Online Identity Essay - 1390 Words

Hiding behind a Computer nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Are computers and the Internet redefining human identity as people explore the boundaries of their personalities, adopt multiple selves, and form online relationships that can be more intense than real ones? Is the World Wide Web redefining our sense of community and where we find our peers? The answer is simple. An individual should not use a false identity to produce a life on the Internet. They should also avoid using an online life to influence their identity in real life. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Gender swapping is one way which the Internet has the ability to change ones identity. There have been many cases where someone has logged onto the Internet, and they have†¦show more content†¦This displays how easy it is to perform cyber-rape on an individual. An interesting point is made by Jodi O’Brien in her article when she says, â€Å"Although the prevalence of gender switching online is not readily knowable, it is the case that gender policing is considerable. The tactic agreement seems to be that crossing is acceptable-after all, this is a space in which one is supposed to â€Å"experiment†-but the motives for crossing must not involve an intent to â€Å"deceive.† Women who cross as men in order to avoid harassment or dismissal are just being reasonable† (http://www.echonyc.com/~women/ Issue17/art-obrien.html). In another argument, one could say an individual provokes the cause of sexual harassment on the Internet. Our romantic energy is carried by standard electronic impulses across wires we will never see. With fantasy aside, just how elastic is the institution of gender? How likely is it that cyberspace will be a site for complicating the customary gender dichotomy? How likely is it that we can interact without differentiating characteristics to provide a guide for whom to be and how to act? What is reality where ones emotions, future plans, and recipes for interaction are concerned? Much of the current hype about cyberspace implies that the body is a barrier to experiencing a wider range of interactions. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Gender is one of the first meansShow MoreRelatedOnline Identity2082 Words   |  9 Pagesshowcase their identity through the expression of their interests, opinions and principles in their profiles or interactions with their online friends when they join communities of their interest or social networking sites like Facebook. Many comment that identity production through digital communities is a vivid representation of identity production in the real world hence equipping one with the skills needed for networking in the real world. On the other hand, others criticize that identity productionRead MoreOnline Identity Theft1414 Words   |  6 PagesOnline Identity Theft What is identity? The word itself can have so many connotations, definitions, and subjects tied to it. However, the most basic definition of our identity would be the qualities, beliefs, and baggage that make up each person. An identity is something that each of us have a claim to from the moment we are born to even past our death. Through the recent technology surges however, our most basic claim is now threatened. We have all heard about crime on the streets but with theRead MoreOnline Users Alter Their Identity Essay1585 Words   |  7 PagesOnline Users Alter Their Identity The online forum deals many prospects for individuals to discover their distinctiveness. In certain conditions, text centered communication forums permits users to show them in a way that cannot be probable in physical situations. There are two such online groups, whom work textually in genuine Multi User Dungeons (MUD’s) and Internet Relay Chat (IRC). MUDs are computer-generated truth, acting environments where user generates their own atmosphere by picking theirRead MoreOnline Fraud and Identity Theft3653 Words   |  15 PagesIntroduction: Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes statistically according to the Federal Trade Commission. Roughly 27.3 million Americans have fallen victim to this form of theft/fraud. According to last year the loss of money for businesses and financial institutions are in the billions and with consumers out of pocket expenses has been about 5 billion dollars. Identity theft refers to crimes in which someone wrongfully obtains and uses another persons personal data (i.e., nameRead MoreIdentifying The Different Ways Online Identity Theft1462 Words   |  6 Pages Identify and discuss the different ways online identity theft can be achieved by a cybercriminal Identity theft is when your personal details are stolen. Identity theft occurs when someone steals your personal information with the intention to access bank accounts for example, or commit many other crimes in your name and at your expense. Identity theft is a growing threat in the uk which is increasing at a rapid rate. It is said that it could be one of the leading threats in the coming years. AnalysisRead MoreWays Of Protecting Your Child From Identity Theft Online1758 Words   |  8 PagesWays to Protect Your Child From Identity Theft Online Father s Day and Mother’s day are not only boons to the greeting card business - for most parents they offer a welcome break, an opportunity to sleep in and just take everything easy, and spend some time thinking about... child ID theft. Huh? Alright, perhaps you are not kicking back in your down-time and deeply thinking about the advanced points of child ID theft. But if you have not been very keen with the ever growing number of horror storiesRead MoreObscuring Identities Online1158 Words   |  5 PagesSince social media is such a mainstay in today’s society, people should not be allowed to obscure their identities on any platform. People use it to connect with family members, make love connections and even sometimes just to feel included. While social media and other online accounts and things of that nature can be fun and helpful, there is a lot that goes happens on a daily basis online that is not safe. The world is full of people who are not considerate of others feelings and choose to ignoreRead MoreCyberspace and Identity Essay1022 Words   |  5 Pages Multiple identities have been increased by the creation of cyberspace communications according to Cyberspace and Identity by Sherry Turkle. Turkle uses four main points to establish this argument. Her first point is that online identity is a textual construction. Secondly she states that online identity is a consequence-free moratorium. Turkles third point is online identity expands real identity. Finally, her last point states that online identity illustrates a cultural concept of multiplicityRead MoreWhy Do People Create False Identities And What Are Its Outcomes?1539 Words   |  7 PagesThis includes creating fake profiles and posing as another person. As individuals are creating these fake profiles they aren’t realizing the effect their lies are having on others as well as their own self-esteem. So, why do people create false identities and what are its outcomes? Creating false profiles has become a common theme amongst the social networkers and has caused great issues. Both teens and adults are a part of this rising ordeal. People are creating profiles of who they wish they canRead MoreAn Unsupervised Child On The Internet917 Words   |  4 PagesIn some cases parents believe that their child couldn’t be susceptible to the dangers of child predators online. They often trust that their child will come to them in any problem. Realistically that could fail in so many ways, children are easily mislead. Yes, it is important to instill the rules of using the internet but it is also important to follow up with children and monitor their online behavior. The main problem is that parents trust their child to use devices for basic everyday things.

Puerto Rican Culture Puerto Rico - 1564 Words

Puerto Rico Puerto Rico is one of the twenty-eight Caribbean island nations and is slightly smaller than the state of Connecticut. Its climate is tropical, rainy, and warm. The population of the island is 3,994,259 and its capital is San Juan (Atienza, Cardona). According to the 2008 U.S. Census, America is home to over 4 million Puerto Ricans, 25 percent of them living in New York with an estimated 900,000 living in New York City (Kittler, Sucher, Nelms 263). Since there is such a large amount of Puerto Ricans living within New York, their food and culture have made an impact on the cuisine of these highly populous cities. There are many restaurants in New York City along with other major cities that include traditional Puerto Rican foods which will be discussed throughout the paper. Puerto Rican culture is extremely interesting and worth reading about! Puerto Rican cuisine includes a decently wide array of options including different animals, crops, beverages, and plants. There are no well-known inedible foods in Puerto Rico. The animals most commonly eaten in Puerto Rico include chicken, pork sausage, turkey, beef, pork chops, spare ribs, and marinated pork. The animals most common to Puerto Rico are chickens, cattle, pigs, horses, goats, sheep, mules, and asses (Magaly). Fish is also eaten, but in smaller quantities than other meats (Syracuse). Daily diets of Puerto Ricans usually include rice, beans, starchy vegetables, sofrito, and bacalao (Kittler, Sucher, NelmsShow MoreRelated The United States Effect on Puerto Rican Music Essay1496 Words   |  6 PagesUnited States Effect on Puerto Rican Music The United States played an important role in the evolution of Puerto Rican culture, more specifically music. While Puerto Rican culture remains distinct from that of American culture, its historical progression is forever tied with that of the United States. This is evident in the evolution of Puerto Rican music. It is also evident in the experience of Puerto Rican musicians both on the islandRead More Coca Cola and Coco Frio1731 Words   |  7 Pages Every day , Puerto Rico is slowly adapting into the American way of life and is gradually losing what is left of their culture. Perhaps this is because Puerto Rico is a commonwealth of the United States. The poem â€Å" Coca Cola and Coco Frio† by Martin Espada is a great example of someone who encounters the Americanized culture of Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico is struggling to preserve their own identity. On July 25, 1898 United States troops invaded Puerto Rico during the Spanish AmericanRead MoreThe Beaufy of Puerto Rico Essay763 Words   |  4 Pagesabout Puerto Rico and its importance to the spanish language. It is located in the Caribbean sea, southeast of Florida. It is home to many US citizens in its beautiful tropic landscape. In this paper I will explain the important aspects of the Puerto Rican government, the people, and the lovely food. GOVERNMENT The capital of Puerto Rico is San Juan. Puerto Rico is a United States Territory under commonwealth status. Some of the major differences between the 50 states of the US and Puerto RicoRead MorePuerto Rico : A Land Of Paradise1590 Words   |  7 Pages The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, is a land of paradise in the Caribbean island 1,000 miles away from Miami. Puerto Rico is currently a possession of the United States. Puerto Rico is a tropical mountainous island. Because of the tropical environment there is little to no difference among seasons. Being near the equator Puerto Rico received throughout the year high energy from the sun. This tropical climate makes Puerto Rico a first choice in tourism and because of it Spanish influence it makesRead MoreCross Cultural Project : Puerto Rican924 Words   |  4 Pages9-30-15 Puerto Rican is the populations and residents of Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico is a multi-ethnic state where home is different ethnic to people and nationwide backgrounds, but the result of some Puerto Ricans does not luxury their population as an ethnicity, but as a nationality with numerous civilizations and nationwide backgrounds including the Puerto Rican people. Puerto Rican is and notwithstanding its multi-ethnic structure of the culture apprehended in a joined by the greatest Puerto RicansRead MoreThe Issue Of Puerto Rico1542 Words   |  7 PagesPuerto Rico is a territory of the United States since 1898 and in order to change that status citizens of the territory must vote in a plebiscite, a special referendum. The three options available to choose from were to become a state, to remain a territory, or to become an independent nation (Martin). In the November 6, 2012 plebiscite held in Puerto Rico, 54% of the population said that do not like the current commonwealth status of the island (Alexandrino). The next question offered to the populationRead MoreAnalysis Of The Poem Coca Cola And Coco Frio By Martin Espada1569 Words   |  7 PagesDisappearing Culture Every single individual on this planet has their own distinctive identity and culture. Our culture helps us identify who we are and where we come from. In today’s world, it appears that cultural diffusion has become a normal part of everyone’s life as cultural trends, beliefs and customs spread quickly from one culture to another. In his poem, â€Å"Coca-Cola and Coco Frio,† Martin Espada provides his readers with a great example of cultural diffusion that a boy encounters when heRead MoreEssay on Puerto Rico Independence?1518 Words   |  7 Pages To argue on Puerto Rican Independence, Commonwealth, or Statehood, we must first learn of the history of Puerto Rico. Growing up I was very ignorant about Puerto Rico. It wasn’t till I was in the Navy and got stationed in Puerto Rico did I really find out the small Caribbean island. Although Puerto Rico has an extensive history, I will only give a brief synopsis of it: In November 1493 Christopher Columbus di scovered the island of Puerto Rico for the country of Spain. It remained a colonizationRead MoreThe World Of Puerto Rico Essay1082 Words   |  5 Pages Boriqua! is a commonly used term among the people of Puerto Rico when referring to themselves or their country. Puerto Rico, formerly known as the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, is a U.S. Territory. It is a small island, only 100 miles long and 35 miles wide, located in the Caribbean Ocean. It is about 1,000 miles off the tip of Florida in between the Dominican Republic and the Virgin Islands. The climate is tropical and mild with little variation in the seasonal temperature. The country is composedRead More Puerto Rican Music as Representation of Their History and Culture1423 Words   |  6 PagesPuerto Rican Music as Representation of Their History and Culture Puerto Rican music is an evolving art form that expresses Puerto Rican culture and identity. The development of Puerto Rican music is also a reflection of their history, both being complicated by several layers. Social, political, and economic conditions are all related to the musical expressions of Puerto Ricans (Glasser, 8). Puerto Rican migration to the United States and the culture clash experienced by migrants is another

Beauty Through the Eyes of the Blind free essay sample

Beauty. How vague. How ambiguous a descriptor. Beauty seems to have two fronts; that which is hardwired into us from birth, and that which we learn from our environment. Just as heterosexual individuals are genetically conditioned to find the physical form of the opposite sex visually appealing (and vice versa for homosexual persons), such is it that all humans (barring a small percentile of mentally unstable aberrations) are seemingly mentally â€Å"programmed† to find beauty in certain objects and interties, common to all mankind. But don’t we all seem to jump to the conclusion that â€Å"beauty† is a descriptor for things of great optical appeal? While this is primarily the case, I know that it is hardly restricted to such. To me, music, smells, the voice of a loved one, the feel of sand on bare feet – all of these can be â€Å"beautiful†. Is the understanding of beauty attainable by the blind? One would be no less than a fool to think otherwise. We will write a custom essay sample on Beauty Through the Eyes of the Blind or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page While blind persons can’t physically â€Å"see† in the sense that most do, they most certainly are privy to the informational input from their other functioning senses. Sight allows us to see the world physically, but this brings up a few questions. In the same way that a person void of the ability to taste would never enjoy the pleasure of tasting delicious foods, they would also be at somewhat of an advantage. If you could not taste, would there ever be any temptation to eat unhealthy foods? Ice cream, cake, and cookies all lose their allure when you remove the pleasure that their scrumptious tastes provide to the palate. This in mind, are not those who cannot taste at somewhat of an advantage to the rest of us in that they are able to gladly feast upon food repulsive to most everyone else? They are able to reap the benefits of consuming solely nutrient-dense foods, however unappealing the taste, because taste is simply not a relevant factor to them. That in mind, co uld the same not be true for blind individuals with respect to the perception of beauty? Let’s look at a hypothetical situation in order to illustrate this. Let’s say that a sightless person goes out on a date with someone they have never met. The blind woman’s date is, to mince words with political correctness, â€Å"physically underprivileged†. Despite his substellar appearance, this man is a total gentleman of fairy-tale proportions. He is polite, cordial, understanding, sweet – you get the picture. So let us fall under the assumption that their first date goes well, so it is naturally followed by a second, and then a third, etc. Eventually, the budding relationship blossoms and culminates in a happy marriage. What are the odds, that had the lady in the previous example not been blind, she would have not even gone out with the facially unfortunate man in the first place, much less have pursued a long-term relationship and eventual matrimony with him? I’d say slim to none. In this particular case, did not both parties mutually benefit from the superficial disadvantage of the woman’s blindness? She was able to see past her beau’s phenotypic shortcomings and instead focus her attention on the person that he was on the inside. So this poses the question: does the disadvantage of blindness allow its sufferer to achieve an alternate and inverse advantage simultaneously? What does beauty look like to someone who has never seen anything with their eyes at all? How would they define beauty? Well, I personally think it would go something like this: â€Å"Beauty is the characteristic of an inanimate object or living entity that incites pleasure in the observer, via any of the working sensory inputs.† How does this definition measure up to the stereotypical concept of beauty that most of us hold? In all honesty, it seems to me that those of us fortunate enough to be blessed with sight often take for granted the unbelievable window that we have to the world of beauty. However, it must not be overlooked that oftentimes this window can be very restricting, as we saw not only to our perception of what is and isn’t appealing, but also to what really matters. How can we justify losing sight of the really important things when those who never had it in the first place can seem to understand it so well?

Tourist Destinations Essay Example

Tourist Destinations Essay I am writing an article to outline how the characteristics of destinations affect the appeal to tourists and issues likely to affect the popularity of tourist destinations. What I mean by this is what characteristics affect its appeal to current leading tourist destinations, like economic and social characteristics. Throughout this article I am going to be analysing the issues that are likely to affect the popularity of tourist destinations.Some of the leading tourist destinations like France, US and the UK all have economic characteristics, like France for instance although it’s a small country they have fairly important economic power, the sectors vary: * Car industry – that reached its peak in 2005 selling nearly 5. 75 million vehicles worldwide. * Raw material production – Michelin is the first tyre producer, France ranks second together the UK concerning the plastic industry. Fashion and luxury goods industry – with about 25% of the market France is l eading in the perfumes and cosmetics sector, this whole industry is worth about 39 billion euros. * Main French farming foods – cereals – first producer in the U. E and fifth worldwide; Wine – second producer worldwide after Italy. Concerning global tourism revenues, France ranks third worldwide just after USA and Spain with 32. 8 million euros, France is the most visited country in the world reeling in 75. 1 million foreign tourists a year. In 2004 the population in France was 62 million, the GNP (gross national product) was 1. 90. 76 billion euros in 2004 along with the GDP (gross domestic product) at 1. 551 milliards, making the growth rate 2. 5% and inflation 2. 2%. France operates a mixed economy that combines socialist and capitalist characteristics, capitalism involves private ownership of capital and other means of production. Under socialism the government directs economic activity and owns all or part of most industries. The French government has a lot of control over the economy, owning shares in many of the countries largest companies.One of the most visited attractions in France is the Fontainebleau forest and castle is located 55. 5 kilometres south to the centre of Paris, with 13 million visits annually. Known for its variety of wildlife and activities, the Fontainebleau forest is and outstanding protected natural reserve. Its mini Alps rugged landscape and hilly terrain makes it perfect for rock climbers in training, it’s a paradise of wildlife with hundreds of species of fauna and flora. The second most visited place in France is Disneyland Paris, bringing in 12. million visits a year, Disneyland is a fun filled place for the whole family old or young your guaranteed a good time, this year is Disneyland’s 20th anniversary so that will most likely bring a good amount more visits to France. Frances highest mountain is the mount Blanc, its 781 feet high, there are also the Alps massif, central and Pyrenees Mount ains. In France they speak French, the religion in France is 90% catholic and 10% protestant, the literacy in France is 99% and the life expectancy is 71 for men and 79 for woman.The physical characteristics in France are fairly modern and up to scratch, every town has a clean water supply, adequate sanitation, more than enough utilities and a good service of transport. France is a republic, the fifth republic of France was establishes in 1958, it gave extensive powers to the presidents and ministers compared to the other western democracies. Its first president was General de Gaulle and his Prime minister was Michael Debre, it has been amended 17 times, most recently in July 2008 when the French congress (a joint convention of the two chambers of parliament) approved.The president must approve appointment of government, ministers, PM and presidents work together to form a government, in theory ministers are chosen by the PM in practice unless the president and PM are from different sides. The electoral system for parliamentary elections involves two rounds the first round a candidate can be elected by obtaining the majority of votes, the second round is a run-off between two or more candidates. The use of tourism for economic transformational reflect on the huge impact that tourist activity and the tourism industry has on political change

Andes - The Worlds Longest Mountain Chain

Andes - The World's Longest Mountain Chain The Andes are a chain of mountains that extends 4,300 miles along the west coast of South America and bisects seven countries- Venezuela, Columbia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina. The Andes are the longest chain of mountains in the world and include many of the highest peaks in the Western Hemisphere. Although the Andes is a long mountain chain, they are also narrow. Along their length, the east-to-west breadth of the Andes varies between about 120 and 430 miles wide. The climate throughout the Andes is highly variable and depends on latitude, altitude, topography, precipitation patterns, and proximity to the ocean. The Andes are divided into three regions- the northern Andes, the central Andes, and the southern Andes. Within each region, there is much variation in climate and habitats. The northern Andes of Venezuela and Colombia are warm and wet and include habitats such as tropical forests and cloud forests. The central Andes- which extend through Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia- experience more seasonal variation than the northern Andes and habitats in this region fluctuate between a dry season and a wet season. The southern Andes of Chile and Argentina are divided into two distinct zones- the Dry Andes and the Wet Andes. There are about 3,700 species of animals that live in the Andes including 600 species of mammals, 1,700 species of birds, 600 species of reptiles, and 400 species of fishes, and more than 200 species of amphibians. Key Characteristics The following are the key characteristics of the Andes: longest mountain chain in the worldincludes the Atacama desert, the driest desert in the worldincludes the Andean Plateau, the second-highest plateau in the worldlocated on the Pacific Ring of Fireincludes of the highest active volcano in the world, Ojos del Salado, which lies on the border of Argentina and Chilesupports a number of rare and endangered species including short-tailed chinchillas, Andean flamingos, Andean condors, spectacled bears, Junin rails, and Titicaca water frogs Animals of the Andes Some of the animals that inhabit the Andes include: Alapca (Vicugna pacos) - The alpaca is a domesticated species of even-toed hoofed mammal that belongs to the camel family. Alpacas are native to South American. They are kept in herds in the high altitude plateaus in Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, and northern Chile. Alpacas are grazers that feed on hay and grasses.Andean condor (Vultur gryphus) - The Andean condor is found throughout the Andes, although it is far less common in the mountain ranges of Venezuela and Columbia. Andean Condors inhabit grasslands and alpine habitats up to 16,000 feet. It prefers open habitats where it can locate carrion as it soars above.Short-tailed chinchilla (Chinchilla chinchilla) - The short-tailed chinchilla is one of just two species of chinchillas alive today, the other being the long-tailed chinchilla. Short-tailed chinchillas are an endangered species of rodent that once inhabited areas of the central and southern Andes. The species was heavily exploited for its fur and as a result their numbers declin ed drastically. Short-tailed chinchillas are currently classified as critically endangered on the IUCN RedList. Andean mountain cat (Leopardus jacobita) - The Andean mountain cat is a small cat that inhabits high montane regions of the central Andes. The Andean mountain cat is rare, with less than 2,500 individuals remaining in the wild.Titicaca water frog (Telmatobius culeus) - The Titicaca water frog is a critically endangered frog that is endemic to Lake Titicaca. Titicaca water frogs were once common but have declined due to hunting, pollution, and predation  by trout that have been introduced to the lake.Andean goose (Chloephaga melanoptera) - The Andean goose is a large sheldgoose with black and white plumage, a pink bill, and orange legs and feet. The Andean goose inhabits elevations of the Andes above 9,800 feet in Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, and Chile.Spectacled bear (Tremarctos ornatus) - The spectacled bear is South Americas only native species of bear. It inhabits forested areas of the Andes mountain range including Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Peru. Spectacled bears have black fur, keen eyesight, and distinctive golden-colored rings of fur framing their eyes.

Northern Renaissance of European Art

Northern Renaissance of European Art When we talk about the Northern Renaissance, what we mean is Renaissance happenings that occurred within Europe, but outside of Italy. Because the most innovative art was created in France, the Netherlands, and Germany during this time, and because all of these places are north of Italy, the Northern tag has stuck. Geography aside, there were some significant differences between the Italian Renaissance and the Northern Renaissance. For one thing, the north held on to Gothic (or Middle Ages) art and architecture with a tighter, longer grip than did Italy. (Architecture, in particular, remained Gothic until well into the 16th century) This isnt to say that art wasnt changing in the north - in many instances, it kept apace with Italian doings. The Northern Renaissance artists, however, were scattered about and few initially (very unlike their Italian counterparts). The north had fewer centers of free commerce than did Italy. Italy, as we saw, had numerous Duchies and Republics which gave rise to a wealthy merchant class that often spent considerable funds on art. This wasnt the case in the north. The only notable similarity between northern Europe and, say, a place like Florence, lay in the Duchy of Burgundy. Burgundys Role in the Renaissance Burgundy, until 1477, encompassed a territory from present-day middle France northward (in an arc) to the sea, and included Flanders (in modern Belgium) and parts of the current Netherlands. It was the only individual entity standing between France and the enormous Holy Roman Empire. Its Dukes, during the last 100 years it existed, were given monikers of the Good, the Fearless and the Bold. Although apparently, the last Bold Duke wasnt quite bold enough, as Burgundy was absorbed by both France and the Holy Roman Empire at the end of his reign. The Burgundian Dukes were excellent patrons of the arts, but the art they sponsored was different from that of their Italian counterparts. Their interests were along the lines of illuminated manuscripts, tapestries, and furnishings. Things were different in Italy, where patrons were more keen on paintings, sculpture, and architecture. In the broader scheme of things, the social changes in Italy were inspired, as weve seen, by Humanism. Italian artists, writers, and philosophers were driven to study Classical antiquity and explore mans supposed capacity for rational choice. They believed that Humanism led to more dignified and worthy humans. In the north, possibly in part because the north did not have works of antiquity from which to learn, the change was brought about by a different rationale. Thinking minds in the north were more concerned with religious reform, feeling that Rome, from whom they were physically distanced, had strayed too far from Christian values. In fact, as northern Europe became more openly rebellious over the authority of the Church, art took a decidedly secular turn. Additionally, Renaissance artists in the north took a different approach to composition than did Italian artists. Where an Italian artist was apt to consider scientific principles behind composition (i.e., proportion, anatomy, perspective) during the Renaissance, northern artists were more concerned with what their art looked like. Color was of key importance, above and beyond form. And the more detail a northern artist could cram into a piece, the happier he was. Close inspection of Northern Renaissance paintings will show the viewer numerous instances where individual hairs have been carefully rendered, along with every single object in the room including the artist himself, distantly inverted in a background mirror. Different Materials Used by Different Artists Finally, its important to note that northern Europe enjoyed different geophysical conditions than did most of Italy. For example, there are lots of stained glass windows in northern Europe partly for the practical reason that people living there have more need for barriers against the elements. Italy, during the Renaissance, produced some fabulous egg tempera paintings and frescoes, along with glorious marble statuary. Theres an excellent reason the north isnt known for its frescoes: The climate isnt conducive to curing them. Italy produced marble sculptures because it has marble quarries. Youll note that Northern Renaissance sculpture is, by and large, worked in wood.   Similarities Between the Northern and Italian Renaissances Until 1517, when Martin Luther lit the wildfire of Reformation, both places shared a common faith. Its interesting to note that what we now think of as Europe didnt think of  itself  as Europe, back during  Renaissance  days. If you had had the opportunity, at the time, to ask a European traveler in the Middle East or Africa where he hailed from, he likely would have answered Christendom regardless of whether he was from Florence or Flanders. Beyond providing a unifying presence, the Church supplied all artists of the period with a common subject matter. The earliest beginnings of northern Renaissance art are eerily similar to the Italian  Proto-Renaissance, in that each chose Christian religious stories and figures as the predominant artistic theme. The Importance of Guilds Another common factor that Italy and the rest of Europe shared during the Renaissance was the Guild system. Arising during the Middle Ages, Guilds were the best paths a man could take to learning a craft, be it painting, sculpture or making saddles. Training in any specialty was long, rigorous and comprised of sequential steps. Even after one completed a masterpiece, and gained acceptance into a Guild, the Guild continued to keep tabs on standards and practices amongst its members. Thanks to this self-policing policy, most of the money exchanging hands, when works of art were commissioned and paid for, went to Guild members. (As you might imagine, it was to an artists financial benefit to belong to a Guild.) If possible, the Guild system was even more entrenched in northern Europe than it was in Italy. After 1450, both Italy and northern Europe had access to printed materials. Though subject matter might vary from region to region, often it was the same, or similar enough to establish commonality of thought. Finally, one significant similarity that Italy and the North shared was that each had a  definite artistic center during the 15th century. In Italy, as previously mentioned, artists looked to the Republic of Florence for innovation and inspiration. In the North, the artistic hub was Flanders. Flanders was a part, back then, of the Duchy of Burgundy. It had a thriving commercial city, Bruges, which (like Florence) made its money in banking and wool. Bruges had cash aplenty to spend on luxuries like art. And (again like Florence) Burgundy, on the whole, was governed by patronage-minded rulers. Where Florence had the Medici, Burgundy had Dukes. At least until the last quarter of the 15th century, that is. Chronology of the Northern Renaissance In Burgundy, the Northern Renaissance got its start primarily in the graphic arts. Beginning in the 14th-century, an artist could make a good living if he was proficient in producing  illuminated manuscripts.   The late 14th and early 15th centuries saw illumination take off and,  in some cases, take  over  entire pages. Instead of relatively sedate red capital letters, we now saw whole paintings crowding manuscript pages right out to the borders. The French Royals, in particular, were avid collectors of these manuscripts, which became so popular that text was rendered largely unimportant. The Northern Renaissance artist who is largely credited with developing oil techniques was Jan van Eyck, court painter to the Duke of Burgundy. Its not that he discovered oil paints, but he did figure out how to layer them, in glazes, to create light and depth of color in his paintings. The Flemish van Eyck, his brother Hubert, and their Netherlandish predecessor Robert Campin (also known as the Master of Flà ©malle) were all painters who created altarpieces in the first half of the fifteenth century. Three other key Netherlandish artists were the painters Rogier van der Weyden and Hans Memling, and the sculptor Claus Sluter. Van der Weyden, who was the town painter of Brussels, was best known for introducing accurate human emotions and gestures into his work, which was primarily of a religious nature. One other early Northern Renaissance artist that created a lasting stir was the enigmatic Hieronymus Bosch. No one can say what his motivation was, but he certainly created some darkly imaginative and highly unique paintings. Something that all of these painters had in common was their use of naturalistic objects within compositions. Sometimes these objects had symbolic meanings, while at other times they were just there to illustrate aspects of daily life. In taking in the 15th century, its important to note that Flanders was the center of  the Northern Renaissance. Just as with Florence, at this same time, Flanders was the place that northern artists looked to for cutting edge artistic techniques and technology. This situation persisted until 1477 when the last Burgundian Duke was defeated in battle, and Burgundy ceased to exist.

Effects of science on the environment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Effects of science on the environment - Essay Example Science has introduced various forms of environmental pollutions. The thesis of my research attempt is to look into the relationship between science and environment and analyze this relationship to be able to conclude whether or not science harms the environment. Modern environmental pollution is attributed to burning of fossil fuels, which is used to run industries and increase in industries. It is also attributed to transport of raw materials and machines. One of the principal environmental concerns is the conduct of oil industries and the multinational companies in the oil producing area. The oil industry is involved in a number of activities that lead to direct environmental pollution. These activities range from exploration, refining, production and transportation. These activities have lead to both social and ecological disturbances. Pollution from pipeline oil leaks and seismic surveys that cause explosions are some of the negative effects of the science on environment. Most o f the scientific wastes are none biodegradable. Offshore drilling oil leaks, flaring refinery effluents and drilling floods are known to cause terrible negative impact on the environment. This has resulted in land alienation and extreme disruption of natural terrain due to oil exploration and oil drilling. Oil related infrastructure and installations are known to cause deforestation which leads to desertification (Molina and Zaelke, 5). Most of The oil exploration and drilling activities happen on virgin land with natural vegetation causes significant changes in the natural ecosystem. Gas flaring has been having tremendous environmental impact from these multinational companies. According to World Bank, gas flaring had contributed greenhouse gases on the atmosphere of the earth than any other source by 2002. Moreover, these gases are not used as fuel. According to a research done in 2010, over 191 billion cubic feet of the gases produced at the time, 145 billion cubic feet were flar ed. All this happened at the detriment of the environment. Gas flaring is known to contribute to climate change, which is one of the biggest global threats in the world today. Climate change is said to cause skin cancer, food insecurity and other significant diseases. Climatic changes and extreme weather conditions like El Nino are said to cause a rise in the cost of living directly or indirectly. Gas flares are known to contain toxins like benzene. This means that rain water becomes contaminated (EPA, 9). They pollute the air leading to respiratory challenges and health conditions like bronchitis and asthma. Science has been causing environmental degradation. Gas flaring has led to alteration of vegetation and destruction of soil nutrients due to the presence of chemicals in the rain water (Hester and Harrison, 87). Scientific activities continue to pump destructive gases into the ozone layer leading to depletion of the ozone layer. This has had an adverse effect on cultivation whi ch is a source of livelihood for mankind (Molina and Zaelke, 5). Places, which were fertile, are now covered with stubborn grasses and natural vegetation has been replaced by emerging resistant species. Intense heat, which has resulted from these flared gases, has caused the vegetation in affected areas to become extinct. The destruction brought by science is gradual and possible that is why the impacts caught the world unawares. The world has become to appreciate the