Art Mirroring Our Society

This famous painting known as "The Ambassadors" was painted by a well known painter called Holbein. This is painted on oak with oil in the year 1533. This painting illustrates some selected exploring items. The painting includes 2 globes; one terrestrial and celestial, a quadrant, a torquetum and a polyhedral sundial. It also includes the texture on the floor which is mosaic, and based on the design from Westminster Abbey.

This symbolizes the presence of exploration and knowledge back in the Renaissance. This is shown through the objects that are present in this painting such as the globes and the telescopes. As people started to explore more and share their ideas. Some would inquire about humans and their world. Some people looked for their answers in church, but others looked for their own answers through scientific methods. An example from the renaissance, would be Galileo Galilee. He looked for his own answers by inventing the telescope and many other instruments to help him search for his answers. The big change in this painting is that it is secular and the ambassadors are looking exactly at the painter.

This painting also uses art techniques like; using shadows, depth and the use of perspective. The focal point is this painting are the instruments that are place on the table. These new art techniques have enhanced the realism of paintings back in the renaissance. Renaissance artist would look more into details and to make the painting look life-like. These new art techniques led to knowledge of art which leads to patronizing more professionals around the world. This would also contribute to the rivalry between the city states. All this then made art the center of civilization in the renaissance.

In this painting, the most notable famous symbol by Holbein is the skewed skull that is placed at the bottom center of the carpet. The skull, which was another invention of the renaissance, is meant to be some sort of a visual puzzle as it asks the viewer to look closely from the side to see the "form morph" into a human skull. The meaning of this skull is very unclear. Why would Holbein use such a symbol for this kind of painting? The possibilities are that it might represent "the heaven", "the living" and "death". Holbein must have put this to remind the others about their future.

Driving Forces of the Renaissance

Because of the Galileo's telescope, people now know that the earth was revolving around the sun and not the opposite. This left many people questioned, and some people tried to do more exploration to gain more knowledge. thus, the era of exploration starts.

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Caring For Others Makes Them Feel Highly Regarded.

September 20th 2010,

Theme Notebook #2

Showing someone you believe in them helps them feel highly regarded, is a dominant theme in the "Thank you Ma'am" by Langston Huges. This means that when youshow someone that you really care about them, they feel highly valued. Ms.Luella Bates, a lady who worked in a beauty-shop was walking down the road with a very heavy purse, when came a boy and tried to steal her pocket-book. The boy fell on his back due to the weight of his purse. Luella walked up to him and held by his shirt front and dragged him home.

The women did not watch the boy to see if he was going to run now, nor did she watch her purse which she left behind her on the day-bed. Despite the fact that roger tried to steal her handbag, Ms.Luella cared enough. This statement also suggests that Luella trusted him, which was an unexpected twist. Most people would probably leave or run away from the robber or if possible, take them to jail. But she took Roger home and taught his a lesson. She made him feel comfortable by telling him that when she was young, she also wanted things she couldn't get. This suggest that Luella knew he trusted her. Roger also knew that Luella trusted him. And he didnt wanted to be mistrusted anymore. "Need help? maybe i can get you something from the store." For all Luella had done for Roger, She made him feel valued and trusted. He coudn't believe that he had done such a misery to Luella.

Reffering to the Story of "Thank you Ma'am", another such odd request was for Lauren Rinder, a photographer who liked to share his one memory with public. This story was named the "Unexpected Request" which is a story about a 90 year old lady asking her photographer to take a nude picture of her, Because when she dies she would want her body to be celebrated. The photographer was stunned by listening to such request. He had taken nude pictures before but never a person whose age was 90s and below. He said OK just because he didn't want to let her down. He cared about his job and also cared to take responsibility to take her picture. By doing this, he made her feel respected. Now, she could make sure he cared about her request.

The case in "Thank you Ma'am", Luella made Roger feel valued as she provided him with food and care. After Snatching Luella's pocket-book, certainly made feel Roger that he had done something wrong. This was very astonishing to most of the readers. Lauren Rinder's story shows the empathy of valuing someone's request and accepting it, makes someone feel valued and cared. The story had a twist that was truly unexpected. Both the stories had a connection. Ms.Luella was kind enough to take care of that boy who tried to steal her purse, knowing that he was stealer, Luella knew he needed to be taught. In Lauren Rinder's story, he didn't expect such a request from a lady who was at her 90's. But he cared to fulfill her wish. Lauren Rinder's photography and Langston Huges's Story "Thank you Ma'am", Both have the theme that connects to "Showing someone you believe in them helps them feel highly regarded". It is very important to understand people what they expect. No one knows where life will take you to. Make someone happy, will make you proud. Price is what you pay, love it what you get.

I Believe in this…..

I believe that everyone can learn from their mistakes. Big or small, everyone knows what’s good and bad. Learning from mistakes is a very big thing to accomplish. As they say “Failure is the mother of success” that means once you fail you sure have the chance to fix it back. This has happened to everyone, me, you and even our guardians. Never think yourself as small when you make mistakes, go ahead and fix it up.

This is a story of mine, when I was in 6^th grade. My math was very weak. I couldn’t do any type of calculations! I was sick of all the laughter when I was proved wrong in front of all the students. I just couldn’t bare it. My eyes filled up with tears when my dad used to hit me during “math time”. Well, you know; whatever parents do for you is always for your own good. Well I knew I was weak at it, but I was too shy to ask anyone to help me.

Days passed by, more scolding more laughter and more tears. I was just too sick of these. I tried to find out myself what was wrong. And yes, I did find out. Later that evening I was crying out my tears looking at the children running around with their toys, that's what I was supposed to be doing. But no, how can I show my face in front of all those kids? They are in my school and the same classes. So I continued crying. After sometime my grandmother came in, and when she saw me, she got emotional and asked me if she could help. But I said no. Why should someone else know how brainless I am? Just that second as I said no, I felt like someone telling me: 'it’s your only chance to improve yourself and find out what’s the cause.' I ran to my grandmother quickly to stop her. She said alright and I gave her a seat. I sat on the floor because it felt like it was story time. I loved all that she said. But still I couldn’t find out what was wrong. After she finished I told her how much it helped me, even though I didn’t really pay attention. At night before bed, something struck me, felt like cold breeze washing me from top to bottom. I heard my grandmother's voice. I remembered her words, “There is nothing wrong with the people its always thier action towards it”. I replaced “me” instead of “people” and rephrased it. And I found it. What was wrong was me! All this time, I was the one who day dreamed in classes, I also knew that i sure will get some type of punishment during "math time", all this time! It was so unbelievable for a person like me to get something like this in my brain! Now, I believe that nothing is wron gwith me its just my action towards it. I felt pretty proud.

Next day, I tried it myself. I concentrated on what the teacher said every time, and when she asked me something I could answer it. Instead of mocking laughter, this time I heard, claps. I was so proud of myself. But the teacher was shocked she planned to give me a quiz about this, and I got a full grade. She still couldn’t believe me. She thought I had cheated. But later she agreed. Then these days passed, more claps, more smiles and no more tears. I believe in the power of concentration and in not finding the key to the problem the way that i need to understand

Report on: The Battle of Hastings (game)

• http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/normans/launch_gms_battle_hastings.shtml
• http://y8.com/games/1066
• The URL’s above are leading to a certain website dealing with history. It is a type of game that connects with the story of King Edward the confessor back in the 1066, where Battle of Hastings had taken place. The game in the website of BBC about the 1066 is not that understandable but this game is played by using own logic. You can go there by clicking on this link : 1066!

Another game which is on http://y8.com/games/1066 has to be played with using game knowledge and some strategies. But first of all, you got to know how to play them. That’s why always read the instructions first.

The Battle of Hastings is a very strange and interesting battle between Harold Godwinson and Duke William of Normandy. One of the bloodiest battle ever in history. This was the battle between the two most powerful commanders. To be precise, the battle took place on 14 October, 1066. This battle was conducted in Britain. The story started when King Edward the confessor died and Harold Godwinson, his brother in- law was charged to take care of his throne which means he was crowned as the king of England. Looked like everyone agreed to the decision and were happy. But not really, in far land called Norway, King Harald Hadrada thought he should be crowned as the king because his ancestor, King Cnut, had ruled England before. He also had a grand and powerful army. He knew that England was loaded with taxes. But there was also another threat to England’s throne. Duke William of Normandy had also the rights to be crowned because, long time ago when Harold Godwinson was captured and taken to William’s court, Harold was forced to make William as his successor. Alexander the II, who was a pope, believed him and gave William a special banner saying that this war will be a holy crusade. William planned to invade England to take his place. His army wasn’t that powerful so he called nobles from the southern of Italy. Harold had the finest fighting forces. The professional soldiers were called to serve the King. These soldiers would do anything for the King, even give their lives.

Later, Harald had invaded the north of England. That was a great shock to Harold Godwinson. Their was a very cruel and a war that was not appropriate to watch. At the end of that bloody war, Harold had died, so his soldiers got unconfident and gave up. The Vikings lost. The saxsons claimed the throne of England. Duke William of normandy was now King William of England.

Was that it? I don’t think so... their was another invasion that I will tell you next time.

The Leagal Act.....

STAND UP TO STOP IT!

The book “Rose Blanche” by Robert Innocenti and Ian McKewan and also “The Boy In Striped Pyjamas”by John Boyne have created an atmosphere where readers would really want to know what will happen next throught these books. Both these books contain child protaginists who are Germans who are going through a dark time in Europe, World War two and for Jews the holocaust. But the protagonists, Rose Blanche from Rose Blanche and Bruno from The Boys In Striped Pyjamas have set their own ways to help rather then just stand their and wonder about the dreadful scenes outside their window.They are unaffected by the racism outside. And yes, they tried their best to help the people from the other side of the fence.

Both these books have a comman feature that makes a reader imagine the atmosphere that surrounds Europe. In the book Rose Blanche, Robert Innocenti and Ian McKewan have interpretated the World War II graphics and also added small paragraphs telling us what is going on in the picture as a short story.

Adolf Hitler, one of the worlds known German politicians and also the leader of the Nazi Party had stood out for all germans who are against the jews. Some of his posters illustrations shows us that he always stood out before the audience which were the people.

As we know that both of these stories are not really about wars but its trying to tell us how the jews were torchured using wepons and were killed later on that was with the use of a chemical poisonous gas called Zyklon B. By the end, mass number of jews were killed. About half of the population had decreased and their was threat for survival for the jews that where still hidding.

As a reader, the idea of being a bystander and speak out has made me interested to look forward into . In the book, Rose Blanche the graphics on one of the pages shows that one great group of people are standing in the corner, all huddled up. This shows that they are scared that if they do speeck out they might be in great trouble. And also in the same book, one of the pages have an image describing how the soldiers taking and filling their trucks with jews from their hidding places, which shows a great evidence of how the jews where hidding away from the germans. This also says that their were some very gentle germans who helped them to survive in this time where it might have been impossible for them to survive.

All people have the rights to stand before something they totally disagree with . It is a leagle action that I think is very important for people to know, or sometimes it can lead wrong things if they havent got commented from each member of Germany.

Being a bystander means to speak out for an action without participating in it .

One of the most memorable bystanders where these group of college students who started a movement called that “White Rose Movement”. On January 1934, the White Rose students haded out brochures, encouranging other students to rebel.

But unfortunetly they were caught and on the 23^rd of febuary, 1943, 3 of the White Rose students where put to death as a leagal punishment. Those students where Sophie Scholl, Hans and Christopher Probst.

Another Courageous act about the mass killing of jews where the Villagers from La Chambon-Sur-Lignon who helped to shelter and provide with food to the jew family, couples and also individuals and provided and also with nesescary things.

This lesson about the the rights of humans, that will be with us for ages and ages no matter what happens, these sentences will be ruling us forever. Hopefully people must get a bit of sense about the holocaust and make the world into a peaceful country from NOW.

The power of The Void

"The International School of Kuala Lumpur provides an exceptional education that challenges each student to develop the attitude, skills, knowledge and understanding to become a highly successful, spirited, socially responsible (silence) global citizen.