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Religion: Hinduism
A religion known more in South Asia, India and Nepal. Hinduism has no actual founder, scripture, or an agreed set of guidelines. Some claim that its core feature is belief in an impersonal Supreme, but key strands have long described and worshipped a personal God. Outsiders slate Hindus as being polytheistic, adherents claim to be monotheists. It isn’t a single religion but embraces many traditions these elements stretch back many thousands of years, making it in ways, the oldest living religion -
Visual Art: Massacre of Innocents
Peter Paul Rubens' painting of Herod's order to kill every young male in Bethlehem. This is as shown in the Gospel of Matthew. The painting was created in 1611 on an 142 cm x 182 cm panel with oil paint. I believe this is important for viewers because it signifies that those in power are never so innocent themselves. -
Visual Art: The Night Watch
A 1642 painting during the Dutch Golden Age by Rembrandt. This is a 11′11″ x 14′4″ painting of guardsmen that serve as defenders of their city. Their presence were was usually required during upscale events and each company had its own guild hall or shooting range which were said to be filled with group portraits of most distinguished members. This painting is important because it gives a man a sense of pride and civic duty. -
Performing Art: The King and I
https://youtu.be/xY9LJQxDcjU
A musical by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. This performance is of a widow who is summoned with her son to the Royal Palace in Bangkok to tutor the King's children and wives. The king then seeks for change within himself. The lesson learned from this is that two different values can grow to understand and respect one another. -
Performing Art: Macbeth
A play written by William Shakespeare. It was thought to have been first performed in 1606. Play that portrays the damage that can occur from physical and psychological effects on those seeking power through ambition. Macbeth commits a number of crimes in order to reach a foreseen prophecy. In the end all came back to haunt him and his supportive wife. The best lesson to take from this play is that you will always reap what you sew, no matter how long it may take. -
Literature: Happiness by Colin Ian Jeffery
Reaching the end of the poem, the reader learns that this was a feeling brought on by a once lover. The theme is to explain just how flexible love is. This is learned by the first sentence, “Happiness is elusive like the wind”. By the end, poem happiness isn’t even around anymore, “And though folly lost all to loneliness”. A purple storm is like sadness, and it is great that happiness was still found. This seemed to give joy and hope to the poet, as if he could overcome anything with happiness -
Literature: Anna Karenina
Novel by Russian writer Leo Tolstoy during 1873-1877. This novel is about love affairs. As one relationship is convinced out of a divorce the next is on the edge of one. For the sake of Ana’s love for her son she does not immediately. Though, she is later shunned and now considers following through, but this drives her into a downward spiral. Where she has no son, no friends, and a working husband she then commits suicide. -
Religion: Buddhism
Buddhism is more of a way of life rather than being a religion. A Buddhist takes a path to lead a moral life, be mindful and aware of thoughts and actions, and to develop wisdom and understanding. The original Buddha, Siddhartha Gotama in 563 BC, meditated for six years and found the true path of happiness and used the rest of his years to teaching the principles of Buddhism; also called the Dhamma. This explains a purpose to life that leads to true happiness. -
History: Rwandan Genocide
A genocide that occurred at Rwanda during 1994. The Rwandan population was split into two. This split is what had always created a divide in relation of the two based on appearances. The Hutu, majority population, had then attempted to exterminate the Tutsi, minority population. There were hundreds of thousands Rwandans murdered and many were displaced from home. It is important to understand what a simple action can do to one nation. -
History: Ancient Israel
The Kingdom of Israel occupied the land on the Mediterranean Sea corresponding roughly to the State of Israel of modern times. The region was also known as Canaan. Contains many biblical events and figures, such as the book Exodus telling us of the leader Moses. Stories of previous creation can help give instructions on how we need to live. -
Philosophy: Beauty
“Beauty itself is but the sensible image of the infinite” said the historian George Bancroft. Though beauty is in the eye of the beholder. It is that in which brings enjoyment to the one who looks. Hard to contemplate if natural beauty is ever better than the constructed beauty. Beauty is what you make it, beauty is more found within. We choose not to see brains over beauty in today’s society. -
Philosophy: Existentialism
A philosophy that emphasizes individual existence, freedom, and choice. It is the view that humans define their own meaning in life, making it rational despite an irrational universe. Existentialism came of age in the mid-20th Century. Existentialism believes that individuals are entirely free and must take personal responsibility for themselves.
