The Egocentric Renaissance Movement - Free Essay Example

The Renaissance was a time of innovation and renewal, which brought brand new ideas and inventions across Europe. The Renaissance shifted humanitys worldview toward egocentricity and human-centeredness as opposed to the more apostolic lives they had lead previously. However, such a great shift can only take place slowly over a long period of time. Hence, the time frame of the Renaissance lasting from around the 1300s to about the 1600s in the continent of Europe. As stated above, religion, although still preeminent today, was additionally prominent before the Renaissance. Art strayed off from the religious-centered themes they had before beginning with paintings of religious scenes on a neo-classical background. The artists began to paint wealthy civilians or famous people of the time instead of Biblical images, such as the Mona Lisa; the wife of a wealthy Florentine merchant (Doc A). Making it clear that it wasnt just wealthy priests who added to the artistic flowering of the Renaissance by paying for extravagant religious murals on church walls but wealthy patrons as well. This artistic flowering helped transition art to reflect the ideas of humanism. At the start of the Renaissance and before the popularization of humanism, the Catholic Church would often exploit their authority by competing against Italian princes for more political power, fighting in wars against secular rulers to protect Papal states and, even plot against any monarch who tried to gain control of the church within the Churchrs lands. Along with that, all priests had luxurious lives and would increase fees for services such as marriages and baptisms and sell indulgences, a reduction of the temporary punishment in purgatory still due for ones sins, to maintain them. Their abuses angered the civilians, and with the Renaissance just kicking into gear John Wycliffe, although an English priest, organized an attack against the Church using his sermons and writings to call for change in Church authority. This was the first of many revolts against the church and one of the many components of the change from societyrs church-centered views into more of an egocentric view, while the ideas of humanism were still slowly being introduced. Humanism refers to the belief that humanity was of a higher importance than that of spiritual or religious affairs. One great example is when in the play Hamlet, written by William Shakespeare in 1601, he declares that men were in apprehension . like a god putting man at the same level as a god while he continues to explain how astonishing mankind is (Doc B). The ideals of Humanism began to appear all across Europe in the forms of literature and art such as Raphaelrs School of Athens, a painting depicting great thinkers of the past. However, Raphael included himself and other thinkers of his time into the painting, revealing how highly they viewed themselves as to put themselves among the legendary greats. As time went on art became more detailed and show ed more emotion to adapt to the views of humanism and reflect the greatness of humanity with exact precision (Doc A). They would paint a famous figure from society to show the interest in individual achievement due to humanism. Although not considered art there was another drawing made in the 1500s with minimal detail but meaning. This drawing is Nicolaus Copernicus Heliocentric diagram of the universe, for unlike Ptolemyrs previous Geocentric diagram, Copernicus added no place for God and Heaven into his drawing. Next, to the major developments in art, there were also many other achievements during the Renaissance especially in the field of science and education due to the effects of humanism. In the Middle Ages, more than 85% of the population were serfs, peasant farmers who worked for a lord and his estate. The majority of which were illiterate, but when the 1300rs rolled around they improved their farming techniques and became more self-sufficient, freeing themselves from their lords and taking up trades. This caused more worldwide education and with that people began to question the church and founded humanism. Humanism then gained more momentum with the invention of the printing press in the mid-1400rs. With all that being said I believed it is clear that it was due to the improvement in education that everyoners views shifted in newer directions other than the religious focused lives they were forced to live before. This change of humanitys worldview from religion center to egocentric and human-centered shaped the Renaissance. It brought Europe out of the dark ages and into a new light. It caused the creation of humanism, a shift from the church being of main importance in life, and many advancements which are still used today. Without the Renaissance to change mankinds view of the world, we wouldnt be living in the same world today.

Research History Of Moody Blues Birmingham England - 1100 Words

Research History Of Moody Blues: Birmingham England (Essay Sample) Content: Moody Blues BandStudents NameInstitutionDateMoody BluesThe history of Moody Blues started in Birmingham England, where the only known influential and successful bands during those days were Rebels and the El Riot which was founded by Thomas and Pinder. Notably, Pinder moved out of the group to join the army, but later on, he reunited with Thomas in 1963 and formed Krew Cats. They went to Germany where rock bands especially English bands were the rage, but they did succeed while in Germany. Back from a bad spell in Germany, the two decided to go professional to recruit new members who included Denny Laine the guitarist/ vocalist, Graeme Edge, the band manager who became the drummer and Clint Warwick the bassist. Thomas and Pinder were vocal/harp and keyboardist respectively (Nielsen, 2017). In May 1964, the Moody Blues made their introduction in Birmingham and quickly caught the attention of many people including Tony Secunda who made the contract with the band as the group manager.After obtaining the service of Tony, an essential tour was booked, and the band got an opportunity in Marquee Club which led to forming a contract with Decca records in England, and this happened in less than six months after the formation of Moody Blues Band (Eder, 2017). In September 1964, the band released its first single known as Steal Your Heart Away, but this did not touch the chart in British. However, their second single called Go Now which was out in November the same year satisfied the expectation of many people, and it was ranked number one in the UK and making them identified in some top-performing avenues in countries such as New Musical Express Poll Winners Content. Being placed as a number ten in America chart, they obtained support act for the Beatles on the trip (Eder, 2017).Regardless of their songwriting efforts and breakthrough they had to American showpieces, the Moody Blues did not release another version. It is worth mentioning that in 1965 at the end of Spring, the frustration within the band intensify and this made the band to create their fourth single known as From the Bottom of My Heart which was done using a different sound. Sadly, this song was placed number 22 on the UKs chart when it was released in May 1965. Due to the poor performance, Warwick and Laine exited the band in 1966, and they were replaced by John Lodge and Justin Hayward.The Success of the BandTo keep afloat financially, the Moody Blues played mostly in Europe and recorded singles occasionally. The great success came from Deram Records which needed a long-playing record to market and promote the newly established Deramic Stereo in 1967. The proposed project was given to Moody Blues who managed to convince the staff producer to allow them to use a series of their own composition which portrayed a typical day from the dawn in the morning to night. Using the tracks created by the group, and orchestrated by Peter Knight who was the conductor, the album called The Day of Future Passed was created and it became the landmark in the whole history of the band (Eder, The Moody Blues, 2017). The combination of classical and pop sounds was new at first baffled the record industry, but at long last, the record was issued. Together with other two singles (Night in White Satin and Tuesday Afternoon, this album was selected straight into musical parts of the Summer of Love, The (Eder, 2017).In 1970, the band decided to record the albums that they could present in concert. This was meant to reduce their dependence on overdubbing and strengthening up their sounds. In 1972 when the group released their seventh Sojourn, the stress of recording and touring was starting to take its toll. Due to several international tours, the band broke up, and they decided to work individually for five years. During this silent period, Lodge and Hayward recorded an excellent duet album known as Blue Jays in 1975, and all members of the band released solo albums (Eder, 2017). However, in 1977 the group decided to reunite, and the aftermath of their reunion was a new album Octave released in 1978. Pinder was unhappy, and he exited the band. His exit did not have adverse implication because Patrick Moraz replaced his position. His entry into the group made the album to top the chart.It is important to point out that the subsequent groups record, Long Distance Voyager, released in 1981 was more famous, but during this time a split was starting to develop between the group and the community. Although they tried to maintain their top position in the chart with single called In Your Wildest Dream, the Moody Blues was much far from the cutting point of the music. In the late 1980s, they were seen as a nostalgia act. Regardles...