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!!!