http//www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDjjR_EX1Bk&feature=related
For this next art essay I wanted it to have to do with art in a video and I came across something very interesting on Youtube.com. There are a series of 2D animation videos that correlate with some songs by Radiohead, and the first one of the series is based off of the song "Trans-Atlantic Drawl." The animations themselves are (I believe purposely) mediocre, but the way the artist created the plotline to correspond perfectly to the music, it almost seems like the songs were made for these animations, not the other way around. These videos don't offer any dialogue, so the artist is responsible for creating a plotline that viewers are able to understand without the need of words to describe the events, which he does very well. The beginning of "Trans-Atlantic Drawl"starts off sounding very chaotic and almost has a siren-y sound to it which makes listeners feel somewhat uneasy or restless to begin with, which coincides well with what the character is going through. The artist starts this "episode" off with showing the main character (who is drawn with a face that seems permanently worried) in four different screens waking up at 7:00 and going through a quick montage of his burned out daily routine repeatedly, as the rhythm and music of the song suggests. In the middle of the song, it cuts to being a very solemn tune, slow and almost conveys a mood of death. During this time the artist decides to cut to a memory of losing the girl that the main character loves that seems to be haunting him throughout the first half of the song. The transition worked absolutely perfectly, and was very creative; as a viewer I had no idea what could have possibly connected the first half of the song to the second half, them being two completely different sounds. This form of art is very interesting to me because there are so many things that the artist needs to understand and capture in his or her animation. In this case, there aren't many words in "Trans-Atlantic Drawl" so viewers don't have to try to understand what the words of the song are and how they connect to the sound of the music as well as what the story of the animation is about. Also, the correlation of the music and the animation work almost dependently on one another, because if you just watch the video without the sound, you lose all of the effect the music has on what the animation is trying to convey. When you just listen to the song, your brain gets scrambled about the countless meanings it could have. I look forward to researching more on animations in vidoes that are choreographed with music because there are so many possibilities of what could be portrayed from them.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Shift Happens
For my final idea essay I felt it would be appropriate to present a video/slide show that has a whole bunch of ideas thrown in it. Basically this video is trying to make those in the U.S. understand just how fast the world is moving and how we are not quite as great as we think we are. On the one hand this is an eye-opener that is designed to make you think and ponder the issues that the video brings up. On the other hand though, I feel that this video is trying to instill a sensation of fear because the meaning of these phenomena is so unknown. This presentation uses aesthetics to prove a point; that the world is changing and, as the title states, shift happens. By using visual representations of the issues at hand they are able to personalize the message so that it has a specific aesthetic affect on the individual.
The real clencher is at the very end when it begs the question “So what it all mean?” and gives no answer but instead leaves you to find out for yourself.
Art Essay #4 - Emily Dickenson #372
After great pain, a formal feeling comes -
The Nerves sit ceremonious, like Tombs -
The stiff Heart questions ‘was it He, that bore,’
And ‘Yesterday, or Centuries before’?
The Feet, mechanical, go round -
A Wooden way
Of Ground, or Air, or Ought -
Regardless grown,
A Quartz contentment, like a stone -
This is the Hour of Lead -
Remembered, if outlived,
As Freezing persons, recollect the Snow -
First - Chill - then Stupor - then the letting go -
I studied this poem last semester with Dr. Fuller in Major American Writers and I fell in love with Dickinson’s poetry. This poem in particular resonates strongly each time I read it. The way she incorporates dashes implies much more meaning than if she had simply used commas or periods. For example, the dash at the end of the poem can signify different things to different readers based on how their experience or how they read the poem. Throughout the poem Dickenson describes her grieving process and at the end of the poem the reader could interpret chill as the chill of death and “the letting go” as the ultimate release in death. However it could also be interpreted as a chilling of the heart, the numbness that comes after severe pain, and the eventual letting go of those feelings and moving on. If she had used a period at the end of the poem I would interpret the ending only as death, but because of her use of the dash the poem has greater depth. There is also great power in her imagery. At the beginning of the poem she calls the heart stiff, which is still living but uncomfortable. Then the next image is wooden, again still alive but not motile like the heart. It then turns into quartz, a rock without life. Then it becomes the “Hour of Lead” a substance harder and more devoid of life than all the other images. Throughout the poem her images become harder and with each transition they loose more life. This poem has great worth in that so much is left up to the reader. Dickenson describes her experience with grief, but she does it using such abstract terms that anyone can interpret it to fit their own experience. Pain and grief are relatable experiences and this poem enables a deep connection to the reader because of this common experience. I find comfort when reading this poem in some ways because I usually interpret the ending as a release of hope. No matter what kind of pain I may be experiencing, I am not alone and there is hope for the future.
The Nerves sit ceremonious, like Tombs -
The stiff Heart questions ‘was it He, that bore,’
And ‘Yesterday, or Centuries before’?
The Feet, mechanical, go round -
A Wooden way
Of Ground, or Air, or Ought -
Regardless grown,
A Quartz contentment, like a stone -
This is the Hour of Lead -
Remembered, if outlived,
As Freezing persons, recollect the Snow -
First - Chill - then Stupor - then the letting go -
I studied this poem last semester with Dr. Fuller in Major American Writers and I fell in love with Dickinson’s poetry. This poem in particular resonates strongly each time I read it. The way she incorporates dashes implies much more meaning than if she had simply used commas or periods. For example, the dash at the end of the poem can signify different things to different readers based on how their experience or how they read the poem. Throughout the poem Dickenson describes her grieving process and at the end of the poem the reader could interpret chill as the chill of death and “the letting go” as the ultimate release in death. However it could also be interpreted as a chilling of the heart, the numbness that comes after severe pain, and the eventual letting go of those feelings and moving on. If she had used a period at the end of the poem I would interpret the ending only as death, but because of her use of the dash the poem has greater depth. There is also great power in her imagery. At the beginning of the poem she calls the heart stiff, which is still living but uncomfortable. Then the next image is wooden, again still alive but not motile like the heart. It then turns into quartz, a rock without life. Then it becomes the “Hour of Lead” a substance harder and more devoid of life than all the other images. Throughout the poem her images become harder and with each transition they loose more life. This poem has great worth in that so much is left up to the reader. Dickenson describes her experience with grief, but she does it using such abstract terms that anyone can interpret it to fit their own experience. Pain and grief are relatable experiences and this poem enables a deep connection to the reader because of this common experience. I find comfort when reading this poem in some ways because I usually interpret the ending as a release of hope. No matter what kind of pain I may be experiencing, I am not alone and there is hope for the future.
Art Essay 2
Many artists are inspired by nature, by feelings and emotions, or by world events; some artists are inspired by art. My cousin and I were talking about what television shows we watch, and she was telling me that she loves to watch fashion shows. This triggered a thought in my mind: I wonder if some designers are inspired by actual artworks? I began researching and found a number of clothing lines that designers create based on some art forms and artworks. Some designers create clothing that is inspired by oragami, with having harsh, straight lines that mimic the folding of the paper. Others are inspired by paintings from famous painters such as Pablo Picasso. The fact that a designer is able to accomplish finding an artwork that they are inspired by and capture everything that artwork has to offer in a completely different medium is amazing to say the least. Those designers need to mimic the movement, the style, the texture, and the meaning the painting has all in an item of clothing. The photograph of the woman next to the penguin oragmi is wearing a dress that was created by a designer who is obviously inspired by the artform of oragami. Granted, the dress is completely impractical, but the designer does the dress justice in terms of it imitating the oragami piece.
The next item of clothing that I noticed was very well designed in regards to the artwork that inspired it was this dress. Pablo Picasso, the artist that painted this artwork, was well known for his abstract way of expressing himself onto a canvas. The designer of this dress did an adequate job of mimicing Picasso's style of using thick, bold lines in jagged ways all around the dress, just as the painting maintains. Also, it is apparent that the dress has no evident color scheme that seem to match, just as Picasso used in his painting. The colors Picasso decided to use in this painting seem very random and disorderly, just as the dress conveys.These two dresses are two of many forms of art that were inspired by another's artwork. The designers used their talent in fashion to be able to capture the beauty their inspired artwork held, and created their own art from their inspiration.
Art Essay 3: Claude Monet - The Path at La Cave
One of the first special event art exhibits I went to was the traveling collection of Claude Monet at the art museum in Raleigh. As soon as I entered the exhibit I knew I loved his work. The exhibit was designed so it displayed his work chronologically, so when you entered the exhibit you saw his early beach paintings. As I continued through I saw his style develop into what he is famous for today. There was one very large painting alone on a wall separating one section from another. It seemed curious because it was not one of his most famous works. It is actually one which is, many times, overlooked by those who study Monet’s art. This is understandable because at first glance the painting seems simplistic. There are lots of different colors, beautiful shading and brush strokes, and many different textures. But there is no real subject or focal point. As I have a tendency to do, I stood and stared at this painting for a long time, and after a while I discovered its value. It’s purpose is convey a feeling, and in person it has the ability to convey many different feelings. If you look at the painting from the left, the path seems endlessly long and the hill seems to block the sea. The impending journey seems agonizingly long. When looking at the painting strait on the path is friendly and open. The journey is still impending but not daunting. And when standing on the right side of the painting, I felt like I could almost see the ocean at the end of the path through the trees. So much of the art that is held in high esteem is that which conveys a subject or a specific meaning. But Monet’s ability to convey these feelings through flat canvas is incredible. I have a copy of this painting over my bed at home (with the ticket stub of the exhibit stuck in the corner of the frame), and while it’s not the same, I smile every time I see it. It remains one of my favorite paintings because it was one of my first truly personal experiences with art. Since visiting this exhibit, I have loved Monet, as well as many other impressionists. Whenever I visit art museums I am drawn to artists such as Monet, Degas, Manet, Pissaro and Renoir. Their focus on color and movement holds a beauty for me that no other style has yet to top.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Art Essay #4: Opportunity by Bobby McFerrin
So I really struggled deciding what to write about for this final art essay. It was either Bobby McFerrin's Opportunity and Naturally 7's Wall of Sound (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5MkNOXSdkA). Both are incredible songs (and both prime examples of the vast possibilities of the human voice) but I think that the song and music video of Opportunity make it a more interesting piece of art.
So first of all if you are having trouble remembering who Bobby McFerrin is, he is the guy that wrote Don't Worry Be Happy (also a very impressive song, he sings all the vocal parts! you can go here to mess with them: http://bobbymcferrin.com/dont-worry-be-happy-song/).
Okay now to the piece. First I want to talk about the song. It would be probably the hardest song to sing in modern music. Forget Freddie Mercury (from Queen), Maurice White (from Earth, Wind, & Fire), or any fantastic singer because Bobby McFerrin tops all of their ability, especially on this track.
In this song Bobby McFerrin spans 4 octaves in the melody. The two biggest leaps in the song come at 2:58 and 3:41. Both of these are vocally impossible for most people, especially if you want it to sound at all decent. The lyrical content itself, though, doesn't make a lot of sense to me. The story seems to be interesting but it's so broken up by the vocal ad-libs that I can't really follow it. The lyrics don't matter to me though. I almost never say that but when you have the kind of vocal creativity that Bobby McFerrin does the lyrics don't matter. The melody is so creative that it seems sporadic but it does follow an obvious structure. The song itself is a musical masterpiece (although it might not be the most catchy tune in the world). I'm not sure that anyone could disagree but please offer any arguments you can think of :)
Next, the video. Okay so let me say that any guy who can make an entertaining music video with no background footage and just jeans is pretty talented. Throughout the video you see pieces where Bobby is being filmed by someone else and he is holding a video camera. Any close up in the video then, I would assume, is Bobby video-taping himself while he jumps around. Because of the simplicity of the video, it becomes a performance. Most music videos have a story and the lead singer pops up here and there, but they never perform in their videos. I love how McFerrin has stripped down (no pun intended) the video to let his performance enhance the music.
The video also adds a playful quality to the song which can't be found in the lyrics. The story (although hard to follow) seems to have a dark quality to it even though he is talking about opportunities. The video helps to bring out the joy in the song to balance out the dreariness of the story.
As a whole this music video makes a complete, impressive, and entertaining piece of art. The musicianship and performance ability is through the roof. I hope you guys enjoy the piece. I will also include a couple more links if you want to see more of the talented 10-time grammy winner that is Bobby McFerrin.
-Allijah
Drive: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qOQHB_V2g0
Wizard of Oz: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1mvfzoHm9g
Blackbird (beatles cover): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37DHXrFfwrE
Bobby McFerrin on the sing off: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwB9SBTQVY4
Ave Maria: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgvJg7D6Qck&feature=related
Science thing on the Pentatonic Scale: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ne6tB2KiZuk
Don't Worry Be Happy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-diB65scQU
Friday, April 22, 2011
Art & Propaganda
Throughout much of Western history, art has been used by leaders, governments, and political parties as propaganda to reinforce and spread their ideology, sometimes in ways that the artist may not have intended. This almost always has consequences for the work's connotation thus forward.
One such work of art that exemplifies this usage is Symphony No. 7 by Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich. At the time, this work was believed to have been composed during the Nazi siege of Leningrad in 1941. This siege lasted almost 900 days and over 500,000 civilians lost their lives. The work quickly gained popularity as a patriotic statement of resolve for the people held under siege in the city of Leningrad and as a piece of propaganda for the fight against fascism in the West. As such, it was publicly performed 62 times during the 1942-43 concert season. In recent decades, however, some speculation has arisen among musicologists that Shostakovich may have actually begun work on the symphony as a quiet statement against Stalin’s totalitarian regime, but was forced to alter the piece's motivation and aim when war broke out.
If this is true, it creates some interesting complications surrounding this particular work. Today, the piece is often viewed as a tribute to the citizens of Leningrad and as a message that hope can prevail in the face of desperation. Whatever the true motivation was for the composition of this piece, it has transcended the tumultuous times of its birth and still continues to speak to audiences around the world.
A darker and more extreme example (from the same time in history) of how the usage of art as propaganda can alter its connotation to subsequent generations is the Nazi usage of the Swastika. As we touched on in class, this symbol has been used for thousands of years by different civilizations and religions to represent life, good luck, and strength. The Nazis adopted it for its nationalistic meaning and to represent the struggle of the Aryan race. I think it's fair to say even when viewing works of art produced prior to the 20th century that contain a Swastika, such as architecture, sculpture, paintings, etc, it is hard to dismiss the thoughts and feelings that this symbol now connotes. While this is unfortunate given the symbol's ancient history and once positive meaning, it now serves as a reminder that we must never let the tragedies of the past be repeated.
One such work of art that exemplifies this usage is Symphony No. 7 by Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich. At the time, this work was believed to have been composed during the Nazi siege of Leningrad in 1941. This siege lasted almost 900 days and over 500,000 civilians lost their lives. The work quickly gained popularity as a patriotic statement of resolve for the people held under siege in the city of Leningrad and as a piece of propaganda for the fight against fascism in the West. As such, it was publicly performed 62 times during the 1942-43 concert season. In recent decades, however, some speculation has arisen among musicologists that Shostakovich may have actually begun work on the symphony as a quiet statement against Stalin’s totalitarian regime, but was forced to alter the piece's motivation and aim when war broke out.
If this is true, it creates some interesting complications surrounding this particular work. Today, the piece is often viewed as a tribute to the citizens of Leningrad and as a message that hope can prevail in the face of desperation. Whatever the true motivation was for the composition of this piece, it has transcended the tumultuous times of its birth and still continues to speak to audiences around the world.
A darker and more extreme example (from the same time in history) of how the usage of art as propaganda can alter its connotation to subsequent generations is the Nazi usage of the Swastika. As we touched on in class, this symbol has been used for thousands of years by different civilizations and religions to represent life, good luck, and strength. The Nazis adopted it for its nationalistic meaning and to represent the struggle of the Aryan race. I think it's fair to say even when viewing works of art produced prior to the 20th century that contain a Swastika, such as architecture, sculpture, paintings, etc, it is hard to dismiss the thoughts and feelings that this symbol now connotes. While this is unfortunate given the symbol's ancient history and once positive meaning, it now serves as a reminder that we must never let the tragedies of the past be repeated.
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