Essay #2

Megan Smith
English Composition II
Essay #2: Rough Draft
June 20, 2011

There truly are no words that could explain and describe human nature and all of its distinguished characteristics that are unique to the human experience. The manner in which each individual thinks, acts or feels is unique to that individual. Although commonalities may arise between people, differences in these characteristics of human nature may just as easily arise. These differences create diversity among people in countless ways. Just as human nature is not limited to race, gender, ethnicity, etc., diversity is also not limited. In order to show the significance of diversity among people as a trait of human nature and as a part of the human experience, it is important to understand that humans frequently encounter all walks of life in our daily activities. The role in which other people play in our lives has an impact on how we develop our thoughts, actions and feelings and most importantly how we are able to look at the big picture of the human experience.

After developing a theme based around diversity and the impact of others in our lives, I wanted to express in more than just words how diversity can be obvious at times and well disguised at others. In doing so, I choose to use a series of paintings by the same artist, Georges Seurat; although I am not using a diverse selection of artists, his style of painting is quite diverse while the story his paintings tell is quite similar. The sequence of the paintings expresses how an individual is a unique aspect to a group; they are a part to a whole, whether they are involved, uninvolved, or unaware of the bigger picture they are a part of.

The first painting, entitled The Circus, shows individuals acting as a part of group; each member of the audience finds amusement in the circus act and the performers tie the group together since they are what brings them all together in the first place. Each individual in the painting knows that they are involved in something bigger, the audience knows they are an audience just as the performers know that they are performing for the audience. They are all aware that they are each a unique individual but they know that they are experiencing the same thing together. This painting truly shows the diverse nature of people because all types of people, young and old, male and female, wealthy and poor, etc. are able to enjoy the same show. In this diverse group enjoying the circus, it is apparent that humans are emotional creatures who have feelings. These emotions and feelings are aspects of human nature, not an aspect of a particular type of person. Even through this diversity, there is intense commonality between these people. If a circus show was limited to a specific type of person, such as limited to the wealthy and elite, the show would probably be much different and geared towards other traits of that group of people. However, since a circus show appeals to and is open to all walks of life, the show has to evoke the emotions of all sorts of people. This shows that when different people are put together it can change the outcome of something.

“Diversity is the one true thing we all have in common. Celebrate it everyday.” –Anonymous

I picked this quote because I felt as if it truly suited what was going on in the painting. The members of the audience at the circus all have one thing in common; they are all enjoying the show, regardless of where they are sitting, who they are with, what they are wearing, etc. Each person in the picture has the circus in common with on another. This audience expresses diversity because there are all walks of life ranging from the elite and wealthy sitting in the front row, to what appears to be poor boys viewing the show from a standing position in the back. But no matter how different each person may be they are experiencing and celebrating their diversity together.

Happiness is harmonious by nature; it does not exclude a single being. –M. Smith

For my expressive commentary, I wanted to expose the deep feeling of happiness that I found in the painting. Feelings and emotions are a core aspect to the human experience. Although not everyone feels the same feeling or shows the same emotion in a particular circumstance, we all have in common the capability and capacity to feel emotion. I believe that happiness is a feeling that can bring people together and create harmony among them. Happiness does not pick or choose who is allowed to feel its warmth; it includes everyone in its work as long as everyone allows it to enter into his or her lives.

The next painting, titled A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte, shows individuals acting as individuals; however, they are all in a group setting experiencing and relaxing on the “Island of La Grande Jatte”. Each of these individuals serve a purpose of creating a group or community of people, yet they are not expected to all be the same. Each person retains their individuality and is not actively involved in being a part of the group. They each have their own agenda but are surrounded by all walks of life. This painting shows that diversity surrounds us in many aspects of our lives; people do not have to actively interacting with other people to see the differences between them. Just as the title expresses, the people in this painting are spending a Sunday afternoon on the island of La Grande Jatte. Some people are relaxing in the sun or shade, others are spending time with their families or by themselves, some are daydreaming and others are playing under the trees or just passing by. Although what each individual is doing on the island on this Sunday afternoon exhibits diversity, we are able to see that the types of people are also diverse. Some individuals seem to be of wealthy or elite status, while others seem to be grateful for a day off from a blue-collar type job. Even through this diversity, they are each enjoying a relaxing day on the island and the calm and peaceful environment evokes a sense of warmth and community among the people.

“We all live with the objective of being happy; our lives are all different and yet the same.” –Anne Frank

I picked this quote because it describes the atmosphere of the painting that is easily felt by the viewer. The immediate feeling that I got from this painting was that each of the people were so different from one another and they all lived separate lives, yet they all shared a sense of happiness. I was able to tell that each person in the painting simply wanted to spend his or her Sunday afternoon relaxing on the island, each in an objective to be happy. However, the reason behind why they all wanted to relax and experience happiness varies dramatically. Each individual leads a different life, but they all have the same objective on this Sunday afternoon.

A day of relaxation brings peace to our mind and warmth to a community. –M. Smith

The expressive commentary I choose to add to this painting was meant to infuse a sense of comrodery between the individuals and their feelings as well as between each individual. A long week of work can surely ware a person down; but a day of relaxation allows our mind to rejuvenate and we are able to find peace with ourselves again. Although an individual relaxes for their own sake, it creates a certain feeling of warmth among the people and community surrounding them. When one person takes the time to relax, others will follow suit and when everyone develops their peace of mind, the community is able to become stronger.

The third and final painting, Men Fishing In The Wharf, vividly expresses how an individual person can impact other individuals or groups of people, without knowing that they are doing anything. Each of the men fishing seem to be distant from one another; they seem to not be on a personal level with each other. Each of the men fishing see that they all have fishing as a common ground, but they do not see how they each affect one another. If one man catches a fish, and heads home to cook it for dinner, that is one less fish for another man to catch. Although they are not a part of a specific group and they are all individuals doing their own thing, they still may have an affect on someone else that they may not be aware of. This painting shows that diversity can be subtle and still have a significant impact on people. The actions of complete strangers do have affects on others whether it is visible or obscured. If individuals were more conscious of their actions and the affects their actions will have on others, people would be able to create an environment where diversity encourages us to work together and help others.

“Behave so the aroma of your actions may enhance the general sweetness of the atmosphere.” –Henry David Thoreau

I choose this quote because I felt as if it really touched upon how important a single action can be and how it has the potential to make a positive change in the world. Each and every action has some sort of meaning behind it; an action is not without thought. This quote shows that actions are not simple, our actions stem from our behavior and our feelings, which influence both our good and bad decisions and actions. If people were to be aware of their actions and how they affect other people, the world would be able to prosper from this generosity and respect for others.

A single action can have affects in places both known and unknown. –M. Smith

When developing my expressive commentary for this painting, I wanted to express the importance of actions as a characteristic of human nature. Each and everyday, people make decisions and act upon them, but rarely do we think about how our actions have affects that we do not see. People generally consider the affects of their actions on the people they are close with; this group of people that is considered is not diverse, they are all the essentially the same. Our actions reach unknown places and we must consider the diverse group of people that will be affected by those actions.

These paintings show that diversity does not have to be about gender or class; diversity can be finding differences within an individual. These three paintings came from a single individual, yet they are all so different from one another. The characters in these paintings are able to be their own self as an individual, yet be apart of a group or have an affect on others. Diversity is an essential aspect to the human experience; but it is through our thoughts, actions and feelings that we are able to look at the big picture. Whether we work actively or passively as a group or we are blind to our actions affects on a diverse group of people, we each continue to learn and grow in our human experience.





Paintings Work Cited
Seurat, Georges. The Circus. 1890-1891. ABC Gallery. Web. 17 June 2011. .
Seurat, Georges. A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte. 1884. Wikipedia. Web. 17 June 2011. .
Seurat, Georges. Men Fishing In The Wharf. Wikigallery. Web. 17 June 2011. .

Quotes Work Cited
“Diversity Quotes.” Finest Quotes. Web. 17 June 2011. .
“Famous Anne Frank Quotations.” Quotes.net. Web. 17 June 2011. .
“Henry David Thoreau Quotes.” Thinkexist.com. Web. 17 June 2011. .