Forkieforkers's Blog

Detachment Between Two Cultures

forkieforkers — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 23:02:00 +0000

Detachment Between Two Cultures

In Jhumpa Lahiri’s “Interpreter of Maladies,” written in the 1980s, the clearly illustrated disconnection between the American as well as Indian cultures, displays the distant and oblique communications between the two countries. According to Lahiri, this disconnection occurs in the appearances, attitudes, and even the opinions characters exhibit. Not only this, but Lahiri puts forth a reintroduction idealism, in which people of a different culture, yet the same race, attempt to reconnect with each one another. This effort for inner bondage concurrently agrees with the fact that “families… [face] confusions and problems every day, between the Indian traditions and the modern free world” because they are not able to develop the common association to their culture which born Indians have the capability of doing over the span of their lives (Interpreter of Maladies: Stories of Bengal, Boston and Beyond).

Throughout the story, Lahiri illustrates how people of common heritage behave differently based on the cultural influences of where they were raised. The difference in greetings demonstrates severed connections between different cultures across the world. Mr. Kapasi, a native born Indian, offers his hands in prayer, whereas the American Mr. Das extends a handshake “that Mr. Kapasi [feels] in his elbow” (Lahiri 325). “The compulsion of proximity [by shaking hands] refers to humans’ need for face-to-face interaction” which is very uncommon in the etiquette of the Indian world (Kevin Andrew: The Handshake). The Das’s were born and raised in America and do not maintain mannerisms of the common Indo-Asians. Lahiri provides detailed and in depth descriptions comparing life in America to India from the initial greeting and throughout the tour, while the American family are introduced to various aspects of Indian culture and wildlife, such as the monkeys. Because the story told is primarily from an Indian perspective, it may appear there is a bias against the American culture, not so much as by what is said, but the overall context and actions through the novella.

An obvious contrast between the American and the Indian culture is the way each culture dresses. While in America, an Indian woman dressed in the traditional Indian Sari would stand out in a crowd, so do Mina and Raj in their American attire whilst visiting India. Mina’s outfit is described as “red-and-white checkered skirt the stops above her knees, slip on shoes with a square wooden heel, a close-fitting blouse styled like a man’s undershirt…decorated at chest level with a calico appliqué in the shape of a strawberry” (Lahiri 326-327). The outfit could be interpreted to be an indication of Mrs. Das’s internal conflict with her youth and how she still clings to it, more than a wife and mother of three children should.

The Das family’s decision to tour India confirms the desire of an American family seeking to reconnect to the roots of their racial origin, while also revealing a dysfunctional family. Mr. Kapasi observes this dysfunctional behavior over and over and is confused by the interpersonal strife that appears to exist between Mr. and Mrs. Das. They acted as though they were not adults, and married with children. Mr. Kapasi views their approach to the problem solving as though they are still in high school, not married, for “they were all like siblings, Mr. Kapasi though” (Lahiri 328). Acting as if they are all siblings, shows the American tourism in the dysfunctional family. A contrast between culture and the obviousness of a family’s tourism is in the way they dress, such as Mina and Raj Das. Mina is supposed to be a motherly figure to her children. But, she dresses as though she were still a teenager with her “red-and-white checkered skirt that stopped above her knees, slip on shoes with a square wooden heel, and a close-fitting blouse styled like a man’s undershirt…decorated at chest level with a calico appliqué in the shape of a strawberry” (Lahiri; 326-327). The outfit is an indication of Mrs. Das’s internal conflict with her youth and how she still clings to it, more than a wife and mother of three children should. In other cultures, there are arranged marriages between certain families, but when the two are joined in matrimony, they seem to be prepared for what is to come, the Das family, were not so much as readied. Mr. Kapasi observes this child-like behavior over and over and is confused by the actions Mr. and Mrs. Das make. They do not take action as though they are adults and have children, but views their problem solving skills as though they are still in high school, not married, for “they were all like siblings, Mr. Kapasi thought” (Lahiri; 328). Acting as though they are siblings, though, isolates each family member from the others. In Mr. Kapasi’s culture, it is not unusual to arrange marriages between certain families, but, when two are joined in matrimony, they seem to be prepared for what is to come. From a cultural perspective, this is because the culture drives the expectations, whereas the culture the Das family grew up and became accustomed to, places more of that burden on the individual, vice imposing a cultural norm. Therefore, by Mr. Kapasi’s observations, it is apparent Mina and Raj were not ready; by Indian cultural expectations, for marriage and to raise children.

Because Mr. Kapasi is so supportive and a sympathetic listener, Mrs. Das feels secure that no one else would know about her telling him her adulterous sin. Once she does finally come to the decision to confess her disloyal affiliations resulting in an illegitimate child, Mrs. Das is only searching for an answer she could not find in America. According to Dominik Güss, “Knowledge about different decision-making strategies in different countries can help people be more sensitive towards those from other cultures, to understand the embeddedness of psychological behavior in a specific cultural surrounding, and to work together more happily and efficiently.” This psychology makes Mrs. Das have two decisions: to either discuss her adulterous sin to Mr. Kapasi, or it could have led to another decision, such as telling Raj that one of his two “sons” was not his (Güss, Decision Making in Individualistic and Collectivistic Cultures). Some interpret this isolated assertion of personal identity as a generalizable assertion of the Indian-American experience, a problem of cultural essentialism if ever one existed. Thus, the danger lies in the extent to which readers take highly personalized statements. Although she literally did not have a manifest of physical illness, Mina’s somatic complaint is that she is unhappy with her life. Her guilt of her confession has the somatic affect as described by the Adolescent Identity Exploration: a test of Erikson’s theory of transitional crisis, “cognitive destructuring, generally, and the view of the self, in particular, was seen to result in reduced ego, strength, and impairment of coping. Moreover, a variety of symptoms were said to occur with the transition; these included: subjective discomfort, confusion, mood swings, ego defenses, impulsivity, acting-out, and heightened physical and somatic complaints” (Jeannie S. Kidwell , Richard M. Dunham , Roderick A. Bacho , Ellen Pastorino , Pedro R. Portes).

The evident extrication between the ethnicities, are evident for the difficult ways of socializing economically, politically and socially. People of the opposite descent often try to participate in the habits of the other but fail in the attempt because they take traditions from their present lives with them, and consequently not maintaining the ability to create the bond they seek.

Citations:

Güss, C. Dominik. “Decision Making in Individualistic and Collectivistic
Cultures .” Online Readings in Psychology and Culture. Güss, C. D., Jan. 2004. Web. 4 Apr. 2010.

30%3Aguss43&catid=22%3Achapter&Itemid=15>.

Interpreter of Maladies (Stories of Bengal, Boston and Beyond). SHVOONG, 4 June
2009. Web. 25 Apr. 2010. .

Wealth of Nations

forkieforkers — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 20:49:43 +0000

What is the “invisible hand” and what role does it play in the economy?

The “invisible hand” played a key role in directing the industry to benefit him promoting an end which was no part of his intention. Invisible hand is the nature of the economy that is self regulating. The rest of the populace follows this invisible hand, which eventually adds to the community benefits, he intends only his own gain.

According to Smith, why should government not get involved in the economy?

The government, Smith says, should not be involved in the economy because they will simply acquire the greatest benefit of all of the taxes paid and the imports/exports. The statesman who try to help these confidential citizens in what way they should utilize their capitals. If a government tries to run its’ citizens, it will benefit no one seeing as it causes a rapid decrease in pace for the progress to wealth.

The ideas and values of what other enlightenment thinkers are evident in this excerpt?

Smith’s argument mainly shows the ideology of Jean Jacques Rousseau who allegedly saw everyone having common rights leading to a common good.

What is the division of labor and how does it make production more efficient?

Division of labor displays when the workers are separated to the designated tasks to aid the productivities increase. By only focusing in one job, the workers do not lose time for productivity while switching tasks, seeing as they only have one specialized duty which makes the production more well-organized and beneficiary.

How does Smith illustrate the division of labor through the pin factory?

Someone who is exceedingly more educated is able to maintain a higher position in a jobs ranking than one who did not receive the proper education throughout their years. Also, Smith separates the job to generate a pin to eighteen diverse responsibilities. This splitting up of labor while another can make up for a loss of time by doing another task which then reverts back to aiding the first.

How is the pin factory’s increase in productivity evident as a result of the division of labor?

It shows that they only hired more intelligent people who specialized in a certain field creating a more reliable work force. When people are given tasks and it is the only job they have to focus on, it generally aids the productivity.

What is the relationship between the division of labor and the skill of the worker?

It shows that they only hired people who specialized in a certain field creating a more reliable work force.

The Industrial Revolution in a Nut Shell

forkieforkers — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 01:49:45 +0000

There were several precipitating factors and preconditions behind the industrial Revolution, most of them being connected in some way or another. The most significant of these aspects was the population increase. The population increase demanded for more and newer products. To be able to balance the economy and the heavy demand at the same time, people with creative ideas and abilities began to develop new. Another factor behind the revolution was the initial surplus in food supply which made the newer task of cultivation more used. Also, workers could concentrate in occupations making inventors able to find new discoveries. It also gave them the chance and ability to become more schooled.

forkieforkers — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 03:17:08 +0000

The causes of the French Revolution, according to Felipe Fernandez Armesto, were primarily the government trying to seize too much control over its citizens, mainly because it lost touch of those it ruled, which then led to the rebellion of the middle and lower classes. France endured a transformation in the way people should live in humanity. Significant writers like “Voltaire and Rousseau, began to question the old traditions of total obedience to the monarchy and the Church,” leading to an intellectual movement that emphasized reason and science in philosophy and in the study of human culture and the natural world called Enlightenment. Along with the corrupt government, the country of France was also in great debt due to military expenditures and a parasitic aristocracy subsequent to aiding the American Revolutionary War which ended in 1783, just six years before the French Revolution took place. Louis XVI had succeeded his grandfather in 1774. The adolescent king was smart but apathetic and was dominated by his wife, Marie Antoinette, whose limited political vision and influence over her husband increased his already difficult predicaments. The consequence of this lapse of leadership was a political near-breakdown, followed by an outburst of popular turmoil and anxiety with the crown. Finally, as a result of all of the outbursts, the Estates General renamed itself the National Assembly which ratified the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen, making the privileges of man universal. But, in the Reflections by Edmund Burke, he argues that the French Revolution would end disastrously, because its theoretical fundamentals, supposedly reasonable, ignored the complexities of human character and culture. Nevertheless, Burke was afraid and somewhat disdainful of the Enlightenment led by intellectuals such as Rousseau, Voltaire, and Turgot. These men who question Divine Moral Order and Original Sin, said that society should be handled like a living creature, that people and society are infinitely difficult to understand, thus leading Burke to conflict with Thomas Hobbes‘s declaration that political affairs might be reducible to a deductive system similar to math.

After Louis XVI was executed and “the revolutions unleash[ed] chaos”, citizens looked to Napoleon Bonaparte as the First Consul of the Republic who overthrew the Directorate in 1799. The reason they looked to Napoleon was attributable to “his military genius and the skill and strength of his armies turned Europe into a playground for his political experiments” (Armesto: 759). In some ways he ruled a barbarian kingdom, at times a Roman emperor, and others he had himself painted among the primordial pagan German gods. Even though Napoleon was considered the cause of Enlightenment, it gave artists of all kinds the opportunities to display their attitude toward the government (mainly Napoleon’s way of running the empire) so keen on keeping under their rule; such as Ludwig van Beethoven, Francisco Goya, and Etienne Robert Gaspard. This powerful authority led to only the highest positions making the utmost amount of money maintaining the most important figure in the economy, determining the fate of the less gifted by means of money. The new way the government was run, with money leading all decisions, changed the worlds’ history to come by the Western civilizations’ influence.

Fernandez-Armesto, Felipe. “The French Revolution and Napoleon.” The World: A History. Ed. Charlyce Jones Owen,

et al. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Dorling Kindersley, 2007. 757- 763. Print.

Gilbert, Adrian. The French Revolution: History Topics. illustrated ed. N.p.: Black Rabbit Books, 2004. N. pag. Google

Books. Web. 12 Apr. 2010. .

forkieforkers — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 03:39:43 +0000

Jenna Lee

Mr. Kogan

World History Honors G

6 April, 2010

People or Enterprise?

Slaves were a commodity to be traded and this was not a new concept in the 1500’s as stated by Donald Wright who said, “Slavery existed in some of Africa’s earliest organized societies. More than 3,500 years ago, ancient Egyptians raided neighboring societies for slaves, and the buying and selling of slaves were regular activities in cities along the Nile River. However, whereas the Egyptians left behind written records of their activities, most other early African states and societies did not.” Slaves were viewed as primarily as property and not as people. The expansion of slave trade to Europe and the new World grew as the cost of obtaining slaves provided an attractive alternative for much needed labor. If Europeans objected to slavery, they were in the minority until the 1700’s according to the timeline of abolition in Wikipedia. This timeline was supported in “Moral Capitol”, which provided an account in 1757 of the execution of a captain for murdering his 14 year old black servant. The commercial need for manual labor to perform the grueling tasks caused many who outwardly protested to be ignored and many turned a deaf ear to the issue, because they benefited from this inexpensive source of labor.

Capturing of slaves was “relatively easy for the Europeans. Coastal African chiefs readily traded slaves in exchange for goods” (James Haskins & Kathleen Benson: 18-20 passim). After the slaves had been collected and readied for shipment, the Africans were loaded onto ships which transported them as another cargo such as: iron, cloth, brandy, firearms, gunpowder, etc….” Dr Hakim Adi estimated the number of slaves placed on ships, to be “just over 11 million people. Of those, fewer than 9.6 million survived the so-called middle passage across the Atlantic.” The reason for the high mortality rate was the inhuman conditions for the slaves on board which was described in an account by a Reverend Walsh who accompanied an interceptor capturing a slave ship in 1829. In his account, the Reverend described boarding the Slave Ship Feloz, finding 517 of the original load of 562 slaves in the holds naked in a sweltering heat, crammed together such that they could not lie down or move about. They were branded like animals to identify the owner’s mark, and it was apparent they had been shackled by manacles and fetters. Once a slave ship arrived in port, there were advertisements posted with time and place to make the sale of all goods and slaves known to all.

In conclusion it is apparent the slaves were not considered to be people, but an enterprise selling a commodity of labor.

Wright, B.A., M.A., Ph.D., Donald R. - “Slavery in Africa” Microsoft® Encarta®
Online Encyclopedia 2000. Microsoft Corporation, 1997-2000. Web. 5 Apr.
2010. .

Adi, Dr Hakim. “Africa and the Transatlantic Slave Trade”. BBC History, n.d.
Web. 5 Apr. 2010. africa_article_01.shtml>.

Wiki page. “Abolition of slavery timeline”. Wikipedia, 2009. Web. 5 Apr. 2010.
.

Reverend Walsh. “EyeWitness to History.” “Aboard a Slave Ship, 1829,” . N.p.,
2000. Web. 5 Apr. 2010. .

Brown, Christopher Leslie. “Moral Capital”. University of North Carolina Press,
2006. Web. 5 Apr. 2010. Print.

forkieforkers — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 22:29:12 +0000

Why were the Africans so willing to allow the selling of their own peoples to foreigners for profit? (ability to discuss economy of Africa at the time and also the culture of both the Europeans and Africans)

How did the influence of the Europeans and their slavery affect places all over the world? (ability to expand on the opinions of others around the world from primary and secondary sources and seeing the aftermath of the transatlanitc trade)

FINAL:

In the late 17^th and early 18^th century, how did the influence of the Spanish and their slavery affect places all over the Brazil and regions of Western Africa where the most people were taken from?

forkieforkers — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 22:28:16 +0000

Alfred Crosby seeks to answer the wide spread question of how did the European takeover act in response to all other features of life in the New and Old Worlds. This core question is significant to address because each of the things discussed: animals, weeds, pathogens and humans, all spread rapidly throughout the Americas and were pretentious to the ways of living at the time. He argues that although these plans of colonization were successful and emigrants from Europe kept pouring into the discovered lands, so did all of the other things which were currently presiding in their mother countries and started to affect the fresh, promised beginnings. Another point which Crosby makes the migrations to the Americas sound as though they all turned out in a unconstructive light, which is not true. Although they have seen their share of hardships, such as epidemic illnesses, wars, over and under population of necessary animal species and over growth of certain weeds, the Americas have not turned out completely full of famine and disease as he makes it sound in his article. He also makes it sound like, from the expedition to the New World, that the Europeans had no effect on the way the Natives went about their everyday lives after they showed up. Also, Crosby states that out of all of the diseases which came from overseas to the new world, “none had any real influence on the Old World” when they returned to Europe. The negativity in the way he writes, the argument can seem very persuasive, yet some things appear pessimistic and become open to discussion and interpretation. When looking into these elucidations, Crosby overlooks the important point of making sure that the reader knows the exact context of why the Europeans are leaving or were exported from their homeland, this would make it seemingly clearer as to why they were there in the first place. If he had mentioned the King and Queen sending the first expedition of Christopher Columbus to the Americas, then it would be easy to gather that the voyage was simply for research about the trade economy of Japan which got off track that eventually led to the settlement of colonies.

Crosby’s approach to times past differs from other approaches seeing as he divides his article into different sections to describe contradictory contributes to history. This makes it easier to see the diverse things which were changed by the Europeans settlement.

Revised

forkieforkers — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 18:43:35 +0000

Entertainment in the Renaissance is complicated as research discovered that society in a post dark age period of plague was ready to embrace life as evidenced in the proliferation in all forms of art. Acknowledging there was a great breath of cultural advancements in the arts, the economic conditions of the times affected the types of entertainment available based on class. There were basically three classes in society. High society which was comprised of nobility and the wealthy, tradesman or merchant class and the peasantry or common laborers.

The high class would commission the artisans to entertain them with works of art, music and theater (Kareti). They would also enjoy or participate in the sports of fencing, falconry, horse riding and the hunt for pheasant deer or fox. They also would enjoy extravagant parties and dances, and attend the first run performances of opera and had the best seats at the theater. Cricket was also played by the nobility.

The middleclass of merchants, wrights, inn keepers and the like would occasionally enjoy the fine arts, theater, or attend bear baiting (From Wikipedia, 2010) or other blood thirsty sports like bull baiting, dog or cock fights. Traveling troupes of actors entertained the masses. Enterprising bards would settle and build theaters such as William Shakespeare’s Globe Theater (The Old GlobeTheater History) in London, England.

The poor could rarely afford the theater and when they could they would get the standing room space in the theater. They did sing, dance and attend church. The other entertainment commonly available to the poor or common laborer was to attend executions (Castles) or to torment those placed in stocks. Public beheadings, hangings, and drawing and quartering were intended to humiliate the condemned, and to demonstrate the consequence of disobedience to the masses. Another public punishment that was a spectator event was the public trying of witches by throwing the suspected witch into water. The theory was that if the individual was a witch, then the water would reject them and they would float, and if they sank, they were innocent. If the individual floated in the water, they were hanged publicly (primarily in England). In addition the individuals were also burned post strangulation in other parts of Europe (Lambert, 2007).

So the entertainment in the Renaissance was a diverse period of prolific innovation and growth, further defined by class and economic status.

Bibliography

Kareti, K. (n.d.). Popular Amusements and Entertainment.

http://www.springfield.k12.il.us/schools/springfield/eliz/amusements.html

http://www.william-shakespeare.info/william-shakespeare-globe-theatre.htm

Alchin, L.K. (July 16 2005) Castles

http://www.castles.me.uk/executions-beheading-tower-of-london.htm

Lambert, T. (2007). THE WITCH TRIALS

http://www.localhistories.org/witchtrials.html

Other References used in research but not directly cited

Cogan’s History Class (n.d.) Renaissance Art PPT

http://docs.google.com/present/view?id=df2x5k2p_175dvb453gf

Nicolas Pioch (24 Oct 2005) Michelangelo

http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/michelangelo/

Capistrano School (n.d.) Renaissance 1450 – 1600

http://www.empire.k12.ca.us/capistrano/Mike/capmusic/renaissance/renaissa.htm

Wayne Keyser (2008) Vaudeville & Burlesque History & Lingo

http://www.goodmagic.com/carny/vaud.htm

Helen B. Wharton (2009) “Renaissance Entertainment”

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art39866.asp

Answers.com (n.d.) Giovanni Boccaccio: Biography from Answers.com

www.answers.com/topic/giovanni-boccaccio

Bookrags.com (n.d.) Giovanni Boccaccio Biography Summary

www.bookrags.com/Giovanni_Boccaccio

Librarything.com (n.d.) Giovanni Boccaccio

www.librarything.com/author/boccacciogiovanni

Infoplease.com (n.d.) Giovanni Boccaccio

www.infoplease.com/ce6/people/A0808047.html

Dr. Fidel Fajardo-Acosta’s World Literature Website (2001) The Decameron (1353)

http://fajardo-acosta.com/worldlit/boccaccio/decameron.htm

Lifesupporters.com (n.d.) LIFE IN THE 1500′S
http://www.lifesupporters.com/forums/entertainment/life-1500s-1794.html

The Renaissance Era Vocal 15^th Century

http://library.thinkquest.org/15413/history/history-ren-voc.htm

Thinkquest.org (n.d.) THE RENAISSANCE ERA VOCAL 15TH CENTURY

http://library.thinkquest.org/15413/history/history-ren-voc.htm

Sportspower.com (n.d.)Cricket

http://www.sportspower.com.au/index.cfm

The Finding of a New World

forkieforkers — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 18:28:22 +0000

In looking at the Primary Source document, it is easy enough to tell that the article given is written in the present time of the account being told, giving the title of first person to the author. Seeing as it came directly from the journal of Christopher Columbus, it most likely meant to be seen by everyone back in Spain so he was able to fully recall all of the elaborate details of the expedition. This source reveals that the conquest of imperialism through the eyes of the ones overpowering another is simply expansion of their reign, from Spain to across the Atlantic Ocean, although it may not have been thought of as the New World until subsequent to the discovery. The way the Spaniards accomplished this empyreal growth was not only through the giving of “a thousand handsome good things, which [the Spaniards] had brought, in order that [the people of the island] might conceive affection for [the Spaniards] and more than that, become Christians,” but also by making settlements in conjunction with these island peoples and observed their habits and rituals. While living alongside the new found culture, though, the Spaniards learned how to manipulate them and take advantage by letting the interpretation of the descent “from [heaven] with the these ships and sailors” leading the scheme that they were sent by heaven and were after the people had thrown away their fears.

revised entertainment of the 16th century

forkieforkers — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 02:26:44 +0000

16th Century Entertainment was made up of many things that one may find strange today, but was normal to people living in the 16th and 17th Century.

Entertainment in the Renaissance is more complicated than initially thought. In the course of research, it is evident society in a post dark age period of plague was ready to embrace life as evidenced in the prolific works of art such as Cimabue’s, “The Virgin and Child Enthroned and Surrounded by Angels” and Giotto’s “Madonna Enthroned”(1), sculptures reflecting the classical perspective such as Michelangelo’s “David” (2) and writings and verse such as “The Decameron” (3) by Giovanni Boccaccio. All of these were indicative of the cultural reawakening in this period. The appreciation of the wide range and variety of art is but one form of entertainment in the period. The music and songs also saw cultural growth in this period such as the popular tune “Greensleeves” (4) (click on title to listen) allegedly written by King Henry VIII of England.

Having acknowledging there was a great breath of cultural advancements in the arts; one must pause to consider the economic conditions of the times. While there was prosperity, it was not evenly distributed. There were basically three classes in society. High society which was comprised of nobility and the wealthy, tradesman or merchant class and the peasantry or common laborers. As a result, the degree of access, and forms of entertainment also was tiered accordingly. This was actually documented in a set of cards called the “Mantegna Tarocchi” (5) used as an educational aid in Ferrara, Italy which defined a hierarchy for the “Conditions of Man”, largely ignoring the rural population comprised of Beggar, Servant, Craftsman, Merchant – presumably living mostly off income as a landlord, 5 Gentleman and Ladies, Knight, Doge- i.e., a local ruler or Lord (in England), King, Emperor and Pope. The high class would commission the artisans to entertain them with works of art, music and theater. They would also enjoy or participate in the sports of fencing, falconry, horse riding and the hunt for pheasant deer or fox. They also would enjoy extravagant parties and dances, and attend the first run performances of opera and had the best seats at the theater. Banquets were a popular form of entertainment for the rich, but the poorer folk would also hold feasts on special occasions. If there was a great public event such as a royal wedding then the monarch would pay for wine and food to be placed in the streets for the poor people to join in the celebrations. The diners would be entertained by mummers, jugglers, jesters or fire eaters. masquerade balls were also a common form of entertainment. A public execution was an event not to be missed and people would queue through the night to get the best places. There was always a carnival atmosphere and a good trade was done by pie sellers and ale merchants. Public executions always produced a carnival-like atmosphere with large crowds anxious to use this ready-made audience. Cricket was also played by the nobility. The middleclass of merchants, wrights, inn keepers and the like would occasionally enjoy the fine arts, but would normally enjoy a more coarse variety of music and drinking songs rife with satire and topical humor named for the town of Vire, France known as “Vaudevire” (6). They would be able to attend the theater, but would more often attend bear baiting (7) or other blood thirsty sports like bull baiting, dog or cock fights. Traveling troupes of actors entertained the masses. Enterprising bards would settle and build theaters such as William Shakespeare’s Globe Theater (8) in London, England. The poor could rarely afford the theater and when they could they would get the standing room space in the theater. They did sing and dance and attend church. The common laborers lives were still primarily focused on survival and maintaining their meager existence, but they still enjoyed songs, occasional dances and coarse humor. There were fairs that could be enjoyed by all three classes, and there were many forms of entertainment to be enjoyed.

“Fiber arts such as spinning, weaving, sewing, embroidery and knitting not only produced necessary clothing and linens, but were also a means of creative expression for the women of the time. Games of skill were enjoyed by all, participants and audience, alike. Jousting, archery, swordsmanship, wrestling and falconry are a few examples of these. An early form of “football” was also played by teams of men with a straw filled, leather ball. Table games and games of chance were popular among the nobility and common folk. Knuckle bones and dice, as well as board games such as backgammon and chess were played.”(9). There were story tellers that provided a way of keeping the community history and would cry out the news of the day as well as story tellers also roamed the lands providing oral history of far away places, people, and events. These story tellers also provided entertainment telling fables and fairy tales.

So by examining the entertainment in the Renaissance one sees it was a prolific period of innovation and growth, but that it is more complicated, based on class and economic status more than anything else. Looking to today, this paradigm is still true, but to a lesser extent. By this one can see the wealthy enjoy access to travel and attend the best concerts, sporting events, etc., whereas those who are in the middle class can attend, but tend to conserve their monies for the movies and local events or watching videos/television or playing videogames, and the poorest have access to public libraries and public sponsored events.

Bibliography (1) Renaissance Art PPT (2) © 24 Oct 2005, Nicolas Pioch http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/michelangelo/ (4) http://www.empire.k12.ca.us/capistrano/Mike/capmusic/renaissance/renaissa.htm (5) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_class#Renaissance_Europe (6) Wayne Keyser “Vaudeville & Burlesque History & Lingo” http://www.goodmagic.com/carny/vaud.htm (7) “Bear-baiting from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bear-baiting (8) “The Old Globe Theater History” Copyright © 2005 William Shakespeare info http://www.william-shakespeare.info/william-shakespeare-globe-theatre.htm

(9) Helen B. Wharton “Renaissance Entertainment”http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art39866.asp Other References not cited Giovanni Boccaccio: Biography from Answers.com www.answers.com/topic/giovanni-boccaccio Giovanni Boccaccio Biography Summary www.bookrags.com/Giovanni_Boccaccio Giovanni Boccaccio | LibraryThing www.librarything.com/author/boccacciogiovanni Giovanni Boccaccio — Infoplease.com www.infoplease.com/ce6/people/A0808047.html Giovanni Boccaccio – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giovanni_Boccaccio Dr. Fidel Fajardo-Acosta’s World Literature Website “The Decameron (1353)“ http://fajardo-acosta.com/worldlit/boccaccio/decameron.htm LIFE IN THE 1500′S http://www.lifesupporters.com/forums/entertainment/life-1500s-1794.html http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_entertainment_was_there_in_the_1500′s The Renaissance Era Vocal 15th Century http://library.thinkquest.org/15413/history/history-ren-voc.htm Cricket http://www.sportspower.com.au/index.cfm