Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Humanities/2008 July 14

= July 14 =

From where did photo "bunny ears" originate?
When a group of people get their picture taken, invariably someone gives another person "bunny ears"; Making a "V" or peace sign with their hand and holding it behind the head of another person (usually without their knowledge). Where did this practice come from? Does it have an official name? --70.167.58.6 (talk) 06:58, 14 July 2008 (UTC)
 * Haven't read it in a while but the V sign article may interest you. Dismas |(talk) 13:03, 14 July 2008 (UTC)


 * "The History of Bunny Ears", from a link in the V sign article. --98.217.8.46 (talk) 15:24, 14 July 2008 (UTC) Actually, now that I actually read the article... it's obviously meant to be a joke. My guess is that you won't get bunny ears until you have very cheap photography—early photography was too cumbersome and expensive to warrant ruining a photo with bunny ears. --98.217.8.46 (talk) 17:39, 14 July 2008 (UTC)
 * Not to mention holding the V sign for a minute or longer isn't the most comfortable of things to do Nil Einne (talk) 18:47, 14 July 2008 (UTC)
 * This is a great question. I hope somebody has a good answer! Шизомби (talk) 00:39, 15 July 2008 (UTC)

The two fingers indicate the horns of a cuckold. --Wetman (talk) 00:52, 15 July 2008 (UTC)

relative popularity of different Buddhism sects in Japan
Where can I find rough estimates of the number of adherents to the different Buddhist paths described in Buddhism in Japan? I ask because when I see an article like this one, I'm confused about what sect(s) it's talking about. It's as if these practices, such as buying posthumous Buddhist names, occur across the board... but this would surprise me, because I have the impression that sects like Pure Land and Zen are radically different. --Allen (talk) 07:33, 14 July 2008 (UTC)

perfect compatetion
what is maent by perfect compatetion in economics?give examples117.193.36.7 (talk) 11:29, 14 July 2008 (UTC)
 * See Perfect competition. Zain Ebrahim (talk) 11:39, 14 July 2008 (UTC)

Royal Marriage
redirected from Reference desk/Miscellaneous.

I wish to read about Royal Marriage however, I wish to read about the institution, inbreeding, and uspurperism, not some card game, any advice? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 193.115.175.247 (talk) 11:59, 14 July 2008 (UTC)
 * Royal family gives some useful links to specific examples
 * perhaps List of family trees may also be usefull as well.
 * Inbreeding is particularily helpful.
 * usurperism? we have List of usurpers. 87.102.86.73 (talk) 12:16, 14 July 2008 (UTC)

Rear facade (?) of a monument
The structure in question is a memorial monument that was designed to be approached and viewed from several angles. Different texts are engraved on front and back. What would be the proper terms—perhaps equivalent to "obverse" and "reverse" in numismatics—to refer to these two aspects? At present, neither the article on memorials nor monuments addresses this matter of nomenclature; where else might I have looked? -- Thanks, Deborahjay (talk) 12:26, 14 July 2008 (UTC)
 * Architects user the term "elevation" when creating plans (i.e. Front Elevation, Rear Elevation, or West Elevation etc.) This could, I expect, be used for monuments. Fribbler (talk) 12:34, 14 July 2008 (UTC)
 * Oh! I neglected to indicate that the text is for a lay readership and ideally the terms would be close to common parlance. I'm trying to avoid "back side" or "rear" if something more appropriate exists...? -- Deborahjay (talk) 12:56, 14 July 2008 (UTC)
 * Hmm, I don't think theres a non-technical word word for this that's in general use. You could say, if you wanted to avoid using "back of" or "rear", "the side of the monument facing x bears the inscription Fribbler woz ere" or some such. Where x is either a direction (North) or a nearby landmark (Eifel Tower). Fribbler (talk) 13:03, 14 July 2008 (UTC)
 * If it's for lay use, "near side" and "far side"? Or "north side" and "south side" (or east and west, etc) as Fribbler suggests. Neıl    ☄   13:39, 14 July 2008 (UTC)
 * Alas, my source is a photograph—one in a series of hundreds— lacking any external reference point. In some cases, in fact, it's only a model, not viewed in situ. The designation of "front" or otherwise is indicated (if at all) in a rather sketchy note. My task is to describe salient features, hopefully evoking their significance. -- Deborahjay (talk) 13:47, 14 July 2008 (UTC)
 * "Front-facing" and "rear-facing"? Neıl   ☄   13:57, 14 July 2008 (UTC)
 * Why not just tell us what "monument" you're talking about, —is it a bozzetto for a sculpture?— you might even give us a link to an illustration on the Internet? Then we can make sensible suggestions. "Viewer's right" is usually assumed in "right side" unless a statue's own left-hand side, etc. are specified. --Wetman (talk) 00:49, 15 July 2008 (UTC)
 * Imagine an upright stone or slab, resembling or serving as a freestanding plaque, with no additional figurative or other sculptural element (though some have these as well). The one I'm working on now can be viewed here by entering Catalog No. 48349 (the front is No. 48347) and deselecting all "databanks" except for Photo Archive. In this case there's definitely a primary and secondary face, but I'm not keen on those descriptors, hence my query here. -- Deborahjay (talk) 05:31, 15 July 2008 (UTC)

Queen of Sheba Crown Jewels
Are the Jewels in a church in Axum? I have photos supposed to be the jewels72.67.69.250 (talk) —Preceding comment was added at 21:32, 14 July 2008 (UTC)


 * Neither Aksum nor Queen of Sheba mentions this; indeed, neither article mentions the other. Since she must have lived at lest 500 years before the Kingdom of Aksum's rise to power, and a thousand years before there were any churches there, it seems unlikely, though not impossible. --ColinFine (talk) 23:49, 14 July 2008 (UTC)


 * Well, they claim to have the Ark of the Covenant there too... Adam Bishop (talk) 01:10, 15 July 2008 (UTC)

name of statue
Hello,

Can you please tell me the name of this statue[http:// img177.imageshack.us/img177/7336/damagess01e01vostfrdvdrtj5.jpg]? it appears during the theme of the tv show "damages"

thanks —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.72.132.205 (talk) 23:12, 14 July 2008 (UTC)


 * I can't get the link to work. Any helpful ideas out there? ៛ Bielle (talk) 23:44, 14 July 2008 (UTC)
 * Thought I fixed it, but WP says it is Spam. Any more ideas out there?
 * Just copy the url img177.imageshack.us/img177/7336/damagess01e01vostfrdvdrtj5.jpg to the browser address bar. Some browsers may require http:// in front. PrimeHunter (talk) 23:52, 14 July 2008 (UTC)


 * Africa, one of the Four Continents at the Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House, New York. Daniel Chester French, sculptor. --Wetman (talk) 23:54, 14 July 2008 (UTC)

I did some research using your lead and it's actually Asia, not Africa. Well done, Wetman !! thanks.

Subject is on Mary (the Mother of God)
To Whom it may Concern
 * My question is on Mary. Any of the many "non catholic" faiths say we worship her.

In my opinion we only honor her as being the greatest of all saints. Asking her to take our prayers to her son, isn't any different then I praying for someone I know. Isn't there someway I convince someone that we do not "worship" her as we do God "through his son? Please advise! —Preceding unsigned comment added by 72.75.162.167 (talk) 23:56, 14 July 2008 (UTC)
 * We have an article, Marian doctrines of the Catholic Church, which might be of use, if only in clarifying your own position. But I'm not sure we can really help with convincing some guy none of us know. Algebraist 00:01, 15 July 2008 (UTC)


 * Specific concept is Hyperdoulia... AnonMoos (talk) 03:06, 15 July 2008 (UTC)


 * Similarly unlikely to convince someone who thinks otherwise, the Cathechism of the Catholic church (e.g., 970: ""No creature could ever be counted along with the Incarnate Word...," 970: "This very special devotion . . . differs essentially from the adoration which is given to the incarnate Word ...") OtherDave (talk) 15:19, 18 July 2008 (UTC)