The Origins of Masks Free Essays

There is evidence that masks have been under the eye of the world for at least 20,000 years. There is evidence to prove this all over the world, which includes paintings on the walls of the insides of various different caves in Southern France, to images also painted or inscribed on the walls of pyramids in the Sahara desert of Egypt. Although our own British culture is extremely different to that of many others around the world, we are becoming increasingly more aware of how and why masks were first invented and the repercussions of them all around the globe. We will write a custom essay sample on The Origins of Masks or any similar topic only for you Order Now This is due to television documentaries, internet pages, and books at all of our local libraries. It is this point alone which initially brought my attention to that of the African Tribal, Japanese Theatrical and the Viennese Ball masks. Although these are all quite different types of masks, they all have similar reasons for existing, whether it is religious, celebratory, or even to shadow one’s identity. By today’s standards, many people believe the creation and use of masks to be only that of historical value; however this could not be more wrong as there is in depth evidence all around us which proves otherwise. African Tribal Mask. Example of Bamileke High Priest Mask taken from www.rebirth.co.za For many centuries African Tribal masks, played a major role in rituals, celebrations, ceremonial and tribal initiations. Masking rituals are normally accompanied with prayer, music, song and or dance. After researching the masks of African Tribes people, it is clearly visible that the different types of masks in which they use/used, fit in to eight different categories. However, the one that grasped my attention from the moment I set eyes upon it was the Bamileke Mask. When I first seen this mask I was immediately mesmerised by the fact that where it is reasonably bright and colourful, it becomes increasingly dull when the expressions of the face are observed. This fact initially led me to believe that this type of mask was created for funerary purposes; however this is merely the tip of the iceberg. The Bamileke mask was always worn by the chief of a particular tribe and it was this character that would take up the role of high priest, or chief, enabling him to initiate new-born babies to the tribe, lead celebratory or funerary rituals, lead his army in expeditions of war, harvesting and planting of crops and many more. â€Å"It is believed that when the Tribe leader wore the mask, he was transformed into animal form, primarily elephant, lizard, or buffalo. This allowed him to create a link between the human and spirit realm to seek guidance from his ancestors† (1). This is a prime example of the fact that the Bamileke mask was used for religious ceremonies, however from my own personal research, I think it would be unjust to declare that this mask is of purely religious qualities, because in this unique culture, everything which is done, whether it regards basic human survival techniques, or celebratory events, it is impossible to determine where religious elements come into the equation as they treat everything they do with such high regard. Bamileke masks are always constructed of a mixture of different natural materials. Where most traditional tribal masks were made from clay or mud, which was molded into the shape to fit the wearers face, the Bamileke mask was carved directly from the trunk of a tree which had been blessed by one of the elders before hand. It was then that a mixture of mud and sand was added on top of the wood to allow a suitable surface for painting, adding beads and stones, and in some cases, decorative leaves. Japanese Theatrical Mask. Example of Shikami Mask Taken from www.nohmask.com Japanese theatrical and dance performance masks are known as Noh masks. â€Å"Each individual mask represents a certain person, hero, devil, ghost or legendary animal, depending on what the character is in the performance†2. Masks were first used in Japan, since the Jomon period of time. This period of time spanned from 10,000 B.C; to 300 B.C. Out of all the Japanese masks that I came across while researching them, there was one particular mask that stood out to me above all of the others, the Shikami mask. These particular masks are used to represent a demon, (this can be taken literally or metaphorically, depending on the story line of the play). For example, if the certain play is centered on the afterlife or elements of a more dark, or gothic nature, the Shikami mask would more often than not be taken literally. However if the play was focusing on more modern themes, for example adultery, or murder, the Shikami mask would probably be metaphorical for a person who is to be looked upon as being of a more evil or bad nature. I believe that the way in which the Shikami mask is presented is extremely clever, as on many occasions, it would look like Satan or other dark or demonic characters as they would do so from a stereotypical point of view, in order to make the audience immediately scared or at least weary about them. A basic description which is used across many books and internet sources for a Shikami mask is, â€Å"Fierce scowling face, showing extreme agitation, used for demonic spirit. It expresses masculine rage. The Shikami mask features the application of dark red colour, to crow’s-feet and temples of the head†3. Japanese masks are always made of materials such as clay, dry lacquer, cloth, paper, and wood. The Shikami mask in particular is handcrafted from wood, before it is painted in a shiny lacquer. This is done to make every element of the mask stand out. The main surface area of the Shikami mask was always painted bright red, in order to express the anger and ferocious nature of that particular characters aura. The eyes and teeth were always painted bright gold, in order to bring more attention to them rather than anywhere else on the mask, as it was these aspects of it which explained the theme of the mask in more detail. Viennese Ball Mask. Venetian Ball Masks originated from Venice in the 13th century, however the exact year in which they were invented is unclear. The first Carnival of Venice was recorded in 1268 and it was these events in which the masks were initially used. Where as the African Tribal and Japanese theatrical masks are not only harder to come by, but are always a lot more expensive, Viennese Ball masks can be found as easily as looking through your everyday shop windows. The fact that they are always a lot more decorative and fancy in a sense, they are commonly used for public holidays, the most famous of which being Halloween. Example of Renaissance Long Nose mask taken from www.nohmask.com Viennese masks were originally invented so that a certain person, usually who came from an upper class background, could participate in activities which they would not normally do so. There are a wide range of different Viennese masks, some of which merely cover only the eyes, to others which cover the vast majority of the face, and some times even the hair or neck of the wearer. This allows them to engage in certain activities which they would not normally do so, and keeps their true identity hidden from the public eye. In modern day life, there have been many adaptations of the Viennese Ball mask to adequately obtain discretion, for example a balaclava. However this form of discretion has enabled many illegal activities to be completed more successfully, and nowadays they are commonly banned from sale at many major retailers in a bid to try and discourage these things from happening. When they were first invented, Viennese Ball masks were more often than not made with papier machete. This was achieved by taking a mould direct from a person’s face, and then building off that. In more modern situations however, plastic or latex was used, as it was simply easier to gain a more precise and accurate version of the design in which the person desired. On most occasions, a mold was created first, using the same techniques of the papier machete way; however melted plastic is then placed in to the mould, effectively making it quicker and in most cases cheaper to produce. A certain Viennese mask which I was drawn to, was the renaissance long nose mask. Considering the time period in which these masks were originally created, it astounds me to even consider how such a complex design was achieved with the tools that they would have had access to. The initial idea of the long, pointed nose was almost a superstition as it was believed to be an imitation of the devise which was used to hold vinegar in around the time of the bubonic plague to hold off the disease, or at least the bad odors of the sick or dying. Conclusion. From the research which I have gathered about these three different masks, I have discovered that although they all originated in extremely different circumstances, the reasons for their creations are not all that different. It is clear to me that whether the reason for the masks’ being is to allow someone to transform into animal form in order to get in touch with their spiritual or ancestral roots, or simply just to shadow someone’s everyday personality, they have been put their, in place in order to allow a person to change their usual form; almost a form of escapism. It ha also come to my attention that whether it regards masks, or any other aspect of a certain culture which is different to our own, they are most definitely not to be underestimated no matter what time period in which it derives from. How to cite The Origins of Masks, Papers

Alcohol Intoxication and Man free essay sample

Throughout the short story, Mahfouz uses characters, events, and dreams as symbols for Zaabalawi. As the story goes on, more information is gained about this miracle man, Zaabalawi is a symbol used by the characters, many see him as a way of life, or found inner peace, or even a God. In the beginning of the story, the narrator states that he as an illness â€Å"until I became afflicted with that illness for with no one posseses a remedy† (111). This illness represents something missing in the narrator’s life, like he hasn’t found inner peace in his life yet. It’s the same as someone who doesn’t believe in a God and they realize somewhere in there life that something is missing, that they can’t make it alone. This symbol as an illness also is leading to Zaabalawi representing more than just a person, but rather a God or way of life. We will write a custom essay sample on Alcohol Intoxication and Man or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The narrator meets several people throughout the story and they all are symbols of the type of people in real life. In the beginning the narrator meets Sheikh Qamar. Qamar is a very wealthy lawyer who seems to have everything in the world he needs â€Å"his manner of sitting was that of someone well satisfied both with himself and with his worldly possessions† (112). When he finds out the narrator is just trying to learn about Zaabalawi he becomes discontent and almost disappointed that the narrator was not a client there to make him more money. Sheikh Qamar symbolizes the greedy business man, he thinks material things will make him happy. Even though he knows who Zaabalawi is and that he’s a miracle man, he thinks he has made it in life because of his wealth, and does not need Zaabalawi. The narrator also comes in contact with the local Sheikh of the district. After asking where Zaabalawi is, the Sheikh is surprised to hear his name since he hasn’t heard it in a long time. He is very happy to help the search for Zaabalawi by making a map for the narrator. He also states â€Å"I myself haven’t seen him for years, having been somewhat preoccupied with the cares of the world† (113). This statement is very symbolic, in showing he lost sight of Zaabalawi because he started to care for other things, but is very happy to be reminded of him again by the narrator. This represents how people who have God tend to stray away from him because they are preoccupied with other worldly things, such as wealth or their career. But fortunately, it is easy to become a follower of God again, or in this case, Zaabalawi. Continuing his journey, the narrator is led to a calligrapher named Hassanein. Hassanein is a very content and happy man, and is an inspiring artist who is empowered by Zaabalawi in his art. He says â€Å"He was so constantly with me, that I felt him to be a part of everything I drew† (114). This symbolizes how God gives us special abilities to do amazing things, and how he is always with us in everything we do. In the bible it says, â€Å"God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well† (Romans 12:6 NLT). Hassanein then leads him to Sheikh Gad, a famous musician. Gad and Hassenein are very similar in their relationship with Zaabalawi, and are amazing artists because of him. When the narrator and Gad are talking, the narrator wonders why Zaabalawi hasn’t seen him yet because of his suffering. Sheikh Gad then states â€Å"Such suffering is part of the cure! † (115). This statement represents how suffering may be needed to find God or to find inner peace, because one might not know that he has something missing in his life until he suffers. This is the whole reason why the narrator is trying to find Zaabalawi because he is suffering from an incurable disease. At the end of the story the narrator meets up with a drunkard man at a bar named Hagg Wanas. When the narrator asks about Zaabalawi, Mr. Wanas won’t give him any information until he gets drunk with him. As the narrator gets drunk, he passes out and has an amazing dream. During all this Zaabalawi is with him the whole time but he is not aware because of his drunkenness. The drunkenness symbolizes a weakened state, and in the bible this is the type of people that Jesus would be with, for example when he helps a poor man walk or when makes a blind man see. These are also the type of people that Zaabalawi helps, the people who are sick with disease, and in this case the drunken narrator. Another important symbol is the dream he had while with Zaabalawi. In this dream he experienced the most beautiful world he had ever seen and he was in a state of unbelievable happiness. This dream represents a glimpse of heaven. Zaabalawi showed him this glimpse to open his eyes to who he really was, and because of this the narrator is convinced he now needs to find Zaabalawi. In this case his eyes were opened to who God really is, and now he needs to be with him to cure the missing piece of his life.

Long term memory free essay sample

Long term memory BY ha01012 Memory Storage There are two types of storage that consist in our brain, which are short and long term memory. Short term memory involves rehearsal and chunking (Schacter et al. , 2012), while long term consists of encoding and retrieval of past memories (Schacter et al. , 2012). I strongly believe that short term memories can lead into long term memories, but only if the human right frontal lobe, hippocampus, and the sensory region works together. Do you remember the time you were in class and had a question to ask your professor? You raise your hand and when the professor calls your name, you simply say l forgot what I was going to say or l dont remember what I was going to say. After a couple of minutes or an hour later, you remember what you were going to say because something triggers you to recall what it was. We will write a custom essay sample on Long term memory or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page I believe that something you saw or heard, triggered your frontal lobe, therefore accessing your hippocampus and some parts of the sensory region to remember. A great example would be the movie 50 first date, it was a great example of anterograde. Anterograde is the inability to transfer new info from the short term torage into the long term storage. I believe that in this scenario, the right frontal lobe is not working properly, because it cannot access the hippocampus. But it doesnt explain why she can remember for a short term period and the next day she will forget. If this is the case, then the frontal lobe must be fully functional but the hippocampus must be only active for a short amount of time and resets itself. It is interesting to see that if one part of the brain is not corresponding with the other part, it will affect its ability to function correctly and

Analysis of The Lottery Research Paper Example

Analysis of The Lottery Research Paper Example Analysis of The Lottery Paper Analysis of The Lottery Paper When someone gets in trouble unfairly, people could protest against unfairness or could obey the unfairness. The Lottery, is a short story written by Shirley Jackson in 1948, shows dark sides hidden in peoples minds. This story was influenced after the World War II, so peoples brutality from the war is reflected to this story. In this story, there is an annual lottery that the result of winning is stoned. Jackson uses symbolism to imply that blind obedience to radiation can be dangerous and peoples inconsolableness. At first, names of each character have specific meanings. Jackson uses symbolic names to connote a forthcoming event after the lottery. For examples, the name, Mr.. Summers (1238), is associated with warmth, blooming, blossoming, youth and sunlight, so the author uses this name ironically. Also, it implies the lottery is held in summer season. The next symbol is Mr.. Graves (1238) who is an assistant of Mr.. Summers. A grave means a place of burial for a dead body. Therefore, readers can infer that a tragedy will come at the end. Also, by showing two opposite names, oppositeness and negatives always exist together. Secondly, a black box which keeps slips of papers exists. The black box is a symbol of tradition of the town. The box is described as The original paraphernalia for the lottery had been lost long ago (1238). It shows even though the original box had been lost, the old tradition has never changed and questioned. Also, she states, Mr.. Summers spoke frequently to the villagers about making a new box, but no one liked to upset even as much tradition as was represented by the black box (1238). Based on this ascription, she shows people in the town do not want to change their old tradition and want to settle for the present without any wiliness even though they have a chance to be changed. Actually, the slips of papers substituted for the chips of wood that had been used for generations. It seems that people tried to change their old customs; however, it is for their convenience, not for revolution. In addition to, the black color symbolize death or evil, so Jackson implies that a result from the black box is punishment. Also, she uses black color to show peoples fear to the lottery impliedly. The next symbol is the stones that kill Mrs.. Hutchinson. At first, Jackson describes the situation of the day: Bobby Martin had already stuffed his pockets full of stones, and the other boys soon followed his example (1238). Jackson uses innocent children as people who accumulate stones. In this scene, she describes the deadly lottery game as a simple play by using pure objects. Also, she depicts the stone with innocuous words: the smoothest and roundest stones (1238) which is contrary to the tragedy end. By doing so, people feel they get rid of their guilty because, at least, they use items cooking not bad on the exterior. However, at the last scene, the stones are used as punishment tools by people who do not pick up a winning slip. It shows peoples selfishness because the citizens throw the stones only for their future which means harvest. The last and the central symbol is the lottery itself. Actually, winning in a lottery game is related to being lucky. However, In The Lottery, it means death and sacrifice. Jackson implies peoples madness from the lottery. For example, she states Lottery in June, corn be heavy soon. (1241 ). They believe hat killing a person by stones bring them a rich year. Therefore, they attempt to rationalize their barbaric and heartless tradition. Also, this story shows peoples obedience to power and conventionality when Mr.. Hutchinson picked up the winning slip. Mr.. Hutchinson says Shut up Testis (1241) to his wife who is Mrs.. Hutchinson and at the last scene, when his wife was decided to get stoned, Jackson depicts his attitude to his wife: Bill Hutchinson went over to his wife and forced to the slip of paper out Of her hand (1243) . Even though Testis Hutchinson is his wife, Bill treats Testis cruelly. It also shows peoples selfishness. After starting throwing stones, Testis tries to run away, but she is caught by people soon. The tradition will be lasting after this year lottery. At the last scene Testis shouts out: It isnt fair, it isnt right (1243), and it implies the tradition is unfair and it should be changed, yet people do not think of changing their old customs. In conclusion, the use of symbolism in The Lottery is very clearly. The author implicates symbols in the story in a society at that time. In my opinion, Shirley Jackson wants to indicate our society in her story. This story strongly shows collectivity, selfishness and madness of people. The tradition represented as the lottery is shown not to be changed and unquestioned by peoples obedience. Additionally, this story shows that dill makes a joke to his wife and then kills her in a short time it shows how cruel people are. Overall, the author uses symbols indirectly, but also very obvious to imply peoples madness and selfishness.

How to Estimate Standard Deviations (SD)

How to Estimate Standard Deviations (SD) The standard deviation and range are both measures of the spread of a data set. Each number tells us in its own way how spaced out the data are, as they are both a measure of variation.  Although there is not an explicit relationship between the range and standard deviation, there is a rule of thumb that can be useful to relate these two statistics.  This relationship is sometimes referred to as the range rule for standard deviation. The range rule tells us that the standard deviation of a sample is approximately equal to one-fourth of the range of the data. In other words s (Maximum – Minimum)/4. This is a very straightforward formula to use, and should only be used as a very rough estimate of the standard deviation. An Example To see an example of how the range rule works, we will look at the following example. Suppose we start with the data values of 12, 12, 14, 15, 16, 18, 18, 20, 20, 25. These values have a mean of 17 and a standard deviation of about 4.1. If instead we first calculate the range of our data as 25 – 12 13 and then divide this number by four we have our estimate of the standard deviation as 13/4 3.25. This number is relatively close to the true standard deviation and good for a rough estimate. Why Does It Work? It may seem like the range rule is a bit strange. Why does it work? Doesn’t it seem completely arbitrary to just divide the range by four? Why wouldn’t we divide by a different number? There is actually some mathematical justification going on behind the scenes. Recall the properties of the bell curve and the probabilities from a standard normal distribution. One feature has to do with the amount of data that falls within a certain number of standard deviations: Approximately 68% of the data is within one standard deviation (higher or lower) from the mean.Approximately 95% of the data is within two standard deviations (higher or lower) from the mean.Approximately 99% is within three standard deviations (higher or lower) from the mean. The number that we will use has to do with 95%. We can say that 95% from two standard deviations below the mean to two standard deviations above the mean, we have 95% of our data. Thus nearly all of our normal distribution would stretch out over a line segment that is a total of four standard deviations long. Not all data is normally distributed and bell curve shaped. But most data is well-behaved enough that going two standard deviations away from the mean captures nearly all of the data. We estimate and say that four standard deviations are approximately the size of the range, and so the range divided by four is a rough approximation of the standard deviation. Uses for the Range Rule The range rule is helpful in a number of settings. First, it is a very quick estimate of the standard deviation. The standard deviation requires us to first find the mean, then subtract this mean from each data point, square the differences, add these, divide by one less than the number of data points, then (finally) take the square root. On the other hand, the range rule only requires one subtraction and one division. Other places where the range rule is helpful is when we have incomplete information. Formulas such as that to determine sample size require three pieces of information: the desired margin of error, the level of confidence and the standard deviation of the population we are investigating. Many times it is impossible to know what the population standard deviation is. With the range rule, we can estimate this statistic, and then know how large we should make our sample.

A Film Review-Synecdoche, New York 2008 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

A Film Review-Synecdoche, New York 2008 - Essay Example Cotard is a theatre director and he does not possess the typical admirable qualities of a movie hero or protagonist. Rather, his character is dark and difficult to admire. Kaufman has deliberately made his film riddled with intricate ideas and thoughts related to love, death, loss, and recreation. Strong messages are conveyed through different scenes. For example, in the final scene Cotard and Hazel lie in bed in the same house which is set on fire. Actually, the fire is used to describe Hazel’s fate. The burning house is a bold sign of what is eventually going to happen to Hazel. It is not only related to Hazel, but it is an ominous sign of every character’s death. Earlier on when Hazel is contemplating the decision to buy the house, it is still burning. But, she still chooses to buy it which is the kind of action which translates into a person accepting fate. She puts aside her suspicions and buys a house that is not right for her. Hazel’s burning house is used to portray sudden death, while the water leak in Caden’s house is used to describe slow damage. Caden is obsessed with death and vigorously attempts to resist damage, while Hazel accepts her fate and moves into a damaged house. Such themes used by Kaufman can also be interpreted in another way also assuming Hazel to be fire and Caden to be water. For example, there is a scene where Hazel smokes a cigarette and offers one to Caden too. However, Caden refuses to smoke with her because he secretly sees Hazel as fire which may set him on fire too. So, he desperately attempts to stop this damage. In another scene after sex with Hazel, Cotard does not feel fulfilled and cries. This shows that Hazel is a warm part of Cotard’s life, but that warm part is actually a burning house inside which he is trapped and cannot escape. This is why after his sexual encounter with Hazel, he cries because he is ultimately afraid of death yet has no one to call for help. After sex with Hazel, he is

Religions of the Caribbean and Latin America Essay

Religions of the Caribbean and Latin America - Essay Example This religion is seen not only in Haiti, where its origins lie, but also in Mexico and South America, and most famously in New Orleans, where its practitioners have included Dr John, the shaman Drummer, and Marie Laveau, the New Orleans healer. It is from the academic studies of this religion that we have received some of the most powerful images of modern mystery faiths. It is also known as Vodou, Vodun, and many other variations, depending upon the writer concerned. As at attempt at compromise, Voodoo will be used to discuss the Haitian religion as a cultural signifier, while Vodun (which means spirit or sacred) will be used to discuss the actual religion of the area. Vodun, moreover, is not the only religion in the area based upon the entwined influence of African Gods, Christian imagery, and native American shaman faiths. Other interesting religions of the area include Santeria, the faith of the Yoruba in Cuba and the Diaspora, Candomble, and Umbanda. These three religions are referred to under the umbrella term of ‘Macumba’.'Macumba'. While this essay will study the differences and similarities between the Vodun and Santeria, the other religions of this region are also worthy of mention, as they have produced transculturation in differing ways, especially Umbanda, which is unusual even for the area: Umbanda in perhaps the youngest of these forms only emerging in 1904 and strangely enough being a fusion not of Christian and African beliefs, but Hindu, Buddhist and African beliefs. (Patrice, 2003, page 7) Even such a well-known religion such as Jamaican Rastafarianism, which is fundamentally a Christian religion, combines elements of a pan-African religious perspective, including There would be a mystic return to the African homelandlinked to notions of cultural recovery through a spiritual connection to the African homeland. The belief in the soul's return to Africa after death was widespread in the Caribbean. (Olmos and Paravisini-Gebert. 2003, page 156-7) Rastafarianism is a connection between the deeply religious Christian community, and the equally religious Pan-African faiths of the Caribbean. Furthermore, the idea of a spiritual movement back to Africa after death ties it in strongly to the Vodun, Candomble, and even Espiritismo, which is the Creole interpretation of spiritualism in areas such as Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Southern states of the United States. In all the religions of the Caribbean so far discussed, the importance of spiritual connection with the dead, with ancestors in Africa, and direct contact with the gods, or Lwa, who will be discussed later. Voodoo is seen by outsiders as a very 'dark' faith, one in which the priests and priestesses kill their enemies through magic, the famous 'voodoo' dolls, and rites which involve animal sacrifice (and human sacrifice too, it is alleged). Other myths of voodoo imagine the creation of many Zombies as workers, have become the staple of horror movies, and TV shows such as 'Hex'. Santeria, while associated with Vodun, concentrates much more upon the worship of Gods in the guises of Catholic Saints. The very name means 'Worship (or way) of the Saints", and so provides a perfect example of the mixing of Christian and African religions in this melting pot of faiths known as the Caribbean. This essay seeks to analyze the true religions of Vodun and Santeria, approaching the faiths through a history of the people, from a consideration of the cultural influences of both religions, to the nature of the worship before Slavery was abolished. The role of Voodoo in Haiti and New Orleans will be considered,