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When I think of calamity and wonder my mind goes to the Titanic. When the ship was announced as a new wonder, everyone was talking about it. There was nothing like this boat at the time. The Titanic was an unimaginable dream that was able to be brought to life by an incredible workforce. However, this quickly became a tragedy when the boat struck an iceberg, taking the lives from 1500 people. Despite its passengers being told that the boat was unsinkable, the ship sank. Fending for themselves as the boat began to tilt, many were forced to make the tough decision of saving themselves over others. Fighting broke out as people struggled to safety boats. This example shows how people worked to create a wonder but also how people worked against each other when facing calamity.

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On November 3, 1954, the film Gojira was released to Japan, and it is a representation of human wonder as a result of calamity. The film, directed and co-written by Ishirō Honda, was meant to symbolize the effects of the nuclear holocaust that Japan suffered 9 years prior. Godzilla, the monster and the antagonist of this film, is the catalyst for this metaphor and strikes fear to anyone who lays their eyes on him. Not only do his actions symbolize the effects of the nuclear bomb, his design does as well. Inspired by scars seen on victims of the nuclear bombs, his black, rough, and almost corroded skin is the result of not only the radiation from the Nagasaki and Hiroshima bombs, but also the result of nuclear testing in the pacific ocean. This film evokes deep emotion and causes the viewer to question their own actions and the actions of the very country they live in. The legacy of Godzilla has changed to being a big, cool, radioactive dinosaur made to entertain children, but it doesn't change the original meaning. This film was a criticism to a destructive event and acknowledges that "If nuclear testing continues, then someday, somewhere in the world...another Gojira may appear," which is the last line of the film. Gojira, truly, was and will always be a work of art.

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As we know, technology as a whole has revolutionized the way we live our everyday lives. If we went back twenty years, no one would've thought we could've become so advanced in this realm of ideas. This creation of man has been developed and grown over the past twenty years to become a way of life for most individuals. We use technology for the most beneficial things. Schools use it for education. The advancements in hospitals because of technology have been unmatched. Our government uses it to communicate with third-world countries. The creativity of man is also introduced with the discussion of technology. To see how far we have come truly blows my mind. Man is able to take the simplicity of this life we live and truly revolutionize it. However, every great invention of man has some sort of drawback. Technology has in a way separated us from our daily lives. We cannot connect with the world as thoroughly as we have in the past and we have learned to abuse or take advantage of the ease of life with technology. Close to 30% of car accidents are caused by texting and driving. The more drawn into our cell phones we get, the further away from the reality we become. The abuse of these technological advancements precisely connects to the power that man holds.

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The Photo above was taken during the The Winter War and the battle was with The Soviet Union and the Finnish. They were fighting over land in Finland. This war is a true example of calamity and wonders because even though the Soviets received the land they wanted from the Finns, it caused a huge calamity to the Soviet Army where they lost 300,000 soldiers whereas the Finns only lost 65,000 soldiers. So even though the Soviets got the wonder of having new and more land, they had to take a huge shot at the army. Also another problem it caused was showing how vulnerable the Soviets were to Hitler. Sometimes you think you received a wonder but you lose more than you gained in terms of people and moral throughout the army and country. This also is proving how their are so many problems with humanity and greed throughout the world. If you look at the geography part of how much they were gaining you would see it wasn't a lot compared to their large nation. The greed can make people make irrational and not useful decisions that can cause future calamities with mankind and their country itself.

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I selected an image of the Great Fire of London, which occurred in 1666. It clearly represents the calamity of man by showing that even a small mistake can have a grand impact on others, and the world as a whole. With our great power to create and destroy, extreme caution needs to be taken so that our blessing does not become our curse. As mentioned in the 1st Ode, "Man" has the ability to create magnificent structures and protect himself from nature, which is one of the many things that differentiates us from other animals. However, the calamity is found in how we can just as quickly erase all of these wonders (intentionally or not)! For better or for worse, humans have an unrivaled wonder in the way we can build, but also in how we can cause destruction. Each and every one of our actions will be felt somewhere in the world, so if we aren't careful in making the right decisions mankind's great wonder might bring about his calamity.

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My second picture is to represent the creative wonders of man. This picture is not of the universe but instead a visual representation of the internet. The internet is the main example of using creativity to connect and inform people. Before the internet a simple question could take hours of research but it has now become so important that when each of us responds to this assignment we do so using the internet. With the internet man can create whatever they like and learn whatever they desire.

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Can't Help Myself by Sun Yuan and Peng Yu

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This art piece is a robot that is programmed to clean and contain the fluid that is slowly leaking out of it. It cycles through a total of 32 different moves to sweep the liquid close to itself in an attempt to keep it bottled up and contained. This exhibit was commissioned in 2016 and has since been taken down due to the fact that the robot finally failed and was defeated by the impossible task. This exhibit is truly touching because throughout the years, viewers have watched as the robot slowed down and seemed to give up. This robot represents the way of life for many, an endless, futile struggle to keep up with themselves. The robotic arm represents the people and the leaks represent the challenges and losses we face along our journey throughout life. It proves that we mustn't allow the losses and grievances in our lives to slowly shut us down, but rather we must persevere through the hardships to reach the emotional bliss we yearn for so dearly.

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This is an image of the Library of Alexandria burning. Before this library burned down it was believed to have carried 200,000 to 700,000 works of literature ranging from tragedies to the history of mankind. Along with keeping the many magnificent works, it was named one of the original 7 wonders of the world. I would consider this a wonder of man because before it was burned to the ground it was a location of knowledge and power. It carried the most prestigious books and authors who ever lived on this earth. For a man to be able to gather all of those phenomenal works into one place is a wonder and the amount of information that one could gain by reading just a small fraction of those books is a wonder that will never be seen again. However, this is also a calamity of man. This image shows how man's selfishness and need to have power in this world destroys beautiful pieces of art. Although this library was set ablaze more than once the first known time was when Julius Ceasar called to the burning of ships in Alexandria's harbors. Ceasar doing this for power shows how man will put their endeavors over the wonders of this world. People's selfishness will destroy the wonders of man.

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You just turned 16. You take a test and receive your permit. Now you can legally hit the roads from behind the wheel. You sleep through some boring classes and enroll in drive times. Before you know it you have your JOL. Cars are a beautiful invention that allows us to travel almost anywhere. They are definitely a worldwide wonder. And people in fairly destitute areas can only dream of their foot on the gas. Yet many fail to realize that cars are almost one of the bigger everyday calamities. The majority of cars emit greenhouse gases, which are harmful to the Earth as they build up in the atmosphere. Our planet is attacked each day as we drive around with the windows down listening to our favorite songs. Man gave us a true gift in these vehicles. However, man also gave us a global threat that lies right beneath our noses.

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You just turned 16. You take a test and receive your permit. Now you can legally hit the roads from behind the wheel. You sleep through some boring classes and enroll in drive times. Before you know it you have your JOL. Cars are a beautiful invention that allows us to travel almost anywhere. They are definitely a worldwide wonder. And people in fairly destitute areas can only dream of their foot on the gas. Yet many fail to realize that cars are almost one of the bigger everyday calamities. The majority of cars emit greenhouse gases, which are harmful to the Earth as they build up in the atmosphere. Our planet is attacked each day as we drive around with the windows down listening to our favorite songs. Man gave us a true gift in these vehicles. However, man also gave us a global threat that lies right beneath our noses.

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Above is a photo of the Tianamen Square Massacre in 1989, which was when peaceful protesters wanting democracy were met with deadly brute force by the government. The individual pictured personifies the determination and bravery of the protesters wanting a representative government, as found in America. The wonder of the event brought attention to the supression that Chinese citizens were facing under the strict government rule. The event was inspired by young Chinese college students who had experienced first hand the privileges and rights that they were given in other countries like the United States. The young man, about to be crushed to death by the advancing tank, became a world famous symbol of the defiance that the Chinese government was facing from these students. To this day, that struggle still reamins in some places in China, like Hong Kong as of recent.

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At 8:15 AM on August 26, 1945, the first two atomic bombs were dropped on the cities Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, from an American B-29 bomber plane. This photo is of the Museum of Science and Industry after it, along with Hiroshima was hit with an atomic bomb. This photo represents the calamity of man and shows how destructive mankind can be. This was the allies' final attempt at forcing a surrender from japan. While the bombings killed 105,000 people in total, and while that may sound like a lot(because it is), it was the less fatal option. Japan was prepared for ground warfare and was willing to let it's people die in the crossfire. Going along with the ground warfare would have led to much more deaths, possibly millions. Of course that doesn't make it any better, and it surely doesn't excuse it. It's merely an explanation. While it was the less deadly option it still killed lots of people. And more than that, it demolished the cities and caused anyone who went or lived near the cities to be inflicted with radiation poisoning. And this bombing was retaliation for japans attack on Pearl Harbor which supports my claim even more. This picture represents how dangerous and powerful humanity is. We are vicious creatures who, when provoked or if we just feel like it, burst into a fit of violence and destroy almost if not everything in our path.

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This picture of Harambe represents humanity's power to create and learn. Zoos are incredible feats of science and research. They require extensive planning, engineering, and maintenance. They allow us to learn so much about all kinds of animals and in some cases they allow us to save endangered species. However, they are still made to keep animals in cages. The human error on the day of Harambe's death shows humanity's power to destroy. If Harambe had not been trapped in the first place, and if the mother had watched her child, then Harambe may still be alive. Rest in peace Harambe.

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This photo from Bloody Sunday, also known as the Bogside Massacre which was when British Soldiers shot and killed 28 unarmed civilians in Derry, Northern Ireland on January 30th, 1972 during a protest against internment without trial. Fourteen people were killed and twelve were wounded on that day. Those killed were Irish Catholics whose ages ranged from 17 to 59, with the six youngest being 17. Many people were shot and killed as they were running away from British Soldiers. This is a defining moment in the Troubles, which were an ethno-nationalist conflict that lasted for 30 years primarily in Northern Ireland. This photo is of Father Edward Daly holding a white, bloodstained, handkerchief in surrender as he escorts a fatally-wounded protestor to safety. The events of Bloody Sunday and the lives that were lost caused a sudden uptake in people joining the IRA and caused massive outcry. The troubles would go onto last for another 26 years with the Good Friday Agreement of 1998 ending the decades worth of violence. Even so, Bloody Sunday still remains a relevant and deeply saddening topic with families still left coping the losses of their loved one and the parts of their lives that were ruled by these gruesome moments. Forty years have passed without anyone being prosecuted or held accountable for the lives lost. Just this year, in July, 2021 it was decided that Soldier F would not face trial for killing two men and injuring another five. The Troubles took so many lives across the decades in Northern Ireland, Ireland, and Britain that it will always be a sore subject. People who grew up during the shootings and bombings are still alive and all have their own story. This time in Irish and British history will never really go away and the debate on who is to blame for what happened depends on who you ask. But still, like the streets that were rebuilt and painted over with beautiful murals, the people are healing and moving forward in time and their lives. That is something that we as humans must always remember, no matter where we come from or what religion we follow. Seeing the art that has been made after such trying times is truly a reminder of the resilience of humans.

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I chose "The course of Empire" paintings by Thomas Cole. Cole painted these 5 photos in the course of 3 years between 1833-1836. Each photo shows the same spot ages apart in different parts of civilization. Its starts as wilderness, than a small town, than a large city, than chaos in that city and ends with the ruins of the city. It shows the creative and wonder that humans can create from nature and how those same humans can destroy it. The humans return it back to the nature it was with only a few ruins to remind us of the old world. The sun moves from left to right. Showing the time passing throughout the day. During the glory days the sun is high in the sky but during the destruction panting it is dusk. The paintings represent humans nature and the power they have. How landscapes can change, but are never permanent. These paintings were powerful when they were published as people were worried we were closing in on the destruction of our cities and towns. They show wonder and calamity, but also the destruction society has.

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This is a photo of a vigil organized in honor of the victims of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting and to me this represents both wonder and calamity. The aspect of human destruction is the fact that this event needed to take place. This was a mass murder where seventeen school aged students were killed and it actively represents the pitfalls and weak spots in humanity. The amount of suffering endured by their loved ones as well as the survivors is immense. It also represents a bit of wonder though. In light of the tragedy many people came together to remember the lost lives and to offer a supportive community to the people who lost loved ones. The vigil represents a beautiful moment for humanity and promotes healing and grieving as a community.

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I chose this famous picture from 9/11 to represent calamity that exists in humanity. It shows that advancements and achievements in life will only be met with hatred and resentment from others. The terrorists killed themselves and the other 3000 people in those towers because of the hatred they had towards American society. Furthermore the event is remembered so well in comparison to other more positive events of the same time which shows that death and destruction will always have more of a lasting impact than joy and creation

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A Political Cartoon (engraving) over the Boston Massacre, engraved by Paul Revere.

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This image was a political cartoon about the Boston massacre that was shown last year in history class. It pictures several people who have fallen on the ground and the soldiers who started firing at them. There was a strong conflict and division between two different groups of people. It shows the calamities of humanity because humans are constantly in conflict with each other, whether it be over control or opinions. People had died in an area that was supposed to be safe for them, in their own streets. But I also this it shows wonder because an artist took this event and turned it into a moving piece of artwork. The people took an upsetting situation and spun it around to make it a reason to fight for reason and choice. Through the pain came an even stronger revolution. Instead of submitting to fear, the people decided to take this fear and transform it into bravery.

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The Black Lives Matter protest that occurred this year shows the creative/wonders and calamities of man. It is a wonder as it shows mankind's ability to come together and fight for an important cause the care about. They created their own movement and way to have people hear their voices. It is beautiful to see the power humans can hold when they unite. However, it shows the calamities that differences and violence can cause as well. During the protests in order to keep order the police had to throw tear gas and that created a disaster. Conflict rose and problems between the police and protesters started to build up tension. Eventually, some people ended up getting hurt/injured and destruction was created with vandalism and shops getting damaged due to arson and looting(from people taking advantage of the chaos of the situation).

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What comes to mind when I think of a human product that is both a wonder of creativity and a calamity is factories. These powerhouses of machinery demonstrate the progression of science and engineering that the human brain has inspired and accomplished. The technology that goes into the creation of assembly lines is fascinatingly intricate. However, the detrimental effects they have had on the Earth are immeasurable, and it is clear that greed has become rooted in scientific advancements that make life easier. Wealthy CEOs abuse the creativity of humans and turn their work into a calamity as CO2 emissions are plaguing our environment and their products are polluting the Earth.

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I think that the Mayan Temples portray the ideas of both wonder and calamity. The temples date back to around 300 B.C. and are found in various locations all over the world. It is disputed who exactly built the Mayan temples but no one ignores the fact that they were built by hand in an era without modern technology. The temples resemble pyramids and have secret tunnels, doors, chambers, and a massive detailed staircase leading to the summit of the temple. These massive temples are gorgeous examples of ancient architecture and people travel the world just to see them. However, over a thousand years after they were built, Spainards invaded and conquered the Mayan people. The conquistadors detailed: as they climbed the temples they could smell the sickening smell of blood that had stained the temples from centuries of live human sacrifices made in the courtyards and the summits of the temples. As reverence to their god(s) the Mayan people who torture a person, ripped their beating heart out of their chest, and decapitate the person to bless the cities. These temples show how even some of the most beautiful things can be a double edged sword and house some of the most gruesome history.

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Starry, Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh

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I selected this image of a human's creative power because to me it represents the turbulence we experience during our lives and how that turbulence causes us to see the dark side of ourselves.  Yet, despite its examination of chaos and turbulence, Van Gogh paints it beautifully with various blue hues, spirals, and dark figures that are ambiguous and mysterious.