Last week, we were visited in class by Rikki Reich, a New York based photographer. She showed us a wide range of her photography, from the fashion shots she did at the beginning of her career to her current project, a collection of photographs from the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York City.
I really liked getting the chance to see her photographs from 9/11. The images were terrifying, but provided a view of the attacks that had not been seen before. What I found so striking about these pictures were the people walking by. The usual images that you see from 9/11 were taken on Manhattan right at the attack and people are screaming and running from the buildings. These pictures though were taken across the river from where Reich lived. The people in these photos were walking around like nothing had happened. I found these pictures almost more disturbing than the images that came directly from ground zero.
I enjoyed getting a chance to see these photos. It was an interesting experience and I will be really impressed when/if I ever go to the 9/11 memorial and museum and see them on display.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Claire Hoch Response
Claire Hoch, an interdisciplinary artist currently located in Charlottesville, VA, who works in several different media art forms as a visual artist. I loved the project that incorporated the local gossip into a newspaper-type artwork. It was one of the most original art projects I’ve ever seen and the originality of it was really fascinating.
I really loved the fact that she was so open about the fact that she really doesn’t have any idea what she’s doing when she begins a project. She began her talk telling us about her time at Carnegie-Mellon University where she constantly wondered what the point was of getting the interdisciplinary degree she was going after. I related to her in the respect that she is constantly questioning what she’s doing as artist and if she really wants to be an artist.
I often wonder if being a performing artist is really something I should be doing the rest of my life, but at the same time, I have a hard time dealing with the fact that I constantly question myself. This difficulty arises from the fact that I see other actors and singers and artists who know without a doubt what they want to do and I feel like I’m still in a transition phase in my artwork. It was inspiring to me that it’s ok to question your motives and what you want to do.
Another thing I really loved about Claire’s work is that it is so organic. I love that she is very open about the fact that she lets things come to her naturally. She came to the VCCA without an idea of what she wanted to do. I found this really exciting because that’s basically what I’m doing after college. My plan is just to move to Los Angeles or New York or some other big city and see what comes out of it. People usually look at me strange when I tell them that and it was refreshing and uplifting to hear that a working artist does this as well.
I really loved the fact that she was so open about the fact that she really doesn’t have any idea what she’s doing when she begins a project. She began her talk telling us about her time at Carnegie-Mellon University where she constantly wondered what the point was of getting the interdisciplinary degree she was going after. I related to her in the respect that she is constantly questioning what she’s doing as artist and if she really wants to be an artist.
I often wonder if being a performing artist is really something I should be doing the rest of my life, but at the same time, I have a hard time dealing with the fact that I constantly question myself. This difficulty arises from the fact that I see other actors and singers and artists who know without a doubt what they want to do and I feel like I’m still in a transition phase in my artwork. It was inspiring to me that it’s ok to question your motives and what you want to do.
Another thing I really loved about Claire’s work is that it is so organic. I love that she is very open about the fact that she lets things come to her naturally. She came to the VCCA without an idea of what she wanted to do. I found this really exciting because that’s basically what I’m doing after college. My plan is just to move to Los Angeles or New York or some other big city and see what comes out of it. People usually look at me strange when I tell them that and it was refreshing and uplifting to hear that a working artist does this as well.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Love Song
Lyrics:
Going back to the corner where I first saw you
Gonna camp in my sleeping bag, I'm not gonna move
Got some words on cardboard, got your picture in my hand
Saying 'if you see this girl, can you tell her where I am"
Some try to hand me money, they don't understand
I'm not broke, I'm just a broken hearted man
I know it makes no sense, what else can I do?
How can I move on when I'm still in love with you?
Cuz if one day you wake up and find that you're missing me
and you're heart starts to wonder where on Earth I could be
Thinkin maybe you'll come back here to the place that we'd meet
And you'll see me waiting for you on our corner of the street
So I'm not moving, I'm not moving
Policeman says, "Son you can't stay here"
I said, "There's someone I'm waiting for if it's a day, a month, a year"
Gotta stand my ground even if it rains or snows
If she changes her mind this is the first place she will go
'cause If one day you wake up and find that you're missing me
And your heart starts to wonder where on this earth I could be
Thinking maybe you'll come back here to the place that we'd meet
And you'll see me waiting for you on our corner of the street
So I'm not moving, I'm not moving,
I'm not moving, I'm not moving
People talk about the guy that's waiting on a girl
There are no holes in his shoes but a big hole in his world
Maybe I'll get famous as the man who can't be moved
Maybe you wont mean to but you'll see me on the news
And you'll come running to the corner
'cause you'll know it's just for you
I'm the man who can't be moved
Chorus x 2
Going back to the corner where I first saw you
Gonna camp in my sleeping bag I'm not gonna move.
Response:
So, I chose "The Man Who Can't Be Moved" by The Script for this week. I love this song because I think it really speaks to the real aspects of love that aren't often portrayed. This song embodies the hope and longing that accompany love especially after the person you love is gone. The singer is so desperate to get the girl he loves back that he's just going to sit outside on a corner and wait for her to show up. There's no guarantee that she'll come by, no reason for him to think that this plan will work, but he's so desperate to have her back that he will do anything. As a listener, I find myself feeling that desperate hope he must be feeling as he's singing this song. I want her to show up and be in love with him!
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Ways of Seeing
Dear John Berger,
The message contained in Ch. 2 and 3 of your "Ways of Seeing", I find, is relevant and very true. Likewise, the photo essay of Chapter 2 was an excellent compliment to your argument in Chapter 3. Your point that "Men look at women. Women watch themselves being looked at. This determines not only most relations between men and women but also the relation of women to themselves" has been true throughout time and remains the truth to this day.
As culture and society have changed throughout the years, the role of women in art has basically remained the same. It is the role and purpose of art that has changed. It is less common today to see new paintings being commissioned for display in private homes. Art is seen more in the context of advertisements in magazines, on t.v. and on billboards. However, the similarities between art from the Renaissance and art in advertisements today are striking. The image of a woman, scantily clad and typically with a seductive expression on her face continues to entice the viewer into buying whatever that woman is selling.
Confidence is constantly being pushed onto women. Women see covers of magazines like the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue and we are made to believe that we have to look like that model to be attractive. We like to pretend that society as changed and that women are seen not as objects but as equal partners to men, but then magazines come out with covers like that. That model is nothing more than someone to look attractive to men. And while she may appeal to men all over the world, she continues to make normal women feel inadequate and unattractive. This is because we as women do care about what men and to that extent, what other women see when they look at us.
Artwork serves as a commentary on life. Look at almost any major magazine cover and you will see how women want to appear to men. The way we as women feel about ourselves depends on how men perceive us. And how men perceive us and want us to appear is evident in nude artwork throughout time. While we may not be considered as objects quite as much as women were a few centuries ago, women still desire to be desirable to men and this is the point of your Chs. 2 and 3 in "Ways Of Seeing".
The message contained in Ch. 2 and 3 of your "Ways of Seeing", I find, is relevant and very true. Likewise, the photo essay of Chapter 2 was an excellent compliment to your argument in Chapter 3. Your point that "Men look at women. Women watch themselves being looked at. This determines not only most relations between men and women but also the relation of women to themselves" has been true throughout time and remains the truth to this day.
As culture and society have changed throughout the years, the role of women in art has basically remained the same. It is the role and purpose of art that has changed. It is less common today to see new paintings being commissioned for display in private homes. Art is seen more in the context of advertisements in magazines, on t.v. and on billboards. However, the similarities between art from the Renaissance and art in advertisements today are striking. The image of a woman, scantily clad and typically with a seductive expression on her face continues to entice the viewer into buying whatever that woman is selling.
Confidence is constantly being pushed onto women. Women see covers of magazines like the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue and we are made to believe that we have to look like that model to be attractive. We like to pretend that society as changed and that women are seen not as objects but as equal partners to men, but then magazines come out with covers like that. That model is nothing more than someone to look attractive to men. And while she may appeal to men all over the world, she continues to make normal women feel inadequate and unattractive. This is because we as women do care about what men and to that extent, what other women see when they look at us.
Artwork serves as a commentary on life. Look at almost any major magazine cover and you will see how women want to appear to men. The way we as women feel about ourselves depends on how men perceive us. And how men perceive us and want us to appear is evident in nude artwork throughout time. While we may not be considered as objects quite as much as women were a few centuries ago, women still desire to be desirable to men and this is the point of your Chs. 2 and 3 in "Ways Of Seeing".
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
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