Week 7 post

                For most princes apply themselves more to affairs of war than to the useful arts of peace; and in these I neither have any knowledge, nor do I much desire it: they are generally more set on acquiring new kingdoms, right or wrong, than on governing well those they possess. And among the ministers of princes, there are none that are not so wise as to need no assistance, or at least that do not think themselves so wise that they because need none; and if they court any, it is only those for whom the prince has much personal favor, whom by their fawning’s and flatteries they endeavor to fix to their own interests: and indeed Nature has so made us that we all love to be flattered, and to please ourselves with our own notions.

 In this passage Sir Thomas & Peter discover that Raphael is a wise man from the things he learns for his travels. He tells stories about his philosophy on how the country should be ran. Because of Raphael wise outlook on life they suggest that he become a consoler or ad-visor to the king. Raphael explains that this is no use because they way that kings think, and that they truly lack interests in the people they rule.

 The first line of the passage “For most princes apply themselves more to affairs of war than to the useful arts of peace” Raphael explains that royalty of the current government, and royalty of previous history are so ambitious and mind set on conquering that they miss the big picture of the land they are currently ruling. They focus on conquering lands and expanding instead of expanding the wealth and peace of amongst poor people. Raphael explains that he has no interest in war and that is not familiar with it, mainly because he doesn’t agree with it. The text suggests and claims that kings focus on war and getting new kingdoms then taking care of the kingdom that they already have. “Among the ministers of princes, there are none that are not so wise as to need no assistance” This explains that many to most kings don’t search for guidance for ego purposes, or that they consider themselves to wise to listen to anyone other than themselves, and thank they will always look to themselves to solves them. This places a self-centered personally on the kings image, stating they truly only care about themselves. It goes as far to explain that we all have some short of personality defect due to lack of self-self-evaluation. We all Seek clearance from people we want to be accepted by society and that we will go to the ends of earth for so we will do what we must to revel appeal with appeal.  

Week 11 Blog Post

The Image is an advertisement by Nivea that is targeted to Men for personal grooming. It sends a message to a wide range of men because most men have to shave or groom his face. The symbolism of a rough and hairy figure that is an artificial head, is the opposite of the fully shaven man who appears to be superior to the head that he has in his hand. The advertisement enhances and highlights the fully shaven man’s appeal over the non-shaven figure by its choice of clean and neat clothing. This appeal to men because it creates an image of sexual appeal and cultural acceptance, so when seeing this image the male viewer uses this image of a reference told his physical goals. The Advertisement’s picture was taken with the shaven man in the motion of throwing the non-shaven head as far as possible. This give the image of not being shaved a highly undesired and unwanted one. Also I notice that the man in the ad is isolated from the rest of normal everyday society as if he has been distance from it for quite some time, and it appears that he is making his return to it once again creating a feeling of needed social acceptance. The position and frozen motion he is in almost symbolizes emancipation from non-grooming as if a heavy burden is being lifted and he is being free and ready to return to society. It appears if he is about to rise in social class as a symbol of neat and clean successful men.  The viewers of the ad will sub-consciously assume the device that was used on the shaven man was the exact device being advertised so that they would want to look at close as the very figure as possible.

The text of the advisement “RE-Civilize Yourself” is Simple but is equip with a much deeper massage, which is one of many. It creates standard of social acceptance almost as if society will not accept you if you do not meet the physical standards of grooming that a man should. It can also be based on the standards of relationships and dating given a massage of what appeals to women. So subconsciously the view of the advertisement will want to get this product in order to meet woman that the image will appeal to. Not only will the image appeal to Men but also to a women who may be in relationship or married and may have an idea image of what they would want their significant other to look like when groom. This creates an image in the head of the female consumer so that she may consider buy the product for a gift. The Text is Phrased with “look Like you give a dam” this seems to place a forceful perception of self-care of the subconscious bluntly stating that if you are not groomed with the advertised product that you lack self-care creating a desire for acceptance by society.  

Week 10 Post (Visual)

The painting above created by Vincent Van Gogh is one of that reminds you of a warm night life possibly in the 1920s or 1930s. The majority of the painting is mostly Blue, Black, and Yellow which gives off that warm night feeling of summer with a breeze due to the mixture of warm and cool colors. It sets a mood of relaxation.

The painting looks very urban for the time frame that it was when the painted so it gives it a upbeat look, even for today’s art and paintings. The focus and highlight of the painting seems to be exactly the tittle which is the café. The café is highlighted in the painting’s brightest color which is yellow. This highlight of color makes it stand out in detail also to give a logic visual that it is very luminous with light. Another highlight that makes the café stand out is the majority of people in the paint is sitting and enjoying the café which gives the impression that the café is very popular. The café stands out as popular and active because the rest of the street of a more “a sleep” impression while the café seems to be alive for the people who enjoy the night life. The popularity of the restaurant is also shown by the amount of traffic that is coming from in to the restaurant, where they seem to be a few people off in the street near the restaurant.   In the middle of the cafés activity you can see what looks to be a waiter tending to people or customers which gives great detail of the financial state of people of the neighborhood and area. It can be implied of well being due to the fact most people would not be out to spend money on recreation if they were not doing well at time that they can be resting. Another indication that of wealth is the way the individuals are dressed in the painting. It seems to be a formal well dress atmosphere where the people usually dress the way they feel.

The colors of the painting indicate a smooth feeling and fair weather. The sky in the picture is clear with stars this shows the there is good weather which it is safe to safe that the mood of the people in the painting are in a fair good or relaxed mood also. The warm blue gives the impression that it is a summer night, with a potential breeze due to the mixture of warm and cool colors. Another indication is because the café takes place outside so this shows that there is good weather because everyone who is enjoying the café is outside which creates a positive relaxing mood in the good weather., and the summer time consist of green leaves on the trees so the portion of the tree that is sticking out of the side of the paint indicates good weather.

The paint is very ahead of its time and is still relevant today. It is very urban and can pass as a painting that was created by an artist in today’s creative world with its feeling of an upbeat relaxing mood just as a café is intended to be.

Mansfields Park (Week 6)

"Can I speak with you, Fanny, for a few minutes?" said he.

"Yes, certainly."

"I want to consult. I want your opinion."

"My opinion!" she cried, shrinking from such a compliment, highly as it gratified her.

"Yes, your advice and opinion. I do not know what to do. This acting scheme gets worse and worse, you see. They have chosen almost as bad a play as they could, and now, to complete the business, are going to ask the help of a young man very slightly known to any of us. This is the end of all the privacy and propriety which was talked about at first. I know no harm of Charles Maddox; but the excessive intimacy which must spring from his being admitted among us in this manner is highly objectionable, the more than intimacy—the familiarity. I cannot think of it with any patience; and it does appear to me an evil of such magnitude as must, if possible, be prevented. Do not you see it in the same light?"

"Yes; but what can be done? Your brother is so determined."

"There is but one thing to be done, Fanny. I must take Anhalt myself. I am well aware that nothing else will quiet Tom."

Fanny could not answer him.

The passage Represents Edmund’s thought process about a personal dilemma. It shows his feelings between not wanting to participate in the play, and also not wanting to sacrifice his position with Mary allowing a stranger who is more pacifically a neighbor to estate to play the opposite role of Mary.   With the confusion of the dilemma Edmund seeks out Fanny’s opinion in solving the current problem showing that he values her opinion and what she thinks t. “I want your opinion.”  Fanny Replies with emotion and frustration showing a sense of jealously when she replies, "My opinion!” and because of the vibe of jealousy, Edmund may have had a second motivation behind asking Fanny for her opinion hoping to get objection from her so that he will not take part of the play due to the emotional distress of Fanny so that it reviled Fanny’s true feelings for him.

Edmund begins stating the clear fact that “I do not know what to do” symbolizing that his complete feelings toward the play as a whole because he has taken the leadership role behind his irresponsible brother and organized a traditional father. The dilemma is between being responsible or letting his feelings getting in the way to allow him to participate in the play so that no one else can gain the affection of Mary.  He is clearly aware that the play is inappropriate because he then describes it as a “scheme”. This show he is conscious of the true intentions of some of those who are participating in a play stating “They have chosen almost as bad a play as they could,” allowing some to act sexually inappropriate being disguise as acting but the reality is that true feelings are involve. Being aware of this and the idea of a “a young man slightly known to any of us” strikes fear in Edmund knowing what the play contains “excessive intimacy which must spring from his being admitted among us in this manner is highly objectionable”. This also shows the level of secretsy Edmund would like to keep everyone actions on knowing that everything is inappropriate. But the biggest concern is Mary and the thought of the possibility of her using these inappropriate actions on another man “I cannot think of it with any patience; and it does appear to me an evil of such magnitude”.  This Makes Edmund Debate and think on whether or not he should places values aside and takes the place so that no one else can. But the bigger picture that I get from the text is that the true dilemma is choosing between supporting Fanny’s non participation or supporting Mary by acting in the play instated of another man taking his place.

Week 3 (Macbeth)

Macbeth: Two Truths are told,

As happy Prologues to the swelling Act

Of the Imperiall Theame. I thanke you Gentlemen:

This supernaturall solliciting

Cannot be ill; cannot be good.

If ill? why hath it giuen me earnest of successe,

Commencing in a Truth? I am Thane of Cawdor.

If good? why doe I yeeld to that suggestion,

Whose horrid Image doth vnfixe my Heire,

And make my seated Heart knock at my Ribbes,

Against the vse of Nature? Present Feares

Are lesse then horrible Imaginings:

My Thought, whose Murther yet is but fantasticall,

Shakes so my single state of Man,

That Function is smother'd in surmise,

And nothing is, but what is not

This dialog of the play takes place as pondering thought that Macbeth has with himself in-between a conversation with is good friend Banquo which is right after he discovers that the three witches’ predictions came true and that he is to soon be made “Thane of Cawdor”. Macbeth is surprised and becomes even more curious then before. This of which gave birth to this deep thought process which makes him wonder if  the witches’ final prediction will come true due to the fact that two became true already “Two Truths are told,”. This text really symbolizes the seed planted that was installed into Macbeth’s mind as the seed shows its effort to grow but is delayed by Macbeth’s good conscious.  Macbeth recognizes that the idea could be a false set up due to its unusual source “This supernaturall solliciting.” He states that this prediction of the future cannot be good or bad. He Asks himself that if it is bad, then why does the idea end with his success “If ill? why hath it giuen me earnest of successe.” And if it is good then why does he feel so guilty about being the future king, fearing what he may have to do to become it. “If good? why doe I yeeld to that suggestion, Whose horrid Image doth vnfixe my Heire.” 

 Macbeth ponders on the current reality which are all facts “Commencing in a Truth? I am Thane of Cawdor.”  This text of the dialog really shows as the seed begins to grow in Macbeths head because it shows the moment where he actually starts to believe in the witches but Macbeth’s ambition is still limited by his inner conscious and morals as he fears the lengths that he may go or have to go in order for this prediction to take place and come true. The possibility of him becoming less than an honest man scares him as he has visions of what he may become “lesse then horrible Imaginings:” and that he doesn’t want to do anything bad but rather he would like the crown to become his own by default.

This conversation Macbeth has with himself is a critical dialog in the play because it symbolizes and is the turning put at which things start to change in Macbeth’s mind. Because it is the point in which the seed planted in his mind starts to grow and is the beginning of his paranoia which is the biggest contribution to Macbeth’s downfall. It is the turning point because it is where he begins to believe the possibility of becoming king and it was his belief of the witches that inspired him to take the action in efforts to actually become king.  This text marks the beginning of Macbeth’s War within himself “Shakes so my single state of Man” and where things start to change.