What Were Some Of The Traditions That Led To The Development Of Jazz?
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Title: The Influence of African Musical Traditions on the Development of Jazz
Thesis Statement: The rich and diverse musical traditions of Africa played a crucial role in shaping the development of jazz, contributing rhythmic complexity, improvisation, and call-and-response elements to the genre.
Introduction
Jazz is a quintessentially American art form that has its roots deeply embedded in the cultural and musical traditions of Africa. The development of jazz was heavily influenced by the arrival of enslaved Africans in the United States and the subsequent blending of their diverse musical heritage with European musical traditions. This essay will explore the ways in which African musical traditions, such as rhythmic complexity, improvisation, and call-and-response, contributed to the evolution of jazz as a distinct and innovative musical genre.
Rhythmic Complexity
One of the most significant contributions of African musical traditions to the development of jazz is rhythmic complexity. African music is characterized by intricate polyrhythms, syncopation, and a strong emphasis on rhythm. These rhythmic elements were brought to the Americas by enslaved Africans and became fundamental components of jazz music. The syncopated rhythms and polyrhythmic patterns that are central to jazz drumming and percussion can be traced back to African music traditions. The incorporation of these complex rhythms into jazz created a dynamic and propulsive energy that distinguishes the genre from other musical styles.
Improvisation
Another crucial element that stemmed from African musical traditions is improvisation. In many African musical cultures, improvisation is a central feature of performance, allowing musicians to express themselves creatively and spontaneously. This tradition found its way into jazz, where improvisation became a defining characteristic of the genre. Jazz musicians often engage in improvised solos, creating spontaneous melodies and variations on existing musical themes. This practice of improvisation, derived from African musical traditions, gives jazz its distinctive sense of freedom and individual expression.
Call-and-Response
The call-and-response pattern, prevalent in African music, also left an indelible mark on the development of jazz. In traditional African music, call-and-response is a fundamental way of structuring musical interaction, with one musician or group of musicians issuing a “call” that is answered by another musician or group. This interactive approach to music-making was assimilated into jazz, where it became a fundamental aspect of ensemble playing and solo improvisation. Jazz musicians often engage in call-and-response dialogues during performances, creating a dynamic and interactive musical conversation that captivates audiences and showcases the genre’s deep connection to its African roots.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the development of jazz was profoundly shaped by the rich and diverse musical traditions of Africa. The rhythmic complexity, improvisation, and call-and-response elements that are fundamental to jazz can be traced back to African musical traditions brought to the Americas by enslaved Africans. By incorporating these elements into their music, jazz musicians created a genre that is both innovative and deeply rooted in its African heritage. As we continue to appreciate and celebrate the legacy of jazz, it is essential to recognize and honor the profound influence of African musical traditions on this uniquely American art form.
