Ang Chui Inn

1101263

The Vitruvian Man and Holy Family By Leornado Da Vinci

This is the Vitruvian man of human proportion by Leornado Da Vinci. He use pen and ink draw on the paper.Depicts with male figure in two superimposed with his arm and leg apart.He draw it in the square and circle position,.He describe it as the principle source of proportion in honor of the architect .In my 1st personal view for this drawing , I think it is amazing . He use square and circle to describe a human proportion..

This is the Burlingtan House Holy Family by Leornado Da Vinci. The artwork was good beacuse he only use  dark tone and warm color value to draw the human figure out.He use dark value to show the shadow and detail of the movement figure . From there , i can see a woman huging a child with her both hands ,the detail was good.

Chia Ing Kiong
1004212

the vitruvian man

the art work is drawing by Leonardo Da Vinci. the art work name is the vitrutrian man.
This art work is showing us the propotion of a man, and his is a naked, a robust middle-aged men and his arms slighty inclined fit. from this art work you can see the man is inside on the square and the circle. and it is balance if this naked man. So why is like that, so it is very interesting to know that. when the man body proportion is open it is balance in a circle , when the body proportion is not open then is balance in a square.
the vitruvian man is the surname of an early first century AD roman enginners, the enginner name is mark vitruvius. and the body of this man about the proportion of the body is natural and summed up the law of the proportion of body structure. from this sketch the cm is 25vm wide and the center of this body is the navel.
when i drawing this man proportion, it is little bit hard to drawing as very fast. but i just use 1 minute to draw the SKETCH. so cant get is very balance and nice looking. but i think my drawing can showing the meaning of this art work of 40%. i will improve my draw and control the pen , line and quality.


Soh Han Chuan
1200985

Journey to the Islamic Art Museum .

Chia Ing Kiong
1004212

This is my first time go there with my friend. The journey quite conflict because we go there by LRT and we didn;t know where is it.After we asked for direction then we reach the Islamic Art Museum. The building was outstanding and huge and beautiful. We only pay RM5 for the entrance and the counter man was so polite.

Inside the museum , i had discover many kind of art , manuscript , old building model and etc. From there , I quite like these antique weapon. These weapon are man made and it is so unique that these weapon can last for so long . I admired the spirit they have.

FINAL DUE DATE CORRECTION

*FINAL DUE DATES*

***CORRECTION: All blogs must be completed and up on line before 12 MIDNIGHT (23:59:59) FRIDAY 31 AUGUST . 

Get your missing assignments together and on-line on your blog. I am extending the due date one more week. We will discuss in class.

NEEDED: Much more writing, discussion , photos and sketches.

ISLAMIC MUSEUM TRIP: What did you find interesting and what did you learn INSIDE the Islamic Museum? Your sketches and statement should be about the same objects.

***ALL SKETCHBOOKS TO BE HANDED IN 4 SEPTEMBER MAKEUP CLASS. 

Thank you, 

Ray 

Islamic museum

Soh Han Chuan
1200985
23/8/12

i think this is a very hard to go if we do not have any transportation. So i with my friends take the bus for travelling that convenience for traveler to visit the building and famous place on KL. when we reached the islamic museum that feel the building are very beautiful and very large.
inside the islamic museum, the design are very special.

 i am very like this building because it can show the malay culture very strong, and the design of building also nice. we know that this building is let the malay people to pray when in the morning and afternoon and evening. actually in my hometown also have this building beside of my home, but is not like that , will more small and the color tone also will different. but this one is show us the feeling like too bigger and stronger. although the color is simple, just using white color, but just use the white color then will showing the special of this building. and if we see very detail, malay culture is like using the balance pattern to present that interesting. But balance also nice for the design and build. So it is very convenience and this is their style.

actually in the islamic museum have many thing to let us to see, but i also like to watch the building of islamic museum the design.
some of the lamp are very special

like this one, is my Favorited. this lamp is a near by the exit. But we will be attracted by this lamp. because the design is more modern and interesting. And this one design we could not find in malaysia more, we also will not to choose this lamp in our home, we also no choose this big lamp in our home.
like this one design so much. the color of this lamp also nice. some dark brown color and gold color. when the sunshine, the lamp will become more shining, so beautiful. i could not explain that beauty, so need u all go to see will feeling it.
after i go to the islamic museum, i felt that let me to know more about the culture of malaysia for chinese , malay and indian. it is important for myself after the islamic museum. because that i am a chinese and i would do not know more about malay and indian people culture. So when i join the islamic museum, i could know more about of them information of culture and their life style in their house and some daily use. That is very interesting and let our to know more about of them, then would not become more confusing of them.

when i reached the islamic museum , i got to see the some logo in the wall, and the color will very attract me to watch that. The color of this logo was very colorful , it was 3 main color: red , blue , green and some yellow color. Actually the logo also gave me the feeling like have a history and have a reason for this logo. In addition, this logo is a balance, the wall was very bigger and some many logo in this wall, but this pattern of logo will more interesting and special.
So i decided to sketch this logo. In this logo, we can saw that have more white flowers and some line is using green color. i felt that mean our life like a flower continue to life no matter what some hard happen to us.
and the color will show very active , i felt that we can happy and stronger to our life.

blog

Hello I am No. 3
Wow. Nothing happening in the blog.
Where is the discussion, and sketches and evidence of your effort?

You have one more week to pull all this together.

thank you,

Ray

Islamic museum

this is first time i go Islamic Museum, before i go there my imagination is the structure and design of the museum is very old fashion and all the things inside the museum all are about the Islamic things for example the Jawa style words, the mosque and old design architecture. When i reached there, i very surprised because the style of architecture is very beautiful , very high class.


inside the museum i like the this picture because the fashion in the past can be beautiful. i  like this because the texture on the blouse can represent the lady more feminine. the color of the chiton very contrast this is point that attract my eye.

this bird sculpture very interesting to me because the style it apply is use shape to create it. the artist use shape and line to create the head sculpture , wings and body.

as a designer, it inspired me that the not only the shape and line can be form in now artwork. this is a wood sculpture . in the past , the artist also know how to manage the shape and line to put together and not weird the artwork.

GOH MEI YI
1200070

Islamic Museum

This is my 1st time to enter the islamic museum. Before i enter the museum, i was thought that it was a very boring place. But after i enter and visit, i am get attention by their design of the roof. It is a very interesting shape.

The designer use same shape and repeat it to show on the design of the roof. If the single shape doesn't look interesting, but put together,it will come out a very interesting thing.

Besides that, there have a lot of historical things place inside the museum such as Qur'an and Manuscript, architectures, weapon, jewellery and etc. Most of them are from India, China and other country.

This is one of the weapon place on the museum. This weapon call dagger, it make by gemset hilt with gold-inlaid blade from Mughal India. The reason why i interesting this because the design of the dagger. There are very small details on the blade.

Another thing I interested is the Qur'an and Manuscript. This is the manuscript on malay traditions. The reason why I interested is because the every single page of manuscript is handwritten. Even the very small details and the graphic.

After visited the museum, i learned more about the early century from China and India. Before visit the museum, i don't know more about the century of China and India such as weapon, manuscript, architecture, coins, costume and etc. I am appreciate how they construct the architecture, design the weapon and all the things. Because using the elements of art in the design.

Lee Jia Jing
1005159

vitruvian and holy fami

vitruvian

Because of some problem i cant pose my drawing to this blog, so i decide use the picture.From my research i found that, vitruvian man is drawing by Leonardo da Vinci. It accompanied by notes base on achitech. Drawing which in pen and ink on paper. A male figure in two position which his arms and legs apart and simulataneously in circle and square. For my own opinion, i saw a men who standing in the circle ,with open hands. The first position is his right foot is in normal position ,but the whole leg is look like slanting. Then the left leg's foot is turn to left side, the knee is same position with right leg. second position is the both leg open bigger, the right leg is same, and the left leg is change to slanting. About the hands, first position his open horizontal, but it look thin, then the second position the hands moving up a bit.

Holy family
 I maybe draw wrong image but, i try explain it, the first time i see is a women on the left side, she sit on donkey, her faced to the right side of image and both leg are put left side of donkey, her right hand  cariying a baby  according to the original one, is  the her left hand holding the tie of donkey. Then the right side a men who also stand on left side of donkey, his head wear brown and color .

Virgin is most prominent figure, taling up much of center of image.Mary sit directly or the ground without a  cushion between herself and the ground to batter or communicate them her to earth . the glass directly below the figre is green which sharply contrast to grassless ground. joseph has higher position as head of famly.As there is a horizontal band separating the foregroud and background. The back ground figure five nude meaning funtition.

LEE HAI CHUAN (1107358)

The Vitruvian Man & The Holy Family

The Vitruvian Man

The Holy Family

Ang Chui Inn 

1101263

Leonardo da Vinci's artworks

Oh,I took these through a camera,I don't really have a scanner.But the picture is quite large,so no worries,i guess. 1st one is what i think i saw in the Vitruvian Man and the 2nd one is The Virgin and Child with St Anne and St John the Baptist.I will be putting these into my sketch book soon.From Ooi Boon Kheng.1107419.

RENAISSANCE

This is a picture familiar to many: a robust middle-aged men, a naked, his arms slightly inclined lift, legs splayed, his head, feet and fingers, each endpoint, just an external round. The painting clearly visible stack with another image: the man arms Stretch standing, with his head, feet and fingers, each endpoint, just an external square. This is the famous painting "The Vitruvian Man" (Homo Vitruvianus), from the Renaissance art of great masters of the Da Vinci of hand painted name is taken under the name of the ancient Roman outstanding architect Vitruvius (Vitruvii) the architect had praised in his book "building ten Books" human proportion and the golden section.

       Vitruvian, Vitruvian Man (Vitruvian Man) is the surname of an early 1st century AD Roman engineers, he named Mark Vitruvius (Marcus Vitruvius Pollio). He has written an architectural masterpiece, called "Building 10", its contents, including various aspects of Roman city planning, engineering and architectural art. Since there is no uniform standard of measurement in the construction, Vitruvius in the book about the proportion of the body's natural building measure, and summed up the law of the proportion of body structure.This is a sketch, frame cm, 25 cm wide. Inception, has been regarded as one of the masterpieces of Leonardo da Vinci's most famous collection in Venice, Italy Institute.

           The center of the natural body is the navel, because people with open hands and feet, for the supine position, and then to his navel as the center and draw a circle with a compass, his fingers and toes will be circumferential contact. draw a circle in the human body, and can draw a square in the human body. by foot amount to the top of the head, and this measure moved to open both hands, then you will find the height and width equal, like the plane on a ruler to determine the square. "

           Look at from the Vitruvian in the book before and after the exposition, he is talking about the equilibrium of the temple, and balanced to the turn ratio may. The architect of the Roman period, the ratio is subject to a certain modulus of a balanced approach in all construction in detail and the overall. "In fact, there is no balance or proportion of the location of any temple that is a beautiful gesture of the human body, have a proper allocation of body" (see "Construction Ten Books, Book III). It is based on the understanding of human proportion, Vitruvius emphasized: "If the natural components of the human body corresponds to the limb in accordance with the proportion comprehensive shape, then the ancients seems to have to provide for: the completion of the construction detail for all appearance should maintain the correct measure aspects.
 

LEE JIA JING 1005159

Renaissance

From the figure, craftsman of the Renaissance through the concrete image of the people, reflects the understanding of human beings for the gods and human "person" concept. Leonardo da Vinci ﹝ Leonardo da Vinci ﹞ in accordance with an ancient Roman architect Vitruvius ﹝ Vitruvius based on the  proportion and drawing a perfectly proportioned body image Vitruvian Man ﹝ Vitruvian Man ﹞.The composition of this painting by a circle, a square and a naked man: the sidelines of the square below the cut in the circumference circumscribed point happens to be the midpoint of this edge; body lying on his back within the circle and square coincides with thetangent to the vertex of the head and on the edge of the square, the tangent point also happens to be the midpoint of the edges; feet close together at the tangent point of the circle and square edges, vertical edges of the trunk and up and down both sides of the square, his hands Stretch into180 degrees to the fingertips of both hands just arrived in the square left and right edges, and perpendicular to it. On this basis, the body in the picture put on the second position, feet apart, feet surface intersects with the circle; both hands on the move on the sideline and the circumference of the intersection of the square, just the same with the head. The entire human body, whether it is the first position or second position, within the circle and the square appears to be very symmetrical.

       Vitruvius, the Roman architect and engineer Vitruvius once wrote a famous architectural book "﹝ De Architectura ﹞ the book is divided into ten volumes, is the oldest and most influential architectural treatise. Involved in urban planning, the basic principles of architectural design, architectural composition principles, Western classical architecture system, construction of environmental control, building materials, municipal facilities, the architect's training. Since there is no uniform standard of measurement in the construction, Vitruvius in the book about the proportion of the body's natural building measure, and summed up the law of the proportion of body structure.

           Not only the center of the natural body is the navel, because people with open hands and feet, for the supine position, and then to his navel as the center and draw a circle with a compass, then his fingers and toes will be circumferential contact.draw a circle in the human body, and can draw a square in the human body. by foot amount to the top of the head, and this measure moved to open both hands, then you will find the height and width equal, like the planeon a ruler to determine the square. "

GOH MEI YI 1200070

Borobudur

From my research, Borobudur is a 9 th century Mahayana monument in Magelang, Central Jaya, Indonesia.

The monument consists of six square platforms topped by three ciricular platforms.There is decorated with 2672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues. 72 Buddha statue seated inside a perforated stupa is surrounded at the main dome .

Rupadhatu (The Second Level of the BOROBUDUR TEMPLE)
A transitional sphere where humans are released from their corporeal from and worldly concerns.The Rupadhatu begins with the first terrace. Turning to the left down corridor we see on the main wall reliefs from the Lalitawistara text, a sanskrit manuscript which depicts Buddha's life. In brief the story is as follow: Prince Shidarta, the founder of Buddhism, was born in the Lumbini garden in Nepal. His father was a great king. His mother, Maya Devi, died a week after his birth. Prince Sidarta led a very secluded life. When he reached adulthood he married Princess Gopa. One day he had a vision: he saw four figures that represented aspect of life he had never experienced or imagined: a blind old man, a sick man, a died man and a monk. Having experienced this, the Prince was inspired to leave the palace in search of wisdom. He became Wanapratha or a hermit wandeder and studied under famous teachers: Brahmani, Rudraka Aradakalapa and five famous hermits. Despite their teacher he was still unsatisfied. Prince Sidharta practised his onwn way, that is middle path or madyamika. Finally he medittated under Boddhi tree in Bodhgaya town and attained Buddhahood. After his enlightenment he was named Buddha Gautama.
In the Rupadhatu there are also small Buddha statues in niches in the balustrades of the four terrace. On the first terrace there are Manushi Buddhas who have manifested themselves in the world. Each directional point is protected by a Manushi Buddha: Knakanmuni to the South, Kacyapa to the West, Cakvanmuni to the East and Maitreya to the North. On the three highther terrace are Dyani Buddhas or meditative Buddhas. They can be distinguished from one and other by the position of their hands referred to as mudra. On the east wall: Buddha Akcobya with his palm turned down ward calling the spirit of the earth to witness his victory over evil spirits, and to witness his inner strength (Bhumisparca mudra). On the South wall: Buddha Ratnasambhawa with his palm open, showing giving blessing (Wara Mudra). On the north wall: Buddha Amogghasidha with his raised palm, showing his immunity to danger (Abhwa Mudra). On the fifth terrace: Buddha Wairocana with a circular finger gesture which indicated giving instruction with an honest and pure heart. (Witarka Mudra). In total there are 504 Buddha statues. Buddha wears a cassock consisting of there part two of wich are visible: an outer garment that leaves his right shoulder bare and an undergarment that is visible at his legs.

Arupadhatu (The third level of BOROBUDUR TEMPLE)
The sphere of Gods the spere of perfection and anlightenment. As we ascend the monument, reading the stories and climbing the terraces we will pas six achways. Before the final laevel, The Arupadhatu, we must pass through a double archway between the third and fourth terrace. These are called the double gates of Nirwikala. After passing through these gates our body leaves it corporeal form. Rupadhatu and enters the world of formeless spirit, Arupadhatu. The Nirwikala is the final door leading to the supreme final reality of Buddhisme. The most achitecturally complete archway is found on the side of monument. Once we enter the Arupadahtu we experdience a more spacious and open feeling, different from the confining rectangular corridors of the terraces bellow. Before us are three circulation terraces. Geometrically arranged on terrace are 72 lattices dagobs (small stupa shaped structures) containing Buddha Vajrasatwa statues. The philosophy behind these enccased Buddha is complex and not yet fully undestood. Perhaps the lattice structure representes a seive-like boundary separating the world of form and that of formelessness. Notice that the holes on the first two terraces are diamond shaped but the last terrace hole are square. There is a legend that says if you can reach in and touch the cloth of the Buddha near the east stairway whatever you wish will come true. At the entrance of each stairway there are two mythical lion stautues that serve as guards. No lions ever actually existed in Java. The symbole of Prince Sidharta's kingdom in Nepal was the Lion.
Now BOROBUDUR TEMPLE although is not one of the world seven wonders anymore, but for the Indonesian, especially for Javanese peoples, the BOROBUDUR TEMPLE is still immortalized as only a great wonder now and forever as dignity symbole of the javanese civilization.

How relates to the Hero's Journey ?

In my opinion , this Borobudur similarity to the Hero's Journey. first of all we are talking about the Prince Shidarta. One day , after the prince married he was dreamed.  in his dream he saw 4 figures to represent 4 daily life . so  the prince decided to go out to observed more and more in his dream because this figures he never seen before. he feel very curious and want to know why course this 4 figures happened like that ?  the princess have 5 popular teacher to teach him about the inspired and meditation but he doesn't fully happy about that. The prince use his own way to find out the mystery dream, this just like the hero's journey ,the hero use his own way to observed and find out the problem and solve it. At last , the prince meditated under a tree and finally he success about the inspiration in his dream. this is similar to hero's journey , after success to observed and solve problem , then will success based on a lot of experience that we observed. 

How relates to the Plato's Cave?

The prince he dreamed, and in his dream appear 4 figure that is a blind old man, a sick man, a died man and a monk. he feel very curious why the 4 figure like this. he try to find out this answer . he try to ask somebody but they tell him everything is well , nothing will happen like this.Thus, when he go out to find the answer ,finally he understand what the dream become like this. he share his opinion and experience to people but nobody trust him about his dream, just himself know what he dream only. when he tell someone, they laugh him about his stupid dream. Although he was laugh by them , finally he success to share out all his good experience to people and let people learn from this story. 


Borobudur.(2012.).Retrieved from http://baike.baidu.com/view/90936.htm
Borobudur.(2012).wikipedia. Retrieved fromhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borobudur

By Chia Ing Kiong 1004212
      Lee Jia Jing         1005159
      Goh Mei Yi          1200070

Borobudur

Borobudur is a Buddhist Mahayana monument in Central Java, Indonesia. It is a giant stupa/monument that represents many layers of Buddhist theory. The monument shape is like a traditional Buddhist mandala. It has nine platforms. From the top view, can see the upper three are circular platforms and the lower six are square platforms.

There are 3 major levels which signify the three realms of Buddhist cosmology.

The lowest level of Borobudur is Kamadhatu which represent the world of desire. It means people always think and care about material things. It has 160 reliefs depict ugly scenes of human desire and the law of cause and effect.

The next level is Rupadhatu which represent the the world of forms. It depict human spirit is free from greed. The reliefs on this level begin to tell Buddha’s conception and birth.

The top level is Arupadhatu which represent the world of formlessness. It means liberated human has left earthly consideration behind. There is 72 Buddha statues placed in the peforated stupas. This level has no reliefs.


Ang Chui Inn
1101263

Who is Morpheus in Greek mythology? and the Oracle?

Who is Morpheus in Greek mythology?
and the Oracle?

The Morpheus was the God of dreams and he was a son of the Hypnos (the God of sleep)
And Morpheus was a important role in mythology by influenced people when after experiencing one of his dream.  For the example, from the myth of Ceyx and Alcyone, Morpheus will informs Alcyone that her husband is dead through a dream. implied of his name – the Greek word “morphe” means “form” and he was the one who shaped and formed the dreams.

The Oracle is a word from long time ago. it was very hard to understand and analysis.
The King Croesus of Lydia are so wealthy that his name gave rise to the present, "as rich as Croesus".
He consult the famous Oracle of Delphi and before he rebelled against the Persian empire.
And the Croesus was told that if he is proceeded, a mighty empire should be fall. Croesus took this as an endorsement of his plan, and the oracle came true.
Unfortunately the empire that fell was his own.

Soh Han Chuan 1200985

Thank you for the text on Matrix and the Cave.

You basically get the issue of the Cave--when you come out of the real you see the ideal . And the ideal is the real real! The Matrix is a Socratic/Platonic story.

Now keep going on the research....follow the names. Who is Morpheus in Greek mythology? and the Oracle? and where is Zion? and what does Neo mean?  and what is the Trinity?

How do these names relate to the hero's journey and Plato's cave and a mythic sense of life?


cheers


Ray 

How the Matrix fits the monomyth?

Neo went through the three main stages as in the hero’s journey.

Departure — Neo was asked to follow his computer’s instruction for follow a white rabbit. When he saw a white rabbit tattoo on Dujour’s shoulder, he choose to accept the call to adventure.

Initiation —Neo was bring to a training in a virtual reality room this is because they want to discover his talent to become The One.  Then, he endures hardship together with Morpheus, Trinity and other crew members. After a long time of fighting with the Agent, Neo sees everything around him as the matrix code. He realizes that he is The One, the saviour of the world.

Return — Neo wakes up from the world of Matrix. He saved the world successfully and in his speech at the end, he shows the determination to pass on the freedom to everyone in the world.

How The Matrix fits Plato’s Allegory of the Cave?

In Plato's Allegory of the Cave, the captives can only see the shadows reflected on the wall and they believe the shadows are real objects.

In the Matrix, people live in an unreal world and carry out their daily activities as usual which they believe is reality.

Both the Matrix and Plato’s Allegory of the Cave show the innocence of humankind and the unwillingness to accept the truth behind the “reality” that they believed.

By: Lee Jia Jing 1005159

      Goh Mei Yi  1200070

      Chia Ing Kiong  1004212

     Ang Chui Inn    1101263

Reference:
         Chris Richardson. (2012, July 23). The Matrix as the Hero's Journey. Retrieved from 

     http://www.theosophical.org/publications/quest-magazine/1507 

Plato's Allegory of the Cave -The Matrix and The Truman Show. (n.d.). Retrieved July 23, 2012, from http://Plato's Allegory of the Cave -The Matrix and The Truman Show- 

thank you. ray

The Gladiator question

Question 1

The story of the "Gladiator" is a hero's journey.
The character name is Maximus. He was a great general in the Roman Army.
From the beginning Maximus was against the barbarians and he led a large number of soldiers and won in the war. The Emperor Marcus Aurilius want him to be his successor .Maximus had a wife and a son ,he had a farm in the hills above Tahila.
The Emperor ask Maximus to be his successor and lead Rome in the right path, but he refused. After that he is found unconscious by slave traders and taken to Zucchabar (beginning of advanture). There, he is bought by Proximo, and forced to fight for his life as a gladiator in arena tournaments (challanges and temptation).
On this time, he befriends gladiators Juba, and Hagen (helpers). Juba tells Maximus to have faith that he will be reunited with his family in the afterlife. Maximus proved fierce gladiators; leave anything alive, he was fearless in the arena. Finally He eventually reached the famous Roman Colosseum, the contract to his team to strive to pay tribute at Carthage battle.
Turbot after the victory against the undefeated fighter Tigris, and released into the stage (revelation) Tiger. Therefore, he announced the mercy of the crowd "Maximus" and improve their visibility and further depressing the Commodus, who can not kill Mark Simms did not make him become a martyr (transformation).
After the battle, Maximus was told that he is still loyal to his troops by his former Sale (secondary). Maximus then conspires with Commodus' sister and the senator to rejoin with his army and topple Commodus by force. After that, suspects his sister of betrayal and as a threat to her son forced her to disclose the plot.
After that Mark Simms's attempts to want to escape, Commodus guard destroyed Proximo's gladiators schools and kill Hagen and Proximo. After that his injury and his last words, Maximus to carry out the wishes of Marcus Aurelius, calling for Gracchus reinstatement, freed slaves, and the power is restored to the Senate (reward). Since his death, Maximus and his family reunion in the afterlife (a gift from the goddess).

Question 2
Rome was a successful and magnificent country during that era and its armies were strong and fought many wars with numerous other nations and conquered vast lands. It (Rome) was prosperous and full of glory. They (Romans) were considered civilized and rich among other nations, powerful and yet arrogant in some way.

The protagonist character (Maximus) was fictional but was referenced with existing figures of ancient Rome such as Claudius Pompeianus,a Syrian and son-in-law of Marcus Aurelius whom presumed wanted him to succeed as next "Caesar", but was turned down. Another reference is an actual supreme field commander known as Publius Tarrutenius Paternus who lead the battle at Germania. In other words, Maximus was a mixture of both these historical figures.


Marcus Aurelius himself was real in history but the character depicted in the movie was not entirely in line with what really happened.1st he died of plague instead of being murdered by his own son,second during his reign as Emperor,he never expanded the country,but merely maintaining/defending it from both inner and outer attacks,also he never did intended to restore Republic back in Rome and certainly did not disown his son.Finally,he did in fact banned gladiatorial games(in Antioch) but was due to a rebellion,and he mainly hired the ex-gladiators as being part of the army.

Then we look at Commodus,his character was real,but he was 18 years old when Marcus Aurelius died,not some middle-age dude.He ruled for 12 years before his death .Apparently,murdered by a wrestler known as Narcissus who strangled him in the bath,not a gladiator who plunged Commodus's own dagger blade through his throat.Well,both do share a similar fate as death from the throat,though.

The architectural scenes of Rome in the movie is not entirely accurate.The Colosseum aka Flavian Amphitheatre was actually not as large as depicted in the movie.The colour of the buildings and structures were depicted white in the movie,as opposing to what we know that there were once colours that had faded away.Also,there were some timeline issues with some of the buildings such as the Aurelian wall,as it was non-existent during that era.

In conclusion,the characters and setting are based on historical facts but with added twist and changes to it to give interest.

Question 3
What was happening to Rome empire during the period of Commodus's rule? And what eventually caused the decline and downfall of the Roman empire?

During the period of Commodus's rule, commodus devalued the Roman Currency. Roman currency including aureus (gold), denarius (silver), sestertius (brass), dupondius (brass), As ( copper).
He reduce the weight of denarius (small silver coin) from 3.85 grams to 3.35 grams.
He reduce the silver purity from 79% to 76% and silver weight from 2.57 grams to 2.34.
In 186 Commodus reduce purity silver weight to 74% and 2.22 grams. He accession the descent "from a kingdom of gold to one of the rust and iron".

Commodus father Marcus Aurelius whom reign had been marked as almost continuous warfare, in contrast Commodus was comparatively peaceful in military sense, but was marked by increasing of political strife, arbitrayry and capricious behaviour of emperor himself. It is beginning disintegration of military, political institution.
In a famous comment which led some historian, notably Edward gibbon to take Commodus as the reign beginning of Decline of Roman Empire.

Question 4
In my point of view in this film Gladiator, Commodus is accurately represented as being a tyrant lacking the love and respect of the people. Maximus, the real hero of the film, in reality is a fictitious character. Film techniques were cunningly used to portray the Fuhrer as a man apart, a father and god-like figure who possessed super-human abilities and sacrificed himself for his nation. Streams and streams of ‘HISTORICAL films’ were made up to portray great German personalities such as Frederick the Great, Bismarck and Schiller, that made a parallel of the past with the present. Without mentioning Hitler’s name, the films subtly captured the people’s imagination that there was a similar situation in the past compared to the present one. 

Besides, this phrase is deftly used through subtle innuendo in the characters of Marcus Aurelius (father) and his evil (son) Commodus, to draw a parallel with George Bush (Snr) (father) and George Bush (Jnr) (son).

Because the character roles in Gladiator are so blatant and glaring, it seems plain George Bush (Jnr) (‘son’) will be elected the President of the United States of America. The script-writers of Gladiator already know the corrupt background of the N.W.O. Bush family. George Bush (Jnr) has ‘ALREADY BEEN CHOSEN’ as the new President!

In the film Gladiator, released in the year 2000, Commodus’s sister is called ‘Lucilla.’ (The name of a famous 3rd century Roman Christian martyr). In propaganda terms, the name ‘Lucilla’ has a close psychological resemblance to ‘Laura,’ the wife of the coming new President of the United States: - George / ‘Commodus’ Bush (Jnr)!

Besides, in the film Gladiator, virtually all the cinema advertising includes a picture of Maximus, above which is the caption: ‘A Hero will Rise’. Strangely, the leading role of hero Maximus is played by a New Zealander, Russell Crowe.New Zealand is a small, enchanting country of 3.9 million people located in the South Pacific off the eastern coast of Australia. A member of the British Commonwealth, the people speak with an ‘ecumenical’ English accent - neither Australian, nor Oxford English, nor American. Little New Zealand has long been a favorite daughter of the British Monarch. In propaganda terms she is neutral. New Zealanders fill a high proportion of world leadership roles, far out of proportion to the size and population of their little country. Dame Kiri Te Kanawa sang at Charles’ and Diana’s wedding. Don McKinnon is presently the British Commonwealth Secretary General. The late ex Prime Minister Sir Robert Muldoon was head of the International Monetary Fund. Mike Moore is presently the Director General of the World Trade Organization. Peter Watson was Chairman of the United States International Trade Commission and spent two years working in the White House as trade lawyer on WTO issues. 


group No3

Plato allegory

1. In the allegory, Plato likens people untutored in the Theory of Forms to prisoners chained in a cave, unable to turn their heads. All they can see is the wall of the cave. Behind them burns a fire.  Between the fire and the prisoners there is a parapet, along which puppeteers can walk. The puppeteers, who are behind the prisoners, hold up puppets that cast shadows on the wall of the cave. The prisoners are unable to see these puppets, the real objects, that pass behind them. What the prisoners see and hear are shadows and echoes cast by objects that they do not see.
2. Such prisoners would mistake appearance for reality. They would think the things they see on the wall (the shadows) were real; they would know nothing of the real causes of the shadows.
3. So when the prisoners talk, what are they talking about? If an object a tree is carried past behind them, and it casts a shadow on the wall, and a prisoner says “I see a tree,” 
4. He thinks he is talking about a tree, but he is really talking about a shadow. But he uses the word “tree.”
5. Plato’s point is that the prisoners would be mistaken. For they would be taking the terms in their language to refer to the shadows that pass before their eyes, rather than (as is correct, in Plato’s view) to the real things that cast the shadows.
6. If a prisoner says “That’s a tree” he thinks that the word “tree” refers to the very thing he is looking at. But he would be wrong. He’s only looking at a shadow. The real referent of the word “tree” he cannot see. To see it, he would have to turn his head around.
7. Plato’s point: the general terms of our language are not “names” of the physical objects that we can see. They are actually names of things that we cannot see, things that we can only grasp with the mind.
8. When the prisoners are released, they can turn their heads and see the real objects. Then they realize their error. What can we do that is analogous to turning our heads and seeing the causes of the shadows? We can come to grasp the Forms with our minds.
9. Plato’s aim in the Republic is to describe what is necessary for us to achieve this reflective understanding. But even without it, it remains true that our very ability to think and to speak depends on the Forms. For the terms of the language we use get their meaning by “naming” the Forms that the objects we perceive participate in.
10. The prisoners may learn what a tree is by their experience with shadows of tree. But they would be mistaken if they thought that the word “tree” refers to something that any of them has ever seen.
11. Likewise, we may acquire concepts by our perceptual experience of physical objects. But we would be mistaken if we thought that the concepts that we grasp were on the same level as the things we perceive.

The prisoners live in a cave. The hole of the cave is facing outside’s sun. These prisoners who live in cave, their necks and legs are shackled by chains. The movement of their face is also restricted, therefore they can only face the wall of the cave in front of them. There is an enormous fire behind the prisoners, and between the fire and the prisoners is a walkway, along which people carrying artifacts. The shadows of these objects fall directly on the wall which is the sole view for the prisoners.  The prisoners would take these shadows to be real things and they would not know the real causes of the shadows.

Socrates supposes that a prisoner is released and get to see the real outside world. The prisoner stands up and walks towards the bright place. When the prisoner saw the fire, he feels glare because he only use to dim lights environment. Slowly, he gets accustomed to the existence of the new world. After some time, he would see more things around him and then discovers the true reality world.

The prisoner understands that the shadows on the cave’s wall are not real. Again assume that the prisoner have to return to the cave and make others aware of what he has discovered. The prisoner cannot adapt to the dark environment of the cave because he is no longer accustomed to the darkness. The others ridicule him blind and no one believes him.

The Gladiator

This movie is special for me, i never know this movie and watch it.
thought the HOA class, let me to understand more and more about the Epic and saga.

The movie depicted the invincible Roman general was summoned by the Emperor, the old emperor to the throne passed to his transfer of power to the senate, and then he reached the good intentions of democracy, the results indicated that the intention of the Crown Prince even murdered father,own accession to the throne, a large general survived, but the family no one survived, he also enslaved warrior after training into competition fighting field is his use of the fruit of the brilliant victory in competition fighting field, condensed into peoplethe worship of power, and lit the Empire government to the people hope.

The fifties and sixties, the development of film technology, coupled with the U.S. dollar in Hollywood, used to shape the sound film period a splendid Roman epic film boom.


I love the role of this movie
Each character has different characteristics and background
For revenge, sentenced, and many..that are interesting and attractive in this movie
But the film is heroic sensory stimulation is most liked by the audience


The great general enslaved, and from slave to become a part in the competition after the fighting warrior, he demonstrated leadership in the arena of boldness and brave charm, with an impressive array of sophisticated editing, and Xuemaibizhang fighting scene, complete highlights film technology, how to make ancient Rome, the magnificent scenes like recycling ability, and further, it not only as a show off, but to ignite the audience's viewing pleasure and a strong recognition of the role this part of the overall skill is indeed commendable.

Soh Han Chuan 1200985

Gladiator

Commodus vs Maximus

Commodus plots the death of Maximus in the arena of Rome. Commodus, himself wants to kill Maximus gaining the approval of the mob. He stacks the cards against Maximus by stabbing him with a dagger, puncturing his lung. Maximus is forced to fight with the wound concealed beneath his armor. During the fight Maximus rips the sword from the hands of Commodus. Commodus requests a sword from his guards, but they betray him and refuse to lend him their weapons. Commodus pulls out a hidden dagger and renews his attack. Maximus eventually kills Commodus but is dying from his fatal wounds.

The reason why i choose this scene is because Maximus rises through the ranks of the gladiatorial arena to avenge the murder of his family and his Emperor. In the end, he orders the release of Proximo's gladiators and Senator Gracchus. He saves the Rome and dies in brave and honor. Finally, he reunites with his family in the afterlife.

Lee Jia Jing
1005159

Gladiator

Meanwhile the Emperor Commodus sponsors gladiatorial games in Rome to commemorate his father's death. Proximo is elated by the prospect. He acknowledges the great skills of Maximus and gives him some armor. Maximus realises that this might be an opportunity to wreak his revenge on Commodus. Proximo and the Gladiators arrive in Rome. The gladiators are awe struck by the site of the Roman Colosseum. From this scene, I like it because Maximus love too much his family so if he got a chance to revenge for his family, he will do it. And Commodus kill his father because of his father didn't choose him as a Emperor, but choose Maximus. So Commodus hate Maximus and use his family to imperil Maximus. In the end Commodus kill his family.

Goh Mei Yi 

1200070

lee hai chuan 1107358

 This is the first time i watch this movie, the whole story is good, is quite long film, is almost 3 hours to watch finish it. The ending is not so good, there is because, why commodus the 'son of marcus aurelius' is so brave to faced and fight with the full of experince general maximus. Even he was injured, the most of general even they are injured but they still can use full strenght of energy to fight. They spent too much time to pull down the empire of commodus, until the end is the most simple way they use, is kill him.When i watch the part when commodus know all about his sister betray him, i thought there was not optimistic ending. The best part is talk about the home and family, before maximus death he saw a door, he try to go near that door, the the place is beautiful, he opened the door and saw the grass field. wow!

Gladiators - Favourite Scene

This movie have a lot of fighting/war scenes. I don't like watching all these scenes because its sanguinary. Therefore, this is one of my favourite scene. Juba said "It's somewhere out there, my country. My home..." From this scene, I can see how much he misses his family and also his country. He thinks that he will never going to see them again because he said he will die soon. I prefer watching these calm scenes rather than watching those fighting scenes.


Ang Chui Inn
1101263