Jones provides viewers with his own
Jones provides viewers with his own
On display in the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art are two works painted within about a decade of each other. At first glance, they seem to have little in common other than the fact that they each depict four human beings. One would not expect to be able to draw a meaningful commonality between the two based solely on this, and if the viewers make their observation merely on the surface level of the works, they will not. However, the existence of these two sets of people, the essence of humanity that they embody, is a powerful thing to examine when we observe how each artist arrives at his interpretation of humanity.…
Assessment 3: Annotated Bibliography By Marcel Duchamp ‘Fountain’ E. Kuenzli, Rudolf & M. Naumann, Francis “Marcel Duchamp: Artist of the Century ” Marcel Duchamp’s Fountain: Its History and Aesthetics in the Context of 1917-William A. Camfield (1996): 64-90. William A. Camfield writes about Marcel Duchamp’s ‘Fountain’ as one of the most famous and equally infamous objects in the history of modern art.…
The Holidays are now over and what better way to get back into the swing of things by watching a bad movie. Okay, bad might not be the best term to describe The Brain That Wouldn't Die, as it certainly isn't the worst movie I've witnessed before. Yes, the plot is paper thin and could've easily been trimmed down to a solid 20-minute episode of Twilight Zone or something similar, but overall I enjoyed the movie enough. However, the movie isn't the main reason to pick up Scream Factory's new Blu-ray. No, the reason to pick it up is the Mystery Science Theater 3000 special feature, which goes through the entire movie and is a blast to sit through.…
Considering his arguments, however, it is not so difficult to, at the very least, comprehend the surface of his somewhat radical views on the dangers of the arts. It does not accurately reflect reality, which in turn can create a false image of the truth, spread by the individual who perceives it in that way. He argues that although we do get enjoyment from art, art in excess can change our own behaviours for the worse. In the end, art can only ever depict outward appearances to the ignorant observer, and that, in itself, is very dangerous…
Barefoot, wet, and cold, author Zadie Smith, as recounted in her essay Man vs. Corpse, finds an old collection of Italian paintings bound in a weathered hardcover. Grappling with the ever-familiar urge to explore lives unfamiliar—via social media—on her phone, she forces herself to thumb through the contents. She asserts that her “mind does not easily accept stately historical processions. But Golden Yellows and eggshell blues [...] are the sorts of things [her] mind accepts.” (2) Flipping through the pictures she is enthralled by the colors and lines so brilliantly and thoughtfully finessed upon the page.…
Gianlorenzo Bernini’s David is a historical piece of marble art that shows great emotion and engages the viewers in action. Bernini’s David could possibly be mistaken as a major league pitcher throwing a 95 mile an hour fastball. He gathers all his strength for each one of his pitches and puts all his effort into it. But this specific life size piece of marble sculpture has a different meaning to it. Some may not know exactly, but the emotion in Davids face tells a whole different story.…
1. How do you help you child cope with death? The prognosis of death should be made know to children as soon as it is clear and final (Kavanough, 1972). We know how to trust the dying child kindly. Knowledge is kindness; ignorance is cruelty.…
In her 2006 article “The Trouble with (the Term) Art”, Carolyn Dean argues that the using the word “art” for both past visual expressions (particularly nonwestern) does not quite capture the true definition of what these pieces are. This argument is valid, to consider these works as mere entertainment erases a culture’s true history and identity. Dean has a very strong argument for the analysis and retirement of the term “art”, however the ideas surrounding the concept of “art” explain the larger issue as a whole. Carolyn Dean argues that pinning the recent idea of “art” on nonwestern works does not inform one about the culture, but rather condenses that culture into easily defined novelties.…
It is well known that Western culture and the Western world has endeavored to assert itself over other cultures for many centuries. Beginning with the colonization of groups of people deemed lesser by the standards of white Europeans, who often forced their customs or religion on people they had colonized, Western civilizations continue to push their cultural standards on other parts of the world, especially when it pertains to art. In the essay, “The Trouble with the Term Art”, Carolyn Dean raises questions about the overwhelming western standard of art, and how different cultures have different views of aesthetic beauty. The central argument of Dean’s essay is that the normal definition of art has been skewed to only include the values of Western society.…
Everyone is looking for some form of acceptance, while a select few go as far as wanting reverence. Luckily, there is a convenient tool for achieving either of these pursuits: art. As for fitting in, art can express political or religious interests, which would unite the artist with the cause they represent; however, if the artist wanted to stand out, an expression of the beauty of the World or the individual himself would elevate the artist to a position of individuality. But what does one do when society chooses for the artist which path to take? By looking at his youth, Basquiat’s art can be understood as a means to recollect a fragmented identity, and a pursuit of reverence; however, as will become clear, Basquiat could not escape his heritage, making him the historian - accepted as a nameless piece of the puzzle.…
I was fascinated with Hirst's works and the way how he deals with death issue. People tend to disregard of the inevitable process of dying because of the fear of death, but it still happens all the time. Hirst choose to give aesthetic meaning to animal bodies or skulls. Some people think the way how Hirst made arts is violent, but I don't agree because I think he used the most direct way to present arts, and which is really powerful. I am glad that it becomes a trend to use human skulls on fashion items since it makes me feel that we are able to talk about death issue gradually.…
Julian Schnabel’s 1996 film Basquiat takes a closer look at the brief life of the young, black painter whose meteoric rise in the 1980s art community sparked great debate about the elements that constitute real art and the role of racism in its judgement. Jean-Michel Basquiat’s newfound fame makes the viewer constantly question whether the praise of his work is heartfelt or if it is all a ploy to use him to make more profits. There are several scenes that do an outstanding job of exploring this struggle further and help in breaking down the brilliant mind of an artist skeptical of the acclaim he’s given, as it is unclear whether it is solely for the merits of his work. My favorite scene in the film is when Basquiat is sitting in his apartment…
The concept of gates throughout history details the idea of Heaven and Hell and private quarters while providing evocative imagery for us to contemplate. These works are physical manifestations of grand stories, and social barriers. The enormous size and various interpretations of these works, through religious, social or historical context, create a sense of judgment. It begs the question: who and what is allowed to physically and mentally pass these gates? Still, some objects don’t possess a definitive answer as to what they are judging, such as Emile Robert’s Pair of Gates.1 Considering the modern and historical definitions of gates, the true meaning of the Pair of Gates is judgement of the changing art movements.…
Taking a stylistic approach breeching on a film within a film, The Truman Show explores human life from the perspective of life as art and entertainment. The Truman Show revolves around a man, Truman Burbank, whose life is broadcast worldwide twenty-four hours a day. He has been the star of his own show since he was born but has absolutely no idea that his life is staged and televised. Truman comes to the realization that his life is a lie and leaves his false reality to join the real world (Weir). When human life becomes something to be observed as entertainment, it develops an aura.…
In the art world, there are lots of artists who stand out. These people usually have had a big impact on art culture through cultivating new techniques or just being extremely good at their craft. Some of these people are recognized during their lives, but a good amount of them are rediscovered only a long time after their death. No matter when or how they are discovered, they still hold an important place in art’s long history. Two of these significant people happen to be Vermeer and Caravaggio, two artists who may seem very different, but with further inspection, have much in common.…