Plato's cave (ONG JING YI 1102884)

The Allegory of the cave represent that the contrast the way in which we perceive and believe in what is reality. We would be mistaken as what is reality as we know nothing else but the shadows behind the wall, so we may perceive this as reality. We perceive real from birth is completely wrong based on the imperfect interpretations of reality.

Plato's cave Tang Yong Sheng 1103341

Plato's Cave is a symbol for the contrasts between ideas and what we perceive as reality.

Plato's cave , we just sit there and can't moving our head and watching in front.

All we can see just some shadow make by fire. So we need to use our imagination.

We live in a world of shadows, where we don't see the reality of ideas.

However , it is possible to climb out of the cave to be released from our shackles, but the process is painful, when we climb from he cave means we start perceive and understand the real ideas. we will wee the world how it should be. Wee see that ideas are eternal and perfect,even though the physical world crumbles.

All in all, The Plato's main concept of the cave is people see reality as the visible world when reality really is more than the visible world.

chew jue ann 1003571 (plato cave)

The "Allegory of the Cave" by Plato represents an extended metaphor that is to contrast the way in which we perceive and believe in what is reality. The thesis behind his allegory is the basic tenets that all we perceive are imperfect "reflections" of the ultimate Forms, which subsequently represent truth and reality. In his story, Plato establishes a cave in which prisoners are chained down and forced to look upon the front wall of the cave.

The "Allegory of the Cave" is a complex model as to which we are to travel through our lives and understanding. The four stages of thought combined with the progress of human development represent our own path to complete awareness in which the most virtuous and distinguished will reach, and upon doing so shall lead the public.

Chew Jue Ann 1003571

History?
The word 'history' means his/her story. It is began when people understand how to show their thinks through writing or painting. It also originated in pre-Indus valley civilization period,because Indus valley civilization is the first who knew to draw. Once people wrote by themselves,that is originated of history. When everyone do that, slowly history was developed.

Art?
Art is something that been around since the begining of time. It is came from hundred years of development in culture and creativity. Art do describe as a diverse range of human activities and the products of the activities.

Design?
Design means 'de-sign', is generally considered in context of applied arts and various other innovative activities. It's also came from central factor of innovative humanisation of technologies and the crucial factor of cultural and economic exchange.

Visit To Islamic Art Museum (Teo End Seng 1204532)

I am first time go to the Islamic Art Museum. When i reach the Islamic Art Museum i already attract by outside of the museum. it was design by using pattern and i was very interested on it.In the museum i have learn that different country have their own architecture style and also have their own culture.

The first saw in to the first floor of the museum is many type of architecture for the different country and it to help me to know that every country architecture style. The design style which is like the architecture mosque in central Asia and the Iran.   

 Octave Islamic building - Dome of the rock

The second part for the first floor is the series of Quran books and material from the different period. But in this part is quite boring it is because i cannot understand what is the Quran writing and the book talking about and also any meaning for it.There have show something that how the Quran box look lik and how the Quran binding, this part is i never seen before. There are also having many different type of quran and also different size of the Quran.

Book Binding                                     The Quran box    

 

Miniature Quran.

The Chinese muslim display part more intersting part for me it is because the design of the artwork is combine the cina and muslim culture style to process be a work.

Incense Burner Set - China

This is the one i most love

The special and interested artwork in the museum for me.

This shape of antique so special,it was look like a kind of fish.

This is look like tobacco pipe

The development sketcher for the Islamic museum

I love this artwork so much..it is because the pattern of this art work and color is so attractive and interesting.


After the trip for the Islamic Art Museum, i learn that different culture thing can put together become an art work.And i also learn that many things that we cant see from real life, we must go to museum to see more of the artwork to improve our knowledge for the artwork and using the skill into our real style life.I am learn a lot of thing from the museum.and i will try to go another museum for learning the culture of different country. 

Plato's Cave (Tan Xiao Han 1102883)

Plato's cave is describing about the real world and the ideal world. We are living in the real world and according to what had describe in the plato's cave, the real world is actually an illusion. We are consider as the prisoners, the prisoners in the cave. We can only look forward and can't turn our head. Hence, we do not know the present of ideal in the world. What we know and see is only the shadow. Therefore, we think that is reality for us. Once we go out from the cave, when we see the sunlight, we will know what is the real actually. We will know about the present of the ideal world. The ideal world is actually the the world which we can't see but it is behind the real and support the reality.

written by Tan Xiao Han 1102883

A Visit to Islamic Museum- Lai Wan Cheng (1005433)

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

What I found interesting in the museum is this woman headdress during the 18th century. It has a nice handmade sewing skills and it is decorated by many small bells that can be found at the back of the headdress. Inside the headdress was made by cotton and embroidered by silver and brass ornamentation. Surprisingly its weight is 5.64kg and I can’t imagine how the women in the in that time wear such a heavy and long headdress for a whole day long. However the silver ornaments, stones and jewelry used to decorate on this headdress are very beautiful to look at. 

Besides that, I also like the pattern of the pillar located in front of the door the museum. It is has a very interesting motifs that are formed by some flower and leaves vectors, vase shape and also the malay style moon.

Qur'an Handwritten Java ,19th century AD

This Handwritten Qur'an really impressed me. The patterns on the piece of paper were drawn by hand stroke by stroke and it was so carefully and neatly done. When you observe this book carefully, you will see how the space of the outlines were filled in by different colours such as dark green , red and some gold foils. It was really a great piece of art since the line quality of the outlines was well-controlled.

Giant ceramic bowl from China.

bronze spoon from Timurid Iran.

Quba mosque with a shiny dome.

I have learned many histories of the structure and architecture of different places’ mosque buildings. I really gained a boat of knowledge and I am quite happy that I have a chance to saw and understood these meaningful and precious antiquities. After this visit to the museum, I learn that knowledge cannot be gained in a short period of time .For example, just like the display ancient objects in the museum, they are found and collected as a collection, but before that, they are engaged by the archaeologists in their studies before the discovered objects are ready to be displayed. These objects need to undergo some process and it takes a period of time. They are then slowly accepted and collected by the museum as it is like us that are now still gaining knowledge from university and other places to enrich our life. We are now absorbing new knowledge and trying to get a better understanding on it.

Platos cave dani salleh 1204573

what do i understand about plato's cave?

From the article that Prof.ray gave and some research that i made,  i understand that the plato's cave is where they keep prisoners that was chained. They were unable to turn their head and all they can see is the wall of the cave. there's fire at the back of the cave which they projects puppets as the shadow for the prisoner to see. The prisoners cant see the puppets , the only thing the prisoner can see is the shadow of the puppets and hear echoes cast by the object. The prisoner then wouldn't know what is real and what is not real as they can only see the shadows so some of the assume that what they see and hear is real.  “And if they could talk to one another, don’t you think they’d suppose that the names they used applied to the things they see passing before them?”(515b2) one of the lines from plato.  Quite confuse with this statement tho but it does make sense. they would just believe on what they see is true even if they can talk to each other. 

When the prisoners are released and see the real object they were confuse as what they see is not what they think they saw. Plato played with their mind. The mind only takes what the eyes can see and what form are they. 

So plato's objective is that the mind can only take what the eyes can see and imagine what they are as the real object. but the mind can be wrong  as what we see is not always what they are. its like a mirage, the mind plays tricks on you. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allegory_of_the_Cave
http://voices.yahoo.com/platos-allegory-cave-analysis-summary-25170.html
http://faculty.washington.edu/smcohen/320/cave.htm

Reply question regarding Gladiator.

1. Is the story a hero's journey? Try to describe it as a hero's journey and see if it fits the template.
Yes, the movie gladiator fits to the template of hero's journey. This is because this movie had describe about the adventure story of the hero. The main character, Maximus is the hero for this movie. His family was kill by the new king. After that he is also be hunted. Although a contingent of gladiator save him, but he need to become their worker, which is the gladiator. That's how the Maximus start his Adventure story.

Departure: Maximus was called to become the king but Maximus refuse to be the king. However, the son of the old king kill his father and he becoming the king. Then the new king planning to kill Maximus. The family of Maximus was killed and the house was burned by the subordinate of the new king. Maximus was hunted also while he was then save by a group of gladiator.  Maximus was called to become a gladiator but he refuse to fight at the beginning. (This shows the call and refusal to the adventure.) However, he change his mind after that, he willing to fight in order to continue his life. He gradually become famous. 

Initiation: However, his leader told him he still not reach the level to do the best he can. He then keep practice and fighting. The following story describe that Maximus was bring and allow to fight in the Colosseum in Rome. He meet the sister of the king and also her son. Surely, he meet the king also. The king set a lot of obstacles for him. The king want Maximus die during the fighting, so he had plan many different kind of things to become the rival of Maximus. While Maximus was win in every of the fighting. The king after that decided to fight with Maximus. However, the king was loose and die.

Return: Finally Maximus save his man. While he fall down after that and he mentally return to his home where his wife and son live, he returns to where he want to go just same scene shown in the beginning of the movie. 

(written by Tan Xiao Han 1102883)

2. What did you learn about Rome from this movie? Do some research on the characters. Are they real people from history? Is the film accurate in historical detail? And architectural detail (for example, the Colosseum/ Flavian Ampitheatre)? 
From this movie , we have learn about the culture. different social status have their own costumes. Roman men are wearing Tunics, roman citizens are wearing toga. Senators wore toga with purple stripe as a mark of their rank while Woman wore stola.  They also play gladiatorial games on that century. Roman people also ate bread and fruits as their breakfast. as what in this movie showed. they also trust that everyone man should be masculien and brave to deal with the problem. as what maximus do. he pretend not be afraid of the tiger and still fight with the trigers bravely.while women should be stay at house and learn the skills to be famine  (teh wennie) (1005158)

Maximus is a fictional character and this person didn’t exist in the history of Rome. However,  there is an emperor who likes Maximus.His name is Diocletian and was from the lower classes of the society . At first he is a trusted bodyguard by the emperor ,after that he was named heir and this he ruled Rome from 284-305 CE. Besides Maximus, senator Gracchus is also doesn’t exist.It was believed that it appears to be the bassed upon Tiberius and Graius Gracchus.These 2 brothers were champions of the public and paid with their lives.
(wriiten by Lai Wan Cheng 1005433)

Marcus Aurelius was really exist in the history and he was an emperor who ruled Rome from 161 -180CE. His name was Imperator Caesar Marcus aurelius Antoinus Augustus. He ruled with Lucius Verus as co-emperor from 161 until Verus' death in 169.

Some of the film is accurate in historical details and some not. For example the character Commodus appears to have a dark hair and a right-handed 30years old adult. But in reality he had a natural blond curly hair and he was left handed. In the movie, he died after Marcus Aurelius but actually he died in 192 A.D. He was killed by a wrestler named Narcissus but not the  gladiator.

(Written by Lai Wan Cheng 1005433)


This film is loosely based on historical event but some deviation of historical fact were made to increase interest, maintain narrative continuity and for safety reasons. The character of Maximus is fictional although some aspects of him resembles the historical figures. Maximus also reminds one of the emperor Diocletian. Diocletian, who ruled Rome from 284 to 305 CE, was born in the lower classes, like Maximus. He eventually became his emperor's trusted favourite and bodyguard, and later became a general.Commodus, in reality, was not murdered in the arena by Maximus. He was however murdered by a wrestler.The Colosseum in the film was not the real one also. A replica of about one-third of Rome Colosseum was built in Malta. The rest of the Colosseum was created in CGI using set-design blueprint. The scenes of Ancient Rome were shot in Fort Ricasoli, Malta, which is a large military building on the island of Malta. 
(Ong Jing Yi 1102884)

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


Commodus marked the descent" From a kingdom of gold to one rush and iron". Commodus has also reduced the weight of the denarius of Roman Pound. The Commodus 's Reign is the beginning of the decline of the Roman Empire. It is because a lot of conspiracy that was going around. Besides, The Roman Empire decline and fall is cause by the Christianity, decadence, lead, monetary trouble and military problems.

(Tang Yong Sheng 1103341)





4. Is this film propaganda for a certain set of ideas or a way of life? Did the writer, director and actors intend for you to have the reactions that you have expressed here? Aren't you just a bit suspicious and critical of the film and the black and white division between Commodus and Maximus? Such a bad and nasty Emperor and such a loyal gladiator! One is a 'good Roman' and the other is just out for himself? Doesn't it all seem a little too simple? So, again, is this film propaganda for an idea of loyalty? To answer this, look at which country produced it and when it was produced. How is the film 'constructed' to provide a lesson to the audiences of that country of its origin? Is it really about Rome, or about the country it came from? What was happening in that country in the years just before it was created?

dani salleh 1204573 islamic museum

I enjoyed my day at the Islamic museum.

These are the sketcheng that i drew when i was there. It was stupid of me as i didnt write down or took a picture of the description. But i know the pot is from china , the degger is from india and i forgot the other thing. these are the thing that catches my eyes. The architecture is amazing but i already saw a few on them with my eyes . for the olden days they have to do reseach on what and how it was made.

how do they think on how it was made.?  The olden days people are more creative in a lot of ways and the way they think. how did they come out with all those thing? superb imaginaton. from the creation of fire and now space ships.

I'v seen most of the museum and the artwork as i have been to india's museum, makka/madina museum and china museum. but when i was small i didnt really pay attention to it and didnt had a camera or a camera phone to take picture. Now then i have been to the islamic museum i have a better understanding of the islamic culture around the world! its a pitty that when i was at those places i didnt understand and was even interested on what it was. just i do remember seeing them.

visit islamic museum (teh Wennie 1005158)

what i found interesting in Islamic museum is Quba Mosque.
before this i m not understand much about QUba museum. but after i went there only i understand this Quba mosque is the first mosque built in Islam. it highlights the importance of open space and the traditional use of bricks. what impressed me is the shape . overall of the museum are symmetry.i wonder how they able to stick the small wooden one by one to form a QUBA mosque.. what i can learn is their Patience thsi is really nice..

 3 JUz' of Qur'an
china
18th century AD

chess board & chess pieces from india. i like this too because it has a very fine work. i also like the sides of the chess board. the pattern of the board are very beautiful. the colour between black and white create opponent between the player.i also like KING and The QUEEN.. is really fine work..

 

Rosewater Psrinkler
Engraved silver
Ottoman Turkey
19th century AD/13th century
this is a rosewater sprinkler is look like brinjal shape. while the body is look like the pineapple skin.





                                                                                                            
  Manuscript of prayers
 Handwritten Malay 
 probably malay peninsula 
 19th century AD 

i like the handwritten. and the colour combination between red make beauty.

Woman "S CLOAK or Mantle

silk-embroidered cotton 

this is one of the customes i like. the colour and the design is so simple and nice. together with the colour.

Toe KNOB SANDALS(PADUKAS)

carved ivory

mughal india

19th century AD

This sandals is somehow quite popular  nowadays. i liek the design of this sandals. is easy and the craft of this sandals is fine.       

what i learn is patient in doing something as what the architecture part. which they paste one by one to form a building. other than that. i can learn more and understand how their custumes,religion and many more. the design and the pattern they use too. other than that, the fine art they design and the colour they use are simple and nice. i m happy that i can learn a lot.                      

Visit To Islamic Art Museum (Tan Xiao Han 1102883)

This is the first time for me visit to Islamic Art Museum. The outlook of this museum not so attractive. It's outlook do not as wonderful as what i thought before i come. However, some of the things inside really catch my attention.

Within the Islamic Art Museum, there have one area which consist of many different type of manuscripts. All of it present in a variety of formats and dimensions which all are different size, while some of it come with a delicate package. The photo beside show some of the different types of manuscript. These manuscript are the works of art which everyone have different great personal significance.

 
This is one of the tiny manuscript. It come with a magnifying glass. This small size is designed for easy to be carried by the Muslim soldiers on campaign.






Manuscript on Ibadat.
Is a handwritten Malay.
Write in different direction, different design compare to other manuscript.

This is the largest manuscript in Islamic Art Museum.the different parts of it have different kind of meaning. This manuscript is made by cloth and act as the door curtain of Ka'aba.  

 

Name: Carved Marble Wall Frieze
It is a marble frieze fragment from the Garznavid dynasty. For this frieze fragment, the main compartment is decorated with a complex pattern of interlaced arabesques linking open palmettes and knotted panels.

The Elements of Decoration in Islamic Art and Architecture:
-Calligraphy
-Geometry
-Arabesque
-Restriction of Figural Imagery
-Light
-Water

This building names The Great Umayyad Mosques. Located at the site of the Church of St.John the Baptist, Damascus Syria. This mosques is the first to apply the architectural principles of the Prophet's Mosques in Medina. The another important significant feature for this building is the "Dome of Treasure". This significant feature is located in the courtyard. 

Known as Badshahi Mosque, also known as Emperor's Mosque. This Mosque start to build up at 1671 AD / 1081 AH under the instruction of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, completed within 2 years, and can be consider as the finest example of Mughal architecture. Islamic design from Iran, Central Asia and India are used in the decoration of this mosque. The main prayer hall are enable for 10000 prayers, while its courtyard and porticoes are enable for 100000 prayers. (Indian subcontinent style- due to the characteristic of triple domes and extensive courtyard)

Names Kalyan (Kalan) Mosque, located at Bukhara, Uzbekistan. Its is one of the largest mosque in Central Asia. Large enough to accommodate 120000 worshipers. 

Known as Mosque at Daxuexi Lane, located at Xi An in China. This building is build in Tang dynasty and under some repair in Ming dynasty. The design and artistic outlook of this building consist of Chinese Tradition style.

The Kampung Laut Mosque, located at Kelantan in Malaysia. Known as Malaysia's oldest surviving wooden mosque. It's pyramid shape of roof represent its most distinctive feature. Also known as the best example of Southeast Asian Mosques in Malaysia.

This mosque name Quba' Mosque. It stand on the early site of the first mosque build in Islam. This mosque is constructed during the hijra, which is the period when Prophet's flight from Mecca to Medina.

Chess Board & Chess Pieces.
Come from India.
Well decoration, very fine work.

Kupang, the money used in ancient time. Made by gold. Have variety types and decoration, different name for each.








Known as pipe. Made for Ottoman market.Made by gold with gems.

written by Tan Xiao Han 1102883