Friday, August 30, 2019

1 - Due WED SEPT 4

Write CLEARLY, GRAMMATICALLY and CONCISELY. Use upper case letters and punctuation.
No texting style. No abbreviations or fragments.
 
Make your comments PERSONAL and DISTINCT.
 
1) What DETAIL do you remember most vividly from the first class? Pay attention to the term DETAIL. Can you explain WHY you found that DETAIL particularly interesting?
 
(Do not summarize the lecture or aspects of it. I am really looking for a small detail, something that most likely your classmates ignored or missed. I am interested in what captured your attention and how you processed that tiny bit of information.)

READ all the comments before yours and choose something new. Do not use the same example.
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IN A SEPARATE PARAGRAPH
 
2) At any point in the lecture did you have something to say or ask? What did you want to say? And, more important, why didn't you say it?
Did the class move too fast? Do you need more time for reflection? Were you bewildered at the amount of new information?
 
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IN A SEPARATE PARAGRAPH
3) Insert the URL of a video dealing with a particular historical period OF A CULTURE YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH (it could be the land of origin of your grandparents, for instance. It does not need to be Italian.)
 
Comment ON THE QUALITY OF THE VIDEO and explain why this video would be useful for people who want to know more about that culture.

23 comments:

  1. During the first lecture we went over a very broad timeline. One detail I found very interesting is that Arabians where responsible for revitalizing lost Greek philosophy/culture. I found this detail particularly interesting because as someone with a arabic background I now wonder if my culture has any ties to that of the mentioned lost greek culture.
    A subtopic, of the timeline we discussed, that I would like to learn more about is the destruction of Rome that occurred during 476 CE. All that was said was that the land was conquered by barbarians but who where the barbarians specifically and what led to the downfall of the empire.
    During the lecture I didn't contribute to the discussions much as I was busy taking notes on what was being said. Now as I am being asked to look back at how the first lecture was of course I have more questions but at the time of the lecture I was more of a sponge than anything else. This was not because the lecture was moving to fast or it was just too much to take in, my lack of involvement actually stemmed from the fact that I didn't want to miss anything important.

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  2. During the first lecture, I recall the details of Mont Blanc. How photos are taken of the mountain and its foothills and how these photos are used in travel and marketing advertisements because of it's beauty. I picked up how actually living near and around there was quite the opposite of how its portrayed in marketing. The timeline was also interesting, specifically literature timelines discussed in class.

    As for my outlook and questions, I look forward towards learning more about Italian literature and how it influenced peoples of the time as well as it's current influence on todays world. Specifically, I have a question regarding books we are allowed to personally choose for our assignments. Are we allowed to choose outside books that are aligned with the core subject?

    Excellent Quality Video:
    Interesting tidbits regarding poignant Italian literatures and their writers.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBU32i2dhsA&t=76s

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  3. 1) One detail from the first class I remember most vividly are the words “geography is destiny”. That particular phrase caught my attention because I had never before thought about it like that-- that where we are born can and oftentimes will determine the course of our lives (at least that’s how I interpreted it). To expand, these places dictate what resources we have access to, what opportunities or limitations we are presented with, and also what cultures we either adopt completely or are in part influenced by. If geography determines culture, then culture in turn determines how we live our lives: the language(s) we speak, the foods we eat, the types of music we listen to, and the societal norms we abide by. It’s interesting to think that it all begins with geography.

    2) The Renaissance Era has always been a time in history that has fascinated me. Its impact on the world (through iconic pieces of art, scientific discoveries, and inventions) is rightfully still studied and discussed today. More specifically, though, the sub-topic of the embracing of nudity in Renaissance art intrigued me the most. Hearing nudity explained as a celebration of God and His work was a refreshing contrast to the shame that it is normally associated with. I’d like to find out more about how the Catholic church responded to/felt about this new outlook.

    3) I didn’t have anything to ask during the lecture, but I did think of something as I was reviewing my notes later on. I was wondering, when it was said that the cornerstones of the modern European culture lies in Arabic culture: how and why? was it through technology? Art styles? Literature? As for the pacing of the class, I thought it was a lot of content to be introduced to, but the way in which it was organized and presented to us (chronologically) made it easy to follow

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  4. 1. One main detail from the first lecture that I remembered was the phrase, “geography is destiny.” This quote stuck with me because where you are from has a great impact on not only the present, but your future as well, even though you have no control over where you were raised.
    2. As for the lecture, I was not bewildered by the amount of information because most of it wasn’t new to me. I am well aware of most of the stuff that was taught. The pace of the lecture was normal. The amount of information about a long period of time was taught very well in a short class time.
    3. https://youtu.be/Co_591_qm2M
    This video is very helpful to outsiders as it helps explain the different pronunciations of words from different cultures even though they’re from the same country.

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  5. 1. During the first lecture, we talked about how pre-renaissance modern art and nudity was neglected and frowned upon because it went against the customs and beliefs. But the renaissance period provided a sense of rebirth, where people were more comfortable in expressing themselves without caring what anyone had to say. I found this interesting because the renaissance period has always been an area of interest for me. I would like to learn more about what response modern art attracted during the renaissance period; whether it was welcomed or not, whether people were uncomfortable with it, or did they embrace this newfound freedom and rebelliousness.


    2. I didn’t really have anything to say or ask during the lecture simply because I’m more of a listener. I don’t feel that the class moved fast at all. I was impressed by the amount of information that was presented all on the same day, but it was not bewildering.

    3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swlTSTncx6c
    This video helps explain the history of my country, Pakistan and how it found freedom as an independent country.

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  6. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    Replies
    1. I removed my original post because I had the wrong link. Now it is fixed.

      Delete
  7. I remember soon after class started, you made comparisons between Northern and Southern Italy. Most people are familiar with the culture of Italy’s southern region (namely, Sicily) thanks to immigration patterns from over a century ago. Many southern Italians arrived in New York City during the 1880s-1920s. Marketing and tourism have helped Milan earn its reputation as a fashion capital. Though you joked how the people of the northern region are “no fun,” you also said the land there was beautiful with its expansive plains. Compared to the south, known for its coastlines, the terrain further up is tough to transverse and mostly mountainous. However, the first images of Italy that come to mind are not necessarily nature and landscapes. This reflection puts into perspective how easily certain cultural aspects could be overlooked. If it is possible, I would love to hear more about this in the future and its connection to the development of culture and regional literature.

    I had already said and asked what I wanted to during the first lecture. The pacing was great, and the amount of information was just right and easy to absorb. You were clear and concise with what information was given and when. I look forward to future lectures with you.

    When most people hear Panamá, the first thing that comes to mind is the Panama Canal. The history behind it, however, is more profound than what most are taught. The video, called “Who Built the Panama Canal?” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WR_hCMR2Xvc), gives an excellent overview of that period all in a little over 8 minutes. There is more to the story than even this video can address, but this is a decent place to start. In my opinion, this video strategically combines colorful animations with historical photos/clips and a modern view of the canal. As a viewer, this kept me engaged despite the narrator’s monotone voice. Critically, given the fact that this is told from a United Kingdom perspective, several statements may be biased (discussion about Panama’s independence and speculation about a different turn of events). Overall, the visuals are good at briefly exploring this critical period in Panamanian history and its effects, including the diverse demographics of the country, which makes it similar to New York City.

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  8. 1. One thing I remember from class was the discussion we had about the northern and southern differences in Italy. You discussed how the north was more country and that it was mostly cloudy and rained a lot and that most people there aren't friendly. After that you told us that the north and south were separated by a river. I remember being told that the south was the part everyone sees in movies with the nice ocean view and that the people there were more nicer. I also remember that the statute of David is there and that they sell smaller versions of it to tourists, and that they also sell a censored version to the American tourists.

    2. During the lecture there wasn't anything I wanted to say except for one question I had which was, How was Italy when it had a communist party? The reason I didn't ask this was because I felt like it was a stupid question and I didn't feel like it was related to anything we were talking about.

    3.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_NNIxP63B4&app=desktop
    This video is about Bangladesh which is where my parents are from and most people have never heard of it. It discusses the population size of Bangladesh and how the people there live and how poor they really are. Most people don't even know that this country is filled with many poor people and that it is a basically of third world country.

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  9. 1. One thing I remember during the first day of class is when we were talking about the renaissance era. We talked about Michelangelo and his sculptures and art work. We especially focused on his David sculpture and even looked at some pictures of it. I also thought it was interesting when we talked about different parts of Italy especially North and South and how different these parts are from each other. We mostly know they general information about Italy but not the details.

    2. During class I didn't really have any questions. I enjoy leaning about history so I did not find anything boring. All the information seemed very clear and I got to learn new things that I didn't know about.

    3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zadkWw702_M

    I chose a video that talks bout the Soviet Union collapse. It's short and in very good quality. I picked this video because both of my parents were born in Ukraine but my grandparents were most likely Russian from what I know. So being both Russian and Ukrainian I thought it would be an interesting video to watch because it explains what led to the collapse and why.

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  10. 1. One thing that I remember during our first lecture was from the Renaissance Era. I recall a moment when we're discussing about the right/correct way on how to pronounce some of the famous Italian from that period.

    2. During the lecture there wasn't any particular questions or comments I wanted to speak up about. The class pace was fine, I was able to pick up lesson. The new information wasn't confusing at all.

    3.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18K99HXTp7o
    This short video was about the Fall of the Han dynasty and the rise of the Three Kingdom. The reason I chose this video was because Chinese history had always fascinated me and both of my parent were born in China.

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  12. 1 One thing i do remember from the lecture was you being very particular about the pronunciation of David and Michelangelo's names as they're usually not pronounced correctly. I also remember you discussing the differences between north and south italy, and because of their geological differences the population varies because of agricultural situations. Also that the people are very different, personality wise.

    2 I don't have anything to ask, and I thought the class was well paced. Some of the information was new to me, specifically in the time line part.

    3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylWORyToTo4 I have always been a fan of the YouTube Channel, CrashCourse because they do an excellent job of talking about the topic at hand with great visuals as well as a very light hearted presentation.

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  13. 1. One thing I remember vividly from the first class is when we talked about the rugged terrain in the north. I visited my Italian relatives this winter and they are from Lecco, a city in the north near the border with Switzerland. I have a lot of family in Italy most of them live in Lecco. Talking about the northern region reminded me of my trip and the harsh but beautiful mountains that I hiked with my relatives and how we were able to communicate despite the language barriers with smiles and hand gestures. It made me realize the sheer differences between quiet small cities in Italy compared to the overcrowded tourist cities such as Venice.
    2. I didn't have any questions. The pace of the class was good.
    3.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbHMCWbwOKM
    A video on the partition of India and Pakistan

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  14. One thing that I remember from the first lecture was that the most prominent literature around 500BCE were poetry and drama. As 99% of the people couldn't read, poetry were develop for the convenience of the audience, as its form and rhyme allow the audience to easily remember the story. This particularly stood out since most book seem to have a level of difficulty but at this time poetry was specifically made for the general populace.

    I don't have anything to ask during the lecture as most of the information weren't new to me. The class did not move too fast.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dV-H1EKmCxA
    This video offer a short explanation on how the geography of Malaysia impact their relationship with other surrounding countries and briefly touch upon the government and history.

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  15. One thing that I can recall from the previous lecture is how you mentioned your upbringing growing in the colder or northern part of Italy which has shaped how you grew differently and the desire you had for the southern part of Italy.This is very interesting as I actually grew in the southern region of Haiti and has always wondered how it would be to lead a different lifestyle than farming or cultivation.
    I did not have any questions during the lecture. The class also moved at a moderate speed which allowed enough time to review the different historical periods leading up to the Renaissance era , a fundamental era in Italian history .
    The video I chose is useful for people because it consists of the series of events that occurred during the French revolution such as the democratic ideas which began to spread the need for equal representation between the noble and peasants which eventually inspired many revolts and movements such as the Haitian revolution .
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTTvKwCylFY

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  16. 1) During the first lecture, from what what I remembered, we spoke about many different milestones in the Renaissance Era. One detail I remember being mentioned was the breakthrough of nudity and how it was used as art. Nudity was seen as a sin but artists made sculptures to celebrate the significance and beauty of bodies. It was also mentioned in class about a king who's body was sculpted into a statue.
    2) I didn't have any questions to ask during class. I felt like the class was moving at a decent pace, but it was just a lot of new information to take in.
    3) The video I chose would be useful to anyone who watches it because it gives an in-depth breakdown of The Great Jin Dynasty.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SB6Mw88cLI4

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  17. 1) What most intrigued me from the first lecture was the mention of Homer's two works of epic poetry and how their popularity was maintained. I hadn't thought that, by being read aloud, they were made more memorable to people in antiquity. The abundance of illiteracy, in a way popularized this method of memorized storytelling and I'm interested to see what other famous works were promulgated this way.
    2) I was curious about the influence of the Arabic world in the literature of the Greek empire. Seeing as though, some trivial aspects of folklore in antiquity are believed to have come from Egypt. I'm curious to see what more came from the Arabic world and what is actual original and what merely transcribed.
    3) I chose the following video because it's essential to understanding how important artistic expression is to both, pass down the history of a culture but also to reshape it and make reality a less harder pill to swallow for the people it corresponds to in their respective time periods. In this case, it's Spain share of the Renaissance, mostly in observance or defiance to the dominating religion of Christianity.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDFiY81TLIM

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  18. 1-One of the most amazing detail that I remember from the lecture is from the “Renaissance” of the western culture where we discussed how nudity and art was justified in that period. I took the art 1010 course in previous semester an studied a lot of “nude sculptures.” However, I never asked the professor if those sculptures were acceptable during those times or not. I thought that the sculptures were part of the western culture and traditions and apparently nobody had any issue with the nudity. Whereas, during the first class I understood that people did consider it bad or sinful before and got an explanation of how artists justified these pieces of art as appreciating god given body.
    2-There was a point during the lecture where I wanted to ask about the period of dark ages and how the west was destroyed in detail. Who destroyed it and how? How long did it take to reappear again and who were the people behind its reappearance?
    The reason I didn’t ask was because I thought it may be covered in the future classes and then the discussion went to another interesting topic of the rebirth of the western culture, so I didn’t want to disturb the pace of the class.
    I think the class move a little fast because there were details that would have helped me understand and connect all the topics that we discussed.
    3- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIVPi0bvmtI
    The quality of the video contains pictures and video clips from the time of partition of India and Pakistan in 1947. The video will be useful for people to understand that Pakistan and India have almost the same culture, but differences of religion led to the separation of Muslims and Hindus. It gives an idea how the movement of independence was taken place by Muslims and Hindus against British rule. Afterwards, Muslims demanded a separate state from the Hindu people. The video gives a good context how British were connected to the India-Pakistan partition.

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  19. 1. I remember talking about Greek literature: tragedies and comedies. I was interested in this the most because of texts like Clouds, the Iliad, and the Odyssey. I also remember talking about the statues of Michelangelo. What stood out during that discussion was how the souvenirs of the statue of David bought by tourists were covered by grape leaves.

    2. I did not have anything to say during class but I did express by interest in Greek mythology. I do not know much about Italian literature so I look forward to learning about it.

    3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2NNQpdrYC0
    good video but narration may be boring. Good video to learn about the history of colonialism in Barbados by the British.

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  20. 1. I was not in class during the first lecture but I found a lot of interesting and useful information worth discussing from looking through the lecture from the first class. One aspect of the lesson that I found interesting was the concept of "Geography is destiny". The reason for this is because I agree with the concept on how geography has a lot to do with where you are in the world and how much you succeed in terms of varying different aspects. I think geography has a lot to do with certain advantages that serve as benefits for that area as a whole. These advantages may not be seen in other areas.
    2. I do not have any questions or comments about the lecture. It was very straight forward and interesting. I am excited to learn more about Greek Literature because I hear a lot about the topic in other classes but would love to learn more information.
    3.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_P1HJdvGbc
    This video discusses Slovenian Culture which is important for people to know about because it is very different from U.S culture. One aspect worth mentioning is how individual health is extremely important so you are able to care for others. I think this is important to acknowledge how relationships are valued. Language is also extremely important, and people from Slovenia have both German and Italian influence in different aspects of their culture.

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  21. 1. Though I was not in the first lecture, I was able to find fascinating information that I have never learned before. I was astonished when to learn that Michelangelo's David was not finished and how he was not the first sculptor. I find this interesting because I always assumed David to be a piece with no faults.
    2) I do not have any questions or comments about the lecture because everything was basically covered.I have watched the Godfather and would like to learn more about Italian culture.
    3) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylWORyToTo4
    If you want to learn about the various dynasties of China's history, then this is the video for you. It talks about how the dynasties started and how each dynasty overthrew its predecessors using the mandate of heaven. I find it is important because it shows how a nation collapsed and renewed to the next.

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  22. 1. During the first lecture there was one important thing that stood out to me. I did not realize how close on the timeline everything really is to present day society. If you look at the larger scale of the Earth's history everything to do with humans is pretty close in time. Yes, hundreds and thousands of years may seem far in the past but in comparison to the age of earth everything is relatively close. To me this is interesting because we always think that ancient societies are so far in the past, when in reality they aren't.

    2. Everything I had to ask was answered in the lecture. There were no questions left to ask since everything was explained in great detail. The class did not move fast in my opinion and I was interested pretty much the entire time.

    3.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmXEUCH3KxQ
    This is a video about immigrants coming to the united states. Both my parents and the rest of my family before me were from Europe. Only me, my sister and my cousins were born in the states. This video shows the hardships of what immigrants had to go through to come here and live in the early 1900s. Luckily my parents never had to do this. Since my father is from Italy I thought I would share a video about italian immigrants since the difficulties of living in a new land are pretty much the same. European culture is what I'm most familiar with since I was raised that way along with my sister.

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