Changes

Modern usage of paradise shifts between an earthly place or heavenly realm. Interestingly, however, the concept of perfection, first displayed by the Sumerians, is retained. That perfection was demonstrated as gardens, with animals and precious stones in Mesopotamian and Persian understanding. In fact, this idealized setting still dominates our concepts of a sacred place. This is also true for more secular reasoning, as gardens or trees are often used to describe areas many cultures consider as a type of paradise. For example, Hollywood movie depictions tend to have this ideal, garden-filled setting as a form of paradise.<ref>For example, see: Dixon, Wheeler W. 2006. ''Visions of Paradise: Images of Eden in the Cinema''. New Brunswick, N.J: Rutgers University Press.</ref>