Drumming Traditions Of Ghan Traditional Music - 1162 Words

NM2610 Research Essay Drumming Traditions of Ghana The Traditional music of Africa presents itself as an oral practice of instrumental skill passed down from ancient ancestors. This idea has influenced the sound produced through instrumentation thus allowing the replication of spoken language. Within Ghanaian tradition, the practice of dance drumming is a part of everyday culture and can be linked to religion, politics, life events and entertainment (Green 2012 p. 235-238). The practice of drumming acts as the central focus of Ghana’s musical culture functioning to form well-connected ethnic groups (Jones 1964 p. 334). Through the relationship of music and traditional ritual, an understanding of the Ghanaian culture may be†¦show more content†¦Rhythms known as ‘okomfo twene’ are chosen based on their success in attracting the gods but it is not uncommon for musicians to create their own. The Asente perform three modes of drumming, which are signal mode, speech mode and dance mode; these may all be observe d within the possession ritual. The drumming of the healing ceremony is often dynamic signaling the beginnings of a ritual whilst its connection to dance rhythms inspires movement thus encouraging possession. The drums used within the ceremony are the talking drums called Atumpan that feature a high tone and a low tone which are used to mimic tonal language of the Asente (Wilson 2006). It is through the musical elements incorporated within the healing ceremony that attendance, possession and the ability to heal is affected. The significance of the drum within this ritual to appease the gods can be compared to the importance of drumming in relation to the deceased in funeral ceremonies of the Ewe people. Within the tradition of the Ewe people, music is a representation of worth with this idea reflected within funeral ceremonies. Ghanaian funerals of the Ewe people do not only function to farewell loved ones but also act as an occasion that inspires the creation and performance of music. An Ewe funeral is a three-day event that includes the wake-keeping, burial and grand funeral showcasing a diverse variety of drumming practices. The wake-keeping

The Great Leaders Of Pericles And Constantine - 1516 Words

A Long Time Ago Two thousand four hundred and forty-five years ago, a man stands up. The air is thick with tension as the whole crowd watches. The whole year was spent at war, and now many citizens lay on the ground, with faces of terror. It is tradition to do this; tradition to stand up after a year of war to speak about the dead, and has been established for many years. Seven hundred and forty-three years later, a man is sleeping. Tomorrow is another long day of war. Then, he sees something else. A cross with the top of its head bent round. He stares in awe at the sign, then begins to think about it. This all happened a long time ago. Today, the two people mentioned are remembered as two great leaders that lived before, in the ancient world. Throughout history, they changed the lives of many, and affected many others during their rule. Pericles and Constantine were examples of great leaders in the ancient world. Under their rule, changes were made. Both led armies into battles against others. Howe ver, they both had a different style of leading and gave different effects on their citizens. Although they are both respected leaders, they affected different aspects of their civilizations. Pericles greatly improved the arts and literature of Athens, whereas Constantine enacted administrative, financial, social and military reforms to the Roman Empire, as well as decreed tolerance for Christianity within the empire. However, among all the leaders of the Archaic Period,Show MoreRelatedAugustan Art and Propaganda Essay1964 Words   |  8 Pageslegitimacy his position. Octavians rise to power began during Julius Caesars lifetime. â€Å"In 47 B.C. he went to Hispania (modern-day Spain) to fight alongside Caesar. He was shipwrecked along the way, and had to cross enemy territory to reach his great-uncle; an act that impressed Caesar enough to name Octavius his heir and successor in his will.†(Augustus). By the time of Caesars assassination, Octavian defeated the conspirators who murdered Caesar in a series of battles and divided Romes landsRead More The Jewish Community in Greece Essay example2624 Words   |  11 PagesThe other explanation is ?that Judaism was the first proselytizing religion, the first religion with a mission not only for its own tribe, but for all peoples.?3? In the Byzantine era, Jews met with difficulty from the Christian emperors, such as Constantine and Theodosius II, who ?limited the rights of Jews as citizens of the Roman Empire.?4? Later emperors such as Heraclius, Leo III, and Basil I tried to force all Jews in the empire to convert to Christianity.? Throughout the Byzantine era, Jews continuallyRead MoreHow†©to†©Read†©a†©Roman†©Portrait†©3451 Words   |  14 Pagesshifting montage of abstractions from human appearance and character forms a language in which the history of a whole society can be read. Beginning in the first century B.C., Roman artists invented a new kind of portraiture, as unlike that of the great tradition of Greek Hellenistic art (whence the Romans had ultimately derived the idea of portraiture itself and a highly developed vocabulary of formal devices for its realization) as it was unlike that of their own previous Italo-Hellenistic localRead MoreQuestion and Correct Answer7042 Words   |  29 Pages  Ã‚   The Stone provided the key to reading hieroglyphs | Correct Answer: |   Ã‚   The Stone provided the key to reading hieroglyphs | | | | | ï‚ · Question 21 2 out of 2 points | | | Why did Confucianism become extremely popular among Chinese leaders and the artists they patronized?Answer | | | | | Selected Answer: |   Ã‚   Its emphasis on respect for age, authority, and morality | Correct Answer: |   Ã‚   Its emphasis on respect for age, authority, and morality | | | | | ï‚ · Question 22 0

The Importance of Environmental Awareness free essay sample

As more nations are becoming industrialized due to the globalization of world economies, there is a greater amount of discharge from different types of production. In brief, the degradation of the global atmosphere is caused by practically everyone around the world. Unlike countries which have specific boundaries that specify territorial restrictions, the atmosphere does not have an owner; it literally belongs to every individual that steps foot on this planet. Therefore it is important that the general public becomes aware of the consequences that may emerge because of environmental mistreatment. According to the popular journal article, â€Å"The Great Climate Sellout† by Ruth Conniff, it seems as though the issue of global warming is being put on the back burner by Washington and its administrators. There is more focus is on issuing new nuclear loan guarantees and opening up the Eastern seaboard to new offshore drilling. Conniff states, â€Å"given a historic opportunity to do something about the biggest threat to the health of the entire world, President Obama and the Democrats ultimately decided to do nothing† (20). We will write a custom essay sample on The Importance of Environmental Awareness or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Truth is that the government’s attention is no longer on environmental issues but on other pressing issues associated with immigration and the economy. As newspaper headlines are no longer filled with disastrous oil spills across the globe, Democrats deserted their work on passing some form of legislation that tries to improve the effects on climate change. As the world gets warmer, oil-soaked birds are ignored establishing a huge unawareness by society towards the preservation of the Earth Furthermore, although much blame is given to the Obama administration, Republicans have some part to do with it as it has also disregarded the environmental topic. As stated by the author, â€Å"On the one side there were the Democrats Kerry, who led climate-change negotiations in the Senate, and Obama, giving industry everything it wanted and on the other side were the Republicans, also demanding favors for industry, but fearful of looking even slightly concerned about the future of the planet† (21). Even though there are a few beneficial energy projects taking place that could accomplish some sort of cutback in emissions, the budget does not say much on what Obama and his administration will do to effectively decrease the discharge of carbon pollution by the largest emitters such as power plants and automobiles. Of course one needs to not hold Obama fully accountable for the government’s failure to act. Reality is that without some sort of mutual effort and agreement between both chambers in Congress, the House and Senate, practically nothing can be passed in Washington. Consequently, the President is at the mercy of the House and especially the Senate on many key issues making him fully dependent. However, according to Conniff, the good news is that environmental groups are not just standing with their arms crossed as the world slowly collapses before our very eyes. As stated by the author, â€Å"Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, and the Rainforest Action Network, along with some other groups, formed a breakaway coalition called Climate Reality Check, which abandoned the nonconfrontational tactics of the mainstream enviro groups and began to criticize weak emissions reductions targets and other compromises by the Obama Administration and Democrats in Congress† (21). These efforts show that even though the political terrain may be getting difficult for many activist, environmental awareness is not abandoned signifying that we better start now before it is too late. Although there is still a long way ahead of us in establishing a comprehensive climate reform, the key for success in finally accomplishing full environmental regulation is for society to act as one as it involves every single one of us. As we are all aware, our global environment has always had climate issues as personal burden. We, as individuals, need to play a role to impact our global climate for the better. In Zeinab Salah Mahmoud Youssif’s article, â€Å"Housewifes Awareness of Global Climate Changes and its Relationship with Behavioral Practices Associated with Some Resources in the Home Environment† one of his main focal points is on the correlation between housewives and the global climate. He presents his research indicating that the more knowledge a housewife has about the global environment in terms of the uses of its natural resources in their home, the better the impact is on the global climate. For the most part women have always played the prominent role in the household, â€Å"managing the family needs inside the house and dealing with most natural resources† as stated by Youssif (70). For instance women deal with power and household appliances as they do daily routines such as the general cleaning and every day cooking. Decorative plant resources are also used as they decorate the house to not just impress visitors but to have a higher standard of living. Of course water resource cannot be forgotten about as it is a key component almost everything we eat or drink. Last but not least women in general manage house wastes resources as they are usually the ones to determine what is still in use and what can be considered as garbage. Moreover, Youssif goes on to say that by raising awareness on correct behavioral practices towards the environment, it will drastically cut down on inadequate behavior such as exaggerated consumption of home resources (71). Examples of these type of behavior may range from leaving the water running when brushing one’s teeth to leaving lights on that are not in use for an extended period of time. Furthermore, he argues that correct practices will have a trickle-down effect on children. This idea does make sense as children start to develop a full conscious of their surroundings in the adolescent stage. Not only is childhood critical in understanding what the necessary steps are in trying to preserve the earth for future generations, it is practically the only stage that will permit these customs to really take root. As time passes, each generation will be better than the previous in taking the proper decisions for world protection and it’ll turn into a way of life rather than a job to be accomplished. Concentrating on housewives is a tremendous thought not only because it impacts the usage of proper practices on natural resources but also takes note of everyone else in the household. When it comes to the love of one’s family, leaving the world a better place for the future of our children is a visible consideration. In the article â€Å"Lessons from Lost Worlds† by Jared Diamond, the author comes to an awareness of the global environment after the birth of his twin sons. He argues that while he was growing up there was talk about environmental problems occurring around the year of 2050 but he never gave it enough thought since he wouldn’t be alive at that time. Although the year 2050 was unreal for him, he could not say the same about his children as they would have reached the age of 63 in the year 2050. In brief, this awareness made him realize that the state of the world during the middle of this century will have a tremendous effect on his children and of course for other children across the nation. As the lives of future generations are threaten by world conditions Diamond comes up with a set of lessons that we may be able to grasp from past events in different societies that are similar to the one we are facing in today’s world. Diamond introduces with a historical perspective as he states: Many past societies collapsed partly from their failure to solve problems similar to those we face today- especially problems of deforestation, water management, topsoil loss and climate change. The long list of victims includes the Anasazi in the U. S. Southwest, the Maya, Easter Islanders, the Greenland Norse, Mycenaean Greeks and inhabitants of the Fertile Crescent, the Indus Valley, Great Zimbabwe and Angkor Wat. The outcomes ranged from just a collapse of society, to the deaths of most people, to (in some cases) everyones ending up dead (417). The present global environment is experiencing problems that suffer much greater consequences than what the Indus Valley, Maya, the Anasazi, etc. faced. Those societies experienced a downfall with a population that is practically nothing compared to our present-day population which is indeed much larger. In addition, a larger population indicates that consumption is at a much larger rate which will lead to a much more catastrophic demise to our population if it is altered in any negative way. Furthermore, the collapse of numerous societies in the past makes it clear that misfortune and ultimately collapse was not avoided by its population although it could have. The question is, if past societies saw environmental problems building up that would fundamentally lead to the destruction of their empire, why was absolutely nothing done about it? Diamond makes a humorous remark stating that generations in the future will be asking the exact same question about our generation now which is why it is necessary to not commit the same mistakes done in the past and take initial action (418). He concentrates on short vs. long term effects that harm our society but may not be completely obvious for the typical American citizen to point out. As Americans do whatever they can to leave a wealthy lifestyle in the short run, harm is committed on everyone else due to this selfishness. So when trying to get Americans to recycle and look out for the community, it’s best to emphasize that it’s good for them individually instead of indicating the broad benefits. In today’s world or at least in the United States motivation is driven by self serving acts, something that needs to change urgently. Nevertheless, hope is not lost for Diamond as he states that problems we face today are fixable in the sense that they do have an attainable solution. Diamond says, â€Å"the risk we face isnt that of an asteroid collision beyond our ability to avoid. Instead our problems are of our own making, and so we can stop making them. The only thing lacking is the necessary political will† (419). In brief, it can never hurt to stay optimistic about the future. Consideration towards not just one specific individual or group but the entire human race as a whole is needed in order to make something productive happen. Works Cited Conkin, Paul K. The State of the Earth: Environmental Challenges on the Road to 2100. Lexington: The University Press of Kentucky, 2007. Print. Conniff, Ruth. The Great Climate Sellout. Progressive 74/75. 12/1 (2010): 20-21. Academic Search Complete. Web. 3 May 2013. Diamond, Jared. â€Å"Lessons from Lost Worlds†. The New World Reader. Ed. Gilbert H. Muller. Boston: Wadsworth, 2011. 416-419. Print Mahmoud Youssif, Zeinab Salah. Housewifes Awareness Of Global Climate Changes And Its Relationship With Behavioral Practices Associated With Some Resources In The Home Environment. Nature Science 11. 4 (2013): 68-85. Academic Search Complete. Web. 3 May 2013.

Parable Of The Cave And Road Not Taken Essay Example For Students

Parable Of The Cave And Road Not Taken Essay Taking the High Road The unexamined life is not worth living, In TheApology, Socrates relates that the most important goal in life is theimprovement of the soul. We should search others, our environment, and ourselvesso that we may come to a better understanding of the world. The Parable of theCave tells of the journey that Socrates was trying to relate, in that eachperson is faced with different realities as we travel to try and reach theintellectual world. This journey of enlightenment draws close parallels toanother piece of literature by Robert Frost. In his poem The Road NotTaken, he describes how he felt as he came upon the fork in the road andchose to take the road less traveled and that has made all thedifference. The use of life as a journey is nothing new to literature, butwith Plato and Frost both show that this journey is not easy and there are manychoices along the way that we must make that will determine the quality of thelife we will lead. The main factor that drew me to the Parable of the Cave wasthe way it described our journey through life. It begins by telling us that thereality we initially see when we are chained down in the cave is nothing morethan an illusion. This is true in my own life in that I was told by my parentswhat was right and what was wrong without questioning the reason behind it. Theykept a chain of sorts around me so that I was not harmed by all of the realitiesof the world at once, but rather gradually introduced to them as I grew up. Aswe are released from bondage, our reality is immediately changed. When we firstlook toward the light we will suffer sharp pains; as we try toadjust to this new reality that is suddenly thrown upon us. The bondage that weexperienced in the beginning is no longer there and the full weight of the worldis pressed down on us without the help of others and now responsibility for ourown actions becomes the controlling factor in our life. The light that firstshocked us into reality now causes you to come to a crossroads in life. Lookingdirectly at the light will cause some pain and suffering, but offers aclearer vision or turn away and take refuge in the objects ofvision which he can see and return to the reality of which he wasaccustomed, but is only an illusion. Many people are scared to face reality andwould rather turn back to the shelter that they are comfortable with. Independence and freedom are things these people could live without, so long asthey had someone to lead them. Unfortunately, the majority of people fall intothis category. They become sheep and require a shepherd to guide them throughtheir lives. The others who can overcome the blinding light are able to ask ofthemselves what they are trying to accomplish in their lifetime. They may makemistakes along the way, but because they had the strength to try, are able tolearn from those mistakes and become more intelligent as they age. Those thatnever leave the depths of the cave remain in an illusion. Ignorance isbliss, and these people never want to have to struggle with their lives,but would rather remain without the responsibility the new knowledge would bringthem if they were to walk towards the light. The light allows us to see thingsmore clearly and this is the goal that we are trying to reach in our lifetime,but are almost assured of failing. Why then should you constantly fight towa rdthis goal over adversity and hardship only to fail in the end? The journey isthe most important part of the trip, not the destination. The things learnedalong the way will make your life more fulfilling and enjoyable. The Parable ofthe Cave shows how this journey can be related to our own lives and thestruggles we face throughout our lifetime. The journey talked of in The Parableof the Cave has many parallels with the poem by Robert Frost entitled TheRoad Not Taken. The last line of the poem reads, I took the road nottaken and that has made all the difference. The road usually taken is theeasy road, the road that is the most comfortable to us. This road keeps usignorant because we never seek to gain more knowledge by searching and askingquestions. I chose to represent the Parable of the Cave by visually showing thepoem by Frost. It begins on a road that is surrounded by foliage. This acts toshelter you from the harmful world. The foliage shelters you until you come to afork in the road. The road ahead of you is clear of any obstacles for as far asyou can see. The other road to your right begins with a hill and you can not seewhat lies ahead. At this fork you must make a decision to continue straightahead on the clear path, or take a chance and climb that hill to see what is onthe other side. The clear path is representative of the path that most peoplewill take, the easy road. This road continues with no obstacles because that iswhat you have seen all of your life and are comfortable with this arrangement. .u34623c5a0a7e297650766e5ac6a1f7ac , .u34623c5a0a7e297650766e5ac6a1f7ac .postImageUrl , .u34623c5a0a7e297650766e5ac6a1f7ac .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u34623c5a0a7e297650766e5ac6a1f7ac , .u34623c5a0a7e297650766e5ac6a1f7ac:hover , .u34623c5a0a7e297650766e5ac6a1f7ac:visited , .u34623c5a0a7e297650766e5ac6a1f7ac:active { border:0!important; } .u34623c5a0a7e297650766e5ac6a1f7ac .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u34623c5a0a7e297650766e5ac6a1f7ac { 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; } .u34623c5a0a7e297650766e5ac6a1f7ac:active , .u34623c5a0a7e297650766e5ac6a1f7ac:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u34623c5a0a7e297650766e5ac6a1f7ac .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u34623c5a0a7e297650766e5ac6a1f7ac .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u34623c5a0a7e297650766e5ac6a1f7ac .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u34623c5a0a7e297650766e5ac6a1f7ac .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; } .u34623c5a0a7e297650766e5ac6a1f7ac:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u34623c5a0a7e297650766e5ac6a1f7ac .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u34623c5a0a7e297650766e5ac6a1f7ac .u34623c5a0a7e297650766e5ac6a1f7ac-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u34623c5a0a7e297650766e5ac6a1f7ac:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Juvenile Crime Essay SummaryTaking this road would be the same as returning to the depths of the cave onceyou were blinded by the light. The road to the right represents the continuancetoward the light at the cave mouth discussed by Plato. This road had obstaclesthat will impede your path and slow you down, but do not stop you fromcontinuing on to the end. The hills are the trials we must face in life if weare trying to obtain knowledge. The knowledge does not come withoutconsequences, however, and you must go through trying times (whether it beself-examination, examination of others, or examination of the environmentaround you) before you can move ahead. Whichever road we decide to take, the endresult is the same, death. The roads lead to the same destination, but the pathsto that destination are very different. This is representative of the course oflife that each of us must take, some paths are easier than others, but the moredifficult path leads to a more fulfilling life. The Parable of the Cave showsthe major steps in life that we are all faced with. Those who choose to turnaway from the light would not lead a fulfilling life in the eyes of Plato orSocrates. Those that choose to continue toward the light take all theresponsibility that comes with that choice. By continuing toward the light theycontinue to enlightenment. In order to reach enlightenment, we must questionourselves and our motives and in doing so will face more trying and pressingtimes than those who choose to return to a place that they are comfortable with. Frosts poem The Road Not Taken very much parallels the thoughtsexpressed by Plato. We are faced with many choices in life. The fork in the roadrepresents those choices we are faced with and once they are made, there is noturning back. The mistakes made along the way may cause use to stumble or slowdown, but the journey to the end is much more fulfilling if we are willing totake the road less traveled, for it too could make all thedifference.