Maslow s Theory Of Self Actualization - 1824 Words

Maslow Abraham H. Maslow, an American psychologist who explores the complexities of human nature in his theoretical piece, The Farther Reaches of Human Nature, examines the theory of self-actualization. This theory, which focuses on experiencing completely, evocatively and selflessly while maintaining full focus and absorption, is practiced to become the best version of oneself and undergo transcendence (44). Maslow’s ideals are influential and implemented by James Arthur Baldwin. Baldwin, a civil rights activist from Harlem, New York, is an essayist and novelist who is a highly perceptive, well-known writer with numerous works, including The Fire Next Time. Baldwin uses this memoir to project his voice on behalf of Black America in the†¦show more content†¦Maslow explains, without any exceptions, that these individuals listen to the impulse voices, allowing the self to emerge (44). Likewise, Baldwin is determined to follow his inner voice, even though his beliefs do not ref lect those of the black American Christian church. He fled to the church in hopes it would become his â€Å"safe haven†; it would become a place with apparent safety from the dangerous streets he grew up on. Nevertheless, the church and what it stood for vanished, specifically when he felt no love in the church (39). He notices how few individuals were concerned with lifting those around them up; most individuals were keen to tear those around them down. Although he hoped to feel genuineness and humanity within the church, â€Å"†¦salvation stopped at the church door† (39). The idea of the church represented unity and acceptance, yet, as a young preacher and teenage Christian minister, Baldwin witnessed despair, hatred and self-hatred. This â€Å"mask† instilled in him a fear that affected his beliefs (39). Baldwin underwent metapathology, which Maslow exclaims as the sicknesses of the soul which come from living among liars all the time (43). The church wa s a faà §ade. Baldwin had engulfed himself in the church, but he slowly began to distrust the church and what it stood for. When he was told that he should love everybody, Baldwin was unaware that the everybody referred to only those who believed as he did (40). A minister onceShow MoreRelatedMaslow s Theory Of Self Actualization772 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction: The theory of self-actualization was introduced by psychologist Abraham Maslow. Maslow s famous work â€Å"Hierarchy of Needs† has drawn admiration and criticisms from supporters and opponents alike. For Maslow, man quest for self-actualization falls within five hierarchical orders set up in a pyramid style. To become everything that one is capable of becoming, Maslow, noted that the order in which these needs are fulfilled does not always follow the standard progression. FurtherRead MoreMaslow s Theory Of Self Actualization Essay2048 Words   |  9 PagesAbraham Maslow theorized the concept of self-actualization which is the term used to describe the state of self-fulfillment in which people realize their highest potentials in their own unique way. Maslow’s theory includes sublevels that must be achieved before reaching self-actualization. In this paper, I will explain how each of his previous levels have affected my life, and give an idea of when I may hope to achieve self-actualization. Self-actualization is the term that Abraham Maslow used toRead MoreMaslow s Theory Of Self Actualization1221 Words   |  5 PagesGreenwood Dictionary of Education (2011), Abraham Maslow, an American psychologist, believed that everyone has a need for self-actualization, to develop an individual’s full potential by maximizing his/her talents and abilities. Maslow proposed that human needs are categorized in a hierarchy into the following requirement s (from basic to complex and/or advanced needs): physiological, safety, love and belonging, esteem, and then self-actualization (Maslow, 2006). The hierarchy is often projected as aRead MoreAbraham Maslow s Theory Of Self Actualization901 Words   |  4 Pagesman named Abraham Maslow. Maslow was an American psychologist who developed a pyramidal hierarchy of needs. At the base of his pyramid, Abraham Maslow placed the basic â€Å"physiological needs† such as: food, water, and sleep. The next layer of his pyramid was â€Å"safety†, which was followed by â€Å"love/belonging†, and then â€Å"esteem†. Although, my interest truly began when I reached the very top of the pyramid which was labeled â€Å"self-actualization†. Self-actualization was the term Maslow used to describeRead MoreMaslow s Theories Of The Hierarchy Of Basic Human Needs And Self Actualization Essay1072 Words   |  5 Pagesglobally representative. This survey had the objectiv e of confirming or dismissing Maslow’s famous theories of the hierarchy of basic human needs and self-actualization. Maslow’s theory, whether one believes it or not, is still a theory that is debated by psychologists. This article argues that Maslow’s theory features many flaws, such as its fuzziness when it came the main concept of self-actualization and stipulate that the main disagreement reported towards it by psychologists is the fact that itRead MoreHumanistic Theories Debate On Abraham Maslow And Carl Rogers1617 Words   |  7 PagesHumanistic Theories Debate Team B – Anthony Garcia, Becky Billison, Cher Keen, Britanie McKernan, Megan Groulx PSY/310 September 7, 2015 Dr. Sadie Fine â€Æ' Humanistic Theories Debate In the debate between Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers, both whom are humanistic theorists that share a mutual interest in the teachings of self-actualization, will discuss the specifics of their individual theories regarding the main points, their contributions, and the criticism they have received about their theories. We willRead MoreKurt Maslow s Concept Of Self Actualization1115 Words   |  5 PagesRogers self-actualization theory continues to have significant influence in contemporary psychology. Both Maslow and Rogers discussed the concept of self-actualization in their theories. Though there is some overlap, there are some significant differences in the way they use this term. In this assignment you are to compare and contrast their views on self-actualization. Answer the following questions: 1. Briefly describe Maslow’s concept of self-actualization Abraham Maslow s concept of self-actualizationRead MoreA Nursing Practice Theory : Unifying Holistic Approach Essay933 Words   |  4 PagesA Nursing Practice Theory: Unifying Holistic Approach Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Influences of Theory and Theorist It is undeniable that Maslow is one of the most famous and influential psychologists, whose theory is a base for various motivation theories. Maslow`s Hierarchy of Needs theory explains the drives and the urges that govern human behavior. However, there were many other famous psychologists influencing Maslow during his lifetime; indeed, this fact greatly shaped his professional stanceRead MoreAbraham Maslow s Influence On The Human Psyche1660 Words   |  7 PagesAbraham Maslow. He is cited as one of the top ten psychologists of all time, which is not an easy task to achieve. Abraham Maslow was born on April 1 in 1908 in Brooklyn New York. He comes from a Jewish background with his parents coming from Russia as immigrants to the United States of America. Maslow’s childhood was not a good or easy one as one would think of such a successful person. His father and mother more times than not often ill treated him, which led to his poor self esteem. Maslow oftenRead MorePsychology : The Positive Psychology Movement1269 Words   |  6 Pagesaspects in determining how to enhance the personality by helping individuals recognize their human potential to learn and achieve. In this assignment one will compare the view points of Maslow, Rogers, and the positive psychology movement concerning individual personality. Recent studies have shown that personality theory and assessment plays an important role in the new era of positive psychology. Positive psychology today, emphasizes that personal strengths and their contribution to an individual well-being

Opinions and Social Pressure Essay - 939 Words

Solomon E. Asch â€Å"Opinions and Social Pressure† Salomon E. Asch in his essay â€Å"Opinions and Social Pressure† conducted an experiment to determine effects of group pressure towards an individual and concluded that there is a very strong tendency to conformity even when doing so conflicting with their own senses of morality. In the experiment a group of young students have to compare length of lines on two different sheets of paper. On one of them there is a sample single line and on the other one there are three lines only one of which is same size as the sample line from the first sheet. People taking part in this experiment are instructed to point at lines that are the same length. At first, during the experiment the group is†¦show more content†¦Breaking up unanimity of the group in given answers has a significant effect. In the experiment it is also noted that the rate of wrong answers depends to a considerable degree on how wrong the majority is. E ven with significant difference in length of lines there were still individuals who agree with majority error. For those participating in this experiment almost all declare that independence was preferable to conformity. â€Å"Life in society requires consensus as an indispensable conditions. But consensus, to be productive, requires that each individual contribute independently out of his experience and insight. (†¦) We have found that tendency to conformity in our society so strong that reasonably and well- meaning young people are willing to call white black is a matter of concern† (Salomon E. Asch â€Å"Opinion and Social Pressure† pp.730). The experiment has proven that we live in times where opinion become very subjective and can be easily modified. Social techniques are wildly used in marketing and sales or even by lobbyist in governmental decision making process. The uncertainty of people own senses, opinion or knowledge can be easily abused. Asch’s experiment implements how people believe in the obvious lies. It’s shows simple ways of influencing perception, judgment and action. Results of this experiment trigger a number of social and scientifically researches like study of BernsShow MoreRelatedOpinions and Social Pressure Response Essay729 Words   |  3 Pagesï » ¿Asch, Solomon E. â€Å"Opinions and Social Pressure.† Scientific America. 193.5 (1995): 31-35. Rpt. in Writing and Reading Across the Curriculum. Eds. Laurence Behrens and Leonard J. Rosen.12th ed. New York: Pearson Inc., 2013. 655-659. Print. McLeod, Saul. â€Å"Asch Experiment.† SimplyPsychology.org. Simply Psychology, 2008. Web. 28 August 2014. Summary: In the article, â€Å"Opinions and Social Pressure† by Solomon E. Asch, he states that social pressure from a majority group could influenceRead MoreUnderstanding Social Influence On Online Choice1024 Words   |  5 PagesUnderstanding Social Influence in Online Choice is a study that was focused on the role of social influence in online recommender systems. Haiyi Zhu and Bernardo A. Huberman, the authors of the study, were interested in studying how often peoples’ choices are affected by other individuals’ endorsements. The hypothesis of the study is that individuals â€Å"are more likely to reverse their opinions when the reversion causes less self-inconsistency (the confirmation pressure is weaker) or the opposing social opinionsRead MoreGroup Minds1068 Words   |  5 PagesENG1050 July 9, 2012 Dismissing your own individual opinions to reach group consensus, now that’s negative peer pressure! Peer pressure will always be a problem and can affect anyone. I say that because no matter where you’re from or who you are, peer pressure is lurking about. Anytime you’re pressured to do something and your conscience is telling you not to do it, and you follow through with the task anyway, that is dismissing your opinion just to please other group members. Not wanting to beRead MoreThe Psychology behind Social Pressure Essay1108 Words   |  5 Pagesusually brought together through forms of social pressure and preconceived notions of moral obligation. Furthermore, these groups are often characterized by the absence of individualism and a sense of obliviousness towards how their unspoken rules influences their view of the world as a whole. Moreover, group minds also involve social pressures, often enticing some to forsake their opinions to fit the given status q uo of the group. Indeed, humans are social creatures that want to feel as if their participationRead MoreDangers of Authority and Social Pressures Essay1298 Words   |  6 PagesHitler and Mussolini were both individuals that used social influences throughout history . Each of these evil villains used authority and social pressure to persuade and manipulate people into performing acts that they wouldn’t normally do . Hitler and Mussolini legitimized their authority through immoral actions and fear and abused their authority. This is important because authority and social pressures are one of the most dangerous combinations there are. The use of these two socially acceptedRead MorePeer Pressure Essay693 Words   |  3 Pagesclear point of view on a specific contemporary issue and argue how it has and will continue to have an impact on your generation. Peer Pressure. We have all at one stage in our lives, experienced it. We all know what it feels like to be pressured by a peer. Peer pressure today impacts on kids of my generation in a huge aspect. Teenagers feel social pressure in numerous ways such as clothing, music and entertainment choices, to unsafe areas such as drugs, alcohol and smoking. During adolescenceRead MoreTo What Extent Do Pressure Groups Undermine Democracy in the Us?796 Words   |  4 Pageswhat Extent do Pressure Groups undermine Democracy in the US? For some, pressure groups are a fundamental part of democracy. To others, pressure groups undermine the whole principle of democracy. Democracy is a system of government where decisions are arrived at by majoritarian principles with representatives elected at periodic elections where political equality and political freedom allow the voter an effective choice between competing candidates in a secret ballot. How do pressure groups fit inRead MoreDiscrimination In Society In Small Town Boy1204 Words   |  5 Pagesit talks about who the author’s mother feels are real women. City women are repeatedly belittled in the poem, despite their appearance is a result of the pressure put on them by society. Meanwhile, the city women ignore the troubles that the Aboriginal community was put through to set their own standards. The poem refers to the different opinions from the lack of understanding and existing preconceptions in the communities. People are constantly being pressured to cha nge to fit with society’s standardsRead MoreLeadership Style And Its Affect On Teams981 Words   |  4 Pagesrelieve possible pressure of fitting in to a group or team. In the 1930’s Kurt Lewin argued three major styles of leadership Autocratic, Democratic and Laissez-fair (Manktelow, n.d.). Kurt’s simple but effective categorized leadership models provided a foundation to many different leadership theories. An Autocratic leader is one who makes decisions without the help or input of others. Because this leader doesn’t consult with the team, team members may feel as though their opinion doesn’t matterRead MoreI Am A Citizen Of A Free Society914 Words   |  4 PagesThese days in our country we like to believe that we have the power to do as we please. Lessing makes a remarkable suggestion about our minds under social pressure. â€Å"I am a citizen of a free society, and that mean I am an individual, making individual choices. My mind is my own, my opinions are chosen by me, I am free to do as I will.(Pg.595)† is bad because indeed we do not want to be individuals, we all want to be a part of something and the h onest truth is we can’t stand being alone for a long

Abortion An Accidental Termination Of A Human Pregnancy

Introduction Abortion is defined as the intentional termination of a human pregnancy. An abortion is often done so that the birth of a child doesn’t happen. Some say abortion is wrong and sinful while others say it’s a good idea since it won’t bring an unwanted child into the world. Abortion is also considered morally wrong since its killing a growing baby or fetus as it is often referred as. Abortion can also be seen as murder since the process of abortion kills the baby. Some argue that it should be the woman’s decision but what about the baby? Doesn’t he/she get the right to live? It might not be moral but is it legal to have an abortion procedure in the U.S? Does the government stand by this heinous act? Now, when women make these kind of decisions do they look at what it could possibly do to their health, how is it affected? Don’t they feel any remorse for this horrible deed? How can people continue living a perfectly normal life knowing that they ag reed to kill a defenseless baby? Not all the reasons to get and abortion are wrong some might be life threatening cases like the child might not make it to birth or the mother is not strong enough and both lives are at risk. Possibly the woman got raped and doesn’t want the baby to be the constant reminder of that incident. But is that a good enough reason to take someone’s life? For the foreseeable future abortion will be an extremely hot topic for discussion. Women rights A lot of people argue that abortion should goShow MoreRelatedAbortion : An Accidental Termination Of A Human Pregnancy1272 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction Abortion is defined as the intentional termination of a human pregnancy. An abortion is often done so that the birth of a child doesn’t happen. Some say abortion is wrong and sinful while others say it’s a good idea since it won’t bring an unwanted child into the world. Abortion is also considered morally wrong since its killing a growing baby or fetus as it is often referred as. Abortion can also be seen as murder since the process of abortion kills the baby. Some argue that it shouldRead MoreIs Abortion Wrong? Abortion? Essay863 Words   |  4 PagesTonitta Tottress Kelly Eliis 11/1/14 Eng. 1302 Is Abortion Wrong? What is abortion? Well some say it’s the deliberate termination of a human pregnancy, most often performed during the first 28 weeks of pregnancy. Maybe it’s when the pregnancy is ended so that it does not result in the birth of a child known as termination birth (www.bpas.org) and last but not least from the Palo Alto Medical Foundation, they state that â€Å"abortion is ending a pregnancy before the fetus (unborn child) can live independentlyRead MoreThe Morality of Abortion Essay1413 Words   |  6 PagesThe Morality of Abortion On the question of abortion being moral, the answer is clearly that terminating a fetus life under certain circumstances is not only moral, but it is also our responsibility to terminate it if the quality of life is in question for the fetus. A second major reason is that to declare abortion immoral would mean that we would have to consider the factor of how the conception came about. This cannot and should not be done. Quality is a major factor in the questionRead MoreAgainst Or Forward About Abortion1749 Words   |  7 PagesForward about Abortion Today’s society consists of many health concerns, unresolved, and controversial issues. Many of these issues can be viewed in relation to one’s morals, ethics, and religious beliefs. This creates a society that is divided by opposing viewpoints. The 2012 Merriam-Webster dictionary defines abortion as, â€Å"The termination of a pregnancy after, accompanied by, resulting in, or closely followed by the death of the embryo or fetus as a spontaneous expulsion of a human fetus duringRead MoreAbortion: Murder or Necessity766 Words   |  4 PagesAbortion: Murder or Necessity Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo before it is viable. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced. Abortion, when induced in accordance with the local law, is among the safest procedures in medicine. However, unsafe abortions (those performed by persons without proper training or outside of a medical environment)Read MoreLegalization of Abortion: A Controversy2153 Words   |  9 PagesAbortion Should abortion be legalized? Part One: Introduction and Thesis Abortion is the termination to a pregnancy after the baby has been conceived. It basically involves the woman putting an end to her underdeveloped embryo or the fetus. This may be done at different stages of the pregnancy and may be done for various reasons. The controversy exists between whether or not this is ethical and whether it should be legalized. Some countries allow the woman to put an end to her pregnancy withRead MoreOn Thomson s A Defense Of Abortion Essay1278 Words   |  6 PagesOn Thomson’s â€Å"A Defense of Abortion† Abortion is the intentional and deliberate termination of a human pregnancy that results in the death of a fetus. It is a practice that has sparked many debates centering around arguments over women’s right and fetal rights. Judith Jarvis Thomson’s essay, â€Å"A Defense of Abortion,† argues that a fetus’s right to life does not always override a women’s right over her own body and thus abortion is not morally impermissible. By using thought experiments, ThomsonRead MoreShould Abortion Be Banned?1847 Words   |  7 Pages An abortion is an induced and sudden termination of pregnancy. There are two types of abortions, Medical and Surgical. The medical method involves taking two pills within 24 hours of each other thus killing the fetus, but this method is usually done during 3-7 weeks of pregnancy. The surgical method, on the other hand involves a doctor removing the inner lining of the womb, either manual vacuum aspiration or di latation suction curettage. Both of these methods use a suction processRead MoreThe Issue Of Value Of Abortion1558 Words   |  7 Pagesher life is valued, and an unborn child is no different. Abortion is murder and should be put to an end now. Although one may call an unborn child useless, or out of touch with physical reality, it would be a ghastly mistake to say that an unborn child’s life is of no value. This is type of message that abortion is portraying in society. The word abortion means deliberate termination of a human pregnancy. Additionally, the evil of abortion has a negative impact on the quality of the mother’s lifeRead MoreEthical Theories Of The Debate Over Abortion1741 Words   |  7 Pagesof them is that it is considered selfish. Egoism, is not necessarily selfish in that it may be in your own self-interest to do something for others. To help further explain my understanding of egoism, I’d like to bring up the topic of abortion. The debate over abortion has been going on for a while. As time goes by, my opinions on the topic have changed, especially when I learn about the different arguments each side makes. I will take some arguments from both sides to help explain egoism. Through

The Art and Influence of El Greco Essay Example For Students

The Art and Influence of El Greco Essay Changes of fashion may be arbitrary, but changes of taste are not. The latter are always to be traced to some more or less conscious need on the part of the community. What we call the vogue or popularity of an artist  whether his medium be literature, music, or the fine arts, is the product of something sound or shallow, trivial or serious, in the hearts and minds of the people for which he has found an expression. The mood of the people changes  and that artists vogue suffers an eclipse; only, however, to shine forth again when a later generation rediscovers the same mood. It is in this way and for this reason that the vogue of certain artists of the past becomes renewed. Thus, the late century witnessed a revival of inter- est in Rembrandt, Velasquez, Hals, Goya and still more recently in El Greco. This artist of the Spanish School, Domenico Theotocopuli, was born in Crete; whence the nickname of El Greco, â€Å"The Greek. The date of his birth is unknown, but, it is conjectured, was about 15-18. He was, therefore, a contemporary of Titian and Tintoretto. He is known to have spent some years in Venice, and to have been a pupil of Titian, while it is also evident that Tintoretto influenced him. A letter is still extant recommending El Greco to a Cardinal in Rome as a young man of great promise, who had already painted a por- trait that causes wonderment to all the painters in Rome.† The next record concerning the artist shows that in 1577 lie was living in Toledo and had painted an altar-piece for the Church of San Domingo el Antigua. This picture is now owned by the Chicago Art Institute. Such other documents as exist deal mainly with contracts for commissions and occasional disputes over the amounts of payments; while one records the artist’s death. On 7th April, 1614, died Domenico Greco. He left no will. He received the Sacraments, was buried in Santo Domingo el Antigua; and gave candles.† Spain has been notoriously careless about the records of her famous men, which partly accounts for the dearth of information regarding El Greco. The latter, however, seems to have been a man of great reserve; wrapped up in his work and in the society of a few chosen friends. As in the case of most great artists, the record of his life is really the record of his art. How did El Greco satisfy the con- scious need of his own time? When we have answered this, we shall be in a position to understand why he has again become a vogue in our own day. Briefly, then, in the last quarter of the  sixteenth century and the first of the seventeenth—the period of El Greco’s greatness—Spain was the foremost cham- pion of Catholicism. For nearly a thousand years her sovereigns had borne the proud title of Catholic Kings’’; and for nearly eight hundred her people had held aloft the banner of the Faith against the Infidel Moor, until the latter had been finally driven from the land. Chivalry and Catholicism were the breath of life in the stern, haughty hidalgos, sons of somebody†; and, when the Faith everywhere else was threatened by the inroads of the Reformation, they became the leaders of the Counter-Reformation. To the weapons of reason they held up the shield of Faith, and made up for the falling away of other nations by their own burning devotion to the Church. Their chivalric fervor glowed with an intense flame of religious mysticism; and the white core of this spiritual volcano was Toledo, whose Cathedral was known throughout Christendom as Toledo the Rich.† Such, in a few words, was the spiritual environment of El Greco. Being a man of intense dcvoutness and exalted imagination, he became the artist of this movement; interpreting the Toledans to themselves and giving expression to their spiritual exaltation. His earlier pictures, such as the one now in Chicago, still show much of the influence of Titian. But, as the influence of Toledo penetrated his mind and soul he gradually found a means of expressing what he felt, until he formed a style peculiarly his own. Though it was appreciated by the finer minds of his own time, both ecclesiastical and lay, it puzzled many people, including the King, Philip II. As they could not understand it, they assumed that the fault was the artist’s and dubbed him crazy; which, by the way, is the fate of most great imaginative minds. .u2d6ddc2b5500e5df45210508b636d9b3 , .u2d6ddc2b5500e5df45210508b636d9b3 .postImageUrl , .u2d6ddc2b5500e5df45210508b636d9b3 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u2d6ddc2b5500e5df45210508b636d9b3 , .u2d6ddc2b5500e5df45210508b636d9b3:hover , .u2d6ddc2b5500e5df45210508b636d9b3:visited , .u2d6ddc2b5500e5df45210508b636d9b3:active { border:0!important; } .u2d6ddc2b5500e5df45210508b636d9b3 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u2d6ddc2b5500e5df45210508b636d9b3 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u2d6ddc2b5500e5df45210508b636d9b3:active , .u2d6ddc2b5500e5df45210508b636d9b3:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u2d6ddc2b5500e5df45210508b636d9b3 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u2d6ddc2b5500e5df45210508b636d9b3 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u2d6ddc2b5500e5df45210508b636d9b3 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u2d6ddc2b5500e5df45210508b636d9b3 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u2d6ddc2b5500e5df45210508b636d9b3:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u2d6ddc2b5500e5df45210508b636d9b3 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u2d6ddc2b5500e5df45210508b636d9b3 .u2d6ddc2b5500e5df45210508b636d9b3-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u2d6ddc2b5500e5df45210508b636d9b3:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Renaissance art (Donatello)To grasp the meaning of El Greco’s style it must be noted, in the first place, that it was based on what was peculiarly the genius of all Spanish painting: natu- ralism. But while the other painters of Spain were satisfied, either, like Velasquez, to bring the naturalistic represen- tation to the highest point of truth of appearance; or, as in the case of Mu- rillo, adopted the naturalistic motive to an expression of the sentiment of religion, El Greco interpreted the natural in relation to its spiritual environment. He was, in fact, a realist; in the sense that quite recently we are learning to use the word. He painted not only the fact, but the soul of the fact; made visi- ble to the eye its spiritual environment. Turn, for example, to The Funeral of Count Ozgaz,† El Greco’s masterpiece, which hangs in the church of Santo Tome, Toledo. Where will you find a group more grave and dignified? But the artist did not limit himself to naturalism. El Greco has intentionally exag- gerated the length and leanness of the figure of Christ for the purpose of enforcing the spiritual significance. For the same reason he has made the clouds like draperies. In this part of his picture he is using form, but as a symbol of spiritual expression. He makes the spiritual fact visible to the eye through the medium of the forms. The result is a great realistic picture based upon naturalism out of which grows the spiri- tual significance. This, in a word, is the secret of all El Greco’s characteristic work. He used form, color, composition, and lighting, all as symbols „f expres- sion. The great end and aim of his art was expression. This brings us to the influence of El Greco in the present day. It corresponds with a growing need on the part of the community. The late century was occupied with material and scientific research and progress, at considerable ex- pense of spiritual ideas and ideals. In fact, the old spiritual values had been so jarred that they no longer served their purpose. By degrees, however, the old perennial truth, that man cannot live by bread alone, began to reassert itself. Men have begun to turn their gaze in- ward and outward, seeking some new reconciliation of the facts of matter and the facts of spirit. Art is slowly following suit. After a period, given over to representing the  things of sight, either purely objectively or colored by the temperament and mood of the artist, a reaction has set in. Pro- gressive painters have begun to realize that the greater portion of the art of the last fifty or sixty years has been in point of view essentially photographic; that in its naturalistic or impressionistic motive painting has simply been a more or less successful rival of the camera. In seeking to discover a field more exclusively its own, they have begun to realize that there is something higher than representation, namely, expression. The painter is forced to rely on representation as the foundation of his art; but he says, in effect, I will not paint a man for the sake of proving how nearly I can give you an illusion of the original, but for the sake of the amount of expression I can make the form inter- pret. It is not a new idea, but an old one revived; and the source of its present inspiration is the experience we have gained of Oriental art. We have discovered that the secret of the latter was a larger degree of abstraction. The Eastern artist was not so intent on making things look like things; but, while preserving sufficient suggestion of naturalness in the forms, treated them rather as symbols of expression. .ua74729d0897f81d5422dccb8bae262bd , .ua74729d0897f81d5422dccb8bae262bd .postImageUrl , .ua74729d0897f81d5422dccb8bae262bd .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ua74729d0897f81d5422dccb8bae262bd , .ua74729d0897f81d5422dccb8bae262bd:hover , .ua74729d0897f81d5422dccb8bae262bd:visited , .ua74729d0897f81d5422dccb8bae262bd:active { border:0!important; } .ua74729d0897f81d5422dccb8bae262bd .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ua74729d0897f81d5422dccb8bae262bd { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ua74729d0897f81d5422dccb8bae262bd:active , .ua74729d0897f81d5422dccb8bae262bd:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ua74729d0897f81d5422dccb8bae262bd .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ua74729d0897f81d5422dccb8bae262bd .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ua74729d0897f81d5422dccb8bae262bd .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ua74729d0897f81d5422dccb8bae262bd .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ua74729d0897f81d5422dccb8bae262bd:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ua74729d0897f81d5422dccb8bae262bd .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ua74729d0897f81d5422dccb8bae262bd .ua74729d0897f81d5422dccb8bae262bd-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ua74729d0897f81d5422dccb8bae262bd:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Art And It's Meaning EssayIt was when this more abstract use of form and this subordination of representation to expression began to occupy the artists of the present day that the vogue of El Greco began. He was recognized as a great master at once of naturalistic representation and of spiritual expres- sion ; and in the union of the two, a great Realist. One of the first modern artists to be seriously influenced by the Spaniard was the Frenchman, Paul Cà ©zanne, who died in 1905. His influence in France is operating with numbers of young artists, who are thinking and working along the lines that we have been discussing. Although they have their goal pretty clearly in vie w, they are groping for the road to reach it. For Cà ©zanne was a John the Baptist, preaching the way rather than definitely plotting it out. But an account of his work and genius must be reserved for another occasion.