COLOURS MEAN DIFFERENT THINGS TO DIFFERENT CULTURES

 

Roses are red, violets are blue, colours should mean the same for me and you! But unfortunately they don’t.  The colours themselves mean different things and bring out different emotions in different cultures and different countries! Blue means I'm sad, and red means I love you! In a blue mood is melancholy personified and expressing love with a red rose is legendary, but not in all cultures!

One of the bonuses of living in a world of color is that all our emotions are evoked by these bright hues we see all across our day to day lives. There is a deeper psychology to the meaning and power of different colors, whether you're looking to decorate your home or office, create astounding works of art, or simply buying someone flowers! 

Much like with all things in this world, colors gain more diverse and specific meanings as you travel across the globe. A color that means sadness on one side of the planet may mean pure joy on the other! A purple scarf would be the perfect gift in America but in Brazil, it could be deeply offensive! In some cultures, white represents innocence, but in others, it can represent death! So colours carry deep meanings with them in every culture. Western, Far Eastern, Middle Eastern, Indian, and African cultures have stark differences in the symbolism of colours within their cultures.

Let's take a quick ride around the globe and see what pictures different cultures paint with all the different colors!

Red

Red symbolizes excitement, energy, passion, action, love, and danger in Western cultures. It's also associated with communism and revolution in countries like Russia and China. In Asian cultures red is a very important colour — it symbolizes good luck, joy, prosperity, celebration, happiness, and a long life. Iranians see it as a symbol of courage and good fortune, and red items in Egypt are considered lucky items! Indians revere the color as one of immense power, representing fire, wealth, beauty, seduction, fear, and even love.This is the colour that is often accompanied by vibrant sounds and some sensual images. What’s there not to like about red?

Well, in African countries red can be associated with death and aggression in their society. It is classed as the colour of mourning in South Africa, while in Russia it is strongly linked to communism. On the South African flag, it represents the sacrifices made in violent efforts to gain independence.  So this is a powerful colour that stokes emotions and needs to be used carefully in any country or culture.

Yellow

When you see the color yellow, your mind goes to sunshine, harvests, warmth, and happy feelings. The people of Egypt similarly associate it with good fortune and joy. In Africa, yellow symbolizes gold and is worn by people of high rank. The yellow is the colour most often associated with the deity in many religions (Hinduism and Ancient Egypt). Yellow in traffic lights and signs indicate caution all over the world. While this is seen as being warm and happy in most Western Cultures, it is the colour of envy in Germany. In France it can be seen as meaning weakness and betrayal. And adult movies in China are termed as “yellow movies”, so don’t be fooled by that term! 

In Egypt yellow signifies happiness and good fortune while in China it is the colour that represents harmony and in Thailand it is a lucky colour. All in all, it is one of the colours that is least likely to upset anyone, unless they hate the Simpsons or are allergic to bananas.

Blue

Blue is the third primary colour. It spiritually signifies the Healing Power of God. It is the most sublime colour which represents biblically, the Word of God. This is another safe choice of brand colour in most parts of the planet. Although it is often associated with sadness, blue doesn’t have many negative cultural connotations in different parts of the world. This is presumably why so many global brands use blue in their logos.

Having said that, Pepsi Cola ran into problems in South East Asia when they changed their vending machines to a light shade of blue that is commonly linked to death and mourning there. However, in other parts of the world it is seen as being a peaceful, healthy colour. It can even repel evil and offer protection in some Arab and Mediterranean cultures, especially in the form of a blue talisman to ward off evil eye curses.

Blue is a color with many meanings in America and other western countries. To have “the blues” is to feel melancholy, but it also represents royalty, as in the term “blue blood”. Across North America, it is meant to represent authority, trust, and security. That representation is shared by Middle Eastern countries, who also relate it to immortality and heaven. While we may associate it with baby boys, China views the color as more feminine. Latin Americans see it as a sign of good health and hope. 

Orange

Mix red and yellow and you get orange, but it has a whole different meaning from its parent colours. This warm colour is sacred in the Hindu religion and also represents fertility in Colombia. It is a particularly powerful tone in Eastern countries, where it is a symbol of love, health and happiness. In Ukraine it is a sign of bravery but in Egypt it brings to mind mourning.

This strong and vivid colour is used in a number of logos and the fact that it is so easily seen and recognised means that it is useful in safety settings and to warn of rising danger levels. Put some orange on screen, add a character voice with some vibrancy and people will pay attention.  Darker shades of the colour are said to bring to mind deceit and distrust, though. Orange represents autumn, harvest, warmth, and visibility in Western cultures. In Hinduism saffron (a soft orange colour) is considered auspicious and sacred. In Eastern cultures orange symbolizes love, happiness, humility, purity and good health. We also associate orange with curiosity and creativity while Japan and China see it as a sign of humility, happiness, and good health, which is likely why Ramkrishna Mission’s monks and Buddhist monks wear orange robes. The royal family of Netherlands as well as the Indian flag bears the color proudly making it a status symbol and national symbol respectively.

Colombians typically associate it with fertility and sexuality. Highly adventurous and extroverted, wearers of orange not only lean toward sexual fantasies but making those fantasies come true! While impulsive and risk-taking, orange also connotes great communication and positive spirit.

Green

We get green by mixing blue and yellow and this represents nature, environment and environmental activism. It is the traditional colour associated with Islam. It is the national colour of Mexico and represents good luck. In western countries, it also represents envy, one of the seven deadly sins, and the dreaded green-eyed monster. On the flip side, the Irish associate it with good luck, Saint Patrick, and leprechauns, and it is one of their national colors. Many Asian countries associate it with new life, health, and prosperity but on the other hand, it can be linked to infidelity in China as well as to jealousy in other cultures. A man wearing a green cap in China suggests to others that his wife may have been unfaithful! Overall, this colour is unlikely to offend in too many places.

Purple

When we mix red and blue we get purple and it combines the stability of blue and passion of red. Americans view purple as a color of honor, and courage - the Purple Heart, in the Armed Forces. In England and France, it is symbolic of royalty, usually seen on regal robes worn by the members of the Royal Family. It is also associated with fame, wealth and richness as the dye was once very rare and expensive, and could only be afforded by the rich and powerful. Purple also represents nobility in most Asian cultures.

Be careful wearing anything purple in Thailand or Brazil, though, because it is a representation of mourning. In fact, in the South American nation, purple is considered appropriate to wear solely at funerals. It is also believed to be colour of sexually deprivation and frustration.

White

The first thing anyone thinks of when they think “white” in a western country is “wedding”, a bride in her beautiful gown, a symbol of purity and elegance. It is also related to calmness and cleanliness. Peru also sees the color very viscerally, associating it with angels, time, and good health. Most Asian countries, however, like China, Korea, and India, relate the color to bad luck, death, and mourning, often being donned at funerals and last rites. A white feather or a white flag can also mean cowardice or surrender too.  

Black

In Western cultures, black has dual implications: on one side, it is associated with formality and sophistication, but on the other side, it's also related to mystery, mourning, and evil. Africans hold black as a symbol of masculinity, maturity, and age. Middle Eastern countries also have varied interpretations of the color, representing mourning on one hand and rebirth on the other. Black is seen bringing bad luck in India and ‘a black day’ is an unfortunate day and ‘blackening of one’s face’ is a sign of disgrace. But strangely mothers put a black smudge on their baby’s temple to ward off evil spirits!

Pink

Pink is a color normally associated with femininity, love, tenderness, and the arrival of a baby girl. In Japan, the color is more frequently associated with men. It is considered as a “foreign color” in China as it was introduced to the country by other cultures, and in Korea, it symbolizes trust. 

Brown

Brown is stable, dependable and wholesome, as association which comes from the colour of grains. In Chinese horoscopes, brown is used to represent earth but in other Eastern and Asian cultures it is associated with mourning.

So why do you think it is important to understand the colours and what they mean to different people and different cultures? It may not only result in a nasty experience for an unsuspected tourist but it may result in huge commercial losses if companies fail to choose the correct colour when they launch their products in foreign markets. A Japanese two wheeler company had to withdraw an entire shipment of scooters from their Indian market because they were black in colour and no one in India was keen to buy an unlucky scooter! So, which colours are best used and which are best avoided in certain places are vitally important to the manufacturers. And you thought colours were only important when you visited a florist to choose flowers for your partner!

BONJOUR PARIS...ARMCHAIR TRAVEL– DAY 2

 

Arc de Triomphe

Today we were on our own with no Adele to guide us. But I had chalked out a grand plan with her for today. After talking to a few fellow tourists, who were Paris regulars I decided that our small group, not afraid of walking on a nice sunny spring day, would reach Louvre by metro and then walk from there to Arc de Triomphe and from there to the Eiffel Tower enjoying the sights and sceneries as we go. The closest Paris Metro station to the Louvre Museum is Louvre Rivoli and Palais Royal Musée du Louvre, both on Line 1 (yellow) which travels underneath Rue de Rivoli. We got down at Louvre Rivoli and started our walk.

Louvre Museum

Walking from the Louvre up to the Arc de Triomphe is a great Parisian attraction, because there are so many things to do between Louvre and Arc of Triumph. You will get to see the Tuileries gardens, the Concorde square, the Champs Elysées Avenue. If you have more time, you can also stop at one of the nearby museums or take a small detour through the Vendôme square.

The first of the things to do between the Louvre and the Arc of Triumph is to see the triumphal arc of the Carrousel. It was built from 1806 to 1808 to commemorate Napoleon Ist ‘s victories. It is perfectly aligned with the obelisk of the Concorde, the center line of the Champs-Elysées avenue, and with the Great Arc of Triumph, located at the other end of the Champs-Elysées, twice bigger than the small Carrousel Arc.

Tuileries gardens

Then strolling through the Tuileries gardens we enjoyed looking at the garden’s feature fountains, statues, and lawns. There are two main ponds in the gardens, one in the center, and one near the Carrousel Arc, where one can rent miniature boats, which can be very fun for children. Another fun activity to relax can be to take a tour on the Ferris wheel.

Then we took that much recommended small detour to see the Place Vendôme, and good we did it because it is one of the most beautiful squares in Paris. At the center of the square, the Vendome column stands to honor the Emperor Napoleon Ist. A word of caution, try to avoid your shopping in this neighborhood as the shops here are among the most expensive in Paris!

Place Vendôme

After crossing the Tuileries gardens, we arrived at the Concorde square, where the King Louis XVI was executed during the French revolution of 1789! Getting a glimpse of the ancient Egyptian obelisk at the square’s center is definitely one of the things you will remember in this walk.

The former Orangerie of the Tuileries now houses an impressionist painting museum. Built in 1853, the orangery was where the painter Claude Monet exhibited his Water lilies in 1920. If you like impressionism then the museum of the orangery is definitely one of the things to do and we spent some time there. Then we walked up the famous Champs-Elysées avenue, stopping in the numerous shops on the avenue. The Champs-Élysées connects the Arc de Triomphe with the Place de la Concorde and is considered to be one of the world's most famous commercial streets.

The inquisive me wanted to know the meaning of the Champs-Élysées. I was told that its history can be traced to 1640 when this space was cleared to plant a line of trees, which would later become an avenue. The name translates to “Elysian Fields” from the Greek mythology, meaning resting place of Greek gods and dead heroes, similar to the Christian paradise. And believe me, it is paradise!

Grand Palais

The avenue is divided in two; the lower part, closest to the Place de la Concorde, runs through a park with imposing buildings such as the Palais de la Découverte (Discovery Palace), the Petit Palais and the Grand Palais. These buildings, built for the universal exhibition of 1900, are museums. They feature temporary exhibitions, a sciences museum called “Palais de la découverte”, as well as paintings, drawings, and artefacts. The higher part of Champs-Élysées begins at place Charles de Gaulle, where the magnificent Arc de Triomphe is situated, with numerous high-end stores, restaurants, cinemas and large department stores. The Champs-Élysées ends at the opposite side of the Arc de Triomphe, where the avenue de la Grande Armée leads to the Grande Arche de la Défense and the district of La Défense. From the Grande Arche, we had an amazing view of Champs-Élysées. 

Arc de Triomphe, which is the short form of Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile, is a massive triumphal arch and one of the world's best-known commemorative monuments. The Arc de Triomphe remains an iconic symbol of French national identity and took 30 years to build. The Grande Armee, as the Napoleon’s Army was called, had conquered most of Europe and was then considered invicible. Napoleon ordered the construction of this arc to honour his Army. The Arc de Triomphe honours those who fought and died for France in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, with the names of all French victories and generals inscribed on its inner and outer surfaces. Beneath its vault lies the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from World War I.

It was late in the afternoon and we had our lunch in Bustronome Paris, a great place with 360 degree panoramic terrace and excellent French cuisine to choose from! Rejuvenated, and after our cameras had captured the Arc de Triomphe from all possible angles, we start our next leg of the walk to the Eiffel Tower. We could have taken the Kleber Avenue to Trocadéro, and then cross the Seine River to reach the Eiffel Tower but we took a small detour by the George V Avenue and the Alma Bridge before reaching the Eiffel Tower.

Pont de l’Alma

The Alma Bridge, known as Pont de l’Alma in French, was rebuilt in the 1970s. Its Zouave statue used to be on the old bridge before 1970, and was then transferred onto the pillar of the new bridge. This statue is used by Parisians to measure the level of the river Seine. For instance, when the feet of the statue touch the water, this means that the banks are flooded.

The Modern Art Museum is located at 11 Avenue du Président Wilson and is a must visit. We took time to admire paintings from the twentieth century. The whole museum takes about two hours to visit, so you might want to take a break in the museum’s café: the terrace has a very good view on the Eiffel Tower.

Palace of the Trocadéro

Our next stop was the Palace of the Trocadéro was built in 1937 for a universal exhibition. Today, the west wing of the building houses the Navy Museum. This museum includes many models of ships and many artifacts related to the navy. If you do not have time to go inside the museum, take the time to go on the terrace between the two wings, for a good view on the Eiffel Tower, before going down, crossing the gardens, the river, and arriving right under the Eiffel Tower. I am told that this museum is worth a visit and it remains in my Paris to do list for the next time.

The Aquarium of Paris is relatively small. It has many species of fish, octopuses and sharks. If you have children in your group this is a great place to excite them. There is even a special tank where you can touch freshwater fishes such as goldfishes, koi carps, and ides.

Aquarium de Paris

Touch pool

We ended the second day's walking trip with another boat ride down the River Seine, enjoying the evening to our heart's content!

Whether you walk the area around the Eiffel Tower, Montmartre or the Marais, the Arc de Triomphe or the Louvre-Rivoli you will be amazed by the Parisian architecture, the history and the culture of the city. Paris remains one of my most favourite cities and if you have the stamina try to enjoy it as you walk down its legendary streets and avenues!

Cruise down River Seine

Eiffel Tower

BONJOUR PARIS…..ARMCHAIR TRAVEL

 

Notre Dame

I landed in Paris day before yesterday. Last night, I strolled along Rue de Buci, one of the most charming streets on the left bank of Paris. The sidewalk was crowded with tables and little motorbikes buzzed by like loud mosquitoes, as I paused to buy a ripe Saint Marcellin cheese and half a roast chicken from the little street market. I stopped in at Le Bar Du Marche for a glass of wine, and bought some books at Taschen. Then, just as I was biting into a gelato-filled macaron from Amorino Gelato, I woke up.

There are many ways to travel, and one of them is in the mind. Right now, we're all missing the thrill and anticipation of planning a holiday in India or overseas. So how can we recalibrate our brains to cope with an enforced period of non-travel?

Embrace your armchair, I say, and give it wings. Lose yourself in any book written by Bruce Chatwin, Mark Twain or Bill Bryson; or dig deep into a travel documentary on the National Geographic channel.

I can think of any place that I have visited in the past and savored any speciality dish of the region. It could be the saffron risotto of Milan, the caraway-spiked choucroute of sauerkraut, pork, sausages and potatoes of Alsace, or the baked shakshuka of eggs and spicy tomato sauce of Tunisia or just fish and chips in Phillip Island. Then theme that finished dish with the right wine, play the appropriate music, and you've kept one of the great joys of travel alive.........without stepping out of your home!

Want another tip? Learn a language, or polish a rusty one. Download an app and practice your French or Japanese over dinner. With every new phrase learnt, you're a step closer to being there. If you're with oldies, get them reminiscing about their best travel experiences. If you're with youngsters, get them planning their dream holiday. A dream holiday has a huge advantage, it’s budget is invariably unlimited! The trick is to not sit at home stewing, wishing you were somewhere else. That would be as silly as travelling the world, as free as a bird, and wishing you were at home. Today you have the abundance of time in your hand but this situation will not last forever. Just remember, the sun will shine again, and the planes will fly again.

So let us return to the tour of Paris. I propose to do two walking tours in two days and I invite you to join me! I have been to several walking tours of this city, some guided and some all by myself but today I am remembering a trip I took with a group of tourists from 8 different countries and led by a charming guide Adele. I remember it because the tour was intellectually stimulating, well-researched, and serious, which is not to say boring. Adele understood the importance of good storytelling, and knew how to hold their audience’s interest, while also providing them with impressive and reliable factual information.

The guides, Adele told us, were selected on the basis of their extensive knowledge of, and passion for, a particular area of expertise. I would suggest that if it is your first walking tour of a city, go with an official guide because Google will not do justice to your time and effort spent in the city

Sacré Coeur Basilica

Our tour began with a walk to the base of Montmartre hill for a funicular ride to the beautiful Sacré Coeur Basilica. Carolina had us laughing while she ensured we crossed the road safely. “You’ve got to be careful when you’re crossing the road in Paris as the drivers only know two speeds: go and kill! Make sure you look the right way and then look again before you step out.”

We were lucky with the weather on the day we did our tour, with blue skies and stunning views. Getting to Sacré Coeur just after 9am also meant there were no crowds which was another bonus. The tour had just started but I was already glad that I had signed up. I had been to Sacré Coeur before but thought you had to pay to go inside as I mistook the security bag screening point for a ticket booth. I never would have seen inside the stunning basilica if it wasn’t for Adele explaining there was no charge.

After spending time inside the basilica Adele took us on a tour of Montmartre. Once again, this was a place I had visited before but Adele made me see it in a whole new light. For example, I had always thought the outdoor artist studios in one of suburb’s best known squares were ‘touristy’ but it turned out famous artists had been selling their works here for hundreds of years. A walk in Montmartre is very physical because it is uphill! If you want to fully enjoy Montmartre and visit the most important landmarks, you will have to do a lot of walking.

Adele told us that in 1871, the inhabitants of Montmartre rebelled against Parisians and created a new system of their own. It was called “La Commune” and they were kind of independent from the city of Paris for about three months. The true Montmartrois are pretty different from the common Parisians. They are revolutionary, free and talk what comes to their mind.  It had inspired so many artists such as Picasso and Van Gogh. The museum,  Musée de Montmartre  was constructed in the 17th century, and is actually the oldest building in all of Montmartre! Over the years, many famous artists like Renoir, Utrillo and Valadon have called this property home, and worked from the studio on site.

Moulin Rouge

In Montmartre we walked past the famous Moulin Rouge cabaret.  It is, undoubtedly, the most famous cabaret in the world! Its name is also universally known, thanks to the 2001 movie by Baz Luhrmann starring Nicole Kidman. The Moulin Rouge is sexy, fun and unique! Tickets can be difficult to obtain at the door and prior online booking was advised by Adele. 

We also saw a historic vineyard in the heart of Montmartre, one of Paris’ original bistros, sculptures with a story to tell and a whole lot more. Place du Tertre is a great place to see when walking in Montmartre . It’s very close to Basilica of the Sacré Cœur. If you like authentic art and appreciate looking at artists at work, you need to go to this square. Montmartre artists gather in Place du Tertre, do portraits and illustrations of the neighborhood. Many of them live from their art. Buy the paintings directly from the artists, not from the little souvenir shops around the Place du Tertre because they’re fake!

Artists at work in Place du Tertre

An artist, in his French accented English told us a story about how a pet donkey who lived in Montmartre was used to trick the art critics at the prestigious Salon des Indépendants in the early 1900s. Many creative types, including author Roland Dorgelès, thought the critics were pretentious and knew nothing about art so he decided to prove it. He tied a paintbrush to Lolo the donkey’s tail and got it to ‘paint’ a picture called ‘Sunset Over the Adriatic’ which was attributed to a fictitious Genoese painter Joachim Raphaël Boronali. Imagine the embarrassment when the work earned such high praise from critics that it sold for 400 francs, a huge sum of money at the time.

Musicians busking in a metro station

Afterwards we stopped for coffee then caught the metro to Ile de la Cité to visit Notre Dame. As we were walking through the metro station Adele explained something that I’d been wondering for years. “Why are the buskers at metro stations always so good?”She said these coveted busking spots are only available to authorized performers who have gone through a tough audition process. Only a small selection of buskers make it through which is why they’re always so great to listen to.

From Notre Dame it was a quick walk along the Seine to the Louvre Museum and the choice of a nearby restaurant, boulangerie, snack bar or even – shudder – McDonald’s for lunch. Lunch isn’t included in the tour but Adele gave us excellent recommendations to suit every taste and budget. I was pleasantly surprised how good (and affordable) our lunch was at the bistro she recommended; especially given we were in a very touristy part of Paris. 

Louvre Museum

After a Croque monsieur (which is the French version of a ham and cheese toastie), a glass of wine and some laughs with newfound friends from the tour we met Adele and the rest of the group back at the Louvre for Skip the Line entry to the museum and tour of some of the most famous works. We really enjoyed strolling through this section of the museum, especially as I didn’t know the foundations were even there. I could have done with more time at the Louvre, but that’s only because I love art. Needless to say, I went back to the Louvre later on the trip, all by myself, and spent the entire day marveling at the wealth of treasure it holds.

However, on the tour we did see plenty of highlights in the next hour or so such as paintings by French Romantics, sculptures by Michelangelo and Anthony Canova, and famous statues like the Venus de Milo and the Winged Victory of Samothrace. This was one of my favourite artworks during my previous visit. I still loved it just as much 20 years later. Seeing the Mona Lisa again was great but also a bit of a shock. I wasn’t brave enough to get any closer because of the crowd as I feared for my life. Some tourists were so desperate to get that all important selfie with the famous painting that it was downright scary. If nothing else, you’ve got to admire their determination.

Stunning views from Seine River cruise

After our visit to the Louvre we took the metro to Trocadero Plaza where we got some great photos of the Eiffel Tower. This is where we said goodbye to Adele but not before she gave us our Skip The Line tickets to the Eiffel Tower and also tickets for a Seine River cruise. The good thing with the river cruise ticket is it is valid for several months so you don’t have to use it that afternoon if you’re feeling tired or the weather isn’t good.

During the next hour we sailed under the famous city bridges, enjoyed stunning views of the Musée d’Orsay, Notre Dame and some of the city’s most beautiful bridges. This was the perfect end to the tour but there was more fun to come.

IDYLLIC WATERCOLOUR PAINTINGS OF WINSLOW HOMER

 

'The Gulf Stream' was created in 1899

“You will see, in the future, I will live by my watercolors.” This is what Winslow Homer (1836 – 1910) had said to one of his dealers once. Back then Homer wasn’t well known. In the years to come, however, his words came true and the American artist went on to become one of the greatest maritime painters of all time. We will trace his greatness in a 3 part series.

Winslow Homer was an American landscape painter and printmaker, best known for his marine subjects. He is considered one of the foremost painters in 19th-century America and a preeminent figure in American art. Largely self-taught, Homer began his career working as a commercial illustrator.

Regarded by many as the greatest American painter of the nineteenth century, Homer was born in Boston and raised in rural Cambridge. He began his career as a commercial printmaker, first in Boston and then in New York, where he settled in 1859. He briefly studied oil painting in the spring of 1861. In October of the same year, he was sent to the front in Virginia as an artist-correspondent for the new illustrated journal Harper’s Weekly. Homer’s earliest Civil War paintings, dating from about 1863, are anecdotal, like his prints.

Homer was famous for his idyllic and poignant depictions of the waterfront and the countryside that connect with people even today. This painting, 'The Gulf Stream' was created in 1899 and still leaves us awestruck.

Homer began a series of watercolors in 1881 based on his experiences of staying in the seaside fishing village of Cullercoats, England, for a couple of years. One of the standout features of Homer’s works was simplicity. He would often focus on the old ways and depict scenes from the daily lives of common folk with great modesty. His colors were never glaring or too bright; rather, they were always soft and soothing.

"Orange trees and gate" (1895)

For Homer, the late 1860s and the 1870s were a time of artistic experimentation and prolific and varied output. He resided in New York City, making his living chiefly by designing magazine illustrations and building his reputation as a painter, but he found his subjects in the increasingly popular seaside resorts in Massachusetts and New Jersey, and in the Adirondacks, rural New York State, and the White Mountains of New Hampshire.

Women at leisure and children at play or simply preoccupied by their own concerns were regular subjects for the artist. Throughout the 1870s, Homer continued painting mostly rural or idyllic scenes of farm life, children playing, and young adults courting, including Country School (1871) and The Morning Bell (1872). From the beginning, his technique was natural, fluid and confident, demonstrating his innate talent for a difficult medium. "Orange trees and gate" (1895) is an outstanding example of his excellent depiction of simple sight. His impact would be revolutionary. Here, again, the critics were puzzled at first, "A child with an ink bottle could not have done worse." Surely they could not be farther from reality!

"Long Branch, New Jersey" (1869)

Many of Homer’s paintings featured quiet scenes of kids and women going about their everyday tasks or men at sea. While his dramatic waterfront paintings found him plenty of praise, it was his watercolor works with noble simplicity in them – a woman feeding chickens on a farm, boys fishing in a pond, or men relaxing in a field on a sunny day – that really stood out and established him as one of the finest artists of the medium.

"Eagle Head, Manchester, Massachusetts" (High Tide)1870

Following his experience as an illustrator during the Civil War, Homer turned his attention to lighter scenes of contemporary life, often focusing on fashionable young women. This painting of three bathers on a Massachusetts beach was his most daring subject to date. Critics were less disturbed by its disquieting mood than by the fact that, as one observed, the figures were “exceedingly red-legged and ungainly.” As in much of Homer’s art, an air of mystery and melancholy imbues the scene, suggesting deeper meanings below the surface.

THE TOWER OF LONDON: AWE INSPIRING AND CHILLING

 

The Tower of London is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a must-see tourist destination in the UK capital. It is a place where you can see the Crown Jewels and maybe snap an epic photo of a raven with a castle in the background and listen to loads of stories about the fortress. The massive White Tower is a typical example of Norman military architecture, whose influence was felt throughout the kingdom. It was built on the Thames by William the Conqueror to protect London and assert his power. The Tower of London – an imposing fortress with many layers of history, which has become one of the symbols of royalty – was built around the White Tower.

 

The central keep, known as the White Tower, was begun about 1078 close inside the old Roman city wall and was built of limestone from Caen in Normandy. During the 12th and 13th centuries the fortifications were extended beyond the city wall, the White Tower becoming the nucleus of a series of concentric defenses enclosing an inner and an outer ward. The inner “curtain” has 13 towers surrounding the White Tower, of which the best known are the Bloody Tower, the Beauchamp Tower, and the Wakefield Tower. The outer curtain is surrounded by the moat, originally fed by the Thames but drained since 1843. The wall outside the moat has embrasures for cannons; beside them, modern artillery pieces are fired ceremonially on state occasions. The whole complex of buildings covers 18 acres (7 hectares). 

A military garrison is maintained within the Tower, which with its precincts constitutes a “liberty” outside local jurisdictions. It is held for the sovereign by a constable, who is now always a field marshal. There is a resident governor, who occupies the 16th-century Queen’s House on Tower Green and is in charge of the yeoman warders, or “beefeaters,” as they are popularly called. They still wear a Tudor uniform and live within the Tower, and their responsibilities include guiding tours for the Tower’s two million to three million annual visitors

 

Sited strategically at a bend in the River Thames, it has been a crucial demarcation point between the power of the developing City of London, and the power of the monarchy. It had the dual role of providing protection for the City through its defensive structure and the provision of a garrison, and of also controlling the citizens by the same means. But this ancient castle that is now known as a traveler’s Mecca, once served a variety of very different, both gruesome and entertaining purposes - from an impenetrable fortress and royal residence it was turned into a prison, and later into a zoo and even the Royal Mint. The Tower of London was founded in 1066 and so is almost a thousand years old and over the years has accumulated quite a number of fascinating and chilling stories, as you may imagine.

 

It held several famous prisoners. The Tower of London was to serve as the royal residence of William the Conqueror and become a symbol of the Norman king's power over Londoners. The White Tower, the first part of the now huge fortress, was completed in 1078 and soon after, in 1100, the first prisoners started to be held in the castle. Although it wasn't its primary role throughout history, the fortress was used as a prison until 1952. During this time, many famous historical figures - queens, revolutionaries, and even major Nazi leaders - were kept there. Anne Boleyn was condemned to death by King Henry VIII, her husband, at the Tower of London. Other famous people like Sir Walter Raleigh, who was kept there for 13 years, had a more favorable prison stay - Raleigh had comfortable lodgings, servants, and even his family living with him in the Tower. Other famous prisoners committed to the Tower of London include Guy Fawkes, the revolutionary who wanted to blow up the English parliament, and Rudolf Hess, Hitler’s second-in-command.

 

Only 40 people managed to escape from the Tower of London while it was a prison: The Tower is a real stronghold, complete with its own guards, sky-tall walls, and a moat surrounding it. Still, 40 prisoners somehow managed to flee the Tower of London, one escape every 20-30 years. The first person to ever break free from the fortress was one Bishop Ranulf Flambard, who somehow got the guards so drunk that he successfully managed to slip away using a rope in 1101. Some of these escapes were even more impressive and featured writing letters with invisible ink, dressing up as nuns, and drugging the guards - so that's where movie makers got the plots of pretty much every prison break movie imaginable!

 

The Tower was witness to several executions: Being a prison since Medieval times, it follows that the Tower of London is an eerie place that had witnessed a lot of death and executions. Although the prison was there for nearly a millennium and had quite a lot of prisoners, the overall number of executions is relatively low - an estimated 400 people. Of the famous figures executed there was, as already mentioned, Anne Boleyn, as well as Jane Boleyn, William Hastings, and Jane Gray. That said, the Tower of London has also seen several murders, the most famous one being that of two little Princes, Edward V and Richard, the only two sons of King Edward IV. After their father's death and an ongoing battle for power, the two boys were held in the Tower for "protection", but vanished under mysterious circumstances and were believed to be murdered to secure the throne for Richard III of England. The tragic story is widely known as the Princes in the Tower today.

 

Is the tower haunted? : Given the fearsome stories of executions, imprisonments, and murders that have happened in this ancient castle, you're probably wondering, "Is the Tower of London haunted?" Well, many people think so, and several witnesses swear they've seen the ghost of a beheaded torso of Ann Boleyn, carrying its head in the arms and walking around the White Tower. Others claim they have seen the Princes of the Tower and other famous figures that met their demise at the Tower, but probably the most mysterious ghost sighted at the Tower wasn't even human at all. In 1816, one of the guards outside the Jewel House said he had seen a ghost of a bear running towards him; the poor guard reportedly passed away of fright just a few days later.

 

Someone has a set of spare keys to the fortress.  On November 6, 2012, a man was caught trespassing the Tower of London in the early morning and he was then escorted from the premises of the fortress. The security services of the Tower later revealed that the keys from the tourist attraction and home of the crown jewels were stolen. As a result, some locks have been replaced immediately to prevent the intruder from entering the premises, but to this day, someone somewhere likely has the ring of keys that may still be able to unlock at least some of the rooms in the castle.

 

For 600 years, the Tower served as a menagerie or zoo. In the 13th century, the Tower of London earned a new profile as King John started collecting exotic animals from all around the world and created the royal menagerie. Ever since, kings and queens have held all the animals that they received as gifts from other monarchs at the Tower, and the place became an attraction where Londoners could see polar bears and captive lions, to name a few. The zoo remained active until the 1830s, and all the inhabitants were subsequently moved to the London Zoo.

To remember the castle's legacy as the royal zoo, artist Kendra Haste created a sculpture of three lions to be displayed at the Tower of London. The sculpture is a nod to an archeological discovery made in 1936, during which 2 lion skulls from the Middle ages were found in the moat of the fortress. These were not ordinary lions either, but a variety of Barbary lions that have been extinct for over a century.

 

Beefeaters and their families actually live in the Tower: Beefeaters Like The Yeoman Warders have been protecting the Tower of London since 1485, as ordered by King Henry VII, although they have likely existed for much longer. These guardians are dressed in all red and very characteristic uniforms, and they are also known as Beefeaters because part of their salary consisted of chunks of beef up until the 1800s. There are 37 Beefeaters, both men and women, living in the Tower today, and they give tours of the fortress. They are probably most famous for the 7-century-old tradition called the Ceremony of Keys, where they lock the Tower every night at precisely 9:53 PM. Since the 13th century, they have been living in the fortress with their families and today, there are about 150 people living in the Tower of London.

The tower is a museum of jewels and precious stones: Almost 23,500 jewels are held in the fortress today. The tradition of safekeeping the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom in the Tower of London is almost as old as the fortress itself. The first king to order the Crown Jewels to be kept there was Henry III, who ruled between 1216 and 1272. Initially, a specialized Jewel House was created to house the royal regalia, but it was demolished in 1669 and the precious royal ceremonial objects have been rehoused twice after. Currently, they are stored in the Jewel House in the Waterloo Block, and the collection includes an 800-year-old Coronation Spoon, St. Edward's Crown, the Imperial State Crown, and 23,578 gemstones. What a treasure!

 

The red sea of flowers: A large number of ceramic poppies were ‘planted’ outside of the Tower of London in 2014. The red sea of flowers was part of the art installation titled 'Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red' by artist Paul Cummins. 888,246 handmade ceramic poppies were hand-made by the artist, with each poppy representing a British military fatality in World War I. The poppies were then scattered on the moat of the Tower of London and displayed publicly as a powerful anti-war statement and an effort to raise awareness of WWI. Reportedly, over 5 million people came to see the exhibition, and the poppies were later sold for £25, collecting an estimated £23 million to raise money for various charities related to armed forces.

 

The Tower Ravens: At least 6 ravens must live in the Tower of London at all times. Legend has it that in the 17th century, King Charles II was warned that the ravens leaving the Tower of London are a bad omen, a sure sign of the impending doom of the monarchy. Ever since then at least six birds are held captive in the fortress at all times as a sign of good fortune. To this day, seven ravens are living in a specialized aviary on the Tower's grounds. Their wings are slightly trimmed to prevent them from flying away too far whilst still allowing them to fly around the castle.

 

All public outdoor areas of the Tower of London are open, as well as the Crown Jewels, South Battlements, Medieval Palace, Bloody Tower, Torture at the Tower exhibition and some floors of the White Tower. All other buildings remain closed. Next time when you are in London spare half a day to enjoy the Tower.

CHOICE OF WORDS THAT DIMINISH YOUR IMPACT

 

Words are singularly the most powerful force available to humanity. We can choose to use this force constructively with words of encouragement, or destructively using words of despair. Words have energy and power with the ability to help, to heal, to hinder, to hurt, to harm, to humiliate and to humble. How we choose our words shape our lives. Words have power. Their meaning crystallizes perceptions that shape our beliefs, drive our behaviour, and ultimately, create our world.

Words influence others and build relationships or shatter relationships to tatters. The words we write or speak to others can leave a huge impact and create a lasting memory - either good or bad, so it's very important to choose them wisely. Our choice of words and the way we express yourself can accelerate or kill your career. Speech disfluency with 'umm', 'hmm', 'oh', 'huh', 'well', 'err' show that we are not yet certain and have not made up our mind and so our communication loses it's desired impact. These interjections hold the floor while we do our mental work, but the listener thinks we are not sure. But there are certain words which are far more harmful than these meaningless interjections.

Words have an impact and so we must think before we speak. Language plays a huge role in how we are perceived by others, and how we feel about ourselves as well. While certain words have the power to make you seem intelligent or likable, others have exactly the opposite impact. With time I have realized that there are some words that are better avoided in conversation or in written communication. These are actually extremely common and even according to language and psychology experts, these should be left out of our lexicons. Today I intend to encourage you to avoid using these 5 words in your conversation:

1. Just

Despite it not being its literal meaning, when you use the word ‘just’ in a sentence people usually transform it in their minds to ‘merely’ as an adverb. This filler word can soften what you’re trying to say, but not necessarily in a good way. Rather, it tends to make you sound less confident. 

For example, when you say ‘I was just wondering’, other people hear it as ‘I was merely wondering’ and that comes across as "diminished, disingenuous and defensive” according to language experts. It can make you seem like you have less expertise in what you’re discussing, which is not an impression you’d want to make. When it comes to professional like us, we cannot afford to give this impression.

2. But

Everyone knows that when ‘but’ comes up in a conversation, it might be bad news. After all, it typically has the power to negate everything that has been said before it. It can also be perceived as a way to diminish or undercut the object of the sentence or the person being spoken to. 

So how can we give constructive critique or feedback without the word ‘but’?  There are two wonderful replacements: ‘and’ or ‘now’. The word ‘and’ makes it feel as though we are adding to what the other person said rather than contradicting him/her, while ‘now’, when used after a pause, gives the sense of ‘next’ moving on in the conversation.

Cutting out the ‘buts’ and using these alternatives will help our conversation partners feel more open to hearing what we have to say, and feel like we’re leading to something positive rather than undercutting what they said before. It gives the impression that we are a team and not adversaries!

3. Always

It’s highly likely that when the word ‘always’ is used, it's an exaggeration. After all, something rarely is done or true all the time. While it’s a very common word, it is hardly ever truthful. Language experts claim that using ‘always’ can raise questions about the authenticity of what we’re saying, and it can even bring into question statements we’ve made prior to saying ‘always’. Yes, the sun always rises in the East and fishes always live in water and so the word ‘always’ is not superfluous but we often end up using it in our conversation to exaggerate unnecessarily and end up sounding less truthful and trustworthy.

In other words, it can subconsciously make us seem less credible to our conversation partner, so our best advice is to just leave it out. We may replace it with ‘often’ or ‘most of the time’.

4. Should

Words have power, even those we say to ourselves. The word ‘should’ allows us to be actively critical of ourselves. ‘I should or shouldn’t be doing this and that…’ suggest that we don’t accept ourselves or where we are in life.

Even this small form of rejection can lead to stress and anxiety, which does the opposite of helping us. It can shut down our brain's ability to problem solve and to maintain attention to a new task. At the end of the day, anxiety over what we ‘should’ be doing can be the very thing that prevents us from doing that, creating a cycle of stress. Whenever possible remove the compulsion of ‘should’ and replace it with the option of ‘may better’ – ‘I may better do this’ or ‘you may better not do that’ sound benign and much more friendly and certainly not critical as ‘should’.

5. Can't

The word ‘can’t’ creates negative emotions and makes way for self-criticism. A 2011 study published in the Journal of Consumer Research found that those using the word ‘can’t’ when confronted with a temptation were less likely to resist that temptation than those who used the word ‘don’t’. So not only does the word ‘can’t’ makes you feel negatively about yourself, but it also makes you feel less in control.

I wrote a blog on “The Death of ‘I Can’t” and I encourage you to refresh your memory https://surajitbrainwaves.blogspot.com/2017/11/the-death-of-i-cant_30.html

No one likes to hear ‘can’t’. This closes all options and that is not a comfortable situation. ‘This may be difficult’ or ‘let me see other options’ leave a ray of optimism and makes you look sincere and helpful and not a dogmatic and lazy.

If we can leave these five words from our communication vocabulary we present a very different and likable picture of ourselves. These five words have traditionally weakened our position in a conversation and without us realizing, have painted us as unreliable or unhelpful. Let us give them a final burial and rejuvenate ourselves.