Differences in Chinese and Japanese Art :: Essays Papers

Differences in Chinese and Japanese Art Architecture In China, very few pieces of architecture are still intact. Most of the influential architecture left is the Forbidden City. One main idea in Chinese architecture is walled cities, like Beijing and Chang’an. These cities are rectangular in shape and have streets that run north, south, east, and west like a grid pattern. The Chinese architecture concentrates on the balance and symmetries. The palace in the center of the city is based on the idea of the harmony of the universe and its cosmic order. In Japan, the architecture is based on grand palaces. Huge palaces were built and protected with many weapons and fortified for strength. Narrow passageways and mazes of stairs are common in the castles. The sense of power in the country is obvious in the location of the buildings. The buildings in Japan are always asymmetrical, opposite of China. Paintings and Art In China, most of the artists worked not for money but for themselves, so their paintings and art were forms of individual expression. They tried to express themselves with symbols and personal terms. The most common types of paintings were literati paintings which were characterized by unassuming brushwork, subtle colors, and the use of landscape as personal meaning. Literati painters painted for each other and used canvases like handscrolls, hanging scrolls and album leaves. Many of the paintings expressed the painters personality. One Chinese painter, Ni Zan, has a famous painting called The Rongxi Studio. It is done in ink and has mountains, rocks, trees and a building. The painting has little detail and is painted with the dry brush technique, like Zan’s personality, a noble spirit. In Japan, the paintings and art concentrated on a love of nature, a sense of humor and asymmetry. Ink painting was popular and used the canvas as part of the picture. One student in Japan, Bunsei, painted a picture called Landscape. It is on a hanging scroll.

The Positive Effects of the French Revolution

Freedom of speech and press, equality before the law, right to property and security, and the separation of Church and State. All of these things we take for granted as our fundamental rights but until the French Revolution, these concepts were rare in most nations. The Revolution helped spread ideas of democracy through inspiring fear in the hearts of monarchs running absolutist governments as well as through the birthing of documents like the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen and the Napoleonic Code. These texts influenced the constitutions of many other countries as well as giving more rights and power to the middle class, which in turn took power away from the aristocracy. The events and aftermath of the French Revolution caused other countries to become more liberal and eventually become democratic countries. One way the Revolution influenced democracy is by helping the middle class to emerge and gain more power. By giving all free men rights to property and to an equal chance at an occupation, Napoleon destroyed the aristocratic system. A man could no longer make a living just from being descended from royal blood. He had to work just as hard as the next man to secure his position in life. By creating this almost capitalist economy, the French had set the bar for the other countries for economy as well as for standard of living. Eventually the rest of Europe would have to catch up with France but they could not keep the same social structure and aristocratic system while having a mercantilist economy. This also encouraged countries to abandon their social structure and give their people more rights. By conquering many of the surrounding European nations, Napoleon helped spread his democratic ideas to other countries. One of his best tools for doing this was the Napoleonic Code, a French civil code written by a commission of jurists in 1804. France had never had a set of laws, just community rules, so writing these laws was a big step towards democracy. The Code was not just instituted in France, but every European nation Napoleon conquered. Countries like Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal and Belgium all cite the Napoleonic Code as the basis for their laws. It stated that government jobs were to be given to the most qualified person and forbade any privileges to be given based on birth. These points took away the basis of feudalism in many of the largest European nations and created equality, without which a democracy can’t survive. The code also gives freedom of religion, which was rare in Europe. Up until the Revolution, the church had always had a large part in ruling countries but this rule put more power in the hands of the people and took away power from the clergy. France was successful in spreading democracy largely because they led by example. They gave other countries the idea that they could get what they wanted. When they were unsatisfied with their king they revolted and got who they wanted on the throne to rule instead, demonstrating one of the major principles of democracy, the right to choose their leader. When they were starving, they marched on Versailles and threatened the king and got bread delivered to them. Many countries were inspired by the success of the French Revolution and led their own revolts. When the oppressed slaves in Haiti and Santo Domingue learned of the conditions in France they led their own revolt and slaughtered their masters and families. This revolution led to the abolition of slavery in Haiti, as well as it becoming an independant republic in 1804. Similarly, after Napoleon invaded Spain in 1807, some Spanish colonies took advantage of the opportunity and revolted while Spain was distracted. Many people believed that the revolution did not lead to democracy, but only produced violence and murder. While it is true that many people were killed during the Revolution, especially the Reign of Terror, it was necessary for the revolution to succeed. Although possibly over-doing it, Robespierre had the interests of the people at heart and was dedicated to removing any and all opposition to his cause. With many anti-revolutionaries around to criticize and hinder the revolution, it might not have been successful and never have planted the seed of democracy in the hearts of Frenchmen. Edmund Burke, a member of British parliament, wrote just months after the fall of Bastille that he thinks it is better for change to happen over time than for there to be a dramatic social upheaval. The problem with that is that the countries in Europe couldn’t just wait around for a king to come down the line that wasn’t greedy and corrupt and wanted to give their people rights and freedoms. Louis XVI had piloted France to a 12,000,000 livre debt, much of it spent on personal expenses and it was only getting worse when the revolutionaries interfered. The bloodshed and violence was a wakeup call to the rest of Europe that the oppressed people would to whatever it took to gain there rights and freedoms. If they hadn’t fought back, feudalism might have been the type of government for another few centuries. In Rights of Man by Thomas Paine, he argues that each government is not hereditary and each generation should have the right to choose their government. Therefore, the French had the right to depose Louis XVI and establish a republic. Although having some flaws, the French Revolution was highly successful in influencing the growth of democracy. It was the cause of the creation of multiple documents stating that all men are equal, one of the basic principals of democracy. Those documents also gave men freedom of religion, made obtaining a position by birthright illegal and prevented secret laws from being published. These laws were not only in effect in France but in every part of Napoleon’s empire. The revolution inspired other countries to revolt with Haiti becoming the first black republic because of it. People were killed during the revolution but sacrifices had to be made in exchange for success, and you can’t argue with success.

Corruption In The Great Gatsby Essay - 822 Words

F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby is about a writer named Nick Carraway. He leaves the Midwest and comes to New York City in the spring of 1922 . Nick chases his American Dream and ends up living next door to a mysterious, party-loving millionaire, Jay Gatsby, who is across the water from his cousin, Daisy and her husband, Tom Buchanan. In The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald reveals that the upper class society is corrupt from money. This is best proven through Gatsby, Daisy, and Tom. Upperclassmen love to throw parties. One character in particular that loves to throw parties is Jay Gatsby. Jay Gatsby is a mysterious millionaire who only lives with his servants. Nick Carraway is our narrator of the story. Gatsby throws a party only†¦show more content†¦Gatsby assumed a new name to get away from his past. Gatsby was known as James Gatz. He changed his name to get away from his poor life as a little boy (Fitzgerald 98). Gatsby probably wanted to get away from his past because he lived with his parents who were â€Å"dirt poor farmers† (Fitzgerald 98). He wanted better life so he set out on his own at 17. He comes across a man named Dan Cody, who taught him everything he needed to know on how to act rich. (Fitzgerald 99-100) Upperclassmen always find ways to gain money. Daisy, Gatsby’s lover is only after his money. Daisy is only after money. Gatsby states, â€Å" Her voice is full of money† (Fitzgerald 120). Gatsby and Tom have an argument about who Daisy loves. Gatsby exclaims, â€Å"She only married you because I was poor and she was tired of waiting for me. It was a terrible mistake, but in her heart she never loved anyone except me† (Fitzgerald 130). Upperclassmen have different ways of obtaining their money. It might not be through righteous acts. Gatsby was able to get his money through bootlegging from his pharmacies. Tom demand that someone tell him who Gatsby is. â€Å"Who is this Gatsby anyhow?† demanded Tom suddenly. â€Å"Some big bootlegger† (Fitzgerald 107). This shows that Gatsby makes, distributes, and sells alcohol illegally. That’s how he got rich since prohibition was in action. Upperclassmen are blamed for things they didn’t do. Especially if it’s one of their flashy objects that were part of a crime. AfterShow MoreRelatedCorruption In The Great Gatsby Essay701 Words   |  3 Pageswas corrupt and selfish. In the Great Gatsby the upper class is shown as corruptive. The people in the upper class such as Tom and Daisy don’t really care about their actions because they feel invincible due to their amount of money and the power they have. Fitzgerald illustrates the corruption in the way upper class is care-less about their behavior. The way people in the upper class behave toward others and in society demonstrates how corruptive they are. At Gatsby parties the people behaved asRead MoreEssay on The Corruption of the American Dream in The Great Gatsby1302 Words   |  6 Pages On April 10, 1925 F. Scott Fitzgerald published The Great Gatsby, a novel that would later become one of the best known pieces of classic literature in history. However, at the time of its publication, Gatsby was fairly unpopular ad the reviews were never consistent. As shocking as it may seem, I believe it is because Fitzgerald’s intelligence and creativity levels were way ahead of his time, which is evident when one pays close attention to the themes of the novel. ForgivenessRead MoreEssay about Corruption in The Great Gatsby1141 Words   |  5 Pagesdancing, and jazz music in the upper class parties. While gradually he realized that all these joyous and orgiastic images were merely a disguise for their holl owness in spirit after the disillusionment, which inspired him the original idea of the Great Gatsby. Therefore, the book can be regarded as Fitzgerald’s autobiography to some degree. The book was published in 1925 and received a lot of compliments. T.S Eloit remarked it as the first step that American fiction has taken since Henry James. Read MoreEssay on The Great Gatsby: The Corruption of the American Dream1010 Words   |  5 Pagesnovel ‘The Great Gatsby’ where there are a variety of characters that are living or seeking The American Dream. Whether it was Daisy and Tom Buchanan who were supposedly living the perfect lifestyle, Jay Gatsby who found himself submerged in money and always throwing parties for the higher class population of New York as well as Daisy, or Myrtle Wilson who throughout the novel seeked to be a high class woman, they all ended up unhappy or lost their own lives as a consequence. 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Scott Fitzgerald uses many different metaphors and symbolisms to express his point.nbsp; In this essay the point that I wish to make is how Fitzgerald uses colors to develop image, feelings, and scenery depiction to let the reader feel the emotions and other aspects being portrayed in that particular part in the book.nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; Like every other essay one must address the major pointsRead MoreBroken Dreams and Fallen Themes: the Corruption of the American Dream in the Great Gatsby1477 Words   |  6 PagesThemes In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald employs the use of characters, themes, and symbolism to convey the idea of the American Dream and its corruption through the aspects of wealth, family, and status. In regards to wealth and success, Fitzgerald makes clear the growing corruption of the American Dream by using Gatsby himself as a symbol for the corrupted dream throughout the text. In addition, when portraying the family the characters in Great Gatsby are used to expose the corruption growing inRead More Corruption of the American Dream in the Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald1438 Words   |  6 PagesThemes In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald employs the use of characters, themes, and symbolism to convey the idea of the American Dream and its corruption through the aspects of wealth, family, and status. In regards to wealth and success, Fitzgerald makes clear the growing corruption of the American Dream by using Gatsby himself as a symbol for the corrupted dream throughout the text. In addition, when portraying the family the characters in Great Gatsby are used to expose the corruption growing in theRead MoreThe American Dream By James Truslow Adams1243 Words   |  5 PagesFollowing the end of the Great War, America became a inward, highly materialistic society, focused on improving itself and remaining distant from foreign issues. 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