The Last Supper Painting by Leonardo da Vinci | Analysis

The Last Supper Painting by Leonardo da Vinci | Analysis Through out history there have been many great artists who have made an impression on society as we see it today. Such as Michael Angelo, Raphael, Donatello and Leonardo Davinci. (now you know where the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles got their names). These men took the chance and did what man had never done or tried, they took art to a whole new level. They did this by pushing limitations and elevated man through their paintings, drawings or sculptures. Many of men have tried to reproduce these arts, but couldnt get them as perfect as the artist themselves. The one man and his works we will be discussing in this paper is Leonardo Davinci, The Last Supper, his sketches, Humanism and how he has had an impact on society. Leonardo Davinci Life beginnings of Davinci Davincis life began when he was born out of wedlock on April 15, 1452 to the parents of  Piero Davinci who was a Notary and to a peasant woman named Caterina in a small town called  Vinci. His father raised him most of his life until later on when he married. Between his father  and biological mother they had a total of 17 children. Because Leonardo was born out of  wedlock he was not worthy of any formal education so he couldnt become a notary like his  father, or become a physician or any other noble profession of that time and period. Now Davincis father saw that he had talent at 16 years old and sent him to be an  apprentice to a Florentine artist named Andrea Verrochio. This is where Davinci began his  career as an artist. As Verrochio taught him many skills Davinci talents emerged as an artist and  a sculptor. While still a student of Verrochios Leonardo was accepted into the painters Guild of  Florence. In 1475 Verrochio and his student Leonardo Davinci together painted the Baptism of  Christ. After the painting Verrocchio realized Davinci was a better painter than him and that is  when he decided to put up his paint brushes for good and retired. Now Davinci was known to be a left handed and dyslexic as well as being a  procrastinating perfectionist who left many of his paintings unfinished and even destroyed some. The mystery will go unsolved to as why Davinci left a lot of his work unfinished. Maybe it was  because he was bored or went on to other projects. We also will never know why he destroyed a  lot of his own work, was it because it wasnt as perfect as he wanted it to be. No one will ever  know the answer, but Davinci himself. However Davinci did finish his first solo painting in  1478 of the Madonna and Child. In 1481 he started painting the Adoration of Magi but never  finished. But in this painting he did reveal what type of technique he used by painting with a  dark surface first than adding elements of light. Now in 1482 Leonardo entered the service of Duke of Milan. The seventeen years that  he spent with the Duke, The Duke always kept him busy painting, designing weapons buildings  and machinery. After the Duke was overthrown Davinci fled to Venice with his assistant and  friend the mathematician Luca Pacioli where he became employed as a military architect and  engineer, devising methods to defend the city from naval attack. In 1500 he returned to Florence  where he created the cartoon of The Virgin and Child with St. John the Baptist. 1502 he entered the service of Cesare Borgia who was the son of Pope Alexander VI as  military architect and engineer. Maps were rare and probably a new concept, but Leonardo  created a map of Borgias stronghold and the township. After seeing the designs and liking  them Borgia made Leonardo his chief military engineer and architect. He was also know for  creating a map while working on another project of constructing a dam that would lead from the  sea to Florence and this would allow a supply of water to sustain the canal during all seasons. Even though Leonardo suffered from paralysis of his right hand he still went on to draw  and paint while teaching others how to paint and draw. Now it is said when Leonardo passed  away on May 2, 1519 the king of France was there by his side cradling his head in his arms. Leonarado Davinci: The original Renaissance man When one thinks of a Renaissance man, what names would one think of? They may  think of Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Michael Angelo, Christopher Columbus, William  Shakespeare. Even though these men were very smart, well educated and well rounded for their  time, the only man that is known to be the Original Renaissance man is Leonardo Davinci.,  everything you could vision, do, or invent he had already done, vision or invented. Davinci had many talents; he was a sculptor even though none of his sculptures  survived. He was also a artist, an anatomist, a biologist, a botanist, an engineer, an inventor, a  meteorologist, a musician, a physicist and a writer. He was known to become a master in every  field that he studied. Like Albert Einstein he was a genius well ahead of his time by hundreds  of years. If one were to define the meaning of Renaissance man that definition would be  Leonardo Davinci. Davincis inventions and the modern world Davinci kept his writings, and drawings that pertained to art, science and philosophy in  notebooks which contained about 13,000 pages through out the course of his lifetime. Davincis  sketches have helped science in many ways. Such as his in-depth drawings of the human  anatomy. These sketches have assisted doctors to diagnose diseases and illness in people, and  because these sketches have been in great detail they have enable surgeons to perform better  during surgery. If it wasnt for Leonardo Davinci going into the morgue at night and stealing  bodies, to do autopsies then studying the human body, who knows we might not have any  sketches that is so elaborate of the bone and muscle structure, along with the reproductive  system as we know it today. His excellent description of the human body were well drawn and  easy to understand in his notebooks. In 1505 400 years before the Wright brothers launched their plane the Kitty Hawk,  Davinci had already designed a flying machine. Even though it was just an idea and remained  that way, he gave man wings and left them with an ego. This idea was considered to be part of a  new vision of man as and as a co-creator, almost equal to God. The Famous Last Supper The Last Supper and Humanism Now while Davinci still was serving for the Duke of Milan he was commissioned to paint The Last Supper. Davinci knowing how important this was, he had to decide the location of where the painting would be painted. After great though he decided the Last Supper should be painted on the dinning room wall of the monastery were the monks sat down to eat dinner, located in Santa Maria Delle Grazi. The reasoning behind this was every time the monks would sit down to dinner it would be like sitting down with Jesus and his disciples for their last meal. Therefore Davinci knew that when the Last Supper was painted before, the painters always focused on the breaking of the bread, not on the moment Jesus told the apostles that one would betray him. So Leonardo set out to do just that. First he wanted to bring realism to the Mural, and he actually wanted to show the dramatic moment when Jesus told his closest friends (disciples) that one of them would betray him. After the announcement there is s uch uproar amongst all the disciples, which at this time Leonardo captures, showing each of their reactions? Now the first step was to duplicate everything in the dinning room from the table at which Jesus and his apostles sat at, to the dinning hall windows, and to the illuminated wall that appears to be lit by the window of the room. The Second was to start painting, Leonardo look at how other artist isolated Judas, and putting him on one side of the table as if he was being punished. Leonardo seats him with the others, who are arranged in four groups of three around Jesus. (They say three is considered to be a holy number, such as the Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.) The other disciples arguing and looking at one another except the one on the right hand of Jesus who is Judas trying to find out who will betray him. But what Leonardo does he puts shadows around the guilty one. And the silence of Judas and his clutched hands had given him away. Now it is said the Leonardo used real subjects for The Last supper, and that he painted them one by one, putting them in where they belonged., and the person who he choose to pose as Jesus was not affected by sin. When he went to paint Judas he searched every where, and couldnt find anyone that would fit the description he was looking for. Until one day he stumbled upon this man in prison who was sentence to die for the life of crime and murder, that fit his description of a man who had long shaggy hair and was dark skinned, his face that had deceit it in and someone would betray his best friend no matter what the cost. It is said that after Davinci had finished his perfect painting, he told the guard to take the man a way. But the man looked at Davinci before being taken away he asked him if he remembered him, and he said no. He then Looked up into the heavens and said : Oh lord have I fallen so low, then turning his face to the painter he cried, Leonardo Davinci, look at me again, for I am the same man you painted just seven years ago as the figure of Christ (ANGELFAIRY.US, para. 6). We do know that this picture has a lot of human emotions, which would be the first of its kind. Also we do know during the Renaissance period artist did find ways of expressing themselves through their pieces of work, such as adding symbols that would convey someones thoughts and opinions. Also Artist also started adding realistic features to their painting to them look more human. This is where the concept of Humanism came into place. Philosophy of Humanism Chirtianity views on the Last Supper When The Last Supper is mentioned, what comes to mind? Is it the last meal that is offered to a death row inmate before he is put to death for the crimes he committed: Is it the last meal that we partake in before going to bed at night, it could be? But it actually is the last meal Jesus and his twelve disciples partook of the night before he was crutisfied. Now, no one knows what was exactly eaten at this meal, but we do know according to the Bible there was bread and wine at the table. Now Christians of all backgrounds of all religions believe The Last Supper was an important event, and no matter what name you may give it (sacrament, communion, eucharist) it has the same meaning each time they partake of it. They believe it is a quite time that is set aside to remember his death, and it should be always be done in a respectful manner to honor him and to thank him for giving his life for us on the cross. Christians also believe it should be a time when a person also reflects on his or her life. No matter how many times commuion is taken the bread will always symbolize his body and the wine will also symbolizes his blood. thats why he said to Take this bread and eat in remembrance of me for this is my body, then he took the wine and said drink for this my blood that I will shed for you do drink in remembrance of me. Christians believe when he partook in the last supper, he was trying to tell them that we were going to be persecuted for what we believe, and we may even reject him so no harm comes to them. How the Last Supper Influenced Contemporary Society? Davinci Code and The Last Supper Art is about suggestions, not answers. When you have an answer, if yourre not like most people, you tend to stop looking. With Great art, you never stop looking. (Art History for Dummies, 2007, p.164). Since Leonardos Davincis death there has been many theories about his paintings, some are lead to believe that there may be hidden images in them. But not until recently when Dan Browns book and the movie the The Davinci Code has there been such conterversy. He posed a lot of questions such as if what ifs such as What if Jesus was married, had a child with Mary Magdalene? Was he member of a secret society or the Priory of Sion. Mr. Brown has even gone as far as saying instead of John in the picture that the woman sitting next to Christ is Mary Magdalene. Many Catholics and Christians around the world have been intrigued in Mr Browns thoughts and thats why they go on to read the book and watch the movie. Is it truth or is it fiction. It is just what another man or men are led to believe and the mysteries that lie beyond Davincs paintings. Mr. Brown at least puts the questions out there along with other people who have gone on to do the research for themselves. It is not to question the Bible, but about what ifs. One just has to examine The Last Supper for themselves to see if these conspircys are true and it is up to them to believe or not.

BCG Growth Share Matrix :: essays research papers

Dublin Institute of Technology MSc COMPUTING SCIENCE (Information Technology for Strategic Management) BCG Growth Share Matrix Research Assignment No. 2 The BCG Growth-Share Matrix The BCG Growth-Share Matrix is a portfolio planning model that was developed by Bruce Henderson of the Boston Consulting Group in the early 1970's. It is based on the observation that organisations business units can be classified into four categories based on combinations of market growth and market share relative to the largest competitor. Market growth serves as a proxy for industry attractiveness, and relative market share serves as a proxy for competitive advantage. The growth-share matrix thus maps the business unit positions within these two important determinants of profitability. Growth Share Matrix (http://www.netmba.com/strategy/matrix/bcg/) This framework assumes that an increase in relative market share will result in an increase in the generation of cash. This assumption often is true because of the experience curve; increased relative market share implies that the firm is moving forward on the experience curve relative to its competitors, thus developing a cost advantage. A second assumption is that a growing market requires investment in assets to increase capacity and therefore results in the consumption of cash. Thus the position of a business on the growth-share matrix provides an indication of its cash generation and its cash consumption. Henderson reasoned that the cash required by rapidly growing business units could be obtained from the firm's other business units that were at a more mature stage and generating significant cash. By investing to become the market share leader in a rapidly growing market, the business unit could move along the experience curve and develop a cost advantage. From this reasoning, the BCG Growth-Share Matrix was born. The four categories are: o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Dogs. Dogs have low market share and a low growth rate and thus neither generate nor consume a large amount of cash. However, dogs are cash traps because of the money tied up in a business that has little potential. Such businesses are candidates for divestiture. o  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Question marks. Question marks are growing rapidly and consume large amounts of cash, but because they have low market shares they do not generate much cash. A question mark has the potential to gain market share and become a star, and eventually a cash cow when the market growth slows. If the question mark does not succeed in becoming the market leader, then after perhaps years of cash consumption it will degenerate into a dog when the market growth declines.

Environmental Values Paper Essay

Ecofeminism like other groups advocating the ideals of feminism is a particular distinction applied to women whose great efforts are directed towards the interrelations of society and nature. Greta Claire Gaard (1993) pointed out that the term ecofeminism is â€Å"more descriptive of a concern with cultivating an ecological ethic that goes beyond concepts of social justice† (p. 18). Ecofeminism is defined as â€Å"a value system, a social movement, and a practice, which offers political analysis which explore the links between androcentrism and environmental destruction† (p. 18). In other words, what Claire Gaard is pointing out is that ecofeminism is an awareness that starts with the understanding that the abuse of nature is closely â€Å"linked to Western Man’s attitude toward women† (p. 18). That is, according to Claire Gaard, there is a parallel in men’s thinking between their right to exploit nature, on the one hand, and the use they make of women on the other. Pluralism and environmental pragmatism on the other hand is not new to many of us. Thus, these two were not given much introduction in this paper though they are equally important topic. The most important principles of ecofeminism The most important principle of ecofeminism is to ensure that progress is tempered by an ethic of care for nature, and to create â€Å"sustainable level of progress that respect the needs of nature as well as the true needs of humans† (Meyer, M. K. & Prugl, E. 1999, p. 227). The first principle which emphasized on the care of nature is very important amidst the issue of climate change, globalization, maintaining ecological balance. Today, we are all aware of the enormous environmental problems created by human exploitations and abuses of nature. This includes deforestations through illegal cutting of trees and illegal farming, over fishing, exploitations of mineral reserves, conversion of lands to industrial and residential use, and so forth. Added to these are the burden of carbon dioxide emission of millions of cars around the world which are fast building greenhouse gasses that are creating global warming and climate change. With out ecological balance, our planet is doomed to become like a huge furnace that is no longer fit to live with. The ecofeminist emphasis on the ethic of care for the nature is consistent with the call of ecological scientists for everyone to help preserve our planet through taking care of our environment. Although this principle implies a double meaning, but they are right to say that progress should not be an excuse for environmental abuses and degradation. The other important principle of ecofeminism is to create ‘sustainable level of progress that respects the needs of nature as well as the true needs of humans. ’ Concern for the needs of nature may be different from simply preserving the nature it self, and sustainable level of progress requires careful intervention on the part of the government to implement protective laws that will ensure balance between the uses of ecological product and the sources. That is, with greater demands for these ecological products and with little efforts to replenish them, most of what we have now will soon become extinct. Emphasis on sustainable progress based on the needs of nature and true human needs is very important because it determines our future and the future of our mother earth. The most important principle of pluralism Pluralism confronts us in all aspect of our lives. Plurality pervades our society and it encompasses the different political, ethical, philosophical, religious, and cultural belief of any given society. Two most important principle of pluralism according to Timothy J. Demy and Gary P. Stewart (2000) is the so-called ‘distributive justice and the retributive justice (p. 75). The pluralist principle of distributive justice includes the emphasis on equity, equality, and need. As Barbara Mellers and Jonathan Baron explain, distributive justice is concern with fairness which defines the â€Å"apportionment of rewards, with the goal of facilitating social interaction† (p. 90). In other words, the pluralist principle of distributive justice is concern about equality and that justice and fairness is equally serving to all races regardless of beliefs and all barriers imposed by racist and discriminatory segment of the society. This is very important in our society for us to be able to live peacefully and meaningfully. The other most important pluralist principle is the retributive justice. Retributive justice according to Demy has to do with punishment of the crimes committed. In other words, crimes deserve punishment, â€Å"what one sow is what one reaps. † I believe that this important principle in order for the society to maintain order, peace, and security. State punishments of crimes committed are just as they are within the definition of the law. Retributive justice makes our society orderly, peacefully, and securely for everyone. The most important principle of environmental pragmatism There are perhaps several important principles of environmental pragmatism but due to space limitation, I only discuss in this paper the most important one. This principle is that, â€Å"the environmental issues have important value and ethical components that must be addressed in the formulation of environment policy† (Minteer, B. A. & Manning, R. E. 2003, p. 220). This principle is true not only in the context of the writer but in the context of the reality that confronts us, regarding the problem of global warming and climate change. In this context, environmental issues are very important in the formulation of environment policy because it concerns the future of our society and the future of our world. Which principle best complement my values and ethical beliefs regarding environmental issues. While ecofeminism provides us understanding about how sustainable level of progress can be attained with out abusing the environment, and the principle of pluralism showed us the way to live a peaceful life and secure life, but it is the principle of environmental pragmatism that best complement my values and ethical beliefs regarding environmental issues. I would like to emphasize further this view by entreating everyone wherever part of the globe to be environmentally conscious. As for me, I firmly believe that all environmental issues are important issues that can affect our lives not only in our generation but also the next generations and onwards. We must all be aware of the impact of pollution that we tossed up in to the atmosphere and try to do our part to stop the things that pollutes our society, and our planet. Let us rally our selves in support of the effort of preventing global warming and climate change to get worse.I believe it not to late yet to act on this problem. References Demy, T. J. & Stewart, G. P. (2000) Politics and Public Policy USA: Kregel Publication Gaard, G. C. (1993) Ecofeminism USA: Temple University Press Mellers, B. A. & Baron, J. (1993) Psychological Perspective son Justice USA: Cambridge University Press Meyer, M. K. & Prugl, E. (1999) Gender Politics in Global Governance USA: Rowman & Littlefield Minteer, B. A. & Manning, R. E. 2003, p. 220 Reconstructing Conservation USA: Island Press

Kernel Sentence Definition and Examples

In transformational grammar, a kernel sentence is a  simple declarative construction with only one verb. A kernel sentence is always active and affirmative. Also known as a basic sentence or a kernel. The concept of the kernel sentence was introduced in 1957 by linguist Z.S. Harris and featured in the early work of linguist Noam Chomsky. Examples and Observations According to writer Shefali Moitra, A kernel sentence does not contain any optional expression and is simple in the sense that it is unmarked in mood, therefore, it is indicative. It is also unmarked in voice, therefore, it is active rather than passive. And, finally, it is unmarked in polarity, therefore, it is a positive rather than a negative sentence. An example of a kernel sentence is The man opened the door, and an example of a non-kernel sentence is The man did not open the door.M.P. Sinha, PhD, scholar and writer, offers more examples: Even a sentence with an adjective, gerund, or infinitive is not a kernel sentence.(i) This is a black cow is made of two kernel sentences.This is a cow and The cow is black.(ii) I saw them crossing the river is made of I saw them and They were crossing the river.(iii) I want to go is made of I want and I go. Chomsky on Kernel Sentences According to American linguist, Noam Chomsky, [E]very sentence of the language will either belong to the kernel or will be derived from the strings underlying one or more kernel sentences by a sequence of one or more transformations. . . . [I]n order to understand a sentence it is necessary to know the kernel sentences from which it originates (more precisely, the terminal strings underlying these kernel sentences) and the phrase structure of each of these elementary components, as well as the transformational history of development of the given sentence from those kernel sentences. The general problem of analyzing the process understanding is thus reduced, in a sense, to the problem of explaining how kernel sentences are understood, these being considered the basic content elements from which the usual, more complex sentences of real life are formed by transformational development. Transformations British linguist P. H. Matthews says, A kernel clause which is both a sentence and a simple sentence, like His engine has stopped or The police have impounded his car, is a kernel sentence. Within this model, the construction of any other sentence, or any other sentence that consists of clauses, will be reduced to that of kernel sentences wherever possible. Thus the following: The police have impounded the car which he left outside the stadium. is a kernel clause, with transforms Have the police impounded the car which he left outside the stadium? and so on. It is not a kernel sentence, as it is not simple. But the relative clause, which he left outside the stadium, is a transform of the kernel sentences He left a car outside the stadium, He left the car outside the stadium, He left a bicycle outside the stadium, and so on. When this modifying clause is set aside, the remainder of the main clause, The police have impounded the car, is itself a kernel sentence. Sources Chomsky, Noam. Syntactic Structures, 1957; rev. ed, Walter de Gruyter, 2002. Matthews, P. H. Syntax. Cambridge University Press, 1981. Moitra, Shefali. Generative Grammar and Logical Form. Logic Identity and Consistency. Edited by Pranab Kumar Sen. Allied Publishers, 1998. Sinha, M.P., PhD, Modern Linguistics. Atlantic Publishers, 2005.