Module 8

Explain why you selected the video you choose from the selection listed above. 2. For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned. 3. How do the videos relate to the readings in the text? 4. What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to understanding of the readings and art concepts? https://artonlinespot.blogspot.com/2019/03/module-8.html

I selected the video, The Greek Awakening, Art from the 5th Century, because at the end of the first video, More Human Than Human, the Greeks were part of the study on the idea of how the human form was seen by different cultures. The Greeks saw the body as a source of great pride and the male, athletic form was prized. This left me wondering more about the Greek culture and its connection to art and modern society in general.

In the video, More Human Than Human, I learned that the way ancient and modern day sculptors and artists represent the human body really is a reflection of different cultural aspects of their society. I found it interesting that they related the very early statue of the Female Figure from Willendorf  to the very primitive idea of the eagle's beak. The exaggeration of certain body parts for our early ancestors was a function of their cultural values and need for survival, procreation, an nourishment. The Egyptians, on the other hand, valued order and that shows in their very straight and orderly looking statues. Looking at the Greek wars and Olympic games, it is easy to see why that culture valued a strong athletic build.

In the video, The Greek Awakening, I thought that the most powerful idea was that in order to truly understand who we are we must understand where we came from. The pride of the Greeks is well earned. Their contributions to our government and way of life is huge. Greek architectural masterpieces were described and explained. The symbol and image of Greek culture has much to do with the Parthenon and other iconic pieces of art. The desire to be at the center of existence was a big desire during this period.

I thought that the videos were paired up perfectly with chapter 14. On page 322 and 323 there is a photo of the  Female Figure from Willendorf that is discussed in more detail in the first video. I feel that the discussion in the video really brought that information to life and made it more interesting than the text could. The text provided many more photos of the typed of stone and marble art that were created by ancient civilizations. The picture of the Great Sphinx is a great example of the straight and orderly society of Egypt. The book and videos both made me wish I could travel to Greece to explore the modern city of Athens as it was shown in the intro to the video.

I enjoyed both video and I thought they were well connected by the idea that art is really a reflection of the culture and concerns of the people and place where it is made.  They both added understanding and interest to the readings by giving me more of an analytical view of art (1st video). Both videos used history to explain art as the book did as well. 

Module 7 Video Review Blog

The video, Architecture: The Science of Design was my favorite of the two that I picked to watch. This video discussed the idea of downtown living being "in" again and the challenges that are faced when architects are forced to build up due to the lack of space in these areas. I learned that the term superstructure refers to the part of the building that is above ground and that the substructure is underground. This substructure is very important since it must support the weight. Wind is a big problem when building therefore, a lot of data studies are done regarding speed and turbulence of wind on smaller models before building. Architects may enlarge the base or even plant trees based in these findings. I also learned about the amazing innovations in home computer systems that control many daily activities in the home. Home computers can now be programmed for things far beyond the basic things such as heat. 

The second video I watched was, Frank Gehry, Architecture as Art. This architect's work changed a lot over time. He started with residential projects and his goal has always been to combine functionality with structurally pleasing forms. His goal is to create emotional responses to buildings and to create more than just empty containers for people to work and live etc. He says that his work is a reaction to some of the lifeless and cold "boxes" of modern architecture. He used designs for houses in California to experiment with materials, light, and space. His friendships with pop artists helped him mix in art with his major building projects.

The videos were closely related to some parts of the text. The topic of load-bearing construction was covered in the beginning of the chapter and the structural systems in architecture are definitely a primary concern for obvious reasons. The Great Friday Mosque was used as an example of a technique of using wooden poles to anchor scaffolding that is used to restore the mosques coating every few years. This is very different from the structural plans in the video but also very interesting. I found many of the pictures of the architecture in the book to be more of what I consider attractive (compared to the video on Gehry).The book did cover the idea of steel frame construction as well and on p 303 it does reinforce the idea that many look alike and undistinguished building were build due to required laws. These are the types of buildings that I am sure Gehry was talking about when he referred to the boring box type containers. The work of Frank Lloyd right shown in the text would seem to me to relate more with the look of Gehry's work. The idea of sustainability at the end of the chapter may relate well with the topic of home computer systems in the first video. The way homes and buildings are being built now combine both form and function of new material and energy sources. 

Both films were interesting in different ways.I enjoyed the first film a bit more because I simply found it more interesting. I am a fan of big cities and have always been interested in downtown living in cities such as New York, so learning about all the goes into designing skyscrapers was fascinating. I find it a bit scary how much movement actually does occur in tall buildings! As for the section on modern home computer systems, I can see that this is definitely the future. Simple technology such as Alexa is a first step to the technology that was shown in the video. The video gave an example of a computer being set to change the temp when you wake up, turn on a temperature controlled shower, relaxing music, brew coffee etc! I see this becoming something that could be standard in homes during my lifetime which is so exciting. 

As for the film on Frank Gehry, I think that I now have a much better understanding of who he is and what he attempts to create with his architecture. I like his opinion that a building or especially a home can and should also be nice looking. When looking at his work though, it did not appeal to me personally. I personally  don't see his buildings as beautiful. I think they are very modern and I am used to more traditionally beautiful pictures of homes and buildings. His buildings look unfamiliar to me. Maybe it is more of a California style that I am simply not used to. 

I chose the 2 films because of the previews below the film. I had heard of Frank Gehry and was interested in learning about who he was and what his work looked like. As for the first film, the idea of peaking into future home technology was very intriguing. Also, as I said, I visit big cities whenever I can so the architecture there is a topic that I knew would keep my attention. 

Logo

I created a sketch of several designs that I found ideas for online.

I wanted to see how each would look using acrylics

I love this logo . It was the runner up even though it was most popular with my family

The process of creating a logo was a lot more fun than I had imagined. I used a lot of the information that I learned about in previous modules to design a logo that I would like to represent me.I used some ideas from www.freelogoservices.com.
I considered the elements of color and symmetry when designing my logo. In the video the red logo was an intentional choice since red is a strong color. I enjoyed watching the business select the design (which is basically the Target logo). I learned that a strong yet simple logo looks more appealing to me as well as the man in the video. The choice for my final selection was not easy. I think that my second choice might actually be better and more businesslike but at this point in my life I like the upturned rays and lively design of my final selection. I used the color blue due to what I learned about the positive and energizing effects of blue. I think that the logo I choose represents my youth and positive energy.

This logo was my pick. I think that it represents who I am right now at 19 years old.

Module #6 Review of Blog Postings

Below are the two blogs I reviewed:


szeninagrace.blogspot.com 

https://grecojr01aed.blogspot.com/

I did agree with the elements and principles that I reviewed in the blogs of my peers. I definitely saw some familiar images from what my slideshow included and also saw some great ideas that I would not have thought of. The picture used for movement in slideshow one made me stop and look at it for a bit longer to really see the idea of movement, but I do think that I saw it. Water was a much more literal example and one that I used and saw in slideshow 2. I noticed that in the photo for line there was also a great example of light. This photo probably could have been used for either element.

There was one image  that I found in common with the peer blogs I read(This is not a Fountain") Yes, the reasons that my peer and I chose this image were slightly different but we both agreed that this was an interesting piece of work that was made with a good intention. I believe this was he only image that I had in common with either blogger, however, I did recognize all of their pieces from my own visit and enjoyed seeing what other classmates chose and connected with especially.

The Liquor Sign from Harlem that was restored now interests me more. I would like to visit the gallery again in order to spend more time viewing it in person. During my first visit I passed by it rather quickly....so quickly that I did not notice the word SOUL standing out among the other letters in red. If I were to return I would also like to study the molds of the hands more closely as well and take time to read more about the meaning of this piece.

I really liked reading the reviews of my peers. I enjoyed the different perspectives and I appreciated that one of the blogs that I read was of a more experienced art student but that the other was more like me. I think that both types of students can contribute a lot. I wonder if the art majors enjoy reading the viewpoints of people who have little or no experience with art and may have only this as exposure. 

I have no comments yet! Hoping to have some soon.

Module #6 Video and Text

In the video, Through the Eyes of a Sculptor, there were many very interesting facts and ideas that I learned about sculpture. I honestly did not imagine that quarries are actually locations where many sculptors actually work. I thought it was fascinating to watch the artists create works of art from a block of rock. The idea that the rock from these tunnels actually cuts easier than wood with their saws was new to me. I liked the quote from the artist that stated that an artist must know who he is order to create his pieces.  The restoration footage in the video surprised me in that I did not know how the molds for great sculptures were made and then saved for future recreations. I also though it was intriguing that carvers often train by doing restorations which actually require them to work "in the footsteps of the original artist." 

The Glass and Ceramics video was of less interest to me but I did learn many new facts about these two forms of art, such as that glass is not a true solid. The mixture used to make glass is actually 60-75% sand plus an added component and can be shaped at will. The stained glass making was fun to watch. The use of light factors in even more than I imagined in the final result. I liked watching the sketches being made, especially the full sized sketch which is the basic pattern for the puzzle of glass pieces. In the section on ceramics, I found the modern applications of ceramics most relevant.I had always connected ceramics to something my grandmother enjoyed but I see that it can be used for things like making engines for cars! Apparently it is lighter and more fuel efficient.

The book and text were related by topic but I did like how the book showed examples of famous sculptures, glass, and ceramics. There were ideas that overlapped also such as the description of the methods. I found the sculpture of Michael Jackson and Bubbles on p 246 interesting because of its use of white and gold when the outfits and other details were transposed.The use of black eyes and red lips to focus attention on the bond between them was smart. The book went on the discuss other media that the videos did not, such as wood and metal. I enjoyed reading about some of the specific piece of furniture, such as the Cinderella table by Jeroen Verhoeven, which was made of plywood.

 I enjoyed the videos and I definitely thought they both added to my understanding of the topics. I have a greater appreciation for the time, effort, and process that even a simple drinking glass is created from. I enjoyed listening and watching first hand accounts from artisans that have worked in the field and experienced the pride of creating these works.