Category: Assignments

Before I saw the murals, I had no idea what to expect as I have seen many all over the Eugene area. However, I ended up having my attention completely captivated by these two works of art. Both of the murals are a very straightforward illustration of what they are trying to portray; one being the complete development of science and the other being the complete development of the arts. The two brothers that created these murals, Arthur and Albert Runquist, depict figures and ideas about race and ethnicity that reflect the social norms of the time that they were created, which was in the 1930’s.  Both of the murals look very similar from far away but if you examine them closely, you can tell just how beautifully unique and special each one is. Both of them illustrate the development of a certain subject over a period of time and the way that they are both so similar but different is truly amazing and definitely capture the history of the works of art. One part of the murals that I especially admired is how it shows that each of these topics arises from the earth and that they are created and developed by man. The appropriateness of the time, place and manner that the Runquist brothers used for each of the pieces is completely spot on, especially in regards to how they show the key advancements in both the arts and the sciences.

I’m currently writing this in the Knight Library so I was able to walk downstairs in order to really look at the pieces of art and gain a deeper understanding as opposed to just looking at the pieces online. The colors that are used absolutely add to the beauty of the piece and being able to look at all of the developments used in both the arts and sciences is truly inspiring. I had never really paid much attention to public art in the library before but I have definitely gained a new sense of fascination for it. Doss even has a quote in her article that states “the dynamics surrounding public art reveal an ongoing American commitment to meaningful conversations, which are the cornerstones of an active democratic culture” (1). I feel as if I was definitely able to completely connect to these pieces because they both completely intrigued me. It seems so simple upon a first glance but once you take the time to truly look and appreciate it, it’s much more detailed and complex than one might have originally assumed. This piece didn’t speak to me verbally, but I honestly believe that it spoke to me in other ways that made me actually understand and value the complexity of how the development of the arts and the sciences came to be. I’m so happy that I was able to physically see both of these pieces in person because as Doss mentioned, public art reveals an ongoing American commitment to meaningful conversations, which are the cornerstones of an active democratic culture. If we want to remain an active democratic culture then we must not infringe on one of the very cores that keeps this together, the freedom of public art.

After reading Comparing Cultures by Lessig, one question that I ask myself is how much power does the American society truly have in preventing powerful monopolies from happening? After reading how “we should provide protection from competition only where there is a very good reason to protect,” it made me want to learn just how protected our culture is from monopolies completely taking over American consumerism (Lessig). I agree that we should definitely limit their power.

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

While reading Computer Graphics: Effects of Origins by Beverly Jones, I discovered that the primary thesis is about how there have been “dramatic changes in medium from alphanumeric code to multiple sensory output” in the short life span of the computer graphics genre. I completely agree with her because this is so accurate especially now, when technology is so crucial to how society lives their lives today. She even mentions how “new forms of art and technology are frequently cast in the mode of old forms just as other aspects of material and symbolic culture have been.”

There are three historical examples that Jones provides to illustrate her theory. One is how Ben F. Lapofsky and Hermert H. Franke were two of the earliest individuals creating images for the earliest computer graphics. According to Jones, “Franke’s graphics were phase forms, presented as events rather than static imagery…His work continues to explore similar forms.”

In regards to an illustration of Jones’ thesis at work in today’s culture, there are so many to choose from considering how highly technically advanced our society has become. One example is how far the television has become. It started off originally as a black and white box and has come all the way to having the LED option of 3D televisions, plasma televisions, projector televisions and giant movie theaters. You can physically see how much this piece of technology has changed from the past till now. It’s incredible to think about the options we will have for televisions in another fifty years.

The Center of Technology even stated how “Over the last five years, technology has been rapidly changing and expanding in every field imaginable. Smart phones are now capable of acting as standalone computer devices that can take pictures, search the Internet, send emails and text messages and yes, they even make phone calls. While it might seem that the technology of today reached its limits, it is still actually spreading its proverbial wings.” It’s hard to imagine how about 20 years ago, computers were only just started to become small enough and affordable enough to be able to go into so many people’s homes across the globe.

 

“How Technology Has Changed Our Lives in the Last Five Years.” The Center of Technology. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 May 2014. <http://www.centertech.org/>.

 

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

 

One question that I have after the readings is what do we think the world would be like if technology, machines or computer graphics did not exist? I began to wonder this after reading how “Electricity had been considered theoretically interesting but of little or no practical value. The potential for widespread and multiple uses of microcomputers by the general public was suggested as late as 1978 at the Second West Coast Computer Faire” (Jones 51). It would be interesting to think how the world would be if electricity had not been discovered.

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

How do you define “spirituality”? I believe that spirituality is a sense of what a specific individual believes in and how they live their life according to those beliefs. I feel as if everyone has a sense of spirituality whether it is associated with religion or not. People connect with their sense of self in so many different ways and I believe that there are several different levels of spirituality that one can connect to with how they live their lives.

Does spirituality differ from religion? I definitely think that they differ. Just because someone deeply believes in something does not mean that they are religious. I’m religious but I have a few friends that consider themselves to be an atheist but they consider themselves to be spiritual in other ways. However, spirituality and religion differ from person to person and both can influence how one chooses to carry out and live their life in a certain way.

How do you define “creativity”? I define creativity as a way that a person chooses to express themself. It lets individuals express certain emotions and feelings that one may be feeling. Artists use their creativity to create unique works of art that show how they are feeling or something that currently has a lot of meaning for them. Creativity allows people to use their life experiences or their imagination to create beautiful works of art and show who they are as a individual.

What is the source of creativity?  I think that the source of one’s creativity comes directly from their brain. Whatever someone pictures in their mind or forms from their imagination is a direct result of what their brain is thinking and how it is working. People’s creativity can increase overtime and certain things can influence one’s creativity to increase in certain types of situations For example, people will become more creative in situations where they are extremely passionate about the subject.

There are so many different ways for how spirituality can influence an artist. It can inspire them to create a certain piece of art or it can inspire them to view other’s art in a completely new light. Spirituality can mean something different to each unique individual, but it is how they use their spirituality that truly matters.

In the reading, we learn about Saint Bonaventure’s three eyes of knowing: “the eye of flesh sees the ‘outer’ realm of material objects; the eye of reason sees symbolically, drawing distinctions and making conceptual relationships; and the mystic eye of contemplation sees the luminous transcendental realms” (Grey 73).  This explains how each person can see something or a piece of art in three different ways.

One part that I found particularly interesting was how it mentioned how “to see deeply and to understand are different from mere looking or observation” (Grey 74). I think this relates back to spirituality because people can understand their spiritual side and acknowledge that it is there, but to see it in a different light is something that is absolutely special and distinctive. Artists will look at certain pieces of artwork and “see” it according to how in depth they are with their spirituality. It is completely different for each individual human being.

 

Grey, A. (2001). Art as Spiritual Practice. The Mission of Art (1st ed., pp. 205-233). Boston & London: Shambhala.

Article 1: Margarita Tartakovsky explains in her article, Why Some People Love Horror Movies While Others Hate Them, why people are so attracted to horror films and why some people just cannot seem to get enough of them. Although they have seen hundreds of horror films, they continue to crave watching more and more of them. She explains that one reason is the way that people feel after watching the movie; their physiological arousal endures which means “that any positive emotions you experience – like having fun with friends – are intensified” (Tartakovsky). You remember the fun time that you’re having as opposed to the scares you felt during the movie which makes a person continue to want to watch more of them. This relates back to how Noel Carroll mentions how “the horror genre gives every evidence of being pleasurable to its audience” and how so many people question how horror audiences can “find pleasure in what by nature is distressful and unpleasant” (Carroll 275). Judging by what Margarita said, the pleasure that they’re associating with viewing the horror film is really just them remembering the fun they experienced after the film. However, I believe that goes two ways. If an individual has an awful experience after watching a horror film, they will not associate them with pleasure, but with the opposite feelings of negativity and disapproval.

Article 2: Allegra Ringo discusses the science behind the appeal of horror and fear in her article, Why Do Some Brains Enjoy Fear? As we know, people are attracted to horror films for several different reasons. Some of these include how some people love the thrill of being scared, some enjoy the feeling of their heart rate increasing and some love the psychological thrill of tricking their minds into thinking that they’re in extreme danger while being perfectly safe. Allegra explains that one reason that some people like the feeling of being scared as opposed to others is because of how one’s brain chemistry is created, not just their personal choice. “One of the main hormones released during scary and thrilling activities is dopamine, and it turns out some individuals may get more of a kick from this dopamine release than others do” (Ringo). She states that another reason why so many people enjoy scary settings is because after it ends, it leaves them with a sense of confidence. People are proud of themselves for getting through a thrilling or even terrifying situation; it’s almost as if it is a release of pleasure after the relief of the situation being over. This relates back to what Carroll says when she argues how “it is not the tragic event in itself that imparts pleasure, but rather, the way it is worked into the plot” (Carroll 277). One thing I found to be very interesting in this article is how Allegra says that it is true how if you meets somebody for the first time in a fearful situation, you will “feel more attracted or more attracted to that person than you would if you’d met them in a low-stress situation” (Ringo). This relates back to the first article because it illustrates how you remember the special closeness and pleasure that you experience with people after the scary situation as opposed to remembering only the fear of the horror film or situation.

 

Carroll, N. (2002). Why Horror?. In Neill, A. & Riley, A. (eds.) Arguing About Art: Contemporary Philosophical Debates (2nd ed., Chap. 17). New York, NY: Routledge.

Ringo, Allegra. “Why Do Some Brains Enjoy Fear?” The Atlantic. Atlantic Media Company, 31 Oct. 2013. Web. 06 May 2014. <http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/10/why-do-some-brains-enjoy-fear/280938/>.

Tartakovsky, M. (2012). Why Some People Love Horror Movies While Others Hate Them. Psych Central. Retrieved on May 6, 2014, from http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2012/10/31/why-some-people-love-horror-movies-while-others-hate-them/

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Non-diagetic Sound: The example I chose for non-diagetic sound is the background music that was playing while the town people’s voices were being stolen. This is non-diagetic sound because the source of the music is not visible to the viewer. This is important because the background music that was being played was a key part in making the scene creepy and chilling. Just like in a typical horror film, the music is a big part in creating suspense and building anticipation of what’s to come.

Diagetic Sound: The clip that I chose for diagetic sound is when Buffy is in class and the professor is trying to talk to Buffy and her friends. This scene is important because it when essentially when Buffy and her friends realize what they need to do in order to save the town. This is an example of diagetic sound because it is visible because of the projector and the slides although the professor did not express it through his words. The sound definitely contributes to making this part of the horror genre because they were not able to communicate with one another while they were discovering who the monster was.

Mise-en-scene: The clip I chose for mise-en-scene was when the monster was initially revealed inside the clock. By showing the monster, it creates anticipation for the viewer of the possibilities of what is to come. This is an example of mise-en-scene because the element of the set design completely contributes to creating a component of horror in this scene by using specific costumes and props to make the monster look scary. In any monster horror show or film, paying great attention to detail to make the monster or villain look as creepy as possible is a main priority. The production design, coloring, lighting and the actors’ performance all contribute to the mise-en-scene.

After contemplating how I dress, I’ve realized that I dress much differently at home in Southern California than I do here in Eugene. Obviously it’s most likely because of the weather difference but I believe that it is not just that. At home, I believe that I dress nicer and take more time on my outward appearance than I tend to do here when I’m going to school. One reason I think that this might be is because here at school, I’m more focused on school and work as opposed to going out and impressing others. At home, I have more time for myself and I tend to go out more. However, wherever I am, I believe that I dress pretty modestly compared to other girls my age. Several girls tend to show off their body wearing skimpy clothing and that is just not something that I have chosen to do. I think a main reason for doing this is that from fifth grade to my senior year of high school, I was required to wearing uniforms at my schools. By wearing uniforms and having a strict dress code, it was never tempting to wear very revealing clothing because if anyone had even attempted it, they would have gone straight to detention or they would have been sent home and suspended. Of course, in the beginning of high school, myself along with almost every other girl my age was tempted to go against the rules and try to break the dress code but that completely changed over the years; we learned to accept the uniform rules and not complain. I graduated high school almost four years ago and I feel as if I definitely dress differently than I did before. I believe that I dress more modestly which I feel has much to do with my current job hunt for my career after graduation in a month and a half.

I grew up in a Presbyterian household and although my parents were not extremely strict, I was definitely taught with a set of certain beliefs and values. One that definitely sticks out to me is that people should treat others the way that they want to be treated. I was taught this by my family and by each of the religious schools that I attended. Since I attended Catholic high school, we were required to sit through Catholic Mass every Wednesday, even if we were not Catholic. One of the speeches that I remember most was directed towards the girls of the school that basically was telling us what I mentioned before: the Golden Rule. The priest was pretty much telling us girls that if we wanted to be treated with respect, we had to dress in a respectful manner. He said that if we wanted men to treat us as real people, we should not dress in a sleazy way that would result in men treating us like objects. Although I was not brought up Catholic, this is something that has absolutely stuck with me until this day. This went along with the schools “your body is a temple” lecture, which scared people out of getting tattoos, and to this day, I still do not have a tattoo on my body.

I believe that the core beliefs and values of my peers relate back to my own, which is why I think my friends and I get along so well. Throughout the past four years in college, a lot has changed including how we dress. We dress more modestly because we want to present ourselves to the job market that we are responsible and ready for the real world. Although several of my peers have tattoos, the large majority of my close friends have not made the decision to get a tattoo. Many of them say that it is because their parents would stop paying for their tuition or that they would disown them, but I honestly believe it is because they just simply do not have an image that they want permanently on their bodies for the rest of their life.

Overall, I’m pleased with how I chose to dress myself and I feel that it represents my beliefs and values and who I am as a person. I believe that I make my choices in regards to my dress and body adornment because of the way that I was raised, what I have been taught in school over the years, and the peer community that I choose to associate myself with.