Photography Project: A Day in the Life of a Paper Pusher

A Day in the Life of a Paper Pusher

For my project I took pictures of my desk every 

1 1/2 hours throughoutthe work day.

8:00AM - This is what my desk looks like when I first get to work. 

 9:30AM- at this time today I am setting up new accounts,

applying checks, and working through whatever else is in my inbox.

It was someone's birthday so I also had coffee & cake :)

 11:00AM-

 12:30PM

 2:00PM

 3:30PM

 5:00PM

Response to Lecture 11-22-2011 “Aesthetics and Beauty”

Last week Mr. Z began the lecture talking about the differences between Aesthetics and Beauty, and how many people think they are one in the same. He told the class that the definition of aesthetics is “a set of principles concerned with nature and appreciation of beauty, especially in art.” He then showed us a few clips from Hamlet which he called “the greatest play by the greatest playwright”. In the video he showed the clips telling the story of how Hamlet’s father was murdered by his own brother and then the brother took the crown when Hamlet was the rightful heir. When Hamlet discovers this he goes to the rooftop and looks down at his uncle in repugnance and states that “one may smile but be a villain”. I think that it is true that outward beauty may be deceiving and just because something looks beautiful doesn’t mean it truly is. Mr. Z told us not to say that “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” which I also believe is an incorrect way to define beauty.

Our group brainstormed on what we thought beauty was and the definitions from our group and from the entire class that I like most was that “beauty is that what is pleasing to the senses” and I also the different definition that “beauty is knowing the truth, even if its ugly”. I think both definitions describe different types of beauty and I like them both because beauty can be many things.

After lecture we listened to some interesting presentations. I really like the architecture presentation with the miniature lego figurines. I wish I had a house designed by that artist!

CH 18 #2 Ornament from tomb of Queen Amanishakheto vs head, fragment of the larger figure

Many People do not realize that Egyptian culture and it’s art originally came from Africa.  In a region called Nubia in southern Egypt, the Nile not only brought life to Egyptian people but linked trade with Africa. Nubia Brought the link to some of Egypt’s finest treasures like Gold, Ivory, or even animal skins. Of all the Nubian kingdoms, the one that is the most famous of them all is known as kush.

The Gold ornament was actually found in the royal tomb. This is just one of the many solid gold works of art found there. It is a solar diety Amun in the form of a rams head. Even though this is a small ornament, the art work shows how regal the royal tomb is. Even down to the last figure or ornament is in detail and made of solid gold.

In the 20^th century, we exposed quite different works of art that were not too familiar coming from Africa. For Example, the Terra cotta peace that is in chapter eighteen. The peace showed the abundance of cultures that traveled to Africa and made it their home. This peace is inspired by the Islamic culture. It is only a portion, the head, of the Terra cotta scuplture

CH 18 #1 Friday Mosque, Isfahan vs Shah Mosque, Isfahan

There are many different types of a mosque throughout the middle east. In Isfahan, Iran there is two beautiful structures that show the uniqueness and uniformity of what an Islamic mosque is. The two mosques are known as the Friday Mosque and the Shah Mosque.

The Friday Mosque is a very important expression of the Seljuks rule in persia. These people plan and built their city center around this mosque. What sets this mosque aside from the others is the many gates that are spread out in the inner city of it. The main Gate was restored in 1804 but is no longer used as a main gate. It is now a gate that leads to the eastern wall. Around the western side is another gate. This Gate is still in use and dates back to 1590.

The Shah Mosque is also in Isfahan. Its cupola that is full of color and made from ceramic tile show the detailed work that went into building this masterpiece. The mosque is centered and around a large rectangular courtyard that streches over a mile.

Both mosques have a great deal of detail should truly be respected as works of art.

CH 19 #1 Detail of a leaf with The Birth of Mahavira from the Kalpa Sutra Gujarat vs. Ritual Wine Vessel jia from late Shang period

Mahavira was born King to Siddartha and Queen Trishala on the 13th day under the rising moon of Chaitra (April 12th according to the Gregorian calendar) in a place called Kundalagrama in India. While still in his mother’s womb, it is believed that he brought wealth and prosperity to the entire kingdom. This is why he was named Vardhaman, which means an increase of all good things. For example, the abundant bloom of beautiful flowers that was noticed in the kingdom after his conception. His mother, Queen Trishala had a number of promising dreams before giving birth to Vardhaman (between 14 and 16 dreams), that were signs foretelling the advent of a great soul. Vardhaman’s birthday is celebrated as Mahvir Javanti, the most important religious holiday of Jains around the world. I like this piece because it tells the story of Vardhaman and his mother Trishala.

Bronze is an alloy of copper and tin with lower melting point and a higher degree of hardness than those of copper. When it is cast, bronze has the advantages of minimum air bubble production and maximum flow quality and can product objects with razor sharp edges or exquisite decoration, thus making it a suitable material for durable weapons, tools , and containers. China employed bronze objects as long as four thousand years ago and brought use of the bronze ceremonial vessels to a peak in the Shang and Chou dynasties. This and many other bronze ritual wine vessels are still around today, and I found it interesting that many are appraised at over $100,000.00. It amazes me how something that was used by someone 4,000 years ago can still be used today. Both the detail of a leaf with The Birth of Mahavira from the Kalpa Sutra Gujarat and the Ritual Wine Vessel jia from late Shang period are great works of art that have lasted through the ages and are of great value to the cultures they represent.

CH 19 Artist Set #2 Bodhisattva Guide of Souls from Tang Dynasty late 9th century CE vs. Nanchan Temple, Wutaishan Shanxi from Tang Dynasty 782 CE

The painting is inscribed with the characters yinlu pu or 'Bodhisattva leading the Way'. It is one of several from Mogao of a bodhisattva leading the beautifully dressed donor figure to the Pure Land, or Paradise, indicated by a Chinese building floating on clouds in the top left corner. The two figures are also carried by a cloud indicating that they are flying. The bodhisattva, shown much larger than the donor, is holding a censer and a banner in his hand. The banner is one of many of the same type found at Mogao, with a triangular headpiece and streamers.
The woman appears to be very wealthy, with gold hairpins in her hair. Actual examples of these were found in Chinese tombs. Her fashionably plump figure suggests that the painting was made in the ninth or tenth century.
According to an inscription on a beam, the Great Buddha Hall of Nanch Temple was first built in 782 CE during the Tang Dynasty. Another inscription on a beam indicates that the hall was renovated in 1086 of the Song Dynasty, during that time all but four of the original square columns were replaced with round columns. In the 1950s the building was rediscovered by architectural historians, and in 1961 it was recognized as China’s oldest standing timber-frame building. Five years later in1966, the building was damaged in an earthquake, and during the renovation in the 1970s, historians studied the building piece by piece. The Great Buddha Hall is an important building in the understanding of Chinese architectural history. The Nanchan Temple also contains original sculptures dating from the Tang Dynasty. The hall contains seventeen statues that are lined up on an inverted U-shaped dias. The Great Buddha Hall also has one small carved stone pagoda that is five levels high. The first level’s carved with a story about Buddha, and each corner has an additional small pagoda. Each side of the second level is carved with one large Buddha in the center with four smaller Buddhas on each side. The upper three levels have three carved Buddhas on each side. Both these artworks are interesting because they show the history of the religions they represent.

Ch 20 set #1 Teotichuacan's Pyramid of the Sun vs.Twotihucan's Temple of the Feathered Serpent

The ancient city of Teotihuacan is the most visited of Mexico’s archaeological sites in Mexico City. The Pyramid of the Sun is the third largest pyramid in the world. Teotihuacan was a large settlement by 150BC, its importance starting from a cave system with religious significance, located underneath the present day Pyramid of the Sun. As other settlements in the area diminished, Teotihuacan flourished and became a religious and economic center, controlling the region’s production of obsidian.

Between 1AD and 250AD the ceremonial core was completed, including the Pyramids of the Sun and Moon and the Calle de los Muertos. The massive pyramid structures were painted red and must have been an awe-inspiring sight.

Major expansion in population and housing occurred between 250-450AD. As many as 200,000 inhabitants have been estimated and at least 2000 "houses" counted. Most of these buildings were home to large family groups or artisan communes. The prosperity continued to 650AD and around this time it was the sixth largest city in the world.

However, in 650AD, a great fire swept through the city, devastating many communities. For some unknown reason a swift decline ensued and there was no massive reconstruction exercise. Whatever the cause, the population soon moved to other growing cities and Teotihuacan was virtually deserted. By the time the Aztecs arrived on the scene, the area was little more than an ancient ruin.

The Temple of the Feathered Serpent is the modern day name for the 3^rd largest pyramid at Teotichuacan in Central Mexico. The structure is well know due to the discovery in the 1980s of more than a hundred possibly sacfricial victims found buried beneath the structure. The burials, like the structure, are dated sometime between 150 and 200 CE. The pyramid takes its name from representations of the Mesoamerican “feathered serpent” deity which covered its sides. These are some of the earliest know representations of the feathered serpent, often identified with the much later Aztec god Quetzalocatl. The structure is also known as the Temple of Questzalcoatl, and the Feathered Serpent Pyramid.