Jesuits

...more later!

Come on...

Really though...I don't have another blog or outlet and these witch trials are really bothering me...But uh, I don't advise anyone to read this poorly written expression of my thoughts. They needed to be written down immediately.

Can you imagine not being able to read? or God forbid...TYPE!? What would I do without stumbleupon? I seriously just found 50+ articles for my thesis that I wouldn't have known about if I wasn't both literate and technologically savvy. (Oh, people are going to compare literacy to computer knowndege in a short, short time!)

Anyway, it wasn't even 400 years ago that 90% of us college females would be ridiculed and denied opportunity for even taking this HST 322 class. How quickly we forget our history...Perhaps the women of the seventies made (us) traditional women forget (or deny) the true extraordinary bounds we have triumphed in the past century because their views were too extreme. Nonetheless, just to be literate is an extraordinary gift I take for granted daily, simply because, "I've suffered through nearly sixteen years of schooling."

Um, I'm twenty-one. Single. Into Philosophy and History. My parents are modest. I have three older bothers, who are currently unmarried, bu all have serious girlfriends that I can't wait to call sisters. Oh, did I mention? We all work for my dad, too. I like to challenge people; play devil's advocate. I don't think my beliefs in deities and afterlife can be classified as normal. I really want to be a professional scholar. I damn my hometown all the time and dream of far off places that I want to live...And hey, I lived in England for a few months. I like gin and ale, gettofmyback! Oh, and I'm a vegetarian that thinks she wouldn't survive without supplements.

I certainly, without a doubt in my mind, would have been tried as a witch if I was living in the sixteenth century...

Not a very comforting thought, really. I guess we could acknowledge how far society has come and whatnot. But that really isn't the case, is it? Because if I still feel the way I do fifteen or twenty years from now I'll be an eclectic old lady with 100's of cats (hopefully sooner, rather than later ;-)) that neighbors avoid. Sure, I won't be a witch; but I'll still be a drain on society because I'm not producing babies or married.

hmm.

Zwingli

Often compared to Luther, Zwingli was among the many reformers of the early sixteenth century. He was a charismatic preacher more concerned with a social reformation than the salvation of individual souls; resulting in many arguments with Luther. Zwingli was well educated, like Luther. Unfortnately, he was said to be a mere imitation of Luther, however Zwingly was preaching for a deviation from harsh and unjust Catholic law a year before Luther even wrote the 95 Theses.

Zwingily maintained that everything should be up to the individual and that if the Bible did not explicitly spell something out then it should not be a rule. He believed that the Eucharist was merely symbolic, in no way did it transform into the body and blood of Christ. He still felth the Eucharist was an important aspect of church services, and that it was important to have a symbol of Christ's salvation. If the Old or New Testament did not say something explicitly and literally, then no Christian should believe or practice it.

His ideas gained recognition in 1518 during Lent (which conveniently began this week). He and his followers promoted eating meat during a time associated with fasting and self denial in the Church. He did not believe that devout Catholics should be forced to fast because the scripture never explicitly spelled out that rule. He said that individuals should not be forced to deny themselves, but if they wanted to follow Christ then fasting then they were encouraged. Interestingly, he fasted and remained celibate; but mainained that everyone should be allowed to govern themselves through and through.

Because Zwingli felt that individual choices were imperative to knowing God, he believed in adult batism. It was the only legitimate way to be batisbed because it was a choice. From this spawned the anabaptist church.

All of Zwingli's writings are very straight forward. He wants to be clear and conscise because that is how he thinks religion should be.

courtier

I can't imagine a time when a woman could only be educated if she sold her body to man or life to God. Just to be literate! I feel like a bad woman for taking literacy for granted (this comes after having watched The Reader, too). Note to self: I must reflect on my writing more often. 

This brings me to The Courtier demanding that women, "have a swetenesse in language and a good utterance to enterein all kinde of men with communication woorth the hearing, honest, applyed to time and place and to the degree and disposition of the person wich is her principal profession." I would like to compare this to the brief clipped we watched from Dangerous Beauty. 

Dangerous Beauty is about Veronica Franco, a famous Italian courtesan. Her story begins as a child of a courtesan. She makes her way in the world of cortesanship, but is eventually tried for witchcraft. Although she is found not guilty, her reputation is tarnished and she ends her life living in a part of town known for common prostitutes.

The quote from the Courtier that I have chosen means that a woman should be able to carry a conversation, but also know when is appropriate to keep her mouth shut. Because she is not man, she cannot go about telling her thoughts and opinions all the time, she must respect her company and be willing to conform in order to impress. "Sweetnesse in language" probably means to speak softly, not boldly. It would be unwomanly to be outspoken or overemotional. Furthermore, a woman should be able to "entertain all kinde of men" and that her talk should never be shallow, or dull. 

In Dangerous Beauty Veronica is clearly sad that her friend (her love interest's sister?) is forced by her parents to marry an older man. It is evident that Veronica wants to say something to her friend, the parents, and even her love interest about how the money and ties for family lineage shouldn't sacrifice her friend's happiness. She doesn't say anything [at least not before they are married...] because she doesn't want to step on any toes and ruin her reputation as an 'honest courtesan'. Although she hasn't officially become one yet, she understands her place in society and tries to live up to the expectations of a woman the best she can. 

Furthermore, the Mona Lisa exemplifies this attitude as well. ( I know, I wasn't supposed to mention this...) The smirk on her face suggests something entertaining, as if she has a secret to tell, but the mystery [and her mouth actually being shut] illustrates this quality of the perfect Renaissance woman. 

Furthermore, although not a "certified courtesan, " Artemisa Gentileshci exemplifies the the qualties of a "gentylwoman." For example, women were "to have the vertues for the minde, as wisdome, jstice, noblenesse of courage, temperance, strength of the minde, continencey, sobermoode, etc."  She "born and of a good house," her father being the famous Orazio. Of her siblings, she was the only one taught painting by her father. Although men flourished during this period, many historians often often think not. Artemisa shows, however, that at least one did. 

Purgatory

Based on the "95 Theses" by Martin Luther, I think it is an accurate assessment to say that in the 16th century purgatory held a negative connotation. If it was positive, people would be content having their souls in purgatory versus the pains of hell. No one would have had the desire to buy indulgences if they hadn't truly thought purgatory was a terrible place to be "stuck".

The two theses that clearly state purgatory as being a negative place are as follows:
16. Hell, purgatory, and heaven seem to differ as do despair, almost-despair, and the assurance of safety.
17. With souls in purgatory it seems necessary that horror should grow less and love increase. [but since he wanted to argue this point, it means that horror grows greater and love decreases]

In the "95 Theses" there are other numerous statements that mention the "penalty of purgatory." In the translation I read, 13 of the 95 theses mention purgatory directly. Considering that Martin Luther started a revolution that would forever change the religious world and define future generations, it is obvious that many people agreed with his ideas. They thought that how the church treated purgatory was unjust. Being utterly consumed and concerned with the afterlife, put the living in a purgatory themselves; never living life to the fullest for fear of the church.

Could the connotation of purgatory really change that much over the past 5 centuries? I think not. I think it is against human nature to want to be stuck anywhere. It is certainly a punishment, because if one hadn't done something wrong they wouldn't be there in the first place, and that IS the irony of indulgences. Trying to pray or buy souls out of purgatory is against purgatory itself, and isn't that the case for Luther's entire Reformation?

The Girl with the Pearl Earing

The Renaissance is defined by a time in the sixteenth century when intellect was governed by reason. The shift from the natural sciences to a more humanistic view of the world enabled this progress. Enlightened thinkers and patrons of the arts challenged the notion of knowledge based on religion, and Medieval education was criticized for being based on Aristotelian techniques and Christian theology. Renaissance thinkers placed an emphasis on nature and the material world, as well as individualism. Although the Renaissance first took shape in Italy at the end of the 13th century, the Northern nations of Europe eventually followed in the Mediterranean's foot steps.  The film Girl with the Pearl Earring provides great insight into the world of the Northern Renaissance as it addresses the attitudes of both the upper and lower classes, as well religion, and the important techniques used in artistry. 

The film begins with young Griet being sent away from her Protestant Family to work for as a maid. Her mother states that they have no other choice, because the family needs more income. The Catholic Family Griet works for is home to the famous painter Johannes Veermer. From the very beginning the viewer glimpses real life for a Dutch peasant in the 15th century. Griet is disheartened to leave, but understands she must help her family. 

Throughout the entire film Greit moves and speaks quietly, as if her opinions and thoughts are not worthy. Her mistress, however, is outspoken, but also struggling. Evident through the entire movie is the hardships that women faced during this period. Griet must work as a maid, the mistress is under the control of her mother and husband, and the mother is dependent upon her son. Clearly, women had no power and were forced to rely on their male family members.

Moreover, the clothing of all the characters provides insight into the attitudes of the Northern Renaissance as well. While the colors in the film may not have been as vibrant as then as they are today, there was certainly an emphasis on the material world and fashion during the Renaissance. The wealthier classes, of course, were able to indulge in these notions.

While the majority of the film was not concerned with religions notions, one brief scene resonates in my mind. When Greit is leaving her home, her mother warns her to cover her ears if the Catholic family begins to pray. Clearly, Protestantism is already widely accepted in this area, as is the conflict between religions. When considering the Renaissance one often notes the religious wars in England, and issues with the Pope; and it is often thought that the North and HRE lived in harmony. Greit is also ashamed when she sees someone she knows (a love interest) while attending Protestant service. Perhaps she is ashamed because of her meek character and wishes to remain a mystery. It must be noted, however, that the boy was also of a lower class and perhaps Protestantism denoted a lower place in society. Is this because the Catholics could pay for indulgences? The unjust nature of the Catholic religion that Luther amiably touches on does recognize that one shouldn't be able to buy their way into heaven, and of course it was more of a logical theory than an economic one.

Finally, the entire movie is set around the portrait Girl with a Pearl Earring. Viewers see how Johannes Veerner worked and lived. His use of light and color are an important aspect of the film. Greit mixes oil paints (which characterize Renaissance material) and understands the theory of light.

The most important aspect of this movie is that art and culture can cross economic boundries. The mistress gets wildly upset because her husband is better understood by Griet than herself. While Greit will never have an easy life, she can clearly appreciate art in the same was as a person with economic wealth.

Witches in Europe

Witchcraft "flourished"during the 16th and 17th centuries as religious belief was reformed. From The Netherlands, to the UK, to America men and women were accused of witchcraft because they held a minority belief. People were executed based on silly tests that anyone would fail. For example, a woman might have her hands and feet tied together, and then her body flung into water. If she floated she was a witch, but if she sank she was innocent. It's no surprise, but I think the witch trials of England are the most interesting, as they epitomized European ideologies, and influenced North America. 

It seems that globally witch trials soared in the mid 18th century, but that accusations of heresy began as far back as the 14th century. 

Sites:

http://www.historic-uk.com/cultureuk/witches.htm

http://www.british-history.ac.uk/search.aspx?query1=witchcraft

http://home.uchicago.edu/~eoster/witchec.pdf