Daughter of Kami: Shinto and Christian themes in 'Nausica of the Valley of the Wind'

Daughter of Kami: Shinto and Christian themes in Hayao Miyazaki's Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind Introduction Religion has affected art for centuries, because human responses to art and religion involve similar processes: imagination and emotional involvement (Beit-Hallami, 1983). It seems natural for religion to continue its influence on popular culture, especially film, because of its wide reach. However, looking at Japan, is it possible for a "non-Japanese" religion like Christianity to exert influence its popular culture, and to what extent? To answer this question, we look at the 1984 animated film of Hayao Miyazaki, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (Kaze no Tani no Nausicaa). Nausicaä is said to be the quintessential Miyazaki film (Osmond, 1998) and it earned 740 million yen, with almost a million viewers. It owes its popularity to the incorporation of universal themes like religion, the environment and industrialisation. It contains so many themes, both Japanese (feudalism, Shinto) and non-Japanese (Greek Mythology, Christianity, European medievalism). It is interesting to note that Miyazaki is often described as a humanist, following no particular religion, yet Nausicaä contains an almost equal amount of references to Shinto and Christianity in the film. There are many English versions of the various terms and names of the characters in the film,

  • Word count: 2464
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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William Wordsworth's revolutionary ideas on poetry are a continuation of a movement that was begun by Rousseau.

William Wordsworth's revolutionary ideas on poetry are a continuation of a movement that was begun by Rousseau. Wordsworth's work, though with several omissions and additions, seem to be an English variety of Rousseauism. There are several fundamental views that exist in Rousseau's work and appear later in Wordsworth's writings. Napoleon said that the French Revolution would never have occurred without Rousseau. His Social Contract was the foundation for the emergence of the "democratic man" and the "democratic state." Just as Rousseau impacted great stimulus upon the French Revolution, the French Revolution held immense influence upon Wordsworth (Rousseau). Wordsworth traveled in France during the revolution. Although he had previously shown little interest in politics, he quickly embraced the ideals of the Revolution. From this he generated one of history's best known works; "The Prelude or Growth of the Poet's Mind" in which he outlined observations about the war and how it contributed to his artistic development (galegroup). The glee and hopefulness that surrounded Wordsworth's initial introduction to the revolution was quickly dashed by "disappointment and Disgust." (Solitary). The revolutionary and experimental fervor of his youth had been tempered. He came to suffer the disillusion of young revolutionaries in all ages who discover that death harks more harm

  • Word count: 495
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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Poetry Defined by Romantics Though Lord Byron described William Wordsworth as "crazed beyond all hope"

Poetry Defined by Romantics Though Lord Byron described William Wordsworth as "crazed beyond all hope" and Samuel Taylor Coleridge as "a drunk," the two are exemplary and very important authors of the Romantic period in English literature (648). Together these authors composed a beautiful work of poems entitled Lyrical Ballads. Included in the 1802 work is a very important preface written by William Wordsworth. The preface explains the intention of authors Wordsworth and Coleridge, and more importantly, it includes Wordsworth's personal opinion of the definition and criteria of poetry and of what a poet should be. Although there was some disagreement about the proper diction of a good poem, Coleridge, the lesser represented author of the two in the work, agrees with most of Wordsworth's criteria. He voices his own personal opinions, however, in his Biographia Literia. In both Lyrical Ballads and Biographia Literia, the authors' opinions coincide in that the definition and criteria of a poem is to be a structured and carefully planned composition that stirs passionate natural emotions in the reader and that the poet is the force directly responsible for this. To accomplish this, a great poet must possess an intimate knowledge of nature and have close interaction with all aspects of it. Coleridge states in his Biographia Literia that "the definition sought for be that of a

  • Word count: 2290
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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Romanticism was a very imaginative and intellectual period that originated in Europe during the 18th century and distinguished itself by a heightened awareness in nature and emphasis on the individual's expression of emotion and imagination.

Romanticism was a very imaginative and intellectual period that originated in Europe during the 18th century and distinguished itself by a heightened awareness in nature and emphasis on the individual's expression of emotion and imagination. It was more extensive in its genesis and persuasion. In addition, it was deeply associated with the political principles of the time, reverberating peoples uncertainties, expectations, and aspirations. William Blake and William Wordsworth were two poets from the Romantic period. Both of these poets were very classical in their elucidation of nature. Although they were in essence from the same time period, they had contrasting views concerning nature. The intention of both William Blake and William Wordsworth is to portray their own deeply felt views in their poems. They put on display divergent insights based upon their conflicting observations, and, indeed, their very different literary aims. William Blake lived during 1757-1827. He was an English poet, artist, engraver, and publisher. He exercised a great influence on English romanticism. Blake was extremely responsive to the veracity of the human stipulation and of his time. William Wordsworth lived during 1770-1850. He was a defining member of the English Romantic Movement. Like other Romantics, Wordsworth's personality and poetry were deeply influenced by his love of

  • Word count: 1319
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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Comparison of Two Poppy Poems By Sylvia Plath.

SHABNAM ABUBAKER ENGLISH LITERATURE 2001 COMPARISON OF TWO POPPY POEMS BY SYLVIA PLATH When looking at the titles of the two poems "Poppies...." I automatically think of the war. This is because poppies are a symbolism of the war and are sold every year at the time that the war occurred. It is a symbolism of all the people that died, sort of like sympathy for them. This could relate with, or it could be about the war. Also when I looked at the pomes again I thought of flowers and how beautiful they are. I have noticed that I had the same reaction with "Tulips", as it meant two different things. The first poem "Poppies in October", also was quiet surprising at the though of the poppies appearance so late in the year, like a surprise gift. This is presumably intentionally contrasted with the second poem "Poppies in July", as this is the time for Poppies. The poppy could be represented as an unexpected gift because of the blistering red colour of them. I found out that the 'July' poem was written just when her marriage was about to break up, so the 'October' one could suggest that this break up was a surprise to her. Both the poems are very short, which suggests not having much to say which could relate to pain and loneliness. The first poem is divided into five parts, each with unequal lines and breaks. The second one is also divided into eight

  • Word count: 893
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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In this essay, I shall analyse the work of Louis MacNeice, entitled, The sunlight on the garden. It is a modern verse that offers a self-reflexive commentary on life and its key elements.

In this essay, I shall analyse the work of Louis MacNeice, entitled, 'The sunlight on the garden.' It is a modern verse that offers a self-reflexive commentary on life and its key elements. In similarity to the traditional epic verse, the poem is an expression of the speaker's particular personalities and motives. I intend to explore these two subjects in greater detail in my essay. According to the Oxford English dictionary, a poetic analysis is the process, or 'detailed examination of studying a poem...to determine its nature, structure, or essential features.' This is a common practice used by both reader and critic in the reading of prose and poetry and I will adopt this technique in my essay. MacNeice's poem from the thirties transcribes the period of great hardship in the Western World, as well as the speaker's self-hardship of love and death. The Wall Street Crash in 1929 started a worldwide economic depression that lasted for much of the decade and industries such as steel, ship-building and coal mining suffered. Moreover, unemployment in Britain soared which left a hollowed and pessimistic outlook on life. This had a strong impact upon poetry of the time, this particular poem illuminating the confusions and irresolvable issues of the common man. There are many social and political events that influenced MacNeice's work, the First World War being

  • Word count: 1469
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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“Ideology represents the imaginary relationship of individuals to their real conditions of existence” (Althusser). Discuss with reference to the texts on the course.

"Ideology represents the imaginary relationship of individuals to their real conditions of existence" (Althusser). Discuss with reference to the texts on the course. Each of the central characters in "Open Secrets" by Alice Munro and "Paradise Lost" by John Milton are driven and sustained by the relationship between the realities of their existence and their personal ideologies. The conflict between ideology and reality is an important theme in the work of Munro and Milton and both the obvious discrepancies and the more subtle references to this define many aspects of the plot and characterisation. An examination of the reactions of characters to the restrictions placed on them by the reality in which they exist, and their perception of this reality is fundamental to understanding the ideologies which they possess. Their ideologies are the crucial influence on the experiences and eventual fates of each character. Ultimately the question of whether or not these relationships and conflicts are resolved or overcome is the key to gaining a deeper insight into the texts, and simultaneously provides the reader with evidence of the authors' own beliefs and ideologies. In Paradise Lost, Milton makes use of the ideas of contrast and opposition in order to create a text which is highly significant of his own personal ideology and, at the same time, a beautiful and intricate piece of

  • Word count: 5513
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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Critical Appreciation of the Darkling Thrush with Particular Emphasis on Time and Change.

Critical Appreciation of the Darkling Thrush with Particular Emphasis on Time and Change "The Darkling Thrush" was written by Thomas Hardy on the last day of the nineteenth century. The subject of the poem is about the transition of one century to the next in time and change. The atmosphere is set in the first stanza because we see that it is set in a cold winters day; "When Frost was spectre-gray/And Winter's dregs made desolate". Hardy deliberately personifies the season and frost because it makes the weather more powerful and it also gives it human qualities. Further more, the use of winter gives the idea of depression and death which is what Hardy is trying to tell the reader. This stanza is obviously setting the atmosphere of the poem; it shows Hardy is not looking forward to the future and the only thing he knows will happen is death. A good example of this is in the quotation "The tangled bine-stems scored the sky/ Like strings of broken lyres". This demonstrates a vivid image of brambles cutting through the sky; showing an idea of death coming from the writer's imagination. Hardy is trying to show the reader that the turn of the century offers no hope. In the first stanza he only thinks of cold, gloomy, and death as what happens in the rest of his life. A reason for this attitude might be because he is alone. We know this because in the poem it has the lines "And

  • Word count: 1070
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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Psychology is defined as a scientific study of human mind and behaviour processes. Discuss.

.1) Psychology is defined as a scientific study of human mind and behaviour processes. Just as all definitions have limitation, the definition of psychology has limitations too. For example, some psychologists would interpret 'behaviour' to mean both overt responses and conscious experience, while others would be more restrictive. Similarly, some psychologists include behaviour of other species, while some are concerned only with human behaviour. Despite such variations in the focus of interests, the methods used in psychology are scientific. That is, the methods are primarily based on a tradition which originated with the natural sciences of physics, chemistry and biology. That is why I would like to propose that a more useful way of thinking about the discipline of psychology, is to see it as part of the sum total of what people do because, like other scientific disciplines psychology is a human activity. It is scientific in that it is based on the methods of systematic observation and analysis which are part of all science. One of the things that make psychology unique as a science is that the investigator (which is the psychologist) and the subject matter (the client) are essentially the same. Psychology also provides the tools to identify and modify human thought, feelings and behaviour, affecting how people interpret and interact with the world around them.

  • Word count: 1919
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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Coleridge, Samuel Taylor (1772-1834), English poet, critic, and philosopher, who was a leader of the Romantic movement.

Coleridge, Samuel Taylor (1772-1834), English poet, critic, and philosopher, who was a leader of the Romantic movement. I II DEVELOPMENT Coleridge was born in Ottery St Mary, Devon, on October 21, 1772, the son of a vicar. From 1791 until 1794 he studied classics at Jesus College, Cambridge University, and became interested in French revolutionary politics. His heavy drinking and debauchery incurred massive debts which he attempted to clear by entering the army for a brief period. Eventually, his brother paid for him to be discharged on a plea of insanity. At university he absorbed political and theological ideas then considered radical, especially those of Unitarianism. He left Cambridge without a degree and joined his university friend, the poet Robert Southey in a plan, soon abandoned, to found a Utopian society in Pennsylvania. Based on the ideas of William Godwin, this new society was dubbed "Pantisocracy". In 1795 the two friends married sisters, Sara and Edith Fricker. Not only did Coleridge's marriage to Sara proved extremely unhappy, but he also became estranged from Southey, who departed for Portugal that same year. Coleridge remained in England to write and lecture, editing a radical Christian journal, The Watchman, from his new home in Clevedon. In 1796 he published Poems on Various Subjects, which included "The Eolian Harp" and his "Monody on the Death of

  • Word count: 8919
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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