Yoko Ono Response

This article was one of my favorites so far this year. I really enjoy Ono's view on the world of art, specifically when the article states that one school of art is to "make way for the viewer to see and feel what is already beautiful". I very much agree with the article that the world of art is so cluttered with paintings and drawings and sculptures and collages and more paintings, that sometimes, we as viewers need someone to tell us to just slow down and appreciate the best art on the planet, the world around you. It is, after all, artists' inspiration in the first place, right?
I did, however, question Ono's decisions in her personal life. Ono claims that "when you accept loss, it loses its tenacity to stay lost". This is the complete opposite of the modern way of thinking, and while Ono clearly doesn't follow trends in the world, loss is an emotion that no one wants to feel, and that "tenacity" remains for a very long time, especially concerning loved ones. But, when it comes down to it, I really enjoy Ono's view on art as freedom for the viewer.

Micro Project One

Asymmetrical

POV of an ant

Stable

Name on campus

Symmetrical

Unstable

Person Up Close

POV of a bird

Radial

Person and Surrounding Space

In comparing the two sets of ten pictures, the experiences were the same in that I needed to search campus and the surrounding area for material to photograph. The second set was different because the requirements were specific, and challenged me to analyze my surroundings and discover the best solutions to take the best pictures. I personally enjoyed the second part much more than the first. This is because I truly felt like a photographer instead of just a student taking pictures around campus. Of all the images, my favorite has to be the point of view of a bird, taken from the top floor of the Thompson Library. This view of campus is perfect with the sky and clouds framing the towers and the stadium.

Walker and Barrett Response

I found the Walker article to be very thought provoking when it comes to the themes and ideas behind artwork. For people like me, who do not exactly have a firm grasp on the concept and depth of art, this article cleared some of the fog. I like how the article defined the difference between an artist's subject matter and big idea. The big idea is the start. It is the motivation behind the piece, and the thought, opinion, or concept that the artist wants to convey to the viewers. The subject matter is the medium through which this thought, opinion, or concept is presented, allowing the piece to transform from paint on a canvas to a work of art.

The Barrett article, on the other hand, was not very interesting or thought-provoking. As I was reading, I thought I would enjoy the section where students picked apart the cover of the Rolling Stones magazine. I love marketing and advertising, and love deciphering ads and the motivations behind them. However, in this particular piece, I stopped reading that section when it stated that some of the students in the class didn't know who the Dalai Llama was. Did the public school system really fail them that much? I cannot respect a student's opinion on a marketing ad when they don't know of the Dalai Llama. This article also discussed the difference between denotation and connotation. Denotation is the explicit or direct meaning, whereas connotation is the secondary meaning behind the primary meaning.

Photos From Thursday

Pictures from Wednesday

Extra Smooth Kenny G

Stomping That State Up North

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