The Writing

Most everyone knows that running is a very important pastime for me. I run everyday, and compete in track and cross country. I chose this painting because it was the only one I could find that represented some type of running! I don't really know why I run, it's just something that I've always done, and have been fairly good at. “Runner at the Goal” is interesting because on the characters forehead, the number one is placed. I wish that I could always put into my head…be number one. I think that having positive mental attitude about your run is half the race. If you tell yourself at the beginning of a race, “I'm going to do badly, I don't care…” than you most definitely end up doing as bad as you thought you would. Although it is hard to tell yourself that you're going to get first (even when you know that the number one ranked runner is in the same race), it is still better than thinking you'll come in last.

I am a very hard worker when it comes down to it. I take most things pretty seriously (which isn't always a good thing), whether it has to do with school, work, or athletics. I think that this painting shows a hard working woman, which could also resemble me (even though she is only ironing). Working hard is not always a fun thing do to, but in the past, I've learned that when you do work hard for something, it pays off in the end. Jobs are a good example for working hard. If you go into work everyday of your life, and put a lot of effort into what you do, than people will appreciate that act, and by doing so a reward will come. The whole example of working hard leads me into my next painting which is untitled. It is a painting of a school scene where children are diligently working on their school work. School is another thing that I take very seriously. I think it's necessary to have a high education in life. Ever since I was in elementary school, I've been placed in the “Accelerated” level classes. I think that part of the reason that I've been in these class all through out my school career is because of the effort and high amount of pressure I put on myself. If I didn't try, and didn't care about school, my life would be a waste. I wouldn't be able to accomplish anything, get anywhere in life, or be anything. One of my biggest fears in life is not becoming a successful person, or being a failure. To make sure I don't fall into this fear, I have to try my hardest and do the best I can do.

“At the cycle-race track” is just a painting that describes athletics in me in general. I don't necessary cycle or bike, but I am involved in a lot of sports and activities. As a child, my parents put me through every sport imaginable. From softball, dance, to gymnastics I did it all. Now that I look back on those days, I am thankful that my parents made me do all of those activities because when I grew up, I automatically felt like I had to be involved in things. This painting made me feel nostalgic of those times for some reason. I think that in the future, if I have children I will make sure that they are involved in some type of athletic event. I know that in today's society, parents are going overboard in persisting in their children having to do a sport. I think that I will respect them and myself enough, if they really don't want to be involved.

“Seated Woman” is a portrait that represents the shy side of me. When I'm not around my friends (mainly when I'm in class), I tend to be on the quiet side. The woman in this painting looks like she is pretty isolated and in her own world. Sometimes I feel like I need to be in my own little world, and away from everyone else. When people get to me, I just want to be by myself. When this happens, I usually just back down and stay quiet. I've always been known to be shy. My parents use to think that I had “problems” because I was too shy to buy something at a store. I've definitely gotten over that stage, but I am still most of the time on the sky side. People, even my friends tell me this all the time. I try not to be “the shy person” but I guess it's just a characteristic of me that I can't change.

The painting of the skull is one that creeps me out the most. When I first saw it, all I saw was the skull. When I took a second glance at it, I noticed that there was a women intertwined in it as well. The artist did an exceptional job of making it so you couldn't see the girl. I don't know if it was intentional, but it seems to be one of those things where you notice it after a period of time. The painting also disturbs me because of the teeth on the skull. It looks as if he is smiling at you. A skull smiling isn't something that you normally see. I'm sure that there is more that you can see in this painting, but if I try to look for something more, I make just get even more frightened.

Two women cutting off the head of a man is quite a sight to see. Never before have I seen a painting that was so graphic or gory as this one is. I am still amazed that this artist showed two women staying this mans head, instead of the other way around. What makes it even worse is that there are two women doing it. It's not just like one woman was getting back at her husband or something, but it's two holding a man down, while cutting his throat open with a pretty large sword. I think that this painting disturbs me so much because in today's media, I'm so use to seeing men do the violence. On the news you hear about husbands murdering their life, men shooting at one another and yet I hear less of women offenders. I'm not saying that I hope the women crime rates go up, it just startled me when I saw the painting to wonder if there are women out there who actually do that.

When I see this painting, I think of Dante's Inferno, or simply, Hell. The huge dragon which takes up the majority of the painting doesn't seem to come off as strong as one normally would be. You can see some type of sword going right through the dragons' mouth. When I normally think of dragons, I think of them as fire breathing, flying, or fighting off some evil sorcerer. The part that bothers me the most are the bodies laying on the ground below the dragon. For some reason, dead bodies have always made my stomach churn. This is sad to say, but about five years ago, I wouldn't even go to my great uncles wake, because his dead body was there. To make this picture even worse, it looks as if the lizards crawling on the ground are going to devour the bodies lying on the dirt. I shouldn't even say bodies, because they aren't full bodies that were painted, but torn up bodies, perhaps recently eaten by the evil dragon.

When I think of Hell, I definitely don't perceive it as Bosch did in his art work. Because of the fact that I spent a lot of time with the idea of Hell, I think I'm stuck on the concept that it is that place described by Virgil and Dante. Although, I really don't think Bosch intended on this piece to literally be about the physical place of Hell, it made me wonder what was exactly going through his head when he created it. This is one of the most absurd paintings I think that I've ever seen. It bothers me because it looks like a human's body taken apart piece by piece. The man in the painting looks as if he is enjoying this, which I wouldn't think anyone would ever enjoy. His stomach or liver, or some body organ is being played with by little men with instruments. The most disturbing part, to me (it all depends on how you look at the painting) lies in the upper left hand corner of the painting. All I can make out are what look like ears attached to what looks a male only body part. Maybe it's just me, but why would anyone want to include that (the way he presented it) in a work of art.

The last painting of wall two is one that contains many human figures. It's hard to make out what they are all doing, but whatever it is, it disturbs me. They all look like they are up to no good, or are witnessing some thing horrible. The look in their eyes is a look that I wouldn't want to see from anyone in real life. A lot of the people in the painting are wearing something that covers their face. That also is something that makes me wonder if they are hiding something. I don't like when people in real life hide things from me, so when I saw this painting, I knew that I had to include it as something disturbing.

The American Flag is a symbol that we all see on a daily basis. They are strategically located in most every city, town, store, and home in the USA. I thought of the American Flag as a human achievement because what it represents is definitely something that we all should be proud of. It represents the freedom and pride that the USA holds. This is one achievement that every country could ask for, but only we have achieved.

The Painting of the train is a representation of the achievement for transportation and even technology. I think that the train/locomotive is a wonderful step up on how people are able to travel. It's not only a benefit for humans, but it also helps out the economy. The train is a good way to transport things across land. It is a lot cheaper to do so, although it may take a little longer than an airplane would. Nevertheless, Gino Severini (the author of the painting), must of thought that the train was an exceptional resource as well. I like how he incorporated the train, and the fact that it wasn't painted how we would normally view the train.

The portrait of the astronaut is one that will always be a big part of the world's history. It is a human achievement that led to even more discoveries and greater accomplishments. This astronaut represents how we landed on the moon and how other space items have been discovered. It's very important that everyone remembers this painting because it was a time in history that was full of competition. Much like it is today, countries were fighting over who could be better, and who could accomplish more things. Once Americans discovered the moon, I think that foreigners felt overwhelmed and finally realized that we are a very dominating and intelligent country. The astronaut could even be a symbol for the future, for we need to make sure that even 100 years from now, astronauts are remembered for being courageous and willing to risk their lives for the world.

Right now the world is in a time of technology and innovations. Many of us seek money and wealth to buy materialistic items. In Lichtenstein's' painting, we can see this upper-class wealth. I think that being wealthy is an accomplishment in a way, because in order to get all of these lavish items, you need to work hard for them. I'm not saying that being wealthy is what everyone should dream to be, it's just nice to think that some people can live in such luxury. I know that there are some people out there who are handed down all of this money. In that case, I don't believe that it is an accomplishment. The only way people deserve to live in luxury is if they truly earned it.

“Il Alessandro” is another painting that I chose that is just a generalization representing something. In this case, it is representing the human achievement of the creation of the boat. The painting shows a small row boat, but regardless, all boats are something that was created to be a great use. Boats have been used for quite a while now, and there are also many that are extremely famous such as the Titanic. Today we use them for transportation, vacations, and way to get around when explorations need to be made. This achievement is much like that of the airplane, the automobile and the train. With out boats, a lot of our economy would be gone because we wouldn't be able to fish and catch other various sea creatures. I hope that the boat will continue to be used as the years go by because it is in fact a great innovation that should be around for the future.

This painting is a good representation of humanity at the lowest level, for even in the earlier generations, people acted in inhumane ways. The Bible story of Adam and Eve is a well-known anecdote of how the first two people created from God on earth went against his own words and sinned. This artwork by Masaccio portrays the dismissal of Adam and Eve. The faces on the two people are in complete horror and shock, and a feeling of humility is placed over their naked bodies. You can tell they are shamed by the looks upon their faces and how they are concealing their bodies. They put humanity at the lowest for the reason that they acted upon Gods will. Humanity, in most cases, tries not to do bad things or go against their beliefs. Although, when they do carry out these actions, punishment is in store. Adam and Eve in this painting are being punished and sent out of the glory that they were given to by God. Most of humanity has and will most definitely continue to be very spiritual, so when people view this picture, they will feel a sense of remorse because they are religiously aware of the aura of pain and strife that Adam and Eve exposed.

This artwork by Ralph Sirianni is one that shows a sickening part of humanity, as well as society. People are off starving in places that we don't even know about; poverty in the main reason for this. Some of us aren't as lucky as others in that they barley have a place to live, and no one cares about them. I think that this painting of the emaciated man is a good way to show people the truth. Many believe that there is no such think as starvation or poverty when in reality there really is. At dinner time when families today get together to eat (even including mine), they don't realize how much food they waste or how much they could be saving. While we're eating nonchalantly, there are millions of starving people out there including children.

Another piece of art that represents humanity's wrong doings is “Execution of the Defenders of Madrid” by Francisco Goya y Lucientes. It is a scene of death and treachery. The fact that the painting shows men killing men is a sight that puts humanity at its lowest. Murder and death is something that is overrated in today's society. Everywhere you hear about people killing people, and people disputing with others. These actions aren't what we want to be known for when future generations look upon us. It makes society look like we're always in some sort of conflict or dilemma, and that we value death. The man in the painting surrounded by guns, being executed is wearing a white shirt. He sticks out from everyone, and portrays a sense of innocence. This is putting humanity even lower, because this man may be killed for no particular reason. When killing is seen or heard about over and over, it in a way becomes accepted. It's not necessarily the right thing to think or believe, but it's the way that humankind is now acknowledging. Humanity is becoming very violent-orientated, many reasons for this is influenced from the media, including art.

Slavery in some way, shape or form, has been around for hundreds, perhaps thousands of years all around the world. The painting “The Gleaners” by Jean-Francois Millet shows women labor. I have always been unenthusiastic about the issue of slavery, so it certainly fits under humanity at its lowest. Slavery is something that can probably never been changed. It has of course now been ratified and is no longer a great problem, but it still may occur in a variety of ways. The painting chosen isn't very drastic however it continues to show the act of slavery. In the 18th and 19th century slavery was at its peak, especially in the south. Slavery was something that scarred people, emotionally and physically in many ways. Slave owners didn't seem to care about how much stress or work they gave them, all they knew was that their work was getting done. I believe that no matter what the reason was/is, slavery or forcing someone to do labor is immoral. The painting chosen doesn't necessarily mean that the women in it are morally wrong; it's the idea of slavery that brought the people who enforced it to the lowest humanity level.

The painting on the two workers laying down on the job is a painting that doesn't represent humanity at its best. People are supposed to be working and making money for their family and the economy, but apparently these two men have other plans. In order to survive now, and especially in the future, every person needs to be working or at least dong their share. If you can't physically work, than you should teach. Teaching is something that is detrimental to the future for we need to continue to keep the world running. I chose this painting of the lazy men to make an example of what some of our laborers are doing. We think that they are there doing their job, perhaps building a house that someone is in need of.

Many people disregard sculpture as a form of art, when it is in fact seen everywhere we look. In this wing, there are five paintings in which they all have a small similarity. All of the paints have to do with the human figure and how magnificent the body is. “Prelude” by Chopin is the first sculpture that caught my attention. It just seemed in a way unordinary because there were two sets of hands, but no arms or other body parts accompanying them. The hands are an exceptionally important part of the human body. Everything that we do involves movement of your hands, and with today's technology, your hands are being used even more. Simple examples of this could be the use of computers. Almost every job available seems to involve the use of computers, whether you're a secretary, scientist or a doctor. The hands are a strong part of the human body, so that's why I chose this specific sculpture.

The next four sculptures included in this wing don't necessarily focus on one specific part of the body, but the body as a whole. “New Dawn”, “Reclining Figure”, “Shiva Nataraja, Lord of the Dance” and "The Supplicant Barberini" are all wonderful pieces that show the human body, directly and indirectly. “New Dawn” represents the human body in a bronze sculpture. The smooth texture and soft figure of the sculpture creates makes it look very dainty. I chose this sculpture because it looks more recent and resembles how people in today's society want their body to look. It's important to contrast “New Dawn” to “The Supplicant Barberini" because it shows how different humans regard the body as the years go on. "The Supplicant Barberini" is very “Roman” looking and has a more detailed figure. I think that back in earlier times, when humans viewed one another, they looked at all the features. This sculpture reminded me of that conception because it shows the details of the face, and doesn't just focus on the naked human body like the “New Dawn” does. “Shiva Nataraja” was a goddess in southern India in the 11th century. Her interpretation may vary a little but the sculpture of her still resembles the body, and more. This goddess is an excellent example of how strong the human body is. Goddesses were worshiped in earlier centuries because they were brave, strong, and beautiful. I think that this sculpture shows just that. “Shiva Nataraja” can do many things at once as noticed in the sculpture. She's not only balancing on one leg, but she is also clapping and holding on to a little drum. I chose her for a sculpture because she represents someone who is multi-tasked, or well rounded. Individuals should strive for this quality for it is something amazing to have. People who contain this well-roundedness tend to go far in life and are capable of accomplishing many things.

I chose my four sculptures to all resemble the human body because I think it's something that many of us are ignoring. In centuries before, many sculptures were into creating the body. They were focusing on this because it was something important to them and it was something they valued. I also think that the body is something that people should not take for granted. Many times I see and hear about how people don't take care of their bodies, and let it waste away. Smoking for example is something that tremendously affects the body (in very harsh ways), but it seems like half the people I see or know does it. Everyone knows that we all live once, so why should we ruin something special that was given to us, when we could in fact simply take care of ourselves, live longer and experience more. The sculpture “Reclining Figure” is one that doesn't show the human body in a direct way, but if you really look at it, it does resemble the body parts. This piece is a surrealist piece, so that's why it may not necessarily look like a human figure to some people. This sculpture stood out a lot to me because it was so different and abstract looking. It's very noble that someone would create the human body as Sir Henry Moore did, for many people don't normally view the body like his sculpture. It's good that people can see the body like this so we don't always associate it as always looking the same, no matter what.

Poppies, The Waterlily Pond, Waterlillies, The Magpie, The Artist's Garden at Giverny, London Parliament, and La Promenade are all impressive works of Claude Monet. I find all of his work is extremely relaxing and very close to nature. The way he incorporates the wilderness and all other types of natural beauties into his art makes it so unique and special. His artwork catches my attention so much because it is very unlike anyone else's. By using bright colors and short textured strokes, he was able to create something that not very many other artists used. Probably the only other few artists that may have come close to his type of art and style are Jennifer Bartlett, Johan Jongkind, and James Whistler. The seven paintings I chose by Monet, weren't anything particular, I just chose a few of my favorites, and then some that are very different than each other.

Monet is one of my favorite artists because he used nature's beauties. I think it's important that someone takes into consideration flowers, water, plants and all other forms of nature because they are something that the world may not have (as much of) in the future. If that time does come, humanity will at least be able to view what Monet painted, and understand why nature is so important. I'm not a very artistic person, but in my art class I had to do a few paintings, and I chose two that were of Monet's. The results were very surprising for my own actual paintings more or less looked like his. The reason why I like all of Monet's artwork is for the reason that our lives connect in a way. He had always been exposed to nature, from when he was growing up (especially at Giverny), until he died. It has basically been the same for me in that I grew up in a very rural area. When I was a kid I would spend my entire day outside, from when I woke up, until the sun went down. I built tree forts in the backyard, went down to the pond and rode my bike all around the neighborhood. In the summer I think I spent more time in the water than on the land. My parents were into the camping thing, so about every weekend or so we would go up north and spend the weekend in the woods, just enjoying nature.

I chose Monet as my artist to focus on because of his new ideas and how he was a leader. A lot of Monet's art was done at different times of the day. For example, he would paint a picture of a lake in the morning, around noon and at dusk. I thought that this was a very creative way to interpret light and darkness in nature. Monet was the one who began painting like he did. Soon after there were a few followers like Degas and Renoir who started to try to paint with a granular effect as well. Monet was also very diverse in his work. While most artists would stick to the same colors, Monet would be able to work with dark, bright and everything in between. As soon as the other competing artists saw that he could do this, the too experimented and tried out a variety of color techniques. Monet inspires me for he was able to go ahead out of the ordinary and do something different. I think that is one of my greatest weaknesses; being too shy and fearful of change. His work also motivated me and got me to like and enjoy art a lot more than I did. I use to dread taking those required art classes, but once I started to do some work like Monet's; I began to like and appreciate it more.

This quote is something that focuses on every person on the face of the earth. On the surface, this quote is talking about a physical feature of the moon (its dark side), and how each and every one of us doesn't see this one certain spot of it. The dark side of the moon may not necessarily be a side that it doesn't want shown, it could just be a part that is personal to him. I think that we all have that certain side to us, weather it is a personal experience, or an actual dark side that we are scared to show everyone else.

Many of us hide this dark side because we're uncertain of what society around us will say. Perhaps that we have a special hidden talent, but it's so different the reaction of others might be disapproving to what they normally say about you. It is sad that we have to think this way in this day in age. Why can't we all just be open with our thoughts and ideas, and not care how or what our peers around perceive us? This is a task “easier said than done” for I have personally tried my best to not care about the world around me and just be my own person. No matter how hard you try, you do in fact care about the opinions of others upon yourself. Whether it's based upon your academic ability, or how you look physically, at some point in our lives, we will (or already have) been effected by the words of others.

The dark side of the moon is also a reference perhaps to the evil or, simply stated, the part of us that is regarded as sinful. I know the majority of us (at least I do), try not to get in trouble or do bad things intentionally. When these things do happen, and are brought out into the open, we feel shameful and remorse for what we have done. So this dark side that we all contain is our sins, and all the bad that we don't want other people to know about. It is sort of like a shield in that no one else can get to this dark side, unless you are willing to tell them or break down the shield for them. I agree with Mark Twain's statement that we all are a moon with this secret dark side. It's practically impossible not to do something that is bad or sinful, even the least bit. Some people may get rid of this dark side for a while if they repent with their God, and others will just let it keep growing and growing until they too become a completely dark person.

This particular passage is one that I try to recall when I am having difficult times or am feeling down about myself. Sometimes unforeseen events come about and throw us off our track of life. It's something that is always going to happen, and can't necessarily be stopped. You can't change the fate that is given to you, so we should learn how to come over these “curves and turning points, mountains and valleys”. These troubled times in life are there to teach us a lesson on how to live, and how to become a better person. If we all grew up without problems or disadvantages, everyone would be the same.

God has consecrated each person here on earth with life. We should be grateful and thankful enough for being here. Part of the reason why he created us wasn't too just see us mope around and live an unsuccessful life; he wanted us to grow and prosper. He threw in these disadvantages and hard times for all of us so that life would be a journey, and not a destination. As we grow older, I think that the times get harder and harder for us. When you were a child, the highlight of your day way playing outside with your friends, being careless as a butterfly. But, as we all mature, the responsibilities as well as troublesome times become clearer. Most people work or go to school; these tasks are mountaintops and valleys just in themselves. They aren't mountains that we all want to climb, but once you reach the top, you have achieved something and have “discovered the best in ourselves” by completing that adventure.

Icons are people that peers look up to and value. What they accomplished in life and how they presented themselves makes a person special. There are many people in history that have set a good example for society and people of the future. The people that I choose deserve a lot of attention. Everyone I choose has done very difficult things from evolving entertainment to discovering important inventions. Lucille Ball may not come to mind to many people as an important icon, but she was in fact influential to women and the entertainment business. Her character, Lucy, on the “I Love Lucy Show” was a very different role than other women actresses played at the time. Her show became an all time classic situation comedy which more than a billion people watched. “I Love Lucy was a `star' piece. The entire project rode on the radiant talent of one woman. In every sense she was a star “(Jess Oppenheimer). Lucy was funny and wasn't afraid to show her emotions or how women can actually have fun day today. Her face resembled a clown's, which brought universality and timelessness to the role (McClay).

Another great icon not only to America but to the whole world is Albert Einstein. “He was the pre-eminent scientist in a century dominated by science. The touchstones of the era--the Bomb, the Big Bang, quantum physics and electronics--all bear his imprint” (Golden). Einstein discovered and studied things that no one had ever thought of before. His thinking and studies were exceptionally advanced for his time period. The greatest thing he is known for is his theories of relativity and more importantly, light. Just think, where would we be without any source of light? It is indeed hard to imagine life without it, therefore Albert Einstein is one of the worlds greatest icons. He did many experiments with photons, light particles, and energy, resulting in the transformation of light and how people are capable of using it. With all of the research and testing that Einstein had done about light, energy and the “theory of relativity”, people were still questioning and doubting his work. It takes strength and courage for one to continue on and follow through with their beliefs when the rest of society around you doesn't agree. That's part of the reason why Einstein is an icon, not just because of his miraculous studies and inventions, but because he continued on although others thought that his reasoning's were obscure.

An icon that is somewhat similar to the goals and objectives that Einstein had is Helen Keller. As a child she suddenly went deaf and blind due to a sickness. Helen was frustrated at first, not knowing how she was going to live her life normally. She was known to kick, scream and fight because she was so frantic (Schuur). Even though Helen was both blind and deaf, she began to learn how to read lips, and brail. Once she caught on, it sort of became her goal to be the most successful one could be with her type of disabilities. Throughout her life, Helen did things like visiting wounded soldiers and became so strong that she went to school. Even more impressive, the blind and deaf woman wrote several books including, The Story of My Life, The World I Live In, and Out of the Dark. I chose Helen Keller as an icon because it's just amazing how someone could have that much inner strength and willingness, when a tragedy like that happens. Helen became a “hero” for other children (and even adults), with problems similar as hers. They saw how she could practically live a “normal life”, and be successful at the same time.

Charles Darwin, (1809-1882) is a very important icon that many should appreciate. Charles was a scientist who developed the idea of natural selection as well as the evolution of humans. In his studies, Darwin went to places such as the Galápagos Islands, where he learned a great deal on how different species of animals (in particular the finch, mockingbird and tortoise), and how they were very similar but lived in different ways. Like Einstein, Darwin's ideas conflicted with many other scientists and the surrounding people. No one could understand how humans evolved from one common ancestor, and even more unreal, the fact that over generations the variations will be passed by, and only the ones that help people/organisms/animals survive will continue to be used.

Achieving something, whether it is something small or on the larger side of things will be remembered for all times. Four human achievements that stick out in my mind are the creation of flight (mainly the Wright Brothers), the United States overcoming the tragedy of the September 11th Attacks, the creation of the computer, and the establishment of the United Nations. These four achievements were all created by humans, and in a result, benefited the human society.

Wilber and Orville Wright grew up together, and were constantly interested in building and discovering things. At first in the 1890's, they began making bicycles. As they became dominant in that field, the brothers started to construct gliders and soon were heavily engrossed in wanting to make bigger concoctions that people would be able to fly in. Their goal was accomplished around 1909, where they could sufficiently fly for at least twenty miles. The invention of the airplane has done numerous wonderful things for the world. It established a new way of trade, which brought many countries closer. By being able to trade so easily like this, countries became more economically sufficient, and also started a way to import and export items in and out of far away places. Even more importantly, the Wright Brother's invention led to the discoveries of more land, continents and other geographical locations. It was a lot easier to find these places from the air, rather than on boat. The airplane furthermore gave people a chance to go different places and see sights they've never seen. The travel industry benefits great from this invention, for if we didn't have it, people wouldn't be able to get to far off destinations.

The most recent human achievement doesn't come off as something to be proud of at first, but when it's looked into, it resembles how strong and supportive the United States is, and can be. When terrorists attacked and struck the World Trade Centers of New York on September 11th, 2001, America was in shock. Something of this nature hadn't happened for decades. This event was tragic in that many lives were lost, but in essence it brought everyone together. The clean-up of ground zero, to finding the lost bodies of the wreck resulted in a community effort. Everyone came together to help in any way possible. This human achievement is so great because rarely does one nation like this stand strong in times of distress. It should, and will always be an everlasting memory and a good example to the decades ahead of us to of how to make it through something like this. In other countries, when a misfortune occurs, things just get worse and no one knows what to do. But to be able to make something somewhat positive out of an enormous tragedy make it an achievement for everyone.

The United Nations was an immense achievement for humanity. This program established a more secure foundation for allianced countries. It has done wonderful things for the world as well as the human population in that it makes many people safer to know that these nations can settle disputes and problems in a peaceful, civil manner. World peace is a dream, perhaps a goal that I'm sure every person and country has, and because of the United Nations, that vision is always being worked on. The United Nations was created after World War I because things were being solved in the wrong ways. No one really wanted to resolve problems that ended with violence. In most cases, these problems were never even solved in the reason that they were not talked out or organized in a civil manner. Other than keeping peace, the United Nations are there to promote human rights, alleviating chronic hunger, promoting woman rights, etc. This is an important achievement for humans as it has been a great success and is only concerned with the benefits of the human population and the world that we all live in.

A human achievement more related to technology is the creation of the computer. This piece of machinery is something that has only been around for a short period of time. The computer is seen everywhere from jobs, homes, and even simple machines. I think that by achieving this new invention, we will now be able to discover and invent even greater things. With the use of the computer, airplanes, offices, alarm systems, and other endless lists of random items are run. It's hard to imagine now how people, just 100 years ago survived without it. Schools are constantly using the computer as a way to communicate, teach and open up children's minds. I think that the computer is only a start to the world of new technology. It allows new technological advancement to evolve that will perhaps help and form the perfect society. The human achievement of creating the computer will now be used probably until the end of the world. Soon enough it will be a vital part of life to own, and be capable of using a computer. This may or may not be a good thing, but for now, the creation only brings help and enlightenment.

The 1930's was a time in America's history where humanity had to really step up and use their imaginations. Times were really scarce in the 1930's, there was little money and hardly anything that anyone could do. America had fallen into what was known as the Great Depression. Twelve million people were unemployed, 85,000 businesses, and 9,000 banks failed. The average family made $1,500 instead of the regular $2,300. This was a great shock to many because they didn't know how they would be able to survive and take care of their family with such little income. In this wing of the zeitgeist, you will see many related icons, pictures, inventions, leaders and memorabilia that represent the 1930's. This time period is one that should be represented because it shows how America coped with the struggles and did everything they could do to get back on their feet.

Programs of all types were being produced everywhere imaginable in the 1930's that would try and help out the youth, the work force and many families. Roosevelt proposed the “New Deal” which gave many people new found hope. The confident president said various promising statements such as “we must treat the depression as if we are going to war”. This bold sentence made people feel better and more secure about the depression that they were dealing with. Roosevelt created the majority of the help programs around 1933-1937, where he generally succeeded in presenting relief, recovery and reform for the society. Roosevelt declared the emergency banking act which closed the banks for one week and on holidays. Other financial things he did was the reformation of the Federal Securities Act. This act regulated the stock market and helped out the exchange commission. To provide work for people, Roosevelt's “New Deal” created work programs like the WPA, CCC, TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority), AAA, and NRA. Most American Scene paintings were idealized portrayals of small-town life, but some depicted urban scenes. Ceil Rosenberg's untitled Chicago street scene was typical of American Scene artists who worked in an urban environment. The Public Works of Art Project (PWAP), for which Rosenberg worked, discouraged art that was abstract, controversial, or swayed by foreign influences. Edward Rowan, who was an Assistant Director of the project, argued that while government artists should be given "the utmost freedom of expression," the PWAP should "check up very carefully on the subject matter of each project. . . . Any artist who paints a nude for the Public Works of Art Project should have his head examined" (National Archives). These special programs did things like building damns, paid people to not farm or destroy food, streamlined businesses with codes that regulated wages, and helped to loan houses. The programs may seem rather lofty or unresponsive, but in the end many of them were a result to the resolution of the great depression.

On their spare time (which everyone had a lot of), people would read books by Agatha Christie, Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett. Their books were very popular because they were different and contained mysterious plots. Also in the very early 1930's (before the depression), music, jazz, the radio and movies became prevalent. This was a break from tradition, and people just wanted something new to be entertained with. “Walkin' Boss” for example was a musical/play that the WPA had out on for people in the late 1930's. In 1936, Jesse Owens, an African American completed a turning point in athletics. In the Olympics of Berlin he won four gold track and field medals. No one had ever done something like that before. It was an especially important event because it was done in the time of Hitler's reign. Another connection to athletics that was a huge turning point was Mildred Babe Didrikson. This woman athlete is often considered to be one of the finest athletes of all times. She was prevailing in the sports of baseball, basketball, track and golf (American History). Athletics is an important feature to be included in the 1930's because it depicts how there was actually time for sporting events, when then government and economic programs were suffering.

Art in the 1930's was in fact a very popular theme. In response to the great depression, the WPA was produced to help out artists in need. A few of the most famous artists were Grant Wood (with “American Gothic”), Georgia O'Keeffe, and Edward Hopper. Besides paintings, other related forms of art that were dominant in the 1930's were architecture and buildings. The Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building, and Rockefeller Center were big hits of the 30's. It's imperative that these artists were still able to survive through the turmoil that America was going through at the time, because we would be missing an immense piece of America's history and culture. Music was also much a part of the 1930's. It was sometimes called the “swing” or “jazz” era. Some popular songs that were out during that time were “It don`t Mean a Thing” and “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime”. Many of the songs that were put out in the 1930's resemble the depression and the hardships that humanity was going through. They spoke of being unemployed and having little money. Artists that were big were Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington, Glenn Miller, and Tommy Dorsey (American History).

Discoveries and science related effects of the 1930's were not seen as much as politics, art and culture were. One big discovery that is prevalent to the entire world is the sighting of Pluto. This planet is the last one to be found. Many people never believed that there could be a ninth planed in outer space, but scientists and space explorers proved everyone wrong. Clyde William Tombaugh and members of the Lowell Observatory staff took a good twenty years to actually find the location of Pluto. The creation of the Hoover Dam (named after President Herbert Hoover) was also a turning point for the 1930's. Completed in 1936 is situated on the border of the states of Nevada and Arizona. It is the largest artificially created body of water in the world and serves as a hydroelectric generator for many states. Along with power/ electricity, the dam created water for over sixteen million people. The creation of something like this show how resourceful and innovative people were in the 1930's.

Fads and Fashion believe it or not existed in the 1930's. President Roosevelt wanted people to have fun as well even though America was struggling and having hard times. Popular hobbies included stamp collection and horse racing. Families would spend their day at the horse races, betting and gambling on who they thought would win. This was a good way to have fun and at the same time pass time away. Sports like baseball and the Olympics were both sights that caught the attention of many people. It was something to do and entertaining to watch. People also read books for fun. Some popular and now famous writers of the time are Fitzgerald and Hemingway. These two authors portrayed the 1930's very well in their books. The Great Gatsby is probably the most famous, and represents the culture and social status of the 30's. The “flapper” clothing of the 1920's was disregarded, and people started to wear things with zippers on them. Zippers were seen a lot in the 30's because they were cheaper to produce than buttons (American History). Also, different length clothing would be work at different times of the day. For example, pants at night, and pants that went half way up your leg during the day. People during this era thought it was stylish and simple at the same time.

In the late 1930's, America was on the road to World War II. It's hard to believe that after a depression, war could follow. Hitler started to be come powerful and there were invasions lead by the Japanese. Neutrality Acts were being produced which helped to keep the United States out of any potential conflict. In 1938, the cash/carry act was proposed where the US would sell weapons to British and French, but the two counties would have to come and get them. Blitzkrieg was a very big part of the beginning of WWII. There were three rounds of aircrafts that were sent out, along with mechanized infantry and the army. This is also known as “the lightning war”. After this happened, British and France declared war.

The 1930's as shown, was a powerful decade full of a wide variety of things. I chose it for my Hall of Zeitgeist because I think it's one of the most important eras. The 1930's shows the struggles, the ups and downs that the US and the whole world had. People from today can learn from this period in time that you can get through anything you want; if you just put everything you have into it. Along with important, I think that the 30's was an extremely interesting period of time. There was reform, new innovation and turning points that are influential to the history of the world.

For my free choice wing of my museum, I chose to fulfill it with cathedrals. There weren't many things in the museum that represented architecture or art forms like that, so I decided that it'd be a great attribute to add. This wing contains cathedrals there are centuries old, and some that are more recent. Nevertheless, all of the cathedrals are grand in each of their own ways, and holds different demeanors. You will be able to view various cathedrals from all over the world. Some will show the outsides of the cathedrals, and others will show the inside structure, as well as the very detailed artwork that comes along with it. The cathedrals will be talked about as a whole in this piece, and a few of them will be brought out in stronger ways because of any special characteristics it may have.

The Duomo of Santa Maria dell'Assunta, Notre Dame Cathedral, Bourges Cathedral, Washington National Cathedral, Amiens Cathedral, and St.John the Divine Cathedral are all apart of this wing of the museum. They represent art in a different style. When many of us think of art, paintings and/or drawings come to mind. We seem to always forget the beauty of these vast and exquisite cathedrals. They are unique structures that indeed took a long time to create and design. Some of the cathedrals like St. John's include stained glass. This feature is very important for the pieces tell stories about the history of the world. In St. John's cathedral, there are pictures on the stained glass of the sinking of the titanic, Columbus discovering the new world, and other historical highlights. Along with stained glass, many cathedrals have statues and unique structures inside or on the outside of them. These structures and styles attract a lot of attention and can serve as many functions. Most cathedrals are used as churches, or a place of worship, and others are so old and run down, they are just there as a part of history and can just be looked at. These cathedrals (that are used as churches) are usually a part of the diocese which is the head of the church. The bishop, or the highest role in a religion will use these cathedrals for very important ceremonies and it is typically where they live.

Cathedrals go way back to ancient times where people would ponder and spend a lot of their time working on constructing these beautiful buildings. With the technology of the time, it's astonishing how the cathedrals were created thousands of years ago. Some of the most popular and well known cathedrals are those that are pretty much ancient. Parts of the cathedral that are the main focal points are the apse, the buttress (which is a pile of material that helps to strengthen the walls), floor tiles, and stained glass. These structures give off a definition of what a cathedral is. Cathedrals aren't used as often today as they were in earlier centuries, but they will always continue to be a special symbol or religion and architecture.