Author Archives: Scott Levine

The Intellectual Standards of Quality in The Power to Look

In The Power to Look the producer successfully exhibits clarity, breadth and relevance. The narrator exhibits clarity by very clearly explaining the importance of the visual qualities of artwork. She explains in a concise and understandable way how visual stimulation in art communicate the symbolism in art. The Yoruba crown has symbolic meanings that explain the artist use of a veil, the birds and the two faces on the front and back. The narrator clearly explains how this visual symbolism is interpreted. The video distinctly follows her narration to express her view point.

The producer also uses a wide breadth to explain the importance of visual stimulation and symbolism. She uses 4 very different media of art including photography, paintings and an African crown. She contrasts the different styles of art while showing that they all attain a certain significant context that can be visually observed. The life sized painting, Paris Street; Rainy Day  displays the importance of social class separation in the late 19 century Paris, while Cindy Sheman’s photography displays a critical view of 1960’s and 70’s film.

The narrator also remains relevant throughout the video. She describes the various artworks while the pictures are all consistent with her narration. She explains the characteristics of each piece of art in a way that ties them all together. She does not stray off of her point and uses the artwork shown in the video to direct our attention to the important specifics of each artwork. The video uses a close-up shot of American Gothic to explain the importance of details such as the subject’s facial expression and what they may be looking at off the canvas.

The producer of the video uses the standards of quality very well to make a well thought out video that clearly explains the importance of visual observation in art. It is done with a large breadth that uses different styles of art as evidence of that importance. It is made with consistent relevance through out the video keeping the viewer interested and focused on the point trying to be made.

Can Art Really Help You Analyze?

Amy E Herman, in her video How Art Can Help You Analyze, tries to explain how analyzing art can help a police officer or medical professional become better at analyzing a situation in their own professions.  Her argument is unconvincing. Training is extremely important in all professions, but training should be more centralized and specific. Studying the details of art will not help a doctor diagnose better or a police officer solve criminal investigations. Studying the specific area of study will train them to notice the specific details that they need.

According to Amy studying art and the details of art will train the brain to notice details completely unrelated to art. She does not offer any evidence that the brain’s ability to notice details of one sort will equate to an ability to notice details that are completely unrelated.  She claims that by studying Rene Magritte’s Time Transfixed, one can increase their ability to save lives. She does not provide examples of other artists, or other styles of art that she believes may also increase one’s skill. A doctor’s precious time would be better spent studying the intricacies involved in his or her specific field of study. A police officer’s time would be better spent studying criminal behavior and evidence techniques, rather than studying art.

Magritte’s Time Transfixed is quite abstract, but does she believe that less abstract art would also help hone skills to be detail oriented?  According to her logic, would a baseball player become a better hitter by studying art because they would notice the details of the incoming pitch? Would a player’s time be well spent studying art rather than practicing his or her swing? I find her argument to lack logic because she connects skills that do not relate to each other. Her argument lacks accuracy, as she completely neglects to offer any evidence of her theory. She lacks breadth because she only uses one piece of art to define her position and does not include any other art in her discussion. She also lacks fairness as her clear objective is to sell her books and her program and does not share any objectiveness in her argument.