Humanities-World Cultures (Week 4) - Term Paper Example

Discussion Renaissance Genius From the humanist perspective, “genius” is a critically important quality. Identify another person of the Renaissance (described in Chapters 14 or 15) who would fulfill the qualities outlined by Giorgio Vasari and explain reasons why the individual fits Vasari’s description. I cannot answer this because I don’t know what chapter 14 and 15 consists. Also, the paper is already more than 1 page when converted to double spaced (as the standard paper). Discussion 2: Renaissance Self-Help Books   Machiavelli’s instruction on how a ruler can attain and retain power is often summed up in his statement, “the end justifies the means.

” Identify a current political leader who seems to follow Machiavelli’s principles outlined in The Prince, and explain your choice. One leader that comes to mind is Omar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir, current president of Sudan (Central Intelligence Agency, 2011). He is a controversial figure because of numerous accusations against him. He was accused of crimes against humanity and genocide and was even indicted by the International Criminal Court. An important doctrine in the The Prince is that it is better to be feared than loved.

In the case of al-Bashir, the international community hates him for the atrocities he has committed but the Sudanese loves him. He is well respected because he is able to make concrete steps to protect his people (the Muslims) from the encroaching foreigners (the Christians). Proof of this love is that he has been re-elected in 2010 and is still the favored leader. Of course, because he acts with certainty and without mercy to those who wrong his people, he is also feared. The number of cases filed against him is enough to topple his government, yet, military power, bribery, etc.

, he has commanded the loyalty of his people. Discussion 3: The Arnolfini Portrait The photographic quality of Jan Van Eyck’s work has been both praised and criticized. Describe your impression of this precise painting style in comparison to another Renaissance artist of your choice. Jan Van Eyck’s work belongs to the early Renaissance art which featured human figures in their common clothes and wearing natural expressions. The Arnolfi Portrait showed a couple inside a room (some art historians say that the couple are being married, others say they are being bethrothed) with wistful expressions on their faces.

The environment surrounding the couple were used to convey Van Eyck’s message. The clothes of the couple show that they are members of a rich family. The elaborately decorated room has been filled with details that support the ambience of a “wedding” in the painting. When compared with Leonardo da Vinci’s work, one will see the striking difference immediately. Leonardo’s style showed balance and harmony – he aimed to portray humans in their natural form. Nudes were painted beautifully, artists used their subject’s facial expressions to convey their messages.

Leonardo’s work belonged to the High Rennaissance Art – it aimed to promote human values while at the same time depicting the inherent power of being a human being. Discussion 4: To Be, or Not to Be .   What is your reaction to Hamlet’s soliloquy? Do you sympathize with his situation? Do you see him as self-absorbed or self-reflective? Explain your responses.  Why do you think this play continues to be relevant to contemporary audiences? “To be or not to be” (Shakespeare, 1623) is the opening line of Hamlet in act three, scene one which showed the extent of his dilemma.

This line shows Hamlet struggling with his internal conflict – should he endure despite all the pains he has experienced? Hamlet’s words are a classic because everyone can relate to it. At some point in life, men have to make difficult decisions – and sometimes the choices available are less than the ideal. Sometimes the choices can only be between life and death – people may wish to die to escape the pain brought to them by life, but when the uncertainty of death (and life after death) becomes a reality, most people realize that choosing between these two is not as easy.