Week 9: Seung-Hwan Kim, Some thoughts about Gothic architecture

As we learned and discussed in the class, some unique features distinguish typical Gothic Cathedral from other types of Cathedrals. Flying Buttress, which distributes weight out of center, pointing and sharp top, and taller arch in a height are the most distinctive features. We also talked about these features  without talking why people actually constructed the churches so "high" and "vertical ?" People could have constructed vertical and high churches to express their hope that they get closer to God or heaven. with the same thought, Flying Buttress architectural style which is basically constructed to distribute the weight from the top, can also be interpreted as a way to heaven because the Flying Buttress looks like a bridge between the dome, which represents heaven,  and the buttress for earth. 

I am not sure if it sounds strange but I tried to interpret the behind meaning of "the Gothic" in terms of Christianity.   

Week.9- Joon.s. Lee: Art in Fashion!!

The first image(left)  basically come from one famous fashion show in Paris at last year and the other one is from stained glass in Notre-Dame. in the first picture, models wear different kinds of dress that printed stained glass decor and move on the runway. Also, they make their faces and hairs up looks like a goddess or divinity in the myth so that could be support their themes of dress. moreover, composition of the baby print on women's left shoulder and stained glass color code like skin-toned in her whole leg part and blue on the top seems to model and the print unite into one perfect exsitance in my point of view.   

Week 9: Maureen: Free admission to LACMA

Apparently Bank of America has a free general admission to
LACMA on the first weekend of every month, just by having
any of their cards. I heard this on NPR this morning, so
haven't tried it. Note it's only for the general admission, not
to any of the special exhibits.

Daphne Opoku-Art in the Media 10/26

I found this picture from the Metropolitan Museum of art entitled " Addressing Art". What i found striking about this attire was its elaborate knitting and detail. According to the article "wool became symbolic of British civility and freedom and was adopted as a fashionable fabric". The coat can be dated back to the 17th Century which insinuates from its elaborate detail that it was worn by a king who held power and prestige within his kingdomship, an attire like this emphasizes political status.

Lindley Wren: Purse cover from Sutton Hoo/Modern Day Clutch

This is a purse cover that can be purchased at high-end department stores like Neiman Marcus. LIke the purse cover from Sutton Hoo, any individual sporting such a purse cover as an accessory can likely be closely linked to wealth and/ or authority.  This particular clutch is very detailed and ornamented like that from Sutton Hoo. Both suggest that the artist put a lot of effort into producing the items. Although this modern day clutch does not have depictions of wild animals (Janson's), this clutch does offer its own depiction of nature through the floral design. 

Week.8- Joon.s. Lee "Similarity"

I found my own image(top) from one of article in Korea Times that is a bird-eye  view of Palace at Chosun dynasty of Korea(13th century) and tired to put together with Monastery of saint Gall because I felt both are look like  little bit similar in composition of structures. Even if the style of forms are totally different, people may guess that the function of each buildings might be quite same.

Week 8: Nick- "Pushing Daisies"

As I was looking through the news, I couldn't really find anything pertinent, but I found my inspiration for this assignment while I was catching up with my TiVo. During the Pushing Daisies episode from last week entitled "Bad Habits", the main characters (private investigators with one of them being able to bring the dead back to life) investigated a death at a nunnery in the mountains. Many of the scenes took place in their church and I saw many of the same structural aspects we discussed in class. The nunnery resembled the basilicas we discussed while, during a heated confrontation in the church, I noticed two aisles, a nave, a  and an apse. This was really interesting as it provided the actors with varied blocking and used these structural features to create a more compelling scene. I tried to find the best pictures of the nunnery resembling a basilica, specifically the Old Saint Peter's Basilica.

Week 8: Jenny: High School Musical 3 World Premiere

I was reading a news article regarding how the movie High School Musical 3 reached $42million at the box office this weekend. In this article, it contained a picture of Vanessa Hudgens and Zac Efron and it reminded me of the Egyptian Sculpture of Menkaura and Queen khamerenebty. Both couples are in unity and successful in their own respective careers. Moreover, the facial expressions for both couples seem unnatural and forced. Vanessa Hudgen's hand is wrapped around Zac's waist which is what Menkaura's wife does to Menkura as well. This shows indication of support and partnership.

Week 8: Rashi: McCain and Obama try a little western swing

So I was going through the news on Yahoo! and came across this picture, of Senator Obama. The first thing I thought of when I saw it was this looks like such a cliche authoritarian pose. Actually the image that came to mind was of Augustus of Primaporta. They both have their arms extended and are in that very authoritarian type of stance. Another thing the two have in common is that their weight is not evenly distributed between both legs, Augustus has his weight on one leg more so then the other (controposto) and Obama has one leg in front of the other as if he is walking. 

Sasha: Week 8: "Berkeley Big People"

In the San Frasisco Chronicle I found an article about the sculpture "Berkeley Big People", created by Scott Donahue. I was instantly reminded of Roman sculpture, especially the "Laocoön". The way the two sculptures are made up of severel figures all fused together displays a distinct similarity. Also, both the figures in "Berkeley Big People" and the "Laocoön" have expressive facial expressions and body language. They look like they are full of emotion: pain in the "Laocoön", a statue that depicts punishment, and persistense in "Berkeley Big People", a statue representing "protesters agitating for various causes". The figures in both sculptures are also both done in a naturalistic style, with a realistic canon of proportions.




Baker, Kenneth. "Comment: 'Berkeley Big People' invites mockery." San Fransisco Chronicle. 21 Oct. 2008. 24 Oct. 2008

Week 8: Kathryn: Rock Paintings Discovered

During the first week of this class we learned about the Caves of Lascaux. While I was looking for something to write about from the news this week, I discovered that in the isolated Aboriginal territory of Arnhem land in northern Australia a huge collection of rock paintings was just discovered during an expedition that took place over this past August and September. This collection is made up of literally thousands of paintings, many of which are of different types of boats including ocean liners. What is so interesting about this find is that this culture was believed to be completely isolated and removed from the outside world, but these paintings tell a different story.

Week 8: Sarah: Gargoyles In the Home

In an article about home decorating and design, the author Deborah Snoonian suggested the use of gargoyles around the outside of the house as a stylish, spooky and functional addition for this time of year.  Even now, these 13th century creatures are emerging in modern day home decor, although not exactly for the same purpose.  These gargoyles do not have the same religious importance as those that keep away the evil spirits at the towering corners of the European cathedrals.  They take on a more functional and superficial role in this aspect of today's society, as they are merely there to "shunt water away from your house's foundation" and are meant to have an aesthetic purpose.  

Week 8: Jillian: Chanel's Mobile Art Party

On Tuesday night, New York  City (along with many of it's most famous celebrities) saw the opening of Chanel Mobile Art's "Contemporary Art Container." This avant-garde art exhibit was created by Zahi Hadid, an award-winning artist and architect handpicked by the visionary Karl Lagerfeld (Chanel's artistic director). The white fiberglass pavilion houses commissioned art installations (done by sixteen artists that include Yoko Ono) inspired by Coco Chanel's legendary 2.55 quilted handbag. Having already been to Hong Kong and Tokyo, the global exhibit will be in NYC until November 9th when it continues on to Moscow, London, and Paris. Though tickets need to be reserved in advance, entrance to the "container" is absolutely free. As Lagerfeld stated on Tuesday: "Chanel is supposed to be for everybody." Indeed, this Chanel event could only have been the brainchild of the iconic and untouchable Karl Lagerfeld. Recently named to The Time 100, Lagerfeld is often thought of as the most famous fashion designer in the world. The designer, also a skilled photographer and avid art collector, went on to declare: 

"We don't need art, but we cannot live without it." 

Like we have seen in the course, art is everywhere imaginable being expressed in quite unimaginable ways - and fashion is one of these ways. Some may feel that it just consists of articles of clothing one wears by necessity but they're wrong. Rather, fashion is an art form in it's own right - an art form which, as Lagerfeld reminds us, we cannot live without. 

More information about Chanel Mobile Art

More information on and pictures of the NYC opening

Week 8: Maureen : Financial Crisis and Art

National Public Radio(NPR) had a piece this morning
talking about the current financial crisis and Russian art
collecting. Typically when there are issues with the
stock market, people look elsewhere to invest whatever
hard cash they have to ride out the bad times. Gold
always goes up in value. Property normally is a good
buy as well. I hadn't thought about it before, but art
might be a good investment. If you knew what to buy,
didn't over pay, buy low, sell high... hmm sounds
very familiar. The story talked about the Russian art
market's evolution and how the newly rich Russians
didn't necessarily know what to purchase. They would
stick to local artists, as well as the more well known
international artists. Almost like buying bluechip
stocks thinking that you would be protected by that
valued company from market fluctuations. That
didn't happen just now. Even some of the art can't be
guaranteed. I believe the Getty announced fairly
recently that one of their pieces that was supposed to
be from a well known artist, was actually a forgery.
While art could be an investment opportunity, I don't
believe that it is not necessarily any safer than stocks.
I'll just stick to my emotional purchase of art for enjoyment.

Week 8: Molly: Article about Acropolis

I read on Yahoo News that scientists are using new laser technology to clean up the Acroplios in Greece. Scientists are using a system that uses infrared and ultraviolet rays at the same time. But even wearing goggles, scientists can only work for 2 hours at a time using laser beams. I thought it was interesting because they are finding decoration and inscription that had been lost for centuries but, at the same time, we have no idea how this treatment will affect the Acropolis one hundred years from now. There have already been restorations that have actually hurt the buildings more than helped despite the best of intentions. I think it is important that we preserve these buildings but where do we draw the line at what is too radical? This article explains one way we respond today to art of the past-we try to preserve it.

You can check out the article through this link:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20081017/lf_nm_life/us_greece_acropolis

Question from Lecture

Coins From Sutton Hoo
Burial Ship
England 615-625

During lecture Dr. Howe mentioned that these ships were important because it had the dead body of an important figure in it. I just wanted to know why this was significant? Was this common among the Iconoclasm period?

Week 7: Molly: Comment on The Christian Basilica Article

According to Stalley in The Christian Basilica, "The more spacious and highly decorated churches constructed after 313 evidently contributed to an increase in the formality of proceedings, and in this respect it was the architecture that had a direct impact on the liturgy" (23).
I thought this was a really interesting idea. I had not suspected that the procession to the altar became a integral part of the Mass because the nave was now longer, making the apse farther from the narthex. When, while being persecuted, Christians met in certain people's homes in the city, they probably did not have an opening procession but now the basilican plan allows them to create a new tradition. The larger, grander building created a grander, more formal Mass. The architecture of a building impacts what actually takes place inside it.

Daphne- Nodleman and Welch

The main argument that seemed to be understood among the authors is that Roman and Greek art have artistic similarities. Welch mentions that Roman portraits seem to be more realistic than Greek art specifically in the sense that Roman sculptures show the natuaralistic features of the human body including wrinkles and facial scars, this insinuates that the Roman artists had a sense of human anatomy and how the body works. I think a good example of a naturalistic Roman figure is Aphrodite at Knidos, Rome. Aphrodite can be seen as naturalistic because of her modest stance and body language, and the possible scars/scratches that seem to appear on her added on arms and legs.

Week 6: Nodleman and Welch

When Nodleman speaks of Roman art as  a system of signs, he is concerned with its function as a whole and what it conveys to the audience.  The art is in fact a culmination of signs meant to portray a certain message to the spectator.  This was what in fact set Roman portraiture apart from that of the Greeks: its ability to be interpreted as one idea through a series of separate elements, each with their own individuality.

According to Welch, Roman sculpture is in fact almost entirely based on Greek sculpture, as they considered it to already be perfected in its original state.  However, stylistic changes and innovations still occurred, as there was no pattern as to what the Romans considered were the best attributes of the Greek sculptures.  An excellent example of this sort of stylistic blend is the Esquiline Venus, which combines different body types and styles from both the Greek and Roman eras.  This adoption of Greek style was also apparent in the Romans' use of sarcophagi as funerary monuments, which they commonly adorned with battle scenes due to their tumultuous and militaristic way of life.

Week 6: Sasha: Nodleman & Welch

One of the "signs" Nodelman could be referring to of Roman portraiture is the sign that the portraits reflect "an acute awareness of the spectator". Nodelman talks about how Greek portraiture does not transport the spectator into the portrait's world, and the spectator remains "untouched". In Roman portraiture however, the portrait's "gaze is directed upon the spectator" and in turn, lets the spectator become connected with the work of art.

As Kathyrn mentions, the Romans incorporated subtleties of their own unique style to their works of art. Welch talks about how Roman portraiture is more realistic than that of the Greeks in the sense that physical flaws are included in Roman portraits, such as wrinkles, flab and facial scars.

Week 6: Lindley Wren

The viewpoints of Nodelman and Welch slightly differ in regards to the development of Roman portaiture. Welch seems to highly attribute the roots of Roman creations to the Greeks.  While Nodelman recognizes the development of portraits and statues to having begun with the Greeks, it is implied in the Nodelman article that Roman portaiture took on a unique and modernized approach to art that was very different from the Greeks. Nodelman notes how Roman portaiture is highly different from Greek creations in that the Roman sculptors took into close account political and social issues of the time and tried to trigger a response and understanding in the viewers of a particular work of art. Such a response was easily generated by paying close attention to the development of the work of art in regards to physical attributes (such as the direction of the subject's eyes and the expression on the subject's face).  

Week 6: Kathryn: Nodelman and Welch

1) When Nodelman says Roman portraiture can be described as a system of signs, he means it in the sense that Roman portraiture, like signs, is intended to grab the attention of the viewer with "the intent to convey a message" (11). Many of these messages dealt with the political and social ideas of the time. This is evident in examining the busts of the Republican Julius Caesar. Their "faces closely reflect the prevailing temperament of class and society to which they belong" (13).

2) To Katherine Welch, Roman sculptures adopted many of the characteristics of Greek sculpture, using the Greek sculptures as a sort of blueprint to follow. This is of no surprise, since the Romans considered Greek sculptures to be already perfected. It is only fitting, therefore, that they would want to imitate them. However, Roman sculptures were not a direct copy of their Greek models. These Roman sculptures also reflected elements of their own culture.  An example of how Romans adopted the Greek characteristics in a relief sculpture can be found in the Great Trajanic Frieze, and an example of how the Romans did this with portraiture can be found in the Ara Pacis Augustae.