Analyse The Tourism Industry In Africa Tourism Essay

Analyse The Tourism Industry In Africa Tourism Essay This section will set out the means by which the case study will be conducted. First, the models which will be used to analyse the tourism industry in Africa will be explained Subsequently, this section will look at the methodology for the regression analysis. The models which will be used in the case study fall into two broad catagories. On the one hand, some models help define what the overall strategic framework for the African tourism industry might be, on the other, further models help formulate the best plans in more specific terms. Models to help formulate an overall strategic framework include Smiths problem identification theory, Oldham, Creemers and Rebecks model based on organisational objectives, and Hamel and Prahalads contingency view of matching model to circumstance. In addition, other models such as a simple SWOT analysis or PESTEL overview can help link strategy to circumstance Models which help generate add detail to the framework include Yoons Structural Equation Model and the similar models developed first by Crouch and Ritchie and later by Dwyer and Kim based around destination competitiveness and a hierarchy of priorities. This section of the dissertation will look in more detail at the models which will be used in the case study, briefly outlining their theory and making clear how they work. 3.1 Overall Strategic Framework Models This section outlines models which can help formulate overall strategic frameworks, and which will be used in the case study of Africa, below. The section will look at the notion of Butlers lifecycle planning and destination visioning. Strategic planning needs to incorporate a long term perspective, the development of a holistic, integrated plan to manage change through goal formation and also formalise a decision process around the distribution of destination resources. Such a plan should also allow quick responses to changing situations. Kotler et al have been influential in helping shape this overview of what such planning must incorporate. Strategic planning is particularly important for sustainability, as goal setting allows all stakeholders to have input into the future of the destination and help create a clear shared vision. There are, however, problems, for example the views of different shareholders with different value systems might be difficult to reconcile (Cooper 2002). The Life Cycle approach offers a technique for destination management strategy and a way to incorporate a long-term perspective. By differentiating between different stages in the life of a destination, management approaches can be tailored to these stages. The notion was developed by Butler (1980), who suggested that destinations cycle through six sequential stages: exploration, involvement, consolidation, stagnation and decline / rejuvenation (see figure 1) (Dong et al 2004). Stage Tourist Characteristics Local consequences Exploration Visitors explorers, travel individually, irregular patterns, predominant attraction natural Locals do not understand needs of visitors Involvement Start of variation in tourist numbers, low/high season. Man made facilities appear Residents start to dedicate resources to visitors, some advertising Consolidation Visitor numbers reach plateau. Package tours. Local economy dependent upon tourism. Stagnation Destination well established but loses fashion. Peak capacity reached. Tourists psychocentric Local economy dependent on tourism Decline Some destinations decline decrease in market Impact on local economy as visitors decline Rejvenation others recover by changing attractions, new natural resources Further pressure on local economy Figure 1: Butlers life cycle (adapted) It is possible to adapt the idea of the life cycle to integrate sustainable tourism with appropriate management strategies at each stage of the cycle with holistic planning (Bramwell and Lane 1993). One useful approach is Life Cycle Analysis (Jain 1985) which combines the notion of the life cycle with Porters competitive position (dominant to weak). This is set out in figure 2 (Cooper 2003). Competitive Position Stages of Industry Maturity Embryonic Growth Mature Aging Dominant Fast growing Start up Fast growing, leadership Renewing Defending position Defend position, Renew, cost leadership Defend position Focus Renew Adapt Strong Start up Differentiate Growth Fast growth Catch-up Differentiate Attain cost leadership Renew Focus Change with industry Find and retain niche Grow with industry Harvest Favourable Start up Differentiate Focus Grow Differentiate Focus Grow with industry Find and hold niche Renew Turnaround Differentiate Grow with industry Retrench Turnaround Tenable Start up Grow with Industry Focus Harvest, Catch-up Find niche Hold niche Focus Grow with industry Harvest Turnaround Retrench Divest Retrench Weak Find niche Catch up Grow with industry Turnaround Retrench Withdraw Divest Withdraw Figure 2: Jains Life Cycle Matrix (adapted from Cooper, 2003) Another useful approach is that of Destination Visioning. This was suggested by Ritchie (1994) as a way to address the needs of strategic planning for tourism. This approach places power in the hands of the community, including local government, residents and businesses who have a central role in creating a strategic plan for the destination. There are three key ideas involved in Ritchies destination visioning. First, the vision needs to bring together the views the entire community as well as other stakeholders. Second, all involved parties need to agree about the vision, and third, the vision needs to incorporate long-term development plans. Cooper (2002) elaborates a practical strategy for delivering this vision with firstly a destination audit the commissioning of research to look at the nature of tourism in the region currently, the second stage position stagements for key areas including market, investment, environment, and followed by visioning workshops perhaps the most imp ortant element with workshops held around the area to find out the views of all community members about tourism in the area. This feeds into the next stage Development of the Vision where results are analysed and used to prepare a development plan. Finally, this is followed by the implementation scale. While there are acknowledged difficulties with Destination visioning for example problems in making sure all community views are gathered, and difficulties gaining agreement on some areas, it seems a useful tool for developing a sustainable tourism plan (Cooper, 2002) The case study will also bear in mind Oldham, Creemers and Rebecks (2000) model based in purpose and objective, and the more contingent approach championed by both Pazstor (2001) and Hamel and Prahalad (1994). While there has been much discussion regarding whether strategic frameworks are a useful tool for developing organizations and ventures, perhaps due to the rapid change in the business environment, it is assumed in this study that they can add value and help formulate a better plan to deal with the future. They will be used in the case study to provide an overview for the tourism industry in Africa. 3.2 Models to Add Depth and Detail This section sets out further models which will be used to add detail and depth to the case study by helping flesh out the overall strategic framework for African Tourism as it faces the next 10 years. Models of micro and macro environments can be useful, as are resource based views. A model by Yoon, and one based on ideas from Porter, developed by Crouch and Ritchies (1999) and Dwyer and Kim (2003) are also discussed. Many useful models look at the macro and micro environments. The macro environment equates to the external environment and involves the identification of threats and opportunities to the enterprise. Tools such as PESTEL (which looks at Political, Economic, Social, Technical, Enrivonmental and Legal issues) or STEEP (Socio-demographic, Technological, Economic, Environmental and Political influences) are useful here. Other approaches extend these analyses by including international communications and infrastructure for example. The micro environment, on the other hand, looks at the immediate competitive threats to the enterprise. Here Porters five force model to understand competitive position (see figure 4) is useful (The hospitality leisure sport and tourism network 2011 online) Suppliers STRATEGIC POSITION Barriers to Entry Substitutes Buyers Competitive Rivalry Figure 3: Porters Five Force Model Porters model is based upon an economic model called Structure-Conduct-Performance (SCP), which assumes that the structure of an organization and the industry in which it operates dictates how that organization behaves, and in turn this determines profit (performance) (Henry 2008). The model helps an organization or enterprise determine the merits of any course of action by looking at the way the five forces Porter identifies are interacting. While Porter developed the model from the point of view of organizations already operating in an area, it is also valuable for organizations or enterprises determining whether to enter a competitive environment (Henry 2008). Another useful approach is to look at organisational resources and competencies. The Resource Based View (RBV) looks in detail at the internal resources of the enterprise to work out how these can be used to gain maximum advantage. Porters value chain EXPLAIN concept can be used to understand these core competencies (The Hospitality, Leisure, Sport and Tourism Network 2011 [online]) Yoons Structural Equation Model concerns the perspective of stakeholders in the tourism enterprise. It sets out the relationship between five areas: tourism development impacts, environmental attitudes, place attachment, development preferences about tourism attractions, and support for destination competitive strategy. The first three are exogenous, the latter two endogenous. Residents support for any future tourism, in the model, is determined by the way they perceive various aspects of tourism. Each of four elements or dimensions influences the total tourism impact, which in turn impacts upon the support for future tourism development. Yoons model is based in social exchange theory, which suggests that people are more likely to take part in an exchange if they think they will benefit from the exchange and will not occur too many costs. Residents need to perceive the benefits of tourism outweighing the disadvantages in order that they give their support to future developments. The model is set out in fig 4 (Yoon et al 2001) Economic Impact Social Impact Support for Tourism Total Impact Cultural Impact Environmental Impact Figure 4: Yoons Model Crouch and Ritchie develop a model based on idea of competitive and comparative advantages, including human, physical and knowledge resources, capital, infrastructure, historical and cultural resources. In this model, attractions are the basic building blocks of a destinations appeal to the public, and act as key motivators for visits. They can include cultural and natural elements. The model moves beyond merely listing advantages to incorporate a way to understand the relationships between the factors in a Conceptual Model of Destination which looks at the micro environment (the competitive situation), the macro (global) environment, core resources and attractors for primary destination appeal elements, supporting or secondary destination appeal elements and also qualifying determinants. Dwyer and Kim develop a model, strongly influenced by Crouch and Ritchie (Kozak and Andreu 2006), based around destination competitiveness that allows comparisons to be made between countries. They base competitiveness between destinations in terms of the various characteristics of a destination which make it desirable to visit. They also suggest that these factors can be managed in a process of Destination Management, promoting the appeal of core resources, strengthening their quality and adapting to contingent conditions (Dwyer and Kim 2003). Tourist destination attractiveness include natural resources (scenery, parks etc) and artificial resources (museums, hotels, culture). Administrative factors should increase attractiveness of basic resources and amplify their appeal. Administration should be conducted efficiently and with adaptation to contingencies (Navickas and Malakauskaite 2009). Factors form a hierarchy, with natural resources the base of a pyramid, followed by created re sources, then administration. Above these levels is the need for a cohesive policy and development. This pyramid will be used to structure the case study discussion. The similarities between the two models are drawn out in figure 5: Dwyer and Kim (Integrated Model) Crouch-Ritchie Model Natural Resources Cultural / Heritage Resources Core Resources (Climate, Culture, Activities Mix, Special Events, Entertainment etc) Supporting Factors and Resources (General Infrastructure, quality of service, accessibility of destination, hospitality) Supporting Factors and Resources (Infrastructure, Accessibility, Hospitality, Enterprise) Destination Management Destination Management Situational conditions Destination Policy, Planning, Development Competitive (micro) environment Global (macro) environment Demand Conditions Qualifying and Amplifying Determinants Figure 5: Dwyer and Kim, Crouch Ritchie Models (adapted from Dwyer and Kim 2003) 3.3 Regression Analysis In addition to the tools outlined above which will be used to inform the case study, this study will also include data interrogation. Data will be collected from Africa as a whole and East and West Africa as sub regions to determine the change over time for key variables upon tourism. A regression analysis will also be included on the data. Regression analysis is a statistical technique used to predict the value of one variable when we know the values of other variables. It models the relationship between two or more variables (Cohen 2007). Simple linear regression helps identify the most representative straight line connecting two sets of variables, which multiple regression maps the relationships between more than two variables. The latter will be used in this case. (Buglear 2004). 4. Case Study: African Tourism 4.1 Overview of Africa and Tourism using Business Models and Tools The methodology has set out a number of useful tools for analysing the resources of Africa as a tourist destination, which can be used in turn to develop an overall strategy for tourism, both in Africa overall and with references to differences between East and West. The following will discuss Africa in these terms, first using tools identified in the literature review such as PESTEL, STEEP and Porters Five Forces to look at Africas current position, and then taking a wider strategic view, again drawing upon tools and models discussed in the methodology.   Ã‚  While tools such as PESTEL and STEEP distinguish different areas of consideration, to some extent these divisions are artificial, and the areas overlap to some extent. 4.1.1 The Political Situation Most available information relates to the political and economic climate in Africa, and what it means for tourism.   Tourists are, for example, highly sensitive to political instability, and can fear for their personal safety. It has been suggested (Okech 2010) that only democratic countries with a respect for law and human rights can create the stability which is necessary for tourism development. The political history of Africa is complex, with many countries facing severe political problems which have their roots in colonialism and its aftermath. The Cold War and, more recently, Globalisation, have also had an impact. However, international news coverage can lead to a skewed notion that Africa is a state of ongoing political crisis. In fact, most of the countries which make up Africa, despite problems, are not in meltdown. In addition, the 1990s saw a movement dubbed Africas Second Liberation or Second Independence with more than 20 countries moving from authoritarian regimes to more democratic decision making.   To some extent however, countries are still marked by (Exploring Africa 2011 [online]) lack of democracy and plagued by rivalries between ethnic, religious and regional groups. Human rights abuses, corruption and authoritarian regimes still exist.   Ã‚  This can prove a disincentive to more main-stream tourists. Despite these problems, Many African governments are aware of the potential of tourism. Tourism allows governments to profit financially as they gain both through taxes and indirectly through duties upon items tourists buy including drink, petrol and hotel accommodation. To this the income from foreign exchanges and tax on those employed in the tourism sector can be added (Okech 2010).   Countries are consequently   investing heavily in tourism development, attempting both to promote their countries and to redeem the image of the destination. For example, Nigerias Federal Capital Territory have allocated large resources to tourism (Kareen 2008). This new focus on tourism has been further fuelled by international development agencies such as the World Bank, the International Finance Corporation, the British Department for International Development and the SNV Netherlands Development Organisation. However, investment from outside needs to be matched by government policy in order that investment can contribute to economic and social development in the most joined-up way.   Ã‚  Cross-border initiatives are also increasingly important, as tourists frequently travel across a number of African countries during their stay.   The New Partnership for Africas Development (NPAD [online] 2010), for example, sees a number of African companies join together together with a shared   recognition that tourism has great potential for economic development. Through   Ã‚  the Tourism Action Plan the NPAD set out a strategy for managing this potential. The strategy encompasses including key objectives such as creating a regulatory environm ent, strengthening planning, improving marketing and communications, promoting research and development, formulating education and skills training, and improvements to infrastructure (Rogerson 2007). Many individual countries have a range of strategies to boost tourism. Some offer incentives; for example Tanzania has reduced visa costs. Some governments develop incentives for industry by offering, for example, help with marketing cash subsidies, business finance or skills development.   Lack of funding is always an issue especially in countries like Africa where there are high levels of poverty, and tourism might seem less of an immediate priority. In addition to initiatives by individual countries, there is a move towards establishing links between African countries to help tourism, as visitors often want to see more than one country. An example is a recent links between Angola and Nambia, another the Peace Parks trans-frontier conservation areas, parks which cross boundaries and which need joint management by governments. The Peace Park foundation was created 1997 and there are now 10 established parks. Governments are learning from more established destinations,   for example South Africa (Euromonitor 2010) However, it is also recognised that governments need to take pro-active approach which takes into account input from all stakeholders, and that there is a need to draft policies and through consultation with all residents. There is an equal need for planning control, investment incentives in order to include even the poorest areas in initiatives (Okech 2010). However, while this aim is clearly desirable, it has to be questioned whether African countries will be able to implement this in practice, given some history of less than fair business practices and the existence of bribery and corruption in the past. This is an under-researched area where more primary research would be welcomed. 4.1.2 Economic Aspects In terms of the economy, Africa overall has acknowledged problems including economic stagnation, international debts, deficits, rising inflation and lack of growth (Rogerson 2007).   Ã‚  There are some signs that the economy is slowly improving, especially in terms of international trading relations, and particularly relationships with China and India.   For example, Africa-China trade was 10.6 billion dollars in 2000, 40 billion in 2005 and rose to 107 billion in 2007. Already over 700 Chinese companies operate in sub-Saharan Africa. China has also been involved in the development of Infrastructure including roads and other transport links. Oil producing regions in Africa, for example Sudan, Nigeria and Angloa, are growing in international importance (Euromonitor 2010). International investment has doubled in size between 2004 and 2005 due largely to the trend for China and other Asian countries to increase their presence and second the improvements to African infrastructure gen erally and particularly to the financial infrastructure including expansions of the debt and equity markets (Nelson 2007).   In addition, Africa seems to escaped the worst of the international recession: Africa as a whole has shown higher GDP growth than the global average, with a slight rise in average spend. However, the recession still had an impact due to a decline in visitors from regions hit by downturn more severely.   Despite these favourable signs for the future,   the African economy has declined in most countries over last few years with lower standards of living and higher levels of poverty. Naturally related problems including drought and famine play a part; in addition political factors contribute to this less than favourable outlook: for example Kenya suffered a decline after political violence in 2007/8 (Euromonitor 2010).   There has been some increase in poverty levels overall,   and falls to standards of living (Okech 2010).   There exist wide diversit ies between the different African countries in terms of Gross Domestic Product (Kareen 2008) Against this background, there is widespread hope that   tourism offers a way to   boost economy (Rogerson 2007). Where tourism infrastructure does currently exist, it is often foreign-owned.   There is evidence to suggest that this hope is well-founded: some countries in Africa, for example The Gambia and Ethiopia, have experienced 20% growth in tourism over the last 20 years. Rates of increase are different in different regions, but the trend is towards growth. Overall, over the same time period, Africa has been increasing its market share of the tourism industry with 60% of international tourists now visiting for leisure purposes. In 2005 Africa had the best performance for growth of international arrivals of all the world tourism organisation UNWTOs areas.   Tourism offers opportunities to all, as the market is growing, and has tripled between 1970 and 2003 with increases set to continue (Nelson 2007).   Tourism offers particular opportunities to Africa as it is relativ ely poor in exportable commodities.   This is confirmed by existing research. While there is a lack of published studies in the area, those that do exist back up the idea that tourism can work for Africa. For example, Fayissa, Nsiah and Tadasse (2007) found that tourism has contributed to the GDP and economic growth of African countries, and recommended strengthening the tourism industry for economic advantage. Other researchers writing about the benefits of tourism wider afield suggest that tourism is beneficial for economic growth particularly for developing (rather than developed) (Eugenio Martin et al 2004).   Other researchers found tourism played a positive role for the economy by increasing competition amongst providers of tourism services Krueger, 1980). In 2008, Kareen found, through analysis of panel data for 36 African countries, that tourism and economic growth are significantly related. He also suggests that tourism as an export product can be used to predict futur e economic growth in Africa. In addition, he suggests that there is a two-way relationship between tourism expenditure and economic growth with one feeding into the other. Higher tourism expenditure leads to higher growth, and acccalerated economic growth in turn leads to more tourism. He concludes that this relationship needs to be more widely recognised and integrated into strategy (Kareem 2008). Kareems study is a welcome addition to an area which currently lacks research. However, it is primarily concerned with statistical analyses of panel data, and less with discussing the implications for promoting tourism in Africa. More discussion would be welcome to clarify what his findings mean for the industry as a whole. The negative economic impact of tourism also needs to be kept in mind. The bulk of purchases made by tourists are non-exportable. By consuming produce of interest to the local market, tourism can make these more scarce and more expensive for local people   (Kareen 2008). Mass tourism can also have a negative impact on sustainability and the environment, which will be discussed later. One particularly important area of the economy and the impact of tourism is in the area of employment. Tourism is labour intensive, and creates a large amount of jobs including guides, interpreters, positions in travel, hotel vacancies, catering and entertainment, cultural and sports jobs. In addition it boost a number of jobs in the informal economy including prostitution and drugs.   Ã‚  Currently, tourism provides between 2 and 6% of jobs in Africa, with women representing 50% of the workforce.   Ã‚  While tourism offers the potential for increased employment, there are a number of problems to be negotiated. Current employment opportunities tend to be low or unskilled, and the infrastructure is lacking with little job security, little formal training or employee development, and few prospects for career development or personal improvement. Factors such as these cause a demoralised workforce and can impact upon productivity. In addition employment is seasonal with most travel t aking place in the northern hemisphere Winter, and with a quieter period between April to August.. This particularly effects beach destinations including Kenya in East Africa and Gambia in the West.   Many employees lose their job in low season. A further problem is that the concept of tourism is not universal. Many people in Africa, especially those in the more remote villages, do not understand the idea, and therefore fail to see the opportunities for employment and economic enhancement   (Kareem 2008). Economic considerations cannot be seen in isolation however. It should be noted that poverty, which is rife in Africa, is not just about income. It forms a complex two-way relationship with disease, literacy, the environment, education, access to justice, disempowerment and infant death (Okech 2010) 4.1.3. Other Factors While politics and economics are perhaps the most important factors to consider in devising a tourist policy for Africa, other factors play a part. One currently important socio-economic factor is the growth of interest in and demand for eco-travel, sustainability and pro-poor tourism.   Interest in these areas have been worldwide, as people have become increasingly aware of the consequences of mass market tourism. While it can bring economic advantage to tourist destinations, there are also many negative consequences including damage to the region environmentally, displacement of people, cultural upheaval, and (through foreign ownership) funds not benefiting local people. The original focus of sustainable tourism was upon protecting the environment, for example native species and bio-diversity were damaged by construction of hotels, roads and similar, but this focus has widened. The remit now includes social, economic and cultural facets, and encompasses varied areas including the greening of the industry by a new focus upon waste management and energy efficiency, protection of all resources from the environment to local cultures, the awareness of the importance of involving local communities in initiatives, and pro-poor measures (Kandari and Chandra 2004).    Africas environment is one of the key attractions for visitors, as it has many areas of natural beauty and interest (Spenceley 2008). Key natural attractions include Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, Okavango Delta in Botswana and the Namib Desert in Namibia (Bennett et al 2001). However, there are other issues which impact upon these natural attractions, and which make incorporating a sustainable perspective into tourism strategy imperative.   Parts of Africa are subject to severe climatic conditions, and the natural attractions are also threatened by human action, for example the destruction of the rain forest and savanna, and changes to the levels of bio-diversity amongst plants and animals. These environmental issues have led to political and cultural changes, for example as early as 1977 Gambia formulated the Banjal Declaration as a response to loss of wildlife. This aimed to protect biodiversity, conserve existing resources and ensure that species do not become extinct (Weaver 2001 ) Despite the relatively small size of the tourism industry in Africa currently, there has been widespread recognition of the need to promote sustainable development in the industry. The World Bank, for example, is committed to sustainable management in Africa in order to Enhance Livelihoods, Protect Peoples Health and Reduce Peoples Vulnerability to environmental risks. The African Region Environmental Strategy (ARES) also makes the support of environmentally oriented tourism a priority (World Bank 2001) Pro-Poor tourism is a fairly recent concept, which aims to ensure that revenue flows back go grass roots levels and entrepreneurs (Kareem 2008).   Pro-poor tourism is an initiative which hopes to increase benefits to poor locals from tourism, and tries to integrate these economic benefits in a way which will reduce poverty long-term. It characterizes an approach rather than a product or sector. It relates to sustainable tourism, and they have areas in common, but pro-poor tourism is different, with a higher focus upon poverty.   Many African countries are characterized by high levels of poverty, and there is a consequent need for strategy to incorporate pro-poor measures into tourism (Ashley et al 2001). Pro-poor tourism also helps the tourist fee

Last Judgment

The Last Judgment Michelangelo was one of the greatest artists of all time. He excelled in architecture, sculpture, painting, poetry, and engineering. He was a true Renaissance man who lived a long emotional life. In painting â€Å"The Last Judgment,† Michelangelo was able to incorporate all that he had learned about the human body. He was able to show the way the body moved, as well as its displays of unrestrained passion, overwhelming grief, or endless torment. This is what makes â€Å"The Last Judgment† such a unique and exceptional work of art. The Last Judgment is a canonical fresco by the Italian Renaissance master Michelangelo executed on the altar wall of the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City, Rome, Italy. It is forty-eight feet by forty-four feet masterpiece. The work took four years to complete and was done between 1536 and 1541 (preparation of the altar wall began in 1535. ) Michelangelo began working on it some twenty years after having finished the Sistine Chapel ceiling. Michelangelo returned to the Sistine Chapel as a sixty year old man in 1535 when he was commissioned by Pope Paul III (pontificate 1534 – 1549) to paint the Altar Wall. If his ceiling celebrates the creation of man, his Last Judgement, depicts the end of the world and the judgment that is said to follow. Michelangelo having been commissioned the wall looked for a long time at the big wall he was supposed to paint. He wanted to be sure to avoid some of the problems the ceiling frescoes had given him twenty-five years earlier. The wall had two windows. He had them blocked up so he would have a nice, empty surface. Next he worried about dampness seeping through from outside. That might spoil his painting. He decided not to paint the actual chapel wall but to build a second one of dried bricks in front of it and to leave a space between the two walls for ventilation. And to keep the dust from collecting on it he gave the new wall a slant. It slopes inward as it rises and overhangs at the top about a foot. At first Michelangelo planned to paint with oil paints and he had his helper Sebastiano del Piombo give the whole wall a coat of mortar with resin to seal it. But later he changed his mind and ordered him to chip his primer away. Michelangelo was an experienced fresco painter now and who knows what disagreeable surprises oils might give him. He would stick to fresco and would apply his own layer of sand and lime each day as he went. These preparations took a year. Meanwhile he worked on his characters . He began to paint in June 1536. It is said that Michelangelo fell off the scaffolding once when he was alone in the chapel. Though he was badly hurt he dragged himself home and crawled into bed in great pain. He refused to let anyone see him and wouldn’t open the door when they knocked. Finally, one of his friends, a doctor made his way up by a secret way from room to room until he found Buonarroti, who was in a desperate condition. Then his friend refused to go away or leave his side until he was better. The wall was unveiled on Halloween, 1541. He was 66 years old. It was twenty-nine years since the unveiling of the ceiling frescoes. The great painting scared people. Pope Paul III, who commissioned it, is supposed to have exclaimed when he saw it the first time: â€Å"Lord, please don’t charge me with my sins when you come on Judgment Day! This depiction of the second coming of Christ and the final judgment of humanity is not only a fresco but a beautiful piece of poetry. This painting is a grim reminder to the parishioners as well as the clergy (including the pope) that ultimately they too would be judged at the end of time. This painting depicts Christ surrounded by the saints and angels, judging all the souls of the human race as they rise or descend to heaven and hell where they will stay for all eternity. Most of the saints surrounding Jesus were martyrs and Michelangelo depicted them each holding the weapon or instrument of their martyrdom. The figures seem to swirl around Christ, this was a new way of depicting this scene because the other versions from earlier periods show it in neat horizontal layers. The central figure of Christ is literally judging and determining the fates of all of the human race with his hand raised gesturing to his decision. The emotion coming from the figure of Christ is so powerful that it almost seems like the figure of his mother, Mary, next o him is cower in fear of the whole scene. To the right you see the Archangel Michel reading form the book of souls assisting in the judgment process. Seen all over is figures of the saved rejoicing but you can also see the damned suffering or fearful of their fate like the figure below Christ on the right covering one eye terrified of his terrible fate. There are many elements to this artwork that tell the viewer th at not only Christians will be judged and sent to heaven but people of other religious back grounds will as well, as long as they have lived a moral life. The inclusion of Greek and Roman mythology is the biggest hint to this. Christ in the center surrounded by light shown as beardless and very muscular this is not just an expression of humanism but can be compared to the Greek god Apollo who was the god of the sun. What could be viewed as the reason for this is that Pope Clement VII studied Heliocentric Cosmology by Copernicus. This work stated that the sun was the center of the universe, so by placing Christ in the center of the fresco and mimicking the features of Apollo, Michelangelo places Jesus at the center of our spiritual universe. The boatman Charon from Greek and Roman mythology is also featured in this work at the bottom ferrying the damned souls to hell. Also, Minos from Greek mythology who was son of Zeus and Europa and king of Crete became one of the three judges of the underworld. Minos is seen in the bottom left corner of the work with a serpent coiled around him and this would determine which circle of hell the damned souls would be sent. It is also said that a Cardinal had judged Michelangelo’s work so as a sort of revenge he painted the portrait of the Cardinal as Minos. This could have been his way of poetically stating that only God and Christ can judge this world and if someone attempts to do what only God or Christ can do that there will be a special place in hell for that individual regardless of status within the church, as well as venting is frustration for the Cardinal. Michelangelo did not only provide portraits of individuals who upset him but other central figures of the church as was as himself. The figure on the right holding the a silver key and a gold key is St. Peter with the keys to heaven, this is actually a portrait of Pope Paul III. Also, the flayed skin of St. Bartholomew being held by him is a distorted self portrait of the artist. This continues to send the message that no one is exempt from the last judgment. By including Greek and Roman mythology as well as portraits of current people from the time of the frescos creation really drives the point home that no matter religious background or political status you will be judged fairly. The Last Judgment was a very controversial piece at the time because, unlike other artists, Michelangelo portrayed those in his painting as naked thereby demonstrating the lack of importance that riches would have at the end of the world when humanity stands before judgment. Unlike his earlier work, including the rest of the Chapel which he painted, his depiction of the Last Judgment was much more monochrome as well as gruesome with the souls of the damned cowering in fear as they are dragged down by demons. Pope Paul III, who commissioned Michelangelo to paint the Last Judgment, demonstrated a great deal of faith in the artist's abilities and gave him vast amounts of artistic license. While others criticized Michelangelo's use of nude figures, the Pope offered up no complaint. In addition to the lack of clothes on his subjects, Michelangelo was critiqued for not only using the Bible as an inspiration for his fresco but also mythological creatures such as Charon who is seen ferrying the damned as well as Minos who is shown as one of the judges located in the underworld. The Last Judgment was an object of a heavy dispute between critics within the Catholic Reformation and those who understood the genius of the artist and the mannerist style of the painting. Michelangelo was accused of being insensitive to proper decorum, and of flaunting personal style over appropriate depictions of content. The Council of Trent issued decrees that such representations in sacred art were not allowed, and all objectionable art was to be changed or destroyed. In response to certain accusers, when the Pope's own Master of Ceremonies Biagio da Cesena said of the painting â€Å"it was mostly disgraceful that in so sacred a place there should have been depicted all those nude figures, exposing themselves so shamefully,† and that it was no work for a papal chapel but rather â€Å"for the public baths and taverns,† The worst criticism came from the poet and blackmailer Pietro Aretino, who at first wrote flattering things to Michelangelo from Venice and made suggestions for the painting. Michelangelo answered that though his suggestions were very interesting the fresco was too far along then to be changed. Eight years later Aretino published an open letter to Michelangelo in which he accused him of being irreverent. â€Å"Such things might be painted in a voluptuous bathroom,† he wrote, â€Å"but not in the choir of the highest chapel†¦Our souls are benefitted little by art, but by piety. † Some thought the nudes were out of place. The papal Master of Ceremonies, Biagio da Cesena, said the painting made the chapel look like a stufa d’ ignudi’ (a bathing house). For that remark, which he heard Cesena say, Michelangelo supposedly put his face on Minos, the great judge of Hell, and gave him donkey ears while his nudity is covered by a coiled snake. It is said that when Cesena complained to the Pope, the pontiff joked that his jurisdiction did not extend to hell, so the portrait would have to remain. Although the references to mythology were allowed to remain, the genitalia in the fresco, referred to as ‘objections,' were covered after Michelangelo died by a student of his, Daniele da Volterra. As years followed fresco came very close to being destroyed. More and more clothes were added. In 1574 El Greco himself offered to chip it away and paint a new fresco that would â€Å"be decent and pious and no less well-painted than Michelangelo’s. †Three more times (1625, 1712, and 1762) artists were ordered to â€Å"do something about those nudes†. The critic Thode thought the fresco had been altered so much that it was no longer even possible to judge the artistic qualities of Michelangelo’s work.

My View On God s God - 1915 Words

My view on God is that he is the reason we are all here today. I, myself, do believe that there is a God and one God only. The bible isn’t the only reason I believe in him. I truly believe that the way we view god is very important. Our views on God indicates on how we live our lives. In fact, it might even determine how we go on and live our lives. For example, most Christians (not all) are religious and do their best to go on in life without committing any sins. And if a sin is committed, we pray that God takes those sins away and clears our heart up again. And if you look at a non-believer in god, for example some atheists (again, not all) go on in life not thinking if their actions are considered sins or not. I will make the following†¦show more content†¦So I can go ahead and prove it to the best of my ability. I believe that evidence to God is all around us. Seeing him work right in your own life proves much more than words can even explain. When I m struggling in life, I ask God to fulfill me with more positivity and to help me get through whatever I am going through. And truly within days, those hard times don t even matter anymore. I started to learn that through the hardest of times, Jesus was there for me, and he would take care of me. There are times in everyone life that they are tested. God will test your faith and ask you to stay strong. Even through all of the hard times you will have God on your side, and he will not let you get away from him so easily. Through all things god will be there, and he is much more powerful than the devil so you shouldn t give the devil the power knowing it isn’t his. So a very known question is Is there such a God? . It is solved by asking another question like, Where did everything come from? Where did space, time, matter, energy and information come from? People believe that there is no truly evidence showing that there is. We each have our own points of views on God. Something must have c aused the universe to exist, right? Every event has a cause. Who designed everything that exists? Someone must’ve designed it all, right? Nothing can come into existence unless something caused it to. Nothing comesShow MoreRelatedMy Views On God s God Essay991 Words   |  4 PagesEven though I could remember talking to God as a kid, when I was an adult and thought about talking to God, what came to my mind was: Who are you to think that you can talk to God? But the truth is, who am I not to? Who are YOU not to? When we think, Who am I to talk to God? we deny ourselves our Oneness with our Source. So even though the thought might arise, who am I to think that I can talk to God? it is just a thought. It s just something that arises when you entertain the thought of connectingRead MoreDr. Entwistle s Psychology And Christianity With The Intent Of Using The Text For Undergraduate1255 Words   |  6 Pagesapproach to Psychology and theology. 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Computer Platforms Free Essay Example, 2500 words

The modern IT and computer based technology has provided enormous advantaged regarding the establishment of the better radio voice quality, more coverage and lot of other options. By means of modern technology there is no downtime, affordability, additional robust content as well as the newest as well as greatest radio transmission and hearing technology obtainable (Maines, 2009). This report provides a deep and comprehensive overview of the radio station’s renovation through the implementation of more enhanced and better working technology. This report involves the computer and ICT based technology implementation in areas like playlist royalties, advertisement booking and other non-broadcast duties. Background We have initiated a project for the implementation of the up-to-date and effective computer and ICT technology for the Radio Station. We are aimed at developing a system that will effectively and automatically manage the radio station’s broadcasting tasks and functionalities. Here my responsibility is regarding the tendering and proposing for an ICT solution. Our radio station is working with the traditional technology and we require a system that can offer a better technology and transmission options. Here we have to develop a specification report that provides radio stations computer and ICT platform needs, and also supplying training and maintenance by contract - perhaps over a long period of time. New ICT technology for Radio This section presents the detailed analysis of the modern information as well as communication technologies which can also be acknowledged as the ICTs, predominantly the Internet, consist of exposed an extremely rapid development all the way through the pervious 10 years. We will write a custom essay sample on Computer Platforms or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/pageorder now The amount of Internet clients has been increasing each year since of year 1995. No additional information and communication technology in the precedent has, through judgment, established therefore rapid. Radio technology obtained numerous decades to be accepted in the inaccessible as well as deprived rural regions of the globe in anticipation of it turned out to be the majority significant ways of contact for a lot of marginalized groups. TV is up till now stressed to attain the border in the course of a grouping of cable as well as a collection of satellites, while transferable video has established its worth for instructive reasons. The web and Internet, in its individual right, has turn out to be smart plus is being place into the open as the â€Å"point of the lance† of a scientific insurgency that as well maintains to be a communal uprising (Dagron, 2008).