The Past and Future of Energy Usage Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The Past and Future of Energy Usage - Essay Example Two works that have recently been published that attempt to replace this rhetorical sideshow with legitimate information is Vaclav Smil's Energy at the Crossroads and Alfred Crosby's Children of the Sun. Crosby's work offers a natural history of energy consumption from the development of fire and cooking all the way to third millennial technological possibilities such as the holy grail of nuclear fusion. Smil's presents a more detailed analysis of the economic and energy situation of the past century focusing specifically on the statistical utilization of hydrocarbon technologies in various countries. Their respective accounts and arguments give a good overall picture of the natural evolutionary, economic and environmental impact of the past, present and long-term future of energy. The primary thrust of Crosby's argument is that the story of technology in tandem with humanity has always been about finding novel ways of exploiting the same source of energy: the Sun. As humanity has expanded and become more socially and culturally sophisticated technology has responded by finding consistently more efficient ways to harness the sun's powers, indirectly through wood and biomass and in more recent times, directly through wind and solar power utilization. However, unlike other analyses Crosby places humanity within nature versus against nature, and thus his work is a "natural history" of energy consumption rather than a litany of environmental offenses we have committed against nature. Of course, Crosby is sympathetic to the Malthusian end game at stake. He reveals through historical examples that every crossroads or crisis point, humanity has found a way to transform technologically the way in which we utilize energy to avoid the collapse of civilization. One speci fic example of this was the dependence on whale oil in the 18th century. "Humanity's yearnings for the convenience of light at night, though implemented through a primitive technology, were endangering a whole species of Cetacea."1 The two options to resolving this yearning included conservation, unthinkable by all except for the most progressive of individuals, or finding a substitute, which turned out to be kerosene and "the history of human exploitation of sun energy took another violent turn."2 The situation is much the same, today's whale oil is petroleum, with two "minor" complications here in the 21st century 1) the global political and economic dynamic have interposed agendas on technological transformation, and 2) hesitancy in adopting conservationist practices has placed a significant stress on the planets resources locally and globally. The question of Oil is more than just a question of natural history; it has become the bellwether issue of our time. Many would assert that the current situation in the Middle East is directly related to this question, and the political catchphrase of the decade has been "reducing our dependence on foreign oil." Smil's statistical analysis of oil usage is thorough and he means to tackle the popular debate regarding the "Peak Oil" theory. Peak Oil offers that at some point in the near past or near future3 maximum oil production will be reached followed by terminal decline. The consequences of failing to find a viable alternative energy form or

Pierre-Auguste Renoir called Dance at Bougival Essay

Pierre-Auguste Renoir called Dance at Bougival - Essay Example The essay "Pierre-Auguste Renoir called Dance at Bougival" discovers the artwork of Pierre-Auguste Renoir. Renoir paints them in such a way as to allow us a glimpse of the emotions that they could be feeling at the time. Everything and everyone in that painting is treated as a back drop to the dancing couple as was the case with many of his paintings at this period of time. This treatment of the other people as background increases the draw of the two central characters, which Renoir has drawn with garments and head gear that immediately separates them from the rest of the painting.This separation is achieved by the use of bright primary colors for the head gear with the lady wearing a red, wide brimmed hat and the gentleman’s face being obscured by a yellow hat with a thinner brim. The use of opposite colors, black for the man and white or off white for the woman, also draws attention to the contrast. The feeling is received by the viewer that all arts have been used in order to ensure that the viewer is immediately drawn into the picture towards the two principal subjects. The setting of the picture in an area that is surrounded by greenery and plants and the use of almost smudged color, such as that which was typically seen in his Impressionist paintings, makes the starkness of the lady’s face even more arresting. The obscuring of the man’s face also ensures that the dancing woman is the principal focus of the picture over all else. The softening of all lines apart from those on the two characters.... This artwork can be classified as a realistic piece of art since the figures that are painted are true to the real characters, but there is still a strong element of Impressionism in the painting. This is particularly noticeable in the use of color in the artwork even though he had acquired inspiration from visitng other areas of the world which altered his style of art from the purely Impressionist. This artwork was painted at a point in time where Renoir had moved a way from the Impressionist movement that he started along with Monet and Sisley. This is where he began to focus more on the central character, in this case two central figures, as in a portrait. This artwork was completed along with two other paintings and this group became known as the dancing series. This painting was set in the least formal setting of the three, adding a feeling of relaxation and enjoyment to the painting. This artwork was intended purely to bring joy and beauty to the world since it has no overt religious or political significance. It is appears to be purely the artist's representation of the two figures that he is watching as they are dancing. This was painted after Renoir returned from a trip abroad that is believed to have altered his style of art and his representation of his subject matter. The painting was produced in 1883 at a point in his career where he was attempting to make a break from the rules that had been imposed on the Impressionist artists. He then began embracing more obvious lines that brought the focus of the viewer more strongly to the principal subject matter. The actual coloring of the painting was also designed to show a greater contrast between the principal subject matter and what was viewed as the backdrop to