The Mona Lisa Essay Example for Free

The Mona Lisa Essay The Mona Lisa is perhaps Leonardo Da Vinci’s most famous of paintings. It is an oil painting, painted on poplar wood. The painting is most famous for the smile of the woman, which people have been trying to decipher for a long time. Many believe that the portrait is that of Da Vinci himself, while many also place a lot mystic connections with this painting. The portrait depicts a woman’s bust, with a distant landscape that is visible in the backdrop. Leonardo used a pyramid design to install in simple and calm manner within the painting. The woman is shown with her hands folded, with her breast, neck, and face painted the same color as her hands. The light is diffused so that the various curves and geometrical shapes on the painting are made visible through it. Perhaps the most interesting thing about the painting is the woman’s smile. Many believe that it is innocent and inviting, while others believe that of smugness and a smirk. Many scientific studies have been undertaken to determine the exact nature of the smile and the real reason remains a mystery. It is believed that every person sees the smile differently because of the changes in the lightning that Leonardo presented. The woman is shown seated in an open area, and behind her is a vast landscape, which recedes to an icy mountain. Some winding paths and a far away bridge is also perceptible in the background. The painting is an amazing one should definitely take a look at it in order to appreciate its full beauty. The painting is currently on display at the Musee du Louvre, in Paris.

Potemkin :: essays research papers

Setting: While originally filmed to commemorate the 1905 revolution in Russia, Potemkin was actually shown to rouse the masses against the Russian government. The film takes place on three major settings. The battleship Potmekin serves as the first backdrop where the revolution begins. The setting shifts to the Odessa Steps when the sailors arrive with Vakulinchuk ‘s body. Here the Russian soldiers attempt to squelch the uprising by shooting and trampling the crowds which had gathered on the steps. The final scenes take place on the water. The Potemkin sails out to confront the Russian ships, but the sailors eventually realize that the other soldiers had joined them in their revolt. Atmosphere: The atmosphere of the film is dramatic and therefore easily holds the attention of the viewer. Einstein effectively uses the element of suspense to involve the audience. At the start of the film, the sailors were not very willing to cause any commotion or problems. However, once they were confronted with the possibility of being hanged and became fed up with eating rotten meat, they rallied around Vakulinchuk. The mood of the film changed several times. While the main theme was rebellion against the Soviets, there were other emotions portrayed also. When Vakulinchuk’s body was brought ashore for viewing, there was overwhelming anger and sadness felt by many in the crowds. After the people decided to revolt, they mood became much lighter as they took food, coal, and water to the sailors. This joyous time was immediately brought to a halt when the Russian soldiers began marching down the Odessa Steps. Eisenstein again used suspense in these scenes by quickly flashing pictures of the mother with her baby carriage and the approaching soviet â€Å"machine†. Conflict: The film’s major conflict is between the revolting sailors and the Russian officers of the Potemkin. The Russian citizens also become involved in the conflict once Vakulinchuk’s body is viewed. The conflict continues until the Potemkin sails out to meet the Russian fleet. The climax occurs when the two ships face each other in a suspenseful moment.

Obesity in Western Culture Essay

Within our constantly evolving and ever-changing Western world, what is deemed as being deviant has shifted and adapted to suit the norms and values of society at large. Thus, deviancy can be defined as behaviour that violates the normative rules, understandings or expectations of social systems. The issue of obesity has become increasingly prominent within Western society and is deemed as being deviant due to its wide unacceptance throughout society. In applying the ‘Functionalism’ perspective of deviance on obesity, the ways in which society attempts to handle and understand this issue is further outlined and explained. Obesity is a term used to describe body weight that is much greater than what is considered the healthy range. Individuals who are obese have a much higher amount of body fat than is healthy or recommended. Adults with a body mass index (BMI, calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared) greater than 25 kg/m2 but less than 30 kg/m2 are considered overweight (Insel, Turner, Ross, 2009). The ways in which those who classify as ‘obese’ are perceived and portrayed by society are, within a Western society fixated on image and obsessed with reaching physical ‘perfection’, often negative and highly critical. The media plays a crucial role in shaping the idea’s and values our society holds. As we are constantly bombarded with images of ‘idealistically thin celebrities, it becomes evident that those who do not fit this normality are excluded from social acceptance and pressured into losing weight and fitting in. A recent article in the Sydney Morning Herald stated that; â€Å"while there was sympathy for underweight models because of possible eating disorders, those with overweight body shapes were blamed for not doing something to lose weight† (Gray, 2010). It is evident here that although there is some negativity urrounded with being ‘underweight’, super-thin models and celebrities continue to be represented as acceptable throughout the media, whereas those classified as ‘obese’ are rejected from mainstream society and blamed for not taking the initiative to lose weight. As we concentrate more on what is considered to be ‘physically attractive’, we lose sight of the various biological, genetic, and noncontrollable etiological factors (Puhl, Shwartz, Brownell, 2005) that relate towards obesity. Thus, negative stereotypes and stigmas are placed upon the obese, further strengthening heir label of deviancy. In a recent study conducted by Yale University, the perceived social consensus on attitudes toward obese people was tested. Three experiments were created towards educating the participants on the issue of obesity in hope of reducing the bias stereotypes and stigmas our society has successfully created towards the obese. (Puhl, Shwartz, Brownell, 2005). The study describes how the consensus attitude towards obesity prevents the reduction of stigmatizing and excluding the obese from mainstream society as people in general feel a sense of security and ‘approval’ in following the beliefs of the majority. Thus, if we as a society take greater acknowledgment in the causes of obesity and perhaps even empathize towards those labeled as obese; the idea of obesity as being a form of deviance could potentially shift throughout the long term. The ways in which the ‘obese’ are negative stigma held towards obesity by society at large. According to David F. Williamson of The New England Journal of Medicine (1999), it is crucial that doctors encourage greater weight loss towards obese patients as obese people are â€Å"twice as ikely to die from any cause as people of normal weight. † Society then not only recognizes obese people as being â€Å"obscene, lazy, slothful and gluttonous† (Adler, Adler 2000) but also as ill, and in a sense, ignorant towards the consequences of their poor state of health. As modern technology continues to develop and treatment options further increase, obesity becomes more and more deviant throughout society. Procedures such as ‘liposuction’ are becoming more available, with surgeries having increased 21 5 percent since 1992 (Naisbitt, Naisbitt, Philips 2001). Although ndergoing plastic surgery has not yet attained complete social acceptance, procedures such as liposuction reduce the consequence of the obese being labeled deviant due to their status. In contrast, the way obese people perceive and view themselves is largely impacted by the constant discrimination and criticism carried out by society at large. Although it can be said that in the presence of other obese people there is a greater sense of acceptance and understanding, the self-representation of obese people is generally negative and painful. According to an article on ABC news, one obese female stated hat â€Å"(you feel like) you have no right to exist as you are. Feeling as though this body is an outlaw body’ (Stark, 2004). The majority of obese people often view themselves as outsiders to the social norms of image and feel as though there is a ‘culture of blame’ (AN’, 2008) constantly against them. There have been studies undergone which illustrate the reluctance amongst obese patients to seek preventive health care services due to the embarrassment of their weight, and perhaps even the feeling of being criticized by physicians (Fontaine, Faith, Allison, & Cheskin cited in Puhl, Shwartz, Brownell, 2005). This clearly shows that obese people themselves are not content within their condition and recognize their deviant label within society. Although they inevitably feel the pressure to lose weight, the embarrassment of yet again being Judged and criticized by healthcare professionals prevents them from doing so. The Functionalist approach to deviance can be applied to obesity in many ways. Functionalism was developed by Emile Durkheim and illustrates how the institutes within society function and maintain social equilibrium. A functionalist analysis of eviance begins with looking at society as a whole rather than focusing on the individual. â€Å"It looks for the source of deviance in the nature of society rather than the biological explanations or psychological nature of the individual† (Covington, 1999). In this regard, applying functionalism to obesity becomes difficult as obesity is initially a personal health concern. Both biological and psychological aspects contribute towards obesity which then labels the individual as deviant, proving that rather than focusing on the nature of society at large for explanations on deviancy, it is equally ital to focus on the obese individual to understand their deviant label. Inevitably, this can be recognized as a weakness within the functionalist argument. In contrast, applying functionalism to obesity presents much strength in understanding why education have had to shift and develop in order to combat the obesity epidemic and create greater equilibrium within Western society. Australian schools have recognized the deviant nature of obesity, mainly due to its associated health risks, and have recently began enforcing healthy eating and exercise habits (Hareyan, 006). School systems have recognized that many families are unable to teach their children healthy habits, so have taken upon this role to maintain the social order within society. Alongside this, there has been a vast increase in weight-loss alternatives (rather than simply the gym, or perhaps surgery) to suit the modern, working individual. ‘Quick weight loss pills and detox diets are now more on the market than ever before and are available to anyone willing to pay. Functionalism revolves around creating solutions to maintain social order, and in regards to obesity, any actions have been taken as obesity is seen as a deviant act which disrupts the balanced functioning of society. In conclusion, obesity has been labeled as a deviant act within modern Western society as it violates what the consensus recognizes as ‘normal’ behaviour. It is increasingly less acceptable with those carrying the status left facing the consequences of social Judgment and exclusion. In applying the functionalist theory, the deviant nature of obesity can be further outlined and understood as a problematic issue within contemporary society.

Antebellum Period And American History - 1548 Words

Antebellum Period, Art The Antebellum period is generally spoken of as the years arranging from the acquisition of the Constitution, all the way to the American Civil War. This is a period in American history that is remarkable for its incredible magnitude of changes in the country’s history; industrial revolution, westward expansion, women’s history, and transportation revolution to name a few. Leaving aside all the rebellions, treaty’s, and massacres. The pages to follow will mainly focus on the Antebellum Fine Arts. The amazing world of literature, marvelous drawings, and beautiful music. All part of this era that marked history forever. Since the very beginning of the Antebellum, American literature was being touched by the early forms of structure in books and authors. Before the Antebellum period, literature was not original; it was either imported from Europe or inspired by other writings. But America started to create a new type of literature, this type of writings was basically just biographies, autobiographies and history books of the American Revolution heroes. But it was also normal to see authors writing fictional stories such as Moby Dick, The Last of the Mohicans, and Sleepy Hollow. The American literature started slow in the middle of the ninetieth century. Books were being written and changed as the wars and revolutions started to spread inside the country’s plains. Many of these inscriptions were either lost or burned in the wars that were taking place, butShow MoreRelatedP eter Kolchin : American Slavery review1708 Words   |  5 PagesKolchin is a history professor at the University of Delaware. In 1970, Kolchin received a degree from John Hopkins University. He now specializes in nineteenth-century U.S. history, the South, slavery and emancipation, and comparative history. 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