Byzantine times: The effect on women

Byzantine times: The effect on women An average woman in the fifth and sixth centuries of the Byzantine Empire did not have a big role in public society.  [1]  In fact, it was common for her to not be seen in public at all. It was standard for Byzantine women to get married around twelve to thirteen years old due to an arranged marriage chosen by her parents. Once married she spent most of her time at home. Occasionally a woman was allowed to leave her home to attend to church, festivals, marriages, births, visit relations, or go to public baths. These were the only activities in society acceptable where a woman could to leave her house.  [2]  However, if a woman must venture outside, she must have her face covered by a veil at all times and be accompanied by a man. Though veils were rarely shown in Byzantine artwork, this was a social standard for women. The wearing of veils often represented the difference between an honest women and a prostitute.  [3]   Even in her own home, a Byzantine woman had to endure gender inequalities. During meals she was not allowed to dine with men foreign of her relations. More often than not, she would be eating alone separate from men.  [4]  For her education, she was taught skills only useful for a house wife. If a woman was in middle to upper class, she was usually taught to read, write, and sing.  [5]  Women of royalty however, were given the opportunity to study medicine and natural sciences with scholars in their courts.  [6]  Nevertheless education was usually second quality compared to the education given to men. Women could easily be described as cloistered as prisoners, though her prison walls were only the invisible judgments and rules cast by society.  [7]   Most women could not participate in politics. A woman could not even testify in court for fear that her testimonial would be easily influenced by her husband or brother. It is only in rare cases where a man was not involved that a woman could testify.  [8]  Despite what little influence and respect women had in public society, through home life a woman could still easily influence her own husband, sons, brothers, and other male relations in her home life.  [9]  This influence could be subtle in a small Byzantine family or extremely considerable if she was the wife of the emperor. Unlike men who could rise up to a political position through military, or the church, for a women to gain political power she had either be born or marry into aristocracy. Born in 399 A.D, Empress Pulcheria was the eldest daughter of Emperor Arcadius.  [10]  She was a devoted Christian that paved her way into power through her influence over her younger brother Theodosios II. She eventually received the title of Augusta (Empress) which was the highest position a woman of relation to the Emperor could aspire to.  [11]  Pulcheria was just two years older than Theodosios II but had a great influence over him all his life. Though Pulcheria was the eldest born into royalty, she did not have much power as she would if she had been born male. Even with this gender disadvantage, she was extremely intelligent. At the age of 16, she swore a vow of chastity and also influenced her younger sisters to do the same.  [12]  This was a way to sustain power that would be lost if she was forced into marriage as well as stop the competition to her brothers throne.  [13]  The reasoning she gave for her actions was due to her Christian fate, comparing the Vi rgin Mary as her heavenly counterpart.  [14]  Figure 1 depicts an ivory relief known as The Translation of Relics Ivory dating around the year 420 A.D.  [15]  and was acquired by the Trier Cathedral in 1844.  [16]  The carving measure 13.1 x 26.1 x 2.3 cm and has been cut to a depth of 2 cm  [17]  . The Byzantines loved ivory and usually imported it from India and Africa. The ivory of this specific piece has been speculated to have been imported from Africa do to its larger size.  [18]  The Translation of Relics Ivory depicts a procession of people in the streets followed by two priests riding a chariot pulled by mules. Leading this procession is an Emperor holding a candle and ready to receive the relics is an Empress holding a cross in front of church doors. In the background are onlookers cheering waving incense and a church which is still under construction, still being complete for the relics to be place into. For many years, the protagonists in this relief have been unidentifiable. Historians have compared the lives of Justin II, Maurice, and Phocas and their wives but found no historical evidence which relates them to this scene.  [19]  In the late 70s, The Translation of Relics Ivory has been identified by historians, Kenneth G. Holum and Gary Vikan that the characters in this relief are likely Empress Pulcheria, her brother Emperor Theodosios II and the relics given are the bones of Saint Stephen. The historians deducted this from written evidence of a chronicler of the ninth century named Theophanes Confessor. In his narrative he wrote: Under the influence of the blessed Pulcheria, the pious Theodosius sent a rich donation to the archbishop of Jerusalem for distribution to the needy, and also a golden cross studded with precious stones to be erected on Golgotha. In exchange for these gifts, the archbishop dispatched relics of the right arm of Stephen Protomaryr, in the care of St. Passarion [Pulcheria] arose taking her brother with her and went to greet the holy relics. Receiving them into the palace, she founded a splendid chapel for the holy Protomartr, and in it she deposited the holy relics.  [20]   The narrative matched perfectly with the description of The Translation of Relics Ivory as well as another found narrative which proved that the bones of Saint Stephen had in fact appeared outside Jerusalem that time in December 416 and later went under control of the bishop.  [21]  The church under construction is believed to be a church of St. Stephen.  [22]  An interesting detail to The Translation of Relics Ivory is the composition of the piece. The entire focus of the image is on Pulcheria rather than the Emperor Theodosios II, her brother. Even Theodosios relief is still a bit further back than hers, as he is standing right next to her. This is a huge representation of Pulcherias power as she is the center of attention opposed to the Emperor himself. In her lifetime, Pulcheria had commissioned several new churches, most dedicated to her patron saint the Virgin Mary. It was well known that Virgin Mary deeply impacted her life to staying openly celibate for God. However during the fifth century the Virgin Mary was not a major figure in Constantinople.  [23]  Her choice for the Virgin Mary as her patron was not to advance women but simply get rid of the stigma that women were the curse of eve, a curse which claimed that women where responsible for original sin.  [24]  It was also due to Pulcherias influence that the Virgin Mary would be again be known not just as the Mother of Christ (christotokos) but the Mother of God ( theotokos) when the statement was overturned.  [25]  Pulcherias most well-know church to the Virgin Mary is the Church of Saint Mary of Blacherne , which has also been depicted in literature with names such as the Panagia of Blachernae and the Blachernae Monastery. The church started construction in 450 A.D. and was finished by her husband Marcian after Pulcherias death in 453 A.D.  [26]  The church was built around a pre-existing sacred spring called the Ayazma of Blacherne.  [27]  It is also said that Christians of Jerusalem had contributed a robe that belonged to the Virgin Mary as a relic for the church,  [28]  though other sources state that the robe was stolen.  [29]  Figure 2 shows the church before its second fire, and Figure 3 shows the current modern church after being rebuilt. The church focused around images of the Virgin Mary, which led to much destruction of its icons during the reign of Constantine V.  [30]  The church first burnt down in 1070 from a fire but was rebuilt again using its old floor plans.  [31]  The church was completely burnt down yet again in 1434, this time from a careless fire caused by children chasing pigeons on its roofs.  [32]  By the time Constantinople fell to the Ottoman Turks in 1453, the Church of Saint Mary of Blachernae no longer existed and the people of Constantinople had to turn to different mediums for the protection Virgin Marys icons.  [33]   Figure 3 shows Icon of the Virgin Blachernitissa. In 626 A.D., the Blachernitissa was credited for the protecting the city from an Avar attack as well as an Arab siege in 717. Thus this relics reputation grew to be known as a powerful Byzantine talisman of protection and was kept in the Church of Saint Mary of Blachernae.  [34]  Though the figure head of this icon was a woman, it had huge veneration. The term Blachernitissa was a type of representation of the Virgin Mary named after the Church of Saint Mary of Blachernae.  [35]  The icon shows Mary within it and was held in the Church of Saint Mary of Blachernae. The piece was also within the church during its 1434 fire and was thought to be destroyed. It was a talisman that represented the protection of the citys walls.  [36]  Its absence was believed to be the reason why the Ottoman Turks succeeded their invasion only 19 years later. The year 730 was the start of the first iconoclastic period lasing until 787.  [37]  It started with Emperor Leo III, who reigned from 717-740. The Iconoclasts believed that icons where evil and led to the misinterpretation of the Catholic religion. As the Iconoclasts resorted back into symbols and scripture, they tore down icons, thinking them as heresy to their religion. When Leo III died in 740, his son Constantine V continued the ban of during his reign in 741-775.  [38]  It was during Constantine Vs reign, that the Church of St. Mary of Blachernae was attacked by iconoclasts. Constantine V ordered the destruction of the interior mosaics that represented a New Testament cycle and replaced them with vegetal ornaments and pictures of birds.  [39]  It was fortunate however that the Icon of the Virgin Blachernitissa was hidden from destruction at this time. This first Iconoclastic period was stopped by Empress Irene. Irene acted in the name of her son Constatine VI, who was too young to rule at the time. She created and ordered the Second Council of Nicea, which supported Iconophiles.  [40]  As Iconophiles, they believed that images were also representing their religion and they were not wrong in using them. The Council condemned the opposition to icons as heresy. It is through Irenes actions of the revival of icons that she earned the title of Saint in the Greek Orthodox Church. The second iconoclastic period lasted 814-842. This time it was Emperor Leo V (reigning from 813-820) who instated this new wave of iconoclasm. It was speculated that it was to cure the recent military failure. Emperors Michael II and Theophilus who succeeded him were also iconoclasts. However after Theophilus died, he was succeeded by his son Michael III. Michael at the time was too young to reign so his mother Theodora acted as a regent for him. Similar to Irene, Theodora was an iconodule and was able to proclaim the restoration of icons. Now ever since the revival of icons, the first Sunday of Lent is celebrated as the Triumph of Orthodoxy. Figure 4 shows the Icon of the Triumph of Orthodoxy, a painting that was painted on a wooden panel covered with gesso and linen. Its medium was egg tempera and gold leaf.  [41]  The center of the painting is a portrait of the Virgin Mary, said to be painted by St. Luke. Empress Theodora and her son, Emperor Michael III, appear on the left o f the portrait. On the right are three monks with the Patriarch Methodios. This painting was painted more than 500 years after the end of iconoclasm during the time when the Byzantine Empire was under threat of invasion by the Ottoman Turks.  [42]  Again as it is not usually common for a woman to be in the painting, Empress Theodora is shown next to her son in royal robes. Though she is not next to them, Theodora is shown at the same level as the bishops. In the center of the painting is the Blachernitissa, the Virgin Mary and child. The Virgin Mary was a celebrated icon of her woman status. It is not surprising that Irene and Theodora were iconophiles. Since the average Byzantine woman was housebound for the majority of their lives, most had a special dedication to religious practices involving icons.  [43]  It might be due to their life style that women where the most affected when their precious icons where taken away. The influence women had and their relations to art during the Byzantine Empire shown to be very important. It is through the influence of the empresses Pulcheria, Irene and Theodora that impacted artwork despite a judgmental and men-driven environment that shadowed their lives. It is as fascinating and influential as the works themselves that these women were able to influence the Byzantine public and the artwork. Is Bitcoin the Best Cryptocurrency? Is Bitcoin the Best Cryptocurrency? Is Bitcoin the most practical form of cybercurrency? In 2009, the world was forever changed when an anonymous individual that goes by the name of Satoshi Nakamoto introduced the world to a new form of currency: the bitcoin. A bitcoin is a form of cybercurrency that cannot be traced to the person that purchases them.   Through the introduction of the bitcoin, several other companies have released their form of cybercurrency. These newer currencies range from the â€Å"Litecoin† to the â€Å"Dogecoin†. While bitcoin has been the figurehead of the cyber-coin movement, there are several other notable and more efficient â€Å"altcoins† as they are referred to: the ever popular â€Å"Dogecoin† for the online â€Å"memer† community, the Litecoin, a more efficient version of the Bitcoin, the â€Å"Ripple†, the â€Å"Ethereum† cryptocurrency, and â€Å"Dash† are all widely accepted cryptocurrencies that are taking the world by storm. The Bitcoin was one of the first forms of cryptocurrency that gained notoriety. Bitcoins are not a form of tangible currency; they are not connected to banks in any way, shape or form. There are no transaction fees and no way that a Bitcoin can be traced back to someone that purchases them. Merchants are beginning to accept bitcoins as a new method of payment, ranging from food, trips to the hair salon, and even illegal products on the internet! To acquire a bitcoin, people purchase them on a multitude of cryptocurrency exchange market websites. Transfers are relatively simple; People can easily transfer their bitcoins among each other by using mobile apps or their computers. People are also capable of â€Å"mining† for bitcoins, where individuals solve complex math problems, which is how Bitcoins are made. However, Bitcoins are kind of shady; If an everyday person was to invest in purchasing some Bitcoins, the only thing that protects their cryptocurrency is a Blockchain that you need to enable. This means that virtually anyone that has hacking experience can take that person’s Bitcoins if they do not take the necessary steps to protect them. Granted, the anonymity of Bitcoin transactions and purchases make it somewhat secure, but anyone that solves the complex mathematical equations is probably able to hack into an unsuspecting person’s account.[1] The Bitcoin is one, if not the most popular form of cryptocurrency. However, there are a vast majority of other â€Å"altcoins† that seem to be up-and-coming. Someday, these â€Å"altcoins† may end up surpassing the Bitcoin in terms of use. One of these cryptocurrencies is known as the â€Å"Dogecoin†. The â€Å"Dogecoin† is a growing altcoin in today’s era of cryptocurrencies. The â€Å"Dogecoin† is â€Å"a peer-to-peer digital currency, favored by Shiba Inus worldwide†. It works very similarly to the Bitcoin; however, it has the Doge internet meme as the face of the currency. This altcoin caters to the meming community of the internet, which is how it advertises to its patrons. To sell their altcoins, they advertise that people that use this form of currency are in a tight-knit community, which has a Reddit sub-thread; they also explain that it is seamless to set up an account to transfer and store Dogecoins. The creators of Dogecoin also create a video that explains the origin of this meme-ridden cryptocurrency in a ninety second video, which was incredibly hard to stomach, for a multitude of reasons (I will be sure to provide the link for you somewhere; viewer discretion is advised). This altcoin is for the people of the internet that everyone collectively hates on. However, the currency is efficient, fun, and very similar to the Bitcoin. Although they have a section on their website dedicated to teaching patrons about the origin of doge, it is an ingenious selling point, as most memers just want to belong to something other than Reddit (Can you blame them? That community sucks). The Litecoin is another popular form of cryptocurrency.   Introduced in 2011 by Charles Lee, it is very similar to the Bitcoin; however, it is more practical in terms of security, and speed of transaction. The community of Litecoin also makes a point to stay united; the Litecoin community has also created forums, subreddits, and other networks. Litecoin also has a tab on their website dedicated for resources to the community. The resources tab was intended to allow their community to better understand the Litecoin and other cryptocurrencies and how they compare. Litecoin also utilizes a better form of Blockchain, a service which is considered to be the greatest software platform for digital assets. Wallet encryption is also a feature included in the Litecoin cryptocurrency; Litecoin requires that you provide a password for every transaction you encounter when utilizing the Litecoin. The password feature is useful, as it prevents theft from hacker or people that utilize bots to do t heir dirty work and also makes sure that you are positive that you need to spend your Litecoins. With any cryptocurrency, users are also allowed to mine for Litecoins, as long as they basically know rocket science. While the Litecoin is still up-and-coming, it seems to be quite secure. As of right now, it is the silver to Bitcoin’s gold.[2]   However, with more time and donations, the Litecoin could manage to surpass the success of the Bitcoin. It provides people with a significantly larger amount of coins in the economy, however, this could pose threats for inflation While this may pose a threat in the long run, the use of Litecoins seems to be practical. Overall, Litecoin is a practical and cheaper alternative to invest in, because it is cheaper to purchase and it is safer to utilize due to the use of mandatory passwords. One of the more unique forms of cybercurrency is the â€Å"ripple†. It is a form of cryptocurrency that works to connect of the economies together. The ripple works in tandem with banks. The reason the ripple works with banks is to transform how money is sent across the world, which they feel is a vital step in the advancement of economics, both international and nationally. Their company vision is to enable the â€Å"Internet or Value† to move value as fast as information travels across the internet. Traditionally, two banks would use a third bank as a middle-man to send money to each other. B including the â€Å"ripple solution† to this equation the third bank is eliminated from the process, resulting in a much more efficient system for transactions from bank to bank. The â€Å"ripple solution† also works to convey useful information and messages to both banks. The ILP ledger that the ripple service is run through, works to coordinate fund movements between institutions to settle the payment†[3]. Overall, the ripple system seems to be a practical form of cryptocurrency for everyday use. While it is not ideal for the pesky dark web users that require anonymous currency, it is a much simpler way for foreign transactions to occur, or even people that do not use the same bank to make a transaction. This is also the optimal form of cryptocurrency when dealing with foreign affairs because it is incredible secure; there is complete transaction privacy for each financial institution involved. Most banks do not operate on the same network, especially those in different countries. With the Ripple solution, banks on separate networks can transact directly. There is also an ability to connect traditional and emerging financial networks together, which is immensely useful in the modernizing and integrating of international economics. Another notable form of cryptocurrency is Ethereum. Ethereum was developed in Toronto, Canada by a nineteen-year-old programmer. Vitalik Buterin created Ethereum in 2011, after learning more about Bitcoins and other forms of cryptocurrency. He also created Bitcoin Magazine, an online news website about the cryptocurrency world.[4] Ethereum is one of the newer forms of cryptocurrencies on the market. The Ethereum Foundation has a similar view as the Ripple Foundation. â€Å"While bitcoin aims to disrupt PayPal and online banking, Ethereum has the goal of using a blockchain to replace internet third parties — those that store data, transfer mortgages and keep track of complex financial instruments†[5]. In short, the Ethereum Foundation’s long-term goal is to be a sort of world computer. â€Å"Although the apps appear to be possible, it’s unclear which blockchain applications will actually prove useful, secure, or scalable, and if they will ever be as convenient to use as the apps we use today† [6] The Ethereum Foundation uses a form of currency known as the â€Å"ether†. Ether are unique pieces of code that allow updates to the blockchain’s ledger.[7] The process behind obtaining and holding ether is similar to most forms of cryptocurrencies. First, there are varying levels of security and risks that you can take in the method of storage for ether. The first method is a desktop wallet to store ether. This form of storage requires the user to download a sort of blockchain, known as the â€Å"Ethereum client†-a copy of the entire Ethereum blockchain. The desktop wallet will also need to stay updated with transaction records.[8] The next type of storage is possible through a mobile device, typically a cell phone. The app that caters to the â€Å"light† users of Ethereum is incredibly convenient but equally as risky; light users rely on miners and other people involved in The Ethereum Foundation to verify transactions and secure their ether. If the light users lose their private keys, they will not be able to contact anyone to be able to access their ether, meaning they will ultimately lose all of the money they put into their account.[9] The next form of storage is through hardware. â€Å"These secure devices that can often be detached from the internet, and can sign transactions without being online†, meaning that although it is incredibly secure, this method can be incredibly irritating to deal with if the user is constantly out and about. The last form of storage a patron of the Ethereum Foundation can partake in is paper currency. In this method, the user carefully writes the private key and can securely store it in a deposit box or something similar.[10] While this is the most efficient way to utilize ether, it is also the most difficult method to secure and maintain. But how can users obtain ether? Ether can be purchased in person or on the internet from miners, or other users that desire to have their country’s recognized form of currency, or even other types of cryptocurrency. Unfortunately, if users are looking to purchase ether in person, it should be in a highly-populated area, such as New York City or Toronto in order to find someone that also uses ether; in less populated areas, this is not necessarily an option. While Ethereum is a growing form of cryptocurrency. However, it is not considered to be one of the most secure or efficient. While it could develop to be something incredible, as of right now, the cryptocurrency advocates of the world deem it to be a little over-zealous. Ethereum is definitely on the right track to becoming one of the best forms of cryptocurrencies, but it has a lot of room for improvement. As of right now, J.P. Morgan Chase, Microsoft and Intel have all allied in order to make Ethereum’s goal easier—a â€Å"world computer†. â€Å"Dash† is another one of the most popular forms of cryptocurrency.   Its name conveniently combines the word â€Å"digital† and â€Å"cash† together (which is super nifty right? Names are always so original when their used in business or history.). It was designed for the honest, hardworking nerds out there. These miners that participate in the mining of this cryptocurrency mine for their fair share of Dash coins. However, unique to the Dash coin system, you need special hardware and computers to mine for the coins.[11] Another useful aspect of the Dash coin is that the transactions are allegedly instantaneous. This caters to people that value time. According to Dash coin, Bitcoin takes roughly an hour for the transaction to process. While the Bitcoin is the most popular form of cryptocurrency, it is not the most efficient or practical form of currency in a generalized sense. It is useful for a multitude of reasons: anonymity, for the people that are ashamed with their addiction to My Little Pony collectables, people that are too afraid to meet their drug dealers face-to-face, or those undercover cannibals that so desperately want to try a new body part (Eww. Still can’t wrap my head around this one). However, funds of the patrons that utilize the Bitcoin as their go-to form of cryptocurrency run the risk of it being stolen by hackers. Dogecoin is a light and comical approach for the cryptocurrencies that are becoming a widely popular global phenomenon. While at first it was a joke among the Reddit community, it grew into an ever-popular alternative cryptocurrency to the Bitcoin. While it may not be the most practical form of cryptocurrency. It is a very useful alternative on the steady rise. In time, it may even be able to pass the most popular coin—the Bitcoin. The Ripple Foundation really outdid themselves with their form of cryptocurrency. It is one of the most optimal forms of cryptocurrencies in order to simplify the way people bank with each other. By making Ripple the middleman between the banks, it creates communication and eliminates any ways that banks that transfer money between two banks would eliminate misconceptions or errors. Ethereum is the next most efficient cryptocurrency, although highly unlikely to fully be achieved within the next couple years. While several notable companies have allied with the Ethereum in an effort to expand their company, they have a long way to go in order to achieve their goals to create a â€Å"world computer†. However, the most efficient form of cryptocurrency seems to be the Litecoin. While it is not worth as much as the Bitcoin, it uses faster transaction times. The Litecoin also has a very friendly website. That instantly allows you to access their forums and helpful videos to better understand their cryptocurrency and other forms of cryptocurrencies, as well.   It is also very secure, while still being efficient. There are a multitude of ways to secure your currency, one of them being the useful password feature. Where Bitcoin makes it optional to secure your account, Litecoin makes it mandatory. Bibliography n.d. Bitcoin. Accessed May 12, 2017. https://bitcoin.org/en/. n.d. Blockchain. Accessed May 12, 2017. https://www.blockchain.com/. n.d. Comparing Bitcoin to Litecoin. Accessed May 12, 2017. http://www.coindesk.com/information/comparing-litecoin-bitcoin/. corporation, dogecoin. n.d. Dogecoin. Accessed May 12, 2017. http://dogecoin.com/. Foundation, Ripple. n.d. Ripple. Accessed May 12, 2017. https://ripple.com/. Hertig, Alyssa. n.d. How to use Ethereum. Accessed May 12, 2017. http://www.coindesk.com/information/how-to-use-ethereum/. —. n.d. What is Ethereum. Accessed May 12, 2017. http://www.coindesk.com/information/what-is-ethereum/. —. n.d. Who Created Ethereum. Accessed May 12, 2017. http://www.coindesk.com/information/who-created-ethereum/. n.d. How Ethereum Works. Accessed May 12, 2017. https://www.ethereum.org/. Networks, The Dash. n.d. Dash. Accessed May 12, 2017. https://www.dash.org. Tal Yellin, Dominic Aratari, Jose Pagliery / CNNMoney. n.d. What is Bitcoin? Accessed May 12, 2017. http://money.cnn.com/infographic/technology/what-is-bitcoin/. 2017. What is a Bitcoin? May 12. http://www.coindesk.com/information/what-is-bitcoin/. n.d. What is the Best Cryptocurrency to Invest in Long Term and Why? Accessed May 12, 2017. https://www.quora.com/Whats-the-best-Cryptocurrency-to-invest-in-long-term-Why. n.d. What is the Litecoin? Accessed May 12, 2017. https://litecoin.org/. >[1] n.d. Bitcoin. Accessed May 12, 2017. https://bitcoin.org/en/. >[2] n.d. Comparing Bitcoin to Litecoin. Accessed May 12, 2017. http://www.coindesk.com/information/comparing-litecoin-bitcoin/. >[3] Foundation, Ripple. n.d. Ripple. Accessed May 12, 2017. https://ripple.com/. [4] —. n.d. Who Created Ethereum. Accessed May 12, 2017. http://www.coindesk.com/information/who-created-ethereum/. >[5] —. n.d. What is Ethereum. Accessed May 12, 2017. http://www.coindesk.com/information/what-is-ethereum/. >[6] n.d. How Ethereum Works. Accessed May 12, 2017. https://www.ethereum.org/. >[7] ibid [8] ibid [9] Hertig, Alyssa. n.d. How to use Ethereum. Accessed May 12, 2017. http://www.coindesk.com/information/how-to-use-ethereum/. [10] ibid [11] Networks, The Dash. n.d. Dash. Accessed May 12, 2017. https://www.dash.org.

Most historians recognise 1917 as the year in which the Harlem :: English Literature:

Most historians recognise 1917 as the year in which the Harlem renaissance began. The Harlem Renaissance. Today most historians recognise 1917 as the year in which the Harlem renaissance began. Three events lead to this. First was the publication of two poems by Claude McKay. Second was the opening on Broadway of three plays about black life by a white writer, Ridgely Thomas. These plays were remarkable not only because they were performed by black artists but because they contained none of the usual racial stereotypes. Finally, on the 28th of July Harlem experienced its first silent parade when ten to fifteen thousand blacks marched down 5th Avenue to protest against continued racial inequities. However the rich surge in African American arts and letters that took place around the 1920’s was not limited to just Harlem, nor even to New York City. Although, the intensity of the movement was in that city, and the sheer number of black writers, musicians, and scholars who lived and worked in Harlem has ensured that it is linked with the era. To understand the Harlem Renaissance it is necessary to appreciate both the changes that occurred within the African community and the cultural shifts that took place in American society as a whole during the 1920’s. For blacks the years during and after World War one were ones of increased militancy and racial pride. Phillip Randolph was struggling to organise black workers and a national campaign was actively promoting federal antilynching legislation. Although white society did not take these political movements particularly seriously, it did give considerable recognition to the large number of black writers, musicians and scholars who were emerging simultaneously. These figures being people like, Countee Cullen, James Weldon, Zora Neale Hurston, Wallace Thurman and Jean Toomer. All lived in Harlem and Langston Hughes described the area as a â€Å"great magnet for the negro intellectual, pulling him from everywhere.† Yet Harlem was a magnet not only for blacks, but also for whites eager to experience for themselves the glamour and escapism that its night-clubs seemed to promise. In many ways Harlem became a national symbol of the Jazz Age, a complete antithesis of Main Street and everything that the artists and cultural critics of the 1920’s rejected. Many Observers, black and white, hoped that this outburst of literary and artistic talent would help to ensure greater acceptance of blacks by American Society.

Montana 1948

Practise Essay Montana 1948 â€Å"Don’t blame Montana! † He said, â€Å"Don’t ever blame Montana! † Who is to blame for the events of 1948? Discuss Montana 1948, by Larry Watson is novel set in American mid-west that raises a question who was to blame for the tragic events that occurred that summer. David Hayden the narrator of Montana re-collects powerful information that uphold his father Wesley Hayden losing control of himself and his emotion to his daughter-in-law due to the fact, she commented it was the â€Å"wild west† who was to blame.It became vibrant to the reader, that in response to Wesley’s actions that Montana was truly important to him and he would not accept anyone that held Montana responsible from the events the occurred within the summer of 1948. By clearly stating that Montana was not to blame, Sheriff Hayden means that it was the whites in Montana as well as his family and himself who were held responsible from the events that arose within the summer of 1948. The whole white population within Mercer County were partly responsible for the terrible events of Montana 1948.The social environment was one that favoured the white people’s value and discriminated against the Indians. The Indian’s lived away from the whites in little reservations allowing the Indians to have little or no contact with the white people. This had already proved the racial treatment within Montana. Furthermore Ollie Young Bear was an Indian but he was accepted from the whites because he lived as white. He was successful through every aspects of life and married a white woman. But the Indians, on the other hand had regard believing that Ollie young bear wouldn’t â€Å"be happy until he was white. The white societies within Montana were all well aware of the crimes committed by Frank against the Indians. When Wesley and Gail were to take action on the claims made by Marie about Frank’s wrongdoings, Dav id heard a remark made by Daisy McAuley saying â€Å"Just the squaws though. † Daisy comment showed a racial statement about Indian women. It appeared that Daisy was justifying against Franks actions, because in her eyes Indian women were worthless and deserved the way they were being treated.After the conversation between Gail and Daisy, Gail informed Wesley that it was â€Å"around town more than you realize. † Gail’s statement proved that a lot of the citizens within Montana knew of Franks activities but choose to â€Å"look away† just like Len, Deputy Sheriff chose to do. It was the racial treatment of the white people that overlooked Frank’s actions which led them responsible for what occurred within the summer of 1948. Julian Hayden is the head of the family and holds great power within his family and the community.Therefore Wes has a boundless deal of obedience and loyalty towards him. When Gail informs Wes of Frank’s actions, Wesâ₠¬â„¢ first response was â€Å"I don’t want this getting back to my father. † This showed how important it was to Wes, that his father doesn’t not get upset. However, it turned out Julian already was well aware of his favourite son’s wrongdoing but took it as a joke by stating â€Å"I wouldn’t be surprised if there weren’t some young ones out on the reservation who look a lot like your brother. Julian chose to side with Frank, as he thought very little of the Indians as he considered them to have lower status compared to the whites. Julian challenged Wes’ arrest of his brother by saying â€Å"Some Indian thinks he put his hands where he shouldn’t and you’re pulling out your badge? † Furthermore Frank also holds some responsibility to what happened in Montana. He abused his power as a doctor which led him to murder Marie Little Soldier and eventually commit suicide.Frank’s status in the community was that he was a genuine war hero and a doctor but sadly, he misused his status by molesting Indian girls and in some cases raping innocent women during private medical sessions. Frank was smart, because he knew no one would comfort him for his action because of the reputation of his family name and by the fact he had power. When he went to examine Marie at Wesley’s house, he made an assumption about Indian and how â€Å"they are used to being treated by the medicine man. But a doctor comes around and they think he’s the evil spirit. Throughout the novel, Wes makes a deal with Frank for him to stop what his doing and he wouldn’t press charges, but when Frank murdered Marie just to ‘get rid’ of his past and all the evidence, Wes doesn’t hesitate to arrest his brother. Thus, Julian and Frank hold a countless obligation to the events that occurred within the summer of 1948. Finally, the keepers of the law, Sheriff Wesley Hayden and his deputy Len McAuley must hold responsibility for what events went wrong during the summer on 1948. As sheriff, Wes had a duty to ensure the law was being upheld equally for both races.He failed to do this for a long time, first by denying his brother’s offences â€Å"I’m sure he does things to all his patients† and later by denying his arrest, â€Å"he’ll have to meet punishment in the hereafter. I won’t do anything to arrange it in this life. † Due to his lack of responsibility it led to the heartbreaking death of Marie and David’s entry fee of having to see his Uncle Frank at their house on the day of her death, this impacted Wesley to act upon his brother Frank. As a result of Wes arresting Frank, it causes further complications within the family.Julian responded by trying to free Frank by using violence and then Frank taking his life. Wesley finally realized that postponing justice from an earlier stage of the events had himself in some contribution to the tragic deaths of Marie and Frank. It was Wes himself, who failed to uphold the law, had failed Marie and all the Indian women; therefore he must be blamed for the tragedy, not Montana itself. However, Len failed to uphold his role as Deputy Sheriff, which acted upon his role in the tragedy.He obligated the Hayden’s, it was them that gave him his position as deputy â€Å"I have this job. Deputy Sheriff, which I owe to your granddad and your dad†, therefore he believed in â€Å"knowing when to look and when to look away. † Therefore, Len was both powerless and unwilling to challenge Wes’s inactions. Together, both these representatives of the law hold a responsibility to the events which occurred within Montana 1948. Montana 1948 clearly states that the events that occurred within the summer could not be blamed on the state itself.The Hayden was part of a culture that distinguished against the Indian people and overlooked crimes against these people . Due to the racism treatment the Indians coped from the white people it led Frank to get away with his corruptions. It seemed that the power, wealth and influence the Hayden had within the community was much more important than the rights of the Indians to receive justice and respect. Julian and Frank also take part of the blame due to them taking benefit of the power they had.In delaying justice for so long in order to protect his family, Wesley found himself denying justice towards the Indians and having obligation in the deaths of Marie and Frank. Wesley obviously admits that Montana shouldn’t be blamed for the events the occurred within the summer of 1948, when he attacks his daughter-in-law by defending a topic that meant a lot to him. He indicates that the white citizens that lived in Montana at the time, his family and he himself were the ones who were to blame for the tragic events that occurred within Montana 1948.

3 Differences between a University Book Report and Book Review

3 Differences between a University Book Report and Book Review 3 Differences between a University Book Report and Book Review It usually happens that university students are tested in writing a book review but too often they end up writing a book report instead. The problem is that most students don’t know the difference between a university book report and book review. The surprise of failing in an assignment that you were certainly sure to score highly can be overwhelming. It is a good idea to make sense of a task before getting started. According to the Executive Function Handout Series about a task initiation, students are able to complete a task successfully, once they get going, if only they have explicit instructions about an assignment. Asked to write a book review or book report but can’t understand the difference? We are to explain. 1.   The Purpose of a Book Report and a Book Review Despite the conjoint word a book in the phrases a book report and book review, both types of writing are dedicated to a book but they are aimed at different outcomes. So, it is important not to confuse the purposes of writing to get desirable results. What is a book report? It is a summary that gives the information about an author and a book content. In other words, it is a brief summary of the story, character, setting and plot. It is possible to write a book report if you read a book in question and understand everything in it. What is a book review? It is an in-depth analysis and critical evaluation of a book. It brings a rather new insight onto a book content than simply narrates it. So, this assignment requires more special skills to narrate coherently, think deeply and analyse in a critical manner. 2.   The Structure of a Book Report and a Book Review Both a book report and book review can present the same book but the fact is the two differ in the structure. That’s why very low marks can be given if a paper is incorrectly organized. What is the Structure of a Book Report? As it is supposed to give enough info about a book and let readers decide whether it is interesting or not, follow such a structure in a book report: Introduction should contain information about an author, a title of a book, the number of pages and the bibliographic information (the name of a publisher, the year of publication, the book edition etc.) The body should have a minimum of 3 paragraphs where you present main characters, a plot and summary of a book. Conclusion should contain your overall impressions about the book and answer if you would recommend it to others. What is the Structure of a Book Review? Writing a book report instead of a book review is viewed by most examiners as trying to take a shortcut. However, it is more specialized since you judge the book based on how you understand it citing evidence from the book. On Wendy Laura Belcher’s advice, an associate professor in the Princeton University, it is better to stick to the following structure: The first part of a book review is similar to that of a book review. You introduce the bibliographic information (a title, an author, a publisher, etc.) In the second part you have to state two theses. One from the author as illustrated in the book and another being your own thesis based on what you find after reading the book. The third part is devoted to the critical analysis and evaluation. You have to analyze and evaluate the themes and setting of a book based on the author’s perspective as well as how you understand them. In the final part you should sum up everything and state your point of view. The evidence you presented earlier should guide you on how you conclude. No new evidence should be submitted in the conclusion. 3.   The Word Count of a Book Report and Book Review No much emphasis is placed on the length. However, on average a book review is expected to be no less than 750 words whereas with a book report the minimum word count is 500 words. You’re recommended to specify all paper requirements before you settle down to your homework. In fact, there is nothing stopping you from scoring highly in either a book review or a book report you can buy online. Especially, when you’re supported by our quick professional help in writing. Just contact us 24/7 and get out there or sleep well while the high-quality works are being prepared for you.

Music Defines Dress essays

Music Defines Dress essays Often I have found myself people watching for the amusement of everyday life. Not by luck or sheer investigation, I have noticed something that everyone shares in common guys and girls alike, their personal style of clothing in reflection of their choose in music. I am not talking about or brand names or the clothes make the man, but that of the general appearance of how the individual displays themselves to the world around them. Over the generations people have been influenced greatly by the music that they enjoy. By conscious decisions or not, people tend to dress to the type of music that they enjoy most. Dress and Music are linked by the way of how the individual walks, carries themselves, and their general attitude. As I sit placing trying to place people with their taste in music, I have noticed that the attire of the individual somewhat perceives my notions. This notion is often accurate but not decisive. There are many instances that this does not hold true. People are defined who they are and what they are at any given moment and the music that they represent are just a rhythm away. The first thing that I notice about the people is the way that they are dressed. People usually wearing the tight jeans, boots and cowboy hats generally fall within the country music. This may not always be the case. Country music fans have a pride in their stride or a dip in their hip that makes the movement look like someone doing a two-step. The person is generally is walking with a jovial stride. The persona, in which this individual gives off, will indicate a modest, somewhat insecure, but fun loving person. Around here, country music fans wear mostly jeans and boots, but biggest give away of all is the belt buckle that is twice their IQ size. Just the other afternoon while waiting for Julia, my lunch date, an attractive young lady wearing the cowboy boots and the cowboy hat was just standing about th...

Religion and Theology - Christian Denomination Essay

Religion and Theology - Christian Denomination - Essay Example The Seventh-day Adventist Church originated in the Millerite Movement 1832-1844 in which the Second Coming of Jesus Christ is proclaimed to occur. William Miller, a Baptist minister heralded the Great Awakening which spiritually revived Christendom in North America. After the crushing Great Disappointment, when Christ does not appear and a significant Millerite following falls away, â€Å"many nevertheless remained Adventists since they believed the second coming is still imminent†. A remnant of Protestant Christians perseveres in studying the Bible and meeting for regular Sabbath services. In 1860 at Battle Creek, Michigan, they give themselves the denominational name, Seventh-day Adventists, to signify their distinguishing beliefs: the seventh day Sabbath and the soon, second return of Christ. In the organizational framework comes into place when local congregations expand into conferences which are incorporated as the General Conference of Seventh day Adventists in 1863. Ot her notable early Adventists are Joseph Bates, James White, Uriah Smith, Hiram Edson and J.N Andrews. The current membership of Seventh-day Adventists worldwide stands at 12 million (Seventh-day Adventist General Conference Session 2005; Rhodes 27) Christian Denomination: The Seventh-day Adventists The authority of the Seventh-day Adventist Church is hinged on the Bible as the rule of standard and is resident structurally in the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. The spiritual authority of the Seventh day Adventist Church resides in the Bible which is regarded as â€Å"the infallible revelation of (God’s) will† (General Conference of Seventh day Adventists 9). However, as far as organizational structure is concerned, the General Conference is the highest authority as â€Å"all subordinate organizations and institutions will recognize the General Conference as the highest authority under God among Seventh-day Adventists† (General Conference 2005). All SDA subsidiary conferences, missions and institutions operate under the aegis of the General Conference. Spearheaded by a President elected every quinquennium, and located in Silver Spring, Maryland, the General Conference orchestrates the international functions of the Church. Another noteworthy authority of the Seventh-day Adventist Church is Ellen G. White, (1827-1915) one who relayed to the early church with messages from God. Based on the belief of the spirit of prophecy, Seventh-day Adventists endorse Ellen G. White’s writings as inspirational, prophetic and truth. Ellen G. White was a prolific author and visionary that composed more than forty books, entered about 50,000 articles and letters (White). Her writings are mentioned as Spirit of Prophecy books. The General Conference advocates the â€Å"promoting, the purchase and reading of Spirit of Prophecy books for personal and spiritual development and nurture† (General Conference 2005). White’s literary expositions of counsel on a wide range of subjects such as health, education, family, prophecy and church organization are undisputed as a Church authority and â€Å"her writings †¦considered by church members to be authoritative† (Rhodes 2005). Worship within the Seventh day Adventist church belongs to the God and Creator of heaven and earth. It takes place in the daily life of every believer and culminates in the observation of the seventh-day Sabbath. Seventh day Adventist believers realize that â€Å"the Sabbath worship service is the most important of all meetings of the

Nigeria and Oil Extraction Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Nigeria and Oil Extraction - Essay Example Oil industry forms a major part of the export sector of Nigeria. However, the oil drilling and oil exploration has lead to massive environmental problems, such as water pollution, land degradation and breakdown of ecosystem. These issues have created further social problems in the lives of Nigerians. It seems that Nigerians are paying a huge price for economic development. Oil forms a pertinent part of the exports of the African country, Nigeria. In fact, much of the development, which started in the 1950s in this country, has been attributed to the revenue obtained from the oil industry. Moreover, future advancement in Nigeria depends largely on this industry. Nigeria comes second to the leading African nations, exporting oil. Since the discovery of oil in 1959, the country has largely become independent on this commodity for its foreign exchange reserves. Nigeria has improved economically and socially, since this has led to better infrastructure facilities, and a better trade balan ce. Nigeria is bound to progress in every occupation, because it remains one of the nations having huge amount of oil reserves, which remains the most prized commodity. Therefore, oil exploration and drilling should have profound impacts on the lives of Nigerians, which advances their lifestyle. This could mean in terms of better living conditions, education, better agriculture, better environment and availability of food (Emiri, Deinduomo, pp.349, year). However, this has not been the case, when it comes to Nigeria. Nigeria remains one of the Third World Countries, which is crippled by the same problems such countries face. One of the common problems faced by Third World Countries includes the rapid environment degradation. Environmental degradation has been advanced by the oil industry, because of the drilling impacts. The paper largely focuses on the different environmental impacts that the oil industry has created. It has become an issue of immense concern, especially in the rec ent decades. Environmental degradation has gotten quite out of hand. This can be proved by the fact that the Millennium Development Goals, which had to be completed by various countries by the year 2012, includes the issue of environmental management. Environmental management includes areas such as the protection and the sustainable use of the elements of the environment. It also includes the reversal of those environmental problems, which humans have created (Child Development, n.p). However, Nigeria has remained far behind in this goal. Environmental degradation has multiplied; because of the increased oil, drilling that has been occurring since the past few decades. Nevertheless, that does not signify or assume that there remains no environmental awareness in Nigeria. The negative environmental effects of oil operations have largely been studied and documented by van Dessel, who used to be the environmental studies head of Shell in Nigeria. He found out that many of the environme ntal problems stem from oil spills, gas flares, oil and other waste, drilling and even during surveys. Seismic surveys create many problems, such as the cutting of lines that adversely affect the mangroves forestation. The whole ecosystem gets disturbed in this way. Therefore, one such simple example shows the numerous environmental effects of oil drilling (Frynas, pp. 158). The environmental impact has been significant particularly in one area, which includes the Niger Delta region. This region forms part of history in the way that the first oil exploration was conducted in this area in 1956. At the time of discovery, some 5000 barrels of oil were produced every day. However, now the production has extended to such a large