Ancient Villages in Southern Anhui - Xidi and Hongcun Essay

Ancient Villages in Southern Anhui - Xidi and Hongcun - Essay Example However, in the villages of Xidi and Hongcun the ancient and traditional Huizhou-style houses are still well preserved. The houses which belong to the period of the Ming and Qing dynasties are considered to be architectural marvels, specially in terms of the design, material and craft used, as also from the environmental and social context they represent (english.cntv.cn, 2010). The villages thus represent a style of human settlement that came into vogue during a feudal period that symbolized a prosperous trading economy. The buildings and the street patterns in the two villages signify the socio-economic structure of a well established and long-lasting period of Chinese history. With the Huizhou businessmen natives of the time, that is, during the period of the Ming and Qing dynasties, strongly supporting the economic development of their hometowns, the areas became culturally prosperous. The houses constructed during that period displayed much aesthetic elegance and uniqueness. A n umber of prominent village landscapes also came to be established. A unique feature of life and culture of these ancient villages in southern Anhui is that their progress occurred generally independent of agriculture. Thus, in terms of their awareness, lifestyle and taste, the people of these areas were generally of a higher level than the common peasants and other common citizens. Thus, a strong cultural environment was created. They laid great emphasis on education since it was their constant endeavor to maintain a close interaction with the literati and officials. The villagers respected Confucianism. The picture below (Fig. 2) depicts an ancient Xidi clan temple. Fig. 2. An ancient Xidi clan temple (Source: http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-... Ancient Villages in Southern Anhui - Xidi and Hongcun The ancient villages of Xidi and Hongcun located in the southern Anhui province of China are World Cultural Heritage Sites. They are marvelous examples of well preserved traditional non-urban settlements most of which have disappeared or transformed during the last century. They possess architectural complexes of much historical and artistic value. Heritage sites everywhere are prone to environmental degradation while the inhabitants of those areas could likely experience socioeconomic problems. The preservation of such heritage sites requires active participation by the local government, international funding agencies such as UNESCO and the World Bank, local communities and the visitors who throng the sites. Another key issue related to tourism development is enhancement in tourism transportation which could lead to pollution caused by transportation (Jiang et al., 2010). A car is the mode of transport commonly used by tourists which has a high impact on the environment due to carbon dioxide emissions. An important issue related to social demography is the migration of villagers from Xidi and Hongcun to cities either as a result of the economic prosperity they have come to enjoy because of tourism or in the face of their inability to meet the competition from the same industry. Residents' perceptions and attitudes need to be periodically assessed, and conditions that encourage the local populace to continue to live and thrive in their hometowns should be created.

Face to face presentation on adult learning theory and research Paper

Face to face presentation on adult learning theory and - Research Paper Example Another problem that was evaluated from the response of the audience was relating to the provided handout, which did provide sufficient description of the presentation (Duarte, 2008; Levin, 2006). The main concern of the current presentation is to improve knowledge and understandings is with respect to adult learning theory and research. The main issue that is associated with the presentation includes the structure of the overall presentation. Furthermore, questions are likely to arise due to the communication problem between the audience and the presenter (Abela, 2008). The current presentation has few defects thus, it is essential to make further plans to enhance the outcome of online presentation. The modification of online planning with respect to interest of the audience is considerably decisive. The online presentation should be short and easily understandable. In addition to this, the structure of presentation should be designed in a proper manner in order to gain audiences’ attention (Attrill, 2015; Reynolds,

Environmental Depletion Essay Example for Free

Environmental Depletion Essay 1. Individuals are affected by the environment in different ways. The environment is an essential element in mans daily sustenance. The environment is the source of fresh air which humans breath in order to live, the source of fruits and vegetables that are necessary for the better functioning of the body, and the care taker of nature which provides man with a serene view of the world. The environment is also the source of trees and other raw materials that are used in the production of the basic needs of the modern world. The environment aids man in so many ways that living without it is totally indispensable for the survival of man. However, the many blessings and benefits which man derives from the environment have caused greed and abuse. The environment, as many theorize is very sick because of mans lack of concern for it. Instead of striving to preserve and/ or cultivate all that the environment has to offer, man continues to abuse and show lack of care for the environment. Thus, the world now is experiencing too many nature related tragedies. The tragedies that are happening and the climate changes as well as global warming are all the result of mans depletion of the earths natural resource. Everything which the environment has to offer has been continually abused by man and utilized commercially to satisfy their greed for profit. What man forgets is that whatever he does with the environment will be done to him two fold. Aside from the physical effects, changes in the environment can also have physiologic and psychological effects to man. If the temperature is hot and dry, man tends to be sweaty and thirsty while if the temperature is cold, the body of man tends to cling on to something that will provide him warmth. Psychologically, a hot temperature will most likely cause man to be easily irritated and annoyed. More often than not, the patience is man is shorter when it is hot as compared when the temperature is cold. In addition, if the environment to which man lives in is rowdy or in chaos or there is too much pollution, the tendency of man is also to feel and act in chaos whereas if the environment is serene, man, most often than not, will feel relaxed and relieved. A busy and crowded environment may lead to stress but a lax setting may temper the mind and feelings of man. Individuals, generally, act in accordance with what they see and feel from the environment. There are only a few people who do not feel affected with what is happening in their environment, these are the people who have high tolerance and have a high sense of discipline to detach themselves from the environment where they are. 2. In the past five years, there has been an increased awareness in the environment because man has been feeling the wrath of nature. The effects of the pollution of the water, the seas and rivers, the air and the noise pollution that are felt world wide are starting to cause serious trouble to mans daily existence. There has been too much pollution around that man can hardly enjoy the benefits which nature used to offer. The climate changes, global warming, extinction of plants, animals and fishes, melting of glaciers and scarcity of natural resources such as water, trees and animals have caused man difficulties. In some parts of the world, such as Africa, water scarcity is very prevalent (Arriens, 2007). The people there hardly have any water to drink, cook and bath. In the years to come, it has been predicted by several scientists and researchers that water scarcity will be felt in a greater degree. If there is water scarcity, almost all resources will be affected. Lack of water will also deprive man to cultivate the soil and plant fruits, vegetables and rich thus there will be food shortage. Cost of products bought in the market will also rise. The lesser products there are available, the higher is the cost. The fear of man to experience all of these adverse effects is the reason why there has been an increased awareness of the environment, which I believe is just right. Man needs to protect and preserve the blessings of nature in order to live longer and enjoy life better.

Proper Designs For Air Conditioning In Mosques Environmental Sciences Essay

Proper Designs For Air Conditioning In Mosques Environmental Sciences Essay To maintain comfortable thermal conditions for the occupants is the basic requirement for any environment, because the thermal conditions have direct impact on the health, morale and productivity of human. Throughout the history using by using the intelligence and by being creative humans has been able to create environments which are comfortable for them to perform their activities and to keep maintaining such environments is very important. A complete thermal comfort occurs when the net heat gained by body is equal to the net heat loss from the body, in other terms; there occurs no storage of heat in the body. This is situation is known as thermal balanced situation. Thus to achieve thermal comfort it is is important to achieve thermal balance. It is possible to attain the thermal balance at a large range of environmental conditions but the thermal comfort is mainly achievable in conditions which are readily adjustable for the body. Thermal comfort is infact the state of mind which shows satisfaction within the existing thermal environment (Hutchean, 1989). There are many parameters involved which decide the thermal comfort conditions. These parameters are those which are related to the body heat loss and gains. Some of the important parameters which determine the heat balance in a particular thermal environment for a human body are: Air velocity, air temperature, humidity of air, activity levels of human, human clothing, means radiant temperature etc. Different models are being used till date by many people in order to relate the human comforts with these parameters in a particular environment. In many cases body has been considered as a thermal object which exchanges heat with the surrounding environment through different modes like: convection, conduction, radiation and is able to loose heat to the surroundings through evaporation and by adapting to the environment using the regulatory system of the body. (Cheng, 2006) Thus prediction of thermal comforts i n different environments is of substantial importance for people and organizations like ASHRAE which deal with air conditioning. Thus one important part of the present research would be to develop an approach which would be helpful for assessing the thermal comforts and problems for the buildings which would then be utilized for a pilot study on some of the mosques of Kuwait and near by areas where the environment is harsh and humid. During harsh hot and humid climatic conditions, an effective air conditioning system is required for buildings, which can provide an acceptable thermal comfort level. Although such systems exists in many places but in many situations either the buildings gets over cooled or in many cases proper levels of thermal comfort are not achieved because of improperly designed system, or improper operation practices with lack of maintenance and thus resulting into an inefficient air-conditioning system. Thus the other important aspect of the research would be to conduct a study for Mosques in harsh hot and humid climatic conditions. Mosques are a type of building which has their own unique operating schedule which depends on the time of prayers or others. So in the work a designed study would be carried out to monitor the thermal comfort conditions and to monitor the energy use of a number of mosques during hot and humid conditions so as to assess accurately the thermal comfort conditions and the energy efficiency in such buildings during the occupancy period so that an efficient air-conditioning system can be designed for them. 1.2 Problem statement One of the important essential requirements from an indoor environment is that it should be able to provide proper thermal comforts in order to satisfy human desires. Undesirable conditions can result in human dissatisfaction and in turn affecting their activities. Thus in this scenario it is very essential to give urgent consideration and attention to the thermal comfort conditions of the buildings especially building in the harsh hot and humid climatic conditions like Mosques where occupant satisfaction is very important during peak hours of prayers etc. In most of the buildings today the comfort levels are achieved through complex air conditioning systems but this might result into to the thermal comfort problems which can occur because daily operations in the building. Many a times it can be very difficult to identify thermal comfort problems and solve them because they can be very diverse in nature and can be cause because of large number of factors. Thus there is a need of deve loping a systematic approach so as to deal with the problems of thermal comforts in building, which in the present case is Mosque. Mosques are the place of great importance for the worshipers and it is needed that the worshipers feel calm and comfortable in the mosque and when they leave the mosque they have the feeling of peace and tranquility. Thus a careful evaluation of mosques is needed for thermal comforts and requirement of energy. Till date only a few studies have been conducted to fulfill this requirements for Mosques and thus there is a need of systematic study which can be helpful in monitoring the thermal comforts and energy use for Mosques so as to assess accurately the thermal comfort conditions and the energy efficiency in such buildings during the occupancy period so that an efficient air-conditioning system can be designed for them. 1.3 Objectives of the Research Detailed study on the methods for predicting the thermal comforts and energy use and previous work done by people in predicting the thermal comforts in buildings Development of a systematic approach for identifying and treating thermal-comfort problems Investigating the Basic design Elements of Mosques Monitoring thermal comfort conditions and energy use in some of the mosques of Kuwait and near by areas Suggesting recommendations for achievement of proper thermal comfort levels and properly designing air-conditioning systems for Mosques 1.4 Methodology The methodology adopted for performing the research and to meet the desired objectives is as below: Step 1: First of all the problem is identified through thorough discussion and observation of the area to be studied. After than understanding the background of the problem and finding out the necessity areas where the research needs to be conducted Step 2: Exhaustive study about the existing models and approaches for thermal comfort problems identification and ways to solve them. Studying the previous research done in the desired area for Mosques or similar kind of buildings in different environmental conditions and there by making a roadmap for the present research. Step 3: On the basis of the detailed analysis of the various approaches and by putting up new ideas through discussion and thorough observation of area, a systematic approach for identifying and treating thermal-comfort problems in building swould be developed which would then be applied for the Mosques of Kuwait or near by places Step 4: Before carrying out the analysis of comfort levels of mosques a study on the basic design elements of the Mosques would be performed in order to make the research more effective Step 5: Finally with the help of developed approach thermal comfort conditions and energy use in some of the mosques of Kuwait and near by cities would be monitored and the problems related to thermal comforts would be identified Step 6: At last a list of recommendations would be generated which would be helpful in improving the air conditioning performance, thermal comfort levels and efficient energy use. Step 7: And the research would then be completed by concluding the findings from the study and giving a future vision to the study and some points of research in future. 1.5 Expected Outcomes A systematic approach would be proposed with the help of which thermal comfort problems can be identified assessed and can be dealt with in a proper way. The developed approach will acts as a helpful tool for the building managers and the operators in order to deal with the thermal comfort problems arising in a building. Based on the study conducted for the mosques a list of recommendations would be generated. Although this recommendations would be genrated from the mosques in hot and humid climatic conditions but an attempt would be made to make them generic so that they can be applicable in any mosques in general. Chapter 2: LITERATURE REVIEW Mosques represent a place of great importance and unique function and operation as worshipers using the mosque need to feel comfortable and calm, and be able to leave with a feeling of tranquility and peace. Consequently, they need to be carefully evaluated in terms of thermal comfort and energy requirements. However, only a limited number of studies have dealt with these requirements of mosques. A study on thermal comfort requirements for Friday prayer during the hot season in Riyadh (Saeed, 1996) indicated that most people are comfortable and few prefer cooler conditions. Thermal comfort considerations are usually paramount in most buildings involving people occupancy. This requires the addition or extraction of heat from the space depending mainly on the season and type of activities performed indoors. The thermal environment parameters involved are all those affecting body heat gains and losses. Air temperature, air humidity, air velocity, mean radiant temperature as well as huma n clothing and activity levels are factors that determine the heat balance of a human body in a given thermal environment. Several models are available in the literature to relate the human sensation of comfort to those factors. Prediction of thermal comfort has been of substantial interest to ASHRAE. ASHRAE has developed a comfort index which is based on the effective temperature. The effective temperature is defined on the basis of 50 % relative humidity. The basis of the definition is that the effective temperature describes the uniform temperature of enclosure which is radiantly black at 50% RH (ASHRAE, 1997) and in which the comfort, heat exchange and physiological strain experienced by the occupant would be same as that of the actual environment with same air velocity. Fanger, 1970 has done a very elaborative study on the prediction of thermal comfort levels under steady state conditions. Fanger, 1970 formulated a comprehensive equation for heat balance which was based on the various parameters of heat exchange. Fanger, 1970 developed a comfort equation which involved the use of two empirical relations which relates skin temperature and evaporative heat loss to the metabolic rate. With the help of the equation developed by Fanger, 1970 comfort conditions for any type of envi ronmental conditions with any type of parameters of clothing and rate of metabolism can be calculated. The other major development in this study by Fanger was the estimation of the PMV (Predicted Mean Vote) for a space in which there are differences in the thermal sensation from the optimal the optimal value. This PMV is helpful in predicting the percentage of dissatisfied people. Considering the variability of thermal sensation under the same conditions, Fanger devised a means of estimating a predicted mean vote (PMV) of the subjects in a space in which there are deviations from optimal in the thermal sensation. Using the PMV, the percentage of people dissatisfied (PPD) can be predicted. The impact of air movement and the effect of its flow patterns on thermal comfort have been the subject of many theoretical and experimental studies(Jiang, 1992) (Chow, 1994). Results from those studies have emphasized the role of air velocity and air distribution patterns as a determinant factor of thermal comfort. Furthermore, models for predicting comfort at different flow regimes and air distribution patterns have been suggested. Charles (Charles, 2003) reviewed and assessed the validity of Fangers Predicted Mean Vote (PMV) Model, and Fangers Draught Model. The review also suggested that the bias in PMV predictions varies by context. The model was a better predictor in air-conditioned buildings than naturally ventilated ones, in part because of the influence of outdoor temperature, and opportunities for adaptation. Ji et al, 2006, examined the thermal comfort of people in naturally ventilated environments in a field study in Shanghai, China. The study suggested that people residi ng in such hot area have adapted to its climate and their expectations for comfort allow them to endure heat better than expected Many studies have been conducted and carried out in different environmental conditions in order to find out the difference in requirement of thermal comfort levels based on parameters related to sex, body build and age. Results showed that there is no significant difference in the comfort conditions required by male or female, elderly or young etc. (Chung, 1990), (Cheng, 2006). Dear and Brager, 2002 summarized earlier adaptive comfort research, presented some of its findings for naturally ventilated buildings, and discussed the process of getting the adaptive comfort incorporated into Standard 55. Adaptive models include in some way the variations in outdoor climate for determining thermal preferences indoors. Cheng and Ng, 2006 discussed in a recent study the adaptive model in thermal comfort, which has been included in the new revision of ASHRAE Standard 55-2004. Furthermore, it demonstrated the development of a comfort temperature chart for naturally ventilated buildings in Hong K ong. Van Hoof et al (2007) discussed two implementations of the adaptive comfort model in terms of usability and energy use for moderate maritime climate zones by means of literature study, a case study comprising temperature measurements, and building performance simulation. The study concluded that for moderate climate zones the adaptive model is only applicable during summer months, and can reduce energy for naturally conditioned buildings. The subject of thermal comfort in buildings is intimately related to the energy consumption/conservation issue as most of the time either heating or cooling is needed to maintain the space at a comfortable level. Many studies have been carried out to investigate this relationship and explore means and ways to conserve energy without compromising comfort (Tham, 1993). A multidisciplinary approach for achieving energy saving and thermal comfort simultaneously was developed (Tham, 1993). The impact of various energy conservation measures and HVAC system and component characteristics on building thermal performance including thermal comfort has been investigated. Results have indicated that adaptation of a higher temperature set point in summer can lead to a significant reduction in cooling energy without loss of thermal comfort. The energy consumption by building heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems has evoked increasing attention to promote energy efficient control and operation of HVAC systems(Mathews, 2000 and 2002). Many other measures related to the design and operation of the HVAC system can be considered for conserving energy. However, in no circumstances should the comfort of occupants be compromised. In hot and cold climates, thermal comfort in building is achieved by HVAC systems, resulting in considerable energy costs. In many situations, buildings are over cooled or the HVAC system is kept running for a much longer time than needed. This will allow considerable opportunities to conserve ener gy while achieving better comfort conditions or at least maintaining the desired comfort conditions at a reduced level of energy consumption. Recently, Budaiwi (2007) proposed and implemented a multi-phase approach to investigate and remedy thermal comfort problems in buildings. Although mosques are important buildings with a unique function and intermittent operation, evaluation of their thermal performance, problems and, subsequently, possible remedies did not receive adequate attention by researchers. This paper presents the results of a study monitoring energy use and indoor environmental conditions in a number of mosques in order to assess the quality of their thermal comfort conditions especially during occupancy periods in such intermittently operated buildings in hot-humid climates. This study is part of a comprehensive research conducted on mosque thermal performance (Budaiwi, 2005). In this part of the study, energy use and thermal indoor conditions for three mosques were monitored over a period of one year. These mosques were selected to represent the common types of a single-zone daily prayers mosque, a single-zone Friday (large) mosque, and a two-zone Friday mosque. The criteria of representative mosques selection as well as their physical and operational characteristics have been presented in previous work. Chapter 3 CHARACTERISTICS OF MOSQUE Before going further on the discussion related to the thermal comfort conditions and energy use it is important to first briefly discuss the basic and important elements of a typical design of mosque and the different activity modes in mosque. 3.1. Basic Elements of typical design of Mosque Mosque is generally a simple rectangular wall enclosed building having a roofed prayer hall. The longer side of the rectangular shape has orientation in the direction of the Makkah City having the holy mosque. This longer wall is normally termed as Qibla Wall. In the center of the wall is a recess in the form of niche wall which is called as Mihrab. It also includes an elevated floor commonly termed as Minbar, in the right of Mihrab, from which Imam delivers or preaches the speech on Friday, i.e. Khutba.These are some of the essential elements of any mosque design. In Fiugre1 an isometric and a plan of a typical simple design of a mosque has been shown emphasizing the basic elements of design of a mosque. Although from the functional point the mosques are not different and have remained unchanged but the space, building materials, architectural forms and the construction systems have evolved and developed to very different extent in the different parts of the world of Islam which are influenced by many other factors as well. Figure 1: The basic design elements of a simple mosque (a) plan, and (b) isometric [Reference: [22]]. Figure2: The geometric configurations (plans) of the investigated mosques. 3.2. Activity modes in a mosque The design of the mosque is greatly influenced by the worship considerations. There are usually two modes of worship in a mosque. The first mode is the prayer mode which involves doing prayers either in groups or individually as per the religious prescription. Generally while performing group prayers the worshippers stand, prostrate, bow and sit behind the Imam in parallel rows and on the same floor level which are aligned parallel to the Qibla Wall having a distance of approximately 1.2 m. The second mode of worship is the preaching mode, in which the worshippers seat in random rows and listens to the Imam who preaches and deliver Khutba, standing on the Minbar which is a elevated floor. The height of the Minbar floor is different in different mosques. The mosque capacity is dependent upon the floor area and is determined by dividing the area of the floor with the average area required by a worshipper for performing the prayer which is approximately 0.80 * 1.2 = 0.96 m2. Gantt Chart Thermal Comfort in Mosques Nov Dec Jan Feb TASKS Submission of Research Proposal Literature Survey Interim Report Submission Development of Systematic Approach Field study of Mosques Result analysis Concluding Remarks and Recommendations Final Project Submission

Postmodernism :: Philosophy Papers

Postmodernism Traditional thinking has understood the world in its totality as including both chaos and harmony. Lovelock's hypothesis gives us a new resolution to this problem by expanding or even relocating creativity from the human intellect to the world. Postmodernism is the return to the mythological-aesthetic reflexion of the world concerning the idea of order and harmony. Facing the publicly known and proclamated appeals for further prosperity, scepticism is being survived so deeply that a homogenous human effort, activity of every individual has not been able to influence the course of history or even effect the great macroscopic processes. Our era is described as the era of common instability. The chaotic state is always considered to be a natural element of contemporary civilization and democracy. On the other hand we are fascinated with the history where the human effort within its highest degree of creativity can influence gradual processes and emancipate it from an indefinite situation, human existence interfering with the entirety of the process in the appropriate linearity to which our thinking is liable. More important than other fields of study, philosophy always touches upon the entirety of human knowledge. An effort to concern all of our inner strains to interprete the world and the processes in a certain comparison, the idea of total diso rder versus the idea of total order. For philosophers there is no need to emphasise that this idea is a part and even a necessary substance of philosophical consideration, not to mention the fact, that the early philosophical reflection has been its testimony. As to the effort to understand such an idea of totality the initial philosophical interpretation is primary. In addition, this initiative gives reason for a necessity of linear thinking by the most important philosophical interpreters. Simultaneously it confuses nontraditional philosophical ideas with aesthetic considerations a typical way of thinking called postmodernistic. The characteristic constancy of traditional thinking and traditional interpretation is that it was allowed to know and understand the whole world in its wholeness and without prejudice. From the known works in this area of thought it is possible to mention those that are most representative, for example the work of Plato, Aristotle, Thomas Aquinas, Descart es or Comte, and if need be, Hegel ´s system. Many other alternativistic philosophical drafts are , of course, not out of the question. These works were established as standard interpretations in a historical-philosophical reflection. Postmodernism :: Philosophy Papers Postmodernism Traditional thinking has understood the world in its totality as including both chaos and harmony. Lovelock's hypothesis gives us a new resolution to this problem by expanding or even relocating creativity from the human intellect to the world. Postmodernism is the return to the mythological-aesthetic reflexion of the world concerning the idea of order and harmony. Facing the publicly known and proclamated appeals for further prosperity, scepticism is being survived so deeply that a homogenous human effort, activity of every individual has not been able to influence the course of history or even effect the great macroscopic processes. Our era is described as the era of common instability. The chaotic state is always considered to be a natural element of contemporary civilization and democracy. On the other hand we are fascinated with the history where the human effort within its highest degree of creativity can influence gradual processes and emancipate it from an indefinite situation, human existence interfering with the entirety of the process in the appropriate linearity to which our thinking is liable. More important than other fields of study, philosophy always touches upon the entirety of human knowledge. An effort to concern all of our inner strains to interprete the world and the processes in a certain comparison, the idea of total diso rder versus the idea of total order. For philosophers there is no need to emphasise that this idea is a part and even a necessary substance of philosophical consideration, not to mention the fact, that the early philosophical reflection has been its testimony. As to the effort to understand such an idea of totality the initial philosophical interpretation is primary. In addition, this initiative gives reason for a necessity of linear thinking by the most important philosophical interpreters. Simultaneously it confuses nontraditional philosophical ideas with aesthetic considerations a typical way of thinking called postmodernistic. The characteristic constancy of traditional thinking and traditional interpretation is that it was allowed to know and understand the whole world in its wholeness and without prejudice. From the known works in this area of thought it is possible to mention those that are most representative, for example the work of Plato, Aristotle, Thomas Aquinas, Descart es or Comte, and if need be, Hegel ´s system. Many other alternativistic philosophical drafts are , of course, not out of the question. These works were established as standard interpretations in a historical-philosophical reflection.

A Day at the Norton Simon Museum Essay -- Norton Simon Museum Painting

A Day at the Norton Simon Museum It was the day of April 13, 2000. I woke up at exactly 12 o’clock because my boyfriend was to pick me up at 1 like we planned the night before. The day looked quite nice, but I was in a fowl mood. I got into a car accident the night before and had a huge argument with my parents about the car. I finally dragged myself into the shower and got ready in half an hour. Then I went downstairs, sat on my couch, and repeatedly told myself the day would hopefully turn out better than last night. At around 1:15, my boyfriend came to pick me up. We took the 5 freeway to the 57 since it was the only way I knew how to get there. As we approached the 134 freeway, my girlfriend veered to the right, taking the 210 which was wrong way and got us lost. So, we exited the freeway and got back on the right track. Then finally, before long, we reached Norton Simon. As we reach the museum, the exterior was very beautiful. The first things I saw were the bronze statues in the front. We took a couple of pictures in front of them and in front of the Norton Simon. The entrance where the glass doors had sat was very unique and elegant. The glass walls that the glass doors were attached to, added to the elegance and beauty. When I had first walked in, I was very shy, timid, and unwilling to go on, this was due to the more mature audience that I had seen when I had first entered the museum. I was still unsure on how to act in a museum, being this my first time, so I was very calm, cool and reserved, but as time went on I saw college students my age probably doing the same thing I was doing. So I then I felt more at ease. Plus my girlfriend was with me so I was not alone. We walked and walked looking at each art piece, which were all well displayed. Then as I looked at the back wall, a large oil canvas painting looked right back at me. I could feel its pain and so then, I decided to do my paper on this piece. The painting was The Ragpicker by Manet. (The Ragpicker. Edouard Manet.1865.Oil on canvas.) The painting was so enormous that it was hard to miss. Such a huge painting for one man, it almost looked life-like. The dimensions of this work is 76.75† x 51.25†. This scene seems to take place of a lower-class man late in his age, probably near his seventies, appears to be looking out of the corner of his eye. The ... ...the eye because the fabric of his shirt and the roughness of his jeans appear to have texture but they do not. If you actually touch the painting, you will find it to be flat and it does not have that feeling of thick application of paint. The painting has realistic 3 dimensional space by the use of linear perspective and chiaroscuro. It also looks to be 2 dimensional as well, because it almost looks like some influence on the Japanese print, like flat patches of paint. The lines converge from the edges of the paint to the center letting off the effect of a background and a foreground. It looks as though the trash is in the foreground and the man is in the background. In the back of the painting, it is darker which also adds to the effect of the 3 dimensional space. My first experience at the museum was a good one. I had so much fun even after we were done with the Norton-Simon. Being a business major, I did not know that art could speak to me as it did. It has not influenced me so much as to change my major, but it did open my eyes to a whole new world. Now when I look at art, I do not just see a pretty picture, but what the artist is actually trying to say.

Foucault – Power/Knowledge

Foucault’s theorisation of the power/knowledge relationship Foucault in theorizing the relationship between power and knowledge basically focused on how power operated in the institutions and in its techniques. The point is how power was supported by knowledge in the functioning of institutions of punishment. â€Å"He places the body at the centre of the struggles between different formations of power/knowledge. The techniques of regulation are applied to the body† (Wheterell et al. , 2001: 78) Power is the ability to control others or one’s entity. Accordingly it can be defined as a kind of strength or as an authority. There are various theorisations about the meaning of this term in sociology thus it would be hard to give a comprehensive definition. Is power a relationship? What kind of outcome does it produce? Can it modify behaviour and can it reduce the power of others? (Waters, 1994: 217) All of these questions can be answered in a different way. The point might be over whom and upon what can this power be exercised. Foucault frequently uses power and knowledge together in the phrase power/knowledge. He claims these two are inseparable. A general expression exists which conjoins the two into â€Å"knowledge is power. † Foucault reverses the logic of this expression in arguing that possession of knowledge does not give one power but gaining power means having knowledge at the same time as â€Å"knowledge is already deeply invested with power† thus it is better to agree on â€Å"power is knowledge†. (Appelrouth and Edles, 2008: 643) Knowledge can be expounded as the awareness of some fact or as a skill that the individual achieved or inherited. In Foucault’s interpretation both idea turned up in the analysis of the â€Å"Panopticon† and the â€Å"plague stricken town†. Being aware of the events happened somewhere is knowledge and this knowledge gives power to those whom got to know about that events although this knowledge could not have been acquired in the lack of power as there would not have been any opportunity to get into a position which allows the observation to get to know something. That is the basis of Foucault’s idea about knowledge and power as oneness and the reason for why is important to think other about the â€Å"power is knowledge† and â€Å"knowledge is power† correspondence. Discipline and Punish (1975) is Foucault’s best genealogical investigation. Appelrouth and Edles, 2008: 643) At the beginning he describes a public torture which was a totally accepted from of punishment in the 18th century. Dramatically introduces the whole process without attitudinizing as those days public execution was a common event, the illustrated torture was as real as he presents it. As norms and attitudes changed in lat ter centuries public tortures has become not popular anymore, people were sentenced to go to prison where a completely different penalty system has been running. Foucault describes typical activities and every day life of the inmates. The point of these two presentations is to show that the changes of methods of punishment correlate with cultural and social changes in the all-time society. (Appelrouth and Edles, 2008: 648) In the second part he â€Å"draws a parallel between the aggressive mechanism used by plague-stricken cities in the late seventeenth century and Bentham’s Panopticon which was intended to be the model for the perfectly rational and efficient prison. † (Appelrouth and Edles, 2008: 648) The point of these comparisons is to reveal how knowledge developed and how this development influenced the society. As knowledge grows and becomes deeper the new understanding of the social and physical world â€Å"generates new locations for the application of power†. (Appelrouth and Edles, 2008: 646) Foucault describes two old mechanisms which was widely used, the public execution as an old form of punishment and the actions against plague that emerged in a town. A new type of punishment became popular which aims to punish the soul not the body as it was common before. There is no more physical torture but torture of the soul. These two old mechanisms alien to the latter methods: the usage of new strict rules that determines the prisoner’s life and the new method of control, the idea of the Panopticon which put surveillance from only one place forward. When plague turned up the old system followed the then methods of observation and surveillance, plague was everywhere thus the supporting power must have been mobilized. In this case â€Å"power is mobilized; it makes itself everywhere present and visible; it invents new mechanism; it separates; it immobilizes† etc. o make people act as it was expected in these conditions (because of the plague almost every interactions must have been stopped in the interest of getting rid of the disease). (Foucault, 1975) The Panopticon instead of exercising power from several sides emphasises the importance and perfection of the surveillance focus from one place. The Panopticon is a building which has an annual part in the periphery and a tower in the centre. Next to omitting little details its most important feature is the ability to see into every cells without being visible. The panoptic mechanism arranges spatial unities that make it possible to see constantly and to recognize immediately. † (Calhoun et al. , 2007: 209) The consciousness of being watched make people put on their best behaviour, their best way of acting thus the inmates do not commit any further crimes as it usually occurs that could happen without being watched. The operation of this building gives the opportunity to work with less employees because only a few overseers necessary being in the tower to check all the cells continuously. This way only a few supervisors needed to control these employees thus it is more economical. The supervision of the plague-stricken town would have cost a lot as a complex system ran which needed a big amount of labour force. As techniques develop and new forms of penalty system emerge costs become lesser. Knowledge grows and makes institutions more efficient as knowledge itself is efficient. â€Å"As knowledge grows the techniques of discipline and surveillance multiply such that power takes on an ever-increasing number of forms. † (Appelrouth and Edles, 2008: 646) The question is if knowledge produces more power or comes from power. The major effect of the Panopticon is to induce in the inmate a state of conscious and permanent visibility that assures the automatic functioning of power. â€Å" (Calhoun et al. , 2007: 210) Accordingly power is what is functioning all the time and knowledge could not be without presence of power. Although as Faucault (1975) claims: â€Å"power and knowledge directly imply one another; there is no power relation without the correlati ve constitution of a field of knowledge, nor any knowledge that does not presuppose and constitute at the same time power relations†. Thus knowledge and power can not exist independently from each other. Benthams laid down two principles about power relating to the Panopticon: it must be visible and unverifiable. The inmates will constantly have before their eyes the tall outline of the central tower from which they are spied upon and must never know whether they are being looked, but they must be sure that they may always be so. (Calhoun et al. , 2007: 210) These two principles give the opportunity to exercise power over the prisoners. The other very important thing is that this system is not only successful in prison but in every kind of institutions. Could be practiced in school or even in an office, people became successfully regulated by the power if vision. The idea of the Panopticon is a metaphor for the general presence of a new penalty system which is called the disciplinary society by Foucault. (Appelrouth and Edles, 2008: 644) This society is disciplined by being constantly watched and punished by excluded them from normal society. Criminals and those whom do not follow the laid down rules are not punished in front of public anymore. There is no need to express power visibly to gain belief in it. Waters, 1994: 231-232) â€Å"Panopticonseque surveillance has become so effective that individuals now sanction and normalize their own behaviour without any prompting, surveilling and disciplining themselves as if they were simultaneously the inmate and guard of their own self-produced Panopticon. † (Appelrouth and Edles, 2008: 646) What if that surveillance is not that effective and something breaks the discipline? The w hole system can lose its power when turns out that this observation is not accurate. Surveillance must be continuous all the time otherwise people lose their belief in the power of it. Once someone realises that can commit an offence or just do something against the rules without being caught the whole system can be questioned. The best example for this is public cameras all over the streets nowadays, although people know that they are visible whatever they do still commit crimes and do unacceptable things. The offender can not be completely sure about being watched or not. The same situation prevails in a school or office where the employees and students know that they can be lucky and might be not watched. If once punishment does not take place the individual can take under consideration the fact of being always watched thus disciplined behaviour is not guaranteed anymore. Foucault’s genealogical investigation is about to look on how power/knowledge and forms of punishment changed during the past few centuries. â€Å"Until turn of the nineteenth century criminal deviance was controlled by public attacks on the offender’s body. † (Waters, 1994: 231) Public execution was quite common in the 18th Century (although it is still ongoing even today in some countries), â€Å"Foucault identifies such punishments as political rituals†. Waters, 1994: 231) Torture was the expression of power, presented how the offender is punished if commits an offence against the only sovereign power. This sovereign power was one â€Å"centralized authority, like a king†. (Appelrouth and Edles, 2008: 643) According to Foucault punishment went through another two stages since pub lic tortures (which is the first stage). This form of punishment is considered unacceptable nowadays, but not because it goes too far, â€Å"rather it is because punishment and the power that guides it have taken new, more acceptable forms. (Appelrouth and Edles, 2008: 643) Punishment became invisible and kinder to the body, to be disciplined was the point rather than to be punished. The second stage of penal practices was based on surveillance and discipline what was aimed to harm the mind. (Appelrouth and Edles, 2008: 644) Public execution can be considered as a terrible kind of punishment, but torture of the mind is the worst. Physical pain could have been unbearable during these public tortures but psychical pain over years and years is tougher as it has no end. With the birth of prison power started to practice the new, less crucial form of penalty which may be more sinister than it seems. Foucault’s three stages can be distinguished by the time period when that form of punishment were popular, by the basis of authority/power was in power, and by the methods how these punishments were practiced. In the 18th Century, as it was mentioned before, the penalty system was leaded by a central authority which could have been a king or one single corporation of the government. The method was a kind of â€Å"public corporal punishment† that is in Foucault’s Discipline and Punish the public execution, the public torture. (Appelrouth and Edles, 2008: 646 Table 15. 2) In addition this torture took place in public. Later on among so many changes torture as a public spectacle disappeared. (Foucault, 1975) The second phase of punishment emerged in the 19th-20th Century when the basis of power was a decentralized institution. Methods were based on surveillance and discipline like in Bentham’s Panopticon or in the plague-stricken town. Appelrouth and Edles, 2008: 646 Table 15. 2) Today, in the 21th Century we are in the third stage of punishment where there are multiple principles about the authority of the penalty system, multiple self-regulations exist and power is diffusive. The trend of the second phase is intensified in the third. â€Å"Power has become destructed and individualized†, â€Å"disciplinary individuals† turned up . â€Å"No longer are social structures and specific institutions necessary for the exercise of power and the meting out of punishment. (Appelrouth and Edles, 2008: 646) In Discipline and punish Foucault analyses the ways how the offender is disciplined in different punishment regimes. In early times punishments were crude, â€Å"prisons were places into which the public could wander†. (Wheterell et al. , 2001: 78) The latter form of regulation and power became private. Inmates were closed into prisons with an invisible system. Public could not see into these institutions anymore. Punishment became individualized and â€Å"the body has become a site of a new kind of disciplinary regime. Of course this body is not simply the natural body which all human beings possess at all times. † (Wheterell et al. , 2001: 78) Knowledge determines this body, the knowledge about the offence and offender. â€Å"This body is produced within discourse †¦ the state of knowledge about crime and criminal, what counts as true about how to change or deter criminal behaviour†¦ This is a radically historicized conception of the body. † (Wheterell et al. , 2001: 78) Foucault carried out a genealogical analysis of punishment and discipline. This analysis, among others, was based on the power/knowledge relationship which was at least as altering as the forms of the penalty systems were showed in the historical review. Various techniques were used to punish and these techniques were influenced by the exercised power in one place one time. The perfect institution to practice power and discipline/punish offenders is the building of the Panopticon. According to Foucault this building is the answer for all questions turned up with other methods of punishment. Bibliography Appelrouth, Scott and Laura Desfor Edles. 2007. Classical and contemporary sociological theory: text and readings. Pine Forge Press: 641-665. Calhoun, Craig J. , Joseph Gerteis and James Moody. 2007. Contemporary sociological theory. Wiley-Blackwell: 209-216. Foucault, Michel. 1995. Discipline & punish. Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. Waters, Malcolm. 1994. Modern sociological theory. SAGE: 217-233. Wetherell, Margaret, Stephanie Taylor, Simeon Yates. 2001. Discourse theory and practice: a reader. SAGE.