A-Maze-Ing Laughter Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

A-Maze-Ing Laughter - Article Example The whole environment occupies approximately 20 square meters of land. However, the environment is well lit such that the iconic laughter sculptures are visible clearly even during the night. Although the sculptures are placed together, they are evenly distributed across the small area and each one of the sculptures faces a different direction. It is claimed that each of the sculptures weighs approximately 250 kilograms. Whereas some of the sculptures are fully clothed, others are half-naked. The primary idea of the sculptures is to represent reality through art. Although it is difficult to determine the exact reason why the figures are laughing, any person can have their own interpretation of the cause of such exaggerated laughter. Laughter can represent a wide variety of human feelings. Laughter can be ironic, skeptical, sarcastic, genuine, or simply, an expression of pure happiness. Laughter is a form of relief from issues affecting society. This manmade environment represents the realities of life through artwork. ... Most importantly, the site has already become a tourist attraction and soon enough, it will become a major attraction site attracting people from all over the world. This manmade environment holds dear to the people of Vancouver. Indeed, the artist, Yue Minjun, sold the sculptures at a price of 1.5 million dollars. Artistic director of the Biennale, Barrie Mowatt, agreed to give the A-Maze-ing Laughter manmade site to Parks Board for a period of 20 years without a lease fee. This shows the importance of the site to the people of Vancouver. However, the public was expected to show their commitment and desire to have the site retained in the present position by sending emails to the board. The A-Maze-ing Laughter campaign seems to be successful and presently, the site is in hopes of being retained. Potential donors to buy the sculptures have been found. However, they have reserved their offer until the site is fully secured so that the sculptures can have a permanent home (Griffin web) . The manmade site has a very significant relationship with the surrounding. Notably, A-Maze-ing Laughter manmade site is located in Vancouver in British Columbia, Canada. This is one of the most metropolitan areas in Canada with a very diverse population. The exaggerated laughter iconic sculptures are a tourist attraction site for the large population around the city. Additionally, the site is located within the town where it can easily be accessed. It is worth noting that the site compliments the busy lifestyle of the city.  

Compare and Contrast Buddhism and Daoism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Compare and Contrast Buddhism and Daoism - Essay Example ine being; it does not have worship, praying to, or praising of a divine being (although some sects do.) It offers no form of redemption, forgiveness, no heavenly hope, or a final judgment to those practicing its system. Buddhism is a moral philosophy, an ethical way to live for the here and now of this world to gain the ultimate state. It has more in common with humanism and atheism than its original religion Hinduism it separated from. But Buddhism is not atheism just because they don’t believe in a personal God. It is more like pantheism, there is an impersonal force the void which is the ultimate. For centuries, Buddhism has been the dominant religion of the Eastern world and still remains the predominant religion in China, Japan, Korea, as well as Southeast Asia. In Japan alone there are approximately 200 sects. This makes it difficult to address this religion as a whole since it can be so diversified.1 Gautama, whose personal name according to later sources was Siddhartha, was born in ancient India. It is believed that he was born in the city of Lumbini and raised in Kapilavastu, near the modern town of Taulihawa, Nepal. The traditional story of his life is as follows; little of this can be regarded as established historical fact. Born a prince, his father, King Suddhodana, was supposedly visited by a wise man shortly after Siddhartha was born and told that Siddhartha would either become a great king (chakravartin) or a holy man (Sadhu). Determined to make Siddhartha a king, the father tried to shield his son from the unpleasant realities of daily life. Despite his fathers efforts, at the age of 29, he discovered the suffering of his people, first through an encounter with an elderly man. On subsequent trips outside the palace, he encountered various sufferings such as a diseased man, a decaying corpse, and an ascetic. These are often termed The Four Sights.† After abandoning asceticism and concentrating instead upon meditation and Anapanasati