Art

What were the principal subjects and themes of nineteenth-century Realists?  Were these shared by both writers and visual artists? How did these subjects and themes differ from those favored by the Impressionists and Post Impressionists?

Visual analysis of Raphael’s “The Fire in the Borgo” (1514). The essay should be an interpretation, based on visual analysis that also considers the work in relation to one of the texts we have read this term.  Please do not rely on secondary sources but rather focus on your own interpretation based on description and analysis of, and direct engagement with, the works (the artwork and the text you choose) themselves.

Choose one of these films and watch it. Good Trouble (1:37:00), Paris is Burning (1:18:00), The Overnighters (1:42:00), Before the flood (1:36:00) For this week’s journal please address all of the following as they relate to your chosen film from the selections list: Given what you’ve learned about the different kinds of documentaries that exist, what kind of documentary is your film?  Who are what is the subject of the documentary and what dinematic techniques are used to portray this person or issue? What is the main argument or message (stated drectly or implied) of this film? Who do you think is the implied audience for this film, and what is your reasoning for this? What are three of the best, most convincing or memorable moments in this film – and why?

Test 4 covers the 18th and 19th century.  The 19th century, in particular, was a great era for all of the arts, throughout the world.   Our focus thus far has been mainly on European art and music.  For this assignment, I want you to explore what was happening right here in America.  Through your research, provide me a brief overview of American painting, sculpture, architecture, literature, and music.  You can focus on movements or styles popular in America, specific American artists/writers/musicians,  specific artworks, or a combination thereof.  For full credit, make sure you touch on each of the five arts listed above. As always, please cite your sources, paraphrase your material, and do your own work.  Minimum length of submission is 300 words.

Choose a sculpture you like and write a 750 essay about it (description of how it was made, what it looks like, who made it & when, & what you think about it). include an image of the work in question.

What is the meaning of Vincent Van Gogh’s masterpiece painting The Starry Night?

Select two exhibitions from the list below. Compare and contrast the effectiveness of the curators in considering transcultural exchange in your selected exhibitions. Be sure to consider the perspectives put forth in the essays included in the exhibition catalogues or guides as well as the works of art selected for each show. Your comparison should result in a claim about the exhibitions. This claim should be stated clearly in a thesis statement located in the first or second introductory paragraph. The rest of your paper should support that claim with specific details about the exhibitions, including direct quotations from exhibition materials when appropriate.

Prior to the invention of the photograph, portraiture was reserved for royalty, the wealthy, or important members of society because it was expensive and required considerable time. Photography opened up possibilities for the average person to capture their likeness in a portrait. Portraits both painted and photographed (even some selfies) capture not only the likeness of the sitter, but may also reveal something of the sitter’s personality. Examine portraiture in both paintings and photographs from Chapter 11. Choose at least two images (include the artist’s name, title, and figure number) and compare the images for what they say about each of the subjects. Describe differences and similarities between photographic and painted portraits. Which are more effective and why? How did portraiture change during the 20th and 21st century? How does the ubiquitous selfie factor into our consideration of self-portraiture? Can a selfie be considered art?

Spend time this week working on your second and final paper for this class. This paper should be in essay form, 10-12pt type, and two pages in length. On a third page cite three sources different from what I have provided. Place the images you are critiquing on the third page as well.   The photographers you can select from are listed below. Specific directions are at the below the photographers. So make sure you read this entire page.   “Angélica Dass is an award-winning photographer living in Madrid, Spain. Originally from Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, she is acutely aware of how small differences in skin tone can swell into large misconceptions and stereotypes about race. She is the creator of the internationally acclaimed Humanæ Project, a collection of portraits that reveal the diverse beauty of human colors.” Angelica Daas https://www.angelicadass.com/humanae-project/  (Links to an external site.) “Fabiola Ferrero, born in Caracas in 1991, is a journalist and photographer currently based in Caracas, Venezuela. She is part of the VII Mentor Program and a Magnum  (Links to an external site.)  Foundation Fellow.” Fabiola Ferrero    https://artpil.com/fabiola-ferrero/     “Erik Johansson (born 1985) is a photographer and visual artist from Sweden based in Prague, Czech Republic. His work can be described as surreal world created by combining different photographs. Erik works on both personal and commissioned projects with exhibitions and clients all around the world. In contrast to traditional photography he doesn’t capture moments, he captures ideas with the help of his camera and imagination.” Erik Johansson    http://www.erikjohanssonphoto.com/work/  (Links to an external site.) “Matt Black is from California’s Central Valley. His work has explored the connections between migration, poverty, agriculture, and the environment in his native rural California and in southern Mexico.” Matt Black  https://www.mattblack.com/  (Links to an external site.) Instructions: Look through the galleries provided in the links above. Select two images from two different photographers from that list. Make sure you select two different photographers.  Do not select two photographs from the same photographer.   Review the video below on “9 Photo Composition Tips.” Identify the elements of composition you feel each photographer uses in the two photographs you select. I do not want a bio on each photographer. Your job is to select your images, one from whichever two photographers, then try to figure out what elements of composition out of the nine below are being used in the photographs you select. Explain in detail how you see the techniques used in each image you select. If you see the use of diagonals, point out where you see the diagonals. Do not assume I will see them. Whichever two images you select identify the elements of composition as outlined in the video below. Each photographer is very different in their approach. Identify what composition elements of design he or she uses. The paper is all about composition. Apply what you have learned.  The paper must be saved as a word document, google docs, or a pdf double-spaced, two pages, and submitted here. This paper will be going through Turnitin so make sure these are you own words. The three additional sources can be ones that help you understand composition. Place the two images you select a separate page with your source list. Remember: (One page per photographer)  Be descriptive. Make sure your paper answers the following questions in essay form:  Identify the elements of design being used in the composition and describe how they are being used? Address each of the ones I have put into this list. Explain in detail how that element works in the image.  Refer back to the video.  I noticed that several of you did not understand framing. Framing has to utilize an element in the scene to frame something within the scene. Please pay close attention to the 9 photo composition tips below. Also, lines can be implied they do not have to be actual lines in an image. Here is the list: 1. Rule of Thirds: The rule of thirds is based on dividing your scene into a grid of nine equal parts; the four intersection points of the grid lines represent the best locations to place your subject within the frame to make a well-balanced, pleasing composition. 2. Leading Lines: Use natural or implied lines to lead the eye into the photograph. 3. Diagonals: Diagonal lines create movement. These can be implied or real. 4. Framing: Use natural frames like windows and doors. 5. Figure to ground: How does your foreground relate to your background? Is it a relationship of contrast or harmony. This is perhaps the hardest of techniques. 6. Fill your frame: Get close to your subjects. 7. Center the dominant eye: Placing the dominant eye in the center of the photo gives the impression the eyes follow you. 8. Pattern and repetition: like areas are repeated throughout the image. 9. Symmetry: the image is symmetrical. SYMMETRY refers to a line that splits an object in half and, if both sides of the object are an exact mirror image of each other, then this object is said to be symmetrical. https://expertphotography.com/symmetry-in-photography/

Write about your observations.  What was it like to keep an eye open for art, to look closely?  What was one work of art or design that really stood out to you?  Where did you see it? How did you examine it?  Did this activity reveal anything new and/or unexpected? Connect your observations to what you have learned about visual literacy this week?  How would you define visual literacy?   Do you believe that the activity increased your visual literacy?  If so, why and how? If not, why not? ( Here is the link to the video on visual literacy, in case you need to review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O39niAzuapc)