ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
“American Gothic” is a painting by Grant Wood in 1930. The image is iconic at this stage in American history, depicting the image of a stern-faced man holding a pitchfork and a younger woman both standing in front of a white farmhouse. According to reports, the artist was inspired to create the painting when he saw the farmhouse from the window of a car in his home state of Iowa. “He decided to paint the house – built in the ‘carpenter gothic’ style, which applied the lofty architecture of European cathedrals to flimsy American frame houses – along with ‘the kind of people I fancied should live in that house” (Fineman, 2005). The image has made significant transitions in the way in which it has been interpreted over the years, largely due to the way in which people have approached it. Although the picture is widely considered to be the picture of the ultimate example of a Midwestern farmer and his wife, there are conflicting reports that Wood intended to represent a farmer and his wife. While Fineman suggests that this interpretation was offered by Wood’s sister Nan, who posed for the female character and was perhaps embarrassed by the prospect that she would be married to a man obviously so much older than she, the true nature of this relationship is actually not as important as the individual viewer’s interpretation. Although we may be told what a particular painting is supposed to mean, ultimately, it is up to the individual to determine what the piece means to them in particular. As John Armstrong says, “however crowded the gallery, an encounter with a work of art is always something we pursue alone – no one else can make the work matter to us. When contemplating a work of art, one of the key questions ought to be ‘what is this to me?” (Armstrong, 2000: 4-5). The reception of this piece of art illustrates the degree of difference in perspectives a different set of eyes can introduce to the work. According to Fineman (2005), Wood entered the painting in a competition at the Art Institute of Chicago where most of the judges considered it trivial and meaningless, but one patron of the museum saw something more important. It was thanks to this patron that the work received the bronze award along with a small cash prize and that the museum acquired the piece itself. When images of the painting finally reached Iowa, the response was largely negative as Wood’s fellow Iowans were dismayed at the way in which he portrayed them, as if they were always “grim-faced, puritanical Bible-thumpers” (Fineman, 2005). More sophisticated assessments of the painting held that it was a brilliant satire of the
Introduction Art during the Renaissance is marked by the rebirth of artistic freedom. This allowed artists to be more creative, a shift from the strict ways of the medieval period. Religion and the new printing technique had great influenced on this reconstruction. El Greco is an intriguing artist of his generation, whose works reflect the style and characteristics of the Romantic period. His ability to capture numerous artistic expressions that remain relevant today makes him the choice of my essay. The Renaissance is the period which marks the growth of literary works in the sixteenth-century in Spain, where El Greco lived and worked until his death. This is influential in the evolving, into the three dimension aspect that is aligned to the romanticism by the early eighteenth century. Characteristic and other influencing factors of the Romantic period A major development in the Renaissance is the emphasis on the realistic description of three-dimensional figures, and objects in painting and sculpture (History of the Renaissance, 2011). The emergence of scientific methods, and printing press led to an informed perspective and encouraged distributions to more people. This also meant that the artist appeared more intellectual given their creativity and eccentric behavior. This attitude has perhaps grown over the centuries During the Renaissance, the revival of Plato and Platonism influenced the spread of religious inspiration of the poets and musicians. According to Plato, they were divinely inspired (Art History, 2011). It is at this time that contemporaries of the likes of Michelangelo started to enhance his status by describing him as divine. Biographical information on El Greco El Greco was a unique and very interesting artist of the16th-century. El Greco was born in Crete in1541, the centre of Post-Byzantine. El Greco’s father, Georgios Theotokopoulos was a merchant and tax collector. As other Greek artists, he travelled to Venice and later moved to Rome, Italy to obtain training and enriched his style with elements of Venetian mannerism and traditions. El Greco moved to Toledo, Spain, in 1577, where spend most of his time working. He effectively combined the strict Byzantine style with the medieval traditions influences he obtained during his studies in Venice a
Jennifer Egan’s novel A Visit From the Goon Squad is a literary work in which narrative voices and time sequences are closely intertwined. Various chapters of this novel can be regarded as a set of interconnected short stories that have common characters and themes. Despite structural and stylistic complexity of this novel, one cannot say that it is just a literary experiment. This novel is a story of people who try to retain their integrity, creativity, and sense of purpose. This paper will examine six chapters that describe the life of two characters, namely Sasha and Bennie Salazar. In particular, it is necessary to show how the author uses various literary techniques in order to describe the experiences of these people. Jennifer Egan relies on different narrative modes and non-linear plot in order to explain how the main characters evolve. On the whole, one can argue that A Visit From the Goon Squad is a sophisticated but enjoyable work of art that urges readers to reevaluate their notions of literature and its genres. This novel can be seen as a satire of contemporary life, but it is also full of compassion. This combination of irony and empathy is probably the most important quality of this novel. One of the first points that should be made is that the time of this novel is non-linear. The thirteen chapters describe characters at different points of the life; moreover, the author continuously alternates the past, presence and the future. This is why this novel is very difficult to summarize. For instance, the first chapter called Found Objects introduces Sasha. The readers do not know much about the background of this person. Yet, one can see that she suffers from kleptomania, and it is difficult for her to overcome this psychological disorder. Moreover, she strives to justify her kleptomania; in particular she says, ‘We live in a city where people will steal the hair off your head if you give them half a chance , but you leave your stuff lying in plain sight and expect it to be waiting for you’ (Egan, 2011, p. 3). Overall, one can argue that she is a self-destructive person who attempts to deny the immorality of her behavior. This is how Jennifer Egan introduces one of the main characters and the readers want to know more about Sasha’s childhood or adolescence. The author does not tell the story of this character in a consecutive and orderly manner. Later, the readers can find Sasha in Naples where she meets her uncle Ted Hollander. However, the events described by the author take place when she was much younger. She is described by her uncle as an “aimless strung-out youth” (Egan, 2011, p. 208). It should be noted that Ted was asked to find Sasha, but he just wanted to have a good time in this city, rather than search for his run-away niece (Egan, 2011, p. 208). Thus, one can argue that this person was essentially alienated from other people. Overall, by using non-linear plot, Jennifer Egan constru
The European Union is strictly an incorporated business region irrespective of the locality inside the confederation. European Monetary Union and the euro create an integrated market. Governance affairs and policies of the European Union influence trade in the region. Continental Europe has united as a block to benefit member states. The amalgamation comprises of several associate nations with a governance system. Important topics to the unified states are discussed jointly. The European Union has structures for legislation and policy formulation. Affiliate countries in the European confederation, in comparison to other associations, preserve their national sovereignty. European Union legislation details liberty of transport, commodities, resources, hospitality, persons, and employment unconditionally inside the domestic trade zone. The guidelines tolerate streams of funds that promote prosperity to nations and their inhabitants. The trade zone restricts exploitation from individual affiliate nations. Equally, trade enhances contest, expertise, and wealth creation. Resources, by default, are distributed appropriately to regions that deserve them. The expansion of European confederation constituents is generally contested. Opinions overextension of the alliance varies among union members. A section views the addition as beneficial to the amalgamation while others think of it as weakening. Membership of committees has disparities within the European confederation. For instance, coalitions dealing in trade and financial matters are exclusive to selected groupings. However, the policy has altered with an expanded membership. Foreign states are legible to engage in European confederation trade transactions. The relocation of resources in the European association is permitted. Business arrangements in the agreeable home currency are viewed as conventional. The policy is collectively valid in affiliate nations and other states outside the European market. The European assemblage commenced in early 2002 with a membership of eleven nations. The Economic and Monetary Union instituted a joint market. Populations in the financial zone shared trade resources. A conventional unit of exchange was launched by the states partnership. Four nations later joined the European amalgamation to advance the financial authority of the monetary zone. Europe sought to add to global trade and industry expansion. The European currency has really hastened profitability expansion within the European zone and worldwide. The common medium of exchange promoted interstate business contest and trade area assimilation. The development expanded fiscal wealth for the European inhabitants. The monetary union mechanized financial growth in the zone and essentially reformed the global fiscal system. To attain the intended expansion, supplementary financial and employment guidelines were required. A crucial role that the financial plan instituted was to sustain the constancy of costs. The function was specified in the European merger agreement. The Euro
The sonnets by William Shakespeare always introduce the reader to a journey that captivates and involves a world full of passion, desire, and feelings that can change human life. The form of a sonnet allows the poet to express powerful thoughts and feelings in the most unexpected way. The combination of rhyme and meaning impresses. This form of poetry may confuse some people and cause the admiration of other people. It is hard to develop one particular understanding of Shakespeare’s works; still, it is always interesting to discover some new aspects of his messages. Shakespeare’s sonnets 18 and 129 deal with the themes of beauty and human desire that cannot be changed in time and describe the power of a human word regarding the challenges and boundaries set by society. There are two powerful sonnets where the author describes two different periods of human life. Sonnet 129 explains the feelings that take place when “lust in action”, and it is “perjured, murderous, bloody, full of blame” (Shakespeare, 2014a, line 3). Sonnet 18 introduces the stage when a person has already fallen in love and cannot resist the desire to memorize a beloved person by any possible means. “Nor shall death brag thou wander’st in his shade,/ When in eternal lines to time thou grow’st” (Shakespeare, 2014b, lines 11-12). Such intention to resist the natural law and underline the importance of feelings proves that even simple words can introduce a powerful thought. The structure of both sonnets is similar to the majority of Shakespeare’s works where three quatrains are followed by one two-line couplet. Though the author does not find it necessary to use too complicated language, the combination of words in the sonnets makes the reader think about the power of the ideas he wants to share. It is possible to imagine that these two sonnets describe the relations with the same person: Sonnet 129 represents the beginning when passion and desire play an important role, and Sonnet 18 introduces the possible results of such relations and a human ability to store and develop the relations. The main theme of Sonnet 129 is sexual desire and the relations and feelings that can be developed on such desire. Though it is “Enjoyed no sooner but despised straight” (Shakespeare, 2014a, line 5), it is impossible to loathe or despise the speaker. Despite all lustful and socially incorrect feelings that are described in the sonnet, the reading process captivates and makes a person remember some secrete intentions and temptation. The power of this work is the possibility to awake the feelings that are hidden deep inside of a human soul and to prove that a person has the right to desire something passionately neglecting social expectations and morals. Sonnet 18 describes another form of human passion. Though there are many rules and requirements that people have to consider in their lives, they still have a right to love and share their feelings. On the one hand, people may leave their attitudes unrecognized by society and live an ordinary life following the already established rules and orders. On the other hand, people are free
Introduction One time or another, humanity is faced with questions that are related to ethics and morality. These issues are common and every human being including a teacher, a businessman or a farmer usually requires us to make decisions and take action. Every action that a human being takes has consequences and therefore it is important for human beings to think and reason before they rush into decisions. It is not simple enough to say that people’s actions are either good or evil or result in good or bad consequences. However, the thought process is the one that ends up making decisions that are involved with morality, (Kant 34). Human beings are dynamic beings and it is impossible to deduce that morality standards all around the world are simply the same. When human beings are forced to make moral or ethical decisions, they may often take pieces of their culture and incorporate them in the process of decision making in the context of morality. Morality and ethics is simply defined by individuals as a set of guidelines that enable individuals distinguish what is wrong from what is right and acceptable. Moral philosophers such as Kant and Sartre are simply interested in finding out how human beings end up justifying and rationally choosing what is wrong and what is right using their moral believes. Individuals may therefore in turn go ahead and use various religious or even traditional values to justify their decisions. Kant’s moral system is anchored on morality and therefore goes ahead to explain that a rational human being would easily adapt to universal moral laws and use them as a basis of determining what is right or wrong. Explicit reasoning is responsibly conducted thinking that follows logical steps, in which an individual tries to arrive at a well-supported solution to a definite question. It is possible that people’s reasoning is understood or implied without being stated openly, thinking in the same way as a group through overt logic, but with no clear attempt to arrive at well-supported answers. In a number of situations, even moral ones, individuals may be poorly advised to attempt answering practical questions by explicit reasoning (Kant 54). In other situations it might even be an oversight to reason understandingly or in a manner implying without being stated openly particularly when dealing with pressing urgent situations or when we face extreme panic. Consequently even one is not obligated to think through the presented choices in all circumstances since it would occasionally do much good if one does not, however in cases where the opposite is called for, one as a result should think through the presented circumstances maturely. On one hand, moral philosophy is usually guided and based on moral reasoning. This poses a que
Introduction The variety of philosophical concepts is impressive indeed, and the approach that unites philosophy and music usually attracts the attention of many people due to its extraordinary nature. The Music of the Spheres is considered to be one of such concepts, the essence of which lies in the unity of proportions between celestial bodies and planets. This kind of music is not audible but sensing; this is why mathematical, religious, and harmonic concepts need to be taken into consideration. Pythagoras was one of the first philosophers, who introduced that ethereal type of music and proved the possibility of connection geometry, philosophy, and music. “Impressed by the harmonious scale of sounds from the beating hammers, Pythagoras went into the iron-worker’s shop to discover how this untutored hammering could produce harmoniously related sounds.” [1] The idea of the Music of the Spheres was developed through many centuries; within a certain period of time, it was discovered that all stars, planets, and even galaxies were able to resonate in accordance with rather appealing mystical symphony and create a celestial harmony, a new type of music, the Music of the Spheres that can be heard by people from time to time. Historical Background of the Music of the Spheres Pythagoras and his impact on the Music of the Spheres development. Pythagoras was one of the philosophers whose attempts to discover the connection of number and harmony were successful. He spent much time with hammers and studied thoroughly the ways these hammers produced the sounds. His first finding was that all hammers produced sounds in certain proportions in accordance with their weights: by means of changing weight, Pythagoras created new sounds. “Pythagoreans’ religious reverence for numbers was overstimulated, and the belief that numbers each posses an encrypted meaning remained strongly associated with the study of musical harmony for nearly two thousand years” (Barrow 238). It was not very difficult to believe that more extreme forms may produce sounds, considering own weights. Pythagoras was the first one, who offered the idea of moving celestial bodies and their possibility to produce tones with different speed. With time, it was discovered that those musical tones could present definite musical sounds and a harmony that became known as the Music of the Spheres . The concept of the Music of the Spheres becomes important . Many sophisticate philosophers try to present a clear explanation of why the concept of the Music of the Spheres should be considered seriously and respectfully. William Gray’s words may be used as a powerful ground to start with: Living under the shade of trees by day and under the stars at night, with a roof over one’s head only when it rains or when asleep, it is natural that one should gaze at the stars, see many splendid meteors, and take much note of the coming and going of the moon, and the rising and setting of the constellations. [2] People are able to enjoy the nature around with its gifts, mysteries, and views. If people use their skills and awareness to observe, they should be able t
Abstract Worcester County has a long history of industrialization way back in the 2 nd AD. Most activities centered on farming, which forms the basis of the county’s economy. However, the county played a significant role during the industrial revolution, which makes it stand out even when it experiences geographic seclusion within and outside the US. The paper addresses the cultural factors that supported industrial prospects such as a high population, cultural diversity, and inclusion of immigrants in industrial development. Cultural deterrents of the period discussed in the text include geographic seclusion, lack of waterpower to run the industries, and land conflicts. The paper further discusses collaborations between people, the church, and the state to deal with different health issues and disputes. Collaborations mostly assist in resolving cultural deterrents to industrial growth in the county. Finally, the discussion highlights prominent innovations of the period that created jobs while making Worcester relevant after years of the establishment by the Roma empires, the British, and the Americans. Introduction The population of Worcester increased steadily with the economic growth of the city in New England. The industrial age formed part of a great transition for the city, enabling it to rival the prominent Boston. Different factors contributed towards the growth of the city, including its proximity to Wroxeter to Gloucester, which offered an excellent trade opportunity for the city and its neighbors. Established by the Romans, Worcester city displayed a significant amount of growth in the 19 th century during the industrial age. Farming assisted towards the economic growth of the city that largely accommodates carpenters, blacksmiths, potters, railroad workers, bakers, and other industrialists who did different jobs. The industries grew steadily from the 2 nd century AD to the 19 th century in which the iron industry became an activity for the robber barons and the captains of industry. After the collapse of Roman civilization, most European countries had to depend on the industrial revolution, which became widespread in the US (Novinson, 2013). The industrial revolution began in Britain but faced challenges when the Roman industrialists left Britain in 407 AD. With a population of about 182, 000 citizens, W