I would like to begin by acknowledging the immense opportunity I have been chosen for, to be part of the team of the greatest curators of our time is a responsibility I have not taken lightly. I believe my selection of four works of art to be some of the most significant pieces dating from Pre-History to the Renaissance era. The society, culture, and world we have been so grateful to have inhibited as the foundation of our existence as the human race is no longer able to be our home.<!--more--> However, while on our journey through the vast galaxies to discover our next great habitat, The International Humanities Museum aboard this spaceship will not only preserve the history of our ancestors but will also provide and serve as a well rounded record and source of information to educate future generations on the development of our civilizations on Earth. It is our obligation to teach our children and generations beyond them about the inspiring individuals of our ancient times who first asked and answered the same “meaning of life” questions that they will ponder. It is our obligation to teach our future leaders what makes us human and where we come from. Our beliefs, traditions and day to day lives might be culturally different but I believe that through the preservation of these ancient artifacts from our beloved earliest civilizations, a greater understanding of are similarities  and the importance to learn from our past is imperative in achieving a better tomorrow.

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With the help of ever evolving technology I have been able to design an interactive room to display, protect, and highlight my selections. The square room provided is 100 meters in both height and width, the entrance is in the center of the room by elevator or stairs. Once you step into the room the guest is in the barter shop where they can exchange goods for replicas of the art or copies of the books. These copies will be available in as many translations as possible. Other information is at a visitor’s exposal free of charge. By scanning the QR (quick response) code, found next the open doorway of each exhibit, using any Smart device or personal mobile technology. All of this free information is able to be downloaded in whatever language an individual needs.

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The visitor is able to choose which entryway to go in first but I will start by describing the subdivision and display for man’s first creation theory known as <em>The Babylonian Creation </em>Myth. Once all visitors have entered the space a holographic figure will appear, he will look identical to an individual who actually lived during the Mesopotamian era. He will be programmed to recognize the different languages spoken by his visitors; this technology with allow each visitor to hear the tour guide in their own native tongue. He will introduce himself and tell a brief history of the time in which he “lived” and then proceed to describe the seven tablets know as <em>Enuma Elish. </em>He will explain that <em>The Babylonian Creation</em> is a Sumerian poem that is the first cosmological creation myth; it describes the birth of the Babylonian gods and the progression of creation. Although its oral tradition dates back to the second millennium BCE, in the 1700’s the Babylonian King Hammurabi had it inscribed on seven clay tablets. The original tablets will be on display protected in a climate controlled incasing of indestructible glass. The holographic tour guide will read the poem and translate the tale, while doing so all around the visitors the story will be unfolding to them like a 3D movie, so they get a better understanding of the fight between the ancient deities and how the Sumerian people thought the world was created.

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The <em>Babylonian Creation </em>is an excellent example of how the people of the Mesopotamian era believed earth and every living thing was formed. It also provides us with a literary poem to compare to other pieces of literature during that period. Like many epic poems of the early civilizations it was recited orally, passed down through the generations to tell the heroic tale of the deity Marduk. This style of epic poem was a trend of their time, showing the power of the gods over humans. Another work of this time similar to the <em>Babylonian Creation</em> is <em>The Epic of Gilgamesh. </em>Both of these works were innovative because they were the tales of some of the original heroes on a journey of meaning and identity. They also embodied the ideals and values of the culture from which they came (Fiero B1 19). The <em>Babylonian Creation</em> is ground-breaking because it is one of the first cosmological creation myths but also because it influenced politics during its time as well. It is perceived that the hero/god of the poem, Marduk was revered as such so he could take his place as the head in the Babylonian Pantheon. It is significant for future generations because it helps us reflect on the different creationism/evolutionism ideals from ancient cultures. I also think it is important to educate ourselves and our youth on our diversities and beliefs. In doing so we are educating humanity by understanding and hopefully respecting the uniqueness of various traditions and civilizations.

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Entrance into the next space will lead visitors into Paris France where they will be standing in front of the West Façade of the Notre Dame Cathedral. This, of course, will not be the actual structure but also a holographic image but will look extremely realistic. Inside the space will have some of the original decorative ornamental details of the Cathedral; for instance some of the infamous gargoyles will be on display, along with the beautiful South Rose stained glass window, best known sculpture, paintings, and catholic relics. Again the holographic tour guide will appear, this time as a citizen of the French medieval period in which this building was constructed. He will describe the timeline of said construction and give detail of the gothic style architecture. He will be able to give a virtual tour of the exterior and interior of the remarkable structure while educating the visitors on the importance of the Notre Dame de Paris not only as one of the earliest examples of Gothic and Romanesque architecture but also the significant impact it made to the community and Christians followers.

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The Notre Dame de Paris is an ideal example of the Gothic and Romanesque Architectural movement of the medieval period. It was the first cathedral to use flying buttresses, the innovative stone vault ceilings, and have decorative ornaments such as the exterior gargoyles. It set the standard and influenced completion for other churches to be built more elaborate and of greater height. During the medieval era the Christian religion was at its highest point of dominance over political, religious and cultural authority. This cathedral proves this by being the immense structure it is, it towered over all other buildings of its time leading Christian believers to its doors. The Notre Dame de Paris was affluent in the community. It was a beacon of hope for the community, a place for religious ceremony, civic events, public festivals and education. The Notre Dame Cathedral is significant for future generations because it is an essential work of art, detailing the remarkable rise of the non-classical, dynamic gothic style. The dynamic ornamental touches, the towering spires, flying buttresses, and fascinating gargoyles to ward of evil, all are incredible examples of medieval gothic style. Inside is just as overwhelming with the beautiful stained glass windows, wall paintings, furniture, and religious relics. The most meaningful reason I consider this to be a significant part of history is the fact that it not only served as place that Christians could find refuge, it was built for the community; a place the public could celebrate together the pride of their city and devout their appreciation to the Virgin Mary. A place of education for the young, a place the masses could call their own. I chose the Notre Dame de Paris because I believe it is important for future generations to learn about various styles of architecture from early eras of humanities. This astonishing cathedral has been a significant landmark not only to the society of medieval Europe but also an inspiration to architects, sculptors, religious leaders, Christians, historians, and the general public throughout the centuries. There is a great deal of history to learn about western civilization; from the first idea of this structure to the last renovation. The history of the kings that supported the construction, the bishops and popes who have worked and studied inside its walls, the Christian crusades and French revolution it survived, the great builders who contributed to its great mass and rise of the gothic style, are just some of the topics and records that future generations will be able to consider, discover, and learn because of the preservation of this monumental cathedral.

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The next entryway will lead into reconstructed section of St. Peter’s Basilica, which is the earthly home one of Michelangelo Buonarroti’s most well known sculptures, <em>The Pieta</em>. Once more the holographic tour guide programmed in this particular exhibit to represent the style and mannerism of the High Renaissance era in Rome, which is when Michelangelo created it, will describe this masterpiece. The original marble sculpture will be on display and preserved for all the visitors to see first hand, so they can understand how this religious artwork that depicts the Virgin Mary holding her son Jesus in her lap following his death on the cross, is the most significant interpretation ever produced and arguably the most prominent Christian image of all time.

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Although there are many interpretations of the pieta in sculpture and paintings throughout the centuries Michelangelo’s, who was considered one of the most prominent artists of the High Renaissance era, masterful adaptation is innovative because it highlights some of the artistic trends of the most major era of the arts in human history. Although the piece is unique from other sculptures of the 15<sup>th</sup> century for its lack of proper proportions, Michelangelo used his knowledge of anatomy to perfectly unite this statue with classical form and pyramidal composition. Artists were very important people in Italian society and their work was being commissioned by powerful individuals such as kings and popes. The art of this era was also contributed and influenced by the Neoplatonic philosophy ideals spreading through Florence, which is were Michelangelo was born and raised before residing in Rome. He was one of the first artists to use the neoplatonism ideals in his artwork. Michelangelo’s <em>Pieta</em> is revered as one of the most famous and adored divine sculptures in history. Some say its only competition is another sculpture by Michelangelo which is his David.  Gloria Fiero author of <em>The Humanistic Tradition </em>declares that “Michelangelo's <em>Pietà</em> transformed the late medieval devotional image into a monumental statement on the meaning of Christian sacrifice” (Fiero B3 14). I chose Michelangelo’s <em>Pieta </em>not only because it is one of the most famous of all Christian images but also because it can also teach future generations about noteworthy high renaissance artists, their own and the societies philosophical ideals, and the trends of 15<sup>th</sup> century art. It also chronicles the beginning of Michelangelo Buonarroti’s career as one of the most influential artists of all time and the history of the high renaissance era. This piece has also proven as being a testament to the Christian faith and illustrates the grievances between mother and child in a godly manner. Michelangelo’s Pieta is truly a masterpiece and a supreme example of romantic art.

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The fourth and final entry will open into a space that has been reconstructed to look like the walled up cave located outside the military base and walled city of Dunhuag in Northern China. The holographic tour guide representing the people of the 9<sup>th</sup> century Chinese Tang era will invite you to enter the cavern known as the “cave of a thousand Buddha’s” and look at the original 16 ft, 12 in tall block printed<em> Diamond Sutra</em> scroll, which be preserved and displayed. Once the tour guide enlightens the visitors of the history behind the sacred Buddhist text and the first dated book in history, and how it was hidden in the cave and rediscovered in the early 20<sup>th</sup> century, the tour guide will disappear. In his place two holographic images will start reciting the 32 short chapters of <em>The Diamond Sutra. </em>Since the book is essentially a series of questions in conversational form between Buddha and one of his Disciples, the realistic human forms will represent the questioner in the form of Buddha’s disciples and Buddha himself will respond and teach his philosophy of the perception of nature.

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<em>The Diamond Sutra</em> is a sacred Buddhist text that serves as an example of the cultural trends of the Chinese Tang era, proven to be so by all the other Buddhist manuscripts found in the “cave of a thousand Buddha’s”. It is also ground-breaking because it is the world’s first signed and dated book, dated 868. It used the Chinese style of printing, block printing. This book from the 9<sup>th</sup> century succeeds the European printing press by centuries; which wasn’t established until the 15<sup>th</sup> century. <em>The Diamond Sutra</em> teaches “the manner in which you should conduct yourself, both in outward behavior and inward attitude, in order to “be like Buddha” according to the article <em>The Buddha’s Diamond</em> written by Richard Rosen in <em>The Yoga Journal</em> (Rosen 142). Buddhism doesn’t have one significant book that teaches the truth about God like other monotheistic religions, it has sacred texts that serve as guides to the truth.  It is obvious how priceless the scroll’s philosophies were during its age for many reasons; one being the fact that it was skillfully printed after centuries of oral tradition. Another reason is that someone took the time and the risk to conceal and preserve the ancient teachings in a walled up cave. It is important that future generations get a chance to explore Buddhism and other religious ideals, which is one reason I chose this book. Another reason it is significant to future generations is because this work has been preserved first in the cave and now in this museum, because of this we now have a better idea of how the Chinese and the Buddhist religion progressed into what it is in the modern world. We also have an enhanced education of the technology, social, and economic trade advancements of the time. There is a myriad of ways it can educate both religiously and culturally which is important the education of our current and future generations.

I hope future generations understand the importance of preserving our cultural past, get inspired by the artwork this exhibit showcases, and learns about the origins and traditions of religions, societies, humanities, and philosophies.  I hope everyone enjoys the pieces I have chosen for The International Humanities Museum as much as I have.

Works Cited

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Fiero, Gloria K. <em>The Humanistic Tradition</em>. Boston: McGraw-Hill, 2011. Web. 10 May 2011. &lt;http://http://connect.mcgraw-hill.com/connect/hmEBook.do?setTab=se

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Rosen, Richard. "The Buddha's Diamond." <em>Yoga Journal</em> 165 (2002): 141-44. <em>Alt HealthWatch</em>. Web. 28 Apr. 2011. <a href="http://ehis.ebscohost.com.lsproxy.austincc.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=d9000b15-68ce-42cd-9818-576050e23379%40sessionmgr114&amp;vid=1&amp;hid=103">http://ehis.ebscohost.com.lsproxy.austincc.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=d9000b15-68ce-42cd-9818-576050e23379%40sessionmgr114&amp;vid=1&amp;hid=103</a>

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