1. Explain why you selected each of the TWO videos you choose from the
selection listed above.
I selected the Dada and Surrealism video because I was intrigued
by these movements while reading about them in our textbook. I found it interesting that both were
off-the-beaten-path and looked at the world in extremely unique, controversial,
and/or even silly ways. I also chose the
watch the Sunday on La Grande Jatte video.
I chose to watch this video because I grew up with a copy/print of this
picture in my basement as a child, and was interested in learning more about
it.
2. For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned.
Dada, the anti-everything art movement, surprised society and took
it by storm. Each artwork was made with
some sort of political message or idea of protest behind it. For example, Dadaist Hannah Hoch’s chaotic Cut with the Kitchen Knife tells a history of parts of the
War (WWI). Political satirist and artist
George Grosz moved away from the Dadaist movement, but still created rebellious
works. His works took all of the life
out of a scene, and focused on how life had become much more mechanical, by
creating machine-like humans and settings.
Out of the Dada movement came a new movement called Surrealism. John Miro’s beliefs about Surrealism included
the idea that pictures are quite different from the world itself, and oppose
this world with patterns organized in its own terms. Pictures should go beyond recording to
questioning or criticism.
A Sunday on La Grande Jatte was created with thousands of meticulous,
tiny dots of color. Many people say that
it doesn’t make sense proportionally, ideally, spatially, etc. We still have no idea what this work is
exactly about today…so why do people love it so? Apparently, the Grande Jatte island was full
of prostitutes in real life during the time of the painting, and one of the
women in this painting is cast as a prostitute because she is fishing, which is
symbolic of sinning. The most
interesting part of the piece for most people is the monkey on the leash. However, this too was a symbolism of
prostitution during the time. It is
intriguing to know that the monkey was not added until a later time, after the
painting was finished, and one wonders whether this was because of its
connotation. Seurat studied color theory
intensely while creating this masterpiece.
He used his knowledge of colors to develop the style of Pointillism,
where he’d place small dots of varying colors side by side so they would vibrate
in the eye and create an intense illuminocity.
Along with this theory, we find a young girl in the center of the
painting who is dressed in stark white, and is the only figure in the painting
without dots and who is looking straight at the viewer. Today, La Grande Jatte is very important and
often used in pop culture.
3. How do the videos relate to the readings in the text?
The Dada and Surrealism video was fairly close to the text in
describing why the movements developed and what they consisted of. However, the video dug a little deeper than
the readings and surveyed particular artists in depth. The same occurred with La Grande Jatte. La Grand Jatte was discussed in the text, but
the video explored every aspect of the work and its creator. Instead of just an overview, the video answered
any question you could have about this particular painting, and taught the
viewer about history as well as art.
4. What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to
understanding of the readings and art concepts?
I enjoy watching these films for class because I find that the
material I learn from the videos comes up in other conversations. It gives college students something to think
and talk about that is different from the norm.
I also enjoy how with many of these videos, I also get to learn what was
happening in history during the times that specific works were created, that
affected the artist’s point of view and message. These videos don’t just add depth and
understanding to the text and art concepts, but to knowledge of life in
general.
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