Objective:

• Evaluate personal values and paradigms around body decoration and physical beauty.
• Investigate how physical appearance affects definitions of identity and belonging.
• Analyze values and belief systems of physical appearance across cultures, sub-cultures and generations.

 

Original Post:

I take some time to consider these questions. I have many different styles of dressing in the different age. I think everyone is same to me, nobody can remain the same style since they are a child. However, I have a special thing never changed for about five years. It is a Bodhi seeds prayer beads, mother asks it from a monk. I wear it on the wrist as a bracelet, and I also wear it on my neck because it is around 2 feet long. There are four pieces ambers beads on it. It is my belief, I think it can give me good luck and health, so I always wear it. I also bring it to America, I wish it can bless me to happy every day.

For human beings, clothes are items which can cover and warm our body. Therefore I put more values on health, I always wear proper clothes in different seasons. It is normal that girls always wear skirts or silk stockings in the winner but it is bad for their knees. Everyone has their own personal views of values, they could focus more on their beauty. Additionally, I also pay a lot attention on my outlook. I think that if I dress well I will feel more self-confidence. For example, in the society, people don’t know each other when they first meet. They will judge everyone by their dress, so I don’t want to give strangers a bad impression.

Considering recent period, I really like Korean style. I’m a Chinese, but I like the dressing style of Korean people because it is trendy in Mainland China. Many trendy Korean brands are really popular in my country. The one I liked the most is called Pancoat. I have many Pancoat T-shirts and pants. I like Pancoat because their mascot is duck which is same to Eugene. I think it is very close to the local culture, and can let me integrate into American life. Many of mine Pancoat T-shirts have a big duck logo. Some of them also have big duck eyes. In the campus, many people ask what brand of my T-shirt while I go to the lecture hall. I got my best American friend through talking about my T-shirt. I think my style of dress let me become more self-confidence. It gives me more chance to communicate with local native speaker, which improve my English skills a lot.

In this decade, I have changed many dressing style. On the on hand, I need to wear proper clothes in different ages. Most children like Mikey and Donald, I like them, too. It is difficult to see a person wear a T-shirt which has a big Mikey face in my age (I’m 21 now). I like plaid shirt very much when I was around 18 years old. I have many color plaid shirts, red, blue, gray and white. I like white plaid shirt the most because it looks very clean and easy to match with any pants. To be honest, I don’t have any specific style of dress until I came to America. However, I have few favorite clothes, white plaid shirt, tan casual pants and black coat. I like these clothes because they can make me looks slimmer. On the other hand, I changed different style when I live in different place. For instance, I live in Eugene, so I wear T-shirt with duck logo. And I have a piercing on my left side ear. I got it in the last year, I didn’t do that when I in China because Chinese think it is not a boy things. In America, we are free to do what we want, so I got it. I think it is very suit for my recent style.

The core value in my family also is self-confidence, so I also required to dress well. In my hometown, people through their watch, shoes, and belt to show off their status. Therefore, my father give me a quartz watch which is very expansive. He let me wear it when I attend to some parties of my parents. My parents always wear black and white clothes, I think it is too boring, so I always wear colorful in my daily life.

In my peer community, people like to wear casual clothes but these people will put lots of money on their adornment. Although they are just student, but most of their family are rich, they like wear famous brand bags and watches. Some people think that their core value is personal development. They through famous brand bags, watch, and shoes to find friends who have same economic condition for their future development.

Sanders, C. R. (1989). Introduction: Body Alteration, Artistic Production, and the Social World of Tattooing. In Customizing the Body (Chap. 1). Philadelphia, PA: Temple University Press.

 

Reflection:

In this Chapter, I learned about the art of personal adornment. Through watching people’s adornment could make an assumption of their personal values. For instance, from their dressing, tattooing, piercing and jewelry can guess their age, healthy or not, personal belief and nations etc. However, I will focus on the tattoo, because tattoo always can express personal belief.

Allen Iverson is a basketball player in NBA, he has many tattoos on his body. The picture is one of his tattoos in the neck. It is a Chinese word “Zhong (忠)”， the meaning of this word is loyal and credible. We can make a guess that “Zhong” is important personal value for him so he wants to remind himself. In other words, Iverson might like Chinese culture, so he has a tattoo in Chinese.

Moreover, David Beckham, a famous English football player in the past. He also has a Tattoo in Chinese on his waist， which is “Sheng Si You Ming, Fu Gui Zai Tian (生死有命富贵在天)”. The meaning is that don’t worry about too much, just do it. He also likes to wear suit and T-shirt, his dressing always very clean and tidy. In my opinion, Beckham is courageous and organized person.

In conclusion, this assignment helped me to learn how to identify person’s values from their outlooks. I believe that they have a strong relationship between outlooks and personal values. I pay more attention on the tattoo in above pictures, but we still can guess more about their personal information, like career, education level and wealth level etc. This assignment is really useful in my future life.

 

Future Goal:

It is very important to identify others personal values and their basic information depends on others’ outlooks. Therefore, I will always notice other people’s dressing and sum them up. Although we cannot judge others by their appearance, it still important to learn how to identify it.

main page

artifact 1: Life Value Assessment

artifact 2: What is Art For?

artifact 3: Is Food Art? Discussion

artifact 4: The Art of Personal Adornment

artifact 5: Aesthetics of Horror 

artifact 6: Creativity Spirituality

artifact 7: Art, Technology and Games 

artifact 8: Remixing Culture Discussion 

artifact 9: Runquist Murals Research 

Objective:

• Learn about the history of computer graphics.
• Examine the role of technology as a force for cultural maintenance and change.
• Discuss the validity of art created with the aid of machines.

Original Post:

In the weekly reading article, “Computer Graphics: Effects of Origins” by Beverly Jones, the author mainly illustrates that the relationship between art and technology. According to this, the thesis of the article is found on the page 21, “it is a premise of this paper that old cultural patterns do not die. They may fade or become more evident; that is, they may be deemphasized or emphasized. Only as part of the general ‘nonexpert’ culture can such patterns contribute significantly to maintenance and/or change” (Jones, 1990). The idea that writer brought up in this article is unfamiliar for most people who don’t know the relationship between computer graphics and real lives. In this article, author wants to explain that the importance of the computer graphics, and how it helps world to get better.

I found the one example at the bottom of the page 22, “not all images served technological research or practical purposes: some were done in ‘spare time’ by engineers and technicians. For example, an image called Stained Glass Windows, a graphic designed in the Army Ballistics Research Laboratory, reflects a desire by individuals not trained in art to produce aesthetic imagery” (Jones, 1990). This is an example that using computer graphics in the force field, it can provide technology is important for human lives.

I think one of the most compelling and accurate example of Jones’ thesis is “Computer Animation”. I found it in the Wikipedia, “it is the art of creating moving images via the use of computer” (Wikipedia, 2015). Computer animation is a technic that use 3D images to create a stereo figure. There has been a number of changes since the creation of computer animation. It has been used in many fields, such as film industry. The film “Avatar” is a milestone in 3D films because it is the first film that uses computer animation. The success of the 3D film is because people can feel the figure directly from the screen. It is like it happens right in front of people, and people can easily be brought into the situation. Computer animation is absolutely a grand invention of 21 century. In my opinion, this high technology is invited to help.

Jones, B. J. (1990). Computer Graphics: Effects of Origins. LEONARDO: Digital Image – Digital Cinema Supplemental Issue, pp. 21-30.

 

Reflection:

(League of Legends is on of the most popular online games in the world. )

This assignment attracted me too much, because I’m a gamer. I can understand that what the speaker said in the TED talks. For most people, they believe online game is bad, it just waste our time and some game spread bad information to children. Indeed, there are some games are bad for education. However, most standard online games can benefit people. In the picture, the game called League of Legends. It is team work online game, and maximum 12 players can play together. This game can practice people’s many quantities like team work, self-confidence, leadership and the ability of prediction. In the game, players need to communicate with others and to against the enemy. It need many strategies and team work to win the game. Therefore, it is not just a game, it also is a mental sport. In the TED talk video, the speaker believe that to add more gaming time, the world will be better. Somehow, it seems really funny but it is true. The world need more teamwork, more happiness, more challenging.

In the article, the author mainly discussed about digital art. Jones’ primary thesis in “Computer Graphics: Effects of Origins” is that “it is a premise of this paper that old cultural patterns do not die. They may fade or become more evident; that is, they may be deemphasized or emphasized. Only as part of the general ‘nonexpert’ culture can such patterns contribute significantly to maintenance and/or change” (Jones, 1990). The thesis is same as my learning goal. The article also introduced the history of art in technology, and three historical examples about computer graphics. Besides, some people claim that the art made by machine is not real art, but I believe it is art. Not matter how people did it, art is something can enjoy people. Machine is just a tool, like people need to use brushes to painting. After this chapter, I knew them. All in all, this assignment change the my view of online game, and also learned some skills about computer graphics.

Future Goal:

In the future, my first goal is to add some gaming time every week, and not only play games, but also need to consider about the meaning of gaming. I need to learn more history about computer graphics, this reading just refers a small part of them. I will learn

 

main page

artifact 1: Life Value Assessment

artifact 2: What is Art For?

artifact 3: Is Food Art? Discussion

artifact 4: The Art of Personal Adornment

artifact 5: Aesthetics of Horror 

artifact 6: Creativity Spirituality

artifact 7: Art, Technology and Games 

artifact 8: Remixing Culture Discussion 

artifact 9: Runquist Murals Research 

Objective:

• Become acquainted with copyright as a historic, cultural and economic paradigm and its value and pertinence to creative works.
• Explore the changing nature of copyright in the context of “Remix Culture” and the “Fifth World”.
• Examine their own and others values and paradigms of ownership and authorship of cultural media.
• Evaluate the meanings of real and fake and examine their intersection with personal and cultural identity and authenticity.

Original Post:

“Comparing Cultures. Remix: Making Art and Commerce Thrive in the Hybrid Economy” is the reading in this week talks about “remix culture”, and the remix culture is defined as “a society that allows and encourages derivative works by combining or editing existing materials to produce a new product” on the Wikipedia.

In the reading, the author is mainly illustrates the differences between RO and RW in the beginning. Writer said that “One (RO) is fueled by professionals. The other (RW) is fueled by both professionals and amateurs” (Lessig, 2008). In the article, Lessig also concerns about the relationship between copyright and creativity. Some people think copyright block the growth of creativity. “Copyright law supports this control in the digital age because of a deceptively simple fact about the architecture of copyright law, and the architecture of digital technology” (Lessig, 2008) explained by author. For my perspective, I hold an opposite view point as the author about copyright. I think copyright doesn’t block the growth of creativity, On the contrary, it promotes the more original art work due to the regulations of the copyright law. If there isn’t copyright law, everyone can copy others’ work, there will be less creativity.

In the TED talk video “Laws That Choke Creativity”, it also introduces the RO and RW which are same as the article described. But it talks more about the influence of copyright, the speaker think that copyright law affects cultures and our lives. All in all, copyright is really important for human society.

Lessig, L. (2008). Comparing Cultures. Remix: Making Art and Commerce Thrive in the Hybrid Economy (pp. 84-116). New York: Penguin Press HC, The.

 

Reflection:

Reflection:

In this assignment, I learned about remix culture and copyright. Before I learn this chapter, I never thought about that copyright could block the growth of creativity. I just think that copyright is a wholesome law which benefit most people. After study, I knew some harmful about copyright. Indeed, copyright can prevent people steal others knowledge as their own. It is really useful to protect publisher’s right. However, copyright also chock the creativity, some people want to use others thoughts to prove their own thought will become more difficult.

However, I have opposite view with Lessig, I think copyright should published. Not only because it can protect people’s right, but also I believe copyright can promote creativity. Trying to think about that if every one want to use  other thoughts to prove their own work, who will make the original one? Therefore, copyright can help people to create their own work rater than many quotations…

Future Goal:

In this assignment, I have learned about the relationship between copyright and creativity. However, I still think this is a controversial topic. Therefore, I will pay more attention on the copyright and creativity, and I never read about copyright law. After this, I hope that I can learn some knowledge about copyright. That would be useful in the future life.

 

main page

artifact 1: Life Value Assessment

artifact 2: What is Art For?

artifact 3: Is Food Art? Discussion

artifact 4: The Art of Personal Adornment

artifact 5: Aesthetics of Horror 

artifact 6: Creativity Spirituality

artifact 7: Art, Technology and Games 

artifact 8: Remixing Culture Discussion 

artifact 9: Runquist Murals Research 

 

Objective:

• Learn about the First Amendment to the Constitution and US obscenity law.
• Examine historical and current incidents of Censorship in the US and their relationship to public funding for the Arts.
• Learn about the National Endowment for the Arts.
• Explore the relationship of cultural values to free speech and tolerance.

Original Post:

This is final research in this term, I learned a lot of knowledge about art and values, include concept of art, food as art and digital art etc. However, I find that the topic in this week is more interesting and attractive than before. The public art is related to our daily life, and it located on everywhere, but people ignore the beauty of them. For instance, there are some mailboxes and parking meters painted in the downtown Eugene. I didn’t watch them carefully until yesterday I went to my math class. I noticed that there are not only one are painted, and their style is same. I cannot tell what they drew, because they are really abstract. The artwork that displayed outside and exhibit to public can consider as public art, and it has many different forms, not just painting.

In the weekly reading, the author explains that:

“Public art is artwork in the public realm, regardless of whether it is situated on public or private property, or whether it is acquired through public or private funding. Public art can be a sculpture, mural, manhole cover, paving pattern, lighting, seating, building façade, kiosk…” (Doss 2006).

The Runquist Murals are two good examples, the murals are located in the Knight Library, East and West stairwells. The titles of them are “Development of Arts” and “Development of Sciences” which painted by Albert (b. 1894) and Arthur Runquist (b.1891). They painted the murals around 1930s and established by WPA in 1935. “A Response to Two Murals is a collaboration between the Digital Scholarship Center and the students, staff, faculty and public of University of Oregon”.

Next I will talks about my personal experience when I first time to see these murals. The public art is everywhere but people always ignore them. I went to Knight Library every week but I don’t know there are two beautiful Murals located in the Library in the before. They are quite big but I never noticed them.

“Development of Sciences”

I found that this mural in the website is unclear, so I went to watch this piece mural carefully. We can find that these two murals have same structures, but different events in two of them. First In the mural above, it shows the process of science development. It includes eight different important periods of human development of sciences. There is a tree grow in the middle,and the person in the bottom who kowtow to viewers looks like the root of the tree. I think Runquist brother want to express the relationship between human being and nature. The author in the reading said ” Public art is seen as a solution to the problem of placelessness, especially in its ability to remedy social alienation and generate sense of civic and community identity” (Dose, 2006). That is public art, which need to spread knowledge and culture or have certain meaning.

 

 

Another mural named “Development of Arts” is located in the east stairwells. It has 8 panels and includes Earliest Primitive Period, Later Primitive Period, Greek Period, Medieval Period, Renaissance and modern times. The mural records the history of art development, which are important evidence for people to study about art history.

Both murals are located in the Library and exhibit to all people. These murals are the great example of public art. In the reading, the author said “public art is as diverse as the people who view it. As Becker remarks, public art is a “multifaceted” cultural arena that is “open to artists of all stripes, without predetermined rules or a mutually agreed upon critical language” (Dose, 2006). The public art is open to all the people and located in the public area.

Doss, E. (2006, October). Public art controversy: Cultural expression and civic debate. Retrieved from http://www.americansforthearts.org/pdf/networks/pan/doss_controversy.pdf

Reflection:

(Rubber Duck in Hong Kong)

In the assignment, I learned what is public art and the public funding for the arts. The author said that “Public art includes sculptures, mural, memorials, monument, civic gateways, pocket parks, playgrounds, and outdoor performances” (Doss, 2006). The author also mentioned that the public art don’t have a specific definition because its range always changing. In this assignment, we mainly study the two Murals names “Development of arts”and “Development of sciences”. They located in the UO library, which supply for people to appreciate. they have nearly 80 years history. It already becomes the placemaking of UO Library. Just as the author said, public art has many forms. The picture above is a special one, because it can move and travel around the world. It is Rubber Duck, this picture is that it arrival at Hong Kong. Rubber Duck is really popular in the recent year due to its size. The purpose for the Rubber duck is to transfer happiness, so it is a typical public art.

This artifact is one of the most informative in the all artifacts because it is made in 1930s. It has long time history. For mural itself, there are 8 panels in each mural, and they talks about different stories in different historical period. I also learned about the National Endowment for the Arts.

 

Future Goal:

I think that I’m fall in love with mural, they are so beautiful. However, I will not only focus on murals but I will also pay more attention to other forms public arts. Public arts are really important to all the people, arts have big contribution to our society. Therefore, I will search more public art and observe them carefully.

 

 

main page

artifact 1: Life Value Assessment

artifact 2: What is Art For?

artifact 3: Is Food Art? Discussion

artifact 4: The Art of Personal Adornment

artifact 5: Aesthetics of Horror 

artifact 6: Creativity Spirituality

artifact 7: Art, Technology and Games 

artifact 8: Remixing Culture Discussion 

artifact 9: Runquist Murals Research