The Visual Arts Essay
Knlndm
week_3.docxWeek 3
The Visual Arts
This week we look at the visual arts and the role of the artist. Sometimes, people look at a painting by Jackson Pollack and say, "My kid could have done that." However, the visual arts are about much more than the actual piece of art itself. Pollack was doing more than just splashing paint on a canvas, much more than a kid could have done. Visual art is not only about what is, so to speak, on the canvas. It can often be about impacting the way we think about the world around us and the world inside of us.
After this week, students will be able to:
· Describe the possible roles of visual artists within their communities
· Identify several significant visual artists, movements and/or styles of visual art
· Identify the impact of technological advances on visual art and artists
Introduction
This week, we will look at the visual arts and the role of the artist. Sometimes, people look at a painting by an artist such as Jackson Pollock and say, "My kid could have done that." However, the visual arts are about much more than the piece of art itself. Pollock was doing more than just splashing paint on a canvas, much more than a kid could have done. Visual art is not only about what is on the canvas. It speaks to the ways in which we think about the world around us and the world inside of us. When you look at this week's materials, think about not only how the works of art appear visually, but what they say about the human condition, as well as how they impacted the communities out of which they emerged.
Outcomes
After this week, you should be able to
· describe the possible roles of visual artists within their communities
· identify several significant visual artists, movements, and styles of visual art
· identify the impact of technological advances on visual art and artists
Cultural Diversity Paper
Instructions
For this essay, pick a significant of piece of art, literature, or music that represents a particular ethnic or racial group in America. Alternately, you could pick a specific philosopher, religious leader or theologian, political leader or writer who represents an ethnic or racial group in America. Write a 500-800 word essay in which you
1. Offer a brief description of the work or the person's point of view.
2. Argue for the importance and relevance of the work or person's point of view in communicating the experience of a particular ethnic or racial group within the American context.
For instance, you could discuss how Elijah Muhammad’s view on race relations expressed the early 19th century post-slavery African American experience, or discuss how an Amy Tan novel represents the female Chinese American experience, or how a sculpture by Hank Willis Thomas communicates something about the history of the African American experience, or how a Sherman Alexie poem communicates the Native American experience.
Make sure that your essay has a main point and that you offer enough evidence to support that main point in the form of specific examples or descriptions.
Be sure to cite your sources!
This assignment is due by end of the third week of class on Sunday by 11:30 PM Eastern time.
COMMENTARY on the visual arts
Art is not merely decoration.
See for yourself in the two-part video "Paolithic Art: Movement and Ritual." (Scroll down for Part 2)
If the embedded films don't work for you, cut and paste these two links into your browser. The film credits are in Part 3.
Part 1 is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UX-XPM36NKE
Part 2 is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hy3P4gHsV2o
Week 3 Learning Resources
Below are the required learning resources for this week.
But Is It Art? An Introduction to Art Theory
Your instructor will point out which chapters/selections to read from this book.
http://site.ebrary.com/lib/umuc/detail.action?docID=10681969
The Role of the Artist
In this podcast, the panelists discuss the poem “In Memoriam A.H.H” and the role of the artist in society.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/iotc/all#playepisode80
The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction
In this translation of a 1936 Walter Benjamin piece, the author argues that as art becomes capable of being reproduced, it loses its authenticity and that viewers no longer contemplate while viewing it, but rather rely on distraction when consuming it.
http://www.marxists.org/reference/subject/philosophy/works/ge/benjamin.htm
Art History Timelines
Your instructor may point out some more specific things to look at here.
http://www.artyfactory.com/art_appreciation/timelines/art_history_timelines.htm
Why Look at Art?
Watch as several people explain why they look at art.
The Skill of Describing
This video gives some good examples of artistic descriptions.
Duchamp’s Shovel: Art as Concept
This video discusses the significance of Duchamp’s shovel in art.
Duchamp’s Shovel: Art as Concept
Art and Context: Monet and Malevech
In this video, three panelists discuss the context and art of Monet and Malevich.
Art and Context: Monet and Malevech
Representation and Abstraction
In this video, three panelists discuss representation and abstraction as they relate to Ophelia and Vir Heroicus Sublimis.
Representation and Abstraction
Why Is That Important? Looking at Jackson Pollack
This video examines Jackson Pollock's Number 1A.
Why Is That Important? Looking at Jackson Pollack
Why Is This Art? Andy Warhol’s Campbell's Soup Cans
Can soup cans be art? Watch this video to find out about how Campbells soup cans were made into canvasses.
Why Is This Art? Andy Warhol’s Campbell's Soup Cans
Hirst's Shark: Interpreting Contemporary Art
This video discusses how to examine contemporary art.
http://smarthistory.khanacademy.org/hirsts-shark-interpreting-contemporary-art.html
Smart History
Your instructor may point out some more specific things to look at here.
http://smarthistory.khanacademy.org
Week 3 Discussions: The Visual Arts
Read, listen, and watch the assigned material, including my commentaries, before participating in this discussion.
Many people don't have a lot of experience really LOOKING at art.
We kind of look at it--maybe we like the colors, or what's depicted (my husband might say, "Cool! It's a soldier with a gun!" because he's a soldier). But looking at art is like anything else: the more you practice, the more you see.
The assigned material on the visual arts and the link in this assignment give some ideas of HOW to look--what to look for, what to pay attention to.
ASSIGNMENT:
Browse the paintings, drawings, and sculptures at this link: https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/art-history
Or look at a web site from any art museum. Here are a few good ones to get you started.
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York: http://www.metmuseum.org/collection
National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.: http://www.nga.gov/content/ngaweb.html
Louvre, Paris: http://www.louvre.fr/en
Museum of Modern Art (MOMA), New York: http://www.moma.org/
Choose one painting, drawing or sculpture that depicts or tries sends a message about a political or social event.
Then choose another that interests you, but does not seem to be trying to “send a message.”
Begin by looking carefully at the two works you'll be discussing. Note the content, composition, style, colors, technique...This link will help you with ideas of what to look for.
Khan Academy: The Skill of Describing
For the discussion:
Identify the works and include links where we can view them. (You may find a better view of the image by searching online.)
Try to embed an image of the works by going to the "insert stuff" icon at the top of your text box (the first one on the left, with four little objects in it). Scroll down for more detailed instructions on "inserting stuff."
Describe what you see in the two art works. You may have to do a bit of research to understand these art works. Be sure to include links to any resources you consult.
Do you think the work that tries to convey a political or social “message” is effective at communicating a position, evoking an emotion, or inspiring a particular reaction that might affect people’s opinions or actions?
What about the “apolitical” artwork, the one without an overt social or political message. Do you see any message at all in that art work? Does it evoke an emotion or inspire a particular reaction in you? Are there particular aspects of the images that speak to you--color, line, form, content, style...?
What is your overall reaction to these works? Would you expect people’s reactions to these two artworks to be fairly universal? Or would you expect big differences in how the art is perceived, based on the cultural background of the observer? Explain your thinking.
To answer this question, start a thread in this discussion and give it a unique title. Your main post should be at least 250 words.
Comment on the contribution of at least one other student.
HOW TO INSERT IMAGES, HYPERLINKS, AND VIDEOS
To edit and correct your contributions to discussions.
1. Got to your post.
2. Click the little triangle to the right of your post title or your name.
3. Click "edit thread" or "edit post."
4. After you've made changes, click the blue "update" button at the bottom.
To insert a live link. There's more than one way to do this. I prefer the easy way.
1. Copy the link location (right click and highlight it with your mouse).
2. In the page where you're posting, look at the upper left icon in the editing toolbar just above where you're typing. Those four little thingies are the "insert stuff" icon.
3. Click "insert stuff"
4. Choose "insert link"
5. Follow instructions. Insert your link, scroll down and click "next," insert your link (or a title) again, then submit.
To embed an image or video.
1. Usually you can just right-click on the image, "copy image," then paste it into your post!
2. Sometimes inserting the link will also make the image show live (especially for videos). I don't know how this works. Magic, probably.
For full credit, initial discussion posts are due by Thursday at 11:30 pm Eastern time, with at least one response to a classmate by 11:30 pm on Sunday.
