Reception of Video Art in Galleries

Reception of Video Art in Galleries Critically examine the notion that the reception of video art is strongly affected by being seen in an art gallery situation Introduction Video art began as an avant-garde movement that challenged the very nature of art in the 1960’s and 1970’s with the likes of Nam June Paik, Bruce Nauman and Stuart Marshall. These artists created powerful pieces in response to the mainstream explosion of cinema and television, and as a challenge to the traditional artistic forms of painting and sculpture. The artists helped to bring art closer to the general public and relieved artists of the need to create specific objects. However, as technology has grown and video art has become more popular, it has moved from the fringes of art to the mainstream setting of the art gallery.[1] Before this the art gallery was a place for traditional forms of art such as painting and sculpture. One of the most interesting topics of discussion regarding video art is how this move into art galleries has changed the reception to video art. It is argued that the reception of video art is strongly affected by being seen in an art gallery si tuation. The aim of this essay is to critically examine this claim, and see how the setting of video art affects the perception of such art. This will be done by look at how setting influences artistic reception, looking at the reception of video art in gallery settings and other settings, and also how the medium of video art itself can influence the gallery experience. Influence of setting on art There are a number of studies and theories regarding the influence of setting on art and artistic reception in various mediums. It is clear that within video art the addition of a gallery setting would change the nature of the art itself. The earliest forms of video art were all on single screens outside of the art gallery setting, and the works were very much of a particular moment in time and had a fairly short lifespan as artistic pieces.[2] However, as video art moved into a gallery setting it merged with other forms of art to create the video installation. This meant the video art was now based in an environment – embedded in a particular time and space. This gave a physical aspect to vide art that had not previously been seen, and has had a major influence on the genre. Installation art is now one of the most common forms of video art, particularly in a gallery setting as it allows video artists to experiment in more ways than ever before. [3] This has meant that video art has merged into other genres, and become part of a larger multi-media, multi-form type of art rather than being a type of visual art on its own. The nature of galleries means that purely video art is being replaced with installation art as it has a more physical presence than traditional video art that was the antithesis of traditional physical art. [4]Another factor worth considering is the psychological aspect of reception towards art in a certain setting. Art that is viewed within a gallery setting may well be seen as more ‘respectable’ and ‘valuable’ than art seen in other settings, but it may also be seen as more ‘traditional’ and constrained than art outside of a gallery setting. There seems to be little research on this particular point, but the researcher supposes that this sort of difference in reception could be possible. Another factor with video art is that the setting of the art might determine how the art is created in itself. Video artists see their projects almost as their children, and therefore want it shown in a particular way as it was intended. If a video art piece was intended to be spontaneous and viewed in a casual setting, then a gallery viewing of such a piece may limit its effectiveness, or even possibly change its meaning altogether.[5] The reception of video art in a gallery setting Video art in a gallery setting is often received differently to how it might be received in a non-gallery setting. Video art in a gallery and video art in another setting may be the separation between what is known as ‘art’ and what is simply known as ‘media’ or ‘television’. The move of video art into the gallery setting has supported its claim to be a mainstream art form. This validation of video art, merely by being seen in an art gallery setting has moved it away from the medium of television and towards the concept of philosophical aesthetics. This is a major shift in the reception of video art from simply a popular culture medium to a valid and critical artistic medium.[6] Another way to look at it is that perhaps the reception of video art is not changed within a gallery setting, but that the actual form of the video art is in fact changed within the gallery setting. Rather than being video art in the form of tape, video art in a gallery setting is either in the form of a live video performance or as an art installation combined with other physical forms of art such as architecture, sculpture, or other interactive multi-media forms. The only way to really determine this is by viewing art exhibitions in both a gallery and non-gallery setting to see if the reception has indeed changed. However, at this point there is very little research on this area as most art pieces are created for one specific setting rather than multiple settings. Therefore, it seems more likely that in many cases the reception of the art is not influenced by setting, but the creation of the art itself is influenced by the setting it is to be placed in.[7] The biggest change perhaps is that video art has moved from the single-screen, non site-specific form to the site-specific installation form. In the original single screen form, which is close to the medium of television, then the gallery setting is unlikely to alter the reception of the art piece. This is because the piece is setting-neutral and will be interpreted individually by each person regardless of setting. However, the form of video art in galleries today is generally installation art, which is site-specific. The art has been created with a specific setting in mind, surrounded by other art forms. In this case the reception of the art would be changed in different settings, but it is unlikely that a site-specific piece would be viewed outside of a gallery or its specific setting.[8] Influence of video art on the gallery experience Video art has been influenced by the gallery setting in its creation more than its specific reception, but video art and other multi-media art has also influenced the gallery experience and changed the way in which art can be perceived. The placement of video art and other multi-media art forms within galleries has challenged the nature of what ‘art’ is and has changed the nature of a gallery. Before this, art in galleries was limited to paintings and sculptures, and therefore the definition of ‘art’ was concerned with things that hung on walls or sat on pedestals. Video art added a completely new element to the gallery space and changed the gallery experience itself. The previous ‘empty space’ in the gallery was now utilized as a part of the artistic framework rather than merely somewhere to display objects. The empty gallery becomes a place for performance and ideas in itself, and space became just as important as the objects within the galler y.[9] Art shifted from the premise of ‘art as object’ to one of ‘art as idea and action’. This not only changed the way in which galleries were seen, but also changed the nature of video art by putting it firmly in the realm of ‘acceptable’ art rather than merely a part of popular culture. It helped to separate video art from the medium of television, drawing a distinct line between the two. It also helped video art to merge into other art forms, and for other forms of art to embrace the influence of video.[10] Furthermore, the acceptance of video art influence the gallery experience by letting other newer formats over the last few years to infiltrate the once sacred gallery space. Computer visuals, Internet exhibits and even live musical and dramatic performance are now part of the gallery experience in many places – something that would have been almost unheard of 30 or 40 years ago.[11] Finally, the acceptance of video art in a gallery setting has influenced the way in which new galleries are designed and laid out. Rather than simply having traditional spaces for paintings and sculptures, new gallery designs incorporate larger areas for performance, installation art and other multi-media art forms. The influence of video art on the gallery experience is perhaps just as strong as the influence of the gallery setting on video art.[12] Conclusion The notion that the reception of video art is strongly influenced by the gallery setting is somewhat misleading. Whilst there is clear evidence that the genre of video art has been massively influenced by the gallery reception, this is more to do with the creation of art rather than its reception. Of course, its reception in terms of its acceptance and standing within the artistic community and amongst the general public has been heightened by its introduction into the gallery setting. However, the major change has been in the move from site-neutral, single screen video art to larger, multi-media installations that incorporate video art and are often site-specific within the gallery setting. Conversely, video art has a significant effect on the gallery experience. It has changed the nature of what constitutes art and what a gallery should look like, as well as pave the way for other newer forms of art to be accepted within the gallery setting. Over the last thirty or forty years, the acceptance of video art into the gallery setting has changed both the way in which video art is commonly created, as well as change the way the gallery setting as a whole is viewed and used. Bibliography Balagopal, R., 2005. Installation Art. (Online). Available at: http://infopedia.nlb.gov.sg/Research/articles/PFInstallationArt.pdf (Accessed 11th August 2008). Bruce, B.C., 2000. The Work of Art in the Age of Digital Reproduction. Journal of Adolescent Adult Literacy, 44(1), p. 66. Carter, C.L., 1979. Aesthetics, Video Art and Television. Leonardo, 12(4), pp. 289-293. Elwes, C., Neshat, S., and University of the Arts London., 2005. Video Art : A Guided Tour. London: I.B. Tauris. Hanhardt, J.G., Villasenor, M.C., 1995. Video/Media Culture of the Late Twentieth Century. Art Journal, 54(4), pp. 20-25. Lisus, N.A., and Ericson, R.V., 1999. Authorizing Art: The Effect of Multimedia Formats on the Museum Experience. The Canadian Review of Sociology and Anthropology, 36(2), p. 199+. London, B., 1996. Video Spaces. Performing Arts Journal, 18(3), pp. 14-19. Lovejoy, M., 2004. Digital Currents: Art in the Electronic Age. New York: Routledge. McCarthy, K.F., and Ondaatje, E.H., 2002. From Celluloid to Cyberspace: The Media Arts and the Changing Arts World. Santa Monica, CA: Rand. Millard, R., 2005. Notebook: Buying Video Art Is Not at All Simple. Artists Sell to Who They like, and Dictate How the Work Is Shown. New Statesman, 134(4730), p. 41. Phelan, A., 1984. The Impact of Technology and Post Modern Art on Studio Art Education. Art Education, 37(2), pp. 30-36. Suderburg, E., 2000. Space, Site, Intervention: Situating Installation Art. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press. Footnotes [1] Elwes, C., Neshat, S., and University of the Arts London., 2005, pp. ix-x [2] London, B., 1996, p. 14. [3] Hanhardt, J.G., Villasenor, M.C., 1995, pp. 20-21 [4] Balagopal, R., 2005. [5] Millard, R., 2005. [6] Carter, C.L., 1979, p 289. [7] Carter, C.L., 1979, p. 290 [8] Suderburg, E., 2000, pp. 2-14 [9] Phelan, A., 1984, pp. 30-33 [10] Lovejoy, M., 2004, pp. 101-103 [11] McCarthy, K.F., and Ondaatje, E.H., 2002, pp. 53-54 [12] Lisus, N.A., and Ericson, R.V., 1999, pp. 199-201

The Theme of Self Esteem in Othello Essay -- Essays Papers

The Theme of Self Esteem in Othello For the theater-going people of the Elizabethan age, there were many hardships. Many of them experienced poor living conditions and treatment. All of them faced the dangers of a comparatively underdeveloped medical knowledge which often left the young and elderly to die of common diseases. The magic of Shakespeare is not only that historians can learn of otherwise undocumented details of the 1500's, but also that all readers can discover the many similarities between Shakespeare's day and now. These similarities reside heavily not only in speech, but also the human condition. When compared with the people we know today, Shakespeare's characters exhibit only skin-deep differences. Some identical language expressions may owe their modern existance to Shakespeare's presence in literary education, but identical emotional reactions surely cannot stem solely from the lecture hall. The English inhabitants of the 16th century, as seen through William Shakespeare's eyes, experienced the same love, hate, and jealousy that we do today. Just as our modern films and music often include implied moral lessons, so too does Shakespeare's The Tragedy of Othello the Moor of Venice. All its primary characters and themes of unstable love and exploitation culminate into one simple message about the key importance of loving oneself. Iago, the villian of the tale, is responsible for initiating most of the turbulence found in the plot. Essentially, Iago chooses two insecure individuals on which to work his exploitation: Roderigo and Othello. Othello, arguably the main character of the play, is Iago's primary pawn. Roderigo becomes a secondary card in Iago's deck, as well as his source of money. Blinded by his lo... ...ny sort of hardships such as financial difficulties or emotional manipulation just like that exercised against Othello and Desdemona. Even today, similar messages about self empowerment are widely seen in popular novels, films, and television programs. Contemporary examples include Harry Potter, "28 Days", "Sesame Street", and many others. One can almost imagine an unwealthy villager emerging from lengthy stay in a packed theatre making a firm resolve to finally regain the strength to sever ties to an untrustworthy and treacherous acquaintance. Works Cited Myers, David G. Psychology, 6th Edition. Holland, Michigan: Worth Publishers, 2001. Dolezal, Timothy William. Moor Impotency: Othello's Powerlessness in Sexual and Social Relationships. 14 Dec. 1998. University of Notre Dame. 23 June 2003 <http://www.nd.edu/~frswrite/mcpartlin/1999/Dolezal.shtml>. The Theme of Self Esteem in Othello Essay -- Essays Papers The Theme of Self Esteem in Othello For the theater-going people of the Elizabethan age, there were many hardships. Many of them experienced poor living conditions and treatment. All of them faced the dangers of a comparatively underdeveloped medical knowledge which often left the young and elderly to die of common diseases. The magic of Shakespeare is not only that historians can learn of otherwise undocumented details of the 1500's, but also that all readers can discover the many similarities between Shakespeare's day and now. These similarities reside heavily not only in speech, but also the human condition. When compared with the people we know today, Shakespeare's characters exhibit only skin-deep differences. Some identical language expressions may owe their modern existance to Shakespeare's presence in literary education, but identical emotional reactions surely cannot stem solely from the lecture hall. The English inhabitants of the 16th century, as seen through William Shakespeare's eyes, experienced the same love, hate, and jealousy that we do today. Just as our modern films and music often include implied moral lessons, so too does Shakespeare's The Tragedy of Othello the Moor of Venice. All its primary characters and themes of unstable love and exploitation culminate into one simple message about the key importance of loving oneself. Iago, the villian of the tale, is responsible for initiating most of the turbulence found in the plot. Essentially, Iago chooses two insecure individuals on which to work his exploitation: Roderigo and Othello. Othello, arguably the main character of the play, is Iago's primary pawn. Roderigo becomes a secondary card in Iago's deck, as well as his source of money. Blinded by his lo... ...ny sort of hardships such as financial difficulties or emotional manipulation just like that exercised against Othello and Desdemona. Even today, similar messages about self empowerment are widely seen in popular novels, films, and television programs. Contemporary examples include Harry Potter, "28 Days", "Sesame Street", and many others. One can almost imagine an unwealthy villager emerging from lengthy stay in a packed theatre making a firm resolve to finally regain the strength to sever ties to an untrustworthy and treacherous acquaintance. Works Cited Myers, David G. Psychology, 6th Edition. Holland, Michigan: Worth Publishers, 2001. Dolezal, Timothy William. Moor Impotency: Othello's Powerlessness in Sexual and Social Relationships. 14 Dec. 1998. University of Notre Dame. 23 June 2003 <http://www.nd.edu/~frswrite/mcpartlin/1999/Dolezal.shtml>.

Mexican Immigrants

The number of Mexican immigrants, both legal and illegal, in California today is quite staggering.   Amidst the terrorist threat issues and various biological scares, these immigrants have changed the economy of California completely. The state of California once boasted a healthy employment market for immigrants, as well as natives.   Now, the economy of California is in recession, along with the rest of the United States.   According to the California Employment Development Department, unemployment numbers rose to 4.5 percent in October, which is a rise from the 2.1 percent a year ago. Of the thousands of jobs lost in September and October, over half were in hospitality, service, and construction.(The Waiting Game, 2006) As a result of the drop in employment, Mexican immigrants are struggling to survive.   Most immigrants are in the United States to make a better life for their families, who are often still in Mexico.   They work and earn wages to pay their living expenses here, and the rest is sent back to their families.   Most have now taken to the streets to stand and wait for a job opportunity.   Undocumented seasonal workers are the most vulnerable.   They make up 8.5 percent of the total number of immigrants, and they have to resort to sleeping in parks and under bridges. According to Martha Sanchez-Gomez, a specialist from the Social Research Institute of the Nacional Autonomous University of Mexico, said that immigrants suffer discrimination and social vulnerabilities.   She also states that permanent immigrants make up 61.6 percent of the total, while those who travel back and forth between here and Mexico represent 28.8 percent.   The latter are those who work with the high seasons, when the demand for workers is higher.   Ã‚  (Mexidata.Info-July 2005) The adult immigrants are not the only ones who suffer.   The numbers of children that have had no formal education before immigration is outrageous.   These children fall far behind the children of other California residents.   Tied in with the uneducated parents, they struggle just to get through day to day life.   Ms. Sanchez-Gomez states that statistically, 3.2 percent of adult immigrants have had no schooling, whereas 66.6 percent have a maximum of six year of education.   The majority of the farm workers are young men with very low levels of education.   About 10 percent are women, who prefer jobs as hotel chambermaids or as domestic workers, or to do cleaning work in nearby restaurants. It is widely believed that Mexican immigrants should be allowed to become United States citizens on the conditions that they pass the citizenship tests and that they cooperate with local government.   While this is an opportunity for them, it leaves a gapping whole in local economies as well as the nation’s economy. There are several views, both pros and cons, to letting Mexican immigrants stay in the United States.   There is a heated debate taking place now that, if solved, will provide some general laws that are more defined than what they are now. Think about the pros to illegal immigrants become permanent citizens.   These immigrants will contribute more money to economies.   Some will continue their education, and go one to open more businesses, thereby providing more employment.   Because they have an unspoken assumption that they should earn their own way, the immigrants tend to struggle in silence, never asking for governmental financial services such as Food Stamps.   This reduces the liability to tax payers. The cons to illegal immigrants staying in the United States far outweigh the pros.   Immigrants have caused the homeless population to rise.   The available employment, as stated before, has dropped severely, largely due to the fact that the immigrants are satisfied with working for minimum wage.   The available housing has dropped as well, and will continue to drop due to the large numbers of illegal immigrants that manage to sneak across the border. Mexican immigrants increase the poverty levels.   Although they are making as much as 10 times what they would in Mexico, the standard of living in the United States is much higher.   These immigrants do not generally take this information into account when they make their plans to immigrate.   About 47 percent of undocumented Mexicans believe that improving their quality of life can only be improved by coming to the United States. One common myth about illegal Mexican immigrants is that they are all criminals deserving to be severely punished.   However, the typical immigrant is an honest person, struggling to give a better life to himself and his family.   A large percentage of these immigrants mind their own business, and are far from being violent criminals.   Can we say that much about the United States population? Another quite racist myth about the immigrants is that they are just here as parasites that are feeding off our tax dollars and not contributing in return.   As stated earlier, they know that they have to pay their own way, and thus always offer something in return for what they may need.   Mexican workers pay sales taxes on their purchases, the same as everyone else, but illegal immigrants are often taken advantage of and paid below minimum wage.   This gives the employer a higher profit margin.   They are simply pocketing the taxes they withhold from payrolls. Right now, with the nation being in the condition that it is, the Mexican immigrants are hurting us more and more the longer that they stay here.   Most of these immigrants can not read or write, let alone speak English.   They are taking up valuable space and employment that is severely needed to raise our national economy.   We have enough problems with Americans.   We have a growing number of homeless.   We have a growing number of unemployed mothers and fathers, who struggle to feed their children.   The dependency of government social services by Americans grows as each day passes. There needs to be a set decision made as to the fate of the Mexican immigrants.   Either we give them the opportunity to become citizens, or we deport them.   There should be no in between.   Those that cannot become legal immigrants, even if they have a temporary work visa, should be deported as well.   There are other ways for the United States to help the Mexicans. One way that the United States can offer assistance to Mexicans, without the fear of it being solely a charity effort, is to open more businesses in Mexico.   We have all these huge corporations and ridiculously large multi-million dollar companies.   If we start opening more businesses in Mexico, with pay standards the same as ours, Mexico’s economy will benefit.   Why should the drug dealers and slum lords be the only ones that are happy and have a good quality of life? Resources 1.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Hue, Vanessa   (September 9, 2005) Mexican Immigrants’ Kids Falter in School  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/09/09/BAGL1EKTDM1.DTL 2.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Notimex News Service Of Mexico City (July 25, 2006) Mexican Immigrants in California Lack Basic Services   for Mexidata.Info   Ã‚  www.mexidata.info/id555.html 3.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Schefler, Chris (2006) writing for the University of Dayton  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Racist Myths about Mexican Immigrants  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://academic.udayton.edu/race/02rights/guadalu4.htm                              

Modern Orthodox Judaism

Judaism (from the Latin Iudaismus, derived from the Greek Ioudaismos, and ultimately from the Hebrew , Yehudah, â€Å"Judah†;[1][2] in Hebrew: , Yahadut, the distinctive characteristics of the Judean ethnos)[3] is the religion, philosophy and way of life of the Jewish people. [4] A monotheistic religion originating in the Hebrew Bible (also known as the Tanakh) and explored in later texts such as the Talmud, Judaism is considered by religious Jews to be the expression of the covenantal relationship God established with the Children of Israel. 5] Rabbinic Judaism holds that God revealed his laws and commandments to Moses on Mount Sinai in the form of both the Written and Oral Torah. [6] Historically, this assertion was challenged by various groups such as the Sadducees and Hellenistic Judaism during the Second Temple period; the Karaites and Sabbateans during the early and later medieval period;[7] and among segments of the modern reform movements. Liberal movements in modern times such as Humanistic Judaism may be nontheistic. 8] Judaism claims a historical continuity spanning more than 3,000 years. Of the major world religions, Judaism is considered one of the oldest monotheistic religions. [9][10] The Hebrews / Israelites were already referred to as â€Å"Jews† in later books of the Tanakh such as the Book of Esther, with the term Jews replacing the title â€Å"Children of Israel†. [11] Judaism's texts, traditions and values strongly influenced later Abrahamic religions, including Christianity, Islam and the Baha'i Faith. 12][13] Many aspects of Judaism have also directly or indirectly influenced secular Western ethics and civil law. [14] Jews are an ethnoreligious group[15] and include those born Jewish and converts to Judaism. In 2010, the world Jewish population was estimated at 13. 4 million, or roughly 0. 2% of the total world population. About 42% of all Jews reside in Israel and about 42% reside in the United States and Canada, w ith most of the remainder living in Europe. 16] The largest Jewish religious movements are Orthodox Judaism (Haredi Judaism and Modern Orthodox Judaism), Conservative Judaism and Reform Judaism. A major source of difference between these groups is their approach to Jewish law. [17] Orthodox Judaism maintains that the Torah and Jewish law are divine in origin, eternal and unalterable, and that they should be strictly followed. Conservative and Reform Judaism are more liberal, with Conservative Judaism generally promoting a more â€Å"traditional† interpretation ofJudaism's requirements than Reform Judaism. A typical Reform position is that Jewish law should be viewed as a set of general guidelines rather than as a set of restrictions and obligations whose observance is required of all Jews. [18][19] Historically, special courts enforced Jewish law; today, these courts still exist but the practice of Judaism is mostly voluntary. [20] Authority on theological and legal matters i s not vested in any one person or organization, but in the sacred texts and rabbis and scholars who interpret them. [21]

When is the beginning of personhood essays

When is the beginning of personhood essays Abortion is the termination of pregnancy before birth, resulting in, or accompanied by, the death of the fetus. Some abortions occur naturally because a fetus does not develop normally. Or because the mother has an injury or disorder that prevents her from carrying the pregnancy to a full term. This type of abortion is commonly known as a miscarriage. Other abortions are induced. Induced abortions are intentionally brought on, either because a pregnancy is unwanted or presents a risk to a womans health. Induced abortion has become one of the most ethical and philosophical issues of the late 20th century. Modern medical techniques have made induced abortions simpler and less dangerous. But in the United States, the debate over abortion has led to legal battles in the courts, in the Congress of the United States, and state legislatures. It has proven to be spilled over into confrontations, which are sometimes violent, at clinics where abortions are performed. There are many different methods in having an abortion. Induced abortions are performed using one of several methods. The safest and most useful and appropriate method is determined by the age of the fetus, or the length of pregnancy, which is calculated from the beginning of the pregnant womans last menstrual period. Most pregnancies last an average of 39 to 40 weeks, about 9 months. This period of time is broken up into three parts known as trimesters. The first trimester is the first 13 weeks, the second trimester is from the 14 to 24 week and the third trimester lasts from the 25th week to birth. Abortions in the first trimester of pregnancy are easier and safer to perform, that is because the fetus is smaller. Abortions in the second and third trimesters are more complicated procedures, which present greater risks to a womans health. In the United States, a pregnant womans risk o...

Research Proposal Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Research Proposal - Assignment Example es, it will be setting precedence for the other foreign-based companies as well as the local ones to follow suit in implementing fair labor laws and enforcement of unions for their employees. The US government prohibition of the unfair labor laws and union in outsourcing jobs in their foreign-based companies will lead to setting precedence of the importance of labor equality and fairness locally and abroad. The audience targeted by this research is the investors and well as the legislator. They are both powerful entities within the nation as they not only make laws but they drive the economy as well. The legislators hold the official position to formulate and pass laws and hence they have the decision making power to prohibit these companies from outsourcing employees without unions or under unfair labor laws. The investors are the drivers of the economy locally and internationally through their decision making ability and hence hold the current view on the pros and cons of such an action being taken or not being undertaken by the government. The investors are also predictors of the economic turn based on their current view on world affair. This is important in case the legislation is passed or not and hence will provide advice on how the country is bound to benefit economically from such an action. The paper will target the top 5 multinational companies which have set shore in most international companies and which have been facing allegations of having unfair labor laws towards their locally-based employees (Habib-Mintz, 2009). This research will include the following major sections which will provide a clear picture of the importance of this research topic. Data will collected from both primary and secondary sources with the secondary sources being previous research on the topic and primary being through interviews and questionnaires to get the views from the companies, investors and other stakeholders (Naima, 2013). Analysis of the data will be conducted

Walmart case study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Walmart - Case Study Example This together with the ‘open door policy’ states that management needed to consider the â€Å"associates† views in the decision making process. Walton was against worker unionization and he argues that it would lead to establishment of restrictive work regulations and dramatic pay hikes. Furthermore, he came up with the â€Å"sun down rule† which encouraged workers to complete their tasks on time (Hill and Jones, 2009). His policies were based on getting workers to perform to their level best while paying the insufficient salaries. However, they would be rewarded in stock ownership plans and profit sharing schemes. This strategy has worked for years nonetheless; it has been facing issues in the recent times. Issues Facing This Strategy This strategy has led the company to great heights and sustained its exemplary financial performance over the years. Over the recent past, there have been various issues emerging from the application of this strategy (Anthony , Kacmar and Perrewe, 2002). Wal-Mart is the private entity with the highest number of â€Å"associates† world over. This has created numerous problems with regards to human resource management. In the past, the company has been relying on the strategy of encouraging the employees to work hard with the promise of getting a promotion or incentives through stock ownership and profit sharing. This strategy has been regarded as being highly unfair as workers are exploited to work for long hours and they are not duly compensated for their contribution. Furthermore, it has been observed that the company rarely fulfills its promise of sharing its employees through profit sharing. The company has been faced by several law suits over pressuring their employees to work for long hours without paying them overtime wages. Moreover, the company has been under attack for paying its employees peanuts and pressuring them to work too hard (Heskett, 2011). This has resulting to increasing dissa tisfaction among the workforce and can be attributed to the decline in the company’s performance in the recent past. This policy is aimed at increasing the company’s productivity while totally ignoring the â€Å"associates† plight and contribution towards the company’s success. In most competitive firms, worker remuneration is based on output and this should be the case for the giant retailer. Labor unions have attempted to intervene but to no avail. The company’s â€Å"associates† are continually oppressed as its reputation and financial glory go down the drain. Labor unions have made concerted efforts to unionize the employees over the years but they have fallen on deaf ears. Wal-Mart has been noted to be one of the few companies that have strongly opposed against unionization of the â€Å"associates†. The company management argues that labor unions champion for increased salaries and impose strict working regulations (Heskett, 2011 ). This move is regarded to be highly capitalistic and aims at maximizing the company’s profits at the workers’ expense. This has created negative publicity concerning the company and if no immediate action is taken, it could have further detrimental effects on its profitability. In addition to, the company has