Thursday, January 30, 2020

Egyptian Style Essay Example for Free

Egyptian Style Essay â€Å"Egypt has long fascinated the west. † This couldn’t be more true. Egyptian art can be said to be one of the most significant periods in art history. Their modern advances in such a far time ago were made unknowingly and helped shape art to what it is today. By just looking at it, Egyptian art may not come off as amazing as it actually is. One must dig deeper. The artwork they were creating wasn’t always made to be art. Instead, it was mainly made for religious purposes. Anything they created was being made to be symbolic in a religious view. They decorated their temples with paintings and statues in the belief that doing this served the gods, showed devotion to the king, and maintained the order of the universe. There was much more involved in the artwork, or craftwork of the Ancient Egyptians. They created their own style that everyone followed, and it reoccured through many periods of Egyptian history. Styles can range from abstract to realism, expressionism to surrealism. But in order to understand these styles, one must need to know the true definition of style. When used in describing the history of art, style usually refers to a characteristic, or a number of characteristics that we can identify as constant, recurring, or distinct. In art, the sum of such characteristics can be associated with a particular artist, group, or culture, or with an artist’s work at a specific time. Ancient Egyptian art forms styles were just that. They are characterized by regularity or consistency and detailed depiction of human beings and the nature. Artists wanted to preserve everything of the present time as clearly and permanently as possible. Completeness took precedence over prettiness. These forms and art styles present an extraordinarily vivid representation of the time and the culture, as the ancient Egyptian life was lived thousand of years before. Egyptian art seemed to obey one law. The mode of representing man, nature and the environment remained almost the same for thousands of years at that time, and the most admired artists were those who replicated most admired styles of the past. A Shabti is a small human figure representing a person who would perform a given task for the deceased in the afterlife. Described as funerary figurines, these figures were costly items produced for the privileged people. The wealthy nobles and royalty did not plan on doing any work themselves, so they would take their symbolic servants with them. Shabties were made from various materials including; faience, wax, clay, wood, stone, metal and other minerals. The Shabties observed, were from the time of 1932-1759 BCE. Covering the period of the Middle Kingdom. They all seemed to be very similar by the way the were posed with their arms crossed and standing up. All their facial expressions seemed to have the same appearance as well. The painting or carving of the writing all looks similar but once looked at more closely to see the details, the the amount of time put into the pictures and writing can be seen. Many of patterns include lines drawn on the clothing. Also the figures were called upon to carry out the tasks in the after life. To do so the Shabti was supplied with miniature agricultural tools to fulfill these tasks. Which can be seen when looked at very closely. What makes them different from each other is the medium they were created in. The faience figures are a blueish to light green color with most of the writing carved into it. The wood Shabties are painted over to be any color, sometimes even with golden leaf. To call these figures a type of object is correct. They are all objects that can be seen and once were touched and made. They all are this same type of object because even though they were made at different times and in difference places in Egypt, they all still are seen today. If the Shabties were not grouped together, being able to recognize them separately would be just as easy. They are very distinct figures by their size, silhouette and detailed writing. Being able to be recognized Ancient Egyptian Shabties when separate and still look appropriate when together is one of the style characteristics Egyptians were able to create. The similarities in the each other figures, is the characteristic of being consistent. How each statue was placed in the glass case, they almost seemed to be grouped. Beginning with the alabaster, the two figures were both of medium size and couldn’t make out much of the writing on them. The next grouping was ones made of limestone. With these three figures grouped together, one could see how they were created by the same artist following the steps of the first. The largest of the bunch was the limestone, Coffin of Luy. This was different from most in the collection since it was an actual open figure, but still had a reoccurring pattern like he other figures. The next grouping, The Three Shabties of Setau, were made out of wood. These were the most colorful, since they were all painted. They seemed to still be like the older figures but made in a newer and more decorated way. The figures made of faience varied in size, some only a few inches. They were either carved in or has black paint writing on them. As seen, there is a large variety of Shabties, yet the sense of style kept between was able to pass along through hundreds of years. The one Shabti that stood out to me was the, Shabty of Sati. New Kingdom, Dynasty 18, Reign of Amenhotep III 1390-1352 BCE. It was made out of faience, but wasn’t the common green-blue color. It had the most different colors all painted on it. Including red, blue, yellow, and green. The whole figured wasnt painted so the faience material could be seen. What drew me to it at first was that it was in a case of its very own. It was in the same pose as the other figures but this one looked very well preserved, not smudged or chipped like many of the others, so it stood out. The combination of the paint and grey made it very unique to use both materials. The style of this figure very much goes with the rest of figures. As stated earlier, the most admired artists were those who replicated the most admired styles of the past. With this figure since it was a later on piece, it seemed to still associate with the same characteristics of the past Shabeti figures. Ancient Egyptian artwork was not meant to be artwork at first. Religious meanings and symbols were the priority. Everything was for the god’s and what would come in their life. But from these practices of art, they created a style of their own. Style in relation to art history, usually refers to a characteristic, or a number of characteristics that we can identify as constant, recurring, or distinct. In art, the sum of such characteristics can be associated with a particular artist, group, or culture, or with an artist’s work at a specific time. The culture of Egyptian art was to keep the process constant of the same kind of art. And as time passed, even if some characteristics changed, the main style recurred somehow. The Shabeti figures did that, and once studied upon more, most of Egyptian art will be styled in the same way, shape, and form.

Wednesday, January 22, 2020

Ballroom dancing versus everyday conflict :: essays research papers

Good Morning/Afternoon Mr. Strathdee and fellow English scholars, today we take a journey into the world of ballroom dancing. Ballroom dancing, although not a dance of individualism, it also rebels against the label of conformity often thrown at it. Our task was to compare the documentary ‘Absolutely Ballroom’, and the movie ‘Strictly Ballroom’. To properly undertake our task we were compelled to lose ourselves in the plots, music and techniques used in both films. Both show us the highs and lows of songs, elaborate dance routines, lavish costumes, and outlandish characters. We watch as the plot weaves between drama and romance, while demanding the audience understand the importance of freedom and defying all bonds to achieve your dreams and ultimately victory in the face of all that opposes you. The plot of â€Å"Absolutely Ballroom† is admittedly a little boring; however it has some relevant points that we find ourselves being able to relate to within the documentary, holding our attention throughout the half an hour it ran for. â€Å"Absolutely Ballroom† was based in the town of Ystrad fawr, population 10 000, where ballroom dancing is lame and disco is the in thing. Within this quaint little town there is thirty-two female ballroom dancers; none with a male partner. A group of eight courageous young teens set out to find eight male partners. They succeed. The question is which ones would stay? Be who you are; not who someonelse tries to make you. This is the theme of â€Å"Strictly Ballroom†. It’s a story of two young people, Scott and Fran, and their fight to be individuals and free to do and be who they feel they truly are. They forsake tradition and family to dance their own steps together at the Pan-Pacific Grand Pix. In the documentary ‘Absolutely Ballroom’, many techniques are used to entice the audience to continue to watch their presentation of reality television. The first aspect is the songs they use. To be truly effective, as this documentary was, the songs must fit perfectly so that the audience subconsciously is listening, but consciously is observing the images on screen and don’t missing out on any important information which may detract from the story – line. A documentary technique obviously favored in this production was real life action footage, or unobtrusive camera. In all the interviews staged, you don’t see the camera or hear the questions being asked. A lot of the footage filmed is of the dancers’ feet, floor shots and aerial shots.

Tuesday, January 14, 2020

Metaphysical Poetry

Metaphysical poets The metaphysical poets is a term coined by the poet and critic John Dryden to describe a loose group of British lyric poets of the 17th century, whose work was characterized by the inventive use of conceits, and by speculation about topics such as love or religion. These poets were not formally affiliated; most of them did not even know or read each other.Their style was characterized by wit and metaphysical conceits—far-fetched or unusual similes or metaphors, such as in Andrew Marvell’s comparison of the soul with a drop of dew; in an expanded epigram format, with the use of simple verse forms, octosyllabic couplets, quatrains or stanzas in which length of line and rhyme scheme enforce the sense. The specific definition of wit which Johnson applied to the school was: â€Å"†¦ a kind of discordia concors; a combination of dissimilar images, or discovery of occult resemblances in things apparently unlike. Their poetry diverged from the style of their times, containing neither images of nature nor allusions to classical mythology, as were common. Several metaphysical poets, especially John Donne, were influenced by Neo-Platonism. One of the primary Platonic concepts found in metaphysical poetry is the idea that the perfection of beauty in the beloved acted as a remembrance of perfect beauty in the eternal realm. Though secular topics such as scientific or geographical discoveries interested them, there was also a religious or casuistic element to some of their work, by which they attempted to define their relationship with God.John Donne (between 24 January and 19 June 1572 – 31 March 1631) was an English poet, satirist, lawyer and a cleric in the Church of England. He is considered the pre-eminent representative of the metaphysical poets. His works are noted for their strong, sensual style and include sonnets, love poetry, religious poems, Latin translations, epigrams, elegies, songs, satires and sermons. His poetry is noted for its vibrancy of language and inventiveness of metaphor, especially compared to that of his contemporaries. Donne's style is characterised by abrupt openings and various paradoxes, ironies and dislocations.These features, along with his frequent dramatic or everyday speech rhythms, his tense syntax and his tough eloquence, were both a reaction against the smoothness of conventional Elizabethan poetry and an adaptation into English of European baroque and mannerist techniques. His early career was marked by poetry that bore immense knowledge of British society and he met that knowledge with sharp criticism. Another important theme in Donne’s poetry is the idea of true religion, something that he spent much time considering and theorising about.He wrote secular poems as well as erotic and love poems. He is particularly famous for his mastery of metaphysical conceits. A Burnt ShipOut of a fired ship, which by no wayBut drowning could be rescued from the flame,Some m en leap'd forth, and ever as they cameNear the foes' ships, did by their shot decay;So all were lost, which in the ship were found,They in the sea being burnt, they in the burnt ship drown'd. John Donne A Lame BeggarI am unable, yonder beggar cries,To stand, or move; if he say true, he lies. John Donne

Monday, January 6, 2020

All Our Personalities Is Unique Essay - 1212 Words

Every human being living on earth has a particular personality that makes them unique. As creatures of both nature and nurture, it’s important to consider that there are a variety of factors that contribute to the development of our personality (Barness Parish, 2013). Personality is a set of traits and characteristics unique to an individual. Without the existence of different personalities, everybody would think, act, and display the same emotions in a given scenario. Although it seems as if sometimes it’s a natural thing to act a specific way, the environment we find ourselves in is what ultimately shapes and constraints us to act in a certain matter (â€Å"What is Personality,† 2009). The behaviorist perspective on personality seeks to†¦show more content†¦Although both techniques involve conditioning, operant conditioning uses rewards and punishments in order to progressively shape a desired behavior (Cherry, 2013). The theory of behaviorism is not black and white, but it can be concluded that almost everything is shaped by conditioning and the environment. According to behaviorists, we are born a blank slate. Simple things and complex ideas about life are actively built as we grow up. As we move through the stages of life, we acquire unique characteristics through interactions in the environment. Over time, people learn to behave in particular ways and their personalities may change as a result (Moore, 2013). Perhaps someone might begin to see the world differently and become more open and extraverted. As we face different situations in life and are conditioned by our parents to act in a certain matter, we slowly evolve as individuals. Indeed, personality develops over a person’s entire lifespan. Behaviors that have positive consequences usually increase, while those that have negative consequences ultimately decrease (Moore, 2013). Going back to the nature versus nurture debate, the be haviorist theory surely represent the nurture aspect of the debate. Although it is known today that biology plays a vital role in the development of human beings, the behaviorist theory states that personality traits are mainly shaped by our environment (Cherry, 2013). Research suggests thatShow MoreRelatedNature of Personality751 Words   |  4 PagesThe Nature of Personality Personality is possibly the most important part of what makes us individuals. It s said that no two people look exactly alike; the same can be said about personality; no two personalities are exactly alike. For hundreds of years theorists have tried to figure out the mind and how it works when it comes to personality. They have devoted their lives to fitting our vast human personalities into groups defined by certain characteristics we all have in common. 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