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Week 15 Response

Is censorship in art/entertainment required? Why or why not?

Yes, I do believe there should be censorship in art/entertainment. I believe this because whether it is intended for adult content only, there is still a high chance that a younger than intended audience could come across this explicit material. The article had mentioned how an owner of a record company was charged for selling obscene rap music. I believe all material should still be censored because some artists put some very disturbing, obscene lyrics/images in their art. Rap music for one is full of obscenities, and constantly are belittling women. To actually listen to rap lyrics is quite disturbing if you ask me because they gloat about drug use, using sex against women, and even committing other heinous acts.

Do you think ideas and concepts by artists can be dangerous? How?

Yes, I do think ideas and concepts by artists can be dangerous, especially in the hands of a younger person whose mind is easier to corrupt. As I mentioned above, there are so many lyrics to songs that are seriously disturbing, and if an artist is extremely popular among a younger crowd, they could look at these lyrics as being instructions to commit these acts. I find it interesting that metal music is always linked to cults acting out on heinous crimes, but rap music lyric has even more disturbing lyrics.

Where should the line be drawn with censorship?

I understand that artists should be able to express themselves, but I don’t see how expressing forms of sexual behavior or acts of violence as something that should be considered art. Especially when the artists is telling people drugs are fun, etc. I do believe there needs to be guidelines when it comes to letting media publish specific art.

The image I chose for this week’s blog, is the “La Maja Desnuda”. “La Maja Desnuda” translates into English as “the naked mistress” or “the nude mistress.” As the name suggests, the subject of the painting is a naked female. The painting was created between 1797–1800, by the Spanish artist Francisco Goya. The painting portrays a nude woman, reclining on a bed of pillows. Many people believe Manuel de Godoy purchased this painting because he was known to have a private collection of other nude paintings.

The painting is larger in size, measuring 38 by 75 inches. The painting was acquired by the Museo del Prado in Madrid in 1910, and is still there to this day, on display. The woman in the painting has her two arms are raised, with her hands behind her head. She has a vibe that she is relaxed, but also being seductive at the same time. Her rosy cheeks give her an angelic look, but her slight grin of a smile gives her a seductive look at the same time. One thing that interested many people in regards to this painting is that the woman’s pubic hair was shown. In most western classical paintings during this time, the pubic hair was not to be shown. The focus on the woman is significant because the background around her is completely dark, almost black, making her the eye focus.

The first person to have owned the painting was Manuel de Godoy. Many believed that this painting was one of his mistresses, and that he had a secret room within his chambers of other nude paintings of women. He was known to have loved the company of many beautiful women. Many people believed the painting to be inappropriate. An interesting fact about this painting is that the artist created another painting that looked identical to the “La Maja Desnuda”, but the woman was fully clothed in the newer version. The newer version was known as “La Maja Vestida”.

What I enjoyed personally about this painting is how much beauty standards have changed over the years. The media portrays a beautiful, seductive woman as a slender woman, with larger breasts, and no imperfections. This woman clearly is naturally beautiful, and Francisco Goya did an excellent job capturing every detail about this woman. This woman has no makeup on, nor does she have a flat stomach. This woman looks as if she is comfortable with her body, and even looks proud to be posing for the artist. I think natural beauty has faded with today’s society, and so many people are focused on making the images of themselves completely flawless. Nobody appreciates the beauty of the human body anymore, and only focus on superficial aspects of the body. This painting, to me, shows that women’s bodies were more appreciated in earlier times, and that every woman’s body was considered beautiful. Nudity during this time was controversial, and in today’s society, nudity is used to market products. It is just eye opening to see how different things were many years ago, and how different the term beauty has changed.

Blog Post - Week 11

What are your initial impressions of Ai Weiwei's work?

One of the men in the video stated that, “Al Weiwei is not just an artist, but rather he uses his art as a method to express his views and quest for what he seeks.” I thought this was a wonderful way to express a first impression of Ai Weiwei’s work because he uses many unique approaches in his art pieces. He is definitely very skilled and creative when it comes to his art pieces, and I love how much thought each piece makes a person do. The materials he chooses is a very classical, but also a modernist technique. One of his works in Shanghai, the title of his art piece really caught my attention of his “Study of Perspective” pieces. They were definitely more vulgar than some of his other pieces, and the emotions surrounding these pieces was definitely more of a angered/tired of dealing with the nonsense attitude. It had seemed in each of these photos, he was giving the bird to some form of government facility. In one of the pictures, the White House is displayed, and in front of the White House is Weiwei giving it the finger. I feel he believes that all governments are corrupt and that they go against human rights, and cause many injustices to people around the world. I can see where his anger and frustration does come from because governments have been known to be more corrupt than not. I feel he is only displaying his emotions and thoughts through his artwork.

In your own words, does it constitute as "art", "activism", or both? Why?

I believe what Ai Weiwei does constitutes as both art and activism because not only can he create a beautiful piece of art, but he also gets a message out to his audience about certain events occurring around them. In one part in the video, where the Chinese government wanted to dispose of all the Han Dynasty Urns because it represented an old society that new China wanted to leave it behind. Weiwei was able to capture him dropping the Han Dynasty Urn to not only show how ridiculous it was that the government wanted to destroy history, but he also captured the eyes of many in a creative way. He was able to capture not only a form of activism, but also to capture a piece of art. His tribute piece to all of the children that had lost their lives showed a form of activism because the Chinese government was serving only injustice in their deaths.

In what ways do you see his work as fine art? Or, in what ways is it not?

I believe his drive to share his thoughts helps him create pieces of fine art. He has been committed to human rights, and when there was a earthquake catastrophe, he used his art to capture the emotions that were occurring. He has always created emotional pieces that pays respect to tragedies. His work has been controversial at times too because he created a piece of art that honored the lives of over 235 children who had perished. He created this piece with over 9,000 backpacks, and when the Chinese police saw Weiwei’s art memorial, they did not react kindly. Weiwei was beaten by the Chinese police, and ended up being admitted to the hospital. The Chinese police said he was trying to interrupt the investigation that was ongoing. Many people began to protest how Weiwei was treated because people believed he was standing up for injustice.

The narrative behind Ai Weiwei's work involves government intervention and introduces concepts regarding individual freedom. Do you think this kind of messaging is necessary today, or does it ultimately hinder humanity?

I do believe this messaging is necessary in today’s world because there are many injustices that occur, and justice should be served. Ai Weiwei was making a stand for the Chinese people because he knew that many human rights were being violated. He believed that people needed to be treated equally, and that justice needed to be fair and carried out to everyone. Due to his art practices, he has created a large group of influences that stand behind him.

Caravaggio's painting, “Martha and Mary”, is dated around 1598, made in Italy, and of oil canvas. This type of art was typical of the geographical location, and from the artist. The composition of the painting shows the sisters Martha and Mary, from the New Testament. Martha is trying to convert Mary from her life of pleasure, to a life of Christ. The painting shows Martha with a blossom between her fingers, arguing with Mary. The mirror symbolizes the vanity that Martha is claiming to give up. The main focal point of the painting is in Mary’s face.

In this painting, there is a wooden table that sits in front of the two sisters, and on this table, there are a series of objects. One object that stands out the most is the mirror. It reflects the Magdalen's hand and a rectangular window, to which reflection her middle finger points. The other two objects are an ivory comb and a dish with a sponge. Mary wears red, the color of the Magdalen, and a dress very similar to some of Caravaggio other paintings that are also popular pieces. The interpretation of the painting shows the Christian faith.

I believe this painting to draw curiosity because you wonder what is going through these two women’s heads. The one woman looks so sincere and firm, while the other looks like she is unsure of the decision she is about to make. One thing that really caught my eye was the mirror in the painting. I instantly thought of vanity right away because it had seemed as if the one woman was looking at herself in the mirror for the last time. There were a lot of details in this painting that I found very interesting, and made you feel the intensity of the painting. Martha is twirling a white flower between her fingers, and to me, it makes it seem as if she is nervous or unsure about making a decision. It is a beautiful piece.

This art piece has a Northern Renaissance approach, and has three panels, all measuring over four meters in length. Bosch attempted to depict the whole human experience from life to afterlife in three related canvases. The first on the left is meant to represent Paradise; the last on the right is hell, and in the center lies The Garden of Earthly Delights. When closed, it shows a monochrome painting of the creation of the world, with God looking down on a flat landscape sealed inside a giant bubble.

The two panels I enjoyed the most were the one to the left and the center. I was not a fan of the panel to the right as it was more dark and dreary than the other two.

I believe the image on the left depicts how life all started, which was with Adam and Eve. They were the first two to be known to have started human life, and the center shows how humans live their lives. I believe the center shows war, love, life, etc. The center piece has many interesting portrayals of human life. I felt in the top of the center panel, it showed people fighting amongst each other, and this is why I believed it was showing that in life, comes a time of war. Further down, it had looked like people were engaging in sexual acts, and I believed that this was depicting not only a romantic action, but also the pleasures of life. There were also people with children in this panel, which made me feel it was representing the reproduction of children, representing life. Lastly, the panel to the right shows the vision of afterlife. Many portray the afterlife of being a dark place of chaos. I do not agree with the last panel as I believe heaven is far from the last panel. To me, I felt it represented a hell more than anything. I felt this last panel was very chaotic and dark, and that the people did not look as comfortable or happy.

lutesm-blog

Week 4

What Power does art hold in this confrontation?

I feel some of the most amazing pieces of art have been created in what is considered the darkest times. Artists, as some would say, are mentally different, by saying that the artist finds a sense of hope in the chaos/ turmoil around them. Art is meant to have a meaning, As stated in the article “most meaningful and relevant creative expression are living on the streets, rather than inside perfect white cubes insulated from the real world.” When fighting for something you believe in and fight for that you are willing to die then what stops you from saying what’s on your mind, or creating what you feel words are lacking. They are making things that stand for what they want what they are fighting for from the “graffiti, songs, signs, mems, Stonehenge-looking roadblocks, and even performative protests.” all these acts of art represents what their “ demands, dreams, hopes, and fears.” are and is that not what art is about?

craftyrockermom

I really enjoyed reading your blog this week, and agree completely with what you stated. I agree that art is meant to have meaning behind it, and that people use art as a sign of release of emotional despair. It is during the hardest, and darkest times of our lives, that I feel many artists release all of that in their artwork. I believe that when there is turmoil, the artwork kind of speaks for itself for what is occurring around them. Artwork is definitely a way for artists to express any emotional pain or to even get a point across from their piece of work. Great post!

In the article, Abby Chen is quoted "This is about being human...," in reference to her belief that some of the finest art will be produced in the wake of this turmoil. To me, I believe that she stated this because creating pieces of artwork come from a very emotional part of the artist. Art has always been viewed as a way to release emotional stress or despair, and some find this to be a sign of release of all of these emotions. If people are going through a lot of hardships and despair, they may find a way to help them cope with this emotional time. By the use of artwork, people are able to release all of that pain and suffering into a piece of artwork. Her statement, “But these traumatic experiences have opened my eyes to humanity in a new and deeper way, which has inevitably informed the way I cover my own beat and helped me to reflect on the true meaning of art,” really stood out to me because she is stating the realism in the meaning of art.

I believe through all of this despair, people are going to share these hardships and moments of pain throughout their creations of artwork. Chen stated that she realized after this, that creativity does not live in perfect little bubbles, but on the streets where people show the true meaning of humanity. She stated this is where people are living life, going through hardships, suffering. She stated this is what drives a person to create a piece of artwork that will stand out amongst the others. I believe this to be very true because people use the development of art to help with emotional despair.

The Northern European Renaissance began around 1430 when artist Jan van Eyck began to use similar techniques that the Italian Renaissance used. Some of the techniques van Eyck used were linear perspective, naturalistic, and a realistic approach for his pieces of work. The Northern Renaissance also wanted to express the importance of humanism and it’s values. Some other pieces of artwork that were well known during this time were paintings on wooden panels or other forms of printmaking.

There were many famous artists who helped make the Northern Renaissance important, and one of those artists were Jan van Eyck. Jan van Eyck was very important during this Renaissance because he helped create a new way of art form. Van Eyck helped in the technique of the oil-glaze. This was very important because many of the artists were using a much different technique previously before van Eyck started to use his oil glaze technique.

Jan van Eyck is known for many of his pieces of artwork, but one of his most famous is called the Arnolfini Wedding. Another one he is famously known for is the "Adoration of the Lamb," which was created in 1432. Van Eyck’s brother also helped created this piece of artwork, but little artwork is known from his brother. Both of these pieces of artwork done in an oil painting technique. Jan van Eyck has been known as the “father of oil paintings”.

The painting I chose was the, “Adoration of the Lamb” which was created in 1432. I choose this painting because it was one of van Eyck’s paintings that he was known most for. This painting was created by using Northern European Renaissance style by using wooden panels, held by glue, as the canvas. Van Eyck then created the painting by using layers of oil paintings. The eighteen pieces of wood paneling this painting was created on was made of solid oak, causing it to weigh a significant amount of weight. He was able to use balance and contrast with his technique of oil painting, but the painting still holds more or a darker hue. He captures the city of Ghent, in which some of the pillars/towers are still standing today. The lamb is surrounded by angels, and the animal shows signs of injuries. Many believe this could be a sign and remembrance of Christ’s sacrifice. The fountain is the main center point of the painting, and many believe it to be signifying life itself. The amount of detail in this painting is breathtaking. Van Eyck painted all of his pieces of artwork with such realism and detail. He wanted to ensure that his paintings provided the importance of humanism, realism, but also Christianity.

http://www.jan-van-eyck.com/adoration-of-the-lamb/

The Renaissance played a very important role in changing the development of human roles. Some major developments of the Renaissance include astronomy, humanist philosophy, the printing press, painting and sculpture techniques, exploration of the entire world in the late Renaissance, and even some of Shakespeare's works.

During the Renaissance, art was more than just being a beautiful piece to look at. Art had played a very important role during this time. There was a new intellectual approach when it came to developing pieces of art. During this time, perspective was developed and further studied, light and shadow became important, and the human anatomy became more realistic in pieces of art. Artists wanted to study these more closely to be able to capture the realism of the world, but to also capture the beauty of it all. Artists were not the only one that continued to make a new mark during this time. Astronomers, such as Galileo continued to study the solar system, and concluded that the Earth did indeed revolve around the sun. Men, such as Columbus continued to explore the world, creating new territories for people to make a new beginning.

The use of the internet has impacted how the world is changing and growing today. One company that continues to change how our society grows, by allowing its consumers to make same day purchases on the internet, is Amazon. They are continuing to be competitive against other companies, and are constantly coming up with new inventions and services to keep its customers purchasing new items with the single click of a button. When the internet first came out, and we were able to online shop, shipping took days. Now, with the use of Amazon and other mail delivery services, people can receive a package within hours with the use of a droid. I think Amazon’s technology will continue to progress, and eventually smaller companies will go out of business due to consumers no longer purchasing from them. Amazon is aware that convenience is key to be a successful business because families are constantly on the move. In today’s society, both parents are working full-time jobs, while trying to balance their home life too. Convenience is what a lot of busy people are looking for, and are willing to pay the money to save them some time. Amazon also has made inventions such as the Alexa device to help consumers shop with voice activation, and the Alexa device can do so much more for its consumer. I think technology alone will begin to overtake many things in our society, and eventually everything will be ran by technology.

I remember as a child, when we were in school, we studied by reading from a hard copy text book. Now that my son is in school, everything seems to be taught online, and with the use of an electronic device. Everything is done with the use of technology. I remember taking tests with a piece of paper and pencil, now tests are being completed on a computer or a tablet of some sort. It is a very different world we are living in compared to what it was when I was in high school, which was about 12 years ago. I believe we will continue to see technology with more and more, and eventually everything will be based off of technology.

I believe technology will continue to change our society due to its extreme growth and development. I do fear that people will be out of jobs because their jobs will be replaced with the use of technologies/robotics. You hear of doctors using robotics to perform surgeries on their patients, and it continues to become more popular in the medical field. I do believe technology has benefited our society, but I do feel it can be a threat to some situations. Technology has made life more convenient, but it can also cause problems too.

Reference: https://www.theverge.com/2018/10/23/17970466/amazon-prime-shopping-behavior-streaming-alexa-minimum-wage

Van Gogh has always been one of my favorite artists as early as I can remember. I have always loved that his artwork shows texture because it makes the piece stand out more. One of my favorites is Starry Nights.

My little Harley dog! :)

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