Individual Service Project Outline

Kibbles, Bits, and Blankets Against Violence

Intent of project: To hold a drive during the second week in November for dog food, pet supplies, and gently used/new blankets for the victims of domestic violence. We will have a table set up November 10(9am-2pm), 11(10am-1pm), and 12(9am-2pm) to collect these donations as well as monetary donations. We will as so be having a day of service on November 14 to fix up the rooms and help clean/fix up the dog kennels. We will be starting at 8am that day with the goal of finishing by 3:30pm.

The Collective Efforts of my Committee: I am on the on campus public relations committee where we have collectively come up with a name for our service project Kibbles, Bits, and Blankets Against Violence. We are also in change of getting/reserving the tables for the drive days at the specified locations(which will be out near the sombrila and possibly another one either in the paseo or the breeze way area between the UC and HSS. The table for this extra spot will only be on November 10th and 12th during class time from 9:30am-10:45 am). Our committee is also in charge of making posters to hang up in the HSS or UC announcing our drive and posters for the drive tables November 10, 11, and 12. The PR committee is also going to start a facebook group and have e-mails sent to the honors students.

My Individual Responsibilities: I (along with Savahnah) will be designing flyers to be passed out advertising the Kibbles, Bits, and Blankets Against Violence drive. These flyers will be passed out a few days before the actual drive. I will also be reserving the graphics room for our class on November 3rd which is our organize and supply day from 9:30-11:30(there is a 2 hour limit so those who can stay till 11:30 may). We will also have to have the posters that are hung in the buildings approved at the student activities office. On our actual drive days(Nov. 10-11) I will of course be working our booth during class time and will be working another shift on Tuesday and Thursday at 12:15pm to 1:15pm or 2pm if possible. I will be helping at the shelter on November 14th and I would like to in the kennel work shift(which is from 10am-12pm) as well as the children's craft booth for the rest of the day. I enjoy working with children and am excited to be able to help them make some craft projects. I am not sure if anyone has come up with craft project ideas but I would love to help think of some. I was thinking since it will be near Thanksgiving time maybe we can have a craft where they make a turkey and other related crafts. Maybe even some coloring sheets. Since we will be having a craft booth we might also want to make sure we have all the supplies we need for the crafts.

The Muslim Faith

There are approximately 1.2 billion follower of the Islam religion from every race and from every country according to the Council on American-Islamic Relations. The word Islam comes from the Arabic root word meaning peace and submission. Islam teaches that one can only find peace in life by submitting to the almighty God Allah. Islam was founded by Muhammad in the seventh century and in 1622 he founded the first Islamic state. There are two different branches of the Islamic religion that he founded(this will be talked about more later on).

The Muslim faith consists of 5 basic tenets, 5 pillars, and 5 social doctrines. The basic tenets include one that "there is only one god", Allah(The God). He created the whole world, and sends infidels to eternal hell or sends/rewards the faithful with eternal heaven. Two "Muhammad" was the last of the great prophets and three "The Koran" is the sacred holy book. Four is "life on earth" where life is a test and is preparation for eternal life that is to come(when you die). The fifth tenet is "the final judgment" where the faithful will be sent to eternal heaven and infidels to eternal hell. The "faithful" are the ones who praise Allah ans his prophet Muhammad, obey the Koran, and full fill the 5 pillars of Islam. In the Muslim faith alcohol, pork, and games of chance, are outlawed, and pride is a cardinal sin.



The 5 pillars include profession of faith, which is the statement "There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is his prophet." Second is faith which include prayer 5 times a day in the direction of Mecca, third is to give alms which is where every middle and upper class Muslim must give 2 and a half of what they posses. The forth is fasting during the month of Ramadan and the fifth is a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in ones life.



There are divisions within the Muslim faith including the Sunnis and Shi'ites. Both groups share the core fundamental Islamic beliefs and articles of faith. The division occurred because of a question of leadership after the death of the prophet Muhammad in regards to who would take over leadership of the Muslim nation.

The Sunnis believe that the new leader should be elected from among those who are capable of taking on the job. This was what was done when the prophet Muhammad died, his advisor and close friend Abu Bakr took over. In Arabic the word Sunni means "one who follows the traditions of the prophet."

While Sunnis make up eighty five percent of Muslims all over the world there are the Shi'ites who believe that the leadership should have stayed within the prophet Muhammad's own family among those he specifically appointed, or among those appointed by God himself. Shia Muslims believe leadership should have been passed to Muhammad's cousin/son in law Ali. Through history Shi'ite Muslims have not recognized authority of elected Muslim leaders and instead have followed a line of Imams they believe have been appointed by Muhammad or God himself. The word Shia in Arabic means "a group or supportive party of people." This is a shortened term from the historical "Shia-t-Ali" meaning the party of Ali.

While both groups practice the same core beliefs there are a few differences. Sunnis believe their is no basis in Islam for a hereditary privileged class of spiritual leaders. Say leadership in the community is not a birthright but a trust earned which can be given or taken away by the people. The Shia Muslims believe that the leaders(Imam) come directly from God and therefore they treat the Imam as saints and make pilgrimages to their tombs and shrines in the hopes of receiving some kind of devine gift.
And it should be noted that most Muslims do not identify themselves by one or the other group but simply as Muslims.

Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab(1703-1792)
He was a theologian who founded the Wahhabi movement which attempted to return to the "true principals of Islam." He began to teach in Islam against what he thought to be extreme ideas of Sufi doctrines. He wrote the Kitab at-tawhid(Book of Unity) which is the main text for his Wahhabi doctrines. al-Wahhab's teachings were very traditional representing the early era of the Islamic religion. He was against all innovations in the Islamic religion because he thought they were reprehensible. He felt the "original grandeur" of the faith could be regained if all Muslims would return to the principals put in place by the prophet Muhammad.

The Art of the Baroque

Born in Italy the Baroque art form spanned from the 1600 to 1750. The style used deep shadowing and strong light contrasts to emphasize certain figures and add depth in the artwork. Movement, energy, tension, emotion, and drama were some of the conveyed senses expressed in Baroque art. Exaggerated decorations, enormous sculptures, and in architecture grandeur and animation were components of the style. Conjuring emotional states through the senses under lied the manifestation of Baroque art. This art form reflected the growth of absolutist monarchies and manifest power. It was associated with religious tensions and was a Counter-Reformation by the Catholic church in response to the Protestant Reformation. The Baroque style was meant to be visually and emotionally appealing to grab the attention of as many people as possible.

Background information from

http://www.huntfor.com/arthistory/c17th-mid19th/baroque.htm and http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/glo/baroque/

The painting on the top is by Rembrandt, the one below is by Peter Paul Rubens titled The Fall of Phaeton.


Baroque art was reflective of the Maritime Revolution in many ways. Iberian kingdoms of Portugal and Spain sponsored sea voyages that really began the Maritime Revolution. They had great interest in overseas expansion due to their motives in economics, religion, politics, increasing their dominance, and to expand their contacts. Thus art reflected these ideals of gaining wealth and glory. This spring of sea voyages led to many new discoveries. Those out on ships saw and heard many new things they had never encountered before. Like we discussed in class the "unicorns" and "mermaids". Both of these things had rational explanations, narwhals and the sound whales make, but that is to us because we have grown up knowing what whales are. To them they were mythical creatures and things of the unknown, which is why they depicted them in art work.

Baroque art was also influenced by the thoughts of what the people in the new world would be like. By discovering the Americas the Europeans had to rethink their entire world view. There were not just three continents anymore(Asia, Africa, and Europe) as they once believed from the Bible's story of Noah and his three son's. This was very frightening and made them question everything they had once known. This fear can be seen in the art work. I think all the dark shading and extreme contrasts of light and dark show a sense of uneasiness and fear. There is also depictions of monster like or quasi humans in much of the artwork showing the thoughts of what the Europeans thought the people in the new world would be like.