Ancient Structures Comparing Egyptian and Mayan Essay Example For Students

Ancient Structures: Comparing Egyptian and Mayan Essay Pyramids The survey of ancient history is made possible by the remains of great civilisations that are now long gone. Archeologists. anthropologists. and other subjects work manus in manus to understand the yesteryear. cognizing really good that it is the key to understanding the present. Therefore. the find of pictures. artefacts. ruins and other objects that can assist decode antiquity is extremely valued. If a sherd of clayware can uncover so much about a peculiar civilisation. how much more information can be extracted from immense and good preserved construction for archeologists and historiographers? This is the instance with Egyptian and Mayan pyramids that miraculously survived the depredations of clip. reasonably integral. and offering so much hints to an ancient manner of life. The pyramids are modern twenty-four hours tourer attractive forces but in their flower were considered as object worthy of fear and regard. about the same manner as the Gods and deified individuals that used them. This paper will look into two great civilisations of Egypt and that of the Mayan people. The range of this survey is limited to their usage of ancient edifices that are now popularly known as pyramids. Pyramids The official site of the National Geographic pointed out that there is a classical position of pyramids. It is the form normally associated with the pyramids found in Egypt ; a monolithic construction with a square base and four triangular sides and holding a common vertex. The quadrilateral construction with a pointed top is an image that was brought to the Western universe by historiographers from Greek. and Roman Empire. When Christianity became the dominant faith in the West the thought that the boies of Israel were the 1s used to construct these prodigious constructions became portion of Christian traditional knowledge. Recent historical plants nevertheless reveal that pyramids come in different forms and sizes. Even in Egypt the first pyramids built looked more like zikkurats or measure pyramids. The â€Å"classical† design came subsequently when the Pharaoh’s perfected the technique of constructing a four triangular sides on top of a square base. The Cheop’s pyramid considered as the greatest pyramid construction in the universe is an illustration of authoritative design. Indeed. it took some clip before ancient builders perfected the art of doing high rise constructions that began with rough hills of Earth to looming edifices tantrum for the Gods. But one time they had learned the secret of constructing one. the Egyptians went on to do a monolithic construction tantrum for a divinity such as the Pharaoah Kufu ( a. k. a. Cheops ) . The Cheops’ pyramid was the largest pyramid of all time built. The builders used 2. 3 million rock blocks. weighing an norm of 2. 5 to 15 dozenss each ( see National Geographic. com ) . The colossal construction serves chiefly as the burial chamber of their god-king Khufu and has three burial Chamberss one believed to be for Khufu’s married woman and the other 1 for Khufu’s sacred statue. The great pyramid was the focal point in an elaborate composite that included several little pyramids and a mortuary temple. The same construct of a complex built around a major pyramid can be seen in the Mayan pyramid-temples of ancient Americas. The pyramids found in the Mayan civilisation are similar to those that can be found in the Middle East. Just like those in Egypt. Mayan pyramids were designed and constructed utilizing sophisticated cognition of uranology and mathematics. This decision is based on the fact that the pyramids are constructed in a manner that it will aline with the stars – in the instance of Cheops it was aligned in such a manner that it would be indicating to the North Pole. Such accurate computations before the innovation of high-octane telescopes and computing machines are really impressive.On the other side of the universe. another ancient civilisation was constructing their ain version of imperium and pyramids. They do non hold an Alexander the Great or a Julius Caesar to talk of their being and luster but still the same they built a great state in the American continent long before the clip of Columbus. Egyptian Pyramids As mentioned earlier. there is that â€Å"classical design† made popular by the films and historiographers who had more incentive to look into Egyptian history as opposed to that of the ancient ruins of the Mayan civilisation. But that design evolved from a more simpler earthen hill traditionally used for burying the dead. Therefore. to contract the range of this survey. a comparing will be made between two major pyramids. The Cheops’ pyramid found in Egypt and the Templo Mayor found in the American continent. The Cheops’ pyramid is a fitting representative of the luster that was Egypt. It was considered as the greatest pyramid in the universe. Mozarts Life ( Brief Summary) EssayThis of class leads to another decision that the priests are non merely spiritual work forces versed in the religious linguistic communication of their twenty-four hours but they are besides adept mathematicians and talented uranologists. In order to to the full appreciate their endowment 1 has to acquire an in-depth analysis of the design and lay-out of the pyramid composite which harmonizing to some resemble the ordered layout of the solar system. But more significantly the pyramids are the chief conduit between the physical existent and the religious. In the ancient universe. high-rise constructions fire up the imaginativeness of their poets. builders. holy work forces. and national leaders. A high-rise construction is non merely a testament to great technology techniques and admirable edifice accomplishments. it besides an look of piousness towards their Gods who live in the celestial spheres. Therefore. in order to near them or in order to be closer to them pyramids must be built to offer the human spirit and human organic structure to the all powerful being populating above the Earth. There are countries in the planet that boasts of astonishing pyramid constructions. In both topographic points one can detect good preserved edifices from antiquity lifting more than a 100 pess from the land. These constructions play an of import function in both Egyptian and Mayan civilisations. But both states differ in their use of pyramids. The above-named treatment was able to demo that the pyramids in the old Mayan Civilization had far more utilizations for their pyramids as compared It is through their use of the pyramid that can assist people in the modern universe understand what these ancients value most. With respects to the Egyptians usage of an expensive construction to bury a dead swayer speaks volumes of what they believe will go on to the Pharaoh in the after life. The Egyptian swayers are convinced that they will govern once more on the other side as Osiris King of the Dead. On the other side of the universe. the Aztecs use their pyramid in a different manner. The pyramids found in the Americas are used for human forfeits. And once more this pattern is rooted in their spiritual belief that they owe their lives to their Gods. But alternatively of populating a rigorous moral codification to delight their Gods. they alternatively sacrificed others – sooner their enemies or members of neighbouring folks – to demo their piousness to their warrior-god. This survey made it clear that the Egyptians do non hold a monopoly to the technology techniques necessary to construct high-rise constructions. It is besides made clear that the design of the pyramids and its usage depended much on the spiritual beliefs of the ancients. It is merely unfortunate that even with all the scholarly work and attempt poured into the analysis of both Egyptian and Mayan civilisations there is still no easy reply to the inquiry on how precisely did the ancients constructed a complicated construction with really limited resources. In the instance of the Mayan pyramids the enigma is non merely in the building of their brilliant pyramid-temples and their cognition of uranology it is besides the inquiry on why they all of a sudden disappeared. go forthing a olympian metropolis in ruins. It is good to cognize that the remains of these two civilisations are here to remain and that the following coevals of archeologists and scientists are welcome to examine the secrets of the pyramids one time once more. MentionsCarrasco. D. ( 1998 ) . Daily Life of the Aztecs: Peoples of the Sun and Earth. Westport. Connecticut:Greenwood Press.Crow. J. A. ( 1992 ) . The Epic of Latin America. Calcium: University of California Press.Dupre. J. ( 2002 ) . From Pyramids to Skycrapers: Building in the Americas. New York:Benchmark Education Company.National Geographic. Introduction to Pyramids. Available from: lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //www. nationalgeographic. com/pyramids/pyramids. hypertext markup language gt ; Retrieved 10 December2007.Smith. M. ( 2003 ) . The Aztecs. Malden. Ma: Blackwell Publishing.Zuravicky. O. ( 2004 ) . Researching Pyramids Around the World. New York: The Rosen PublishingGroup. Inc.

Luhrmann and Zeffirelli introduce the characters of Romeo and Juliet in their film versions of Shakespeares play Essay Example

Luhrmann and Zeffirelli introduce the characters of Romeo and Juliet in their film versions of Shakespeares play Paper Films are made to make money and attract mass audiences. Most filmmakers want to aim their film at a wide range of people so that their film is a box office success. Films are more advanced than performances of plays in theatres as they can use lighting, sound effects, music and cameras to create atmosphere and influence peoples reactions by using close-up shots of things they want the audience to take notice of. In a film the camera is the viewers eye so they can only see what the camera allows them to but in a play the audience can see everything at once and the camera isnt there to zoom in on something which they need to recognise as significant as it can in a film. Filmmakers can also use costumes and settings to suggest a characters personality or the atmosphere of the place they are in. Also, in films, computerised sound effects and real settings can be used. In films they can have sets outdoors, in houses and anywhere else they need to but in a play they cannot have real settings as they are all artificial and have to be changed for nearly every scene. In plays they cannot have large crowds of people for a battle or suchlike as they would not all fit on the stage so they have to have limited numbers and this, therefore, is not as realistic as it can be in films as they can have thousands of actors if they need them. We will write a custom essay sample on Luhrmann and Zeffirelli introduce the characters of Romeo and Juliet in their film versions of Shakespeares play specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Luhrmann and Zeffirelli introduce the characters of Romeo and Juliet in their film versions of Shakespeares play specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Luhrmann and Zeffirelli introduce the characters of Romeo and Juliet in their film versions of Shakespeares play specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Lastly, as the dialogue in plays is sometimes far too long, filmmakers often cut the text in places and move it around in the plot until they are happy with their scripts. This technique is not often used in plays as they tend to be more traditional and stick to the original text. The Zeffirelli version of the play was made in the late 1960s and was aimed at a wide range of people from very young to very old. Zeffirelli wanted to give people a traditional film of the play so he kept most of the original text and used music and costumes which would have been appropriate to when the play is set. It was a box office smash hit even though Zeffirelli shocked many people by being experimental he chose two, very young, unknown actors to play Romeo and Juliet and used (at the time) very innovative camera movements. Luhrmann chose a very different approach to making Romeo and Juliet into a film from Zeffirelli, as he did not do a traditional version at all. He aimed it mainly to bring the younger generation of people an understanding of Shakespeare and so modernised it so that it would appeal to the audiences of 1997. Even though there was a 30 year gap between the making of these films, they were both very successful and attracted mass audiences. I will now look at the similarities and differences between the two versions. Both directors decided to frame Romeo the first time he is seen Zeffirelli in an archway and Luhrmann in a cliff. Both the films suggest Romeo has been alone in the first shots of him as he is seen walking back into the city by himself. In both the versions Romeo is implied not to be as rough as the other lads and doesnt seem to fit in with them in Zeffirelli he comes back to the city holding flowers while in Luhrmann he uses very soft focus on Romeos face and Romeo is alone, looking out to sea which implies he is very romantic when none of the other lads are. Also, in both the films, as soon as the camera switches to Romeo for the first time the music becomes slow, dreamy and romantic which is emphasising his youth and romantic feelings. Both directors used, at the time of making their film, very innovative camera movements, for example in Zeffirellis version the camera went through peoples legs in the fight scenes. However, there are also many differences between the two films. Zeffirelli aimed to do a traditional film of the play so that people would know what Shakespeare is really like but Luhrmann aimed to bring the modern generation of people an updated version and to show that the story is still relevant today. Therefore Zeffirelli chose to keep most of the original dialogue from the text, to use Shakespearian costumes and music which would have been appropriate to when it is set but Luhrmann cut lots of the text, did not use Shakespearian costumes and had modern pop music playing in the background. Also, Luhrmann did not set the film in Italy as Zeffirelli did, he set it in a big American city which showed the modern audiences that the play is still significant today. In Shakespeares day, Italy was the main country and also had the most power but when Luhrmann remade the film 30 years later, America was now the Italy of the 20th century and so he set it there so that the viewers would think it applied to them, and was not just a Shakespearian play which was not relevant any more. Luhrmann also used references to modern films in his adaptation which a modern audience would understand and enjoy but Zeffirelli did not have any references at all in his film which suggests that he was maybe trying to appeal to a slightly older generation of viewers than Luhrmann was. Zeffirelli shocked people when he made his film of the play as he chose two very young, unknown actors to play Romeo and Juliet but when Luhrmann made his version in the late 1990s he chose two older, better established, American actors. In Zeffirellis version all the characters except the nurse spoke RP which is often associated with Shakespearian characters but in Luhrmanns he changed the text so that it could be spoken in American English and still sound Shakespearian. Zeffirelli also chose to use two actors who fitted the Italian stereotype of dark hair, dark eyes and olive skin but Luhrmann chose two actors who did not fit it at all. However, I think the main difference between these two film versions of the play is that Zeffirelli opted to do a traditional version and Luhrmann updated it so that it would still appeal to a younger modern audience. The introduction of Romeo is quite similar in both films. I will look at how Zeffirelli introduces him first and then how Luhrmann does it. In Zeffirellis dramatisation of the play as soon as the audience get their first view of Romeo, the music becomes slow, innocent, romantic and dreamy. Romeo is framed by a big archway which emphasises to the audience how small, young and vulnerable he is and he is walking back into the town holding flowers which shows that he must have been alone. As he is holding flowers and smiling this suggests that he is not like the other lads he is not aggressive but is gentle and doesnt seem to fit in with the other lads which is why he has separated himself from them and gone somewhere by himself. He is wearing a traditional Shakespearian costume which emphasises Zeffirellis aim to keep the film as authentic as he could. As the music is dreamy it implies that Romeo is a bit of a daydreamer and he seems to have a dreamy expression on his face until he sees his parents and Benvolio when his expression changes to an uncomfortable, uncertain look. He moves into the shadows of the walls which suggests he is secretive and doesnt want his parents to see him. Zeffirelli then uses a close-up of Romeos face which shows the audience how young he is as he has a heart-shaped face and looks small and gentle. He also fits the stereotype of Italians with his dark hair, dark eyes and olive complexion but in the Luhrmann adaptation Leonardo DiCaprio does not fit this stereotype at all as he is blond with fair skin. This shows how Zeffirelli was keen to keep his version a traditional one whereas Luhrmann wasnt. Zeffirelli also suggests that Romeo is defensive as when he is with Benvolio he crosses his arms and says is the day so young which implies that he is in a world of his own and enjoying the fact that he is miserable. Then Romeo is shut out from the injured man because the door is slammed in his face. This is a reminder of the feud between the two families and after his event, Romeo flounces off which suggests he no longer wants to be a part of it. The way in which Luhrmann introduces the character of Romeo is quite similar to the way in which Zeffirelli did it. As in Zeffirelli, when the camera switches to the first shot of Romeo the background music becomes slow and dreamy and Romeo is alone, framed in the cliff on a beach. Romeo is sitting with his back to the city which is symbolic as it shows he does not want anything to do with the feud and he is looking out to sea which immediately suggests that he has depth and is not shallow like the other lads. Then Luhrmann zooms in on Romeos face but uses very soft focus so this gives the impression that Romeo is gentle and romantic but not aggressive and violent like the other lads he is friends with. The camera then zooms back out and shows that Romeo is dresses like a business man but casually as he has his top button open. He is writing and speaking the words as he writes them these are actually his lines but as he is writing it looks like he is writing the play which makes him seem romantic. As in Zeffirelli, when Romeo sees his parents he suddenly looks annoyed or uncomfortable but different to Zeffirellis version, he does not fit the Italian stereotype as he is blond and pale-skinned. However, the Romeo presented in this film of the play is also bored with the feud and fighting which is the same in Zeffirelli so Luhrmann did try to keep some authenticity but not as much as Zeffirelli did. I will now look at the introduction of Juliet in both the Zeffirelli and the Luhrmann dramatisations of the play. In the Zeffirelli version there is a scene before we see Juliet in which Paris has come to ask her father for Juliets hand in marriage and her father accepts but asks Paris if he could wait a year or so, so that she would be a little older as she is only 13. This prepares the audience for the fact that Juliet is going to be so young and vulnerable even before they get to see her. This scene does not take place in the Luhrmann adaptation. When the camera first switches to Juliet the music becomes very light-hearted and seems to be skipping along so this stresses Juliets youth. Juliet is laughing and playing with the nurse which shows how childlike she is compared to Romeo. She then appears at a window which she is framed in so that she looks like a Renaissance painting as she is very elaborately dressed and heavily made-up. There is then a close-up of her face which shows her to be very young, have a heart-shaped face and be very demure, innocent and wide-eyed which again stresses her youth. She also fits the Italian stereotype perfectly and looks even younger than Romeo did as her hair frames her face as well as the window framing her. She is wearing a red dress which is very bright and rich but also symbolises romance, blood, passion and danger and so stands out when she attends the ball later in the film. Juliet is then called for by the nurse who says her mother wants to see her and immediately, Juliet straightens her hair and dress and runs off in her mothers direction. This shows she is still very obedient and only cares about doing what her mother wants her to do. She is a contrast to Romeo in this scene as she is in a family home, skipping and laughing but Romeo is moping around by himself so this implies that Juliet is still a child without any thoughts of romance or marriage but that Romeo is older and more mature. When Juliet arrives at her mothers chamber the mother sends the nurse out of the room and Juliet looks puzzled and uncomfortable without her presence. This shows that she is actually closer to the nurse than her own mother which the audience will find sad. The audience know that her mother wants to talk to her about her marriage to Paris but Juliet doesnt and seems to be worried when she is wondering why she as been sent for as she bites her lip. When her mother asks her if she will marry Paris, Juliet says she will but she only seems to be saying so because she knows her mother would be angry if she refused. This shows that Juliets mother is very controlling of her daughter, even if she hardly ever talks to or does anything with her. In the Luhrmann adaptation the first shot of Juliet is a close-up of her face. She doesnt match the Italian stereotype and seems to be much older than the character from the play really was. As in Zeffirelli, Juliet is very wide-eyed and her face is framed with her hair but she is not heavily made-up as Juliet in Zeffirelli was. She then plunges her head into the water which symbolises freshness and nature which in turn symbolise her youth. She is dressed in white which is different to Zeffirelli and this symbolises purity and nature. When the nurse calls for Juliet, Juliet is still obedient as in Zeffirellis version but she doesnt seem as respectful to her mother she has a teenage look on her face as if to say oh, not my mother again which is one of the things Luhrmann has updated. When she reaches her mothers room Juliet looks impatient when waiting for her to talk as if she thinks she has better things to do than listen to her mother but she did not do this in Zeffirelli. This has, again, been updated to appeal to the audiences of 1997. Then, her mother shows her a photograph of Paris and Juliet looks puzzled at fist but then she says the same lines as she did in Zeffirelli which shows she is still obedient, if not as respectful. After her mother leaves the room, Juliet looks thoughtful as if it is beginning to dawn on her that a marriage has been arranged for her and this is much faster than in Zeffirelli the whole play takes place over a few days in the Luhrmann film but in Zeffirelli it is much slower. In conclusion, I think that both films were successful in introducing the characters of Romeo and Juliet but that Zeffirelli kept to his traditional aims in doing it and Luhrmann used a more modern approach.

Causes and Events Leading up to the Revolutionary War essays

Causes and Events Leading up to the Revolutionary War essays For the past two-hundred and twenty-five years, the United States of America has been its own empire. However, prior to this time, this country was the equivalent of young child, trying to find its own identity. Great Britain was the mother country for the colonies that had settled onto North American soil during the 1600s. For a time, Great Britain guided, supported, and ruled this new world. As the colonies settled into the Eighteenth century, they entered the realm of adolescence, wanting more freedom, less rule, and more of a voice in what would ultimately be their own destiny. For over 100 years, the United States willingly accepted rule from Parliament. Yet, as Englands situation at home worsened during the mid-eighteenth century, they looked over to the new world to help dig them out of the financial trench they were in. Between the years 1763 and 1775, Great Britain placed a number of acts, taxes, and bullying schemes upon the colonies, in hopes of easing their own mon etary woes. Consequently, these actions which were being pounded upon the colonies proved to be more than they could stand. Finally in 1775, the revolutionary minds of the colonies banded together to fight for their freedom. What I plan to discuss in the following pages is what the British government did to bring the thirteen colonies of the United States to a state of revolt. At the conclusion of the Seven Years War, England had taken a financial beating. Though they were still the most powerful and prosperous nation in the world, England had doubled their national debt. Furthermore, they now had to administer the huge territory consisting of Canada and the eastern Mississippi Valley. This would also prove to be a financial burden. The British needed a solution and they thought to have found it on the opposite side of the Atlantic. The American colonies were regarded as great enterprises to be directed by those who would profit ...

Monteverde Cloud Forest Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Monteverde Cloud Forest - Essay Example The Center also makes concerted efforts to create awareness that earth has a finite size and therefore, the organisms residing on it must ensure that the eco system of the earth is not disturbed drastically. The wild life sanctuary is known as Cloud Forest rather than rain forest because of its altitude where clouds can be seen passing through the trees. Situated at a height of 1440 meters, it is also known as green forest and comprises of eight ecological zones and shelters more than 400 species of birds and 100 species of mammals (monteverde.com). It has 120 species of reptilians and amphibians and thousands of insects. The forest with its tall trees help protects the species from natural catastrophes like storms and hurricanes. Many endangered species like Quetzals, Emerald Toucanet, Bellbird, golden toad and rare variety of hummingbirds can be found here. The reserve is a favorite destination for nature lovers across the globe. ‘In 1988, the organization began the International Children’s Rainforest project, which has raised money for the reserve ever since. With the help of children from around the world, the Monteverde Cloud Forest has increased in size to over 26,000 acres. Together with several other forests in the area, it forms almost 70,000 acres of privately owned cloud forest’ (CostaRica). The preserve is an ongoing project for the awareness creation that contributes towards sustainable development. This nature paradise draws more than 70,000 tourists per annum. With its impressive landscape and biodiversity, ‘Monteverde is considered one of the Costa Ricas Seven Wonders, along with Cocos Island, Tortuguero, Arenal Volcano, Chirripo Mountain, Celeste River and Poas Volcano (Monteverde Forest). The sanctuary has more than 2500 species of plants and more than 420 different types of orchids. The stupendous range of biodiversity in the forest makes it one of the most outstanding nature reserves of the

All The King's Men Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

All The King's Men - Essay Example All the King's Men opens with the visit of Governor Stark and his group in a small town in their state. The novel then recounts the humble beginning of the governor, how he has risen from poverty to power through his fortune in politics. Stark's entry into the political arena is facilitated by a trick of fate. Gaining statewide popularity after an accident in his hometown, he was asked to run for governor. Realizing that he was only being used in order to split votes for one of the other candidate, he backed out and began campaigning for the candidate he was supposed to take vote from. This puts him in the spotlight facilitating his entry to the world of politics in the next election. The narrator in the story, Jack Burden, is a reporter assigned to cover the campaign and governorship of Stark. From this responsibility, he ends up being Stark's right hand, aiding him in unveiling the "dirty secrets" of the latter's political enemies. Thus, Jack becomes instrumental in forcing Stark's enemies into submission through bribery, threats, persuasion, and other "dirty works." This job leads to his discovery of the flaw of Judge Irwin whom he looked up to as his second father and whom he regarded as perfect. This event triggered a chain of events including Adam Stanton's acceptance of a lead job in Stark's hospital and Anne Stanton's affair with Stark. Towards the end of the story, Stark has fallen prey in his own scheme. His enemy, MacMurfee has threatened to publicize that Stark's son is a father of an illegitimate child. This is supposed to bar Stark from running for senator. However, Stark used Jack to persuade Judge Irwin to make MacMurfee back out. Realizing that it is better to die than to live up to his past and submit to the blackmail, Judge Irwin committed suicide. Jack then learns that Judge Irwin is his biological father. Desperate to be a senator, Stark gave the hospital contract to MacMurfee even though this was cancelled when the former's son became paralyzed in a football game. Adam Stanton was angered at the discovery of the affair of Stark and his sister Anne. Thus, he killed Stark even though it also cost him his life. Jack later married Anne and wrote a novel about the confederate soldier. All the King's Men largely mirror the tenets of the American political culture. It is irrefutable that this nation upholds that the government is answerable to citizens, who may change it through elections (Dye 25). In the novel, Stark become so obsessed with his power as a politician that he devoted much of his time and money in making his enemies' submit to him by discovering their "dirty secrets." He recognizes that if these flaws were made public, the voting population will respond negatively to their campaigns. This strongly highlights the fact that even though politicians control the society, the sole decision of who will reign still rests on the citizens. In one aspect, this also mirrors the prevalence of classical liberalism which is central in American political culture. Classical liberalism holds the dignity of the individual and their rational ability to control their own destinies. In the case of the politicians, it is their dignity and reputation which dictate the length of their stay in the office. On the other hand, it is

Hip Hop’s Problem Essay Example for Free

Hip Hop’s Problem Essay From its birth, Hip Hop is consistently argued about between black and white America, and among the young and old. Usually, it is the negative of the subject that receives the most attention from this topic. The main problem with Hip Hop is its negative aspects, Re creation, and the unrealistic goal of achieving the American Dream. Hip Hop today is more concerned with commercializing and what sells, which takes away from the culture that was established early on. With the newly evolving era of technology, the four pillars can be looked at as mp3, music video, mix tape, and commercialism. Music is the main focus that defines Hip Hop today and continues to become even bigger than before. Music is able to connect many different people on so many levels and influence fashion, cars, speech and attitude. This is an example of how Hip Hop has gone through many generations and is still going strong. As it grows among the youth, both black and white, it is definitely taking a positive role in the African American despite contrary belief. However as the growth of Hip Hop continues the negative aspects are focused on more than anything. To solve the negative aspects of Hip Hop stricter ratings need to be put on the music, bigger fines for re creation of previous songs, and have people realize that everybody can’t be a rapper. The negative aspects of Hip Hop are a more predominate feature that are more glorified in the media than the positive ones. One prime example would be the televised daily reports of gun related issues such as school shootings or elementary students that bring weapons to school. The media immediately begins to criticize the music for being the driving force behind the violence that occurs within today’s youth. If a child brings a weapon to school, there is an assumption made immediately, by the media, that he or she has heard this on a Hip Hop song. But there are many more instances where Hip Hop is said to influence acts of violence. In the Duval county public school system, there have been over 12 gun related arrests this year. In this area, this is not a new occasion, but a reoccurring event. Even though the problem starts in the households, it seems to be blamed on Hip Hop instead. Chief Officer David Coffman, who heads the school resource officers, places the blame on Hip Hop and music videos for making youngsters feel that it is cool to carry a gun. Another great example is the event which occurred between Don Imus and the women’s basketball players of Rutgers University. Although he did use his freedom of speech and press, he used sexually and racially derogatory comments to describe the women’s basketball team. For his poor choice, consequently the media did embark on the language used in the Hip Hop culture. In my English 101 class 85% of my classmates felt Hip Hop objectify women in a negative way. In Hip Hop, the image of women is not as positive as it should be. The culture of Hip Hop chooses to degrade women continuously, which does not go unnoticed by the American population and therefore is looked down upon for it; creating yet another reason for society to discriminate against this culture. One artist that displays this negative behavior towards women is Ludacris. Though he has many uplifting songs, his creation of the song â€Å"Ho† has no other purpose than to give an explanation of the negative perception of women. Despite some negative aspects of Hip Hop it is not fair to say that Hip Hop is a leading factor in increasing violence and social problems when it is so much more than that. To establish a stance on Hip Hop saying that it is only a bad thing should not be the method that is taken. These assumptions show that the culture of Hip Hop is frequently misunderstood. Such assumptions are made because of accounts that previously occurred. Hip Hop culture now is not an explanation for those parents that neglect their children or those parents that have problems with discipline towards the children. Hip Hop is not a cause of the increase of violence this but it may be a reflection of what the artist grew up seeing. Hip Hop record labels need to have stricter ratings and parents need to be more cautious about what their kids are listening to. The media causes the image of Hip Hop to be tarnished into what we see today. Since this image is embedded in our minds, the idea and culture of Hip Hop is not as encouraging as before. The experiences and their way of expressing their life are done with the use of Hip Hop. Re creation is not a concept that is popular, but has been around for many years. The act of taking an original invention or idea and mastering it in another way shows how creative a person can be. Though it is not a simple task, it is a frequent practice in Hip Hop. This exposes the ability of a young person’s mind. Nelson George comments on the topic, stating that â€Å"We love to take things that were once out of reach†¦and reinvent the technology in our own image† (George 52). This quote is saying that anything can be turned into an aspect of Hip Hop. Its original use is meant for another purpose, but that does not limit the abilities of it. One example is the use of ability to recreate music. Most people see this as plagiarism and stealing somebody else’s song. The process involves taking a part of an original song and developing a new use for it. This can be thought of as a pastiche. This has also assisted in opening the possibilities of music that could not be explored before by simple instruments. Now, the music makers of Hip Hop are able to extend the tradition of sampling music. Instead of just an instrument and some lyrics, there is a collection of sounds that have not been heard before. In today’s society, it is difficult to be your own person. Many artist see re creation as a means to survival in the Hip Hop Industry. The music industry should make it illegal for artist to use somebody else’s work and fine artist a penalty for doing so. Many artists see re creation as a necessity and will most likely keep on doing it. The culture of Hip Hop makes the idea of self definition a necessity for survival. For African Americans of all ages, it is hard to survive in this society. The development of pride and confidence in oneself is a key in self definition. To have just enough confidence may not be suitable. There is no limit to how much you should love yourself. These words are seen as bad for a person’s characteristics. To have an indulgence in self importance can destroy a person in the eyes of others. Instead, it can be a source of power. In any person’s lifetime, he or she may pursue the â€Å"American Dream†; the idea of a big house, luxury cars, and money. In the society of today, the dream is about being a young millionaire (Kitwana 46). Hip Hop continues to glorify this unrealistic fantasy. This dream is neither achieved by everyone, nor is it handed freely. It takes long hours and hard work to accomplish the dream. Many young people in the black community want to be rich like the rappers they look up to without the hard work. In Hip Hop, the dream is the motivation for any person in any aspect of the culture. Because of this, hard work is an expectation. This dream is leading to the downfall of lower class African Americans as well as Hip Hop its self. The majority of Hip Hop is focused on those living in lower class poverty level who wants to change their situation. What they hear and see is what they use to base their future on. The American Dream is not the only motivation for young Americans to increase their work ethic. Many others have no other choice but to work extra hours daily or an extra job. This is how they grow up and what they see in Hip Hop. Sometime it is not the preferred method, but it is a necessity for survival. Bakari Kitwana gives insight on this topic, saying â€Å"Everyone wants to make it big†¦many of us can’t wait until we’re 40, or even 35†¦Although such attitudes existed in previous generations, with the Hip Hop generation, it is nearly an obsession† (Kitwana 46). The youth that are growing up seem to understand that they will not be given anything. The determination to get millions of dollars is the driving force that makes them want to work. They see the benefits of having money but also experience the downfalls of not having it. Due to the experiences, they sometimes turn to illegal activity such as selling drugs. This should not be the case, but it does give the same results. You have to create cliental, gather product, and find ways to get the most profit from it. This is similar to a kid who becomes successful in the e-commerce industry. With the e-commerce business, you must find something that interest people, create a cliental, and be able to advertise. Both of those methods are different but share one thing: the development of an entrepreneur. Along with that, hard work is forced on those that are involved in activities such as drug sales or web development for example. The tactics are not easy, but they lead traits which become very valuable later on, and can take them to their millions. As a result, Hip Hop has been a big contribution to the youth of America in negative and positive ways. The main problem with Hip Hop is its negative aspects, Re creation, and the unrealistic goal of achieving the American Dream. Although there are negative aspects stand out the most, it has influenced the youth in a way that their parents are not able to. Hip Hop is able to open their minds and help them to become more creative. The idea of sampling a song and producing a new, unheard of instrumental is a very complex practice. It does take effort to do, but it is a great exercise of the brain. Hip Hop also helps to instill confidence and pride among the youth. This is a hard lesson to learn at a young age, but it is something that can be carried on through life. Finally, it helps to change the idea of kids being lazy. Now, there are more youth that are willing to work and establish themselves financially. They are able to set goals for themselves and strive for it. Hip Hop has been around for many years. During its time of existence, it has been able to change each generation that has grown through it. Among this generation, it has had the biggest and most positive impact of all. Work Cited Cobb, William. To the Break of Dawn: A Freestyle on the Hip Hop Aesthetic. London: NYU Press, 2008. George, Nelson. Hip Hop America. Boston: Penguin (Non-Classics), 2005. Hip Hop Speaks to Children. Ebony 1 Nov. 2008: 55. Kitwana, Bakari. The Hip Hop Generation: Young Blacks and the Crisis in African American Culture. New York: Basic Ci

Innocent Until Proven Guilty :: essays papers

Innocent Until Proven Guilty Tabula rasa: the mind before it is developed and changed by experience. Philosopher John Locke believed that at birth and in infancy the mind is completely passive, a clean slate, tabula rasa, on which the experiences of the individual write their own impressions. (Wiener, 2134) (Any influences from drugs, alcohol, by a mother in pregnancy, etc... excluded.) It is a given that an infant’s mind is not yet fully developed early in its life. Especially at this early stage and even far on into a child’s life he is dependent on someone - whether it be his mother, father, sister, brother, or other â€Å"adult† figure, who takes care of him; ensuring his survival. True to Locke’s theory, a child’s mind has yet to be influenced by anything, hence tabula rasa. And it is also true, the experiences that a child has while growing up will profoundly dictate his character and personality. Education plays a role in an individual’s formation through the experiences in which that institution exists. Different types of people also help determine the personal nature of an individual. The experiences that one has due to the effects of his educational process, his social relationships with different types of people, and his association with various environments set the scene for his life, thus forming his individuality. Experiences are not just events that may occur, but anything that stirs emotion or evokes a feeling or reaction in a person. Experiences can range from actual events or physically engaging actions, to inanimate objects or concrete details, and even to other people. As long as a phenomenon causes a person to question, evaluate, or draw some sort of conclusion about it, and he therefore consciously or subconsciously commits it to memory, it is absolutely an â€Å"experience.† In other words, an â€Å"experience† is by definition, anything that happens to a person; anything that is seen, done, felt, or lived through. Life itself, is an experience full of experiences. All of these happenings, good and bad, are the sum of a person’s experiences called the â€Å"frame of reference.† This is the very composition that makes a person who he is. But when does one cease to rely on outside factors to prompt these experiences? When does one begin to rely on himself t o create them? Until a person reaches this point he declines to take credit for his actions and lacks responsibility.