Friday, January 31, 2020
Globalization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 20
Globalization - Essay Example Modern infrastructure development has helped bring the dream of globalization closer home. Today, Countries no longer make decisions on their own but guided by international policy. The collaboration between nation states of the world means that we are all responsible for the future of this world together. Globalization has economic grounds. Without the financial gain, there is no globalization. However, economies did not create globalization but globalization largely depends on them. Because of technological advancement, globalization is achievable today. International business can be done all thanks to technological progress easily. Technology infrastructure has improved the way we do business and has positive effects on globalization. (Castells, 2006) Business outside the global perspective kills the business driving home the point each company aims at achieving international standards. The nation state is central to regulating the approach to globalization. The world of today is marred by lots of problem. Most of these problems are an identity-related crisis. Religion is as a platform for the war in the Middle East. Religion is but one of the avenues for globalization and cannot be used to advance national let alone international agendas. It is impossible for a nation to read from a confined script on matters nation and at the same time embrace globalization. The Middle East continued conflict is as a result of shutting off globalization and embracing religious backdrops in everything they do. Such restrictions and backgrounds breed resistance not towards religion alone but fundamentalism Europe and America appreciate the fact that slavery helped built the societies we see today in Europe. Slaves from West Africa worked on sugar plantations in the Caribbean Islands. While the slaves provide the labor, the French provided capital and the English machinery and industry. The three worked hand in hand and eventually saw the industrial revolution.
Thursday, January 23, 2020
Politics of and Without Difference Essay -- Politics Political Multicu
Politics of and Without Difference The sociological concepts of "Politics of Difference" and "Politics Without Difference" are more similar than their names suggest, but they are at the same time extremely different. Both political ideals come from progressive civil rights principles beginning during the Enlightenment in Europe and evolving throughout The Civil Rights Movement in the United States in the 60's. The fundamental basis of the two concepts is that all people are created equal, and that all people should have equal political and civil rights. The disagreement between proponents of these two concepts begins with the question "Is it possible that the ideal of equal treatment of all persons under the law and the attempt to eliminate group differences under the law in fact perpetuates oppression of certain groups?" (Harris, 1995). Supporters of the ideal of "Politics of Difference" argue that the answer to this question is yes. Without minimizing the value of the concept of assimilation central to the "Politics Without Difference" ideal, the supporters of "Politics of Difference" feel that it has at times prevented full equality for some oppressed groups. By definition, the ideal of "Politics Without Difference" is a concept of total assimilation of every group so that no readily identifiable majority is evident. Supporters promote the equal treatment of all groups as the primary way to achieve justice. This concept asserts the equal moral worth of all persons (regardless of their group characteristics) and the right of all to participate in the institutions of society (Harris). Supporters of "Politics of Difference", while conceding the value of the ideal, contend that it has not truly liberated some oppressed g... ...ferences will always be a major factor in Texas school policy development. South Texas must lead the way for the rest of the state in truly including every group and overcoming cultural differences. Stakes are higher here than in any other region in Texas. The futures of generations of children in Texas are our legacy whether we win or lose in our efforts to meet everyone's needs. References Astuto, T. A., Clark, D. L., Read, A. McGree, K., Fernandez, L. P., (1994). Roots of reform: Challenging the assumptions that control change in education. P. 26. Phi Delta Kappa Educational Foundation. Bloomington, Indiana. Kerchis, C., Z., and Young, I., M., (1995). Social movements and the politics of difference. In D. A. Harris (Ed.), Multiculturalism from the margins: Non-dominant voices on difference and diversity (pp. 1-28). Westport, Conn., Bergin and Garvey.
Wednesday, January 15, 2020
HIV sexual risk behaviors and perception of risk among college students: implications for planning interventions Essay
Final Project Proposal Introduction à à à à à à Since its discovery in 1983, scientists have worked tirelessly on determining the origins and biological mechanisms of the HIV virus. The gravity of the HIV virus cannot be understated as approximately 25 million people have contracted HIV and developed AIDS since the discovery of the virus. During the progression of knowledge surrounding the virus, statistical analysis of HIV related data displays regional, socioeconomic, and racial inconsistencies regarding HIV infection. From a global perspective, the discrepancies in HIV prevalence between wealthy and low income countries are unsettling to say the least. For instance, Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for approximately 2/3 of 34 million individuals currently living with the HIV virus. Superficial analysis of such statistics might invite one to presume that African sexuality must account for this large discrepancy, however, to develop a complete and nuanced understanding of the epidemic, it is important to delve into the specifics of resource allocation, gender inequalities, and access to adequate medical care. Similarly, a superficial analysis of HIV statistics might cause one to believe HIV epidemic largely affects only middle and low income countries and need not be extensively discussed within developed nations. Such lines of thinking fail to address the fact that international connectivity through economics and travel make the HIV virus capable of permeating national borders. à à à à à à Due to the international risk posed by the virus, it is crucial that scientist and policy makers from high, medium, and low income countries make a collective attempt to understand the root causes of HIV infection discrepancies. By understanding inconsistencies in HIV infection, one is then able to appropriately address the issues he or she has identified. What is important to note is that approaches to specific issues exacerbating HIV infection discrepancies may have to be altered for respective communities. In the same way ,one must understand factors accounting for HIV infection inconsistencies, one must similarly note that the nuances of a given community will significantly impact the efficacy of a prevention mechanism. Although the nuances of a given community may differ, we propose that the majority of root causes associated with increased risk of HIV infection are maintained irrespective of national borders. For the purposes of our research, we ho pe to analog the potential factors leading to increased risk of infection within African communities as well as marginalized subpopulations within the United States, specifically on the Williams College Campus. For all intents and purposes, the research we conduct at Williams College cannot wholly reflect all college campus environments, however, we anticipate that our research will provide an analytical and informative way of understanding increased risk of marginalized subpopulations. à à à à à à To ensure an indebt analysis, we will be discussing the role of gender dynamics in increasing an individualââ¬â¢s risk to HIV infection. Specifically, we aim to observe whether there is a correlation to gendered sexuality and increased risk behaviors. Utilizing the piece written by Patrica McFadden, we have come to understand the correlation between sexuality and power, and how the lacking focus on female sexuality has consequently limited their power. Given the previous statement, one can then presume that the inflation of male sexuality has drastically altered the power dynamic between the two sexes. Our research at Williams College will highlight possible restrictions on female students may disallow them from protecting themselves. For instance, a female student may not feel comfortable insisting upon contraceptive, and this inability to insist upon contraceptive significantly increases her likeliness of infection. Within a setting such as Williams College, one might inquire how an individual would not insist upon protection given the literature surrounding the HIV virus. To answer this question, one has to acknowledge that stigma and cultural surveillance are powerful deterrents to women taking the sexual initiative. The cultural reinforcement of passive female sexuality, thus the de facto male sexuality is dominant. Since only the male sexuality is acknowledged as dominant, the male will be considered the actor who ultimately initiates and determines the details of the sexual encounter. A potentially interesting point of inquiry would be to get an understanding of to what extents females and males on the Williams campus relate to typified gender sexualities. Results à à à à à à The survey was generally short and involved three questions. The first question that we asked was in regards to how many students that people think are infected with HIV/AIDS on campus. The choices available to the respondents were ââ¬Å"there is no HIV/AIDS on campusâ⬠, ââ¬Å"1 to 3 studentsâ⬠, ââ¬Å"4 to 10 studentsâ⬠, ââ¬Å"10 to 30 studentsâ⬠and ââ¬Å"30+â⬠. According to the results of the survey , Black Men answered that there were more than 4 cases of HIV/AIDS on this campus. Among all the groups involved in the surveyà ¸ Black Women were the only group to answer that they believed that over 30 students were infected by HIV/AIDS. On their part, white women were of the idea that there were less than 10 HIV/AIDS cases on campus. Neither White Men nor White Women answered that there were over 10 cases of HIV/AIDS, and comparatively no Black Women or Black Men answered that there was no presence of HIV/AIDS on campus. à à à à à à The second question that we asked was, ââ¬Å"whose responsibility it was to bring the condom to a sexual encounter;â⬠the choices were ââ¬Å"both have an equal responsibility,â⬠ââ¬Å"you,â⬠ââ¬Å"your partnerâ⬠or ââ¬Å"neither has a responsibilityâ⬠. According to the results of the survey, White Men was the only group that responded that it was their responsibility to bring the condom to the sexual encounter. On their part, black women responded that it was the duty of their partner.all the respondents were more likely to answer the choices where they have some sort of control . Black Men and Black Women believed that it was the manââ¬â¢s responsibility to bring the condom, whereas both White Men and White Women answered that it was their own responsibility to bring the condoms. à à à à à à The third question that the respondents were asked during the survey was ,ââ¬Å"whose responsibility is it to insist on condom useâ⬠and the answer choices were the same as the second questionsââ¬â¢. The most popular response among both black and whites was,ââ¬Å"both have responsibilities,â⬠.However the genders did align but they were different from each other. Black Women and White Women answered only with the choices where they had control of insisting on condom use. Black Women were 23% more likely than Black Men to answer that it was their responsibility to insist on condom use and White Women were 9% more likely than White Men to answer that it was their responsibility. Black Men was the only group to answer that it was their partnerââ¬â¢s responsibility to insist on condom use. à à à à à à The fourth question that was asked during the survey was, ââ¬Å"if you and a partner you just met are engaging in sexual activity and they do not want to use a condom, what do you do?â⬠The answer choices were ââ¬Å"insist on condom use while still engaging in non-penetrative sexual activitiesâ⬠, ââ¬Å"Start off insisting on condom use but eventually give in to having unprotected sexâ⬠, ââ¬Å"Outright refusal to engage in any further sexual activity unless they agree to use a condomâ⬠or ââ¬Å"Have sex without a condom, no protestâ⬠. Black Women was the only group to refuse sex outright if their partner did not agree to use a condom and in general. Although White Women were most likely to insist on condom use, a large proportion of them also answered that they would refuse outright. Black Women were 40.25% more likely to refuse outright than Black Men and White Women were only 11.5% more likely than White Men to refuse outri ght. à à à à à à The fifth question was similar to the fourth question, but unlike in the fourth question, all groups answered that they would engage in unprotected sex. However, the majority of Black Men and Women and White Women still insisted on condom use ââ¬â 56%, 64% and 63% respectively. White Men were the only group whose majority chose to have unprotected sex at 63%. Black Women and White Women had very similar percentages for insisting on having protected sex. However, Black Women was more likely than White Women to engage in unprotected sex, with no protest ,while White Women was more likely to start off insisting on condom use and eventually give in. à à à à à à The sixth question asked about how strongly the respondent felt that they had control and could voice their opinion in a sexual encounter, and a Likert Scale was used (1= Strongly Disagree to 5= Strongly Agree) to gauge the responses. All races felt very strongly that they had control and could voice their opinion in a sexual encounter, but Black Men and Black Women were the only groups to answer with 3, which indicates a neutral feeling. A significantly larger proportion of Black Women than White Women, 11.6% more, answered with the highest choice of 5, which indicates strongly agree. References 1. Jozkowsk, Kristenà N., and Sonyaà A. Satinsky. ââ¬Å"A Gender Discrepancy Analysis of Heterosexual Sexual Behaviors in Two University Samples.â⬠à (2013): Web. This source provided us with a experimental study exploring the sexual activities on a college campus. We may use this source to model out own experiment on a smaller scale, and this experiment similarly allows us to analyze sexual behaviors on other college campuses which may mirror Williams college. 2. Adefuye AS, Abiona TC, Balogun JA, Lukobo Durrell M: â⬠à HIV sexual risk behaviors and perception of risk among college students: implications for planning interventions. BMC Public Healthà 2009,à 9:281. This source allows us to again follow a experimental model tracing high risk behaviors on college campuses around the nation. In an ideal world, we will see possible trends that we can use to draw analytic conclusions about gender dynamics. Before we can address race and gender, however, it is important that we understand the types of behaviors we need to watch for within our own studies. Another positive aspect of the source is that it delves into racial dynamics of the HIV infection. 3. Mathes, Eugene W. ââ¬Å"Why is there a Strong Positive Correlation between Perpetration and being a Victim of Sexual Coercion? an Exploratory Study.â⬠à Journal of Family Violenceà 28.8 (2013): 783-96.à ProQuest.à Web. 10 Nov. 2013. When we discuss gender dynamics, it will be important to outline sexual coercion which may expose students to high risk behaviors. 4. Ahmed, Aziza. ââ¬Å"Feminism, Power, and Sex Work in the Context of HIV/AIDS: Consequences for Womenââ¬â¢s Health.â⬠Harvard Journal of Law and Gender. 34:1 (2011) This article provides background surrounding the stifled sexuality of women around the globe and how this stifling of sexuality robs women of their presence within the sexual landscape. Without sexual freedom, women are unable to excise their power, thus, they may not have the voice to protect themselves sexually. We aim to observe whether this restriction can be observed on the Williams campus. Source document
Tuesday, January 7, 2020
Rhetorical Analysis of Ellen DeGeneress Commencement...
Ellenââ¬â¢s Commencement Speech Rhetorical Analysis Graduation caps fly into the air, cheers erupt, and diplomas are received. This is a typical graduation day. Not only did these ceremonial events take place for Tulane Universitys class of 2009, but Ellen DeGeneres was there to congratulate them as well! This class was dubbed the Katrina Class for being survivors of the devastating Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Katrina was named one of the deadliest Hurricanes, causing more than 1,836 deaths. Tulane University is located in New Orleans, Louisiana, where the most significant amount of deaths took place and 80 percent of the city was destroyed. These graduates have survived a lot , and Ellen wants to congratulate them on theirâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦Most graduates have a lot of stress and worry about their futures, the uncertainty of where they are going or what they will become. Ellen is relatable when she tells the graduates how she didnââ¬â¢t know who shes was, considerin g that, she was still dating men. Another use of a rhetorical question ââ¬Å"But why am I here today?â⬠to introduce an anecdote about her growing up in New Orleans. This question takes the audienceââ¬â¢s attention back to her, because, consequently, they know that Ellen will explain why she is there; giving them a reason to listen to her words. Once again, Ellen asks ââ¬Å"What else can happen to you?â⬠in order to commend the graduates of having success after the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina. She uses the hyperbole and rhetorical question, ââ¬Å"So what Iââ¬â¢m saying is, when youââ¬â¢re older, a lot of you will be gay. Anyone writing this stuff down? Parents?â⬠this keeps everybodyââ¬â¢s attention and loops the parents into relating the commencement speech to them as well. Rhetorical questions help Ellen by giving the crowd small moments to reflect and invites them into her speech, connecting to them and allowing them to smile during serious conten t. Furthermore, the use of hyperbole and metaphors are effective in this commencement speech. Ellen uses a hyperbole when she rationalizes her anxiety about the success of her sitcom after the public realize that she is gay. Ellen worried about this because in recent times, the
Monday, December 30, 2019
Minimum Wage Is Awful - Free Essay Example
Sample details Pages: 2 Words: 710 Downloads: 9 Date added: 2019/04/16 Category Law Essay Level High school Tags: Minimum Wage Essay Did you like this example? I think if we were to raise the minimum wage in the United States it would end up hurting out economy as a whole. There are many facts that show an increase in the minimum wage would hurt our economy. According to Christopher Ingraham the minimum wage in California has gradually been increasing since 2006. Donââ¬â¢t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Minimum Wage Is Awful" essay for you Create order The minimum wage in California is projected to hit $15 in 2022 which is concerning to the people that live there. Since the increase in minimum wage, California has experienced a decline in employment by ten percent and it is expected to rise as the minimum wage rises (Ingraham, Christopher. What Does a $15 Minimum Wage Do to the Economy? Economists Are Starting to Find out. The Washington Post, WP Company, 11 Jan. 2018). Millions of jobs are expected to be lost by 2024 when every state is projected to have $15 minimum wage. Even though it makes sense to raise minimum wage in California because of living expenses it will end up hurting them in the long run. The loss of millions of jobs is not the only bad thing about raising minimum wage. It will also cause the price of products to spike drastically and tax will increase when the minimum wage is increased. There have been many occasions where states have stated that employers have reduced their hours, for example Seattle. Many states already have an increased minimum wage that is higher than the federal minimum wage. The federal minimum wage is $7.25 and many states like our own have a state minimum wage that is actually higher than that. For some states raising the minimum wage by a small amount makes sense because of the cost of living in those states, but raising it to $15 will have an affect on many things throughout the economy. If the federal minimum wage were to go up to $15 we would see a decrease in the number of low-wage workers wanting to go to college and get a higher education to work their way towards a higher paying job. The low-wage workers wouldnt have any drive to improve their skills and get a better education. This will essentially lower the number of people going to college after high school and it would hurt our economy because our work force would be full of workers with no post secondary education. According to the Pew Research Center only 2.6 percentà of American workers earn the minimum wage and, not surprisingly, over just half of those workers are under the age of 24. Majority of the workers that are working at minimum wage are teenagers in high school and college that are working at part time jobs that will help them make money for things like spending and money for college. Raising the minimum wage will only benefit those working at those low paying job and will essentially be hurting the rest of society that is already earning more than the minimum wage. People pushing for this raise in minimum wage just want fairness, but according to someone attending Rutgers University what is considered fair is completely opinion based which is completely true. For example LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers makes 35.65 million dollars and his teammate Lonzo Ball makes 7.48 million. LeBron James is arguably one of the best players to ever play the game and has earned his paycheck. Lonzo is a second year player who still has to prove himself. This is why fairness is opinion because those two have the same job to do the same thing but LeBron has worked harder and longer and is essentially better at his job. The same can be said about other professional athletes because their skillsets are all different and there are players who have more experience than others because they have been doing it longer and have been put in difficult situations. So someone who is working at the federal minimum wage should not be making more money because it isnt fair. There is a reason that they are working at minimum wage they should also not earn more just because it isnt fair. In conclusion raising minimum wage will end up hurting the economy. Those who are working in higher paying jobs have most likely had more experience and skill than those working at minimum wage.
Sunday, December 22, 2019
The Feminist Theory And The Labeling Theory - 2550 Words
Throughout the world, deviant acts and social controls are committed everyday. An incredibly significant one that is often unreported is sexual assault within the military. Sexual assault is already determined as an extremely deviant act throughout the world. All acts of rape and other abusive acts should never be dismissed or ignored, but rape within the military is often not reported or recognized. If it is brought to light, the victims are generally in fear of losing their positions, rankings, homes, relationships with their spouses and families, etcâ⬠¦. This is not to state that men are not also victims of sexual assault, but women are much more prone and vulnerable to being attacked and harassed. I will be focusing on the female victims of military assault in this paper. There are two theories that I have applied to this deviant act. The Feminist theory and the Labeling theory both have attributes that are applied to sexual assault within the military. The Feminist theory focuses on the equality between men and women, and the labeling theory discusses the stigma of giving titles to those due to certain appearances, actions, etcâ⬠¦ I have also found some solutions that could aid in bringing light and helping victims be more comfortable with reporting attacks. These solutions would involve creating safe zones within the military base for victims, although the entire base should feel safe for soldiers, but due to the issue then a space should be provided for those who are onShow MoreRelatedSocial Reaction Theory And Feminist Theory Of Crimes1476 Words à |à 6 Pages Social Reaction Theory and Feminist Theory of Crimes are the subject theories I am going to review, examine, and explain. I will be discussing the evolution of social reaction and labe ling theory, which is mainly concerned with how individualsââ¬â¢ personal identities are highly influenced by the way that society has a tendency to classify them as offenders. I will also be reviewing the various forms of feminist theories, which began as reactions to the lack of reasonable theorizing about why femalesRead MoreTheories, Conflict Theories And Developmental Theories957 Words à |à 4 Pagesnot commit crime in comparison to other groups of individuals. Different theories this module covers to help explain different criminal patterns are labeling theories, conflict theories and developmental theories. Labeling theories also known as social reaction theory tries to explain how labeling a person can actually cause them to participate in more criminal behavior (Tibbetts, 2012, p. 173). They believe that by labeling someone a criminal, crime starts to become self-filling, and they may startRead MoreGender Norms And Female Deviance Essay1250 Words à |à 5 Pagessometimes pushed to ââ¬Å"deviateâ⬠from the norm in order to achieve some form of ââ¬Å"liberationâ⬠from their current roles. This is the first part of Roach Anleuââ¬â¢s claim. That gender stereotypes lead to a certain degree of gender stratification. And for feminist theories, such gender stratification is a cause of deviance. When these gender norms are at work during social interaction, it becomes a variable for developing a social role which can lead to deviant behavior. A collection of norms form a social roleRead MoreCrime And Social Control Theory Essay1712 Words à |à 7 PagesSocial control theory refers the ideas that society is responsible for maintaining law abiding citizens and/or producing deviant behavior (Hagan, 2016). The textbook generalizes that social control theories ââ¬Å"view crime as taking place when social control or bonds to society break downâ⬠(Hagan, 2016, p. 170). This is concluded by the theories of four theorists ââ¬â Walter Reckless, Travis Hirschi, Michael Gottfredson, and John Hagan ââ¬â who investigated and theorized different philosophies that explainRead MoreThe Theories Of Crime Causation Essay1414 Words à |à 6 Pages Theories of Crime Causation Dolores Jackson Williams Colorado Technical University Juvenile offender 1. Biological theory states that the individual will have certain traits will be transmitted from parent to children through genetics and not from social learning. Along with the juvenile having similar facial characteristics, which some believe also predisposes them to criminal behavior (Palmerin, 2012). 2. Rational choice theory states that the person will make sensible and reasonableRead MoreLabeling Theory And Its Effect On The Individual1233 Words à |à 5 Pages1) The labeling theory basically categorize individuals who breaks the laws or commit crime. The purpose of the labeling is to cause social humiliation so the individual want commit the crime again. Labels are placed on individuals who commit crime to reduce repeat offenses. A person of prestige that has a high ranking social class is the individual that usually determines how labels are applied. Labeling theory can have a negative effect on the individual who is categorized, the individual is moreRead More Social Norms in America Essay1116 Words à |à 5 Pageslistening or not obeying them as they saw fit. These behaviors that the men seemingly paraded around on national television can be explained by several of the theories discussed in class. The feminist theory, the labeling theory and the differential associatio n theory are the ones that best relate to this behavior. The feminist theory is the theory that strongest relates to this issue because it strictly applies to one gender. It is very stereotyped when thinking of domestic violence that a man is abusingRead MoreSociological Factors Of Society s Behavior Essay1604 Words à |à 7 Pagesperfectly illustrates the impact of external and internal forces, which can drive a woman to commit a violent crime and societies reaction to those crimes. Andrea Yates A brief synopsis of the Yates case is required for better understanding of the theories this document attributes to her crime. On June 20, 2001, in Clear Lake, Texas a small bedroom community located in Harris County, Andrea Yates drowned her five young children. Yates was a stay at home mother who homeschooled her children. AccordingRead MoreChapter 7. 7.1 What Is Deviance?. Deviance ââ¬â Behavior That1447 Words à |à 6 PagesContainment Theory suggests that strong moral standards and positive self-image can keep boys from becoming delinquent. â⬠¢ Most crimes are committed by people who are psychologically normal. The Social Foundations of Deviance Three social foundations: 1. deviance varies according to cultural norms 2. people become deviant as others define them that way 3. how societies set norms and how they define rule breaking both involve social power 7.2 The Functions of Deviance: Structural-Functional Theories Durkheimââ¬â¢sRead MoreSocial And Social Structure Theory1675 Words à |à 7 PagesStructure Theory Introduction The social structure theory deliberates delinquency as a gathering of the personââ¬â¢s dealings with numerous groups, organizations, and process in the society. Any person irrespective of their prominence in life is likely to become delinquents if they continue with negative social affiliations. Every aspect of the society, social and economic must be viewed using the social structure theories to find the cause of crime and deviance. The social structure theories consist of
Saturday, December 14, 2019
Wassily Kandinsky Free Essays
Wassily Kandinsky could have been the premier abstract artist of the 20th century is a world at war had no twice interfered with his artistic career and destroyed three of his early works. Kandinsky was born in Russia in 1866 and soon moved to Germany where he worked with the Bauhaus School of expressionist painters integrating art in architecture and design (ââ¬Å"Artcyclopediaâ⬠).à He also founded the Der Blaue Reiter, a group of artists attempting to express and define spirituality through art (ââ¬Å"Artcyclopediaâ⬠)à Kandinsky believed that music and art should be integrated as a well as a means of defining the influence of the soul on the outer world. We will write a custom essay sample on Wassily Kandinsky or any similar topic only for you Order Now To that end, he began his series called Composition and had completed 7 of them before the beginning of World War II. Tragically, the first three canvases in the series were destroyed during the war.à While Kandinsky could not have planned for the destruction of his work, the loss of the first three Composition pieces helps complete the series as an allegory for his life, the ultimate tribute to a man who believe art should be spiritual. At the only time in recent history when the entire collection, with full-size black and white photos of the lost three holding their place, was displayed, reviewer Mark harden called Kandinsky one of he most original and influential artists of the 20th century. ââ¬Å"His ââ¬Å"inner necessityâ⬠to express his emotional perceptions led to the development of an abstract style of painting that was based on the non-representational properties of color and form. Kandinskyââ¬â¢s compositions were the culmination of his efforts to create a ââ¬Å"pure paintingâ⬠that would provide the same emotional power as a musical composition. The exhibition ââ¬Å"Kandinsky: Compositionsâ⬠, organized by Magdalena Dabrowski and on display at the Los Angeles County Art Museum until September 3, 1995, presents these monumental works together for the first and possibly last time and provides an opportunity to witness the creative process of Kandinskyâ⬠(Harden, 1995). The loss of the first three works and the attempt at representing them in the show left the viewer with a great sense of loss, Harden wrote, but perhaps more interesting is the fact they were lost at sometime near the artistââ¬â¢s death in 1944. That they were destroyed in Germany during the war as some much of his life had been as well simply adds an ironic twist to the entire project. The other twist on the Compositionà series is that the final painting is the only one of the series done on a black background. In 1911, when he was working on Composition IV and V, Kandinsky is quoted as saying, ââ¬Å"(Black) is like the silence of the body after death, the close of life.â⬠à (Harden, 1995)à He painted Composition X on a black background just five years before his death, when Germany was once again disrupting the world and taking the world back to war. By 1911, Kandinsky was already a world-renowned painter and known for his desire to incorporate spirituality into his art but as tension rose in Europe, he returned to his native Moscow where he remained until 1921. Compositions VI and VII would be completed in 1913 and then he did not return to the series until a decade late. à (Geggenheim, 2007). ââ¬Å"Composition VII is the pinnacle of Kandinskyââ¬â¢s pre-World War One artistic achievement. The creation of this work involved over thirty preparatory drawings, watercolors and oil studies. Each of these is included in the exhibition, documenting the deliberate creative process used by Kandinsky in his compositions. Amazingly, once he had completed the preparatory work, Kandinsky executed the actual painting of Composition VII in less than four days.â⬠(Harden, 1995). Composition VII may have also been intended to be his finale in the series as art scholars ââ¬Å"through Kandinskyââ¬â¢s writings and study of the less abstract preparatory works, have determined that Composition VII combines the themes of The Resurrection, The Last Judgment, The Deluge and The Garden of Love in an operatic outburst of pure paintingâ⬠(Harden, 1995). Because Kandinsky had such a strong belief in the use of abstraction to present underlying themes with symbols and it is likely that he had intended this wrapping up of religious themes to be his final work in the series (Long, 1975).à Then, he began his self-imposed exile to his native land and stayed there until it appeared Germany was a haven again for thought and progress. In 1922, he joined Bauhaus and in 1923, painted Compositions VIII, like all the works in the series it was highly representational of his emotions and mental state at the time of its painting. ââ¬Å"Composition VIII reflects the influence of Suprematism and Constructivism absorbed by Kandinsky while in Russia prior to his return to Germany to teach at the Bauhaus. Here, Kandinsky has moved from color to form as the dominating compositional element. Contrasting forms now provide the dynamic balance of the work; the large circle in the upper left plays against the network of precise lines in the right portion of the canvas.â⬠(Harden, 1975)à This work also is more bright and less chaotic than his final pre-war effort, possible indicative of a more upbeat and spiritual peaceful time. Kandinsky was making progress in his work, developing with the group at Bauhaus and gaining additional international acclaim. His first solo show in New York coincided with this work (Guggenheim, 2 007). Perhaps this perceived happiness and his involvement in other pursuits is why it would be another 10 years before Kandinsky added another painting to the Compositions series. He gained citizenship in Germany in 1928 and seemed contented in his new homeland until 1933 when Bauhaus was one of the early casualties of the Nazi government. He then moved to France where his Composition IX was definitely influenced by the surrealists gaining popularity there (Harden, 1995). After Composition IX was completed in 1936, Europe once again became an ugly place to live and in 1937, 57 of Kandinskyââ¬â¢s works were seized by the Nazi government.(Guggenheim, 2007). Some, like the first three Composition pieces, were destroyed. Two years later, in 1939, Kandinsky completed the series, breaking from all the previous works and creating his work on a field of black. Given his earlier statements about the color and the loss of his other works, it is no doubt a reflection of the very pain in Kandinskyââ¬â¢s soul brought on by the second World War. ââ¬Å"The outstanding characteristic of Composition X is obviously the stark, black ground. The colors and forms appear particularly sharp against the black background. The brilliance of the colored shapes brings to mind the cutouts done by Matisse over a decade later. The movement of the forms is distinctly upward and outward from both sides of a central axis running through the book-like form near the top of the canvas. This movement enhances the evocation of hot-air balloon forms rising into an infinite space. The round form between the book shape and the brown balloon shape has a lunar feel to it that even conveys a feeling of literal ââ¬Å"outer spaceâ⬠. Kandinsky had always expressed a strong dislike for the color black and it is significant that he chose it as the dominating color of his last major artistic statement.â⬠(Harden, 1995). Ultimately, the reviewer is right and the final Composition is kandinskyââ¬â¢s statement about his loss and the world at war. ââ¬Å"For Kandinsky, if that objective element of a painting were taken away, the building blocks of the composition would reveal themselves to cause a feeling of repose and tranquil repetition, of well-balanced parts.â⬠(Dabrowski, 1995).à à The artist spent a lifetime telling the world that he disliked the color black and that his work was all about the symbolism and the meaning behind the painting itself.à It makes perfect sense then that his final major work would be about death itself and the life that has been interposed over it. Whether Kandinsky knew that Compositions X would be among his final works is not clear. What is clear is that death too is symbolic of loss and pain, emotions that the highly spiritual Kadinsky could not help but feel when his work was captured by the Nazi regime. Perhaps more so than even the usual artist, Kandinsky was tied to his art, deeply and emotional. That they were an expression of his belief system and his very soul make the loss of the first three Compositions even more tragic. Sadly, World War II was a horrible time for the great works, with many works of art lost forever to the savages of war. The difference in Kandinskyââ¬â¢s work, as opposed to other great masters, is that the artist was still alive and he was able to present one last finale, to express the pain and rage and the destruction and to show that life, even without art, must sometimes go on. WORKS CITED Dabrowski, Magdelena. ââ¬Å"Kandinsky:Compositionsâ⬠Museum of Modern art: New York, 1995. ââ¬Å"Geggenheim Museumâ⬠, http://www.guggenheimcollection.org/site/artist_bio_71.html, November 14, 2007 Harden, Mark. ââ¬Å"Kandinsky: Compositionsâ⬠http://www.glyphs.com/art/kandinsky/, November 14, 2007. Long, Rose-Carol Washton. ââ¬Å"Kandinskyââ¬â¢s Abstract Style: The Veiling of Apocalyptic Folk Imageryâ⬠,Art Journal Vol. 34, No. 3 (Spring, 1975), pp. 217-228 Stable URL: http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0004-3249%28197521%2934%3A3%3C217%3AKASTVO%3E2.0.CO%3B2-4 , November 14, 2007. ââ¬Å"Wassily Kandinskyâ⬠http://www.artcyclopedia.com/artists/kandinsky_wassily.html November 14, 2007. How to cite Wassily Kandinsky, Essay examples
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