Riad Afandiyev

[riadafandiyev-blog]

Breaking Bad

Breaking Bad is one of the internationally loved TV Shows. Why? There are a lot of factors such as memorable characters, good plots, slick direction and rewatchability. However main factor why it was so popular and critically acclaimed is its representation of reality in plot. The genre is crime drama/thriller/black comedy. The situations that main characters were in could have happened in reality. The main thing that the plot addresses to viewer is that how a man could change. In this case Walter White who changed from wimpy chemistry teacher to meth cooking kingpin. Its narrative isn’t that long (it is only 62 episodes, which aired its last episode in 2013 ) compared to other TV Shows which doesn’t show any sign of stopping. There isn’t that usual process of similar scenarios happening again and again. The narrative goes on with unexpected twists and turns throughout the series of plots(that is also one of things why Game of Thrones is still being watched so enthusiastically since 2010). This TV Show is the best example of one my favorite statements “Quality over Quantity”. Am I Right?

[riadafandiyev-blog]

Pawn Shop in Tokyo

Taken by Guwashi999 in  Yutenji, Tokyo, Japan 2010/09/18 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/guwashi999/5054172253/)

If i would ask what do you see in this photograph? Your answer probably would be a pawn shop and a pedestrian that is walking next to it. The thing that at first comes to your mind when you see a photograph is the first of the two contexts of a photograph. This phenomenon is known as double context of photography. The first context is also known as “studium”. This is the literal or descriptive meaning of it; for example pawn shop and pedestrian. The second context is also know as “punctum”. In this the content is observed in subjective, affective and emotional context. Cultural and historical knowledge about photograph contributes to its meanings. However if you don’t know anything at all about it just see it in emotional context, for myself i see an old man who actually is not pedestrian but a worker/owner of that pawn shop who excitingly walks around his shop in luck to find some customers. The original context is always present in photograph, however other context would differ in personal level from person to person because everybody experiences a photograph in different way.

[riadafandiyev-blog]

Surrealist Works Part 2

L'écureuil / Squirrel, [1969] by Meret Openheim

Meret Openheim uses the same idea of shock and conjuction(as in “object in fur” work) here. First part i think is beer in glass and the second part is squirrel tail instead of handle. Squirrel’s tail here is used to confuse normal expectations besides shocking the viewer.

Ma Gouvernante / My Nurse [1936] by Meret Openheim 

“To confuse the expectations of viewer” is also used in this work. As shoes remind of roasted chicken or turkey. By referencing the food Openheim  implies irrationality and the reveal of unconscious. Also it could be connected with feminine sexuality.

[riadafandiyev-blog]

Surrealist Works Part 1

Harlequins Carnival [1924-1925] by Joan Miro

In his this work Joan Miro expresses surrealism really open by painting a work which reveals the unconscious. By the help of using different elements to form dream like “scene”. Also he speaks with the sense of irrationality and madness.

Person Throwing a Stone at a Bird [1926] by Joan Miro

Same things could be said about this work of his also. He doesn’t use a normal drawing of a person, instead he shows only an eyeball on foot which could shock the viewer. Shocking and confusing are one of the main aims of surrealism which used in this work  

[riadafandiyev-blog]

Speed of a Motorcycle by Giacomo Balla(1913)

Most of the Futurist artist besides mainly technology tend to paint speed by emphasizing objects such as cars and motorcycles. Italian painter Giacomo Balla is also one of that painters. In this work he highlights movement by geometric shapes and colors. It also shows a changing world.

[riadafandiyev-blog]

Golconda or Raining Men by Rene Magritte (1953)

Rene Magritte is know by his works which are connected with Surrealism. There are lot of examples like his most famous work ”The Son of Man”, “The Lovers” or the one with the pipe, however i wanted to talk about “Golconda” or “Raining Men”. This work is expressing surrealism really good by releasing power of unconscious and dreams. This dream like expression changes concept of reality. Also it represent changing the sense of human nature like individuality by showing all men wearing same clothes or falling in the same direction with the same manner.

[riadafandiyev-blog]

Bicycle wheel by Marcel Duchamp (1913)

Dadaism is one of movements of modernism which is associated with Marcel Duchamp. One of his famous works Bicycle Wheel could be given as an example of Dadaism. This work’s simplicity is one my favorite things about it. It’s expression of nonsense and irrationality by rejecting logic,reason and aestheticism is what make it good example of Dadaism movement, which tends to attack or change concepts of reality and human nature. 

[riadafandiyev-blog]

Kitsch Master Jeff Koons

Michael Jackson and Bubbles, 1988

I don’t have a lot of things to say about Jeff Koons works, however they are enough to express my opinion. Well most of his works have “Whoa!” effect such as his large balloon animals or kitsches based popular icons (Popeye, Michael Jackson etc.) i fancy his works also because his use of regular and banal objects as an art.

[riadafandiyev-blog]

Henri ”Naive Child” Rousseau

Henri Rousseau - his works were ridiculed in his time, however now they are getting the deserved recognition. For example what is wrong with his work above? [Tiger in a Tropical Storm (1891)] Most of the critiques are about his childish style and naive or innocent painting manner. Well yeah it is childish, although it is his own distinct style in paintings. Most of his works are painted in jungle, i think because he could balance colors better in that environment which he does really good in most of his works. Unsurprisingly his works were influence for several generations of “avant-garde” artists.

[riadafandiyev-blog]

Andy Warhol’s Works

Most of these works Andy Warhol started to create in 1960′s. Well,my opinions about his works are polarized. I think that it is really easy to create something like that (by present standards), on the other hand he created it in 60′s (which could have been hard again by today’s standards) and opened way to the creation of “Pop-Art”. His fame as an entrepreneur (aka. business person) and mostly use of celebrities in his works are the main factors of my critique.