Wages For The American Worker Essay - 2526 Words

Honest Wages for The American Worker Congratulations, you are hired! The four words that people long to hear. However, for many newly employed workers, their new job will not pay an income that will enable them to live comfortably. In 2015, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that 2.6 million Americans, or approximately 3.3 percent of all hourly paid workers earned wages at, or below the federal minimum wage. Since 2009, the federal minimum wage amount has remained stagnant. Bringing this number to a level that is consistent with the cost of living is a basic right for every wage earning American. Raising the minimum wage enables working people to live above the poverty line. Although opposition states that raising the wage will increase unemployment, the increase would actually reduce the number of persons receiving food stamps, stimulate the economy, in addition to reducing income inequality. According to a Washington Post-ABC news poll, two-thirds of Americans say the minimum wage should be increased. In 2015, protests by low wage workers garnered media attention and captured the nation’s attention. Workers exposed the low wage paying practices by several big-name corporations. These companies included Macy’s, Sears and Walmart in addition to fast-food outlets Dunkin Donuts, McDonald’s and Subway. Pressure is building on Congress to raise the amount, nevertheless this is not the first time Congress has wrestled with this subject. The Fair Labor Standards Act was aShow MoreRelatedThe Minimum Wage Must Benefit Millions Of American Workers989 Words   |  4 Pagescent minimum wage, and a 40 hour work week for many professions, but nowadays, the minimum wage has fallen well behind the cost of living and fallen behind inflation. Forcing states to have minimum wages based on their cost of living, would put billions more dollars into the economy and signi ficantly boost the salary of millions of people. It’s hard to talk about minimum wage without somebody saying that raising it will ruin the economy, but this is a myth, raising the minimum wage would benefitRead MoreMinimum Wage1535 Words   |  7 Pagesminimum wage level has been a controversy over its insufficient wages set for working class Americans. The minimum wage was established to protect unskilled workers from being exploited by employers’ low pay. Introducing the minimum wage provided stabilization in the workplace, but as the cost of living increases, working Americans are demanding a livable wage. In the recent past, the American dream fadedness changed the way Americans view the economy. For many wageworkers, the American dream isRead MoreThe American Dream By James Truslow Adams1500 Words   |  6 PagesThe American Dream is the sole reason that millions of people decided to come to this country, whether it be generations ago, or last week. But even so, this shared dream faces problems. To solve the p roblem, the American Dream has to be defined. James Truslow Adams, author of the 1931 book The Epic of America, was the first person to mention and therefore define the American Dream. He established it as: â€Å"[T]hat dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, withRead MoreShould Minimum Wage Be Raised?1337 Words   |  6 Pagesdisgrace that millions of full-time workers are living in poverty and millions more are forced to work two or three jobs just to pay their bills† (Wolf 1). Sanders has said this frequently and is referring to the drastic amount of Americans who are currently struggling, despite already having a job. The issue of whether or not to raise the minimum wage in America has been a widely discussed topic for years. Minimum wage refers to the smallest amount of money a worker can legally be paid in the U.S. ItRead MoreAmerica s Potential, And Rising Above The Gathering Storm1749 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"draining† the most talented and skilled workers from other countries in order to gain an advantage on a global stage. In order for the U.S. to remain a leader in innovation and STEM education, the issue of H1-B vi sas needs to be addressed. Critics of the STEM movement argue that H1-B visas are a means for companies to obtain workers at lower costs than American workers. According to John Miano, legal research expert on the impacts of foreign labor on technology workers, H-1B visas allow U.S companies toRead MoreThe Minimum Wage Must Be Raised Essay1700 Words   |  7 Pageslife of many Americans is one day on repeat. We wake up, prepare for our day, and then head off to our jobs that never seem to pay enough for our living needs. No matter how hard the average worker works, he/she can’t seem to make ends meet. Why is this? It would be logical that these hard working Americans that spend day after day at their job would be thriving; however, in most cases, it is the opposite. Despite the amount of time and effort that goes into a daily job, these workers are making minimumRead MoreMinimum Wage, And Unemployment1673 Words   |  7 PagesMinimum Wage Hikes and Unemployment Many fast food workers and minimum wage employees have been protesting recently, in hopes of increasing the federal minimum wage. States such as Seattle, that have already increased the minimum wage to $15 per hour, and California, that has approved a bill that will change the minimum wage to $13 per hour in 2017, have already jumped on board with the movement. President Obama and many other protesters around the country who are fighting for the increase in theRead More The Immigration and Job Loss Debate Essays1170 Words   |  5 Pagesthese jobs away from American workers. I look at it as jobs they are left with, not ones they are taking. The debate always shows an American family that has been displaced or lost their livelihood because they can no longer compete with cheaper labor. In reality the jobs that the immigrants get are the most undesirable, strenuous and dangerous ones. The only American workers that they compete with are the unskilled ones. I intend to explore if immig rants taking American jobs, if they are onlyRead MoreThe rise and fall of Labor Unions1545 Words   |  7 Pagesunions Labor union is an organized association of workers, in a trade or profession, formed to protect and further their rights and interests. During the industrial revolution in Europe there was a rise in new workers without representation in the workplace. In the 19th century the industrial revolution spread to the United States from Europe, this resulted in the economy shifting to manufacturing from agriculture as an economic importance. American societies were increasing in population as well asRead MoreMinimum Wage And The Wage1176 Words   |  5 PagesThe American Dream is that all citizens can fulfill their potential through hard work and perseverance. Many Americans work long hours under the belief that they are fulfilling their social contract. Yet, even lengthy work weeks at minimum wage can be insufficient to provide for life’s necessities. Many minimum wage workers must supplement their income with taxpayer-funded federal assistance programs in addition to working beyond the standard 40 hour work week. There is an economical and ethical

The Effects Of Advertising On Society s Food Choices

How we can be so manipulated into eating something so terrible, or good for us? People in the world have to make the choice between fast food and healthy eating. Between television commercials, magazines advertisements, and billboards it can be hard to make the right decision. Food advertisements sometime choose women in their ads to attract men. Also, they sometimes show meals with toys to attract children. On the other hand, some ads use contrast in their ads. For example, they choose a skinny man and fat man, because they want to show what the difference is between these bodies and which of them is healthy. The advertisements effectively use logos, ethos, and the emotions to convince the people about their products. In my paper, two advertisements will explain the impact that they have on society’s food choices. My first advertisement is for MacDonald’s. It shows that a boy with an orange long sleeve shirt and bald head playing with a Superman toy, which comes free with children’s meals (happy meal). Also, the picture shows his father with an orange shirt happy with what his child did. The boy leaves his meal and plays with the free toy instead of eating. The main audience for this ad is obviously children. The children who are interested in these toys are going to be interested in telling his/her parents to buy MacDonald’s. The study showed why children want to eat junk food: because the advertising they see while watching TV is effective, cheaper than any other food,Show MoreRelatedMarketing Strategies For Fast Food Outlets1593 Words   |  7 PagesFast food outlets use a wide range of marketing strategies to maximise sales, and is ‘a big part of fast food success’ (Money Instructor). This study relates to the economic and environmental area of study as i t addresses contemporary marketing strategies and the promotion of purchases within the franchise. The aim of this study will be to investigate marketing strategies, particularly promotional and advertising, adapted by fast food outlets in order to unveil successful advertising strategies.Read MoreInfluence Of Advertisement On Contemporary Society1436 Words   |  6 Pagesadvertisement on contemporary society Shafiq 1 In our media rich society, we see advertisements every day. Their appearance happens at numerous places ranging from cereal boxes to television screens, as well as public buses. Most advertisement often conveys an unrealistic view of the product. While it is a mass marketing technique to make the consumer buy the product, but most of us believe whatever advertised is true without giving a second thought to it. In our contemporary society, it has become very hardRead MoreMarketing For Children : A Social Problem As It Has Created Materialistic Values Among Young Beings1678 Words   |  7 PagesConsuming Kids highlight on the acts of a steady multi-billion dollar marketing machine that now offers kids and their folks everything from junk food and fierce computer games to educational products. Drawing on the insights of health care experts, youngsters promoters, and industry insiders, the film concentrates on the dangerous development of kid advertising in the wake of deregulation, indicating how youth advertisers have utilized the most recent advances as a part of brain research, humanitiesRead MoreAre We Taking It Too Far by Blaming Fast Food Restaurant for Obesity?1285 Words   |  6 PagesAre we taking it too far by blaming fast food restaurant for obesity? Although throughout the years many people have claimed that obesity is a genetic disorder for the most part; results of recent studies strongly indicate that lifestyles rather than genetics are what are causing an obese society, because people choose to not exercise, not watch their diet, and eat fast food. For the past few decades, food companies had aimed their marketing at single meals, pushing to inflate portion sizes. ThatRead MoreShould Banned Be Banned For Minors? Essay1739 Words   |  7 Pages(Merriam-Webster, (n.d)). Numerous avenues are often used for marketing different products to children using television, radio, internet and print media. Selling food products carry over a large space of these media and generally concentrating on junk food products. Recently, more and more children between four and eleven years old are bombarded with unhealthy food advertisements during watching television or running online games which earn a legitimate worry for the government agencies. Such products should beRead MoreMedia s Influence On Society1454 Words   |  6 PagesThe Media’s Chokehold The media s influence on society is suffocating and undeniable. Body image has become overwhelmingly present in most media today. The front cover of a magazine may critically exclaim â€Å"so-and-so has cellulite† or â€Å"so and so is too thin†. Popular reality stars like Nicole Polizzi (otherwise known as â€Å"Snooki†) have been criticized for being to large and then criticized for being too thin after dropping the weight. The media teaches people to be unsatisfied with their bodiesRead MoreThe Dangers Of Fast Food Advertising1296 Words   |  6 PagesFast food advertisements can be found around the world, on newspapers, television, and even online. Children, teenagers, and parents have seen marketing focused on fast food. While adults may think little about such blatant advertising tactics that are solely designed to attract new customers, how are kids affected? People across the United States worry about the ever increasing obesity rates amongst chi ldren in recent years. A common explanation is the spike in popularity of fast food. Most kidsRead MoreEnough Blame From The Fast Food Industry1195 Words   |  5 PagesSummative Essay 1 December 2014 Enough Blame to Go Around The fast food industry is a thriving enterprise in America s economy these days. One can find a fast food vendor on nearly every block, says David Zinczenko in his article Don t Blame the Eater. The article explains the growing expanse of the fast food industry and the subsequent number of nutritional food businesses declining, there by leaving the fast food industry responsible to provide adequate nutrition for countless numbersRead MoreEffects Of Obesity On The Canadian Federal System889 Words   |  4 Pagescostly, difficult and hard to regulate people’s life style choices and large billion dollar fast food companies. Apart from the economic and institution driven implications of obesity on the Canadian federal system, the issue of obesity also targets the social circle of Canadian media, culture, values and global reputation. If the federal government does not take an active step in the stop against unhealthy eating, bad life style choices and obesity then the problem will continue to escalate. PublicRead More800 Word Essay824 Words   |  4 Pages800 Word Essay Food, health and medical technologies have a large impact on individuals and communities today and in the future. Throughout this paper, discussion will involve the issues that society faces regarding food and health and how we can create a healthier and safer world for our future. The food industry has a large impact on individuals and will affect wider communities in the future. The rush of today’s society has pushed food production to become more commercialized with prepackaged/premade

What Does It Mean You Be A Hum Constantly Changing Definition

What Does it Mean to be a Human: Constantly Changing Definition There has been an ongoing debate within psychology circles as to what makes greater impact on a person’s behavior – one’s genetics and inheritance or upbringing and surrounding. There are numerous proponents on both sides. It is a conventional wisdom for everybody that certain physical characteristics are predetermined before we are born as they come from genetics: color of the eyes, hair, body structure, color of skin etc. Each person has its own unique genetic code. This fact has led many scientists to think that a set pf psychological characteristics are predetermined too. For example, mental abilities, behavioral patterns, speed of speech etc. This is a so-called†¦show more content†¦It suggests that at birth a human’s mind is tabula rasa (a blank slate). Through experience and environment this slate fills in with behavioral patterns and attitudes (McLeod). The way a person is brought up governs the way he or she learns and matures in the future and shapes its behavioral differences from other people. Between biological and behavioral approaches to understanding a person there are many other approaches that are not that radical in their explanations as to why one people behave differently from others. Freud’s theory, for example, is that all people are governed by innate drive of sex and aggression (nature). However, the way they externalize it depends on social upbringing and environment (nurture). As opposed to Freud’s approach, social learning theory says that aggression is learnt from the environment through observation and imitation and is not inherited (Davies). Another debate was provoked by American psychologist Arthur Jensen that argued that 80% of intellectual abilities of a person come from his or her genes. He made this assumption after conducting an experiment were he evaluate IQ of African race against Caucasians and identified that the former had significantly lower IQ points. For many environmentalists, however, such drastic differences in IQ testing are due to socially biased methods of testing (McLeod). Moreover, it only proves that society is very important in enhancing or decreasing intellectual abilities as the majority

Old Versus Young The Temptation Of Adam And Eve Receive...

Old Versus Young â€Å"The LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul† (Genesis 2:7). The book of Genesis opens with a story of creation; God creates the world and humankind. He fashions a man (Adam) out of dust, and a woman (Eve) from Adam’s rib. God places Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, encouraging them to live and prosper, but not to eat the fruit from the tree of knowledge. Ultimately, Adam and Eve were tempted into eating the fruit, and were punished by God for doing so. Throughout the years, many painters have expressed their own interpretation of this story through their artwork; including James Barry and Pietro Facchetti. The Temptation of Adam by†¦show more content†¦In contrast, Facchetti’s painting depicts Adam with a straighter, more relaxed facial expression without any wrinkles. This shows that Adam is accepting the fruit not considering the consequences he may face if he does decide to eat the fruit and betray God, because his face is expressionless and relaxed, implying that he is not at all bothered by the situation at hand. This is important because it shows Adam not being as able to make his own decision, by giving in to Eve’s persuasion. In addition, Adam s eyes in Barry’s painting are gazing into the bottom left corner at the ground, and his lip is curled down forming a slight frown;as well as his facial features are more structured and pronounced. This shows that Adam is older and able to thoroughly think about the consequences of accepting the fruit, because he has more structured facial features as that of an adult. Also, it shows Adam questioning his situation because he is staring off into the distance and has a frown, indicating that he is weighing his options. This is important because this representation portrays Adam as being a responsible creation of God because, he is wise and looks to be denying eating the forbidde n fruit even though Eve is trying to pressure him into eating it. Furthermore, in the work by Facchetti Adam’s gaze is positioned directly at the fruit, and his lip is curved upward forming a grin; as well as his facial features are

Business Event Management Theory - Research and Policy

Question: Describe about the Business Event Management for Theory, Research and Policy. Answer: Introduction: The following report deals with the three scenarios differing from each other on the basis of the magnitude of the event and the number of delegates(Gupta and Nellimoottil 2015). Selection of venue is dependent on many factors (Carter 2013). The first scenario elucidates an event where the number of delegates is 200 and the number of exhibitors is 10. Hence the organizers can use a small conference venue which will be apt for the scenario. In the second scenario, the number of delegates is increasing to 600 to 1500 and the exhibitors are 50 in number. The organizers can, therefore, choose a medium sized venue which will provide ample space for the delegates. The third scenario deals with an international event where the number of delegates is around 5000 and it will consist of foreign delegates of different nationals. The last scenario calls for an extensive and luxurious venue where the delegates can find ample space and the conference can be conducted without a hitch. Discussion: Overview of destination as a business events city: Sydney is one of the most preferred choices for a convention in Australia and there is more than one reason for that. The predominant reason is its beauty as a city brimming with iconic structures and buildings. Even nature is bountiful in the city with the splendid Sydney Cove which is defined as one of the finest harbors in the world. Sydney, particularly its CBD (Central Business District), is particularly known for the head offices of various eminent Australian companies as well as international companies (Cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au 2016). In terms of location also, Sydney is well connected with different cities of Australia and also international cities around the globe. Sydney airport is a few kilometers away from the CBD and the train service is also excellent. Sydney is also home to a variety of luxurious hotels and conference venues. Hence, Sydney would be a perfect choice for the three scenarios with diverse requirements. Venue selection process: When it came to selection of conference venues in Sydney, it was a challenging work to some extent. The popular websites like tripadvisor.com provided an overview of the popular conference venues available on hire in Sydney CBD area. On the basis of the research, it was discovered that the conference venue called Stamford Plaza Sydney Airport Hotel suited the first scenario (Stamford.com.au 2016). The background information of the hotel was collected from the official website and the venue was also personally inspected to check the services and the space available for the conference. The second venue chosen was Park Hyatt Sydney which was preferred because of the location as well as the ample suits present in the hotel (Sydney.park.hyatt.com 2016). The third venue was selected more carefully because the third scenario dealt with an international conference to be attended by a diverse group of international delegates (Sofitelsydney.com.au 2016). Various sources were available like the official websites and commercial websites for the venues. The reviews were studied properly to estimate the popularity of the hotels and the venues were personally inspected to ensure that the hotels delivered what they promised (Rogers and Davidson 2015). Scenario: a The small business event would be held in Stamford Plaza Sydney Airport Hotel. The chosen venue boasts of eleven rooms which cater to almost 500 people (Stamford.com.au 2016). The delegates are mostly corporate associates and hence the venue was chosen in accordance with the tastes and needs of the delegates. The rooms are spacious enough to accommodate the delegates and the exhibitors. There is a large function area which further leads into nine more function areas. It will help the organizers to plan the management of the event properly. There should also be scope for video and audio conferencing in the venue. Proper facilities are available in the Stamford Plaza Sydney Airport Hotel which would enable the smooth conduction of the business event (Beech et al. 2014). There is a dedicated staff that will cater to the needs of the delegates arriving for the event. There is a proper parking lot and there is a scope for the cars to access the ballroom. Specific teams will be appointed to look after different aspects of the business meeting. Another important facto r is the accessibility of the hotel. It should be situated in such a place that delegates from different parts of the country can reach the place easily (Dowson and Bassett 2015). The chosen venue is located near domestic and international airport terminals. This ensures the accessibility of the hotel. The ambience of the hotel is also suitable for any kind of business event in the chosen venue. The rooms in the hotel have the accommodation for natural light. The event would span over two days which would call for accommodation for the delegates. The chosen venue has the option for staying overnight as well. There are adequate numbers of bedrooms, restrooms, dining halls and such other related facilities (Stamford.com.au 2016). Scenario: b The medium size business event would be held in the Park Hyatt Sydney. The strength of the business event is 600-1500 delegates and 50 exhibitors. Hence the venue should be chosen in such a way that it can accommodate the attendees perfectly. Since the number of delegates and exhibitors has increased in number compared to the previous scenario, the current scenario needs a venue with a greater capacity. Hence the hotel Par Hyatt Sydney has been chosen to meet the requirements. The chosen venue is also famous for the corporate conferences held in their hotel (Sydney.park.hyatt.com 2016). The delegates comprise associates coming from different parts of the country. Hence the venue was chosen which catered to the varying tastes of the delegates. Located at the premium and coveted Sydney harbor front, the venue is accessible from different parts of the country (Sydney.park.hyatt.com 2016). There are in total 155 rooms and suits which would prevent overcrowding of the guests. The conference rooms at the hotel also provide all the necessary equipments that ar e required during the conferences. The hotel boasts of modern technology and specially commissioned artwork in their elegant rooms and suites. The Park Hyatt Sydney hotel provides for entertainment of the guests (Salem et al. 2012). The spa at the hotel consists of private treatment rooms, relaxation room, steam room, outdoor whirlpool and gymnasium (Sydney.park.hyatt.com 2016). The Park Hyatt Sydney features a famous dining room which provides a spectacular water view of the Sydney harbor. The events should be scheduled in such a way that it is able to hold the interest of the delegates (Edwards et al. 2014). The hotel also has an experienced team of concierges who will be available for helping the guests and they will be delighted to help in the arrangements of the conference. Scenario: c The large conference would be held in the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth. The 5 star hotel is perfect for the conference which would consist of 5000 delegates. It is going to be a 5 day international conference comprising delegates from diverse backgrounds. It is only 500 meters away from the nearest airport which is an important factor to reckon since many delegates will be arriving from foreign nations (Sofitelsydney.com.au 2016). The number of delegates has increased; therefore the hotel has been chosen which can accommodate5000 guests. Sofitel Sydney Wentworth has one of the largest ballrooms in Sydney (Sofitelsydney.com.au 2016). It has a large foyer which acts as an exhibition area or a meeting area. The ballroom is equipped with the latest audio visual facilities which will aid in the conduction of the conference. The hotel also has a large business centre, library, vast concierge team and valet services (Sofitelsydney.com.au 2016). The conference will be attended by a large number of foreign delegates; therefore intricate details like the facilitie s provided by the hotel or the menu should be taken into account while planning the whole event. The conference will take place for a time period of 5 days which makes it necessary for the organizers of the event to make arrangements for accommodation for the guests during this time period in the hotel. The selected hotel offers 463 elegant, guest rooms and exquisite suites (Sofitelsydney.com.au 2016). In terms of food also, the organizers need to keep in mind that there should be diversity reflected in the menu. The Soiree and Garden Court restaurant at the hotel offers an excellent experience of cuisine from all over the globe (Sofitelsydney.com.au 2016). Other modes of entertainment should also be arranged for the guests like ceremonies and games (Quinn 2013). The safety of the delegates should also be on the priority list of the organizers (Getz and Page 2016). Conclusion: The selection of a proper venue is based on a number of variables like the magnitude of the event, the number of delegates and the kind of delegates who will be arriving. In case of delegates coming from different parts of the country, the venue was chosen such that it was accessible easily from their places. When it came to the international conference, the venue was chosen suitably near an airport so that the foreign delegates would not find any difficulty in arriving at the venue. The food items and the modes of attraction were also chosen based on the kind of delegates. Hence, it can be safely assumed that the determination of a venue occupies an important place in a business event management. References: Beech, J., Kaiser, S. and Kaspar, R. 2014.The Business of events management. Pearson Higher Ed.Van der Wagen, L. 2010.Event management. Pearson Higher Education AU. Carter, L. 2013.Event planning. AuthorHouse. Cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au. (2016). Home - City of Sydney. [online] Available at: https://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au [Accessed 3 Sep. 2016]. Dowson, R. and Bassett, D. 2015.Event Planning and Management: A Practical Handbook for PR and Events Professionals. Kogan Page Publishers. Edwards, D., Foley, C., Dwyer, L., Schlenker, K. and Hergesell, A. (2014) Evaluating the economic contribution of a large indoor entertainment venue: An In scope expenditure study, Event Management, 18(4), pp. 407420. Getz, D. and Page, S.J. 2016.Event studies: Theory, research and policy for planned events. Routledge. Gupta, A. and Nellimoottil, T.T., EVENTFORTE, INC. 2015.METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR SECURING VENUE RENTAL AND OPTIMIZING EVENT MANAGEMENT. U.S. Patent 20,150,254,580. Quinn, B. 2013.Key concepts in event management. Sage. Rogers, T. and Davidson, R., 2015.Marketing destinations and venues for conferences, conventions and business events(Vol. 14). Routledge. Salem, G., Jones, E. and Morgan, N. 2012. An overview of events management.Festival and Events Management, p.14. Sofitelsydney.com.au. 2016. Sofitel Sydney Wentworth | 5 Star Hotel in Sydney CBD. [online] Available at: https://www.sofitelsydney.com.au/ [Accessed 30 Aug. 2016]. Stamford.com.au. 2016. Meeting Conference Rooms Venues in Sydney. [online] Available at: https://www.stamford.com.au/conference-meetings/sydney-meetings--conferences [Accessed 29 Aug. 2016]. Sydney.park.hyatt.com. (2016). Park Hyatt Sydney | Luxury Sydney Hotel in the Rocks. [online] Available at: https://sydney.park.hyatt.com/ [Accessed 3 Sep. 2016].

Fredric Jameson and the limits of postmodern theory Essay Example For Students

Fredric Jameson and the limits of postmodern theory Essay The impetus behind this paper has been the recent publication of Fredric Jamesons 1991 Welleck Lectures, The Seeds of Time. 1 As these lectures were delivered a decade after Jamesons initial attempts to map the terrain of postmodernity it appeared to me to provide an occasion to reflect upon the current status of Jamesons highly influential and much criticised theory of postmodernism as the cultural logic of late capitalism. It also enables me to return to, what I consider to be, one of the most troubling aspects of Jamesons writing on postmodernism, that is to say, the waning, to use Jamesons term, of the political imagination. As Jameson is probably the foremost Marxist theorist writing on postmodernism and one of the most influential of contemporary cultural critics, I find this paralysis of the political imagination in the face of postmodernism deeply problematic. As most of you are probably aware postmodernism is inherently paradoxical and playful. There is, suggests Jameson a kind of winner loses logic about it, the more one tries to define what is characteristically postmodern the less characteristic it turns out to be. Postmodernism, by definition resists definition. Theoretically, postmodernism can only theorise its own conditions of impossibility; with neither a fixed subject nor object there can be no theory of postmodernism as such. This paradoxicality is what Jameson now identifies as the antinomies of postmodernity, the aporia or theoretical impasses which mesmerise postmodern theory and unlike the older (modernist) discourse of dialectical contradiction remain unresolvable at a higher level of abstraction. Jameson identifies four fundamental antinomies of postmodernism: time and space, subject and object, nature and human nature, and finally the concept of Utopia. Today I will focus on just the first of these antinomies, what Jameson describes as the foundational antinomy of postmodernism, that is, time and space, and suggest that the failure to think beyond the antinomy is symptomatic of a more general failing in Jamesons theory as a whole. I shall also venture to suggest that a more dialectical understanding of temporality and spatiality may enable us to move beyond what Jameson sees as the limits of the postmodern. Before engaging with this debate, however, I will briefly recapitulate Jamesons original thesis and what I still consider to be the importance of his theoretical endeavour. Jamesons initial intervention in the postmodern debate, in a 1982 essay `The Politics of Theory,2 was primarily an attempt to map the ideological landscape of postmodernism, however, the article concluded on a characteristic Jamesonian note, insisting on `the need to grasp the present as history. Jameson, then, initially seemed to suggest the possibility of a way through the impasse of the two most influential strains of thought emerging at that time in relation to postmodernism. On the one hand, one encountered an uncritical celebration of the concept by the postmodernists themselves, and, on the other, the charge of cultural degeneracy was being levelled by more traditional critics and older modernists. We must avoid, argued Jameson, adopting either of these essentially moralising positions, and rather develop a more fully historical and dialectical analysis of the situation. Whether we like it or not there was a perception that culturally something had changed, we may disagree on what that change entails but the perception itself has a reality that must be accounted for. To repudiate such a cultural change was simply facile, to thoughtlessly celebrate it was complacent and corrupt; what was required was an assessment of this `new cultural production within the working hypothesis of a general modification of culture itself within the social restructuration of late capitalism as a system. It was this promise to historically situate postmodernism in relation to transformations in the capitalist system and the development of global multinational capital that, for many like myself who at once embraced aspects of postmodern theory whilst remaining critical of its often ambiguous political stance, was probably the single most significant aspect of Jamesons theory. At the same time, however, the precise nature of the relationship between postmodernism as a cultural phenomenon and late capitalism as a system was left somewhat under-theorised and, for myself at least, this has remained one of the most troubling aspects of Jamesons theory of postmodernity. That is to say, Jamesons notion of postmodernism as a cultural dominant, or the cultural logic of late capitalism. Very briefly there are three broad uses of the term, postmodernism or postmodernity, to have emerged in the 1980s: firstly, as a cultural category, deriving mainly from debates in architecture but also applicable to the other arts and literature. In this sense postmodernism is defined in relation to modernism and specifically the high modernism of the inter- war years. The second sense concerns the notion of epistemic or epochal transition has taken place. That is, Lyotards much heralded theory of the end of grand universalising narratives. This is also linked to the specifically cultural definition of postmodernism through the idea that the arts can no longer associated with a wider socio-historical project of human emancipation. The whole Enlightenment project, argued Lyotard, has come to an end, how can we still meaningfully speak of human progress and the rational control of the life world after Auschwitz and Stalins gulags. This seems to me to be a particularly spurious argument but perhaps we can return to it later. The third use of the term postmodernism has been to define, albeit rather imprecisely, some recent trends within French philosophy, particularly what have been called the new Philosophies. Again I remain rather unclear about what is imputedly postmodern here as many of the philosophical positions adopted are strikingly modernist in tone and substance. Jameson use of the term attempted to straddle or incorporate these debates within a more totalizing theory of postmodernity. That is, Jameson takes postmodernism to be a periodising concept, it is neither a narrowly cultural category designating specific features which distinguish postmodernism from modernism proper; nor a global category designating a new epoch and radical break with the past; rather, the term serves to `correlate the emergence of new formal features in culture with the emergence of a new type of social life and a new economic order. What has become known as late or multinational capitalism. I should, perhaps, point out that the problem for Marxists with the notion of postmodernism, particular in the second sense in which I defined it above, as a new economic and social order, is that at a stroke it abolishes Marxisms founding premise. That is to say, its historical emancipatory narrative. Marxism, along with psychoanalysis, is exemplary of the kind of grand narratives that postmodernism has, allegedly, delegitimated. The significance of the theory of late capitalism, as it was developed by the Ernest Mandel, therefore, cannot be understated in relation to Jamesons overall project. The theory of Late capitalism at once acknowledges a further development and restructuration of the capitalism on a global scale but does not posit a radical break with the past. Late capitalism, consumer society, the post-industrial society, what ever one wishes to call it, is still fundamentally the same economic system. There are two other important factors regarding late capitalism that will concern us later: firstly each successive expansion of the capitalist system entails a corresponding technological revolution. Secondly that changes in the social and economic spheres involve a change in the spatial paradigm. I will come back to both of these points below. Late or advanced capitalism therefore does not present us with a radically new system or life world; Baudrillards world of protean communication networks, simulacrum and hyperreality but rather a restructuration at higher levels of production of the same system. Postmodernism represents not so much a break with the past but a purer form of capitalism, a further intensification of the logic of capitalism, of commodification and reification. Indeed, argues Jameson, late capitalism marks the final colonisation of the last enclaves of resistance to commodification: the Third World, the Unconscious and the aesthetic. Unlike modernism, postmodernism does not attempt to refuse its status as a commodity, on the contrary it celebrates it. Postmodernism marks the final and complete incorporation of culture into the commodity system. Hence the slippage within Jamesons work between the two terms, postmodernism and late capitalism, as both come to signify the same object and to be equated with the totality itself. In Jamesons first extended attempt to specifically define the postmodern, he suggested, that postmodernism was characterised by a new experience of time and space. Our experience of temporality has been radically transformed and dislocated through the dual effects of the dissolution of the autonomous centred subject and the collapse of universal historical narratives. Drawing on Lacans work on schizophrenia and the Deleuzes notion of the nomadic or schizoid subject, Jameson argued that our sense of temporality was now radically disrupted and discontinuous. Without a coherent or unified sense of the subject it becomes increasingly difficult to speak of temporality in terms of memory, narrative and history. We are condemned to a perpetual present, the immediacy of seemingly random, unconnected signifiers. In short, Baudrillards world of simulacra and hyper-reality, a world without reference or fixed meaning. The positive side of this, if one can speak of it in such terms, is that individual isolated signifiers appear to become more real, shorn of any residual meaning they become more literal and material in their own right. We now experience moments of schizophrenic intensity rather than modernist duration, of aesthetic boredom and estrangement. The spatial corollary of this loss of temporality has been the pervasive flattening of space. Initially structuralism bracketed the referent and any notion of the referentiality of language, post-structural and postmodernist theory took this a step further and bracketed any sense of a signified. Words, signs, images no longer refer us to anything other than other words, signs, images in endless chains of signification. The Flu Epidemic F 1918 EssayBut one gets very little sense of how the one relates to the other. In terms of postmodern spatiality what Jameson wishes to emphasis is the alarming disjunction between the individuals perception of their own bodies and their immediate surroundings and the global environment that we now find ourselves within. Jameson finds this new spatiality particularly disorientating and suffocating, he writes, that postmodern space `involves the suppression of distance and the relentless saturation of any remaining voids and empty places, to the point where the postmodern body s now exposed to a perpetual barrage of immediacy from which all sheltering layers and intervening mediations have been removed. Postmodern spatiality is a realm of chaotic immediacy, in which our bodies are bereft of any spatial co-ordinates and are incapable of distantiation. Although, I would venture, that if Jameson paid more attention to the mediating role of institutional, local and n ational aspects of postmodernism he would find postmodern spatiality a little less bewildering. However, such concerns are ruled out, a priori, by Jamesons overly totalizing perspective, postmodern spatiality is, by definition, without mediation, I can elaborate on this later if anyone wishes. Quite simply, the problem with this is that it reinstates the position that Jameson and a number of other notable theorist were trying to get away from in the first place. The emphasis on spatial analysis in Jamesons work, and postmodernism generally, has emerged from a much wider debate within the social sciences and particularly from the work of Marxist geographers in the mid-70s. The new geographers challenged the privileged position accorded to temporality in social theory, insisting on the necessity of a more dynamic conception of space. Space had always been assigned a secondary position in relation to time; temporality is history, it is dynamic, the site of the dialectics, it is the potential for change and transformation, the historical possibility of revolution. Space, on the other hand, has always been seen as static and inert, space is simply given, a neutral category, an emptiness which is filled up with objects. The new geographers challenged the contemporary conceptions of space insisting that space is not given but produced. Socially produced space, spatiality, is not inert and static but is itself constitutive of social relations. Spatial relations and spatial processes are infact social relations taking a particular geographical form. Therefore, we cannot simply take space as a given but require what Henri Lefebvre called a unitary theory of space, a theory of space which brings together all its elements: physical space, mental space and social space. What Lefebvre calls the perceived, the conceived and the lived. For the postmodern and Marxist geographers spatiality is differential, conflictual and contradictory, the very antithesis of Jamesons conception of postmodern space. Whereas, originally the transformation of space was a constitutive feature of postmodernism by the late 80s it had become the constitutive feature of postmodernism. Modernism was seen as essentially temporal whereas postmodernism became spatial. Modernism was valorised as dynamic, the site of history, narrative and memory, in short, the potential for change. Postmodernism the site of pure immanence, immediacy, stasis and above all a disorientating and disempowering realm of space. Space is the place from which no meaningful politics can be conceived. Despite Jamesons ostensible intentions space he has once more become negatively defined in relation to time. In an interesting article on the politics of space and time, Doreen Massey has observed how Jamesons dichotomy of space and time is clearly linked to a second dichotomy, that of transcendence and immanence: temporality is ascribed transcendence and spatiality immanence. Faced with the horror of multiplicity of postmodern space Jameson can only vainly call in the wind for new forms of cognitive mapping. This is what I referred to a moment ago as Jamesons residual modernist sympathies, sympathies clearly indicated in the opening chapter of The Seeds of Time, `The Antinomies of Postmodernity with its echoes of Lukcs and the antinomies of bourgeois thought. Jameson comes out of an essenti ally literary and modernist tradition, his concern with spatiality has always been a concerned with what I called early conceived space. Jameson reads space as a text, and the semiotics of space its grammar and syntax. Jameson has no sense of space as either lived physical space or social space. Jamesons notion of cognitive mapping is founded upon a dialect of perception but it lacks any real sense of the physical and spatial practice that would follow from it. The flattening of space that Jameson identifies as characteristic of postmodernity is itself a symptom of his own theory which sees space simply in terms of representation. By ignoring what Lefebvre called the perceived and the lived Jameson has eradicated from space its differential, conflictual and above all contradictory character. Characteristics that we once more need to restore if any meaningful spatial politics are to be conceived. A reductionism at the level of theory rather than at the level of the experiential. Finally, therefore, I would suggest that what Jamesons theory lacks is any real sense of a spatio-temporal dialectic. That is to say, that modernism cannot simply be conceived in terms of a thematics of temporality any more than postmodernism can be conceived as completely spatial. I will conclude by suggesting a few ways in which this spatio-temporal dialectic can be thought of and perhaps offers a more theoretical satisfying position than Jamesons antinomies. In a recent article on modernity Peter Osborne has persuasively argued that what is unique about the temporality of modernity is its notion of contemporaneity. That is to say, modernity designates what is new, and what is new must be distinguished from even its most recent past, the modern will always be that which is new. In other words, modernity is a qualitative and not a chronological category. What interests me here is that the temporality of modernity can only be grasped as a dialectic of homogenisation (its contemporaneity) and differentiation (its distancing of itself from other historical epochs). Furthermore this dialectic can only be in relation to modernitys spatial relations; that is the geopolitics of modernity, the history of colonialism. Osborne writes: the concept of modernity was first universalized through the spatialization of its founding temporal difference, under colonialism; thereafter, the differential between itself and other times was reduced to a difference within a single temporal scale of progress, modernisation and development. As Althusser reminded us, different modes of production project different temporalities, the universalisation of the capitalist system could only take place through the eradication of distinct temporalities, that is to say the colonisation of all sites of pre-capitalist production. Now this in itself does not discredit Jamesons notion of postmodernism as the latest and purest form of capitalism. But it does begin to suggest a way of conceiving postmodernist temporality beyond the antinomy outlined above. Postmodernism does not represent a complete break with modernist temporality so much as an acceleration of this dialectic of homogenisation and differentiation, or what David Harvey has called time-space compression. 6 According to Harvey, `the history of capitalism has been characterised by the speed-up in the pace of life whilst simultaneously overcoming spatial barriers. What has happened with regard to postmodernism argues Harvey is that this speed-up has once more accelerated. That capitalism has embarked on one more fierce round `in the process of the annihilation of space through time that has always lain at the centre of capitalisms dynamic. But does not Harveys assertion that postmodernism is marked by an increased annihilation of space through time seem to be at odds with Jamesons assertion that space is now the experiential dominant? On the contrary, if space is increasingly eradicated through temporal acceleration then what spaces that remain become ever more important, ever more significant. `The superior command of space, writes Harvey, `becomes an even more important weapon in class-struggle. If this is the case, then one can begin to think of the ways in which political struggles now take place, as struggles over space. The recent emergence of road protesters as well as animal rights protests over the transportation of live stock are both essentially spatial conflicts. Questions of Third World development, famine and debt are also spatial in the sense that they concern the particular utilisation and control of space. I am not suggesting that all traditional forms of struggle be replaced by joining road protesters but I am suggesting, contrary to Jameson, that it is possible to envisage forms of political action within the postmodern spatial paradigm. Some of us may wish to link up these protests with more traditional or orthodox forms of political activity but we disregard them at our peril. We would also need to conceive of a form of spatial politics in terms of the way our urban environments construct and constrain our subjectivity and different forms of social life. The development of shopping centres may provide safe, although that is now seriously questionable, and clean environments to shop but they also privatise what may have previously been public space and our access to that space is now limited and policed. Furthermore, the steadily increasing privatisation of public means that there are fewer and fewer places to freely congregate in the centres of cities. In many cities, and Manchester does not appear to be one of them, the homeless in particular are being forced further and further out of sight and out of the commercial districts. I am not articulating a clearly thought out programme here, these are just a few of the areas though that I could conceive of a properly postmodern form of spatial politics emerging.