How Does Ethnocentricity Cause Conflict?

Ethnocentricity creates conflict. It changes the perspectives people may have for different cultures due to the fact that their culture may not follow or have the same rules or behaviors as your own ethnicity. When a person is ethnocentric, they develop bias opinions of others because they base they judgments on what they know of their own culture. This can make people think that other cultures are doing the wrong thing or not going about in a respectful way. The British came to Australia without knowledge of life there, of Aboriginals living in this secluded place away from the rest of the world. The Aboriginals were mostly nude while the British were fully clothed with their British attire. To the British, they thought that this might have been disrespectful or impolite of the Aboriginals to roam around their island without insecurities. The British used words such as "savagely" or "barbarous" to describe the Aboriginals since they did not cover up and quickly tried to change the Aboriginals into liking being covered and clothed because they thought, from their own culture, that revealing so much of skin was crude. The Aboriginals, on the other hand had no problem with this as this was part of their nature and culture, and it wasn't expected of them to wear clothes especially in the hot weather that Australia had. Once the Aboriginals had realized that the British were trying to lure them into change and lure them away from their own culture, they were offended. They fought back, were defensive, and refused to listen to the British's ideas. The Aboriginals' appearance caught the British's eyes when they first arrived. One of the first thoughts that came to mind was that the Aboriginals were dark-skinned. As you see in the movie, "Rabbit-Proof Fence", children who were born half English, half Aboriginal were taken to a place where they were taught to be more like the British. Mr. Nevel was the protector of these children but used his role as an opportunity for him to seperate the children into whom he thought were cleverer than others according to their skin tone. If a child's skin was lighter than another, Mr. Nevel would bring the child to a better place. Because all the British were white, they thought that this made the Aboriginals "dirty" and "unclean" as their skin was camouflaged in the forests and resembled the earth. The British realized they couldn't "solve" this as it was impossible to change what their skin was like but instead rated the Aboriginals on whether they were superior prior to the others according to their skin tone. The British used words as "inhumane" when they referred to the Aboriginals as if they were monsters who didn't have the right to speak or weren't capable to have feelings, therefore the British thought the Aboriginals wouldn't mind this operation. The Aboriginals protested against this as they felt used by the British which caused even more arguments and disagreements to add to the already existent conflicts. Ethnocentricity causes conflict due to the perceptions people harvest when they judge a culture based on what they know of their own. It is considered a negative trait for anybody to have because it can be negative and offensive to people from a different culture. Everybody has probably been ethnocentric at least once in their lifetime but it's about how much they are and how they can control it in order for them to be respective and acceptant of other people's culture.

Julius Caesar : Duet Performance

My peer (Maddy) and I have chosen the scene in Act 2 Scene 2 lines 58 - 107 to act out. This passage/scene is where Decius Brutus and Julius Caesar are at Caesar's house and Calpurnia has just awoken to a dream where Caesar's statue is having blood pour out of 100 spouts into the hands of lusty Romans. This is the part after Calpurnia has begged Caesar to stay at home and has pleaded her case, and won Caesar's word that he would stay home for her. But then the scene Maddy and I are going to act out is right after that when Decius Brutus comes along to bring Caesar to the Senate and finds out that Caesar will not go, and so Decius uses his flattering skills to convince him otherwise.

The significance of this scene is that it characterizes both Caesar and Decius and shows how easily influenced Caesar can be if you use flattery in order to make him feel a little vulnerable and proud of himself. This scene also characterizes Decius in the way of being slinky and sneaky, and taking advantage of Caesar's weaknesses to compliments and flattery in order to get Caesar to the Senate and to kill him. The meaning of this scene is that Decius changes what Caesar viewed of Calpurnias dream into a positive perspective of it where the Romans are embracing and worshipping Caesars rich blood instead of craving his blood out of hatred and embracing the life of Caesar instead of embracing the death.

DECIUS BRUTUS

Caesar, all hail! good morrow, worthy Caesar:
I come to fetch you to the senate-house.

CAESAR

And you are come in very happy time,
To bear my greeting to the senators
And tell them that I will not come to-day:
Cannot, is false, and that I dare not, falser:
I will not come to-day: tell them so, Decius.

CALPURNIA

Say he is sick.

CAESAR

Shall Caesar send a lie?
Have I in conquest stretch'd mine arm so far,
To be afraid to tell graybeards the truth?
Decius, go tell them Caesar will not come.

DECIUS BRUTUS

Most mighty Caesar, let me know some cause,
Lest I be laugh'd at when I tell them so.

CAESAR

The cause is in my will: I will not come;
That is enough to satisfy the senate.
But for your private satisfaction,
Because I love you, I will let you know:
Calpurnia here, my wife, stays me at home:
She dreamt to-night she saw my statua,
Which, like a fountain with an hundred spouts,
Did run pure blood: and many lusty Romans
Came smiling, and did bathe their hands in it:
And these does she apply for warnings, and portents,
And evils imminent; and on her knee
Hath begg'd that I will stay at home to-day.

DECIUS BRUTUS

This dream is all amiss interpreted;
It was a vision fair and fortunate:
Your statue spouting blood in many pipes,
In which so many smiling Romans bathed,
Signifies that from you great Rome shall suck
Reviving blood, and that great men shall press
For tinctures, stains, relics and cognizance.
This by Calpurnia's dream is signified.

CAESAR

And this way have you well expounded it.

DECIUS BRUTUS

I have, when you have heard what I can say:
And know it now: the senate have concluded
To give this day a crown to mighty Caesar.
If you shall send them word you will not come,
Their minds may change. Besides, it were a mock
Apt to be render'd, for some one to say
'Break up the senate till another time,
When Caesar's wife shall meet with better dreams.'
If Caesar hide himself, shall they not whisper
'Lo, Caesar is afraid'?
Pardon me, Caesar; for my dear dear love
To our proceeding bids me tell you this;
And reason to my love is liable.

CAESAR

How foolish do your fears seem now, Calpurnia!
I am ashamed I did yield to them.
Give me my robe, for I will go.

Learning Profile

As a Logic learner with a CC learning profile,

I learn best when I sit on the left side of class a few rows back because I can hear better from my right ear, therefore, I am able to hear my teachers and peers with an advantage. This will help me in my learning because I will have a clearer understanding of instructions from the teachers, and I will be able to go through the process easily. I will also be able to hear my peers' questions, answers, comments, and participate in discussions. If I do this, it will save me the worrying of not hearing a task and I will have more access to the class that will help me with my work and knowledge.

I need to try look at information and images in my head from their whole perspective so I can see the bigger meaning, theme, idea of the subject. I also need to explore and discover emotions I might have, movement and ambiguity. This is because I, as a logic thinker, see the small details before seeing the big picture, and to be able to understand the deeper meaning, I have to see the bigger picture to understand the subject with clarity. I need to explore and discover my emotions so that I know how I might feel about the subject, if I have struggles with comprehending it so I can ask my teachers about it so I won't have to feel that way.

The strategies that would help me in my learning are Lazy 8's from Brain Gym, 3-dimensional art, blinking while tracking all around the edge of object, as well as cross-lateral foot play like cross-crawl, walking, soccer, dancing, and martial arts like Tai Chi. Positive, enjoyable experiences will help my learning expand and broaden to allow imagination, creativity and intuitive self-observation be a part of my learning. I need to allow my head to broaden and allow more ideas to come in, as well as become more flexible as a learner and to not stop when I think something is too hard for me to accomplish. If I can do that, I can do anything. With Lazy 8's and the exercises stated above, I can access my right side of my brain - which is Gestalt, and I can operate my brain with double its access.

I would like my teachers to know that I try hard in class and almost always follow the instructions - but sometimes that limits me from going further in my thinking than what is expected of me, so I need a push in class to do that extra part that will take me far in life if I start now. I am also a pretty good leader but I need to be more flexible with my ideas so that my team mates can contribute as well, instead of it being all me, but I think that I have started learning to ask about their opinions and making them open up about the task, instead of it being all me.

'The Anatomy Lesson'

'The Anatomy Lesson' is an oil on canvas painting by Rembrandt Harmenszoon of Leiden which was created on the 16th of January, 1632. 'The Anatomy Lesson' is showing a story that represents one of the many discoveries made in the Renaissance. You can see the Amsterdam Guild of Surgeons crowding around a dissection, studying the human's arm and it's muscles and tendons inside it as well as taking notes about what they saw. This shows that the Renaissance was a time of curiosity and inquiry which lead to discovery of the human body as well as other subjects. You can also see that the dissection is performed by Dr. Nicolaes Tulp whom could only execute this procedure if he were allowed to - which shows that the Renaissance was beginning to be a time where the Church wasn't as powerful and controlling as it was before (which was only caused due to fear of discovery of the human's soul) and was starting a new era where people found logical and rational answers instead of relying on the stories of the Bible. This painting reflects society in the Renaissance by showing how the Renaissance has changed in a way that they are discovering about the human body and aren't just relying on answers from the Bible or from the Church.

Driving Forces of The Renaissance

Because of The Rediscovery of Ancient Knowledge, the people of the Renaissance could understand their world and their bodies better as well as improve on subjects like architecture, literature and medicine.

http://www.renaissanceastrology.com/images/astronomer-renaissance1.jpg

Game Response

The game on BBC was a strategy game. We had two teams- the Norman and Saxons. We would choose if we wanted to play as Harold Godwinson or Duke William of Normandy. Once you choose which player, it determines which team you would be on. I played a few times playing both sides and trying different strategies. I had to stop Duke William from invading my country if I were Harold and I had to get past Harold if I were Duke William. I enjoyed how we had to think about shielding and staying back or attacking and the cause of that. I learned that it depends what state you are in to choose your next move correctly.

In the Battle of The Hastings Duke William of Normandy, King Harold Godwinson of England and King Harald Hadrada of Norway were in battle. Duke William was in Normandy, not able to fight with King Harold Godwinson due to the fact there was heavy wind pushing against him - so he could not sail over to England. The English then decided to march over to north over to King Hadrada to defeat him. In that battle, the English won. While both Kings were in north, the winds changed in the channels. William decided to cross from Normandy freely to battle with the English (Harold Godwinson). While William sailed to England, the English had to march back south for 250 miles to meet William. King Harold Godwinson placed his best warriors at the front. Williams disadvantage was that he had to charge up a hill to reach the English. William won this battle because the English failed to keep their shield walls in place and the Normans had a strategy to have a series of attacks and trick retreats. The english thought the normans were escaping so the english chased after them only to be killed – this would be an example of a trick retreat. Victory came to the normans at last.

I think this kind of game is a valuable learning experience because you aren't just taking notes and listening to your teacher or reading books, you're experiencing the past in your own way. I found this assignment very interesting, we haven't even really played any games in humanities before. This game seemed very necessary and fun and still applied to our topic- it had it's own facts, as well!

Steve McCurry Photo Response

Steve McCurry travels around the world and takes photographs of the destruction, the impact and affect as well as the other circumstances surrounding all global troubles. This photo in particular is one of destruction and impact, one of the many photos Steve McCurry has taken. “Many of us are in a position to help others, but few of us are aware of what we can do–or what a difference our contribution can make. I hope my photographs help people become more informed and find a way to contribute.” – This is one of the quotes that I think defines what Steve McCurry’s purpose of taking photos is.
I found this photo under ‘Fire’ in Steve McCurry’s website. This photo really catches me, and pulls me by my heart because I feel as if I’m guilty to be of no help, and that I am the person trapped in the realm of heat and panic, searching for freedom and oxygen, when nobody will come to help me. I chose this photo because I feel connected to it, like I have a reason to be here acknowledging it.
I realize specific features in this photo like its background and what emphasizes it, dominates the photo and pulls me in on the whole story behind the truth and meaning. On the other hand, I find this picture very general, relating to many different events occurring around the world. In the background I see fire which through my eyes and with other evidence from this photo- like the trembling hands- that fire causes death, panic, destruction. You already imagine what is behind the hands- the screams, the cries, the screeches, then the ones that are silent, too full of panic with no confidence at all, that they just stop in their places and let time and slow death pass by. As you can see in the foreground, it’s neutral but very important to the photo, it is dark but what makes the photo more than what it is. The hands next to the fire- a message I never knew could be displayed so clearly. Like enemies, so close. But this is only through my imagination, which brings me to general views. This photo is a fantastic photo that will make you stop and think... and think, and think. The photo makes you think so much because it is a mystery, one you cannot solve, annot come to conclusion like math problems that have no answer yet an equation that cannot be simplified no more than what proof there is of it, what logic there is to work with.
This photo makes me realize where I am right now, and what people can, won’t do and will. This photo makes me wonder. I wonder how many times this must happen, how I could be one of those people, but am not. I wonder how their thoughts are processing through this person’s mind. Does he/she have any hope of survival through this message displayed in the picture, or does he/she react to panic by throwing themselves at all chances, with no hope at all? Which one is the best solution? Would you choose? Would you have a choice, at all? I’m not sure. That makes me now realize, the theme of this and all other photographs of Steve McCurry’s is endless mystery, wonder and connection.
They say a photo provides a million words. In this case, I am certain that is true. In this case I’m not sure. It would depend on what your thoughts would have to be. Some may be of small, specific conclusions- like death, not survival. While others may be of hope, and the rise of hell. In this case, there is no answer.
This picture is not only a picture. It is a message. A message revealing how awful the world is becoming of itself and how us humans are what our world is depending on to survive. What have we become to make us of ourselves? What may we challenge to fight for what’s left of a chance? How can we live like this? With happiness on our end, but hurt on another’s? Why can’t we stop? This is what a photo can make you do- ask questions. You don’t have to answer them, but why don’t you stop and think, that’s what a photo demands from you. It demands a little time away from your life, to stop and look around at what’s around you.
Steve McCurry presents his theme through the photos that he takes risks for- “One of the scariest experiences I’ve had in my career was crashing into a frigid glacial lake in the former Yugoslavia while on assignment for National Geographic.” In this photo, he must have been in some dangerous situation to be close to a fire. He usually comments on his other photos as some sort of travelling experience that was wonderful and also on what happened in the photo and what he learned through experiencing an amazing moment. Sometimes he uses quotes from other people like Shakespeare and Johann Wolfgang, while other times he gives us background information like the pictures he has under Islam, where he describes connections with people, percentages of their population in the world.