Nazi Art Essays - German Art, Nazi Propaganda, Nazi Architecture

Nazi Art Essays - German Art, Nazi Propaganda, Nazi Architecture Nazi Art Many people know that Adolph Hitler was an artist in his youth as an Austrian, but just how much art played a role in the National Socialist Germany seems to get underrated in the history books. Just as a racial war was waged against the Jewish population and the military fought the French and the Slavic people, an artistic cleansing for the Germanic culture was in progress. Special Nazi units were searching the ancient arts of antiquity for evidence of a great Germanic race that existed well before history. Hitler had monuments and museums built on a grand scale with carefully designed architecture that would last a thousand years. Art of this nature was a priority because Hitler wanted to capture Chronos, not Gaea. He wanted to dominate the rest of time, not the limits of Earth. Hitler was born and raised in the town of Linz. As a youth he studied art, primarily as a painter capturing mostly the surrounding Alpine Mountain landscapes that he grew up with, but he also had an interest in architecture. When he turned eighteen he applied to the Vienna Art Academy, and was rejected. Along with art, Hitler was fascinated with Linz, Antiquity, and Wagner. It was at this time in his youth that Hitler and his friend, Kubicheck would try to finish an opera that Wagner had abandoned. This opera was about a leader trying to establish the Roman Empire by overthrowing the Papal government in Rome. Hitler would remember It was in that hour it all began.1 Hitler thought of Wagner and art as the basis for a new government, nation, and people. It is not just coincidence that he would be surrounded by National Socialist leaders with background in the arts. Joseph Gobbels, the Minister of Propaganda and head of the Reich Chamber of Culture, was an experienced writer and aspiring poet. Rosenberg was a painter and Von Sherot wrote poetry. Hans Frederick Munch of the Reich's Chamber of Literature said This government born out of opposition to rationalism knows the peoples inner longings and dreams, which only the artist can give them.2 Less than three months after coming to power, the Nazis issued What German artists expect of their new government in March of 1933. One of the first projects of the Nazi regime was the House of German Art (Haus der Deutschen Kunst), a large museum. Quickly the Third Reich was forming it's own style of art, as identifiable as Soviet Social- Realism, but symbolizing the national and racial policies. And while the Soviets tended to emphasize Literature, the Nazis focused on Visual art and Architecture. Nazi art was Neo- Classical with a twist of German romanticism, heroicism, and nostalgia for the times of yore.3 In the beginning there was debate on what exactly the Nazis were looking for in art. It is well known that the Third Reich was extremely hostile to Avant-Garde artists, but before the Nazis came to power, Joseph Goebbels took to the opinion that some German Expressionists were compatible with National Socialist ideas. These artists include Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Erich Heckel, Karl Schmidt-Rottluff, Ernst Barlach, and Emil Nolde. Nolde was even a Nazi party member, but these artists could hardly be called Nazi artists. They declared nationalism and were very anti-capitalist. The Expressionists promoted sensation and passion over rational logic and were heavily into primitive German culture. Hitler, Alfred Rosenberg, and other senior Nazis attacked these modern artists as incompatible with the Nazi ideal because of there strong opposition to authoritarianism and the individualism expressed within their work.4 Albert Speer, commissioned to decorate Goebbels home would later write: I borrowed a few watercolours from ... the director of the Berlin Nationalgalerie. Goebbels and his wife were delighted with the paintings-until Hitler came to inspect, and expressed his severe disapproval. Then the minister summoned me immediately. 'The pictures will have to go at once; they're simply impossible'.5 Upon the assumption of power, almost all modern art was attacked and artists of all sorts fled the country as work was confiscated and art schools were closed. There are many reasons Hitler attacked modern art. Such groups as the Dadaists and the Bauhaus had close connections with the Soviet schools of Constructivism and Suprematism. These groups, while not necessarily Communist, were overly leftist ranging the gauntlet from Socialism to Anarchism and was extremely anti-military. Hitler also attacked the aesthetics of modern art. The Bauhaus was ultra-modern and cosmopolitan in it's designs. It's creations were seamless global industrial

Infrared and Ultraviolet Light Essays

Infrared and Ultraviolet Light Essays Infrared and Ultraviolet Light Paper Infrared and Ultraviolet Light Paper Name: Tutor: Course: Date: Infrared and Ultraviolet Light Infrared Light Infrared light is a form of electromagnetic radiation whose wavelengths are longer compared to visible light. The electromagnetic spectrum exhibits a vast range of wavelengths spanning from highly energetic gamma rays and short wavelengths to low-energy radio waves and long wavelengths. The visibility of this spectrum is extremely small. Infrared light is similar to normal light only that it has a longer wavelength thus making it impossible to see with the naked eye (White 42). The range of infrared wavelengths corresponds to an approximate frequency range of 430 THz to 300GHz. It also includes the thermal radiation given off by objects at room temperature. Infrared light is absorbed or emitted by molecules whenever they alter their vibrational-rotational movements. William Herschel discovered infrared radiation in the year 1800. He was performing a study on the heating effect of different light colors. The different colors of light were produced by a passing normal light through a prism. In his study, Herschel noted that the strength of the heat increased as he progressed from the blue end to the red end of the spectrum. He presented his results in London and called the red light ‘Calorific rays’. The term ‘infrared’ was adopted later in the 19th century (Read 32). Primarily, infrared is divided into three distinct spectrums. These include far infrared, mid infrared and near infrared. The division of infrared light on this basis depends on the wavelength. However, these divisions are not precise since they vary depending on the publisher. These divisions are used to observe temperature ranges in environments such as space. They are justified by the different responses humans have on radiation. In this case, near infrared exhibits radiation with the closest wavelength. This makes it visible to the human eye. Far and mid infrared categories, lie further away from the visual spectrum. Unfortunately, there are no international standards for such specifications. The boundary separating infrared light from visible light is not defined clearly. The sensitivity of the human eye is not designed to detect light with a wavelength above 700nm (White 64). Therefore, light with longer wavelengths does not make significant contributions to scenarios illuminat ed by common sources of light. Since its discovery, infrared light has proven useful in a number of fields. For example, infrared is used to facilitate night vision. Night vision devices function by converting ambient light photons into visible light. Additionally, infrared light can also be used in determining the temperature of objects through a process known as thermography. Thermography is mainly applied in industrial and military applications (Read 64). However, this technology is making its way into the public through infrared cameras, due to the reduced cost of productions. Since all objects emit infrared radiation based on their temperatures, thermography is used to have a clear picture of the environment regardless of whether there is visible illumination or not. Infrared homing or infrared tracking refers to a missile guiding system that tracks a target using its electromagnetic spectrum. Missiles that use this infrared technology are coined the term ‘heat seekers’. Many objects such as vehicle engines, aircrafts and people produce and retain heat. This heat can then be tracked using infrared technology. Additionally, infrared radiation can be used as a source of heat. One advantage of this is that the technology is used to create infrared saunas used to treat chronic health illnesses such as arthritis, congestive heart failure and high blood pressure. This technology is also used to thaw ice on aircraft wings. Infrared radiation is also becoming popular in safe heating therapy for physiotherapy and natural health. Additionally, heat from infrared radiation can be used in cooking. Primarily, infrared heaters include three parts, a heat exchanger, infrared bulbs, and a fan for blowing air into the exchanger for heat dispersion. Indeed, the discovery of infrared radiation has led to significant breakthroughs that have benefited humanity. However, this form of electromagnetic radiation has several disadvantages. For example, when this radiation is used in certain settings such as high heat industrial locations, it becomes a health hazard to the user’s eyes thus causing damage or blindness. Another disadvantage is that it has short-range transmission compared to other forms of transmission. Other than having short-range transmission, the transmission of infrared radiation is slow compared to wired transmission. Furthermore, all infrared signals can be interrupted by foreign materials when they are in the path of the transmission. Such materials may include people and walls. Ultraviolet Light Ultraviolet light or UV light is a form of electromagnetic radiation with a short wavelength compared to visible light. However, its wavelength is longer than that of X-rays. Similar to infrared light, ultraviolet light cannot be detected by the human eye due to its long wavelength. Blunt (18) argues that this form of radiation bears increased energy compared to visible light. It is capable of breaking bonds between molecules and atoms and altering the chemical composition of materials. UV light can also cause fluorescence in certain substances. This means that it causes certain materials to emit visible light. UV light, present in sunlight, is beneficial since it kills microorganisms and acts as a source of vitamin D. Even though UV light is not visible, we are aware of it through certain effects such as sunburn or suntan. With the sun acting as a major source of UV light, the ozone layer plays a vital role in blocking most of this light (97%) that would otherwise prove harmful to organisms if it gained access into the atmosphere (Blunt 37). The 3% that penetrates the atmosphere is not particularly harmful, although it can cause cancer and long-term damage to the skin. Primarily, the sun is a source of all categories of UV light such as UV-A and UV-B. The discovery of this radiation is associated with the phenomenon that silver salts become dark when exposed to light. Johann Ritter in 1801 observed that invisible light, after the violet end of visible light, darkened paper soaked in silver chloride. Initially, he named these rays â€Å"oxidizing rays† to differentiate them from heat rays (infrared) discovered in the previous year and to emphasize chemical reactivity. The terms â€Å"heat rays† and â€Å"chemical rays† were used to describe these rays throughout the nineteenth century, but they were later dropped for infrared radiation and ultraviolet radiation respectively (Read 32). UV light, UV-B in particular, benefits humans by allowing the manufacture of vitamin D. This is achieved by the conversion of skin chemicals into the sub-form of the vitamin, and then into the vitamin itself. This vitamin is beneficial to human health. Lack of this vitamin leads to immunity disorders, various cancers, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular diseases (Blunt 76). Severe lack of this vitamin causes bone diseases referred to as rickets. Inadequate supply of sunlight is the prime cause of the vitamin’s deficiency. UV light is also used in the technology of fluorescent lamps that apply the fluorescence phenomenon (Read 81). Most fluorescent lamps use UV light as their energy source to ionize mercury vapor. A special fluorescent coating absorbs this ionized vapor to produce visible light. Zoologists and biologists use ultraviolet light to take night surveys on organisms in the field. UV light is also used as insect traps. Since insects are naturally attracted to UV light, entomologists use it to attract them for studies. UV fluorescence is also used in parties and nightclubs by causing clothing to glow and make it appealing. Astronomers also use UV light in mapping galaxies such as the Milky Way. This allows them to make out the evolution of galaxies over time. Primarily, young stars emit more ultraviolet radiation compared to older stars. They also emit UV light at a higher proportion at the furthest end of the spectrum. Regions where new stars are born, therefore, produce a brighter UV glow. Astronomers use this knowledge to identify and map such regions. Despite the numerous benefits UV radiation provides humanity, it also has disadvantages. The ability of UV light to change the chemical composition is harmful. As UV light causes minor skin irritations such as sunburn, radiation that is more energetic, can lead to premature skin aging (Blunt 97). It can also lead to alterations of the DNA that can eventually cause skin cancer. Furthermore, overexposure to ultraviolet light causes the skin to produce a pigment known as melanin. Melanin is harmful to the skin and can lead to cancers such as melanoma. Blunt, Katharine. Ultraviolet Light. Chicago, Ill: The University of Chicago press, 2011. Print. Read, F H. Electromagnetic Radiation. Chichester [Eng.: J. Wiley, 2010. Print. White, Laurie. Infrared Radiation. Amherst, N.Y: Amherst Media, 2009. Print.

In the character of Gatsby, Fitzgerald holds the idea of the American Essay

In the character of Gatsby, Fitzgerald holds the idea of the American Dream up to ridicule. With reference to appropriately sele - Essay Example But when Gatsby returned from the war to New York with riches and a newfound power, he was able to grab hold of the American dream. This dream that became a reality, however, seemed to sell Gatsby short, as he tragically found that his newly acquired wealth and social status - as well as the girl of his dreams, Daisy Buchanan - could not purchase his happiness. In fact, this dream came at the price of his good character, and ultimately, his life. Fitzgerald uses Gatsby in this novel to represent what went wrong with America - a society in the Roaring Twenties that turned its back on morals and integrity to embrace wealth, prestige, parties, immorality and alcohol - ingredients not for happiness and fulfillment, but for loneliness and despair. Fitzgerald begins dismantling the heightened image of the American dream through the character and narrator, Nick Caraway, who often describes and characterizes Gatsby during his quest for Daisy, respect, and acceptance. Unlike most of the other characters in the novel, however, Nick sees through Gatsby’s supposed fulfillment and satisfaction, and does not envy the â€Å"great Gatsby,† who is praised and idolized by the indulgent materialistic crowds that gather at his mansion to party and drink. This lifestyle that society was told to buy into did not appeal to Nick, â€Å"Gatsby turned out all right in the end; it was what preyed on Gatsby, what foul dust floated in the wake of his dreams that temporarily closed out my interest in the aborted sorrows and short-winded elations of men,† (Fitzgerald 6). Instead of seeing Gatsby as a high-paying consumer, Nick sees Gatsby as the one who was being consumed by the price of having to pay dearly to reach his costly dreams, which will ultimately cost him his life. Nick saw through the false promises of happiness to be attained by pursuing and reaching the American dream, and he notes that any satisfaction or happiness gleaned as a result is shallow and short- lived. Early on, the reader witnesses that the ideals of glitz, glamour, prestige, promiscuity, and all the trappings of what became known as the high society in the Roaring Twenties is not what it is cut out to be. Even though Gatsby and the high-brow company he keeps are characterized as living the American dream, the author uses Nick to show the true depravity of those who jump on board to live for this flawed concept. Nick actually calls Gatsby out, telling him exactly what he thinks about those who believe that they have reached the top of the ladder in life, â€Å"They’re a rotten crowd . . . You’re worth the whole damn bunch put together,† (Fitzgerald 162). Through Nick, Fitzgerald shows that Gatsby and all the partying elite with which he surrounds himself are morally depraved - even though they hold themselves up as being above the rest of society (that has not achieved the American dream). Nick even sets himself apart from Gatsby and his wealthy revele rs, noting that virtuous behavior is far from what those chasing after the American dream possess, â€Å"Everyone suspects themselves of at least one of the cardinal virtues, and this is mine: I am one of the few honest people that I have ever known,† (Fitzgerald 64). This statement goes to show that moral behavior in the upper class society on Long

Transformational Leadership and Risk Taking to Improve Student Essay

Transformational Leadership and Risk Taking to Improve Student Achievement - Essay Example To be successful, schools must develop a clear sense of purpose, strong commitments on the part of their staffs, and productive working relationships with their communities. In a study conducted by Hillard (2009), the effectiveness of professional interactions on teachers and administrators as a faculty group in school improvement practices and educational reform to improve instruction and learning were the main findings of the research. To create long-term solutions for systemic change in a learning environment there was an intense emphasis on practical methods. If leaders focused on previous aspects or formulas, it is considered a reasonable or a practical approach. But conquering today’s difficult problems and ultimately achieving success requires creative leadership (Palus & Horth, 2005). In the case of complex challenges, an organized and a planned approach becomes essential; the alignment of structure paired with energy and support, and a commitment to a mission and visi on comes from creative leadership (Palus & Horth, 2005). The task of change is difficult because of the many variables that contribute to the growth of educational leaders. As stated by Bass (2007), many challenges face the strategic leader who must deal with both the need for continuity and the need for change. In addition to the need for continuity, a strategic leader puts an emphasis on setting direction for the organization. Given the turbulent environments that organizations work within, continuous learning is a key driver of their ability to remain adaptive and flexible - that is, to survive and effectively compete (Zagorsek, Dimovski, and Skerlavai (2009). Creating value and purpose for the organization is an essential part of leadership. However, creating goals and creating value is not enough; the leader must ensure that such change is sustainable. Remaining faithful to the direction set forth by an educational leader is key to the development of his or her staff (Jacobson, Johnson, Ylimaki, & Giles, 2009). Leadership can be related to the interaction between the leader and the follower. However, the numerous facets of such interaction and the intensity of the working relationship influence the outcome – accomplishing the goals set. Effective leadership can be observed when organizations develop all members’ skills and values related to organizational learning (Collinson, 2008). Many l eaders become effective due to the quality of the followers. Some researchers maintain the traditional views of a leader as a taskmaster and as one who relies on situational variables and contingency approaches produced by previous factors that guide their performance (Antelo, Henderson, & St. Clair, 2010). A transformational leader conducts him or herself in ways that are different from the convention or norms; leaders pay more attention to the needs of others, not just as elements of the workplace, but as people (Trapero & de Lozada, 2010). An analysis of the theory of transformational leadership as it relates to new principals from the leadership academy and student achievement will be studied. According to Cowie and Crawford (2008), given the significance of the post of principal and the complex changes in the principal's role in recent years, the extent to which principals’ preparation relates to what is expected of them once they are in post and what it is that they act ually do is critically important. School districts and other educational agencies are dispensing money and manpower in the development of leadership for their organizations. As stated by Barnett and Shore (2009), instead of having to create change efforts, organizations should be built to change. In an attempt to understand what

Is marriage an outdated tradition Essay Example for Free

Is marriage an outdated tradition Essay Is Marriage an Outdated Tradition? In this essay I will be explaining whether marriage Is an outdated tradition along with my opinion and the ones of Christians. In my oplnlon I believe that No, marriage Is the same strong, important connection it was 100 years ago. The difference is the people who enter into it, and the way society no longer supports the couples who choose it. Weve become a need It now society and are ready to discard whatever doesnt give us Instant happiness. Divorce has become so acceptable that couples go Into arriage with the plan to divorce If they arent satisfied (prenup) as compared to the people in our past who believed marriage was forever and were motivated to keep working at the relationship and to make it work. Today couples are ready to give up as soon as its not fun or the sex becomes dull. The other part of the problem Is societys lack of support for marriage. The UK benefit system Is too lenient towards those who choose to have children without being married therefore helping them with housing, childcare, schooling and food. The rest f the family before would be providing emotional support and pressure for the couple to work at the relationship, now its more looked at it as being only their problem and not a problem for the people around them. Today were more concerned about an individuals right to personal happiness than to supporting responsible or ethical behaviour-I believe a persons happiness Is extremely Important but peoples morals and ethics are what make them happy. I also believe the idea that something thats worth having is worth fighting for, having omething a long time, the pride of working at something, at pushing through the hard stuff to be able to stand back and look with pride at having made something great, is gone. The Christians of the Catholic Church teach prohibition of premarital sex along with the rejection of homosexual marriage, abortion and contraception but also the acceptance of everyone and equality but while all those are very Important none is what makes the bond of marriage stick. It happens when two people who are free to marry and are physically and emotionally capable of marriage give themselves o each other, understanding that marriage means being open to life and commitment and to faithful love till death.

William Faulkner’s As I Lay Dying Essay -- As I Lay Dying 2014

â€Å"The past is never dead. It's not even past.† ― William Faulkner In William Faulkner’s As I Lay Dying, characterization, specifically through the multitude of narrators, transforms an otherwise pedestrian plot into a complex pilgrimage to the truth. As I Lay Dying is told from the perspective of fifteen different characters in 59 chapters (Tuck 35). Nearly half (7) of the characters from whose perspective the story is narrated are members of the same family, the Bundrens. The other characters are onlookers of the Bundrens’ journey to bury their mother, Addie. Each character responds to the events that are unfolding in a unique way and his or her reactions help to characterize themselves and others. â€Å"†¦each private world manifests a fixed and distinctive way of reacting to and ordering experiences† (Vickery 50). They may choose to constrain their reaction to the realm of audible indulgence in the form of word, through the actions they take, or by reflecting upon the situation in contemplation. These responses shed light upon what kind of personality each character possesses. On a conscious level the characters make decisions based upon three criteria. They can act on sensation, they can use reason for guidance, or they can act upon their innate intuition. â€Å"Faulkner is able to indicate the particular combination of sensation, reason, and intuition possessed by each of his characters†¦ through a subtle manipulation of language and style† (Vickery 51). Faulkner portrays each character through their thought process and thus characterizes them as the product of their choices. The eight non-Bundrens, friends, neighbors, and onlookers alike, are employed by Faulkner to characterize the family members, however the credence of t... ...s against us lazily† (Faulkner 158). Works Cited Campbell, Harry Modean, and Ruel E. Foster. A Critical Appraisal. New York: Cooper Square Publishers, Inc., 1970 Faulkner, William. As I Lay Dying. New York; Vintage Books, 1985 Kinney, Arthur F. Faulkner’s Narrative Poetics Style as Vision. Amherst: University of Massachusetts Press, 1978 Magill, Frank N. â€Å"William Faulkner.† Critical Survey of Long Fiction. Englewood Cliffs: American Libraries, 1985 Morris, Wesley. Reading Faulkner. Madison: The University of Wisconsin Press, 1989 Tuck, Dorothy. Crowell’s Handbook of Faulkner. New York; Thomas Y. Crowell Company, 1964 Vickery, Olga W. The Novels of William Faulkner A Critical Interpretation. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1959 Wadlington, Warwick. As I Lay Dying: Stories out of Stories. New York: Twayne Publishers, 1992

Knowledge vs. Ignorance Essay

Everyone has the right to attain knowledge. Having knowledge can lead one to do great things, such as achieving a good score on a test, knowing what to do in cases of emergencies, or achieve things like winning a debate, contest, race, or game. And even though attaining knowledge doesn’t always come with happiness, knowledge can give one the power and opportunity to influence others and their choices and decisions. To best prove a person wrong in a debate or argument, knowledge is needed to make a good enough point to prove the opposing side wrong. Even though ignorance is bliss, knowledge is power because knowledge comes with the power to influence, knowledge is power when making a point, and with knowledge, one is able to make their own decisions based on what they know. Knowledge is power because it can come with the power to influence ones choices as well as others. In The Great Gatsby, during chapter 6, Nick Carraway gives the reader an insight of Jay Gatsby’s past. Nick tells us, â€Å" He was employed in a vague personal capacity—while he remained with Cody he was in turn steward, mate, skipper, secretary, and even jailor, for Dan Cody sober knew what lavish doings Dan Cody drunk might soon be about, and he provided for such contingencies by reposing more and more trust in Gatsby. †¦ It was indirectly due to Cody that Gatsby drank so little.† (Gatsby 100) Gatsby had the knowledge of how people acted when drunk first handed. What he had witnessed with Dan Cody influenced him drink only rarely. Also in chapter 6, Nick gives us the idea where Gatsby would have first gotten the chance at a wealthy life. Nick tells us, â€Å"And it was from Cody that he inherited money—a legacy of twenty-five thousand dollars. He didn’t get it. He never understood the legal devise that was used against him, but what remained of the millions went intact was left with his singularly appropriate education; the vague contour of Jay Gatsby hid filled out to the substantiality of a man.†(Gatsby 100) From this we can see that Gatsby attained enough knowledge to be capable to do whatever it takes to become wealthy. And being a part of the wealthy also influenced his choices to do what it takes to make it to the top, even if it is done through illegal means, which we find out later on in the book that it does. Knowledge is also power because of the fact that having knowledge can make others look up to the person who holds it, for they seem wiser and may hold the right answers and steer them in a direction, good or bad. When I was in sixth grade, we had a group lab in science class. No one in my group had any idea on how to complete the assignment that was assigned, except me. With the knowledge I had attained from my science teachers’ lessons, I was able to influence my lab partners to listen to what I thought should be done and was able to steer my group into getting a B- on our assignment. Having knowledge is power when making a point because it will help prove the opposing side wrong and persuade others that you are in the right. In the heated fight between Tom and Gatsby in a hotel suite in New York City, Tom had made sure he had attained enough knowledge about Gatsby, his past and who he is, to persuade Daisy that he is not the one for her and that he isn’t what she real ly wants, and also to convince her to love him and forget Gatsby. In the middle of the argument, Tom exclaims to Gatsby, â€Å"‘Who are you, anyhow? You’re one of that bunch that hangs around with Meyer Wolfsheim—that much I happen to know. I’ve made a little investigation into your affairs—and I’ll carry it further to-morrow. †¦ I found out what your ‘drug-stores’ were.’ He turned to us and spoke rapidly. ‘He and this Wolfsheim brought up a lot of side-street drug stores here and in Chicago and sold grain alcohol over the counter. That’s one of his little stunts. I picked him for a bootlegger the first time I saw him, and I wasn’t far wrong.’† (Gatsby 133) This shows the reader the effort Tom has made to really gather his information about Gatsby to prove him wrong. With the knowledge that Tom had gained about Gatsby, he had the right information to show Daisy that Gatsby isn’t who she thought he was, and that Gatsby was not fooling anyone ab out who he really is and his past. And after Tom had brought up Walter Chase, Gatsby had an unfamiliar expression on his face. Nick tells us, â€Å"Then I turned back to Gatsby—and was startled at his expression. He looked—and this is said in all contempt for the babbled slander of his garden—as if he had â€Å"killed a man.† †¦It passed, and he began to talk excitedly to Daisy, denying everything, defending his name against accusations that had not been made. But with every word she was drawing further and further into herself, so he gave that up, and only the dead dream fought on as the afternoon slipped away, trying to touch what was no longer tangible, †¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Gatsby 134) This passage shows the reader that Tom has made his point well enough to scare Gatsby, and well enough to convince Daisy to realize that Gatsby is just not the kind of person she wants to be with. Tom showed up Gatsby, and with knowledge, Tom was able to prove his point which makes puts him with more power over Gatsby and even Daisy. For afterward, Tom commands to Daisy and Gatsby, â€Å"‘You two start on home, Daisy, in Mr. Gatsby’s Car. †¦ Go on. He won’t anno y you. I think he realizes that his presumptuous little flirtation is over.’ They were gone, without a word, snapped out, made accidental, isolated, like ghosts, even from our pity.† (Gatsby 135) This passage shows Toms’ power over Gatsby and Daisy after proving them both wrong of their thought with the knowledge that he had attained. Attaining knowledge is power because one is then able to make what they think is the best decision are for them or for others based off of what they know. But having this power also has its consequences. During dinner at the Buchanan’s house, a phone call for Tom interrupts dinner. When he had gone into another room to attend to the call, Jordan Baker eavesdrops on the conversation. Jordan then tells nick, in front of Daisy, â€Å"Tom’s got a woman in New York.†(Gatsby 15) Later on that evening, Daisy says to Nick, â€Å"I’m glad it’s a girl. And I hope she’ll be a fool—that’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool.†(Gatsby 17) These statements show Daisy’s knowledge about Tom’s affair with another woman. Even though she doesn’t use her knowledge to change the way things are between her relationships with Tom, she deals with the consequences that come with it. Knowing the about Toms affair leads her to deal with an unhappy life. But with knowledge of her feelings emotions for Tom and her knowledge of how love can hurt, she knows that she would want her daughter will be a beautiful fool, oblivious to the bad and the wrong in the world. So her daughter may live a happier life not having knowledge of the bad things in life that has made Daisy unhappy. Some people argue that ignorance is bliss because what you don’t know doesn’t hurt you. Some people believe ignorant people live a happier life. They believe that not knowing every detail could sometimes spare hurt, stress, and depression. These people are wrong because without knowledge, ignorant people would not really know th e truth about a situation and they would be oblivious to what is really going and may get hurt when they finally realize the truth. For example, in chapter 1 of The Great Gatsby, Daisy tells Nick, â€Å"I’m glad it’s a girl. And I hope she’ll be a fool—that’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool.† (Gatsby17) Daisy wants her daughter to grow up to be oblivious to all the hurt in the world so she can be happy, unlike how Daisy is, living day by day knowing that her husband has been having an affair with another woman. When the truth comes out, being ignorant and oblivious may not hold a happy ending. Having knowledge is very important for a person to have. Without knowledge, we would not be able to consider things for ourselves and make good decisions. For one to have the power to influence others choices and decisions, they must have knowledge to persuade others. Proving someone wrong in an argument or disagreement takes knowledge to show them and witnesses that the opposing side is wrong. Even though holding knowledge of a certain subject can have its consequences, the one who holds it will be able to make what they think the best decisions are for them or others based off of what they know. Attaining knowledge is a very important key in life. It can open many doors and opportunities for one who is willing to attain it. Knowledge can come with happiness, but not always. But knowledge will for sure get one further in life than one who is ignorant to their surrounding and oblivious to situations.

Rabbit, Run

Rabbit, Run Rabbit, Run was published in 1960 by American author John Updike. He wrote three more Rabbit novels, one at the end of the '60s, '70s, and '80s. He says these novels became â€Å"a running report on the state of my hero and his nation. † He won the Pulitzer Prize for the â€Å"final† two books. series continued after Rabbit’s death in Updike’s 2001 novella, Rabbit Remembered. In 2006, The Rabbit series was voted number four on The New York Times list of â€Å"the best work of American fiction of the past 25 years. Rabbit, Run was also selected by Time magazine as one of the top 100 books from 1923-2005. And the novel is also listed by the American Library Association as one of the 100 most frequently banned books in the 20th century. Banned? set in 1959, Rabbit, Run touches on some delicate issues, like prostitution, male and female orgasms, alcoholism, adultery, blow jobs, homosexuality (though only briefly and ambiguously), birth control, ab ortion, and even accidental. Its 26-year old protagonist Harry â€Å"Rabbit† Angstrom even leers at 14-year old girls (though only to make his girlfriend jealous).Rabbit, Run also has lots of conversations between people arguing about different Christian philosophies, a main character with a bit of a Jesus Complex, a couple of atheists, and even a Freudian. Rabbit, Run was also what some consider a â€Å"biting critique† of America in 1959 The American Dream meant being married with children, and having the latest in modern appliances and beauty products. Many of these issues are barely visible in the novel, but a working knowledge of America 1959 might help us understand the characters a little better. Themes Rabbit, Run Theme of FearFear pervades Rabbit, Run, though the novel does provide moments of relief. The main character, Harry â€Å"Rabbit† Angstrom thinks he’s caught in a contracting and expanding â€Å"trap,† or â€Å"web,† or â₠¬Å"net. † He runs to counteract the fear this trap produces, though he’s usually running, literally, in circles. Fear drives Rabbit to run, and to be still – to leave, but to always return. He’s afraid the trap he’s stuck in is the trap of mediocrity; he’s sure something better awaits him. So he runs. Yet, he has obligations to others, and he fears that abandoning them makes him a bad man.So he goes back and forth. And back and forth, until his final run at the end of the novel. Rabbit, Run Theme of Religion Rabbit, Run is suffused with religious questioning. Much of the religious debate in the novel relates to variations of Christian philosophy, but Freudianism (treated something like a religion), atheism, and a brief appearance, or rather, disappearance of the Dalai Lama provide interesting contrasts. Some of these perspectives are pretty risky for the McCarthy-ist and Red Scare era 1959 that provides the backdrop for Rabbit, Run.The drowni ng death of a newborn baby challenges the religious beliefs of many of the characters, and even provokes her father to dream of founding a new religion, based on â€Å"the truth† about life and death. The end of the novel does not tell us if he fulfills the dream’s prophecy. Rabbit, Run Theme of Identity Rabbit, Run explores the ways in which individual needs and desires, responsibility, family, religion, pop culture, and The American Dream circa 1959 impact the identities of its characters.The tension between American pioneerism and American conformity results in an identity crisis for the novel’s main character, Harry â€Å"Rabbit† Angstrom as he runs back and forth between them trying to escape an all pervasive â€Å"trap. † The results can be both stunningly beautiful and utterly shattering. The open ending leaves it to our imagination (unless we read the sequel, Rabbit, Redux) as to what extent the characters’ identities are, or arenâ⠂¬â„¢t, changed by the drowning death of Rabbit’s newborn daughter. Rabbit, Run Theme of Drugs and AlcoholJohn Updike’s Rabbit, Run, published in 1960, is obsessed with alcohol and cigarettes. But unless you count delivery room anesthetics, drugs are only mentioned on the first page – some basketball playing kids are smoking weed – almost like Updike, writing about 1959, is predicting the ’60s and ’70s to come. Alcohol is mostly presented as a destructive force; whenever the characters get near it, disaster on small or large-scale results. Cigarettes too are presented as mostly destructive, contributing subtly and not so subtly to the smokers’ problems. Though at one moment a cigarette is seen as â€Å"a wafer of repentance. So go steal the keys to the liquor cabinet and – oh, you know Shmoop’s just kidding! Rabbit, Run Theme of Guilt and Blame Rabbit, Run is a guilt and blame-fest. This starts at the beginning of the n ovel when the main character, Harry â€Å"Rabbit† Angstrom, runs away from his pregnant wife and his son. But when newborn Rebecca June Angstrom drowns in a bathtub, things get messy. Rabbit’s wife Janice admits she drowned the baby while drunk. Yet Rabbit is a prime suspect, especially to himself. He is a suspect precisely because he was not there when the baby died.All of the other characters in the novel are suspects too – everybody simultaneously feels guilty and wants to blame others. Even the novel’s setting, America of 1959, is a suspect. Rabbit, Run Theme of Transience Rabbit, Run’s main character Harry â€Å"Rabbit† Angstrom is in a perpetual state of transience. He’s always on the move, usually on foot, though he’s occasionally found in a motor vehicle. He only stops to sleep and mate, and occasionally, to grab a bite to eat. Why does he run so hard? Because he thinks something better than what he has is waiting for h im.At the same time he’s afraid of deserting the people he cares about. He runs back and forth trying to find some kind of balance. Rabbit, Run challenges us to wonder if we are settling for mediocrity when sitting still, or risking everything when we make a move. Genre: Family drama: Families. Drama. Horror or Gothic Fiction: Mysterious traps. Priests. Hallucinations. Fear. Dead babies. Literary Fiction: Fancy prose style. Neurotic. Quest: Somebody looking for something. Realism: True to life. Mystery: Mysterious crimes. Innocent victims. Trying to find the truth. Tone: Degrading when talking about JaniceSympathetic Many characters in Rabbit, Run say, do, and think harsh things. But a tone of sympathy, and even love pervades. And man are these folks judgmental. Like when Rabbit calls Janice stupid, or when he calls himself a criminal. The tough talking narrator, though it seems to call for a complete overhaul of social norms, also seems to suggest that we are all just people , and people make mistakes. When we are able to identify with flawed or disliked characters, we can sometimes gain real introspection, as well as a deeper understanding of those around us. Rabbit, Run SummaryTwenty-six-year-old Harry â€Å"Rabbit† Angstrom runs home one evening to find his wife, Janice, who is seven months pregnant, at home – without their son Nelson and without the family car – drinking, again. They argue, and he leaves to fetch the car and the boy, but along the way decides to permanently hightail it out of Mt. Judge, Pennsylvania and drive until he gets to the beach. He drives in circles and ends up back in Mt. Judge the next day. Instead of going home, he goes to see his high school basketball coach, Marty Tothero, who introduces him to Ruth Leonard, a sexually experienced woman about his age who has dabbled in prostitution.Rabbit and Ruth hit it off famously, and Rabbit decides to drop his car off for Janice, grab a few clothes, and shack u p with Ruth in the city of Brewer, of which Mt. Judge is a suburb. While leaving his old pad he is pursued by Jack Eccles, the minister of Janice’s family’s church. Eccles and Rabbit develop a friendship of sorts, which mostly consists of Eccles trying to convince Rabbit to return to Janice while battling (and coaching) him on the golf course – and of Rabbit getting into some heavy flirting with Eccles’ wife, Lucy. Two months pass. Rabbit and Ruth are for the most part happy.Rabbit has left his work as a MagiPeel Peeler salesman and found fulfillment in the widowed Mrs. Smith’s fabulous fifty-acre garden. Yet, signs of trouble are emerging in the Rabbit and Ruth household. Ruth is about a month pregnant, but hasn’t told Rabbit yet. Ruth and Rabbit go out for drinks one night and things get ugly. Rabbit feels that Ruth took the side of her old lover, Ronnie Harrison, when Ronnie was clearly giving Rabbit a hard time. Rabbit interrogates Ruth as to her sexual history with Ronnie, and then, upon finding out that she gave Ronnie a blowjob, requires Ruth to give him one to ake up for her traitorous behavior. She does, and a little later that night Reverend Eccles calls to tell Rabbit that Janice is in labor. He leaves Ruth to go to Janice and soon becomes the proud father of one Rebecca June Angstrom. While Janice is recovering, Rabbit moves back into their old apartment with his son Nelson, and cleans the place up while spending quality time with the boy. Janice gets out of the hospital, and things are OK. Janice isn’t drinking. Rabbit is working for her dad, selling used cars. But after nine days both Janice’s body and mind are feeling postpartum strain.That Sunday, Rabbit goes to Eccles’s church for the first time (leaving Janice and the kids at home to rest). He gets into some deep flirting with Lucy Eccles and comes home wanting to have sex NOW with Janice. The baby won’t stop crying though, for like hours, and the whole time Rabbit is trying to get Janice to drink (to put her in the mood), chain smoking, and clinging to her in case she suddenly feels like having sex with him. Finally, the baby stops crying, Nelson goes to bed, and Rabbit gets Janice to take a drink.They get into bed and Rabbit tries to have sex with her. Still sore from giving birth, from her episiotomy, and from Rabbit living with â€Å"a whore,† Janice rebuffs him. He gets mad and leaves. Meanwhile, Janice really does start drinking, and drinks all day Monday in fact. Frantic and depressed, she slaps Nelson. Her mother calls and upsets her, and then she finds that Rebecca June has somehow gotten baby poop all over herself and her crib. Drunk and full of anger, confusion, and fear, Janice tries to give Rebecca a bath and accidentally drowns her.Rabbit calls Eccles that night and finds out what happened. He’d spent the night in a motel and the day trying to catch a glimpse of Ruth, but w ith no luck. He busses back to Mt. Judge full of shame and remorse. Why is he so ashamed? Because he really thinks, most of the time, that he killed his daughter by not being in the apartment at the time of her death. He feels like he took out a hit on the kid when he walked out on Janice. He really convinces himself, and is disappointed that the law doesn’t consider him a suspect.This guilt makes him more determined than ever to work things out with Janice. To stay with her forever to atone for his sins†¦but†¦ At the end of Rebecca June’s burial service he loudly accuses Janice of murdering their daughter and loudly proclaims his innocence. Humiliated, he runs. He runs to Brewer, finds Ruth, and guesses she is pregnant. She is really nasty to him and threatens to abort the baby if he doesn’t divorce Janice so he can marry her. He agrees, but when he steps out to pick up food from the deli, as you’ve probably predicted, he runs†¦And the boo k ends. 950’s: experienced marked economic growth – with an increase in manufacturing and home construction amongst a post-World War II economic boom. 1960’s : In the United States, â€Å"the Sixties†, as they are known in popular culture, is a term used by historians, journalists, and other objective academics and pejoratively to describe the era as one of irresponsible excess and flamboyance. The decade was also labeled the Swinging Sixties because of the fall or relaxation of some social taboos especially relating to sexism and racism that occurred during this time.The 1960s have become synonymous with the new, radical, and subversive events and trends of the period, which continued to develop in the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and beyond. In Africa the 1960s was a period of radical political change as 32 countries gained independence from their European colonial rulers 1963 – Martin Luther King Jr. ‘s â€Å"I Have a Dream† speech in Washin gton, D. C. , on August 28. 1964 – Civil Rights Act of 1964 signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson. This landmark piece of legislation in the United States outlawed racial segregation in schools, public places, and employment.

We are our own choice essays

We are our own choice essays We have our own free will, the ability to voluntarily decide to perform one of the several possible acts or to avoid action entirely. Among these choices lie future consequences, good or bad. There are times we choose to think first before we act and end up happy with the outcome. But, there are times when we choose wrongly maybe because we act without thinking or because of some circumstances which distract us from the right path. Choices vary from different situations and there is always a choice not to choose, but decisions lie upon us. So we have to be very careful, for what we are and where we are standing right now is all because of our choices we make. We usually want the best for our lives and do all the things we can do to succeed. We could never possess a thing we really desire unless we plan and work hard for it, or we have won by chance. We are the key to our own goals and dreams. Like for example, we can get high grade only if we choose to prioritize, study hard and do well in school. Another, to have our own car, we need to earn for it or by chance, win it; however, chance is a just luck you never know what the outcome would be. So choosing the good choice makes us feel happy. Some people may feel contented in their lives because that is what they choose to be. It is the right attitude towards facing each challenge and endeavour in life that could make us succeed and gain internal fulfillment. We could not help ourselves in making mistakes by choosing the wrong choice because we are just humans. But then, it is in our hands to choose what to do in our lives. It is us to be blamed, not the other people or incidents, for what is happening in our lives. Our environment is just a temptation in life. But we are responsible in handling our business. Many problems are occurring at this moment like drug addiction, peer pressure, child-parent problem, name it. Let us say we choose to go into drug addictio...

Adn Rn vs Bsn Rn Essay Example

Adn Rn vs Bsn Rn Essay Example Adn Rn vs Bsn Rn Essay Adn Rn vs Bsn Rn Essay Running head: Associate Degree Nurse versus Baccalaureate Degree Nurse Associate Degree Nurse versus Baccalaureate Degree Nurse Valerie Castillo Grand Canyon University NRS 430-V September 19, 2010 Associate Degree Nurse versus Baccalaureate Degree Nurse A registered nurse (RN) is defined as a highly trained and skilled professional who cares for those that are sick (Quan, 2006). They are educated and trained to care for those that have chronic and acute illness, they are also taught to help those with wellness issues. They use these learned skills along with their compassion to provide care to those in need. There are two very common types of nursing degrees earned: associates degree nurse (ADN) and baccalaureate degree nurse (BSN). Both degrees enable a nurse to work as nurse as long as they have passed the NCLEX-RN, licensing exam, so what is the difference between an ADN and BSN degree, is one RN more competent than the other? The biggest, most obvious difference is the length of education required in each degree. An ADN nurse often goes through 2-3 years of education before receiving a degree and becoming eligible to take the NCLEX-RN. An ADN program focuses more on technical skills rather than theory (Entry-Level Nursing Degree Programs, n. d. ). Whereas, a BSN nurse goes through 3-4 years of education before receiving a degree and becoming eligible to take the NCLEX-RN. A BSN program is the entry point for professional nursing and is often a requirement for many nursing positions (Entry-Level Nursing Degree Programs, n. d. ). Although all nurses must take the NCLEX-RN licensing exam to become a RN that is allowed to practice, this exam is only one indicator of competency and doesn’t test the skills learned in a BSN program. In 2001, the National Council of State Boards for Nursing conducted an Employer’s study, in this study they found employers had a strong preference for hiring experienced BSN nurses for management and RN specialty positions (Rosseter, 2010). Another survey published in Journal of Nursing Administration showed 72% of manager’s noticed differences in practice between BSN prepared nurses and ADN prepared nurses, particularly in regards to strong leadership skills and critical thinking skills (Rosseter, 2010). With regards to more critical thinking skills, studies have also been conducted with correlation to more BSN staff and lower rates of mortality. In the January 2007 issue of Journal of Advance Nursing, they found that â€Å"a 10% increase in the proportion of baccalaureate prepared nurses was associated with 9 fewer deaths for every 1,000 discharged patients† (Rosseter, 2010). In today’s society, practicing as an RN requires more than the ability to take doctor’s orders, follow them through and show competency in technical skills. It requires the nurse to take in consideration the patient as a whole and be able to make critical decisions; it also means that the nurse should be able to question a doctor’s order when they seem inappropriate. An RN with a BSN has often had more liberal arts classes which enables them to have sharper critical thinking skills along with having been exposed to more cultures and different people (Forster, n. d). An example, a 70-year old female patient was admitted on Tuesday for a skull fracture as a result of syncope. Initial cat scans showed a small subdural bleed in the left side of temporal and parietal lobes. The patient has since then been in the ICU, now out of the ICU on a neurological floor. The patient’s assessment has been stable with no changes noted in the neurological assessment; however the patient continues to complain of a headache, increased lightheadedness and dizziness with ambulation along with nausea. The days come and go, with the intent of discharging the patient but exactly a week later, still hospitalized the patient complains of the worst headache of her life and extreme nausea despite being given every anti-nausea medication possible. The doctors are made aware, a stat Cat Scan is performed, no change is noted to the bleed. The pain and nausea however are only worsening causing the patient to actually make herself through up. What next, disregard the patient’s pain and nausea as a result of the injury, so just continue to treat it or be the patient’s advocate and call the doctor insisting that something is still wrong? An ADN nurse, as she was educationally prepared to medicate patients as needed and based on their complaints, may disregard the headache and nausea and attribute it to a complication of this type of head injury. With that said the ADN RN is most likely to keep trying to give the patient more pain and nausea medication, in hopes that with time this phase of the injury may pass. A BSN nurse would more likely do a little more critical thinking and give it a holistic approach such as looking at all patient care aspects. This RN would probably redo a complete head to toe assessment and thorough neurological assessment. She may also look into the patient’s labs, further investigate the headache and nausea such as precipitating and aggravating factors, when it occurs, what makes it better or worse if anything and then call the doctor if indicated. All in all, both types of degrees enable a nurse to practice their job with competence however a BSN degree definitely opens up more opportunities and gives nurses the ability to give their patients the very best care possible. A BSN degree also prepares an RN to develop the critical thinking skills and communication skills that set a BSN nurse apart from an ADN nurse. References Entry-Level Nursing Degree Programs. (n. d. ). All Nursing Schools. Retrieved September 17, 2010, from allnursingschools. om/faqs/programs Forster, H. (n. d. ). ADN vs. BSN. Nursing Link. Retrieved September 17, 2010, from http://nursinglink. monster. com/education/articles/3842-adn-vs-bsn Quan, K. (2006, October 12). What is a Nurse? Retrieved September 17, 2010, from Http://www. suite101. com/content/what-is-a-nursea7761. Rosseter, R. (2010, March). Fact Sheet The Impact of Education on Nursing Practice. American Association of Colleges of Nursing. Retrieved September 17, 2010, from aacn. nche. edu/Media /FactSheets/ImpactEdNp. htm

Managers and HR Professionals Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Managers and HR Professionals - Essay Example Despite the facts that supervisors remain in close contact with employees and are aware of their needs and requirements, their opinions are over rules and ignored. This reflects through improper selection of candidates, high rates of attrition of crucial resources, rising costs of recruitments and high investments in training and developmental activities. Supervisors are subjected to too much scrutiny and inspection which keeps them from performing to the best of their abilities. b) ‘Should managers be given more autonomy to make decision making, but what are some of the drawbacks of doing so?’ It is recommended that managers are given greater autonomy in handling HR activities of the organization. This is because they remain in close connection with their subordinates and know about their shortcomings, strengths, training needs, causes of frustrations and resentment which causes them to leave. Greater autonomy would allow them to manage the workforce according to the sp ecific needs of the situation and this would help keep employees satisfied which would further better their performance. However, too much autonomy of the managers might give them the opportunity to exploit the workers and deprive them of their deserving. c) ‘How should top executive deal with the situation and more specifically, how should the HR director deal with it?’ The top executives and the Director can resolve the situation by providing greater authority to the supervisors and line managers in handling the workforce activities. However, at the same time they must closely review the performance of the managers so as to ensure that their decisions are safe and favorable for the organization (Armstrong & Baron, 2002, p.119). 2. Boeing and Airbus Outsourcing a) Describe the advantages and disadvantages of outsourcing for these companies, as described in the article. The main advantages of outsourcing for these companies is that they can avail a highly talented and q ualified workforce and skills which are not available in their own country. Additionally the rare skills can be employed at a much less compensation level as compared to a worker who is employed in the home country. Thus it is cost effective to outsource activities in foreign nations. However, the main disadvantage lies in the fact that exchange rates are subject to fluctuations and can severe loss to a company when the value of currency in the home nation falls as compared to the guest nation, as happened in the case of Airbus when the value of dollar rose. b) Are there ethical considerations involved in this type of outsourcing? Please explain. Such fluctuations in the exchange rates causing great losses for the companies generally results in job cuts to compensate for the loss, which is regarded as an unethical practice. Also discontentment among workers results in strikes, demanding unfair claims from workers which pose significant loss for the company (Brewster & Harris, 1999, p.27). 3. Importance of Tolerance in the Workplace Incident no. 1 a) Should ABC comply with its client’s request? It is recommended that ABC Temps abides by its client’s request of removing Susan from the particular job role. This is because every

Vincent van Gogh Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Vincent van Gogh - Essay Example Vincent van Gogh lived in the period 1853-1890 and died after shooting himself in the chest at the young age of 37. In spite of the fact that he was a late starter (as aforementioned, he commenced his career as an artist at the age of 27), he was highly prolific and produced more than 2000 paintings in the last 10 years of his life. The style of Vincent van Gogh is very unique but it can be best described as post-impressionist [3]. This style was initiated as an extension of impressionism but, at the same time, a rebellion against its limitations. The use of vibrant colors, thick brushstrokes and real-life subjects were features shared with impressionism. Conversely, the emphasis of geometric forms, the distortion of reality to create an emotional effect and the unnatural use of color were novel and innovative features that allowed the subsequent development of this style into expressionism, of which van Gogh was a pioneer [4, 5]. "Looking at the stars always makes me dream . Why, I ask myself, shouldn't the shining dots of the sky be as accessible as the black dots on the map of France ...., we take death to reach a star" [5]. It was perhaps this kind of thought that urged van Gogh to paint "the Starry Night" (Saint Rmy, June 1889), one of his most iconic paintings. It is oil on canvas and it is currently housed (since 1941 it is part of the permanent collection) in the Museum of Modern Art of New York (New York, USA) [5]. The tree in the painting is a cypress, a species generally associated with cemeteries and mourning. It is in the shape of a flame and helps connect heaven, represented by a lively, striking and vibrant sky, with earth, represented by the little village at the bottom of the painting. At the same time, the village identifies order, while the stars in the sky are a explosion of colour and energy. Although some critics maintain that the village depicted in the painting is not real, others believe it represents views of Saint Rmy (Provence, France) from the neighbourhood of the asylum Van Gogh was confined to at the time the painting was made. This period is often referred to as "the Saint Rmy period". It is characterised by the use of thick, sweeping brushstrokes to create a sea of swirls and spirals, which revealed the mental turmoil he was suffering. The mental hospital was housed in a former monastery a mile and a half out of town, in a area of cornfields, olive trees and vineyards. His time at the hospital gave him the opportunity to reflect about his childhood and the values and beliefs from this time of his life. The church spire is an addition that is believed to be a reference to his childhood and his native land, the Netherlands [6]. The painting favours feeling, emotion and energy and puts aside the impressionist doctrine of truth to nature. However, Van Gogh was never very happy with the painting as he considered it a study, not a finished piece. As he