Discussion Board Topics

Each week we are given a question or two to answer, here are a few to review. 


Week # 2
Do colors have a psychological effect on us? Does this psychological effect shift depending on the culture of the viewer? Reference a painting or photograph to defend your thoughts on this topic. 


Color is an important aspect of art.  Color is one interpretation that each individual determines when creating and viewing art.   Each individual interpenetrates color in a different way based on ones individual preferences to color, experiences with the colors being viewed and ones culture.  Everyone has a favorite color and tends to enjoy this color more and it brings us into better, calmer moods.  I have attached a painting that is full of color.



Discuss the topic of creativity.


I believe creativity is how each person contributes to society.   Each person has the ability to see things in different views.  Individuals can take one object and each can come up with a different  idea for use.   I feel that creativity is used in our everyday lives be it decorating our homes, new ways of dealing with our everyday problems in our life and yes even when we are dressing everyday.   Creativity is in our lives regardless to our age or our income.  We are born with creativity and I believe we die with it.  After all we are molded after the greatest creator off all!


Week #3
What are your thoughts on the brief excerpt on Beauty by Aristotle? Do you agree or disagree, why?

I just cannot entirely agree with Aristotle that beauty is symmetrical, structured and definiteness.  We are all unique in our minds, thoughts and opinions.  With this said, what one my define or see as beautiful, symmetrical and organized, another may not.  I once seen a finger painting of all colors, lines and shapes painted by a group of children.  I realize now that it had no theme, structure, definiteness or was not symmetrical but this painting to me was beautiful and amazing.  I also applied this theory to our everyday lives and ourselves as individuals.  I realized that we all look differently, dress differently, views of beauty of other individuals differ and our homes differ.  My conclusion is that beauty cannot have just one theory.  Every individual on a daily basis determines multiple times a day if something, be dance, music, scenery, objects or someone is beautiful to them in their opinion.  I also realized as I was reading all the posts that we all have a different variation of what beautiful is.

What public art, murals and sculptural works, exist in your local area? What purposes do they fulfill? How does the community respond to them?

I live in Vinton County and to my knowledge we do not have any public murals that we can enjoy.  I have quickly realized how fortunate other towns are to have these to enjoy.  While doing this research I found other forms of art that are enjoyable.  We have covered bridges, quilt barns, monuments, and a community theatre group.  I have now raised the question to myself, what is my county doing to preserve our history because it seems that each mural that has been posted has a piece of history in it.  I also thought of the Tucumpsa mural in Chillicothe that was beautiful that they have since painted over. 

Week #4

Examine the terms: ephemeral, ethereal, iconology and iconography. Provide examples of visual art for each term. Try to include paintings, sculpture and architecture in your examples. 

Ephemeral is art that is designed to last for only a short time.  Sand art is one type of ephemeral art.  The image of the sand castle was created by Archisand located in southern California.

Ethereal art is that light, airy, delicate and refined.  I chose the painting of the fantasy girl because of the colors, how relaxed she seems and how the birds are gracefully in flight.

Iconology is the study or field of art history concerning icons.  I included Rosie the Riveter, which symbolized the female work force during World War I.

Iconography is the symbolic representation meanings attached to an image or images.  The study or analysis of subject matter and its meaning in the visual arts.

This type of art is usually associated with Egypt.

Choose and a write a brief paragraph review of one article (from theartnewspaper or artinamerica) or one episode (from pbs.org/art21). Tell us your thoughts in your own words. Try to use some new art terminology in your review.  

I decided to read Russian icons discovered in Egypt, Conservators say Sinai's climate helped preserve art and artifacts by Sophia Kishkovsky.  Approximately 100 Russian icons and decorative objects where found at the St. Catherine's Monastery.  The objects dated back from the 16-19th century.  It is believed that the icons linked between Russia and Sinai where by the first Russian pilgram to the monastery was a 15th century monk, followed by Russian merchants and officials who brought gifts.  In return the monk sent gifts back to Sinai.  The icons where on display in the Chapel of Burning before being hidden away in the sacristy for serveral decades ago.  The icons kept in the sacristy where in almost perfect condition.  It is believed that the stable temperature and humidity of Sinai is the reason the icons where preserved in their almost perfected condition.  Icons must have stable temperature and humidity to remain in good condition.  I found this article interesting because of the history in it.  I feel it is an amazing and wonderful discovery to find these artifacts and art.  It is hopeful that the art world will continue to discover new and improved ways to preserve art and artifacts.
Source:  www.theartnewspaper.com/articles/Russian-icons-discovered-in-Egypt/24256


Week #5
In your learned opinion, what are the key elements that differentiate theater from the other fine arts? (Use a few vocabulary words in your answer. In this answer, you are allowed to reference your personal experience with theater, as a participant or audience member, to defend your thoughts.)

 Theater is a different type of art using aesthetic values.  The scripts, scenes, costumes, lighting, music and props set the stage to take the patron for example to another time and place.  I belong to The Friends of the Library in my county.  We assist in production of plays throughout the year.  Last Christmas Friends of the Library produced Its a Wonderful Life.  Members of our community attend an audition to tryout doing scenes from the play in an attempt to obtain the character they would like to portray.  Another such production that Friends of the Library conducted was Tea with the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland for the children of our community.  This involved improvisation.  In April the Spring Literary Arts Festival takes place in our county.  We choose a theme and arrange an entire weekend that is centered around that them.  In 2010 our theme was the Roaring 20's which also included a Vaudeville production.  This year we honored our military with the theme On the Home Front: Rivets Rations and Romance which also included a USO production.  I enjoy theater.  I thought I would post a couple of pictures from Its a Wonderful Life and Tea with the Queen of hearts from Alice in Wonderland.
    

After reviewing all the examples for week 5, choose the one that “speaks” to you. Tell us which example intrigued you and why, using vocabulary. 

The example I chose was Notes on Uncle Vanya.  Every person can relate to the verisimilitude of each character.  I tend to enjoy more of a drama that you can identify past or present life experiences with.  Realism is easily definable.  The costuming, properties and set tend to be authentic to the time period of the script.  I enjoy being swept away to another time and place.

Week #6

Where can you perceive and apply the 12 stages of the hero’s journey? (Cite an example from theater, film, novel or commercial.)

I quickly decided on my all time favorite movie, The Goonies.  This movie is about a group of rag tag kids called The Goonies.
I quickly decided on my all time favorite movie, The Goonies.  This movie is about a group of rag tag kids called The Goonies.
 1. Ordinary World-The Goonies, Mikey, who is the one that leads them in search for one eyed Willie’s treasure, Brand, is Mikey’s older brother who is a typical older brother who cares for his brother and the goon dock’s despite his strong front.  Mouth, is the obnoxious one that annoys the others but has talents that help throughout the movie. Chunk, is the heavy goonie who makes up stories and tries to make the others believe them. He is most famous for the Truffle Shuffle he had to perform in order to gain entrance to Mikey’s house. Data is the one who invents gadgets that seem to come in handy throughout the movie. Andi, is the cheerleader that is dating Brand and Stef who is Andi’s friend is smart mouthed but compassionate live in Astoria Oregon in the area that is referred to the goon docks.  It is a working class neighborhood. 
 2. Call to Adventure-The goon docks are trying to be bought by the richest man in Astoria (Mr. Perkins) by foreclosing on the goonies family homes. He plans to build a golf course. Mikey encourages the Goonies to hunt One Eyed Willie’s hidden treasure to save the goon docks.
 3. Refusal of the Call-Mikey, Chunk, Mouth and Data tie Brand up with his exercise equipment and ride their bikes to begin their search for the hidden treasure.
 4. Meeting with the Mentor-Chester Cooperpot died trying to find One Eyed Willie’s treasure. Mikey talks the Goonies into pushing forward to continue on with the treasure hunt.
 5. Crossing the First Threshold-The goonies enter an underground world full of twisting passages, surprises and booby traps.
 6. Tests, Allies, Enemies-The goonies are faced with booby traps created by one eyed Willie in order to protect his treasure.  The Fratelli’s, who are a family of criminals are also seeking the treasure after learning about it from Chunk. They are chasing the goonies through the underground world.
 7. Approach-Throughout the movie the goonies are set back by booby traps and broken spirit. Mikey is the one that lifts their spirits to keep hunting for the treasure.
 8. Ordeal-The last booby trap they find is a piano made of bones. Andi must play the piano from the notes on the treasure map they are following. Each wrong note a part of the floor drops out into an endless pit, each right note a rock plank drops for them to escape the booby trap from.
 9. Reward-once they have successfully played the piano, they cross the blank into twisting water tunnels that lead to an underground cave that contains a pirate ship that hold the treasure they are hunting from the treasure map.
10. The Road backThe Fratelli’s find the goonies and the treasure. They escape the ship after being made to walk the blank.
11. With the goonies in the water the Fratelli’s are pocketing the treasure setting off another booby trap that causes the underground cave to start caving in. Slouth who is a Fratelli that is deformed and kept chained up helped the goonies escape from the underground cave.
12. Return to Elixir-The goonies return to the goon docks where they are being searched for by their families and the authorities.  While Mike’s father is signing the papers to sell his home to Mr. Perkins Mikey’s bag that held his marbles are found that is full of jewels. The goon docks are saved with the jewels.
As you can see it fits very well.

Which one of the performance art examples ‘spoke’ to you? Explain why you like it. Use new terms.

The video that I found the most interesting was The Living Status. This type of performing art would be difficult to master.  Think about how many times we blink or even move in a minute, now imagine not being able to make the slightest move or blink for an extended period of time.  It would take an extended amount of time to complete the costuming.  We raise money for our local library with and event called the Fairy Fest.  We have a faerie or a mystical creatures that will move for money.  I will say this is one thing I will never master.  It is more difficult then it seems.


More to come.  I hope you are enjoying the discussion topics thus far.

II