Art! @wrightergirl - Tumblr Blog

Week 15

I think in art and entertainment there does need to be some sort of censorship because if there wasn’t then people could create movies about them killing someone and other situations like that but I think the restrictions currently in place, as seen in the article, are good enough to control things. I think it is really hard to censor things in the media and entertainment because everyone is given the freedom of speech so how can you limit one person’s because someone else doesn’t like what they said or created? This all boils down to just using your own self control and turning things off that offend you or that you don’t like/ agree with because someone shouldn’t have to limit their work because a certain group of people don’t like it. I think the way people perceive explicit and violent content is subject to cultures because in some cultures, like ours, there are movies like 50 Shades of Grey that millions of people enjoy watching but to another culture this could be totally offensive and not appropriate to them. I think people who’s content revolves around government or big business should be allowed to post there feelings to whatever their medium may be because they are allowed to voice their opinion on anything they please, as long as they aren’t threatening anyone or anything in their works.

wrightergirl

I completely agree that as long as it's not threatening or harming anyone people should have the right to do what they choose in their creative expression. The hard-line there is that what may be okay for someone, could hurt someone else. That's where a majority concinnous should come in, not for the whole world because as you say some things are appropriate in some places and not others, but for the majority of the people who will be viewing the creative work on a regular basis.

Week 15

Is censorship in art and entertainment required? / Where should the line be drawn?/ Is there a parallel between freedom of speech and art?

I don’t believe that censorship in art should be a thing. When I was younger I held the belief that only certain things should be censored, perhaps things that would make people feel bad, or things that would make people uncophterboul. Certainly a dying man at war should not be painted and hung for everyone to see. Or a slave's open wounded back displayed on a canvas. However, as I grew older I realized that art wouldn’t be art unless it said something. Many people see a simple flower painted and ask, well what does that say? Perhaps it says something about the simplicity of mother nature, the beauty in the natural world, or even telling us to stop and for a moment appreciate something we may have overlooked-a simple flower. Then there are pieces that make you stop and really think, pieces like This Is Not A Pipe. A very thought provoking artwork that shouldn’t upset anyones delicate emotions. Art in the broadest sense is emotions though, especially in the romanticism movement. Who is to say that one peice of art is okay to view and another is not simply because it evokes different emotions in people. A controversial piece depicting a war scene might be prohibited because it could cause feelings of unease. The picture of the flower could do so just as easily though, perhaps a woman was raped by a man with that same kind of flower in his jacket pocket? I think art should only be censored by the person viewing it, if you don’t wish to see it turn away, but let others look. I think the line should be drawn by the viewers themselves. Many would disagree and argue that because the negative emotion from the flower was from a minimum amount of viewers and the war scene upset a majority of viewers it should be the one hidden away. To this end I would say perhaps you are right, but that doesn't mean it shouldn't be viewed. Mabey a slight level of censorship could be applied in that a grotesque piece not be made as a mural on a busy street that people would be forced to veiw. I would compare art to our freedom of speech. In theory, it is uncensored and unrestrained. In practice, we have a great deal of censorships on our freedom of speech depending on context. At school students and staff alike are prohibited from cussing, but they can cuss as much as they like at home. SImilarly art is treated in a way that you certainly can’t build a nude sculpture at school but in a musam it's perfectly acceptable, even revered. I think censorship boils down to context. Where do we draw the line in this situation? And who draws it?

Week 12

Hylas and The Nymphs, John Willium Waterhouse 1896, is a painting done in the romantic style. Like many paintings the story behind this one stems from mythology. Specifically, Greek mythology from Jason and the Argonauts search for the golden fleece. When the boat landed Hylas was sent to get water from the pond, when he looked up from filling the pitcher he was surrounded by water nymphs. Drawn in by his beauty one of the nymphs leaned in to kiss Hylas, from that moment he disappeared without a trace. The artist actually wasn’t commissioned for the painting but instead made it for his own pleasure and was lucky enough to have it bought by Manchester Art Gallery. The realistic way this painting is done enraptured the viewers and pulled us into this mythical scene. Seven beautiful ladies are half submerged in the water, long hair dripping down their backs and gazes locked on Hylas. Waterhouse does an excellent job capturing the expression on each ladie, keeping viewers reading each of their expressions. I particularly like the two nymphs on the far right. One has her head cocked and eyes squinted in disbelief that such a handsome man is at their pond, she is hanging back pleased just to study him. Alongside her is another nymph whose curled hands and the hiding of her breasts by pond lillies suggests she does not linger in the back to study him but out of shyness. Each nymph's face shows a different approach to this foreigner at their pond, the one that is most captivating is the nymph who is leaning in to kiss Hylas. She has one hand on his wrist and another on his bicep, pulling him closer to her. Of all the nymphs her expression is the most neutral and for me the hardest to read which makes it more interesting because I can’t tell what she is feeling or thinking. An additional element of this painting that keeps viewers looking is the composition of how that people are set up. Because the nymphs form a loose oval around Hylas the viewer is drawn to the largest cluster of nymphs around him but then spirals out to see the other nymphs and back into the main circle. The way Hylas is leaned over towards the nymphs also prompts the views to look closer at the nymphs for we want to see what has so thoroughly caught his attention. In addition to the other factors leading viewers to pay attention to the nymphs color plays a large role as well in this piece. Hylas’s darker complexion blends him into the background white the almost iridescent white skin of the nymphs plays of the darker background colors making them stand out even further. Typical of the Romantic era the background is mostly obscure so that viewers are forced to focus on the emotions and intensity of the people, or in this case nymphs. Overall, I believe Waterhouse’s Hylas and The Nymphs is a beautiful work of art that showcases the priorities in the romantic era of art.

Ai Wei Wei

Ai Wei Wei, my first impression of his work actually wasn’t for this assignment. In a previous art class we examined a piece of his that is briefly shown in the video of the breaking of the vases. Due to this I was actually slightly offended by his work initially. I didn’t see why we couldn’t let old art be appreciated for its beauty and new art be appreciated on its own. I still stand by that, however, after this video I feel like I’ve gained a better understanding and appreciation for Wei Wei’s art. He’s not defacing old art, or simply adding iconic images or bold colors to old art, he's bringing history into the present and making us take a second look. Using history to comment on things happening today in such a controversial manner brings more people to the topic and thus educating more people. I did find that his art isn't just about those pieces, there's so many more. All of his works are done to say something. Some pieces comment on the beauty of the moment. In one of his galleries there was a piece done expressing a stroller on a field of grass, a moment to notice life happening. Other pieces of his art express a desire for people to take notice of bigger things, like the structural integrity of buildings in the Sichuan earthquake. “Ai Wei Wei is not just an artist. Rather he uses his art as a method to express his views and his quest for what he seeks.” I believe his work is both an activist movement and pieces of art. I see his work as fine art because none of it is really functional in day to day life. His pieces are meant to be contemplated, to draw attention to things and ideas. Regarding the narrative behind Ai Wei Wei’s work, I believe that art is much like the student who raises their hand in class. Much like how one person having a question means there's probably several people with that question and no one speaks up but one student, there are probably many people who want to say something but Wei Wei is the student raising their hand. Speaking up doesn't hinder humanity, rather it calls upon those who have the power to do something to find their humanity to do what they can instead of standing by.

jrhansel

The Decapitation of Saint John the Baptist, 1607 by Caravaggio

The painting done by Caravaggio is quite a simple painting. The painting is a large shallow space with a cluster of figures or people on the left which is balanced by the wall and window with two men watching. The painting shows an executor about to execute John by decapitating him. The executor and the man behind him show no signs of remorse toward the execution. The lighting of the painting is focused on the decapitation, therefore focusing on the men in the painting. The light basically penetrates the scene, putting focus on the decapitation. When looking at this image my eyes go directly to the man pointing his index finger down due to the light focused on his hand, then my eyes go directly to the executioner where I see him holding down Saint John the Baptist head, and holding a dagger in the left hand. When I look at this image I feel that the executioner is about to finish the job he started. The woman in the background looks horrified. She is the only one in the painting that is responding sympathetically to the scene that is occuring. When I look at the scene it seems kind of strange that she is covering her ears and not her eyes. Which makes me think that the sounds are even worse than the sight of the decapitation. The background of the image is very dark and gloomy. To the right of the painting, there are two men watching from the window trying to see what is going on. There is obviously action taking place in the scene. The executioner is showing force when pushing John’s head into the ground, and the woman to the left is setting down a dish. This painting makes me feel sad, and angry because they are about to decapitate this man. The painting also makes me angry because the other figures in this painting are just watching, and do not attempt to do anything about the situation.

wrightergirl

This is a dark painting done by Carvaggio depicting a horrific scene of decapitation. I like that you point out the two men in the window watching. If you hadn’t said two, I would have only seen one. Their heads are so close together at first I mistook them as one person. I also like that you point out only the one woman seems to be showing any expresion over this scene. The other characters in the painting appear as if this is a normal everyday occurrence. Referring back to the men in the window, they are watching not in shock but simple curiosity, as if their saying “I wonder who’s being beheaded today?”

Narcisuss

Carvaggio’s Narcissus caught my eye the second I saw it. Painted from 1597-1599 this painting captures a moment in greek mythology. I love the tales of greek legend, and this painting gives us a glimpse into this mythical universe. Narcissus is a beautiful young man whom many fell in love with, however, he thought none to be as beautiful as he and only showed them disdain. One day he walked by a pool of water and fell in love with his reflection. Carvaggio captures this moment of self adoration and longing for that which you can’t have. As the man he has fallen for is his reflection, Narcissus can never reach him. This piece is recognizable as one of Carvaggio’s because of the elements of design that reflect the baroque era. A clear moment in time is captured, showing what was real and not an idealized version. Carvaggo utilizes light and shadows to highlight the scene in a way that makes it impossible to look at anything but Narcissus and his reflection. Depth is used in a way that we can almost feel Narcissus leaning over the pool. His shoulders and knee pulling him out of the painting, leaning towards us. Paired with his reflection Narcissus's body creates a square, closing himself off from the rest of the painting. I think this reflects the emotion he would have felt, for in his mind no one was as beautiful as him, thus no one else was allowed into his world. A world that Carvaggio captures in this moment of self admiration. Looking at Narcissus's face his longing is almost tangible. The way his eyes are shadowed and there are small almost indiscernible creases on his forehead. This piece is also distinguishable because of the reflection. You see narcissus in reality but also this mirror image reflected back from the water. In the reflection, the dark and light are intensified, creating deeper shadows and brighter highlights. Almost everything about him is dimmer, except for those distinguishable highlights. His clothes go from a soft white to almost golden in this idealized version of himself in the water. I think this gives Narcissus even more emotion and personality because in himself he can only see the highlights, and I think this tells us how he refuses to look at parts of himself that maybe aren't so great. Overall I love this painting and think it serves as a warning, to remind us what is really important in life.

skylargarrett1

Week 7 - Bosch

Bosch Hieronymus created the Garden of Early Delights in 1490-1500. This was an oil painting on oak panel, which was his most complex work of art. The theme of this piece is the fate of humanity, as in the Haywain. Each panel must be identified in order to analyze the works meaning. On the outer faces of the triptych, Bosch portrayed the Third Day of The Creation of the World, when the water was separated from the earth and the earthly paradise. The top left of this piece we see God the Father as the Creator. The inner portion is painted with many bright and amazing colors. Bosch painted three scenes that share the single common meanings, which this concept is sin. Referring to Adam and Eve being punished in Hell in the right panel. In the left panel, Bosch included the Creation of Eve. In a second stage, he replaced it with God presenting Eve to Adam. Bosch also added scenes in which women are standing in sexual poses or are just by the fountain in this portrait. The people in this portrait believe they are living in a paradise for lovers, but their logic is wrong and their fate is punishment in Hell. In this painting, Bosch created five bizarre architectural constructions in the water; in the Paradise panel, the central one is similar to the one fountain of the Four Rivers. Gombrich and Steppe undertook research in 1967 allowed the Garden of Earthly Delights to be associated with the Nassau family. In my opinion, this portrait is portraying Heaven and Hell. On the right side of this painting is expressing dark colors, representing Hell. In the middle and on the left side, bright colors are being conveying the earth and its creator. The women and the men in this artwork are portraying sinful actions.

This scene stood out to me because God the creator was presenting Eve to Adam.

The representation of Hell in the painting stood out to me.

wrightergirl

I love that you pointed out the presenting of Eve to Adam. I didn’t even notice that when I was looking at the painting. I also enjoy your perception of the humans thinking they are in a paradise of lovers, when in fact they are not. While I think Bosch took things a little far in his rendering of humans I do think it is an excellent depiction of lust. Lastly, I liked that you commented on the water features, as those play an interesting role in the painting.

Week 7

When I first lay eyes on the piece Garden of Earthly Delights by Hieronymus Bosch I think of a psychedelic trip induced by some form of narcotic. I was always fascinated by Alice’s trip down the rabbit hole, and this painting draws me in because it reminds me of the fantastical world of wonderland. A world where everything is just on the verge of making scene, where if you glance over it the work makes perfect sense, but when you start looking closer you realize just how strange the world is. Featuring abnormal creatures, nudity, and a seemingly unfolding story about the bible, this work enraptured and fascinates many. The first panel is a seeming depiction of the introduction of Adam and Eve. Something I find interesting about this panel is that while it has some fantastical aspects it is rather normal in comparison to the rest of the peace. For example on the upper right side of the panel is a gathering of animals, yet nothing about them seems strangely abnormal like the creatures in the other panels. I believe this is because Adam and Eve have just been created, depicted in the lower center of the panel, and because they have not brought sin to the world and so the creatures and life in general on earth have yet to morph into the unseemly world in the rest of the painting. The central panel focuses on the earthly pleasure’s Adam and Eve experience here on earth, it seems in particular to focus on nudity and lust. One specific section I want to comment on in this panel is exuberant consumption of berries. From the swarm of humans surrounding the red berries in the upper left corner, the throng of people nibbling on the blue berries in the lake on the middle left, to the gathering of individuals eating berries off a bush on the middle right, along with many others, this picture is swarmed with berries consuming mortals. I believe the consumption of berries references the exotic nature of the work. A suggestion by the painter that the berries are acting like mushrooms, creating this psychedelic world. Moving on to the last panel, viewers are visually jarred from a clear blue sky and magic world, to a living nightmare. No longer gay and merry, humans are subjected to what appear to be strange tortures in the black world smitten by fire. I assume the painter meant this portion of the panels to represent Hell, humans sent here due to their lust and gluttony in the previous panel. In conclusion, Garden of Earthly Delights is a beautiful rendering of the sins of humans and the envisioned hereafter consequences.

elizabethlambenicc

Hong Kong article

I had no idea that this was happening in Hong Kong and it is so terrifying to think that this is happening in someone’s hometown. I think it is so important for things like this to be covered in the media and by all platforms to inform everyone about the chaos that is happening in places other than their own home. The woman who wrote this article is so brave along with all the other reporters to be putting their own lives on the line to show this tragedy. I think this very much can relate to art because art isn’t just paintings on a wall or sculptures in a museum it’s also about the culture and background of people and places and I think things like this can really help to show that aspect of things. This also relates to art because videos and photographs are forms of art and the reporters being able to capture live people and events in history is an art all in its own. I also liked how the article pointed out how the people and artists in Hong Kong will be exposed to so many things and they will have a chance to create so many art works that show the hardship and fight of this time and to create beauty out of a tragic time in their lives. Through the protests there have also been different forms of art created by people who need to express their feelings during this time and they are creating things that will not be put in museums or on display but they are in the streets, like the article said, and only few people will be able to see these peoples feelings. I think in this confrontation art holds so much power because all of these people going through this terrible time in their lives collectively have no where to turn and they will need some outlet to express their feelings which will lead to the creation of tragic yet beautiful pieces of art whether is be songs, poetry, or other forms of art.

wrightergirl

I love that you started off by saying you had no idea this was happening. I forgot to mention in my own post that I was completely unaware of the turmoil happening. I also love your view on art and how it's not just the work itself but the culture, background, and intention behind it. I do believe, like you, that “they will have a chance to create so many artworks that show the hardship and fight of this time and to create beauty out of a tragic time in their lives”, that was very well stated. May art forever be the outlet of our emotions and the podium that allows our voices to be heard.

Blog Post Week 4

Art has always been a rallying point in the past. A call to arms. A statement that made people think. Art has been created to celebrate moments of victory, to grieve in moments of loss, and much like in Hong Kong, art has been made to protest. Abby Chen makes a statement about the art happening in Hong Kong is about being human. I think that hits so deep of a meaning because every time we look at art we see a glimpse of their personality, a piece of their soul laid bare for people to view for eternity. I think what she means is that whether it be a masterful painting done by a skilled hand or a roadblock made to look like miniature stone henges art is a part of us. Even people who don’t think about it, when we see art we feel something, when we make art we make it with a purpose. I believe she is correct in stating that the the finest art will come from this turmoil because in history art made from turmoil wracks us with the most emotion. Viewers can FEEL what the artist is intending, can hear their voice in every brushstroke, every brick laid, every word eloquently written. If one thing comes from turmoil it is the bearing of the soul, and for artists it is bared for the world to see. I think art holds immense power in the Hong Kong confrontation, for when civil words and polite manners are not heard, artist ALWAYS find a way for their message to be heard. For their voice to be heard.

hannahmtrimble

Blog Post Week 3

The work I have chosen to analyze would be the amazing “Ascent of the Blessed”, made by Hieronymus Bosch from about 1500 to 1504 in an arrangement of four panels, titled “Visions of the Hereafter”. This painting stands out to me for many reasons. Within the entirety of the four paneled work, this is the painting that I think has the most interpretation value; the other paintings have more of a straightforward message in their visuals and moods.

This work is also very intriguing to me because of the stark amount of contrast, movement, and unity. Initially the eye is drawn to the tunnel of light, assumed to be leading to the heavens, where we see a women accompanied by an angel to the beyond. The tunnel provides us with the contrast that this painting stands out for. Below, we see a dark environment representing a world of sin and mortality, and above we see a contrastingly light plain that expresses the diving aspect of heaven. Once we take our eyes off the light portal, we start to see the movement and rhythm of the piece. In the foreground, we see many souls in different stages of their ascent to heaven. This creates a sort of path or guideline as to where our eyes are supposed to travel, and with this outline we are told the overall story of the piece. In the words of our second reading, we can “follow the rhymes from one body to another”. However, we can only interpret this story due to the great amount of unity the work possesses. These different stages and interactions between angel and man tell us that the process to ascend to heaven may be complicated and long, but the heavenly tunnel tells us that this journey might be worth it.

Now that the painting itself has been interpreted, one must look at it’s historical context. This work encompasses many traits of a typical Northern Renaissance painting. First, the obvious religious concentration was a common trait in the Netherlands at the time. Not to mention that the painting is oil upon an oak panel which, according to the readings, was a contrast from the use of temperas in Italy. Other traits that make this a trademark Northern Renaissance work is the great attention to detail we see in each of the unique angels, the texture in the panel, and the intricate nature of the highlights and shadows. This painting is truly intriguing to me, and I can see why it is highly acclaimed for the era.

wrightergirl

This is a wonderful piece to choose as a northern renaissance painting. I like your comment on the paintings “stark amount of contrast, movement, and unity”. To me things that are contrasting are not often in unity because of the contrasts. However, while the Ascent of The Blessed has many contrasting colors from the dark to the light of heaven it’s image as a whole is very uniform and has a unifying theme. Thanks for sharing this painting!

Week 3 Blog Post

For this weeks study on pieces from the Northern Renaissance I am choosing to discuss Durer’s Praying Hands. The hands were never meant to be an art piece by themselves, however, they are now an icon. This piece is a pair of hands resting together in prayer. An ink and pencil drawing, Durer’s hands are a sketched pattern for the hands of a kneeling apostle. The apostle is a part of a larger painting done by Durer called the Heller Altarpiece. Jakob Heller commissioned the altarpiece made from 1507-1509 as an oil on panel triptych, common of the northern renaissance. The Heller Altarpiece is similar to some of the other works we looked at during this week's readings, when I first saw it, I was reminded of the Ghent Altarpiece and the extreme attention to detail and symbolism. Unfortunately, I am not here to talk about the Heller Altarpiece, while it is a brilliant work I am more drawn to Durer’s hands. I have always had a fascination with hands, they are the mode of all things. If we did not have hands we would be unable to paint, sculpt, wright, cook, or any number of things. Scarred hands from years cooking over a hot stove, dirty hands from a day in the field, hands covered in paint, hands stained by flower petals, working hands, they all tell a story. The praying hands are sketched on blue paper and appear to be floating. Something significant about them though is that they are not silky smooth, they are course with callousness and have veins popping out. Additionally, the cuffs of the clothing are not of nobles but of the working man or woman, furthering the appeal by connecting with the working class. The hands themselves are facing upward like a spire that guides the eye to the top. Added to this, white is used to intensify and heighten the image. The white makes the hands glow, almost as if from heavenly light. Because there's so much detail in a drawing that is meant to be a guide for a larger work, there is some skepticism if this is really the case. A new opinion is that the hands were drawn as part of a campaign by the artist to promote his technical talents. However, I have to disagree with this new theory. While it may seem like Durer took a lot of time and placed a lot of details into a sketch meant to serve as a guide, I don’t believe it is really that atypical of the time. In the Ghent Altarpiece, if viewed closely, one can see every shape and form in the background buildings, additionally in the closed Ghent Altarpiece one can see the birds and their shadows from a window in one of the panels. Thus, I don’t believe just as much care and detail was placed in the Heller Altarpiece and subsequently the pre-sketched hands for one of the apostles. No matter why they were created, Durer’s Praying Hands are a beautiful piece of art from the Northern Renaissance.

craftyrockermom

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

wrightergirl

Wow, what a great response to this weeks readings/videos. Technology has certainly taken over. I myself am guilty of overusing amazon. I cosplay and often times its easier to be able to specifically search a needed accessorize, fabric, etc than to go in search of it at a store. The internet and modern technology in general has taken over some of the jobs we used to have. However, it has also created a bunch of jobs. For instance we may have robots who can help in the medical field but we also have creators on platforms such as you tube or ticktock.

Week Two

This week we have learned a great deal about Cimabue, Giotto, and the Arena Chapel. They were brilliant minds ahead of their time, creating frescos in a pre-renaissance era. Their work influenced the art world drastically, changing modern art. Trends set by these artists spread like wildfire. Without their work, art today would not be the same.

For the discussion this week we have been asked to research and discuss something of similar importance in today's world. Much like Cimabue and Giotto were pioneers in the art world, many other pioneers and ideas have taken hold and changed the modern world in dramatic ways. One large change in the last 50 years in the cell phone. The telephone was invented by Alexander Graham Bell in 1876. Almost a century later, the telephone became the cell phone in 1973, created by John F. Mitchell and Martin Cooper of Motorola.

While it took a century (100 years) for the telephone to become a cell phone, in less than 50 years we have taken the cell phone from a bulkley device only capable of making calls to a computer in our pockets. Due to the development of a metal-oxide-semiconductor and large-scale integration technology the original cell phone, a 2.4 pound mobile phone, was able to be created. A massive improvement right off the bat, in the last 50 years the cell phone has shrunk a considerable amount to a mere 4-6 oz.

Back to the beginning, on April 3rd of 1973 Motorola produced the very first mass production of a handheld mobile phone. These phones were called Zero Generation or 0G. For some perspective, most phones used today are 4G. The next big development in mobile phone technology was 1982, when engineers and administrators from eleven different European countries laid the foundation for international standards after discussing weather or not a Europe wide digital cellular phone system was possible. Soon after in 1985, Ernie Wise made the first “public” mobile phone call in the UK from outside a pub. Mobile phones only gained in popularity since then. When was the last time you noticed someone making a public phone call and thought it a strange occurrence? A few years later in 1987, a new global system for communications (GSM) is approved, allowing for improved call quality and lower costs. Jumping ahead a few more years and soon we have the first text message reading “Merry Christmas” in 1992, sent from Neil Papworth to Richard Jarivis. By 1997, 80% of households had a mobile phone, that means in 20 years the cell phone was first released, gained an sms messaging function and found a home in 80% of the populations households. Since then we have developed the first phone with internet connectivity(1996), the first mobile app (1997, the game snake), the downloadable ringtone (1998), the first emoji (1999), the first camera phone (1999) the 3G standard (2003), texting over the internet (2009), the 4G standard (2009), the 5G standard (2020, predicted), to our modern cell phone, which has more capabilities than can be named.

Much like Cimbue, Giotto and their art work, the cell phone has shaped the modern area in exciting ways.

Week One

My favorite work of art is the Parthenon. Created to show the wealth and exuberance of Athenian power, I love its structure and the mythology behind it. My love for this piece of architectural art grew two summers ago when I visited the replica Parthenon in Tennessee. The amount of detail carved into such an old structure is astounding.

jacobfaber-blog1

Gothic

Learning about Gothic architecture was quite a surprise for me. Chapter thirteen was open the history and creation of Gothic architecture. Beginning in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, Gothic architecture became more and more common among cathedrals. Beginning in France and eventually spreading across Europe, these Gothic cathedrals were much larger and spacious than its predecessors. I find these to be a lot more beautiful and detailed than cathedrals prior. Everything about them, the spacious inside, the hundreds of sculptors on the exterior walls, and the massively tall ceilings are all awesome.

Unlike what I thought going in, Gothic architecture does not at all resemble what we associate with the word Gothic or “goth” for short. These buildings are not dark and scary but open and beautiful. They were not meant to be intimidating but majestic and a tribute to God and the king. Gothic cathedrals were built to maximize the intake of natural light. From interior pictures in the day time you can see how bright and shiny everything is. Today there is still no reason for artificial lighting in Gothic cathedrals because of this.

Some key features of Gothic architecture are tall ceilings designed out of peaks called a “vault”, pointed doorways in place of the common rounded style, and the famous “flying buttress”. The pointed doorway which led to the tall and spacious ceiling vaults was technology borrowed from the middle east, it had been there for hundreds of years before the French began to use them. I found it pretty interesting how styles of stricture and art travel like this. Someone must’ve observed it in the east and brought it back, just a weird thought. The flying buttresses were a support system for the buildings that came off from the exterior walls giving it the thin, detailed look Gothic cathedrals are famous for. Some other consistent traits of Gothic architecture were stain glass windows, gargoyles, and fountains.

My favorite feature of them was the stone status on the outside that covered the entire frontal walls. I found them so detailed and well placed. But overall Gothic art was pretty cool to learn about, I was able to watch a bunch of videos of the indie of these cathedrals which was cool as well. The way we’ve changed the meaning of Gothic was a much-needed reminder to not judge a book by its cover. I did not go into this blog thinking I would enjoy Gothic art but after actually learning what it was, I have to say I do. I found its history and origins to be fascinating to learn about as well, to have incorporated styles from the middle east is not something I would guessed for the early mid evil period.

howej23-blog

When I heard Gothic i thought the piece and building would be dark and scary but they were not. They had lots of windows and let lots of light in to make them bright. I like how you described the parts within the architecture because it is important. Those separate the Gothic building from other architectures. I love that you watched videos about Gothic art, it shows that you were interested in learning about Gothic art and the importance behind it.

wrightergirl

I'm glad you've come to enjoy the Gothic style of cathedral and was impressed by your extra research. I do feel as if many people were hesitant to read this chapter due to today's stereotype of what we believe as “goth”. Personally, I love the Gothic style and studied it in a previous art class so I was pumped to read this week's chapter. I enjoyed your discussion of Gothic elements and was interested that your favorite piece is the statues. My personal favorite is the stained glass windows. Either way these are beautiful works of art and magnificent structures.

Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. “Notre-Dame De Paris.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 16 Apr. 2019, www.britannica.com/topic/Notre-Dame-de-Paris.

From rib vaults to stained glass windows, the Gothic style is aesthetically beautiful. I was super excited to read this week's chapter because I love the Gothic style and as per usual I was not disappointed. I appreciated how the book layed out the main elements of Gothic architecture so that we could easily understand the material. The six main elements are rib vaults, piers, flying buttresses, pointed arches, skeleton structure, and stained glass windows.

My personal favorite of the Gothic elements is stained glass windows. These windows are created using a translucent colored glass that is cut to create shapes. Held together with black enamel, their glorious light is said to be made to “convey God’s presence through a dazzling display of color”. In my opinion I think the black enamel can be a little darkening to the room. In my hometown the Saint Mary's Church hosts a magnificent stained glass scene of Mother Mary with a group of children, however, the glass is held together with the black enamel and it creates a very dark interior to the church. Another contributor of the darkened room could be given to the red brick the building is made of as well. Either way, the glass is pretty and I have always admired its subtle beauty. Something I was pleasantly delighted to learn is that the Gothic style lent its windows to be red or blue in contrast to the golds of byzantine art which led me to believe that Saint Mary’s window was done in reminisce of the Gothic style for it reflects the styling and colors of Carpenters Guild signature window as shown in figure 13.6 on page 202 of A History of Western Art. My favorite of the stained glass windows in the book is that of Saint-Chapelle figure 13.24. Commissioned by King Louis IX this work of art is a spectacle to behold.

Another thing that this chapter did well was the variety of cathedrals it covered. France is home to a great number of them and I enjoyed reading about Chartres, Reims, Saint-Chapelle, Salisbury, and Cologne cathedrals. The door jamb statues of Chartres was something that caught my eye. Depth is given to the saints with facial expressions, gestures, and the folds of their gowns in a way that makes them seem very real. I am probably biased towards liking these figure though as they remind me of the angels in Doctor Who. One thing I was surprised to find missing from the pages of this week's textbook was the Notre-Dame. Starting its foundation in 1163 the Cathedral took 87 years to build, the work being finished in 1250, however, additions were still under construction for the next 100 years (Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia). Notre-Dame Cathedral is a prime example of the Gothic Style and treasure to the world. Sadly, it recently burned down on April 15, 2019.

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