Augustus

Augustus Caesar, was Rome's first emperor and he held power up until his death. His total reign was that of about 41 years. He came into power after Mark Antony's assassination.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augustus

In our textbook, it states that propaganda “is an important component of the success of any new government or regime.” Both Horace and Virgil, were poets of the Roman era, and both wrote poems for Caesar, and some criticize that their works are propaganda in disguise.

In Horace’s poem, he claims how Caesar’s governing has brought food, and no wars. That there is always laughter and happiness at a family home. Virgil’s poem more like introduces Caesar to the Roman people, assuring them of his good ways, and the greatness that will come of Rome when he begins his Roman reign.

Both of these are either intentional or unintentional propaganda, but propaganda nonetheless. These two poets were already well known, and if they only have positive things to say about someone, especially someone who is going into power, well their followers are going to believe their word.

United States elections. Ha. How can we forget the commercials these politicians had, not only to say positive things about themselves (which is what their focus should have been,) but rather also on the negative things of their opponents. That was what seemed to be their main focus. “So and so didn’t vote so many times.” “So and so did this and that 10 years ago.” But whether or not they were negative, people would believe them, and get lured in, ultimately taking effect on who they would vote for.
Here is one video where Governor Jerry Brown, used one of Meg Whitman’s statement, to impact his election in a positive way. http://youtu.be/WEPlZYp5-Pk

I found it kind of ironic, and how she does say “30 years ago,” when Jerry Brown was governor. Her rep. must have not done his/her research before writing it out for her.

Propaganda is the only way elections are done now. Politicians run campaigns, raising up to millions of dollars, casting in votes with powerful words, and having other influential people speaking wonders of them, or ill of the others. But it’s not just in the “big” presidential, or governor elections. School elections, even in elementary schools. They have their posters up, give away balloons, candy, anything to cast in a vote. Of course, I’m not say propaganda is bad, but some can be. If you are say true things, and not hurtful, then of course I’m all for it! You have to put yourself out there somehow. But a lot of it is stretched out truths, and bad things about the opponent.  I think people have to choose propaganda on more of the moral approach, rather than beneficial. But that will never happen!

Hermes and the Infant Dionysus

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Hermes_di_Prassitele,_at_Olimpia,_front.jpg

Hermes and the Infant Dionysos, is a sculpture thought to be done by Praxteles. Praxteles was son of Cephisodotus the Elder, also a sculptor. Praxteles was the first to sculpt a nude women shape in life size form. It was found in Temple of Hera in Olympia in 1887, and it is argued whether it is indeed the original or not. Dating suggest that it was done back in the 4^th century BC.

In Greek mythology, Dionysos is the God of winemaking, ritual madness, and ecstasy. The myth states the Zeus had given left Hermes in charge of Dionysos, hence the inspiration for that sculpture, or that is what I would imagine. Zeus was Dionysos father, and his mother was Semele.

The statue is made of Parian marble.    The measurements of Hermes are as follows:  2.10/2.12 m, 3.70 m with the base. This sculpture was made in the classical era of Greece. It was found with many parts missing, his forearm, some fingers, his penis, and still are missing today. It took eight discoveries to find other parts that had been missing before.

The statue itself portrays Hermes standing upright, holding the child, and it is said it is suppose to represent him playing with the child. 

I personally love sculptures, and they are so mysterious and glorious to me, all at the same time. This is a beautiful piece of work. It shows tenderness from Hermes side, the way he is holding the child and it seems as if his gaze is on him. The child looks like he is looking away, or maybe Hermes was doing something to lead his attention somewhere else. A lot, if not most, of the Greek sculptures are done representing the person in nudity. It shows that they didn’t think it was something so out of this world, like we do today. We put such emphasis that nudity is wrong, or ill minded. When indeed it can be something so admirable like this sculpture. Of course, it’s a thing that we might all disagree on, but I’m sure they had their reasons as to why they used nudity so much in their work.

Created to Destroy

The Christ Man Himself

In the account of the Mayan Civilization, and the story that Popul Vuh had read of Mayan ancestors, states that of how the earth was created, as well as life. Tepeu and Gucumatz created the Earth, after talking one night, and decided it would be necessary.  And that the Creator and Maker created humans, or beings, but destroyed them because they weren’t the way they wanted them to be. It fascinates me, how such an imaginative way of believing that the earth came about, was followed by many people. I mean, I cannot say the Mayans were ignorant, but in those days, people just wanted answers to something, and they usually accepted anything. I’m sure that the first person who shared that story, was someone of great power, therefore, the community had to believe it. For that greater person would never lie, in fact, he was more than likely sent from the God’s to share His knowledge.

A lot of creation stories seem to have the same amount of creativity. And of course we are all free to believe anything we want, but if we had today, a figure that a great majority of the population followed, and he for some reason, came up with an explanation for creation, we would more than likely follow it. It is easy to believe someone in power, someone we look up to and confide in, no matter how “imaginative” it may seem. For example, do we all remember a while back the Puerto Rican man who claimed he was both Jesus Christ and the AntiChrist. I mean, honestly, for me, I never even contemplated the idea of believing him. But many other people did. People who confided in him, and were desperate for answers, took his word and followed his teachings. Some of his believers, now even share his famed “666” tattoo, and show it in reference to this movement. To a lot of us, this all seems so silly, but to the people who are in the movement, truly believe this man, and all that he has to offer. There is link to his website, feel free to see what he is about.

One other thing I contemplated upon my reading of this chapter was the world wide, religious tolerance for the killing of another man for murdering someone else. Code of Hammurabi, Story of the Flood, The Covenant Code. All these set of laws encourage the killing of man for a crime. Do unto him, what he did unto others. Eye for an eye, heart for a heart. A lot of religious people that believe killing is wrong, and only God should decide when someone should die, agree that if a man kills a man, that the killer should be put to death, because that is what God would want. He would want to punish him. But it is all so contradicting. I mean, it is very easy to wish death upon someone, but who are we to decide that matter? Life is so precious, and regardless of how much harm a person does, we can’t not take that away. Even here, I feel a little hypocritical, because I have once before wished ill upon someone one, when my uncle was murdered.  I’m sure if I find out something bad happened to the killers, I would be “happy”. But I’m a firm believer of Karma. So I know those people who hurt my family, will have their time, but killing him, wouldn’t do me any good. If we believe in such God, who are we to play his role? No one.