AAD 250 SUMMER

1. How do you define “spirituality”?

–       Spirituality is simply a process of personal transformation. Using personal senses, people see or feel something and get inspired by it. By experiencing the senses, people express their aesthetic reactions and interpret the senses in forms of several works. Spirituality obviously enables people to believe the senses and to see a certain thing deeply. Once people get inspired and have a strong spirituality, it would not be easy to change their views.

1. Does spirituality differ from religion?

–       I think the spirituality is much broader than religion. Spirituality seems to be similar with religion in terms of belief or inspiration. People who have religion see the world differently. However, people who do not have religion also have an ability to get spirituality. As stated above, the spirituality is a process of personal transforming. Religious people believe a spirit that supports them during their lives. In case of their future misfortune, they follow the norms that their religion teaches. By the influence of it, people have different perception on the lives. Non-religious people also use their sense to experience creatures in the world and receive special feelings. They create their own way of spirituality and interpret it. Unlike to religion, spirituality would be a sense-experiencing and thus inspiration.

1. How do you define “creativity”?

–       The creativity is a process of expressing one’s inspiration using an art-from. The Grey explained that the process of creativity includes formulation, saturation, incubation, inspiration, translation and integration. A creator discovers a subject that attracts his/her attention and interprets it in his own way. After that, he keeps the subject in his mind and finds a unique idea of expressing the subject. Then, expresses the idea in outer forms and shares with public. Creativity definitely impacts on public to get inspired.

1. What is the source of creativity?

–       The source of creativity would be tangible or intangible thing that inspire creators. For tangible thing, any objects around us would be a good source. For some people, one certain object would not be valuable but others may find an aesthetic reaction on it. Thus, natural objects such as mountain, river, goods and etc. can be a source of creativity. For intangible, the words people speak or dreaming would be a common source for creativity. While people are talking each other, some creators catch key words and find the way to create a good work. Moreover, dreaming would inspire some people to make creative works. The dream originated by imagination creates abnormal thoughts for people to interpret some works. It expands people’s limited scope of thinking which might be the basic process of making creativity.

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The primary thesis of “Computer Graphics: Effects of Origins” is that natural objects, cultures and specific image in scope of origins are related to a frame that are present in other forms of symbolic or material culture. One example Jone provides is that “Early oil paintings were similar in technique to egg tempera paintings and did not take advantage of oil’s mixing properties, slower drying and resultant appearance of softer edges.” The medieval art is somewhat simliar in technique to draw a pictures. He explained his thesis by illustrating the example of material culture. According to cultural differences, artists viewed their drawing materials differently and expresses their ideas on the paintings. They did not just copy the works but imported new techniques to show the same effects with original works.

His thesis is quite acceptable when we compare current cultural aspects of art to past. Today, technologies have been enormously developed so that there are numerous techniques to use. Taking an example of camera, the camera captures great views by clicking buttons. Our ancestors drew pictures using flowers to make a color so that copied a beautiful scene. Culturally, photographers are considered as artist and the quality of photo on beautiful views inspire people to get an aesthetic reaction as like drawing does. We cannot judge which art works are better because, we have a culture which technologies help to create fine arts.

The article Eyal Gever’s “Technology and art: Engineering the future” also supports the Jone’s statement. Eyal depicts that But modern ways in which art is created, produced, distributed, marketed, preserved and supported have shifted as a direct reaction of the world’s transition to a socially connected, digital society-to the age of the internet”. Artists used to expose their works in museum or festival for people enjoying. However, currently, artists upload their works on the web to exhibit their works. As internet and technologies have been improved, artists try to find a tool to share their works with public. People in public frequently go on the web and search some works so that meet several art works. Selling arts in web is a general way for today’s culture. Today’s generation use different material (web) rather than museum to exhibit their works. It might be a reasonable evidence to support Jone’s thesis.

Eyal G,(2012, October) Technology and art: Engineering the future, http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-19576763

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Ten keywords are harmony, pure, creativity, calm, fantastic, peace, belief, respect, easy, forest

I used the images for pure, fantastic, peace, easy and belief.

I tried to use Picasa for photoshop, but it was difficult to manage the program, so just used painting.

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Lessig explains “Remix cultures” in his essay “Comparing Cultures. Remix: Making Art and Commerce Thrive in the Hybrid Economy”. He suggests some interesting points about cultures, RO and RX and his views about remixing original contents. RO culture is professionalism and RX culture is professionalism and amateurs. Both cultures are valuable to create new cultures. People keep the good messages taught by parents in mind and deliver them to their children. Lessig stated that “From the very beginning of human culture, we have taught our kids RW creativity. We have taught them, that is, how to build upon the culture around us by making reference to that culture or criticizing it”. Like he said, people make references and show other people to follow. If someone makes an art, it can be re-interpreted by someone who develops original contents. I think the process absolutely give an opportunity to develop the original contents and contexts. If the content is an art, other people can add more creative ideas on it. Unless the remix version is not commercially used, it would be fine for everyone to criticize and create new ones based on the original contents. Everyone might have different opinions as they have different values. However, our society taught us to criticize and make a question on every aspects of life. New amateurs start creativity works by analyzing existing works. I think the development of technology limits one’s creativity. If copyrights law is strictly conducted, amateurs no longer show their creativity and had difficult to get evaluation on their works. Therefore, the remixing would be quite a normal phenomenon.

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The essay, ‘Computer Graphics: Effects of Origins” by Jones, “Recent theoretical work in cognitive science and computer science, as well as that in contemporary theory in the arts, humanities and social sciences, provides theoretical rationales for cultural changes.” As technologies have been developed, people receive various advantages in their lives. All transactions can be made electronically and technological forms of works are all around people. In terms of art, computer graphics or some forms for arts by technologies also deliver some messages or impressions to people. By seeing them, people can be inspired and surprised. However, I do not like the computer based arts. I think a perfect work limits a person’s reaction. Hand-made drawings evoke aesthetic reactions as well as some critics. By the criticisms, the art can be developed more. However, perfect art forms made by technologies would prevent arts from being developing further. Some mistakes or natural forms on arts give more insights. Moreover, everyone can use computer skills such as photo-shop or drawing pictures so that technologies limit the scarcity of art works. In the points, I just wonder do you get impressed by technological arts as much as previous art? Have you thought that the art will lose its unique features while technologies are developing?

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The reading, ‘Art as Spiritual Practice’ by Grey well explains the basic elements that form an art and how artists receive spiritual inspiration. Those two topics grab my attention. We have observed some art forms and create reactions. Even though we do not know the exact lines to distinguish art, we used to assume the lines if a form of art impacts on our spiritual system. By seeing the piece of art, numerous thoughts are appeared so that we consider it as an art. Also, we try to interpret the artist’s views on the art without knowing the process. In Grey’s essay, he states one interesting points that “three things are needed for beauty: integritas (wholeness), consonantia (harmony), and claritas (radiance).” The artists discover their subject using those three things. However, Grey defines the artists see only beauty as an art. Those three things are only applied to beauty. In reality, there are numerous forms of art. Without creating an aesthetic reaction, some themes such as sorrow, sad and angry can be included in the category of art. Obviously, I agree with how those three things are important to create beauty, but an art can deliver subjects in forms of narrative, history and situational pictures. We do not just look the historical arts but see them. Those forms of arts also inspire us to think of how our ancestors inherit peace that we can enjoy our lives.

Moreover, all people have inspiration. By seeing or hearing something, we are inspired by some reasons. Grey depicts that “Inspiration is the most mysterious step in the creative process.” I think artists have their unique abilities to get inspired and interpret in different ways. Artists see the world in creative ways so that conveys the inspiration in forms of art. We used to visit artistic museums or meet some landscapes. Some arts cannot be valued at that time but are considered as valuable pieces in later times. In the museum or in front of arts, we can understand what the art is telling but curious how the artists depicts the subjects in a certain way. The process of expressing the inspiration is somewhat mysterious for me.

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From the article, “A matter of Taste?” by William Deresiewicz, the author brings up the idea that food is not an art but an artistic form to create aesthetic reactions. He states a general view of food. As we have been entering to 21th centuries, food has been stated in the center of our life. More and more young people look to the expressive possibilities of careers in food. It is no exaggeration that food is creativity, commerce, politics and religion. Like arts, they consider food is a real passion that people like to share with friends and treat the food itself as a cultural apparatus that creates numerous dishes in many different countries. The food obviously brings a literature of criticism, journalism, appreciation and theoretical debate. Recently, televised performances and awards on food can be seen. However, food is somewhat different from an art. Food absolutely evokes human senses but that is where food stops. Food does not organize and express emotion. Food itself does not create a story, idea or deep emotions. People generally or roughly feel emotion on foods. Anger, sorrow and thousands of other feelings are not presented in food. Well decorated and delicious food is a fine thing but does not allow people to see the world in a new way.

The article that William wrote concludes that the food is not included in art. In-class reading also sees the food is not an art but a minor art. Both articles approach the conclusion by explaining several elements that art should contain. William explains that the food create aesthetic reactions but in limited scope. The food cannot create wide ranges of emotion. Fine food gives a pleasure to people but mostly the emotions are positive that people cannot feel sorrow and angry. However, Tefler says that the aesthetic reactions are non-neutral that people can feel emotions in two ways. Moreover, he states that aesthetic reactions should not be favorable and pleasure is often not the right way to characterize it. Both statements are understandable but I think the food creates aesthetic reactions like Tefler’s statement. A chef cooks raw materials and put them into dishes with some decoration. By smelling, observing or tasting it, people might feel pleasure and thankful to have the dishes. On the other hand, people can dislike the food and think of payment before enjoying their food. They should be deserved to eat delicious foods but the food that is far away from people’s expectations obviously creates anger.

The second thing which I want to talk about is that whether the food is categorized in a work of craftsmanship or art. Teflers well defined the differences, “if the work contains a good deal of creativity it will be thought of as art, if it contains a modest amount it will be thought as craft”. In Tefler’s view, the degree of creativeness is key factor to judge whether food is an art or not. Recipe is a representative example in this case. A chef who creates recipe and cook based on it is considered as an artist but assistants who follow the recipe are technicians. Like architects and masons, Teflers explains the distinction of art and crafts but he states that “But even the cook who follows precise recipes has to makes choices about the combination and sequence of dishes in a meal and so to that degree is an artist.” People who follow a recipe should interpret the words and change little bit to serve better dishes. Decorating and presenting the food on dishes obviously involves in creations and evoke people who receive the dishes to interpret what the dishes tell about. In this point, the food can be a combination of art and craft. On the other hands, William says “An apple is not a story, even if we can tell a story about it. A curry is not an idea, even if its creation is the result of one.” He has strong opinions that food itself cannot be a creation. He believes that the art and creativity enhance people to meet the world in a new way. However, the food has been limited on the perspectives. People can interpret differently on the food, but the food itself does not give an insight. By adding craftsmanship, people recognize a story and ideas which the food has.

Likewise, both articles insist whether food is included in arts or not. I believe the food is categorized into a combination of craftsmanship and art. It depends on not only chef’s ability to create a food but also how people interpret and enjoy the food. Some can see the food as an art and some are not. The most important thing is our views on food.

William D. (2012, October). A Matter of Taste? [On-Line Newspaper] from www.nytimes.com/2012/10/28/opinion/sunday/how-food-replaced-art-as-high-culture.html

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I prefer to wear long pants with polar shirts when I hang out with my friends. If I meet some people who are older than me, I used to wear black jeans and white shirts on top. I think I have dressed in a way which impressed people to judge me as a clean and tidy man. Moreover, I have tried to show off as if I am a professional. I used to wear watch and take a bag with me. I have never tried to wear bracelets, necklaces, tattoo and piercing. I believed that the first impression has lasting effects to judge a person. If I wear clothes that do not fit to my personality, people will not trust me or lean on me deeply. Moreover, another belief were that men should dress like a man and being tidy influences other people to think of me as an organized person. Over years, these beliefs and values have never been changed, but there was some moment to think of my appearances decorated with full of adorable items. When I was young, I envied my friends who wear trendy shoes and dresses. However, I remember that I never got trendy clothes or shoes. Throughout media, it is visible that some idols lead a trend and most people follow it. Such phenomenon was not related to me. I felt like I was isolated from the trends, but I never regret not to try the trendy clothes because the trend is always changing and my beliefs on dressings were strong enough. Those beliefs have been built through environmental influences.

I strongly agree with that a person builds values or beliefs mostly affected by parents or friends. While I am leading my life, my beliefs and values have been slowly constructed like a worker put a brick on building. By taking some time reflecting my appearance, I am a very conservative person and have decorated my appearance according to that. Actually, being conservative has become my personality and I believe the value has been influenced by my parents. My parents used to say that a person should behave in a manner which fit to a situation. I used to wear formal dressing during my childhood whenever I had a presentation in school. They also sent me to a middle and high school where requires school uniforms. My parents explained me that a student should be seemed as a student. I kept the saying in mind and tried to be decently dressed. Of course, piercing and tattoo is not allowed at all. By the influences from my parents, ‘be conservative’ unconsciously became my belief and values. The word ‘conservative’ includes that not only I have to be polite, respect others but also I should follow what elder people taught me. As stated above, I dressed in a way that most people can respect me. My parents treated me to follow the values and beliefs by coordinating my dresses. All dresses should be ironed every time. Their treatments were the communication for me to have the values and beliefs.

In peer community, there are numerous friends who have dressed differently. As they have different beliefs and personalities, their dressing codes are somewhat strange to me. I think their dressing codes are hugely influenced by trends. In the community, most of my friends consider dressing as a tool to show their feeling. Some are dying their hairs when they want to get healing. By showing unusual fashions, they try to avoid a situation which they have felt hard. Also some get tattoos and satisfy with them. They think changing usual dressing enables them to experience new life. Due to the fact, many friends these days show off their appearances in totally different ways from their personalities. They believe that following trends will get them to be involved in our community. They do not want to be recognized as a person who seems to be a way back of trend. Thus, their appearances are often changed. However, my friends know when they have to wear particular clothes. Even they have tattoos or piercing on their bodies, they try to hide them when they meet with elder people. In Korea, polite is really important so that they think showing tattoo or piercing is rude for elder people, because most elder people are very conservative. Korean has a stereotype that tattoo or piercing is a tool to show power.

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The article “The curious appeal of horror movies” talks about why people pay money and sit in dark area to watch scary movie. The author uses some examples to explain and answer the question. In the article, the author depicts that the horror is a rollercoaster. Like a rollercoaster, horror movie create a sense of catharsis and people expect a thrill by watching it. Whether the horror movie reaches to the happy endings or not, people who experience fear or anger finally get positive emotion as the film leads. Moreover, people want to indirectly experience a strong tension which does not happen in normal life. Obviously, people seek to take a journey that makes people feel dangerous but is in fact safe. Due to the fact, people try to watch horror movie.

The article does not directly explain the elements which add a scary mood. It generally explains why people watch horror movie. However, it is somewhat related to in-class reading in an aspect of attraction of horror. In the class reading, the author states that “that of explaining the way in which the artistic presentation of normally aversive events and objects can give rise to pleasure or can compel our interests” The horror movie obviously attract people to experience aversive events and to find interest on it. It is well explained in Lucy’s article that “We want to see things we wouldn’t usually see in our daily lives, of course. Curiosity is a powerful emotion”. The curiosity absolutely leads our interests and these emotions can be created by artistic approaches. The elements in a horror movie drive people to feel the emotions. Carroll states that “that once a tragic, unsettling event is housed in an aesthetic context, with a momentum of its own, the predominant feeling response, in terms of pleasure and interest, attaches to the presentation as a function of the overall, narrative structure” and “the power of the objects of art-horror to command curiosity”. The mise-en-scene, non-diagetic and diagetic sounds are ostensibly stated in the movie and evoke audiences’ interests by feeling unusual events. These skills add on the story lines and get audiences to experience the horror. That is why people watch horror movies.

The second article that I want to bring is “The Elements of The Modern Horror Film” by Matt Carlin. He explains that the horror movies should create fear aspects. In today’s movie, special effects take a huge role to elaborate the storyline and to show themes. In old films, special effects were not important but the success of a film was depended on good acting skills. Whether or not the film is old, horror movies have taken an aspect of fear. The audiences’ vivid imaginations on the movie used to be created by good acting skills. However, recently, poor acting skills can be unnoticed as audiences can follow the plot according to special effects such as blood, sounds or narratives. Moreover, the creation of atmosphere in horror movie has been a key issue to evoke audiences to anticipate what will happen. Through the audiences’ imagination, we can judge which horror movie is good.

The article deals with the importance of effects in horror movie. In-class reading also depicts the artistic effects which can lead audiences to experience fear. The actors acting, sounds presented in scenes and non-diagetic sounds to add mood create fears and special effects on blood or camera angles lead audiences to experience unusual atmosphere and events. Carroll states that “It engages its audiences by being involved in processes of disclosure, discovery, proof, explanation, hypothesis, and confirmation. Adding sounds on plot and effects of camera angles triggers audiences to discover or make assumptions what will be appeared. In addition to that, mise-en-scene makes audience to confirm a fear. In Matt’s article, he gives an example of Steven Spielberg’s Jaws. He states that “the seemingly tranquil, peaceful, deep blud colors of the sea are very impressive, but underneath, the camera takes the audiences to a world of danger. […]the infamous round of notes in the background, which gradually get louder and louder, that the Shark is getting closer and closer; the danger getting nearer.” By adding non-diagetic sounds, audiences can recognize the danger is at its peak. Without the music in the film, audiences will not get fear and the plot of horror movie might be somewhat boring. Thus, those effects on horror movie would be a key driver to attract more audiences.

From the two articles and class reading, people want to experience a fear which does not happen in normal life. By inserting their emotions on the plot, they want to get a pleasure. In order to get that, horror movie should include some special effects such as good acting skills, sounds and camera techniques. Those effects should be well organized to allure audience to get thrilled.

Lucy O, (2003) THE CURIOUS APPEAL OF HORROR MOVIES from http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/09/09/the-curious-appeal-of-horror-movies

Matt C (1998) The Elements of The Modern Horror Film from http://www.pitofhorror.com/newdesign/articles/element.htm

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