How does Ethnocentricity cause Conflict?

During the majority of the British colonization of Australia, relationships between the Aboriginal Australians, and the English settlers were not too great, mostly due to the ethnocentric views the colonizers had of the natives. It was because of their ethnocentricity that many aboriginals and settlers were killed. Many innocent lives taken because of the British's incapability of accepting those that were different than them. The British viewed the aboriginals as animalistic, barbarous, and savage. They were very different then the British and this was not something that the colonizers were ready to accept. On one occasion, the British came across many aboriginal crops. This food was very different from their own, so they decided to take out all of these crops and replace them with ones that they liked to eat, such as corn. This created a conflict between the natives and the settlers. The Aboriginals didn't like that the British were taking liberties with their land, and thought this action unjust. However, the British viewed the natives as animals, who couldn't own any land. Another example of the ethnocentricity of the British was when they decided to 'help' the half-caste children. The British took away children of half-native and half-white ethnicity and put them into a boot camp in hopes that they would breed with white men and produce white offsprings. They tried to turn the half-caste children into "pure-bloods." It was unfortunate, in the eyes of the British settlers (who were now referred to as Australians), to be of Aboriginal decent, and they believed that it was their obligation to help those who were doomed to have been. This aroused yet another conflict with the Aboriginals. It was their belief that the British/Australians were stealing their children, which, from a neutral point of view, they were. Had the Australians have been more accepting of different cultures and minor differences, they could have had a great harmonious relationship with the Aboriginals.

Julius Caesar Duet

I will be doing a duet of the play Julius Caesar written by William Shakespeare with my partner, Ahmed Abdel Wahab. In this duet, Decius is trying to persuade Caesar to come to the senate with him. Caesar does not want to go because Calpurnia has foreboded that something bad will happen to him should he go, but Decius is trying to convince him otherwise because it is part of the conspiracy plan.

The significance of this passage is that the whole conspiracy plot, and Caesar's life, depends on his decision to go, or to not go, to the capitol. The conspiracy wouldn't have taken place, and Caesar wouldn't have died, if he had obeyed Calpurnia and stayed at home.

This takes place in Act 2 Scene 2, lines 65-107. And is written as follows.

CAESAR: Shall Caesar send a lie?
Have I in conquest stretch'd mind arm so far,
To be afeard to tell greybeards the truth?
Decius, go tell them Caesar will not come.

DECIUS: Most mighty Caesar, let me know some cause,
Lest I be laugh'd at when I tell them so.

CAESAR: The cause is at my will: I will not come;
That is enough to satisfy the Senate.
But for your private satisfation,
Because I love you, I will let you know:
Calpurnia here, my wife, stays me at home.
She dreamt tonight she saw my statue,
Which like a fountain with an hundred spouts
Did run pure blood; and many lusty Romans
Came smiling, and did bathe their hands in it.
And these does she apply for warnings and portents
And evils imminent; and on her knee
Hath begg'd that I will stay at home today.

DECIUS: This dream is all amiss interpreted;
It was a vision fair and fortunate:
Your statue sputing blood in many pipes,
In which so many smiling Romans bath'd,
Signifies that from your great Rome shall suck
Reviving blood, and that great men shall press
For tintures, stains, relics, and cognizance.
This by Calpurnia's dream is signified.

CAESAR: And this way have you well expounded it.

DECIUS: I have, when you have heard what I can say:
And know it now. The Senate have concluded
To give this day a crown to mighty Caesar.
If you shall send them word you will not come,
Their minds may change. Besides, it were a mock
Apt to be render'd, for some one to say,
'Break up the Senate till another time,
When Caesar's wife shall meet with better dreams.'
If Caesar hide himself, shall they not whisper,
'Lo, Caesar is afraid'?
Pardon em, Caesar; for my dear dear love
To your proceeding bids me tell you this,
And reason to my love is liable.

Caesar: How foolish do your fears seem now, Calpurnia!
I am ashamed I did yield to them.

Give me my robe, for I will go.

My Learner Profile

I am a Gestalt learner with an A profile.

I learn best when class is fun, interesting, and enjoyable. Also, I am a pretty quick learner, so just a few minutes of my full attention is all that is required for me to fully understand a topic. Also, I generally try harder when I am motivated. Motivation is a great way for me to help myself raise my grade. I need to learn more in school, because the pace that we learn at is usually pretty slow (with the exception of Mr. Burk's IM2 Math Class). I usually have a pretty good memory, which is one of my strengths, so if you can stick a topic into my brain, it will most likely stay there forever.

A strategy that would be beneficial to me in learning would be organization. This is one work habit that I could improve on. In the past, I have lost a couple of assignments that should have been in my folder. This can be due to bringing the wrong folder to class, or leaving materials at school. What I need to do, is create an organization system, that will work for me and ensure that I always have what I need, when I need.

Something I would like my teachers to know about me is that I am a quick learner, and that I am always ready for a challenge. Very often, teachers repeat simple concepts over and over again, to instill their thoughts into my brain. What many teachers do not know about me as an individual, is that I do not need this elaboration. If somebody makes a mistake when saying something, I will automatically comprehend the message that is being conveyed. I do not feel the need to correct this mistake made, because nobody would benefit from this action.

Society's Impact on Art in the Renaissance

 This is a sculpture of a naked man called "The Statue of David" sculpted by Michelangelo during the early sixteenth century in Italy.  This sculpture reflects Renaissance society in the sense that David is anatomically accurate. This is shown in this sculpture through many techniques that Michelangelo uses. The muscles on David's stomach and arms to the veins on the statue's left hand to the esophagus and windpipes on his neck to the ribcages directly below the statue's chest all demonstrate an understanding for the human body. This shows that in the Renaissance, more knowledge about the human body was obtained and discovered due to the dissections of cadavers, medical advancements, and curiosity of the unknown. During the Renaissance, art reflected their time period's society and what was interesting to the people of the Renaissance, and it's purpose was to be as beautiful and realistic as it could be, however in the 21st century, Art has more purposes than just pleasing to the eyes, it is a tool for teaching and understanding, a form of talent, and a visual to enjoy. With the exception of the Middle Ages, art has gained relevance throughout time and is a very important aspect of our community and culture. 

The Most Crucial Driving Force of the Renaissance

Lorenzo Medici

Patrons were the most crucial force of the Renaissance because it funded Exploration, which was one of the most important way people in this time period learned more about the world and themselves. Patrons also helped develop the rest of the driving forces such as Urbanization, Trade, and Banking thanks to their vast supply of money.