Island Etude

Ming’s encounter with the teacher who was preparing for her retirement was important because she helped him see the importance of his trip, not only for himself, but also for others. She told him that there was a young boy in her class that she was concerned about, but seeing Ming accomplish his goals, even with his hearing impairment, gave her hope for her young student. This encounter helped Ming understand that he can be an inspiration for others and proves that you can accomplish anything you set your mind to.

The encounter at the end of the film with the sculptor is important to the development of Ming’s journey because the sculptor shares with him that he makes the sculptures for himself. He does not think they are very good, he tells Ming that he creates his art as an expression of his emotions. Ming can relate to this because his journey around the island was for himself. It was good for his growth as an individual because he accomplished a goal that he made for himself.

Self-Introduction

Hi! My name is Jamie and I am a senior Interior Architecture student at Chatham University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I have lived near Pittsburgh my whole life, but did not spend much time in the city before I started college. I still live with my parents and older brother and commute to school. I have a Pembroke Welsh Corgi puppy named Annie that I love taking care of and a 3-year-old long-haired black cat named Punkin. I have been very busy the past few years going to school and working part-time at a retail furniture store, which has kept me from exploring many interests that I have. Upon graduating, I am looking forward to getting a full-time job and getting the opportunity to explore some of the hobbies I would like to do such as gardening and crafting. I am looking forward to learning more about East Asian culture and I am very excited to have the opportunity to travel abroad for my first time to Taiwan this coming May!

My puppy, Annie!

A Commentary on the Gangnam Style Video

The "Gangnam Style" song from Korean musician, Psy, has exploded worldwide for its catchy tune, and quirky dance moves that go along with the song. It is interesting that in the world we live in today, music can spread so far and so quickly because of the internet. It seems like websites like YouTube have been around forever, but it actually isn't even ten years old yet. The use of social networking websites, like Facebook, and video sharing websites, like YouTube have made it easier than ever for musicians to get their music heard around the globe. It is pretty cool to think, nowadays, you can become famous from a video you posted online.

I think the ease of sharing music and ideas on the internet has increased the interest people have in global events and has helped globalization in many industries. If a website like YouTube did not exist when Psy came out with his "Gangnam Style" music video, it probably wouldn't be half as well-known as it is today. Also, the popularity of his song has led to people becoming more interested in Korea and Korean culture.

Buddhism in China

Buddhism started in South Asia with the historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama. The Buddha realized that there was no true meaning to life and that life was a continuous cycle of life, death, and reincarnation. He stated that the only way to reach an enlightened state was to escape this cycle. This led him to preach his first sermon on the Four Noble Truths. The Four Noble Truths, basically, stated that life is full of suffering and the only way to end our suffering is to separate ourselves from all of our attachments and desires. If one is successful in doing so, he or she will have reached the level of enlightenment known as nirvana and will escape the endless cycle of reincarnation.

It is debatable whether or not this way of thinking leads to a positive outlook on life or a negative one, but I like to believe it leads to a positive outlook on life. The main thing I take away from the Four Noble Truths, is the idea of detachment. I think of it as not letting things get to you or hold you back from moving on from your past. To me, that is a positive way to live life. Also, the idea of reincarnation does not seem as bad as it sounds. As the Buddha described it, when we are reincarnated we do not have any memories of our past lives, but how we live our lives effects the lives we are given in the future. So, because we cannot recollect our past lives, the never-ending cycle of reincarnation does not seem so bad. As long as we live a good life, our future lives should only get better from good karmic retribution.

Asian Art Tour at the Carnegie Art Museum

Today, I was a part of a group of Chatham students who visited the Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh. We focused on the Asian Art collection at the museum. We looked at ancient Asian artifacts ranging from the Shang all the way to the Ming dynasties. As an interior architecture student, visiting the museum today has helped me to better understand the timeline of East Asian history and visually see some of the contributions the ancient dynasties have left behind.

Tang Dynasty Painted Figures

My two favorite pieces that we looked at today were the painted figures of the Tang dynasty and the head of Guanyin sculpture. It was interesting to learn more about the "Renaissance" era of art in East Asia and how artists began to use new techniques and the addition of color to what they created. I also enjoyed learning more about the head of Guanyin because it is a piece that I am drawn to every time I visit the museum. I am glad that I have gained a better understanding of the spread of Buddhism from Indian culture to Chinese culture.