The Holy Virgin Mother Mary Essay Example for Free

The Holy Virgin Mother Mary Essay The Holy Virgin Mother Mary,by Chris Ofili, is one of the many controversial pieces of artwork to rise to fame in the late nineties. Taken as highly offense to the religious community due to the portraits exposed breast, hints of pornographic material,elephant dung and seemingly downgrading use of the sacred image of Mother Mary. Due to Ofilis inappropriate interpretation of real art, he received countless criticisms about his work including threats and vandalism against The Holy Virgin Mother Mary. The portrait has a 2D shape,very flat with little to no depth. My eye is drawn directly to the blue rosebud in the center of the portrait,which turns out to be the breast of the Holy Virgin Mary,after reading a little into the background of this portrait. Multiple round putty-like splatters are spread out around the painting. If you look closely you can determine that these are pornographic cutouts pasted all along and around the painting. The foreground of the painting tends to blend with the background and the only thing separating the Virgin Mary from the bright yellows and oranges is a soft thin line. The Holy Virgin Mary depicts a woman of African descent and clothed in turquoise blue robes in a similar manner as mother Mary. Small round objects float about the painting in a random and unorganized manner,which represents an ironic reference to the putti that appear in traditional religious art. The Holy Virgin Mother Mary sit centers around a yellow and orange background. Ofili started using dried-out elephant dung for the first time after a visit to Zimbabwe in 1992, his first ever trip to Africa. He was so taken by this experience that he wanted to import something of the African landscape into his paintings. In order to compensate for the foul nature of the dung, however, he took special care to make the overall effect of his paintings especially attractive. He did so by making richly-layered decorative surfaces. Ofili employed mixed media, including oil paint, glitter, and polyester resin,and collaged pornographic images in this painting, incorporating colored dots, sparkling glitter, polyester resin, map pins, collage cut-outs, all carefully combined into a dazzling display of vibrant folksy energy. A lump of dried, varnished elephant dung orms one bared breast, and the painting is displayed leaning against the gallery wall, supported by two other lumps of elephant dung, decorated with colored pins. The pins on the left are arranged to spell out Virgin and the one on the right Mary. (BBC News) In an interview, the British artist Chris Ofili discusses his work. He asserts that his paintings are part of hip-hop culture, and states that his work operates on multiple levels and is open to interpretation. He explains his intention of transforming everyday junk and aspects of contemporary culture into thought-provoking images, noting the importance of his identity as a Londoner. He discusses his techniques and current projects, and explains the importance of music, drawing parallels between his concerns and those of contemporary hip-hop and soul artists. He considers his painting The Holy Virgin Mary with reference to issues including the stereotyping of black women, the paradox of the virgin mother, and notions of beauty and caricature, and concludes by asserting that art can be constructed from anything and should be unrestricted by cultural norms(Miller, Paul D). It is perhaps Marys role as virgin and mother that best captures the paradoxical character of her identity and her imagery. Mary has often been cast as the counterpoint to Eve,as the agent of sin and death versus woman as vehicle of redemption. Yet, remember, Mary also bore a son. In one fourteenth-century book, the Annunciation scene is surrounded by cats, rabbits, monkeys, and flirtatious girls and boys to contrast the Virgins chastity with worldly carnality and simultaneously to offer a message of fertility(College Street Journal). I think that Ofilis imagery must be seen against this,contradictory visual history and in terms of the personal and universal that has underlain much of art connected with the Virgin. Ofili depicts her features and uses elephant dung to connect her in a basic way to the African earth and its people. To depict the The Holy Virgin Mary as a beautiful piece of art, is a bit of a stretch for me. It is a unique work of art that expresses the artists views on certain religious phenomena and worldly stereotypes.

Natural Gas and Its use as a Alternative Fuel Compared to Gasoline Ess

Natural Gas and Its use as a Alternative Fuel Compared to Gasoline Have you ever confused the terms â€Å"Natural Gas† and â€Å"Gasoline†? Well don’t, because they are two very different types of gases. Natural gas and Gasoline are considered fossil fuels to most scientists because it is believed they were formed from the remains of sea animals and plants that died 200-400 million years ago. These sea animals were then covered by layers of sediment and rock over time which caused them to become buried deeper and deeper, until enormous amounts of pressure and heat turned them into oil and gas. Raw natural gas is a mixture of different gasses and the main ingredient is methane, a natural compound that is formed whenever plant and animal matter decays. On the other hand, gasoline is made from crude oil, which is a mixture of hydrocarbons (compounds containing hydrogen and carbons). Gasoline is most commonly known as the gas that you use in your car to help your engine run. In a car's engine, oxygen is mixed with a fine mist of gasoline which is ignited by a spark, causing the combustion reaction to take place. This all takes place within a cylinder of your car. When the fuel/air mixture "explodes" (or combusts) in the cylinder, the expansion of gases from the mini-explosion pushes a piston; this movement is what ultimately makes your wheels move. A greenhouse gas is then emitted, called carbon dioxide- which contributes to global warming. (â€Å"How does car pollution affect the ozone layer and Environment?† King, Jennifer SFGate n.d. Web.) An alternative fuel such as natural gas has been considered by many scientists as a much more environmentally friendly gas on the environment that could run automob... ...uld be the right way to go due to its cleanliness and cost. Natural gas burns clean due to its naturalness. According the NGVAmerica, Natural gas costs about $1.50- $2.50 per gallon of gas. This type of change in gas would kill two birds with one stone, bye reducing prices for the people’s benefits and reduce greenhouse pollution, for the environment’s benefit. Works Cited . (â€Å" How natural gas Vehicles Work†.How stuffworks.n.d) (www.NEED.org 2011). . (www.NEED.org 2011) . (â€Å"What Is Hydraulic Fracturing?† Propublica.org.) (â€Å"How does car pollution affect the ozone layer and Environment?† King, Jennifer SFGate n.d. Web.) (Preston, Benjamin â€Å"I Feel Gassy† 5.8.12) Picture 1 – â€Å"Seismic Graphing Natural Gas & Tech†. NaturalGas.org) Picture 2- (â€Å" Natural gas & Tech.† Natural gas.org) Picture 3 – )â€Å"Comparing Natural Gas Vs. Other Fuels.†.Wb Web.) Socal gas.nd

Argumentative Essay on Tattoos

Many students especially college students do have a tendency of tattooing their bodies as they believe that tattoos are beautiful and acts as an identification mark or it may have a great meaning in their lives. Many youths especially the black American teenage boys and superstars have many tattoos all over their bodies. Some tattoo themselves just because their friends in the neighborhood or at school have tattoos thus I can argue that tattooing is an act of peer pressure.There are so many question asked on the importance of tattoos that’s why scholars have researched and wrote argumentative essay on tattoos that try to answer the many questions. There are variety of argumentative essay on tattoos that show the best methods that tattoos are drawn on peoples bodies outlining the methods which are less painful that the others and those whose tattoos are more visible and attractive than the others. Other argumentative essay on tattoos shows the pricing of various types of tattoo s and the people who are professionals in tattooing and why people should hire there services than others.This argumentative essay on tattoos are even published and sold in bookshops and social places that the youth frequently visit. Advertisements are everywhere in billboards to show the most well drawn tattoos the place where the tattooing is done and who does the tattooing as well as the pricing. This has become a booming business in some parts especially the urban centers were the tattooing services are easily accessible and were the influence is rampart. Some teenagers buy the argumentative essay on tattoos to show their friend and convince them how tattooing is fashionable.

Kite Runner Essay - 1471 Words

In the literature, The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini, the idea and representation of justice, and its relationship to that of the treatment of women in Afghan society, the ever-changing politics of Afghanistan, and the desired results of redemption and forgiveness, become illustrated through the novel’s characters and motives. Justice can be defined as the quality of being guided by truth, reason, and fairness. The Kite Runner illustrates the power of influence from an outside power and its effects on society, and the minds and lifestyles of the people. In relationship to the Cheverus High School Grad-at-Grad profile the actions and wrongdoings that take place in the The Kite Runner and in Afghanistan prove to be injustice. Amir,†¦show more content†¦Throughout history, Shia Muslims have not recognized the authority of elected Muslim leaders, choosing instead to follow a line of Imams which they believe have been appointed by the Prophet Muhammad or God Himself. The word Shia in Arabic means a group or supportive party of people. The commonly-known term is shortened from the historical Shia-t-Ali, or the Party of Ali. They are also known as followers of Ahl-al-Bayt or People of the Household. The historical background of the differences of the two different Muslim faiths is important to recognize due to the significance of its effect on Afghan culture and lifestyle. â€Å"Afghanistan was a monarchy ruled by King Zahir Shah. On July 17, 1973, when the king was on away on vacation, a man by the name of Mohammad Daoud Khan attained power. The military takeover did not cause any bloodshed, but as we see through Amirs story, it was still a frightening time for the people of Kabul who heard rioting and shooting in the streets. For six years, Mohammad Daoud Khan was President and Prime Minister of Afghanistan. Then, on April 27, 1978, he was violently overthrown by the PDPA, Peoples Democratic Party of Afghanistan. Daoud was killed in the coup along with most of his family. Even though Afghanistan had long insisted on maintaining its independence from Russia, the PDPA was a Communist party and therefore held close ties to the Soviet Union. The PDPA instituted manyShow MoreRelatedThe Kite Runner1867 Words   |  8 PagesThe main protagonists in A Complicated Kindness and The Kite Runner convey that identities are socially constructed. Identity is sha ped through the following factors: parenting, conflict, culture, gender, and genetics. These factors all intertwine and are the main influencers for shaping the protagonists identity. This is formed by the people that surround a person, their cultural stereotypes, how they teach others, and how a person learns. This essay will discuss how these factor effect identityRead MoreSummary Of The Kite Runner 1269 Words   |  6 PagesThe Kite Runner is a very powerful book that deals with many complex political and personal problems. This book has changed and challenged many of my views on life. I also found this book very inspiring and I have gained a greater appreciation for the life I have in Canada. Firstly, the text communicated with me through emotions. For example, I felt sadness for Hassan because of the way society treats him as an unequal. In addition, I have learned many things from this novel such as the importanceRead MoreThe Kite Runner Analysis772 Words   |  4 PagesThe Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini was a touching book that revolved around loyalty within a friendship. The friendship between Hassan and Amir had some difficulties. A true friendship can be hard to find(,) but can be one of the most vital things to being truly happy. Both Hassan and Amir had proven their loyalty to each other by the end of The Kite Runner. Loyalty was a crucial part in Hassan and Amir’s friendship.   Ã‚  Ã‚   In the beginning, Hassan was not only loyal to Amir because that was his dutyRead MoreAnalysis Of The Kite Runner 1016 Words   |  5 PagesAccording to the dictionary redemption means â€Å" The act of saving from sin†. The kite Runner is about two boys that goes through violence and betrayal in Kabul, Afghanistan. One of the main characters Amir decided not to help his best friend caused their conflicts to grow. This reveals the theme of redemption throughout the Kite Runner. Most importantly, there is a motivation behind why Amir battles very nearly his whole existence with reclamation and that is on the grounds that Amir s hirelingRead MoreThe Kite Runner Analysis 1844 Words   |  8 PagesTherefore, being a father is very difficult, having to overcome obstacles and being strong for each other. A well-known saying â€Å"like father, like son† is evident in this novel by the different ties of relationship each character had. In the novel, The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini proves that there is need of a fatherly figure when growing up. Having a father-son bond helps the child differentiate right from wrong. The relationship which demonstrates the need of a father figure is depicted by Baba and AmirRead MoreSummary Of The Kite Runner Essay997 Words   |  4 Pages The Kite Runner Theme Paper In the song â€Å"hello† by Adele she talks about how she wants meet to talk about everything in the past the makes her feel this guilt because the time away just didn t do enough she hasn t got over this feeling. Also in The Kite Runner, the character Baba experiences guilt so he does acts of kindness to redeem himself. No one knows why Baba did those acts of kindness till the end of the book because he thought no one would think of him the same way. In The Kite RunnerRead MoreAnalysis Of The Kite Runner 1229 Words   |  5 PagesThe Kite Runner’s plot is centered on the story of Amir, a young boy who grew up in Afghanistan with his father, and friend, Hassan. Amir was raised without a mother, and had no womanly influence in his life until he was married. This lack of women in the storyline has caused some to argue that the novel is demeaning to women (Gomez). The vulgar language and explicit themes are seen as demoralizing towards the female gender (Schaub). In the novel the women are required to remain committed and submissiveRead MoreRedemption in The Kite Runner1038 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"For you, a thousand times over.† In The Kite Runner by Kahled Hosseini, there is a recurring theme of redemption that is portrayed by various literary devices. Kahled excellently juxtaposes devices such as irony, symbolism, and foreshadowing to show redemption within his first novel. As a foreword, the story of The Kite Runner focuses on a man named Amir. In his childhood, he enjoyed a high-class life in Kabul, Afghanistan, living with his father Baba. They have two servants, Ali and his son HassanRead MoreAnalysis Of The Kite Runner 1359 Words   |  6 Pages One major theme that is evident in The Kite Runner is that scars are reminders of life’s pain and regret, and, though you can ease the regret and the scars will fade, neither will completely go away. We all have regrets and always will, but though it will be a long hard process we can lessen them through redemption. The majority of The Kite Runner is about the narrator and protagonist, Amir. Almost all of the characters in The Kite Runner have scars, whether they are physical or emotional. BabaRead MoreThe Kite Runner Essay1321 Words   |  6 PagesWhat are the essential values and ideas presented in The Kite Runner? Analyse and assess how effective their representation is Hosseini has expressed copious essential values and ideas in his novel The Kite Runner (TKR) including Loyalty, Culture, Gender and Ethnicity and Atonement. Hosseini has expressed these through the combination of style, structure, characterisation, themes and setting. Due to the context of The Kite Runner, culture is an important idea presented because it has major significance