...R. BARON CIRCLE OF LIFE In his quote, Ogala Sioux Holy Man: Black Elk, discusses the concept that may be referred to as “the Circle of Life”. This concept speaks of how much of the Sioux culture, both religious and practical, attribute great importance to the concept and universality of “the circle.” This is both a cultural and religious worldview of many primary indigenous peoples, who observe the ongoing theme that much of life and our physical world is circular in both appearance and ideology. Everything from the earth, planets, and stars, are physically in essence, a circle. Likewise, nature both conceptually and physically adheres to this principle, from the revolving of the seasons, to the life cycle of birth to death. ( ) In this paper, I will look at the circle and cyclic importance in relation to most Primal peoples understanding and perception of reality. I will then contrast this with modern western cultural and religious ideas, of linear time, space and identity. Lastly, I will compare Black Elk’s ideas with that found in Contemporary Christian views of nature and creation. For the Primal or Indigenous people, religion and culture, the concept of the world, universe and nature, is based on the image of the circle. People and life correspond to two interrelated circles and cyclic events. The first is the great circle of life and the second is regarded as the “Annual circle. “( ) The big circle of life represents...
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...Product Life Cycle The product life cycle is defined as the period that starts with the initial product design (research and development) and ends with the withdrawal of the product from the marketplace. It is characterized by specific stages, including research, development, introduction, maturity, decline, and finally obsolescence as the product is removed from the market (discontinued). Each stage is often linked with changes in the flows of raw materials, parts and distribution to markets as production (input costs) is adjusted to face increasing competition. The Product Life Cycle (PLC) is used to map the lifespan of a product. There are generally four stages in the life of a product. These four stages are the Introduction stage, the Growth stage, the Maturity stage and the Decline stage. The following graph illustrates the four stages of the PLC: There is no set time period for the PLC and the length of each stage may vary. One product's entire life cycle could be over in a few months. Another product could last for years. Also, the Introduction stage may last much longer than the Growth stage and vice versa. The Four Stages of the Product Life Cycle 1. Introduction: This stage mainly concerns the development of a new product, from the time is was initially conceptualized to the point it is introduced on the market. Introduction is a period of slow sales growth as the product is introduced in the market. Profits are non existent in this stage because of...
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...Symbolism The Inferno by Dante Alighieri is a work of art in which symbolism plays a prevalent role. Whether it is in the punishments or the monsters in each circle, everything has a dual meaning. During the entire book there are seen thirty monsters and five hybrid creatures, each representing something different. Throughout the circles the readers view tortures that are the physical equivalent of their actions. Alighieri exposes societies misdeeds in an ingenious way that leaves the readers smirking with satisfaction at the justice. In the first circle, those unbaptized wander around in a fog. This is a fitting punishment because the fog blinds them much like the absence of god blinds them wit no hope. It is odd that Alighieri put Virgil, Homer and anyone else who came before ‘God’ in this circle. In the second circle, those considered lustful and wanton are constantly blown about like leaves in the wind. This is an apt punishment because these particular sinners let their uncontrolled emotions rule their judgment, therefore they will never settle. In the second circle, we meet a monster called Minos. He is the son of Zeus and Europa and had been a King of Crete while in the world of the living. It is said of Minos that “His terrifying treatment of the souls is significant as after Charon, he is one of the first figures who they encounter on their passage into hell, and his unique method of demonstrating which area of hell that the souls should be sent to increases the...
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...given knowledge to blacksmith an adequate sword, yet we should not be alarmed should he recall this knowledge. We must assume his soul learned the art of blacksmithing in a former life. A: I understand your argument, but submit the man you describe could learn the art of blacksmithing by simply seeing weapons and swords that have been created. The man can use the swords he has seen in creating one for himself. The man uses “similarity” to form his sword to the sword that has already been created. The man simply learns the art of blacksmithing through previously created weapons. P: How can you assume the man learned the art of blacksmithing? Is it not possible that his soul could have been a blacksmith in a former life. If this man was to create an exemplary sword, how can it be assumed he learned to create such perfection with it being his first time practicing the art of blacksmithing? A: Imagine you had no knowledge of geometry and namely circles. If I drew a circle and asked you to create a circle half it’s size, could you create it? P: Yes. A: Is this because your soul studied geometry in a former life? Or is it because I provided a circle as an example, giving you the knowledge of the circle’s shape? P: By drawing the circle as an example you have not taught me how to draw a circle. The questions I will propose to you while completing the task is my soul recollecting the knowledge I...
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...in this story is with herself as she is reflecting on the many years that have passed and how her appearance has changed. Her pregnancy has captured her attention to the changes in her life. The painting reflects the past, present, and future. The different colors, lines, and shapes tell a story about her development. The colors in the mirror are deep dark in color representing a faint memory of what once was. Looking at herself in the mirror gives her a sense of relief yet pain. She can still see a little of her youth in the mirror, which easies some of her distress as she is aging knowing one day that the memories of her youth will soon fade. The long strokes of lines and curves in the mirror by her face and around her head display a covering a sense of innocence; before she has known a man intimately. The lines in the lower area of her body in the mirror shows it is still in development as the lines are arched up and not down in a drooping manner as with age. Her body has not set firmly in position so it appears altered in the mirror just like a teenager starting puberty; one breast grows larger than the other. In her conversation with herself she knows her innocence has vanished, and a development is changing her life once again; the baby growing within her. The circles remind me of life. There is a beginning and an ending....
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...many different ways in which all things are connected in sets of four. It can be used to help us see or understand realities that are not physically visible because they are ideas and not objects. The symbol of the circle holds a place of special importance in Aboriginal beliefs. The lives of men and women, as individual expressions of the Power of the World move in and are nourished by an uninterrupted circular/spiral motion. Human beings live, breath and movie giving additional impetus to the circular movement, provided they live harmoniously, according to the circle’s vibratory movement. Why is...
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...The symbols in each movie 1) The photos in BLOOD SIMPLE are the start of all the misunderstandings. In the past Marty didn’t know anything about the fair of his wife. But after the first few pictures taken by Visser, his anger came out and he started his revenge and got involved in this nightmare. The fake picture of Abby and Ray dead in the bed also misleads Marty. When Marty was about to give Visser the money, Visser shot Marty. And Visser throw Abby’s gun in the room to create a misleading scene. These things start with the fake picture. And as Visser says, “life is very uncertain and something can always go wrong.” The appearance of the fake pictures is the moment that life goes wrong for Marty. Marty’s life was totally changed because of this fake picture. He wanted to kill Ray and his unfaithful wife, but instead he is the first one who was shot and got buried alive. Because of the photos, a series of misunderstandings begin. Ray thought Abby killed Marty and Abby thought Visser was Marty and killed him. All the twists start from these photos. Everybody was confused after this. Nobody in the movie truly knows what was happening to everybody. Even Visser, who thinks he knows everything, was also confused at the end. The photos are fake, and this tells us that everything can happen because of money. The photos can be faked, and also the relationship and everything valuable in the world can be faked and changed because of money. The photos triggered the twists and misleading...
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...To be proactive we must use our resourcefulness and our initiatives to work toward our personal goals. We are responsible for our own life. In particular, each person has both a circle of influence and a circle of concern. Worrying endlessly about things outside of our circle of influence isn't particularly productive. Working within our circle of influence is productive. The emphasis of this habit is to do whatever is in our power to improve our situation. “You are the creator, the actor and the doer in your life; get started and "just do it”,” covey said. In the word , Proactive people focus their efforts in the Circle of Influence. They work on the things they can do something about. The nature of their energy is positive, enlarging and magnifying, causing their Circle of Influence to increase. Reactive people, on the other hand, focus their efforts in the Circle of Concern. They focus on the weakness of other people, the problems in the environment, and circumstances over which they have no control. Their focus results in blaming and accusing attitudes, reactive language, and increased feelings of victimization....
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...Many poets throughout time have described life in the image of a perfect circle - starting with birth and completing with death to start the cycle again. They express that the circle of life is the best model to completely understand how life works. In the poem, “Song of Myself” by Walt Whitman, he describes his distinct interpretation of the classic symbol of the circle to represent the meaning of life that differs from most poets. Whitman believes that the circle of life can be found within the grass on the ground. Whitman sees grass as a vehicle for people to find comfort with death and learn how life works. Through the extended metaphor of grass, Whitman taught us not to be fearful of death and that all people are connected together. First of all, Whitman used the metaphor of grass to help explain to people how they should not be afraid of dying, rather to...
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...to the world creation and ensured the survival of human (Aboriginal Worldviews). Another concept which enhance class lecture is the symbol of circle. Many pieces of art feature the inclusion of the circle. In fact, the circle is a sacred symbol of the cycle of life. It suggests connection and interdependence of all form of life. Moreover, the concept of renewal and revitalization can be found in many Indigenous clothing. After being exposed to Western culture, the Aboriginal people combined their tradition clothing forms with the Western techniques and styles. This combination shows the respect and recognition that Aboriginal people have for Western culture. During the visit of The First Peoples Collection, one of the most interesting elements would be that each items have a unique function and spiritual signification. The questions arising after the visit are: What happens if an Aboriginal individual do not respect the spirit world? Does hierarchy exists within Aboriginal society? In the exhibition, the equipments for hunting, fishing, and travelling seem to be missing. Moreover, war equipments are absent as well. Therefore, the subsistence activities would be something interesting to learn more about. The First Peoples Collection, contributed to further understanding of the Aboriginal cultures and worldviews. In their worldviews, circle, community, interdependence and environment are the most important concepts. Each items located in the exhibition refer to the importance of...
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...Two artworks caught my eye as I walked through the fascinating four floors, wonderful outside gardens, and beautiful nature parks of the Indiana Museum of Art. These artworks were both sculptures, Floor by Do-Ho Suh and (Untitled) Hand Circle by Bruce Nauman. Although these two artworks were not the only unique pieces I viewed they captured my attention and raised my curiosity. I was intrigued by all of the artwork at the museum and surprisingly amazed by the beauty and creativity of the pieces. Each level of the museum featured different types of artwork, and my eyes constantly wandered from exhibit to exhibit. My senses were awakened, as I tried to interpret each piece and the elements of art within them. This was my first visit to the Indiana Museum of Art, and I...
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...The Heaven of Animals By: James Dickey The poem “The Heaven of Animals”, by James Dickey, explores the relationships between predator and prey as well as the controversial topic of whether or not animals have souls. The end of the poem also touches on the idea of a circle of life; death being the centre. The structure of the poem as well as Dickey’s use of poetic devices reflects these themes whilst also painting a vivid mental imagine of “the heaven of animals” for the reader. In the first stanza, Dickey introduces the animals with the simple phrase “The soft eyes open.” (Line 1) Throughout the poem, there is no mention of any specific animal, but in the opening line of the poem, Dickey chose to represent animals as a whole rather than individual species. This hints at the idea of everyone being created equally and everyone deserving the chance of a perfect afterlife. The reader is also expected to draw the parallel between the title and the setting of the poem, because within the poem, it is never said that they are in “heaven”. The vivid imagery allows the reader to fully understand the beauty of animal heaven. Dickey is describing this place as a more perfect version of the animal’s habitat on earth. This creates a sense of fulfilment which is carried throughout the entire poem. The next stanza is the one that raises the controversial topic of animals not having souls. Dickey presents the reader with a very clear paradox: if animals do not have souls, then which...
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...accept God, they are punished by not being put in heaven and instead rest in a place that’s almost like it, minus state of mind of living in eternity with an overwhelming feeling of joy. They did not turn away from God, but at the same time did not let Him in their lives. The people here live in constant hope that God will again descend from Heaven and save their souls like he has before, but their desire is the only thing they live off of. Those that have sought after lust or have let it control their lives are stuck in the second level of hell. They are swayed restlessly by the strong winds of a storm. They are the first ones to be punished in hell. “the sins or crimes are mostly those of passion or weakness; in the second circle, for example, they encountered the adulterers Paolo and Francesca, who had been overcome by passion. Virgil tells Dante that the violent criminals will be found just below them, and still lower the traitor (pg 788, Chevigny) Their willingness to let the power of lust directing them one way or another is symbolized by the way they are...
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...He is your reality. He is the one you would live and kick the bucket for. You adore the color of his skin – not the same as yours – the ideal harmony in the middle of light and dull, day and night. You adore the way he lets you know he cherishes you. He says he'll wed you sometime. In any case your mother does not favor. You ponder consistently how anybody could be intolerant. Has she not felt the way you do eventually in her life? She doesn't see, simply rages and raves about your "taste in men" in that nasally voice you despise – the one she just uses when she's irate. Later you sit on your bunk, and turn up the volume on your ipod. "All the Same" by the Sick Puppies impacts through the ear buds. Wrong or right … dark or white … on the off chance that I close my eyes … its all the same. Your mother has taboo you from seeing him once more, and Dad's taken to keeping a shotgun in the family room. In my life...
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...Caring In present day society, individuals dedicate their time to social media on the internet and electronics, towards updating statuses, rebloging pictures, favoriting videos, reading up on current events, and staying connected in general. It’s only been 25 years since Tim Burners-Lee invented the world wide web and it’s no secret that it is one of the most progressive and influential invention of our time. Dave Eggers, in his current book The Circle, foretells his version of what can happen with the growth of technology and social media and pushes our current standard of being virtually connected from the main social networks Facebook, Twitter, Google, and Tumblr. In this book, focusing on the ninth threshold of social networks and the technological self, we notice the influence of technology on societal construction and deconstruction of privacy and the nature of democracy impacting humanity’s digital life. Set in an undefined future time, Eggers’s novel tells the story of Mae Holland, a young idealist who comes to work at the Circle, an immensely powerful technology company that has conquered all its competitors by creating a single log-in for people to search, shop and socialize online. The company demands transparency in all things; two if its many slogans are “secrets are lies and privacy is theft.” Anonymity is banished; everyone’s past is revealed; everyone’s present may be broadcast live in video and sound. Nothing recorded will ever be erased. The Circle’s goal is...
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