Great Works at 10.20am Spring 2015

Through stories we are able to paint a picture of what men and women are like. We have discussed many texts that have focused on the guidelines men should follow from an array of societies. Sophocles’ Antigone, on the other hand, demonstrates a female character troubled with a decision where law and personal beliefs collide. Antigone’s quest for her brother’s justice leads her to question authority, attack stereotypes regarding women, and even die for her convictions. Because of these actions we see the type of woman she is.

Within Antigone, King Kreon issues an edict for Antigone’s deceased brother, forbidding Polyneices burial because the king sees him as a traitor. Through this edict, Kreon asserts authority by means of scare tactics. He also uses Polyneices’ disloyalty to show others if they too rebel against Thebes or oppose state law, they too will face the same consequences.

Kreon’s efforts to put fear into those of Thebes does not phase Antigone. Seeking justice for her brother, she defiantly gives him a proper burial. Her resistance serves as the ultimate insult to Kreon’s position as king. “I’ve no regrets for what I’ve done. And if you consider my acts foolhardy, I say: Look at the fool charging me with folly.” Antigone demonstrates that she has as much physical courage as any man, as well as tremendous courage in confronting injustice at any cost.

As a bold, powerful woman she is not swayed by other’s views. She believes no law of the king has a higher standing than that of divine law. “It wasn’t Zeus who issued me this order. And Justice—who lives below—was not involved. They’d never condone it! I deny that your edicts—since you, a mere man, imposed them—have the force to trample on the gods’ unwritten and infallible laws. Their laws are not ephemeral, they weren’t made yesterday, and they will last forever.”

After Antigone’s courageous actions to bury her brother, those of Thebes supported her. “Thebes aches for this girl. No person ever, they’re saying, less deserved to die—no one’s ever been so unjustly killed for actions as magnificent as hers. When her own brother died in the bloodbath she kept him from lying out there unburied, fair game for flesh-eating dogs and vultures. Hasn’t she earned, they ask, golden honor?” Antigone defied the authority of the king, winning over those of the city. They see in her only what they wish they could have in themselves. And for that, they respect her.

Antigone is not like other women from Ancient Greek society. Her fearlessness, devotion to family, and strength provided hope for other women in her society. Even today we look back on Antigone to see the determination to protect her brother knowing she will die doing so. Antigone stood up to authority to protect her family regardless of the consequences. She would rather “do what’s honorable” and die than live knowing her brother didn’t receiving a proper burial. She is a figure all women can find strength in.

Miriam McCallion

In the Prince deception is necessary, and so is warfare

Christine De pizan

(CA.1364-1430)

Author: Unknown

Type of art: Manuscript

Anyel Rijo

The Image shown above is titled “Antigone Gives Token Burial to the Body of Her Brother Polynices”. Dated between 1835-1898, French artist Jules-Eugene Lenepveu created this piece to depict an important moment in the story of Antigone. This drawing was made with watercolor, pen and black ink over black chalk on a gray-green paper.

Jules Eugene Lenepveu was a French artist, born December 12th 1819 in Angers, France. He studied at Beaux-Art and worked with François-Édouard Picot in Paris, France. As an artist he became famous for many historical canvases including many famous pieces illustrating Joan of Arc (Wikipedia). Although the above piece was not a well know work of Lenepvue, the 10.8 x 13.9 inch drawing is now part of the collection at the Metropolitan Museum Of Art (metmueseum.org). This drawing depicts a very important scene in Antigone, when Antigone goes against the authority of King Creon to bury her brother, Polynices.

In the tragedy Antigone’s two brothers Polynices and Eteocles fight for the throne and both brothers die in a duel while fighting for Thebes the city in which they lived. In the light of their deaths, Creon becomes king. The new king oversees that Eteocles is given a burial fit for a king while Polynices is left to rot without even being buried. Antigone, the sister of the two men who passed is outraged by the king’s order for Polynices to be left to rot. As a strong female figure she goes against the orders of King Creon to sneak to the body of Polynices and bury him regardless of the consequences she may face. She does this because she believes that the god’s authority surpasses the authority of the King. Although Polynices and Eteocles fought against each other for the throne Antigone does not want to disrespect her brother because he is her blood and although some may feel as if he was undeserving of a proper burial she believes that the gods would feel differently. She explains that she can never have another brother because her mother and father have died and it is important for her to do right by her brother regardless of the conflicts that occurred prior to his death.

I think that the way in which Lenepveu drew Antigone was different then similar illustrations of the same scene within the story. Antigone looks strong, and determined, she does not seem to be hiding what she is doing as she pours the dirt over her deceased brother. The dark clouds above the city give a very ominous setting. You can see the conflict as you look at the surrounding landscapes. You can see the on lookers who disapprove of the decision Antigone has made to bury Polynices. The dark vial that Antigone wears over her head confirms her mourning. The image of Antigone burying Poylnices shows the defiance of political authority to adhere to the religious law. Antigone is burying the body of Polynices because it is the right thing to do regardless of what the king believes to be right or wrong. Antigone is a strong female figure and stands up for what she believes in. Lenepveu does a wonderful job of illustrating an important moment in the Tragedy Antigone.

—Artist: Kawamata Tsuneyuki (1676 (?)–1741)

—Period: Edo period (1615–1868)

—Date: 18th century

—Culture: Japan

—Medium: Hanging scroll; ink and color on paper

—Dimensions: 14 3/8 x 18 5/8 in. (36.5 x 47.3 cm)

—Credit Line: The Howard Mansfield Collection, Purchase, Rogers Fund, 1936

By: Aiying Chen He

Created in 1950, when Henri Matisse was 81 years old and at the time permanently disabled and confined to a wheelchair. During those rough times he had difficulty to sleep and had a drive for creativity with paper cutouts in which resulted with this collage.
We can see how both Shahrazad, the heroine in the story, and Matisse experienced life similarly; both would stay up all night creating these arts in a way to hold off on death.

Jenny Redrovan & Xinli Gao

Christine de Pizan

http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b6000102v/f14.image page 2r

Year: 1404-1405 Early Renaissance

Artist: Master of the Cites des Dames

Type: Painting

Size: Miniature (found in text)

Location: National Library of France

Dear All,

For our second blog post, I want you to interpret a female character from one of our readings–any reading. As we have done in class, you should gather together the ways the woman is described and interpret her to develop a sense of who she is, what she likes, what she wants, what confuses her, what is happening in her life, what kinds of people she knows etc, etc. (You would not answer all these for every woman, and might need to answer other questions for some women). Try to develop a full, rounded presentation of this character. Then, to  conclude, ask yourself what this character suggests about women in general if she were used as a character from which to generalize.

If you have another idea in mind, or something specific you wish to examine, please see me. I am open to other suggestions.

Blog Post should be 400-600 words.

You should comment on 2 other posts (around 60-150 words).

DUE: April 27, 2015 at noon. NO LATENESSES

Confucious – The importance of Education

Confucianism is all about relationship between people in the society where we are living in. Naturally, human beings are seeking for what they desire and try to get it. some of them try hard to find an easy way to get what they want. problem is the easy way they find may affect someone’s life. To prevent to harm and conflict with others by one’s lust and greed, people set the rules what we must follow and educate ourselves to be a gentlemen. As we read in the text, Confucious emphasized the importance of education. He believed that edcuation is a basic way to be a gentlemen.

Confucious wanted people to be educated and be a good student to respects and learn from the words and deeds of his teacher. Teacher would be a person who are older and knows well about the ways of the past and the practice of antiquity. The Confucious said: “Even when walking in the company of two other men, I am bound to be able to learn from them. The good points of the one I copy; the bad points of the one I correct in myself.’ (Analect 7.22) By observing other people’s behaviors, we could find out what is good and bad to be done. Also, we should be careful listening to people who’s next to. people who’s next to me, watch how i behave in any specific situation. Although people have many different opinions and perspectives on other people’s behaviors, it probably shows how i have relationship with other people and gives me a chance to evaluate myself. Thus, the education that confucious tells us about, is not just to read text in the book. the individual we see around might be a text book, and a teacher.

It is very important to use the knowledge what we learned from someone or books. The gentlemen is not a person who is highly educated, is a person who uses his knowledge wisely. We should not think that is not enough to study. it is meaningless not to do behave as we learned. Confucious said, “He who learns but does not think is lost. He who thinks but does not learn is in great danger.” (Analects 2.15) Through this texts from Analects, education confucious believed is finding a balance between formal study and intuitive self-reflection. Confucious never asks how much you learned and knows about. He teaches people to understand and to think about what comes out from learning. it seems most important step what Confucious expects from people to demonstrate their understanding  and accepting it to improve their life.

The education could be simple as depth of knowledge. however, Confucious emphasizes the depth of understanding what you know and wants people to influence that in good way. Confucious’ teaching is not easy to study and understand fully, but it is meaningful to improve each other. The road of education is endless, and what should be worried to death.

Taehyun Nam