Final performance in front of the class using the suggestions we got from earlier feedback. 

In today`s class I was in the group with Robin, Sarah, and Saif. We continued our thought process on corruption and were assigned to create a short 1-2 minute play showing a cover-up, using the basic knowledge we have about corruption and using drama techniques to enhance our intention and impact of our short play. 
We performed to two other groups who gave us very helpful feedback since we are able to really improve our performance through this. What we did well in this play is our use of levels since we had different people on the stage at the same time who were all positioned differently (at different levels) especially in the scene in court since we have the judge who is sitting on a higher box than the witness and defendant and we had the attorney who was just standing. Our use of levels created a more interesting play since it also enhanced our status at some parts and gave the audience more things to look at. We also paid attention to our angles and how our bodies were positioned in comparison to each other, we never masked each other and everybody in the group faced the audience throughout the performance, which makes it easier for the audience to see what is going on. Another thing we did well in this performance was project our voices so that the whole audience could clearly hear us at all times during the play and showing status at some parts because it was very convincing, when the witness is testifying, the defendant and witness exchange a glance for about three seconds, and then the witness confirms not seeing the defendant killing the person. This is good status because it shows that there is something going on and that the witness and defendant somehow have some control (higher status) over the judge even though he has the highest status (through the little deal the witness and defendant make)(the cover up). These were the things we did well, but we also need to improve on a few things to make our play better. Our play was not very clear, sometimes it confused people about what was happening and in which order it was happening. This was primarily in the flashback parts because we started with a flashback and ended with a flashback, leaving one current scene in the middle. This was confusing for the audience because there was no clarity on what events were in which order, so we will have to make sure to make it more clear. Another thing our group needs to improve on is the court scene, to make the judge seem more powerful through placing him higher than the other actors to make sure that his body movements (gestures) make him seem higher status. The last main point the audience gave us when giving us feedback on our play was that we need to make sure that the focus is not taken away when the person is being killed because the person being killed was jumping around as part of his character, which took away the focus of the killer. We will need to make sure that the focus is on the killer but still have the killed person have a strong character in that scene.
This class and this little play really opened up my mind on different reasons for corruption, we further explored the reason for becoming corrupt in the first place (killing the person because the victim slept with the killers husband) and then someone else becoming corrupt when it was essentially just the killer who was intended to become corrupt, which also made me realize a bit better about how easy it is to become corrupt. Our intention of this play was to show the audience the killer who became corrupt (and how he became corrupt) and the witness who became corrupt as well because of the killers actions and witness` bribe taking and how the corruption of both of them was covered up when the case was taken to court. Our intention was strengthened through the use of drama techniques, especially our flashback (which we do need to make more clear) because it is more interesting and does not only show the cover-up, but also the result of the cover up (the court scene) and our freeze frame when the flashback started since it showed the audience an important part of the bribe (when the witness discovers the body, which was the main cause for the bribe happening, leading to corruption). Our group also worked together really well since we had our idea for the play pretty quick and were able to rehearse multiple times before performing, our whole group showed knowledge on the subject corruption and we were able to put that knowledge into a play, which worked well since it showed corruption and showed a clear cover up of people being corrupt. 
For next performance, our group needs to: 

1. make the whole play more clear through using the drama techniques more effectively (maybe just use one flashback instead of two) 
2. Make sure to show status not only through character (attitude) but also through body positioning and movement (especially by putting the judge up higher than anyone else in court) 
3. Making sure that the focus is on the important part of the play and not on something else (in particular the killing part, making sure that the focus is on the killer and not on the victim) 
4. I would like our group to each strengthen their character a bit more, so that the audience immediately knows what the character is like and what kind of attitude he/she has towards corruption. 

Corruption is a payment made or goods provided to a person that is not entitled to receive the amount or goods, according to the law so a person is corrupt when he/she makes/receives a payment or amount of goods that he/she is not lawfully entitled to.
Todays class we started with a short conversation between people (in character of course) about a teacher and a parent, the parent was bribing the teacher and eventually the teacher accepted the bribe, making both of them corrupt which started off our thoughts on how easy it is to become corrupt and what events can make a person corrupt and even what reasons someone has for becoming corrupt. This whole class stimulated my thoughts and ideas about corruption; 
'Corrupt' isn't necessary what you want to be catagorized as in everyday life, but people do not always know the reason behind you being corrupt and so there might be a very important reason why you are corrupt. For example, saving someone's life sometimes even your own life through keeping your mouth shut because the person might have threatened you or your family which can have a great impact on your thinking and can make you do things you normally would no do (become corrupt). Even though it is wrong, in these cases there is a better reason for being corrupt that just taking a bribe because you need the money, or demanding a ransom because you need the money.  There are different degrees of corruption such as a murder and a lie, but in the end they are both still corruption, no matter what you think is right or wrong or which is worse or even what you think about the person being corrupt, they are both still corruption and punishable by law which is why being corrupt is never good. I do believe there are certain corruption cases where a person has become corrupt because it was absolutely necessary and very important to others, however, corruption is wrong, but still happens everyday. 

For many people or companies it is easy to fall into corruption. In several countries in the world there are no proper anti-corruption laws so corruption can go unnoticed and unpunished. Corruption is very attractive because often large sums of money are involved in it, and people who want to be rich often tend to get themselves stuck in being corrupt since they would do anything to become rich which makes them corrupt. When you witness a murder and someone keeps you quiet through a large amount of money or by threatening your family, you are corrupt, that is how easy it is to become corrupt. Corruption is very easy to fall into even if you want it or not. 
If governments want to create an honest economy that attracts multi-national companies and investments, they need to provide a corruption-free society. Furthermore, a corruption-free society develops the right image of a country, both with local people as well as with foreign governments and institutions. Nowadays it is often mandatory for governments to demonstrate that they have tight anti-corruption laws in place before they receive international grants or loans to be able to attract other nations and companies to boost their own economy. 
Corruptions exists at several levels in a country: At official governmental level, at business level and at normal people level. At governmental level, countries do have a good opportunity to stop corruption through the introduction of the necessary laws and educating its employees. At international business level there is also a good opportunity to minimize corruption since international (bank) transactions are often monitored by international authorities; if they identify corrupt transactions they have the possibility to stop them. The most difficult to stop is the small business and private household corruption. This is difficult to identify and control since it often involves cash transactions that cannot be monitored. A corruption-free society is not a reality yet for many countries and will not ever be achieved. The reason for this is because many people benefit from being corrupt and so want to continue since it often brings them wealth or goods they want (drugs, alcohol...)
This type of behaviour probably starts at an early age; People don't understand anti-corruption laws. When focusing on the benefits of certain (illegal) transactions/deals, they tend to focus on the end result/benefits which can start at a young age since the children will also be benefitting from it and so will likely be doing the same later.
I believe it is a learned behavior; no one gets born with the plan to become a corruptor. People are being introduced to corruption. It will be very difficult to stop corruption, but what can help is to teach people the correct ethical behavior, implementing strict anti-corruption laws, and companies signing up to anti-corruption charters will most likely reduce the number of corruptors, but will never entirely eliminate them, that is never possible in any case.
If someone would offer me money to keep quiet in a legal matter I would investigate if this request is not violating any anti-corruption laws and that it does not bring me in problems. Based on these outcomes I would decide whether to accept the money or not. But it is very hard to decide right here how I would react since it really depends on the situation, sometimes you have to do it because you need to protect someone and there is no other option (other than kill) but I would definetely make sure that I would not get in trouble either ways. 
If someone took illegal money in a case against my family I would probably report it to my lawyer and ask him to look into the details of this payment to make sure corruption is not happening since it would not be fair. 
In general, corruption cannot be justified. However there are situations where this can be different. E.g. when one of your employees is kidnapped and the kidnappers want a ransom amount. In this case you know you are being bribed for money, but you still do it to save an innocent employees' life. So, sometimes people become corrupt for all the right reasons (such as saving someone's life) which is still not entirely justified but is better than letting the person die. 
In today's class we discussed about corruption again and talked about stimuli for performances based on corruption which we could eventually use to create a short play which we did not start this class. It was an interesting class since I did not know much about corruption and now am able to base a performance off of corruption or something that has to do with corruption and have a lot more knowledge on corruption (as discussed before), also, it was nice discussing some stimuli for our performances with other people since it made our brains think about good ideas and events based on these. It was an interesting class. 

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