Research Paper: Pay Grade/Pay Scale

 

Pay Grade/Pay Scale

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0.0.Table of contents

1.0.Abstract……………………………………………………………………………………….3

2.0. Introduction………………………………………………………………………………….3

3.0. Pay grade…………………….………………………………………………………………4

3.1. Achieving a good pay grade…………………………………………………………….5

3.2.Qualification…………………………………………………………………...…………5

3.3.Impress the company……………………………………………………...……………..6

4.0.Using pay scale…………..………………………………………………………....…….7

5.0. Purpose of using pay grade…………………………………………………….……….8

5.1. Basics of pay grade………………………………………………………………….……9

5.2. The general schedule in hospitality industry………………………………………….10

5.3. Equity in payment………………………………………………………………...…….10

5.4. How a pay grade works in the tourism industry…………………………………..….11

5.4.a.       Setting pay scales………………………………………………………………..…..13

5.4.b.       Consider the pay grade………………………………………………………….….13

5.4.c.       Establish the rate range………………………………………………………..……13

5.4.d.      Job pricing……………………………………………………………………………13

5.4.e.       Midpoint………..…………………………………………………………………….14

5.5.Summary……………………..…………………………………………………………..14

5.6.Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………….….14

5.7.References………………………………………………………………………………..15

5.8. 

1.0.Abstract

Working is every human being’s duty and job is what defines what a human being is, being part and parcel of a human’s life. The assignment and allocation of job is always done on the level of skills and qualification that one has. Commonly, positions occupied by people in various jobs are always based on their degree qualifications though there are rare instances where there are those holding the higher positions without having adequate educational qualification. In this case, the individuals do have some skills or special attributes that lead them to be entrusted with the responsibilities that come with the job. The current situation in the job market is one of high competition where every individual has skills and is striving to land high profile jobs with higher pay.

2.0. Introduction

In the hospitality industry and especially the tourism industry, moving up in the employment scales without educational qualification is always difficult. The pay grade scale is usually determined by the post held by and individual. In this respect, the post that one rises to is squarely dependant on the level of academic qualification. There have been incidents where promotions have been blocked on the basis of inadequacy in academic qualifications.  Learning as much as possible should be an individual’s main aim. This is especially because the tourism industry is a very sensitive industry to handle as it entails even handling of strangers and foreigners. These foreigners always have an impression to them depending on the services that are accorded to them. Reaching a high pay grade scale in this industry needs one to have extensive knowledge which can only be measured in terms of the academic achievements and qualifications. Getting the opportunity to study and reach a level that earns one a higher pay grade scale is a rare opportunity that most people lack in the current society. Most people in the globe wish to achieve the high pay grade scale but fall short of the golden opportunity of attaining the high academic qualification that is required. Everyone in the job market aspires to reach the highest pay grade scale but is always held back by certain factors ranging from responsibilities to other personal incapability. This has most often than not led to the cancellation of a lot of promotions. Recruitment of people with high pay grade scale in the tourism industry is always based on qualifications as well as their performance records, just as it is in all the other industries. This is because high levels and grade mead an individual is to be in charge of the team in aspiring to reaching the goals of the industry. (Bohlander& Snell, 2009)

3.0. Pay grade

Pay grade refers to a scale that is used in controlling the pay grade system. It is a unit that is applied in the public service both in the military and the civil servants. Pay grade is also used in the private sector and in the companies. Through the pay grade, the employment is often facilitated through the provision of a framework that indicates the ranges of the salaries instead of the negotiation that is open. Pay grade is basically comprised of two different dimensions. There is a vertical range in the pay grade. This is a dimension whereby the levels correspond to the academic requirements and responsibilities that are attributed to the specific level. There is a horizontal scale dimension. This scale contains the compensations that are monetary based and depends on the length of service and the performance quality of the employees in question. In both the horizontal and the vertical dimensions, the employees progress based on the appraisals that are regular and constant. For one to move to higher pay grade within the tourism industry, there must be evaluations that are usually carried out by the concerned parties. These evaluations are usually done using more than one method. This is so because a rise in the pay grade means that one has more responsibilities bestowed upon them. It is always the desire of all the employees to reach a high pay grade scale in their jobs. This is always a very important issue for all those that are in the employment market, including those in the tourism industry. (Baum, 2006)

3.1. Achieving a good pay grade

As earlier stated, it is always the desire of every employee to attain a high pay grade. There are various ways that can be used to achieve this. The obvious fact is that all the humans have to continue doing their jobs throughout their entire lives. This is because it is the only way in which food can be got and be guaranteed. This has been the reason behind the desire for every employee to increase the income that he or she gets and the thought of how to get the increase in pay grade is everyone’s issue.

3.2. Qualification

Through qualification, an employee not only gets to increase on the knowledge that he or she has, but also gets to improve the pay grade that is usually much desired. With the current competition in the job market, and in a time when everyone is striving to attain the highest possible qualifications needed in the hospitality industry, employees are raising the bar much more higher for those seeking an increase in their pay grade. Companies are finding it more challenging to identify and recruit candidates as a result of nearly equal educational qualifications held by all the candidates. This therefore means that the company will always settle on the individual who is beast qualified above the rest seeking the same job. This qualification goes beyond just academic work. It also encompasses the experience and managerial aspect. Bohlander& Snell(2009) state that throughout the working period, an individual has to prove that he has a lot to offer for the company’s growth and development. One must show that one has a lot to offer in terms of quality service to the company so that the company can move to increase the rate of benefit of working with him or her as an employee. The sole way of attaining a high pay grade is therefore having adequate qualification that surpasses any doubt and limit. One must have qualification that is credible and that rises above the rest of the employees contesting for the job. Higher qualifications do invite high pay grade as it is the only way to measure someone’s worth for the high pay grade. (Barrows& Powers, 2008)

3.3.Impress the company

The employee must strive to impress the company is there is going to be a transition to a high pay grade. Through impressing the company, the employee gets to have an increase in the pay grade, thus, improving the amount of salary that he or she gets. This is yet another great way of improving the pay grade scale. Impressing the company can be done in various ways. Basically, the employee must show the boss of the company that he or she is a hard worker. The love for the company must be portrayed throughout the work of the employee and the must show the ability to work under various situations, be it strenuous or unfavorable. This is the concept that is usually employed in the private sector. Usually, the pay in private sector is higher than that in the government sector. This is basically because in the private sector, the analysis is always done on the worker’s abilities. This is always the base for payment setting. In this case, impressing the boss at the work place can greatly increase the pay grade scale of an employee. The achievement of a better scale of pay grade is what employees yearn to achieve as through that high pay grade, particular life’s goals are achieved.

4.0.Using pay scale

The use of pay scale is not usually applied by all companies to establish the amount of wages that the employees deserve to be given. In some companies, there is always an arbitrary agreement on the amount of wage to be given to an employee before the employee begins working for the company. There is always a determination of subsequent increments by the company. Companies that lack a pay scale that is standard do determine the payment of employees using their performance at work. In some instances, the companies do improve the pay grade in considerations to the general performance of the company in the previous financial years. In the tourism industry, the main pay grade determinant is the experience and qualification. In most cases, the companies dealing in tourism do not always want to gamble with those they employ. This is basically because the prosperity of the tourism industry is based on the type of services produced and the quality of these services. There is stiff competition in the hospitality industry and better still in the tourism industry. In this aspect, the tourism and other hospitality management companies do source for the best suited individuals to work in the companies. In other companies, there is lack of a pay scale that is formal on the rationale of payment to the employees. However, these companies do have a pay scale that is loosely created in order to help them determine the amount of wage to be given to employees on their employment into the companies. The same informal scale is usually used by the companies in the determination of the amount of pay increase to be given to the employees.

In the hospitality management field, pay scales are usually used. For instance, most tourism industries use a pay scale that is usually presented in the format of a table. There are positions in the company that do require that the employee have some special education or has undergone some special training. In such a position, there is always the experienced lined against the pay scale and there is always an indication of the level of education reached or the amount of training that the individual has underwent.

The employees do find the meeting point of the two factors to aid the decision on the amount of payment that the employee needs for a year. In the event that the job does not need any special training or education, there is always an indication of just how much the employee shall be paid based on the specific number of years of experience. Just like in other hospitality fields, the tourism industry has its union organization. The representatives from the union do meet with the employers from the company so as to determine the worthiness of the salary that has been presented on the pay scale. The union and the company usually develop a contract in with the pay scale is part of. The purpose of doing this is always to ensure that the employees at the industry are employed on fair basis, paid the amount that they deserve and that is in equal proportion to their experiences and academic qualifications. Through this manner, there is the elimination of favoritism in as much as salary payment scales are involved and fairness is overtly achieved across the employment field. Despite the fact that pay scale is commonly associated with businesses and companies that are unionized, those companies that d not belong to unions do apply the same as well.

5.0. Purpose of using pay grade

The prominence of the pay scale has since increased in the twenty first century. This was initiated into the federal government’s payment scheduled in what is referred to as General Schedule which is in turn in place for all the federal jobs. There are several employees in the private sector that have also adopted similar payment scale. The use of pay schedules that are structured is preferred by most human resource professionals and institutions as opposed to the pay that is market based. This is in order to ensure that there is equity and to achieve a reduction of the discrimination and potential lawsuits on payments that are market based. Most of the hospitality companies like the tourism industry apply the pay grade largely. This is because the industry basically demands an above reproach ability and experience in handling and managing the industry.

5.1. Basics of pay grade

According to Mathis and Jackson (2010), the pay grade has a basic structure with different levels of pay grade levels vis-à-vis various ranges of steps and placements which are at all the levels. The most basic pay grade structure is usually composed of three main levels namely the high placement, the moderate and the minimum level. These are always placed within all the pay grades. Through this, there is always a provision for a high pay for those employees that have more experience in the job specification. This same basic structure is applied in the tourism industry, which is among the hospitality management sectors. In the tourism companies, there are always various job levels with different specification. These levels do vary in terms of job specifications and academic requirements. There are certain posts that do not always need advanced levels of education while in others, there is always need for extensive experience and higher educational qualification. Such posts do come with responsibility that is larger and it is right that those employees in those positions receive their payments on affair scale in proportion to their experience and educational qualifications. This is where the pay grade structure does become effective and relevant.

 

 

5.2. The general schedule in hospitality industry

The General schedule is mostly used by the federal government. The pay grade system is very prominent and has also been applied in the hospitality industry. Most of the companies dealing with tourism pay the employees at various levels that are based on the schedule just as it are in the federal government. The payment schedule is also known as GC and contains fifteen different steps of payment with a variance in the job level. The tourism industry does have employees taking various levels of job. There are those in the clerical department and those providing unskilled labor. Such employees are not required to have high academic credentials and they are at lower levels. There is a point GS-5, which is a level whereby the employees are expected to be holders of degree certificates in order to get appointed or promoted to those positions. In the tourism industry, higher movement should be attained in equal proportions to the advancement of degrees. For an employee to reach the highest level in the industry there is need to have a legal and research degrees. Those holding managerial positions in the tourism industry are the ones who fall under this category.

5.3. Equity in payment

The pay grade schedules are always supposed to be used so as to achieve equitable and fair compensation in the tourism industry. Having equity internally in the tourism industry means that the companies involved should pay all the employees that are within the organization fairly and equitably. This has further prevents situations whereby there is discrimination in terms of pay. The background aligns the mode and structure of payment in the companies. The tourism companies also engage in comparisons in the pay schedules with other institutions and industries in order to achieve external equity. The competitive nature of the tourism industry has set precedence to the companies in the industry to establish payment schedules that will attract the top performers and talent in the field. This will avoid regular routine turn over in an attempt of remaining competitive in the industry. (Arboretum, 1989)

5.4. How a pay grade works in the tourism industry

A pay grade is often used in defining the amount that each and every employee is to be given in a company. In the tourism industry the pay grade is basically determined by the length of time that an employee has stayed in a particular post doing his job and also on the level of responsibility that the individual is subjected to at work. In the tourism industry, there is always a relationship between the horizontal axis and the length of time in which the employee has offered his services to the industry. The vertical dimension I the pay grade is always applied while dealing with the pay in terms of the academic qualification and the job requirements. Through the use of pay grade, tourism companies are able to determine the level of compensation that is needed and that is appropriate in every step that is undertaken in the process of employment. In the public sector, pay grades do take place in salary negotiations where contribution and fairness is always sought. The application of pay grades is also done in positions that are representative of the unions. (WorldatWork, 2007)

In the hospitality sector, new employees usually start in the first step of the pay grade range under their specific job. In the event that the employee stays on the same job title, the pay grade range starts to rise. This is usually after a span of every five years of working in the same job’s pay grade. Despite the fact that this compensation system that involves pay grades is always applicable in the employment in the public sector, military, universities and the federal government, the tourism industry also used the same model.

The pay steps of the pay grades differ in various organizations. There may be a difference of up to ten to fifteen steps that an employee needs to undergo before reaching the top position that warranty the payment of a high pay grade. Getting a pay rise once an employee attains the top most pay grade is dependent on the cost of living at the particular time, the increases or the allowances that the employee is entitled to. In the tourism industry, an employee always has an opportunity to be promoted or to be moved to another job that comes with different or more responsibilities. The employee therefore starts to move up the pay steps and to move into the next level of pay grade. In each step of the pay grade, there are always some over laps in the amount of salaries paid to the employees. For instance, a starter employee at the first grade of a job in the tourism industry that has 1 to 10 steps may be earning from 16000 dollars to 22000 dollars. When the employee moves to the second pay grade, the rates assigned to this grade may be from a minimum of 24000 dollars to a maximum of 23000 dollars. (Damp, 2008)

The tourism industry is composed of both government and private sectors. The pay grades are also used in the private sector in the tourism industry. The growth of a company is always characterized by the need for improving the pay scales so as to be fair and ensure that there is a similarity and uniformity in the payment across all the various positions of different job units and functions in the company. The retaining and attracting of good employees to various work units is mooted by similar responsibilities and job requirements. The tourism sector’s pay grades are often reached at through salary negotiations and the application of the discretion of the managers.

 

 

5.4.a.       Setting pay scales

The main use of pay scales is always to help the employers to determine the salaries and wages of the employees. The pay scales are usually listed in table form in which experience, education and other factors are always included. The pay scales help to maintain the consistency in pay and come handy in eliminating discrimination and favoritism. The compensation and human resource professionals in the tourism industries need to understand how to set the pay scales. In order to understand well, the following must be taken into consideration: (Sims, 2002)

5.4.b.       Consider the pay grade

There should be a comparison between the different ranks in the job. This is done through pay grades. The employers are supposed to use the nine factors of the BLR for analysis. The job then is evaluated and ranked on the basis of the duties assigned to the employee, experience, educational level and the skills. After considering these factors, it is then easy to assign the pay grade correctly in correlation to the salary range of the position that an employee holds.

5.4.c.       Establish the rate range.

The rate range is the spread out of the salaries. It is the examination of the various points comprising of the minimum point, the midpoint and the maximum point. The rate range is used in the establishment of how the payments are done.

5.4.d.      Job pricing

This is a process of the establishment of the three job ranges in relation to the grade of the labor. The study of salary and range survey helps the employers to make a comparison of wages that they offer their employees in their organization to those that are offered in the market. This is important as there is a lot of competition in the tourism industry. The knowledge of the wage scales can therefore help the employers to stay competitive in the labor market while ensuring that those who are of higher worth in the organization are paid more than those who are of lower worth. This thus strikes a balance between the external equity and the internal equity as well. (Armstrong & Baron, 1995)

5.4.e.       Mid point

The midpoint refers to a rate that is standard and tat all the employees who are performing and are qualified for the job remain at payment level which is acceptable and fair. Setting a rate range for any job requires the knowledge of the minimum point, midpoint and the maximum point.

5.5.Summary

Pay grade forms an integral aspect of the hospitality industry in general. In order to achieve equality and fairness in terms of payment, and to keep hold of the employees that one has, the employees need to apply the pay scales so as to satisfy their employees. This ranges from the laborers and unskilled employees to the highly qualified employees in the organizations. There can never be a better way of equally dealing with payments for employees apart from the use of a well structured pay grade.

5.6.Conclusion

The hospitality industry and the tourism industry specifically need a comprehensive pay grade. This is important if the companies involved in the sector are to maintain and keep up with the competition in the labor market. There is good labor that is always hard to come by. Once a company gets that good labor, it is often upon them to see that the labor is maintained. This can only be done through a fair and acceptable payment scheme. This can only be achieved through the application and use of the pay grade. (Walker& Miller, 2009).

  

  

5.7.References

Arboretum, D. (1989). How to Develop a Job Grade/pay Scale System. New York.

Armstrong, M.,  Baron, A. (1995). The Job Evaluation Handbook. London: CIPD Publishing.

Barrows, C,. Powers, T. (2008). Introduction to Management in the Hospitality Industry, Study Guide. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons.

Baum, T. (2006). Human Resource Management for the Tourism, Hospitality And Leisure Industries: An International Perspective. NY: Cengage Learning EMEA.

Bohlander, G., Snell, S. (2009). Managing Human Resources. Mason: Cengage Learning.

Bohlander, G., Snell, S. (2009). Managing Human Resources. Mason: Cengage Learning.

Damp, D. (2008). The Book of U.S. Government Jobs - 10th ed. Bookhaven Press LLC.

Mathis, R. Jackson, J. (2010). Human Resource Management. New York: Cengage Learning.

Sims, R. (2002). Organizational Success Through Effective Human Resources Management. Westport: Greenwood Publishing Group.

Walker, J., Miller, J. (2009). Supervision in the Hospitality Industry: Leading Human Resources.New Jersey: John Wiley and Sons.

WorldatWork (2007). The WorldatWork Handbook of Compensation, Benefits & Total Rewards: A Comprehensive Guide for HR Professionals. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons. 

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Effects of social media relationships

Effects of social media relationships

Introduction

Social media has impacted on the 21^stcentury’s communication. There has been advancement in the way people engage in various aspects of their lives. The social media has transformed the median and modes for shopping, networking and gathering of information in less than a decade. Many people have been drawn into the use of the social media, thus, there is an increase in information traffic in the internet. For instance, facebook has close to one billion users, twitter having around 150 million people twitting everyday among other blogs. Through the social media, people get to interact across the globe hence creating a lot of impact on the relationships. Facebook incidentally has 50 percent of the 8oo million users log in on a daily basis, and each having approximately one hundred and thirty friends. The trend in communication in today’s society has become computer meditated and people cannot imagine life without twitter, facebook, smart phones or other social media. This trend has advanced the level of communication hence setting a shift in the mode of interaction between families, friends and lovers from the early ways to a digital bases system. This shift has caused both positive and negative impacts in relationships and fuelled the ability of making relationships between individuals. (Gallo, 2011)

Break ups in relationships

With the increase in the use of social sites lie Twitter and Facebook in our interactions on a daily basis, there is a question as to whether the use of such sites is responsible for the twists and turns in relationships. The sites are indeed responsible for the falling out of various relationships as a result of behaviors that are inappropriate that are acquired from using the sites. However, there is still a question as to whether the sites are to blame for this or whether we as the users should be held accountable and be responsible with or behaviors. The truth is that there are emergence of more brake ups in relationships with the increase of communication among peers and friends via the social sites. A lot of studies have pointed to the fact that the social media is responsible for a number of break ups in marriages and relationships. This is basically because most people spend most of their time in social media conversing with individuals of the opposite sex. This does lead to lack of trust and creation of jealousy among people in relationships thereby causing a fall out between them.

Facebook and relationships

Wood, (2011) states that Facebook specifically has been harmful in a lot of relationships. This is because through it there has been a lot of suspicion and jealousy among those in relationships. Facebook and other social networks make starting of relationships a very easy thing. People can interact and start affairs easily from the comfort of their couches and agree to start relationships. However, the same Facebook also ends relationships very easily as various research has indicated that Facebok is responsible for lot breakups.

There are comments and postings especially to the opposite sex that do cause a lot of jealousy and lack of trust at first glance. These posting that are done to opposite sex individuals are the causes of havoc in relationships that are sometimes experiencing other problems. Through social media, there is an increase in the opportunity to meet people on the other side of the world who you could not have met in real life. This has increased the levels of cheating in relationships. People have developed bad behavior in their relationships. However, it is important to note that the social networks do not force people to engage in acts that they do not want to engage in and therefore the responsibility lies squarely on us who are using the sites. This means that people have to be accountable for all that they do in the social media and do not blame the social media for their cheating. Through the social media, people have been engaging in unfaithfulness. Having Facebook and Twitter accounts have definitely has a lot of impacts in relationships; impacts that are more often than not mounting to a lot of conflicts. (Al-Deen & Hendricks, 2011)

Starting relationships

Apart from affecting existing relationships, the social sites also increase the ability of people to start romantic affairs. Actually nearly one third of the population using the social sites agrees to the fact that it is possible to start a romantic relationship through the social sites. This eventually points to the fact that Facebook communications and can grow from the status of more than just a friend request to a serious affair. This is usually geared if the individual in question has flashy profiles to his picture like for example, being a C.E.O or other fancies responsibilities. For those who are single or not ties to relationships, this is a pro on their side. This is because through the social sites, opportunities for dating are opened up and they have a variety of people to engage with in open dating before settling down in a serious and committed affair. However, this is prone to cause problems to those who are already in commitment relationships as it makes them prone to unfaithfulness. It has been referred to as putting the kid in a store of candy and instructing the kid not to taste the candy itself. Committed relationships are always faced with lack of trust and jealousy in the event that social media is used by either party.

Misinterpretation

People spend a lot of their time chatting and communicating in Facebook. This activity causes a lot of stir especially when it involves people of the opposite sex and the mate does not know about it or even does not know them. The mates do feel insecure and lose the trust they had in their mate simply because of involvement in Facebook. There have been arguments concerning whether mates should be privy to the friends that their fellows engage in. this has a lot of curses as well as blessings in our relationships. It could be good but also bad in a larger extent. This is because as humans, we have the tendency of analyzing things a lot and in details that nay be misrepresented. This can lead to making conclusions based on assumptions hence creating a lot of mistrust and jealousy in relationships unnecessarily. In this case, one would be better off not monitoring or having any idea as concerning the online friends and communication that his or her mate has through the various social networks.
Through Facebook and Twitter, there is a lot of flirting between individuals of the opposite sex, which could be disastrous to ones relationship. These are the same problems that would be experienced in the event that these things are done in the real world aside from the social networks. In this case, it is considered that one person’s unfaithfulness should not be tagged or attributed to the use of social media because the same would have happened in the usual world outside Facebook or Twitter. It is therefore concluded that one’s behavior in social network is the same one went out of the social network.

Misinterpreting the posts in social networks is also a cause for rocking relationships. For instance, a guy can post in a girls wall that he longs for meeting her that particular night. The boyfriend of the lady may see the post and feel jealous maybe because he may interpret the post to mean that his girlfriend has been having another affair with the guy who posted in her wall. In this case, social media is responsible for the breakups in relationships. Other private conversations in social media have ended up causing problems in the relationships. Trust is most often than not lost in the relationships. (Bryfonski, 2011)

Conclusion

Some may argue that Facebook, Twitter and other social sites are not to blame for the problems experienced in relationships but one thing is clear; they contribute towards mistrust, jealousy and cheating. All these contribute to the ending of a lot of relationships. This is especially because most of the posts made by individuals and those made on the walls of individuals are seen by the other partner. Also, one cannot control and has less control over what other are to post in the walls therefore there is always a risk of having something suspicious being posted in ones wall that may be responsible for ending the relationships.

References

Al-Deen, H, Hendricks, J. (2011). Social Media: Usage and Impact. UK: Lexington Books.

Bryfonski, D. (2011). The Global Impact of Social Media. Greenhaven Press.

Gallo, C. (2011). The Effects of the Internet on Social Relationships: Therapeutic Considerations. Bloomington: IUniverse. 

Wood, J. (2011). Communication in Our Lives. NY: Cengage Learning.

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Human Sexuality- Film Analysis on movie “Shame” (2011)- APA

Human Sexuality

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Film Analysis on movie “Shame” (2011)

Film Summary

The film “Shame” is a drama film that is British. Steve McQueen is the director of the film, with Carey Mulligan and Michael Fassbender being the starring in the movie. The film was co-produced by Sea-Saw Films and Film4 and was rated NC-17 in the United States of America due to the sexual addictions that eventually resulted as a result of the films explicitly sexual scenes. The film was opened on a limited release in America on 2^nd of December the year 2011.

Characters

In the film, Michael Fassbender stars as Brandon Sullivan. Brandon is a guy whose sexual proclivities seem to be insatiable and extreme. He is a man who is addicted to prostitution, has his computer filled with pornographic content and is always in masturbation blissfully. Sexual lust, masturbation and pornography have totally taken over Brandon’s life and he is isolated totally without any close friends. Brandon’s boss, David is a married man. James Badge is the guy who plays the role of David. David is found of hitting on the chicks like breathing in a second manner. “Shame” makes one understand why Brandon’s time is spent so much on sex. Brandon’s relationship with his sibling Sissy who is singer by aspiration creates another twist. Sissy is unreserved ant went to an extreme end of showing up at Brandon’s apartment without notice went to the shower and stepped out t greet Brandon on his arrival back.

Through covering few days of Brandon’s life, author MacQueen allows for the development of the relationship of the character hence deflating before the eyes of the viewers. Brandon’s date with Marianne, a coworker, creates a further connection as Fassbender seems to squirm a little. In fact, Brandon seems not to be too sure about the date or whether it is a plan for another sex, leaving the viewers in suspense.

Critical Analysis

The film ‘Shame’ is a movie that is very controversial. Consequently, the film has merit or value that must be given to it. However, the level of sexual abuse and trauma that is exhibited in the film cannot be ignored. This is especially based on adolescent sexual abuse and the effects that are caused by such actions to the lives of individuals. Brandon’s life is full of lack of intimacy as exhibited by the “I want your love” subtitles, forming the basis of the narrative and sound track. Addiction to drugs and sex is viral in the film. Throughout the film, there is no exhibition of the working of the diseases on Brandon’s life.

MacQueen in his movie uses copious nudity of both male and female to prove its braveness. However, this does not mean that the performance by Fassbender or Mulligan lacks the necessary focus.

The film ‘Shame’ focuses mainly on the life of man who is embattled with the acceptance of his addiction to sex. Brandon gets desperate every day as he tries to suppress his sexual urge. This urge of having sex takes over his life and controls him completely. The theme of sexuality is dominant in the film ‘Shame’. Brandon feels guilty and bad about his sexual actions and struggles to hide his sexual urges. This condition makes him struggle daily and he gets it very hard to be like the other people who are around him. Subsequently, the sexual situation he is in gets out of hand when his sister arrives. Sissy appears at his house and requests if they can stay together. At this juncture, there is the rise of tensions attached to sexual desires. Brandon eventually drowns in the sexual addiction and ultimate shame. He ends p affecting the lives of the people who greatly care for him. (Coconi, 2013)

Themes presented

Social alienation strongly presents itself in the film. Right from the start of the film, there is an outright alienation where Brandon seeks to be separated from the other people in the movie. He struggles very hard to distance himself from the rest of the people in the film. The distance in the film is further exhibited by the long, lingering shots and the soundtrack which basically show the level of social alienation. The audience is left to watch and judge the film and everything that is happening in the movie. This alienation is as a result of the addiction of Brandon. Sex addiction is generally frowned upon by various people of the society. Brandon has a constant feeling that he is different from other people in the film and that everything he does seems to be wrong. An instance of alienation is when Brandon sits in a room and then someone tells him, “I find you disgusting. I find you inconsolable. I find you invasive.” The zooming of the camera takes us to a meeting where Brandon is sited and the boss is speaking about a topic that seems irrelevant according to Brandon. Brandon seems to have a lot of fear on hearing the words at the meeting. The author, MacQueen, at one point becomes open and tells the audience of Brandon’s paranoid and shame and even indicates the fact that those around Brandon are likely to find about his own state of mind. (Cladwel, 2009)

Accuracy of the themes.

Sexual addiction is used to refer to the urge, thoughts and behaviors that are usually exhibited by an individual, driving him towards wanting sex or engaging in sexual activities. Scientists view sexual addiction as a sexual behavior that is compulsive. Sex addiction affects the social alienation of an individual. The ability of an individual to function normally is reduced. Medical experts, clinical sexologists, psychologists among other experts have indicated that sex addiction is a psychological and physiological addiction. This can greatly lead to destruction of an individual.  The film has masturbation, intercourse and nudity. The accuracy of the theme can be said to have been achieved. Basing on what Brandon feels the extent of sexual addiction’s effect is exhibited. Brandon’s relationship with his sister and other people close to him is difficult, a proof to the fact that sexual addiction is destructive.

Film Messages

The film uses a cold color wonderfully portraying the general mood in the story. The director aims to portray the feelings of Brandon in a manner that is very subtle. The style of shooting is that full of melancholy and beauty. The main point of the film is to bring out the effects of sexual addiction and social alienations to an individual. The purpose is to illustrate the extent to which addiction to sex and being socially alienated can cause more damage and shame.

Implicitly, the film portrays the extent to which sexual addiction can drive one, using Brandon as a case study. Explicitly, the idea of sexuality, masturbation and the urge for sex is exhibited. The messages in the film seem negative though there is some positivity. For instance, by Brandon masturbating to satisfy his sexual desires, there is a negative message sent to the audience.

The message in the film seems to be in contravention with the societal ethics and norms. The sex scenes have been too much. The themes and concept presented in the film are those of sexuality and sex.

References

Caldwel, (2009). Cinema Autopsy: Film reviews and discussion. Link: http://blog.cinemaautopsy.com/

 Coconi, A. Movie reviews: Shame (2011)Link: http://www.helium.com/items/2266350-movie-reviews-shame-2011?ref_=ttexrv_exrv_18316^thSeptember 2013

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