definition and a broad definition. The narrow definition of unemployment is the official definition of unemployment and it states that an unemployed person is a person who is willing to work and is making an effort to find a job, Parkin et al, states that â€Å"To be counted as unemployed, a person must be available to work†¦must want to work and have made specific efforts to find a job or taken steps to start a business† (Parkin et al, 2010:495), but the broad definition of unemployment also includes the discouraged workers because they are people who are willing to work but have not been making an effort to find a job in the previous month mostly because they cannot find the jobs (Parkin et al, 2010:495). The business cycle of a country also influences the employment and unemployment rates, for example during a recession period there are high unemployment rate and during expansion there are lower unemployment rates (Lipsey et al, 1999:726). Unemployment is classified into three types; i) Frictional, ii) Structural, iii) Cyclical. Frictional unemployment has been explained as â€Å"The unemployment that arises from normal labour turnover – from people entering and leaving the labour force and from the ongoing creation and destruction of jobs† (Parkin et al, 2010:501). The structural unemployment refers to the more crucial and enduring restrictions on worker mobility, Parkin et al, explains it as â€Å"The unemployment that arises when changes in the technology or international competition change the skills needed to perform jobs or change in locations of jobs† (Parkin et al, 2010:502). Cyclical unemployment is influenced by the business cycle where a recession will increase unemployment and an expansion will decrease unemployment (Lipsey et al, 1999:726). South Africa suffers from Structural unemployment to a greater extent because it affects the economic structure of the whole economy especially due to introduction of new technologies and skills needed to cope with competition from the other countries, South Africa has gone global in the business sector therefore it needs to be upgrading its technology and skills to match its competitors. Unemployment is calculated as the number of unemployed people expressed as a percentage of the labour force, where labour force is the number of unemployed people plus number of employed people (Parkin et al, 2010:502). Number of people unemployed Unemployment = X 100 Labour Force Statistics in South Africa show that â€Å"In Q4:2008, there were approximately 3. 9 million people unemployed in South Africa and during the financial and economic crisis, the level of unemployment climbed rapidly, reaching a peak of 4. million in Q1:2010† (Labour Force Survey 2012), this can be best explained as f luctuation of job creation because, during a recession when the country is facing economic hardships the number of jobs shrinks and this influences a spike in the unemployment rate (Parkin et al, 2010:449). The unemployment rate in South Africa will never drop to zero because it is a developing country and does not have a very high Gross Domestic Product which is â€Å"†¦the market value of all final goods and services produced within a country in a given time period† (Parkin et al, 2010:468), when GDP is low, there is an increase in unemployment because there are few goods produced there for a limited labour force is needed to produce the few goods. The number of unemployed people rose to 4. 5 million in Q2:2011, but declined during the second half of 2011, In Q1:2012, the number of unemployed people rose by 282 000, reaching 4. 5 million, which is the same level observed in Q2:2011† (Labour Force Survey 2012). Unemployment is a major issue in South Africa and the only way to manage it is by increasing our entrepreneurial strategy, supporting Small and Medium Enterprises as well as being united as a nation (Ramaphosa 2012). Job creation is not just a strategy to deal with unemployment but it is also going to eradicate poverty and this will increase the living conditions of every South African citizen. Mr Ramaphosa notes that unemployment is hindering our endeavor to eradicate poverty and also reduce the inequality gap (Ramaphosa 2012). The National Development Plan (NDP) which was produced in 2011 by the National Planning Commission has been put in place as strategy to deal with unemployment and Mr Ramaphosa explains that â€Å"It envisages the creation of 11 million jobs by 2030, and a reduction in levels of unemployment from about 25% to 6%† (Ramaphosa 2012). The NDP plans on involving the government as well as the labour sector to play a role, an expansion of the public works programme is going to help reduce unemployment because it will be offering work experiences and skills to those people who are unemployed. Minimizing the cost of doing business helps small companies to get into business and also employ people to work; the NDP also states that tax subsidy will be granted to businesses to minimize the cost of recruiting young people (NDP Summary 2011), this will result in job creation and hence unemployment is reduced. Unemployment affects the whole country because due to unemployment there will be low standard of living Mr Ramaphosa explains that employment is the core of humanity (Ramaphosa 2012), when unemployment is high crime rates tend to increase as well because need to earn a living, so since they cannot find jobs they resort to robbery, drug trafficking and prostitution, this helps explain the high crime rates and HIV Aids rate in South Africa. Economically unemployment leads to loss of production therefore low GDP because there are no people who can work to help make more products; there is also lack and underutilization of human capital when there are high rates of unemployment (Parkin et al, 2010:468). Conclusion The NDP has been put in place to help manage unemployment in South Africa and if it gets support from everyone 11 million jobs will be created by 2030. Unemployment increases crime rates and hence need to be managed properly. The government plans on reducing the costs of doing business and that way there can be creation of employment, the works programme is also going to be sed to provide skills to people who do not have jobs, and above all education for all has to be achieved so as to eradicate unemployment and hence poverty.

What Would You Do Differently Interview Question Tips

This interview question is a bit trickier than most. Youll want to make sure you dont wallow in regret or draw attention to really bad decisions youve made. You have a tough balancing act to negotiate with a question like this. The best interviews are ones in which the interviewer feels like he or she has really gotten to know you. If all of your answers are calculated and safe, youll end up making a tepid impression at best. At the same time, providing too much information is also a danger, and this interview question can easily lead to TMI. The Best Answers to the Interview Question The most effective  answers to this interview question will put a positive spin on the issue youve chosen to discuss. A strong answer doesnt express regret about a bad decision; instead, it presents regret over not seizing all the opportunities available to you. For example, the following would make good responses: Classes: You wish you had taken calculus instead of an easier math class. Be specific and explain why taking calculus would have been a good idea.Work Experience: You wish you had looked for a more challenging job than the local burger joint. Explain what you would like to get out of a job, but also be sure to consider some of the benefits of work experience even with an unskilled job.Extracurricular: You wish you had discovered earlier in high school that you really enjoy theater. If you werent fortunate enough to discover an extracurricular passion in middle school or early in high school, this interview question gives you an opportunity to explain your passion and address why you didnt have an extracurricular activity that you pursued for all four years of high school.Grades: You wish you had worked harder in your freshmen year. This isnt an unusual situation. Some students are late bloomers, and your interviewer shouldnt hold this against you. A more personal response is also appropriate as long as it presents you in a positive light. Perhaps you wish you had spent more time with your grandmother before she came down with cancer, or perhaps you wish you had helped your brother more when he was struggling in school. Avoid These Interview Answers In general, youd probably be wise to avoid answers related to topics such as these: Your relationships. It wouldnt be surprising if your biggest regret from high school was a disastrous relationship. However, if you answer the interview question with details about that nasty boyfriend or girlfriend, youll be introducing a lot of negativity into your interview. This type of response can easily sound immature, ungenerous, and spiteful. Steer clear.A class you hated. Do you really regret taking that class with that bad  teacher? Fine, but keep it to yourself. The best students can navigate all kinds of classroom environments, and your interviewer wont be impressed if you start bad-mouthing your teachers. In college, youll have bad professors, and youll need the composure and maturity to succeed in those classes despite the instructor.Your problems with drugs or alcohol. If you got messed up with drugs or alcohol in college, hopefully, you do wish that you could go back and do things differently. That said, the college interview is not the best place to address this i ssue. While your interviewer may be impressed with your ability to confront your substance abuse, he or she may also feel uneasy about admitting a student who abused alcohol or drugs. Your interviewer may question your judgment or feel that you represent too great of a risk to the college. After all, colleges have enough problems with substance abuse without admitting students who have a proven track record of abuse. You may also find it useful to consider some of the bad application essay topics, for some of these topics are ones that youll want to avoid in your interview as well as the essay. A Final Word About Discussing Regrets Think carefully about this question before you set foot in the interview room. Its not a difficult question, but it does have the ability to go astray if you draw attention to an action that reveals foolishness or poor judgment. If you focus on an opportunity you wish you had seized, you can also discuss how you look forward to seizing that opportunity in college. Finally, keep in mind that the interview is nearly always a congenial exchange of information. Interviews arent meant to trick you or make you uncomfortable. Try to relax, be yourself, and enjoy sharing information with your interviewer.

Dd307 Tma5 Essay - 2286 Words

‘Social policies aimed at reducing prejudice and intergroup conflict would do well to take account of social psychological research in this area.’ Discuss this statement, making reference to relevant research in your answer. This essays aim is to discuss the possibility of reducing prejudice and intergroup conflicts in the light of how social policies can help to achieve this goal. Since the second World War, social psychology went though major changes, and specifically effected by group influences. Before WWII psychology focused on ethnic and racial tensions, biological and cultural differences that made individuals react the way they did. After WWII the focus was on faulty, implicit generalisations that lead to racial hatred,†¦show more content†¦Sherif at al developed an approach to explain intergroup relations as the `realistic group conflict theory` (RCT) (Brown, 2007), and it has a strong empirical support, and SIT also builds upon it. According to this theory, intergroup hostility is based on the competition for tangible resources, as its motivational factors. Sherif also argued that prejudice is a consequence of conflicting or compatible group goals. RCT also has its weaknesses as SIT p oints out, namely how non-material resources like a persons identity, religion, ethnicity are playing a part in prejudice and intergroup conflicts. Tajfels cognitive SIT has been supported by many theorists, but some have shown some concerns, mainly those from the discursive psychological background, like Billig (Brown, 2007). Billig believed that social categories are dynamic, flexible and actively constructed though the use of language, while Tajfel assumed that it is fixed, stable, and universal, not culturally socially or historically specific. Billing also argued that SIT doesnt explain extreme prejudice or bigotry like the Holocaust, nor hatred and other motivations for violence. To understand the cause and effect of the holocaust would fall short in Billings view. Tajfel even he was a survivor of the holocaust, didnt investigate it in terms of SIT, did not apply the theory to this shameful historical event. Emotions like hate-talk is

Essay about Financial Analysis of General Electric

General Electric Company (GE) is a diversified technology, media and financial services company. With products and services ranging from aircrafts engines, power generation, water processing and security technology to medical imaging, business and consumer financing, media content and industrial products, it serves in more than 100 countries. This analysis will use financial ratios to see just how GE is performing as a Fortune 500 company. The first thing to analyze is GE’s capacity to pay its debts as they come due or in other words its liquidity. GE consolidated liquidity position is adequate. GE’s liquidity is supported both by the firm’s consistent earnings track record and its ability to quickly divest business or assets to fit†¦show more content†¦These agencies have given the highest debt ratings to GE and GE Capital (long-term rating AAA/Aaa; short-term rating A-1+/P-1) (4). One of their strategic objectives is to maintain these ratings, as they serve to lower our cost of funds and to facilitate their access to a variety of lenders. They manage our businesses in a fashion that is consistent with maintaining these ratings. In their history, they have never violated any conditions either at GE, GECS or GE Capital. They believe that under any reasonable future economic developments, the likelihood that any such arrangements could have a significant effect on operations, cash flows or financial position is remote. Next is how the ratios relate to the firm’s stock price to its earnings, cash flow and book value per share. The ratios for GE stock are very discouraging. This stock is in the diversified industry, which has generated market-like returns over the past 5- and 10-year periods. Yet compared to its industry peers, this stock has been one of the worst performers over the past five years (10-year returns are unavailable). One should keep in mind when looking at a stock or industrys record that historic returns a re not necessarily a predictor of future performance. Persistent strength or weakness, however, may very well say something about the structure of an industry or quality of a companys management. As far as cash flow GE began stretching out itsShow MoreRelatedFinancial Analysis of General Electric98175 Words   |  393 PagesGE Works 2011 Annual Report CONTENTS 2 Letter to Shareowners 10 Business Overview 29 Board of Directors 31 Financial Section 142 Corporate Information 2011 SUMMARY CONSOLIDATED REVENUES (In $ billions) 2007 170 NBCU 155 2008 180 163 154 139 150 133 2009 2010 ï ¬ nancial and strategic highlights 2011 147 142 22% GROWTH CONTINUES 22% increase in Operating EPS excluding impact of the preferred stock redemption, and 20% rise in Operating earnings. $200B RECORD INDUSTRIALRead MoreFinancial Analysis : The General Electric Company1696 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction Financial analysis gives the clear outlook of the performance parameters of an organization. It helps in evaluating and comparing the present as well past performance. This analysis is an important tool for the management, investors as well as the outsiders who deal with organization. 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Barbara Kingsolver Free Essays

Barbara Kingsolver’s novel called The Poisonwood Bible beautifully illustrates the lessons learned in a journey that is both physical and metaphysical. As this family travels from Bethlehem, Georgia to the Congo, Africa in order for Nathan, the father, to become a missionary, they each take their own journey of gargantuan proportions. As each character takes very different ideas out of their experiences in Africa, the reader too, is able to experience Africa from the vantage point of multiple narrators. We will write a custom essay sample on Barbara Kingsolver or any similar topic only for you Order Now Kingsolver asks the reader from the very beginning to take the journey with this family. â€Å"Oh, but I know better and so do you†¦Take your place then. look at what happened from every side and consider all the ways it could have gone† (Kingsolver 8). In an interview from Book Page, Kingsolver offers some explanation for looking at history. â€Å"We can never know, never look at history with anything but a narrow and distorted window,† says the author. We can never know the whole truth, only what’s been recorded for us and what our cultural and political predisposition understands. Leah says history is never much more than a mirror we can tilt to look at ourselves† (Kanner). Many members journey from Georgia to the Congo and from ignorance to understanding. In the first section called â€Å"The Things They Carried,† Kingsolver shows the characters packing all the necessary things that they carry into the Congo on this journey. They hide objects in their waistbands that they can’t live without, like band-aids, scissors, cake mixes, and more. The cake solidifies before they are even able to attempts to use it. Before they even get there, Leah realizes these objects weigh her down. What hey realize is that they don’t â€Å"need† any of the objects they brought with them, and that our concept of need is warped by our culture. These possessions stand out against the items of the Congo. The demonstration garden is a symbol that shows many characteristics of this journey of ignorance and understanding. Nathan’s purpose in the demonstration garden is to show the Congolese agricultural techniques. This garden is symbolic of the attitude that the family carries into the Congo. they believe that their way is superior and Africans are hopelessly backward. However, the plants that they bring are inappropriate to Africa as are the attitudes of the family. The plants are useless; they bear no fruit just like the attitudes of the family. When Mama Tataba tries to advise Nathan, he cannot heed her advice because he believes the Congolese are so backward that she doesn’t know what she is talking about. It never occurs to him that there are reasons other than â€Å"backwardness† as to why there is no agriculture in Kilanga. The journey continues as more attitudes change throughout the course of the novel. Adah believes that it is so terrible that so many children and adults die in Africa of things we can cure. So people like her have brought medicines and inoculations. However, this leads to overpopulation and food shortages and more. Another lesson the family learns on this journey is that human beings cannot change the balance of nature. Nature always finds a way to retain its own balance. Not all characters succeed in taking the journey. Nathan Price never â€Å"sees the light† of his journey. He arrogantly believes that he can change these ancient traditions to his own, and this would be for the betterment of everyone. His way of life is simply superior, but he is blind in so many ways. He actually is physically almost-blind in one eye because of an old war wound. He is figuratively blind to anyone outside his own version of his divine mission. He then loses sight temporally by ignoring Mama’s advice about the poisonwood tree. Kingsolver ultimately longs for the reader to make this journey as well, a journey to explore what really happened in the Congo. She wants the reader to question what we did in the Congo and how we respond to its destruction. This is why we hear the story from five different narrators. There is no right answer; there is only the journey of exploring the possibilities. Orleana is paralyzed at the end of the book. Rachel refuses to accept any part. Leah becomes an activist, attempting to right the wrongs of the world. Adah responds with science, wanting to figure out and understand her world. What this family’s ultimate â€Å"journey† becomes is one of arrogance and superiority to one of understanding and open-mindedness. â€Å"We aimed for no more than to have dominion over every creature that moved upon the earth. And so it came to pass that we stepped down there on a place we believed unformed, where only darkness moved on the face of the waters. Now you laugh, day and night, while you gnaw on my bones. But what else could we have thought? Only that it began and ended with us. What do we know, even now? Ask the children. Look at what they grew up to be. We can only speak of the things we carried with us, and the things we took away† (Kingsolver 10) Works Cited Kanner, Ellen, Barbara Kingsolver turns to her past to understand the present. 1998 Retrieved June 3, 2007. from First Person Book Page site http://www. bookpage. com/9811bp/barbara_kingsolver. html Kingsolver. Barbara, The Poisonwood Bible. HarperCollins, Canada. 2005. How to cite Barbara Kingsolver, Papers

The Social Structure of the 1920s free essay sample

The Roots of the 1920’s Social Life The Great War was very essential in providing the stepping stones into life during the 1920s as well as maintaining effects on the social atmosphere. In late 1918, the Great War had come to an end with the Allies achieving victory. This war had supposedly been the war to end all wars, and this victory brought confidence back home to the Americans. American troops came home at the end of 1918, and they came home to an America about to experience some of its most prosperous years. With this confidence and energy, Americans led themselves into the 1920s with optimism, activity, and economic growth that lasted through the majority of the era. The Roaring Twenties, the Golden Twenties, the Harlem Renaissance, and the Jazz Age: all names given to this famous era. America was rich. Wall Street was successful day after day with the stock market soaring. The 1920s was a time where tradition was tried and young men and women defied the traditionalist views. Along with this young and rowdy generation was the Prohibition era. Speakeasies across America were born, and bootlegging became a career for many. Americans would not give up their alcohol to any sort of constitutional amendment creating an active and dangerous lifestyle of Americans during the night time. African-Americans made their mark on society during these times. The Harlem Renaissance brought out true African-American art through different visual arts, novels, dramas, short stories, and poetry. Civil rights were still non-existent for the African-Americans, but many still freely expressed themselves. Some expressed themselves through music, especially jazz. The 1920s brought about the Jazz Age. Big names such as Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington came to fame during this age of musical expression. America soared during the 1920s; it’s no wonder the era has been called the Roaring/Golden Twenties. Social life during this time was vastly different than any other era in American history. For instance, the daily life of Americans consisted of things that no other era has dealt with. American economy, the generational war, Prohibition, the Harlem Renaissance and the Jazz Age all served as cornerstones for shaping American society during the 1920s. With many different aspects going into shaping the social life of the 1920s, the economy was the basis of it all. Domestic life had changed with the simple inventions and the mass production of different household products that are still used today: vacuum cleaners, refrigerators, the hair dryer, and etcetera. The consumer lifestyle was king during this time, and it was these simple household products that were vastly consumed. The strong economy changed family life: more students in school, kids were involved in more organizations, and, of course, no worry to put food on the table. With the strong economy, the people developed the mentality of living life to its fullest. Edna St. Vincent Millay described the 1920s lifestyle well in her poem â€Å"First Fig†: â€Å"My candle burns at both ends; it will not last the night; but ah, my foes, and oh, my friends, it gives a lovely light! † It was only the wealth of America and its strong economy that Americans were able to â€Å"burn the candle at both ends. † Although the Great War had come to an end, young American men came home to fight another war: a generational war. A generational difference had been formed between the rough and rowdy young generation and the traditionalist generation. Women during the Great War had tasted a bit of freedom being on their own while all of the men were across the ocean. This led to the birth of flappers during the 1920s: women who wore short skirts, bobbed their hair, and rebelled against almost any traditional rules. This new revolution would go on to affect far more than just the decade, it would go on to affect the rest of history following the 20s. The generational gap did not come about with each individual across America choosing to rebel, it spread rapidly through the media. Newspapers, magazines, and tabloids not only spread the flapper mentality, but also other national trends, ideas, and fashions. One example of media transforming the new generation was Dorothy Dix’s â€Å"Advice to Women†, one of many columns in daily newspapers for Dix. In it she wrote, â€Å"The old idea used to be that the way for a woman to help her husband was by being thrifty and industrious, by peeling the potatoes a little thinner, and making over her old hats and frocks. But the woman who makes herself nothing but a domestic drudge . . . is not a help to her husband. She is a hindrance. † Writings such as this influenced the female crowd across the country to reform the way of life for young women and wives. This kind of writing also brought about an increase in married women considering that they weren’t as dependent upon their husbands anymore. The wife often carried her own job giving the family two jobs which were needed to maintain the consumer mentality during this time. The older generation, the traditionalists, did not agree with this new way of life. However, with the new generation becoming more independent, whatever the traditionalists had to say didn’t carry much weight. The young adults of the 1920s were their own people which very much affected the social life during this time. Rebellion was not only taking place against the older generation, but also against the American government. The Prohibition Act had made its entrance into the constitution as the Eighteenth Amendment in 1920 abolishing the manufacture, transportation, and sale of liquor, beer, and wine throughout the United States. Many supported prohibition during its infant years. The big business men such as Henry Ford, John D. Rockefeller, and Andrew Carnegie all supported prohibition convinced that alcohol hindered the work of their employees. Along with these men were the Protestant churches fully supporting the moral values that prohibition was likely to maintain. However, the American people would not give up their alcohol. Prohibition was only able to make alcohol illegal, but it was not able to stop the distribution of alcohol. â€Å"Bootlegging† was the official name given to selling alcohol illegally. This act included those who independently made their own alcohol for themselves, but the major result of prohibition was organized crime being formed around bootlegging. The infamous Al Capone, also known as Scarface, virtually controlled the city of Chicago through his gang of bootlegging. The flow of money was so great that he was able to pay off local police and even federal agents in order to keep his business afloat. Capone even had control over the mayoral elections when his men terrorized polling places, took opposition ballots by gun, and abducted voters and election workers. Capone’s chosen mayor won. Capone wasn’t the only crime lord around though; rival gangs fought against Capone to gain control of Chicago. These gang wars led to bloodshed and mayhem all throughout Chicago. From 1926 to 1930, more than 300 mobsters were killed in various shootouts and bombings in the Chicago area. Gangs centered on bootlegging were found all across America striking fear into the American people. Capone and those like him had to have a major source of alcohol sales other than individual homes, and they did. Speakeasies exploded in their number during the 1920s which had a major impact on social life. It was here that alcohol was sold on a large scale. These were essentially bars, but they were illegal and not easy to get into. In a passage from Studs Terkel’s Hard Times, Alec Wilder recalls the New York City establishments he frequented during Prohibition: â€Å"As soon as you walked in the door, you were a special person, you belonged to a special society. When I’d bring a person in, it was like dispensing largesse. I was a big man. You had to know somebody who knew somebody. It had that marvelous movie-like quality, unreality. And the food was great. † This â€Å"special person† mentality attracted many young Americans to the speakeasies. The sale of alcohol was accompanied with an upbeat atmosphere. Many locations had live music along with an area for dancing. From the inside, many speakeasies would not appear to be illegal considering how the people were loose and loud and uncaring that what they were doing was illegal. Speakeasies were the night end of the burning candle. The social life described so far has mainly been focused on the white Americans, but the African-American society experienced its own social advancement. The Harlem Renaissance was birthed in the 1920s, and it was the time when African-American artists of all different branches expanded. Literature, art, and music were used by the African-Americans to challenge the racism and stereotypes that were very prevalent during this time. One of the most memorable writers from this time was Langston Hughes. This African-American man helped in shaping the minds of aspiring African-American writers. Langston Hughes said in his essay â€Å"The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain†, â€Å"An artist must be free to choose what he does, certainly, but he must also never be afraid to do what he might choose. † Hughes urged the African-American writers to never try to write like white people; rather, they should openly express themselves through their art. African-Americans were not equal to the white Americans, but Hughes instilled into the African-American community that they did not want to be like the white Americans; instead, they were to be their own people and express their own hearts. The Harlem Renaissance included the Jazz Age as well. Jazz and blues were one of the primary ways for African-Americans to express themselves. They were even able to perform among whites. The aforementioned speakeasies were the primary holds for the performances of different jazz and blues artists as mentioned in Jazz: The First Century: â€Å"Speakeasies, brothels, nightclubs, movie houses, and dance halls were proliferating – all of them craving musical entertainment. † The jazz style of music served well at speakeasies creating an upbeat atmosphere that provided well for the upbeat crowd. Among the most famous African-American musicians during this time were Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, and Louis Armstrong. Duke Ellington said, â€Å"The memory of things gone is important to a jazz musician. Things like old folks singing in the moonlight in the back yard on a hot night or something said long ago. † What Ellington said fit perfectly into what Hughes stood for and tried so hard to instill in the African-American society. Jazz focused not on what was current among the white folks, but it focused on the past generations and accomplishments of the African-Americans. The great prosperity and upbeat social life did not last to the end of the 1920s. The economy once again laid the foundation of the social life when the stock market crashed in October of 1929. By mid-November, the previous unemployment count of 700,000 had risen to 3 million. A crashing economy would drastically change the lifestyle that so many had acquired during the last ten years. The consumer lifestyle was dead. America would be coming off some of its most prosperous years into some of its worst economic years. It would not be until 1941 when America entered into the Second World War that America would re-establish itself as being an economic powerhouse. Though the 1920s ended with such disparity, the era affected American history in such a way that the effects are still prevalent today. Flappers  were the epitome of feminism and brought about the drastic change in women’s role in society. The flappers established women with a sense of independence. The Harlem Renaissance laid the foundations for the Civil Rights movement led by Martin Luther King Jr. ; a movement that took place thirty years later. And because of that, equality has not only been established for African-Americans in the United States, but equality has been established for all races in the United States. The Jazz Age revolutionized music in America. The jazz music of the 1920s has lived to the modern day and will most likely never die.  The roots of the 1920s social life not only affected society in its current state, but those same roots have grown throughout the past ninety years of America. The 1920s revolutionized life in America.