Cinema

<http://aswedetalksmovies.com/2012/04/27/
rewatch-review-no-country-for-old-men-2007/>

In last days class, we discussed cinema as an art form. It is the aesthetic communication through the design of time and 3D space compressed into a 2D image. It is interpretive storytelling--a message through spectacle and sound.
Assignment: It is said that the true art of cinema should not only entertain but should provoke thought and challenge the viewer with new ideas and images, and that this is happening less and less. Many movie directors and critics say that today the entertainment elements in a movie have increased and artistic expression is played down; that film have become products that are marketed - not art . Do you agree with this thought? What was the last movie you saw that challenged you to think about a new idea? What elements of the movie created the challenge for you?
I agree that in the movie making industry, films are now seen as a product for sale rather than an art piece for viewing. They are rarely now a way of expression for the creator, rather they are more of a money making scheme in my opinion. The last movie I saw that I'd say challenged me to think about a new idea was No Country for Old Men. Even though I didn't particularly enjoy this movie, the different camera angles and lighting used were intriguing. I was forced to look at things in new ways, such as seeing a scene through a peek hole. Lighting was also used in a very direct way to inform you who were the good and bad characters, illuminating the good and heavily shadowing the bad. There were many excellent camera shots and much thought put in to the actual filming of each scene. It is evident that every aspect was considered in an artistic way, something I don't normally see nor pay attention to in most movies as this quality is rarely present.

The Art of Writing

<http://lauralavender.wordpress.com/about-pointed-pen-calligraphy/>

In the last class, we discussed the art of writing, more specifically calligraphy to which we even practiced a few styles of. Calligraphy is the art of fine writing, the term originating from the two Greek words meaning "beauty" and "to write". The development of writing has always been a battle between beauty and legibility and between speed and convenience. After discussing several styles of writing, we were left with this topic of discussion:

After viewing the two video links below discuss the aesthetics of each writing style and identify which you like best and why.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEo4xRfYbPg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=Q8lJWGnhyP4
My preference lies with the first of the two listed videos, copperplate lowercase, over the second video's modern calligraphy style. I prefer how free flowing yet precise the first is in comparison to the stiffness shown in the first examples in the second video and the closeness to graffiti that the later examples were. The copperplate lowercase seemed more beautiful and traditional in my opinion, showing a higher level of difficulty to achieve it's precise look. The style suited my tastes more as I have a love for history, rather than the more modern styles that alter the traditional. I also enjoy the flourishes of the copperplate lowercase example and how each letter flows into the next rather than being its own entity through the use of ligators.

Architecture

<http://www.aviewoncities.com/rome/colosseo.htm>

During last days class, we discussed architecture, an art form that can express the highest degree of aesthetic expression. This practical and utilitarian art is more concerned with matters of engineering, bound to technology and material innovations to span space through various construction methods.
Today's assignment: As Frank Lloyd Wright said architecture reflects the soul of a civilization. Select a structure that intrigues you and discuss how the practical needs, values, and aesthetics of the culture and society in which it was created are reflected in the architect's design.
I have chosen the Colosseum, a roman piece of architecture originally called The Flavian Amphitheater, the largest building of the era. Emperor Vespasian, founder of the Flavian Dynasty, started construction of the Colosseum in 72 AD and was completed in 80 AD, the year after Vespasian's death. Emperors would use this structure to entertain the public with free games which were a symbol of prestige and power, and were a way for an emperor to increase his popularity. Games could be held for one or more days in a row, usually starting with comical acts or displays of exotic animals, and ended with fights to the death between animals and gladiators or between gladiators. Fighters were often slaves, prisoners of war or condemned criminals. Sometimes free Romans and even emperors took part in the action. After an earthquake in 847, the structure fell to ruins and parts of the building were later used for the construction of other landmark buildings. This magnificent structure clad in marble and statues served the purpose of uniting the people under the Emperor, daily entertainment and provided work for both those that ran the place and those that built and beautified the structure. The Colosseum was a large representation of Roman art and architecture, a symbol of the Roman Empire and continues to hold a great attraction to people all over the world.

Sculptures

<http://inadvertentlyart.blog
spot.ca/2009/11/donatello
-took-risks.html>

<http://arthistoryoftheday.wordpress.com
/2011/08/13/gianlorenzo-bernini-david-1623/>

During the last Art & Aesthetics class, we discussed sculptures or 3D art. We went over what the dimensionality of sculptures can be, for example free-standing, relief, or linear; and sculpture techniques such as reduction, construction/assembled, and casting. 3D art is a form of art that takes the form of whatever it represents, ranging from non-objective to life-like, and is something that can be less personal and more public. Sculptures can stimulate sense; touch, size, dynamics, color/age, lighting/environment, etc.
The discussion topic for this blog post is: The Renaissance and the age of Baroque has produced many remarkable statues of David. Contrast and compare Donatello's David with Bernini's David with regard to style, technique, the physical attributes of each, and the moment chosen for depiction. In your discussion, indicate how Bernini's version illustrates developments of the Baroque era.
Donatello's David was created between the 1420's and 1460's as a free-standing bronze casting sculpture. Donatello managed to soften David's static balance and firm stance through the relaxed placement of the hands and foot that gently rests on Goliath's head. The skin is highly polished and is set off by the roughness of the boots and hair. The scene depicted is a relaxed David as a boy who has just been engaged in mortal combat and cut off the head of Goliath.
Bernini's David was created in 1623 in marble. Bernini used the dynamic charge of the spiral to construct his David, the feet planted widely apart and the torso twisting. The upper part of the body is shown as being twisted and strained, full of tension as David is ready to release the stone. All of the strain and emotion is shown through the very Biblical depiction of the shepherd boy. The scene depicted is the second before David has released the stone that will slay Goliath, a moment during the combat.
Bernini's version of David illustrates the developments of the Baroque era through its composition in diagonal lines which suggests movement, energy and drama. The Baroque era felt the need to engage a form of sympathy or feeling within the viewer through the art piece, to connect with them. This related to the Church during the time which felt as though it needed to appeal very directly to the faithful.

Photography

During the last days Art & Aesthetics class, we discussed the topic of photography as an art and took at look at its history. We learned about camera obscura, digital photography, and touched on several well known photographic artists. However, the question given out was, "do you think photography is an art? Everyone takes photographs, so are we all artists?"
First off, photography is both an art and a science. Referring to the mechanics of it, its about the way images were made on a photosensitive surface by light that passes through a lens, the chemical changes that occurred in the film so that images were recorded, etc. The artistic aspect is more the photographer's choices; which films, which lens, how to manipulate the lighting, etc. As for the idea of photography as an art, early photographers felt that for photography to be an art it had to look like art. To achieve this, they employed darkroom techniques, tricks and manipulation that created photos that looked staged and imitative of sentimental, moralistic paintings. Photographers eventually began to think that photographic art should be more direct, non manipulated and sharply focused. Throughout history, the perspectives on photography have drastically changed bringing forth several photographic art forms such as photograms, photojournalism, documentary photography, studio photography, etc.
<http://writinghistory.blogspot.ca/2007/12/32-cameras.html>
My personal opinion would be that photography is an art depending on how the photographer wants to use the camera and the photo. I don't believe that a picture taken of something to show off whats in the picture can necessarily be called art. I think that in order to call it art, the photographer has to make decisions in the process of taking the picture rather than just clicking a button. However, without knowing if the picture was planned, it is up to the viewer to decide whether or not it is art. In my opinion, all forms of photography can produce art and theres a certain skill level required with a camera in order to create a piece of art. Not everyone can be considered an artist because they simply pressed a button, that would only insult those that actually take their time to produce artwork using this technology. Even after a course on photography, I would not consider myself to be a photographic artist by any means as there is so much I can learn and do better, but that does not mean that I cannot take a nice picture once in a while.
<http://www.toptenz.net/top-10-pictures-that-shaped-america.php/migrant-mother-famous-photographs-dorothea-lange>

Drawings & Paintings

During the last class we discussed what drawings & painting were; a visual representation of an object or a scene on a flat surface. We briefly went over iconography (picture writing) and style, which is the difference between one picture and another is primarily the technique of execution. Artistic styles were discussed in terms of the different time periods:
-Renaissance (1300-1600AD)
-Baroque (1600-1700 AD)
-Rococo (1700-1750)
-Romanticism (1780-1860)
-Realism (1850-1900)
-Impressionism (1862-1886)
-Post-Impressionism (1880-1905)
-Cubism (1908-1914)
-Surrealism (1920-1940)
-Abstract Expressionism (1946-1955)
-Hard Edge (1958-1970)
-Pop Art (1960-1970)


<http://duckmarx.blogspot.ca/2011/02/art-history-timeline.html>

The goal of this particular post is to discuss an artistic style (time period) that you particularly like and explain what it is that intrigues you about the time period and style. Who is your favorite artist of this time period and why?
I find most interest in the artistic style/time period Romanticism. This style was formed through inspiration from revived interest in medieval tales called romances and nature worship. The subjects were usually that of legends, nature, violence and exotica with the compositional use of diagonals. I find this time period most intriguing because artists attempted to take images and ideas that they had never seen with their own eyes and portray them in a believable and realistic way. The art style resembled that of realism without the painted world being personally experienced and having more unimaginable subjects in the sense they were made through the creativity of the mind rather than the practicality of the eyes.
My favorite artist of this time period would probably be Theodore Gericault simply for his piece "Raft of the Medusa" done in 1819. I love the imagery and emotion shown in this painting, how the pain, suffering and desperation of the men aboard the raft is almost tangible as you look at the work. I also like the way the piece was composed, the use of diagonals and lighting, and how something that Gericault had never seen could be portrayed so realistically.

<http://pictify.com/29900/raft-of-the-medusa-by-theodore-gericault>

Elements & Principles of Design

During the last class, we discussed the elements and principles of design. The six elements that we went over were line, shape, colour, form, texture and space. However, today's topic of discussion more involves the seven principles of design; balance, contrast, movement, emphasis, repetition/pattern/rhythm, proportion and unity.

We have been asked to consider all the various forms of visual art - paintings, drawings, sculpture, architecture, theatre, cinema, photography, dance, etc. and to decide which principle of design thought creates the greatest impact with the viewer and should be incorporated in every artist's work.

I believe that unity is one of the most inportant principles of design when considering all forms of art. With unity, all elements are present and harmonious, needing some visual variety or visual interest. It brings forth the need to tie the various elements of a work of art together, representing a whole or sum of the work's parts. This includes similar colours, shapes, balance and positioning.

I feel unity is the most important principle as it directly involes using the other principles and the elements in a way that works well together, it measures how well each ties in with each other or whether they appear to belong together.

"Unity is a sense of oneness of thing belonging together and making up a coherent whole."

<http://letranhomestudent.blogspot.ca/2010/07/principles-of-design-in-art.html>

What is Art & Aesthetics?

 

(http://artedexperience.blogspot.ca/2012/03/aesthetics.html)

In our last class, we discussed what art actually is by definition, as well as what aesthetics is, to get a general feel of what the course was about and why it was called Art & Aesthetics.
To start off, art has many definitions, anything can be considered art if its viewer believes it to be art in my opinion. However, according to the book ArtBasics, art is physical objects made to be experienced visually and spatially: things drawn, painted, sculpted, crafted, or designed and built. It is intentionally made by human hand and imagined before it was made. Measures of quality are applied to it such as technical skill and craftsmanship, originality and depth of the idea behind the work, a degree to which the finished work satisfies its purpose, and a level of aesthetic achievement. Aesthetics on the other hand is considered the conception of what is beautiful or artistically valid. It is the philosophy of art, one's taste in art or sensibilities regarding things artistically, and it is the experience or response to the perception of an object.
As instructed for this post, I am to select two ideas/concepts/topics that were introduced in class last day and discuss in detail the aesthetics of each item that created the intrigue.
First off, we discussed six theories about the fundamental nature and value of art:
1. Modern Aesthetic Theory
2. Significant Form Theory
3. Significant Form Not As Aesthetics
4. Cultural Theory
5. Relevant Theory
6. Institutional Theory
 The theory here that peeked my interest was Cultural Theory. Perception can make it difficult to understand what is valued in another culture and why. One must know the external factors surrounding the art in order to determine if something is art. Art is the expression of life of the community. (John Dewey) This seemed interesting because unless you are part of that community, you have know way of knowing whether something is a piece of art or has a significant purpose culturally for those people.
We were shown an example of a small statue, Nkisisa, Zaire - Nail Figure 19th Century. (http://www.artsconnected.org/artsnetmn/whatsart/kongo.html) This statue was apparently a record of all the lawful action that took place in the community, each nail was hammered into the statue publicly when law decisions were made. It was not just a small statue made as an art piece but rather a very important object to that community.
The other topic that caught my interest was the discussions about foot binding in China. It was once considered to be very beautiful for a woman to have tiny feet and so at the age of five, mothers would have their daughters feet broken, repositioned and bound so that they remain small for the rest of their lives. It was also a sign of wealth for a man if he could afford a wife that did not have to work or be on her feet all day, it meant he had the wealth to pay others to do the work for them. In my opinion, this is not beautiful however, I am also not part of that culture, which brings back the Cultural Theory. Foot Binding may be something I won't ever understand due to the fact that I was raised in an environment wear such things were unacceptable or cruel.
(http://library.thinkquest.org/J0111742/footbinding.htm)

Welcome!

Welcome to my Art & Aesthetics blog!
Each week I will be posting a reflection upon a topic or question given out during my Art & Aesthetics college course. Enjoy and feel free to add your opinion!!!