Hum 225: Art and Culture of Rome (last journal)

Journal Prompt: How does art happen?

Having visited different places such as: Venice, Rome, Florence, Paris, and Dublin; I have been able to see a tremendous amount or art. For me, the majority of the art is fascinating and mind blowing. It has always amazed me how artists have always been able to create a moment that looks real. While I have an interest in art, my artistic abilities are limited and poor. However the time spent with Gina was eye opening in a sense.

Many of the art classes I have taken through middle school on up have simply involved studying paintings and taking tests. Very rarely have I been given the opportunity to take class time and learn how to draw besides when I was in grade school. Therefore, being able to sit down and simply be free when it came to the engraving project last week was a neat experience. I can remember being completely dumbfounded on where to start and even how to create some of the angles, shades, and shapes with the one tool we had. While it was hard beginning the project, as time went on different ideas began popping up in my head. It also helped that Gina came over and showed me how to help bring the flowers to life by making close, straight lines to create the shade existing on the petals. After I was finished with the picture I was drawing, I began to think of what else I could do. I ended up making a bunch of random designs that helped complete the picture, which also eliminated the empty space surrounding the flower.

This randomness that comes to me is usually what happens to me every day. No offense should be taken to this next comment, but many times during class I will find myself scribbling, making bubbles, or drawing replica schemes of Pac-Man. I know it is weird, but sometimes I will zone out and thirty minutes later I snap back and realize my notes page is covered by drawings instead of notes. Obviously, I should be paying attention, but this shows how I simply start from making something simple then it all become sporadic. This was definitely inherited from my older brother who was ten times worse, so I’ll put the blame on him.

Essentially, art can be configured in many different ways such as: tracing, looking at an object, slightly altering a picture, or transforming something through your imagination. For me, I simply like to start from a basic picture, and then go from there. So I like to have a beginning picture in my mind, and then I use my imagination and creativity to make whatever comes to me. Most of the time it ends up a bunch of scribbles or doodles, but every once and a while something cool pops up. If I tried to visualize a picture and draw it, I could guarantee it would not come out looking anything like it should. Therefore, I it can’t be judge since it is solely from my mind.

theo 314 9-23

Journal Prompt: Jews, Gypsies, North Africans and Mexicans

At the end of our class on Thursday, we had a discussion concerning the immigration law in Arizona and immigration in the United States. This has always been touchy topic, and still is today. Many believe that all immigrants should be treated as a part of the society while others strongly believe that illegal immigrants should be deported. I believe that it is most definitely an advantage to have immigration because it not only diversifies the population, but it also assists with innovations and technological advancement. However, I strongly believe that illegal immigrants do not deserve the right to stay within the country, and should be deported.

Legal Immigrants all over the world are helping and assisting their new countries in developing and boosting the economy. As we saw with Monsignor’s presentation with immigration in Italy, all different kinds of people are coming to Italy, and they are essentially making what is Italy’s economy today. He also showed the statistic of how crime has not risen as fast as the population, which is a major factor in immigration issues. Along with the presentation, I have seen many examples within the United States in which immigration is needed. This next comment is not intended to be stereotypical but when you take a look at Doctors, Dentists, or Software Engineers many of them are Indian or Asian. While many are not immigrants, a good portion of the immigrants hold these professions, and this shows the effect that immigration can have in helping our society and economy. On the website I have listed below, Chris Farrel gave the following numbers, “In 2007…62 percent of foreign-born nationals who received a science or engineering doctorate remained in the U.S. for at least five years following graduation. More than 80 percent of graduates of Indian origin and 90 percent of Chinese graduates still lived in America five years after graduation, according to McKinsey (1).” He gave many other statistics throughout his column that were shocking. Lastly, immigrants not only help with professional jobs, but assist in innovations and technological improvement. These reasons are why legal immigrants are important and vital part of any country.

Even though I have much respect for legal immigration, the same cannot be said for illegal immigrants. First, the word illegal is defined as forbidden by law or statue. This in turn means that did have the right to enter the country in the first place and did so otherwise with no respect to the laws of that country. Secondly, illegal immigrants do not impact the country like legal immigrants. Many of these immigrants are uneducated and end up having a negative impact on our country by forming gangs and increasing crime or working under the table for extremely low wages and taking jobs from the rest of the public. Of course, not every illegal immigrant is doing one of the two, but the majority can be put into one of the two categories. Therefore, I feel as though illegal immigrants should be sought out in a reasonable manner and deported. This way stereotypes and discrimination will diminish since the illegal immigrants are not as existent, and legal immigrants can live in peace.


As you can tell, I have a lot of respect for those immigrants who have attained proper documents to go into another country and be productive to society. However, when it comes to illegal immigrants, my attitude completely shifts. In my opinion, they increase crime rates, steal jobs from others, and create a negative image upon immigrants in general. Obviously, it would inhibit people’s right if anyone could be stopped by the police if they were found suspicious of being illegal, but something needs to be done in countries that have a problem with illegal immigrants. Most likely it will be a ruling that is controversial, but in the end will ultimately improve conditions within that country.


1. http://www.businessweek.com/investor/content/jul2010/pi2010079_863838.html

Hum 325- Rome: Stories and Traditions 9-22

Journal Prompt: The Pope’s address on Easter and Christmas always begins, “ Urbi et Orbi” - “To the City of Rome and to the World.” The term “Roman Catholic” also suggests that there is something “roman” and something “universal” about the Church. In what sense is the Church “roman” and in what sense is it “global?”

If this questioned would have been presented to me before I embarked upon my trip to Rome, I would have had no idea how answer this question. However, the past six weeks I have had the privilege of experiencing Rome, and it is very evident how the church is “roman” and “universal”. Simply take a look at the tours we have taken this semester and topics we have studied. Rome is a placed filled with history of various religions, especially, Catholicism.

Before coming to Rome, I knew the city was a place filled with marvelous ruins and an abundance of history. What I did not realize was how much of the city was filled with religious ruins or even churches that are still standing today. If I were to list the all the churches that we have seen or visited so far, I could easily create a full page worth. Because of this, I can tell that Rome was very much a religious city, and as we study the timeline I can see the evolution from Paganism to Christianity to Catholicism. I am simply saying that history of Catholicism is what makes the church Roman. Take the past week for example. We visited the Vatican City, and we got to see the burial place of St. Peter, St. Peter’s Basilica, and an address by the Pope. All of the churches, history, and relevance of the Pope allow us to realize the depth of Catholicism in Rome. Simply put, Rome is the heart of Catholicism.

Now to express what I think is universal about the Church. As I sat and listened to speeches given by the Pope and his Cardinals, it was easy to distinguish what is universal about the church, which would be its beliefs. Think about how many different languages were spoken at the address or think about all the different schools and people represented from different countries. Being able to see people of all different backgrounds come together for one reason, really gave me a visual perspective on how widespread Catholicism is. Yes, I knew it was a worldwide religion, but having lived in a box my whole life, the United States, I was never really able to get a true understanding of the influence of the Catholic Church.

My adventures through Rome and Italy have helped me in gaining a better understanding and perspective on the Catholic Church. I would go as far as saying that today was the ultimate eye opening experience on the history and relevance of Catholicism in Rome along with the universal nature of the religion. Seeing the Pope today sparked a feeling I never thought imaginable considering the fact I am not Catholic or even Christian but agnostic. Ultimately my study abroad trip and mainly the past week and a half have given me insight as to how the Church is “roman” and “universal.”

Hum 225: Art and Culture of Rome 9-16

Baldacchino
St. Peter’s Basilica
Dark Bronze

The Baldacchino cannot be missed when you walk into St. Peter’s Basilica. In fact, this is most likely the first object that your eyes will be attracted. It sits in the middle of the basilica covering the papal altar right under Michelangelo’s dome. The pillars leading up to the covering are covered in gold vines/ leave, and on top there are angels on the corners with two baby angels in the middle of one side. Of course there are many details that have been incorporated into the Baldacchino to make it stick out.

Looking at the two baby angels we can see one holding two keys and the other in the air holding the crown creating the part of the Papal coat of arms. Even though the shield has been excluded, it is still obvious that this is part of the coat of arms, which is standing right over the papal altar. The more interesting part of this structure is that fact that everything has to do with angels. As I mentioned before, there are angels on each corner along with the two baby angels. All along the side of the covering are objects representing heaven or angels. I believe this could be symbolic of St. Peter’s ascendance to heaven.


Last Judgment
Sistine Chapel
Fresco
In this piece of art, the space is easy to identify. For the Last Judgment, there are seven different sections that I picked out. The following are the seven: hell or the bottom, the in between where there is a mixture of people from hell and the middle level, the very center where Jesus is, then there are two on the outside of the space with Jesus, then there are two at the very top on the left and right. All of these spaces are separated by the blue sky, which are sort of like paths separating the spaces.

In the artwork, all of the objects including the people and clouds were drawn with wavy lines. This makes the piece look very busy and active. With the color, Michelangelo did a very interesting job of using the color. At the bottom, he used cool colors to depict the horrible nature of hell. To create a sense of life in the middle section, he used a good amount of neutral colors such as white and tan. Then at the very top Michelangelo mainly used red, a warm color, which maybe was to distinguish another level of people.

As far as the medium, the Last Judgment was a fresco. The light in the picture helps make Jesus the center of attention. There is also a skyline between hell and the other level that was created using light, which assists in creating the separation between the two. Lastly, the composition of the Last Judgment was Medieval.

Theo 314 9-12

What is the impact of the ghetto (in both the old sense and a contemporary sense) on the people inside and the people outside?

The impact of the ghetto in the old sense compared to the contemporary sense is truly astonishing. The two times are practically polar opposites when it comes to their impact. Think of it in this sense. Say you were to study or have a lecture over the Jewish Ghetto or a Concentration Camp, you would have an empty feeling in your stomach or a sense of despair and anguish. Now think about visiting these two places present day. A concentration camp would still prove to erect the same feeling; however, this area of the Jewish Ghetto is uplifting in the fact it has transformed into a magnificent historic landmark through its reconstruction and the synagogue.

When the Jewish Ghetto was actively being used to house the Jews of Rome, there were only five or six gates in which people could enter, and the Tiber River flowed around the outside parts of the Ghetto. This created an imprisonment of Jews because they could only exit when the gates were opened. In addition, the river was right next to the Ghetto making the Jews more susceptible to diseases. So for the Jews inside, the ghetto was arguably a prison that had poor living conditions. However, for the people outside, the ghetto could be seen as a sense of control. Rules and laws were created to govern the way Jews lived such as the mandatory attendance of Christian services and the required clothing attire. This not only singled out Jews but forced upon them the Christian religion. Obviously, the goal of the government was to single out the Jews, segregate them, and prevent them from creating a good life for themselves.

As I walked the streets and remembered our class lesson, I was shocked at how the present day area of the ghetto was completely reversed. Today, after it has been rebuilt, it is a place of luxury to live. While many Jews do not live here anymore, the fact that the area is now a premier living space for famous musicians, actresses, and painters. The people living here are still able to experience Jewish culture through the dozens of restaurants and businesses. So while the whole complex of the area has changed, it is still easy to see the remnants of the Jewish culture. For the people outside of this area, a role reversal has been achieved. It is almost as if this area attracts people to it or controls them because of the historic landmark it has been made into today. Instead of people never looking to come into the ghetto, like the past, people are flocking to the area to gain an understanding of what life was like for the thousands upon thousands of Jews who lived here. The fact that we were able to walk around the Ghetto in maybe fifteen minutes astounds me when you think about the population of the area.

For the city of Rome to be able to create the area of the Jewish Ghetto into a place of high end living and magnificence is truly amazing considering the history. Most places which contain the history of a place like this would most likely be desolate and recreate a picture of the horrific moments, but for me the transformation brought up the ending of the entrapment for the Jews. Essentially, it allowed me to reflect upon the positive actions that were taken in ending the Jewish Ghetto instead of reliving the misery that might have been experienced.

Hum 325- Rome: Stories and Traditions 9-6-10

How does the piazza provide a lens toward Italian Culture?

When I look at Italian culture, I can see much of it represented in the various piazzas we have visited. Whether it is by the espresso, fountains, churches, or simply people resting on the steps, they all paint a picture of what Italian culture consists of. To be honest, today was the first time I stopped to think about the piazzas, and I was able to dissect the various aspects to see how they paint a picture of Italian culture.

Almost every street I walk down in Italy there will be a gelato or espresso shop. It is almost as if gelato and espresso are the Italians drugs. I, myself, am slowly becoming addicted to the gelato; however, the espresso doesn’t hit the spot like the gelato. These shops usually rest on the outskirts of the piazza. If we want to take a deeper look into Italian culture, all we must do is look at the fountains with obelisks on top. This dives into the heart of Italian culture because it is what makes Italy so magnificent. Nowhere else is there a place so rich of history other than Italy and more specifically Rome. Italians pride themselves on what has taken place in their country over the years. Everyday Italians pass a piece of history everyday; therefore, it has been incorporated into their culture.

What I notice more than anything in these piazzas are the annoying merchants trying to sell us fake merchandise. Coming here I was continuously warned about the gypsies and being pick pocketed. Not until I got here and began walking around the city was I informed about these people, and they definitely push my buttons, especially, the guys with the roses who interrupt dinner or tours. Because of the tremendous amount tourism, these merchants have found that business here can be good and have simply forced themselves into a part of Italian culture.

Of course, I can’t forget about the religious monuments or buildings that are at every piazza. Religion has been a huge part of Italy ever since the era of the Romans. The adoption of Christianity by Constantine essentially started the road for what religion has become in present day Italy. Lastly, as everyone has talked about, you will always see people relaxing on the steps at these piazzas or at nearby restaurants. The Italians are notorious for relaxed and laid back except for when they are driving. Nothing is a better look into how Italians take in the moment and enjoy the scenery around them than when we are at these piazzas.

The first couple weeks when we visited piazzas I simply marveled at the structures and the layout. Today was the first day I tried to take more from the piazzas such as how they reflect Italian culture. When I stopped and looked around, it was easy to see how many aspects of the piazzas provide a snapshot of what Italian culture is.

Theo 314- 9/2

In what way is Giorgio Perlasca an “Authentic Italian Hero?” What does “Authentic Hero” mean to me?

Giorgio Perlasca once served for the Mussolini and the Italian Army in the thirties. After his time in the army, he returned home opposed to the fascist government Mussolini was running. In 1940, Perlasca, now working for a meat importing business, was sent to Hungary to do business for the Italian Army. This is where his life took a dramatic turn (1).

In September of 1943, Italy signed an armistice with Germany, which ordered all Italians to return home. Giorgio Perlasca refused to do this since he was against the Nazi’s and his countries fascists views. From here on out, Giorgio unknowingly began one of the greatest conquests during World War II. Time and time again, he put his life in risk to save the Jews. At one point , he began using the Spanish Embassy to house the Jews he was saving. He was able to do this by an elaborate scheme he created when he heard the embassy was going to be moved. Essentially, Giorgio Perlasca was an “Authentic Hero” by his willingness to stand up and do what was necessary no matter what the situation was. He openly opposed his own country and the Nazi’s while risking his life for people he did not know.

To me, an “Authentic Hero” could be wide variety of people depending on the situation. All that one needs to do to be an Authentic Hero is the right thing. One of the first situations that came to me was the story I saw on the news regarding a woman falling onto railroad tracks in a subway. The woman had been feeling lightheaded and simple fainted onto the tracks in front of an oncoming train. A man jumped down in front of the train and tried to lift the woman up onto the platform. He was unsuccessful, so he pulled the woman in between the 1st and 2nd tracks hoping the trains would pass over her. Thankfully, they did, but what made this guy even more of an Authentic Hero was the fact he simply walked away after he rescued the woman. Three days later, after the woman got out of the hospital, she talked to local news reporters and asked the man to come forward, which he did a couple days later. The fact that this man risked his own life for someone he never knew and simply walked off without asking for any attention or compensation is the prime example of an Authentic Hero.

On another level, I would consider my parents, grandparents, aunt, and cousin all Authentic Heroes. For six years they have taken care of Hunter, my cousin’s son, who has cerebal palsy. His mother will see him once or twice a week, but will rarely keep him overnight. This isn’t a problem though because my whole family is more than willing to help out. However, since he is six, there is a problem with being able to move him around. Only my cousin and aunt can pick him up, but often my grandparents will overexert themselves trying to take care of him when everyone else is working. While it has been hard and stressful for everyone, we never wish that it would have turned out differently. Hunter has made our family closer and forced us all to become more responsible and thankful.

All in all an Authentic Hero must be willing to make sacrifices without wanting anything in return. Their actions speak for themselves, and they do not wish to make the front headlines of the paper. It is an act of courage, will, and unselfishness. That is what makes an “Authentic Hero” to me.


1. http://www.answers.com/topic/giorgio-perlasca

Hum 325- Rome: Stories and Traditions 8-30-10

“The major religions of the West – Christianity, Judaism, and Islam – all promise future salvation. All are linked to the past. Does the past bolster faith or limit it?”


First and foremost, I must acknowledge the face that I am not religious, so I have very little knowledge of Christianity and especially Judaism and Islam. Even saying I have very little knowledge of Christianity may be reach. However, from the very few religious experiences I have had I must say I believe the past undoubtedly bolsters faith.

Everything that is studied in the church and bible today is based on experiences and writings from the past. Therefore, the foundation of most people’s beliefs are these writings and stories from the past. This foundation connects people creating the bond and commitment that is present today. From the few the experiences that I have had, I have realized that this bond and commitment is almost impossible to break. I will give you an example as to what I mean. If scientists were able to prove any of the stories in the bible were false like the parting of the red sea or more importantly creation, I believe the majority of people would still believe what they have been preached for years. Obviously, some people would have a change of heart, but the important aspect to realize is once someone believes something with their whole heart nothing will ever change their mind.

At one point in time, I used to attend services and bible study on a regular basis last fall and spring thanks to Dr. Chad Gerber’s theology class. Once the services and bible study ended, I never really had the will find another church. However, the services I were present at were very educational for me, and I could see the devotion people put into their religious beliefs. To be honest, I can even describe what I had seen during these services. It was almost as if these people were being spoken to and controlled when they were singing. It really is indescribable for me, but the main point is that all these people are once again obeying their beliefs based on what has been preached for centuries. If the past did limit faith, then I never recognized it at any of the services I attended.

During my freshman year, I had one of the most heated conversations I have ever had with one of my best friends concerning and miracle cures and medicine. For an hour, we exchanged words with each of our beliefs concerning miracles cures and the use of medicine. This came up when he began to talk of a friend he had in South Africa that was practically placed on their death bed but out of nowhere they became cured. He said it was the work of God. Of course, me being me I argued that this was not possible. After this encounter, my eyes were opened, and I realized that each and every one of us has our own beliefs, which should be respected. This argument did make me realize the compassion in which Christians, Catholics, etc believe that God is continually present in our everyday life. Once again, this emphasizes the fact that the past does in fact bolster ones faith instead of limiting it.

All in all the premises of every religion is based upon the past. Many question whether or not the past bolsters faith or limits it. I for one believe it bolsters faith because when one wants to argue a spectacle such as the miracle I mentioned above, their argument is based upon past occurrences in the bible or what the bible has preached to them.

Hum 225: Art and Culture of Rome 8-31

Danaid from Temple of Apollo
Palatine Museum
Dark Marble Statue

In the Palatine Museum, there were three Danaid statues perfectly preserved. At one time, there were 50 of these statues, which surrounded the Temple of Apollo located on the Palatine Hill. Danaids, were the fifty daughters of Danaus who were forced into marriage with Danaus’ twin brother’s fifty sons. These brothers were never on good terms, so Danaus ordered his fifty daughters to kill the fifty sons during the wedding. All but one did as they were told. Because of this, it was believed that they were punished in the Underworld by being forced to carry buckets of water to fill a leaky jar that would wash away their sins (1). I believe the history of the Danaids is very iconographic with how they were composed. The Danaids in the Palatine Museum were made of a black marble, which is unusual from the common white, yellow, gray, or red we have seen. That is why I believe the black marble, which had been used to compose these statues, represented the sins and punishment of the Danaids in the Underworld. Also, we often relate white or light to the heavens and darkness to hell; therefore, the black marble in my opinion can be considered a connection between the Danaids and hell or the “underworld.”

As we have learned, the Romans loved to incorporate Greek and Egyptian culture in there society to symbolize there victories and conquering of those lands. The Daniads are a part of Greek Mythology, which, once again show the incorporation of other culture into their society. Lastly, I wanted to make a connection as to why the Danaids were placed around the Temple of Apollo. My first idea is because Apollo represented truth and plague and was known for curing people, which would have assisted the Danaids in their cleansing. The other idea I had relates to the fact that Apollo was the son of Zeus. Supposedly, Zeus ordered Athena and Hermus to purify the Danaids of their crimes (1). It is a stretch, but in this sense the Danaids had a connection with Apollo through Zeus, so it could be a memorial that connects the history between the Danaids and Apollo.

Apollo Fresco
Palatine Museum
Fresco

While only a portion of the fresco remains, the main portion of it has been saved. The fresco is obviously composed of plaster that has been painted on. In it, the focal point is Apollo sitting in the chair with his harp. This focal point has been created by using warm and cool colors. Apollo and his harp have been created using warm colors (gold, tan, and red) while the surroundings are primarily blue, a cool color. As far as the line of the fresco, both Apollo and the harp are curved, whereas, the chair Apollo is sitting on is composed of straight lines. I feel this helps give the impression of the rough and solid nature of the stone chair. It almost presents us with how uncomfortable the chair was to sit in for Apollo
The space in the fresco is very simple. There are two different spaces. The one which includes Apollo and his harp and then the other is merely the sky. In the space with Apollo and his harp, it seems the harp is the main object in the fresco for a couple reasons. First, Apollo’s eyes are focused directly on the harp. Secondly, his left arm is extended out holding the harp while the left arm is resting on the armrest pointed at the instrument. Maybe the most important aspect that helps the harp stick out is its golden color as compared with the tan and white colors of Apollo. Lastly, I feel as though Apollo’s body curves around the harp once again giving the image the harp is the main object.


1. Danaids. http://homepage.mac.com/cparada/GML/DANAIDS.html

Theo 314- 8/26

Are there parallels between the Rome/ Jerusalem reality and our contemporary world?

When trying to find parallels between the Rome/ Jerusalem reality and our present world, it is difficult to find a present day scenario that is identical to that of Rome and Jerusalem. However, it is easy to see similarities. First, we said the Roman army acted as a high priest, and the emperor was the General of the Army. The emperor was also seen as a “god” by the people. Secondly, Rome was socially stratified as shown by the control of the slaves by their masters. These slaves had to obey anything their master asked of them whether or not it was morally or ethically right.
In Jerusalem, everything was practically the opposite of Rome. Jerusalem was a “Temple City” in which life was connected with the temple, religion, sacrifice, etc. It was not dominated by the military. This was the most important principle. In regards to the God, no one was as important as him, and no leader would be looked at as a god. Lastly, respect and ethics had to be shown between people of all classes.
As I try to parallel Rome to a present day country, I picture North Korea over and over agin because of their government and military. Kim Jong-Il is a tyrannical leader, who has control over the entire country. Anything he says goes, so there is a sense of social stratification because he acts as the master while his people act as slaves. I present this relationship because of the seclusion and rules he has put in place in North Korea. The following piece from the U.S. Department of State depicts Kim Jong-Il’s control,
“Due to its isolationist nature, North Korea’s human rights record is difficult to evaluate. However, North Korea maintains a record of consistent, severe human rights violations, stemming from the government’s total control over all activity. All sources of media, such as radio, television, and news organizations, are controlled by the regime and heavily censored. North Korea is ranked second to last on the World Press Freedom Index.”
He has also built a country that has a massive military just like the Romans, and is a leader who is feared by his people along with those surrounding North Korea. I am sure the lower class in Rome feared that at any time they could be mandated to become a gladiator or slave. Not only this, but Rome created fear amongst the surrounding countries because of their will to grow their territories. North Korea has created fear in the United States and many other countries with their possible production of nuclear weapons, which I am sure is happening. In the past year in the United States, I have seen numerous stories on CNN, ABC, and NBC surrounding North Korea and their production of nuclear weapons, which creates a fear of possibly being attacked. Overall, North Korea and Rome are similar by the fear they have instilled in others, the size of their military, and the social stratification.
In terms of Jerusalem, it is easy to parallel South Korea to it because of North Korea being my example for Rome. Even though South Korea is the religious country Jerusalem was, the tension between North Korea and South Korea can very much compare to that of Rome and Jerusalem. On June 25, 1950, North Korea invaded South Korea, which was a shock to everyone. This began the Korean War which lasted until July 27, 1953. Since this time, many negotiations have taken place to try and create a unified Korea, but often North Korea has showed its hostile nature with its attack in Myanmar in1983, the bombing of an airliner in 1987, and most recently a North Korean torpedo hitting the war ship, Cheonan, on March 26 of this year (2). The constant attacks on South Korea can be compared to the several attempts by the Romans to destroy Jerusalem.
The Rome/Jerusalem reality is similar to the North Korea/ South Korea reality. North Korea though has many similar qualities that Rome had such as: its military, social stratification, and tyrannical ruling, whereas, South Korea merely compares to Jerusalem because of the hostility shown by North Korea to South Korea. However, the most important aspect of the Rome/ Jerusalem reality was that Rome continually invaded Jerusalem until they were able to bring down the temple, which could possibly be the case with North and South Korea. Hopefully this will not be the case, but it is hard to tell with Kim Jong-Il and their government.



1. U.S. Deparment of State. 9 March 2010.http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2792.htm.

2. U.S. Backs South Korea in Punishing North. 24 May 2010. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37309788/

Hum 225: Art and Culture of Rome 8-24

Marcus Aurelius
Palazzo dei Conservatori
Bronze Statue Once Covered in Gold

There are many aspects of the Marcus Aurelius statue which we can interpet. First, Marcus Aurelius is riding horse which tells us he was a man of power and importance. At the same time, his horse standing and not in the air signaling he was not a warrior. In the original statue, Marcus Aurelius was covered in a thin layer of gold. Only the gods and most prominent figures in Rome had the gold covering. The fact that the Gods were also covered in gold allows us to understand the respect and importance of Marcus Aurelius.
If you look at the horse, you will see right front leg in the air and its head is giving the impression that it is being pulled back. This gives a sense that Marcus is telling the horse to stop, but for what reason. Supposedly, a barbarian who had just been conquered was asking to be killed. Marcus, however, shows that this person no longer free by telling him he will be a slave and not be killed. The extending of Marcus’ right hand, to me, is him telling the people that they are now part of Rome, and are under his rule. All of their freedom and privileges have been stripped away since they were conquered.

Hercules Statue
Palazzo dei Conservatori
Bronze Statue once covered in Gold

The statue of Hercules is covered in gold, just as Marcus’ Aurelius was, because he was one of the Roman Gods, which once again is a symbol of standing and power. Since Hercules is the God of Strength, there are many attributes that symbolize this. First, his statue depicts him as extremely muscular. This can be seen with his calves, biceps, triceps, and chest. The odd part about the statue is the size of his head compared to the rest of the body especially his hands. It is much smaller in relation to the rest of his body. This could be symbolic for the type of person Hercules was meaning he would act out instead of thinking through solutions.
Another aspect of which relates to him being the God of Strength is the enormous club he is holding. In the other hand, he was shown holding something. While I could not depict it, I would imagine it is a body part of someone he had killed. He is also in a relaxed posture looking out into the distance. For me, the statue depicts a time soon after recently being victorious and looking out over the recent bloodshed, especially, since the club is not being held in a manner to which he would plan to use it.

Hum 325 8-23

British Journalist H.V. Morton once said the history of Rome is, “exhilarating and oppressive for the traveler.” After visiting the city, it is easy to relate to what Morton is saying. I have spent all of my life in the United States with most of those years being in Ohio. Moving to another country brings about a lot of differences to everyday life, which requires changes. These differences have led me to find what I find about Rome exhilarating and oppressive. So far, I have found the endless number of activities and scenery exhilarating while the lack of air conditioning and food oppressive. As far as public transportation I have experienced it from both sides with it being exhilarating and oppressive.

Rome and the surrounding area is filled with an endless amountof activities to do. In the past week and a half, I have went biking on the Via Appia Antica, rented a paddle boat on Lake Albano, went out to Campo Di Fiori to experience the nightlife, hit on red clay tennis courts for the first time, and visited numerous historic sites. The only options I would have had in Dover would have been to go to the park, ride a bike, or hang out on my porch. While all are very relaxing, it is nice to stay busy and gain meaningful experiences here in Italy.

During all of these activities, I have been able to see the extradinary scenery. The best example I can give is riding down the Via Appia. While riding on the road, there were numerous tombs, upscale houses that were gated off, colorful plants, and large country sides. Also, the road was made of large stones, which had become very unlevel leaving for a very bumpy ride. What catches my eye the most is the structure and style of all the buildings.

The use of the trains and buses has been a new adventure for me. Before I came over here, I rode the subway maybe two or three times in New York. So finding what trains and buses to take on a daily basis has been a neat adventure. I have always had my own car, and never relied on someone else to transport me. Even though this may not seem like a big deal, I have always wanted to experience everything there is to offer. Obviously, the downside is not having the ability to go to a certain place a certain time like the tennis courts. This makes us have to lay everything out and have it planned, so we can catch the right trains and account for time to walk the rest of the way. I am definitely not one of those people that like to plan out every second of everyday and would rather be flexible.

Suprisingly, I have not been amazed by the food. The first couple days I was very into the new kinds of subs and the Italian pizza, but I am very much a fan of home cooking and eating healthy. While I can find healthy food, it is hard to find food to help with my blood pressure since everything is pizza, pasta, salami, or prosciutto all of which are high in sodium. Therefore, my lack of control over what I have to eat especially with dinner has not allowed to experience the food in the same capacity as others. This is why I much more prefer picking and cooking my own food at home.

Lastly, the lack of air conditioning in public places such as: restaurants, shops, and site visits gets to me after all the walking we do outside in the sun during the hottest time of the day. The worst is in the trains on the way home from a day in the city. If there is no air conditioning in our car, I usually become exhausted and fall asleep. Thankfully, we head to Casa Mennesiana afterwards where it is air conditioned, and I can get my second burst of energy.

This past week and a half in Italy and specifically Rome has opened my eyes to many of the differences from where I live to here. I have always been told about these differences, but it really doesn’t set in until you can actually experience it for yourself. Through these experiences I have been able to relate what I have found exhilarating and oppressive in Rome. The number of activities, scenery, and public transportation were all exhilarating for me. While I found public transportation exhilarating, I also found it oppressive along with the food and lack of air conditioning.

Hum 225: Art and Culture of Rome 8-17

Santa Maria dei Miracoli & Santa Maria in Montesanto
Piazza del Popolo
Churches made of Stone

These two churches are very interesting in the fact that they both look identical but have different structural plans. Where they are built three roads are divided the: Via del Babuino, Via del Corso, and Via di Ripetta. These roads divide out from the point of the Piazza del Popolo; however, they are not the same width and length. This makes the fact that Rainaldi, Bernini, and Fontana were able to construct these two churches to look identical shocking. Their composition of the domes, columns, doors, and outer decorations were perfect in helping create this illusion. Also the use of lines and space were vital with how the streets were positioned.

What I found more interesting was the design of the structure surrounding the bell. For how much work they put in to create the illusion of these two churches being identical, the design of the structures surrounding the bells were obviously constructed to not look similar. So in a sense, I feel as though the designers wanted people to know the churches were different, but they didn’t want to make it obvious. The last aspect of these churches I noticed was the attention to detail put into the statues, tops of columns, and the structures covering the bells. Even though this was normal for the structures built back then, it is amazing to think of the craftsmanship and time it would take to chisel out these various designs.

Arch of Constantine
Close to the Colosseum
Stone

The Arch of Constantine was made to commemorate Constantine I victory over Maxentius. It is mostly made out of older monuments, which shows how the era affected the art. During this time, the marble from temples, forums, and other structures were being reused, so the idea of “recycling” or “reusing” was very popular. The Arch of Constantine took pieces from the Forum of Trajan, reliefs created for Marcus Aurelius, and the roundels from Emperor Hadrian. In a column I read, it mentioned how the decorations constructed particularly for the Arch were of poor quality.

The poor quality of these decorations is symbolic of how the knowledge and craftsmanship was not passed from generation to generation resulting in the demise of the Roman Empire. Along with the poor quality of the decorations, the idea that Constantine I had to take pieces from previous monuments depicts the notion that this generation relied on the previous generations. In the beginning and at the peak of the Roman Empire, it was unthinkable what they were able to achieve. This superiority could have caused future generations to lack the desire and motivation to be innovative and simply rely on what their predecessors achieved. It is equivalent to a rich father and mother having a son who simply does nothing but mooch of his parents because the resources are there for him. This is the easy route, but after a while the resources are run dry and with little movement forward future generations begin to feel the burden of this.

Hum 325- Rome: Stories and Traditions 8-16-10

        Growing up we studied the Roman Empire numerous times through all of our history classes.  Each and every time I was amazed and astonished at the ability of the Romans Empire.  Their ability to build structures one hundred feet high with stones weighting multiple tons is incredible.  However, when I looked at the Roman Empire after our conversation Monday morning, I began to question what the future would have been if the Roman Empire existed.  

        Monday morning we read a paragraph in The Smiles of Rome, which questioned the “creation of such works since greater ones have been destroyed by time.”  Some may argue that the work of the Roman Empire was the greatest during its era and beyond, but the point is look at what might have been.  What if the Romans had decided the construction of these structures were not worth their time?

        Much of what the Roman Empire did was ingenious and could not be duplicated for centuries. For example, they created a sewer and water system, retractable covering of sails for the Colosseum, an arch design to help support the weight of the stones, and much more. So what would have been if the Empire had not existed.   Not only would these inventions and ideas not  exist, but it would have presented another challenge. 

        Today, we are continually restructuring, changing, or inventing new structures, buildings, electronic devices, etc. The advancement is usually based off of current objects with some imagination.  Therefore, the proposition of the Roman Empire never existing could have changed the entire appearance of the city today and slowed technological development for centuries to come.  The city might not consist of fountains, piazzas, columns, or obelisks along with other cities whose creation were based upon these structures.  As far as the obelisk, this brings about the influence of the countries which the Roman Empire had conquered.  With no empire obelisks would not have been brought to Rome along with any other idea or structure that came about from the spread of the empire.

        On Monday, we also discussed the reading in The Italians.  From the discussion, I took away how the author was going to paint us a beautiful picture of Rome while showing us its imperfections.  Therefore, I tried to notice some of their imperfections or flaws because we all notice the beauty of it.  When Laura discussed the battles that took place between Gladiators and/or animals and the number of slaves the empire had, you can sense how barbaric the people were in these times.  Of course, this was the normal back then, but now we look back in astonishment.   The fact that over a thousand animals were killed in a week is amazing or how they sent Gladiators out into battles with no weapons is shocking.   Also, the fashion how people could vote for throats to be slit is jaw dropping.  In terms of slaves, it is unimaginable how many the Roman Empire had.  In a column I read, they said it took somewhere near a thousand people to help built and hoist the sails for the covering of the Coloseum. Now think about the number of slaves needed to build the roads, Coloseum, fountains, forums, temples, and columns.  The Roman Empire was truly blessed with its creativity and intelligence but at the same time had no consideration for those who were not up to their standards.