Modest Mussorgsky - Night on Bald Mountain (Arr. Rimsky-Korsakov)

Ravel: Bolero by London Symphony Orchestra, Conductor: Gergiev

Sibelius - Valse Triste - Finland slideshow - Karajan

Jean Sibelius: Valse Triste, Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie,

Sibelius Violin Concerto in D minor, Violin by Sarah Chang

Chopin Nocturne E Flat Major Op.9 No.2 by ValentinaLisitsa

Chopin Nocturne Op.9 No.1 (2010) by Li Yundi

MA 260 / Week #5 Discussion: Film Distrubution

What are the six major money-making sources for studios? How has the change in the distribution system, especially, the synergy among studios, cable conglomerates, and movie theaters, contributed to the convergence of the film industry? 

MA 260 / Week #5 Discussion: Independent Films

How has the rise of indies contributed to American cinematic art's breakaway from the stranglehold of Hollywood?

MA 260 / Week #5 Discussion: Film and Racism

How was American cinematic art used at its germinal stage to perpetuate ethnocentrism and racism?

MA 260 / Week #5 Discussion: The Genius of American Cinema

    The Hollywood studio system has been praised as the genius of American cinematic art. To what extent did the studio system contribute to both the glory and the failure of American cinematic art?  

MA 260 / Week #5 Discussion: Film and Mythology

       Films function as consensus narratives. Films do not simply mirror life; they inspire, edify, and uplift life.  They aren't mere storytellers; they are myth-makers. As McLuhan once observed: "The movie is not only a supreme expression of mechanism, but paradoxically it offers as product the most magical of consumer commodities, namely dreams." Please elaborate on this perspective.

COM 325 / Week #5 Discussion: Is Religion the Opium of the People?

       Karl Marx said ""Die Religion ... ist das Opium des Volkes" (or, "religion is the opiate of the masses")? Do you know why he made this statement? Do you agree with him? Why?

                                                          Karl Marx (5 May 1818 – 14 March 1883)

COM 325 / Week #5 Discussion: Religion and Ethical Guidelines

       Besides beautiful rituals and ceremonies, religion provide us with ethical guidelines to regulate our conduct and relationships. To me, Confucianism (a type of humanism) means a lot in regard to my daily interaction with others. How does your religion, secular worldview, or spirituality provide you with some ethical guidelines to weather through the ups and downs in your life?  

COM 325 / Week #5 Discussion: Religion and Socio-economic Structure

       Our textbook cites Weber's The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism and Tawney's Religion and the Rise of Capitalism to demonstrate how religion as a deep structure institution influences our society's commerce, production, law, and power relationships. There seems to be some "fit" between protestantism and capitalism. Can you explain this in more detail?

COM 325 / Week #5 Discussion: Humanism: A Secular Worldview

 Tell us something you know about humanism as a secular worldview. What is the difference between religion as a worldview and humanism as a worldview? What do you prefer if you have to make a choice, and why?

COM 325 / Week #5 Discussion: Worldview: Ought it to be examined carefully before we start our life's journey?

       Socrates once made a strong and unequivocal statement: "The unexamined life is not worth living." Now, let us apply that to our worldview (or religions). Most religions and ideologies (paradigm, theoretical framework, worldview, weltanschauung, cognitive matrix, you name it) include some extraordinary claims in regard to "the beginning of life," "the purpose of life," "the legitimacy of authority," "human nature," and so on. These claims were challenged during the Enlightenment and the postmodern deconstructionism movement. Yet, we still live in a world full of unexamined claims. So, we must ask ourselves the same question: Are unexamined and self-evident truths not worth following and believing? Think about the Declaration of Independence, which begins with the sentence: "We hold these truths to be self-evident that..."  

Secret Garden - Papillon

REFLECTION/ SECRET GARDEN

Aria by Secret Garden.flv

Secret Garden 8.- Steps (HD)

Secret Garden 6.- Sigma (HD)

Sigma Songwriters: LOVLAND, ROLF U. / AGNEW, DAVID
Bim ar thoir an comhartha
Scaoileas m'anam saor
Caithfidh mo chroi a bheith glan
Roimh siochan theacht chum
Ni leanfaidh mo Bhrn
Is bim sasta le mo ghra
Guim comhartha chabhreoidh liom
M a chomhlionadh
Bim ar thoir an comhartha
Scaoileas m'anam saor
Caithfidh mo chroi a bheith glan
Roimh siochan theacht chum
Si an ghaoth do ghuth
Si an bhaisteach do dheora
Grian, do chroi ar las
Do spiorad mo shlanu
English Translation:
I search for the sign
That will set my soul free
My heart must be pure
So that I can find peace
My grief cannot last forever
My love will be fulfilled
I pray a sign will help me
Be all that I can be
I search for the sign
That will set my soul free
My soul must be pure
So that I can find peace
The wind is your voice
The rain is your tears
You burning heart
And spirit is my salvation

Secret Garden 3.- Songs From A Secret Garden (HD)

Secret Garden 4.- Pastorale (HD)