Module #15

1. My expectations for this course were met.  I expected to learn about the history of art and different types of art and cultural backgrounds.  Considering the fact that I major and minor in sociology and art therapy, I liked that we had to incorporate the way some of the art made us feel as well as go through the process of creating our own pieces.

2. I would define art as the process to visually create beauty through imagination that in turn creates an emotional response within the viewer through skill and idea.

3. My favorite artist in my original post was William Wegman.  This was partially because I was unfamiliar with artist but also because he takes pictures of his dogs and I have three dogs of my own that I love to dress up.  I would say my favorite artist now is Leonid Afremov.  I love the bright colors he uses and how they are blended together.

4.  I have taken online courses before.  I usually try to take at least one each semester and I love them.  Taking more than one can be challenging but I love being able to do my work from home and work at my own pace.  I would encourage others to take this course.

Module #14 Art Gallery Visit

The Brooch. Eva Mudocci                                                                Portrait of a Young Woman
Edvard Munch                                                                                            Andrea Previtali
The Munch Museum                                                                            The J. Paul Getty Museum
1903                                                                                                                 1520
Lithograph                                                                                                 Drawing 34.8 x 25.9 cm
w532 x h760 mm





Portrait of Pita Amor
Diego Rivera
1957
Painting- Oil on canvas
55 x 44 cm

1.  I selected the inspiration pieces I did because two of them were done in just pencil, or black and white which I love.  I also love the first image I chose because the way the artist created her hair to fill up the page was beautiful.  The last one I chose because of her unique facial expression.  I thought that one was great because it represented who she was and how she was feeling.

2. I chose to create my self portrait with pencil mostly because I am not artistic and needed to use something I could erase with.  I also like the way it looks when artist create self portraits with pencils and charcoal.

3. I faced many challenges when creating my self portrait because I am not comfortable drawing and I don't love the way any of my pieces turn out because of it.  I know that I lack artist ability and I wish I was more talented in that aspect.  It was also challenging because this was an image I created to depict myself so because I couldn't get it to look the way I envisioned, it became frustrating.  I eventually overcame my frustrations and finished my self portrait by telling myself that as long as the process and effort was there then I did everything right.  Not every artwork is intended to be perfect and thats what makes art so incrediable.

4. This piece represents me because it is a drawing I created of myself.  It may not look exactly like me but I tried to the best of my ability.  I made sure to include my hair because I have never appreciated my thin, pin straight, blonde hair in the past.  I always wished I had thicker more fuller hair and the ability to make it different colors.

5.  I applied balance and emphasis in my work of art.  I decided to create my self portrait in the middle of the paper and create a blank background so that the emphasis was directed towards my face and hair.  I also used line, value and texture in my piece.  This can be seen in my hair for example.

6. Although I struggled with this project I ended up enjoying it because it pushed me to do something out of my comfort zone.  It was also enjoyable because it was an assignment about me and I found that more interesting and pleasurable than learning about another artist.

7.  Overall, I think my final piece could be a lot better.  To me it looks creepy because I don't think it looks anything like me.

Module #14 Project #5

1. The Guernica, created by Picasso has lots of contrast between the white and black colors.  Many of the images direct the viewers eye because of this, creating points of emphasis.  There is also a lot of movement happening in this artwork.  Although it is asymmetrical, the artist has created balance throughout.  The variety of different lines and shapes makes the artwork very interesting.  I would like to know more about this work of art.

2. To me it seems like the people in the artwork are either dead or dying and screaming for help.  This could have been created to show war during the 1900s.

3. The relationship between the artwork and society during the time the piece was created is war.  There was a Spanish war going on and many peoples lives were being taken.  Picasso was trying to promote anti war works of art to get the message out to others.  The symbols used were broken weapons and deceased people, while others ran and screamed in pain and fear.

4.  Elements in this work of art that evoked an emotional response were the choice of lines and color.  The piece is not colorful, it is in shades of black and white and feels very morbid.  The lines are heavy and allow the individuals to stand out against the background.  This work of art made me feel scared and sad.  There was a sense of fear that took over when viewing this piece because they were trapped inside a room with no where to go.

5. There are many strengths in Picasso's Guernica piece.  He chose to use value by using white and lighter shades of grey where he wanted something to stick out.  In particular, the faces of the individuals and the lighting that was beaming down from the ceiling. By providing an enclosed room filled with animals and people dying and fighting for their lives it created a bigger sense of what he was trying to depict.  People were trapped and scared during the Spanish war.  There were no weaknesses, although I would have preferred a more realistic approach.

Module #13 Video Review

1. For the first video on an acquiring mind, I learned that there is a lot that goes into creating an exhibition within an art museum.  Art curators will find artworks that are "weaker" than others and perhaps make them more brilliant by choosing careful locations within a gallery.  I also learned that art has to be worthy to be selected by the acquisition process.  The director is in charge but is not the only one who has a say in what is brought into a museum.  Meetings are held to discuss this matter and high levels of creativity are pushed when creating each exhibit.  There is much more that goes into creating an exhibition than I had anticipated.

The second video on live q & a with the MoMA curator was very interesting.  The woman brought us to the fifth floor inside the Museum of Modern Art.  Not only did she show us all of the pieces inside the exhibit she explained what modern art means to us.  She explained that modern art is art of the now or the present and it is just as important as art in the past.  Modern art brings open ended conversations to the table and explains what the new and compelling could be.  Modern art is creating new to respond to our society or world entirely.  The exhibit she showed us was specifically dedicated to Pablo Picasso's modern art.  This was the theme chosen by the curator.

The last video on lowbrow art gave great insight about the specific type of art.  Lowbrow or pop art is mostly made up of ideas that are against the status quo.  They are pieces created by artist, which not everyone see's as popular.  Many of the artist did not want to be labeled as lowbrow and I think it has a lot to do with where the name originated from.  Although it is not the same anymore, many lowbrow art was considered pornography, but now it means something else.  There are others that believe lowbrow is actually serialism art.  Another thing I learned is that this type of art has created a social scene and groups together.

2.  The videos related to the creation of my art exhibition because it helped provide me with an idea for a theme that I like.  I got a better understanding of what can be grouped together for a specific exhibition.  I learned that you can chose a specific year, artist, color, location, or type of art to stick with when creating a gallery.  It doesn't have to be the same throughout and paintings don't have to stay with painting's.

3.  In my opinion the films were a little long and could have developed the main points of interest faster.  They did add depth to my understanding of how to create an art exhibition though.  Without the videos I would of had no idea where to begin and stuck to one type of art instead of multiple.

Project #4

The process in creating this Art Curation Exhibition was somewhat difficult but also fun.  Although I had a hard time finding exactly what I was looking for, I enjoyed picking out my own artworks that I felt worked well together within a gallery.  It was interesting to learn about how much goes into creating an exhibition inside an art museum.  I never thought about the things that are taken into consideration and how careful each piece is selected.  There are meetings held and directors in charge of every museum.  It is definitely something I will think about the next time I visit and art museum, especially those that change out their galleries frequently. Creating the process myself was great because I got to chose something I am really passionate about and would love to see if I was to personally visit a museum.  Overall I enjoyed this assignment and I felt that I benefitted from the outcome.

Module #12 Review

Jacob Lawrence Video:  I learned that the artist paints about his life and the things he has experienced such as race and class groups.  He liked to paint what he saw going on around him.  Lawrence wants art to be appreciated and does this by getting viewers to admire his work through his choices of media and color.  He says this then gives a bigger opportunity for viewers to become interested in the content or story he is portraying.  Jacob Lawrence was one of the most respected American artist of his time.  This video relates to the readings because of the African influences in modern art.  In my opinion this video was a great start to introducing African American artist.

Faith Ringgold Video:  This artist created art called story quilts.  She was a writer and a painter as well as an advocate for equal rights among women artist.  She would create art based off of stories she has written or rewrote.  She also got involved with women's issues and wanted to make a change through protest.  This video related to the readings because this artiest had a major influence on women in the art community.  She helped shape and mold or create a standard for all women creating art professionally before modern times.  In my opinion this video had a lot of great information in a short clip.  Faith Ringgold had a lot to her and accomplished many things throughout her life and for the artist world we live in.

Romare Bearden Video:  This artist was best known for collaging.  He was an African American who looked white to most people.  I think because of this he was more devoted to his art work and learned a lot about humanity over the span of his life.  He focused on Africa in many of his works of art and liked to tell stories through art.  This video relates to the readings because the one reading talks about his early success as a young man and some of the works he created in detail.  In my opinion, this was one of the most interesting video of them all because of the fact that I thought this man was white when I saw what he looked like.  It gave me a different perspective after learning about this artist.

Fauvism Overview Video:  This video was about a French art movement.  Vibrant and vivd colors were used to send a message in the beginning of the twentieth century.  There was exaggerated colors used which deviated from the norm or traditional way of art making.  Because of this wild approach, there was lots of negative criticism from the older generations.  Though the young thought it was exciting and inspiring.  This video relates to the readings because of the fact that bright colors became modernized and used after this movement.  In my opinion, art is way more appealing with bright and exaggerated colors.

Amadeo Modigliani Video:  This video was about an Italian, Jewish artist who loved to express emotion through works of art.  He was known as an expressionist artist and mainly focused on emotional abstract art.  Amadeo was only 35 years old when he died due to a lung condition he developed as a child.  He was fascinated by art all his life and wished to see many museums before he passed away.  Because of his condition, he did most of his works in doors and focused on portraits and nudes.  This video related to the readings because of the use of emotion.  Many of these artist have one thing in common, they want to produce a story and make a connection with viewers and audiences.  They want to make a difference.  In my opinion this video was interesting because of how much Amadeo achieved considering the life threatening condition he endured throughout his short life.  He continued to make art which showed how dedicated he was.

The Best Moments from Dolce and Gobbana Video:  This video showed a fashion show that was conducted inside and outside of a beautiful work of art.  The designers used lights to bring a beautiful glow to the structure as the models walked in their clothes.  The fashion show was very elegant and the use of art was what made this show so famous.  This video relates to the readings and content because of the use of movement in showing art.  In my opinion this fashion show was amazing and so beautiful.  The designers were creative and incorporated structure design in the show.  All forms of art were showcased throughout the video, including music.

'On Creativity' Interview Video:  Norma Kamali is a famous designer known for several different types of clothing and shoes.  She says that beauty, health, style, and fitness are all connected.  She also went on to talk about how fashion shows should be more modernized through the use of technology.  She claims that instead of boring fashion shows, art should be used through dance and theatre.  Models should be telling a story with the clothes they are wearing to give them movement and meaning.  This video relates to the readings and content because Kamali wants to push further in the industry.  She wants theatre and dance and movement to collaborate with design and fashion.  I believe her idea could be a hit and makes sense to mix artistic movement and dance with fashion.

Module #11 Video Review

1. I chose the Dada & Surrealism video and the Futurism: The Art/ Life Revolution video because they both have a lot to do with our modern world today.  Without surrealism and futurism we would not see life like works of art or push to create the very best.

2.  The key concepts I learned in the Dada & Surrealism video were how creating art from found objects was not established until the 1900's when Schwitters introduced his work.  It wasn't until after he established himself through painting that he had love for creating art that showcased objects and works of art had lives of their own.  in 1918 he began sculpting and never looked back.  Schwitter's liked to use found objects and remove them from their normalicy, giving them another role which he said revealed their secrets.  The key concepts I learned from the Futurism video is how it helped create better things in life.  Without this idea, people wouldn't be searching for the newest and the greatest.  The video taught me that futurism is embedded in everything we do and create such as cooking, furniture, art, what we drive and so on.  Coming to the brink of death and looking death in the eyes, helped this artist understand that he needed to continue to work towards the best of everything.  Our future lies in the hands of artist.

3.  The videos relate to the readings because they talked about how surrealism has the power to open up our imaginations and mind.  This type of art allows for artist to step outside of normal reality.  Another reading talks about how excited artist were for the beginning of futurism.  These artist wanted to capture things like speed, movement, and industrial development, which goes back to all the examples given throughout the video.

4.  In my opinion I did not expect the Futurism video to be about the realization of death and how it can influence our future. It was an interesting concept and I enjoyed learning this perspective and influence on art.  I also enjoyed the fact that Schwitter's went against the norm and began the idea of sculpting and using objects as media.  He broadened the art world by incorporating these things.

Module #11- Art Gallery Visit 2

1. The Munch Museum in Oslo, Norway

2. https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/the-munch-museum-oslo

3. I selected this museum because the main work of art featured on the website was very colorful and reminded me of the lake I grew up on.

1. There are many lights throughout the ceiling as well as windows that cover a lot of the museum.

2. Mostly white walls are used with a few light blue or yellow accent walls.  The one thing I did notice was that some of the ceilings were painted black throughout.

3. There are several benches for visitors to sit on, as well as class walls that hang from the ceiling with art work on them/ descriptions of art work.  Some rooms even have desks or tables for artist to work at.

4. The movement is set up by the way that the walls are formed.  They built it so that you enter into a room through walls that create almost like a hallway that guide into the following exhibit.

1. The artworks were organized by artist and size.  I noticed that many pieces in each room were relatively the same size.

2. The artworks are similar in sizes depending on the room you were in.

3. The artworks are different because of the media choices used.  Some were paintings, while others were photos or sculptures.

4. Majority of the artworks had different frames from one another.  Many had plain black or gold frames, while others had elaborate gold frames with beautiful designs.

5. The art works were identified by a small card that was placed bellow each work of art.  I found this interesting because many of them were at knee length, making it harder to notice or seem less important.

6.  It varied in each room but in many, the frames were only inches apart from one another.

Picture #1

Edvard Munch

Two People: The Lonely Ones

Woodcut

1899

w557 x h395 mm

https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/two-people-the-lonely-ones-edvard-munch/GwGd2TaGklgGmA

The work of art is well done and the color choice makes for a great use of emphasis.  I see a man and a woman who are standing away from one another.  The man seems sad and is in dark colors, while the woman is bright and glowing.  I believe that the artist was trying to show how the woman is unavailable to the man and he is saddened.

Picture #2

Edvard Munch

The Scream

Painting

1910

91 x 73.5 cm

https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/the-scream-edvard-munch/eQFdRTFKDtVQ1A

The work of art is both beautiful and somewhat scary.  At first you get a calming feeling with the color choice the artist uses in the background but then once you notice the face of the person, you get an erie feeling.  Munch used color, emphasis, and texture throughout this work of art.  This particular work reminds me of a scary movie.  One where a girl is alone in the middle of nowhere screaming for help.  The artist is trying to say that what is important is now gone and dead and the things that shouldn't matter are taking over, such as materialistic items.

Picture #3

Edvard Munch

Shore with Red House

Painting

1904

w1090 x h690 mm



https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/shore-with-red-house/VAED9IbJ4_jNEQ

This work of art is my favorite by Edvard Munch.  It is a rocky shoreline leading into water with a red barn or house in the background. Texture and color was used throughout creating a beautiful shoreline of different shapes of rocks.  The red in the background really pops out and draws the viewers eye directly to it.  The movement is depicted very well in this piece of art.  This painting reminds me of going to the lake and searching for cool rocks with my family.  I believe the artist was trying to say that this was his happy place.

I thought that visiting The Munch Museum virtually was very interesting.  It was different having to view a gallery from a computer instead of physically being there but honestly if it wasn't for this particular situation I would have never seen or heard of this museum in Norway.  It was cool to see a place in a completely different country and to point out the similarities and differences of the way the museums look that I have visited in person.

Module #10 Art Making

I chose the first mask as inspiration because I thought it was beautiful and didn't look ugly like many of the other masks I came across.  I also liked it because it was blue, which is my favorite color.  I chose the second mask as inspiration because it resembeled a cat and I love animals so I thought that would be cool to try and incorporate in my own mask.  Lastly I chose the third masks, which is the one I ended up referring to with my own mask because it represents the day of the dead.  I have also loved these masks and skulls because I was born on November 1st and many celebrate this holiday on the first and second day of November.

I used both elements and principles within my mask.  I used both shape and color throughout with the many different shapes I incorporated to create the eyes and mouth as well as the design.  I also used eight different colors.  I used balance as well because of the symmetry I created on either side.  Variety and emphasis were also used between the many different shapes I used and the bright yellow around the eyes.  I feel that was where the eye is directed when viewing my mask.

In my opinion I thought this assignment was fun and creative.  The only issue I had was lack of resources and materials.  I had to stick with markers because I didn't have much to work with.  I also am not artistic so I stuck to the materials I know I could handle.  I started with pencil as well so I was able to erase when I made a mistake.  Overall I enjoyed creating my mask and had fun doing so.

Module #10 Video Review

Olmec Masks:

1. I learned that these types of masks were made out of green stone.  They began to create these masks 1500 years before aztecs were around.  The masks resembled human faces and usually created and burned inside a temple.  The masks used olmec features such as a baby face with stunning features.  Another interesting fact about these masks is that they are no larger than the palm of your hand.  They were glossed over and used as specific offerings to others.

2.  In my opinion I love the color of these masks the best.  The color of the stone that is used is beautiful.  This can relate to the readings because of what it represents without looking completely realistic or ideal.

Feathered Headdress:

1.  I  learned that these types of masks developed in Mexico City.  Cortez, a man who visited this area and discovered the headdresses sent the feathers back to Spain because he fell in love.  The feathers used are tail feathers from an intriciut bird.  Many types of birds were used as a luxury good during this time period.  Aztec art uses costumes and they became very important to the culture.  These masks were often very colorful and a blue turqiose color on the feathers was a sign of value.  Another thing I learned was that the feather workers who put these masks together were extremely valued and thought highly of.

2. In my opinion these masks were very unique.  Although I love animals and don't agree with harming them for beauty, I loved the way that they looked because of the colors the bird feathers contributed.  The video related to the readings because of the resources found to add on to the mask.

Bundu/ Sowei Helmet Masks:

1.  This masks represented several different ethnic groups.  This masks was worn on the top of the head and not directly on the face.  They were created to represent women, starting with young girls before they became women.  They would be used to cover the faces of young girls as they go through anitiation. White clay would cover their faces to make them less attractive to justify that they were in fact not girls but not quite women.

2.  In my opinion I liked how these masks represented no drama.  The masks resembeled women with their mouths close to symbolize not talking about drama, and small ears to show that they would not listen to it either.  I thought that was very unique and interesting.  This relates to the readings because they were not used on men to represent women, the young girls actually wore them to represent themselves in the making of becoming a woman.

Female (pwo) Mask:

1.  These masks represent the ideal woman.  They are worn by men who dance around.  Although it is worn by men, they are not representing themselves as the women but rather honoring them.  They are honored because of their beauty and ability to carry a child.  Thin wood is used to carve and wild hairstyles are added on.  The men who danced were very graceful and respectful.

2. In my opinion I think it is strange that men wear the masks that look like woman.  This relates to the readings because media is added on to the masks to create hair.  Many other types of masks do the same, some even using real human hair.

Mask (Buk):

1.  This type of mask has three registers.  One is a human face, the second is a representation of a bird and the third is feathers.  The masks are created out of turtle shells and bring multiple pieces together to create one large piece.

2.  In my opinion these masks were fascinating because of the turtle shells that were used.  They were liked by sailors and actively traded.  This relates to the readings because the pieces used were thought very highly of.  Turtle shells were cherished and showed a sign of respect.

Module #9- Video Review

The Great Wave

1. This video was about a Japanese man who created paintings up until he was 90 years old.  He aspired to live until he was 110 years old and produced many works of art.  Just during the time he was 90, he created 12 paintings.  This artist believed in eternal life and becoming in tune with the world around him.  His works of art reflected the idea of a well lived life but with a future that was unknown.  The characters in his paintings were mostly woodcutters and fishermen and they looked content with the world around them because of the smiles they wore.  They also had positive body language and naturalistic movement.

2. The video relates to the readings because the reading went into detail about why this artists work was called the Great Wave.  Hokusai's painting of the waves became one of the most famous works of art during this time and the most iconic Japanese work ever created.  The reading showed me how influential this artist was for Europe later on in the nineteenth century.

3.  In my opinion this video captured my attention the most.  I loved the fact that this man continued to make paintings into his late years and enjoyed himself.  I love that he aspired to have a great life and felt content.

Cassatt

1. This video showed a painting of a mother and a daughter.  The work of art was very intimate as the mother takes care of her daughter.  This type of work portrays realism and brings back familiar feelings or memories for many of it's viewers.  The artist focuses on the attention the mother is giving to her child which connects people because most have a mother that also cared for them or maybe did not care for them as a child.  Another interesting aspect of this artists work is the angles she puts her characters in.  They are looking at something as if it is in real life.

2. This video relates to the readings because of its importance with the age of enlightenment.  The enlightenment was a time when human beings believed that human society would improve.  Looking at a mother taking care of her daughter illustrates this idea because having that motherly love will be passed on, creating a better society in the long run. 

3. In my opinion this artist practiced the most realism in her works of art.  She positioned her characters in a way that would be done in real life.  It adds depth and understanding because 

Monet

1. This video was about an artist who liked to play with different shades of light.  He would do his paintings on a canvas from a row boat.  As the  light would change he would recreate the image with the different shades and colors.  His paintings showed that they were done over periods of time because of the built up layers of paint.  Once he discovered that the land he was painting with the trees was being sold and cut down, he paid the buyer to wait until he was finished with his paintings.  He represented the moment but built up over time.

2. The video relates to the readings because of the Neo- classicism.  The paintings were a new way to create the trees in the wooded area.  The artist expanded on the idea of painting realism and added his own twist.

3. In my opinion this artist created very beautiful paintings.  The colors he used were so elegant and would be my top choice if I were to purchase any one of the paintings done by the following artist.  

Manet

1. This artist did a lot of his work with mirror reflections.  He does this as a reminder that canvases are a way to reflect on the world and what is truly happening.  In one of the works of art there is a women standing behind a bar and her reflection is in the mirror behind her.  The reflection shows her very close to a man but when looking at her straight on there is no one near her.  Manet was trying to deny the viewer a closeness to the women.

2. The video relates to the reading because the reading gives a better understanding of what the art work means.  The reading explains modernity and what it means within a time, space, and an attitude.  The women in the art work portrayed all of these examples by the way she looked and what was in her reflection.

3. In my opinion the artist did a great job of getting his idea out to his viewers.  He wanted to make a point and tell a story.  I can relate to this work of art even though it is from a different time because I am a bartender.

Death of Marat

1.  The video was about an artist who made art during the French Revolution.  There was a man who was tricked by a woman and then murdered.  It was made known that this man had a very important role in the Revolution and lost his life because of it.  The artist also made a point to show how important rational thinking is over superstitious churches.

2. The video relates to the reading because David illustrates how his friend was murdered and compares it to the body of Christ.  His work would have an influence on many and his talents would be recognized and serve a purpose to its viewers.

3. In my opinion I did not like this work of art although it had a powerful message.  The artist became more famous than the man who was actually murdered.

Early Photography: Making Daguerreotypes

1. The video was about how photographs were made in the ei nineteenth century.  The studio was very popular and attracted all sorts of people.  There was a lot of skill and time that went into creating photographs, the process needed to be repeated multiple times.  Not only the memory but the extensive measures that were made in order to create photos are what made them so interesting and beautiful.

2. The video relates to the reading because the reading went into greater detail about how photography making evolved during that time.  The reading also talked about who discovered photography and where it originated.

3. In my opinion it was very cool to see how photographs were made before my time.  The process is not something we typically see as we are not aware of how photos have evolved, especially up until modern times.

Module #8- Video Review

1. I chose the Cataclysm: The Black Death Visits Tuscany video because it seemed relatable to what is happening in our world currently with the COVID- 19 virus.

2. I learned about the plague known as the black death that swept across central Italy during a time that was looking good and achieving peace.  In 1340 the economy began to collapse and it wasn't long after when the black death showed up and took out almost half of the population.  The plague was a new outbreak that was thought to have come from China and transported or carried by mosquitos and rats.  This plague was highly contagious and very dangerous, often fatal.  Villagers were already in a weakened state of mind, physically and mentally when the plague struck, causing many to lose their lives.  Parents were burying their children, living in pure fear.  During this time, if they went outside they would see nothing but dead bodies and sick people being carried around.  The plague had an enormous impact on the economy as well as a scarcity for food, since people who were supplying food, such as farmers, were sickly and dying.

3. The video related to the readings because the Renaissance came after the black plague.  After the black plague was gone things began to look up.  Life after death also became important which contributed to the Renaissance era because they took the chance to rebuild.

4. In my opinion, the film was actually interesting considering how I feel about what is going on with the COVID- 19 virus.  Although it may not be as serious as the black death, there are many relatable things that took place then and now.  People are dying, economies are crashing, and people are fearful.  The video added depth to the readings and art concept because when horrible things happen, especially death, we look to something or someone for guidance.  For many, churches and monuments are where we go to make peace and pray for better times.  Art is very influential throughout churches and hard times and has a huge effect on the population.

1. I also chose the Florence: Heart of the Renaissance video.  This was because of the great influence of art on the Renaissance.

2. I learned that Florence is known for its great works of art.  The statue named David was known as the Renaissance Man who encouraged it's people.  The Renaissance was the beginning of many things, but realism and humanism emerged during this time.  Artist would emphasize certain areas of the body to make a point or to tell a story.  Art defined the first century of the Renaissance and the architecture showed this throughout the era.  Another thing I learned about was the Baptist church that was created during medieval times where only those who were baptized were allowed to enter.  There was a hole in the top of the church for a long time because the technology was not advanced enough to create what they had envisioned. Once the Renaissance emerged so did the dome that covered the top of the Baptist church, creating a staple piece throughout the world.  The doors for this church took decades to create and gave a whole new dimension to art, known as depth.  The doors also expressed virtuality and vanishing points, making it look more realistic.  The Renaissance has influenced art and showed how art and science can work together to create grand beauty.

3. The video relates to the readings because of how proud and respectable the people of Florence were during the Renaissance.  It makes sense why such beautiful buildings and works of arts emerged from the city state.  Without the feelings of pride and individualism, humanism would have never emerged, which has been a huge influence on our art work in today's world.

4. In my opinion, the video was very factual and gave me a better understanding of the Renaissance.  The video also helped to articulate how much art and the Renaissance period influenced each other.  It is easier to understand when you actually see the works of art virtually rather than reading about them.

Module #8- Exploring Line

1. I am not a good at drawing so this was challenging for me.  I had to start over once because I did not like how my hand turned out and it was too much to erase.

2. I chose to use pencil because I feel more comfortable knowing that I can erase.  I usually don't like the way my drawings turn out so using something that won't erase would make me more nervous and frustrated.

3. It felt weird and unsteady creating my drawing with my non-dominant hand.  I can't do anything with my left hand so it was very difficult for me.  Even holding a pencil correctly in my left hand is challenging and I felt like it was hard to control.

4. When comparing my two drawings, the one I did with my dominant hand turned out a little better than the one I did with my non-dominant.  Surprisingly, the drawing I did with my non-dominant hand turned out better than I expected considering the lack of control I have with my left hand.

5. I probably wouldn't consider using my left hand to create artwork in the future because I am already terrible at drawing/ sketching with my dominant hand.  I would rather practice more with my dominant hand before trying to use my non-dominant hand.

Module #7

Shinto & Daoism Video

1. I learned that this religion has a lot to do with the ideas of confucius.  Although confucius is not considered or classified as a religion, many say it goes beyond that because it is a way of life.  Confucius was China's great philosopher and teacher.  He was born in 551 B.C.E. and died at 73 years old.  His teachings live on today and play a major role in China and Chinese history.  The idea is that you should not do to others what you would not want done to you.  These religions are huge on family loyalty, respect for their elders, and kindness to their children.  The way of Confucius is deeply routed in the mind, body, and soul of Chinese people.  This way of life is very important and can be worshiped at temples throughout the country.  Daoism is performed at Mount Tai where more than 6 million people tour every year.  This mountain takes 4 to 5 hours to climb and is filled with dozens of temples and shrines.  This is a place where worshipers can make offerings.

2. The video on Shinto and Daoism correlated with the reading, Neo- Confucianism and Fran Kuan's Travelers by Streams and Mountains.  This is because the reading discussed the Confucian ethics.  It also talked about how the philosophers found it useful to think in complementary opposites.  These so called opposites such as feminine and masculine and bright and dark are responsible for the processes that generate natural order throughout each religion.  Both the reading and the video also talked about the importance of nature and how majority of the rituals and worshiping was done in temples outside or mountain side.

3.  My opinion of this film is that it had a lot of information.  For someone like myself, who does not have any knowledge on Shinto or Daoism religion it was a lot to take in, especially because these religions branch off into different ideas.  There are also many places and rituals that go along with these religions.  In my opinion, I love what these religions have to offer.  The idea of a life full of harmony sounds exceptional and intriguing.

4. I chose to watch this film because it is something we do not regularly practice or learn about in the United States.  I thought it would be new and interesting, considering they practice something unlike any other religion.

Judaism Video

1. I learned that a synagogue is a house of prayer for people to practice and celebrate Judaism.  The synagogue's have great detail and hold remarkable stories of mostly tragedy and loss.  For this religion, independence was a must.  Long ago, the jewish community fought to the very end because they believed that God would not let them lose.  Once they were invaded, the members took it upon themselves to kill their families and themselves because there was no longer a reason to live if Judaism would not be passed on.  I learned that the western wall was a very popular place in Jerusalem for prayer and many Jewish people would gather there.  I also learned that Judaism settled in England where a new synagogue was established and worship has continued for over 300 years.  Lastly, I learned that Judaism is very similar to Islamic faith.  They both follow the five books of Moases and they come from the same father, known as Abraham.

2. There wasn't a lot of information from the readings that correlated with the video on Judaism.  One reading that I made a connection with was the reading about church architecture.  Judaism is practiced in a synagogue which has amazing architecture that they are very proud of.  Some of the synagogues even have original benches and furniture originated from Quakers.

3. My opinion of this film is that it had a lot of information.  It was broken up into sections which made it easier to follow.  Judaism is hard to understand because it is closely related to other religions and deciphering the differences can be challenging to those who are not familiar.  In my opinion, Judaism is the most strict religion, considering what the people believe they should do for their God.  Long ago they believed that they had nothing else to live for except for the teachings of this religion. 

4. I chose this video because I am not familiar with Judaism religion and there are many people who practice this in our society.  Although I feel that it is important to understand religion and other cultures, I am far behind in that aspect of life.  My family is mostly Catholic but after the third grade I chose to stop practicing my religion and never really educated myself on it again.