Sunday, July 12, 2020
Essay Sample - Importance of Writing Excellently
Essay Sample - Importance of Writing ExcellentlyThere are many impressive essay samples that can be used for schools, colleges and universities. To help students understand this type of essay, essay samples should be clearly understood. The purpose of the essay is to convince the reader of your opinion or to provide a rationale behind why you have written the essay. For students, it can be very difficult to come up with original content that other students have not written.While writing an impressive essay, there are many topics that can be discussed. It can be about history, current events, research and news. In order to increase the level of a student's essay, they should be knowledgeable in the topic.On top of knowledge, time is another concern. There is no way that a student will have enough time to write an impressive essay. Many of the impressive essay samples that are available are lengthy and require lots of time to write. It is common to lose a few hours writing an essay, es pecially if the topic is one that is more challenging. One thing that students should be aware of is that the more thorough and detailed the topic is, the longer it will take to complete the essay.Time is also something that makes a student write an essay. The length of an essay also affects the length of the essay. A shorter essay will be able to be written quicker but the content will be less elaborate and may be too general. A longer essay will be more detailed but the level of detail can be uninteresting and boring.Many of the impressive essay samples are very detailed, in some cases too detailed for the average student. There are many different forms of papers and essays, each having their own style. The style of the student's paper will greatly affect the type of essay they will write. If a student has a well-developed style, the school will be more likely to accept their paper.In addition to these things, the last and final step for writing an impressive essay is preparing th e paper and editing it before it is submitted. This is important because the student will have their original paper. Therefore, they should ensure that it is written accurately.The style of the paper must be developed and made clear in order to make sure it is a well-written paper. Since this will be used as an original paper, it must be clear and concise. In order to do this, the student should use an essay writer.Students can often benefit from some basic understanding of the impressive essay samples, as well as how to write an original paper. In order to write an impressive essay, it is necessary to have the appropriate knowledge, experience and talent. Knowing how to write an original paper is essential for success in college and university.
Wednesday, May 20, 2020
Resurgence of Conservatism - 1211 Words
DBQ 15: The Resurgence of Conservatism, 1964-2005 Liberals had dominated American society for most of the 1900s. The 1960s was widely known for being the age of counterculture, social reforms, and liberals. The era witnessed many advancements like racial equality such as the Voting Rights Act of 1965, a strong advancement in political liberalism, and a significant increase in the power and influence of government-funded social programs as a result of Lyndon B. Johnsons Great Society reforms. Beginning with the election of Nixon, however, followed a gradual return to conservatism whether religiously, politically, or economically. The resurgence of conservatism in American politics and government in the years 1964-2005, was caused inâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦Consequently, the failures of the policies of liberal presidents like Carter and the success of conservatives like Reagan lead to the resurgence of conservatism. The rise of religion in American politics also contributed to t he growth of conservatism. The most prominent was a coalition of conservative, evangelical ChristiansShow MoreRelatedA Study on Conservative Resurgence1171 Words à |à 5 PagesConservative Resurgence (Order #A2065848) For many years the Republican party and its conservative base was the central point of blame for the economic woes that had occurred in America during the Great Depression. Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and his liberal Democratic party were portrayed as the saviors of the United States economy and the only intellectual and political tradition that remained for America. However, the social excesses, political instability and economic turmoil that the liberalsRead MoreNationalism As Civil And Ethnic Divides807 Words à |à 4 Pagesreligion. Ethnic nationalism has exploited minority parties and sought to justify hate-based political campaigns and in some cases, heinous acts against humanity. For these reasons, ethnic nationalismââ¬â¢s reputation is a burdensome one, and many fear a resurgence of nationalism would resemble past applications of ethnic nationalism for which many identify as anti-progressive, and perhaps, anti-human. Nationalism as Political Danger The philosophical theories of nationalism become disrupted in politiciansââ¬â¢Read MoreThe Politics Of The 1960s And 1960s1660 Words à |à 7 Pagesideals. These ideals and values were comforting, as they reminded many of a time of simplicity, conservatism, and aggressive reassurance. (Needham, 2016, p. 314) Reagan s presidency brought about a resurgence of family values, patriarchal values, moral conservatism, and right-wing thinking. Various films produced throughout the 1980s reflect these values and reiterate the shift towards neo-conservatism. In the chapter Reaganite Cinema: What a Feeling! by Gary Needham, Needham discusses the social-politicalRead MoreNationalism And The National Mold Of The Majority Faction957 Words à |à 4 Pagesnationalism its unsavory historical connotation, which peaked in Europe during World War II and still remains healthy today in Africa and the Middle East. Having remained largely dormant since World War II, Westerners are now beginning to witness a resurgence of nationalism, particularly in the United States and Great Britain. These countries have experienced similar predicaments with an influx of immigration (or migration in Europe) and economic struggles, mainly for the middle class. These factorsRead More The Conservative Movement Essay1540 Words à |à 7 Pagesa crucial role in American politics in the post war era. Ronald Story and Bruce Laurie indentify various elements of the American conservatism. These elements include challenging authoritarian governments and modernist culture, upholding tradition, Christian religion and the rule of law, defending western civilization, and supporting republicanism. American conservatism has been characterized by competing ideologies and tension throughout history. The Americans who are politically liberal and economicallyRead MoreBernini s Sculpture, The Ecstasy Of St. Teresa And Caravaggio s Painting958 Words à |à 4 Pagesthe Catholic Church held over creativity of this period. Baroque style can be recognized through its use of vibrant colors, exaggerated movement and with a distortion of traditional shapes. With a countenance that emphasizes theatricality over conservatism, The Baroque style is a direct result of the Catholic reformation that originated in Italy. The Roman Catholic Church suffered the loss of many believers to the new Protestant movement that was jettisoned into motion by Martin Lutherââ¬â¢s Thesesââ¬â¢Read MoreEssay on Right Wing Resurgence1296 Words à |à 6 PagesRight Wing Resurgence In the mist of a disgruntled working class, one Austrian born man rose to power, playing on their fears of immigrants, unemployment and globalization. By mixing social populism, xenophobia, German nationalism with personal charisma, he was able to make his political party one of the strongest in his nation. Many would believe that this would be a description of the infamous dictator Adolph Hitler. Rather, it is a description of Jorg Haider, recent governor of theRead MoreThe Notion of American Conservatism1925 Words à |à 8 PagesThe notion of American conservatism has been around roughly since the conception of The United States. Once refined in the U.S. Constitution in September of 1787, what had been left up to speculation was now set as guidelines for the flourishing country. There was always separation in beliefs between Americanââ¬â¢s, but the constitution truly outlined what America could build upon. This is where American conservatism really came into effect. Co nservatism as defined by the Encyclopedia BritannicaRead MoreRonald Reagan s President Of The United States1129 Words à |à 5 PagesReagan changed the world in the 1980s and his work as president will be forever remembered in the countless books of history. Ronald Reagan ran as a Republican and was the absolute epitome of a conservative. He worked to bring forth the ideal of conservatism in America and successfully captured and isolated that belief in the presidency. As president, Reagan worked to bring the ideal of American exceptionalism back to the country, to set the economy on the right track, and to end the Communist threatRead MoreMark TwainS Religious Views Seen Through His Works. Mark1341 Words à |à 6 Pages This doctrinal struggle had been evident for centuries. However, it became severe in the childhood of Mark Twain during the spread of the Great Awakening into the valley of Mississippi. The Great Awakening of the eighteenth century coached the resurgence of the religion of Christianity in doctrinal terms. The first evangelists to arrive in Mississippi Valley suggested that low membership of the church was a consequence of not holding up to the doctrinal purity. Many considered this evangelism to
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
Analysis of Junot Diazs The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar...
To My Dear Friend Oscar, As one of your confidants and close companions, I know that you are one of this worlds rarest souls, a great person who has so much to offer the world, but one who simply prefers to keep the best parts of yourself private. I feel truly honored that you have revealed some of your secrets to me, and I want you to know that your friendship means more to me than you can ever imagine. You are misunderstood by a world which is unready and unwilling to know true beauty, and this ignorant rejection has been foisted upon you with the epithet of introvert. But even the world can be wrong Oscar, as it has so many times before, and it is wrong now when it forces good people like you to retreat into solitude and revert to a state of depression. An introvert just strongly prefers not to socialize and they simply prefer traveling through their own interior universe (Svoboda 52), but these aspects of your personality are nothing to be ashamed of my friend. You have no doubt discovered firsthand that introverts live in an extroverts world, and there are days when wed prefer to do nothing more than stay at home, but this does not have to be your fate everyday Oscar, because while our temperaments may define us, that doesnt mean were controlled by them. (Walsh 7) The fact that you prefer the pleasant company of yourself above the unwelcome clamor of false companionship is not a sign of weakness Oscar; it is the ultimate sign of strength. When theShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Junot Diazs The Brief Wondrous Life Of Oscar Wao1016 Words à |à 5 PagesIn Junot Diazââ¬â¢s The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, Dominican men are judged via their embodiment of the hyper-masculine ideals and a number of women they sleep with. Outliers such as Oscar de Leon are therefore criticized, humiliated and emasculated by fellow members of society. Diaz characterizes Oscarââ¬â¢s plight as his struggle to lose his virginity: a major accomplishment of the Dominican, male ideal. Yunior, on the contrary, is the epitome of a Dominican man. He is able to sweep women off theirRead MoreAnalysis Of Junot Diazs The Brief Wondrous Life Of Oscar Wao962 Words à |à 4 Pagesrevolutions are fated to happen whether mental or physical. This connects to Junot Diazââ¬â¢s novel, The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, because in it Diaz argues that all forms of colonization and oppression creates rebellion. He weaves this argument with Oscarââ¬â¢s characterization, the conflict between mother and daughter, Oscarsââ¬â¢ ââ¬Å"Last Laughâ⬠. To begin, one must examine the characterization of our protagonist, Oscar. In the novel Oscar is an ample, second generation Dominican living in New Jersey. He lovesRead MoreThe Brief Wondrous Life Of Oscar Wao Analysis1691 Words à |à 7 PagesThe Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, a novel composed by Junot Diaz, Oscar Wao tells in what presents to be an oral conversation, consisting in part youth with popular cultural references to fantasy and sci-fi, or American hip-hop, and of Spanish slang extracted from the language of Puerto Rican, Dominican, Cuban, and South American. Diaz uses transnational as a critique contributing to the inspection of the achievements and the limitations of multiculturalism and its academic phenomenon, ethnic
Biggest CHallenge free essay sample
Biggest CHallenge Rodriguez Creative Song Assignment The Creative Song Assignment was an Interesting assignment, because I have zero experience in mixing music. It was an Interesting experience, because It did take me out of my comfort zone. When I first started, I felt lost. I had no Idea what I was doing, so I decided to do a little research to see how I can best complete this assignment. I finally settled on using a program called Audacity and the genres of hip hop and alternative rock. I chose a program called audacity, because It gives you an option of milling different songs.I am sure that there are a lot of other programs better suited for this assignment, but I found this to be pretty easy to use. I really enjoyed playing around Ninth the different settings. It took me a couple of days before I finally picked two songs to work on. We will write a custom essay sample on Biggest CHallenge or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page I am sure that there are many more experienced people out there that can mix my songs better than me, but I think I did a good job considering my experience level. I decide to pick hip hop and alternative rock, because they are two of my favorite genres. I know that hip hop and alternative rock have been mixed before, so I felt an intrigue in trying to accomplish this myself. I knew that I wanted to use Arrowheads Karma Police as my alternative, because that is one of my favorite songs. I had a difficult time picking a rap song, because the lyrics did not match up well together. I finally decided to Just use a hip hop beat that I found on concluded. In my opinion, I felt that this was best, because you can hear the lyrics of the alternative song, but still hear the hip hop beat. The part that took me a while was trying to get the songs in sync perfectly. I really wanted to find a way to lower the alternative rock songs instrumentals, but I could not do it.I think it would have sounded better if I could mix the hip hop beat with the Karma Police vocals. I am sure it could probably be done lath professional mixing equipment. I really enjoyed this assignment, because It did what it was designed to do. It really took me out of my comfort zone. I started off being completely lost, but I slowly started gaining confidence as I practiced more with the software. I know that the finished product is not too great, but I think It was good considering that I have never done this before.
Thursday, April 23, 2020
Inuit People Essays - Aboriginal Peoples In Canadian Territories
Inuit People THE INUIT PEOPLE The Inuit are the northernmost inhabitants of North America. The name INUIT and Eskimo is given to the population of the Arctic region and the region from eastern Siberia to Greenland. The Inuit have been called Eskimo but they really do prefer to be called Inuit. The word Inuit means, people who are alive at this time. Inuit also refers to the group of people of Eskimoid ancestry, which live in northern Canada. The word Eskimo means eaters of raw meat - and in today's time it is insulting to use the term. Eskimo is a word that comes from the CREE. It is a term that honors the ability of this group of people to survive in a harsh climate, living on the products of the hunt alone. There were several different Eskimoid cultures that came to the Canadian Arctic at different times. Some of the names for the early culture were the Paleo-Eskimo, Arctic Small-Tool Tradition (which included the Independence I, Pre-Dorset, Denbigh Flint Complex - which was from Alaska), and Saqqaq (which were from Greenland). By 1700 BC, the Pre-Dorset Inuit were established in Northern Hudson Bay, the Hudson Strait, and Fox Basin. They used snow houses, and soapstone lamps, bows, toggling harpoon heads, and fish and bird spears. The Pre-Dorset Inuit used dogs for packing and hunting. The Inuit at this time did not use them for pulling sleds. The Dorset Inuit had to change their techniques of a way of life based on seal and mammal hunting because around 1800 BC the climate in the Arctic became colder. The Inuit of the eastern Arctic have long known these people as the Tuint. From the early days of the Pre-Dorset and Dorset people who moved across the Arctic in the first millennium BC have left a record of their art. They made beautiful ivory carvings out of walrus tusks and whale-bones. Around the time of 1000 AD a warming trend allowed the bowhead whales to migrate along the Arctic coast. A new group, were following the whales and they were called the Thule people. The Thule lived in villages up to 100 people and created semi-subterranean winter houses. These houses used whale-bone for the roof supports. The Thule used umiaks, which are large walrus-skin boats, kayaks, and dogsleds. They had many special tools for whale, walrus, and seal hunting. Another cooling trend occurred around 1600-1850 AD, which brought back ice to the summer Arctic and the bowhead whales no longer came along the cast. It was at this time, that the Thule people had to change. The modern Inuit were from 1600 AD to the present. The Thule people did change, by learning to hunt for smaller prey like seals, walrus and caribou. They lived in much smaller groups and leaned how to migrate. The Inuit loved their traditional lifestyle but they have always hated the cold. All of their knowledge and technology within their group of people is geared towards combating the cold. During the Arctic winter, a long period of time that is barely lit by the sun a few hours a day, the land is covered with ice and snow. The Inuit usually would return to the same bay, where they had hunted the previous year. The most difficult task was locating the ice holes where seals would come to breathe. Inuit traditionally love the warm weather, and would rather been able to settle where it was warmer. But due to other powers, of which they had no control off, they settled in the Arctic and made the best of it. Not all Inuit would eat raw meat. Meat that had been imported from the South {beef, chicken, and pork} is never eaten raw since bacteria and parasites seem to be on the increase in warm, humid climates. But in the North, it is like one big refrigerator! The dead animals seem to freeze upon contact with the air - and this slows down the process of bacteria and rot. Inuit eat their meat only soon after its been killed. Frozen meat is called quaq. Medical science has proven that eating animals raw enabled the Inuit to get large quantities of vitamins and minerals, which
Tuesday, March 17, 2020
How To Create Content That Converts (With Happiness)
How To Create Content That Converts (With Happiness) Do people spend more money if they are happy or if they are sad? There is a tendency to avoid negativity in headlines and copy, although there are times when negative headlines are actually more powerful. Generally, though, the more common approach is to avoid negativity when creating our content. But should we? Are we doing the right thing by keeping our copy positive? How To Create Content That Converts By Writing Your Reader Happy #contentmarketing viaNot every reader is motivated to act by the same thing all of the time. Exclusivity, the offer itself, the color of the button, the quality of the persuasive argument- they all matter at some point, too. But how we make the reader feel does have an impact on whether they will buy, but it might not be in the way you think. How Mood Affects Buying Behavior Let's go back and revisit that opening question: Do people spend money (or, in your case, convert) if they are happy or if they are sad? As individuals, we often go shopping when we are down. Sad shoppers tend to spend more, and people who are in aà grumpy mood actually feel better after shopping (at least until the bills arrive), and a foul or depressed mood often leads to more impulse buying. Sad shoppers spend more. Here's how happy content sells. #contentmarketingOn the other hand, after a national tragedy, do you feel like shopping? Do you like seeing tweets that talk about being a consumer during such a time? Our mood, as an individual, makes us want to buy to alleviate sad feelings. But when we are a part of a sad group as a whole, buying is the last thing we want to do. It feels wrong. But hold on- that's not all. Consumer confidence is something we measure that shows when consumers are confident (and upbeat), the economy of the nation will increase. Consumer confidence is correlated with retail sales, which is different from cause and effect but effectively shows how our mood has a connection to our impulse to buy. Consumer confidence is that special mix where a person feels pretty good about the state of the economy and their own personal financial state. So, you could summarize it as follows: A sadà individual might use retail therapy to improve the mood in the moment. A grumpy individualà makes impulse purchases to break out of a rut. A sad group does not want to make purchases at all. Confidence inspires people to buy. Why does shopping seem to attract people who aren't at the top of their emotions? Distractions and the suggestion of hope, probably. That's what buying often does, when it is for something that isn't a need. While you can't control the mood of your reader, remember that an alleviation of worries and sadness is the attraction, here, and that if your copy can tap into that, you'll get your reader to convert. Your #content should alleviate worries and sadness. That's howà to get readers to convert.How To Create A Positive Mood In Your Writing When you visit a store and approach a salesclerk for help as you make your buying decision, does their attitude have an effect on you? For me, if they are negative, down, grumpy- I'm less likely to complete the current sale or, even if I do, I probably won't come back. When you create content with a conversion (i.e. sale) in mind, your content is the salesclerk. How do you make sure your salesclerk is happy? 1. Highlight the desirable behavior. Blogger Bushra Azhar wrote, on the Copyhackers blog, that highlighting desirable behavior leads to positive action. She found that, particularly in the use of social proof in your copy, that framing that proof in a negative way inspired the wrong reaction. A study done by two National Parks found that copy that highlighted the negative caused the very behavior they had hoped to stop. Azhar went on to discover other similar examples, pointing out that careless negative copy could even cause the bystander effect in your reader, that curious situation where we don't help victims if others are around us. Too much negative copy can also make people feel that the situation is hopeless. Write copy that states the behavior you want. "Please click the blue button" is, however uninspired, better copy than "9 out of 10 people won't click the blue button." When your readers see that, they probably think "heck, if 90 percent of people won't click, I'm not going to. All of those people can't be wrong." And that's social proof, swinging around and biting you in the behind. This is a tricky to do, if you are trying to create exclusivity. But create your exclusivity in a way that doesn't get social proof going against you. "9 out of 10 people miss out on this opportunity. But you don't have to." 2. Tell readers what can be, not what should be. You've experienced it. When you read a blog post full of "don'ts" and "shoulds", you likely feel, after a while, that there's no point bothering. Language that suggests, even if unintentionally, that we are hopeless does not make a reader super giddy to latch onto your product. The "shoulds", especially, are wearing after a while. Think about the internal conversations you have in your head. "I shouldn't have eaten that." "I should pay that bill." "I should exercise more." "I should be a harder worker." It goes on and on and after a while, you feel mostly like a failure and quite anxious that you're never going to catch up and do all the things you should do. You most certainly don't need a blog post filled with a pile of "shoulds" to add to the load. Yet, your copy is doing that, isn't it? It's telling readers what they should do. Again, this is all about the language you use. How can you tell someone what they should do without reminding them of the "shoulds" already running through their head? Find another word. It's that easy. If you write a sentence with the word "should" in it, find another way to write it. Find another word. Use the implied "you." Cut the word "should" out totally by relying on the implied you. Look at #3 below. Instead of "you should tap into consumer confidence", I simply wrote "tap into consumer confidence." Such a subtle thing, but it helps. Balance what is and what should be. I hate to write a post that is all about what the reader should do. I try to find a mix, whether that means starting with some research and proof to prime the pump, or an introduction of another nature. Can you provide the reader with the confidence that they have what it takes to balance out that they are missing something? You should. (heh.) 3. Tap into that consumer confidence. If confidence inspires a nation to buy, personal confidence can prompt your reader to do the same. Are you creating confident readers? Here's a quick checklist to see if you are: Copy full of caveats. Is your copy full of caveats, those words and phrases that let you back out of a stance if you lose face? Do you find yourself using "I think" or "Maybe" or "Possibly" or "I believe" or any other word that allows you to say something bold while also leaving weak wiggle room? Have you ever used the defense, when called on something you said, that "I just said it's what I believe, not that it's always true"? Because that isn't copy that inspires confidence. After prolonged exposure to these filler words, the reader sees you as almost apologetic about your ideas. Write in confidence, and remember to cut out these words when editing. Skip the preface and state your idea boldly. You walk your talk. You may be writing lots of helpful content on how to be a better this and an awesome that, but do you live those words yourself? A reader might not know if you don't, but it does show in both your blog copy as well as in the ensuing comments section. There's nothing worse than reading a great post about how to organize your life and then asking the author if it has worked, only to hear "I don't actually know...I don't use this method." Find testimonials and experts. Whileà testimonials aren'tà appropriate for all copy, you should use themà to show that what you are talking about is true. Or, find research or experts that can support your findings so that the reader feels confidence not only from the outside expert, but from a wee bit of social proof ("it's not just the author that says this- others do, too!"). Just as a newspaper reporter must find people to quote to show that the report is not fabricated, you should do the same in your copy. Show with video. I'm a sucker for infomercials, because when they show how the amazing product works right there on the screen, I'm completely convinced. Depending upon what you're writing about, use video and photographs to show that yes, this is really the truth. Confident readers are trusting readers, and trusting readers convert. Confident readers are trusting readers, and trusting readers convert. #contentmarketing4. Write with high energy. High energy (without slipping into freakish psycho making people back away slowly) makes the sale. The lack of high energy kills great copy. What do you think is the biggest killer of copy energy?à My vote goes for passive voice. Sometimes, passive voice happens. It is acceptable when the person/thing acted on needs attention, or when the actor does not. Or, maybe you know the action and need to convey it in your copy, but don't know who did it. You can't find the facts. And so, you resort to "the bottle was filled" because you don't want to say "Jane filled the bottle" if you don't know if she did or not. Passive voice exists for a reason. But continuous use of passive voice leads to a kind of dry and almost academic copy. That is not high energy. Consider the following paragraph, and how it makes you feel when you read it. The solution is made clear. These tips are given to you by me. The copy should be carefully considered by you. This post is hopefully enjoyed by our readers. No action. No energy. The solution is clear. I gave you these tips. You should consider this copy carefully. Our readers enjoy this post. Much better. How else do you write with high energy? Use action words instead of adjectives. Inject cacophony into your copy. Vary sentence and paragraph length. Read your post out loud before publishing to see how it sounds and feels, if it seems to slow in parts or if it moves along at a crisp, clear pace. Those slow parts will need editing. How Will You Write Content That Converts? People spend money when they need a distraction or a pick-me-up. They also spend money when they are confident that they have it to spend and that they won't find themselves in trouble for doing it. Let your copy inspire confidence and hope so that your readers are inspired to buy no matter what range their mood is in.
Sunday, March 1, 2020
Order, Age, and Pareidolia
Order, Age, and Pareidolia Order, Age, and Pareidolia Order, Age, and Pareidolia By Maeve Maddox In his Essay on Criticism (1711), Alexander Pope (1688-1744) wrote: A little learning is a dangerous thing; Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring: there shallow draughts [swallows] intoxicate the brain, and drinking largely [drinking great quantities] sobers us again. In Greek myth, drinking from the Pierian spring instilled knowledge. In modern terms, Pope is saying that superficial knowledge makes people imagine they know more than they do about a topic; this false sense of knowledge leads to extravagant conclusions that do not hold up with further information. An example of a little knowledge being a dangerous thing is the web of misinformation and conspiracy theory that has grown up around a Latin quotation on the reverse of the Great Seal of the United States. Note: Images of both sides of the Great Seal can be seen on the back of a one-dollar bill. The image of the reverse is on the left. The reverse of the Great Seal shows an uncompleted pyramid with an eye in a rayed triangle above it. The words ANNUIT COEPTIS appear above the eye, and the words NOVUS ORDO SECLORUM appear on a scroll beneath the pyramid. Both quotations are taken from Vergilââ¬â¢s Latin epic, the Aeneid. The first quotation, annuit coeptis, translates as ââ¬Å"[He] favors the undertaking.â⬠In the context of the poem, the line is part of a prayer by Aeneas to Jupiter, and the understood subject He refers to the chief Roman god. Aeneas was praying about ââ¬Å"undertakingsâ⬠that included the foundation of Rome. (According to Vergil, Romulus and Remus were descendants of Aeneas.) To the eighteenth-century Deists setting up a country they viewed as a ââ¬Å"new Romeâ⬠destined to endure for centuries, the eye- and the implied pronoun- represented Divine Providence. The second quotation, novus ordo seculorum translates as ââ¬Å"new order of the ages,â⬠not, as conspiracy theorists would have it, ââ¬Å"New World Orderâ⬠or ââ¬Å"New Secular Order.â⬠The designers of the Great Seal did not attach the same meanings to the Latin words ordo and seclorum that modern conspiracy theorists do. In the quotation from Vergil, ordo implies a sequence of historical periods. And seculorum does not denote the same thing as the English adjective secular. The most common use of secular today is as an adjective meaning ââ¬Å"worldly, not sacred.â⬠To Vergil, the adjective saecularis, (ââ¬Å"relating to a long period of timeâ⬠) derived from the noun saeculum, which could mean ââ¬Å"a generation,â⬠ââ¬Å"a century,â⬠or ââ¬Å"a very long period of time.â⬠For example, to a modern English speaker, the phrase ââ¬Å"secular entertainmentâ⬠would mean ââ¬Å"entertainment having nothing to do with religion.â⬠For ancient Romans, ââ¬Å"secular entertainmentâ⬠meant shows or games that were put on at very long intervals. The ancient Ludi Saeculares (secular games), for example, took place every 100 or 110 years. The classically trained men who approved the final design of the Great Seal in 1782 were acquainted with the ancient belief that human history progresses and declines by Ages. For example, Ovid describes four ages: Golden Age, Silver Age, Bronze Age, and Iron Age. The quotation from Vergil reflects the foundersââ¬â¢ feeling that the creation of the new nation represented the beginning of a new age in the history of the world. Some conspiracy theorists who misinterpret the quotation also claim to see occult symbols hidden in the designs on both sides of the Great Seal. Thereââ¬â¢s a word for seeing meaningful images in random patterns: pareidolia /pair-eye-DOLE-ee-uh/ noun: the tendency to perceive a specific, often meaningful, image in a random or ambiguous visual pattern. One type of pareidolia is face pareidolia: the illusory perception of non-existent faces. Another is letter pareidolia:à the illusory perception of non-existent letters. Claims to see satanic images in the Great Seal are examples of symbol pareidolia. This type of pareidolia is especially troublesome in the context of logo design because the same image can appear differently to different viewers- even to the same viewer at different times. Symbol pareidolia occurred with the 2014 World Cup logo: some viewers saw it as the depiction of a soccer fan doing a facepalm: a gesture in which the palm of ones hand is brought to ones face, as an expression of disbelief, shame, or exasperation. Sometimes an artist intentionally plays to pareidolia by creating an image intended to be seen in two ways. A famous example is the drawing called All Is Vanity by Charles Allan Gilbert (1873-1929). At first glance, the viewer sees a lovely Victorian-era woman looking at herself in the large round mirror above her cosmetic-laden dressing table. With a second look, the viewer discerns not the woman, but the image of a deaths head- a human skull that represents death and the fleeting nature of life. Alexander Pope would probably be amused to see the amount of nonsense about the US Great Seal that has resulted from a little learning and a lot of pareidolia. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the General category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:16 Substitutes for ââ¬Å"Becauseâ⬠or ââ¬Å"Because Ofâ⬠40 Synonyms for ââ¬Å"Differentâ⬠"Wracking" or "Racking" Your Brain?
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