“Reading” Art: Practicing Iconography The two works of art that I chose are: Prayer for Rain (1938) by James E. Allen and Battle between Hercules and Centaurs (1526-27) by Giovanni Jacopo Caraglio. In our text iconography is the practice of understanding symbolism in art and is one aspect of visual literacy. When one can understand visual literacy and the roles of the artist, then this will deepen their appreciation of art. Artists usually emulate their own feelings and emotions...

Historic Accuracy of the Film "Tora! Tora! Tora!" In the movie Tora! Tora! Tora!, the American Naval Base at Pearl Harbor was attacked by the Japanese Air and Naval forces. The main question that is trying to be answered is; did the Americans know that the Japanese were going to attack Pearl Harbor? There is sufficient evidence to supply both sides with an argument. Nevertheless, I feel that the evidence supporting the statement that the Americans were previously unaware of the attack on Pearl...

Chopin - Poland's Greatest Composer Frederic Francois Chopin, one of the greatest composers of all time, was born in Zelazowa Wola, near Warsaw on February 22, 1810. His father was a Frenchman who had lived in Poland for many years and his mother was Polish and of noble birth. He loved to play music, even as a small child. Before he even knew how to write down his ideas, he started to compose music. He took piano lessons when he was 6 years old from a Czech teacher named Wojceich Zywny, who...

This essay examines the fourth piece in Webern’s Opus 10. I Introduction Anton von Webern (1883-1945), according to liner notes, was “a composer continually in the process of remaking himself while remaining true to his deepest spiritual promptings.” (MacDonald, p. 4). A pupil of Schoenberg, he is often associated with that composer because of his work in what is usually called “atonal” music, but he wrote some very melodic pieces as well. This paper looks...

Film Review - Of Mice and Men 1:59, PG-13, Drama, 1992 Director: Gary Sinise Cast: John Malkovich, Gary Sinise, Sherilyn Fenn, Ray Walston, Alexis Arquette, Joe Morton, Casey Siemaszko, John Terry, Noble Willingham Gary Sinise and John Malkovich are migrant farm workers. John Malkovich isn't very bright and keeps getting the two in trouble. Sinise watches over Malkovich and tries to keep him out of trouble. They go to work on Noble Willingham's farm where Malkovich starts having problems...

The King of Argos, Acrisius, has his daughter, Danae, and her baby, Perseus, sealed in a wooden vessel and cast into the sea. Zeus is outraged and orders Poseidon to release the Kraken. Meanwhile Thetis informs the gods that Zeus is Persus’s father. The Kraken causes tidal waves that destroy Argos. At the same time, Zeus has Danae and her baby land safely at Seraphos, where Perseus grows to manhood. Zeus brags about his son, while Thetis begs mercy for her own child, Calibos, whom Zeus...

A Critical Look at Mosh Pits at Rock Concerts The people were everywhere. Too many were in such a small space. The crowd surged forward and back in one relentless wave. No one could help but to push and shove the others around. Someone was lifted into the air and tossed back by the mob. The noise was almost too much, too loud. Security guards and policemen formed a boundary around this group, but did nothing to stop the madness. They stood and watched, ready in case some serious accident...

Controversy in the Film "American History X" The controversial American History X is an excellent film directed by Tony Faye starring Edward Norton and Edward Furlong. This film chronicles the behavior of a ex-nazi skinhead named Derek Vinyard (Ed Norton), the events encompassing his incarceration, and the effects of his life on his younger brother Danny (Edward Furlong) who idolizes him. The film begins with Derek violently murdering two black men that are trying to break into his car and...

Famous Works of Pablo Picasso Pablo Picasso was a famous Spanish-French Painter in the late 19th and early 20th century. Pablo Picasso’s works can be seen in many museums and galleries all over the world today. He is best known for co-creating the art style of cubism. His most famous works of art were possibly The Old Guitarist, which was in his Blue Period and Les Demoiselles d’Avignon, which was in his Cubism Period. Picasso was not just a famous painter, but also did some...

How Music Represents Life Some people will look at a music score like it is a piece of paper from Mars. All it is to them is a bunch of black dots on five horizontal lines. But to me, that paper is something much, much more. That paper is my lock, the key is my drumsticks. When my drumsticks touch my drum, it is more than sounds that echo throughout a room, it is an endless note of harmony to my ears. With those sticks I can play anything, make music that describes my feelings, my thoughts,...