Museum Visit - Why Study History?

Why study history? Or why even bother going to a museum? The answer is because we need to learn about the past in order to be aware and acknowledged for the future. When we study it not only do we acquire some usable habits for the mind, as well as some basic data about the forces that affect our own lives or have affected our lives, we emerge with applicable skills and an increased capacity for critical thinking, and simple awareness. Some history depends on personal taste, where one finds beauty, the joy of discovery, or intellectual challenge. Between the inescapable minimum and the pleasure of deep commitment comes the history that, through cumulative skill in interpreting the unfolding human record, provides a real grasp of how the world works. In my trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, I learned and discovered many things. As well as noticed many similarities to the material read and discussed in class, as well as similarities with stories I have read before.

One sculpture that caught my attention was a sculpture of Hanuman from the chola period 11th century in India made with copper alley. Which is a sculpture of a half monkey and a half man. His body is of a well built man, but his face and feet are of a monkey. He’s standing in a slanted position with one finger pointing up, like he’s saying something or he has just discovered something. The style of his clothes looks as if he has jewelry on so he must be of nobility or of royalty. From the Encyclopedia and a story I have read Ramayana I know that Hanuman is the Hindu monkey god and monkey king. I learned while still a baby, Hanuman, the child of a nymph by the wind god, tried to fly up and grab the sun, which he mistook for a fruit. Indra, the king of the gods, struck Hanuman with a thunderbolt on the jaw (hanu), thus inspiring the name. When Hanuman continued to misbehave, powerful sages cursed him to forget his magic powers, such as the ability to fly or to become infinitely large, until he was reminded of them. Hanuman's swiftness, strength, and loyalty in supporting Rama are shown by his devoutness to him. He helps get his wife Sita back, who was captured by the wicked demon Ravana. Hanuman is also looked upon as an example of the devotion and loyalty that worshippers should show to a god. While looking at this sculpture it reminded me of the story Ramayana. This sculpture shows strength in the way they portrayed the statue with a well-built body and also it depicts a friendship and bond if you have prior knowledge of Hanumans background. In Ramayana both Rama and Hanuman are people with god like qualities and special strengths. Together they defeat Ravana’s whole army. This story shows a friendship and bond between the characters. In Ramayana you have Hanumans devoutness to Rama in rescuing in his wife and save her. Hanuman is also a popular figure among Buddhists in Central, Southeast, and East Asia, and throughout those areas many temples have been erected

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