Thursday, January 30, 2020

The New Calendar Essay Example for Free

The New Calendar Essay As time changes, so does the calendar. In 1793, the Gregorian calendar was replaced by a new one. Dates were moved, months renamed and the number of days in a week increased. The reason for a new calendar in France was to change and fix what was wrong in the original calendar. People who were with the new calendar approved it, for it provided more work and and a better resting day. For those who were against the new calendar, claimed that it made working life more difficult and that it was against nature. The adoption of a new calendar was a major change during the French Revolution. The calendar was created by skilled astronomers and was believed to be correct. The new calendar was created to correct all the problems that were passed down to them for many generations. Many believed that the Gregorian calendar was corrupt and the vices should be corrected (Doc 9). The new calendar showed the character of the revolution. Exactness, simplicity, reason and philosophy was used to create the new calendar. They believed that the new calendar will soon increase commerce and trade through uniformity of weights and measures. The arts and history will need new measurements of time. All errors of routine, which have been passed down, will now be erased (Doc 5). They also believed that it would make farming much easier if the year was split up by seasons (Doc 4). This is bias because the people who created the new calendar probably were high class citizens and don’t know how hard labor was for the farmers and the affects of more work days. Many people were in favor of this new calendar and were strong supporters. Many believed that the church calendar was brought upon ignorant people and that its main purposed was to mark the progress of fanaticism, debasement of nations, persecution and disgust. Also that as time creates new history it needs to be written in a different way (Doc 2). Many supported the Tenth Day of the week. People enjoyed reciting deeds, reading republican accomplishments, and honoring the memory of generals who became martyrs. They claimed they gained virtue on their day of rest (Doc 6). Some where thankful for extra days of labor and less day of rest for the active people (Doc 9). This is bias because if you have an easy job you would want to go to work but if you were raised and worked as a farmer who has do endure ifficult days of hard labor, you would be against the new calendar. Most of the people were not in favor of this new change. Many believed that the new calendar makes it much harder to connect with neighboring countries and with the centuries before them. It creates an obstacle too difficult to overcome (Doc 3). This is bias because even though the countries may have some similarities, their traditions and customs will always be different. Farmers complained about having more days of labor and less days of rest. In the ten day weeks, nine days are work days and one day is a rest day. They said that it was unbearable work and that they need more rest days from the harsh labor (Doc 7). Some say that the new calendar was forced upon the people as an act of despotism and that the holidays and festivals were based on it and were detestable (Doc 8). They also complained that there weren’t enough days of worship and that the extra days of worship should be reduced so Sunday is more holy and that the prayers are accepted by God. This is bias because even if they turn that calendar back to the original, there is only one day of worship, the same as the new calendar. When the National Convention adopted the revolutionary calendar, there were many different reactions to this change. The reason for the new calendar was to create a change and fix all the errors with the Gregorian calendar. Many people thought the new calendar provided more work and production of goods and a better rest day. Those who were not in favor of this new calendar were against it because it created harder labor and less time for rest and worship. This ne calendar lasted through the republican era but was erased by Napoleon I in 1806.

Wednesday, January 22, 2020

The Art of Hybrid Writing Essay -- poetry, short stories

â€Å"From a very early age†¦I knew that when I grew up I should be a writer.†- George Orwell in ‘Why I Write’ (1965) As a writer, I am aware that there are different types ‘voices’ when it comes to their personal writing. During the course of this module I’ve learned a lot about my personal ‘voice’ and it has helped enhance my writing skills. For example, there will be times where I will have to force myself to write, even when I don’t have the motivation to; because sometimes I can get a great story or poem out of it. Other things that I have learned during this module are: old habits aren’t always the best and I should save my energy on keeping them around, and at times imitating the works of other writers can help teach new techniques I would not have learned in any other way. When I first started writing, I would write mostly poetry and sometimes short stories. I would usually take days to write a good poem, and weeks for a good story. Sometimes I would get so busy that I would put it off for a while and I wouldn’t get back to it for a month or so. Although ever since I started this course I had to use the time that was given to me, especially the rest of the week till the next class. As Dorothea Brande said in her book ‘Becoming a Writer’ in Chapter Six: â€Å"Decide for yourself when you will take the time for writing; for you are going to write in it.† I would usually write my stories at night, around 7:30-8pm since I that would be around the time I would have the sudden urge to write. When I wrote the first draft of ‘Good Deed’, I had started writing it around 8pm as I had planned that morning I would. While I was writing it, I thought it would take me a little less than an hour to write since I had the idea of what I wanted ... ...orothea Brande said in chapter ten in her book ‘Becoming a Writer’ â€Å" They [the words] are yours to use only when you have made them your own by full acquaintance and acceptance.† Even so, this semester has really thought me so many things in the period of twelve weeks. From learning what truly is my voice in writing, to kicking away old habits that would only do damage, and in the end, imitating can also help me improve certain aspects of my writing. This whole semester has been quite the rollercoaster in terms of this module, I learned so much and I will continue to keep learning from these lessons as I keep going forth my journey in university. Works Cited Brande, Dorothea, and John Gardner. Becoming a Writer. New York: J.P. Tarcher, 1981. Print.Orwell, George. Decline of the English Murder, and Other Essays. Harmondsworth, Eng.: Penguin, 1965. Print. The Art of Hybrid Writing Essay -- poetry, short stories â€Å"From a very early age†¦I knew that when I grew up I should be a writer.†- George Orwell in ‘Why I Write’ (1965) As a writer, I am aware that there are different types ‘voices’ when it comes to their personal writing. During the course of this module I’ve learned a lot about my personal ‘voice’ and it has helped enhance my writing skills. For example, there will be times where I will have to force myself to write, even when I don’t have the motivation to; because sometimes I can get a great story or poem out of it. Other things that I have learned during this module are: old habits aren’t always the best and I should save my energy on keeping them around, and at times imitating the works of other writers can help teach new techniques I would not have learned in any other way. When I first started writing, I would write mostly poetry and sometimes short stories. I would usually take days to write a good poem, and weeks for a good story. Sometimes I would get so busy that I would put it off for a while and I wouldn’t get back to it for a month or so. Although ever since I started this course I had to use the time that was given to me, especially the rest of the week till the next class. As Dorothea Brande said in her book ‘Becoming a Writer’ in Chapter Six: â€Å"Decide for yourself when you will take the time for writing; for you are going to write in it.† I would usually write my stories at night, around 7:30-8pm since I that would be around the time I would have the sudden urge to write. When I wrote the first draft of ‘Good Deed’, I had started writing it around 8pm as I had planned that morning I would. While I was writing it, I thought it would take me a little less than an hour to write since I had the idea of what I wanted ... ...orothea Brande said in chapter ten in her book ‘Becoming a Writer’ â€Å" They [the words] are yours to use only when you have made them your own by full acquaintance and acceptance.† Even so, this semester has really thought me so many things in the period of twelve weeks. From learning what truly is my voice in writing, to kicking away old habits that would only do damage, and in the end, imitating can also help me improve certain aspects of my writing. This whole semester has been quite the rollercoaster in terms of this module, I learned so much and I will continue to keep learning from these lessons as I keep going forth my journey in university. Works Cited Brande, Dorothea, and John Gardner. Becoming a Writer. New York: J.P. Tarcher, 1981. Print.Orwell, George. Decline of the English Murder, and Other Essays. Harmondsworth, Eng.: Penguin, 1965. Print.

Monday, January 13, 2020

Gender Stereotypes in Gary Winick’s Bride Wars Essay

2009 has not exactly been a fruitful year—so far—for the American filmmaking industry, at least in terms of quality and originality. If the latter part of 2008, as in most years, was marked by the release of some of the most memorable films in history, the first four months of 2009 have mostly made-for-children movies, romantic comedies, and guy-bonding flicks. Bride Wars is a relatively superficial take on women’s obsession with weddings, and is currently ranked at number nine in the list of top-grossing films worldwide. Directed by Gary Winick and starring Anne Hathaway and Kate Hudson, Bride Wars narrates the lifelong friendship of Emma and Liv—women in their mid-20s who, as young girls, made plans for almost identical weddings. When they hire the same wedding planner who schedules them both on the same time, day, and venue, the conflict begins and the ‘wars’ take place. A series of impossible schemes hatched by each to hinder the other’s plans ensues, yet ultimately end in happy endings for both. Despite its arguable shallowness and lack of believability, Bride Wars may still be evaluated according to specific themes inherent in the discussion of the female psyche: conforming to cultural and social traditions, particularly in terms of gender roles and expectations. The pivotal scene is revealed at the very beginning of the film, as the young Emma and Liv are shown with their respective mothers at The Plaza Hotel, an upscale location for weddings. They both witness a newly-married couple—the groom looking dashing in a suit and the bride in an exquisite gown—in a moment of utter romance and love; this singular image drives both girls to make a pact to have their own weddings in the same place. But more than the desire to be wed at The Plaza, the most notable element in this scene is the accepted—even expected—notion of marriage, without essentially considering the function of the process as a partnership. By being presented with an image that fully conforms to the traditional concept of women and their social roles, the young girls immediately associate this with their own goals and ambitions. Though later scenes show how they both pursued their individual interests—public relations for Liv and teaching for Emma—it is apparent how getting married is still their priority. The concept of marriage in this film is limited to the actual wedding, with a few flimsy forays into the discussion of sharing a life with another person. That first image set the boundaries of the ideology chosen by the filmmaker, as evidenced by the dreamlike treatment accorded to it; it sends the message of perfection and idealism as befitting women by being a bride. After all the events that had taken place, Emma and Liv kept their friendship and even resulted in Emma marrying Liz’ brother Nate. Unsurprisingly, the last scene proved to be the answer to the first—with the two women meeting after their honeymoons, and revealing that they were both pregnant. It is evident how this scene was meant to provide the punchline to the film, leaving its audience assuming that the same ‘war’ would take place later. However, it also reinforces the established parameters set by weddings, since pregnancy and giving birth is the traditional next step after the union. The happy occasion of revelation and reconnection exhibits the place of childbirth in the context of the female role, yet it fails again to make any argument regarding the personal significance of bearing children. Bride Wars, though peppered with pup culture references and modern concepts, is centuries behind in terms of gender issues and breaking free from stereotypes. Light romances and comedies are not strictly confined to such superficial subjects, which shows why Bride Wars is a film only meant for commercial objectives. How We Think, Speak, and Feel: An Understanding of Human Behavior in Three Films Visitors from another planet are perhaps the best test subjects for the assessment of texts, particularly films. Since cinema is a depiction of human behavior and portrays concepts gleaned from human experience, having extraterrestrials view films—given that they understand the language—will allow them to achieve a sense of what and how humans are. Rather than take them through a historical representation of human life through films, it would be best to introduce them to the inherent traits found in most cultures—through intelligence, language, and psychology. The three films that may be able to communicate these are A Beautiful Mind for intelligence, When Harry Met Sally for language, and Doubt for psychology and its permutations. Ron Howard’s 2001 film A Beautiful Mind is based on the life of gifted scientist and mathematician John Forbes Nash, and narrates his journey into schizophrenia and depression. But the film is also a real-life account of a man given an extraordinary amount of talent, which shows the extent to which the human mind can progress. This information would be essential to the extraterrestrial visitors, for it will let them know how humans think; whether it reveals similarities or not is the ultimate goal of the exercise. Since Nash’s expertise is in numbers and formulas, logic is the knowledge represented in the film, which may be more ‘universal’ compared to politics, economics, or other contextual topics. In the film, Nash is shown as having his own world apart from the people around him, only surrounding himself with equations and other methods pertaining to scientific and explainable phenomena. This is clearly presented in the scene where he writes his formulas on a glass window, consumed by the process and unaffected by his environment. Seeing a human engage in such intellectual activity may inform extraterrestrials of the workings of the human mind, specifically this advanced depiction of thinking processes. On top of that, Nash’s account of seeing UFOs and aliens may appear to be a point of connection with this particular audience, as it shows how human validate their existence. The 2008 film Doubt, directed by John Patrick Shanley, is set in a Catholic Church in New York in 1964. During this time, the notions of faith and religion were primarily dictated by priests—portrayed as almost immortal beings who could do no wrong. However, assumptions about the unusual behavior of Father Flynn, the parish priest, were made by the nuns tasked to care for and educate the children in the school run by the church. The result was doubt in authority and in the general power of organized religion, and eventually in the faith of the nuns in their chosen vocation. Introducing the alien guests to these concepts will acquaint them with the complex values and traditions of humans, which are directly associated with the idea of faith in a Higher Being. The image of Father Flynn is meant to symbolize faith itself, and accusing him of improper behavior—in this case, an illicit relationship with a young boy—shows how humans are capable of acting against established rules. What the aliens may glean from this could be the debate between the human need for something to believe in, whether seen or unseen, and the alternative human quality of logical analysis based on observable phenomena. When Harry Met Sally, released in 1989 and directed by Nora Ephron, is one of the most effective portrayals of the differences between men and women. Language is one of the issues illustrated by the film, and it would benefit the extraterrestrials to see how men and women think and express themselves differently. The film narrates the friendship of Harry and Sally, which eventually ended in romance after years of struggling to keep it platonic. The iconic scene where Harry and Sally are in a restaurant arguing over sexual attitudes of men and women reveals both mindset and language, as their discussion is progressed by their opposing views and the final act of Sally faking an orgasm. Aliens and non-humans will find this portrayal extremely significant, for it almost shows how men and women are of different life forms as well. It also illustrates the mating habits of both men and women, which may be similar to their own. These three films will definitely equip the extraterrestrials with enough information and knowledge to guide them toward a better understanding of human behavior. But while these films tackle some of the basic realities present in most societies all over the world, more complicated concepts—such as war and poverty—can only be understood after fully comprehending the abilities and capacities of humans, since these are effects of a misguided use of innate human traits. References Ephron, N. (Dir. ) (1989). When Harry Met Sally. Columbia Pictures. Howard, R. (Dir. ) (2001). A Beautiful Mind. Universal Pictures. Shanley, J. P. (Dir. ) (2008). Doubt. Miramax Films. Winick, G. (Dir. ) (2009). Bride Wars. 20th Century Fox.

Sunday, January 5, 2020

Modern Theology Karl Barth and Emil Brunner Essay

The doctrine of election has been one of the key subjects discussed by various influential theologians throughout the two thousand years. Many have attempted to understand and embrace the enigma of election presented in the bible. It is important to realize that there are many views pertaining to the doctrine of election ranging from prominent theologians such as Augustine and Pelagius, Calvin and Arminius, Barth and Brunner and various other theologians and their respective counterparts. Karl Barth and Emil Brunner are the giants on the subject of modern theology. Their theological insights are such that even now people are mesmerized by their incredible aptitude for theological understanding and presentation of that framework in a fluid†¦show more content†¦He presents the theology of election as a focus on the predestination choice God made to be who He is for humanity. This God does by God electing God the only begotten Son of the eternal God to be substitute atonement for the humanity and then electing an elected man who is the true Adam that is Christ Jesus. Barth presents the election done by the Triune Godhead in divine freedom to be for the humanity which reveals a beyond comprehension and unmeasurable grace and love of God towards humanity. Thus Jesus Christ is both the electing God and also the elected man. Barth portrays Jesus Christ as the great pleasure and will of God in force beyond realization. Barth declares that â€Å"the doctrine of election is of God electing man predestined not only of man but also of Himself.† Jesus Christ is not purely the unveiling of the enigma of God. Jesus is the very thing concealed in the heart of God, and the revelation is of Jesus Christ Himself not anything else. Jesus is the elector God who is active in electing all of humanity in Himself. Barth’s concept of the doctrine of election is the totality of the Scriptures and the anchor from whence understanding God from a finite perspect ive becomes possible. Barth argues that an applicable doctrine of election must have its foundation on Jesus Christ who is the revelation of God to the humanity. Barth’s view on Christ is that of not just an emissary of election but rather He Himself is