Stolen and Forged Artwork Essay -- Art Essays

Stolen and Forged Artwork Since the beginning of its existence, art collecting has been a rather dangerous endeavor. Artwork fakes and even stolen art have been documented since the days of ancient Rome. Even then, the Romans often sought classical Greek artwork and sculptures, and more often than not, works purchased were by Roman artists trying to imitate classic Greek works (Kaufman 36). Today, modern day forgers are still trying to fool art enthusiasts and are becoming increasingly sophisticated in their methods. Acting as a double edged sword, advances in science allow for easier detection of a forged work; however, the same techniques are used by the forgers to make their works more authentic looking. Recently, art forger Ely Sakhai was charged by American authorities for a multi million dollar scam in which he fooled collectors and auctions houses, including Christie’s in London, into buying fakes. He has been accused of buying masterpieces by artists such as Monet, Renoir, and Gaugin, before selling copies. A recent incident in May of 2000 involved the artist Gaugin’s Vase de Fleurs. The painting was offered for auction at both Christie’s and Sotheby’s at the same time. The painting at Christie’s was deemed a fake and the sale was cancelled, but Sotheby’s went ahead with the sale, making 169,000 dollars for Sakhai. He currently faces twenty years in jail if convicted, along with a 1.1 million pound fine for twenty-five faked paintings (Black 22). After the boom of sales for Impressionist paintings in the 1980s, an increase in demand for fine art is encouraging an industry in fakes. Helped along by art dealers interested only in their personal profit, questionable works are passed along to buyers compl... ... Luckily, museum curators recognize this. Works from exhibitions are constantly being removed and re-evaluated in order to preserve the integrity of art history. As long as art is in demand, regardless of the efforts of art historians and scientists alike, the forgery industry continues to expand. Before long, the question will no longer be, â€Å"is it fake?† but rather, â€Å"is it real?† Works Cited Black, Edward. â€Å"Art Dealer who Forged Ahead with Scam.† The Scotsman 62 (2004): 22-23. Conklin, John E. Art Crime. Westport, Conn: Praeger, 1994. Dam, Julie K.L. â€Å"The Faking Game† Time (1997). Granger, Doug â€Å"Art Forgery† International Foundation for Art Research 03.30.04 Kauffman, Joshua. â€Å"Putting the Legal Squeeze on Stolen Art† Art Business News 36. Wilson, Claire. â€Å"Documenting Museum Forgeries† Art and antiques (2001): 34.

Existentialism †God Essay

What is the meaning of life. The meaning of our lives, the purpose, and the dreams both dashed and realized, and the expectations forced upon us by others. In other words how do you â€Å"translate† what life is? â€Å"Translation† means to explain in simple terms. What is it supposed to be about? There are different answers for different people at different times in their lives. A person’s lifetime is filled with self-examination. Why am I here? What am I doing? Is this as good as it gets? You have a beginning. You’re in the middle, and your story hasn’t ended yet. If one would recognize the greatest things we have in life, they would not be asking this question. These great things are faith, hope, and love. Faith is the one that can keep one from asking questions. If God wanted us to know something, then we would know it. In most religions, Christian ones in particular, the question of meaning in life is inextricably wrapped up in a relationship with God. Living in, for, with, and through him. Therefore, how one answers the meaning of life question bears directly the existence of God. Soren Kierkegaard said to be the â€Å"father† of existentialism maintains that there are three basic answers to the question of the meaning of life. He called these â€Å"stages† of life, because he believed that people â€Å"progressed† from one stage to the next. Whether or not that is true, there do seem to be at least three fundamental outlooks on life. One is a life devoted to pleasure. This value perspective can be shown by a person whose only concern is for what they are doing now. They would rather gain from pleasures in life without any regards to how they might affect their future. Another stage is those choosing ethical and moral paths. People who are honest and loyal demonstrate this in their everyday lives. Finally, there is a live religiously. This has been the popular way of life for many of us. It is going to church and practicing your faith Stace argues, the present age has begun to weaken faith in God. The concept of a supernatural person has begun to seem unlikely to many people. The Bible no longer seems as respected for many Catholics. While many people say they believe in God they are beginning question whether faith and God are the answer to the meaning of life. Most of us whether we choose to admit it or not show that material things are what we base our lives around. These ideas are at the heart of existentialism, which is a view of life that says that human beings are the creators of their own sense of meaning or purpose. The most famous existentialist, John Paul Sartre in his books and novels developed several themes that portray existentialism. The first is the notion that â€Å"existence precedes essence. † A legacy of traditional philosophy has been that we have a fixed human nature. Sartre challenged that we have no such set purpose or meaning. Our real meaning or who we are is a result of our decisions. We are what we decide. The second associated concept is the importance of human freedom. Sartre believed that every human being has the freedom to live life as we choose to. He believed that we are often terrified by our freedom, and in fact frequently do not want to take responsibility for our own actions. This attitude Sartre called â€Å"bad faith. † Bad faith is an act of self-deception in which we rationalize our actions as being caused by circumstances instead of being self-caused. Basically blaming others for our own deceptions and mistakes. The third major concept of existentialism is the idea of the Absurd. The philosopher Albert Camus popularized this concept. The concept of the absurd is promoted by atheistic existentialist, such as Sartre and Camus. The similarity between Christian and atheistic existentialist is the significance of human freedom and the belief that we are the makers of our own lives One of the most significant pieces of the decline of religious faith is the continuing awareness that there may not be any purpose in life. Both Albert Camus, and Stace, write from this perspective. They believed that traditional Christians have found security in the belief that their lives are invisibly directed or orchestrated by God. That we have assumed that God has a plan for our life, that things happen for a purpose. But as we experience, if we do, the decline of faith or the reality of God in our lives, we come to realize that perhaps we are more responsible than God is for what happens to us. We begin to realize or suspect that it is we, not God, who is the creator of our lives. We are responsible for who we become. Of course, there are always going to be those people who doubt everything God stands for. For them, the body dies and eternity is darkness, I suppose. The fight is going to be, perhaps even as it has been a battle between those who reject God and the, and those who know that God is real. The soul is one’s conscience. Without the acknowledgement of that soul, there is no inner voice that helps guide him in the decisions that he makes. Yet, the soulless atheists still seek to discover the meaning of life, and this is where the battle is fought. They are simply stating that there is no meaning to their lives they have no soul, there can be no meaning. Theists realize life isn’t fair. People aren’t created equal. Atheists believe that until all people actually are equal, life is meaningless, and this is the connection we have to make for them. People are not equal, people will never be equal, and if this equality is the requirement for accepting the meaning of life, then life will always be meaningless. If ambition brings about advantage, those advantages must be neutralized. This is the goal of the atheist. If there is nothing but darkness after life, the goal must be to create heaven on earth. Everyone has questioned their purpose in life for example in his article, â€Å"My Confession†, Leo Tolstoy has gone through his life without ever really questioning the meaning. Then he periodically questioned it until one day he eventually could not picture himself living anymore until he came up with an answer to his questionings. All the things he was thought to be living by no longer made any sense or had any meaning at all to him. He tried to answer his question many different ways, but whichever way he went he kept coming up with a dead end. He first thought the answer must be his family. Although he loved them very much, as humans they are confronted with the same questions he is. They are living this lie right along with him pretending that they have all the answers, or just simply ignoring the questions. He next thought the answer to be in his work. Eventually, coming to the realization that with all of his success in art and poetry he had become distracted. He was using art as a decoy. Without knowing his answers to the meaning of life, it was wrong and useless to depict these lies to others. He soon felt as if life had stopped, and was even contemplating suicide when he came to the realization that faith is present in each one of us and is what makes our lives meaningful. Everyone must believe they have a purpose here, for if they didn’t they would not be living at all. For life to have true meaning, that meaning must come external to the individual and be somehow consistent with life as a whole. Christians would argue that only God could grant this. It is the helping hand, which guides us through life with an honest and loving heart. Jesus is the only man to lead a true, meaningful life. His life is really the only life of meaning and it is only through him that we have the opportunity to live meaningful lives. Without accepting this answer, one will have only difficulty for the rest of their lives, especially in answering the question of the meaning of life. If you accept this answer, however life is much simpler, because your search is over. Jesus said, â€Å"I am the way, the truth, and the life? † John 14:6. The way the truth and the meaning of life itself. There are scriptural accounts of people claiming to see God, and while a witness is more â€Å"proof† than no witness is, there is no way to scientifically verify these statements. They must be accepted purely on faith. Some say that the existence of humans or planetary balance is proof that God exists. These do not prove He exists. Christians believe God is in control of everything in the universe, and created the same. God created all beings, and every atom in this universe. We know God exists because He says He does. The bible is His word, left for us to read. Psychologist Viktor Frankl wrote in â€Å"Mans search for Meaning† that we should not ask what we expect from life, but what life expects from us. He was making the point that people must deal with what daily tasks are put in front of them. Instead of arguing and complaining, we have to take action. Our strength is shown through the soul survival of the hardships we face. Which brings us to the problem philosopher John Hick was facing. In his article, â€Å"The Problem of Evil† he asks the question, â€Å"if God is perfectly loving, he must wish to abolish evil. But evil exists; therefore God cannot be both omnipotent and perfectly loving. â€Å"The very fact that there is such suffering gives good cause to doubt not only the value of the whole human race, but also the existence of God. A God that can be said to care in the slightest for what’s been created, any God who has power over all things, who is anything other than a horrible monster who finds cruel unusual joy in squeezing every last drop of suffering out of them. It would rule out anything even vaguely resembling the God that Christians speak of. A God who deserves our utter hatred not our worship. However, Hick found that although harsh and painful, evil did have purpose in the world. He stated in his article, † the finest characteristics of personal life must have a good deal in common with our present world. It must operate according to general and dependable laws: and it must involve real dangers, difficulties, problems, obstacles, and possibilities of pain, failure, sorrow, frustration, and defeat. † Without these sufferings, we would not be able to know what happiness and love really was. Evil provides us with the possibility of soul making, and according to free will, we must choose our fate. The Laws of nature must be abided by without them the world could not exist. God may be creating the lesser of the evils. There must be suffering in order for God to give inner strength that compensates for loss, and gives the sufferer inspiration to live faithfully and effectively. What God provides are the resources so we can face the suffering and make something positive come from it. He gives the direction and power to make these resources work. He gives hope and wisdom to find the way past the suffering, and to learn from it. John Paul II gave us an outline of what is believed to be the salvific meaning of suffering. Suffering as he wrote in the Apostolic Letter Salvifici Doloris, â€Å"cannot be transformed and changed by a grace form outside, but from within? † This question of human suffering is not answered directly by God. As man begins to share in the sufferings of Christ, the answer is discovered within in him. Suffering changes and can either increase or decrease, and in those moments Christians become aware of Gods closeness. We are given inner peace and spiritual joy when we suffer generously. When we are suffering we are never alone we are with Christ. With Christ everything has meaning whether its moments of happiness and peace or of pain and suffering. Nothing in life can be fully explained without God. . Look to the bible and Jesus gives us the answer. Love God with your whole heart, mind, body and soul. Love your neighbor as yourself. If you do this, you are following all the commandments. Humble yourself and give the praise and glory to our creator. God the Father our creator is love and he loves you very much. God created us to worship him and he deserves all the praise because he is the first and the last. He has no beginning and no end. Just look around and take in all the beauty he has created. Everyone is special and made in the image of God. We are nothing without our creator. Sin will keep us from God for he is pure and perfect. It is hard to let go of pleasure and putting ones self first. However, the key to peace and happiness is to surrender your freewill to God, the author of life, and he will give you complete, happiness, peace, contentment and purity you are looking for. That is what we were created for. God is made evident every day when the sun comes up, and there is still air to breathe, and you made it through the night. One cannot believe that everything we know was created by accident. Things are just too perfect to have happened by chance. Man is too corrupt a creature to have invented the beautiful things in the world, as in faith, hope and love. He allows evil in this world because He wants us to have the opportunity to choose either Him or evil, thereby proving our love for Him. If His were the only game in town, then there would not be a free will conscious choice for Him. It is evident that the meaning of life has to far to complex for any one to fully understand or agree on the same answer. All these ideas of these different philosophers are not necessarily inaccurate, just incomplete. All pieces to a puzzle that one has no way of fully figuring out. No one has seemed to accomplish this yet in life. There are so many obstacles that we face as we try to achieve a higher good. Many of these are based in the fact that we are human beings, and because of that are flawed by the ways of our culture. Things such as self-doubt, worry, ignorance, and the values put into our heads since the day we were born all are roadblocks on our way to a higher level. Also being human beings makes vulnerable to the ways of the world around us, so it is not easy to block these things out of our lives. This life is a stage in which we are to develop our minds, bodies, and souls to their highest potential in preparation for the afterlife. Only God could ever really show anyone true meaning.

Discrimination And Society Segregation - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 7 Words: 1987 Downloads: 8 Date added: 2019/04/01 Category Society Essay Level High school Tags: Discrimination Essay Did you like this example? To the extent authentic records appear, no general public or country has been resistant to separation, either as unfortunate casualty or scammer. Contemporary types of separation go back to when European colonizers entered and changed recently disconnected social orders and people groups. The more outrageous types of oppressive practices incorporate annihilation, subjection, administered segregation, (for example, Politically-sanctioned racial segregation), biased movement laws, and disappointment. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Discrimination And Society Segregation" essay for you Create order Less extraordinary types of partiality and separation, however by and by unavoidable and harsh, incorporate social rejection at the institutional dimension, (for example, in schools and clinics), and the more unpretentious structures drilled by the media. A few gatherings seem to experience the ill effects of increasingly industrious types of segregation, for example, Jews (as in hostile to Semitism) and the Roma (a.k.a. Wanderers), paying little respect to time and place. The catchphrases that should be investigated before digging the subject being referred to are separation and aggravating. As indicated by the Oxford Lexicon, exasperating means causing misery or stress or uneasiness, annoying, an undesirable mental state by such impacts as aggravation, shamefulness, and diversion. Separation brings the significance uncalled for treatment of a man or gathering based on bias and prejudice. It can prompt feelings, for example, dissatisfaction and outrage. In people, it is a gentle or genuine type of torment, regularly with indignation about this, specifically, if pertinent, outrage at the individual or people who caused it. This exposition inspects the reason and impacts of separation in its different structures, on an individual, soci ety or country. Our reality has dependably been looked with the issue of separation. It is a standout amongst the most talked about points these days and from the beginning of time. In all nations, there is in all probability something like one kind of segregation that influences distinctive gatherings of individuals. The meaning of separation is the refusal of chance or equivalent rights for an explicit gathering of individuals that might be separated by things, for example, their religion, shade of skin, or sexual orientation. Segregation can be mistaken for different terms, for example, partiality and generalization. The world we live in has been battling with this delicate subject for whatever length of time that we have recorded. Generalizations are pictures held in our psyches concerning certain racial or social gatherings, without thought of whether the pictures held are valid or false. Coming from generalizations is bias. The biased frame of mind happens when we prejudge a man, decent or terrible, on the premise that the generalizations related with the indiv idual or gathering being prejudged are valid. Separation is the mix of the terms referenced above however includes really carrying on with out of line treatment, coordinating the activity towards the individual or gathering. Bias and separation dont simply happen racially, however it is found among sex, religion, culture, and topographical foundation. Keep in mind that bias is a consequence of mentality and separation is an aftereffect of an activity. Our reality has dependably been looked with the issue of separation. It is a standout amongst the most talked about points these days and from the beginning of time. In all nations, there is in all probability something like one kind of segregation that influences distinctive gatherings of individuals. The meaning of separation is the refusal of chance or equivalent rights for an explicit gathering of individuals that might be separated by things, for example, their religion, shade of skin, or sexual orientation. Segregation can be mistaken for different terms, for example, partiality and generalization. The world we live in has been battling with this delicate subject for whatever length of time that we have recorded. Generalizations are pictures held in our psyches concerning certain racial or social gatherings, without thought of whether the pictures held are valid or false. Coming from generalizations is bias. The biased frame of mind happens when we prejudge a man, decent or ter rible, on the premise that the generalizations related with the individual or gathering being prejudged are valid. Separation is the mix of the terms referenced above however includes really carrying on with out of line treatment, coordinating the activity towards the individual or gathering. Bias and separation dont simply happen racially, however it is found among sex, religion, culture, and topographical foundation. Keep in mind that bias is a consequence of mentality and separation is an aftereffect of an activity. Numerous individuals trust segregation has made enormous strides forward however has it truly? In the event that it has, for what reason do individuals still get turned down, get abhor mail, or get derided essentially in light of the fact that they contrast from one another. I surmise these are questions we should ask ourselves. I surmise you could likewise inquire as to whether you have ever considered anyone a name, took a gander at them contrastingly or made a decision about them when you didnt know them or comprehend them. You might think That isnt segregation, in any case, truth be told, it is. There are numerous types of segregation, other than the more recognizable structures like race and sex, in light of ethnicity, religion, sexual introduction, age, incapacity or impair, and lewd behavior. The referenced portrayal alludes to a circumstance of direct segregation, in which a man is dealt with unfavorably straightforwardly based on a precluded ground. Roundabout separation alludes to a circumstance in which an evidently unbiased arrangement or practice is oppressive in its belongings. Other than immediate and aberrant segregation, we may utilize the term institutional separation. Institutional segregation alludes to the practices or methods in an organization or an establishment, or even the general public in general, which are organized in a way that will in general create biased impacts, for instance in the Politically-sanctioned racial segregation routine in South Africa. With regards to the main driver, separation seems, by all accounts, to be no reasonable acknowledgment of any hypothesis of causation however that segregation regularly causes a chain response of drawbacks. For example, it ought to be noticed that there is an association additionally among separation and social separation, given that it is normally mentally less demanding to victimize individuals that one isnt comfortable with. In spite of the fact that there is no wide understanding with regards to the cause of segregation, there is an accord that they establish a scholarly conduct. The disguise of separation begins with guardians and, later, teachers the gatherings essential in the arrangement of frames of mind inside kids. The media and social organizations set biased demeanors, giving them social authenticity since separation is found out. Best case scenario, one can diminish segregation. Society looks regularly to instruction and enactment to ease discrimination for reasons stil l not obviously known, intergroup contact alone isnt sufficient to lessen separation. On one hand, multicultural training, regardless of whether immediate or aberrant, comprise the pillar of instructive endeavors to wipe out segregation. Then again, the accentuation on social equality, edified movement strategies, and orders for amount procuring are the foundation of legitimate ways to deal with easing the impacts of separation. The most disregarded zone in settling the issues of segregation lies in the snare of cozy connections where certified sentiments of adoration can be encouraged and fortified. Separation produces gigantic consequences for the mental, social, political, and monetary areas. Regardless of whether expected or not, the impacts are exacerbated by the loss of self-esteem, a feeling of estrangement from the more extensive society, political debilitation, and financial disparities. Bias and ethnic threats comprise a noteworthy risk to harmony both inside a country and among countries. As an outcome, the rise of another worldwide good request progressively gives a use point to counter the impacts of partiality and separation. While many concur that the different worldwide instruments to secure individua ls against bias and segregation are as yet not all around pursued or even executed, plainly another universal cognizance is without a doubt developing and is, indeed, heightening. The impacts of segregation in the public arena are considering race, religion, and handicap separation. One of the fundamental reasons cause viciousness is race segregation. It is anything but difficult to discover proof from Hollywood films. The dark individuals dependably battle with white individuals since they were segregated. Presently in Australia, the natives are separated. Numerous individuals dont comprehend their way of life, so the Australian looks down on these individuals. Also, religion separation can jeopardize world harmony. Distinctive religion has diverse god and the quantities of devotees are enormous. When the contention between various religions breaks out, which can without much of a stretch reason a world war. Separation is about avoidance and subordination and it adequately passes on an unequivocal message of distinction and inadequacy of the person in question Embarrassment. Studies completed in the field of racial segregation give likewise coordinate evidence of this mortifying nature of separation, as it has been discovered that encounters of prejudice and racial segregation have an immediate bearing to the mental prosperity of people who have endured ethnic separation: such encounters were found to expand indications identified with uneasiness and dejection. There are no motivations to trust that the equivalent would not make a difference as to alternate grounds also. Casualties of segregation adapt to these encounters in an assortment of ways. As a reaction to encounters of separation, exploited people frequently intentionally or unwittingly build up a methodology of survival. Some connect with themselves in what may be called refusal of segregation. They may clarify the episode in wording other than separation, or even trust that the oppressive structure was genuine, pointing the finger at themselves for what occurred. One exceptionally run of the m ill technique of survival is shirking, by method for which an individual looks for intentionally to keep away from circumstances in which the likelihood to wind up victimizing is especially high, by method for deliberate limitations. From the perspective of the general public, this isnt, notwithstanding, an attractive methodology, as decreased social contacts destroy the likelihood of incorporating defenseless gatherings to the general society. Segregation prompts disunity which results in the dissolving of society, through conflict and war. World harmony will escape our grip while segregation keep on upsetting the aggregate existence of mankind. Segregation keeps running against the most principal estimations of a cutting edge society. Truth be told, it is a danger to vote based system, which is predicated on the possibility of a general public in which discretionary chains of command and inclinations dependent on, for instance, sexual orientation, ethnic starting point, and riches have been killed with a view to accomplishing balance. Vote based system perceives worth and equivalent privileges of all whereby, fairness denies separation which is likewise the foundation of human rights. Segregation shapes a threa t to the general public, as well as to the person who is exposed to such an unfriendly treatment as it is an immediate forswearing of the equivalent worth of the person in question. It is an infringement of a mans personality. The results of separation coordinate the seriousness of the offense, a causal connect to estrangement, avoidance, radicalization and diminishing mental prosperity. Subsequently, separation isnt right since it is narrow minded. Segregation all through the present reality strikes numerous boundaries. Starting with one outrageous then onto the next, it is in any capacity off-base. Separation is going on everywhere throughout the world, today for some reasons. One being on the grounds that guardians have shown their kids to accept and figure the manner in which they do. The main thing we can do about it is to bring up our kids to not victimize others. It could prompt progressively strain and battling inside individuals and gatherings. To whole up, segregation can cause numerous issues. The legislature ought to establish laws to keep away from it, and society should likewise set up a few associations, projects or networks to help assemble a superior level free of separation.