Awesome Art

How can art be a mirror of Society?

Art is a very good mirror of society because it can reflect parts of different times and also cultures. When an artists paints a piece of artwork he doesn't just draw for fun but she/he always puts a purpose to them. For example, The School of Athens by Rapahel wasn't drawn because he felt like painting some men, he drew it to show that change and new knowledge was being taught and spread and that people from different cultures interacted with others. By painting it had given us an idea of how society has changed or how it was. Art is a mirror of society because all of the scenes of daily is painted. We have used pieces of art to study society. Also, artwork like The Birth of Venus by Botticelli shows how people started to think and show their new ways towards life and art. This painting shows that people started to return to old mythical characters or stories other than the church. Art is an excellent mirror and can reflect a lot about society.


The part of the painting that I would want to be is the man called Diogenes of Sinope. Diogenes of Sinope is the person on his own lying down on the stairs with the blue robes. I would like to be this part because he seems the type of person that likes to be laid back but at the same time gets on with things, this is because he is looking lazy but also doing his work (he is reading). This is exactly what I do in class and with my homework. I tend to take things easy but at the same time I am working. I also would like to be him, is because Diogenes is alone and to himself. When I am doing anything I usually like to be on my own or do things by myself. I can tend to get distracted while working in group projects or group discussions therefore I would prefer to isolate myself from all the commotion. Plus, I like to be the team leader, but at times it can be hard because usually people can be very stubborn and annoying. I prefer to take on leadership on in sports like football. To add, in the painting most of the small groups all seem to be listening to one person whereas Diogenes is by himself. I feel that I suit this part because it represents my mood towards work and other people.

Tip-Top Tiles

The part in the painting that I would like to be are the tiles on the ground. I like this part of the painting because I think that the tiles stand out more than everything else. There is nothing else in the painting which are similar to them therefore I like its individuality. Another reason why I would like to be them is that their perspective has been done very well. They make your eyes trail up to the focus point. The tiles also look very clean because in the painting there is a mop which tells us that it is kept clean. Hence it would be nice to be clean. Furthermore, the style and colours are very admirable and they make the rest of the room grander and bigger. The pattern reminds me of a chess board and I like chess. I like this part of the painting very much and I it is clearly the best and most attractive part of 'The Letter'.

Leonardo Da Vinci

Renaissance means rebirth. Renaissance is a word used to describe an era of change, new ideas and questions. Some famous people from the Renaissance era can be described as true Renaissance men, for example, Leonardo Da Vinci. By observing and reading about him (from textbooks and exhibitions) we can see that Leonardo Da Vinci is a true Renaissance man because he possesses the character traits of one. Starting at a young age, Leonardo was extremely curious about the environment around him. He would study and sketch everything he saw and he also wrote about them and described them. Leonardo was clearly asking questions and attempting to answer them. When I went to his exhibition I saw his many inventions which shows that he was very creative and tried to rebirth ideas and redefine the old ones. For example, he was always interested in water movement, air movement and flight. Some of his flying inventions are designed in the shape of a bird and his mathematical formula was based on how he believed birds flew; he invented a parachute but noone was brave enough to try it out.

Leonardo Da Vinci; A true Renaissance Man

Ever since we have started learning about the Leonardo I was always interested in why he was so famous and was called a genius. After I had left the amazing exhibition I have become very excited about learning more about him and looking deeper into his work. Out of all his unbelievable inventions and art, I thought my favourite work of him are his sketches of the human body; internal and external. However, my favourite sketch of the human body is the picture of the arm muscles. I find how he has drawn each muscle so perfectly and detailed which makes us give us an idea of how complex our body is and it gives us the bigger picture of oursleves. It shows me that Leonardo was a very good drawer and he was a man in the Renaissance how loved to think about the world and questioned and challenged things thought to be impossible.

Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln is one of the most famous presidents of the United States of America. Abraham was a very patient man. Even though he was elected president it took him a very long time to do so. When Abraham reached the age of 31 he failed his buisness and the following year he failed to join the Legislative Race. Over the next six years he faced many let downs like having breakdowns, overcoming his lovers death, failing in work and not being elected. You would probably think that he would have dropped everything he started, or have done other things. However, Abraham Lincoln carried on attempting to progress in his work but unfortuantely was let down in the next 20years. Most of these letdowns were from losing congressional races and one time he didn't become the vice president. When Abraham Lincoln turned 60 he was elected president for America and led the country through the Civil War. Abraham Lincoln was extremely patient during his middle years and kept himself together because he believed in himself and it that it would all work out in the end. It shows that people can do things if they work hard and proves that good does come out of everything.

Patience is a Virtue

Patience

Patience gazed upon a sea of sand,
Bearing only what she had worn yesterday.
Blowing sanguine kisses to what she is waiting for.



Paulo Coelho has used patience to symbolize love and it's moral to the world. In 'The Alchemist' patience is represents itself through Fatima. Fatima is a woman of the desert and a woman of the desert is extremely patient because they must wait for their men to return for long periods of time. This demonstrates that everybody can be patient even when it occurs through a difficult time. Patience is represented through Fatima and she carries out the qualities and aspects of Patience. In three main religions, Christianity, Judaism and Islam, patience is included in their virtues in life. In Christianity, patience is considered one of the most valuable virtues of life and is included in the 'Seven Virtues'. In Judaism, patience is conspicuous theme in Judaism. Jews also have strong patience in God. In Islam, it is believed that if you are patient, you are closer to Allah. Observing that patience is powerfully connected to the main religions, Santiago can use it to become closer to God. Altogether, patience is also to compel people to become a better person and to become closer to God.

How are you a Participant in your Destiny?

William Costley
September 16, 2009.
Humanities Pink
Ms. Smith

The Boy’s Name was Santiago


“Love is the flacon’s flight over your sands. Because for him, you are a green field, from which he always returns with game. He knows you rocks, your dunes, and your mountains, and you are generous to him.” (Coelho 138). Santiago is a Spanish shepherd travelling the lands of the Andalusia country side, living his destiny. Little does Santiago know that his future will lead him to experience exciting adventures, such as interacting with different cultures, and overcoming and confronting challenging obstacles. Santiago completes his destiny by gaining knowledge, being brave and remaining positive.
During his journey, Santiago comprehends new thoughts and ideas. To begin with, Santiago has to understand various omens to progress further into his destiny. When King Melchizedek introduces the omens to Santiago, he starts to follow them and use them to pursue his destiny. By following the omens, Santiago is taken to a crystal merchant and there Santiago understands omens more deeply and understands how omens work. While working with the crystal merchant he realizes that he himself is an omen and he is bringing the crystal shop good business. Santiago then starts to read more complex omens, in particular, when Santiago read the Flight of the Birds which told him about the coming army. Secondly, Santiago understands and knows the Language of the World. On page 88 Santiago describes, “When he looked into her dark eyes, and saw that her lips we poised between laugh and silence, he learned the most important part of the language that all spoke – the language that everyone one on earth was capable of understanding in their heart. It was love.” Santiago is thinking this when he sees Fatima (his love) for the first time. By finding love he understands that it is love that can be understood by everyone and by understanding the Language of the World he is able to understand the Soul of the World. He also uses his knowledge of love to transform himself into wind. Santiago meets an Englishman who teaches him about Alchemy. Santiago discovers that the most important text of alchemy contained only a few lines engraved on the Emerald Tablet furthermore by understanding the tablet you are able to achieve the Master Work; the Philosophers Stone and the Elixir of Life. By understanding Alchemy Santiago is capable of communicating with the Soul of the World. Santiago can comprehend numerous concepts to reach the Soul of the World
Furthermore, Santiago faces dangerous and difficult times and so he has to be courageous throughout all of them. One of the toughest times for Santiago was when he had to leave Fatima to pursue his treasure in Egypt, since Santiago thought that his treasure was Fatima and assumed that he should stay in Al Fayoum. However, the Alchemist had reasoned out Santiago’s options and this gave Santiago an extremely big decision to make. Santiago bravely chooses to follow his destiny because he learns that love never keeps a man from pursuing his destiny. Another way Santiago is brave, is when he explains his reading of the omen with the hawks and the vision of the army. He fears that the tribal chieftains will laugh at him; therefore he is afraid to tell them his vision of the army. Santiago uses his courage to confront the chieftains and tell them what he saw. As a result of telling them, they say they will kill him if his vision is not correct. Santiago is very courageous during this time because he does not flee the oasis in fear of death but believes in himself and in the omen. “I’m not afraid of failing. It’s just that I don’t know how to turn myself into wind” Santiago states that he is not scared but just does not know how to complete this task. Santiago is clearly brave through his task, and is showing know signs of fear. This allows him to consider his possibilities plus give hope and mentality to achieve this ‘impossible’ charge. By being courageous Santiago can now pass through obstacles with ease and optimism.
Santiago faces difficult and exasperating moments in life. However, he remains optimistic and audacious. Santiago is blocked by a (another) difficult decision in life and has to revaluate his options. He must choose the prime choice in his life, when he must pick his obsession for the merchant’s daughter or his destiny. Instead of panicking and deciding out of panic, Santiago thinks it through and realizes that merchants’ daughters usually go for bakers and with the presence of Melchizedek and Melchizedek’s observations, Santiago made up his mind based on the positive outcomes. He chooses to go and follow his destiny and leave his past fantasy behind. Santiago is also in a situation of risk when he is going to describe his vision to the oasis chieftains. Thinking that they are going to mock him, Santiago doesn’t avoid this but asks for advice from the camel driver and like the other people Santiago has met, the camel driver gives him good points and bad points. The camel driver tells Santiago that the tribal chieftains are used the omens of the desert, he also explains that they know if Allah wants them to know something somebody will tell them and that that someone is Santiago. Now, Santiago then reviews them and thinking of the good outcomes he goes and tells the chieftains. Another superior motivation for Santiago was that he thought of Fatima and if the vision was real; then Fatima’s life will be lost. It is necessary for Santiago to be optimistic or else his decisions cannot be made wisely and rigorous.
Throughout his journey, Santiago has managed to find love, confront complex obstacles and master different culture by using his foremost character traits. His bravery assisted him by conquering various challenges and hardships whereas the same time he comprehends other concepts. Various, concepts acquire knowledge and forces Santiago over his capable limits; he is optimistic throughout all of them. He succeeds in achieving his destiny and is now the Master of both Worlds. Anyone can pursue their destiny if they believe in themselves and the others around them. What is your Destiny? Do not give up in your dreams; they could transform into reality.








The characteristic that will help me thrive in my destiny is enthusiasm. While doing fun and challenging work I genuinely aspire to take it on and complete in with no troubles. By being enthusiastic I am able to work and cooperate well and nicely with my other group members. When I am older I know that when I am enthusiastic, it will help me work faster. Also, many people like to have enthusiastic co-workers and as I am enthusiastic, people will want to work with me and this will get people to like me more. Enthusiasm is assisting me a lot because it is making me move forward in many ways. For example, I am starting to participate more effectively in my Spanish class, which has given me a fairly good grade. In sports I am learning to be more of a team player and being enthusiastic amongst them, will motivate them to try harder. During a football match against Garden International School when we went down I noticed that my team mates heads were down and they looked like they had lost the game entirely. Noticing this I told them to try harder and not to give in. By saying this, we managed to concede two other goals. By being enthusiastic I can pursue my destiny and others destinies, like Santiago, he used his important character traits and successfully fulfills his dreams.