Module 12: Video Reviews

VIDEOS:

Andy Warhol: Images of an Image

Abstract Expressionism and Pop: Art of the ’50s and ’60s

1. Explain why you selected each of the TWO videos you choose from the selection listed above. *I chose to watch the Andy Warhol: Images of an Image because I wanted to know more about the idea of mass media in relation to art from his perspective. Since I've never heard of him, I decided to choose that video.  I chose to watch the Abstract Expressionism and Pop: Art of the 50's and 60's because it seemed interesting to watch.

2. For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned. *Andy Warhol enjoyed artwork and photographs of women such as Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor. Often he would used one image and create multiple copies of it and put it all on one picture. He used a lot of overlapping photos and used silk screens. There was complex process to achieve a lot of the photos he released. It was called a "parable of mass production". In the Abstract Expressionism video, the "language of abstraction" was the main idea. This idea explained that this new type of art was "non figurative" and combined American and European ideas to create a new type of art.

3. How do the videos relate to the readings in the text? *The videos relate to the text in many ways. Andy Warhol's photos showed some of the art elements and principles such as lines, shapes, color, and space especially in the pictures with multiple copies of the same image. In the Abstract Expressionism video, I learned that when beginning an abstract work of art, this is the most important part. An abstract artist is working in the "dark" when beginning a new picture.

4. What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to understanding of the readings and art concepts? *I thought the films were somewhat interesting. They were not what I expected them to be. I thought in both films, there was too much commentary and not enough viewing of actual artwork. The Andy Warhol video was  interesting I liked looking at the Marilyn Monroe pictures and the way the film talked about how much of an impact she had on the culture at the time. I actually learned that he was a prominent artist during his time period. I mentioned him in a conversation with my mother and she knew exactly who I was talking about. The Abstract Expressionism video was very dull and boring. I did not think this particular video added depth to the understanding of the reading

Module 10 :-)

MODULE TEN:

Buddhism

African Art: Legacy of Oppression

1. Explain why you selected each of the TWO videos you choose from the selection listed above. * I selected the  Buddhism video because I enjoy learning about this particular religion and their is always more to learn especially from different prospectives. I chose to watch the African Art: Legacy of Oppression video because I wanted to learn more about Africa and more about the history behind their artwork and how it related to their struggles and what they went through. I also was happy to watch this video because out of all of the art classes I have taken in my college career, we never discuss Africa in detail, just a small paragraph or short sections. I enjoy learning about all cultural artwork, not just limited to Greek and Roman artwork.

2. For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned. I learned a lot in the Buddhism video. My favorite concept about Buddhism is Nirvana, the eternal bliss one will achieve once he is enlightened. The entrance way into temples where Buddhist people prayed is called the Torana which is made of granite and has some of the teachings of Buddha on it. Tanho' was the teachings that as each person studies and worships the concepts in Buddhism, then he should break free of ignorant thoughts and live in his own way. The outside of the temples were made of high quality ivory with lions, pop belly dwarfs and people.

In the African oppression video, it shows the different artwork collected at a museum in Belgium. The narrator takes us through a short video showing how African artwork related the events that went on during the time period they were made in. One particular piece of artwork shown in the video that interested me was the masks. For example there were masks to signify manhood and masks to represent handicapped people. But there were also masks made to scare off enemies, like those made by Boan people to scare off European people they considered to be a threat to them. 

3. How do the videos relate to the readings in the text? *These videos compliment the text by putting the readings into live footage and helps the reader make connections to how the artwork is in real life. In the book, figure 19.4 (9th ed) shows the details of the east gate at Great Stupa, Sanchi made of sandstone. I seen a similar gate in the Buddhism video and it was explained more about how the entry ways of the temples were like entry ways into enlightenment. In the book I also noticed the masks they spoke about in the video such as the mask worn by the man from page 416 (9th ed). A lot of the masks resembled white European government officers during the early 20th century when colonial rule was imposed over the continent.

4. What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to understanding of the readings and art concepts? I enjoyed the films, they both taught me a lot more about the Buddhist and African cultures. They were both packed with information I would have otherwise never found out such as architectural styles within Buddhism. The videos add depth to understanding the readings and art concepts because they reinforce the concepts through visuals and listening to the narrator tell the story. 

Module 9 Hand Drawings

1. What was it like using your hand as subject matter for a drawing? *Using my hand as the subject matter for a drawing was interesting because it made me very critical making the drawing. 

2. What media did you select - pencil or charcoal? Why? * I used a pencil because it was simple and easy for me to use. I like using pencils because you can erase easily and make corrections. Using charcoal would've made shading look better but I think the pencil did just fine.

3. How did it feel to create a drawing with your non-dominant hand? *It was difficult drawing with my non-dominant hand because I almost never use it to write. It was awkward trying to make it perfect and keep my hand steady because my hand was not used to drawing.

4. Compare and contrast your final drawings. Do you think they are successful studies? *I think my drawings are nice compared to each other. Since I am right handed, my picture of my left hand looks better and is neat. The picture of my left hand is more detailed because I was able to draw easier. I was a little impatient drawing my right hand because I kept finding myself wanting to put the pencil back in my right hand to draw with.

5. Would you consider using your non-dominant hand to create artwork in the future? *I would consider using my non-dominant hand to create artwork in the future because I want to improve my drawing and writing skills and perhaps one day become ambidextrous.

Module 9 Video Reviews

 Velazquez and The Power of Art: Caravaggio

1. Explain why you selected each of the TWO videos you choose from the selection listed above. *I chose to watch the video Velazquez because it was interesting and showed how he was a great influence on artwork in Spain. He chronicled the life of his friend King Philip the fourth among other work that changed the way artwork looked in the 1600s. I chose to watch the Caravaggio video because I wanted to learn something new because I have never heard of him or his artwork.

2. For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned. *In the video Velazquez, I learned that he was an educated artist and created art that reflected worldly events such as battles and current events. He was good friends with King Philip the fourth and created many works of art based off of his life as well. Velazquez mostly drew portraits of the royal family and jesters. Caravaggio enjoyed creating controversial pictures with himself in it such as him holding the head of Goliath from the Bible. He created art like this to reflect what was going on in his life and his struggle to be accepted.

2. How do the videos relate to the readings in the text? *The Caravaggio video shows Baroque style of artwork. Although his artwork showed much tragedy, it had characteristics of this style of art because the colors were bold and the scenes realistic. The Velazquez video also showed characteristics of baroque style. He created portraits of baroque writers during his lifetime as well.

3. What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to understanding of the readings and art concepts? *The films I watched were interesting, but I did not enjoy them as much as I thought. I understood the objectives and how they relate to the class material but it would be interesting to learn more about female artists or artists from other cultures that may have be involved in these types of art styles (baroque and rococo). The videos just compliment the reading by bringing the concepts of baroque style to life and add some history to the learning.