Buildings Analysis Project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Buildings Analysis Project - Essay Example .....................†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.8 Function†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦....................................................................................................9 Bas-Relief†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..............................................................................................†¦...9 Conclusion....................................................................................................................10 References†¦...............................................................................................................11 Angkor Wat, Cambodia Introduction Angkor Wat is a temple complex at Angkor, Cambodia which was built in the 12th century for king Suryawarman II as a temple dedicated to him and also as the symbol of the capital city. It is the only temple surviving among all other temples dedicated to Hindu deities in the region because it is the best preserved site. It was first dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu and then it was turned into a Buddhist temple. The temple is at the top of the high classical style of Khmer architecture making it a national symbol for Cambodia; it is also the most important tourist spot of the country. Some of the features are similar to the famous Hindu architecture of the temples. Some of the other salient features are the extensive rectangular galleries each of which is raised above the next level. The three areas of architectural analysis are material and structure, bas relief and function of the building. Material and Structure The temple stands on a terrace raised higher than the city. Three rectangular galleries rise to a central tower, each level higher than the last. One gallery is dedicated to one particular god. Each gallery has a gopura at each point and there are towers at the corners of the inner galleries which forms a quincunx with the central tower. The features are oriented with their back eastwards as the temple faces west. The west facing steps are shallower than the other side. The outer gallery measures 40250 sq m in area with pavilions towers at the corners. The structure is buttressed by columned half-galleries which are extended throughout and are open to the outside temple. The galleries and the towers, all are made according to the Khmer architecture with Khmer inscriptions throughout the gallery walls. There are four ponds for fulfilling the water requirement of the building which are currently dry and look like as if they were courtyards. The second and inner galleries are connected to each other and to two flanking libraries by another cruciform terrace, again a later addition. Devatas abound on the walls are present both singly and in groups of up to four; it starts from the second level. If we trace the history it is revealed that the second level was originally flooded in the past due to the ocean around Mount M eru. The stairways are very deep but it does not represent the architecture, it is related to the religious aspect of the architecture of the building as the stairways are made steep to depict the difficulty for ascending to the gods. The walls feature statues and bas reliefs which will be discussed later. Various materials are used in the buildings, which include Brick, Sandstone and Laterite. These materials signify the Khmer architecture. The earliest Angkorian temples were made mainly of brick, decorations were usually carved into a stucco applied

Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin - Essay Example If one were to seek a comprehensive account of Franklin’s perspective most people look to the Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. This essay examines this text in terms of the means that Franklin presents his story as an illustration of self-improvement. One of the prominent ways that Benjamin Franklin explores themes of self-improvement is through his articulation of his own education. As is common knowledge Franklin was largely a self-taught individual. In the first part of his text, Franklin indicates that, â€Å"From a child I was fond of reading, and all the little money that came into my hands was ever laid out in books† (Franklin, p. 14). Franklin also indicates specific books he read. While not entirely presented as a path towards self-education, it’s clear that Franklin at least indirectly intends the reader to recognize that reading and intellectual pursuit were important aspects to his development. Franklin leaves it for the reader to then extract from these examples for their own self-improvement. A notable concern in these regards is that Franklin is not extremely over-handed in his presentation of life examples. For instance, at different instances he points out individuals he thought more intelligent or successful than himself. This mix of frank self-reflection with a touch of self-promotion is very successful as an instrument of self-improvement for others. Another prominent concern in examining the text as one of self-improvement is the means that Franklin traces his professional development. Similar to Franklin’s education this development process is not presented in an entirely over-handed or moralizing way, but instead is indicative of a true to form narrative account. In these regards, Franklin details how his interest in books led to his becoming involved in a printing press and the subsequent professional and personal developments he gained through this business. When Franklin does make proscriptive moral persp ectives on life he does so in the context of his story. Consider Franklin when he notes, â€Å"I grew convinc'd that truth, sincerity and integrity in dealings between man and man were of the utmost importance to the felicity of life† (Franklin, p. 58). This statement emerges when Franklin is talking about the influence his parents and religion had on his life. In these regards, Franklin’s autobiography does not sound preachy or overly self-aggrandizing, but the work of a benevolent man that has attained wisdom through hard-work and life experience. As Franklin’s text progresses it slightly veers from this narrative presentation to one more self-consciously concerned with presenting a map of self-improvement. A prominent example of this occurs in the second part when Franklin lists a letter he received encouraging him to continue writing his autobiography as it could be used as a means of self-improvement. Franklin extends this as he explores his pursuit of mora l perfection, outlining twelve points of character that he attempted to improve. While the first part of Franklin’s autobiography was highly reliant on the narrative progression of events that led to his personal and professional development, Franklin’s pursuit of moral perfection and his elaborate charts and diagrams demonstrating how he did so begins to squarely cast him as the first American version of Dr. Phil. Rather than his pursuit of mo