Week 5- Science and reason- Video art by Pipilotti Rist

1. Define the 17th century 'Scientific Revolution', and say how it changed European thought and world view. 

Over the 17th and 18th centuries in Europe there were many changes, but over all the most widely influential change was an epistemological transformation which we call the "scientific revolution". In the popular mind, we associate this revolution with natural science and technological change, but the scientific revolution was, in reality, a series of changes in the structure of European thought itself: systematic doubt, empirical and sensory verification, the abstraction of human knowledge into separate sciences, and the view that the world functions like a machine. All theses changes greatly changed the human experience of every other aspect of life, from individual life to the life of a group. The change in world view can also be seen n painting, sculpture and architecture; you can see that people of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries are looking at the world very differently.

2. Give examples of how we can we still see evidence of the 'Scientific Revolution' in the world today.

Both Galileo and Sir Isaac Newton have made a huge impact on today's life. Newton discovered the laws of motion and gravity and because of Galileo, all scientific study is based on mathematical principles because, he believed that if a physical model didn't fit with the maths properties, the model was wrong.

Research Pipilotti Rist's video installations to answer the following;

3. From your research, do you think that the contemporary art world values art work

that uses new media/technology over traditional media?

I think that today contemporary art values art work that uses new media and technology. I think this because if you were to ask anyone about a famous painting or sculpture  most people would not know what you are talking about  but if you were to talk about some film or game with good special effects that make everything seem real I'm sure most people from today's generation would know what you are talking about and also find it really fascinating. If you were to show them a painting or sculpture I'm sure that they would be a lot less interested in it compared to a film or game etc. 

4. How has Pipilotti Rist used new media/technology to enhance the audience's experience of her work.

Rist has used a video to show her art instead of showing it through an image or any other form of art. She has not only used a video she has used 2 videos side by side in her work to show 2 different stories or 2 different perspectives. On the right side video she is showing a flower and how beautiful it is, and then on the left side it is showing her smashing car windows with it.

5. Comment on how the installation, sound and scale of 'Ever is Over All' (1997) could impact on the audience's experience of the work.

The installation of “Ever Is Over All” <1997> covers 2 walls in the gallery. By covering 2 whole walls this will straight away capture the audiences attention as its right in their face. Because the work is so bigm the viewer will be unable to see the whole thing at once so will have to look at it for some time to be able to understand it fully. Also having music is good because it makes the audience feel as though they are there apart of it.

6. Comment on the notion of 'reason' within the content of the video. Is the woman's behaviour reasonable or unreasonable?

I think that this woman's actions are unreasonable because how would it be reasonable for a person to go down a street smashing the windows of people's cars and getting away with it. In the video there is a police officer who walks past the lady committing the crime and smiles at her and just continues walking down the street.

7. Comment on your 'reading' (understanding) of the work by discussion the aesthetic (look), experience and the ideologies (ideas, theories) of the work.

For me I didn't really enjoy watching the video, I just didn't really appeal to me. Probably because I didn't fully understand what it was about and am not used to seeing art in that form. But I do like how it is presented on2 walls in the gallery and how music is used to make the viewer feel as though they are apart of the work.

References:

http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/ENLIGHT/SCIREV.HTM

http://colquitt.k12.ga.us/wjwpg2/sciencerev/science.htm#Impact_on_Today___

Week 4- The social status of the artist.

Albrecht Durer's 'Self-Portrait in Fur Coat' (1500) shows a significant change in the way that the artist views and portrays himself.Research the paintings by Albrecht Durer, Gavin Turk and Damien Hirst in order to answer

the following questions;

1. Identify aspects of Durer's self portrait that show a changing view of the artist's view of himself as

an individual.

In Durer's self portrait he has depicted himself in a Christ-like pose. There was not supposed to be any gesture of blasphemy intended. It was an acknowledgement that God had made Christ and man his own image.

2. Explain how the artist's social status increased during the Renaissance period. Briefly explain why this happened.

Durer's introduction of classical motifs into Northern art, through his knowledge of Italian artists and German humanists, have secured his reputation as one of the most important figures of the Northern Renaissance. This is reinforced by his theoretical works which involve principles of mathematics, perspective and ideal proportions. The quality and wide range of his works and themes, both in terms of content and formal aspects, are astonishing.

3. Comment on Gavin Turk's work in relation to individualism, status of the artist and egotism.

Gavin Turk's work is an image of his signature in various colours over a white background. He uses his signature to show that the art is his. And also because he is a famous artist people would want to buy an artwork of his which is of his signature, because it is like a big autograph they could hang on their wall. The piece of art 
isn't an image of anythig but just  the artists signature in multi colours.

4. Comment on Damien Hirst's use of his work and the media for self promotion.

'Damien Hirst evinced marketing abilities while still studying at Goldsmith’s by organizing a student show entitled Freeze (1988) in a derelict Docklands’ building. Once established, he continued to curate high profile mixed exhibitions with wacky titles such as Some Went Mad, Some Ran Away(Serpentine Gallery, 1994).'

5. Find 2 images of work by artists or designers that reflects some of the ideas of individualism,

self promotion or egotism that have been discussed on this blog. Upload images to your blog, title and date the work, identify the artist/designer and comment on the work in relation to the question.

Title: Self-Portrait with Monkey

Date: 1938

Artist: Frida Kahlo

I like how Kahlo didn't make her self look better in this panting. Usually when someone does a self portrait of themselves they would change parts of the painting to make themselves look better that they actually do but Kahlo kept things like her monobrow, and from what I saw in a picture of her she actually made it darker. I think she is a could self portrait artist because she paints what she sees and not what she wants to see.

Title: Self-Portrait

Date: c. 1512

Artist: Leonardo Da Vinci

I like this self portrait because it fouses on only the main features of Leonardo such as the nose, mouth, hair, eyes and structure of the face. I like how only one colour is used,and how Leonardo used different shades of the colour to create an image of his face.

6. How do you think artists and designers are viewed in Western society today?

Artists struggle a lot with feeling under appreciated. In some countries, such as the USA, monetary value is the primary focus. People are frequently judged by their net worth and how much they consume rather than what they contribute to society as citizens and community members.

 Art inspires people, and allows them to share their appreciation of the subject. This could be a landscape of a place they've been, or a painting of animals that they adore. Art allows us to see through the eyes of the artist or photographer, or see a place we've never been. It can be educational; a recording of history, or it can simply capture the feeling of a moment in time. Some artworks provide social commentary and bring about empathy in the viewers. Art enhances our experience, especially if it expresses emotion or ideas. Sometimes it is the amazing skill of the artist that enthralls the viewers. Artworks enhance homes, businesses, and public spaces. There is no thing as too much good design.

http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/durer/self/

http://radicalart.info/ego/statements/index.html

http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/news-features/TMG7733481/Maia-Norman-Damien-Hirsts-Californian-girl.html

Reference List:

http://www.artchive.com/artchive/D/durer.html

http://www.moodbook.com/history/renaissance/index.html

http://www.artdesigncafe.com/Damien-Hirst-media-celebrity-2001

http://www.artchive.com/artchive/K/kahlo/kahlo_selfmonkey.jpg.html

http://www.artchive.com/artchive/L/leonardo/leonardo_self-portrait.jpg.html

http://www.squidoo.com/artfulwords