Kris Cooley<a href="http://jeanatacc.com/2011/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/ah_poster1.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1122" src="http://jeanatacc.com/2011/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/ah_poster1-194x300.jpg" alt="" width="194" height="300" /></a>

CarnivalAh! Essay

Extra Credit

Spring 2011

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I had the opportunity to attend ACC's CarnivalAh! Humanities event. Students from several different humanities classes were chosen by popular vote, to present a seven minute speech on a person from history who still inspires and influences humanity today. There were a few students who spoke about many different individuals who has shaped culture, art, and modern society with their accomplishments. This included the Italian Renaissance master, Leonardo Da Vinci, whose masterpieces and thoughts contributed to science and the arts. The philosopher, Plato was mentioned for his ideas of higher education and individualistic freedom to think for yourself. The Byzantine emperor, Charlemange was exalted as a revolutionary man of tolerance and change.

I was impressed to hear about lesser known Jay Adrian Willaert. He was a protege composer born in 1490. The student presenter made reference to modern styles of instrument composing. Willaert developed the canzone (a form of polyphonic secular song) and ricercare, which were forerunners of modern instrumental forms. He used examples such as Austin's SXSW artists to portray Willaert's influence on today's music scene. I loved the live music experience of Austin, so this piece of information was a delight to learn.

One student's take on the inspirational story of the civil rights leader, Fredrick Douglas, sent chills down my spine. Douglas was born into slavery. His owner's wife enjoyed Douglas's company and started teaching him the basic reading skills. When her husband learned of this, he criticized and ridiculed his wife. He was adamant that an educated negro slave was harder to control. Douglas overheard this discussion and became aware that education was the key to his freedom. I recognized that in my own life of struggling to break free of the poverty has created the drive to seek opportunity in gaining my own higher education. This brought to mind the fact that I’m graduating in December and receiving my own sort of personal freedom.

A man of change was also brought into description. His change can be felt in every corner of the world. He was the Roman emperor Charlemagne.  His ideas and values change and shaped the European culture. He founded a system of appointed nobles, establish a growing economic policy, and believed in preserving and education based on the teachings and arts of the ancient world. He ordered the preservation of 90% of the ancient Latin scripts. His thoughts and moral challenged the world to respectful to people and things in a humble way. This spawn the idealistic chivalric fascination.

Throughout this special presentation, I realize the significance of our ancestors and how the study of their culture and beliefs can have an impact still on today's society, structures and beliefs. I wish that more of us would open our eyes to every great leader, take their lessons and strive to have a vision of our own masterpieces.