The Villa Of Mysteri Essays - Greco-Roman Mysteries,

The Villa Of Mysteri they heard the crash of falling roofs; an instant more and the mountain-cloud seemed to roll towards them, dark and rapid, like a torrent; at the same time, it cast forth from its bosom a shower of ashes mixed with vast fragments of burning stone! Over the crushing vines- over the desolate streets- over the amphitheatre itself- far and wide- with many a mighty splash in the agitated sea- fell that awful shower Even though destroyed by Mt. Vesuvius August 24, 79AD, The Villa of Mysteries is full of Pompeian artifacts. The famous mural featuring the cult of Dionysus is amongst this 55room villa. Villa of Mysteries was once flourishing with plant life, bronzed statues, and people working and living in and around the villa. The frescoes in the Villa of Mysteries provide us the opportunity to glimpse something important about the rites of passage for these privileged women of Pompeii. The interior design of the homes or villa's were not paintings hanging from nails, but they were painted actually onto the wall. The cult of Dionysus is one of these painted murals founded in the Villa of Mysteries, the frieze is 10 ft high and 56 ft long. The term mysteries refers to secret initiation rites of the Classical world. The mural exploits the Initiation rites, which; were originally ceremonies to help individuals ?grow up?. This ceremony was designed to bring women into the marrying stage of life. Occasionally a priest or priestess guided the initiate through the ritual; and at the end of the ceremony the initiate was welcomed into the group with open arms. Villa of Mysteries seem to be aimed at preparing privileged, protected girls for the psychological transition to life as married women. The frescoes in the Villa of Mysteries provide us the opportunity to glimpse something important about the rites of passage for these privileged women of Pompeii. (Scene 1) Their bodies seem to be very relaxed, in an open standing position. With the vibrant scarlet Pompeian background that has lasted over 2000 years, and still has a faint shininess to its color. A red so rich, rich like blood. First figure holds a piece of her cloth very elegantly and seductively to cover a gap in her dress, but to those in the cult she is revealing a something under her garment. Her position is reminiscent of one who is about to execute the steps of a martial art in which the purpose of standing loosely centered is to be able to move easily in response into whatever comes. This figure is the beginning of 10 movements throughout the mural. The figures have movement they precede in a single file line along the walls. She eagerly listens to the story of a drama from a small, naked wild child; he reveals the instructed tales of what happens to Dionysus and those who are impelled to follow him. These boots suggest sacrifice in this Dionysian tradition where kids (goats) wer e booted at birth in preparation for ritual death. The next figure along the mural looks back at the naked boy, yet has movement towards Dionysus's throne while she carries objects towards the priestess. (Scene 2) Next a Papposilenus plays on his lyre, while another member of the thiasos brings a veiled basket. Another pours pure water as a blessing for those who are about to be initiated into the cult. We know that we are still in a place of instruction because of the scroll tucked into the tunic of the attendant to the right of the high priestess. This scene shows us some of the objects used in the initiation process. Women throughout the mural take on different roles some look like they are watching, though some are partaking in the details of ritual helping the adolescent Roman brides into womanhood. In many rituals, this regression, assisted by music, is requisite to achieving a psychological state necessary for rebirth and regeneration. This leads us to the next scene where the initiate learns how she is to become closer to nature. (Scene 3) The realization of nature is among the initiate now, a Pan nursing a kid shows this. While another Pan

american essays

spanish/american essays Our trade has suffered, the capital invested by our citizens in Cuba has been largely lost, and the temper and forbearance of our people have been so sorely tried as to beget a perilous unrest among our own citizens, which has inevitably found its expression from time to time in the National Legislature, so that issues wholly external to our own body politic engross attention and stand in the way of that close devotion to domestic advancement that becomes a self-contained commonwealth whose primal maxim has been the avoidance of all foreign entanglements. All this must needs awaken, and has, indeed, aroused, the utmost concern on the part of this Government, as well during my predecessor's term as in my own Said President William McKinley in his War Message (McKinley's War Message 6). Many people believe in the concept of a just war as defined by the seven principles, others would argue that the concept of a just war remains very subjective, and still others argue, usually for mora l or religious reasons, that war can never be justified. NEED TO PUT LETTER C IN The Spanish-American War was between the United States and Spain in 1898. The virtual annihilation of indigenous peoples within the continental United States by the early 1900's allowed national attention to turn outward. Interest in developing markets in China and plans for a canal through Central America set the stage for a new level of expansionist strategizing. The Caribbean was a region with a strong economic relationship to the U.S., and had long been regarded by many as a natural extension of our republic. By the late 1890's American citizens owned about fifty million dollars' worth of Cuban property, primarily in the sugar, tobacco, and iron industries. By the late nineteenth century the nation was left only a few scattered possessions in the Pacific, Africa, and the West Indies. Much of the empire had gained its independence and a number o...

An essay of the novel Stalin's Barber Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

An of the novel Stalin's Barber - Essay Example Although Stalin was a man in possession of enormous political power, deep inside he was very insecure. Some consider him to be suffering from paranoia and delusion. Having made many enemies during his rapid ascent to the highest office, Stalin was ever fearful of retaliation from his enemies. He constantly feared the threat of assassination and did his best to minimize the chances. Toward this end, Stalin deployed body doubles of his during public events. In case an assassination attempt is made, he would thus survive. The plaster of Paris busts in the basement must have been models or dummies serving as his decoy. By all accounts, Stalin’s reign as the premier of the USSR was a terrifying one for the population. He is surely one of the most feared dictators of the 20th century, second only to Adolf Hitler (who was, ironically, defeated by Stalin). The summary executions, curtailment of several fundamental human rights (including freedom of speech) and intolerance toward dissenters were abominable features of the Stalin years. Stalin was thus a monster in terms of his practice. But when it came to rhetoric he was a seasoned politician. He paid lip service to the superiority of State over the individual, imploring his fellow countrymen to put the interests of their country above their own interests. This is a ploy to mellow down the citizeny and condition them to not raise any critical questions. When the sustenance of the State is put above concerns for individual human rights, social unrest is nipped in the bud. It is thus an effective strategy to control the population by invoking all egiance to a vague notion of patriotism. In the politically surcharged years of the Russian revolution, it was understandable why several conspiracies were hatched. There was mistrust, opportunism and exploitation even among stakeholders of the revolution, let alone the

Legal Analysis Memo Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Legal Analysis Memo - Case Study Example Did police officers uphold the 4th amendment of the United States constitution, when they entered Mr. Smith’s home without a warrant, simply after investigating an noise complaint and observing what were thought to be illegal activities through the window, then seizing Marijuana, Cocaine and unregistered firearms? Do police have enough evidence to convict him of distribution? The state should be allowed to use the evidence gained, because Mr. Blake does not have a reasonable expectation for privacy within Mr. Smith’s home. They do not have enough evidence to convict Mr. Blake with possession of firearms because the firearms could have belonged to anyone. They also do not have enough evidence to convict him with distribution of cocaine, because the act of him transferring a white bag to someone else is ambiguous, and there is not enough evidence to corroborate the crime. Rule: The 4th amendment of the United States Constitution provides: The right of the people to be sec ure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and Warrants shall not be issued, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized (US Constitution). However, the owner of the property may consent to the search. Also the person must have a reasonable expectation of privacy. In Minnesota Vs. Carter, the courts ruled that a guest at another person’s residence does not have a reasonable expectation of privacy (unless they are spending the night), and thus are not protected under the forth amendment (Minnesota vs. Carter). Also, officers are allowed to seize anything in plain view during lawful observation. Analysis: On the grounds that police officers made observations through the window before Mr. Smith authorized a search of his property, Mr. Blake could file a motion to have all evidence stemming from thos e observations to be discarded under the 4th amendment. However, if the court grants that motion the evidence will stand, because as seen in Minnesota Vs. Carter, if you are a guest in another person’s home, you do not have a reasonable expectation of privacy and you are not protected under the fourth amendment (Minnesota vs. Carter). Even though Mr. Blake runs a business with Mr. Smith in the basement of the home, it still is not technically his home, and according to Minnesota vs. Carter, you are given a significantly less expectation of privacy in the commercial arena anyhow (Minnesota vs. Carter). Thus the evidence observed from the window as well as the evidence found after Mr. Smith consented for the officers to enter the home can be used in court. The firearms were in plain view when the police entered the home, so those can be used as well. Even though the evidence must stand, there is not enough evidence to convict Mr. Blake of all of the crimes he is being charged w ith. The police report states they â€Å"observed Mr. Blake hand a baggie of white powder to someone standing near the couch.† They then found a large amount of cocaine in Blake’s possession, cash, and a small amount of cocaine in a stranger’s possessions. While the law states that the government need not prove he received anything of value in return, the fact that they didn’t see him receive anything makes it tough to prove he was actually distributing the cocaine. While not the most intuitive explanation, it’

Black People and Racism Essay Example for Free

Black People and Racism Essay â€Å"There are hundred of races in the world. Unfortunately, for as long as human have existed, we have enslave those weaker, of those we perceived to be weaker than ourselves†(thinkquest). Racism is everywhere, and we often see it on the streets and schools. There are many short stories and poems that are termed as racist. â€Å"On Being Told I Don’t Speak Like a Black Person† by Allison Joseph, â€Å" Sonny’s Blue† by James Baldwin, and â€Å" Blink Your Eyes† by Sekou Sundiata are renaissance works that show the issues of racism that black people had lived and are still living today. In â€Å"On Being Told I Don’t Speak Like a Black Person† by Allison Joseph, the author tells the story about a young Negro whose mother received brutal treatment in her school in England. In the beginning, Allison says: â€Å"Emphasize the â€Å"h†, you hignorant ass†(557). This shows that the â€Å"h† is sarcastic, and the â€Å"tone condescending intensifies racism†(Caroline). They might have used the emphasis of â€Å"h† to humiliate the negro, to make them feel bad about their skin color, and to show the negro that they cannot fit in the white society even if they become educated. Negros have suffered horrible experiences. Allison wrote about the way teachers treated Negro in school. She says: â€Å" †¦teachers slapped her open palm with a ruler in that Jamaican schoolroom†(557). Allison’s mother lived under a white teacher’s pressure, and the teachers showed this negra that she will never learn how to speak like the whites, and they can spank her because she is black, and blacks cannot do anything against the teachers because the whites have the power and the Negro is a submissive servant. In addition, Allison also shows her own life in the United States. Allison is a black person living in the United States, and she sees people discriminating her because she does not act like a black person. Allison writes: â€Å" And I didn’t sound like a Black American, college acquaintance observed, sure they knew that a black person was supposed to sound like. Was I supposed to sound lazy† (557) Allison shows that America’s society judge the black just for their skin color, and most white people see the Negro as lazy, and do not work to bring money home, do not go to school, and do not know how to speak. For example, some restaurant servers prejudice the Negro when they walk into the restaurant by making their own assumption that the table with Negro will not leave any tip. However, in many cases, they are wrong because the table with Negro might leave more tip than a table with white people. Racism is not gone. The Negro is still facing it today, but racism today is expressed differently than it was in the renaissance era. During the renaissance in Harlem, the Negro did not have enough opportunities for their future due to racism. In â€Å"Sonny’s Blue† by James Baldwin, the author tells the story of two black brothers born in Harlem, and the older brother losses communication with his young brother, Sonny. The older brother is the narrator of the short story. Later on, they reconnect due to news the narrator receives about Sonny’s prison. Before the narrator reconnects his life back to his brother, he shows many problems both had because they are Negro. Racism is evident throughout the story. The narrator wrote about Sonny’s friend. â€Å"And now, even though he was a grown-up man, he still hung around that block, still spend hours on the street corners, was always high and raggy†(310). It shows that the Negro do not have opportunities to become successful in life. The Negro has barriers between them and the outside world, which prevent most negro to obtain education or skills, and they are obligated to live on the streets corners asking for money, using drugs and stealing. In addition, the narrator also shows how racism affect the education of a negro which can be describe as Sonny’s choice of life. Sonny choice of life relates to the lack of opportunities black people have during the renaissance in Harlem. After the death of Sonny’s mother, the narrator tries to open Sonny’s mind, and advises him to finish school. In the kitchen talking to Sonny, the narrator writes: â€Å"I want to join the army. Or the navy, I don’t care. If I say I’m old enough, they’ll believe me†(321). Sonny already knows that there aren’t opportunities for him. He is forced to choose among necessities; he sees the army as the only opportunity open for Negro to escape from the streets. On the other hand, the school will give him the degree, but he does not believe that it will help him find a good job. He already knows that there are no doors open for the Negro. However, the narrator disagrees with Sonny. They are still in the kitchen talking about Sonny’s future. â€Å"†¦ But if you don’t finish school now, you’re going to be sorry later that you didn’t†(321). His brother is showing him that he can fight against racism, and he can find opportunities for his life. For example, His brother â€Å"denied† racism, and he gained education and skills to become an algebra teacher, but Sonny does not see it, and he chooses to live on the street like his â€Å"friend†. In addition to the lack of opportunity, black people are more often to be discriminate in traffic than whites. In the poem, â€Å"Blink Your Eyes† by Sekou Sundiata, the author shows the reader a Negro is stopped by the police officer because he is black even though the Negro didn’t do anything wrong. The author writes about the red light. â€Å"But the Law said I was on my way thru a red light red light red light†(582). The following passage, the red light means that this area is not for Negro. It is a neighborhood where white people live, and black people around can be seen as a threat to their place. However, this is not an excuse for the officer to stop this person. Sundiata let the reader know that â€Å"†¦In other words the light was green†(582). The green light is open only for the white society; the Negro does not have chances to go to another level, so the door â€Å"always† will close for them. After the officer stops the negro, Sundiata writes: â€Å" Why did you stop me? Somebody had to stop you I watch the news, you always lose. You’re unreliable, that’s undeniable† (583). The white society do not want to let the negro have opportunities in life, and the negro will be always seen as a threat to the society, and the white society does not need them. The negro does not have the power to stop racism, and it will always be part of their life. However, it is changing. The negro has more voice today than in the past, and they are more recognized. For example, Oscar Grant’s case where a young black guy was murdered by a police officer by â€Å"mistake†. People see it as a â€Å"racism murder† (Jessie). Fortunately, the justice was made for his family. This shows us that Racism is not completely gone. The three stories from the Renaissance show us that black people had suffered racism for many years. From being stereotyped as lazy and uneducated, to not having opportunities to succeed in life and not being accepted by the white society, the Negro has had a difficult journey to improve their situation. Even though today racism is not as prominent as in the Renaissance, we still see some signs of racism that are not completely gone. Works Cited: Sundiata, Sekou. â€Å"Blink Your Eyes†. Approaching Literature. Peter Schakel and Jack Ridl – New York Bedford and Martin’s, 2008. Joseph, Allison. â€Å" On Being Told I Don’t Speak Like a Black Person†. Approaching Literature. Peter Schakel and Jack Ridl – New York Bedford and Martin’s, 2008. Baldwin, James. â€Å" Sonny’s Blue†. Approaching Literature. Peter Schakel and Jack Ridl – New York Bedford and Martin’s, 2008. Jessie. â€Å" Racism The Murder of Oscar Grand III†. Racism Review Blog 17 Jan. 2010 http://www. racismreview. com/blog/2009/01/07/racism-the-murder-of-oscar-grant-iii/ Think Quest. â€Å"Common Prejudice†. http://library. thinkquest. org/C006274/race/intro. html .

Abortion - An Unborn Child is a Human Being! :: abortion argumentative persuasive argument

Abortion - An Unborn Child is a Human Being! The founding of entire nation was forged on the principle that all men are created equal under the law. This is the essence of our Declaration of Independance and the philosophy behind the Constition. We, through history, have made certain that ALL people in this country have equality before the law. We have set uup the premise that all people are equal before the law. Lady Justice is blind to Race, Religion, _________ . We have declared that there is no such thing as sub-humans -- and that NO human being's rights are superior to another human being. If we want to live by the premises that we set up in this country, then we cannot overlook ANY human being -- NO ONE can be excluded. There are, however, a human beings that is ignored the protection to thier rights to life everyday. The aborted children. I dare the negative to PROVE that a child in her mother's wound is alive! Does the negative actually believe that a human being is alive when and only when a human being has fully developed? If this is true, then most of here are not alive. The human specie is only fully grown at adulthood, many of us here are not adults yet -- and by that definition, it wouldn't matter if your shot and killed on the street because "your not fully developed". We are a stage in development -- teenager -- just like a child is, just like a toddler is, just like an old man is, and just like a aborted child is. There is no magical transformation that occurs when a child is born. He has the same basic needs to survive before he is born, and the same needs after he is born. The negative is going to attempt to make you believe that the differnce in quality of a unborn child is so great that these children do not resemble what we call alive. They want you to believe that a unborn child cannot feel pain. Can an unborn child feel pain? If it can, then does that not resemble life? If they do successfully make you accept this

Cross cultural relations with film analysis

The movie â€Å"Boyz in the Hood† deals with issues of racism and cultural stereotyping. It also deals with issues of personal identification and ambition and the issue of equality in opportunity, regarding schools, money, jobs, and personal safety. The characters in â€Å"Boyz in the Hood† represent a diverse group of young African Americans who must find their way through a world of violence, poverty, gangs, drugs, and broken families.Throughout the movie, the audience is reminded that many of the problems facing the movie's main characters are not of their choosing or making but are issues and problems which they have been made to deal with simply because of the circumstances of their birth, their skin color, and their socio-economic standing in society. Early on in the film, the audience is able to see Tre, Ricky, and Darin (Doughboy) as fairly typical kids who want to play football and enjoy being with one another.But Tre has already seen his house broken into, the three friends have passed by crime scenes and an impoverished neighborhood, There doesn't seem to be anywhere they can go to just be regular boys. Instead, they are made to be a part of crime and suffering from a very early age. The part of the movie that isn't actually shown, but the audience can imagine as a contrats is neighborhoods were kids can play and have parks and baseball games and not worry about gunfire or police or gangs or drugs.This vision which is not in the film, of a normal life, is the opposite of what the characters in the film have to deal with and the only difference is their racial origin, being African American. The characters in the movie as they get older seem to want to be a part of this â€Å"other† world, the world of whites and even though they remain true to their own cultural identities and participate in the â€Å"hood† culture, each of the characters seems to either want or is actively looking for a way out of the â€Å"hood. â€Å" Doughboy is sent to prison and looks to be the one who is most likely to become a thug. Still, due to the early scene in the movie where he is beaten up by an older kid who takes Ricky's football, the audience knows that Doughboy had to get tough in order to survive in the hood. It is almost as though his own acceptance of being a thug in the hood helps protect his brother, Ricky, and Trey from the violence around them in the hood. Later in the story, Doughboy's â€Å"fatherly† personality will start the chain of conflict that results in his brothers' death and eventually his own.But until that crises happens, Doughboy is like the father of the other two friends and the audience understands that despite his rough exterior he is really a compassionate person who sees a lot of potential in his brother and wants good things to happen for his friends and family. Because the characters in Boyz in the Hood, the main ones, are good people, the tragedies that happen to them are viewe d as not being of their making. Tre is stopped by an African American police officer who shoves his gun in his face and threatens to kill him simply because he, the police officer, does not like African Americans.Even though this is a short scene, it is a very important scene. It shows how an African American (the police officer) can be so alienated from their own race, and so hateful toward them that they actually become a part of the oppressive system which causes African Americans to suffer in poverty and be thought of as criminals and dangers to society. In the long run, Tre cannot bring himself to become an avenger for Ricky's murder. This is a demonstration that not all African Americans are alike, they are not prone to violence or revenge or gangs or shooting their enemies.Tre decides his life is more important than revenge. When he does so, he is both embracing his culture and refusing the more negative aspects of it. He is an African American who wants to improve his life a nd his family and his neighborhood and not become a thug like Doughboy even if he understands the reasons for Doughboy's actions. In each case, with the main characters of â€Å"Boyz in the Hood† their actions and options seem to be somehow influenced by the â€Å"white world† that they never really see.they aspire to become a part of that society and make good of their lives. They long for another life, but their life is filled with gunfire, helicopters, thugs, prostitutes, drugs, and violence. The reason they have been placed in such terrible circumstances are based in racism. The backdrop to the story is that white money-makers want to bring the property values in the Hood down as low as possible so they can but cheap real-estate; whites sell guns and liquor and drugs to the people in the Hood, but they would never set foot in the place themselves.There is no real sense of justice in â€Å"Boyz in the Hood† the only thing which comes close is when Doughboy do es kill the gang-bangers who killed Ricky. But even this is sad because it is not true justice but vigilantism and everyone knows Doughboy will be killed himself, eventually. The message is: no-one in official capacity care bout what happens to the people in the hood. In order to survive, they must often â€Å"lower† themselves, despite their best efforts, to the level of stereotype which has been used against them in a racially motivated way in the first place.