Spirituality and Art Essay Example for Free

Spirituality and Art Essay â€Å"Spirituality is such a vibrant and integral part of our lives that even our changing times and all the apparent obstacles have not stifled the powerful partnership of spirituality and art in the modern era† Lynn M. Herbert. This essay will assess and discuss three contemporary artists that address the idea or concept of ‘spirituality’ in their work. Spirituality is a term that lacks certain defiance or a definitive definition, although social scientists have defined spirituality as the search for ‘the scared’; which is broadly defined as that which is set apart from the ordinary. The term has changed throughout modern day society that it can now be classes as a separate entity from religion itself. Three key contemporary artists that use their works to convey the message of spirituality are; Alex Grey- The Artists Hand, 1997, oil on wood, 1616 inches; H. R Giger The Spell I, 1973, Acrylic, ink on wood 240x280cm and Cosima Lukashevich – The Oracle, 2009, Painting, Pastel on canvas 16 x 21. 9 inches. Each one of these three pieces has a different take on what the artist personally believes spirituality is. Alex Grey is that of a visionary artist best known for his depictions of the human body. The multiple layers of reality, revealing the complex integration of body, mind, and spirit has become his trademark in the 90’s. His paintings have been featured on various covers of albums and have been exhibited throughout the world. (Hagerty, 2006) The artist’s hand, 1997, holds a powerful instrument, here symbolized by a â€Å"Vajra brush,† is a means to awaken people to their own essence through the light of higher power. The history of art is an expression of universal creativity that invisibly surrounds and supports every creative action. The Vajra is a spiritual device, a thunderbolt scepter owned by the Hindu god Indra and adopted by the Buddhist sages as a symbol of the diamond-like clarity and brilliance of the mind’s true nature. (Alex Grey) This is a key point in Greys piece along with his signature of the human body. The Artists Hand shows the layers of a human body each layer showing a new represtation of it. The vajra has ightning potruding from it and the figureines in the background are all that of superstious being either being a direct decent of a religion or an ancient civilization. The incorporation of the eye is one that with background research tells of a clarity to the artists beliefs. Grey’s interpreataion of spirituality in which his pieces show that his definition comes from the human body and key chakra elements. To Grey it seems that spirituality comes from within the human body rather then of a religious origin. Giger however uses his interpretation of the relationships that the body has, The Spell I (1973) by H.  R. Giger shows the relationship between man and machine. Through Giger’s artwork the idea of Biomechanics is understood to bring the human structure to the next level, allowing evolution to take place with the existing aid of machinery. The visuals presented in Giger’s artwork tell the story of how humankind is affected by its surroundings and what we take for granted. This is Giger’s idea of our future and if we keep relying on a machinery to complete our tasks we will become one with machine living in a cultureless society. Mark, 1982) Unlike Grey, Gigers use of the human body is more conceptual in a mechanical way; he utilizes the concept of the matrix in his piece alonlg with key spirituality symbols like the horned female and the skull. Even though futruistic his take on spirituality is that of a symbolic method. Cosima Lukashevich is a well-rounded spiritual artist who is said to be artist of the world – who unlike Giger and Grey is inspired by life and the cultural heritage and ancient symbols. Her pieces are of less refinance and are that of an expletory piece. Lukashevich channels her spirituality through nature and meditation; her piece uses ancient symbols and meanings. Her interpretation of The Oracle, 2009, is that of a dreamlike appearance. Her use of position allows the viewer to focus of the clarity of the eyes in the piece. The use of her medium is crucial in this piece and so is the symbolic meaning behind it. Comparing this piece to Giger’s and Grey’s it is clear that it is more earthy then the two others. Grey and Giger have a precision to their pieces that Lukashevich does not capture however each artist expresses in their own way what they think spirituality is. Giger and Grey even though having slight common grounds take very different paths with their concepts. The use of the human body has been a key feature throughout each of these three pieces and shows that the human body is a crucial piece in the journey through spirituality. Spirituality is still a term that lacks certain defiance or a definitive definition, although social scientists have tried to define spirituality as the search for ‘the scared’; which is broadly defined as that which is set apart from the ordinary. The term itself still remains broadly defined; however you may choose to argue the points that of the artists, Alex Grey, H. R Giger and Cosima Lukashevich each convey through their works as the definition. Each has tried to convey their own definition of spirituality though their own works. But at the end of the day spirituality is something that one defines within themselves through their beliefs, attitudes and values; it is something that will remain till the end of time as an undefined term that through various artistic channels many try to seek its true origins. Artists at the dawn of the 21st Century have had the unique opportunity to create a universal spiritual art. This art will be born from visions of sacred archetypes common to all mystic paths. The spirit of the times will choose artists sufficiently prepared for this task. The challenge to an artist today is integrating the vast visual legacy of human culture with their own deepest and highest personal insights, distilling that into works of art and making a living at it.

Colon Cancer Awareness :: Colorectal Cancer

In Hacienda Heights, California, Elsie Garcia a 67 year old female patient would evade the colonoscopy screening for four years which would screen for colon cancer is alive and healthy today due to a new test called FIT (fecal immunochemical test) which is less invasive than the American Cancer Society â€Å"Gold Standard â€Å"colonoscopy. She would schedule appointments for the procedure but would cancel in fear of the risk related to having colonoscopies. A Colonoscopy is considered the best way of screening for potential cancerous polyps is considered generally safe but the risk of colon perforation during the procedure is 1 in 1000 cases which would lead to serious complications. Garcia agreed to the FIT screening in which her doctors found blood in her stool. They scheduled Garcia for a follow up colonoscopy which four early cancerous polyps that were removed. Garcia was grateful for the FIT screening and is alive and health today (Szabo, 2014). Anatomy Colorectal Cancer is the third leading cancer in men and women and is considered the leading cause of cancer causing death. In the text Physiology 5th edition, the statistics show that the annual incidence of colon and rectal cancer in the United States is estimated to be 148,810 with a mortality rate of 49,960 (Copestead-Kirkhorn, 2013). The colon is a tube shaped organ in which its primary function is water absorption. It is approximately five feet in length starting from the right side of the abdomen and stretches across to the left side of abdomen appearing to like an upside down â€Å"U† shape. The colon is identified as the right colon, transverse colon, the descending colon, sigmoid colon and the rectum. The blood supply to the colon comes from the aorta which branch out into the mesenteric vessels. In the fat of the mesentery house the lymph nodes which aid in immunity and play an important role in cancer of the colon. There colon has four layers; the mucosa, submucos a, muscularis and serosa which are important in diagnosis and staging of cancer. It is within the mucosa that abnormal tissue growth such as polyps occurs (Bub-Rose-Wong, 2008). Cancer is a condition in which some cells do not follow their cell cycle rules. Every cell in the body has a specific function, the normal cell has growth cycles which are regulated and have a limited life span. The normal functioning cell stay within the boundaries of is organ or tissue of which it belongs to.

Journey: Finding Nemo

â€Å"Finding Nemo† highlights the adventures of a clownfish named Nemo, as he unexpectedly gets captured at the Drop Off and sent to Sydney. His dad, Marlin, and his friend, Dory, go in search of Nemo encountering many dangers of the ocean. While they continue finding him, Nemo meets new friends at a fish tank of a dentist clinic in which help him escape. Towards the end, Marlin finds Nemo and together they go back to their home at the anemone.The film, â€Å"Finding Nemo†, is about the journey as Nemo travel from the familiar to the unfamiliar and the adventures that are encountered as Marlin searches for Nemo. For instance, Nemo arrives at his first day of school where he travels away from the anemone in which he lives to a new place. It is a thrilling experience which is suggested through the playful background music. Nemo’s facial expression also shows his admiration and amazement to the many colourful creatures of the sea which he has not seen before.He unp redictably gets caught in the hands of a diver due to his disobedience acts against his dad. He is taken to a fish tank where weeds and stones are artificial, space is greatly confined compared to that of the ocean and those that live in the tank including Gill, Peach, Bubbles, Jacques, Deb, Bloat and Gurgle, are the strangers in which become Nemo’s friends. The audience knows that the unfamiliar can be frightening as Nemo repeatedly says â€Å"Where’s my daddy? after his capture from the diver. Marlin on the other hand experiences the great dangers of the ocean which he has never thought of encountering as he warns Nemo that â€Å"the ocean is not safe. † His traumatic past through his loss of his wife and many clownfish babies makes him afraid of stepping out of his anemone; however, Nemo becomes the motivation for him to explore further abroad the sea.He swims to an isolated part of the sea where he meets the three sharks, Bruce, Anchor and Chum, and then fo r the first time travels across a large group of jelly fish and meets sea turtles of Sydney. Nemo’s and Marlin’s journey to the unfamiliar has led them to step out of their comfort zone and further explore the world that exists away from their home. It is very different to what they are used to, therefore leading them to adapt and become a well-informed individual they evolved into by the end of the film.

Argument Esay Outline - 1371 Words

Argument Essay Outline Remember to include parenthetical citations. I. Introduction – What can you say to make your readers care about this problem? A. Attention Getter – Opening: General introduction that establishes the context for the discussion to follow Card Accidents are the leading cause of deaths in teens in the United States. In 2009 one of three teenagers died from motor vehicles crashes. These facts may be terrifying but they need to be recognized and acknowledged from teenagers. B. Thesis Statement What certain teens don’t understand is the seriousness of owning a vehicle and being responsible for the life of their friends, family and to the others out there. _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ II. Background – What does the reader need to know in order to understand the problem? A. Topic Sentence Too many teens today don’t see Drinking and Driving as a problem. B.Definitions_____________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ C. History of the Problem: The heartbreaking part is every injury and lost life due to driving after drinking can be prevented. DrinkingShow MoreRelatedWorld Civilization4404 Words   |  18 PagesDiscuss this assertion by examining two (2) of the long-term causes of the war and one (1) example of the destructive ferocity of the war.   Give specific examples of each in your discussion; you may need to rely on outside resources in your essay. Outline the underlying causes of World War II and the specific steps taken by Nazi Germany and Japan that led to war.   (Refer to pages 739-743 of your textbook and additional references)       Your essay will be evaluated based on the following scale.