Final Essays
1
Nov. 21, 2022
The Meaning Behind
Liz Medzhibovsky
The French painter Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec produced In Bed: The Kiss to provide commentary on the late 19th century Parisian life while suggesting his own personal outlook on the working class, specifically concerning brothel scenes. "Bed Series: a bundle of artwork" was created to depict the intense erotic relationship between two women. Composed in 1892, "In Bed: The Kiss" goes beyond the surface to expose these women's vulnerable connection. Toulouse-Lautrec gained a heightened awareness of the real-world issues between the upper and lower class. As a result, he developed a hatred of the aristocrats and a yearning to expose the vulnerable humanistic side of the lower-class. Toulouse-Lautrec sought to gain first-hand exposure of this wealth gap. Living in the brothel to get the full experience, he took advantage of this opportunity to show the outsiders what happens when these women are alone and free to be vulnerable by capturing true joy and sadness in the figures.
I chose this specific piece because at first glance I came up with a completely different interpretation of what I thought was being depicted. At first, I thought it was a man and a woman in bed sharing an intimate kiss in bed. Looking at the art, that's all I could conclude until I needed to do deeper research and discover how wrong I was and how profound the piece was. This was the first time I looked at art and my interpretation wasn’t even close to the artist's vision. I wanted to see beyond the surface and find more information about the artist and the piece, the meaning behind this art is absolutely beautiful, insightful, and vulnerable. At first glance, I had no idea how impactful this piece would be. After taking a first look at the painting viewers don’t always see every detail. By taking a step back and look at the figures and bedding again they might realize something more. This piece is very important to me because it was the first time in my life someone asked me to really dig and find information on an artist and the piece of art they created. I didn’t realize how much I would learn until I was doing the research and writing the essay. This changed my perspective on the importance of interpreting art instead of looking at the surface level details and moving on.
For one of my classes, we needed to write an essay that was split up into sections. The first section was an introduction, the second section was Contexts: Artist Biography + Historical Background, the third section was Descriptive Analysis: Formal Elements + Design Principles, the fourth section was Interpretation and then lastly the conclusion. Having to write such a detailed essay about art was at first very overwhelming for me especially because it was my first time writing about art, but it was one of the most rewarding experiences I have had in college, the growth as a writer and person I had because of this research paper was transformative. I think it is so important that everyone has an experience like this at least once in their life. I would hope that this upcoming generation of teachers incorporate it more often so children from a young age can have these experiences before they turn out like me who walks into a freshman college class and has no idea how to interpret art. I would like to use pieces of art in my classroom that need the viewer to dig deeper to really understand the meaning and have mini assignments throughout the year where every so often I give my class some time to research some art. They will learn so many skills from doing so that by the time they get to high school and college they will know techniques that I had to learn a lot later in life.
2
Nov. 21, 2021
A Lesson on Unity
Avery D. Huff Jr.
This piece of art that I choose is named Past and Future. I believe this picture conveys several stories. On one end, this picture shows two different times of life, but in the center, there is unity. On the other end, this picture shows unity between people. The two times in life are past and present. This picture shows that as time goes forward, things always evolve. This is why the picture goes from black and white to color.
Words on the hand, such as peace going from black and white to color, show that this one subject has evolved over time. The black splatter of color highlights that uncertainty as a part of life. However, the color shows that the uncertainty of life always is brighter on the other side.
I chose this art piece because it does an excellent job on showing that no matter how much two individuals may look different, we are all equal to each other regardless of personal beliefs. This picture is significant to me because I find comfort in the fact that regardless of my race, sex, or background, I can always find unity with the next person. This picture also makes me find comfort in uncertainty because I know no matter what happens in life, it will always turn out well.
3
Nov. 21, 2022
Set and Lighting Design of Three Musketeers, Ring Theater, UM, Fall 2022
D’Artagnan and His Sister, Sabine
Gabriel Brito
The Three Musketeers is a French historical adventure novel written in 1844 by French author Alexandre Dumas. However, Ken Ludwig’s Three Musketeers in the Ring Theatre of the University of Miami, directed by Burton Tedescois, is about D’Artagnan and his sister, Sabine, the true protagonists, who are sent off by their father to have D’Artagnan become a musketeer. When they get to Paris D’Artagnan finds himself dueling King Louis XIII’s three musketeers, all on the same night, but just as the first duel is occurring Cardinal Rechelieu's musketeers come in to arrest the King’s three musketeers, so D’Artagnan decides to join them. The three musketeers and D’Artagnan manage to win the fight so they go out for drinks and then D’Artagnan meets with his love interest Kitty. Meanwhile, the Cardinal, the antagonist of the story, is attempting to start a war, so he tries to make King Louis XIII discover that his wife, Queen Anne, is dating George Villiers, who is the English Duke of Buckingham.
I chose this piece because I recently watched the show. Not only did I enjoy the show, but I found it to be an insightful take on a moment in King Louis XIII’s reign. I came into the theatre expecting it to be funny and filled with exciting sword fighting. While it did include that, it also explored different hierarchies and how power struggles can play into human nature. The play, as well as the novel, represent a time when the debate in France between republicans and monarchists was still fierce. In the play the rivalry between the Cardinal's musketeers and the King's three musketeers is portrayed through fighting scenes that make the plot even more exciting, relevant and enjoyable.
When teaching this piece, I would organize a field trip to the Ring Theater. I would ask my students to watch the play for the first time without any prior knowledge. Then, I would have them write a short paragraph (or two), describing their emotional response to the piece. I would also have them do their own research and write a one-page essay on the similarities/differences between the play, the novel and the real history behind Louis XIII, Cardinal Richelieu, Queen Anne and the musketeers. To end, students would decide whether the play could have feasibly occurred according to documented historical facts and why they think it would be important to depict the story as accurately as possible.
4
Nov. 21, 2022
The Meninas by Diego Velazquez
Chiso Okafor
Velázquez had worked for more than 30 years in the court of King Felipe IV when he painted The Meninas. Over the decades, the painter became indispensable and remained close to the king after the death of his first wife and only son. When the piece was painted, King Felipe was already married to his second wife, Mariana of Austria, and Margarita Teresa (the girl at the center of the painting) was his first and only daughter.
The painting, commissioned by King Philip, was hung in the private office of his summer palace. Until 1819 it remained in the royal palace, and it was then that it entered the collection of the Museo del Prado. The Meninas has been and will always be one of the most widely analyzed works due to the way its complex composition raises questions about reality and illusion, and the uncertain relationship it creates between the viewer and the figures depicted. It is also an Art from my country, so I wanted to bring up one of our arts.
If I were to use The Meninas to teach a lesson, I would start by explaining and talking a little bit about the history of Spain in those days. Later, I would ask students to talk about who Velazquez was. Students would then discuss Velázquez’s famous art piece, The Meninas. To end my lesson, I would ask students to explain why the piece got so famous. Student would gather in groups to analyze the meaning of the piece.
5
Nov. 22, 2022
The Old Guitarrist
Alexandra Dubin
The piece I chose is The Old Guitarist by Pablo Picasso. This painting is about the personal struggles of Picasso as a twenty-two-year-old man, and Picasso’s overall criticism of society. This piece is a part of Picasso’s blue period which lasted from 1901-1904. During this time, the artist used only cold, monochromatic blue shades, and used his artwork to portray emotional themes of human struggles - specifically the struggles of an artist. The Old Guitarist was created as a way for Picasso to reflect his place in society, feeling isolated and impoverished, but using his artwork to find comfort, similar to the man in the painting with the guitar.
I chose this piece by Picasso because I believe that the art Picasso created – especially during his blue period - was so expressive and representative of Picasso’s emotional troubles. This piece is significant to me because I remember learning about Picasso in elementary school, seeing this particular piece, and thinking how sad the man in the painting looked. I also had an appreciation for the use of blue colors to represent the sadness and loneliness behind the piece. Furthermore, I chose this painting because it is one of Picasso’s most famous paintings, it has a beautiful use of color, and it depicts real life struggles which adds a lot of depth to a painting.
I would use this painting in a lesson by having students interpret the piece with little explanation. I would want students to thoroughly observe the painting, and write about what they thought the painting was about, before I explained it to them. I would want them to comment on the paintings colors, the tones, and the shape of the man and his clothing. I would want students to think deeply and critically about the painting. I also would ask students to express how the painting made them feel emotionally, and what aspects of the painting contributed to those feelings. I think this piece would be great to use in a lesson because the piece is extremely profound, and it evokes thought.
6
Nov. 22, 2022
Edvard MunchSeparation1896
Separation: A Deeper Meaning
Haley Schwartz
The art piece I selected is Separation by Edvard Munch. This painting consists of two components, a man and a woman painted as they appear tied together. The woman, however, seems like she is attempting to get away. The man is dressed in black, which represents dark feelings of sorrow. He is clutching his heart with a bleeding hand, and there is a plant growing in front of him. The shape and color of the plant look like it could potentially be his own bleeding heart.
The color red in the painting represents love, pain and blood. A theory for this painting could be that the man is having a heart attack, and the woman is an angel taking him away. This could be inferred from the colors chosen to tell this story. Thus, I chose this piece because I believe this painting leaves room for the viewer to interpret and analyze its meaning. There could be a variety of messages behind this expressive painting. I really love how Munch utilized colors to convey a story and spread a message. There are lots of layers of depth in this painting that allows any viewer, students included, to admire, and also interpret a deeper meaning.
I would use this painting in a lesson plan by putting it on display for students to observe. I would give little detail and information about this piece so that students can analyze and interpret their own ideas and thoughts about what is going on in the painting. I will encourage them to study the colors, paint strokes, shadows, and each component of the piece. After pondering their thoughts, we will have an open discussion with the class and share our interpretations. We will discuss how the painting makes us feel emotionally as well as psychologically. This would involve deep and critical thinking skills, as well as communication skills, all of which are essential learning practices in the classroom.
7
Nov.25, 2022
‘The Blue Room’
Alexandra Rosen
The piece I chose is titled ‘The Blue Room’ by Pablo Picasso. This piece was painted during the Blue Period that lasted from 1901 to 1904. His work highlights different human forms in various shades of blue. This painting illustrates a naked woman in a bedroom washing herself while in a tub. Although you cannot see her face, a sense of relaxation and calmness is illustrated in this painting.
The woman is the center of this painting because of the consistent blue tones in the background as she is more of a lighter blue to contrast the colors. In the bedroom, we can see a flower vase on a table and 3 paintings with 1 being of a woman in a flowy white dress. What is gathered from this painting is that Picasso based his work on a painting done by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. Picasso’s Blue Period was inspired by this painter. His painting hangs on the wall as the middle frame. What I found interesting about this painting is that it was painted over an earlier portrait of a man. Reusing canvases was common during this time. This is called a ‘hidden painting”, he could not afford buying new canvases so he just painted over previous ones.
I chose this painting because of the various messages it sends to the viewer. I think this piece of art is amazing because it shows the real feelings Picasso felt during this hard time of his life. Showing various shades of blue represents various shades of emotions he felt during this time. I learned about Picasso growing up but didn’t know about the hardships he went through so I really enjoyed learning about his history during this assignment. This painting depicts real life struggles that Picasso went through and is relatable to everyone in the world today.
I would teach a lesson around ‘The Blue Room’ by first asking the students what they think this painting represents. I would give very little information besides the artist so they can really use their imagination and creativity to come up with a strong message. I would then ask my students to share in small groups so they can hear their peers' point of view without being in front of the whole class. Finally, I would encourage the students to paint their own artwork that represents what they thought Picasso’s message was. This will allow the students to connect what they have learned and gathered from this piece with the creativity it takes to create an art piece. I think this would be a great exercise for the students because it combines creativity and deep thinking methods.
8
Nov. 27, 2022
"Bigger Picture"
Makenzie Smith
The piece I chose is a video that begins with a smiling girl, and then slowly zooms out showing each “bigger picture”. It starts small with her face, and then shows her laying on the grass at a restaurant in Googleplex. It progresses to Googleplex as a whole, then to Google headquarters, then to a mountain view, and then to a city view, and thus then to a state view, continuously working its way outward until met with the cosmic web. Once at the cosmic web, it reverts its direction now zooming in all the way back down to the smiling girl. This time diving deeper into her retina, all the way down to quarks; a fundamental constituent of matter that forms together to make protons and neutrons. The video fundamentally works to emphasize the size comparisons of all things that make up the universe. In the background of the video plays a song involving drums and percussion instruments. It creates a suspenseful, yet upbeat mood as the video progresses.
I chose this piece because it was an eye-opening experience for me when I first saw it. Not only is it educational in that it provides labeled details of each “bigger picture,” but it is also a great way to put things into perspective. Optimistically thinking, it provides evidence about how the possibilities are endless. As a human you are not confined to the place in which you were raised. You are not confined to only the people you currently know. You can go anywhere and do anything because there is so much space and so many opportunities that await you. From a pessimistic perspective, I suppose it could also emphasize just how small we are in comparison to this immense universe and how nothing matters– but maybe that perspective would be better useful for when it comes to obstacles and hardships in life. We are so small in this universe so who cares if you have a terribly embarrassing interview? Who cares if you lose your job? You’ll get another! It provides much insight when you look at life as a time to take risks and have fun because after all we are just minuscule living things within this gigantic cosmic web.
A
way in which I would teach a lesson with this video would be both
educational and insightful. I’d first provide the students with an
example of my own to initiate some thoughtful thinking. I would start
with myself, then go to my family, then my home, then my street, off to
my neighborhood, and then city, and then state. I would stop at the
state to see if the students would then go even further when they did
their own; maybe to the country and then earth, at least? The students
would then make a list of each “bigger picture” within their own life.
Once completed, I would have them make a separate list of things going on
in their lives that they aren’t completely satisfied with, or that are
causing them anxiety. I would ask the students to then share their
“bigger picture” lists. They would then be shown the video. Following
the video, I would allow students to talk about where they stopped on
their list, as well as their reactions to the video. My spiel involving the
endless opportunities and how we must look at life as all the obstacles
being silly and irrelevant would then be given. I would have the
students reference back to the lists they made involving things causing
them anxiety in the hopes that this would lighten the load, at least a
little. The goal for this lesson would be achieved if the students left a
little more hopeful and a little less worried about small hardships in
life, as well as being informed on the size comparisons of all that make
up this universe.
9
November 28, 2022
Unexpectedly Falling in Love
Vanessa Rothmeyer
The song Circa 2013 by Jaden is a beautiful piece of art in the
form of music. It has multiple layers of sound and lyrics that tell a
story of how the artist’s life was around 2013 when he was 15 years
old. He sings about being young and unexpectedly falling in love
. The lyrics that go in and out throughout the song are his inner
thoughts, thinking maybe the girl he’s singing about is the one and
how he feels like it is too late to tell her that. The main stream of
lyrics tells the story of his summertime love and how he hopes it
never goes away. With a combination of the main lyrics and the ones
that come and go, this song is truly a work of art.
I chose this song as my piece of art because I have always felt very drawn to Jaden as an artist and the song itself; it has so many layers of lyrics and instrumentals. It is a piece that makes me feel something, it tells a story and each time I listen to it, I pick up on a new aspect of it that I have not heard before. The different tiers of voices flowing in and out feel less like you are listening to a song and more like you are immersed in an experience. I love that about it, how it brings you into his mind and allows you to hear each thought pass through his brain as an observer.
I would use this song to teach a lesson about layers; how people have different layers and music can have different layers, too. The most interesting thing about the song to me is that I appreciate something new that I have not heard before each time I listen to it, so I would use that idea to teach about really paying attention to the world around us. It brings about this wonderful concept that there is something new to be learned and observed everywhere, even in the songs you have heard a thousand times, the places you know like the back of your hand, and the people you grew up with and have not done life without. I admire the thought of never truly being all-knowing because there is always something new to be learned, seen, and heard. Learning how to be open to learning new lessons in familiar scenes is a life skill that I would teach using this song as a true embodiment of that idea.
10
Dec 3, 2022
Surrealism: The Horrors of Warfare
Jack Lee
Throughout human history, artists have been inspired by and tried to capture the atrocities of war. In Pablo Picasso’s, “Guernica,” is a famously harrowing painting of the Battle of Guernica during the Spanish Civil War. At the time of the bombing depicted, Guernica was a small Spanish village populated mostly by women and children. Where most artists would have used realism to depict the horrors of warfare, Picasso uses his trademark surrealism to give a more nuanced take on a horrific scene. Prominent elements of the monochromatic oil painting are fire, a bull, an injured horse, screaming women, a fallen soldier, and a dead baby.
I selected this painting because it has fascinated me ever since I first saw it. I first attempted to dissect this painting in a World Literature class taught at the University of Delaware when discussing wartime propaganda. What I enjoy about Picasso’s use of surrealism—and this painting in particular—is that there are many hidden meanings in both the deliberate and accidental subtleties of this painting. The longer someone stares at this piece, the more things begin to reveal themselves to the viewer. What initially looks like a collage of shapes becomes a deeply unsettling and telling depiction of a deadly attack on Spanish civilians.
I would use this piece to teach a lesson similarly to how it was used on me. I was exposed to “Guernica” when learning about how art and literature can be used to spread anti-war ideology. I think this painting is exemplary when learning about both the subtle, yet powerful complexities of surrealist art and anti-war art and literature. I think this painting is a great example of the former because it uses an illogical and bizarre scene to give a powerful and eye-opening depiction of the Spanish Civil War. It is a great example of anti-war art because it raised public awareness across Europe for the anti-war efforts during the Spanish Civil War. Picasso was already an extremely high-profile painter, and his work helped sway public opinion against the war in a time when people had much more limited access to information.
11
Dec. 1, 2022
Romeo and Juliet: A Timeless Piece
Morgan Hirsch
The play Romeo and Juliet, is truly a timeless classic - despite being performed for the first time in 1597, it is still widely used both in the classroom setting and on Broadway. The play depicts two teenagers, Romeo and Juliet, who fall in love; however, are forbidden to see each other as a result of their families’ feud. Over the course of the play, the lovers' desire for each other clashes heavily with their families hatred and results in the price of both of their lives - which were taken as a result of not being together. While, on the surface, the play shows the most iconic love story, upon watching and analyzing the piece on a deeper level, it is clear the main point Shakespeare is trying to convey. Different institutions such as family, societal pressures, and love may conflict, but regardless of this, individuals will still somehow find a way to satisfy their own internal desires. This can be seen when Romeo and Juliet both take their lives to be with each other. As a result of this, Romeo and Juliet is regarded as William Shakespeare's greatest piece. However, in my opinion, it really is because Shakespeare was able to incorporate humor into this tragic piece forcing the viewer to feel a plethora of diverse emotions that shift throughout the entirety of the performance.
Personally, I was introduced to the story of Romeo and Juliet in the 10th grade when I had to read the script for English class, which was then followed by a field-trip to Broadway to watch it performed. Despite this, the idea of Romeo and Juliet and the concept of forbidden love has been discussed widely throughout my life including being the theme of my favorite artist Taylor Swift song, “Love Story,” one of her more popular pieces. When deciding on a piece, it made sense to choose one that not only had a strong impact on the art world but one that was symbolic to me. While I may not relate to Romeo or Juliet when it comes to the love aspect, I definitely have felt the pressure from friends and family when it comes to other factors in my life including where to go to college and future career goals. Doing this analysis just further proves to me that my own happiness is the most important factor in my future endeavors.
Just like it was used in my 10th grade English class, I would use this piece to not only introduce William Shakespeare being that he was one of the most influential playwrights of his time and still remains to be, but also, to expose them to the different genres of theater. I think teaching this would be extremely effective and impactful to a mature theater arts class as well as appreciated by these students. The lesson would ultimately consist of two parts: reading and researching the play as well as the history of its production and then acting it out. This would be the most useful because Romeo and Juliet was written during a time period where theater thrived which students should be educated on. The play uses old Victorian language, which, when teaching an acting class, is essential to know about.
Many other plays used this same style of English (including Macbeth, Hamlet, and Othello). Learning this style of writing could be a stepping stone to not only learn about that time period, but to introduce other plays. Secondly, Romeo and Juliet has such a unique style that utilizes many emotions including happiness, frustration, and sadness. Acting out the tragedy exposes students to this genre but also how to act a variety of emotions within a short course of time. This very skill is extremely important to theater arts students. Through it, they are able to express all the different types of emotions there are. This is the general basis for acting and it is imperative if the actors/students want their audience to feel anything. Overall, I personally feel that Romeo and Juliet is a timeless piece despite the language being different. Teaching it in theater arts is essential to learning about the impact that theater had during the Elizabethan period as well as teaching about emotions.
12
12-5-2022
The Bigger Picture
Cleveland Reed
The piece of art that I would be talking about is the Lil Baby's concert called The Bigger Picture. I chose it because it’s very inspiring; also most people that come from other places, like most black people in America, can relate. Having the cops take blacks to jail and kill us is not good and it has been going on for years. It is time we put a stop to this and come together and that is the message from Lil Baby's art that made me want to write about it. The Bigger Picture went big across the world and most people love it.
The Bigger Picture is set and made for the world to see the wrong doing by the government and the police. Lil Baby loves the fact that the youth looks up to him and kids want to be just like him. Having somebody to look up to and push to be like him is very important to kids and what they want to do in life. The rap game has changed a lot over the years, but one thing to think about is that music grows as time goes.
I would use the songs and art created by Lil Baby to teach students that racism is part of a bigger picture and that “black lives matter.” Hard times don’t last, but people do; so one has to keep pushing for justice no matter what. Art is made to motivate the people and we are the people. Children will learn that black and white lives both matter and that we all should stick together.
13
Dec. 8th, 2022
Moulin Rouge: Incorporating Pop-Music
Savannah Turner
I chose the musicalMoulin Rougeto write about formy art of choice.Moulin Rougethe musical is based on the original film released in 2001 and first released on July 10, 2018. It is a musical about a young Englishman in the Paris of 1899, who becomes infatuated with Satine, a singer at the Moulin Rouge. Satine has been promised by the manager to a Duke in return for funding his next production so the club doesn’t get shut down. TheMoulin Rougemusical differs from the film because it focuses even more on hit and iconic pop songs that everyone knows and loves.
I chose to focus onMoulin Rouge because I watched this musical over Thanksgiving break with my family and was pleasantly surprised by how wonderful it was. This musical stuck out to me because although it was based on the year 1899 it featured new, hip music that was released in the 1990s and 2000s which allows the different decades and time periods to intertwine and connect. I would also describe this musical as being “freeing” and not going around the classic musical norms.
I would useMoulin Rougeto teach a twelfth grade acting or musical theater class. I would first have the entire class sit down and watch a five minute video showing an example of howMoulin Rouge effortlessly and seamlessly incorporatespop music into their play lines. I would separate the class into groups of four or five and give them a short set of theater lines and then have them figure out a pop song or any song they like that coordinates and ties into what the lines are saying. Once I give them enough time to practice I would have each group perform and give positive feedback on each other’s creative choices.
The piece of art I chose is a poem by Sofia Kioroglou titled “Life Ain’t No Crystal Stair”. As I sat down looking through various poems trying to find the one that contained the most meaning, I came to realize that poems are poems because they are subjective to you, and thus I decided on this famous poem by Sofia Kiroglou. This poem holds such significance, because in each three stanzas a different message is shown. Through the first stanza, we are being shown that life is what you make of it. Instead of waking up each day dwelling on what you don’t have, wake up each day and remember all that you do have.
So many times in life we focus on obtaining what we don’t have that we never take the time to appreciate what is right in front of us and before long, its gone. This leads into the second stanza, in which we see the importance of embracing all that life throws at you. So many times we find ourselves rushing through life, that we never stop and embrace what life is giving to us. Whether good or bad, the challenges life throws at us are given to us for a reason, to help us grow. Not everything life gives you is easy, but you are given these obstacles to make your own mark on the world.
As the poem reads “take what life throws at you and if it’s a lemon make some iced tea”, take the obstacles and sourness that life gives you, and turn it into something sweet that helps you grow. This then leads into the last stanza. Reiterating to take all of life’s obstacles and turn them into a learning experience. Life will not always be fair. Life will not even usually be fair, so it is up to you to decide if you want to wallow in life’s unfairness, or see the glass “half full” and appreciate that there are better days ahead. Just as the poem reads “embrace the tacks and splinters”, in life, we must embrace the difficulties and use them as a building block.
I chose this poem because I feel as though it embraces all aspects of ones life. This poem showcases that some days will be good, some days will be bad, and some days will be nor good or bad. It is up to ourselves to live our lives to the fullest. We have to embrace all that we do have, because life is fragile. So, start each day by appreciating all that you do have, rather than looking for what you don’t.
This poem is significant to me because growing up I did view life’s obstacles many times as stopping points. I would let things like a bad test-grade get in my way and put me down. However, as I grew up, I came to see that I am lucky, if at even one point in my life, a bad test grade was the only thing getting me down. As I grew up, I began to realize how fast life truly is. I began to realize that we create our own tomorrows, and if I wake up with a bad attitude and see the glass “half empty”, that is the kind of day I am going to have. Life throws obstacles at us to help us grow and once you realize that, you can truly start living your life.
15
Dec. 10, 2022
Pointillism: Dots and Brush Strokes
Kaylie Eisemberg
The piece I chose is A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte by Georges Seurat. This painting took Seurat two years to complete, from1884-1886. He would go to the Island of La Grande Jatte in Paris and closely observe the landscape and the people there. This painting is one of the first in the pointillism art movement and is a leading example for artists. Seurat used oil paint on a large canvas for this piece and it is currently on display at the Art Institute of Chicago.
I chose this painting because there is so much that can be interpreted in it. Each person is doing their own thing at the park but throughout the painting there are parts that typically would not make sense. For example, one woman has a monkey on a leash. I love the colors Seurat chose for this piece. I find pointillism very interesting. He used miniature dots and small brush strokes of colors that when completed were perceived as a single shade or hue. Considering the technique and the size of the canvas makes the panting even more admirable. Additionally, Seurat painted this during hectic times in French society and he reflects that through his piece.
I would use this in a lesson plan by having students interpret each person on their own. The students would create a story for each person in the park and write about what they are doing in the park and a background of their life. This painting would help with creativity and imagination in a lesson plan because it would allow their brains to soar in creativity with every student creating a different story. This piece has no correct interpretation which I think promotes individuality within the students and shows them that there is no one right answer.
16
Dec. 11, 2022
Significance of 23
Te' Cory Couch
The piece I’m choosing to write about is a piece made by a former student-athlete at the university of Miami named Dmauri Jones. This piece is a painting of myself in one of my football pictures from the 2020 football season. It was gifted to me on my birthday, that year, by someone I hold close to my heart that’s not in my life anymore.
I chose this piece because of what it represents to me. When I look at the piece, I see two versions of myself, what I used to be and what I aspire to be in the future. This piece is significant for two reasons, because of the person who gifted it to me and what it actually represents. What I think about when I see the old me is just everything I went through to get to where I am right now. I’m my life, from my younger brother going to jail to how that effected my family.
The adversities I went through in football, to even be at any university, is just a complete blessing. When I think about where I aspire to be, it reminds me of how much harder I have to work. I mean, work to be a better person and continue to build character. Also, on the football field, trying to be a perfect player, even though I know there’s no such thing as perfect.
I would use this piece to teach a lesson by explaining my students how an art piece can be significant. By simply discussing the meaning of the piece one can change the dynamics of it. This makes the piece strong and powerful. For instance, the significance of 23 wouldn’t be the same for everyone, except for those who understand who the piece was made for.
17
Dec. 6, 2022
Van Gogh: Capturing Images for Art History
Noah Burstyn
The piece of Art that I have decided to write about is Café Terrace at Night by Vincent Van Gogh (1853 - 1890). The artist painted this piece in Arles, France during mid-September of 1888. For this painting, he observed his view facing the cafe and included all he saw in the background. The coats of colors he used, such as the yellow of the cafe, the blue-black of the remote street and the violet-blue of the foreground door, are amazing. By looking at the painting, one feels like one is there in person.
Van Gogh enjoyed painting this piece at night because he was able to show off the stars and the dark sky perfectly. It seems like it was a very peaceful setting and that he liked the exact spot he drew it from. I’ve never been to France, but if I have the chance to go see this spot where he painted from that would be awesome. This painting is a big part of art history and shouldn’t be forgotten.
This painting is extremely elegant to the eye, but the details within the picture is what impresses me the most. I chose this painting specifically because Vincent Van Gogh is one of the best artists of all times. I believe he captured the images he saw so well. Last spring, I traveled to Amsterdam, Netherlands. I was able to attend the Vincent Van Gogh Museum and it was a great experience. It was so fascinating learning about his life and see some of his best artwork. Being there made me have a great respect for his work because it helped me understand what he wanted to capture.
When I was a young student in elementary school and middle school, we were taught about some of the most famous painters. Of course, Van Gogh was included in these discussions, so I already had some prior knowledge about him. I believe it is important for young students to know about famous artists and their specific skills because it can translate to their own art. Thus, I would have my students use these artists as role models. For instance, I would push them to become better painters by emulating some of the Post-Impressionist techniques used by Van Gogh. When it comes to the arts, it is important to invite students to chase their own dreams, to follow their paths and believe anything is possible. I am looking forward to continue learning about art and how it translates to every day life in order to enhance students' understanding of art and its history.
18
Nov. 20, 2022
The Night of Broken Glass
Ariel Hartzy
The piece of art that I picked was drawn by Charlotte Salomon and it is titled Kristallnacht, or "the night of broken glass." This piece is full of bright colors and is an intentional paradox of the bleak tragedy that occurred this night. The painting is of a real-life event that occurred on November 10th and 9th of 1938. Solomon is a German Jewish artist that drew this to pay respect and draw attention to this dark history. You can see that she also wrote words on the painting that can be translated to, “death to all Jews and grab what you can.” Through her multiple paintings of the Holocaust she shares her family's story that she witnessed herself. I found this piece of art extremely interesting because it targets an important topic, but the painting itself is done in a very different way than others about the same topic because of the use of colors.
I chose this piece because, first off, I'm Jewish and many of my ancestors and even family members that are alive today survived the Holocaust and lived through these tragedies. I think many schools in the US don't teach Holocaust awareness enough and educate students on what happened in the past. I think the only way to make sure that the past doesn't repeat itself is to educate the youth about it and empower them with this knowledge. Today we are seeing an extreme rise in anti-Semitism across the United States. I feel that this piece is extremely important. Art like this could be taught at schools to help students understand the severity of Jewish history and put an end to anti-Semitism across the world.
Topics like anti-Semitism and the Holocaust are very heavy topics to teach in the education system and I understand that. I think that analyzing these historical events through art like this one is a great way to teach students about what happened without going into necessarily gruesome details. Allowing students to see for themselves from survivors what the experience was like can make a difference. There are many different artists that have paintings like Kristallnacht describing the Holocaust. I could use her album of paintings that outlined different instances in the Holocaust and help students work through their emotions. If taught, students can understand what happened during an event like the Kristallnacht. Furthermore, they could educate others around them about it during times like Holocaust remembrance month.
Lindsay Cruz
The art piece I chose to write about is the musical Wicked. This musical theater piece is a Broadway musical with many songs and instrumentals. The musical was written by Stephen Schwartz and the book was written by Winnie Holzman. It is based on the novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West” written by Gregory Maguire. The musical is about how the Wicked Witch of the West (also known as Elphaba) came to be and all the struggles the witches faced. It is a story about two infamous witches. These two witches are Elphaba and Glinda (The Good Witch).
Wicked is the fifth-longest running show on Broadway, with it being on Broadway for 18 years. It won three Tony awards and seven Drama Desk Awards and one Grammy Award. It has broken many records with generating over one billion dollars in Broadway revenue, more than Phantom of the Opera and The Lion King. There are many different productions of Wicked all over the world. It started in North America, in San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, Fort Meyers, and Toronto, Ontario. It has also had two national tours. Internationally, Wicked was previewed in London, Manchester, Ireland, Germany, Australia, Singapore, and Korea.
I chose this art piece because I saw it on Broadway a few years ago and thought it was so amazing. I thought it was so creative to split up the two acts as if they were different time periods in Elphaba and Glinda’s lives. Not only that, but the songs were also really catchy. Each song represented the characters thoughts and feelings so perfectly. Even though it was a long show, it was easy to follow because of how interesting and entertaining it was. Each song fit into place and related back to something else happening during the performance. There are 20 songs featured in it. Each song relates to a different scene and has a different meaning. The top three most popular songs in the musical are “Defying Gravity,” “Popular,” and “For Good.” This musical is significant to me because it is my favorite musical and has so many teaching lessons in it for people of all ages.
I would use the musical Wicked to teach a lesson about friendship and standing up for what your beliefs are. Even when no one else agrees with one's beliefs one should stand one's ground. These are both very important lessons for students because not everyone is going to be on one's side when facing disagreement. Understanding how or why one feels the way that one does is a learning skill. One cannot even count on one's friends and family members to discuss one's ideas unless friendship prevails.
20
Dec. 4, 2022
Covid-19: A Graphic Novel
Maggie Nusim
The piece I chose is actually a graphic novel I created for a project for my Typography class last semester. The graphic novel has minimal words and attempts to use pictures or graphics to portray a story. My inspiration for this piece was Covid-19 and the way it was and still is mentally affecting people. The growth and lack of growth of flowers represent the state the world was in during each month. Additionally, when making this, I wanted to include future months/years to imply my hope for recovery and life eventually going back to normal.
I chose this piece since it was something not only that I made, but was chosen by my teacher to be the front and back cover of a book he put together of all of his student's work from this project. This really gave me the confidence to pursue graphic design and art as a career choice after graduating. Furthermore, the context of the piece is also meaningful since Covid-19 was and is still something that is affecting people. It helps add a little bit of color and hope to the unfortunate narrative we’ve been living in the past few years.
I feel that there are multiple ways to
incorporate this piece when teaching a lesson. First, a teacher could simply focus on the colors used by having students
point to the flower of the color the teacher shouts out. The
teacher could also have the students name all of the colors and types of flowers since each one was based on a real flower. With older students, this piece could be used when discussing Covid-19 or other pandemics by going over
how they can impact mental health. Finally,
since there are a minimal amount of words, the teacher can point out how messages can easily be portrayed solely through graphics/images.
21
Nov. 30, 2022
A Class on Women’s History
Holliday Wear
The piece I’ve chosen to write about is the song 'Mad Woman,’ by Taylor Swift, on her album ‘Folklore’. This ballad talks about the injustice's women face, a topic Swift has been passionate about throughout her career. This song talks about how Swift, and other artists like her, are ridiculed in the music industry and held to different standards than their male counterparts. Swift recognizes that when women attempt to speak out about their unfair treatment, they are often labeled as emotional or crazy, as referenced in the title of the song. Swift talks about how women are expected to smile through their mistreatment until they are pushed to their limits and become “crazy.”
I chose this piece because Taylor Swift has held a lot of significance in my life since I was young. Taylor Swift has always been an artist that my mom, my sister and I listen to together. Her recognition and calling out of injustice towards women is very powerful. Specially in a listening context with two women I respect greatly, recognition and justice are key. Swift's songs have influenced me to be the strong woman I am today.
I think this song could be a very impactful teaching tool for a class on women’s history. It is very beautiful and nice to listen to for everyone, but it also has a really amazing and well written message I think everyone could benefit from hearing. I think you could play this song and analyze the lyrics with students during women’s history month, and maybe teach them about Taylor Swift herself, as she is one of the most impactful women of our generation.
22
Nov. 30, 2022
“The Man” by Taylor Swift
Sky Dunmyer
The piece that I chose is a song called “The Man” by Taylor Swift. This song makes a sarcastic commentary and expresses her anger about gender inequality to an upbeat, pop tune. Taylor imagines life if she were a man and sings about the various things that she thinks she would have achieved easier. For example, the chorus reads I'm so sick of running as fast as I can, wondering if I'd get there quicker, If I was a man.” With this line, she is commenting on how hard we, as women, must work to reach the same goals that men can achieve with much more ease simply because of their gender. Another line that reads, “when everyone believes ya, what’s that like,” comments on another male advantage and society’s willingness to always believe men but rarely women. Taylor’s song is an empowering one for her primarily female fan base that may share these same frustrations.
I chose this song because I really enjoy the tune and the message. I’ve always enjoyed listening to it, but upon reading and analyzing the lyrics more deeply, I find it even more fun to listen and sing along to. I appreciate that there is representation in the music industry for the struggles women face, and love having art that I can relate to. Gender discrimination is unfortunately something that almost all women endure in one way or another, so the song is significant to a very broad range of listeners. It would also be helpful for men to experience art like this so they can better understand their privilege and the obstacles women face. So the song spreads an important message for listeners of all demographics.
I would use this song to teach high schoolers a lesson about gender inequality and feminism. I would have the class listen to the song and lead an open discussion on the student’s thoughts and own experiences that they can relate it to. This is an especially important message for teenage girls who are beginning to enter society and may be starting to connect their experiences to sexism. It is also important for teenage boys to learn about these topics so that they can help eliminate gender discrimination in their homes or workplaces. If we spend time teaching children about these important social issues, we are more likely to have a new generation that will work towards change.
23
Dec. 4, 2022
Giant Box of Chocolates
Julie Rice
I chose a piece created by the artist Peter Anton. He creates oversized 3D sculptures of foods and desserts. He is most famous for his chocolate boxes, and I chose one of many editions to use for my essay. In an interview with artnet, Anton explains that he is passionate about food and fascinated by the major role food plays in our daily lives, both currently and historically. He enjoys learning about how foods can, “activate passions and emotions in people,” as well as, “the profound connection food has to an individual’s memories and personal history. He claims that food is not just about sustaining life. He also talks about how he wanted to create works that incited joy and struggled to find gallery representation at in his early years as an artist because his work was so cheery.
I first came across Peter Anton’s work at Art Basel in 2015. I was 14 at the time and had seen enough art for the day. I was cranky and ready to leave until I came across a few of Anton’s works. My mood immediately shifted, and I was full of joy. After I learned about his purpose and intentions for the piece, I realized that I was his perfect audience member. It helped bring me to a happier place and reminded me of past happy memories relating to the food sculptures I was staring at. It was also exciting because I had been looking at “conventional” artwork all day and was ecstatic to see something that I enjoyed incorporated into fine art. It was one of the first times I truly found myself engaged with artwork, and helped me open my eyes more toward the world of art. I credit Peter Anton for my love of art now.
In a lesson I would use my story and Peter’s work to hopefully get students excited about art. The lesson would be based on my struggle to appreciate art until I came across this giant box of chocolates. Once I realized that works could include things I felt strongly about, I had a newfound passion for art ignited inside of me. I want to provide the same thing for my students. I will give them my example, and then tell them to go and create whatever they would like, in any capacity, as long as it incorporated something they truly love.
24
Nov. 29, 2022
Hamilton: The Legitimate American History
Caroline Griffith
Hamilton is about one of the United States founding fathers, Alexander Hamilton. The musical was created by Lin-Manuel Miranda, who also stars as Alexander Hamilton. Much of the musical is not only sung, but is rapped, setting it apart from many of the other popular Broadway shows. In addition, it casts non-white actors as the other founding fathers. The goal of the musical is to tell the history of America while showing the different underlying political views. Hamilton had first performed in 2015 in an Off-Broadway performance before it made it onto Broadway, selling out for months after months. After winning some awards, Hamilton moved to be on Broadway later that year. Being on Broadway, the musical received countless excellent reviews and was nominated for a record breaking number of Tony Awards, among many other award nominations.
I chose Hamilton on Broadway because I was fortunate enough to have had the experience of the musical this past winter break. Since I was young, my parents have made an effort to expose us to Broadway musicals and it has been one of my favorite activities to do when I go home. Hamilton has become one of my top favorite musicals I have seen. I have learned over the years that Broadway had started the distribution of sheet music in Manhattan before recording music was a part of society. Many of the greatest songs from musicals had been picked up from people playing it on the streets. The musical aspect of Hamilton is what really attracts people. The songs that are sung are incredibly catchy and enjoyable to listen to. Besides, the show itself, the recorded album of the songs from Hamilton has also been extremely popular and have made millions of dollars alone.
I would use this piece of art to teach a lesson of not only musical theater, but as a history lesson as well. This show does such a great job of using America’s past history in order to tell a story in a creative way. I would have students write about the music and review the specific songs. They would talk about how the songs help tell the story of the founding fathers. I would also give a lesson on the legitimate American history and then have students write a review on how Hamilton uses the historical aspects in the story.
25
Dec. 14, 2022
Dive In: Positive Intent
Alfonso Blades
Abdul Jeleel Yussuf is an American rapper, singer, and record producer from Pawtucket, Rhode Island. He is known for his single "Dive In!" which received traction on social media. On “Dive In!”, JELEEL experiments with a loud, chaotic sound. The track's music video, which features JELEEL dancing in an abandoned mall, quickly surpassed 200,000 views. “Dive In!” has become JELEEL’s most viewed video yet.
“Dive In!” is a unique piece because of the delivery of the art being sent across. For instance the chorus says:
Soak up (Hoo, soak up), picked the flow up (Hoo, flow up)
Froze up (Hoo, froze up), he just froze up (Hoo, froze up)
Yeah, I'm colder, niggas like, "Polar"
Pick the dough up, throw it like a floater (Yeah)
Killin' 'em (Woah), drillin' 'em (Yeah)
Is you feeling sum'? (Woah) Feelin' numb (Feelin' numb)
It's time to go (Go), I'ma rise (Rise)
In the show (Show), I'ma dive
JELEEL likes to send his message across using pure emotion and good energy. This is big to me because that’s how I live my life. If you think with the positive intent you want, in return, the universe will bless you.
This could be implemented into school criteria. How so? By showing students
that it’s okay to use their energy through music, dance and poetry. It is okay to use their vibration. It is okay to control their work output. It is okay to think with the positive intent they want.
26
Dec. 14, 2022
“Crooked Smile”
I’m writing about a famous art piece/song titled “crooked smile.” This song is not that dated and is still very popular and heard around the world. It is written and performed by J Cole who is a famous rap artist from West Germany. This song is mainly about women having self-love and showing people, no matter how other people might look at you, that it’s about how you look at yourself in the mirror. He really targets high-school to college ages in the song speaking on some of his personal experiences. It is in those stages in life, in general, when students are most worried about how they look to their peers.
I personally can relate to this even though I am not a female. In high-school I transferred schools in the middle of my second year after building great bonds and friendships in the first one. It was hard enough already going into my first year of high-school kind of far from my home with no one from middle school there with me it was definitely different. I finally had opened up and felt comfortable about myself around everyone and felt like I kind of made a home there. Leaving there to go somewhere new felt way harder then the first time. I had to realize if I’m just myself and if I love myself within, it really didn’t matter if people liked me or not.
I would use this in a social aspect of school. Just to tell my students to just be themselves, love themselves and people will love them for who they are. In life you really don’t want anyone to love you for the fake version of you because sooner or later the real you will come out and they won’t like you anymore. It is much harder pretending to be someone you are not than just simply being you. That starts with looking yourself in the mirror in the morning and smiling and loving what you see on the inside and outside.
27
Dec. 9, 2022
Follow Your Conscience
Thomas Davis
The piece of artwork that I have chosen is based on the movie “The hate u give,” which explains the lifestyle of a black African-American female being black in America. She lives two separate lifestyles, while attending a predominantly white school, and doesn’t give anyone a reason to call her "ghetto" as she attends. But there will be a turn in the movie during the weekend. She will attend a house party which would lead to a tremendous change in her life. Well, there she sees her old friend from her neighborhood and catches up with him as they did in old times. Later, she leaves after a fight breaks out and rides away with him. But, they didn’t know this ride would lead to a police-officer's killing, and an unarmed black African-American male on video, whom, while brushing his hair, is falsely accused of having a weapon.
This movie was personally chosen because it shows how the black community would fight for their people and what’s right. Also it shows how the main character finds her voice and stands up for what’s right. Even though she is already looked at differently by everyone else because she attends a white school, she does what is right. Most importantly, the film shows how society uses stereotypes of black people to justify how violence and racism is used against them.
So much knowledge can be taken in from this film and be used to teach students everyday life skills such as how to deal and/or not deal with the police. Not just as an African American, but any race that deals with encounters with police officers, should learn possible consequences. Through “The hate u give,” I would provide this information to my class because it would provide my students with an experience on how to follow one's conscience and what’s right no matter the opinions of others.
Comments
Post a Comment