This I believe

I believe in the Internet.  The Internet is a powerful tool distinctive from any other.  It grants freedom and creativity, unlike any other medium before it.  On a side note, the Internet is so revered that even the mighty Microsoft recognizes it and demands that it is capitalized in its use in Word.  The connections made can affect a person throughout their entire life, whether good or bad.  The Internet has ruined many a man, and many have been made by it.  Friendships that can last forever can be formed, and many relationships are even started because of the Internet.

There are many websites online to allow for human creativity in a huge way.  From art to role-playing, there are many different types of creative thought evident throughout the web.  Art websites allow up and coming artists to get their name out, and show off their work at earlier and earlier ages.  Online portfolios are now commonplace and allow artists to more easily show their work to potential employers.  On the other hand, the Internet has made gaming with fellow nerds easier than ever as well.  There are many online groups of people who enjoy some fantasy gaming and they can do this with far less anxiety and far more fun while being anonymous online.

As we all know, there are many celebrities and politicians who have made some questionable choices that have been made extremely public because of the many eyes of the Internet.  While these people may view it negatively now, there are many people who make a living off the Internet and are famous in their own right because of it.   People have made careers off the Internet, and more jobs are always a positive thing.

On a more personal note, I know how lasting the friendships made on the Internet can be.  For almost 6 years now I have played an online video game with the same group of 25 people.  I know all of their names, where they all live, how old they are, what they do for a living, and even their phone numbers.  I doubt many people can say that they know as many people in such detail as I do.  The people who are skeptical of friendships created on the Internet can readily ask me about any of these people and be amazed at how I am a better friend to those I have not met face to face than they are to the dozens they claim to know on facebook.  While I have not met many of them in person, I have taken strides to change that.  Just this Thanksgiving four of my gaming buddies visited and good times were had.  There is one friend in particular who deserves separate mention.  Almost two years ago I started dating such an Internet friend.  I could not have asked for a better friend than one that loved me based on who I was through simple text.  He did not know what I looked like, or what sort of social status I had.  This guy only knew me from the personality derived through my type.  I doubt there could be a more true connection than that of anonymous love.  

Choices

The majority of people have multiple choices in how they live their lives.  I am no exception, and make life choices on a daily basis.  My life has been dedicated to the pursuit of happiness and I strive every day to make that a reality.  The goal of leaving the dark past behind and moving forward toward a bright and happy future is one worth working for.  I live my life in simplicity and appreciate the small things now that I have successfully escaped my previous bad situation.

In the future I hope to utilize my talent in the arts and design to bring a fresh outlook and the same bright future to the video game industry.  I am a skilled artist and intelligent problem solver and can handle mostly all challenges I face.  I have faith that through my abilities I will be able to earn my wages no matter where I am employed.

The Emperor's Club

1. Mr. Hundert's quote is completely accurate in my eyes.  Stupidity is a common enough disease among people, and sadly it is something that can never be cured.  If a person cannot open their minds to new ideas and experiences, they will be forever ignorant.  That type of thinking is counterintuitive and as ancient and outdated as chiseled word on stone.

2.  Sedgewick Bell is a very manipulative and intelligent con artist.  He has Mr. Hundert believing in him and then betrays his trust.  Hundert is hurt and shaken by the experience because he truly saw himself in Sedgewick and believed he could overcome his bad upbringings.  Through this experience Hundert's view on the world is tinged and he is unable to realize what great accomplishments as a person he has achieved.

3.  Once bad behavior is introduced into the classroom, several of the boys follow suit.  Sedgewick introduces his bad behavior and laughs about it, and the other boys laugh as well.  Discipline becomes a joke and some of the boys break campus rules and even neglect studying because of the bad role model Sedgewick provides.  This trend is described by Hundert as a type of "hypnosis" because they are all amazed by Sedgewick's boldness.

4.  Hundert is torn between allowing Martin, the rightful 3rd place, or allowing Sedgewick who has worked so hard to get to this point to compete.  While Martin actually made the mark, Hundert decides to bump up Sedgewick's final essay grade to allow him place 3rd and compete in the competition.  Martin is devastated by this because of his father's history in winning the competition.

5.  While at the contest Hundert notices that Sedgewick is cheating and is faced with the dilemma of calling him out or doing as the dean says and ignoring it.  While Sedgewick's father is a major donor to the school, Hundert cannot allow this betrayal bear fruit.  Hundert asks a question that was not in the reading and stumps Sedgewick, allowing the other student who had done extra reading to be the victor.

6.  Hundert agrees to participate in the rematch of the contest because Sedgewick promises to make a huge donation to the school if he does.  Hundert hopes that through time his student has matured and grown above his cheating ways.  Sadly at the contest Sedgewick attempts to win through cheating again and Hundert stumps him with question everyone but Sedgewick knew.  While saddened that he could not make a difference in Sedgewick's life, Hundert's hope is renewed when all his other students (Even Martin) award him with a plaque telling him how much he has made a difference in all their lives.

7.  There is an immense amount of tension between Hundert and Sedgewick in that bathroom scene.  One can literally see the fury emanating from Sedgewick as he tramples all over Hundert's concepts of morality.  Fortunately ( or unfortunately for Sedgewick) his son emerges from the bathroom stall, clearly shaken and disturbed by his father's admission of being a complete ...jerk.  This does not change Sedgewick in the least though, because he is too settled into the idea of being a liar and a cheat the rest of his life.

8.  Mr. Hundert's hopes are renewed for the future by his former students praise.  He believes that he can make a difference in their lives and hopes to mold character for future generations to come.  Martin's son walks in late the very first day he comes back.  This is a surprise because of Hundert's formal betrayal of Martin, but this forms as a sort of recognition of apologies.

9.  Hundert uses many types of problem-posing aspects in his classroom.  He asks the students to relate why Emperors were good or bad.  By wearing togas he also helps his students to connect more to the subject matter at hand.  Hundert also asks his students to question why things happened the way they did, instead of having them memorize dates.

10.  All of Hundert's students went on to be successful men in a variety of fields.  The winner of the Julius Caesar conquest went on to become a scholar.  The fact that students went on to do so many different types of things is proof of how much Hunderts' teachings affected his students.

Well-placed Suggestions

Moments of utter clarity are not often found throughout the years of our lives.  They are few and precious, but often give life changing perspectives for better or for worse.  A previous academic advisor of mine had given me such a moment, but I shall preface it with some prior knowledge.  Throughout high school I fiddled with the idea of being a psychologist.  With further research into that field I decided it was not for me.  I then attended the university of Michigan for two years as an art major.  While an art major I decided I then wanted to be an architect.  Having great taste and passion in architecture I figured it would be a great career to pursue.  I then met with my Academic advisor to discuss my possible transition of majors.  He asked me what I enjoyed doing in my spare time, and my response was playing video games.  Then he threw out the question "Have you ever considered a career in that field?"  Well I had, I responded, but I wanted to go into a field that was a bit more practical.  My advisor then responded with the most witty and well placed comment ever.  "You want practical?  You know you're in art school right?"  Wow... my mind was blown!  Despite being such an obvious option I really had not realized that even though I wanted practicality I really should follow my dreams, because I had been following them all along.

Banking Concept of Education

1.  Narration sickness refers to the traditional mode of education in the classroom where the teacher simply talks on and on and the students must sit patiently and listen like little receptacles of knowledge.

2.  Narration sickness is similar to standardized testing practices because there is no real involvement for those taking the tests.  Nothing is learned, and all they expect is students to memorize facts and spew them out on paper.  Its not so much of a test as it is a see-how-many-you-get-before-times-up race.

3.  My previous high school computer teacher was an avid practicer of some of the banking concepts of education.  He would frequently remind us how well versed he was and how uneducated the class was.  We had no say in what went on in the class, we were merely there to massage his ego and help him feel as though he was an excellent teacher.  To say the least, he was just full of hot air.
      This method of teaching is not advantageous for any student.  There is no communication involved and this leads to severe alienation.  Not only that, but students eventually grow to resent teachers who act high and mighty and lord their knowledge over them.  Communication is vital in producing a productive learning environment.

4.  Possibly one of the most memorable professors I have ever had was my college english teacher, my sophomore year.  Never have I been more expressive and inspired in my writings than I was over those literary works.  The course was mainly focused on writing, and we wrote about great novels and short stories.  We were not required to write about anything in particular until later on in the course, so I was able to express my passion over certain aspects and qualities of the literature.  My papers were humorous, exciting, and easy to read.  His passion flowed to everyone in the class and it had a great effect on our writing skills.  Open conversation over the works was common, debate and comparison were commonplace.  This communication really involved those who partook in it.
   The professor was a young writer himself, and readily identified with his class.  He was genuinely concerned over our progress and had office hours throughout the day.  What I have learned in that classroom I have applied to all of my papers since then.  I have learned that through humor and passion any topic can be expressed in a grand way.

5.  That is indeed a tough question, but I feel that the Athenians (being the more open-minded group) would readily embrace the change of liberated education.  Visigoths I feel would not appreciate education as much and would rather explain things and be done.  Surprisingly my calculus course has quite a bit of conversation, while my computer course is severely lacking in it.  I feel as though more passion for the subject from the professor, and a more positive outlook could really benefit that class.

Clergymen's Letter and the Civil Rights Movement

Passive resistance is the practice of achieving socio-political goals through symbolic protests, civil disobedience, economic or political noncooperation, and other methods, without using violence.  In other words, trying to raise awareness of your opinion through non-violent means.  There have been several individuals who have used this method.  They include Gandhi, Tolstoy, Sakharov, and Martin Luther King, Jr.

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The first photograph is of a protest march.  There are many african americans marching for equal rights.  One of the first things I notice is the angle of the photo.  This makes me wonder where exactly the cameraman was standing.  It is odd to look back at something so unfamiliar to my own views, I cannot imagine how the times were back then.  There even appear to be a few white men marching among the crowd for equal rights.

The second photograph is also a protest march, but a completely different vibe is given from this photo than the previous.  There are also african americans marching peacefully for their rights, but with guns pointed at them from law enforcement.  This gives the viewer a much more sympathetic view for them because they are under serious threat.  Once again this photo makes me wonder where the camera man is standing.

There is and always will be discrimination in all communities and walks of life.  Discrimination is inherently a part of man, and will only be lost through education over time.  What once was considered scandalous (an exposed wrist, or even ankle) is now considered the norm.  Such will be things like piercings, tattoos, sexuality, and all things.  The world will eventually delve into such a homogenous mess that nothing will shock us.  There are many forms of discrimination, aside from the more major ones.  For example, when you see a girl walking around in winter in a short skirt with tons of cleavage, what do you think?  Likely that she's not the smartest person because she's freezing her butt off(among other things)!  This is a form of discrimination, and as long as people judge others by initial outside factors it will live on.

My next essay is all about how discrimination is alive and well because when it comes down to it, man is evil, and it will never die.  I will be able provide examples supporting logos in my essay through current day and historical references such as Nazi Germany and Rowanda.  Ethos can be easily established through citation of these sources because they are credible and undeniable.

Robert the Bruce

Robert the Bruce: by Benjamin Victor

1.  Realistic
b)  Epic
c)  Templar
d)  Expensive
e)  Majestic

2.  The best part about this sculpture is its realism and the materials used.  Working with metal is no easy task and I have a great appreciation for those patient enough to make tedious pieces like these.  I am not a fan of abstract art, so this piece is exactly what I believe should truly be called "art".

3.  One small thing that bothers me, but could not likely be changed, is that the figure is so unrecognizable until you read the name.  Perhaps its just me, but I instantly thought it was a templar of the Crusades.  I am uncertain how his identity could be more clear, but the piece is magnificent no matter who you think it is at first glance.

4.  Being a former art major, there are not many pieces that I would not welcome in my home, but isn't one of them.  "Robert the Bruce" is amazingly detailed and it would be an honor to have.  It would be the diamond of my collection in all its detailed glory.

5.  As discussed in class, this statue is about the former king of Scotland and the war for its independence  from England.  Though Scotland won, the king was lost to battle and this statue is tribute to his bravery.  The sculpture seems to almost be turning on the viewer, with the king ready to through his axe at those watching.

6.  The front is definitely this statue's strong point.  There is significant detail in the entire piece, but it is mainly focused toward the front.  The natural lighting really picks up the materials and makes the statues really shine, giving it an ageless feel.

7.  This statue is primarily rounded and geometric shapes that are highly detailed.  There are raised emblems on the cloth and shield of the statue and even chain mail texturing on the armor.  Most of the statue is smooth while being accented by small patterns here and there.  This statue is a concrete representation of its subject, Robert the Bruce.

Iron Fish

Iron Fish: by Robert Bruce


1.  Rough
b)  Rusty
c)  Oriental
d)  Animated
e)  Weather-resistant

2.  The abstract qualities of this fish are really amazing.  Even with just the outlines there is so much personality here.  This fish feels almost like a japanese watercolor fish.  The metals really bring out the fierce nature of the fish and give it a more animalistic vibe.

3.  There is not much I do not like about this fish, but if I had to be picky, it would be the rusty metal.  I do not mind the quality of it so much as the durability.  It saddens me greatly to think that this piece will wear away because of the choice of materials by the artist.  Art should be around forever, and this piece is just not made to last.

4.  I would definitely display this somewhere outside my house.  Outside only because I feel as though the rusty fish would make a mess indoors and my cats would likely love it just a little too much.  However I love its japanese feel too much to not keep it somewhere around my house.

5.  This statue represents a fish, inspired from a fishing trip he took in Idaho.  The artist fished up some steelhead trout, so he must have decided to make a trout out of steel!  The sculpture has limited motion but does have the look of swimming through the air.

6.  "Iron Fish" is visually strong from all sides.  Being a fish made of steel it has no real focusing point, the ornate steel work is ever-present and prevents the eye from settling.  Lighting has no effect on this fish, however I imagine it would be amazing if it was glow in the dark!

7.  The fish is primarily composed of round and angular shapes.  It is highly detailed and yet such a simple outline of a fish.  Rusted iron gives the fish a rough and bumpy texture, and that overall orange color.  When compared to actual fish, it is obviously very abstract.

Wings

Wings: by Felix Velez

1. Mythical

b) Realistic

c) Smooth

d) Haunting

e) Literal

2.  The mythological aspect of "Wings" is the most intriguing part about it.  It is a flawless representation of the story of Icarus; the boy with wings made of wax who flew too close to the sun.  Icarus died when his wings melted and he plummeted into the ocean. The eyes of this statues are blank and lifeless, as if this were his corpse (or perhaps spirit) dredged up from the ocean floor.  Icarus looks to be reaching out for help in this statue, which brings a sense of unease and eeriness to the viewer.

3.  There is a large lack of detail in the wings of the piece that detract from the overall realistic feel.  Even though Icarus' wings were made of wax, that gives no excuse to slack on details.  More feathers would have given the wings a little more realism and I would have enjoyed the piece more so.

4.  Most definitely I would buy "Wings" to display in or outside my home.  I enjoy the greek and roman sculptures very much and this sculpture captures many of those distinct qualities fairly well.  On another note, I also appreciate mythology tremendously and would enjoy a sculpture of any piece having to do with it.

5.  As described above the statue (in my opinion) represents the story of Icarus.  The story of Icarus teaches us to not reach beyond our means, and listen to the wisdom of those more knowledgable.  "Wings" has Icarus reaching out to viewers from atop his perch on a sphere.

6.  "Wings" is a mainly frontal piece, with not much to be said for the back.  A stronger representation of the harness for the wings is present from the back, but not much else besides a well shaped human figure.  Visually the statue is most engaging from the front, but to those with appreciation for realistic representation of the human body it can be amazing from all sides.  The natural lighting gives the statue an eerie glow, as if it is the spirit of Icarus himself.  The stone appears to have been carved, but I cannot say for certain.

7.  This sculpture is very realistic in its human form, primarily round and simple.  There is great detail in his face and hair, while very little in the wings or globe he is standing on.  This piece could almost be in a fountain it is smooth as a water worn stone.