Module 8 - Art History Videos

More Human Than Human:

1.    Explain why you selected the video you choose from the selection listed above.

This was the required video.

2.    For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned.

One concept that the video covered is that throughout the years the human body was the focus of many famous artworks, but the thing consistent with these artworks is that the images of the human body are for the most part unrealistic.  It compared the artworks and put them on human bodies and none looked like anything you would see on main street in anytown USA.  I really liked the segment about Egypt.  The video went from barren land to a fully built Egypt.  Egypt is most noted for it’s pyramids but they were also essential in art done in the image of human body.  From the early carvings and paintings of Egyptians on the walls to the fine art sculptures, they were always focused on the human body and compared to others their human body was close to scale of a regular human body.  The culture and it’s art was modeled after consistency.  The human shapes were pretty much always consistent, as was their pyramids.  Quite interesting was the human sculptures found in the ocean were so realistic that they seemed to be humans.  The scope of the muscles, the arms and legs and the hair and beards were all so close to human.  Even veins popping out of the arms.  I was impressed until the video started pointing out how there were imperfections to see, like the central channel of the spine being too deep.  These were, to me, nit picking but it was brought up to prove their point of unrealistic art. 

3.    How do the videos relate to the readings in the text?

Like the text, the video goes through how art grew up.  How the art of the early civilizations formed the art we have today. 

4.    What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to understanding of the readings and art concepts?

This film added depth to this module in that it not only covered the early forms of art and the different worlds they came from but it showed how it is relevant in today’s world.

Cairo Museum

1.    Explain why you selected the video you choose from the selection listed above.

I chose this video because I’ve always been fascinated by the art of Egypt and wanted to learn a little.  I liked it so much when I went to Las Vegas I stayed at the Luxor hotel to simulate living in a Egyptian pyramid.

2. For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned.

It was nice to hear the curator of the museum talk about the contents of the museum with such passion as he did.  It was amazing to see how much extra artifacts were in the basement not even being shown for display.  It was very odd to see a 3000 year old foot.  Just to see that was preserved for that amount of time is amazing.  The mummy room looked like a hospital nursery for mummies.  Really surprising was that the ancient Egyptians even created sarcophagus for a something as small as a shrew.  What they didn’t cover too much in the video but was interesting was how they brought the dug up artifacts back to life.  It seems like such an tedious job that I would have liked to see more of how they did it.  What I took most from this video is the fact that early Egyptians put a very large emphasis on art and visually appealing pieces.

3. How do the videos relate to the readings in the text?

This video was focused on the art of old Egypt.  It did reinforce that part of the reading from the text for sure.

4. What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to understanding of the readings and art concepts?

I enjoyed the film.  It was nice to see the inside of the museum and even the back rooms of it.  Also how the art got there was nice to see.

Module 7 - Architecture Videos

Video #1

Prairie Style:

1  For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned.

First concept is that there is a style called Prairie style that has nothing to do with the old West.  It was more about the horizontal lines of the structure and creating a natural feel to it.  Making a house seem to be a part of the landscape is something I would never consider.  But learning in the video I can understand the concept used to achieve this.  A concept covered in the video also is the term open spaces.  Open spaces were big in the prairie style in things that the rooms were large and they were not walled off from each other and seemed to flow into one another.

2   How do the videos relate to the readings in the text?

The video goes in line with the text in that it talks about the architect’s vision and why he chose to design the way he did.  How he used horizontal lines to visually stimulate the house.  How he took into consideration the sun’s movement into how the house is set up.  The text tells us the different types of structures there are but the video is taking those facts and showing how they come together to foster Lloyd Wrights vision.  It also talked about the types of things used to build the structures, cedar being one of them.

3 What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to understanding of Architecture?

It’s nice to see a film about one particular architect and how his style is viewed by other people and how it has a lasting impression.  I’m glad I picked this one only for the fact that I enjoyed his style, the houses were very unique and nice to look at.  I wouldn’t mind going for a walk through one.

4  Why did you choose the films that you watched?

I chose Prairies because the name Frank Lloyd Weber is a name I’ve heard of and thought it would be interesting to learn more about him. 

Video #2

Architecture: The Science of Design

1.    For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned.

Many architecture concepts were covered in this video.  One was how a structure has to be strong enough to not only withhold the buildings dead weight but also the living weight inside.  And it also has to withstand the weather outside, specifically the wind and how the building is allowed some sway back and forth to account for the wind.  They use simulations to try to predict how the wind will effect them and put the numbers through computers to figure out just how the building must be erected to handle it.  The section on the smart apartment was kind of funny because in today’s world with blue tooth technology you can turn things on and off with a smart phone and do much of what they talked about.  Lastly we learned about how concrete is made and it’s uses.

2.    How do the videos relate to the readings in the text?

This video was in line with the text as it covered the bigger skyscraper types of buildings and how they are built.  The section about the smart apartment was a glimpse into the future when the video was created.  And the book covered many architectural materials and the video went over many of them with a whole section on concrete.   Prior to both the book and this video I have hear of reinforced concrete but both sources covered what it means.  So now I know that it is concrete with bars and other reinforces buried within the concrete to make it strong and less likely to crack. 

3.    What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to understanding of Architecture?

This film did add depth to my understanding of architecture.  The book covered the theory of the different types and styles and the history of it but the video shows you how it’s put into action. 

4.    Why did you choose the films that you watched?

I chose this video because I wanted to learn a little more about the science part of architecture.  More of the how and why to support what I learned in the book.

Mod 6 - Peer Review

Questions and Topics for Your Blog Posting:

1. Hyperlink the Blogs you reviewed into your Blog
            http://julianereimer.blogspot.com/            http://ashleys-art200.blogspot.com/

2. When looking at Project #1: (Elements and Principles), did you agree with the element or principle the artist listed with the images? Did you see other elements and principles in the images?

            For http://julianereimer.blogspot.com/, I did agree that all of her images matched the element or principle that she intended.  There were some pictures that could have been used for other elements also but for the most part her creativity was great.

            For http://ashleys-art200.blogspot.com/, I like this one a little better than the first only because it included outdoor photo’s.  The photo’s were not labeled, or at least I didn’t see labels where I expected them, which made looking at these a little more interesting.  I tried to match the elements with the pictures and after some time was able to match an element to at least one picture. 

3. When looking at Project #2: Where there any images in the Peer Blogs the same as your own? If yes, what were they? Where the reasons the image was selected the same or different as your own?

            For http://julianereimer.blogspot.com/, none of the images were the same as mine.  For question A Juliane picked pieces that seem to be mostly based on the color of the painting that made an impression on her which was not what I did but color is definitely very important to me with art as color is appealing to the eyes.  For B, which she felt a connection with she connected with works that she compared to her personal likes and memories outside of art.  This was a nice angle that I did not think of.  And for C, what she’d like to know more about, her reasons were similar to mine in that it was the piece that made her want to know more about not just the subject but the artist. 

            For Ashley’s post, there once again was not any pictures that I chose.  Ashley’s was the one I got to pick, not the one above my name on the sheet, I chose hers because I like #20.  I thought about going back and picking someone who chose a piece of art I did but wanted to stick with my first choice.  I like her reasons for paintings that left an impression because she said they remind her of peace and tranquility, something that a painting has never done for me.  She chose her connection pieces because they, to her, reflect seasons of the she enjoys.  This is something I may have done because a painting should have some meaning to you and include your interests if you are to connect with it.  For the ones she picked to know more about, each mentioned colors.  It’s interesting that someone would want to know why a person used the colors they did only because different colors would make entirely different paintings.

4. Where there any images that your Peers selected that pique your interest now? If yes, what are they and what is your connection with them? What would you want to know about them?

            There was one that Juliane had on her Project #2 that I did interest me.  The one by Jackson Pollack.  The only reason it interests me is because it is an artist that I’ve actually heard of and I would like to know more about these types of artists.  Not because there are a name but because their fame has lasted through the years and I would like to learn, what it is about their works of art that make them so special.

            For Ashley’s there really wasn’t any choices the interested me because, with my lack of artistic taste, they all looked to me like pieces of art that would make fun puzzles to put together.  If I had to pick one it would be the one by Emile Pierre Blanchard, called Winter.  And only because it’s so simple and because of the walking path that seems to lead your eyes from the left to the right. 

5. What do you think about  the process of reading your peers reflection? Do you find this to be a valuable in your learning?

            This is a valuable tool in learning.  If we had not had this exercise we most likely would not have taken the time to look at what others are doing.  It’s nice to see a couple of things.  Since this is an online class it’s interesting to see how other people interpreted the assignment that was given to us.  To see how they answered the questions and worked through the assignment is helpful for future assignments.  It’s also interesting to see, in this particular case, what others chose to use to represent the assignment.  By that I mean what kinds of art was picked at the gallery and what kind of subjects were picked for the photographs.  Were they even close to what I did was my question.

6. Check your Blog and read comments posted by your Peers. Do you find their comments helpful?

                Overall I thought the comments were helpful.  But I do understand the comments may not be as critical as they could be from an instructor as it is kind of inherent that we, as fellow students, do not want to be harsh to other students.  The exercise as a whole was interesting in that we do get the perspective of someone other than our instructor.