Ivanhoe

Taoism is a religious, philosophical and ritual tradition originating in around the 3rd or 4th century. I plan to pursue how the religion was affected by the culture in which it arose. Specifically focusing on the fact that there are no real deities in Taoism. How was Taoism, or Daoism, shaped and influenced by Chinese culture to evolve into a religion that lacks prominent deities. I plan to explore how the teachings of the Dao De Jin, or Tao Te Ching, present the central entity in Taoism, the…

Alfred Hitchcock paints a portrait of an American family in his 1943 film Shadow of a Doubt. Set within picturesque Santa Rosa, California, the film examines the Newtons, who, on the surface, represent the archetypal middle class family living in a peaceful American town. However, Young Charlie, played by Teresa Wright, profoundly resents her “average” lifestyle, which appears to her as nothing more than an endless repletion of the same routine. Following the conventions of a Hitchcock film,…

In the mid 1800s, the desire for public education began to strive, as many American children were not given the oppurtunity to attend public school and learn vital information that would be crucial to their adulthood. Horace Mann, also known as “the father of American public schools,” led this movement for public education. Mann was born in 1796 and grew up with his poor family in Franklin, Massachusettes. Throughout his childhood, Mann would go to the Franklin public library, with the few…

Most Americans do not realize this, but water plays a significant part towards our survival. We use it for almost any basic need; drinking, cleaning, entertainment, and so on. Water is always there when we need it. However, in California, water is diminishing. Residents are finding out that they cannot take a shower, brush their teeth, or even drink water. “You don’t think of water as a privilege until you don’t have it anymore,” says Yolanda Serrato. Lakes and rivers are disappearing and…

The personal lives of many authors can be expressed in their work. Most famously known as the creator of the character Sherlock Holmes, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was a prime example of how authors can draw from past experiences to inspire their writing. The topics and characters seen in the historical and fictional writings of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle reflect his familial background, his career in the medical field, and his struggle with religion. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was born into a dysfunctional…