Marriage: One Of Societys Most Important Institutions?

Marriage: One Of Societys Most Important Institutions? Marriage, socially recognized and approved union between individuals, who commit to one another with the expectation of a stable and lasting intimate relationship. It begins with a ceremony known as a wedding, which formally unites the marriage partners. A marital relationship usually involves some kind of contract, either written or specified by tradition, which defines the partners rights and obligations to each other, to any children they may have, and to their relatives. In most contemporary industrialized societies, marriage is certified by the government. In addition to being a personal relationship between two people, marriage is one of societys most important and basic institutions. Marriage and family serve as tools for ensuring social reproduction. Social reproduction includes providing food, clothing, and shelter for family members; raising and socializing children; and caring for the sick and elderly. In families and societies in which wealth, property, or a hereditary title is to be passed on from one generation to the next, inheritance and the production of legitimate heirs are a prime concern in marriage. However, in contemporary industrialized societies, marriage functions less as a social institution and more as a source of intimacy for the individuals involved. Marriage is commonly defined as a partnership between two members of opposite sex known as husband and wife. However, scholars who study human culture and society disagree on whether marriage can be universally defined. The usual roles and responsibilities of the husband and wife include living together, having sexual relations only with one another, sharing economic resources, and being recognized as the parents of their children. However, unconventional forms of marriage that do not include these elements do exist. For example, scholars have studied several cultural groups in Africa and India in which husbands and wives do not live together. Instead, each spouse remains in his or her original home, and the husband is a visitor with sexual rights. Committed relationships between homosexuals (individuals with a sexual orientation toward people of the same sex) also challenge conventional definitions of marriage. Debates over the definition of marriage illustrate its dual nature as both a public institution and a private, personal relationship. On the one hand, marriage involves an emotional and sexual relationship between particular human beings. At the same time, marriage is an institution that transcends the particular individuals involved in it and unites two families. In some cultures, marriage connects two families in a complicated set of property exchanges involving land, labor, and other resources. The extended family and society also share an interest in any children the couple may have. Furthermore, the legal and religious definitions of marriage and the laws that surround it usually represent the symbolic expression of core cultural norms (informal behavioral guidelines) and values. Although practices vary from one culture to another, all societies have rules about who is eligible to marry whom, which individuals are forbidden to marry one another, and the process of selecting a mate. In most societies, the mate-selection process involves what social scientists call a marriage market. The husband and wife come together out of a wide range of possible partners. In many non-civillized societies the parents, not the prospective marriage partners, do the shopping. In civillized societies social rules have gradually changed to permit more freedom of choice for the couple and a greater emphasis on love as the basis for marriage. A Dating, Courtship, and Engagement In societies in which individuals choose their own partners, young people typically date prior to marriage. Dating is the process of spending time with prospective partners to become acquainted. Dates may take place in groups or between just two individuals. When dating becomes more serious it may be referred to as courtship. Courtship implies a deeper level of commitment than dating does. During courtship the individuals specifically contemplate marriage, rather than merely enjoy one anothers company for the time being. Courtship may lead to engagement, also known as betrothal-the formal agreement to marry. Couples usually spend some period of time engaged before they actually marry. A woman who is engaged is known as the mans fiancà ©e, and the man is known as the womans fiancà © . Men typically give an engagement ring to their fiancà ©e as a symbol of the agreement to marry. In the past, dating, courtship, and engagement were distinct stages in the selection of a marital partner. Each stage represented an increasing level of commitment and intimacy. Although this remains true to some degree, since the 1960s these stages have tended to blend into one another. For example, modern dating and courtship often involve sexual relations. In general, people tend to date and marry people with whom they have characteristics in common. Thus, mate selection typically results in homogamous marriage, in which the partners are similar in a variety of ways. Characteristics that couples tend to share include race, ethnicity, religion, economic status, age, and the level of prestige of their parents. B Arranged Marriages Historically parents have played a major role in choosing marriage partners for their children, and the custom continues in the worlds developing countries today. Parental influence is greatest when the parents have a large stake in whom their child marries. Traditionally, marriage has been regarded as an alliance between two families, rather than just between the two individuals. Aristocratic families could enhance their wealth or acquire royal titles through a childs marriage. Marriage was also used as a way of sealing peace between former enemies, whether they were kings or feuding villagers. The most extreme form of parental influence is an arranged marriage in which the bride and groom have no say at all. In a less extreme form of arranged marriage, parents may do the matchmaking, but the young people can veto the choice. Some small cultures scattered around the world have what social scientists call preferential marriage. In this system, the bride or groom is supposed to marry a particular kind of person-for example, a cousin on the mothers or fathers side of the family. In many traditional societies, marriage typically involved transfers of property from the parents to their marrying children or from one set of parents to the other. These customs persist in some places today and are part of the tradition of arranged marriages. For example, in our culture the brides parents may give property (known as a dowry) to the new couple. The practice of giving dowries has been common in countries such as Greece, Egypt, India, and China from ancient times until the present. It was also typical in European societies in the past. Although the giving of dowries has been part of the norms of marriage in these cultures, often only those people with property could afford to give a dowry to the young couple. Families use dowries to attract a son-in-law with desirable qualities, such as a particularly bright man from a poor but respectable family or a man with higher status but with less money than the brides family has. In societies in which the giving of dowries is customary, families with many daughters can become impoverished by the costs of marriage In some societies, the grooms family gives property (known as bridewealth or brideprice) not to the new couple but to the brides relatives. Particularly in places where bridewealth payments are high, the practice tends to maintain the authority of fathers over sons. Because fathers control the resources of the family, sons must keep the favor of their fathers in order to secure the property necessary to obtain a bride. Conventions and Taboos Marriage is part of a societys kinship system, which defines the bonds and linkages between people (see Kinship and Descent). The kinship system also dictates who may or may not marry depending on those bonds. In some cultures people may only marry partners who are members of the same clan-that is, people who trace their ancestry back to a common ancestor. This practice of marrying within ones group is called endogamy. Exogamy, on the other hand, refers to the practice of marrying outside of ones group-for example, marrying outside ones clan or religion.

Black Boy Essay

Most African American families in the South were lower class and committed dangerous acts to survive, â€Å"Richard suffered poverty and hunger experiences that later became themes of his work†. He would have to wait a long period of time before food was available for him, â€Å"You’ll have to wait till I get a job to buy food†. The lower class did desperate things to get money â€Å"Richard sneak into saloons and begs for pennies and drinks†. Many African Americans suffered horribly from poverty, â€Å"My mothers’ suffering grew into a symbol, gathering to itself all the poverty, the ignorance, the helplessness, the pain, hunger ridden days and hours†. The Jim Crow South brought many adversities for Blacks and poverty was a major part of that. Poverty not only took away the physical things in their lives, but also it took away from their internal selves as human beings. The things they had in their lives that they were deprived of, did not mean as much to them as losing who they are as a person, â€Å"I would send other words to tell, to march, to fight, to create a sense of the hunger of life that gnaws in us all, to keep alive in our hearts a sense of the inexpressibly human†. Racism in the Jim Crow South was brutal, unnecessary, and in some cases fatal. Racism in the United States South was a major theme, and impacted the life of Richard both in a positive and negative way. The only positive aspect of it was that he and many other African Americans overcame it and helped them become better people. In most cases racism affected lives in a negative way. Most African Americans were both physically and mentally pushed to their limit and caused permanent scars in their lives, â€Å"Having been thrust out of the world because of my race, I had accepted my destiny by not being curious about what shaped it†, The quote by Richard shows the racism was present and unfair, you can still move on and not let it be damaging to your daily lives and emotions. Richard experienced many abusive events resulting from racism, â€Å"He experienced some of the most severe abuses of racial oppression in Mississippi†. African Americans have the theory that White people are dangerous and not to be trusted, â€Å"the Jim Crow South was a system of racial segregation practiced in some states of the US, and it gave whites a reason to treat Blacks as second class citizens†. Richard falls into a category of Black youth who fears the White community and has a hard time interacting with them, â€Å"Richard feels psychological tension around Whites†. The major reason why Richard is a part of the Great Migration and fled North is because of racism. The segregation Blacks had to deal with also took away many educational opportunities, â€Å"No education could alter what the meaning of living, came only when one was struggling†. Racism took away many privileges and rights away from Blacks. Many African Americans in the South moved north for better opportunities, and this vast moment was known as the Great Migration. It was hard for many African Americans to leave the South because that was the only life they knew, â€Å"Nine out of ten African Americans lived in the American South in 1900, by 1930, 3 in 10 lived outside the house†. Richard Wrights’ Black Boy shows how racism destroyed the lives of many African Americans, but for some it did just the opposite, as for Richard it drove him to be the successful writer he is today. Violence affected African American youth in a negative way, and it varied how they let it affect the rest of their lives. Poverty took a major toll on the lives of African Americans during the Jim Crow South system, and affected the majority in an unconstructive way. Racism made a huge impact on the lives of the Blacks because it affected their emotions, physicality, home life, and way of being. For some, racism lead to death or completely ruined their lives, but others took the hardship of racism and went with it in the opposite direction. Richard Wright, once a trouble African American boy, now a flourishing writer.

Expansion Essay Essay

There were two presidents that did a great deal for our country in the area of expansion. These two presidents are Thomas Jefferson and James K. Polk. Though they had completely different policies on expansion and foreign affairs, both of them vastly expanded the country. Jefferson was a believer in the Monroe Doctrine which basically said we will mind our own busi ness. He was also a very firm believer in a strict interpretation of the constitution. He did not look to vastly expand our country and when the opportunity presented itself he had a hard time making the right decision. The United States was surrounded by European owned areas: England had Canada, Spain had Florida, and France had Louisiana. Fearing a possible war Jefferson strengthened the army especially by Louisiana. This act scared Napoleon, he was in a war with England and didn’t even need the Louisiana Territory, so fearing a war with the U.S. and needing money for his war with England he offered to sell the wh ole Louisi ana Territory to us for very cheap. Jefferson not sure if the constitution justified the act of making this purchase struggled with the decision. He decided he didn’t have much of a choice and accepted Napoleons offer. On the other hand, James K. Polk was a firm believer in Manifest Destiny, which was the belief that the United States was predestined to control all of North America. When Polk ran in the 1844 election his campaign slogan was 54-40 or fight. Though he never got that boundary he did get a lot more in different parts of the country. After Texas revolted from Mexico Polk was easy to convince that the U.S. should step in and take Texas from Mexico. Though he wanted Texas he felt that the greatest prize would be California. After Mexico repeatedly declined Polk’s offers to buy Mexico and California Polk sent an army to the Rio Grande. This action led to the Mexican War. Polk pushed and pushed for Texas and California which after thirteen thousand American lives and fifty thousand Mexican lives were lost he got his land. Both of these presidents expanded the area of our country a tremendously. Jefferson’s policies on expansion kept us out of war and doubled the size of our country with great land that would be much needed in coming years. Polk didn’t keep us out of war but he got us a lot. He gained the United States half a million acres of prime land. Texas was an excellent producer of cotton and other crops, while Califor nia was abundant in gold causing the gold rush where thousands of men would head west to California in search of gold. Though Polk and Jefferson had almost opposite policies, in the area of expansion, they both ac quired much land for the United States. Jefferson, the believer in the Monroe Doctrine, and Polk the believer in Manifest Destiny, probably would not have agreed with each other but both did a lot of good for our country.

Great Expectations by Charles Dickens - 1708 Words

Teddy Kahn The Victorian era class system was founded upon three distinct social classes – upper, middle, lower – with marginal upward mobility granted to those of the lower and middle classes. Society in 19th century England determined an individuals value largely by the social class that individual belonged to, and by extension how much power and wealth that individual held. Naturally, primitive lower classmen such as Pip would struggle to find a respectable identity in a society founded upon social titles. Through a refusal to accept that social worth is determined at birth, Pip defies the predated victorian-era class system and proves to himself that hard work and self improvement is the true measure of self worth. The premise for Pip’s questioning of the world around is based upon his ignorance towards his parents’ lives and social standing. Early in the novel, Pip reveals that he had never met his parents, and instead draws narratives of their lives based on the observations of tangible items such as the shapes of their tombstones. Consequently, in the absence of guidance, Pip becomes unable to grasp the current concepts of class and hierarchy. Pip reveals a fundamental misunderstanding of his parents social lives when at the graveyard he â€Å"read ‘wife of the above’ as a complimentary reference to [his] father’s exaltation to a better world† (38). However, it is such misinterpretations such as surmising that the term â€Å"above† refers to status rather thanShow MoreRelatedGreat Expectations By Charles Dickens1113 Words   |  5 Pagesadventures that the male characters go on. This seems to be relevant in a lot of movies and books like th e story Great Expectations by Charles Dickens. In Great Expectations there are multiple female characters like Estella, Biddy, and Miss Havisham who all play a large part in the main character, Pip’s life. One of the first that we meet the character Estella in Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations is when Pip goes to Miss Havisham’s to play with her. The two kids play the game beggar my neighbor when EstellaRead MoreGreat Expectations By Charles Dickens1347 Words   |  6 Pagespoor status of the economy, social mobility does not seem to be occurring at high rates, with the poor getting poorer and rich getting richer. Despite this, social mobility is alive and well, and has been for centuries. In his novel, Great Expectations, Charles Dickens voices the concerns of many that lived in Victorian England during the 19th century by promoting such a desire to live life in a more prosperous social class. One of the most fundamental and reoccurring themes in the novel is that ofRead MoreGreat Expectations By Charles Dickens1426 Words   |  6 Pages Twelve-year-old Charles dickens gets ready for bed after a long day at the blacking house. These Victorian-aged memories will provide him with many ideas for his highly acclaimed novel Great Expectations. Set in 1830 England, Great Expectations is a coming-of-age story about a common innocent boy named Pip and his road to becoming a gentleman through the influence of others. Pip is influenced both positively and negatively by Estella, Herbert, and Magwitch. Estella left a huge impression on PipRead MoreGreat Expectations by Charles Dickens984 Words   |  4 PagesCharles Dickens utilizes his life for inspiration for the protagonist Pip in his novel Great Expectations. They both struggle with their social standing. Dickens loved plays and theatre and therefore incorporated them into Pip’s life. Dickens died happy in the middle class and Pip died happy in the middle class. The connection Dickens makes with his life to Pip’s life is undeniable. If readers understand Dickens and his upbringing then readers can understand how and why he created Pip’s upbringingRead MoreCharles Dickens Great Expectations943 Words   |  4 Pages This is true in many cases but none as much as in Great Expectations. In many ways the narrator/protagonist Pip is Charles Dickens in body and mind. While there are many differences between the story and Charles Dickens life there remains one constant. This constant is the way Pip as the narra tor feels, because these feelings are Dickens s own feelings about the life he lead. Since Great Expectations was written towards end of Charles Dickens life, he was wiser and able to make out the mistakesRead MoreGreat Expectations By Charles Dickens1375 Words   |  6 PagesGreat Expectations by Charles Dickens and The Talented Mr Ripley by Anthony Minghella present similar criticisms of society to a large extent. Both of these texts consider the criticisms of rich social contexts (wealth and status), societal morality (whether a society is good or not. Status [can lead to the wrong people being in a high position i.e. making bad decisions affecting the community/society] Appearance [society appears to be moral/good (if you’re from a higher status) {dickens criticisesRead MoreCharles Dickens Great Expectations1223 Words   |  5 PagesBeloved author Charles Dickens was born on February 7, 1812 in Portsmouth, England. Growing up in a life of poverty, his childhood hardshi ps provided the inspiration to write a myriad of classic novels including his 1861 seminole masterpiece, Great Expectations (â€Å"BBC History - Charles Dickens†). Great Expectations follows the life of an orphan named Pip, who’s perspective of the world is altered when he is attacked by an escaped convict in his parents’ graveyard in the town of Kent. Throughout hisRead MoreGreat Expectations By Charles Dickens924 Words   |  4 Pagesa character driven novel, or a mix of the two. In order for a novel to be character driven, it must revolve more around the characters’ individual thoughts, feelings, and inner struggles, rather than around the quest of the story. Great Expectations, by Charles Dickens, is a character driven novel. While the story does have a plot, it is not contingent upon that plot, but rather is reliant upon its characters and their natures. This is evident from the beginning of the novel. From the opening ofRead MoreCharles Dickens Great Expectations1669 Words   |  7 PagesCharles Dickens He was one of England s greatest authors of the 1800 s, better known as the Victorian era. The various themes and ideas of that time are perfectly showcased in his many novels and short stories, such as Nicholas Nickelby, Great Expectations, Oliver Twist, A Tale of Two Cities, and A Christmas Carol. Much of the inspiration for these works came from the trials and conflicts that he dealt with in his own life. His volumes of fictional writing show the greatRead MoreCharles Dickens Great Expectations1017 Words   |  5 Pagesexperiencer is somewhere else absorbing knowledge of a different setting.This abstract adventure is seized by author Charles Dickens in Great Expectations. Great Expectations is historical fiction giving readers comprehension of the Victorian Era.Upon the reading, readers begin to catch on the intended purpose and its significance. A person who lived during the Victorian Era was Charles Dickens himself.He grew up during a time where differences in social class were to an extreme degree.Dickens went through

Genetically Modified Organisms ( Gmos ) - 1531 Words

Recently, the topic of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) has raised controversy in both the public and private sectors. Much of this relates to GMOs in food and crop and the potential consequences of consuming such produce on a large-scale basis as is becoming increasingly commonplace in the United States. These concerns, when coupled with the often concerning practices in animal feedlots, have begun to create almost a panic in the minds of consumers who find themselves questioning what they are eating. A greater understanding of genetically modified organisms, especially as it relates to food, is necessary for people to truly weigh the advantages and disadvantages of the increased use of GMOs. Genetically modified organisms, on a basic level, have existed for many centuries. The domestication of animals and early farming techniques modified organisms by breeding the creatures or plants that exhibited positive traits (Goldbas 20; Mahgoub 30). For example, farmers would crossbreed crops in hopes to increase yields or create healthier produce (Mahgoub 30). As technology advanced, scientists realized that fields like molecular biology could potentially make this process more efficient (Mahgoub 30). The idea was simple: if they could select the superior traits on a genetic level, they could create a better crop while avoiding the dangers of traditional crossbreeding such as spreading an unwanted trait (Mahgoub 30). By 1973, â€Å"the process of directly transferring DNA fromShow MoreRelatedGenetically Modified Organisms ( Gmo )1665 Words   |  7 PagesA genetically modified organism (GMO) is a chemical organism processed in a laboratory where genes from the DNA of the crops are extracted and then artificially forced into an unrelated product that, when put into the crops the farmers raise, can chemically change the makeup of the crop. The chemical makeup can be from the change in the skin color of the crop to the actual organic chemistry compound. Genetic en gineering is the process of splicing the genes in the crop and taking out a certain chemicalRead MoreGenetically Modified Organisms, Or Gmos, Are Genetically966 Words   |  4 Pages Genetically Modified Organisms, or GMOs, are genetically modified plants, animals, or microorganisms whose genetic information has been modified by DNA-editing methods such as DNA splicing or gene modification. This modification creates unstable combinations of plant, animal, or bacterial genes that are not found in nature (GMO Facts). It is the right of the consumer to know exactly what they are consuming. However, in the United States, it is not required that food containing GMOs has to be labeledRead MoreGenetically Modified Organisms ( Gmos )996 Words   |  4 PagesGenetically modified organisms (GMOs) are seeds that are genetically altered in a laboratory before being planted. Later on, they grow into genetically modified (GM) foods. Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) A GMO is a plant-based organism, such as seed. However, it has: Genes that are altered to act in a certain way that does not naturally happen OR Contains genes from another plant-based organism History Since 1994, about 85 GM foods have been approved for sale in Canada. This includes GM foodsRead MoreGenetically Modified Organisms ( Gmo )1236 Words   |  5 PagesLayla Sugawara 4/12/15 9/Fe Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) A genetically modified organism (GMO) is any organism whose genetics has been altered by some form of technology. GMOs were first developed from the idea of selective breeding or artificial selection. Selective breeding or artificial selection is when humans purposely breed two selected organisms to reproduce a offspring with a desired trait. The beginning of genetic engineering is unclear. Before the 1900s, some farmers and naturalistsRead MoreGenetically Modified Organisms Or Gmos1231 Words   |  5 Pagesthese innovation scientists have been working with are genetically modified organisms, or GMOs for short. The topic of GMOs is extremely controversial. There are those who back it one hundred percent, and those who seek to see it destroyed. While much of GMOs’ fame comes from the field of genetically modified foods, it is most certainly not limited to it. A quieter, and perhaps more imaginary field of GMOs has to do with genetically modified pigs. Scientists have been reworking the genes of someRead MoreGenetically Modified Organisms ( Gmo )1383 Words   |  6 PagesGenetically Modified Organisms (GMO) is one of the most important issues around the world. Genetic engineering is a process where scientists take genes from one species and force it into the DNA of other species. GMO has long been in practice to b reed select individuals of a species to produce offspring of the desirable behaviors. It is used in conventional livestock production, crop farming and even pet breeding. It involves combining elements of DNA from different sources to create a new DNA moleculeRead MoreGenetically Modified Organisms ( Gmos )1775 Words   |  8 Pagesâ€Å"Between 1996 and 2008, US farmers sprayed an extra 383 million pounds of herbicide on GMOs† (Smith). For more than 20 years GMOs have been produced and placed on store shelves; there are many recognized and uncertain hazards that may affect the health of humans and the environment (Ehrenberg). Genetically modified organisms (GMOs), although they provide many benefits to the economy and food supply, are associated with numerous environmental implications; there is a noticeable increase of food allergiesRead MoreGenetically Modified Organisms ( Gmos )1525 Words   |  7 PagesGenetically modified organisms (GMOs) are highly embedded into our food systems. The use of GMOs is a subject that is often highly debated. GMOs have been viewed as a way to produce food more efficiently, and to aid in the feeding of our ever growing population. However, there are numerous countries that have placed a ban on the use of these products. Comparing production increases in the U.S. to those countries that have banned the use of GMOs will help to give insight into why these products mayRead MoreGenetically Modified Organisms ( Gmos )2083 Words   |  9 PagesABSTRACT Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are organisms whose genetic make-ups have been changed, inserted or deleted into another organisms. While the safety, disadvantages, and public concerns of genetically modified foods has grown significantly with the productivity of the genetic engineered foods. The problem can be solved with stricter regulations for manufacturer from the Food and Drug Administration and U.S Department of Agriculture. Some of many possible solutions to the genetically modifiedRead MoreGenetically Modified Organisms ( Gmo )1194 Words   |  5 Pagesof? If you are eating anything that was processed more likely than not you’re eating genetically modified organisms (GMO) in some way. This is because â€Å"in the U.S. GMO are in as much as 80% of conventional processed food (Non-GMO project).† A GMO is a â€Å"genetically modified organisms† which can be a plant or animal. What makes them a GMO is that they have been genetically engineered with DN A of another organisms that has a desired trait of some kind. The DNA used can come from other animals and plants

Classical Music Influences Our Bodys Vital Movements

Music of any genre or style that originates from a sincere and pure motivation, empowered not by the energies of one’s self, but rather by something greater, exists beyond time, culture, or history. ‘Classical’ music includes many principles that define the true meaning of the value of the classical sounds of music. Detail of the compositional structure and other technical aspects contribute to the most seemingly insignificant nuances. The structural integrity and balancing utilizing of tones create a linear timeline of the composition. Classical music affects us not only on an emotional level but on a neural level as well. Listening to classical music enhances the activity of genes involved in the release of dopamine. In addition, the†¦show more content†¦This ability is important for generating and conceptualizing multi-step problems. The purpose of this experimental study was to investigate the effect of The Mozart Effect: Music for Children collection on the social, cognitive, and physical development of five and six-year-olds. The music of Mozart was introduced into the children s environment as a sensory background for the standard curriculum because as children grow, their social, cognitive, and physical skills can be enhanced by their relationship with music. Many researchers have studied young children because their brains are in the process of developing. Young children are also innocent and are incapable for fully understanding the study being researched, therefore they do not have the capacity to control or manipulate the study. The study showed the effect of classical music on young children. Young children who listen to music regularly demonstrate better development than those who do not. The study focused on the development of kindergarten children; twenty-one children were exposed to classical music in their classroom setting, while the other twenty-one children were not exposed to music at all throughout their time in the classroom (Mattar et al., 2013). These young children range from five to six years in age. Young children who listen to music regularly demonstrate better

Art Evaluation Essay Example For Students

Art Evaluation Essay Firstly we started by looking at art by Georgia Okeefe who mainly painted abstract flowers this was a new style for me as I have never tried drawing in abstract style before, after this we did two paintings in acrylics one of shells and one piece of corn and around the edge of the paintings I then collaged in the background. This was a new way of doing backgrounds for me, as I have never tried using painting and colaging together. We have also tried a picture of natural objects with pastels then used chalk to make a grey background. I didnt really like the results of the chalk background because it was so dull. Then we did a picture of fruits in pencils and shaded them this piece was very similar to the pictures I made of fruits later in my book one in watercolour pencils and one I collaged. I was very pleased with my picture in watercolour pencils but the collage didnt turn out to well. After this I made a page of leaves drawn in 2 styles two in pencils and two in rubbings. I was pleased with the leaves done in pencil but the rubbings didnt look that nice as you can only get a single colour and no shading. Next continuing with the vegetation theme I made a picture of Monets water lilies. I was pleased with this as it allowed me to experiment with pastels and enabled me to create a strong colourful picture. Next we made a copy of a picture of Jesus on the cross in acrylic this painting was done by Gauguin. This enabled me to experiment with a new style of painting with its simple lines and bright colours. The next piece of art is the piece that Im happiest with out of my entire book. It was a copy of a print of black and white natural objects shaded with dots and lines. This was a completely new style of shading for me and it is one that I like a lot. Then I started developing my final art piece for the year I took a section of my garden and drew and shaded it in black pen after this I did 2 or 3 more pictures of this section of my garden one in pencil one in collage and one in acrylic. These were all to try and develop my picture but the only one I was really happy about was my first picture in black pen. I have also done a picture of feathers one set done in white pencil and coloured pencils on black paper, the other set was done in inks. Using inks was a completely new experience for me as was colouring on black paper I liked using both. Then I did another 2 pictures of natural pictures one of scallops in coloured pencils and one of horse chestnuts done in chalk and then I coloured in the background in grey chalk. After this we started concentrating on landscapes more. Firstly I made a picture of two trees one copied from Van Gogh and one of my own creations. I was very unhappy with both of these pictures I thin I could of improved them by spending longer on the backgrounds. Then carrying on with the landscapes theme we did 2 pictures of skies by famous artists one done watercolour a copy of a sky by Turner and one by Van Gogh in pastel. I was quite happy with both of these pictures and I liked making the strange effects of the Van Gogh sky with pastels. I also looked at the style of art noveau, which I found very interesting, and I was quite pleased with my picture in coloured pencils, the picture was of a design off fruits. I also did a picture again in acrylics, this was a copy of a painting fruits on a table by Paul Cezanne. Another piece of art I did in this book was a landscape picture by Katsushika Hokusai in an interesting Japanese style using blocks of colour and very bold lines. This was my other favourite piece of art it was an interesting picture of a large frothy wave. .u0c9f6de6d89788d8a916e60bcd5db9c4 , .u0c9f6de6d89788d8a916e60bcd5db9c4 .postImageUrl , .u0c9f6de6d89788d8a916e60bcd5db9c4 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u0c9f6de6d89788d8a916e60bcd5db9c4 , .u0c9f6de6d89788d8a916e60bcd5db9c4:hover , .u0c9f6de6d89788d8a916e60bcd5db9c4:visited , .u0c9f6de6d89788d8a916e60bcd5db9c4:active { border:0!important; } .u0c9f6de6d89788d8a916e60bcd5db9c4 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u0c9f6de6d89788d8a916e60bcd5db9c4 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u0c9f6de6d89788d8a916e60bcd5db9c4:active , .u0c9f6de6d89788d8a916e60bcd5db9c4:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u0c9f6de6d89788d8a916e60bcd5db9c4 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u0c9f6de6d89788d8a916e60bcd5db9c4 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u0c9f6de6d89788d8a916e60bcd5db9c4 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u0c9f6de6d89788d8a916e60bcd5db9c4 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u0c9f6de6d89788d8a916e60bcd5db9c4:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u0c9f6de6d89788d8a916e60bcd5db9c4 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u0c9f6de6d89788d8a916e60bcd5db9c4 .u0c9f6de6d89788d8a916e60bcd5db9c4-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u0c9f6de6d89788d8a916e60bcd5db9c4:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Dress Code EssayI coloured it using watercolour and used fine liner for the edges of some of the waves. In the latter part of this year we also did some work on something called the mizu project where we worked around the theme of the river Thames and how important it is and we created constructions using different parts from our work so far this year and from our imaginations. I think my projects worked well especially the one I black and white. I created them by cutting out the thick cardboard making the images and sticking them on the pieces of cardboard then overlapping the cardboard and sticking that together. Then we started preparing for my exam so we did some work looking at Janet Fishs drawings of fruits glass and her bold use of colour and light, this was helpful in our exam as we were drawing sweets placed in a jam jar. It was a fairly difficult thing to draw firstly the reflections kept changing and with so many sweets within the jar it was difficult to draw them all the rights size and the jam jar was a difficult shape to draw as the top changed depending on where you looked at it from. I liked the way this picture came out I think I drew the glass reflections well but I think I should have used stronger colours with the sweets to make them stand out more against the black paper. Then I created my final construction which was a combination of everything from the first 2 and all my work earlier that year but this time we made everything on the construction rather than using photocopies, I was happy with the way my construction turned out and I liked the use of colour on it. I Feel that overall this year I could have done quite a bit better with some of my earlier pieces, most of the ones I messed up were in acrylic so I think that maybe next year I will do a bit better as I have had so much more practice at using them. While I did do some bad pieces there were quite few pieces I was happy with I was happy with all my pictures done in watercolour or watercolour pencils I also like the pictures that I have done using pastels. I have found this topic very interesting and it has enabled me to experiment with many new styles, materials and techniques.