Styles Used in Islamic Art

Styles Used in Islamic Art What is sacred art? Who determines what art is sacred? And what reasons do they decide upon? Many questions surface when it comes to distinguishing the difference between sacred art, religious art, and traditional art. The three are different from one another in some way. Sacred art includes depictions encouraging humans into spirituality. It is the result of divine inspiration. It is basically something specifically made for the purpose of worship and can range from a prayer carpet to the prayer itself. Due to the fact that in the Islamic civilization, the depiction of figural representation is forbidden, Islamic art primarily focuses on spiritual geometric forms, calligraphy and biomorphic designs. From the Middle-Ages, Islamic art has always had this theme of balance, unity and harmony in its patterns; which in Arabic is called el tawhid. It uses repetition of designs to come across with crucial concepts such as Gods creation of the universe. In comparison, religious art is that type of non-traditional art devoted to religious themes and functions even if its method of execution and language are no longer traditional (Sophia 1996). It consists of illustrations of themes or events depicted in holly books. This type of art can only be appreciated by its followers. For an example, to a Muslim a painting of Saint Mary and Jesus may not seem as appealing as it would to Christianity followers. Finally, traditional art; is dissimilar from both the previously stated arts as it is the art that deals with a culture or a specific group of people. Due to all its principles and techniques of symbolism it assists the viewer to become aware of the Divine; which is in Islam God but for an example in Christianity Jesus Christ. Egypt with all its mosques, churches and even Jewish temples, is a proper example of where many traditional arts appear since there is many arts however they suit all the religions perfectly. The Islamic work of art is a symbolic statement, as is all art; for it attempts to make a sensory representation of an important idea not evidenced to the senses (Al Faruqi). However, the Islamic civilization tends to spread religious architecture rather than sacred architecture. It focuses primarily on representing the theme of tawhid through its architecture, calligraphy, and forms. However, it is impossible to for a non-follower to understand this type of art. In reverse, it is also impossible for one to understand Islam and its message without being exposed to its art; which carries a true and deep meaning to it. This can all be understood by looking back at what Henry David Thoreau once said its not what you look at but what you see; where symbolism is explained; that what the art means or reflects varies from one person to another. As Islamic art focuses on patterns and symmetry to demonstrate unity it uses many styles to accomplish its mission. One of the famous styles used in Islamic civilization is the smallness of the elements of the compositional motifs which is how forms are fixed to the smallest details. This is concluded to drive the viewer to concentrate on every little detail. A second style used in Islamic art is the complication of the motifs which generates the viewer to look at the design from different perspectives. The third style seen in Islamic art uses repetition of patterns; to symbolize infinity. Islamic art also contains many forms such as divisions and symmetry. Such divisions embody organization and infinity. Most of the previously stated styles and forms can be found in the famous design called the Breath of the Compassionate. The Breath of the Compassionate, or al-nafas al-rahman, is an eight-point star, is a famous design to many cultures and religions. It can be found in many religious iconographies; just like the form of a niche can be found in churches, synagogues and mosques. However, it holds a different meaning to every religion it is illustrated in. I believe this widely-known design of symmetry and balance has great significance to the Islamic idea of el tawhid demonstrating harmony and unity. One of the major reasons, I believe so is because it uses all of the forms and styles I have previously stated above such as symmetry, repetition and geometry. One major aspect that needs to be explained in many of the Islamic designs is the use of the number eight; in the number of sides, points of a star and so forth. This number is used in many of the Islamic designs especially where octagons can be found. The Breath of the Compassionate is a great example to look at while discussing the deep meaning behind the number eight. The number eight holds different meanings to many cultures as well as to diverse religions. First and foremost, eight symbolizes eternity and absolute perfection (Schimmel). It is also the number of how many gates Paradise has unlike Hell which has seven only. This shows that Gods mercy is greater than His wrath (Schimmel). The word Compassionate in the phrase the Breath of the Compassionate is derived from the ninety-nine names of God. Compassionate resembles infinity therefore; Islamic designs tend to be repetitive. As a result, I believe that the indirect message behind the phrase the Breath of the Compassionate is Gods creation of the universe. Moreover, it represents His endless compassion towards Muslim followers; which in Arabic is rahma. In conclusion, as Islamic art displays no figural representations and entirely focuses on symmetrical and unified geometrical patterns it carries a deep meaning to it that mostly only Muslims can comprehend. All Islamic art follows the transcendent theory of el tawhid; to inspire Islam followers into believing in the concept of La-illah ila-Allah; meaning one God. To sum up all my points, I believe the unity and balance created in Islamic iconographies demonstrates the creative will of God.

One More River :: essays research papers

One More River Can you imagine having to leave everything you have ever known to live in a country on the verge of war? Lesley Shelby, the main character in One More River by Lynn Reid Banks, knows exactly how it feels. This Jewish Canadian girl has to emigrate to Israel with her family. Through the determination and courage of one person we see how challenges, complications, and differences of the world are overcome.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the story the most important character is Lesley. Lesley is a spoiled, pretty, Jewish, fourteen year old living in Canada. As the story progresses we see Lesley change to a caring and mature person by overcoming the differences in her new life. Two other important characters are Nat Shelby and Mustapha. Lesley’s father, Nat Shelby is the person who decided the family needed to live in Israel. Mr. Shelby decides he doesn’t want his daughter growing up as a spoiled uncaring princess. Mustapha, other important character, is an Arab boy who Lesley watches abuse his donkey across the Jordan River. All the Jews are not supposed to hate Arabs, but Lesley however comes in contact with Mustapha by the river and talks to him as a person not as an enemy. Mustapha made Lesley a more understanding person towards different kinds of people. The character I would most admire is Lesley for her ability to adapt to a new home, country and way of life.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Throughout the book there were many turning points. The war made Lesley really feel a part of Israel and the people. Another turning point was when Lesley was allowed to join the p’oola because she was finally excepted as one of them. The most important turning point is when Lesley, at the end of the book, takes the picture Mustapha threw at her and wrote “a peace between us and between our peoples'; in three languages and stuck it in the wall in Jerusalem. The major conflict in this story was moving to Israel because Lesley threw fits until she secretly visited Noah. (Lesley’s brother who was disowned because he married a catholic girl.) He told her to go and that’s when the conflict stopped. The plot enabled the characters to change. Lesley became excepting of life and the Arabs through events in the plot. In 1966 the Shelbys lived in Canada and then moved to a center in Israel were they had to learn Hebrew. One More River :: essays research papers One More River Can you imagine having to leave everything you have ever known to live in a country on the verge of war? Lesley Shelby, the main character in One More River by Lynn Reid Banks, knows exactly how it feels. This Jewish Canadian girl has to emigrate to Israel with her family. Through the determination and courage of one person we see how challenges, complications, and differences of the world are overcome.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the story the most important character is Lesley. Lesley is a spoiled, pretty, Jewish, fourteen year old living in Canada. As the story progresses we see Lesley change to a caring and mature person by overcoming the differences in her new life. Two other important characters are Nat Shelby and Mustapha. Lesley’s father, Nat Shelby is the person who decided the family needed to live in Israel. Mr. Shelby decides he doesn’t want his daughter growing up as a spoiled uncaring princess. Mustapha, other important character, is an Arab boy who Lesley watches abuse his donkey across the Jordan River. All the Jews are not supposed to hate Arabs, but Lesley however comes in contact with Mustapha by the river and talks to him as a person not as an enemy. Mustapha made Lesley a more understanding person towards different kinds of people. The character I would most admire is Lesley for her ability to adapt to a new home, country and way of life.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Throughout the book there were many turning points. The war made Lesley really feel a part of Israel and the people. Another turning point was when Lesley was allowed to join the p’oola because she was finally excepted as one of them. The most important turning point is when Lesley, at the end of the book, takes the picture Mustapha threw at her and wrote “a peace between us and between our peoples'; in three languages and stuck it in the wall in Jerusalem. The major conflict in this story was moving to Israel because Lesley threw fits until she secretly visited Noah. (Lesley’s brother who was disowned because he married a catholic girl.) He told her to go and that’s when the conflict stopped. The plot enabled the characters to change. Lesley became excepting of life and the Arabs through events in the plot. In 1966 the Shelbys lived in Canada and then moved to a center in Israel were they had to learn Hebrew.

Marjane Satrapi – Persepolis

Marjane Satrapi’s book Persepolis is alternatively called by the critics a â€Å"graphic novel† or an autobiographical comic sketch. The book is made up of a series of black and white illustrations, arranged in little episodes that represent different scenes from the life of Marjane’s family, in Tehran. It begins immediately after the Islamic Revolution in Iran in 1979 and continues with the first four years of the war between Iraq and Iran. The main character in the story is Marjane herself, who is ten years old when the revolution starts. Although both the language of the novel and the illustrations are very simple and straightforward, only revealing the essential facts of the story, the book is nevertheless very effective and delivers its message as well as any other text. The scarcity of text doesn’t cut down on its literary value, on the contrary, the book seems to gain a lot from this brief and report-like writing style. The main reason for this is the fact that the author creates a sharp contrast between the objective, documentary style, with its brief sentences and its matter-of- fact information and the personal narrative that is actually conveyed to the reader. The subjective point of view in the book is only hinted at in an apparently impersonal tone. Moreover, Marjane Satrapi intentionally substitutes the ten years old girl for herself, and thus manages to register her reaction as a child to the religious and political movements in Iran. The girl actually grows as a character by the end of the book, passing, like any character of fiction, from one stage to another in her development. This is achieved mainly through the careful notation of the child’s reactions to every event mentioned in the book. Although all the statements in the novel seem unbiased, Marjane Satrapi succeeds in conveying her own message as if she had written a truly subjective and explanatory narrative of her experiences. Although very succinctly, the book captures the absurdities of the fundamentalist movement in Marjane’s country, with the array of social and political transformations that took place afterwards. All this is done in an ironic tone, although again, the writing style remains unornamented. One by one the main social and political problems are displayed, from the dispute around the subject of the veil that the women have to wear all the time, according to the fundamentalists, to the closing of the all bilingual schools and of all universities for two years, or the closing of the American embassy because of the attacks of the religious fanatics. The author cleverly unmasks the backward views of the new political regime, who was capable of closing the schools so as to ward off the â€Å"dangerous† capitalist ideas that were cultivated there: â€Å"The educational system and what is written in schoolbooks, at all levels, are decadent. Everything needs to be revised to ensure that our children are not led astray.† (Satrapi, 25) At the same time that the crucial events of going on in the country are related (mostly in the form of television reports, as the family actually found out the news probably), there are also many events that involve the family as well, like the women’s protest against fundamentalism and â€Å"the veil†, which is rapidly suppressed by the political forces, or the attack that the girl’s mother suffers on the street because she doesn’t wear the veil. Society also changes, and the parents of the girl note that the same people who engaged in usual â€Å"liberal† activities before, like wearing â€Å"modern† clothes or drinking, suddenly change these habits outwardly and start lying. The moment when Marjane’s mother tells her to tell everyone that all she does at home is pray is very ironical: â€Å"If anyone asks you what you do during the day, you say pray, you understand?†(Satrapi, 29) In very few words and illustrations, Satrapi manages to portray the Iranian society after the Islamic Revolution, with its insincerity and fear of persecution. All through the book, Marjane evolves by reacting to the environment that surrounds her and by understanding new things. The author carefully transcribes her reactions: for example, during first episode or â€Å"The Veil†, the girl remarks that she â€Å"really didn’t know what to think about the veil† (Satrapi, 2), capturing thus the dilemma and confusion of the child, who although deeply religious, was at the same time used to the modern ways of her family. Other reactions and feelings are registered in the book, like the dream of the girl to become a prophet, or the moment when the family comes back from Spain to find out that the war had begun in Iran, and Marjane experiences a feeling of patriotism, and discovers that she wanted to fight for her country. Her desire to become a chemist like Marie Currie follows, and then more rebellious years as an adolescent who listens to American music. All these examples and many more, manage to portray ten years old Marjane as a strong character who is able keeps her views in the midst of the general confusion and fear, and to cope with the war and violence that surrounded them. The book makes a good literary work especially because of the personal voice of Marjane, which although it is not really heard as such, vibrates through the ironic and objective style. The genre that Satrapi creates is thus at once documentary because it is true and autobiographic, and literary, since as all literary works, it manages to convey much more than can be read at the surface of the text Works Cited: Satrapi, Marjane. Persepolis. New York: Pantheon Books, 2003

A Short History of the Ball of Goo Called Silly Putty

A Short History of the Ball of Goo Called Silly Putty Silly Putty, one of the most popular toys of the 20th century, was invented accidentally. Find out what a war, an indebted advertising consultant, and a ball of goo have in common. Rationing Rubber One of the most important resources needed for World War II war production was rubber. It was essential for tires (which kept the trucks moving) and boots (which kept the soldiers moving). It was also important for gas masks, life rafts, and even bombers. Beginning early in the war, the Japanese attacked many of the rubber-producing countries in Asia, drastically affecting the supply route. To conserve rubber, civilians in the United States were asked to donate old rubber tires, rubber raincoats, rubber boots, and anything else that consisted at least in part of rubber. Rations were placed on gasoline to hinder people from driving their cars. Propaganda posters instructed people in the importance of carpooling and showed them how to care for their household rubber products so they would last the duration of the war. Inventing a Synthetic Rubber Even with this home-front effort, the rubber shortage threatened war production. The government decided to ask U.S. companies to invent a synthetic rubber that had similar properties but that could be made with non-restricted ingredients. In 1943, engineer James Wright was attempting to discover a synthetic rubber while working in General Electrics laboratory in New Haven, Connecticut when he discovered something unusual. In a test tube, Wright had combined boric acid and silicone oil, producing an interesting gob of goo. Wright conducted a multitude of tests on the substance and discovered it could bounce when dropped, stretch farther than regular rubber, didnt collect mold, and had a very high melting temperature. Unfortunately, though it was a fascinating substance, it didnt contain the properties needed to replace rubber. Still, Wright assumed there had to be some practical use for the interesting putty. Unable to come up with an idea himself, Wright sent samples of the putty to scientists around the world. However, none of them found a use for the substance either. An Entertaining Substance Though perhaps not practical, the substance continued to be entertaining. The nutty putty began to be passed around to family and friends and even taken to parties to be dropped, stretched, and molded to the delight of many. In 1949, the ball of goo found its way to Ruth Fallgatter, an owner of a toy store who regularly produced a catalog of toys. Advertising consultant Peter Hodgson convinced Fallgatter to place globs of the goo in plastic cases and add it to her catalog. Selling for $2 each, the bouncing putty outsold everything else in the catalog except for a set of 50-cent Crayola crayons. After a year of strong sales, Fallgatter decided to drop the bouncing putty from her catalog. The Goo Becomes Silly Putty Hodgson saw an opportunity. Already $12,000 in debt, Hodgson borrowed another $147 and bought a large quantity of the putty in 1950. He then had Yale students separate the putty into one-ounce balls and place them inside red plastic eggs. Since bouncing putty didnt describe all of the puttys unusual and entertaining attributes, Hodgson thought hard about what to call the substance. After much contemplation and numerous options suggested, he decided to name the goo Silly Putty and to sell each egg for $1. In February 1950, Hodgson took Silly Putty to the International Toy Fair in New York, but most people there did not see the potential for the new toy. Luckily, Hodgson did manage to get Silly Putty stocked at both Nieman-Marcus and Doubleday bookstores. A few months later, a reporter for The New Yorker stumbled across Silly Putty at a Doubleday bookstore and took home an egg. Fascinated, the writer wrote an article in the Talk of the Town section that appeared on August 26, 1950. Immediately, orders for Silly Putty started pouring in. Adults First, Then Children Silly Putty, marked as The Real Solid Liquid, was at first considered a novelty item (i.e. a toy for adults). However, by 1955 the market shifted and the toy became a huge success with children. Added to bouncing, stretching, and molding, kids could spend hours using the putty to copy images from comics and then distort the images by bending and stretching. In 1957, kids could watch Silly Putty T.V. commercials that were strategically placed during The Howdy Doody Show and Captain Kangaroo. From there, there was no end to the popularity of Silly Putty. Children continue to play with the simple gob of goo often referred to as the toy with one moving part. Did You Know... Did you know that astronauts on the 1968 Apollo 8 mission took Silly Putty with them to the moon?Did you know that the Smithsonian Institution included Silly Putty in its exhibit on the 1950s?Did you know that Binney Smith, the makers of Crayola, bought the rights to Silly Putty in 1977 (after Peter Hodgson passed away)?Did you know that you can no longer copy images onto Silly Putty from the comics because of the change in the inking process?Did you know that people did finally discover numerous practical uses for Silly Putty, including as a balance for a wobbly piece of furniture, lint remover, hole stopper, and a stress reliever?

Great Expaectation, Pip and Estella essays

Great Expaectation, Pip and Estella essays A. Time what a peculiar concept. It is not only the passing of minutes, second, the ticking of a clock. It is also change. Change of people Change of places. B. Overtime Estella went through great changes in the way she viewed Pip.Estella is cruel and incapable of love yet Pip never stops loving her. A. As kids Estella thinks very little of Pip and treats him poorly. 1. Estella did not find Pip attractive 2. She barely considered him a person, She thought of him as a play toy her mother had gotten for her. 3. He was a companion Estella could play with, hurt and tease. B. When they are older Estella starts to think differently of Pip . She starts to regret her poor treatment of him and eventually they become friends. 1. Estella has previously been married but it was an unhappy marriage and her husband had been killed by a horse that he had miss treated. Pip is happy when he hears Estella is single again. Estella hears the news of Pip new found fortune. 2. Estella has many admierers and she deceives and manipulates them but she said she does not treat Pip in such a manner. 3. Pip comes to realize that they are not meant to be together when he finds that Ms. Havisham did not leave him his fortune and they become friends. C. Even though Estella is cruel and unable to love, because of her upbringing by Ms. Havisham who had been hurt by men and raised Estella to be hard and tough, Pip still loved Estella. 1. Almost the whole book Pip is convinced that him and Estella are meant to be together forever. 2. Pip is innocent and naive and never utters a complaint even when Estella treats him so poorly. 3. Pip looks forward to visiting Estella, he thinks about her all the time and sees her as much as possible even thought she is so mean to him. A. Over time Estella went through great changes in the way she viewed Pip ...

Ascene of peace Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Ascene of peace - Essay Example I could feel the cool breeze touching my face and filling me with energy and joy. I sat beside the sea watching the waves and the morning hues in the sky, I stopped the music and removed the headphone .I was soon lost in the mesmerizing view of the sunrise. It was still early and there were not many people around. The sea was calm, and then came a roaring wave hitting the shore , again it was still and so quite that you could hear the whistle of the breeze. I closed my eyes and felt the moment. This must be the kind of moment that must have inspired Wordsworth and Tennyson in many of their wonderful creations, I was so much lost in the scene of peace that I forgot all my worries and soon there were sounds of the birds and vendors setting up their counters selling food with the sun shining bright above the sea. I started walking back home enriched with morning’s delightful experience, my mind was no more pondering over the worldly affairs. I could hear the music of rustle of the leaves, chirping of the birds and the whistle of the breeze and I was overwhelmed by the peace of mind I felt after a sleepless night. Later that day my meeting went smooth and I realized that sometimes life’s easier than we can even think of, we seldom realize that real happiness is in small things we generally tend to ignore, because we have grown so materialistic and complex creatures that we search happiness in materialistic things, unfortunately the main factor which is dragging us away from feeling the essence of real life. That morning’s experience once again brought me closer to myself, and when I went to bed that night, Wordsworth’s lines from his classic rhyme Daffodils clicked

Final Project Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Final Project - Assignment Example With the success of their product in the local US markets, they are thinking of catering to a wider region by penetration in the bigger markets of US and global markets too. In order to do so a major study has to be undertaken while deciding about the expansion of the market. A faulty expansion step can, not only account for a dip in profits but also be a threat for the whole existence of the business. Thus, a market plan is a serious necessity for market expansion. With the question of market expansion, the most widely used method used to analyze the decision aptly is that of SWOT analysis. It is majorly done to analyze the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the particular business proposal. In this case, SWOT analysis is required to understand the strengths and weaknesses of the organization with respect to the idea of global expansion and also the opportunities and threats it may face from the external resources while expanding their business in the global forum. Another study which would be quite handful in this project would be the Porter’s Five Force Model. The Porter’s Five Force Model mainly takes into the account the major forces which affect the functioning of the firm namely the suppliers, competitors, substitutes, barriers to entry and buyers’ powers. A thorough study is to be made regarding all these heads so that it could be well understood that whether the decision taken of expanding their business in the global markets is really viable or not (Kotler, 2009). With the progression of the case all such topics would be covered under different heads. Each and every essential detail for entering into a global market with relation to the case will be analyzed in details and probable solutions will be provided. The nature of the product is a determining factor while decision regarding market expansion is taken that too globally. In this case, the major product is that of