Should arts education be considered an essential part of the school curriculum?
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 Vital Role of Arts Education in School Curriculum
Thesis Statement: Arts education should be deemed an essential component of the school curriculum due to its multifaceted benefits in fostering creativity, critical thinking, cultural appreciation, and holistic personal development among students.
Introduction:
Arts education, encompassing visual arts, music, theater, and dance, plays a crucial role in shaping well-rounded individuals. This essay argues that arts education should be recognized as a fundamental part of the school curriculum, as it offers a myriad of benefits that contribute to the overall growth and development of students.
Subtopics:
1. Fostering Creativity and Innovation:- How arts education nurtures creative thinking and problem-solving skills.
2. Enhancing Critical Thinking and Communication:- The role of arts education in developing analytical skills and effective communication.
3. Promoting Cultural Appreciation and Diversity:- How arts education fosters an understanding and appreciation of diverse cultures.
4. Supporting Holistic Personal Development:- The impact of arts education on emotional intelligence, self-expression, and well-being.
Analysis:
1. Fostering Creativity and Innovation:
– Arts education encourages students to think outside the box and explore different perspectives.
– Creative expression through art forms allows for unique and original ideas to flourish.
2. Enhancing Critical Thinking and Communication:
– Engagement with the arts hones skills such as observation, analysis, and interpretation.
– Participation in performing arts enhances verbal and non-verbal communication abilities.
3. Promoting Cultural Appreciation and Diversity:
– Exposure to various art forms introduces students to different cultural traditions and histories.
– Through art, students learn to respect and celebrate diversity in a globalized world.
4. Supporting Holistic Personal Development:
– Artistic expression serves as a therapeutic outlet for emotions and self-discovery.
– Arts education fosters empathy, resilience, and a sense of community among students.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, arts education is a vital component of the school curriculum that goes beyond mere creative expression. It plays a significant role in fostering creativity, critical thinking, cultural appreciation, and holistic personal development among students. By integrating arts education into the curriculum, schools can nurture well-rounded individuals who are not only academically proficient but also emotionally intelligent and culturally aware. Embracing arts education as essential ensures that students receive a comprehensive education that equips them with the skills and perspectives necessary for success in an increasingly diverse and complex world.
