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Part 1 The Cold war
Part 1: The Cold war
The Soviet Union and the United States emerged as the clear leading powers on the global platform after WorldWar II. Despite the end of the world war, geopolitical tensions arose between these two superpowers resulting in the infamous cold war. The cold war was marked by rivalry over the creation and buildup of atomic and nuclear weapons, the spread of political ideologies, and espionage. The cold war that lasted between 1945 to 1990 was a period in which countries allied to the United States, also referred to as the western powers, and countries allied to the Soviet Union also referred to as the Soviet bloc, experienced a continuous state of political hostility that did not result in open warfare.
During the beginning of the cold war, influential leaders from the Western-allied block made utterances that further fueled the cold war. For instance, Winston Churchill, the prime Minister of the United Kingdom, made his now-infamous “iron curtain” speech that implied a permanent divide between the east and the west. This speech gave the impression that those in the west were subject to western ideologies while those in the east were subject to Moscow’s ideologies. States supporting the Soviet Union viewed his speech as an incitement against the Soviet Union and a call to other nations to join the Western Alliance in subduing the Soviets. President Truman’s speech, which is now known as Truman’s doctrine, gave the impression that the United States would Support “free people” in resisting outside pressure and influence from the Soviet Union. This speech resulted in the creation of NATO, a military alliance between the United States and Western European Countries, further threatening the Soviet Union and its allies. George Marshall, the Secretary of State, gave a speech describing the plight Western-allied European nations faced after World War II. It convinced the American people and Congress to take an interest in reliving their plight and create economic agreements to help alleviate their suffering. The Organization for European Economic Co-operation, an American foundation that gave financial aid and implemented economic programs to Western European countries, directly relates to George Marshall’s speech. This speech was a threat to the Soviet Union and its allies as they saw it as America’s attempt at spreading its influence and ideologies in Europe. Apart from military coalitions, economic aid, and political maneuvering, other ways countries involved fought in the cold war include arms buildup and proxy wars. The nuclear arms race is an example of an arms buildup, while the Vietnam war and the Korean war are proxy wars.
The cold war ended in 1991, and it was because of factors such as the increase in nationalist sentiments, the collapse of the Soviet Union, and changes in leadership and policies. Between the 1980s and 1991, most countries in Eastern Europe experienced increased nationalist sentiments due to dissatisfaction with the Soviet system. These sentiments resulted in countries such as Hungary and Poland leaving the Soviet Union and weakening its influence in the region. The decrease of its influence and the radical political and economic reforms introduced by its new leader Mikhail Gorbachev significantly weakened the Soviet Union’s power and led to its eventual disintegration. President Reagan’s foreign policy that attacked critical resources necessary for the economic survival of the Soviet Union further weakened this former superpower while questioning its legitimacy and superiority in the world.
Part 2: World War II
World War II began in 1939 and ended in 1945 and it involved many countries. This war resulted from factors such as the failure of peace efforts made after the first world war, the formation of the Axis coalition, the spread of military totalitarianism, economic depression experienced across the world, and increased German aggression in Europe. Military totalitarianism led to the rise of dictators and doctorship governments in the east. For instance, in Germany, Adolf Hitler came into power. In Japan, its armed forces gained more power that enabled them to impose tyranny across East Asia, thereby infringing on the disarmament clauses of the Versailles Treaty. In Italy, Benito Mussolini, a fascist dictator, became the Premier of Italy and created a totalitarian state that imposed its rule across that region. As these countries grew into tyrannical powers, they formed agreements such as the Rome -Berlin declaration and the German- Japanese Anti-Comintern Pact. These agreements helped form connections that gave way to creating the alliance known as the Axis powers. Later, Eastern European countries such as Romania, among others, joined the German, Italy, and Japan alliance.
The alliance that stood against the Axis powers in World War II was the Allied powers. The three leading powers that formed this alliance were the United States, the Soviet Union, and Great Britain. After world war I, the United States was hesitant to join another war; however, it was not until the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941 that the US declared war on Japan and joined the Allied powers. World War II ended in 1945 after Japan formally surrendered to the US. The United States bombed the Japanese cities of Nagasaki and Hiroshima using atomic bombs, an act that killed hundreds of thousands of civilians and military personnel. In Europe, the war ended after Germany surrendered unconditionally due to the collapse of cities such as Dresden, the capital city, and the suicide of Adolf Hitler. After the Allied forced worn the war, conquered nations and their collaborators were heavily punished. For instance. The Soviet Union exacted reparations from Germany and Japan. War criminals from this war were also prosecuted and heavily punished. The Allied powers established the United Nations to prevent another world war. The United Nations is an international peacekeeping organization that resolves conflicts through peaceful negotiations. The Atlantic Charter was also drafted, and it prevented territorial aggrandizement. The Atlantic charter is the basis of the UN charter.
Part 3:
Importance of the Sadler Report
Michael Thomas Sadler wrote the Sadler report, which addressed the problem of child labor in Britain’s mills and factories after the industrial revolution. This report revealed the bad industrial working conditions children working in factories were subjected to, resulting in the creation of laws that restricted the hours young children could work. This report was instrumental in promoting better treatment of all factory workers.
Importance of Appeasement
The Appeasement was a British policy that was enacted in the 1930s. This policy was created to help Britain avoid war by allowing Adolf Hitler to expand German territory unchecked. Other than avoiding another war after world war I, the Appeasement was popular with the British people because Britain could not afford another war. Also, most of the population sympathized with Germany for the unfair treatment they received after their defeat in 1918.
References
Part 1 Information about the play (20p.)
Part 1: Information about the play (20p.)
What’s the name of the play? (2p.)
The barge (Albarg)
Who is the playwright? (2p.)
Felol Al Felkawi and Ibraheem Nayroz
Who is the director? (2p.)
Hani Al-Nassar and Shamlan Al-Nassar
What is the name of the performing group? (2p.)
Kuwait Theatre Troupe
Where and when was it staged? (2p.)
In the Kuwait Theater Festival in 16 December 2019
Theme of play: What was the main subject matter or message of the play (10p.)
The events of the work revolve in a previous era, bringing us back to pre-oil Kuwait, where the heritage atmosphere through a story that appears to bear a romantic character, but between its folds bears many interpretations. Some may go to consider “fedah” the focus of events is the homeland.
Part 2: Performance analysis (80p.)
SCENOGRAPHY: Did the setting, lighting, costumes, make-up, sound effects, etc… fit the play? Did they help communicate the play’s message or detract from the play in some way? Be specific, give details. (20p.)
The lighting is very inconsistent. At times it was too dim and at some scenes it was too bright to see the performers. The dark contrasting background light is, however, very important because it ensures that all of the audiences’ focus is on the acting and the props that stand out.
The costumes worn are an added advantage to the play and the setting. The dark and bright contrast converges all attention to the actors and their actions. It helps in ensuring that the body movements and the facial and other bodily gestures are easily noticed. For example, in 43:15, the costumes worn combine well with the mood and tone used by the actress to present the emotions and to help the audience connect more with the overall mood. Combined with the stage movements, the costumes are a very important element used in the play.
Sound effects are also very important in the play. The use of the traditional drums and other sounds fit the play well and help to augment its message. For example, the use of the traditional drums helps to create a tense atmosphere that helps the audience to pay attention to climax scenes. In another example, at 45:01-49:15 uses a lot of background sound effects from a religious tone, music, drums, and the sounds of thunder and lighting. Again, the lighting comes in handy, helping the audience to read the mood and to connect with the message. The blue lighting, albeit being very conspicuous, helps in the transitioning of scenes and in highlighting attention to certain characters. It matches the sound effects, in their intensity and volume, to help communicate the play’s message.
ACTING: Were the actors convincing in their characters? How would you describe the connection between the characters in terms of acting? How did actors work on the physical characterization and vocal characterization? Be specific, give details. (20p.)
In some respects, theatre is the epitome of commercialization. Throughout Shakespeare’s lifetime, and even in ancient Greece, there was an element of response in theatre: if the audience did not appreciate it enough to show up, the performance could not continue. The audience is the main consumer of what the performance is all about and buys into what the actors present.
In the play, the actors are convincing in their characters. One way this emerges so well is in the way they relate to the fourth wall and the way they command the attention of the audience. It is very clear that the audience is buying into what the actors are presenting. The actors are actively, and sometimes passively, involving the audience. They have managed to inculcate them into the play giving them the role of responding. For example, in some scenes, it is clear that the audience is amused, laughing out loud, and sometimes a somber mood rents the air. These are all evidence of active participation, and element that is key to establishing the convincing nature of an actor in their role.
The most thrilling performances occur when instinct and technique operate in perfect harmony while yet contradicting one another. The performers’ flamboyance and inner lives merge, changing emotions into thoughts and words. What happens when this intriguing combination of wildness and control explodes is as cryptic as alchemy; the stage crackles and the audience is left reeling. The actors are able to transform the room, making sure the audience is attached to the characterization, understanding the movements, the subtle differences in tone and attitude, and so on. In this play, the actors are able to use the space, the lighting, the costumes, and the background sound effects to create an environment for the audience to move together with the play.
The connection between the characters in terms of acting is very harmonious. It has a smooth flow to it. Every actor knows and understands their individual role. It also seems as if the other actors are able to read the intentions of the next actor, creating perfect symmetry in the body movement, speech, and the connection to the audience, the latter being the most important aspect in the performance.
The actors become entirely absorbed in their roles as they use their bodies to communicate the characteristics of their characters on stage. They add depth to their characters by using their posture, stride, voice, and physical look to enhance their performances. In this physical and vocal characterization, the actors are able to use not just their physical and voice elements but also other body movements to make their performances more engaging, real, and to fit their presentation.
DIRECTING: Did all aspects of the production communicate the same idea or feeling, or were there some things not harmonious? Were any aspects of the play confusing? Be specific, give details. (20p.)
I found the majority of the aspects of the production to communicate the same idea and feelings. However, some elements were a bit off and did not add to the harmony. For example, the sound effects, costumes, physical and vocal characterization, and synergy between the actors were all very well aligned. However, sometimes the lighting went a far off, creating a distraction and driving away the attention of the audience from the play to the flickering lights. The sound effects were also distracting and creating a performance of their own at some points. For example, the lightning and thunder scene was very effective, but the background singer was louder than the actors. This led to a distraction and the focus on the wrong points. Overall, the play was majorly harmonious and easy to understand.
PERSONAL OPINIONS: Discuss any element of the play from your point of view. Give reasons with specifics to justify or explain your opinions. (20p.)
I felt that the play was very well executed. I particularly enjoyed the infusion of the traditional musical setting, the cultural dancing, and the acting all in one setting. There was a lot of culture and native Kuwaiti living showcased in the play, an element that I always take pride in. For example, the dancing and the costumes worn differently between the actors and the actresses is unique to the Kuwait national culture. All other elements are easier to spot in every other play, even those from other nations and cultures. However, the music, the dance, and the costumes, and the fact that all of these are very well aligned to the overall theme are important to me as an audience member.
Parental Monitoring – Due 41422
Parental Monitoring – Due 4/14/22
Parental monitoring of adolescents can be defined as the close supervision of adolescents by parents to influence their activities and behaviors (Brajša‐Žganec, Merkaš & Šakić Velić, 2019). Based on this, parental monitoring includes the expectations parents have for their adolescents regarding behavior, the actions taken by parents to help keep track of their children, and the way parents respond when adolescents break the rules. A parent is considered the link between the child and the outside world. According to research, monitoring the adolescent’s activities and behavior is important because it reduces the adolescent’s chances of getting involved in situations that the parent does not approve of, especially those that can be harmful such as drug and substance abuse. Based on this, parents should take drastic measures to control their children, including limiting the times that they are free by enrolling in helpful programs that will enhance their character development away from bad influences. In the same way, adolescents should take drastic measures to abide by their parents’ regulations as the primary goal of the parent is to ensure that their child is safe. By trusting and doing what their parents want them to do is the compromise that children have to do, as this will help them grow to be responsible persons in the future.
While making compromises is good to ensure that adolescents’ behavior ends up as the parent wants, ideal monitoring is necessary to allow the adolescents to learn from their own experiences. Too much or too low parental control can be dangerous to adolescents due to weaknesses in a child’s behavior (Kapetanovic et al., 2019). For example, too much parental control can be regarded as the parents using developmentally inappropriate tactics that far exceed the actual needs of the adolescents. Overparenting involves excessive protection of adolescents. For example, a parent rushing to school to deliver items such as forgotten lunches, assignments, or uniforms at the whim of their child or a parent bringing separate food for their child at a party because they are picky eaters. These actions can be considered as being overprotective to the child and could be dangerous to adolescents as it contributes to raising teens who are anxious and narcissistic.
On the other hand, too little parenting can also be dangerous as it negatively affects the behaviors of adolescents. The most basic form of parental supervision is required to keep the children from hurting themselves or others; to keep them away from dangerous objects and situations. Lack of parental monitoring can be considered as neglect of the child, and this contributes negatively to adolescents as the child can adopt negative behaviors such as drug and substance abuse as they are left to explore to determine what is harmful and what is helpful (Sanayeh et al., 2022). While too much parental monitoring can bring up anxious and narcissistic adolescents, too little or lack of parental monitoring can result in the adolescents adopting poor morals, which can be harmful both to them and others. As a result, it would be advisable for parents to exercise moderation in monitoring their children, avoiding too much or too little parental monitoring to allow the adolescents to navigate by themselves, make mistakes and learn from them. Through this, adolescents will grow to adopt healthy behaviors that are adopted both from parental guidance and experience.
Effective techniques in parental monitoring are those that lead to adolescents adopting acceptable behavior in society. Showing love is one of the techniques that can be considered effective in ensuring effective parental monitoring (Lo Cricchio et al., 2019). Young adolescents need parents who are there for them, connect with them, communicate with them, spend time with them, and show a genuine interest in them. Through this, adolescents learn to take care of and love others, and therefore, showing love can be considered an effective technique in controlling adolescents. Another technique includes setting up limits for adolescents. Young adults need parents who consistently provide structure and supervision which is firm and appropriate for age and development. With parents setting limits, it keeps the adolescents both physically and emotionally safe. However, parents should set limits that may not harm their children and which can be considered excessive monitoring. If the set rules are too harsh, adolescents may develop anxiety and narcissistic behavior, which is not good for the development of the child. Therefore, it is required for parents to set their limits that cannot harm their children.
Finally, teaching responsibility is another technique that can be considered effective parental monitoring. Adolescents need to take responsibility for their actions and learn to take more and more responsibilities, such as completing house chores, completing homework and assignments, and finding ways to be useful to others (Loderup et al., 2021). Poor or ineffective parental monitoring techniques can be considered as physical abuse, neglect, emotional abuse, and sexual abuse as they lead to damaging behavior among adolescents. Physical abuse may be excessive disciplining of the adolescents to the extent of inflicting wounds on their bodies. In the same case, using abusive language can result in emotional abuse, and this can result in adolescents suffering from depression, among other mental health conditions. Sexual abuse is another ineffective technique as it brings adolescents into hating themselves and may end up committing suicide due to the shame that results from such kind of parenting. Parents should make sure that adolescents’ safety is taken care of to keep them safe from sexual and physical abusers.
References
Brajša‐Žganec, A., Merkaš, M., & Šakić Velić, M. (2019). The relations of parental supervision, parental school involvement, and child’s social competence with school achievement in primary school. Psychology in the Schools, 56(8), 1246-1258.
Kapetanovic, S., Skoog, T., Bohlin, M., & Gerdner, A. (2019). Aspects of the parent–adolescent relationship and associations with adolescent risk behaviors over time. Journal of Family Psychology, 33(1), 1.
Lo Cricchio, M. G., Lo Coco, A., Cheah, C. S., & Liga, F. (2019). The good parent: Southern Italian mothers’ conceptualization of good parenting and parent–child relationships. Journal of Family Issues, 40(12), 1583-1603.
Loderup, C. L., Timmons, J. E., Kimball, E. R., Hill, E. J., Marks, L. D., & LeBaron, A. B. (2021). How do parents teach their children about work? A qualitative exploration of household chores, employment, and entrepreneurial experiences. Journal of Family and Economic Issues, 42(1), 73-89.
Sanayeh, E. B., Iskandar, K., Fadous Khalife, M. C., Obeid, S., & Hallit, S. (2022). Parental divorce and nicotine addiction in Lebanese adolescents: the mediating role of child abuse and bullying victimization. Archives of public health, 80(1), 1-11.