Museum Visit Extra Credit (Third Nine Weeks)

The museum in which this is over is the Museum of Fine Arts Houston.




Couple under an Umbrella
Ron Mueck
Mixed Media
2013

I particularly loved this sculpture because it was so real. This walk through of this artist had hyper-realist art. The reason why this is hyper-realist is because when you walk up to the art it is exactly like a human. You can see everything possible that is on a human. For instance you can we the calluses on the bottom of the ladies foot. You can see the slight veins that are right under the surface of the skin on the face. Every single detail on a human is perfectly captured which is really stunning. I remember walking through here in complete awe of how awesome it was. I mean you have to have some serious skills to do something this perfect. Absolutely loved it and totally worth my time.



Sketch 160A
Vasily Kandinsky
Oil on Canvas
1912

 
   Honestly I really don't like this type of art. Some surrealist art is pretty cool but as for this type I don't really like it. This painting caused me to feel a conflicting clash of different emotions and ideas. What I did like about this however was that it was by Kandinsky which is who we have been studying. And so it is so cool whenever you can learn about something in school and then go out and actually see that person's work. It makes learning more real and personal. Not only did I get to see this painting from someone we studied but I also got to see many other people and their art work. I really appreciate the experience being able to have that opportunity. Lastly I choose to post this specific piece to represent all the artist that I have been studying and got to see their artwork.

 

Abstraction to Nonobjectivity

Each student will be assigned one of the following works.

You must answer the blog questions for just your assigned artwork.

However, I would highly recommend all of you reading/watchin​g all of the following links below over all the pieces.

 

Artworks Assigned are:

Greg - Kandinsky's Improvisation 28 (#132)

 

1. Take one minute to list adjectives that describe the following artworks: Matisse's Goldfish (#131), Kandinsky's Improvisation 28 (#132), and Mondrian's Composition with Red, Blue, and Yellow in separate columns.

Kandinsky’s Improvisation: chaotic, random, colorful, messy, jumbled, abstract, and confusing

Matisse’s Goldfish: bright, beautiful, slanted, complementary, life-like, and tilted  

Mondrian’s Composition: basic, plain, linear, simple, and proportional

 

2. Compare the three works then craft a one-sentence description of each.

Kandinsky’s improvisation is different from all of the other art works in that it is a jumble of different depictions and ideas. When you would look at this it evokes a sense of chaos. It is as if the subconscious of the brain illustrated itself upon this canvas. This is the prominent aspect of this painting that differentiates it from the rest of the others. Matisse’s Goldfish contrast itself from the others in that gives the most accurate perspective and illustration of life. Even though the painting does not look correctly proportionate and 3-D it is the most life-like. For instance the things upon the table look as if they could never really stay on the top. We are expecting those things to fall of the table. But ultimately we understand what is being illustrated as compared to Kandinsky’s Improvisation where on a first glance at the painting anybody’s guess is good as any. Lastly Mondrian’s Composition Red, Blue, and Yellow is completely different the rest. The other painting represents life but here we see geometric shapes and lines represented here. This definitely when introduced started a new era of art. Never before would this be considered art and received much backlash in its entry.   

 

3. Explore the impact of Freud and the horrors of war on escalating efforts to visually depict the external world, internal emotions, and abstract philosophical concepts in innovative, nontraditional ways.

During this period with the horrors of the First World War many sought to express themselves as a way deal with what they had experienced. This event and intellectual thinking lead to a great deal of emotional and horrific depicted art work of this time period. Because of such a transformative time this resulted in new techniques and styles of art. Sigmund Freud is the founder of psychoanalysis, a clinical method for treating psychopathology through dialogue between a patient and a psychoanalyst. And during this time period the perspective about the relationship and status of our own thoughts and subconscious was prevalent. You look at Kandinsky’s Improvisation and that it exemplifies what I’m talking about.

 

5. Examine ways Kandinsky abandons representation in the belief that abstraction enables color, like music, to speak directly to the soul.

Kandinsky abandons representation in the belief that abstraction enables color to speak directly to the soul by creating a swill of jumbled imagery in a convoluted way. The mess of the imagery causes the viewer to see the condition of the soul. There is no emphasis on the color of the piece because it is told through the imagery.  

From Abstraction to Cubism

Sketch Picasso's Les Demoiselles d'Avignon and post a picture of your sketch to your blog.

My rendition of Les Demoiselles d'Avigon

Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema

Read the following excerpt, paraphrase it, and list examples of either works that we have studied or images from popular culture, that might be cited as evidence for the statement:

"In a world ordered by sexual imbalance, pleasure in looking has been split between active/male and passive/female. The determining male gaze projects its fantasy on to the female form which is styled accordingly. In their traditional exhibitionist role women are simultaneously looked at and displayed, with their appearance coded for strong visual and erotic impact so that they can be said to connote to-be-looked-at​-ness. Woman displayed as sexual object is the leitmotif of erotic spectacle... she holds the look, plays to and signifies male desire."

by: Laura Mulbey, "Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema"

   What this excerpt is stating is that there is an imbalance in our society when it comes to nude art. Almost always there is only a representation of women in the nude and not much or any male in the nude when it comes to looking on to the picture with pleasure. This imbalance seems to be driven my males which do it to fit the criteria to appeal to makes desire. The paintings are more about sex and the lust that comes from dwelling upon the pleasures of the eye than respecting the person for who they are. And this also makes since because how much emphasis is placed on the beauty of the women instead of the men. Some art works that fit this excerpt for evidence include the La Grande Odalisque, Olympia, Birth of Venus, and so forth. Each one of these artworks illustrates nude women in the beauty of her nakedness. Some of this, especially the ones that depict Venus are perfect to illustrate the idealistic beauty of them. On the contrary, we don’t see this type of modeling from any male posers.

Photographers

Watch the following video: Early Photography: Making Daguerreotypes (5:43) https://www.you​tube.com/watch?​v=N0Ambe4FwQk Question: What separates people who "take pictures" from photographers? Why have photographers struggled to be considered artists?

   There are several reasons that separates people who take pictures compared to photographers. The first is that people that take pictures do it because they want to capture a certain moment. This could be anything from their meal to a selfie. On the other hand a photographer has an extensive amount of equipment to capture a specific image that evokes a certain tine or message. The photographer might even have to set up what he or she is going to take a picture of. A photographer goes around and takes pictures for a living. This could extend to weddings, or the landscape like Peter Lik.

   Photographers have struggled to be considered artist because at the beginning of its creation it was considered a science instead of art. So when the public majority considers it to be science and then someone comes along and thinks of it another way. They will often receive backlash and it will take a long period of time to change the culture. An artist that paints has to get the paint and create the image. On the other hand a photographer doesn't have to create nothing as all they have to do is capture a moment that is already in existence. They didn't create it just captured it. And so to the public at this time that wasn't considered art as it was as almost you plagiarized nature and other things that were already created.   

Romanticism, Nature, and Human Action

What is the most powerful and/or beautify natural occurrence you have ever experienced? Describe it and its impact on you in detail.


   I have had many powerful and beautiful natural occurrences that I have had the pleasure of experiencing because of Boy Scouts. One of these that combine the power of nature with the beauty of it would be my submit of Mt. Baldy. Just as its name implies there are no trees, grass, or any type of vegetation on top of Mt. Baldy. All there is, is just rocks, snow and ice. As I was climbing the mountain I was on the ground but I still scared of the heights because our so high up in the air and it feels as if you could fall down the mountain since it's nothing but rocks. What made it so different to climb was the wind. At the top of the mountain we felt the full force of seventy mile and hour winds whipping at us. I remember as I was climbing I got down as low as I could because I swore that wind would pick me up and hurl me down the mountain. And actually when we reached the top I quickly dove down on the ground and assumed some cover behind some rocks that blocked the wind for me. Not only did nature show us her might but also her beauty. I could literally see, no kidding, for hundreds of miles in each direction. I felt as if I was on top of the earth. You gain a different perspective on life whenever you summit such a mountain. It is absolutely beautiful to be so high up and look down on all of God's creation in awe.  

Monticello

Sketch the Monticello (post in blog) Identify the classical elements of the Monticello. Compare Monticello to Villa Rotonda and discuss Palladio's influence on Jefferson.

 

   There are several classical elements in Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello. For instance the four ionic columns in the center evoke the classical feel. Also the triangular pediment and triogyphs that lay atop the columns bring out that classical element. The classical elements of the ancient Greek Post and Lintel are brought our here. Another classical element would be the symmetry. It is very common and almost always that classical architecture would be symmetrical.  The center dome on top brings out the later roman pantheon.

   Whenever I see the Villa Rotonda I see an exact copy of the Monticello with a slight divergence and on a grandeur scale. Other than a couple of slight differences like more steps, no as many windows and different placement of windows it is the exact same structural idea. Even on the very edge there is a round arch. They both have the same columns and triangular pediment and raised center dome.

  Palladio had an influence on Jefferson. Palladio in his architecture used a mixture of classical Roman and Greek elements and that is very much evident in Jefferson’s Monticello. Palladio has the one that actually made the Villa Rotonda and as already described they are almost like the exact same thing. All Jefferson had to do is look at this building and then the wheels would start turning for his own house. Palladio influenced Jefferson to create his own house like the one of Palladio’s.

Seeds of Revolution in France

Sketch The Swing by Fragonard (show pic of sketch) If this is a quintessential Rococo work, describe Rococo art. How does The Swing portray aristocratic subjects' light-hearted self-absorption, pursuit of pleasure, and disregard for ethical concerns? Discuss how and why middle class responses to prints of such works prompted Diderot's call for moral art.  

 

   At the beginning of the 1700s, and at the end of the reign of Louis XIV, there is a noticeable shift away from classicism and "Grand Manner" (based on the art of Poussin) that had governed the art in France, toward a new style of art called Rococo. This signifies a shift away from the monarchy and towards the aristocracy as seen as characterizations of the art of this period. The art subject during this period and the life style of the aristocracy are defined as leisure as a pursuit and became involved themselves in romantic intrigues. Indeed, they created a culture of luxury and excess that formed a stark contrast to the lives of most people in France.

   The swing portrays aristocratic subjects of light-hearted self-absorption, pursuit of pleasure, and disregard for ethical concerns. For example we see the light-hearted self-absorption in the way that the painting is specifically about the two lovers. Not anyone else, it’s all about their relationship. The background can be considered bland and uneventful for the eye and this helps keeps the painting all about them. The background doesn’t catch our eye or draw us in because we are caught up in what is happening between the lovers.

   This also portrays a pursuit of pleasure because this depicts a plan by the lady and the lover (the one not holding the ropes in the bottom left corner) to get the servant to swing the lady and then she can allow the lover to look up her skirt. He doesn’t want the servant to know this is happening so he is hiding in the bushes. This story illustrates that there is a pursuit of pleasure going on.

   This picture definitely reveals that there is an element of a disregard of ethics. During this time period it was extremely wrong for this type of behavior and actions to be carried on. That is one reason why they have to hide to carry out their scandalous acts.

    During this time period there was a decline of the aristocratic and a uprising of the middle class. This new rising social class had a set of morals that they believed strongly in. Also one reason for the fall of the aristocrats was a change in the way of thinking concerning politics and just the way of life. The commoner people wanted more control and were incited to climb out of their poverty and be a part of their own government. And so it was painting like this that philosophers of the Enlightenment condemned. They demanded a new style of art, one that showed an example of moral behavior, of human beings at their most noble. Really it was the Enlightment and the rise of middle class morals that drove these types of painting away.  

  

 

 

The Enlightenment and the Belief in Progress

Do you believe in Progress? Is the world getting better? Explain.

 

Progress is moving forward toward a destination. To ask a question about if I believe in Progress is a massive question that encompasses a lot of subjects. Progress in its broadest definition of moving forward toward a destination is someone I do uphold. We as intelligent humans are not meant to just stay stagnant in the present level of achievement, knowledge, or endeavors. We are definitely destined to keep pushing forward conquering and making this world a better place. This type of progress I most certainly believe in. Now there is an important question about what direction are we headed? One type of Progress that I certainly don’t believe in would be the current transcending social culture away from a religious oriented moralistic society. It pains me to see this “progress” that is carrying us away from Godly principles.

   Not all Progress is headed for destruction; I do believe that the world is getting gradually better as it is passed on to each new generation. When we examine what the past was like and how there was a lack of knowledge, medical care, technology, civil right, civil liberties, etc. that overall contributed to a harder life. With the progress we have made up to this moment and what we will continue to accomplish is exciting and comforting to know that the next generation will be able to inherit an earth that is better than the one we got.

Counter-Reformation Architecture

Sketch Il Gesu's plan. Compare it with the plans of Santa Sabina and St. Sernin. What are the reasons for the architectural differences?

  

   The Santa Sabina and the Church of Gesu are the same and different in many ways. For instance They are the same because they are both basilicas. They are different because the isles for the Santa Sabina are actual two long corridors, while the Church of Gesu has many small chapels that line the central nave. The Santa Sabina domes not have a dome while the Church of Gesu does have a dome at the very end supported by arched leaning pillars. Another difference would include the knowledge that the Santa Sabina has a mosaic at the very end where the alter is. On the other hand the Church of Gesu has a painted fresco and a bronze sculpture of the sun at the end. Also the Church of Gesu has painted fresco on the top of the ceiling that looks as if it is billowing out. On the other hand the Santa Sabina doesn’t have any of this. To conclude this comparison with a similarity, they both have windows that line the higher wall next to the nave which runs all the way down to the alter.  

   Now for the comparison between St. Sernin and the Church of Gesu. I will not mention all of the Church of Gesu’s architectural components because of the fact that I mentioned them in the latter paragraph. One of the main differences between the two churches is that St. Sernin is built in the shape of a cross while the Church of Gesu is just in a long basilica. Furthermore, St. Sernin has a very pointed and long steeple on top of their church while the other is just a rounded dome. Another difference would be the front outside façade. Here the St. Sernin has a blockish looking front that is pretty much plain with a giant circular window and two front doors. The Church of Gesu on the other hand is a two terred building with which looks like a second story. On this second story are two separate windows and center door that leads out unto a small balcony. On the ground there is a center big door with two smaller doors off to the sides spread evenly apart. Both have a bronze looking sculpture at the front of the church but the Church of Gesu has a circular sun beam and the other has an angel. St. Sernin has a ribbed vaulted ceiling while the other has a rounded ceiling.

   One reason for all these differences in the building architecture is the different architects that built them. This is significant because each of these builders is unique in their styles because of different influences in schooling and different creative minds. For example the Santa Sabina was built by Peter of Illyria, a Dalmatian priest in between 422 and 432. St. Sernin was constructed in the Romanesque style between about 1080 and 1120 so it definitely had to be by a different guy. The Church of Gesu was made by Giacomo Barozzi da Vignola and Giacomo della Porta and completed in 1580. And so all these different dates and different people prove that there was different cultural ideas floating around at each of their times on what made good architecture. Simply put, the reason for the differences is because of the different cultural times in which they lived.

Plans of the Church of Gesu

Portraits

 

   I don't know about it being one of the best pictures, but this is one of my senior pictures that I thought turned out pretty good. I think that this picture turned out pretty good because this was the first I ever took a picture showing my teeth. I've had braces for a while so I never really smiled showing my teeth and before that I was insecure about how my teeth looked. Ever since I got my braces off it has increased my confidence I now I smile with my teeth showing. Looking at this image makes me look like a vibrant confident youth. I personally love those colors and I think they look good on me.

 

   If I were to have my picture publicly then I would pose in a power position and have the shot capture my entire body and not just my torso up. I would be sure to be dressed up in a suit and maybe have an American flag and Texas flag in the background. The expression on my face would be one of joy and confidence. My hands would probably hold some important documents like a Bible and the United States Constitution. The type of setting that I would chose would be either the U.S. Capitol, White House, or take the picture up on the top of a mountain over looking the world. The objects that I would want near me would include our nation's governing documents like The Constitution or Declaration of Independence. I also would like to have anything that was very influential in making our dear country. I do have a picture that I took and would have put up on the website but it was granny. In the picture I am holding a Texas flag that flew over the Texas Capitol and I also have an American Flag that flew over the US Capitol. And so in this picture that would spread around publicly I would like to hold both the US and Texas flag. The question about "Who do you want to be?" is a loaded question. But to put it simply I want to be a person that goes down in history as someone who sought to reinforce our constitution and freedoms fought by many patriots before me and took actions to help out our nation for the better. And so when people look at this picture I want them to reminder of all the good things that I did.