Renaissance or not?ReviewHumanism is:

-fulfillment in daily life-individual dignity and worth-educated in all subjects-challenges tradition

Renaissance is:-rebirth of classical (Greek and Roman) thinking-someone who is successful in many areas of life (physical, cultural,

and academic)

Your Task:-Letter your paper from A-T-Determine if the following modern people could be considered a “Renaissance” person; be sure to give a reason as to why or why not-Turn in for 40 points

A• A native of Honolulu, Hawaii, this person is a graduate of

Columbia University and Harvard Law School, where he was the president of the Harvard Law Review. He was a community organizer in Chicago before earning his law degree. He worked as a civil rights attorney in Chicago and taught Constitutional Law at the U of Chicago Law School from 1992 to 2004. He served three terms in a state senate from 1997 to 2004. Following an unsuccessful bid for a seat in the House of Representative. In 2000, he ran for United States Senate in 2004. He won and served as a United States senator from, from January 2005 until he resigned after November 2008. His next job was even bigger than being a Senator and he won the Noble Peace Prize in 2009.

A – Barack Obama

B• This musician was a child prodigy and did his first

tour when he was seven years old. Over his life he created over 600 pieces of music and is remembered as the biggest figure in his genre. He never had a care for school or learning. His father was his only teacher and only taught him about basic subjects and language. He was known to be a partier on tours and was known for wild parties at stops in Salzburg, Vienna, and Paris. He died at age thirty-five and was survived by a wife and two sons.

B – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

C

• This figure first got her start as a model for Dior and Tommy Hilfiger. Although she has no formal education and training this person has also started a record label, released a music album, wrote a book, designed a line of clothes, and has been groomed to take over the families multi-billion dollar a year business. A true jetsetter this person is constantly traveling between New York, Los Angeles, and various places all over the world.

C – Paris Hilton

D• This figure faced great adversity in their early life

and actually attempted suicide when they were 16 years old. After dropping out of high school this person worked at dead end jobs before saving $12,000 to put on a play he had written. After getting his GED and continuing to write new plays this figure got some breaks and started to produce movies and write books that dealt with morals, religion, and even comedy. Even though movies make the most money this persons first love is still plays and the theater.

D – Tyler Perry

E• This figure was born in Germany in grew up in the Nazi

era. Although he was forced to be a member of the Hitler youth he would not attend meetings. His father taught him that Nazism and Adolf Hitler went against their religion. After he saw a relative with Down's Syndrome taken away and killed by the Nazis this man devoted his life to trying to help people find God. After a stint in the German Air Force he went to college and became a professor of theology. He would later rise to the highest position in his religion in 2005. He sees himself as quite conservative and is concerned with what he sees as too many people turning away from God.

E – Pope Benedict XVI (16th)

F

• Born in Germany, this musician attended the Duke Ellington school of music in Washington D.C. As a teenager she was discovered by record executives for her ability to play the bass guitar. As an adult she has worked with many different artists from all different kinds of music. Over her career she has been nominated for ten Grammy awards. Her music is heard in movies, commercials, and radio stations. She is credited with being the rebirth of the soul movement.

F – Me’Shell Ndegeocello

G• This person graduated from Yale University as

well as the business school at Harvard. He then served as a reserve in the US Air Force as well as managed oil businesses after college. He later became the owner of a major league baseball team and then was elected Governor of the state in which he lived. His next political job was even greater and he held that very high position until 2008. He now gives speeches around the country and is loved by a large portion of the United States.

G – George W. Bush

H• This athlete first became professional in 1992

after completing a few years of college. Since turning professional this athlete has excelled in his sport and has used his popularity to create music, write books, act, and fund different charities. He finished college in 2000 and then received a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) in 2005. He currently is still playing professionally and is taking PHD classes in Education Leadership with his dissertation (final paper) topic being titled “The Duality of Humor and Aggression in Leadership Styles.’’

H – Shaquille O’Neal

I

• Born in Michigan this figure learned ballet at a young age. After high school she moved to New York City to learn modern dance. She then entered the music industry and released her first album in 1983. While she has had a successful musical career she has also done other things. She also produces music, makes her own line of clothing, and she has even written a few book for children.

I - Madonna

J• The next figure achieved distinction as, among

other things, a horticulturist, political leader, architect, archaeologist, paleontologist, musician, inventor, and founder of the University of Virginia. As a politician he thought everyone should be an independent farmer with little interference in terms of business from the government. He studied great works of his day by scholars in Britain and France. He also was the major force behind the separation of church and state.

J – Thomas Jefferson

K• Born in Austria this figure would become a

household name. As a boy he was in awe of art and spend much of his time practicing painting. As a man he moved to Vienna where he lived an artist's lifestyle. None of this helped his art and he was not admitted to a prestigious art school of Vienna. From this he got into a very conservative extremist political group before going to prison. While in prison he wrote a book that sold very well in Germany. After prison he rose to power in politics. Eventually his actions and strict rule helped lead to his downfall.

K – Adolf Hitler

L• A lifelong lover of music this person decided to

leave high school to focus on a career in music. After a highly successful solo record in 1999 things looked bright. However, the next two musical pieces did not sell as well. This led this artist to rethink how music was created and recorded. A collection of improvised music and lyrics sold well. Later this musician would earn two Grammys. This figure also give money and time to help give disadvantaged youth an opportunity at greatness.

L – Lil Wayne

M• This woman was born in Phoenix, Arizona and

received a Masters Degree from Brigham Young University. After thinking she would never be a good author she contemplated going to law school but instead to a job as a receptionist. Having never wrote a short story in her life her first book sold very well and each subsequent book has sold just as well. Other than writing this person describes herself as a 'stay at home mom' and a strong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormon).

M – Stephenie Meyer

N• The next figure was born in Britain to two chemists.

His main interest growing up was physics and black holes. He has laid the groundwork of physics for the last forty years. Designated a genius, he enabled a device to talk for him after he was left paralyzed and unable to speak from muscular dystrophy. He has spent a good part of his life trying to prove time travel is possible and studying the universe. He recently stirred up controversy when he claimed that there probably is not a creator of the universe. To this day he still teaches physics at different universities all over the world and is considered one of the greatest minds of all time.

N – Stephen Hawking

O• This figure grew up in a slum village in Africa. As

a young adult he made his way to law school by working harder than everyone else around him. After law school he was involved in politics. Specifically, he stood up against segregation between different groups in his country. For his actions he was locked in prison for twenty seven years. After he was released from prison he worked to unite his country by trying to forget the past and to move forward. He is also worked hard to bring peace all over the world and to stop the spread of AIDS.

O – Nelson Mandela

P• This person grew up on television and used his

fame to start a music career. Although originally thought to be a star who would not be around long he has been a staple of music and cinema for more than twenty years now. Along with entertainment this figure spends a lot of time learning about other religions of the world. Although he classifies himself as a Christian, he spends a lot of time looking at religions such as Buddhism and more recently Scientology. He claims that there are "many paths to God" and that "all religions can teach us something."

P – Will Smith

Q• A native of Illinois, this person attended

Wellesley College in Massachusetts to study law. She was the first student in the history of the college to be the main speaker at graduation. After school she worked in politics with her husband. In the early 1990s she tried to pass a universal healthcare bill which would have seen everyone be assured healthcare. This bill failed and made people either admire or loath her. After a run in the U.S. senate she looked for a better job. She has become the face of the U.S. government around the world.

Q – Hillary Clinton

R

• This person dropped out of college to pursue a career that at the time seemed like a dead end. He came under fire by the US government for apparently using illegal business tactics to help his company. After helping build a company this person has become a well known author and philanthropist (donates money). His passion of late is to make sure everyone in poor countries has basic health care. On top of this he gives a lot of money to fund research to stop AIDS.

R – Bill Gates

S

• This athlete grew up in a military family in spent most of his early life in England. Sometimes described as a 'mad man' he is known to spend hours and hours doing little things to make sure he is ready for game scenarios. He is also an avid art fan and travels the world in the off season collecting priceless gems from the past and present. This person has also had two acting roles in movies. This person also runs numerous charities to help kids and the disadvantaged.

S – Ray Allen

T• This Boston native was born to English

immigrants. He was a leading author and printer, satirist, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, inventor, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat. As a scientist, he was a major figure in the American Enlightenment and the history of physics for his discoveries and theories regarding electricity. He invented the lightning rod, bifocals, a new stove, a carriage odometer and the glass ‘armonica.’ He formed both the first public lending library in America and the first fire department in Pennsylvania.

T – Ben Franklin