"Funeral Procession" - T. Coleman

Feet march slowly and heads directed to the ground. Not much sound is heard except the soft noise of footsteps and subtle music playing by the band far ahead. The traffic of people moves slowly and respectfully along the path between the masses of bushes. Everyone seems to be here today, families of all generations. As the water is pummeling from the sky no one seems to be affected, possibly because the same substance is pouring from their eyes.
I’m here, raised above a cluster of bodies, shielding some from the down pour. The women’s heads are wrapped in cloths and their bodies are covered with respectful dresses. The men present themselves in clean cut suits and lead their wives and children along this procession.
These followers all belong to an African American neighbor hood and are following their recently deceased mayor to his grave. Just a few short days sooner he had been shot by an enemy and killed.
All civilians have taken this situation in a different way. The children, confused as they are, stare at and kick up small portions of dirt with their feet. Their thoughts are of games they will play later and they try to figure out why their parents have become so upset. The women are comforted by their husbands and walk with collections of flowers. The faint scent of the fresh cut flowers flows throughout the air as each bundle of flowers travels toward the casket. The men attempt to be strong but secretly are hurting inside.
Particularly I am covering a husband and wife whom are using me for protection. The man is griping tightly to my handle and each time his wife squeezes his hand he squeezes my handle to find his own strength. The couple seems to be devastated, more than others. We follow the crowd for many hours and the couple expresses their sorrow and pays their respects later on. The questions of what is going to happen after today are pondered by everyone after the services are over.

John Singer Sargent's “Gassed”

"Witch Hill"- Thomas Slatterwhite

"Huguenot Lovers on St. Bartholomew's Day"- John Everett Millais

title unknown- Edgar Arceneaux: 1968

“Murder of Julian Cesar”- Irina Gornostaeva

This piece of artwork, “Murder of Julius Caesar” was created intricately by Irina Gornostaeva. Gornostaeva is a Russian oil painting artist and this particular painting was created using Gornostaeva’s traditional oils on canvas. It is a small diploma work but its size does not decline its value. The artist is a realistic painter so this, along with her other works of art is realistic painting.
This painting’s focal point is the many men which surround and seem to be running towards Julius Caesar who is in the middle of all of the men. The men are clothed in white, cream colored togas. These togas have a reed stripe for a trim long the bottom and arm holes. They are all raising their arms and making a fist in the direction of Caesar. To add emphasis and to identify Caesar he is dressed in the vibrant colors of lemon yellow and blood red. He is sprawled across the steps with his arm raised as if to protect himself. One man in particular is leaning over Caesar, dagger in hand. Above all characters seems to be an illuminating light which shines brightly across the tiled floor. It adds a glow to the pattern of the floor with is circles of coral and light yellow, which ironically somewhat match Caesar’s outfit. A large white monument behind all the characters which has roman numerals on its side and the feet of a statue are shown all though the rest of the statue is cut off. In the background there are numerous paintings and carvings on the wall, which are traditional for Roman buildings. Faintly you can see the outside which seems to be a garden that is very peaceful and tranquil compared to the terrifying atmosphere inside the building.
This composition conveys the historical story of the murder of Julius Caesar, which took place in the year 44BC in ancient Rome. The many men seem to be attacking Caesar and getting ready to kill him. Caesar is feeling the tension in the air and knows he is about to be killed. Men are coming at him with chairs, daggers, and even there own body, as a weapon, the end is near.

Declaration

In life comes many twists and turns which can come as an enormous shock to many people. These shocks can be positive or negative but always greatly influence a person’s life. There are many different types of shock which are all interpreted in different ways by different types of people. Nicolas Cage once said “Shock is still fun. I won’t ever shut the door on it.” From this quote he seems to be one of the people who interprets the shocks in his life as a good thing and is always ready for the challenges which shocks can bring. Although him as a select person feels this way, most of the time shock comes as a negative surprise.
For most people things that shock them have really been around them for a while, the just never realized it. Once the truth is shown to a person it can come as an incredible shock. If all along a wife suspected that her husband may be having affair, and he finally admits to it, it should not come as an enormous shock, although it usually does. Jules Renard once said “Truth makes many appeals, not the least of which is its power to shock.” By having a sudden realization of the truth, great shock can be brought about.
Even the smallest things to some people can make the biggest difference to others. After some are thrown off with what is shocking to them they may feel confused and not know what to think about anything. An example of this is when a small child is shocked with the truth that Santa Claus is fictional. The child then feels like they don’t know what to believe after that. Something small such as that seems to be a big deal to a child because they have not experienced other types of shock. But, to leave the same confused impact on an adult, takes a much bigger shock, such as an unexpected death.
In my own personal life I have undergone the experience of death, surprising success and many other shocking events, such as a surprise party, an unexpected grade, etc. Each shock affected me in a different way and to different extents. And I am aware that through out my life many more shocks will come upon me so all I can do is be alert, aware and ready.

This young boy of only the age of nine, Jack Sticford has been deserted and left to die. He is now walking aimlessly throughout the fields of Africa. There is no life for miles except for the sparse, every now and then, animals which wander the area. Jack and his family came over from the United States of America. Because his parents were English missionaries and thought they could assist in the soling of problems in Africa. Because of their influence over people, a select group decided to torch the Sticford house, putting Jack’s parents and younger sister to death. Jack was left feeling hopeless, with no one to turn to. If he asked for help and told his story there is a chance he would also be killed. Since he is only nine he decided to walk back to his grandparents in the United States, thinking that it would not be very far.
Jack is huddled hugging his own shivering body. He has carried an empty potato sack which he found in his yard before his departure, and is now using it to smother his frail starving body for any possible warmth. The wind is sharply bighting his back causing him to shake. It is beginning to get dark and late so Jack has chosen this area for his nights rest, hoping if rain comes the thin tree above would protect him slightly. Jack has not eaten for 2 days now and wishes he had the courage and ability to kill an animal which passes by for food. The straw, sun burned grass will become his bed for the night and he hopes to begin on his journey the next day.
Jack’s only source of food was also this grass and whatever else he could find, and his only water was the small filled canteen he had brought along with him. After six days of living and walking under these conditions one night, while in his sleep Jack died of starvation and hypothermia.