The Meaning of the Great Chariot Race Stadium in the Movie; Ben Hur

The Meaning of the Great Chariot Race Stadium in the Movie; Ben Hur

             Circo Massimo, which is called Circus Maximus, is one of the most popular tourist spots in Rome, Italy, and the biggest chariot racing stadium in ancient Rome. Many tourists who visit this old, massive historic site easily remind “Ben Hur”. Ben Hur is a very popular film adaptation of the 1880 novel Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ. Circo Massimo carries some important meanings in the movie. It works as a symbol of the power of the Roman Empire, strong bond between two main characters, Judah Ben Hur and Messala, and also it shows the corruption of character of Romans and Jewish people under the Roman empires’ domination.

             To begin with, Circo Massimo was described as a way of showing off the power of the Roman Empire. The movie shows Jerusalem, the capital of Israel and at that time the Roman Empire was at the zenith of its power. The emperor of the Roman Empire in the film was Julius Caesar and he wanted to have the biggest chariot racing stadium because the Rome was the greatest Empire he thought. To build the stadium, he conscripted Jews as laborers and destroyed the city and tombs to get big stones as many as possible. Consequently he finished building the stadium that could accommodate about 150,000 spectators and it truly was the first largest stadium in ancient Rome.

             Additionally, the stadium in the film works as a symbol of strong bond between two main characters; Judah Ben Hur and Messala. Judah was a son of nobleman in Jerusalem and Messala was his adopted half-brother. At the beginning of the movie, they were good friend and they often enjoyed chariot race in the lot. Both of them loved horses and chariot race, so after they separated because Judah took responsibility for the assassination of Roman governor, horses and the game in the stadium made them reunited. At the end of the film, the final race in the chariot race stadium, Circo Massimo, showed the climax of their conflict though, at the same time it became a trigger to forgive each other and be a good friend again.

             The last and the most important meaning of the stadium is that the moral degeneration of Jews and Romans. Romans can be easily thought not that virtuous people they are, because of their atrocity and cruelty that easily found in the film. On the other hand, Jews do not seemed as that corrupted people. They constantly helped each other and especially Esther, the wife of Judah, became a follower of Jesus and was involved in charity work. However, the right after the race in the stadium, the emperor of the Roman Empire said that Jews were changed too. Truly, they enjoyed the cruel race, and shouted out with joy watching players die. Jewish people finally got corrupted under the Roman Empire’s colonial rule.

             As these scenes in the film shows, Circo Massimo, the first largest stadium in ancient Rome works as important device that make story flow. The movie could show how powerful the Roman Empire was, how atrocious their reign was, old but strong bond between two main characters, and even moral degeneration of Roman and Jews under colonialization by using this place, Circo Massimo. Ben Hur is a great movie and it re-released 4 times. It will be good to watch it and find the meaning of the place and think of it again in this weekend.

Three Possible Benefits That Geotourism Has in Aomori

Three Possible Benefits That Geotourism Has in Aomori

           Aomori, the most upper located prefecture of Chou-bu, the biggest island of Japan is not that attractive place to most people planning to visit Japan in their vacation. However, Aomori is one of the most curious place in Japan with full of very well preserved nature. There are many ways to enjoy Aomori, but the geotourism, which is one of efforts to sustain or enhance of places’ geographical characters is the best way to travel this interesting place even has some good effects on it. The possible effects of geotourism in Aomori include contribution for better preservation of the environment, helping to find some new scientific facts, and conservation of historical heritage.

           The first and the most important effect of geotourism in Aomori is contribution to preserve the nature that has remained for thousands of years. The very well preserved environment is the most famous thing in Aomori. Shirakami mountain hawk, the most popular tourist spot in Aomori, is the first place of UNESCO world’s natural heritage in Japan. Therefore, Japanese government already have recommended the travelers to travel here as geotourism. People only can hike this mountain during June to November and also should pass a little test about awareness of preserving the forest. Of course tourists need to be accompanied with experting guide. The effort of the Japanese government recommending geotourism for a long time made an alive 3000 years old tree still living possible.

           The second effect of geotourism in Aomori is that it can help world’s scientists to find new natural scientific facts. Geotourism, as mentioned a lot, is a great way to prevent the environment being destroyed. Near 13,000Ha width of Aomori’s enormous primeval forest has over 500 plants, more than 2000 wild life, and a lot of endangered animals. Scientists still assert that they may be able to find more unfound species in the forest. Also there is a lake seemed vivid blue color called Aoi ike, that means blue lake in Japanese, then scientists have not found the reason yet why it has such vivid blue color. Actually it is not an only lake with this kind of blue color in Japan, so if scientists find the reason, it will help to know the reason of other blue lakes’ color in different places.

           The last possible effect of geotourism in Aomori is that it even contributes to conserve Aomori’s historical sites. Aomori’s forests are considered as one of the oldest forests in the world, and actually it has existed for more than 4000 years. It means that the land of Aomori has long-time history as age of the forest. In 1990s, archaeologists found out the oldest prehistoric dwelling sites in Aomori, that prove the site had been a big settlement for ancient people for more than 1500 years. Furthermore, they found a lot of frame works of ancient housing by a technology of erecting a pillar. It was a surprising historical discovery because scientists had thought that people at that time, about 3000 years ago, never had such a technology. It obviously can be one of the best tourist attractions in Aomori. Japanese government, however, did not try to dig up the forest to find more ancient monuments, but buried most of them again and left at least of them on the ground not to ruin their heritage spot and the nature.

           Geotourism is definitely not an easy way to enjoy a particular place. However, it deserves to be tried. Aomori is one of the suitable places to be traveled as geotourism. The enormous, still mysterious primeval forest should be saved from massive traditional tourism that destroys the wonderful nature of the earth the most. People can conserve the environment, help to find out new scientific evidence, and prevent the Aomori’s prehistoric sites being ruined. To save this wonderful place as it is, people should pursue geotourism when they visit here.

Self introduction for IERW01 class

Hi everyone, it's reallly good to see you all this semester :)

   My name is Seungyoun Cho, and I study law in Sungshin university.
I was born in Seoul, Korea in 1996, and I've live in Seoul for 21years. I graduated elementary school and middle school in Seoul, but I graduated high school in Pohang. It was a kind of international school. So I needed to study totally different curriculum with other normal highschool in Korea. There were only 60 students in a grade, most teacheres were foreigners except a teacher who tought Korean, and I was a very special student of that school. There were 3 students who don't speak English as their mother tongue, and I was one of them. It was really difficult to being familiar to "that" kind of condition so it took about an year to really into it.
   I chosed to go to international school, I could not speak english very well though, because I was interested in global world. It doesn't mean studying about foreign languages and history or something, but I just really love to travel around the world. All of my family members like to trip to other countries and even my mom spend her more time in Italy and Hongkong for her job. So naturally I've had more chances to visit other countries than others in my age. In the last summer vacation I visited Kyushu, Japan, Moscow to Vladivostok with Trans Siberian Railway, and LA. Actually I'm already planning to go to Japan next wintervacation. It would be the longest trip to Japan and I would visit every 4 islands in Japan. Japan is my favorite country to visit, and I went there the most. When I was 2 my mom brought me to Japan and it was my first trip to abroad. I have no idea about that trip of course, but I have pretty deep affection to that country. If you have a plan to go to Japan, maybe I  can help you in many ways.
   It is my second time to take the class in English language and literature. I take this class for my second degree, International Trading. To have that degree I should take a lot of classes in other majors. I mostly take law classes of course, and department of economics, English, Japanese, German language and literature, and political science and diplomacy classes. It sound too harsh and actually it is, but it's really interesting.  So I hope we have a nice semester in this class. Thank you!!! :)