Art Critisim Blog Review

1. For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned.

AN INTRODUCTION TO THE ITALIAN RENAISSANCE: This program illustrates how the great masters of the Italian Renaissance developed techniques by building upon the work of the artists before them. The movie discusses the innovations of Giotto, Donatello, Ghiberti, Masaccio, Della Francesca, Leonardo, Raffaello, and Michelangelo. The movie also discusses the Roman influence on Renaissance art and emphasize the concepts of perspective, balance, chiaroscuro, composition, and realism. The movie explains the Renaissance as renewed enthusiasm in the arts. The movie says Giotto is one of the first artists to renew the art of the Roman empire. Giotto used real people as models for his paintings, he also adds perspective and sense of 3D space. Ghiberti is Giotto's apprentice and creates biblical scenes on door panels that include a realistic vision of human form. Donatello is one of the first artist to sculpt with the idea of contrapposto. Contrapposto relies on balance. Leonardo da Vinci applies science and math to art. His figures in his paintings appear naturally in their surroundings.  Raffaello was a painter that was influenced by da Vinci's work. He was considered to be the master of composition. All of these artist work were seen as the foundation to the Renaissance.
THE COLONIAL ENCOUNTER: VIEWS OF NON-WESTERN ART AND CULTURE: This movie interweaves archival photographs, film clips, and posters from the 1900 World Fair with commentary from renowned art historians. Offerings from museum collections across the world. The result is a profound look at the ways in which Western prejudice, ethnography, and art consumption have neutralized genuine intercultural dialog. The World Fair is the largest fair every to be held, and ran for 8 months. The colonial factions uncovered the underlying nationalism of the event. Half the area was devoted to French imperialism while the rest represented other nations' colonies. The Dahomian exhibit is discussed in this film.  The Dahomian exhibit consisted of a group of thatched structures, suggesting that there was no civilized infrastructure and therefore no architectural landmarks. Barbarism is symbolized by the tower of sacrifices. Images of African people showed violent behavior toward each other, fostering the notion that they are savages who might also turn against Europeans. The Europeans justified colonialism by showing the Africans as barbaric. On the other hand, Algeria exhibits are displayed in two palaces because it had a much longer history of colonization that Dahome. Alergians were occupied by the French for a long time. The Algerian exhibit is indicative of a much larger transformation that took place at the end of the 19thj century. The transformation was towards tourism. During the fair, an exhibit displayed naked African men and women in caged enclosures. These pornographic photographs were justified by saying they were scientific and artistic.  The movie ends with a discussion on how Indigenous material culture on display as art can be tied into an appreciation by descendants of the original objects. The main question is what do these objects mean to Western people?
THE CRITICS: STORIES FROM THE INSIDE PAGES: The movie describes the difference between a review and a cristism. A review is an informed opinion and a criticism is more analytical. Critics get us to "stop and think about it". What I thought was really interesting was Dr. Dewerth-Pallmeyer interviews method man. It is interesting that as a artist he hates critics and feel they are extremely negative to the artistic world. Yet, he then turns around and says how their negativity shed light on his first album as an up-and-coming rapper. Critisism gets as all to think. A good critic should give people fresh ideas or a new way of looking at things. Reviewers write for audiences who are unfamiliar with a particular piece of work, where as a critic expects that they readers are already familiar with the work.  Dr. Dwight DeWerth-Pallmeyer, , spent numerous months traveling the country and interviewing well-known commentators. Some of the commentators interviews include Good Morning America film reviewer Joel Siegel, Time magazine film critic Richard Schickel, Nashville Scene music critic Bill Friskics-Warren, and Fresh Air book critic Maureen Corrigan. The result is an in-depth look at criticism as an art form, the communal worth of a critic’s work, the diverse ways that distinguished critics began their careers, and the passion and intelligence with which all qualified critics must approach their work.  Some critics saw their jobs as insightful and they felt they are helping keep enlighten ideas to stay alive. Criticism of media arts improves the media in general. the movie describes critics as passionate. Professional critics can also act as reporters to.  


2. Do the videos relate to the creation of your Art Criticism project? If yes, explain how. If no, explain why not. I am glad I watched the video on critics, because that really gave me a sense of what I am supposed to be doing when critique my peers work. Critics are not always supposed to be negative- which is sort of what the name implies. According to the video, critics are supposed to provide a new way of looking at things and get the reader of the criticism to think. You want to spark ideas by expressing your opinion in a very colorful way. The video on the colonial encounter illustrates to me how an exhibit, or a critique, can really change the way a viewer is going to look at things. I need to make sure I don't spread negativity while expressing my critique.
3. What is your opinion of the films? Do they add depth to understanding of art criticism? I thought the films added depth to my understanding. The last video was the most impressive. It really explained what a critic does and their effect on the artistic world- whether good or bad.

Curation Videos

The Lowdown On Lowbrow: West Coast Pop Art- This movie is about pop surrealism, also known as lowbrow to the artists. Is tells the story of the evolution of lowbrow and its relation to abstract expressionism, or highbrow people. This movie interviews artist such as The Pizz, Lisa Petrucci, Nicole Steen, and Braineater. The term lowbrow is explained by the artists throughout the movie and then explains how the art relates to people and appeals to the masses. The movie discusses pop culture and the references used in lowbrow art. Artist Robin Williams plays an important part of the lowbrow culture, as the inventor of the word. The main concept of the movie is the idea of lowbrow art and the part it plays in modern culture.
Displaying Modern Art: The Tate Approach- This program studies the intellectual and artistic issues connected with the display of art. The movie explores these  issues through the Tate Modern Art Museum. The video illustrates how Tate curators developed a new method utilizes theme-based museum sections. The movie explores the chronological history of modern art and the museum. The Tate museum has a thematic way of displaying art. It displays are in four sections. Landscape, still-life, history, and the nude are the four themes used in this museum. The idea is that in each section an overarching principle provides a theme. The thematic approach allows curators to pull works from all over. This makes the museum extremely popular because they are a museum for everyone.
 

Bones of Contention: Native American Archaeology-This program spotlights the strain between scientists, historians, museum curators and Native American groups. In examining this debate, the program offers an excellent survey of Native American archaeology in the U.S. One of the main arguments featured in the video is between anthropologists and the native American people . Native American feel that the bones that scientists collected as modern scientific curiosities should be returned to their ancestors.  Scientist feel this would be a terrible loss of information.  Maria explains her fight for the bones of  a Native American who is taken for study after a road construction crew discovers the body.  She believes that the Archeologist are discriminating against Native Americans by only studying their bodies.  On the other hand, Scientists learn a lot about today's health problems by studying the remains of human beings. By study these bones, scientists could benefit future knowledge by studying the past.  In New York a museum has opened to honor the American Indian. Native Americans were given the tasks to create displays that would "write history right". The Native Americans can take control of what is said about them through this museum.

George Eastman House: Picture Perfect- This program explores the Eastman’s colonial revival mansion in Rochester, New York. This museum is now the oldest photography museum in the world. George Eastman is credited for creating the first affordable camera and became known as the father of popular photography. This museum, established at his home, hold 14,000 amateur and professional photographers. It is also on e of the world' premiere motion picture achieves.  The collection includes all types of photographs from obscure to fine art. George Eastman's main goal was to make photography accessible to everyone. He founded the Eastman Kodak Company and his "Brownie" camera revolutionized photography. He also created a film stock that became the film industry standard.  The George Eastman house offers a variety of means to access collections that celebrate the art, technology, and impact of photography and film.

2. Do the videos relate to the creation of your Art Exhibition project? If yes, explain how. If no, explain why not. These videos actually helped me to get an idea for my exhibition. I don't really see how the first video related to the creation of my exhibition but the video on the Tate museum really helped. It helped me to understand what makes a successful exhibition. The exhibition must have a theme that appeals to a wide range of people so that you can get many viewers into to see the art and introduce them to pieces of art they would have never had the opportunity to view and discuss. Exhibitions are about expressing a theme through visual explanations and I really wanted to create exhibition that can express the theme of emotions, particularly rage to a wide range of people.

3. What is your opinion of the films? Do they add depth to understanding of the art concepts you practiced while creating your curation project? The films helped me to focus on the foundation of the project. The four videos introduced to me to a variety of exhibitions. Some museums have many exhibitions and other museums focus on one theme so they are technically one exhibition. The exhibition can  focus on a theme, such a landscape, or a media, such a George' Eastman photography museum.  The videos added depth to my understanding by introducing me to the variety that lies behind the word Exhibition.

Modern and Postmodern video review

1. Explain why you selected each of the TWO videos you choose from the selection listed above. The first video I was immediately drawn to was the video on Pop Art. I really like Andy Warhol work and I also think it's pretty amazing that some of his pieces are here in Buffalo. I wanted to learn more about other artist of the 50's and 60's and see if I liked their art just as much. I picked Uncertainty: Modernity and Art because I don't really understand all modern art, I don't think most people do. I was interested in the title and had hopes that the video would provide an explanation behind modern art and provide a gateway to the world of Modern art.

2. For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned.

Abstract Expressionism and Pop: Art of the '50s and '60s- This movie is about abstract expressionism. Abstract Expressionism was born from a fusion of  American art and European avant-garde art, but was later discarded for its nonfigurative and apparently egocentric character in favor of the phenomenon known as Pop Art. The video explores Abstract Expressionism and Pop Art through various artist and their work in this time period.  Frankenthaler's work changes the way a viewer looks at a picture. His work is both feminine and magical. Abstract paintings works in the real space. Viewer travel toward the painting as it comes to meet us half way. The painting literally absorbs the viewer and invokes and immediate response.  Jasper John's "Flag"  makes a ordinary subject visually seductive. He uses drips and layers to make the viewer move have a personal experience with his art.  Andy Warhol became known in the 1960's for his pop art work. He became an icon of the 60s and paved the way for other pop artists.

Uncertainty: Modernity and Art-  This video explains that  20th century modern art communicates  confusion, nervousness, and above all, uncertainty. In this movie, the works of Pablo Picasso  are contrasted with the abstracts of Paul Klee and Piet Mondrian and the architecture of Le Corbusier. The movie starts with an explanation of Man and the idealized version of one's self and how modern art is the contemporary society's version of Greek idealized statues. Modern art documents the transformation of mankind. The industrial revolution was a large chain in mankind. It took separate mankind from nature and associated it with the machine. The movie explains that modern art says there is no single code for living and that uncertainty is the foundation of modern art. Modern art keeps responding to modern life, which is why it's constantly changing. The movie also explains how the Nazis tried to eliminate modern art’s uncertainties with some devastating certainties of their own. Nazi took away modern art because in the Nazi Regime, uncertainty did not exist.  Mark Rothko is an artist who is feature in this film. His painting has a "looming void". The painting drags you back to something ancient, something angry.  Art for Rothko is a trial. His morality sums up Modern art and its mystery.  Finally, the movie shows how modern art’s relationship with modern life changed. This started with the rise of Abstract Expressionism and continued with the excitement of  Pop Art.

 2. How do the videos relate to the readings in the text?

These videos expanded on the final chapter of the book and really brought the course to a close. The movie about modern art brought the art world full circle for me. It explained the reason why modern art exist and why art has moved on from the idealist statues of Greek and Roman times. I thought this was really interesting and I felt like this movie served as a connector for the whole textbook.

3. 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 interesting and did add depth to the understanding of the readings I did. They add depth by providing examples and exploring certain works from artist. Although we learn about Andy Warhol in the book, the movie has more time to explore him as a person and explain his paintings through a personal view.

The Modern World Video Review

1. Explain why you selected each of the TWO videos you choose from the selection listed above.
I selected the videos on expressionism and cubism because I connected to these movements in the text. Also, through my art history classes I have learned a lot about 19th century early art and wanted to gain more knowledge on the later movements.

2. For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned.
 EXPRESSIONISM-, Expressionism was the art movement that followed Fauvism. It  emphasized color's emotional properties and was not concern with the formal and structural composition of color. This program examines a couple of art works from this movement. Some of these artworks include:  Edward Munch's Ashes, Osloo Franz Marc's The Tiger, Max Beckmann's, and Georg Baselitz's The Great Friends. Edward Munch was an artist that created imagery that steer away from norms of content and style. The painting "Ashes" foundation is based upon the theme of sexuality and the problematic relationship between men and women. The man and women picture in the painting are supposed to represent Adam and Eve. The movie also examines Munch' "The Scream". Franz Marc's "The Tiger" was painted as a protest against the conventional art in Germany. This painting shows simplification of form and color. This painting also starts to show the influence of cubism in expressionism. The heightened sense of realism and sentiment definitely leans towards cubism. The movie also does a segment on Anselm Kiefer and his painting "Interior".


THE IMPACT OF CUBISM-  This movie exams various pieces of cubism work. Cubism was one of the most significant styles of the early 20th century and offered artists a nonclassical way to represent form and space. The first work the movie exams is Juan Gris' "The Breakfast Table" This work combines abstract and realism. The artist uses layer and collage to make this piece. The work's in the movie all have a common thread. They are created using nontraditional ideas of art. Robert Delaunay explores the laws of light and color in a very abstract approach in his work "Circular Forms". He uses color as the subject of the painting, rather than an element. The colors direct the viewers perception of the picture. The idea behind Cubism is that it is supposed to create powerful moods and settings to reveal the personal values of the artists.

2. How do the videos relate to the readings in the text?
The videos explain the movements just as the book do, but provide examples that helped me understand how the movement played out. The many works both video used to show Expressionism and Cubism at their finest helped me to understand the reason behind the movements.
3. 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 interesting. They provided a lot of examples and help me to get to know many new artists. I felt well-versed after completing the videos and feel I have a very good understanding of these specific ideas of art. These videos were a little more dull then other ones because you don't get to meet a particular artists, it's more like being in an art gallery with a tape player. Although informative, it can get slightly monotonous.

African Mask

 

This mask is called The Nimba mask and is one of the most massive used in Sub-Saharan Africa. It symbolizes fertility.  I chose this mask because I enjoyed it's emphasis on femininity and power. What I thought is interesting is that it doesn't scream feminine. It very rigid and made of wood, which seems more manly then anything.  It portrays the Baga vision of woman in her most powerful, beautiful, and socially impressive form. Where most people would assume that a fertility mask would portray very large breast, this mask is opposite.The flatness of her breast is supposed to symbolize show that she has nurtured many children.  From the description I learned that  Nimba appears annually at the time of planting and harvesting rice.This makes sense because farming and harvesting is often associated with fertility. In Africa,  Strong men compete for the honor of wearing the wooden headdress. The men in headress dance to the beat of drums as the women  sing and throw rice.This mask embodies texture and space to help the goddess of fertility come to life.

This is a Chinese opera mask and was used for performances of opera in Beijing.  The mask is created used the elements of line, color and space. It also uses the principles of unity and balance. I chose this mask because I really was drawn to the look of it. It seems to embody some anger and force. The colors and lines of the mask grab the viewers attention.
 
This is a Brazilian mask that resembles a parrot. Most likely this mask was created for the famous Brazilian carnival. The famous Brazilian Carnival celebration actually did not start in Brazil. Carnivals began in Europe when the Roman Catholic Church attempted to ban all pagan rituals. Yet,  the church failed to expel all of them. They didn't banish the wild spring celebration Europeans immigrating to Brazil in 15th century brought with them. It involved wearing masks, throwing parties, and dancing in the streets. Carnival temporarily suspends most rules of law and society. The emphasis  of this carnival was pranking, and wearing masks allowed celebrators to do it anonymously. This is why the masks of brazil are much more light-hearted. The parrot mask is not met to channel any Brazilian gods, just to hid the face of a jester! I like this mask because of the story behind it and because of the bright colors. When I think of Brazil I think of bright colors and exotic birds. This mask uses the elements of space, color to embody the essence of the parrot.The parrot is also composed with the principle of balance and symmetry in mind. 




I really liked the Brazilian tradition of masks the best so I decided to make a sultry peacock masks. Rather then represent the childish side of carnivals I wanted to represent the sultriness of the night. The [peacock is supposed to represent the flirtatious nature of a women who is doing something she shouldn't. She let the carnival sweep he away and now she is wearing the mask to hide her true identity. She is able to act on all her inhibitions because no one knows her true identity. 


This is my original sketch: 

 


As my design started to unfold it began to loose it's peacock form and started to look more like an imagnative bird but kept it's feminine foundation.  I tried to keep the eyes very sultry and the feathers very curvy and womanly. Here is my finished mask:

MOVIE REVIEW

1. Explain why you selected each of the FOUR videos you choose from the selection listed above. This week I chose the movies I viewed based on interest. I chose to watch African Art because I am very fascinated in African culture and wanted to know more about the art and the rituals behind it.  I watched the movies on Buddhism and Hinduism because I wanted to advance my knowledge about different religions. I try to incorporate Buddhist ideas into my everyday life and I don’t know much about the Hindu religion so I thought these movies would help me understand the two religions better. Finally, I chose The Great Wave (Japanese Art) because the title caught my eye and I wanted to see what it was about.

2. For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned.

AFRICAN ART- This movie relates African art to the culture of Africa. The movie talks about how the art of Africa is handed down from generations. The art provides an understanding of Africa’s historical aesthetic revolution. The movie was saying that most museums only have African Art from up to 200 years ago because of the delicate and degradable materials that were used. Artistic achievement flourished in the southern countries that developed. The movie ended with a segment on Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe was a power center and the focus of a sophisticated political and economic system. Zimbabwe features many agriculture successes.

BUDDHISM- Using architecture and art, this movie examines the founding of Buddhism in India and its spread to other lands, where it has thrived. The key to Buddhism is “tanha” which is the extinguishing of all desires and all things that nourish the ego and hamper enlightenment. The movie traces the split of Buddhism into two groups known as “hinayana” and “mahanyana”. Also the movie talks about Sanchi, which is a center of Buddhist art . This center holds the symbolism that represents Buddhism.  The Mahabodhi Temple, in Bodh Gaya; the Great Stupa at Sanchi, India; the Borobudur Temple—the biggest Buddhist shrine in the world—in Indonesia; and the Chuang Yen Monastery in New York State, with its 37-foot-tall marble statue of The Enlightened One surrounded by 10,000 smaller statues, are featured in this movie.

HINDUISM- The movie provides insight into the practice of Hunduism also through the art and architecture of India. Hinduism teaches that there are many ways to get to Brahma and many gods represent these ways. Hinduism carries within it a profound sense of spiritual in the commonplace and everyday. The movie highlights carved-stone shrines such as the Krishna Mandapan, the ancient Shore Temple, and the Kandria Mahadev Temple. The movie highlights the god and goddesses of Hinduism and their function. Hindu architecture is abundant with decorative sculpture of many gods. The movie primarily focuses on the river Ganges, which is a symbol of life, death, and rebirth. This river provides a site for prayer and guidance and is a symbol of the great love of nature.

THE GREAT WAVE- the movie main focus is on Hokusai’s The Great Wave. The movie gives insight into the live and times of Hokusai. Hokusai started out as an apprentice to a artist and became a print designer. It is a temple that he was living it that is where “The Great Wave” was created. This painting is seen as a symbol of implacable Nature to Americans but to Happiness the image is about courage and perseverance. The main question is if the picture is about internal struggle or literally about nature. “The Great Wave” is become a phenomenon and has influenced many artists.

2. How do the videos relate to the readings in the text? These videos expand on what I have learned form reading the chapters. They provide an insight into the specific cultures we have studied. I particularly liked the movie on Buddhism because the book didn’t focus on the ideas behind the religion, just more about the art (obviously). I thought the movie was educational and inspiring. I also like The Great Wave because I have seen that print so many times but never new the true story behind it. I also think it’s fascinating that Japanese and Americans have two totally different ideas about the meaning behind this Great Wave.

3. What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to understanding of the readings and art concepts? I thought these films were some of the more interesting films we have been assigned. I thought they provided good information in a decent amount of time. Sometimes if the movies are too long I’ll loose interest and starting skipping around the film. These were perfect lengths that held my attention. I though they added a lot of depth to the readings. I actually think if I watched these first I would have had a better understanding of the text and maybe a better response to it. I believe a visual enhances the learning experience and provides a firm foundation for increased learning.