The Main Forms of Visual Expression - Essay Example

Art Appreciation Essay 1) Explain the main forms of visual expression of one chosen time in history and how the art contributed to society culturally and historically. The later part of the eighteenth century saw the ushering in of the Industrial Revolution which commenced in England and rapidly spread throughout Western Europe and North America. The revolution encompassed a shift from a predominantly handcraft/agrarian society to one by dominated technology and industry (machine manufacturing, etc.). Most importantly, industrialization gave rise to a unique urban way of life. According to David Jaffee in his thematic essay “America Comes of Age: 1876-1900”( In Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/amer/hd_amer.htm April 2007): “The rise of the metropolis in the nineteenth century created a distinctive urban culture. Millions moved from the countryside and overseas to become city dwellers; the urban population grew from 6 million to 44 million between 1860 and 1910.” The advent of the Industrial Revolution and this “distinctive urban culture” had a profound influence upon all aspects of society. With urbanization on the rise, in particular due to the heavy influx of the immigrant from Europe, much emphasis was placed on educating the masses about culture via the visual arts in the United States. The four notable forms of visual expression which reflect the impact of this period of time were in the genres of painting/drawing, architecture, arts and crafts as well as photography. The joys of every day life and the rise of the middle class brought on by industrialization/modernization embodied the Industrial Revolution and this could be seen via impressionistic paintings/drawings. Impressionism was “a light, spontaneous manner of painting which began in France as a reaction against the restrictions and conventions of the dominant Academic Art.....The hallmark of the style is the attempt to capture the subjective impression of light in a scene.” (http://www.artcyclopedia.com/history/impressionism.html). North American artists influenced by the movement were John Singer Sargent, Julian Alden Weir, Mary Cassatt, and John Henry Twachtman to name a few. Light, everyday life, outdoor settings, brushstrokes, weather/ atmosphere were the core elements of the impressionistic art style. Architecture,” the art and technique of designing and building, as distinguished from skills associated with construction” (Encyclopedia Britannica 1992-2002) was another prominent form of visual expression. Industrialization drastically altered infrastructure and appearance American cities. The architectural designs/structures of the time manifested this new urban culture via steel frame constructions - sky scrapers, civic monuments, grand mansions, etc. Daniel H. Burnham, Louis H. Sullivan, and Frank Lloyd Wright emerged on the scene with their innovative styles. The American landscape served as the impetus for their designs with a departure from the avant-garde or aesthetic to a more modern/geometric designs. Although initially viewed as not in sync with the signs of the time, the Arts and Crafts Movement catapulted on the scene as well. Founded by British poet/artist William Morris, the movement’s focus was on promoting the beauty and importance handcraftsmanship (metal work, jewelry, furniture, textiles, woodwork, wallpaper, etc.). The useful practicality of handcraftsmanship in an industrialized society was the subject of much debate – individual creative talent vs. modernity and industry. With the aid of Morris, Charles Eastlake, Rennie Mackintosh, Gustave Stickey and a host of others, the movement spread and gained wide acceptance throughout England and North America. Alfred Stieglitz, Paul Strand, Charles Sheeler and Edward Steichen contributed to photography being accepted as a viable form through which visual language could be expressed. The precursor to modern film, photography sought to expose the negative/evil aspects of society – the devastation of war, the big city slums, they terrorism of lynching, etc. 2) Discuss how an artist may express his or point of view by explaining the content, concept, and style of art used during another chosen time of history. Content, concept, and style are the cornerstones of all forms of visual arts. They are defined, according to ArtLex Art Dictionary, as follows: “concept – an idea, thought, or notion conceived through mental activity; content – what a work of art is about; its subject matter; style – an artist’s characteristic manner of expression.” Historically, Japanese art - in terms of these three components- was profoundly influenced by outside cultures (the West, China, etc.) due to numerous invasions. Ancient/indigenous Japanese art could be seen via the Tosa School of Japanese painting. This style of painting originated in the 15th century and can be traced back to Japanese painter Fujiwara Yukihiro. Yukihiro was the governor of the Tosa and went by the professional name - Tosa Shoegun. The school became official and gained prominence under the tutelage of Toasa Mitsunobu, who was an official painter for the imperial court. The Yamato-e concept was a dominant feature of the Tosa School paintings. Decorative and secular with a tradition for brilliant color, the Yamato-e “is a calculated decorative style and is essentially an art of illustration, at its best unequaled in its vigorous, flowing compositions. Placement is the overriding consideration.” (1994-2002 Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.) The style was flat and reflected great attention to detail and fine linework. Subject matter centered on nature and the members of the Japanese aristocratic court. Transport Tosa Yukihiro or Tosa Mitsunobu to the 20th century - what medium would best express their point of view? Flat, fine linework and brilliant color are elements associated with animation and/or graphic arts. Animation consists of a “rapid display of a sequence of images of 2-D artwork or model positions in order to create an illusion of movement.” ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Animation). This experimental mode of filmmaking commenced in the 1890s and quickly gained momentum with the aid of Walt Disney who professionalized animation and catapulted it into the conventional theatrical distribution system. Fantasia, Show White and the Seven Dwarfs, name a few were considered aesthetic masterpieces. Animated films “can more freely contract and distort both time and space and defy the forces of gravity; they can be as realistic or as fantastic as their designers wish”(1992-2002 Ecyclopaeidia Britannica). Tosa Mitsunobu’s paintings - Bamboo in the Four Seasons and Illustrated Lessons of the Seikogi - mirror animated characteristics in that they have a graphic fantasy element to them. As with animation, the subject matter of these paintings is basic, Mitsunobu makes them eye catching and interesting with the use of brilliant color and object placement Tosa Mitsunobu would be in the ranks of contemporary Japanese artist, Takashi Murakami who utilizes bright color and simplified details to as well. 3) Explain how one visual art form has an impact on your daily life. Film/Cinema, in the context of movies and documentaries, is a modern visual art form that has had intense impact on our daily life. “Motion pictures were unequaled in the 20th century for the speed of their technical and artistic development, the extent of their proliferation, and the degree of their influence and popularity” (1994-2002 Encyclopaedia Britannica). This statement embodies the impact of film, for humanity has profoundly been affected by what it sees and hears via film or the motion picture experience. Film utilizes the concept of simple story telling and has been transformed it into a mesmerizing technical medium that can be experienced communally (movie theaters) or in the privacy of your home thru television, DVDs, and VCRs. Its ability to influence is rooted in the utilization of images/impressions “a mental conception held in common by members of a group and symbolic of a basic attitude and orientation” and imagery “the art of making images” (Merriam Webster/Encyclopedia Britannica 2002). Lana Turner’s film career began with the movie They Won’t Forget (1938). Although a bit part, she became the nation’s “Sweater Girl” because of the tight sweater she wore in the movie. The tight sweater look invaded the fashion industry and instantly catapulted her to become one of the desired pin-up models for American servicemen during World War II. An example of film’s affect on the fashion industry. Marilyn Monroe studied acting at the Actor’s Studio (New York) under the direction of Lee Strasberg showing her desire to be respected as a serious actress. Movies such as Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, How to Marry a Millionaire, and The Seven Year-Itch, however fostered her image as the dumb, seductive blonde – the “love goddess.” Cinema popularized sex appeal and made smoking and alcohol consumption. Could this be one of the contributing factors as to why they have become the number 1 and 2 killers of humanity? American director, D.W. Griffith’s film The Birth of A Nation/The Clansman (1915) at was considered one of the most lucrative films of all time. The Birth of A Nation was “lionized for its radical technique and condemned for its racist philosophy “(Microsoft Encarta Africana Third Edition -1998-2000 Microsoft Corporation, “Birth of a Nation, The,” pg. 1). Despite a massive wave of protest from the African American community because of its negative/stereotypical portrayal of African- Americans, the film manifested Hollywood’s ability to mold the public’s attitude/image about race. It epitomized an aspect of American society which was “deeply enmeshed in a culture of lynchings, Jim Crow segregation, and widespread anti-black sentiment.”(Microsoft Encarta Africana Third Edition -1998-2000 Microsoft Corporation, “Birth of a Nation, The,” pg. 1.) . Like The Birth of A Nation, Leni Riefenstahl’s Triumph of the Will (1934) was considered a masterful/innovative epoch as well ground-breaking for documentary filmmaking at that time. Although she vehemently denied the film served as a propaganda tool for the Nazi Party, Triumph of the Will contributed to the heightened negative perceptions of European Jewry. Film has the ability to influence as well as alter how we perceive ourselves, aspects of our society/culture as well as other peoples and their culture. 4) Discuss and explain your personal opinion and philosophy of the importance and value of visual art to you and society. The importance and value of visual arts lies in the fact that is encompasses a holistic experience – physically, mentally, and spiritually. It serves as a form of individual as well as communal creative expression. Visual arts mirror the soul of a person and a culture – the multi-faced aspects. Society has become so advanced from a high tech perspective that we tend to take each other at face value. As felt by the founders of the Arts and Crafts movement, creative expression cannot be diminished by modernization. Creative expression via visuals arts is vital for it provides a balancing component to the mundane elements of life. How is life/living defined? Life is “the sequence of mental and physical experiences that make up the existence of an individual” and living is “having life, active, functioning” (Merriam Webster/Encyclopedia Britannica 1992-2002). Life’s experiences consist of things that not only one has to do but wants to do as well. Visuals arts can be synonymous with hobbies – those “pursuits outside one’s regular occupation engaged in especially for relaxation” (Merriam Webster/Encyclopedia Britannica 1992-2002). Imagine the feeling that arises in a person after looking at a painting or drawing they created – especially if he or she knows no one perceives them as a painter or drawer? This brings about a sense of accomplishment and inner strength. In the previous essay - Visual Arts Informational Websites - Interactcenter. com (http://www.interactcenter.com/) and Drawbridge (http://www.drawbridge.org/) sites show how persons did not allow insurmountable circumstances to hinder their creative talents. Visual arts serve as vital component to the sustenance of their being. Most importantly, visual arts reflect the multifaceted qualities of an individual and their specific purpose as well uniqueness. The impact of visual arts has been far reaching with negative and positive connotations. Whether it is a painting, film, dance, song, poem, novel, play, etc., one must always keep in the mind the affect the content, concept, and style has on the individual and society. Inner fulfillment is essential, but if what is being expressed is negative and brings harm to the individual and society as a whole, then how fulfilling can it really be? That is the question that must be asked of all those who partake in the various forms of creative expression through visual arts. Read More