Category: Art

This paper tries to look at some of the greatest musician of all times to ever walk on the face of the world. The methodology that we are going to adapt for the essence of this debate will be based on the musician influence in relation to fun base and popularity during their time.

It will also use their success in the music industry which will be gauged by the number of times their records have held the first position in the billboards and also the number of record sells not only in America, but in the rest of the world. The source material for this discussion will include journals and articles that give reference to the musician’s success and influence during their time.

It is critical to mention that between 1870-1950 music and performance was on an upsurge, it was not until after the 1950 that most of the musicians and bands rose to make the most world changing hits that have gone down in history as the top fifty greatest songs with only one being of pre-1950 to make on the list.

The song by Hank Williams “I’m so lonesome I could cry” is the only song from the top fifty greatest songs to be featured before 1950. The two musicians this debate will focus on will include Harry Launder and Hank Williamsas the casing point (Brackett7).

Harry Launder is one of the greatest musicians and a performer in the Scottish and British realm.The entertainer was born in 1870 in Portobello Edinburgh to a John Launder a designer in China artefacts and Isabella a descendant from the black isle. Harry Launder started his early careerby working at the coal mines at the tender age of thirteen years and also realised his potential in singing at the time. He started performing his music shortly after getting married to Anna Vallance in 1891 (Gordon20).

Launders first professional performance took place at a local Lark hall where he used to make about five shillings each night. He later moved to perform at the “go-as-you please” which was amore prestigious event in the town and made him prominent among the local community.

Fame and fortune for Harry Launder came around 1905 when he successfully led a troop of pantomimes known as the Howard and Wyndham. This catapulted Launder to become one of the greatest performers in England and these lead to various contracts and music deals. Launder was estimated to earn £1000 a night for his performances in the United States by the year 1911. In the following year Launder topped the charts in Britain becoming the first British in the history of entertainment(Graeme25).

Some of the greatest hits by Harry Launder include “Roamin in the Gloamin”, “I love a Lassie”, “Keep right unto the end of the road” and “A wee Deoch-an-Doris”. These songs made Launder the highest paid performer of his time with an estimated amount of £12,700 for each performance (Williams 138; Lauder 14).

During his forty year music career, Launder had made twenty two visits to the United States and a couple of other trips to Australia with his own train. Other accolades to his title include being knighted after the world war one for raising £1million for the troops to be rehabilitated and inculcated to the society.

According to the Prime Minister Winston Churchill, Harry Launder had rendered to the Scottish race and entire British Empire an immeasurable service through his music and philanthropy. Harry Launder died in 1950 at the age of 79 years leaving behind a legacy of songs, books and films that he had written or stirred in (William70).

The other musician to make history in the music industry was Hank Williams. He was born in 1923 with his birth name being Hiram King William (Brackett 32). Hiram would later change his name to Hank which sounded well according to him in country songs.

In 1937, Hank would start his career in a radio station WSFA with the producer offering him a program of 15 minutes as the host with a salary of $15. This was after Hank had won a talent show at the Empire theatre pocketing the grand price of $15. With the rising popularity Hank would go on to form a band with the money he got from the radio show which he called “the drifting cowboys”, and this eventually led him to quit school.Hank would record songs like “Never again” and “Honky Tonkin” which did not do better.

It was only after releasing the song “Move it on over”, that fame and fortune started to stream in.In1948,he signed a recording contract with MGM records. The following year, Hank went on to release “Love sick blues” which propelled his music to the mainstream media thus increasing his popularity as a singer. According to Helander (9), Hank was estimated to make $1000 at this point in his career for every performance he went.

It is important to mention that, Hank had eleven number one songs in the American chart since 1948-1953 making him the most successful American musician of his time and also the most popular America singer only for his record to be broken by the likes of Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson in years after (Flippo16)

Other hits by Hank that have gone down in history of music include “You’re cheatin heart”, “Hey, Good looking” and “I’m so lonesome I could cry”. Even though by this time Hank had become a star, he nevertheless had issues that cut off his career and life.

Excessive consumption of alcohol and morphine and other painkillers saw him being divorced by his wife and being kicked out of the band. Hank died in 1953 at the tender age of 29 years (Graeme 38). Hanks songs and composition have been used by other musicians in different fields such as pop, blues, gospel and even rock which have become instant hits (Wallace 84)

In conclusion, it is critical to mention that the above artists even though they have a divergent appeal in relation to their music genre, their success is varied in regards to one opinion.It is crucial to mention that they made music that changed the world and entertained their audience even years after they themselves had gone.

They achieved musical success at their time that made them become icons of their time. This aspect has been proved by both fame and fortune that this musicians were able to produce through their songs and lastly and the most important legacy to leave behind is their music which up to date resonate to the audience delight.

Works Cited

Brackett, David. Interpreting popular music. New York: University of California Press. 2000. Print.

Flippo, Chet. Your cheatin’ heart: a biography of Hank Williams. London: Plexus. 1997. Print.

Gordon,Irving. Great Scot! The life story of Sir Harry Lauder, legendary laird of the music hall. London:Plexus 1968. Print.

Graeme, Smith.The Theatre Royal: Entertaining a Nation. Saddle River: Cengage, 2008. Print.

Helander, Brock. The rockin’ ’50s: the people who made the music. New York: Schirmer Books. 2010. Print.

Lauder, Harry.The Ancestry of Sir Harry Lauder, in the Scottish Genealogist, Edinburgh:Sage.2006. Print.

Wallace, Lewes. Harry Lauder in the Limelight.London: OUP. 1988. Print.

Williams, Lycrecia, Vinicur, Dale. Still in Love with You: Hank and Audrey Williams. London: Thomas Nelson Incorporated: 1991. Print.

Art is a product or process of arranging items so that they can influence and affect one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect, where the arrangement of these items often has a symbolic significance. In art, creativity and innovations are key attributes and art includes music, painting, sculptures, painting, photography, and literature.

Those people who are involved in art are called artists and organize their arts in way that will influence people. On the other hand design is a plan or convection for the construction of a system or an object. Arts and design go hand in hand because; Artists cannot be able to perform their work without design.

Before starting the artwork, the artist first designs the items, object, or music he or she wants to produce and then starts his work. This paper focuses on a world artist named Romero Britto and his art form. It further focuses on the meanings of his works to him and the influences the artist has to the world (Parker 19).

Romero Britto’s Biography

He was born in Recife, Brazil in 1963. At the early age, Romero learned to paint surfaces such as newspapers. At the age of 23, he travelled to Paris where he worked with Matisse and Picasso and combined influences from cubism with pop to create iconic style. This gained him popularity especially through The New York Times that described his work as “exudes warmth, optimism, and love”.

In 1988, Rometo relocated to Miami and became an international artist. During the year 1989, in the campaign of vodka, Warhol, Haring as well as Romero were selected. Since then his pop sensibility has earned him many collaborations, the latest being the FIFA that he created an official poster for the year 2010 World cup. In addition, he has illustrated many books, where Simon, Schuster, and Rizzoli publish his books.

His popularity has grown tremendously and his work exhibited in galleries and museums in more than 100 countries. In addition, he has created several public art installations. Example of these public art installations are John F. Kennedy Airport (New York) and O2 Done (Berlin).

Britto views art as a field of positive change while artists are the agents of this positive change. He collaborates with over 250 charitable organizations which he donates time, arts and resources as well as serving as a benefactor. He also serves in several boards such the St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.

Rometo Britto Art

Through the popularity of his work, Rometo has been active in the production of his arts. The form of his art compared to other artists is of high quality. In our context, form has the meaning of how art items are viewed as a whole piece of visible items and the unity of these elements. During the artwork, the artist shifts the focus of his work to the interrelationship between art and audience as well as the form of relationship between the painter and the model.

There is a comparison of two windows of flowers from Britto and the other from Weinberg. He asserts that Britto’s metal sculpture flower was bright and colorful to be used for both indoors and outdoors exhibition.” like all his work, it is of intellectual content, going for easy emotional appeal, and relies on industrial perfection to achieve its attraction” (Betancournt 41).

This is clear evidence that the kind of art works that Brito produced were of high form, a result of creativity and design used. Britto was attractive just the way a new car is and the flower was happy and engaging what is considered as a standard art world treatment of subject.

Moreover, Britto’s flower represented the local environment. The brightness and colorfulness represented the bright and colorful nature. Looking at this flower could have changed ones perspective towards nature. Brito’s art form focused on bringing meaning that would help the viewer to be optimistic of what is happening in the world (Barbara 14).

In another sculptural piece of art called a mother’s love, he intended to bring meaning of how mothers should have great love to their siblings. It comprised of two elephants sculpture, that is, a mother and a child close together, an illustration that there was communication and love between them (Kirchmar 32).

In addition, another piece of his art but this time a serigraph called American revival that has one big heart with the United States of America flag colors surrounded by smaller hearts with different colors signified how the Americans should be united. His intention of using the heart was to symbolize love that should bind the people of America to their nation as well as the nation to its people (Rectanus 15).

Influence of Britto

According to his biography alongside the meaning of his artwork, Britto is an artist of high caliber. He has been an agent of positive change to the world through his actions. Having the pilferage to speak at the World Economic summit in Davos is an indication of a person who has initiated change to the world.

However, the collaborations with various charitable organizations are a sign of being a good role model. Britto has held countless schools and institutional talks, which justifies that his influence is great in the World since no institution or school would allow someone with negative influence to speak to the students (Wales 19).

Similarly, through his arts Britto has been able to pass great message of love, peace, unity, as well as enlightening the society on different aspects of nature and culture (Rectanus 53). He has produced sculpture with plants and their species, animals and people to pass important information to the people. For the animals, Britto has given the people an insight of how they should treat and love the animals (Ellwood 67).

Britto has been called upon to design various places in order to capture the attention or influence people to have a given attitude to those places. Britto was given the role to create new designs for Land Shark Stadium exterior gateways (Horrow and Tagliabue 53). When the stadium became popular, he turned it into a guest place.

The invitation by the president of Brazil at the beginning of the year 2011 in Rede Cegonha to participate in making a logo reached 61 million people including children and mothers. If his work had no influence, the president would not have invited him for the project (Betancourt 16).

Britto was known to maintain peace and resolve conflicts by international programs for negotiation as a benefactor. In nutshell, Britto can be said to be a person of high caliber, great influence as well as a mentor to people who their career aspiration is in arts. His attitude of having his own principles is a challenge to many who find the world as full of impossibilities.

Works Cited

Betancourt, Michael. Re-viewing Miami: A Collection of Essays, Criticism, & Art Reviews. Miami: Wildside Press, 2004. Print.

Biography. Romero Britto. n.d. Web.

Ellwood, Mark. The Rough Road to Miami. London: Rough Guides Ltd, 2002. Print.

Horrow, Rick and Tagliabue, Paul. Beyond the Scoreboard: An Insider’s Guide to the Business of Sport. USA: Morgan James Publishing, 2011. Print.

Kirchmer, Mathias. High Performance through Process Excellence: From Strategy to Operations. New York: Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg, 2009. Print.

Parker, Barbara. Suspicion of Malice. New York: E-Rights/E-Reads, Ltd. Publishers, 2000. Print.

Rectanus, mark. Culture Incorporated Museums, Artists, and Corporate Sponsorships. USA: University of Minnesota, 2002. Print.

Wales, Jimmy. Rometo Britto’s. USA: PS-Professional Services, 2008. Print.

In the concert attended, I was a casual listener because I never paid much attention to what was being played, because most of the music played was unfamiliar to me. Moreover, I had very little knowledge of the artists and songs being played, probably because symphony orchestra is not part of the mainstream music I listen. However, the pieces performed in the concerts were replicas of original pieces played by Arnold Schoenberg in 1909.

There were five pieces played: Vorgefühle, Vergangenes, Farben, Peripetie, and Das obligate Rezitativ (Schoenberg 12). The styles of the pieces performed varied with the tempo. Vorgefühle was performed in a speedy tempo; Vergangenes and Farben were performed in a moderate tempo; Peripetie was also performed in a very fast tempo, while Das obligate Rezitativ was performed with movements (Neighbour 45).

With regards to the instrumentation, there was an effort by the orchestra to stay as original as possible to Arnold Schoenberg’s 1909 piece, where there was a large orchestra cast (Rosen 47). In the instrumentation, there were percussions, woodwinds, brass and strings (Schoenberg 12).

With regards to the woodwinds, there was a piccolo involved; three flutes; three oboes; an English horn; Clarinet in D; three Clarinets (third doubling on Contrabass Clarinet in A); Bass Clarinet; three Bassoons and a Contrabassoon (Schoenberg 12). With regards to the percussions, there were Timpanis, Bass Drums, Crash cymbals, Suspended cymbals, Triangle, Tam-tam, Xylophone and the Celesta (Rahn 16). The brass constituted six Horns, three Trumpets, four Trombones, and a Tuba. With regards to the strings, there were Violins I, II, Violas, Violoncellos and Double Basses (Schoenberg 12).

Piece Reviews

Vorgefühle

With regards to Vorgefühle, Unity, and Variety, was exposed by the constant repetition of all the 12 notes in the piece, which were played on a revolving basis, thereby eliminating strong evidence of music variety (Bailey 131). This musical unity and variety affected the structure of the music to create a repetitive form of music.

The purpose of the Music was to create a receptive atmosphere among the audience, before the introduction of the other pieces. As mentioned earlier in this study, the tempo of the piece was fast, but the volume was moderate.

The rhythm was irregular to create an isorhythmic effect, but the melody was motivic to create a three-note ostinato (Schoenberg 12). Its harmony was panthenol and a little non-functional, but contrary to this observation, the form of the music was very soothing. As mentioned earlier in the study, the piece traces its roots to the musical period of the early 1900s.

Vergangenes

With regards to Vergangenes, unity was achieved through motivic development to develop a musical variety which fell within the same scope. The structure of the music was characteristic of a slow and gradual high-pitched musical form. The purpose of the piece was to increase the motivic element of the musical composition. This purpose was achieved through a moderate tempo and similarly, a moderate volume.

The rhythm was a pulse, and the melody motivic, but the harmony was non-functional. The musical piece had a “silk” form, which also has a strong inclination to martial arts (Schoenberg 12). As mentioned earlier in the study, the piece also traces its roots to the musical period of the early 1900s.

Farben

Farben’s musical unity was consistent creative orchestration, particularly in strings, brass, and this created a small window of musical variety because the variations in the musical piece were limited, due to the consistent orchestration (Newman 111).

The structure of the music was characterized by small use of musical instruments to create different forms of musical segments, and from this presentation; the purpose of the musical piece (to create the musical climax) was effectively achieved.

The tempo of the piece was however moderate, but the volume was high. The musical harmony was static harmony, and it gradually shifted on occasions, but the melody was disjunct, and it had motivic fragments which created a static motion rhythm (Payne 34). The musical form was a 12-bar form, but its historical origin was associated with the early 1900s (Stein 13).

Peripetie

Peripetie had a soloistic use of timbre as a characteristic of the piece’s song unity (Stuckenschmidt 52). There was no musical variety. The structure of the music resembled a polyphonic tone, and its purpose was to create a bridge to the last musical piece.

Its tempo was fast and its volume equally high. The musical piece had a non-pulse musical rhythm, and the melody was characterized by variations in octave displacements to create a secundal harmony. The musical form was characterized by intense thick sonorities which also traces its roots to the 1900s as the historical period of origin (Schoenberg 12).

Das obligate Rezitativ

Das obligate Rezitativ had an overall use of Klangfarben, which created a lot of musical variety, with regards to the contrast created through the ending piece (Thompson 471). The musical structure followed a thematic motivic development, and its purpose was to create an ending mood. The tempo of the music was fast, and movements accompanied it.

The volume was moderately high and its harmony pantonal or non-functional in some sense. Its melody was athematic, and its rhythm had a complex variation, to create an expressionist form of music. As mentioned earlier in the study, the piece traces its roots to the musical period of the early 1900s.

Overall, I enjoyed the concert because it was well organized and it gave me a feel of the authentic orchestral music played in the early 20^th century.

Appendix

Concert Seating Arrangement:

Concert program:

Ticket stub:

Works Cited

Bailey, Walter. Programmatic Elements in the Works of Schoenberg. Ann Arbor: UMI Research Press, 1984. Print.

Neighbour, Wallace. Schoenberg, Arnold: The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians. London: Macmillan, 2001. Print.

Newman, Ernest. Schonberg’s Five Orchestral Pieces, 1914. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1963. Print.

Payne, Anthony. The Five Orchestral Pieces. Chap. In Schoenberg. London: Oxford University Press, 1968. Print.

Rahn, John. Analysis Two: Schoenberg’s Five Pieces for Orchestra. New York: Longman, 1980. Print.

Rosen, Charles. Arnold Schoenberg. New York: The Viking Press, 1975. Print.

Schoenberg, Arnold. Style and Idea. Los Angeles: University of California Press, 1984. Print.

Stein, Deborah. Engaging Music: Essays in Music Analysis. New York: Oxford University Press, 2005. Print.

Stuckenschmidt, Harley. Translated by Edith Temple Roberts and Humphrey Searle. New York: Grove Press, Inc. Print.

Thompson, Kenneth. A Dictionary of Twentieth-Century Composers (1911-1971). London: Faber & Faber, 1973. Print.

Introduction

Art is defined as the result or procedure of deliberately organizing items often with representational significance in a manner that influences and has an effect on people’s senses, passions, and intellect (Munro, 2010 p. 486). Art is the use of talent and mind in the creation of visual objects, surroundings, or incidents that can be shared. In general, art is done with the intent of motivating thoughts and feelings (Rodin & Paul 1984). This paper will discuss eight types of art.

Discussion

Painting as a form of art involves the application of paint, color, or dye to a surface. Surfaces such as walls, canvas, timber, varnish, and paper are used as support for paintings. A specific example of painting art is the Mona Lisa. This was done by Leonardo da Vinci (Louvre, 2011). This example exemplifies the definition of the word art since it entails the creation of visual objects, surroundings, or incidents that can be shared

Sculptures are by tradition made by carving stone or timber or by sculpting clay and then shedding the product in bronze. Contemporary sculptors use the new technology and tools to come up with artworks. A specific example of sculpture art is “The Dying Gaul” which is a Roman mineral duplicate of a Hellenistic work of Capitoline museums (The Capitoline Museum, 2005). This example exemplifies the definition of the word art since it entails a deliberate organization of items often with representational significance in a manner that influences and has an effect on people’s senses, passions, and intellect.

Architecture entails the practical aspects of recognizing buildings including planning, estimating costs, and construction supervision as well as design. A specific example of architecture art is the Brazilian National Congress by the artist Oscar Niemeyer (About Architecture, 2011). This example exemplifies the definition of the word art because it is both educational and political.

Photography is a type of art that refers to photographs generated to accomplish the innovative dream of the artist. It is created to give an expression of the vision of the artist. A specific example of photography art is Yosemite and Yellow stone by Ansell Adams (The Christian monitor, 2010). This example exemplifies the definition of the word art due to its intent of motivating thoughts and feelings.

Printmaking is the making of works of art through printing, usually on paper. This process is able to produce copies of the same piece. A specific example of print making art is Mount Fuji, which was done by the artist Katsushika Hokusai (The British Museum, 2011). This example exemplifies the definition of the word art since it entails the process of producing prints with innovation.

Conceptual art refers to art where the notion is of more importance than the picture seen. It makes use of elements to propose deeper opinions and to trigger the viewer’s thoughts. A specific example of Conceptual art is known as Still and Chew by John Latham (Lisson Gallery, 2005). This example exemplifies the definition of the word art since it motivates the thoughts and feelings of the audience.

Installation art makes use of art tools to express specific messages. It is vital in identifying the spaces chosen for museums of modern art to be proficient to hold the great works composed of huge collages of synthetic and found entities. A specific example of art Installation piece is the Iron Curtain by Jeanne Claude (Ashville Art museum, 2009). This example exemplifies the definition of the word art since it involves the generation of artifacts that are theoretical in nature.

Performance art involves a concert presented to viewers in a traditional manner. It entails time, room, the actors’ body and an association between the actor and the viewers. A specific example of performance art is the Blue Man Group who uses robots and other machines in their performance (Eli White Museum and Workshop, 2011). This example exemplifies the definition of the word art since it involves the use of talent and mind in the creation of incidents that can be shared.

References

About Architecture. (2011). Brazilian National Congress. Web.

Ashville Art museum. (2009). Christo and Jeanne-Claude Poster Installation. Web.

Eli White Museum and Workshop. (2011). Blue Man Group. Web.

Lisson Gallery. (2005). John Latham. Web.

Louvre. (2011). Mona Lisa Painting. Web.

Munro, T. (2010). The arts and their interrelations. Cleveland: Press of Western Reserve University.

Rodin, A., & Paul G. (1984). Art. New York: University of California Press.

The British Museum. (2011). Katsushika Hokusai, Dragon ascending Mount Fuji from ‘One Hundred Views of Mount Fuji’ (Fugaku hyakkei), a woodblock print. Web.

The Capitoline Museum. (2005). Sculpture. The Dying Gaul (3rd century B.C.), The Capitoline Museum, Rome. Web.

The Christian monitor. (2010). Ansel Adams Yosemite photo fetches $722K in record-setting auction. Web.

Introduction

Since the very humble beginnings of human civilization man has had ways of expressing his feelings and emotions about others, his society, environments, and significant historical events like battles with other communities or immigration episodes as well as his normal and bizarre imaginations.

These ways range from music, literary works to creative works of art like paintings. For instance, during Stone Age period man did Rock Art whereby he painted on the walls of his cave dwellings the animals he hunted and tools that he was making among other thrilling experiences in his life and lives of his ancestors as he understood it from those who narrated it to him.

Art has been a major component of all human civilizations world over and has evolved alongside other aspects of our cultures to an extent that today the most talented creative artists like painters and musicians are celebrated individuals who hold esteemed social status envied by many. The purpose of this task is to discuss three works of art identified during my visit to the National Gallery of Art.

Themes in Works of Art

Every human action is underpinned by a certain motive. In other words, whatever man engages in is fundamentally a means of expressing his thoughts, interests and aspirations. Arguably then, man’s historical and present tangible achievements is a manifestation of his thoughts and aspirations. Works of art is a perfect means through which man expresses his feelings, ideas and perceptions about every aspect of his life.

This fact explains why documented and well preserved works of art are reliable sources of information for historians and other scholars like anthropologists and artists seeking to understand certain aspects of peoples’ culture in the past. In a nut shell, all works of art are thematic in the sense that they have meaning which a keen observer can decipher as illustrated in the following works of art discussed in this task.

The Battle of La Hogue (1778)

Benjamin West painting titled The Battle of La Hogue is a classic piece of creativity. It was painted in 1778. The Battle of La Hogue is a historical painting. This painting is a depiction of the feud that ensued when Louis XIV of France attempted d to restore his fellow Catholic James II to the throne of England.

After nine years Benjamin West used his artistic prowess to give a picture of the patriotic scene that has been dismissed by critics as a mere propaganda. Thematically, this painting represents turbulent political and power happenings in Western European countries as well as the role that religion was playing in politics.

Mortlake Terrace (1827)

Mortlake Terrace painting is an 1827 art work by Joseph Mallord William Turner. Mortlake Terrace painting is an environmental portrait. This painting portrays Mortlake Terrace which was situated next to the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew.

It is a perfect representation of British topography of the early 1880s.Thematically, this piece is a show of the artist feeling and perception of the changing British landscapes.

The Death of the Earl of Chatham (1779)

The Death of the Earl of Chatham was done by the Boston-based portraitist John Singleton Copley in 1779.This painting is a representation of the tragic death of William Pitt, the 1^st Earl of Chatham on April 1778.In the middle of his speech during a discussion about colonial radicals, Pitt suffered from stroke and met his death one month later.

His death meant a lot because he was one of the leading British ambassadorial moderates during the important American War of independence. Thematically, it is a representation of politics of those time and those who were driving the political agendas of the day.

Conclusion

Art is an important component of our culture which offers talented individuals a perfect means through which to manifest our feelings and emotions about all aspects of our life. It offers people an opportunity for people to portray their thoughts and aspirations as well as those of the early members of the society.

It captures perfectly our experiences and perceptions regarding everything that we encounter in our day to day activities Lazzari and Schlesier (2006).

Works Cited

Lazzari, Margaret and Schlesier, Dona. Exploring art: a global, thematic approach. Belmont, CA: Thomson, 2006. Print.

The Original Art Show enables viewers to look at the best illustrations of children’s book. This paper is aimed at discussing some of the works showcased at this exhibition. They illustrate a variety of techniques used by modern artists. Overall, this exhibition may be visited by people who take interest in art or design. Moreover, such cultural events can be considered by parents who want to give their children new books.

First of all, I would like to speak about the book If You Lived Here: Houses of the World, illustrated by Giles Laroche. This book helps children to look at houses that represent different countries such as Italy, China, Greece, England, Chile and so forth^[1].

Giles Laroche uses bas-relief collages in order to help readers to visualize various types of buildings. The paper-cut illustrations created by the author can greatly appeal to readers who age ranges between 8 and 12. Overall, this book can inspire children learn more about other countries or cultures. This is why it can be considered by parents.

Furthermore, one can mention the book Now I Am Big! written by Stephen Krensky and illustrated by Sara Gillingham. It should be noted that Sara Gillingham uses almost pure geometric forms^[2] and the authors encourage children to explore the world. The artistic simplicity of Sara Gillingham can certainly fascinate readers of pre-school age. On the whole, this book can be of some interest to parents with toddlers.

Another exhibit that greatly appeals to me is the book Otter and Odder: A Love Story by James Howe and Chris Raschka. This book tells the story of love between an otter and a fish. The authors let children understand what it means to love a person who may be different in some way. Moreover, Chris Raschka succeeds in creating penciled images that emulate children’s drawing techniques ^[3].

There is another work that can attract the attention of people who are interested in art or design. In particular, one can speak about the book The Christmas Quiet Book written by Deborah Underwood and illustrated by Renata Liwska. This book can be particularly suitable for pre-school children.

Renata Liwska creates soft-colored illustrations of bunnies, bears, deer, and other animals associated with Christmas^[4]. It seems that this work can be distinguished among many other Christmas books. One of its most distinctive traits is a very rich palette.

Finally, I would like to speak about the debut book Red Knit Cap Girl written and illustrated by Naoko Stoop. It gives a visual story of a girl who lives with animals in some enchanted forest. It should be noted that Naoko Stoop uses a very unusual medium, in particular, pencil and acrylic paintings on plywood^[5].

This work illustrates that an artist should combine powerful images with unusual media. One can argue that Naoko Stoop was able to cope with this task. It seems that this book can of great interest to children of pre-school age, especially girls.

On the whole, this exhibition has given me deep insights into the techniques used by illustrators of children’s book. These artists have to ensure the clarity of their pictures, but at the same time they have to strive for originality. The Original Art Show can be visited by parents, artists, or designers.

Bibliography

Howe, James, and Chris Raschka. Otter and Odder: A Love Story. London: Candlewick, 2012.

Krensky, Stephen, and Sara Gillingham. Now I Am Big! Washington: Abrams Appleseed, 2012.

Laroche, Giles. If You Lived Here: Houses of the World. New York: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, 2011.

Stoop, Naoko. Red Knit Cap Girl. New York: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2012.

Underwood, Debohar, and Renata Liwska. The Christmas Quiet Book. New York: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, 2012.

Footnotes

1. Giles, Laroche,. If You Lived Here: Houses of the World. (New York: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, 2011), 4.
2. Stephen Krensky and Sara Gillingham. Now I Am Big! (Washington: Abrams Appleseed, 2012), 1
3. James Howe and Chris Raschka. Otter and Odder: A Love Story. (London: Candlewick, 2012), 2
4. Debohar Underwood and Renata Liwska. The Christmas Quiet Book. (New York: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, 2012), 1
5. Naoko, Stoop. Red Knit Cap Girl. (New York: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2012), 1.

The choice of visual elements is dependent upon the mood of an artist and can play an important role in expressing certain ideas in an artwork. The combination of linear and curved lines, mainly monochromatic red color and asymmetry of the composition are the visual elements and principles of design which allow an artist to represent the chaos and beauty of the universe in the abstract artwork Beautiful Catastrophe.

Thick horizontal, vertical and angled linear lines represent the basis of the universe which remains unchanged regardless of the catastrophe. The vertical and horizontal lines form a frame for the picture, producing an impression that the space of the artwork is limited.

It is notable that the angled lines of the same width are included into the composition to represent the inner structure of the universe. The linear lines are central to the composition of the artwork and reveal the ideas of eternal life and universal truths.

These straight lines are intersected by the curved ones which represent the chaos of the catastrophe and produce a dynamic effect. Even though the curved lines take much space of the picture and collide with the straight ones, the curved visual elements do not violate the unity of the basis of the universe represented with the straight elements.

Small dots show the results of destruction as small particles separated from the basis of the universe which can be later added to any of the elements after the destructive processes are over. Therefore, the linear lines show the beauty and eternity of the universe which remains unchanged notwithstanding the curved lines representing the chaos and dynamics.

The monochromatic red color reveals the idea that static and dynamic elements of the universe are made of the same materials and can be regarded as integral parts of the whole. Red color is used for the major elements of the picture, and only its value is changed. The symbolical meaning of red is rather controversial. Red is the hottest among all warm colors and it symbolical interpretation can vary from anger and hatred to love and happiness.

Symbolizing these seemingly conflicting emotions, red color is the most appropriate choice for revealing the inner dynamics and processes taking place on different levels of the universe. Therefore, changing the intensity of red color for different visual elements, the artist takes advantage of a wide range of its possible interpretations. The red color used for the straight lines symbolizes happiness, whereas the tints used for the curved lines are somewhat colder and represent the opposite meaning of this hue.

The asymmetry of the composition as the principle of design used by the author of Beautiful Catastrophe represents the dynamics of the catastrophe. Therefore, this artwork reveals the idea that there is nothing ideal in this world, and there is no place for symmetry in this picture.

However, even regardless of its asymmetry, the picture is amazingly beautiful. Capturing the moment of the catastrophe, the artist tries to show that even destructive processes can be worthy of admiration. Combining seemingly conflicting concepts of beauty and catastrophe in this abstract artwork, the artist reveals the philosophical questions of the beauty of life, eternity of the universe and unpredictability of its laws.

The visual elements of lines, monochromatic red color and asymmetry of the composition as the central design principle of Beautiful Catastrophe enabled the artist to reveal important philosophical questions in the abstract artwork offering a wide range of possible interpretations.

Starting out: The Story Begins

One of the most complicated and at the same time the most attractive characters in the story, Buddy French faces intense conflict within him, which makes him even more peculiar type to analyze. A local policeman, a man who is supposed to fight crime is usually taken for granted by most people, and is often considered a justice machine with no feelings or doubts.

However, in contrast to the widespread idea of a real policeman, Buddy French has to deal with a number of issues in the emotional sphere, like conflicting with his wife and dealing with the sudden surge of passion towards his ex-classmate Sandra.

Moreover, it is obvious that the issue of Buddy’s investigation, namely, gay sex and drugs problems, seems to create the environment in which Buddy feels rather uncomfortable, which his talk with Mackenzie (McIvor 65-66) reveals. Peaking to the hilt, the above-mentioned controversies in Buddy’s life make him undertake the final step to resolve the problems he faces. It is obvious that all Buddy wants is to live peacefully and make the world a safer and better place:

What Lies on the Surface

There is no doubt that Buddy is quite a charismatic character. “Handsome and troubled” (McIvor 4), he is much like a romantic Prince Charmin. However, it must be admitted that the movie director has done everything possible not to turn Buddy into another boring tragic hero.

Adding a peculiar trait of his character or feature of his appearance, the movie softens the roughness Buddy’s character presupposes. For instance, the policeman “chews his nails on the porch” (McIvor 7) or deliberately picks a picture as if to “hide” behind it when having an important conversation with Sandra (McIvor 8).

The Conflict within: Looking for a Shelter

It is evident that Buddy needs some rest from the relationships that trouble him, yet he cannot find the shelter where he can forget about the painful conflict within him. It is essential that Buddy is completely at loss when facing his problematic love affair – as a decisive policeman and a man of strong will, he thinks that he is supposed to solve the complexities at once, yet he fails to cut the Gordian knot, which makes him even more uncertain about his will and power and drives him to even stronger conflict within.

Holding to the life of the ordinary as if it were a life buoy, he looks the most awkward and pathetic way: “Buddy stands on the porch, still holding the armchair. He watches Carol drive off” (McIvor 12).

At this point of utter despair, Buddy looks as close to his antagonist, Dan Jarvis, as he has never had before. Ironically, the only character that must be a complete contrast to Buddy French, the man representing sexual minority and, thus, a person who is supposed to be Buddy’s opponent in the movie, is quite close to him. Both Buddy and his antagonist have quite similar emotional complexities, which makes Buddy’s character ever more complex.

The Climax and the Return Back

Culminating in the moment when Buddy French has to choose whether he wants to stay with his wife Carol or reconcile with Sandra, Buddy’s problem suddenly dissolves, and he lets the feelings go. The ease which Buddy shakes off the past is truly incredible: “Let’s say it was a part of another life,” (McIvor 83) he says to his ex-wife, takes Sandra by the hand and “They walk away from the station together, not touching, but side by side” (McIvor 84). The emotional strain, the painful menace that was ruining his life, leaves him, and Buddy is ready to start all over again. Life goes on in Wilby Wonderful.

Works Cited

McIvor, Daniel. “Wilby Wonderful.” Bridgewater, NS: Palpable Productions, n.d. PDF file.

The large kneeling statue of Hatshepsut

The large kneeling statue of Hatshepsut is a Granite model of the goddess Hatshepsut. Hatsehpsut was the goddess of justice and order which is represented by the balancing weights on each of her hands. There is a kilt on her head which was mainly worn by male pharaohs. Hatshepsut was the first Egyptian female pharaoh, so in order to give it a solid presence the creators of the statue put a beard on it, just like the one that is on all statues of male pharaohs.

A critical look at the statue’s face reveals a lack of any emotions. The majestic design of the statue is typical of artworks of the time which depicted the subject candidates as powerful individuals. The statue by its sheer size allows one to appreciate the power and greatness that was associated with the pharaoh.

Finesse of the statue even in its current run-down state can still be appreciated by means of the committed craftsmanship that was applied into the piece. The piece matches my standards of beauty because it is a combination of both realistic and surrealistic ideas. Some elements, for instance, the beard, bear a hidden message making the statue both an aesthetically-appealing and educative piece.

Terracotta hydria (water jar)

The Terracotta hydria is a black water jar embellished with an image of the prince Triptolemos as he delivers wheat to mankind on his winged chariot.

The prince had been reputed to have received agricultural secrets from the goddess and the piece is one of numerous that depicted the youth travelling around Greece spreading his knowledge. The container presents some form of artistic inspiration in its design.

However, the golden painting makes it even more interesting to look at the art. The artist who painted the image of the prince on the pot intended to present it vividly to the target audience and he clearly presented it in his work.

The winged chariot is a symbolic indicator of how effective the prince was in spreading his agricultural knowledge, while the huge ears of wheat on his hands represent the big harvests made. Like any great art piece, the painting leaves one with unanswered questions allowing him/her to expand his imagination.

For instance, I cannot understand why the prince would dress so elegantly on the painting but would have no shoes on his feet. I also would like to know how he controlled the chariot because there are no apparent control levers.

The terracotta Kylix: siana cup (drinking cup)

The Terracotta Kylix: siana cup is a drinking cup with an inscription of a mythological narrative depicting Achilles chasing a man riding a horse while pulling another (horse) on the side.

Running on the side of the horsemen is a hare and a bird, strategically put there to emphasize the speed at which Achilles was running. The artwork blends well with the sculptural techniques of the ancient Greece, which mainly dwelled on mythical heroes, who dedicated their time to protecting the kingdom. The cup would have been like any other ceramic cup had the painting not been impressed on it.

The paintwork makes it interesting to look at and also provides a chance for individuals to learn something from ancient Greece. Because of the seemingly long amount of time taken to emboss the image on the cup, it is almost obvious that very few of the kind were made. This is among the items that would only be affordable to a select class had it been created in modern days.

The marble statue of a Kouros (youth)

The statue of a Kouros (male youth), depicts a naked boy striding forward with hands dropped on the sides. In ancient Greece, such sculptures were used to mark graves. The stride has been put there to give the sculpture balance, which would not have been the case had the character been presented standing straight. This fits well with the other sculptures of the time, which unlike those from Egypt, were completely life-like.

In all the pieces that have been analyzed in this exercise, the marble statue of a Kouros wins my vote for both perfection and creativity because the sculptor(s) who worked on the Kouros placed emphasis on finesse in order to end up with a piece that anyone could stop and take time to study. However, unlike pieces such as the kneeling statue of Hatshepsut, the Kouros does not appear to have any representational purpose and was most likely used for decorative purposes.

Having been carved from one block of granite, the compactness of the piece tells that the sculptors were very keen on accuracy. However, given a choice, I would not prefer to have this piece in my house since with time, nudity has come to be given some form of sanctity and I am sure my parents and other people of their generation would not appreciate it as art were they to find it in my house.

The Novel and the Best Film Version

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is one of the most famous and most loved fantasy novels for children all over the world. The book reveals the magnificent and fabulous world of magic creatures struggling for their future. There have been various screen adaptations of the famous novel.

However, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005) is one of the most majestic versions. It is possible to state that it portrays the world described by C.S. Lewis. The filmmakers managed to reveal the specific atmosphere of the brilliant world.

Admittedly, there are some discrepancies as there can hardly be a film version that totally coincides with its literary ‘ancestor’. Nonetheless, it is necessary to admit that the film is a high-quality version that focuses on the same ideas and highlights the major points.

However, it is also necessary to note that the film has certain downsides. The novel leaves a lot of space for children’s imagination. Thus, the author does not highlight some events giving children the opportunity to co-create the story. As far as the film version is concerned, the filmmakers left little space for children to imagine or co-create. At least some people think so. Therefore, some may claim that the film leaves no place for imagination.

Though, it is also important to pay attention to another point. The film reveals the story in detail, but it excites children’s imagination and encourages them to create their own stories. So, should children read the book or rather watch the film? It is important to find out whether the film ‘kills’ children’s creativity or, vice versa, inspires them to use their imagination.

Particular Images Help Children to Create Their Worlds

Admittedly, children love books with pictures. They want to see images which help them to recreate the story in their heads. Some authors provide detailed descriptions of the characters. However, Lewis gives no particular description of the major characters only noting that Lucy “was the youngest” and Edmund “was the next youngest” (3-4). The reader needs to picture the main characters somehow. Apparently, the author’s description is not enough.

When it comes to the film, the viewers see the characters and the magic world. Of course, some may claim that children are forced to see the world in the way the filmmakers see it. Nonetheless, after watching the films, the viewers can still find lots of ways to discover new places in Narnia, places which are not revealed in the film.

Besides, the film cannot possibly cover all the events highlighted in the book. Therefore, children can use some images (modified by their own imagination) to picture events they read about. Thus, the film is a kind of visual aids which can be used while (or rather before) reading the book by Lewis.

Things Lewis Left Uncovered

Some of the most unforgettable events in the book as well as the film are battles. Lewis depicted a lot of battles in detail. Perhaps, this is one of the reasons why the book has become so successful. However, the author also left many things aside. For instance, the writer portrays the final battle when Aslan joins Peter’s army (Lewis 178).

The writer only hints that Peter’s army was in a very difficult and dangerous position. The rest is left to the reader’s imagination. The reader is free to picture the beginning of the battle which was tragic, glorious, breathtaking, etc.

However, the film reveals all the details of the battle. The entire battle was recreated by the filmmakers (The Chronicles of Narnia). It is a really majestic scene which is inspired by the novel itself. However, some may claim that the detailed depiction of the battle deprives the readers of possibility to recreate it using their imagination.

Nonetheless, these claims are rather wrongful. The film provides the viewer with a specific sketch to be used while reading the book, or any other fantasy book. Children can modify the battle scene provided by the filmmakers to create their own battlefields.

Hints or Particular Information

It may also seem that the filmmakers changed the plot slightly when it comes to their life in the Professor’s house. The author did not mention that professor knew about the magic world, whereas in the film it is obvious that the professor was there at least once.

Some may say that the filmmakers leave no room for any kind of intrigue. Nonetheless, it is clear that the filmmakers encourage the viewers to imagine the world the professor had discovered many years before the four children found it. The viewer is left to imagine the professor’s adventures in the beautiful magic world.

Conclusion

To sum up, it is possible to state that the film and the book create a majestic world that inspires children to travel across their own imaginary kingdoms.

Though, the book provides more details and seemingly deprives children from the opportunity to use their imagination, it is obvious that the book encourages children’s desire to discover new worlds and picture numerous uncovered adventures. The 2005 film is one of the best adaptations of the book as it is a bright illustration of the novel that has made children travel their own magic worlds.

Works Cited

Lewis, Clive Staples. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, New York, NY: HarperCollins, 2000. Print.

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe. Ex. Prod. Andrew Adamson and David Minkowski. Burbank, CA: Buena Vista Home Entertainment / Disney. 2005. DVD.