Buddhism:
I chose this video because I found the history of Buddha to be quite interesting, therefore I was intrigued by this video choice. Buddhism fact and legend intertwine in Bodh Gaya , India . The key concept to the teachings of Buddhism is “tanha” which is the extinguishing of all desires and all things that feed the ego and obstruct enlightenment. Within one hundred years of Buddha's death, Buddhism split into two groups: the monks or the "hinayana" and the rest, "mahanyana." Buddha’s death can be seen as the end of the Golden age. During and after the Golden Age of Buddha, Buddhist art and architecture flowered across India . Sanchi is a center of Buddhist art and architecture. Within the ornate carvings of the Great Stupa, Buddha disappears into symbolism and is represented only by a few symbols such as a Bodhi Tree, and  he is not seen is a human form. Around the Great Stupa is a walkway where every step is a discovery of Buddhist art and architecture. The pilgrim must walk clockwise around the Stupa, he lets go of material things for the attainment of virtue. In the central highlands of Java , Indonesia , lotus-shaped Borobudur stands as the largest Buddhist shrine in the world made of lava rock. At the top of the monument stand 432 carved Buddha’s. Buried by volcanic debris and vegetation, Borobudur is uncovered in 1815.
Hinduism:
I chose this video because these arts of Hinduism sort of reminded me of Egypt which is one of my most favorite places.
In Varanasi, the holiest city in India, the River Ganges is the symbol of life, death, and rebirth. On the Ganges, a priest performs "aarti," a ceremony to honor Brahma/God. induism's gods and goddesses function in a way similar to Christian saints by providing access to Brahma/God. Hindu architecture is lush with decorative sculptures of many gods. Cremation in Varanasi on the Ganges is assurance of direct access to heaven. In Mamallapuram, India, Mother Ganges turns to stone, a holy and highly decorated place. Carved within boulders, the caves are highly decorated with the epic and the ordinary, the fantastic and the familiar. Carved from single boulders, shrines in Mamallapuram are lavishly decorated. A barrel-vaulted shrine rests on slender pillars for over 1500 years. Excavated from the Bay of Bengal, the Shore Temple is a treasure house of Hindu art and architecture. The Kandariya Mahadev Temple, built in the ninth century by the Chandella rules, stands in Khajuraho, India. Lavishly carved panels are covered in erotic images. Pilgrims pay homage to the lingam/phallus for it life-giving, creative forces. The source of all life for Hindus is Brahma—the Great breath. Hinduism teaches that there are many ways to Brahma/God and these ways are symbolized by many gods. Hinduism carries within it a deep sense of spiritual in the ordinary and the everyday.

The Great Wave:
I chose this video because I have always wanted to visit both Japan and China after I began taking martial arts.Full of mystery and contradiction, Hokusai's "The Great Wave" epitomizes Japan's art and culture. Its image appears on everything from coffee mugs to high fashion while political cartoonists and tattoo artists also subvert its image. As a teen, Hokusai is apprenticed to a well-known artist and becomes a professional print designer. Impoverished, he later takes refuge in a temple. When he begins to work again, “The Great Wave” plays a starring role in his life.Many Westerners see the painting as a symbol of implacable Nature. To the Japanese, the image is one of courage and perseverance. Critics agree that the wave is not a tsunami. Hokusai spent most of his time working with a distinct tradition of Japanese art called the "floating world" style. He is influenced by the sensual indulgences and eroticism of Shiba Kokan's works, which are, in turn, influenced by Western art. Waves come and go throughout Hokusai’s art, even when the mountain is the primary subject. With "The Great Wave," Hokusai introduces Prussian blue, a pigment that won't fade. Hokusai's “The Great Wave” is based on his structural theories of geometry. It consists of circles and triangles in a back-to-front arrangement influenced by Western art. Once it is finished, "The Great Wave" is a bestseller. Only a few of the highest quality historical prints exist. Hokusai's wave painting is a perfect example of fractals, as the images repeat themselves at ever-decreasing scales. Four years  after Hokusai's famous painting was published, a major earthquake strikes Mt. Fuji. Hokusai’s wave design is adapted in illustrations of the mountain. Hokusai seems to be seeking the definitive expression of the wave.

African Art:
I chose this video because I was intrigued by what I had about this art in our book.
In sub-Saharan Africa, aesthetic sense is shown in dress, hair styles, forms of ornamentation, rituals and performance art. The oldest existing African art is found in drier regions. Ancient bush paintings represent animals and humans; these stylized pictures may be a wish for luck in the hunt. Egyptian and Saharan art and architecture show influences of agriculture. Bronze castings of Nigeria date from the 15th century. A royal residence in South Eastern Africa shows symbolic art and architectural style of the 14th century. Primitive Art influenced Picasso and modernist painters. European art is perceptual. Most African art is conceptual, flowing from the artist's mental images. There exists great diversity in African art, but all cultures combine crafts with art. The artists repeat traditional designs, adding their own refinements. Supernatural powers are controlled through art objects. Carvings or sculptures are the actual home of the ancestor. Masks are often highly stylized and embellished. Costumes are designed to be used by fire light. Modern African art is created for the mass market.