Today our discussion about DaDa artists continued. The main point of interest regarding them seems to be whether or not their work is considered art. Undoubtedly, there will be people that will be unable to think of a urinal as art. The idea of de-contextualization is just not enough for some people to accept certain art pieces.
My view is kind of moderate. I believe de-contextualization by itself is not enough, however, in conjunction with a specific idea that the artist wants to express and the ability to create a visually attracting and entertaining image or structure, then art is created. Aside from satirical/social commentary, I believe art (especially in multiple mediums) should be designed to entertain, either visually or conceptually. Granted, its impossible to please everyone, but if a slight majority is reached then so is the art.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Friday, October 17, 2008
Class of 10/16
We deviated from our usual studies involving technology, and instead focused on art in general.
The primary focus was the artist Man Ray from the early 20th century. We watched a documentary which explained some of the artist's philosophies and life. What I found especially notable in Man Ray's dialogue was that he was very absolute in his speech. This is notable because I think its ironic that a man who tried so hard to break away from normal conventions and show that nothing is necessarily what it seems, would speak in such a definitive, black or white way.
The professor passed around a book that showcased Man Ray's art. Its hard for me to call some of his "objects" art, despite being an artist myself. Though I know there is no one true definition for art, I believe art at the very least should be something that not everyone can do either in technique or concept. I just don't think pieces like his Lampshade have enough of a significant concept to be labeled art. However his more complicated and interesting sculptures were very nice. His photography peaked my interest more than anything. I know old-school photography was very hard and his prints were very masterful. One thing that did catch my eye was his photos from his Mr. and Mrs. Woodsman collection. These photos feature small wooden art figures in various sexual positions. I think its intriguing though a bit unfair, that those photos are considered art but if a teenager tried doing that same thing today, he would be labeled immature and not artistic. The collection reminds me of a scene in Team America where the main characters (who are puppets) engage in many of the same positions that the Woodsmans were in. I wonder if Matt Parker and Trey Stone were satirizing Man Ray or simply came up with the same idea. Either way it proves my point that someone trying to replicate Man Ray's photos in today's world would not be considered artists. i just think thats unfair.
The primary focus was the artist Man Ray from the early 20th century. We watched a documentary which explained some of the artist's philosophies and life. What I found especially notable in Man Ray's dialogue was that he was very absolute in his speech. This is notable because I think its ironic that a man who tried so hard to break away from normal conventions and show that nothing is necessarily what it seems, would speak in such a definitive, black or white way.
The professor passed around a book that showcased Man Ray's art. Its hard for me to call some of his "objects" art, despite being an artist myself. Though I know there is no one true definition for art, I believe art at the very least should be something that not everyone can do either in technique or concept. I just don't think pieces like his Lampshade have enough of a significant concept to be labeled art. However his more complicated and interesting sculptures were very nice. His photography peaked my interest more than anything. I know old-school photography was very hard and his prints were very masterful. One thing that did catch my eye was his photos from his Mr. and Mrs. Woodsman collection. These photos feature small wooden art figures in various sexual positions. I think its intriguing though a bit unfair, that those photos are considered art but if a teenager tried doing that same thing today, he would be labeled immature and not artistic. The collection reminds me of a scene in Team America where the main characters (who are puppets) engage in many of the same positions that the Woodsmans were in. I wonder if Matt Parker and Trey Stone were satirizing Man Ray or simply came up with the same idea. Either way it proves my point that someone trying to replicate Man Ray's photos in today's world would not be considered artists. i just think thats unfair.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Class of oct 14th
We explored the early history of video games in class today. Its something that I value much more than opera.
Atari brought the first video game console to the public. It was also my first video game console. During my wee days as a toddler, I logged many hours playing games like Pitfall, Frogger, and Cops & Robbers. That is, until my brother got a Nintendo Entertainment System. This was the system that reinvigorated the industry. Games like Mario, Megaman, Zelda, and Donkey Kong launched the Nintendo company to the forefront of the industry. Super Mario Bros 3 was my favorite. The success of this console brought about the next generation of gaming and competition in the forms of the Super Nintendo and the Sega Genesis. At the time I preferred the Sega Genesis, but now looking back I think the Super Nintendo withstood the test of time better.
This lead to the proceeding generation: The N64, Sega Dreamcast, and Sony Playstation. With these consoles, video games were given their first real taste of 3D graphics. The single greatest game between all three of these consoles was Goldeneye 007 for the N64. This was the game that really got me into gaming and sparked my love affair with first-person-shooters. Not only was the single-player campaign fantastic but the multiplayer was absolutely incredible. With so many features and highly addictive gameplay, the multiplayer was what kept me up late at night. It also helped that I was really good at it. I only owned three games for the N64 and this was the main one. Goldeneye was also one of the few games based off of a movie to be legitimately good. pure awesomeness.
Until...
Enter the PS2 and Xbox. These systems did 3D right. And the Xbox brought the coming of the new king of the first person shooters: HALO. Say what you will but the Halo franchise is worth over one billion dollars. The gameplay is highly addictive like Goldeneye but now you can play online with people all over the world, with better graphics, more features, and an all new storyline. Because I loved the Xbox so much, I sold my PS2. I didn't need it. Most of the Sony exclusives were slow-paced Japanese styled games that didn't really appeal to me. But this wasn't the end of the video game history...
to be continued....
Atari brought the first video game console to the public. It was also my first video game console. During my wee days as a toddler, I logged many hours playing games like Pitfall, Frogger, and Cops & Robbers. That is, until my brother got a Nintendo Entertainment System. This was the system that reinvigorated the industry. Games like Mario, Megaman, Zelda, and Donkey Kong launched the Nintendo company to the forefront of the industry. Super Mario Bros 3 was my favorite. The success of this console brought about the next generation of gaming and competition in the forms of the Super Nintendo and the Sega Genesis. At the time I preferred the Sega Genesis, but now looking back I think the Super Nintendo withstood the test of time better.
This lead to the proceeding generation: The N64, Sega Dreamcast, and Sony Playstation. With these consoles, video games were given their first real taste of 3D graphics. The single greatest game between all three of these consoles was Goldeneye 007 for the N64. This was the game that really got me into gaming and sparked my love affair with first-person-shooters. Not only was the single-player campaign fantastic but the multiplayer was absolutely incredible. With so many features and highly addictive gameplay, the multiplayer was what kept me up late at night. It also helped that I was really good at it. I only owned three games for the N64 and this was the main one. Goldeneye was also one of the few games based off of a movie to be legitimately good. pure awesomeness.
Until...
Enter the PS2 and Xbox. These systems did 3D right. And the Xbox brought the coming of the new king of the first person shooters: HALO. Say what you will but the Halo franchise is worth over one billion dollars. The gameplay is highly addictive like Goldeneye but now you can play online with people all over the world, with better graphics, more features, and an all new storyline. Because I loved the Xbox so much, I sold my PS2. I didn't need it. Most of the Sony exclusives were slow-paced Japanese styled games that didn't really appeal to me. But this wasn't the end of the video game history...
to be continued....
Monday, October 13, 2008
Class of October 7th
The primary focus of class today was the history of computers. It was interesting to see how the work of several hobbyists changed the world as we know it.
What I found especially odd was that the documentary didn't really mention Steve Jobs having any special computer skills, only that he knew that computers were the way of the future and that investing in them was the way to go. Here's my theory: A future version of Steve Jobs accumulated enough wealth to make a time machine and traveled to the past to tell young Steve what to do in life. It sounds far fetched but considering how far computers have come in 2 decades, where will they go in the next 2 or 3? Or he sold his soul to the devil, whom I think is a PC ironically.
Originally the computer was made to calculate trajectories and spreadsheets and now look at it. The computer can be used to acquire information instantaneously, watch HD movies and music from virtually nowhere, create art, communicate with people a world away, steal people's identities, shop for things you never knew existed, etc.
Its just amazing to have such a versatile device in your hands. And now it seems these features are becoming more and more streamlined to fit into cellphones.
What I found especially odd was that the documentary didn't really mention Steve Jobs having any special computer skills, only that he knew that computers were the way of the future and that investing in them was the way to go. Here's my theory: A future version of Steve Jobs accumulated enough wealth to make a time machine and traveled to the past to tell young Steve what to do in life. It sounds far fetched but considering how far computers have come in 2 decades, where will they go in the next 2 or 3? Or he sold his soul to the devil, whom I think is a PC ironically.
Originally the computer was made to calculate trajectories and spreadsheets and now look at it. The computer can be used to acquire information instantaneously, watch HD movies and music from virtually nowhere, create art, communicate with people a world away, steal people's identities, shop for things you never knew existed, etc.
Its just amazing to have such a versatile device in your hands. And now it seems these features are becoming more and more streamlined to fit into cellphones.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Class of Oct 2nd
Like our review of the history of radio on Tuesday, we explored the history of television today. We went over the science of it, the pioneers of the format, and discussed the differences between radio and TV.
First of all, I would like to say that I felt sorry for the man that invented television because he received barely any credit and died distraught and alone. I wonder if he knew that was going to happen, would he have still created TV in the first place?
One of the examples of early TV shows that we saw was Amos N Andy. I am pretty well acquainted with this show because my dad has the entire series on VHS. Ive seen more than a dozen episodes. Its pretty funny and reminiscent of modern sitcoms. I always thought it was weird that though Amos is in the title, that character showed up very rarely in the actual show. Kingfish and Andy were the main characters. I also that it was interesting that although it takes place in the 40s/50s and stars mainly African-American actors, that it doesn't just degenerate into vulgar stereotypical antics that the racist time period was prone to do. In a way the show was kind of groundbreaking.
I visited MZTV.com and read one of their articles on linking the designs of cars during the 50s to the design and influence of TV at the time. Like the site says, it may not be obvious at first but once you think about it, it makes sense. Its similar to how some of the most modern cars today are influenced by movies that place in the future. So like TV in the early 50s, cars have also come along way. TV will soon be broadcast in a digital signal, HD is becoming the new standard, and channels number in the high hundreds with digital TV. Cars have anti lock brakes, power steering, standard air conditioning, have higher gas mileage, and hybrids are becoming more and more popular as gas prices continue to soar. So whereas TV has evolved to a digital signal, automobiles may soon have to evolve as well into more advanced hybrids or hydrogen-powered cars. Likewise, most households today have multiple TVs and cars.
First of all, I would like to say that I felt sorry for the man that invented television because he received barely any credit and died distraught and alone. I wonder if he knew that was going to happen, would he have still created TV in the first place?
One of the examples of early TV shows that we saw was Amos N Andy. I am pretty well acquainted with this show because my dad has the entire series on VHS. Ive seen more than a dozen episodes. Its pretty funny and reminiscent of modern sitcoms. I always thought it was weird that though Amos is in the title, that character showed up very rarely in the actual show. Kingfish and Andy were the main characters. I also that it was interesting that although it takes place in the 40s/50s and stars mainly African-American actors, that it doesn't just degenerate into vulgar stereotypical antics that the racist time period was prone to do. In a way the show was kind of groundbreaking.
I visited MZTV.com and read one of their articles on linking the designs of cars during the 50s to the design and influence of TV at the time. Like the site says, it may not be obvious at first but once you think about it, it makes sense. Its similar to how some of the most modern cars today are influenced by movies that place in the future. So like TV in the early 50s, cars have also come along way. TV will soon be broadcast in a digital signal, HD is becoming the new standard, and channels number in the high hundreds with digital TV. Cars have anti lock brakes, power steering, standard air conditioning, have higher gas mileage, and hybrids are becoming more and more popular as gas prices continue to soar. So whereas TV has evolved to a digital signal, automobiles may soon have to evolve as well into more advanced hybrids or hydrogen-powered cars. Likewise, most households today have multiple TVs and cars.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Class of 9/30
Today in class, we studied the evolution of wired telegraphs to wireless broadcasting. Its amazing to see how far we've come in 100 years. People from a century ago would have been stupefied by my cell phone which sends & takes pictures, takes & sends videos, sends text messages, plays music, has a calendar, has a calculator, tells time, has an alarm clock, has a unit converter, has a stop watch, and last but not least allows me to communicate with people many many miles away from me. All that without an IPhone. An IPhone probably would have given people heart attacks 100 years ago.
Broadcasting gave rise to the radio. While I loved Orson Welles' War of the Worlds show and the drama that it caused, I hate the ending to that story. Its far too simple and easy of a way to solve the problem. It would be like if Jason Vorhees suddenly died of a heart attack just before he kills the main character. Or if Joker just turned himself into Batman after having a change of heart.
I visited OTR.com and found an old clip from the Jack Benny show. My dad has a cassette collection of the Jack Benny show, so I've heard it before and it enjoyed it very much as a kid. This particular segment featured Mel Blanc doing his patented train depot announcer gag where he uses comedic pausing in between syllables. Its pretty funny in an old school kind of way. I like it because it shows a rare example of Blanc's fantastic acting when he's not a cartoon character. Those were the good ole days.
Broadcasting gave rise to the radio. While I loved Orson Welles' War of the Worlds show and the drama that it caused, I hate the ending to that story. Its far too simple and easy of a way to solve the problem. It would be like if Jason Vorhees suddenly died of a heart attack just before he kills the main character. Or if Joker just turned himself into Batman after having a change of heart.
I visited OTR.com and found an old clip from the Jack Benny show. My dad has a cassette collection of the Jack Benny show, so I've heard it before and it enjoyed it very much as a kid. This particular segment featured Mel Blanc doing his patented train depot announcer gag where he uses comedic pausing in between syllables. Its pretty funny in an old school kind of way. I like it because it shows a rare example of Blanc's fantastic acting when he's not a cartoon character. Those were the good ole days.
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