I learned a lot about the Navajo, Aztec, Yoruba, Chinese, Japanese, and Western cultures and aesthetics of art. I learned that the Navajo people came together to form their own distinctive culture less than one hundred years before the Spanish Conquest. Some of the most important aspects are the ties to their spiritual beliefs and the way that they tell stories and creations of those beliefs. Many Navajo men and women are tied to their culture by the items they create, these sacred items include rug weaving, silversmithing, and pottery making. Rug and blanket weaving is among the most popular artistry of the Navajo people. Weaving is a practice that will never die out, silversmithing is a popular practice that many people enjoy and sand painting…show more content… Aztecs produced and consumed much of what they considered art. The people that produced art were considered part time or full time artisans. Part time artists worked in their homes, made necessary goods in a wide range of mediums, and used the products they created in their everyday lives. The Aztec artisans created woven items from native, handmade cotton, along with pottery vessels, and tools made from copper and obsidian. On the other hand, the full-time specialists of the Aztec people used their skills to create jewelry and stone sculptures. Architecture was the most important and most spectacular art in the Aztec society. The Navajo and the Aztec were my favorite part of the class because they were so alike yet different when comparing the two. The Navajo and Aztec were so similar in design using all of the geometric, intricate, and spiritual patterns. Art in almost all of the cultures is very valued and is the most distinguished piece of history in many of the cultures. Art in other cultures is not creating works but is items that they use for everyday use. Many of the culture’s “art” is the clothes they wear, the tools they use, and the blankets, beauty items that are put to use every…show more content… The Chinese made me realize that I need to bring peace and balance to my life and to let my work speak to me, not to force it. I have had a rough few months not being able to come up with ideas for projects of my own, the Chinese felt that the jade spoke to them while they created beautifully carved pieces, I need to let the work speak to me. The jade told then what form to carve and what way to carve it. The Chinese also used the yin and yang symbols in much of their work, creating a sense of balance and equality. By learning about the different cultures I have learned some of the ways to make my life easier and I perceive the world as very culturally diverse. Different art works and sculptures makes my life look much easier because of the work they put into their paintings and works of