History According to Goya Essay

There are perhaps few artists who can be held in the same regard as Francisco Goya of Spain, who is known both for his exemplary work and as a symbol of the old and the new, bridging the gap between the classics and modern art. But what ultimately makes Goya memorable and outstanding is his ideology of putting social reality onto canvas, which he did by infusing a great amount of interpretation born out of an acute awareness with the skills that had made him an icon in art and culture. Film director Milos Forman, known for his period movies, directed Goya’s Ghosts, which was released in 2006 and features Goya in his element as an artist, social commentator and chronicler of history. While the storyline is fictional, the historical background of the film, as well as the inclusion of known personalities, is authentic and accurate. More importantly, the portrayal of Goya and his relationship with his art and subjects give the audience much insight into the mission and creative philosophy of the artist, specifically during the Spanish Inquisition that marked nineteenth century Spain. Overall, though the film had not enjoyed significant commercial or critical success, it still showed the individuality of Goya that is evident in his most celebrated paintings in the context of the oppression and chaos of history. II. Connecting Art with History Many critics found Goya’s Ghosts sufficient in narrating history, albeit incoherent and distracted at certain points, but wanting in showcasing Goya and his works. In the film’s theme of power and hypocrisy, some saw Goya’s role as merely a connection between those in power and those abused by the former. True as this may be, it still creates a statement regarding the artist’s purpose and how he viewed his actual work; since the period was defined by a perceivable existence of extremes in social status which gave power to some, Goya did not just connect personalities and events but used his art as a means to convey the impressions and views of the Spanish society. The horrors that had ensued during the Spanish Inquisition, which punished those who exhibited any semblance of agreement with Judaism and other beliefs that went against Catholicism, were vividly illustrated in the prints created by Goya at the time. These were shown graphically throughout the course of the film, representing the work made by the artist outside of his commissioned portraits. This coincides with the opinion that classified Goya as a genius who was capable of illustrating doubts and anxieties, which was his way of responding to his country’s state of war, oppression, and poverty. He played the role of social interpreter, by artfully imagining symbolic images of the Church’s power, and how they represented the fears of the public. The disturbing prints Goya made, which troubled the Holy Office immensely, were to be later known as The Black Paintings. In recent times, this collection began to be shrouded with controversy, as some historians believe that they were actually by the hand of Goya’s son Javier who has not been given much publicity. Goya’s continued favor with the powerful was especially established in the film, mainly through his popularity as painter of royal portraits. Particularly, the film shows his work on the likeness of Isabella, Queen to Charles IV, which accurately showed her physical characteristics; ultimately, the portrait was not received favorably by the Queen. This incident underlines a major theme in the movie, as stated by the fictional character Brother Lorenzo: a person sees himself differently from how others see him. Such is the ideology of Goya, whose ability to capture life and nature in their entirety would leave no room for false depictions, even at his own expense. III. Relationships with His Subjects One of the film’s main characters is Ines de Bilbatua, the beautiful daughter of a rich merchant, who was tortured by the Holy Office on allegations of Judaism. In contrast to Goya’s impression of the Queen, Ines’ portrait was impeccable in its beauty, and even surpassed reality. Goya’s personal knowledge of the girl’s character figured considerably in the image in his mind and on canvas, proving how his own emotions and opinions of people are reflected in his work. Particular in Goya’s portraits is his depiction of his subject’s mouth—which varies from grinning and smirking, like the Queen’s, to serene and graceful, as in Ines’. This contrast is ironic, since the pointed ugliness of the Queen made no effect on her social status, while Ines’ beauty still caused her to be imprisoned for fifteen years. More than the people he had been commissioned to capture on canvas, Goya is credited for graphically illustrating the brutality of the Peninsular War. While this was not explicitly shown in the film, the physical evidences that exist to this day prove Goya’s significant contributions in narrating the evils of the period. IV. Conclusion The legacy of Francisco Goya has been appropriated by several filmmakers in an attempt to convey the passions of the artist in the realm of art as well as social and political conditions of his time. Because of the requirements of film language, the more important aspects of Goya’s lifestyle and career are often sacrificed for drama in narration, particularly in Forman’s version. The graphic qualities and visual communication style that mark Goya’s work and philosophy are not always made the focal point, and, in this film, were simply made to act as a representation of history. In truth, the art of Goya indeed serve as historical symbols, yet it is his manner of capturing emotions, fears, evils, and beauty in a way both realistic and absurd that should make him not just a chronicler of history, but a historical figure himself. Bibliography C. Chocano, ‘Goya’s Ghosts’, Los Angeles Times, July 20, 2007, retrieved 18 October 2008, Goya’s Ghosts, dir. M. Forman, 2006. Xuxa Producciones, Spain, 2006. A. Lubow, ‘The Secret of the Black Paintings’, New York Times, July 27, 2003. Napoleonic Guide, ‘Goya’s Disasters of War’, retrieved 18 October 2008, L. Simon, ‘The Sleep of Reason’, World and I, retrieved 18 October 2008, D. Sylvester, About Modern Art: Critical Essays, 1948-1996, Henry Holt and Co. , 1997.

Exploring the Myths of Minoan Bull Leaping

Fletcher, History 111B Minoan Bull Leaping Throughout Ancient History, many different animals are glorified and made â€Å"sacred† by cultures, often for religious reasons. We see everything from the ritual burials of cats in Ancient Egypt to the worship of Ganesha, the Elephant goddess of wisdom in Hindu traditions. The Bull is one of these historically revered animals, its use as a sacred symbol seen as far back as the Stone Age. Because it is such a common and useful animal, it was seen again and again in everything from astrology to folklore. Eventually, historical texts show reverence of the Bull reaching into Minoa.The Minoans were fascinated by the Bull, and created myths, symbols and religious ritual to give the Bull praise. One of the ways they did this was through â€Å"Bull Leaping†, a ritual in which an individual would stand head to head against a charging bull and proceed to vault over the animal using its own strength against it (Figure 1). Many researche rs have attempted to decipher what the ritual meant in context, but ultimately the rituals cultural significance has been lost to the ages. Assumptions have had to been made, and ultimately what is presented might be closer to hypothesized fantasies.To begin with, it is important to know why the Minoans became interested with the Bull in the first place. At the time, the Bull had been a sacred symbol for some 2300 years, and there are several possible explanations why the Bull continued to be so revered. One theory developed after examining the ancient mythologies and histories presented by Diodorus. Diodorus  hypothesized that some animal worship, including that of the Bull was a result of religious myth in which the gods, being threatened by giants, disguised themselves as animals.People then began to worship the animals that their god had transformed into, the Bull being one of these animals. Another theory deals with the religions of Minoa. The Minoans believed heavily in fema le goddesses, so much so as to referred to as a â€Å"matriarchal religion†. There was just one major male god represented in this society, known as the â€Å"earthshaker†. This god was astrological in nature, represented by a bull and the sun; He would die each autumn and reincarnate each spring. Through the astrological component of this theory, we can deduce that the Bull never stopped being revered since the finding of Taurus in the stars.Still, we cannot be sure why exactly the Bull was worshipped. There are dozens of theories, but many hinge on Greek mythology that might be embellished. German historian Walter Burket's constant warning is, â€Å"It is hazardous to project Greek tradition directly into the Bronze age. † With no absolutely definitive answer to explain the Minoan’s interest in the Bull, the next logical question to ask is what the jump signified, and why the Minoans did it. Some scholars seem to think that the jump was a religious rite , while others believed it to be a mode of entertainment and a show of superiority.The item in Figure 2 gives some context to both theories. Those supporting the religious motivation for Bull leaping cite the size of the bull, exaggeratedly large to show the Minoans’ respect for the power of the animals. Unfortunately, the same evidence works in arguments for the contrary. The exaggeration in size could be a display of how small the challenging human was compared to his counterpart, making the Bull leap an act of technical skill, displaying brains over mighty brawn. These two theories both fit, but ultimately the physical evidence discredits both of them. Both Figure 1 and Figure 2 display anatomically impossible vaults.In Figure 1, the Bull charging at full speed would never offer such a stable platform to vault from. When bulls charge they also lower one horn, aiming to impale. In Figure 2, the jump itself is impossible. The figure in the picture is perpendicular to the bul l, facing upwards, with arms stretched back. The physics of this vault are non-existent, and this clay piece was likely just an artist’s embellished portrayal. Bull Leaping, despite faulty evidences and no sure knowledge as to what it represented did occur in Minoan times. The actual event of bull leaping is still around today, in several European countries.From this, we know that at least the physical jump was possible. We must assume the idea to Bull leap came from somewhere, and Minoa presents the earliest depictions of the even. Frescos (paintings) can be found throughout Minoa, including the palace of Knossos, a well preserved port city in Minoa. One fresco (Figure 3) clearly shows a man leaping over a bull. The idea that it is a man doing the leaping is determined by skin color, as the Minoans, as did many ancient cultures of the time, color-coated males and females. That being said, there are two females in the picture.Scholars are perplexed as to what the women repres ent. They could indicate that women participated in the Bull leaping rite, or perhaps they symbolize some of the spectators. A personal suggestion is that the women are goddesses sent to protect the leaper. However, none of these hypotheses have any solid basis, and are all best-guess interpretations by scholars. In sum, there are many hypotheses to explain what Bull leaping was, what it meant in context and who participated in it. Many of these interpretations are loosely solidified in archeological evidence, but much of it is pure speculation.One thing we can know for sure is that because of the significance of the Bull in ancient culture, specifically to the Minoans, the Bull Leap was a true event to see. It would have been done with some skill, and perhaps with the grace of an athlete. It might have been a show of superiority over a wild animal, or perhaps a religious right to prove oneself to a god. Ultimately the true meaning of the event may be lost. Without more evidence, Mi noan Bull Leaping, a great spectacle once with a definitive reason behind it, may be reduced to just a few people jumping over bovines.Works Cited â€Å"A History of the World in 100 Objects. † BBC. 2010. http://www. bbc. co. uk/ahistoryoftheworld/objects/eU0DV7kOQ5inxmklD__YIw; (9/25/12) Brennan, Marie. â€Å"Bull-Leaping in Bronze Age Crete. † 2005. http://www. strangehorizons. com/2005/20050124/bull-leaping-a. shtml; (9/25/12). Bull-Leaping Diagram. â€Å"University of Kentucky Archives† , ND http://as-houston. ad. uky. edu/archive/Classics/aegean/fresco/fresco-Pages/Image31. html; (9/26/12) Burkert, Walter. Greek Religion. English Edition. Basil Blackwater Publishers. 1985 Lubbock, John.The Origin of Civilization and the Primitive Condition of Man. Kessinger Publishing Company. Whitefish, Montana. 2005. Mlahanas. â€Å"Bull Mythology†. 2005. http://www. mlahanas. de/Greeks/Mythology/BullMythology. html; (9/26/12) Marinatos, Nanno. Minoan Kingship and the Solar Goddess: A Near Eastern Koine. NP. 1993. ——————————————– [ 1 ]. Mlahanas 2005, par. 3 [ 2 ]. Lubbock 2005,  252 [ 3 ]. Marinatos 1993, 167 [ 4 ]. Burkert 1985, 24 [ 5 ]. â€Å"A History of the World in 100 Objects† 2010, par. 1 [ 6 ]. Brennan 2005, sec. 4 par. 1

Stress-Related Illness Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Stress-Related Illness - Essay Example As the discussion stresses the school owners and directress have entrusted Kelly with the role of training new teachers with the quality of teaching she is known for. She is likewise head of the Parent Involvement Program of the school. Her many duties at work, on top of preparing for her own preschool class and her homemaker role at home has been taking its toll on Kelly. For the past month, she has complained of recurrent migraines, stomach pains and general body malaise. Generally, stress is what one feels when the demands on his life exceed his ability to meet those demands. The stressor may be external, such as the death of someone close to the individual or a sudden change in activity level. Or, it may be an internal stressor such as an illness. This paper outlines that in Kelly’s case, her stressors are: overload of work duties, work-life imbalance, her own personality traits and the personalities of the people she works with. The interplay of stressors and the consistent experience of high amounts in one’s life can often lead to burnout. The term â€Å"burnout† is a relatively new term, first coined in 1974 by Herbert Freudenberger, in his book, â€Å"Burnout: The High Cost of High Achievement†. He originally defined ‘burnout’ as, â€Å"the extinction of motivation or incentive, especially where ones devotion to a cause or relationship fails to produce the desired results.† While burnout is not a recognized clinical psychiatric or psychological disorder, there are some similar features between burnout and diagnosable conditions such as depression, anxiety disorders or mood disorders. Depleted Physical Energy: Prolonged stress can be physically draining, causing one to feel tired much of the time, or no longer have the energy she once did. Getting out of bed to face another day of the same gets more difficult.

Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 67

Assignment - Essay Example I intend to have all the written information written in simple English. Sponsors only help when they are aware of the obstacles. I will inform all the sponsors of the problems that I may encounter while trying to market the application to other students from other universities. Anticipated surprises may lead to increase in costs for a project and time delays.5 I have informed the project’s sponsors that there of an increase in costs because of anticipated costs of system maintenance and marketing costs of making leaflets that capture all the information regarding the benefits of using the application. Micromanagement is not health for any business or project.6 Creating an effective relationship between sponsors and managers warrants trust. To avoid issues of trust for this project I have provided the sponsors with all the schedules. The sponsors are active and I trust that they will do their part. Bertsche, Racheal. "Seven steps to strengthen your bond with your sponsor." Project Management Institute. Web. 22 Sep 2014.

Difference Between the Bilateral and Unilateral Contract Essay

Difference Between the Bilateral and Unilateral Contract - Essay Example Businesses either being sole proprietorship or partnership require binding deals between two partners since equal contribution between each other is expected for the business growth. Input must be equal depending on what each is bringing to the business, and a unilateral contract becomes acceptable when the other party completely performs the action (Cheeseman, 2009). A unilateral contract would be considered in a scenario in which one expects some service done to them and in return, of remuneration for the service rendered thus, a promise is made for payment or honor of service rendered upon completion. For instance, an individual in an educational situation would consider a unilateral contract. Quintessentially, private tuition where payment is done upon completion of the desired session or as agreed. Production companies often sought unilateral agreements where they are paid upon completion of a task (Cheeseman, 2009). A bilateral contract would be considered between two individuals with the desire to start a partnership business whiles each makes contributions for security and more so if the two parties do not have a close, personal relationship. Large groups can also settle for a bilateral contract in case they plan to work together thus, a percentage of contribution is expected from each party and since law binds the contract, it helps to prevent a breach of the contract by either party. A unilateral contract can be changed by one party as it only stands when the other party performs the given task. The offeree only gets to be bound once he decides to commit to the contract. A bilateral contract is beneficial to the offeree since both parties make a law binding promise. A unilateral contract for the offerer can be beneficial once achieved as they bargain for completed performance rather than a promise to perform. An example being the case of an insurance company, which expects the insurer to make a promise for future performances.  

Into the Fray Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Into the Fray - Case Study Example In my opinion, Danielle demonstrates the completely legitimate political behavior. After she has attempted to establish a professional relationship with Michael and upon his refusal and inaction, she has no reason to regard Michael as an ally. Still, the communication she has with Michael and his subordinates is straightforward by emailing and meetings proposals. The problem with political behavior is not with Danielle’s moves, but with Michael’s disregard of â€Å"social alliances that make an organization run†. Therefore rumors and interpretations make Danielle's behavior seem threatening and illegitimate. The only problem is that Danielle is acting and connecting to people in order to obtain the desired position, and Michael is not.First of all, Michael should decide whether or not he wants a career at Lafleur (Hassan). If he does, then his ambition should be long-term oriented and he and his family should judge as to what the best move for Michael is. If he r eally wants to develop in Lafleur, then he should take this opportunity seriously and discuss the personal implications with his family. Michael lacks international experience and the China position is an opportunity for him to develop his leadership abilities in networking and grow in the company. What is more, CEO’s proposition is only indicative that Michael is not the best candidate for Beaumont's place right now, but it also proves Pierre’s trust in Michael’s abilities and his desire to keep Michael motivated and within the company.

The Ethics of Consumers Engaging in Ethical Purchases Essay

The Ethics of Consumers Engaging in Ethical Purchases - Essay Example Brief Summary of the Topic Various scholars have studied consumer ethics in different perspectives. Newman (2011) studied them and explained that those consumers who try to make ethical purchases only to realize they were duped may become cynical and feel their efforts were futile. DaVinney et al. (2010) studied them in terms of consumer social behaviors while Nicholls & Opal (2005) studied the way they drive market and thus influencing fair-trade. According to Carrigan (2005), Consumer ethics are the moral principles that guide consumers in obtaining, using, and disposing of goods and services. These consumer ethics help us to understand how consumers make their judgment about products or services in questionable situations like fraud and shoplifting. The ethics helps consumers to conduct themselves in a way that help them remain in harmony with concerns of nature while not neglecting the needs and interests of their social reality and their immediate and material needs (Koslowski e t al 2004). These ethics can also help consumers to avoid unhealthy products and services and those products, which might pollute the environment. According to Schwartz (2010), it is necessary for consumers to consider the moral and ethical dimension of the products when making a purchase. However, there are very few who do so. In this era, what people say and what they actually do when shopping differ greatly (Miller 2001). Moreover, it is somehow very difficult to avoid unethical purchases completely and as a result, few people in the current world buy products and services purely on ethics. In most cases people tend to make emotional decisions based on the perception they have for a product or service when making a purchase (Arnold 2010). A good example of people who make ethical purchases are those who choose to buy a product that is labeled fair-trade because of their concern for the developing countries. Another good example is people who buy product because of the role they p lay in conserving the environment (Harrison et al. 2005). Various factors are believed to influence the consumer ethics. Some of these factors include culture, social-economic status, and religion (Carrigan 2005). Many scholars have studied these factors and tried to explain the roles they play in influencing a consumer to make an ethical purchase. It is also believed that when making an ethical purchase the consumer does not have to ignore other factors of the product or service like price and quality (Harrison et al. 2005). In this case, what a consumer should do is to use an additional criterion of ethics when deciding his purchases. Consider the Topic from the Views of at least Two Competing Ethical Perspectives We can consider the issue of consumer ethics from various different perspectives. One of these perspectives is when it comes to purchasing food staffs. In such a case, consumers are bound by various factors when deciding which product to buy. With the current development in economy and technology, various types of synthetic foodstuffs have emerged. These foodstuffs are promoted even in our media. Also due to competition of the sorts of foodstuffs in the market, no company can dare to tell the consumers the disadvantage of their products. The kind of

Behavior, Needs, and Motivations in a Hotel Environment Essay

Behavior, Needs, and Motivations in a Hotel Environment - Essay Example One of the recent trends in travel is in offering ‘green’ accommodations in which the lowest impact possible on the environment is applied to the experience. The following report has identified this potential trend and explores the ways in which the Radisson Edwardian Hotel in Manchester has met the needs of those interested in the topic of ’green’ travel and what ways in which it can further exploit this trend. 2. Process of Market Research in the Hospitality Industry Marketing research in the hospitality industry can be conducted through a five step process: define the problem and research objectives; develop the research plan; collect the information; analyze the information; and present the findings (Sudhir 2009, p. 41). Because the topic of this report is on sustainable and ‘green’ industry trends, the concept of responsible marketing will be taken into consideration as it is addressed by Sloan, Chen and Legrand (2006, p. 92) who state tha t there has been a shift away from the traditional methods of research towards a belief in the way in which marketing is produced should take a stakeholder point of view. The nature of the research should be to follow a concept from inception to application in order to assure it has produced an ethically viable result. Andrews (2009, p. 41) states that there are three criteria that should be examined in order to justify creating a marketing research program. The research should be focused on one or a combination of concepts that either define an exploratory topic that sheds light on an issue, a descriptive result which will shed light on a phenomenon, or a casual inquiry that explores a ’hunch’ that might be a benefit in the industry. The research that is used for researching the impact of ’green’ practices on the satisfaction of a guest at a hotel is through a descriptive model in order to describe the phenomenon of the trend and its impact on travel sta ys at a hotel. 3. Secondary Research Jenner and Smith (2008, p. 5) define green travel, in what is termed as a simple form, through stating that it involves traveling in such a manner as to do the least amount of harm to the environment. Travel, by its nature of using energy to get from one place to another, most often has a high impact on the environment. The idea is to minimize that impact as much as possible. According to Ching (2010), one of the best ways to create a green travel plan is to participate in a eco-friendly experience, engaging the out of doors with environmentally sustaining practices. However, it is not always possible to plan a vacation or business trip with camping as the mode of accommodations. The hotel industry has engaged the concept of green practices in order to present themselves as being environmentally friendly. As exampled in Table 1, which is table 6.4 from Yudelson (2008, p. 117), there are a series of ways in which green practices will benefit a hot el from a business point of view. As an example, in the United States, the Hilton Hotel in Vancouver, Washington received certification at the silver level for a modest investment in each room which provided ten times that in publicity returns (Yudelson 2008, p. 117). Seemingly small activities can provide a large benefit towards both green accreditation and towards

Taking a Community Sociolgical Inventory Coursework

Taking a Community Sociolgical Inventory - Coursework Example I would therefore like to seek your opinion regarding it. Kindly let me know what you think of the contributions of individuals, federal and the Arizona state governments on the educational provisions by the Liberty Elementary School and the Paradise Valley Unified School District at large (U.S. Department of Education, 2013). As a course mentor, I would like to seek your opinion regarding my list of social inventory. Having conducted an extensive on the educational climate of Liberty Elementary School, I came up with the following list (in order of priority): This paper is mainly based on the research conducted about Liberty Elementary School and its immediate surrounding. As a matter of fact, the prosperity of education in a school relies on both internal and external factors. A part from the school set up, the immediate community in which it is located, great determine its success. Liberty Elementary School is located within Paradise Valley Unified School District, Arizona State (Button, H. Warren & Provenzo, E.F., Jr., 2009). The 1977 established institution offers preschool through sixth grade. Currently, it has a total population of 600 pupils. Evidently, Liberty Elementary School was founded in 1877. As an institution, it has undergone a lot of changes in its growth. Initially, it had a total population of 30 learners (U.S. Department of Education, 2013). This number significantly increased as it expanded and grew over the years. According to the latest school records, it currently has a total population of 600 pupils. This number has been steadily increasing over the years. By 2004, it had only 390 pupils. This increased to 500 in 2008 before increasing to 520, 550, 570, 580, and 600 in the years 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 respectively (U.S, Census Bureau data, 2013). According to the school administration, it is a policy to provide quality education to the learners. This has been accomplished through