Part VIII Art and Anthropology
Part VIII Art and Anthropology
Part VIII Art and Anthropology
The ultra-intolerant view of women contrasts with the typically liberal opinions
of Schopenhauer on other social issues, including the treatment of slavery in Africa.
Since then, this female-nature polemic has been vigorously attacked as misogynistic.
In any event, many, from Nietzsche to feminists of the nineteenth century, were
affected by the controversial literature. Although the hostility of Schopenhauer to
women may tell us more about his biography than philosophy, his biological
interpretation of the difference between the sexes and their separate positions in the
struggle for survival and reproduction anticipates some of the arguments that
sociobiologists and evolutionary psychologists later ventured in the twentieth century
In that sense, Schopenhauer is also one of the first thinkers to briefly discuss
the topic of male homosexuality since the days of Greek philosophy. Schopenhauer
adds an appendix to his chapter on the' Metaphysics of Sexual Love' in the third,
enlarged edition of The Universe as Will and Representation (1856).Because, for him,
procreation is the only object of sex, he describes pederasty (the affection of elderly
men for young boys) as a way of tricking them away from intercourse with women,
because the offspring born to the elderly and the excessively young are usually not
healthy. For him, this describes the persistence in all societies of that vice, including
those who strongly disapprove of it. Schopenhauer makes no reference to
homosexuality other than as a common old age trend; He doesn't discuss female
homosexuality, either. Finally, since it does not even offer the perspective of potential
emancipation by procreation, he shows disdain for those who give in to the distortion
of the sex drive.
5. How does culture influence our perception of beauty?
Beauty is in the Beholder's Eye. Cultural influences and concepts of aesthetics
dictated by fashion dictates of that period direct our understanding of beauty. To
attain the elusive beauty dream, women, and sometimes men, sometimes go to
insane lengths and a lot of pain. Culture plays a major role in our ideas of beauty,
though. "Youthfulness" is the beauty goal in America, on the other hand, the beauty
standard in Europe is naturally flawless skin. In most Asian countries, justice is
coveted. In Brazil, a voluptuous body, long bouncy hair and tanned skin is regarded
as attractive. Having a slender figure is considered an important beauty criteria is
most parts of the world. . However in Africa, a filled-out larger figure is considered
beautiful. As the world becomes smaller and connectivity increases, people have
started to equate happiness and success with beauty.
Times have changed, but there remains the drive and urge to still remain
youthful and appealing. The laws of beauty are determined by culture and the whims
of fashion and cosmetic industry giants. The purpose of this article was to bring to
your attention that in the eyes of the beholder, beauty is ultimately perceived. When
society changes, so does our perception of beauty.
For example, this is suggested in the following famous drawing by da Vinci showing an
idealized human body within a square and a circle.
Leonardo da Vinci's "Vitruvian Man",
showing the navel proportion
Leonardo da Vinci's drawings of the human body emphasized its proportion. Many have
claimed the ratio of the following distances in the above Vitruvian Man image is the
Golden Ratio:
(foot to navel): (navel to head) ≈ 1.618:1
Although a lot of these aesthetic art forms have been lost in time, a few of these
appalling craftworks still exist. Since Indian art forms are so diverse, I am going
precisely to the Indian folk art and its long legacy.
The elegance, grace, and exquisiteness of Indian folk art enable it to stand the
test of time; even for thousands of years. These paintings are known to showcase the
beauty of religious epics, Gods and Goddess mostly. Still, each one of them is unique,
laudable, and peerless in its own way. Modernism has captivated a few of these forms
of paintings and made them more mainstream, but there are few that still hold the
original skill and reflection.
Let’s take a gander at the survivors of the Indian folk paintings that have stood
long to entice the interest of art collectors:
Madhubani Painting
The origin of this form of painting goes back to the 7 th century! 7th century, in
Nepal, King Janak accredited the local painters to murals in the palace to celebrate his
daughter Sita’s wedding to Ram. Yes, Madhubani paintings are said to be as old as
the mythological story of Ramayana. Since then, these paintings became an
inseparable part of the culture. Whenever a couple is married, artists used to craft these
paintings on the wall of kohbar Ghar or the nuptial room.
Kalighat Painting
Kalighat paintings or Kalighat Pat are also known to present images of Hindu
Gods and mythological characters. Originated in the 19 th century in Bengal, these
paintings transformed the theme from devotion to social reform.
Artists in that era used to protest the autocracies of the British Empire with
alluring, bold and simple drawings. Crafted to uplift the awareness about the social
conditions, painters represented what’s wrong with the society in their artworks.
4. What is India’s greatest contribution to Mathematics?
The most important mathematical contribution of ancient India is the invention of
the decimal system of numeration, including the number zero. The unique feature of this
system is the use of nine digits and a symbol zero to represent all the integral numbers
by assigning a place value to the digits. In 1912, Professor G. B. Halstead remarked,
'The importance of the creation of the zero mark can never be exaggerated. This giving
to airy nothing, not merely a local habitation and a name, a picture, a symbol but helpful
power, is the characteristic of the Hindu race whence it sprang. It is like nirvana into
dynamics. No single mathematical creation has been more potent for the general on-go
of intelligence and power' (p. 20). A few years later (1926), he showed that zero existed
in India before 200 BC.
5. Differentiate Hinduism to Buddhism.
Hinduism and Buddhism share a lot of the same terminology and concepts but
have some rather different interpretations of these shared terms and concepts. The
fundamental belief in both Hinduism and Buddhism is that there is a continuing cycle of
life, suffering, death and rebirth called samsara, and that this cycle is based on karma,
i.e. actions and subsequent reactions. Both Hinduism and Buddhism also share the
belief that liberation from samsara can be attained, but both pursue a different path to
achieve this. In Hinduism, this liberation from samsara is called moksha, whereas in
Buddhism it is known as nirvana.
ACTIVITY 1: (25 points)
1. Mahabharata forms one of the pillars of Hindu Dharma and it’s moral values
have a huge impact over millions of people. Among Mahabharata’s seven
important lessons, which lesson/ lessons have a moral impact to you? Why?
Among Mahabharata’s seven important lessons, the lesson/lessons that have
a moral impact to me is, despite of all the hurdles that comes into our way, we must
not give up. I am still one of those people who still believe that there are rewards that
are waiting for us if we will not give up. After all, challenges and painful experiences
make this life worth living. We should always try to look at the positive side of
everything and find reason to hold on. Keep going.
2. Lotus is a national flower of India. Do you think you have the same
characteristics of a Lotus flower? Why?
The Lotus Flower grows in the deep mud, far away from the sun. But, sooner or
later, the Lotus reaches the light becoming the most beautiful flower ever. The Lotus
flower is regarded in many different cultures, especially in eastern religions, as a symbol
of purity, enlightenment, self-regeneration and rebirth. Its characteristics are a perfect
analogy for the human condition: even when its roots are in the dirtiest waters, the Lotus
produces the most beautiful flower.
I think I have the same characteristics of lotus flower, in some aspects. Even
I’m rooted in the dirtiest waters or even if I don’t have the good environment and
complete family when I was younger, I was still able to grow with kindness in my
heart, I could still give love to people around me especially those people who are
important to me, and I could still show compassion and respect to people. I must say
that I was able to produce kindness despite of all the things that I’ve been through
and with that, I think I have the same characteristics of lotus flower.
3. Paintings and curvings in ancient Indian temples challenge Western ideas of
the relationship of SPIRITUALLITY and SEXUALITY says writer and historian
William Dalrymple. Why?
The obsession of Indian art with the sensual body was always a block for the
colonial British to understand Indian art. Indian sculpture was considered immoral,
and moral sensitivity was assumed to be compromised by interaction with it.
European travelers were railing against temples filled with "much immodest, heathen-
style fornication and other abominations and so full of lascivious figures of Monsters,
that one cannot enter them without horror" as early as the 17th century and so full of
lascivious Monster figures that one cannot enter them without horror. Even in the
liberal 18th century, one gentleman complained that "the figures of Gods and
Goddesses are shown in such obscene Postures, that it would puzzle the Covent
Garden nymphs to imitate them."
But there was no connection of women with sin for pre-colonial Indians, and
there is no Eve in all the voluminous Indian scriptures, taking the fall for the fall.
Women have been identified with fertility, wealth and prosperity rather than
temptation, and there is an open acceptance of sexuality as one way to the divine.A
man forgets the entire world, everything both within and without, in the embrace of his
beloved,"In the embrace of his beloved, a man forgets the whole world, everything
both within and without," "In the very same way, he who embraces the Self knows
neither within nor without."
For this reason, the arts of India - both visual and literary - have continuously
celebrated the beauty of the human body throughout its long history. Indeed, the
entire practice of yoga was intended to perfect and transform the body, with a view to
making it transcendent, omniscient, even god-like, among the higher adepts.The
sensuous and the sacred, in this tradition, are not opposed. They are one, and the
sensuous is seen to be part and parcel of the sacred. The gods were often portrayed
as superhumanly beautiful, for the deities could not be convinced to occupy the
statue if the image was not beautiful.
4. What is the Indian’s concept about the images of beautiful, bare, breasted
palace women. Why?
Women wore sari-like clothing from Palmyrene (Greco-Roman) or pure Roman
dress (a draped-over garment worn over a long gown) that appears to have evolved.
The beginning of the sari, one of the earliest attempts to cover the breasts, shows
this time. Since Vedic times, women have used the breast-band, as with Greeks,
primarily for protection rather than coverage.
5. Explain the meaning of Yoga and Tantra in Kama Sutra.
Many of the physical postures seem to have origins in yoga, although the
history of tantra is unclear. In this way, erotic yoga for liberation, or sacred sexuality,
is also considered. Imagine acro-yoga naked through erotic touch, breath, shared
physical poses and inventive sexual positions with the intention of achieving pure
ecstasy. The central text for the tantra teachings is the Kama Sutra. Kama is one of
the four objectives of Hindu life in Sanskrit and it means lust, or sexual desire. Sutra
means the thread of attachment, the one that keeps things together. While
Westerners often directly equate Kama Sutra with sex, it is intended to be more of a
guide to living graciously in family, love, and relationships. Only purchasing a copy of
the book and performing sexual roles is just a shallow way of addressing this deeper
collection of personal improvement concepts and instruments.
Kama Sutra would be fun to learn, even if you don't have a companion. The Kama
Sutra provides a fresh cultural viewpoint on the art of sexuality if you come from a
primarily Christian culture that sometimes shames desire, attraction and sexuality.The
Kama Sutra also stresses the importance of paying careful attention to the desires
and enjoyment of the woman, coming from a patriarchal society where the pleasure of
men was the focus of love-making. Mock fights, such as scratching and biting to
enhance passion, are also suggested.
a. Do you agree with Slavoj Zizek view about our biological body? Why?
Yes, because now you can unleash your genuine ability. Your kundalini energy
resides in your root chakra, coiled like a serpent. The gift of transformation and
enlightenment is provided by this beautiful and powerful spiritual force. It takes years
of committed self-discovery practice to awaken it is no simple process. It can happen
in a moment as well. You will begin meditating on your chakras and spark the
awakening of your kundalini energies when you develop a safe and open relationship
with your mind, body, soul, and spirit. To help you to awaken and harness this force,
you may learn Tantra Yoga, Chakra Healing, and Kundalini Yoga.
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