Leonardo Da Vinci was a true Renaissance Man because of his many talents some of which were painting, architecting, engineering and researching mathematical concepts. Leonardo was always an artistic man, he observed people and had a notebook in which he used to sketch the littlest things that would catch his eye. From then on people knew he was something else, and this sparked a new era. His career started off with paintings, his talent in that area caused him to be famous among patrons. Once he gained his fame working as a painter his interests shifted to architecture. He spent a year creating a dome for the Milan Cathedral. This caused for him to be famous outside of Florence. Engineering was his next challenge, which he proved to be good at as well. He designed machines that protected Florence from enemies and invented such machines that destroyed towers and fortification. People were impressed and Florence was kept safe. He was one of the first people to cut open a body to study its functions, his mathematical skills seeping through, rising concepts related to mathematics. There are anatomically accurate drawings of parts of the human body. Not only this, but he was also a geometry genius, an example of this is the Vitruvian Man, which is shockingly proportionate and its outer circle exactly 360°. Leonardo Da Vinci was a true Renaissance Man because he was multi talented, he painted, architected, engineered and researched mathematical concepts. He was an overall person who could overcome most challenges that came in his way.
Courage: the ability to do something in the face of fear, danger and/or disapproval
Brunelleschi had experienced failure before, he knew what it felt like when a patron rejected you but he still presented his ideas. Not only that but he had heard about the many architects who had tried and been forgotten of. Brunelleschi knew deep down that this time he will succeed, he took the courage and faced whatever came. In his case it was success and his design had been approved and he had Cosimo to support him. But this wasn’t so easy; he was discouraged and faced lots of hardships, his way of thinking often laughed at. He was ‘crazy’ in the eyes of people, but he didn’t run away from those problems, he faced them and there stood the dome with pride before the eyes of Florentines reminding them of a legend that became.
If Brunelleschi wouldn’t have stepped up, the dome might still have been left incomplete, but he took a stand and his actions and decisions changed the way people thought, they were affected by him, not always in a positive way. This caused a movement, suddenly it was architects or artists like Brunelleschi breaking out of their shell and bringing themselves up to face their city with ideas that shook the world. Brunelleschi’s courage caused many others to face challenges in their way and his courage brought not only success but also confidence, he had been accepted and had to work his hardest to complete the dome. With success came hard work which Brunelleschi brought.
Anything can provoke an idea. It is part of the way our brain functions, the ideas may not always make sense or be productive but they are manufactured. How people think of the littlest things and expand them shocks me. Fire may not be an invention but people using it to cook, and use as a source of heat is a brilliant idea. What raised this idea? Was it a mistake or an experiment? The thought of the world ending is another mystery itself. Is there scientific evidence to prove this fact or is it a myth? Thinking outside the box, an expression often used by teachers is what sparks that little part of your brain that thinks. Theories are basically ideas that are thoroughly researched, but how those ideas develop and how the person who came up with the idea make most of them is beyond me. I think ideas come out of nowhere and everywhere. It is impossible to stop thinking and where that thinking takes you depends on the way you think.
"Lamb to the Slaughter" by Roald Dahl wins in my case. I loved the suspense and how the author chooses carefully what the character does now and what his or her reaction is. I found it interesting how Mary Maloney starts of being calm and collected but when Patrick Maloney breaks the news to her she cracks. The mask she was wearing tears off and she attacks. Maybe this was all planned? Maybe it was reaction on instinct? But I loved how Dahl took us off guard and how the story actually made me think about what would happen? My favorite story no doubt is "Lamb to the Slaughter".
It was 11 in the afternoon, “the” time of the day as the teachers put it, and the hustle of the students began to buzz around school. I wiped my face with my neon pink handkerchief, cleaning off any trace of sweat and hopefully exhaustion that was etched across my face due to a torturous day in P.E. My friend and I grabbed a quick lunch and decided to walk around, which was different for us because we usually just sat around and talked, but today it was unusual and I liked where this was going. “You know how Mr. S is asking us to thank him at the end of the day?” she asked, I nodded enthusiastically in reply enjoying my cheese sandwich, “well I think it’s kind of dumb”, she continued. I didn’t know what to say to that, I mean it was just a word right? T-H-A-N-K-Y-O-U, and that’s what I told her, “It’s not JUST a word, it’s like he’s doing us a huge favor teaching us”, she retorted back. Okay, this was getting scary, “Calm down, let’s try this, how about we go around school randomly thanking people?” Her reply, a dirty look, I pleaded her with my eyes, I really wanted to know where this would go, even though the idea being very lame. “Fine” she mumbled, gosh that was hard, now with the thanking. The first person we thanked looked at us disgusted; of course she was her being in 5th grade and us being 3rd graders it was inevitable for her to react that way. The second person, however, was more of an encouragement. I’d realized that people weren’t necessarily nice to janitors, and there should always be an exception to that right? And so our next “gratitude receiver” was a janitor (surprise). As the words left our mouths, the sides of her lips tugged and her face broke out into a smile that reached her eyes. It was nice to see people react that way; it was amazing how just one word could affect someone so much. We thanked a couple more people, each person smiling wider than the previous, and each smile seemingly brightening up the day a bit more. The frown that was on my friends face slowly turned upside down, small at first but eventually getting bigger turning into an actual smile. It felt like I could control ones feelings just by saying thank you, and that’s when the realization hit me and I stood there like an idiot with a lopsided grin stretched across my face. I could make someone happy just by smiling at them; I could make their day by thanking them for what they’ve done, unknowingly even. I believe in the word “thank you” and I feel just the same when I am spoken the word to, knowing somewhere I did help someone or crack a smile that was provided as aid even if the effect was little. Well, I guess it was a good thing we decided to walk rather than sit and chat. Later that day I found the janitor smiling to herself was it because of my friend and me? And the belief in me grew just that bit more.
1066 is a very interesting game which allows you to pick an army you would play as and the computer would choose the army you would play against. After you’ve chosen you levels and armies, you head on to battle. You can taunt the army by typing in rude comments in record time. You can also move units, such as groups of soldiers, archers or the King/ Duke. Attacking or firing is the best part of the game which involves killing a huge amount of people at a time. I had a good time taunting the team, it benefits my typing skills and I also got to learn more about the insults in the Middle Ages. After watching the introduction I got to know about the battle of Fulford which was fought by the Vikings and the English. I also got to review some basic facts about period of 1066.
The Battle of Hastings was a war between the English army of Harold Godwinson and Duke William and his army from Normandy after the throne of England. This battle was won by Duke William who was then crowned king of England. Harold, however, was killed during the war. The Normans tricked and attacked their way into winning the battle of Hastings, which was of course fought in Hastings. This game not only gives you knowledge about the period of 1066 thoroughly but also gives you a chance to experience it yourselves, giving you information about the different weapons and techniques they used then. I would play this game in my free time, and any person who is playing this game for the fun of it and not because they are assigned to do so in school are learning a lot. Thank you Ms. Psillides and Marvin for finding the site.
Matilda Bone, a gripping historical fiction novel written by Karen Cushman stresses and lightens your heart with moods such as anger, annoyance, admiration, confusion and many more. Its genre being historical fiction takes the reader back to the middle ages. The novel deals with themes such as religious acceptance, lack of Medical Knowledge and Daily chores in the middle ages. Religious acceptance is a significant theme that was stressed upon in this novel. Matilda was taught to live and breathe Religion at the manor, her previous home. After moving to Blood and Bone Alley Matilda feels her knowledge on religion is of no use and that her way of viewing things is different from others which depress her. Religious acceptance was emphasized especially when Matilda meets Tildy, a kitchen maid, “Matilda jumped down from the well and said, ‘I should not be laughing.’ ‘Why not?’ ‘It would be better for me to spend the time in prayer.’ ‘I myself think laughing is mighty like praying,’ said Tildy, “as if saying ‘Listen, God, how much I enjoy this world You have made.’” (Page 59) What people said around her gave her a lot to think about, making her realize that they weren’t wrong, and she was religiously accepted by everyone, as well as her accepting everyone else. The novel also points out lack of medical knowledge numerous times. As told in the book Matilda is both taken aback and intrigued by the ways of healing patients at this new town and how astrology was used to verify the issue. An example of this would be when Matilda went to consult Master Theobald, a physician about Nathaniel Cross and his weakening eye sight. What Master Theobald had prescribed was to combine ingredients to make a mixture for Nathaniel to drink to aid his eye sight, ingredients such as “One part pounded earthworm, one part ants’ eggs, two parts bulls urine, the fat of a medium- sized viper, and a pinch of asses’ dung.” This concoction did not heal Nathaniel one bit; instead keep costumers at bay that seek help from him at his shop. This gave the reader a chance to see how shocking the procedures were and what type of ingredients were encouraged to be brewed in order to heal, easily spreading infection caused by the unhygienic tools and mixtures with absurd elements. Daily chores in the medieval times was hard for Matilda to cope with, she was surprised that simple things as such would ever be challenging an example of this would be tending the fire. “‘She treats me like a kitchen maid,’ thought Matilda. ‘As if I am fit for nothing but measuring and brewing.’” This was Matilda’s attitude at the beginning doing chores being strange for her due to the maid’s handling all of this at the manor but soon she found this simple and usual to do. Matilda Bone goes through a personal journey, her view on things changes giving her a wider understanding on life and the people around her. She accepts people and people accept her for who she is what she believes in. At the end of the book she is in awe of how Peg, the bonesetter and Margery work, patient and determined. Even though the procedures being harsh at times, Matilda understands that this helps people and doesn’t remain surprised. She finally realizes these small chores are a part of her life now and get used to her new life. I found this book rather interesting, sitting in shock and disgust in some parts wondering how people coped with such treatments, and whether or not these actually worked. While in other parts enjoying learning about the various chores that had to be done and what people learned about religion and beliefs.
Click on Holocaust Encyclopedia on the far left side
Scroll and under the heading The Holocaust click “Nazi camps” and read the article below
1. What did the Nazi’s do in concentration camps? Stay on the same page and you’ll find the answer to the next question: 2. What was the first extermination camp called and in which year did it open? Within the page, click an interview under the name of “Describes arrival at the Stutthof camp”
Personal stories and select “Describes arrival at Auschwitz”, you may watch or read the interview.
3. Step inside one of the soldier’s shoes, what do you think the soldier felt when he did his duty, when he “beat” his victims?
Then, go back to the page with the Holocaust Encyclopedia and under “Victims of the Nazi era” select Children during the Holocaust, and answer the question bellow:
4. How do you think the children felt when they “smuggled” food and medicine?
Click back to the Holocaust Encyclopedia and open up “Mosaic of Victims” 5. What do you think “Mosaic of victims” means?
Then type in “Jehovah’s witnesses” and press enter, next click on the first result. Click on “See more photographs” and finally scroll down to “The Kusserow family”, answer the question 6. How would you interpret their condition in this picture? How did this change after the Nazi’s came into power?
Next, go to pogroms under the Holocaust Encyclopedia section and scroll until you see a picture with scrolls, click on “See more artifacts” and select “Pages of Hebrew prayer books damaged during…” or the second picture…
7. Being religious yourself, how would you feel if you were the one cleaning up a whole lot of prayer books damaged so heartlessly?
Go a page back and read paragraph 3:
8. Why do you think Adolf Hitler or the Nazi’s tried to put a stop to violence? (We talked about this in class)
Click on Gassing operations on the “Holocaust Encyclopedia” page, and click on see more photographs, scroll down until you see “Gas chamber in the main camp of Auschwitz ...” click on it and answer the question:
9. What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you look at this image? What gives the photo its power? (Theme, lighting etc.) 10. How does the information above change the way you look at the Holocaust? Does it give you a glimpse at how the victims suffered?
People say a picture is worth a thousand words, this is proved right by the legendary Steve McCurry. Born in Philadelphia in the year 1950, he attended the College of Arts and Architecture at the Pennsylvania State University. Finding the “Essence of human struggle and joy” McCurry focuses on war and how it affects the landscape and us humans. After 2 years of working for a newspaper, McCurry flew off to India for self employment. McCurry’s career went skyrocket when he crossed the Pakistan border with film sewn into his clothing, these pictures were the first to show the position the Pakistani people were in, thus him wining various awards for bravery and endeavor.
He believes in hard work and how you grow by every experience you go through. “’If you wait’, he realized, ‘people will forget your camera and the soul will drift up into view." This quote proves to me his passion for photography, how he wants to see change in the world and showing this through his art would captivate people, making them wonder.
This vivacious photograph was taken in Rajasthan, India in 1996. In this picture I can see a pair of feet wearing a well crafted pair of jutis. I can see a dhoti (worn by Indian men) died in red, similar to the colors of the picture. His feet and the ground are covered in colored powder. Ripped and ruptured the jutis the man is wearing seem to be old. Holi which is a colorful Hindu festival is an occasion in which colored powder known as gulal is sprinkled; this photograph could be an evidence of the spring festival, known as the celebration of unity and brotherhood. What caught my eye was the spot of green smack in the middle of the picture, a contrast of colors and emotions. What interests me most, is the difference between the mood of the picture and what I think the meaning of the photo is, the colors are vibrant and remind me of spring, and the great variety of color. It reminds me of my experience when celebrating Holi, and the joy it brings with itself. The jutis, however, have major differences between the feelings of colors. Torn and scraped, the jutis reminds of sadness and pain, of poverty. “It is my hope that these images will provide a record of lost moments of culture.” The picture overlooks aspects of everyday life, compared to culture and celebration. It celebrates religion as well as human suffering and life. The simplicity and quality of this image shows how good a photographer McCurry is.
“Today we have many more soldiers, contractors, and NGO’S than we did five years ago, yet it is far more dangerous today than it was then. That tells me that many do not understand the country, the history, the people, the terrain, the language, the religion, the culture.” Steve McCurry has a way of illustrating his message instead of writing it below the image or making it too obvious. Doing so himself, he says being curious, hard working, being able to leave your comfort zone, having determination, the creativity to dig deep in, letting things change you and never letting an opportunity go are ways to become a successful photographer. McCurry’s photography turned him into a humanitarian, people are easily moved by his portraits, and how he conveys the message. The encouragement from National Geographic raised more awareness through publishing his work.
A great photo, what makes a great photo? It’s color? It’s background? According to Steve McCurry, that’s not all that gives a portrait its greatness, its meaning and what it’s trying to convey. A photo that’s makes you go “whoa” is an achievement for the photographer itself. Both paintings and photos make history, how and why? An image should have something special, it’s meaning so strong and deep it raises the hair on your arms. Reading an image is a challenge in itself. Observing each and every detail, reading between the lines, are key to reading a photograph. Each and every place Steve McCurry visits he brings back memories through his pictures, each picture drawing out its own story. His journey can be read, it can be observed, through his very own art, and passion for photography.
Steve McCurry expresses his emotions through his photography, each photo is unique in its own way, writing its own story out. The themes in his photos vary in style and color contrast, his pictures not only stand out but imprint its message in the viewers heads.
