Author Archives: Jenell Cancel

Discussion Questions #4

 

John Berger’s Ways of Seeing episode 4

Question 1:  Publicity influences consumers by playing with the individuals envious nature. By doing so you are making society’s daily consumer assume that their life would be better with this materialistic product. Publicity includes the factor of glamour; glamour when promoting a product creates an undeniable attraction to it that lures in the consumers into thinking I have to have it. Berger mentions, “Glamour is for everybody who believes they can be glamorous or perhaps more accurately, for everybody who finds that they cannot afford not to be glamorous”. Meaning by enticing the consumer you are making them believe it is possible for them to achieve the same glamour being publicized thus causing a transformation.

Question 2: The differences between oil paintings and publicity photography  are important because each aspect of these mediums maintains its own purpose. Publicity photography is made to inspire people to the way of life that they wish to attain versus oil paintings that portray what the owner already has which only adds more to their own perceptions. This reveals that the production of images for publicity can only provide a sense of what you haven’t obtain versus what you already have.

Question 3: If you know Natalie Portman, she is a visual spokesperson for most Dior products from perfumes to make up. One of the few commercials she has  done has her trying to promote a foundation sporting different, beautiful woman. These women then say in soft, alluring tones forever this and forever that. One even says forever perfect which honestly made me so mad. These models use their exotic features as a way to help push a product. Then get a celebrity to help back them as if to say this must be true.

Blog Post #3

Part 1

Question 1: The purpose of the essay is to educate us.

Question 2:  People who might be interested in the topic of the essay are those seeking information on how to properly format an essay.

Question 3: The ones seeking for the information would be most impacted by the essay.

Question 4: The reader would get a light explanation in the introductory paragraph on what the essay would be about.

Question 5: The reader needs to understand the thesis statement in order to understand the essay points.

Question 6:   I believe a hook has to entail raising  a series of questions, and beginning by quoting someone knowledgeable on the topic. Make it as engaging as possible.

Question 7: I would use an average standard of academic language in order for the reader to understand and use it for its educational purposes.

Question 8: Depending on the topic of the essay, it would set the tone for the rest of your essay. Remain to keep it targeted towards the audience you want to attract.

Part 2

Question 1: “Until you’re ready to look foolish, you’ll never have the possibility of being great.” ~Cher. In life you must take risks, even if it means falling flat on your face. Risks are something we all come into contact with from time to time. There are risks involved in gaining confidence, climbing the career ladder and creating growth within ourselves. Often, they can be quite frightening, but are often worth the venture to reach the other side.

Discussion Questions #3

John Berger’s Way of Seeing Episode 2

Question 1:  Berger mentions that, “Naked is to be oneself and to be nude is to be seen naked by others and yet not recognized for oneself”.  When he says this he means that through western art, women who are nude are objectified by an audience and is seen as a beacon of pleasure to her male viewers. Versus being naked, which to Berger means to be  without clothing, but the woman can be more herself without spectators. These differences are significant because the woman’s facial expression is changed to lure in viewers as nude forms. Paintings such as the Jewel Case painting by Guillaume Seignac  is the perfect example, because the woman’s face is contorted in a way of saying look at me or come here. (Image insert below)

Question 2: Western works of Art depict and defined different roles for men and women by showcasing the inequality of power. Men are seen as superior and dominate, treating the opposite sex as if they were only there to satisfy their needs.  The significance of this is to display the differences in roles for example, John Berger uses Adam and Eve to show how different men and women are treated and what each role they play entails.  I do believe these depictions influences are society today because though individuals  voice against the objection of women, many media outlets still do this. We are used as outlets to sell your cars, to promote your meals, lingerie, and even weight loss solutions. Some men still feel entitled to our bodies based on what is seen from outer sources. Some still feel we belong in a kitchen instead of being CEO of a multi million dollar corporation.

Question 3:  Berger explains that the significance of the mirror in paintings depicting women as a symbol to show the women who they are and what people think they look like.  In the episode he mentions how a women’s gaze is  almost always the same in paintings as if to respond with a beckoning call to serve the man looking at her. Often during this time, European painters depicted a woman naked to reflect their sexual view of them and attract more with the same perception. The difference though between now and then is that women aren’t forced into being somebody object of sexual desire.

Blog Post # 2

The image inserted above is Child with toy hand grenade in central park by Diane Arbus (1962). I learned that at first glance you notice the child’s facial expression and how instead of posing as a playful and angelic boy he is captured in an intense and frustrating moment. The entire image creates this twisted innocence where you have this beautiful little boy who exemplifies rage and nerves. In his right hand he is holding a very realistic looking toy grenade, while his left is clenched into a claw. Nothing is medically wrong with the boy, but his momentary reaction to the event of being photographed has come to be more than a portrait. The child embodies awkward tensions between childhood games, not-so-childlike violence, and greater turmoil that defined the late 1960s and early 1970s, a time when there was a war. Arbus sought to expose the underbelly of society, which is often overlooked or ignored. What becomes apparent is the more insistent, larger narrative of American sensibility, lost in the  1960s.  I admire Diane so much for this photograph because she created a series based on this one boy of him smiling and playing in the park and out of an array of options she chooses the most thought provoking one. Berger in his first episode talks about how reproductions of an artwork can be forms of information, explaining how its meaning can be modified without intention. Imagining Diane Arbus’ photograph being publicized throughout New York city, there had to be so many differences in opinion and perspective. Critic Susan Sontag wrote about Arbus in her book stating that she pictured people who are repulsive, pathetic, and pitiful. But despite this review it still remained one of one of the most iconic and impactful of its time.

John Berger’s Way of Seeing Episode#1

Discussion Questions #2

Question 1: When Berger says that seeing is not natural, but shaped by habit and convention, he was talking about perspective.  Perspective comes from the viewpoint from an individual  not just seeing the object or image itself, but our mindset on the image or object we are looking at. Our viewpoints are influenced by our environment, upbringing, age, gender, etc. The reason I write, it is because our perspective comes from many forms of standards created by society’s opinion on what is a social norm. Which is significant to how we see a work of art differently from everyone else. “Perspective centers everything on the eye of the beholder” ~ John Berger

Question 2:   Berger explains that  the camera has changed our sense of perspective by allowing the viewer another chance to see something in different ways. The device has changed our engagement with works of art by allowing it to be manipulated and made available in any size for any purpose. Berger further divulges into what the experience of being in the presence of an authentic artwork at a museum is in the terms of stillness and silence. When he says this he means that this experience goes beyond just what people teach about art. By seeing an artwork in a museum you are able to see the actual artwork in its purest form rather than seeing it on a screen or book where the image is manipulated to fit on a piece of paper to carry around or to see in the context of our own life.

Question 3: When Berger describes reproductions of paintings becoming a form of information he is saying that they can be used to convey, or narrate an idea to its viewer. Berger then mentions that talking with reproductions can manipulate an image into a different perspective by what comes before being handed the reproduction. These purposes include selling something, promoting an idea, or educating other individuals.

How Can Art Help Us Analyze?

Amy E. Herman’s ted talk expresses that through art analysis, it can help train those to enhance their communication skills by describing what they’re seeing .Observation and analyzation can be helpful in our day to day lives or even in very important situations. For example, Amy mentions a cop reporting for backup and describing the severity of the situation. But once the backup arrives, they notice that the scene isn’t what the officer described at all. This is what she means when she says that art can sometimes save lives . When you walk into a museum it is the most self aware place to be in, why because everyone is looking at certain works of art and analyzing the details to create it . They’re using their eyes to find its meaning, hidden message, or even just to enjoy its form of structure, some even formulate questions as to why something may look the way it does. In our daily routine, we rely on our eyes to get us through the day and our words to respond to others. But if we go back to a basic format of learning we would say in order to teach a child words we use a picture book which then lets a child understand what a specific item is to a specific word. we notice that when we point to a word with an image above it a child will then try to formulate the word and point to the image hinting that they see what you are doing and understand what that image is . So that later on when they see a truck rolling down the street, they will be able to identify it. We use art as an aid to teach us how to observe , identify ,and create descriptions so that we may progress in life and our careers.

why Art Matters Blog post #1

The three categories of intellectual standard shown in the video why art matters are depth, significance, and relevance.  It reminds us the importance and impact art has on our society and how we also tend to forget how art surrounds us. We are able to recognize the significance of art when it is mentioned by the first speaker that we live in a visual world. When you roam around New York City structures in awe, you don’t necessarily think of there purpose you just know that that building has rooms where people sit and either work or do there daily routines. We don’t think about who made these structures or what materials are used. We just know its purpose and don’t realize that architecture is a form of art.  Art has an importance we all seem to take for granted without it we wouldn’t have four walls or the notion of what the luxury of an apartment is.

Through Depth we realize how a piece of artwork can have a deeper meaning and express a different array of emotions for the one observing the piece and the one who created it. Another speaker mentions how it’s all about seeing beyond the first impression a piece gives you. How when you stop and take a breath you may notice a detail or two that you may have not seen before. For example, when looking at an abstract piece one may find it meaningless scribbles compared to what a portrait of someone may convey to them. But if given a closer look or by really absorbing its features it may pose some interesting questions. Like what was the artist feeling when they created this or what was they trying to communicate to their audience.

As we sit back and think about the relevance of arts purpose. We notice how art shapes the world we created, how trains function, how blueprints are made, and how the art matters movement impacts how we communicate with each other. Art matters to the people because it allows us to evolve our way of thinking by producing perspectives and allowing everyone to have an opinion of it. By allowing everyone to communicate different points and come together to create discussion.