Thursday, January 30, 2020

Dance of Life Essay Example for Free

Dance of Life Essay The painting â€Å"Dance of Life†, created by Edvard Munch in 1900, is a painting that portrays people in different stages of life. It portrays two women who seem sad, a third woman who seems happy, and a bunch of other women dancing with men. The painting implies that life is difficult and that it can be depressing at times, but that it always goes on. The arrangement of the women in a half circle represents the phases of life. The women on the end of the half circle are both standing alone. The woman on the far left stands alone, representing youth, and wears white, representing innocence. The woman on the far right stands alone, representing the loneliness of old age, and she wears black, representing death or loss. The women dancing in the background represent the different phases of life and the enjoyment that can be found in every phase of life. The woman in the center of the painting represents the idea of being out of step with the ‘dance of life’. She wears a red dress, different from all the others. Red represents danger or anger which can be perceived as negative, but by painting her in the center the artist respects her unique position in life and implies that her difference from the rest is a positive quality. The way that others are turned towards her represents how people in society center so much of their lives on attention to others’ decisions. More than half of the painting has a green background representing life and vitality. The top quarter of the painting is a blue body of water that simultaneously represent tranquility. The juxtaposition of these two represents the necessity of having balance in your life. The green, as well as the people dancing, represent the joy to be found in life. Most of life should be joyous, coupled with the tranquility, silence, and reflection represented by the blue and the three girls not dancing. The different colors used in this painting represent all the different aspects in life and how important it is to acknowledge all of them. The artist doesn’t use harsh lines or defined shapes in this painting. All the shapes are smooth and rounded. It really adds to the implication that life flows. The smooth shapes help the painting transition from left to right. The smooth shapes support the half circle shape and it all works together to create a path for the eye to follow. There’s not a large contrast of darkness and light; most of the painting is dark except for one column where the sun is, which casts more light on the girl in white. This gives the idea that there’s more light, more carefree-ness in the youth. The entire painting is two dimensional. Though there are clearly different rows and elements to this painting, the grass, water, and sky all seem to run together in a flat way. This gives the feeling that we are bigger than life; that we are bigger than the problems of the world around us. The painting has three central points of interest; the three women in their different phases of life are set up as the most significant points of the painting. It represents the phases of life and brings to mind the emotions associated with those phases. The young girl in the white dress stands next to flowers which only accentuate the idea of youth and imply that the girl, like the flowers, will still continue to grow. The older woman on the end seems to have a morose, solemn look about her. It implies introspection and reflection on the long life she’s lived. It gives pause to the viewer and causes them to be solemn. One reason the painting conveys its message so well is because of the way the women are set up in contrast to each other. The harmony in the painting is created in the way that the women wear white and the men wear black. It creates a calm background which sets up a better backdrop to set the three women apart. The sun setting over the water creates a smooth backdrop and adds an idea of resignment to the painting; as though it’s okay to accept this ‘dance of life’ as a way of living. Unity is completely achieved in this painting as all of the people have something in common; be it gender, clothing color, or disposition. This is a closed compositional painting and it’s emphasized by the circle closing off at the edges of both paintings. It represents the idea of the circle of life and ensures that every aspect of life is contained in the painting. The lines and structure of this painting seem unintentional. The lines of the grass and the separation between the water and the sky aren’t straight or harsh. They’re smooth and blurred, creating an intentionally casual dynamic. The point of view of the painter is that life is short and that people are happiest in their youth. The older woman seems to have a look of remorse or regret on her face as she stares at the lady in red. The painter seems to be saying that we, as the viewers, should enjoy our youth and live without regrets. It also gives implications about life and the human experience; life is contained in a short circle and passes by quickly. In any phase of life, there are things to be enjoyed and appreciated because life passes by way too quickly. The painter’s view of the world is that there’s good aspects of every part of life. He seems to think that youth is the best part of life and that mistakes are central to life. The way that everyone circles around the woman in red represents that life circles around mistakes and trials but that it’s all surmountable. The painting accurately describes the way that the artist sees the way the life begins and ends; the way that we start as the girl in white—innocent and hopeful and young—and that we end as the lady in black—feeling morose and sad and as though life has slipped away all too suddenly. The way that she looks at the girl in red implies that the painter thinks that in our old age all we have to look back on is the choices we made, the friends we choose to keep, and the happiness that we choose to create. Though this was painted in 1900, it very accurately represents our culture right now. It’s a reminder to seize the day, to live for the moment, to make the most of whatever phase of life you’re in so that you won’t look back at the end of life and regret choices or missed opportunities. This painting causes me to reflect on my life and the decisions that I make. It makes me want to focus more on being happy with the phase of life that I’m in and to appreciate being youthful and carefree. It reinforces the desire to not make decisions that will keep me out of the circle. The painting gives the feeling that life is to be enjoyed, and that no matter what it will keep going.

Wednesday, January 22, 2020

Inventing the Caribbean: Columbus’s Creation of the Other Essay

Inventing the Caribbean: Columbus’s Creation of the Other Columbus’s invasion of the Caribbean in 1492 brought Native American and European cultures together for the first time in a startling encounter that reshaped the worldviews of both groups. In The Conquest of America: The Question of the Other, Tzvetan Todorov seeks to understand the ways in which the Spanish worldview shaped Columbus’s perception of the natives of Hispaniola, as he fashioned an other from his own sense of self. In Todorov’s model, the other is defined in terms of its correspondence, or lack thereof, to different facets of the self, including culture, language, physiognomy, religion, and knowledge; furthermore, the other is valued, distanced, and understood in relation to the presumed supremacy of the self. In this way, the other can only be seen as an â€Å"imperfect state of oneself† and never as a distinct entity judged according to its own values and defined on its own terms (Todorov 42). Todorov explores Columbusâ€℠¢s letters and journals, various first-hand accounts of the discovery, and the writings of Las Casas in order to understand the ways in which the distinct self of the native population was transformed into an other, whose identity depended on European values to define it. Todorov argues that Columbus’s self (and, consequently, the other, which he created in the image of that self) is defined by three spheres: the divine, nature, and humans. Each of these spheres is integral to Columbus’s worldview and colors his perception of that which is outside his world. Within these spheres of perspective, Columbus’s identity is shaped by Catholicism, a reverence for nature, and European society and culture – particularly that of Portu... ...her and reveals the complex process of suppression and projection, which attempted to impose the â€Å"Old World† view on the â€Å"New World† in the sixteenth century Caribbean. Bibliography 1. Columbus, Christopher. The Journal of Christopher Columbus. New York: Burt Franklin, 1968. 2. Knight, Franklin W. The Caribbean: The Genesis of a Fragmented Nationalism, 2nd edition. New York: Oxford University Pres, 1990. 3. Sider, Gerald. â€Å"When Parrots Learn to Talk, and Why They Can’t: Domination, Deception, and Self-Deception in Indian-White Relations.† Comparative Studies in Society and History 29, no.1 (1987), 3-23. 4. Steward, Julian H. and Louis C. Faron. Native Peoples of South America. New York: McGraw Hill, 1959. 5. Todorov, Tzvetan. The Conquest of America: The Question of the Other. New York: Harper and Row Publishers, 1984. Inventing the Caribbean: Columbus’s Creation of the Other Essay Inventing the Caribbean: Columbus’s Creation of the Other Columbus’s invasion of the Caribbean in 1492 brought Native American and European cultures together for the first time in a startling encounter that reshaped the worldviews of both groups. In The Conquest of America: The Question of the Other, Tzvetan Todorov seeks to understand the ways in which the Spanish worldview shaped Columbus’s perception of the natives of Hispaniola, as he fashioned an other from his own sense of self. In Todorov’s model, the other is defined in terms of its correspondence, or lack thereof, to different facets of the self, including culture, language, physiognomy, religion, and knowledge; furthermore, the other is valued, distanced, and understood in relation to the presumed supremacy of the self. In this way, the other can only be seen as an â€Å"imperfect state of oneself† and never as a distinct entity judged according to its own values and defined on its own terms (Todorov 42). Todorov explores Columbusâ€℠¢s letters and journals, various first-hand accounts of the discovery, and the writings of Las Casas in order to understand the ways in which the distinct self of the native population was transformed into an other, whose identity depended on European values to define it. Todorov argues that Columbus’s self (and, consequently, the other, which he created in the image of that self) is defined by three spheres: the divine, nature, and humans. Each of these spheres is integral to Columbus’s worldview and colors his perception of that which is outside his world. Within these spheres of perspective, Columbus’s identity is shaped by Catholicism, a reverence for nature, and European society and culture – particularly that of Portu... ...her and reveals the complex process of suppression and projection, which attempted to impose the â€Å"Old World† view on the â€Å"New World† in the sixteenth century Caribbean. Bibliography 1. Columbus, Christopher. The Journal of Christopher Columbus. New York: Burt Franklin, 1968. 2. Knight, Franklin W. The Caribbean: The Genesis of a Fragmented Nationalism, 2nd edition. New York: Oxford University Pres, 1990. 3. Sider, Gerald. â€Å"When Parrots Learn to Talk, and Why They Can’t: Domination, Deception, and Self-Deception in Indian-White Relations.† Comparative Studies in Society and History 29, no.1 (1987), 3-23. 4. Steward, Julian H. and Louis C. Faron. Native Peoples of South America. New York: McGraw Hill, 1959. 5. Todorov, Tzvetan. The Conquest of America: The Question of the Other. New York: Harper and Row Publishers, 1984.

Tuesday, January 14, 2020

Barbie Is A Good Role Model

First appearing in 1959 at the American International Toy Fair, Barbie has since become the best selling doll in the world. Barbie has become so popular, that several controversies have come up about her, the most recurrent being whether or not Barbie serves as a good role model for little girls. This paper aims to provide argumentative elements based on facts and reason that support the idea that Barbie is indeed a good role model for little girls. The argument that I wish to make is that Barbie’s biography is indicative of values that women hold dear and that mothers wish of their little girls when they grow up.Barbie's full name is Barbara Millicent Roberts. She was born a healthy baby girl to George and Margaret Roberts of Willows, Wisconsin. Barbie attended Willows High School in Willows, Wisconsin and Manhattan International High School in New York City. Barbie’s senior year in high school introduced her to Ken Carson, who would later be her boyfriend. Barbie has had over forty pets including cats and dogs, horses, a panda, a lion cub, and a zebra. She has owned pink convertibles, trailers, jeeps and more.She also holds a pilot's license, and operates commercial airliners in addition to serving as a flight attendant. She has been, among many others, a veterinarian, an astronaut and a diplomat. Barbie has a lot of friends including Hispanic Teresa, African American Christie and Steven (Christie's boyfriend). (Lord 2) Liberalism has been a positive value to America which has shaped the improvement of many sectors in society. Women in particular have forwarded the feminist movement successfully from the 60s through the 70s, lobbying for equality in treatment and dignity.Barbie’s plethora of abilities indicates the woman’s ability to take on any task given to her and do well in it. Her ability to drive convertibles and trucks and planes alike signifies that women need not bend over to masculine predominance and can actually do thin gs that men used to do for them on their own. Even Barbie’s relationship with Ken, riddled with breakups and reconciliations as it was, showed a Barbie that was not dependent on a man. This is the very core of the feminist movement that every little girl should be aware of.Little girls who are avid fans of Barbie run the easy possibility of being exposed to these lofty ideas of gender equality very early on in their lives. It could lead them to assert themselves in class, gather courage to participate in school activities and sporting events and have strength to fight against anyone that might want to take advantage of her. Animal rights have been a long standing issue in society. The welfare of house pets and the survival of endangered species are of primary concern to humankind.Towards the goals of animal rights movements, Barbie promotes kindness in the pets that she has had. Her many pets teach little girls the importance of taking care of one’s animals. Advertisem ents of Barbie with a new pet always show the young woman taking the best of care of her little darlings. Also, her array of pets includes endangered species, which at the very least gathers awareness from the little ones who idolize her. Who knows how many little girls were inspired to be marine biologists or veterinarians because they were fans of Barbie and her pets during their childhood years?In the era of terrorism, racial disputes and bickering abound all over the world. In the United States, violence in schools due to racial discrimination has reached an all time high. People are very suspicious of anyone who doesn’t look like them. New people are always regarded with fear or anger, especially if they are of a foreign race. But what does Barbie show our little girls at home? She shows them that having friends isn’t a matter of picking people you have a lot of things in common with; it is a matter of talking to people, of talking about your differences and findi ng the beauty in them.Barbie’s being white doesn’t hinder her from being friends with people of different colors, whether it’s Hispanic Theresa or African-American Christie. Barbie’s selection of friends is not hindered by prejudice. All these three explanations tied to three very contentious issues of today prove that Barbie is one of the good girls. It proves that Barbie is a believer in women’s rights. That she is a feminist by heart and that her nature as a young strong woman who can take on any task and not any man get in her way is the woman of today.It proves that Barbie is a supporter of animal rights. Her care for her pets condemns animal cruelty and her inclusion of endangered species among the animals she takes care of shows her concern for the dangers these animals face. It proves that Barbie is no racist, she is an open minded young lady who has made friends because of heart and not skin color. Barbie’s biography speaks of a goo d young lady, who serves as a good role model for all the little girls who love her. Sources: Lord, M. G. , Forever Barbie: The Unauthorized Biography of a Real Doll. Paperback

Sunday, January 5, 2020

The United States Border With Mexico - 2059 Words

The United States border with Mexico is a controversial topic that has been the subject of debate recently. It is without question a problem that needs to be fixed. Currently most policies are focused on the manpower, infrastructure, and security of the border itself. However the border security is changed there will always be a demand for illegal immigrants and drug smugglers to cross the border into America. That why we should try to disrupt that demand by legalizing marijuana in the United States, put more resources into fighting cartels, and invest into the Mexican economy. These are the first steps to regaining border security to both countries. TITLE The United States border with Mexico is one of the most interesting borders in the world. Although it is not a military front like the border between the Koreas or as militarized as the border of Russia and the Ukraine, there is a lot going on that requires attention. 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