Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Whats to be gained???
This blog only focued on one specfic time period in history yet there are many ways to connect it to popular culture. History really is hiding everywhere and the connections between social studies content and popular culture are there ready to be made. I hope that this blog has taught you to think critcally about the historical connections that can be made to many aspects of popular culture! After participating in this blog I hope you have discovered the answer to "Why do I need to know Social Studies?" is because it is all around you!
Modern-day Renaissance Man
During the Renaissance the term Renaissance man meant someone who was skilled in multiple areas. People began to value those who were educated, artistic and could interact well in society. People who were well rounded began to be valued.
Leonardo da Vinci was considered the Ultimate Renaissance Man because he was a gifted artist, author and scientist.
Today we also place a high value on people who are gifted in more than one area. Click the link below of the Times 100 most influential people of 2010. (In order to not move away from the blog right click the link and open a new window)
Times Top 100 of 2010
I chose this link because almost everyone on the list is skilled in more than one area. Even if they are famous for one partiular area they all had to use other skills to land on this list. This demonstrates that in today's society we still value the idea of a Renaissance Man (or woman).
For your comment please pick a person from the Top 100 and read their bio. Once you have read their bio please comment on how the individual you chose can be considered a modern day renaissance man(or woman)!
Leonardo da Vinci was considered the Ultimate Renaissance Man because he was a gifted artist, author and scientist.
Today we also place a high value on people who are gifted in more than one area. Click the link below of the Times 100 most influential people of 2010. (In order to not move away from the blog right click the link and open a new window)
Times Top 100 of 2010
I chose this link because almost everyone on the list is skilled in more than one area. Even if they are famous for one partiular area they all had to use other skills to land on this list. This demonstrates that in today's society we still value the idea of a Renaissance Man (or woman).
For your comment please pick a person from the Top 100 and read their bio. Once you have read their bio please comment on how the individual you chose can be considered a modern day renaissance man(or woman)!
When the Ends Justify the Means...
The Prince by Niccolo Machieavelli was first published during the Renaissance. The main theme of this book is that people in power should do anything they have to in order to maintain their power.
In order to gain background information and additional historical perspective please watch the following clip. Please pay close attention towards the end of the video when it shows famous leaders in the window that have used the policies of Machiavelli:
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For this next clip you will have to recall what the importance of cartoons and Disney movies when you were younger. This clip shows when Scar chooses to kill his own brother Mufasa in order to become king. Once Mufasa has died and he tells his nephew Simba to run away he can become King. I chose this clip becasue it highlights how the theories first published during the Renaissance by Machaivelli can even be seen in Disney movies!
In your comment about Machiavelli please complete the following tasks.
1. Explain how Scar in the Lion King could use Machiavelli to justify his actions in the clip.
2. Think of any leader (past or present) who has usesd the theories of Machiavelli in how they ruled and explain how they could use Machiavelli to justify their actions. (Hint the video with the background information shows some examples in the window)
P.Diddy is a patron of the Arts
During the renaissance people who had money would use it to buy artwork or literature. These purchases would demonstrate their power because the Renaissance was a time period focused on art and those who could fund it were viewed favorably.
Go to this website and complete the "Patrons of the Arts" Activity. I want you to do this in order to see how patrons of the arts had influence during the renaissance. I think ths website will help you better understand the topic of patrons of the arts. To participate click the link below and click the activity "Patrons of the Arts" and watch the introduction and follow the instructions. (If you do not want to navigate away from the blog right click the link and open it in a new window)
http://www.renaissanceconnection.org/index.cfm
Here is a short video clip that describes some of what P.diddy (Sean Combs) has done to accumulate power in todays society. As stated in the video P.Diddy over the years has started his own label, created numerous t.v shows, opened resturants and has created a clothing line with his money. I chose this clip to describe P.diddy because it discusses how he invested his money in other artists and artistic avenues in order to increase his power. While you are watching the clip think about how P.diddy might be considered a modern day patron of the arts.
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Please come to class prepared to discuss both your experince at the website and how P.diddy might be considered a modern patron of the arts. In order to fully answer the question you should analyze why P.diddy invested in producing other artists or art and how that connects to the patrons of the arts during the Renaissance. You may address these questions in a comment below.
Go to this website and complete the "Patrons of the Arts" Activity. I want you to do this in order to see how patrons of the arts had influence during the renaissance. I think ths website will help you better understand the topic of patrons of the arts. To participate click the link below and click the activity "Patrons of the Arts" and watch the introduction and follow the instructions. (If you do not want to navigate away from the blog right click the link and open it in a new window)
http://www.renaissanceconnection.org/index.cfm
Here is a short video clip that describes some of what P.diddy (Sean Combs) has done to accumulate power in todays society. As stated in the video P.Diddy over the years has started his own label, created numerous t.v shows, opened resturants and has created a clothing line with his money. I chose this clip to describe P.diddy because it discusses how he invested his money in other artists and artistic avenues in order to increase his power. While you are watching the clip think about how P.diddy might be considered a modern day patron of the arts.
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Please come to class prepared to discuss both your experince at the website and how P.diddy might be considered a modern patron of the arts. In order to fully answer the question you should analyze why P.diddy invested in producing other artists or art and how that connects to the patrons of the arts during the Renaissance. You may address these questions in a comment below.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Vernacular
During the Renaissance books and other things began to be printed in the Vernacular or everyday language. Before the Renaissance literature, including the Bible, were printed in Latin which many commoners could not understand. This was a huge transition because now commoners and those of lower status could begin to understand literature and had easier accesss to knowledge.
To highlight the importance of the transistion I have included two versions of a song by Shakira, one in spanish and one in English. I chose Shakira's Whenever, Wherever or Suetre because it is the same song in two different languages- one that the majority of the class will not fully understand (spanish) and the other that is in the english language which is the common vernacular in our class. Listen to the song with the lyrics in spanish first and then listen to the one English. (If you speak spanish fluently try to imagine it in a language you do not understand)
Spanish verzion (The is equivalent to the time period before the availablity of the vernacular when most people could not understand the information around them because it was typically put in Latin.)
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In the second video the same song is in English (which is the vernacular of our classroom)
For your comment about the vernacular I want you to consider the following.
1. Why did Shakira record the same song in two languages- what does she gain?
2. What does this say about people having access to popular culture that is in their vernacular?
3. How do you think this transition to the vernacular influenced how much information people had avaialable to them? (In other words did you gain access to a lot more information about the song once it was in your vernacular)
To highlight the importance of the transistion I have included two versions of a song by Shakira, one in spanish and one in English. I chose Shakira's Whenever, Wherever or Suetre because it is the same song in two different languages- one that the majority of the class will not fully understand (spanish) and the other that is in the english language which is the common vernacular in our class. Listen to the song with the lyrics in spanish first and then listen to the one English. (If you speak spanish fluently try to imagine it in a language you do not understand)
Spanish verzion (The is equivalent to the time period before the availablity of the vernacular when most people could not understand the information around them because it was typically put in Latin.)
.
In the second video the same song is in English (which is the vernacular of our classroom)
For your comment about the vernacular I want you to consider the following.
1. Why did Shakira record the same song in two languages- what does she gain?
2. What does this say about people having access to popular culture that is in their vernacular?
3. How do you think this transition to the vernacular influenced how much information people had avaialable to them? (In other words did you gain access to a lot more information about the song once it was in your vernacular)
Sunday, June 13, 2010
The Renaissance
The first historical topic that this blog is going to study is the Renaissance!! The term Renaissance means a rebirth of art and learning. During this time period a number of changes in art, politics, idealogy and social structure occured.
The influences of the Renaissance can be seen everywhere in popular culture and still influence life today! The changes that occured during the Renaissance had far reaching effects and changed the course of society.This particualr blog focuses on four subtopics of the Renaissance which are patrons of the arts, The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli, the idea of a Renaissance Man and the importance of the transistion to using the vernacular (or everyday language) I hope that by being an active participant in this blog you will learn how these topics in the history of Renaissance are hiding in your daily life and in current popular culture!
The influences of the Renaissance can be seen everywhere in popular culture and still influence life today! The changes that occured during the Renaissance had far reaching effects and changed the course of society.This particualr blog focuses on four subtopics of the Renaissance which are patrons of the arts, The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli, the idea of a Renaissance Man and the importance of the transistion to using the vernacular (or everyday language) I hope that by being an active participant in this blog you will learn how these topics in the history of Renaissance are hiding in your daily life and in current popular culture!
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