Saturday
I do not remember if we went over him too intensively in class, but I have heard of Vik Muniz outside of class or well before this class. He creates these beautiful pieces of art from essentially a "pun on words". His most famous piece Clown Skull is a human skull which he put a clown nose on. I really did not like this piece, but it most know pieces. His piece that is my favorite is Sugar Children, which was photography exhibition in the MoMa in 1993.
Eyes Closed,
As I sit here I here the footsteps from above. This noise is not a peaceful noise, it is aggravated and annoying. It makes me feel distressed and uncomfortable knowing that there is someone living above me and I can hear all of their movements.
My roommate speak in a beautiful foreign language, russian. She just speaks it so fluently and freely, it makes me warm inside.
Lolas feet tapping to the beat of Matt and Kim.
Doors shutting around me.
Last but not least, the humm/buzz coming from the dying light bulb.
Once I open my eyes, I realize what I miss without sight. If I did not know Lola was sitting there I would not know who's feet were tapping, or who was playing Matt and Kim. I feel like people do know appreciate sight as much as they should, it is such a beautiful thing.
My roommate speak in a beautiful foreign language, russian. She just speaks it so fluently and freely, it makes me warm inside.
Lolas feet tapping to the beat of Matt and Kim.
Doors shutting around me.
Last but not least, the humm/buzz coming from the dying light bulb.
Once I open my eyes, I realize what I miss without sight. If I did not know Lola was sitting there I would not know who's feet were tapping, or who was playing Matt and Kim. I feel like people do know appreciate sight as much as they should, it is such a beautiful thing.
First Memory,
My first memory was my house in Woodstock. The freedom of the lake, the vastness of the yard, the peacefulness of the house. It was just so beautiful. I wish all of my memories still were as warm and "fuzzy" as this one. But they are not, and that is where a lot of the distress comes from in my art work. A lot of anger and despair. Even though my first memory was a beautiful, warm, memory a lot of my childhood memories and pre-teen memories are not.
I think those memories have more of an impact on my art than my first memory. My first memory usually comes through at the end of a series. The light at the end of the tunnel kind of thing.
I think those memories have more of an impact on my art than my first memory. My first memory usually comes through at the end of a series. The light at the end of the tunnel kind of thing.
The Yes Men,
I thought this was a very interesting movie. Seeing it again, really allowed me to catch other details I had missed before. I think what they are doing is really amazing, but it will get old fast. The last part of the movie is my favorite part, the reaction to the newspaper always gets to me. It just so so peaceful that people would actually want this change. Government today is always talking about the people are not willing to accept change and go forth with it. But this really showed the viewers that they were, they are for change and think it is a brilliant idea to do it. Especially, the war in Iraq, I feel that topic had the biggest response. That is something that will never be forgotten, because it is a war that did not need to be fought.
Another part that still gets be is the explosion in India and how the plant still has not been cleaned up. If this was America, it would have been cleaned up within the that week. Well not really, but you get the point. Since it is not America, India does not matter, it is just a third world country right? Gosh, this just drives me insane! India still has families that are still being harmed by these chemicals. Children are being born with illness' and missing limbs.
Seriously, when will America learn, or for that the whole world. We are just driving ourselves into a ditch.
Another part that still gets be is the explosion in India and how the plant still has not been cleaned up. If this was America, it would have been cleaned up within the that week. Well not really, but you get the point. Since it is not America, India does not matter, it is just a third world country right? Gosh, this just drives me insane! India still has families that are still being harmed by these chemicals. Children are being born with illness' and missing limbs.
Seriously, when will America learn, or for that the whole world. We are just driving ourselves into a ditch.
Tuesday
Helvetica.
I really enjoyed this move, even though I have already seen it about three to four times prior. Each time I watch Helvetica I catch little parts of the movie I missed before. The first time I saw Helvetica was about a year, maybe a year-and-a-half ago, and I was so astonished by how commonly used the font is. My questioning to it, was would anyone use a font so common? Wouldn't they what their business to have a font/logo to stick out from all the rest? I just find it really puzzling in that matter. But after seeing the movie, I am more aware of the different fonts and characters used in logos. I think logos really make the business, a logo that really sticks out to me are ones done in a handwritten type style. Some thing that is clean cut and very elegant. But, I still think we need Helvetica, a straight forward uniform font.
Saturday
Decasia - The State of Decay
I am completely in love with Decasia by Bill Morrision. The movie has great movement and flow. I feel Morrison is breaking new ground with using ruined film. I have never heard of someone using old decaying film reels to create films, only people printing old ruined photography film. I had the chance to meet Morrison on Thursday, September 30th, and upon that visit he informed me that when he was making Decasia all of the music was made before the movie was even made. Morrision chose all the scenes in Decasia to fit perfectly to the composed music. Once I found that aspect out, I was more than impressed. Bill Morrison really created a successful film, and I cannot wait to he releases more films like this.
Friday
The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction The Art History Archive - Modern Art 1-7 to 11-13
Art is now limited. Yes, now we can create art with every material our minds can imagine. Basically if the artist can imagine it, the artist can now create it. But art is stuck between the art work and what is recognized as art.
Walter Benjamin states that each piece of art has an "'aura'". It "withers in the age of mechanical reproduction is the aura of the work of art." Originally art was replicated solely as a practice. Until I read this article I never thought of stamping and lithography as a form of replication. But Benjamin put that idea into my head and it really did make sense. Even photographs and film are replicas of other pieces of art. Pictures of art and videos of art. Art is not just on paper, it also involves architecture and layouts of cities. Everything is art in one way or another.
Each original piece of artwork, means that one thing from the time and place it was created.
Tradition is another topic in this article. Tradition varies from culture to culture, place to place, and person to person. In the article Benjamin stated that it changes throughout history or it is "extremely changeable." I completely agree with Benjamin's statement that it is extremely changeable. Just thinking back to the way people would dress. Women had to basically be covered from head to toe, and now-a-days if anyone is covered from head to toe, they are almost considered an outsider.
"Mechanical reproduction of art changes the reaction of the masses toward art." Art is a visual and emotional enjoyment. It is made from a connection and a reaction from the viewer. Benjamin explains that in his piece "the greater the decrease in the social significance of an art form, the sharper the distinction between criticism and enjoyment by the public." He was making a significant effort to make a point to there will always be a connection between the enjoyment and the criticism in the piece. I do not agree that a mechanical reproduction of an image is an actual piece of art, the new artist is just stealing what the past artist created.
In general, this article was very interesting and had some many key points. But it was hard for me to draw solid conclusions to what Benjamin was saying, he was confusing at some points. Some of my connections to his points were kind of interpretations to what he was saying and not oh yes I completely understand what he was saying.
Article:
http://www.lilithgallery.com/arthistory/modern/The-Work-of-Art-in-the-Age-of-Mechanical-Reproduction.html
Walter Benjamin states that each piece of art has an "'aura'". It "withers in the age of mechanical reproduction is the aura of the work of art." Originally art was replicated solely as a practice. Until I read this article I never thought of stamping and lithography as a form of replication. But Benjamin put that idea into my head and it really did make sense. Even photographs and film are replicas of other pieces of art. Pictures of art and videos of art. Art is not just on paper, it also involves architecture and layouts of cities. Everything is art in one way or another.
Each original piece of artwork, means that one thing from the time and place it was created.
Tradition is another topic in this article. Tradition varies from culture to culture, place to place, and person to person. In the article Benjamin stated that it changes throughout history or it is "extremely changeable." I completely agree with Benjamin's statement that it is extremely changeable. Just thinking back to the way people would dress. Women had to basically be covered from head to toe, and now-a-days if anyone is covered from head to toe, they are almost considered an outsider.
"Mechanical reproduction of art changes the reaction of the masses toward art." Art is a visual and emotional enjoyment. It is made from a connection and a reaction from the viewer. Benjamin explains that in his piece "the greater the decrease in the social significance of an art form, the sharper the distinction between criticism and enjoyment by the public." He was making a significant effort to make a point to there will always be a connection between the enjoyment and the criticism in the piece. I do not agree that a mechanical reproduction of an image is an actual piece of art, the new artist is just stealing what the past artist created.
In general, this article was very interesting and had some many key points. But it was hard for me to draw solid conclusions to what Benjamin was saying, he was confusing at some points. Some of my connections to his points were kind of interpretations to what he was saying and not oh yes I completely understand what he was saying.
Article:
http://www.lilithgallery.com/arthistory/modern/The-Work-of-Art-in-the-Age-of-Mechanical-Reproduction.html
Thursday
Facebook in the real world – amazing case study
This is a really interesting article, but I do not agree with the ways Facebook is integrating itself into society. Eventually everyone is just going to be so depended on text and online activities, no one is going to know how to communicate in person anymore. There is no need to constantly update where the user has been and what they "like". If someone wants to know they can just do the "old fashion way" of just asking them. If Facebook creates this new bracelet thing, people are going to be even more attached (literally) to Facebook than ever.
Facebook is a way to keep in contact with friends that live far away, or back at home when you are away at college. It does not need to be a map of the persons everyday life.
Article:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129298003
Facebook is a way to keep in contact with friends that live far away, or back at home when you are away at college. It does not need to be a map of the persons everyday life.
Article:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129298003