Mark Wetter
April 24, 2009
U H 440: Domain of the Arts
Review #2: Museum of Fine Arts Thesis Exhibit
Finding Significance in the Abstract
Artists have the freedom of choosing to express aesthetic qualities or meaning in their art. The Chris Jordan exhibit was an obvious display of social messages criticizing our overconsumption and material needs. Most of his work was lacking aesthetically. However I found it satisfying since it fulfilled my desire to understand and extract meaning from the art. On the other hand, the thesis exhibit presented artwork that was the opposite. I was rarely able to conclude the purpose or inspiration for producing the art and it was difficult to connect the title with the artwork. Despite being so abstract and obscure, I thought that the artists were creative and I left the museum feeling like I was aesthetically satisfied.
For the sake of transcribing my thoughts of the MFA exhibit into this review, I had to push aside my normal tendency to view art primarily through aesthetic appeal. This was obviously difficult since the meaning is not easily communicated like a Chris Jordan. Attempting to discover the source for the artwork sadly detracted from my overall appreciation of the exhibit. Instead of finding insight in the art, I walked away from most pieces feeling disappointed because I had no idea what I had just observed. Nonetheless, I would still consider it art since my negative experience is still an experience. John Dewey emphasized the importance of the viewer experience. Abstract art produces an experience like any other style of art, just through different means. I would, however, oppose the film exposition titled “Sailor” by Tobias Walther, since it does not produce a pure aesthetical experience. It is “adultered” by appealing to more than one sense.
I particularly enjoyed the digitalized work by Heather Losey McGeachy. I didn’t fully comprehend the essence of any of her works, but they were appealing aesthetically. I was thoroughly confused by her “Thirsty River” and “Riverside” productions. Despite having titles indicating water, there was no blue. I think that the abstractness of her work was expressed by using colors that normally do not apply to the image being portrayed. Both “Thirsty River” and “Riverside” had bright yellow and orange colors. Perhaps she was intending to pigment it abstractly to represent the turbulence of a river, or maybe it could be hinting at the reflective property of water. Possibly these images represent a sunset or sunrise reflecting against the surface of the water.
My favorite piece of art would be “Untitled”, the tree with white Buddha leaves instead of normal leaves. The abstract characteristics were the white leaves, the Buddha image on the leaves, and the pillows surround the base of the tree. This tree represents the link between Buddhism and the natural world. The pillows protect the Buddha leaves from falling to the ground, representing fragility. Trees go through seasonal changes, which could be interpreted as the fluctuations that Buddhism has and will experience. Even though my own interpretation could be wrong, I was happy that I found a piece that was aesthetically appealing and interpretable.
Despite the aesthetical appreciation I had for the abstract exhibition, there is an enormous clarity issue. Tolstoy would probably argue that the exhibition lacked “clearness with which the feeling is transmitted” (Sam’s handout). Sincerity and individuality of emotion is definitely visible, but the variation in interpretation makes the exhibition subject to criticism by Tolstoy’s philosophy. As Kevin pointed out, I also felt like a child trying to see images in the 3D abstract pictures. Even though it is fun and appealing to see such unusual images, it becomes frustrating if you can’t see what the author intended.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Monday, April 13, 2009
SPIDEY
Which of the following artists/fictional protagonists lends him/herself to a Freudian/Foucaultian analysis and why? Choose one for a brief Foucaultian/Freudian analysis.
Spiderman would sort of fit the Freudian analysis because he has sort of a dual lifestyle. He is not like a crazy person who is imagining his super hero second life, so Freud would be able to analyze such a person. Peter Parker is living this bland, mundane life which has been marked by tragic deaths of his close relatives. Although he is not daydreaming his Spiderman role, it is similar to a fantasy that liberates him from his boring daily routine. As Spiderman, he is in control and fulfills his desire to fight crime. Freud thought that dreams reflected the desires that one could not fulfill in a person's reality. This is why I said that Spiderman "sort of" fits the Freudian analysis. Peter Parker fulfilled his fantasy.
Spiderman would probably also lend himself to Foucaultian analysis, however, not so much in the artistic realm. Peter Parker creates this character, Spiderman, who deviates from traditional standards. He wears a costume, shoots webs from his wrists, and has superhuman strength. Spiderman challenges the role of a police officer and invents a new way to fight crime. He challenges norms of our time like the Las Meninas portrait challenged normal artistic standards in the past.
Spiderman would sort of fit the Freudian analysis because he has sort of a dual lifestyle. He is not like a crazy person who is imagining his super hero second life, so Freud would be able to analyze such a person. Peter Parker is living this bland, mundane life which has been marked by tragic deaths of his close relatives. Although he is not daydreaming his Spiderman role, it is similar to a fantasy that liberates him from his boring daily routine. As Spiderman, he is in control and fulfills his desire to fight crime. Freud thought that dreams reflected the desires that one could not fulfill in a person's reality. This is why I said that Spiderman "sort of" fits the Freudian analysis. Peter Parker fulfilled his fantasy.
Spiderman would probably also lend himself to Foucaultian analysis, however, not so much in the artistic realm. Peter Parker creates this character, Spiderman, who deviates from traditional standards. He wears a costume, shoots webs from his wrists, and has superhuman strength. Spiderman challenges the role of a police officer and invents a new way to fight crime. He challenges norms of our time like the Las Meninas portrait challenged normal artistic standards in the past.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Heidi Chronicles
Discuss The Heidi Chronicles
- from whichever angle you please.
You may consider the art/gender issue we have discussed
which Heidi is concerned with, e.g. in connection
with the above two artworks. Briefly put: does gender determine art?
Any notes on the WSU performance?
When I was reading the Heidi Chronicles, I thought that it progressively got more and more depressing as her life unfolded. My impression was that the last scene was not positive, but negative. However, I really liked the positive atmosphere that the WSU cast produced in the last scene. It fit really well and didn’t make me feel depressed leaving the play. The reason I thought that it was a negative ending is because Heidi basically felt that she made the wrong decisions in her life. The whole feminist movement is liberating for women since it frees them from their typical gender role and gives them a choice to pick a different life. Obviously, this freedom is necessary for the equality between genders, however, this freedom of choice also has a risk. Now that a woman can choose, she can make the wrong choice. Generally, in the nuclear family, the woman stays home and raises the children. The female role is standard across all families. With the freedom of choice, the mother can decide to pursue her career or a hobby and sacrifice her responsibilities as a mother. In Heidi’s situation, I thought that she wasn’t happy because she didn’t turn out the way she wanted to be. So in the last scene, my first impression was that she would be very sad and depressed. The WSU production portrayed Heidi as possibly finding peace or satisfaction and ultimately, finding happiness.
I feel that gender does not influence the quality of art since both genders are equally capable. Gender does influence how art is portrayed. In the Judith Beheading Holofernes painting, the woman is portrayed as a robust figure with a man-like dominance. This sort of visual variation between men and women paintings is sometimes distinguishable, but it is more difficult in other forms of art, such as composition of music. Regardless of who is performing the music, it is almost impossible to determine if a man or woman composed the piece. This is actually important since it validates women as artists after they were deprived of this role for so many years. If one cannot distinguish the gender, this proves that men and women are equally gifted in producing equally qualified works.
- from whichever angle you please.
You may consider the art/gender issue we have discussed
which Heidi is concerned with, e.g. in connection
with the above two artworks. Briefly put: does gender determine art?
Any notes on the WSU performance?
When I was reading the Heidi Chronicles, I thought that it progressively got more and more depressing as her life unfolded. My impression was that the last scene was not positive, but negative. However, I really liked the positive atmosphere that the WSU cast produced in the last scene. It fit really well and didn’t make me feel depressed leaving the play. The reason I thought that it was a negative ending is because Heidi basically felt that she made the wrong decisions in her life. The whole feminist movement is liberating for women since it frees them from their typical gender role and gives them a choice to pick a different life. Obviously, this freedom is necessary for the equality between genders, however, this freedom of choice also has a risk. Now that a woman can choose, she can make the wrong choice. Generally, in the nuclear family, the woman stays home and raises the children. The female role is standard across all families. With the freedom of choice, the mother can decide to pursue her career or a hobby and sacrifice her responsibilities as a mother. In Heidi’s situation, I thought that she wasn’t happy because she didn’t turn out the way she wanted to be. So in the last scene, my first impression was that she would be very sad and depressed. The WSU production portrayed Heidi as possibly finding peace or satisfaction and ultimately, finding happiness.
I feel that gender does not influence the quality of art since both genders are equally capable. Gender does influence how art is portrayed. In the Judith Beheading Holofernes painting, the woman is portrayed as a robust figure with a man-like dominance. This sort of visual variation between men and women paintings is sometimes distinguishable, but it is more difficult in other forms of art, such as composition of music. Regardless of who is performing the music, it is almost impossible to determine if a man or woman composed the piece. This is actually important since it validates women as artists after they were deprived of this role for so many years. If one cannot distinguish the gender, this proves that men and women are equally gifted in producing equally qualified works.
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