The Football Functions and the Element of Culture - Essay Example

Virtual Time Capsule Letter of Introduction The current year is and I would like to give you a brief account of our daily life activities. Individuals today enjoy a wide variety of interests. Some of the most notable elements are the increasing influence of technology in the form of the Internet and television in our daily lives. Many of us are still young enough to remember a time when there was no Internet and radio was the dominant form of entertainment. Outside of these elements, most individuals work forty-hours a week, Monday-Friday. Football remains the most popular sport, and Jersey Shore one of the most popular television programs. This time capsule contains a number of items that constitute cornerstone elements of life in the early 21st century. Morality and Decision Making One prominent example of morality and decision-making in contemporary culture has occurred in the area of gay rights. While the 1950s and 1960s witnessed considerable Civil Rights gains for African Americans, the pressing Civil Rights concern of the day is gay rights. Recently President Barack Obama changed the military policy of ‘don’t ask don’t tell,’ to a policy where homosexuals can live an open existence. This was a significant moral decision and it is hoped will function to pave the way for future gains in gay rights. For instance, many states still prohibit gay marriage. It’s hoped that by the time you read this, all individuals will have the same social rights. Definition of Happiness My definition of happiness has been gained from life experience up until this point. In my youth I believed that happiness was a state that could be attained and that if I only took certain steps I would reach this blissful state. Through my life experience I have come to accept that there is no such permanent state of happiness. Instead, I believe that humans can achieve increased levels of security and satisfaction in their lives, through finding relationships and attaining higher levels of financial stability, yet there is no lasting state of joy. Instead, happiness is the daily life joys we gain; for instance, happiness is a piece of pizza, finishing work, or arriving home and saying hello to your family. Literary Work The literary work I have chosen to include in this time capsule is Ernest Hemingway’s Farewell to Arms. This work explores Hemingway’s experience as an ambulance driver during World War I. The protagonist is injured and must make his way back to safety in a harrowing journey. The text provides the reader with significant insight into the 20th century wartime experience. It also explores pivotal elements regarding the nature of early 20th century life. This work was chosen for a variety of reasons. Perhaps most prominently, this work is perhaps the greatest novel written in the 20th century. The work is one of true genius and mastery. In addition to the position of the text as one of the seminal works of 20th century literature, it also provides valuable insight into one of the major ways of the century. In reading and appreciating this novel, future generations will gain a perspective on the horrendous nature of warfare; it’s hoped this will contribute to an effort to deter future wars. Ultimately, this novel provides a powerful message, and an important example of 20th century literary mastery. Art The work of art chosen for inclusion in the time capsule is Marcel Duchamp’s Urinal, signed R. Mutt. The urinal literally is an artist’s sculptural depiction of a toilet. The urinal is white porcelain, and is approximately 4 feet high. It has a sculptural shape like a seat, however there is a hole in the area where the individual sits. In addition, there is a chair-like back the individual can rest against. It is unknown whether the urinal can be used for functional purposes. While the choice of Duchamp’s Urinal is slightly humorous, it is chosen for an important and substantial reason. Art before the 20th century was largely based on notions of replicating nature to increasing levels of accuracy. The 20th century marked one of the primary instances where artists began to self-reflexively challenge the nature of art in their work. Duchamp’s Urinal represents perhaps the most seminal example in these regards. It’s inclusion in the time capsule functions to illustrate this important 20th century shift in art, as distinguished from earlier eras. Songs The collection of songs chosen is the Beatles’ complete discography. The Beatles were perhaps the most popular and renowned bands from the 20th century. They were a group of four musicians from Liverpool who produced music during the 1960s. Their music spanned a wide array of concerns, from light-hearted pop anthems, to more serious political examinations, and calls for peace. The Beatles were chosen for obvious reasons. Their music is the most widely enjoyed and powerful of the 20th century. In addition to their popularity, the band’s songs represent powerful and politically pro-active concerns. As they produced their music during the turbulent 1960s, the songs represent concerns with war and peace. These songs will provide future generations with endless hours of enjoyment, and provide a positive message in the process. Film The film that was chosen to be included in the time capsule is George Lucas’ film Star Wars. This film follows the adventures of a protagonist Luke Skywalker as he discovers that he is a chosen individual to save the world from the foreboding takeover of the darkside. It follows his adventures as he joins the Rebel Alliance and works to counter-act the evil influences in the world. He is ultimately successful in his pursuit and returns the universe to its peaceful state. This film was chosen for the tremendous impact it has had on late 20th century society. Millions of people have been moved by the film and felt a close personal connection with it. The movie is highly entertaining, perhaps the most entertaining film of the 20th century. It demonstrates a deep understanding of not just human entertainment, but the deep underlining and mythological issues of the human experience. It’s inclusion in the time capsule functions to provide insight into the film that was the most widely valued for the historical era. Item from Popular Culture The item from popular culture that is chosen for inclusion in the time capsule is the football. The football is oblong pigskin. The football is generally brown in color and has stiches on one side, and is inflated with air. The football is used in football games. Football games are played on amateur levels, as well as professionally. Most universities have a college football program, and most major cities in the United States have a professional football team. The football was chosen as an item of popular culture because of its symbolic significance to the current culture. Football has assumed a place as the nation’s primary form of entertainment and is a multi-billion dollar industry. The football is symbolic of the country’s major pastime and interest. The football also represents a significant shift in world culture. The early 20th century witnessed major warfare that ravaged the world. In the aftermath of this one of the primary things that brought the country together was professional sports. In these regards, the football represents the channeling of the country’s instinctual drives for warfare into more productive channels. Ultimately, the inclusion of the football functions to both demonstrate a cornerstone element of culture, and provide entertainment for future generations. Read More