Race, according to this website, is something that evolved as an excuse. As the concept of race evolved it became a justification for the exclusion of people like immigrants and a justification for the extermination of others. Race wasn't created by humans but racism was.
Race is thought to be a modern idea that began with the use of slaves to grow cash crops in America. Before that slavery was just a result of a conquest over an enemy that had nothing to do with how they looked. It was a way of making them weaker and taking over their lands.The slave trade brought a new idea that people that looked different were "less" and could be used to others advantage. I found it really interesting that the idea of race became what it is today thanks to this because we all believe race has been around since the beginning of time. Yet one small change in trade spurred this evil monster known as racism.
In the website they talk about how in ancient times there were no prejudices of race as there are now. That race is a modern idea. Yet, having taken my AP World test less than a week ago, I must disagree. In India they had the caste system that still affects them today that began in 1200 B.C.E. So if this is a modern idea how is it that in India it is a classic idea?
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Romantics (No Not That Kind)
The Romantics, a BBC documentary, is not about the kind of romance you are thinking about. The documentary is about the time period following the French Revolution and the American Revolution which caused a change in thinking known as The Romantics.
In the documentary, the narrator talks about three poets from this movement. The documentary not only gives the information clearly but the portrays of the poets and reconstruction of the events keeps the watcher interested. Sure its a little freaky when they make the narrator seem like a member of Ghost Hunters International but the spooky effect adds to the general feel of the documentary.
The first poet mentioned is Samuel Taylor Coleridge who despite being a great poet, struggled with opium addiction. In the documentary they act out how he wrote a poem about Kublai Khan based on a vision he had while being high. As soon as he was himself again he started writing it but lost the vision. He was able to complete the poem after having another trip to high land. I wonder if his method works not only with writing poetry but also with taking exams. Say one this Thursday?
Next in the documentary were John Keats and Percy Bysshe Shelly. John Keats used to be a surgeon (no anesthesia) but then decided to devote entirely to poetry. Its interesting to see how he would add what he knew about the human body to his poems. He lived away from the spotlight and lived a calm life. He died young of tuberculosis and become more known after death. Shelly on the other hand was known for his crazy views. He was an atheist and published Necessity of Atheism in which he talks about how can he believe in a God there is no evidence of. He also lived a pretty scandalous life since he believed he didn't have to be tied down to his wife. His poems are pretty dark and deal with these topics that were controversial for the time.
The last poet discussed in this part of the documentary was Lord Byron. What was interesting about Lord Byron was that instead of being kind of underground like the others, he embraced his popularity. He became kind of the first celebrity. He was also of the upper class and no one expected someone from the aristocracy to become a poet. Despite being very well liked, he was criticized by others like Shelly and with celebrity-hood came false rumors that threatened his reputation. Still his poetry was very appealing to everyone and he managed to fight off the rumors.
In the documentary, the narrator talks about three poets from this movement. The documentary not only gives the information clearly but the portrays of the poets and reconstruction of the events keeps the watcher interested. Sure its a little freaky when they make the narrator seem like a member of Ghost Hunters International but the spooky effect adds to the general feel of the documentary.
The first poet mentioned is Samuel Taylor Coleridge who despite being a great poet, struggled with opium addiction. In the documentary they act out how he wrote a poem about Kublai Khan based on a vision he had while being high. As soon as he was himself again he started writing it but lost the vision. He was able to complete the poem after having another trip to high land. I wonder if his method works not only with writing poetry but also with taking exams. Say one this Thursday?
Next in the documentary were John Keats and Percy Bysshe Shelly. John Keats used to be a surgeon (no anesthesia) but then decided to devote entirely to poetry. Its interesting to see how he would add what he knew about the human body to his poems. He lived away from the spotlight and lived a calm life. He died young of tuberculosis and become more known after death. Shelly on the other hand was known for his crazy views. He was an atheist and published Necessity of Atheism in which he talks about how can he believe in a God there is no evidence of. He also lived a pretty scandalous life since he believed he didn't have to be tied down to his wife. His poems are pretty dark and deal with these topics that were controversial for the time.
The last poet discussed in this part of the documentary was Lord Byron. What was interesting about Lord Byron was that instead of being kind of underground like the others, he embraced his popularity. He became kind of the first celebrity. He was also of the upper class and no one expected someone from the aristocracy to become a poet. Despite being very well liked, he was criticized by others like Shelly and with celebrity-hood came false rumors that threatened his reputation. Still his poetry was very appealing to everyone and he managed to fight off the rumors.
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