Visual Culture
Week 1
In the Visual Culture lecture one of the assignments we will have to work on is a 2000 word essay that focuses on a specific question or topic. Along with the essay I will have to complete a research journal on 5 topics. The deadline for these pieces of work is Monday 15th February at 12:00
What is visual culture? Visual culture focuses on the different forms of creativity photography, film, illustration etc. The main focus in every lecture is the historical, cultural, social, political and the anthropological influences and some of the theories of different works.
The first topic in the seminar section of visual culture was religion and faith in film. We were given an article which focused on The Wicker Man and we have to read and research it in groups and deliver our findings in the next session.
Week 2
In our visual culture lecture we focused on "Visual Language and Faith" with references to Christianity and Islam. One of the main focuses was on how booth religions interpret:
"You shall have no other gods before me, You shall not make fr yourself and image in the form of anything in heaven above or in the earth." - Exodus 20:3-6.
When the Pagans and their celebrations such as "midwinter" Christians evolved that into Christmas. In the Gothic churches of the time they would use body parts as to make people of the church not lust although t could be meant as a joke. The Christians used their creativity to celebrate God known as "iconistic" The Christian churches are usually built near mosques and build them bigger in comparison.
The Islams interpreted the text differently and took a literal approach by not using images to convey the message of God known as "aniconistic". One group of Muslims in Spain known as "An Andalus" reintroduced the ideas f Greek science and art. Many of the more educated read the Bible whereas the Qur'an was learned by all of the people at the time. Their duty was to learn all they can and read everything but reading anything other than the Bible in Christian Europe was punishable by death. The Moorish decoration used geometric shapes, they never used icons so to follow the word of Exodus.
In Diane's session we looked at religion and how was used in cinema. The film I used was Passion Of The Christ. This film focuses on the life of Jesus but mostly on the Holy Week. It also goes into his crucifixion and resurrection.
Week 3
In this lecture we learned abut Symbols of Imperial China, some of the important facts we learned about was colours and some of the different meanings behind them. Other symbols we learned about was that the emperor is symbolized as 5 toed dragon and the empress is symbolized as a phoenix.
What was interesting to find out was the difference between meanings and symbols of colours in Western culture compared to Chinese culture such as red symbolizing danger in the west whereas it symbolizes luck and good fortune in Chinese culture. Some of the terms used were auspicious and inauspicious. Here are colours and their meanings in China:
Objects and motifs also have meanings and significance in Chinese culture. Here is a list of some objects and their meanings:
Week 4
In this session we learned about imperial Japan. Japan used o be a "Sakoku" which means locked country until they opened up the borders in the 19th century in order to modernize the country which happened at a fast rate.
The Buddhist alters are decorated o celebrate the religion whereas in cathedrals in Europe were built and decorated to be impressive and also oppressive. However paintings in the Buddhist religion messages were important than the images involved and less is more "Wabisabi".
Here are some meanings in Japan:
shibayama - sheels are used in decorations
wabisabi - knowing when to stop
ukiyo-e/ye - images o the floating world, everyday life usally done on wodblock paintings
sirimono - ceremonial prints
shippo/cloisonne - enamels
pagoda - these are Buddhist buildings
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pagoda
Even outfits such as Kimono's and the colors used on them have meanings and importance:
The is the trailer for the movie
Week 5
This session we looked at the Continental Renaissance (1350-1650). The word renaissance also means re-birth and this period came about after the Black Death in the 14th century along with the decline in the 15th century of the medieval world. The Renaissance along with the awakening of an understanding of Greece. In the period known as the Dark Ages the understanding of Greek and Roman thought disappeared.
The renaissance period began in Florence, Italy with many different advancements in social and civic customs, political structures as well as the migration of Greek scholars and with the help of trading brought in and introduced Christian arts, drama, books and banks such as the Medici Bank.
An introduction to humanism and had the belief of science and emotions which questioned the world but it was seen as Christian belief and if not could be seen as treason. The paintings in Churches started to depict more emotion along with hidden meanings behind some paintings. Some of the high renaissance arts known as mannerism which held a sophistication in the compositional tension in paintings.
Late in the renaissance period there was a shift in art to more mythology and portraiture. Paintings would have depictions of Roman gods but also having a a focus on hidden meanings since the Christian religion was seen only as the one true religion. Treason would have been painting different gods so if an artist painted Venus to symbolize beauty. The theme of love and lust would be shown by a scallop shell representing a vulva.
http://www.uffizi.org/img/artworks/botticelli-birth-venus.jpg
There is social allegory and Christian allegory different ways of thinking. Looking back at the birth of Venus one side (social allegory) would interrupt the paining as Venus being embarrassed while the christian allegory would portray Venus's purity and the carnation symbolizes divine and the allegory portrays nudity as purity and not in a sexual.way.
On a delicate topic penis's would symbolize a different meaning depending on the size - small more intellectual.
In Diane's session we learned about the British,French and Italian new wave which was re-birth for cinema. Films had more realism involved and it plays on the perception and senses. Films involving realism were popular in the 30's -50's It helped people have adversity and refusal not to give in from the war.
Some of the challenges facing realism were Americanization, commercialization and a decline of traditional values so cinema was seen as an escape from the outside world. New wave films would use topics involving an expansion of youth culture, class conflict, social issues were also addressed.
One film we looked at was a Touch Of Honey to gain a understanding of the different themes and a films then had a distinctive style.
Week 6
For Malcolm's lecture this week we looked at the English Renaissance (1550-1660). The focus was mainly on the architecture and art of the period which did make it difficult to link to my subject - film.
The Elizabethan Period was a transitional time between the Medieval and Renaissance periods. The Renaissance period came from constraints of the Gothic period and the power that came from Catholic Rome. As soon as England became powerful it began to show in the art and architecture.
One example of this would be Little Morton Hall which has the style of architecture known as "vernacular" with it having the painted timber framing.
http://www.armitage-construction.com/sectors/heritage-restoration/little-moreton-hall
http://www.accessiblederbyshire.org/things-to-do/perfect-days-out/a-day-out-at-hardwick-hall/
Another example of Renaissance architecture used n buildings is Hardwick Hall but it has a more modern appearance than other buildings. This is shown buy the glass windows to show wealth as well as having columns. Also the top floor of the house was considered the most important and for the upper class people/
It was common for people t become part of the display in the English renaissance buildings since the servants would sleep near the staircase which people walking trough the house would think how lazy they are and would think they are employed to do nothing. This would then make the era abut showing off what you owned.
Another part of the house the "Long Gallery" was very important because owners could show off how much expensive art they had. It was also an exercise yard for woman to walk up and down. One final important and prestigious room of the house was the great high chamber where the most important business was done.
In the late 16th century a consumer boom happened this meant lots of people were changing their hospitality. The Queen would use her status in order for people to buy her things to please her and never have to buy things herself or known as "emulative spending".
One owner of Hardwick Hall Bess was very rich woman in this era and spent a lot on the Queen (Elizabeth I) and gave her many items one being a dress. To show Bess to stop showing off her wealth she had a painting commissioned of her wearing the same dress Bess gave her. People today would see the painting as a thank you to Bess.
Now on to paintings. These would have a lot of symbolic meanings and messages such as:
http://www.anglophile.ru/en/kings-queens/647-the-armada.html
The next era we looked at was the Jacobean period lad by James I. which had a lot of arches in the architecture which symbolizes a New World.
In Diane's session we looked at the birth of television. But first we looked at the different essay questions for Visual Culture. It was a good thing because we could get a look at what we might need for the question we want to do. I'm still to decide to choose the question I want to focus on.
We also looked at tv clips from old tv on http://www.screenonline.org.uk. It showed that tv challenged cinema with the episodic narrative but cinema brought in the multiplex.
Week 7
This week we looked at the Baroque era in Britain and France 1680-1715. The Baroque originated in Italy and also influenced Europe with the love for ornate. his period also had people trying to out do each other. This period also rejected Protestantism and to show Heaven and Earth in the Catholic churches in Europe with the ornate architecture to impress and oppress at the same time.
The main features of the Baroque are the use of elaborate materials, symmetry, the elements of sculpture and swags.
http://roble.pntic.mec.es/fpef0013/baroque/hallmirrors.jpg
Art had now gone from just being visual but now material culture although the visual language was still only understood by the upper class. A term I had never heard of before was Oligarchy which means a group of people who have control over a country or organisation.
At this time there was a threat to Catholicism which came rm the Protestant Reformation which rejected transubstantiation as being superstitious. Decoration also started to become redundant as Protestants taught that people should focus only on God and only a cross was the only decoration in Protestant churches.
In response the Catholic church showed what the modern church should become. They did this by glorifying God and had to impress the congregation by showing Heaven and Earth in the Church.known as a numinous experience.
One of the first to do this was Louis XIV. The leader of France (one of the main superpowers) expelled the Hugenots who were the designers and creatives wh then moved to England which caused England to become a main superpower.
http://www.travelcaffeine.com/versailles-palace-tips/
The Palace of Versailles one of the main examples of Baroque in France being the height, technology and architecture of decoration although they missed out one one key item - proper sanitary.
One techniques that was used was Trompe-I'oeil which used realistic imagery that created optical illusions of the objects being in 3-D. Mathematics also started to affect architecture which made it durable and the cubed room originated from 30x30x30.
The British were different in their approach they were less dramatic but the size were bigger and linked to politics. Paintings also changed and became more about specific moments instead of the allegory. A shift in female beauty also occurred around this time.
In Di's session we got an introduction to the Studio and star system. These are a bunch of dates relating to this:
1893 - The Edison company created the Black Maria the first kinetographic studio
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edison%27s_Black_Maria#/media/File:Black_Maria.jpg
1895 - The first film (Lumiere Brothers) screening happened in a cafe in France
1905 - 1000 Nickelodeons in the USA (Nickelodeons is a term because you could get in for a nickel)
1908 - 6000 Nickelodeons in the USA
1908 - The cameraman system is discarded
1908-15 - Motion Picture Patents Company
1909 - Larger cinemas and theaters start to be built. Also more movie material. Not just for working class
1907-1909 - The director system is introduced meaning one person oversees the entire crew
1940-1949 - The big 5 (Warner Bros, MGM, Paramount, Fox and Rko) and Little 3 (Columbia, Universal and United Artists) are introduced and work over the industry
As the turn of the century came film making evolved both in technological and practical ways at a rapid rate. Three key stages also came about: production, exhibition and distribution
Film exchanges were used for producers and exhibitors as a go between. Films are bought from producers and then they get rented to theaters.
Up until 1990 an average length of film was 50ft and three major companies made them: Edison Biograph and Vitograph. There was an attempt to control and monpolise the film industry by the Edison and Biograph companies with the introduction of the MPPC - Motion Picture Patents Company. They did this by licensing projectors to nickelodeons and 70% of film exchanges in the USA
To mass produce films faster film factories were made with different productions of films going on at the same time.
Some terms:
Oligopoly - a market that is controlled by a small number of producers or sellers
Vertical Integration - funds lead to distributes lead to market leads to the screen
Horizontal Integration - based off money taking chunks and keeping the profit.
Week 8
In this week's lecture we looked at Fantasy particularity in the eighteenth century focusing on Madame de Pompadour.
Regence - Louis XV a young king. The decline of the baroque
Rocco - Fantasy. It comes from the word rece meaning shell like or delicate
Rocco was the reaction to a society that was obsessed with fantasy and there was an introduction to emotion over power
Aspects that began to be introduced in paintings of the time were curves, rocaille and asymmetry. These aspects gave paintings a sense of movement and light drama of the human emotion
Rocaille - light and natural lines also a metaphor for flowing water
http://www.unav.es/ha/002-ORNA/cajas-rocaille.htm
There are differences you an see between French and British rocco as the British use lots of bright colours - mostly yellow, The French are more decadent. The rocco is a focus on an obsession on nature and love. It celebrated life with little to no deeper meanings. Nakedness also became a new symbol for individual beauty and sexuality nt just be used in paintings of Venus.
Madame de Pompadour
Madame de Pompadour was an illegitimate daughter and would later become a mistress to King Louis XV.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5f/Fran%C3%A7ois_Boucher_017.jpg
In many paintings of her she is usually holding or wearing an open rose which symbolizes the height of her beauty and is sexually open. Later on in life she would be portrayed with a dog to show hr companionship and friendship with the king.
In paintings of her and the king together Louis was portrayed as Apollo king of the Greek gods and Pompadour was portrayed as Venus/Issa - Goddess of beauty and fidelity. The shepherdess was a symbol of nature and the simplicity of love and emotions. Pompadour in some paintings was portrayed as sultana to show her Turkish influences and exotic nature too suggest her interest in education.
Some paintings also started too ridicule and exaggerate her as someone with various lovers who is lustful and not care.
With her aging she became more as a friend to the king so she would be portrayed with friendly imagery in paintings .
In Dianne's session we looked as fantasy vs film which we discussed about and linking our examples to a John Truby article.
My example was Daredevil, both the movie and Netflix series:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XC7GPdBV9WQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmP3YFk_YHA
Both the Netflix series and film could be viewed as City as a Jungle. The setting of both examples Hell's Kitchen feels packed where the villains could strike at any time. The second aspect it could have is tools because Daredevil uses different tools such as his hearing to fight since he is blind but also uses other things around him and his natural fighting skills t help him. Finally in the movie version it can fall under How The Story World and Hero Develop Together because the world looks normal but secretly has villains rising up for he her to defeat and be he only one left at the end.
Week 9
Malcolm was ill this session so I used the time to work on my blog and work on documents for Me,Myself and I. Although with him being ill the session plan becomes messed up so I am not sure which lecture is being taught next session.
Diane's session was on today and was on the origins of documentary:
Empirical knowledge: knowledge which is acquired by the use of senses/ There are three models of realism Critical, Direct and Representational:
Critical - focuses on independent reality and perception - when you have two options and you look at the information that you have been told you evaluate both to create a new reality
Direct - what you see is what you get - known as naive realism , you only take into account of what you see.
Representational - can't take into account what it really is, you only know what you have been told - our relationship towards news reporters, wee trust them for what they tell us
content analysis - if different news reports have the same news and see what is true
realism can have a major ripple effect:
Original Truth - Documentarist - Editing - Audience
When it moves from one new part to the next the truth is filtered and edited. The documenarist will choose what parts to film and then the editor will choose what parts to include in the edit. All of it together will create the biggest impact.
Week 10
Because of Malcolm being ill the session for this week is now the lecture we missed.
This week we learned abut the age of reason and neo-classicism known as the true style. It was used in Britain to show the country's growing power It went back and revisited the ancient world and echoed the Roman empire. It used the classical world but more modern to create a basis for a new style. The neo-classical style the Romans used had logic, proportion and restraint. Young men would go on grand tours to be inspired by the arts of the time.
With Pompeii's discovery added more style and challenged the paintings in Rome. The interiors in Pompeii's home were colourful. The style wasn't just roman inspired but more Pompeii inspired.
Space was a factor in neo-classicism and not just decoration like the Rocco period. Robert Adam used this style very well by adding symmetry to his work. He also had a fondness for the colour blue.
Portraiture echoed the Roman empire using statues and posing. Woman were painted leaning on columns which showed patriarchy. Allegorical meaning wasn't used often as knowledge education were more focused on.
Napoleon was portrayed as Caesar in paintings in France to show they were the new Roman empire. France portrayed the spirit of neoclassicism whee as England portrayed the emotion of neoclassicism
Neoclassicism was influenced by the social change of the times. Reason and individualism was supported more over tradition which had scientific thought opposing superstition. The breakthroughs of science and medicine of the times made people question the world, the church and the power of kings. When Hitler adopted the neo classical style to show his power the art became negative which made the era called the language of oppression.
In Dianne's session we looked at the ethical and moral issues in storytelling. The documentary I decided to look at was Supersize Me (Morgan Spurlock 2004) This documentary is about the director Morgan Spurlock eating only food and drink from McDonald's for 30 days and what the impact on his physical and psychological states. The effects it had on him was hat he got mood swings, depression and heart palpitations. The investigation and experiment was to look at the growing obesity in the US at the time.
I though the documentary challenged the viewer because it focuses on a eating establishment that the viewers would eat at and the effects of eating nothing but McDonald's.
Week 11
In the lecture this week we focused on Creativity as a Symptom of Change. Our main focus on the creativity of the Mid-Victorian era 1837-1901. The era had a main focus on arts and crafts which became a movement. There was also a focus on architecture and particular focus on the working class of the time. There was a socialist named Morris who worked for equality and freedom of the worker but turns out he was multi millionaire. A famous quote of his:
"Have nothing in your homes that you do not know to be useful or beautiful"
Relationships between artists and their work became preserved so that means the Kelmscott Press became popular. They used printing presses to create pieces of art for books and had different fonts.
Next we looked at the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood who were a group of painters/critics who wanted t reform art by reject some of the approaches adopted by Mannerists and the renewal they wanted had to include serous, sincerity and a true nature in their paintings.
Afterwards we looked at two paintings the first was Christ In The Heist Of His Parents
https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/becoming-modern/Victorian-art-architecture/pre-raphaelites/a/sir-john-everett-millais-christ-in-the-house-of-his-parents
The second painting being Isabella And The Basil Pot:
http://www.artchive.com/artchive/h/hunt/hunt_pot_of_basil.jpg
Both paintings had major religious symbolism's. The first painting had John the Baptist holding a bowl of water which would foreshadow him becoming a baptist. The second painting had a skull near the basil pot which foreshadows a death from a poem which the painting is based off.
In Dianne's session the afternoon we focused on Cinema vs Tv. On the discussion we were told to bring in examples of media and how it has evolved because of the codes and connections to crate a new platform o entertainment We also had to include our own thoughts of where the media may develop further on. MY first example was CW Seed:
Vixen is an animated show on CW Seed which is a production which as original digital content such as animated shows, game shows and many more. Even though it's an animated show it's based off a comic with the same character it also is in the same universe as the other CW superhero TV shows.
My second example was on visual effects:
Week 12
In both of the session this week we looked at eroticism Awkward but it has to be done.
In Malcolm's lecture we focused on Art Noveau looking at graphics and architecture. People felt there was a wind of change with the approaching of the new millennium. So people started to reevaluate their national identity and social reactions. Mass production and industrialization started to become a problem with a boundary between the rich and poor including the introduction of high rises. High rise is the difference between the social classes which separate the rich and the poor.
Additionally there was something called a whiplash motif which was a major architecture and paintings but was also used in other pieces f work.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbQcWSU8R5frUZ-ZntyjrAtY68_GQRAgnl9jsHyf0-Wx39-FSeW2uidHBcAykruL2xlGA3fb9eaeij8rIE66CYnysxgEOCt-HBpWJKB0jxhgWZgq-gEjr3HPOAHbxjMN2GeSngvlSSJn8/s400/1900+57.jpg
The next topic we looked at was the female form and with the rise of consumerism it was used to sell more products. Afterwards we looked at how the language and symbolism's of flowers was used in paintings. Open flowers were used often which suggested woman were open sexually whereas closed flowers represented a woman being pure and chaste. There were even specific flowers which had symbolism such as the orchid symbolizing the vagina and iris symbolizing the penis.
In art noveau The Will to Flight as people thought that with the turn of the millennium society would improve and fly so to speak. The Whiplash Motif would show the movement in art. Japanese art began to have a big influence over European art with aspects such as the simple and small eyes, nose, lips and eyebrows. Images of everyday life (Ukiyo-aye) were used to show something such as sex in paintings and art.
In Diane's session we looked at eroticism and how it applies to film/tv
My example that I looked at yes it is strange was anime and how weird it can be and because I watch a lot of it I did have a bit of incite into how weird it can be.
Week 13
This weeks focus was on The Golden Age Of Illustration 1880-1920.
"Illustration" as a term didn't become a thing until later years and was refereed instead as being "art". The new technology for printing which came around this period allowed products to mass produced and on the cheap. Books were commissioned to have pictures in them which meant illustrated books were being mass produced hence the term "golden age". There was also a revival in the gothic and medieval craftsmanship's which allowed people to try hand printing which could then be used in illustrations for books. Being a female illustrator was frowned upon in this period but were taken seriously when illustrating children's books. This is because of their connections to children.
The Aesthetic Movement was a group that questioned what beauty really is . Fashionable items were sort after and art nouveau books were publishing books with guides to have good home interiors. There was also The Queen Anne Revival which focused on the middle class, comfort and exteriors of homes. There seemed to be no clear pattern of illustration and it was a time for creativity and it was clear visual language was changing. Guidebooks were also starting to appear which helped people to do things with illustrations in the books.
One self published magazine that tried to break away from the norm was The Ver Sacrum. People also started to question bout their national identity and trying to rekindle it towards the end of the millennium. Then there is the Vienna Succession which was experimental and explored different possibilities but also anti-historicist. There was a new aesthetic which had influences with some being from Japan.
There became a consumption and obsession of Christmas which new techniques being created such as selling Christmas cards, Christmas stockings and even new books were made.
Society also became obsessed with fantasy with some of the illustrations coming out at the time such as Norse and medieval examples which Lord Of The Rings took some inspirations from.
The final times of the golden age in 1920 brought illustrations with fashion becoming more popular than of illustrations of models. It could be said that film killed off the golden age of illustration because of the inventions of photography and cameras.
In the afternoon session we looked at Ted talks and with the ones we watched there seemed to be a clear message - love your work. One of the ones we watched was about a 7 hour train journey being broadcasted in Norway. Another one focused on a sci fi film which was made on a budget which was a fraction of a Hollywood film but still had industry standard professionals. This video was the one I enjoyed the most.
Week 14
Art Deco was the focus of the session.
When The Great War 1914-1918 came around it was a depressing time so art wasn't been created as much as before the war. Art Deco then came to spread optimism to artists, it also helped that new technologies were been created and mass produced. The term art deco became a period of creativity for artists rather than an element that was used. The term though didn't come around till the 1970's and was known before as the modern style.
Notable inclusions in art deco were sweeping curves and lines. The sweeping would move upwards which can symbolise the movement and mass production which could also echo machinery.
During this time woman were beginning to have more of a say in the world and rejected the old ways through various fashions of the time. People started to reject religion because of what they saw and heard about during the war.
Art Deco used old and new techniques to create modernity. Some of the influences art deco took from was Modernism, Cubism, Exotics, Archaeology and the Russian Constructivism. Art Deco was both visual and material culture, some of the architecture it was inspired from was Aztec, Mayan's and Egyptians.. More especially with the Egyptians after the discovery of King Tutankhamen's tomb in 1922.
With the release of The Mummy in 1932 people wanted to be scarred more in movies.
Travel-mania became huge with the introduction to cruise liners and the auto mobile. The auto mobile started to have a more aerodynamic look to them.
Week 16
This week we looked at Nazi Germany and Britain during WW2 and how they used propaganda.
The visual culture of this time was always looked at under the Third Reich. The main logo for the Nazi's was the Swastika. Originally used as a symbol for good luck and was adopted it for their own purposes. If you were to show anyone the symbol they would instantly recognize it.
The Germans had an idea of the perfect German body which was used on the propaganda posters. Something called the ult of celebrity came about because of the rise of Hitler because of his speeches and dictator skills. The cult of youth was also celebrated with the main focus being on the Aryan race. The negro were used as canon foder on posters during this time as well. ISIS seem to use similar propaganda methods.
When it comes to film making it was very patriotic with each seeming to have a focus on pushing forwards and doing our jobs to help win the war.
In Di's session we looked at how we were getting on for our visual culture.
Week 17
This week we looked at the Festival Of Britain 1951. The festival of Britain was a way that art and design could be revived after WW2. During this time in seaside towns modernism was becoming revived and began to affect architecture.
The festival of Britain was built on London's south bank where the Millennium Dome exists today. It celebrated the new technology and design advances. Interestingly 10 million people came in 5 days, and it was a feeling of recovery after the war for the people of the time. The main theme of the festival was "a united act of national reassessment and reaffirmation of the future"
The Festival of Britain brought new designs to items such as bus shelters, bins and planters. Additionally there was cleaner and brighter living spaces for everyone. Science was one of the main features of the festival with new technology being built
In Di session we looked at our essays and journals to see if anything needed to be added. All I need to add is images and a figure listing to my essay
Week 1
In the Visual Culture lecture one of the assignments we will have to work on is a 2000 word essay that focuses on a specific question or topic. Along with the essay I will have to complete a research journal on 5 topics. The deadline for these pieces of work is Monday 15th February at 12:00
What is visual culture? Visual culture focuses on the different forms of creativity photography, film, illustration etc. The main focus in every lecture is the historical, cultural, social, political and the anthropological influences and some of the theories of different works.
The first topic in the seminar section of visual culture was religion and faith in film. We were given an article which focused on The Wicker Man and we have to read and research it in groups and deliver our findings in the next session.
Week 2
In our visual culture lecture we focused on "Visual Language and Faith" with references to Christianity and Islam. One of the main focuses was on how booth religions interpret:
"You shall have no other gods before me, You shall not make fr yourself and image in the form of anything in heaven above or in the earth." - Exodus 20:3-6.
When the Pagans and their celebrations such as "midwinter" Christians evolved that into Christmas. In the Gothic churches of the time they would use body parts as to make people of the church not lust although t could be meant as a joke. The Christians used their creativity to celebrate God known as "iconistic" The Christian churches are usually built near mosques and build them bigger in comparison.
The Islams interpreted the text differently and took a literal approach by not using images to convey the message of God known as "aniconistic". One group of Muslims in Spain known as "An Andalus" reintroduced the ideas f Greek science and art. Many of the more educated read the Bible whereas the Qur'an was learned by all of the people at the time. Their duty was to learn all they can and read everything but reading anything other than the Bible in Christian Europe was punishable by death. The Moorish decoration used geometric shapes, they never used icons so to follow the word of Exodus.
In Diane's session we looked at religion and how was used in cinema. The film I used was Passion Of The Christ. This film focuses on the life of Jesus but mostly on the Holy Week. It also goes into his crucifixion and resurrection.
Week 3
In this lecture we learned abut Symbols of Imperial China, some of the important facts we learned about was colours and some of the different meanings behind them. Other symbols we learned about was that the emperor is symbolized as 5 toed dragon and the empress is symbolized as a phoenix.
What was interesting to find out was the difference between meanings and symbols of colours in Western culture compared to Chinese culture such as red symbolizing danger in the west whereas it symbolizes luck and good fortune in Chinese culture. Some of the terms used were auspicious and inauspicious. Here are colours and their meanings in China:
- Black - water, heavenly emperor
- Red - fire, luck and good fortune
- Blue/Green - wood, spring
- White - metal, purity
- Yellow - the emperor, centre of all things, earth and neutrality
Objects and motifs also have meanings and significance in Chinese culture. Here is a list of some objects and their meanings:
- Pearl - good luck
- Coin - wealth
- Twin fish - freedom
- Conch - teachings
- Wheel Of Law - path to perfection
- Dragon and Phoenix - yin and yang
- Tiger (yin) but tamed is (yang)
- Lion - protection
- Fish - unity and fidelity
- Washing the elephant - breaking through illusion and and the path to wisdom
In Di's session we looked at the visual style and representation of different countries in cinema. I looked at the anime known as Hetalia Axis Powers. This anime focus on the characters which are the countries of the world. This clip just gives an example of each countries personalities:
Week 4
In this session we learned about imperial Japan. Japan used o be a "Sakoku" which means locked country until they opened up the borders in the 19th century in order to modernize the country which happened at a fast rate.
The Buddhist alters are decorated o celebrate the religion whereas in cathedrals in Europe were built and decorated to be impressive and also oppressive. However paintings in the Buddhist religion messages were important than the images involved and less is more "Wabisabi".
Here are some meanings in Japan:
shibayama - sheels are used in decorations
wabisabi - knowing when to stop
ukiyo-e/ye - images o the floating world, everyday life usally done on wodblock paintings
sirimono - ceremonial prints
shippo/cloisonne - enamels
pagoda - these are Buddhist buildings
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pagoda
Even outfits such as Kimono's and the colors used on them have meanings and importance:
- Black - formality and grace
- Light Blue - seas that sustain and protect
- Purple - undying love
- White - fidelity and purity
- Red - alluring and transient love
- Blue - repel snakes and flies
The designs that are on the kimono's are placed here for a reason:
- Crane - good fortune and longevity
- Peony - good fortune
- Long sleeves - single
- Short sleeves - married
In Di's session we looked at the links between Japan and Hollywood in different examples we brought in. My suggestion was the live action film Dragonball Evolution. This film is Hollywood adapting the Japanese manga Dragonball but make it live action although the film was criticized heavily by fans of the Japanese material it still shows how Hollywood has taken material in Japan and made changes to fit the American audience.
The is the trailer for the movie
Week 5
This session we looked at the Continental Renaissance (1350-1650). The word renaissance also means re-birth and this period came about after the Black Death in the 14th century along with the decline in the 15th century of the medieval world. The Renaissance along with the awakening of an understanding of Greece. In the period known as the Dark Ages the understanding of Greek and Roman thought disappeared.
The renaissance period began in Florence, Italy with many different advancements in social and civic customs, political structures as well as the migration of Greek scholars and with the help of trading brought in and introduced Christian arts, drama, books and banks such as the Medici Bank.
An introduction to humanism and had the belief of science and emotions which questioned the world but it was seen as Christian belief and if not could be seen as treason. The paintings in Churches started to depict more emotion along with hidden meanings behind some paintings. Some of the high renaissance arts known as mannerism which held a sophistication in the compositional tension in paintings.
Late in the renaissance period there was a shift in art to more mythology and portraiture. Paintings would have depictions of Roman gods but also having a a focus on hidden meanings since the Christian religion was seen only as the one true religion. Treason would have been painting different gods so if an artist painted Venus to symbolize beauty. The theme of love and lust would be shown by a scallop shell representing a vulva.
http://www.uffizi.org/img/artworks/botticelli-birth-venus.jpg
There is social allegory and Christian allegory different ways of thinking. Looking back at the birth of Venus one side (social allegory) would interrupt the paining as Venus being embarrassed while the christian allegory would portray Venus's purity and the carnation symbolizes divine and the allegory portrays nudity as purity and not in a sexual.way.
On a delicate topic penis's would symbolize a different meaning depending on the size - small more intellectual.
In Diane's session we learned about the British,French and Italian new wave which was re-birth for cinema. Films had more realism involved and it plays on the perception and senses. Films involving realism were popular in the 30's -50's It helped people have adversity and refusal not to give in from the war.
Some of the challenges facing realism were Americanization, commercialization and a decline of traditional values so cinema was seen as an escape from the outside world. New wave films would use topics involving an expansion of youth culture, class conflict, social issues were also addressed.
One film we looked at was a Touch Of Honey to gain a understanding of the different themes and a films then had a distinctive style.
Week 6
For Malcolm's lecture this week we looked at the English Renaissance (1550-1660). The focus was mainly on the architecture and art of the period which did make it difficult to link to my subject - film.
The Elizabethan Period was a transitional time between the Medieval and Renaissance periods. The Renaissance period came from constraints of the Gothic period and the power that came from Catholic Rome. As soon as England became powerful it began to show in the art and architecture.
One example of this would be Little Morton Hall which has the style of architecture known as "vernacular" with it having the painted timber framing.
http://www.armitage-construction.com/sectors/heritage-restoration/little-moreton-hall
http://www.accessiblederbyshire.org/things-to-do/perfect-days-out/a-day-out-at-hardwick-hall/
Another example of Renaissance architecture used n buildings is Hardwick Hall but it has a more modern appearance than other buildings. This is shown buy the glass windows to show wealth as well as having columns. Also the top floor of the house was considered the most important and for the upper class people/
It was common for people t become part of the display in the English renaissance buildings since the servants would sleep near the staircase which people walking trough the house would think how lazy they are and would think they are employed to do nothing. This would then make the era abut showing off what you owned.
Another part of the house the "Long Gallery" was very important because owners could show off how much expensive art they had. It was also an exercise yard for woman to walk up and down. One final important and prestigious room of the house was the great high chamber where the most important business was done.
In the late 16th century a consumer boom happened this meant lots of people were changing their hospitality. The Queen would use her status in order for people to buy her things to please her and never have to buy things herself or known as "emulative spending".
One owner of Hardwick Hall Bess was very rich woman in this era and spent a lot on the Queen (Elizabeth I) and gave her many items one being a dress. To show Bess to stop showing off her wealth she had a painting commissioned of her wearing the same dress Bess gave her. People today would see the painting as a thank you to Bess.
Now on to paintings. These would have a lot of symbolic meanings and messages such as:
- Ruby - Blood of (Christ)
- Ruby Heart - Emotion
- Serpent - Wisdom
- Serpent and Ruby Heart - Wisdom controls emotions
- Pearls - purity, unmarried and religion
- Rainbow - Peace and the Sun
- Eyes and ears - Ever watching (Catholic treachery)
One example of a painting with these symbols:
http://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?9138-Queen-Elizabeth-I-and-snakes
Another painting from this era - The Armada Painting has symbolic meanings such as Elizabeth having her hand on the globe. to suggest she is deciding the future for England and with her facing towards more bright lights it suggests the decision is for the better. The mermaid in the background represents woman and how powerful they are. The ostrich feather represents her trading and wealth.
http://www.anglophile.ru/en/kings-queens/647-the-armada.html
The next era we looked at was the Jacobean period lad by James I. which had a lot of arches in the architecture which symbolizes a New World.
In Diane's session we looked at the birth of television. But first we looked at the different essay questions for Visual Culture. It was a good thing because we could get a look at what we might need for the question we want to do. I'm still to decide to choose the question I want to focus on.
We also looked at tv clips from old tv on http://www.screenonline.org.uk. It showed that tv challenged cinema with the episodic narrative but cinema brought in the multiplex.
Week 7
This week we looked at the Baroque era in Britain and France 1680-1715. The Baroque originated in Italy and also influenced Europe with the love for ornate. his period also had people trying to out do each other. This period also rejected Protestantism and to show Heaven and Earth in the Catholic churches in Europe with the ornate architecture to impress and oppress at the same time.
The main features of the Baroque are the use of elaborate materials, symmetry, the elements of sculpture and swags.
http://roble.pntic.mec.es/fpef0013/baroque/hallmirrors.jpg
Art had now gone from just being visual but now material culture although the visual language was still only understood by the upper class. A term I had never heard of before was Oligarchy which means a group of people who have control over a country or organisation.
At this time there was a threat to Catholicism which came rm the Protestant Reformation which rejected transubstantiation as being superstitious. Decoration also started to become redundant as Protestants taught that people should focus only on God and only a cross was the only decoration in Protestant churches.
In response the Catholic church showed what the modern church should become. They did this by glorifying God and had to impress the congregation by showing Heaven and Earth in the Church.known as a numinous experience.
One of the first to do this was Louis XIV. The leader of France (one of the main superpowers) expelled the Hugenots who were the designers and creatives wh then moved to England which caused England to become a main superpower.
http://www.travelcaffeine.com/versailles-palace-tips/
The Palace of Versailles one of the main examples of Baroque in France being the height, technology and architecture of decoration although they missed out one one key item - proper sanitary.
One techniques that was used was Trompe-I'oeil which used realistic imagery that created optical illusions of the objects being in 3-D. Mathematics also started to affect architecture which made it durable and the cubed room originated from 30x30x30.
The British were different in their approach they were less dramatic but the size were bigger and linked to politics. Paintings also changed and became more about specific moments instead of the allegory. A shift in female beauty also occurred around this time.
In Di's session we got an introduction to the Studio and star system. These are a bunch of dates relating to this:
1893 - The Edison company created the Black Maria the first kinetographic studio
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edison%27s_Black_Maria#/media/File:Black_Maria.jpg
1895 - The first film (Lumiere Brothers) screening happened in a cafe in France
1905 - 1000 Nickelodeons in the USA (Nickelodeons is a term because you could get in for a nickel)
1908 - 6000 Nickelodeons in the USA
1908 - The cameraman system is discarded
1908-15 - Motion Picture Patents Company
1909 - Larger cinemas and theaters start to be built. Also more movie material. Not just for working class
1907-1909 - The director system is introduced meaning one person oversees the entire crew
1940-1949 - The big 5 (Warner Bros, MGM, Paramount, Fox and Rko) and Little 3 (Columbia, Universal and United Artists) are introduced and work over the industry
As the turn of the century came film making evolved both in technological and practical ways at a rapid rate. Three key stages also came about: production, exhibition and distribution
Film exchanges were used for producers and exhibitors as a go between. Films are bought from producers and then they get rented to theaters.
Up until 1990 an average length of film was 50ft and three major companies made them: Edison Biograph and Vitograph. There was an attempt to control and monpolise the film industry by the Edison and Biograph companies with the introduction of the MPPC - Motion Picture Patents Company. They did this by licensing projectors to nickelodeons and 70% of film exchanges in the USA
To mass produce films faster film factories were made with different productions of films going on at the same time.
Some terms:
Oligopoly - a market that is controlled by a small number of producers or sellers
Vertical Integration - funds lead to distributes lead to market leads to the screen
Horizontal Integration - based off money taking chunks and keeping the profit.
Week 8
In this week's lecture we looked at Fantasy particularity in the eighteenth century focusing on Madame de Pompadour.
Regence - Louis XV a young king. The decline of the baroque
Rocco - Fantasy. It comes from the word rece meaning shell like or delicate
Rocco was the reaction to a society that was obsessed with fantasy and there was an introduction to emotion over power
Aspects that began to be introduced in paintings of the time were curves, rocaille and asymmetry. These aspects gave paintings a sense of movement and light drama of the human emotion
Rocaille - light and natural lines also a metaphor for flowing water
http://www.unav.es/ha/002-ORNA/cajas-rocaille.htm
There are differences you an see between French and British rocco as the British use lots of bright colours - mostly yellow, The French are more decadent. The rocco is a focus on an obsession on nature and love. It celebrated life with little to no deeper meanings. Nakedness also became a new symbol for individual beauty and sexuality nt just be used in paintings of Venus.
Madame de Pompadour
Madame de Pompadour was an illegitimate daughter and would later become a mistress to King Louis XV.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5f/Fran%C3%A7ois_Boucher_017.jpg
In many paintings of her she is usually holding or wearing an open rose which symbolizes the height of her beauty and is sexually open. Later on in life she would be portrayed with a dog to show hr companionship and friendship with the king.
In paintings of her and the king together Louis was portrayed as Apollo king of the Greek gods and Pompadour was portrayed as Venus/Issa - Goddess of beauty and fidelity. The shepherdess was a symbol of nature and the simplicity of love and emotions. Pompadour in some paintings was portrayed as sultana to show her Turkish influences and exotic nature too suggest her interest in education.
Some paintings also started too ridicule and exaggerate her as someone with various lovers who is lustful and not care.
With her aging she became more as a friend to the king so she would be portrayed with friendly imagery in paintings .
In Dianne's session we looked as fantasy vs film which we discussed about and linking our examples to a John Truby article.
My example was Daredevil, both the movie and Netflix series:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XC7GPdBV9WQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmP3YFk_YHA
Both the Netflix series and film could be viewed as City as a Jungle. The setting of both examples Hell's Kitchen feels packed where the villains could strike at any time. The second aspect it could have is tools because Daredevil uses different tools such as his hearing to fight since he is blind but also uses other things around him and his natural fighting skills t help him. Finally in the movie version it can fall under How The Story World and Hero Develop Together because the world looks normal but secretly has villains rising up for he her to defeat and be he only one left at the end.
Week 9
Malcolm was ill this session so I used the time to work on my blog and work on documents for Me,Myself and I. Although with him being ill the session plan becomes messed up so I am not sure which lecture is being taught next session.
Diane's session was on today and was on the origins of documentary:
Empirical knowledge: knowledge which is acquired by the use of senses/ There are three models of realism Critical, Direct and Representational:
Critical - focuses on independent reality and perception - when you have two options and you look at the information that you have been told you evaluate both to create a new reality
Direct - what you see is what you get - known as naive realism , you only take into account of what you see.
Representational - can't take into account what it really is, you only know what you have been told - our relationship towards news reporters, wee trust them for what they tell us
content analysis - if different news reports have the same news and see what is true
realism can have a major ripple effect:
Original Truth - Documentarist - Editing - Audience
When it moves from one new part to the next the truth is filtered and edited. The documenarist will choose what parts to film and then the editor will choose what parts to include in the edit. All of it together will create the biggest impact.
Week 10
Because of Malcolm being ill the session for this week is now the lecture we missed.
This week we learned abut the age of reason and neo-classicism known as the true style. It was used in Britain to show the country's growing power It went back and revisited the ancient world and echoed the Roman empire. It used the classical world but more modern to create a basis for a new style. The neo-classical style the Romans used had logic, proportion and restraint. Young men would go on grand tours to be inspired by the arts of the time.
With Pompeii's discovery added more style and challenged the paintings in Rome. The interiors in Pompeii's home were colourful. The style wasn't just roman inspired but more Pompeii inspired.
Space was a factor in neo-classicism and not just decoration like the Rocco period. Robert Adam used this style very well by adding symmetry to his work. He also had a fondness for the colour blue.
Portraiture echoed the Roman empire using statues and posing. Woman were painted leaning on columns which showed patriarchy. Allegorical meaning wasn't used often as knowledge education were more focused on.
Napoleon was portrayed as Caesar in paintings in France to show they were the new Roman empire. France portrayed the spirit of neoclassicism whee as England portrayed the emotion of neoclassicism
Neoclassicism was influenced by the social change of the times. Reason and individualism was supported more over tradition which had scientific thought opposing superstition. The breakthroughs of science and medicine of the times made people question the world, the church and the power of kings. When Hitler adopted the neo classical style to show his power the art became negative which made the era called the language of oppression.
In Dianne's session we looked at the ethical and moral issues in storytelling. The documentary I decided to look at was Supersize Me (Morgan Spurlock 2004) This documentary is about the director Morgan Spurlock eating only food and drink from McDonald's for 30 days and what the impact on his physical and psychological states. The effects it had on him was hat he got mood swings, depression and heart palpitations. The investigation and experiment was to look at the growing obesity in the US at the time.
I though the documentary challenged the viewer because it focuses on a eating establishment that the viewers would eat at and the effects of eating nothing but McDonald's.
Week 11
In the lecture this week we focused on Creativity as a Symptom of Change. Our main focus on the creativity of the Mid-Victorian era 1837-1901. The era had a main focus on arts and crafts which became a movement. There was also a focus on architecture and particular focus on the working class of the time. There was a socialist named Morris who worked for equality and freedom of the worker but turns out he was multi millionaire. A famous quote of his:
"Have nothing in your homes that you do not know to be useful or beautiful"
Relationships between artists and their work became preserved so that means the Kelmscott Press became popular. They used printing presses to create pieces of art for books and had different fonts.
Next we looked at the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood who were a group of painters/critics who wanted t reform art by reject some of the approaches adopted by Mannerists and the renewal they wanted had to include serous, sincerity and a true nature in their paintings.
Afterwards we looked at two paintings the first was Christ In The Heist Of His Parents
https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/becoming-modern/Victorian-art-architecture/pre-raphaelites/a/sir-john-everett-millais-christ-in-the-house-of-his-parents
The second painting being Isabella And The Basil Pot:
http://www.artchive.com/artchive/h/hunt/hunt_pot_of_basil.jpg
Both paintings had major religious symbolism's. The first painting had John the Baptist holding a bowl of water which would foreshadow him becoming a baptist. The second painting had a skull near the basil pot which foreshadows a death from a poem which the painting is based off.
In Dianne's session the afternoon we focused on Cinema vs Tv. On the discussion we were told to bring in examples of media and how it has evolved because of the codes and connections to crate a new platform o entertainment We also had to include our own thoughts of where the media may develop further on. MY first example was CW Seed:
DC superhero tv shows have become more popular over the last
few years with Arrow, The Flash and with Legends of Tomorrow coming up. These
shows have developed from DC comics to TV shows and to digital content which
i'm looking at.
Vixen is an animated show on CW Seed which is a production which as original digital content such as animated shows, game shows and many more. Even though it's an animated show it's based off a comic with the same character it also is in the same universe as the other CW superhero TV shows.
My second example was on visual effects:
For my film example i'm going to look at Pacific Rim wit
it's visual effects. Pacific Rim's visual effects ere done by Industrial Light
and Magic known to have done effects for movies such as Star Wars, Back .To The
Future and many more movies. For Pacific Rim the effects were the Jaegers, the
Kaiju's and environments in the film.
Visual effects have added more to films such as this so
instead of making he robots in real life they can make computer generated one
as well as background scenes.
Finally my opinion on something like CW Seed is that it won't
get as popular as something like Netflix but will be there for digital content.
Visual effects however will still be in movies in the future and continue to
get better as technology improves,
Week 12
In both of the session this week we looked at eroticism Awkward but it has to be done.
In Malcolm's lecture we focused on Art Noveau looking at graphics and architecture. People felt there was a wind of change with the approaching of the new millennium. So people started to reevaluate their national identity and social reactions. Mass production and industrialization started to become a problem with a boundary between the rich and poor including the introduction of high rises. High rise is the difference between the social classes which separate the rich and the poor.
Additionally there was something called a whiplash motif which was a major architecture and paintings but was also used in other pieces f work.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbQcWSU8R5frUZ-ZntyjrAtY68_GQRAgnl9jsHyf0-Wx39-FSeW2uidHBcAykruL2xlGA3fb9eaeij8rIE66CYnysxgEOCt-HBpWJKB0jxhgWZgq-gEjr3HPOAHbxjMN2GeSngvlSSJn8/s400/1900+57.jpg
The next topic we looked at was the female form and with the rise of consumerism it was used to sell more products. Afterwards we looked at how the language and symbolism's of flowers was used in paintings. Open flowers were used often which suggested woman were open sexually whereas closed flowers represented a woman being pure and chaste. There were even specific flowers which had symbolism such as the orchid symbolizing the vagina and iris symbolizing the penis.
In art noveau The Will to Flight as people thought that with the turn of the millennium society would improve and fly so to speak. The Whiplash Motif would show the movement in art. Japanese art began to have a big influence over European art with aspects such as the simple and small eyes, nose, lips and eyebrows. Images of everyday life (Ukiyo-aye) were used to show something such as sex in paintings and art.
In Diane's session we looked at eroticism and how it applies to film/tv
My example that I looked at yes it is strange was anime and how weird it can be and because I watch a lot of it I did have a bit of incite into how weird it can be.
Highschool Of The Dead is about well highschool and the dead
and students attempting to survive the zombie apocalypse. In this series the
school girls are portrayed to be oversexualised
In anime this happens a lot in shows which fall under the
ecchi genre. There are also some anime
which fall under the hentai genre which is a more hard-core genre then ecchi
which uses perverted situations for more humorous uses.
When it comes it the social and cultural contexts eroticism
has been in anime and not questioned because it has been a part of anime
although some animes tone it down but some will have will have many scenes
involving eroticism. Since this anime was created a few years ago. Anime does
challenge the boundaries of eroticism in anime because here are so many
different animes eroticism challenges the boundaries of the anime it is used in
Week 13
This weeks focus was on The Golden Age Of Illustration 1880-1920.
"Illustration" as a term didn't become a thing until later years and was refereed instead as being "art". The new technology for printing which came around this period allowed products to mass produced and on the cheap. Books were commissioned to have pictures in them which meant illustrated books were being mass produced hence the term "golden age". There was also a revival in the gothic and medieval craftsmanship's which allowed people to try hand printing which could then be used in illustrations for books. Being a female illustrator was frowned upon in this period but were taken seriously when illustrating children's books. This is because of their connections to children.
The Aesthetic Movement was a group that questioned what beauty really is . Fashionable items were sort after and art nouveau books were publishing books with guides to have good home interiors. There was also The Queen Anne Revival which focused on the middle class, comfort and exteriors of homes. There seemed to be no clear pattern of illustration and it was a time for creativity and it was clear visual language was changing. Guidebooks were also starting to appear which helped people to do things with illustrations in the books.
One self published magazine that tried to break away from the norm was The Ver Sacrum. People also started to question bout their national identity and trying to rekindle it towards the end of the millennium. Then there is the Vienna Succession which was experimental and explored different possibilities but also anti-historicist. There was a new aesthetic which had influences with some being from Japan.
There became a consumption and obsession of Christmas which new techniques being created such as selling Christmas cards, Christmas stockings and even new books were made.
Society also became obsessed with fantasy with some of the illustrations coming out at the time such as Norse and medieval examples which Lord Of The Rings took some inspirations from.
The final times of the golden age in 1920 brought illustrations with fashion becoming more popular than of illustrations of models. It could be said that film killed off the golden age of illustration because of the inventions of photography and cameras.
In the afternoon session we looked at Ted talks and with the ones we watched there seemed to be a clear message - love your work. One of the ones we watched was about a 7 hour train journey being broadcasted in Norway. Another one focused on a sci fi film which was made on a budget which was a fraction of a Hollywood film but still had industry standard professionals. This video was the one I enjoyed the most.
Week 14
Art Deco was the focus of the session.
When The Great War 1914-1918 came around it was a depressing time so art wasn't been created as much as before the war. Art Deco then came to spread optimism to artists, it also helped that new technologies were been created and mass produced. The term art deco became a period of creativity for artists rather than an element that was used. The term though didn't come around till the 1970's and was known before as the modern style.
Notable inclusions in art deco were sweeping curves and lines. The sweeping would move upwards which can symbolise the movement and mass production which could also echo machinery.
During this time woman were beginning to have more of a say in the world and rejected the old ways through various fashions of the time. People started to reject religion because of what they saw and heard about during the war.
Art Deco used old and new techniques to create modernity. Some of the influences art deco took from was Modernism, Cubism, Exotics, Archaeology and the Russian Constructivism. Art Deco was both visual and material culture, some of the architecture it was inspired from was Aztec, Mayan's and Egyptians.. More especially with the Egyptians after the discovery of King Tutankhamen's tomb in 1922.
With the release of The Mummy in 1932 people wanted to be scarred more in movies.
Travel-mania became huge with the introduction to cruise liners and the auto mobile. The auto mobile started to have a more aerodynamic look to them.
Week 16
This week we looked at Nazi Germany and Britain during WW2 and how they used propaganda.
The visual culture of this time was always looked at under the Third Reich. The main logo for the Nazi's was the Swastika. Originally used as a symbol for good luck and was adopted it for their own purposes. If you were to show anyone the symbol they would instantly recognize it.
The Germans had an idea of the perfect German body which was used on the propaganda posters. Something called the ult of celebrity came about because of the rise of Hitler because of his speeches and dictator skills. The cult of youth was also celebrated with the main focus being on the Aryan race. The negro were used as canon foder on posters during this time as well. ISIS seem to use similar propaganda methods.
When it comes to film making it was very patriotic with each seeming to have a focus on pushing forwards and doing our jobs to help win the war.
In Di's session we looked at how we were getting on for our visual culture.
Week 17
This week we looked at the Festival Of Britain 1951. The festival of Britain was a way that art and design could be revived after WW2. During this time in seaside towns modernism was becoming revived and began to affect architecture.
The festival of Britain was built on London's south bank where the Millennium Dome exists today. It celebrated the new technology and design advances. Interestingly 10 million people came in 5 days, and it was a feeling of recovery after the war for the people of the time. The main theme of the festival was "a united act of national reassessment and reaffirmation of the future"
The Festival of Britain brought new designs to items such as bus shelters, bins and planters. Additionally there was cleaner and brighter living spaces for everyone. Science was one of the main features of the festival with new technology being built
In Di session we looked at our essays and journals to see if anything needed to be added. All I need to add is images and a figure listing to my essay
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