Blog Video review

1. Explain why you selected each of the two videos you choose from the selection listed above?

For the first video entitled Buddhism I chose this video because I would like to know more about this religion. For the second video entitled African Art I chose this video because I wanted to know about the different kinds of African art and because I wanted to learn more about the mask that we as a class had to create.

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

For the Buddhism video:

1. Borobudur is the largest Buddhist shrine in the world
2. Buddhism splitted into two groups which are hinayana and mahanyana within 100 years of Buddha's death
3. Tanha is the key to buddhist teachings

For the African Art video:

1. oldest existing art in Africa is founded in drier regions
2. Nigerian bronze castings date back from the 15th century
3. Primitive art is influenced by Picasso and modernist painters

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

For the first video entitled Buddhism, it relates to the text because it talks about Buddha's live and talked about the eightfold path of moral and ethical behavior. The eightfold path consists of knowing the truth, saying nothing to hurt anyone, practice meditating, control your thoughts, resist evil, free your mind of evil, work for the good of others and respect life. For the second video entitled African Art, it relates to the text because it talks about the mask and the African culture in general.

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

My opinion of the films is that it has done a good job with things that I did not know. For example in the video entitled Buddhism, I had no idea that there were two places in the state of New York that had a Buddhist temple, or one that looks like it (one in Chinatown, NY and the other in Carmel, NY). Also in the Buddhism video, it talks about the Great Stupa and how there is art and architecture on every step. In the video entitled African Art it helped me understand ancient art of Africa and the meaning of it which is good luck for hunting.

MASK

Three masks:

Name of the Mask: TekeReason for choice: I chose this mask because I like the fact that it has several colorings on it and circles and triangles.Description: This is a moon-shaped mask that are worn by the members of the Kiduma which is a secret society that does social celebrations and rituals. This mask is created with triangle and circles and are colored with clay and paint.Analysis: The elements used in this mask are shapes, forms and texture. The principles used in this mask are pattern and contrast

Name of Mask: KweleReason for choice: I chose this mask because I like the two large horns that are displayed on the mask's headDescription: Kwele mask are known to protect against the power of witchcraft with a ritual called beete which is a ritual that purifies spirits. Kwele mask tend to have two large horns, often painted with white kaolin clay and have either a very small mouth or no mouth at all.Analysis:  The elements used in this mask are value, shapes and forms. The principles that are used in this mask are patterns

Name of the mask: PendeReason for choice: I chose this mask because I like the uniqueness it has which are horns coming out from the sides of the mask and the triangles on the face.Description: The Pende mask is a special mask consisting of human and buffalo features. The Pende mask design consists of triangular patterns which are often painted with dark and light pigments in order to create a checkerboard like appearance Analysis: The elements that are used in this mask are shapes, forms and color. The principles that are used in this mask are patterns, contract and emphasis
Sketches:

Final mask

Questions

1. Explain how you used the elements and principles in your finished mask?

For the elements, I've used shapes because I think that is what most of the African mask consist of and it makes the mask look better in my opinion. For the principles I've used patterns because its another thing that I've constantly seen on African mask and I enjoyed doing the pattern on the horns of the mask. 

2. Share your opinion of your finished mask and what you thought about creating the mask

My opinion of my finished mask is that it came out pretty well, I just wish I didn't use that much coloring for it. I also wished I used a different type of media such as water colors or crayons because the color pencils that I was using was not that good of quality. 

MODULE NINE- BLOG VIDEO REVIEWS

Videos I chose:
1. Drawing of Michelangelo
2. Albrecht Durer: Image of a Master


1. Explain why you selected each of the two videos you choose from the selection listed above?

The reason why i chose the first video is because i recognized the name Michelangelo and I wanted to learn more about his creations and what inspired him to do these creations. For the second video, I chose this one because it has the word "master" in it and I am curious to see what this "master" is going to show me in the video.


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

The video entitled The Drawings of Michelangelo 
1. Michelangelo created crucifixion drawings which were used to explore his conflicting feels consisting of hope and dread
2. Michelangelo designs the Medici family church of San Lorenzo during 1516
3. Michelangelo designs the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel during 1508


The video entitled Albrecht Durer: Image of a Master
1. Visual expression was given to Germany by Durer and he did this by mass printing his work to support Martin Luther
2. Durer is considered to be the first true landscape artist
3. Durer shows Germany Italian Renaissance


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

When it comes to the first video entitled The Drawings of Michelangelo, it relates to the text because throughout the book that is required for this class, it shows various works from Michelangelo such as Michelangelo's David statue. When it comes to the second video entitled Albrecht Durer: Image of a Master it relates to the text because the book also shows artwork from Durer such as the aging statue named Donatello


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

My opinion for both of the videos is that they were pretty good to understand. For the first video entitled The Drawings of Michelangelo, it helps me understand the readings and art concepts by showing Michelangelo's techniques which are being used such as learning about the anatomy which was used to create realistic forms of the statues created. For the second video entitled Albrecht Durer: Image of a Master it help me understand the readings and art concepts by showing ways which explains to us how much detail is truly needed in order to create the aging process when it comes to artwork.

EXPLORING LINES

Drawing

Questions

1. What was it like using your hand as a subject matter for a drawing?

It felt very weird because I do not draw with my left hand, since I am a righty when it comes to writing and drawing. This project also reminded me of my days back in elementary and middle school because we were always taught as a child to use our hands to make the easiest turkey ever for Thanksgiving. 

2. What media did you select pencil or charcoal? why?

I decided to use a pencil because that was the only thing that I have in my room at this time. I also prefer pencil because it is easier to use and it is less messy than using charcoal.

3. How did it feel to create a drawing with your non-dominant hand?

It felt very weird and I wasn't happy with the result because it was too sloppy.

4. Compare and contrast your final drawings. Do you think they were successful  studies?

It shows with practice the more you draw something whether it is with your dominant hand or non dominant hand you will get better with it, so yes I do think this study was successful.

5. Would you consider using your non-dominant hand to create artwork in the future?

The only time I would use my non-dominant hand for any type of writing or drawing is when it is mandatory or something bad happens to my dominant hand because I like to be neat at everything I do, so to answer the question I would never try to use my non-dominant hand for creating artwork. 

VIDEO REVIEWS

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

I chose the video entitled Late Gothic Art and Architecture: England 1400-1547 because I love how the Gothic Artstyle looked and I wanted to learn more about the style of artwork. The other videos on the list by looking at their titles did not interest me in anyway. 

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

Key concepts from the video: More Human than Human

 1. A statute that is 25,000 years old can be valued at $60 million as of now

 2. Baby chicks are stimulated by their mother's beak if there is a red dot on it

 3. Egypt was considered a full civilization by 5000 BC and Egyptians used images of the body inside of their artwork

Key concepts from the video: Late Gothic Art and Architecture: England 1400-1547

 1. When King Henry VIII reign ended during 1547, the Middle Ages finished

 2. The concept of hell, heaven and purgatory are very significant in the Briton's lives

 3. During the Middle Ages, the church functioned as a social center and a place to worship

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

For the video entitled More Human Than Human, it relates to the text by stating that usually for the most part, statues are seen as being unrealistic. The video also relates to the text by describing a new way to create statutes. In the video it talks about an artist named Polyclitus dividing the body into quadrants and made the statute as if it was moving and inside the textbook one piece of artwork is that follows this is Laocoon Group. For the second video entitled Late Gothic Art and Architecture: England 1400-1547 it relates the to the text by showing examples of gothic architecture such as the castles and houses. 

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

For the video entitled More Than Human, it adds depth to my understanding of art by explaining the transition between unrealistic like sculptures and realistic such as dividing the body into parts in order to make the body seem as if it is moving. For the video entitled Late Gothic Art and Architecture: England 1400-1547, it gives me a better understanding of why the Gothic architecture looks the way it does.

blog reviewing peer responses to artwork

Blogs used

blog #1: http://www.variousartwork.blogspot.com/

blog #2: http://ginaisart.blogspot.com/

Questions

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

blog # 1: Yes I do agree with the elements and principles the artist used in her slideshow and I see the elements being used even though the pictures are not labeled. If someone that was not familiar with the elements and principles of art were to see this slideshow, he or she would be confused

blog # 2: Yes I do agree with the elements and principles the artist has used in her slideshow. For one of her pictures (the colored element) with the salt water taffy I've noticed that unity can be another principle. 

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

blog # 1: Yes, I see two pictures that are similar to mines; these pictures are Morgenthau Plan and Mademoiselle Fiogre in the Ballet La Source. The Morgenthau Plan photo had the same reason for being selected; the reason is due to the fact that we were both able to make a connection with it

blog # 2: Yes, I see one picture that is similar to mines and that one is the Morgenthau Plan painting. The reason for picking this picture is very different from my reasoning. The blogger explains that this picture reminds her of growing up in the countryside; I cannot relate to this because I was born and raised in New York City.

3. 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 are a few pictures that pique my interest as of now. The first one is Francais Clemtano's Gamma because it looks so plan, yet it is well known. I don't have a connection with this painting, I just would like to know why it is considered to be famous. The second one is Lee Bontecou's Untitles and this is another piece of work that I do not have a connection with, but I would like to know more about it. This piece of work is unique because for canvas and wire to be used is really unique. 

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

In general reading my peers reflections was a good thing because it allowed me to see others ways in which a picture can have particular elements or principles towards it. The only thing that I found valuable from participating in this is a better understanding of what some of the elements and principles are for certain pieces of work.

5. Check your blog and read comments posted by your peers? Do you find their comments helpful?

I have not received any comments on the first two projects prior to posting this blog posting.