The Heroic David

David is a masterpiece created by Michelangelo Buonorroti. It represents the Biblical hero David from 1 Samuel 17. The Israelites are fighting the Philistines, whose best warrior, Goliath, repeatedly offers to meet the Israelites best warrior in a man-to-man combat to decide the whole battle. None of the Israelite soldiers is brave enough to fight against the giant Goliath. Until David, accepted the challenge. Saul, the Israelite leader gave him armor and weapons but he declined. Instead, he goes with his sling shot and confronts the enemy. He hits Goliath in the head with a stone, knocking the giant down and then grabbed the sword and cut off his head.

This statue became a symbol that symbolizes the defense of civil liberties embodied in the Republic of Florence due to its heroic nature. It has the eyes of David that gives a warning glare towards Rome. The way it appears seem like he’s ready for battle. His neck is tense and the veins bulge out of his lower right hand. And the way he twist his body gives off a feeling that he’s in motion.

Later in 1873, the statue of David was removed from the piazza to be protected from damage and was placed in Accademia Gallery where it attracted many visitors. It is even listed as the largest and grandest among the ancient statues. Michelangelo’s David became one of the most recognized works and symbol of strength and youthful beauty. 

Parthenon of Athens

The Parthenon is a former temple that was dedicated to the Greek goddess, Athena, who people of Athens considered their patron. It is regarded as a symbol of Ancient Greece, Athenian democracy and western civilization and one of the world’s greatest cultural monuments.

Athena is a Greek goddess of wisdom, courage, law and justice, strength and battle strategy. She only fought for reasons and would not fight without a purpose. She is portrayed as a shrewd companion of heroes and is a patron goddess of heroic endeavor. 

For a time, it served as the treasury if the Delian League, which later became the Athenian 

Empire. Later in the final decade of the 6^th century the Parthenon was converted into a Christian church dedicated to the Virgin Mary.

The Parthenon is a classic peripteral octastyle Doric temple with Ionic architectural features. It stands on a platform or stylobate of three steps. It is quite to the other Greek temples, it is a lintel construction and is surrounded by columns carrying an entablature. There are eight columns at either end and seventeen on the sides. There is a double row of columns at either end. The colonnade surrounds an inner masonry structure, the cella, which is divided into two compartments. 

At either end of the building the gable is finished with a triangular pediment originally filled with sculpture. The columns are of Doric order, with simple capitals, fluted shafts and no basses. Above the architrave of the entablature is a frieze of carved pictorial panel, separated by formal architectural triglyphs, typical of the Doric order. Around the cella and across the lintels of the inner element of the architecture is Ionic in style rather than Doric. 

To build the Parthenon. Its massive foundations were made of limestone and the columns were made of Pentelic marble. Pentelic marble is a material that was utilized for the first time. It is flawless white with a uniform, faint yellow tint which makes it shine with a golden hue under sunlight. This marble can be found in Mount Pentelicus or Pentelikon which is located in Attica, Greece.

The Book of the Dead

The Book of the Dead contains a number of magic spells to assist the deceased to the afterlife. It was developed from a tradition of funerary manuscripts. The first funerary texts are called Pyramid text, it is written in hieroglyphic style. 

Hieroglyphics were a formal writing system used by the ancient Egyptians that is a combination of Iogographic and alphabetic elements. Egyptians used cursive hieroglyphics for religious literature on papyrus and wood. 

Papyrus is a leading Egyptian merchant in graphical paper, office paper, facility supplies and in industrial packaging. 

These texts are written on the walls in the burial chambers exclusively for the use of the Pharaoh. The purpose of these texts was actually to help the deceased king to take his place amongst the gods.

Then in the Middle Kingdom a new version of funerary text emerged, this is called Coffin Text. These texts are commonly written in the inner surface of the coffin though they are usually found written on tomb walls or on papyri. These texts were available to wealthy individuals that numbers increased to those who are expecting to participate in the afterlife. This process is to be described as the “democratization of the afterlife”. 

Not only the book is magical it is as well religious. It was legitimate and activity as praying to the gods. Also the spells are used for amulets to keep the deceased from harm. Spells are very useful that they also appear on amulets wound into the wrappings of the mummy. 

Summary:

The Book of the Dead depicts the beliefs of the Egyptians about nature of death and the afterlife. Also it shows many scenarios to the reader what path they encounter. Many of hieroglyphs also represents humans or animals to prevent them causing any harm to the deceased Pharaoh. It contains a number of magical spells to help the deceased to the afterlife. Also they said that it has a purpose to help the deceased Pharaoh to take his place amongst the gods and to reunite with his divine father, Ra. 

Who is Mona Lisa?

Everybody knows about the painting “Mona Lisa” by Leonardo da Vinci but the question is who is Mona Lisa?

Some say that the lady in the painting is Lisa Gherardini, the wife of a wealthy Florentine cloth merchant, Francesco del Giocondo. Therefore, the alternative title of the painting is La Giocanda. There were even others that said, that it was his mother. However, according to the structure of the Mona Lisa’s face, some say that it was a structure of man that Mona Lisa was probably his assistant and probably lover, Salai.

Then according to Jeanna Bryner, the transparency of the veil shows da Vinci’s first painted a landscape and then used transparency techniques to paint the veil atop it. Then she noticed a change in the position of the left index and middle finger. At the elbow there was repair around at that part from damage due to a rock thrown at the painting in 1956. Also the left finder was not completely finished.

            Then in the year 2015, a group of archaeologists discovered the remains of Lisa Gherardini, one of the rumored models of Leonardo Da Vinci. Her remains were found in the Sant' Orsola convent in Florence. 

“I’m convinced it is her,” Silvano Vinceti, an art historian who led the research team, told The Telegraph.

“There is a strong compatibility between the results from our archaeological and historical research and the results from the carbon dating. It is highly probable that the remains belong to Lisa Gherardini.”

After finding the remains, they are compare DNA samples from the remains and the DNA that extracted from two of the five children that Gherardini had with her husband. However, when the children's remains were discovered in the tomb Basilica of Santissima Annunziata in Florence, their bone fragments have been badly damaged due to flooding of the Arno River. Because of this they cannot provide enough DNA samples to make a comparison, according to  Prof Giorgio Gruppioni, the head of the forensic anthropology laboratory at Bologna University. Although they haven't given up, they are finding solutions and techniques in order to solve the mystery. 

However there were some critics that pointed out that the remains belonged to another woman. Well, we wouldn't know unless further study is conducted. For now, Mona Lisa still remains a mystery. Who is the woman behind that famous smile? 

Life outside Technology

Technology has taken over the society together with social media. That people spend most of their time online. I’m for one am the same. When I first received this blog as project, I was worried what to talk about Technology. Well I could say that I like to spend my time online watching movies, updating myself with the latest news or trends and also chatting people from a long distance. Back in elementary, it became natural for everyone to have Facebook. 

Then when I entered high school, I learned a lot from social media. It even became one of the topics in our conversations with my friends. We talk about music, movies, idols and many more. Then came the time to say goodbye. When I graduated high school, my friends and I went to different schools to pursue our dreams. However thanks to social media I was able to keep in touch with them from time to time. 

That’s a good thing about social media. However, as I engross myself in social media the more it affects my life. There are times when I forget what really matters and I cannot take back what’s already done. There are times when I forget to do my homework or my projects. That when the deadline comes only then I’ll cram. And also I cannot live without my laptop since I always need it for designing. 

Thinking about today’s media, I’d say it has its own advantages and disadvantages. But when did I ever go without checking my Facebook or my emails. When was the last time did I ever hangout with my friends and forget about technology? When was the last time when I just enjoy my life free from social media?

Outside social media we can spend more time with our family, relatives, friends etc. We can get to know other things that social media cannot show. Also we can create more memorable smiles and laughter. “Sometimes we have to disconnect to make a connection.”Sometimes We Need to Disconnect to Make a Connection."

Education Then And Now

You know it’s kind of amazing how people evolved when technology was introduced. When I was in elementary, I remember my teacher would use chalk to write lectures, reminders and home works on the board. Then when I reached high school, the chalk board evolved to white boards and projectors. Whenever the teacher uses the projector to present the power point lectures, we have to be quick in taking down notes while listening to the teacher. Then now in college, there are no differences from high school and yes of course we take down notes. However, in college you can just take out your phone, take a picture of the lecture or reminders that are written on the board. There! Notes. Otherwise the teacher would just upload it on facebook and there. We have a copy of the lecture. How easy is that? Back in the old days, there were chalks and dust. Now selfies and projectors.

Also in school, some students don't use the dictionary often since one can access it online. Its just one click and away. Even research. Same thing when comes to other books. I mean why go to the library when you can just search it online. So basically wherever you go the phone is there for you. LOL :3 Some students bring their laptops, even I do it. But if you're traveling far, its better if you don't bring because 1, the weather and 2, its heavy. 

However, in school there are limits to what the teacher can teach you. They’ll only give you lectures and teach you the basics then it’s up to us to master it. The same thing goes to youtube. On youtube you can access any tutorial you can want. From there you can learn basically anything. It can give you the information you need but it will never show you how to be professional since it’s up to you whether you want to master it or not. However in school, the teachers will give you the basics and the knowledge about their functions. So each has its own advantage and disadvantage. 

Media Today's Art

In this society, people may be affected by the media but everything around them is affected as well. Like Arts; in a traditional way people use paint brushes, oil pastel or even pencil to sketch their ideas. But when Technology was discovered, people now use a number of softwares to create their designs. It is easy for them because one mistake you can easily undo it unlike on the actual canvas or paper you have to repeat it all over again. Unless you use other methods to cover it up. There may be disadvantages as well there are advantages. Also another thing is sharing and publishing your artwork. The fastest way is uploading it online or if you want you can present it to an art dealer or something. But to be honest most people will just take a picture and then upload it online. Even doing your artworks digitally is quite easy once you know how the tools function. You can create animations, make objects that can move and make them transform. 

Anyone can be an artist, a designer, creator, etc. But it takes time and effort to become a professional. Thanks to technology it made the artist's work easier.

With effects it can make your artworks eye catching. Make's it look cool that you want to make as it your desktop wallpaper. I know I would. That's one of the best thing in using today's technology. However, as an artist it is a challenge.

Back in high school, I remembered how much knowledge I lacked when it came to digital art.

Actually at first I wasn't good at drawing. I can't even draw a star or person. Until I learned about anime from my friends. I learned lots of things from it. About life, advice, how to draw and more importantly not to give up.

Before entering college, I honestly didn't know what course to take. I envied others who already have their goals and dreams unlike me. Well I do have dreams but felt like it wasn't meant for me.

                                                             

Then I learned about Multimedia Artist. I knew by then that it was the choice that I should take. Finally I went for it. Although when I entered college there were actually a lot of my classmates who are far better and far more enhanced than me. I said to myself, "Aimee, you made it this far. If you give up now, do you have the right to call yourself a fight?". And you know actually I'm glad that I found myself some rivals because if it weren't for them I wouldn't have gotten this far. 

Anyway the reason why I chose Multimedia Arts was because I love to design and create my own animations. That's why I am thankful for this era. Since technology can make my designs look real and alive.