Final

1. What is Art? (Are there criteria? It is helpful to start by saying what art is not.)

Then: The definition of art is in the eye of the beholder.
Art to me is beauty. A pleasant sight to the eye or sound to the ear.
Classical music, a chair in the shape of a hand, a wall with paint seemingly just thrown onto it. All to me are beautiful. Paintings by Salvador Dali just make my heart melt. They are classic in their beauty because they are different. They aren't just pictures of someones face or paintings of fruit. To me, he is the genius behind surrealism.
Classical music is beautiful because it relaxes the mind and the body. The way that 300 instruments come together to create something so wonderful is purely amazing to me. I don't have any favorite composers because I can't decide who I love more.

My definition of art may have went off subject, but I hope that the idea I am reaching for is understood. I can only give my definition by explaining how it makes me feel.

Now: I still feel the same now as I did then.

2. What is Beauty?

Then: Beauty is colors and objects coming together in harmony to create a relaxing sense to the eye and mind. Everyone gets so caught up in the media's definition of beauty that we lose sight of what is truly beautiful to us as individuals. Beauty is a strong word to use now-a-days. "Ugly" is an equally strong word. A person can't rightfully call something "ugly" until they have looked at it from every angle. The media has taught us to only look at things from the outside and with that today's society has lost the desire to learn more about the person, work of art, or anything that they are about to judge.

Now: I truly still feel the same about this question. There are still things that are considered "ugly" but are incredibly beautiful to others.

3. Should art be censored?

Then: The internet, movies, lyrics... there is all types of media that goes uncensored so why should art be? Besides being able to move around, what is the difference between a nude sculpture and a nude woman or man on tv? What about a painting depicting infidelity, drug use, or gang wars? It gets "rapped" about daily.

Censorship is a way to deny the existence of nudity, violence, etc.

What is the point in censoring any type of media? People will find what they are looking for some how, why not make it less of a hassle?

Now: I still do not believe that any type of media should be censored. Some people may say that children would be affected if it wasn't, but your child is going to find out sometime. It may not be when you want them to find out, but they will. So, no, there shouldn't be censorship in the media.

4. Does it help or hinder your perspective on art to know about the artist’s personal life?

Then: I don't think that knowing a lot about the artist biases your opinion, but I prefer to know life aspects about the artist. I can typically get a sense of what the artist was thinking or how they were feeling at the time of the work and that kind of helps me relate. (Also, a little tidbit about me, I love to dissect things, anything, psychologically. If knowing the artist better helps me to do that, excellent!!!) But, like I said, I don't think knowing the whole life inside and out about the artist biases an opinion. You should be able to review any work based on your own judgment, not that of the artist.

Now: I still prefer to know somethings about the artists life. I've found out that in a small way, that it still kinda makes you decide how to write the review.

5. In your educated opinion, what is the most important function of art?

I think that the most important function of art is to open the hearts and minds of others to the various cultural differences there are in the world. A small sculpted vase or cup can tell alot about a person or the place that it came from.

Female Archetypes

Wind
Julia Roberts plays a great character in "Erin Brockovich." She stands up for others and what she believes in.





Earth
For this element, I chose Julia Roberts' character in "Mona Lisa Smile." She teaches her students how to break free of conventional ways. To not give into how society portrayed women as only "housewives."



Water
This element brought to mind the character played by Mandy Moore in "A Walk To Remember." She's compassionate, strong-willed, and determined although she is sick.




Fire
Uma Thurman done this element well in "My Super Ex-Girlfriend." She used her 'super' powers to regain control over the man she loved, but in the end, found that she didn't really love him at all that she was just taking her revenge from the past out on him.

Music Review

Seems like it was yesterday when I saw your face
You told me how proud you were, but I walked away
If only I knew what I know today
Ooh, ooh

I would hold you in my arms
I would take the pain away

Thank you for all you've done
Forgive all your mistakes
There's nothing I wouldn't do
To hear your voice again
Sometimes I wanna call you
But I know you won't be there

Ohh I'm sorry for blaming you
For everything I just couldn't do
And I've hurt myself by hurting you

Some days I feel broke inside but I won't admit
Sometimes I just wanna hide 'cause it's you I miss
And it's so hard to say goodbye
When it comes to this, oooh

Would you tell me I was wrong?
Would you help me understand?
Are you looking down upon me?
Are you proud of who I am?

There's nothing I wouldn't do
To have just one more chance
To look into your eyes
And see you looking back

Ohh I'm sorry for blaming you
For everything I just couldn't do
And I've hurt myself, ohh

If I had just one more day
I would tell you how much that I've missed you
Since you've been away
Ooh, it's dangerous
It's so out of line
To try and turn back time

I'm sorry for blaming you
For everything I just couldn't do
And I've hurt myself by hurting you

This song made me rethink my relationship with my grandfather. Since I was 2 years old, he has been my only father figure. One evening back in January I got a call saying that he was at PVH on life support with about a 2% chance of recovery. As usual, to keep myself from thinking the worst, I turned on the radio hoping that it would drown out all pessimism.

When this song first came on, I wanted to turn it because it was a ballad and I didn't really want to hear it, but it grabbed me and pulled me in. Like every "father/daughter" relationship, it has it's ups and downs. We fought like crazy all the time when I was still living at home. I wanted to go out, he would say no. You know, the usual arguments.

"There's nothing I wouldn't do
to have just one more chance
to look into your eyes
and see you looking back"

This verse came to mind when I was allowed to go in to CCU and see him. I just wanted to say how sorry I was for everything whether it be mine or his fault. For the small arguements over nothing, the huge ones where afterwards we didn't talk for days.

Christina Aguilera does an excellent job of pulling people in with this ballad. It's heart felt, very emotional, and she sings it in a way that makes you feel that she can relate to it herself.

My "dad" was on life support for a week and came off of it successfully. Although he has been in and out of the hospital for a few days here and there, he's doing great. And I hope that it stays that way.

***Every story deserves a happy ending***

My Photoshop Creativity Spot

I love photoshopping my pictures. To make them look strange, cute, or whatever kind of mood I am in. This one if of me and my fiance, Adam. It's a cutesy type of photo. Hope you think so too.


I love black & white photos. My camera has an option to take them in black and white, but I prefer to just take them in color and edit them myself so I can get the levels I like. Its also very classy!!!




***This blog will be updated often. Its my small window to be creative. View it, comment on it - good or bad... whatever you want to do.

Movie Review

MOVIE REVIEW

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
Directed By: Chris Columbus
Written By: J.K. Rowling & Steven Cloves
Release Date: Nov. 16th, 2001 by Warner Bros.
Genre: Fantasy, Adventure
Runtime: 2 hours & 37 minutes
Rated: PG


The movie begins with Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall speaking about the death of Harry’s parents. They wonder what to do with baby Harry. The only family that he knew has perished and now he is virtually an orphan. Hagrid brings baby Harry to the Professors and they decide that he should be left with the only family that he has left his mother’s sister, Petunia Dursley, her husband Vernon, and their portly son, Dudley. They all say goodbye and good luck to the baby boy knowing that when he grows up, his life will take a dramatic change.

*Fast forward 11 years*

On Harry’s 11th birthday, he doesn’t look forward to anything in terms of excitement or gifts from the Dursleys. The Dursleys are Harry’s unpleasant relatives who took him in after his parents’ tragic death. They force him to sleep in the cupboard under the stairs, clean everything, wear hand-me-downs from their very overweight son, Dudley, and make him miserable every waking moment.
This year, Harry’s birthday is different. A strange letter addressed to Harry arrives, accompanied by an owl. Both surprised and curious by the delivery, Harry proceeds to open it only to have it snatched it away and ripped apart by his Uncle Vernon. The next day, another letter and owl arrive, only to be shredded by the Dursleys. Everyday more and more letters and owls continue turning up on Harry’s doorstep until the Dursleys decide they can no longer ignore the contents of the letters, flee to a remote hut where they’re sure they won’t be discovered.
Their plan gets blown out of the water when an enormous man crashes into the hut, blowing the door off the hinges and destroying everything within the small house. Hagrid is the man’s name. He is furious with the family for keeping the letters from Harry. The letters were supposed to let Harry know that he was to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Harry is confused by all of this. He has a giant in his living room telling him that he is a wizard and that his parents were a witch and wizard. All of this information comes as a relief though because it explains how strange things have happened over the years.
Hagrid continues by explaining that Harry’s parents didn’t die in a car crash like his relatives had told him and that they were really murdered by Voldemort, an evil wizard who caused the unique lightning scar on Harry’s forehead.
Wanting to rid himself of the Dursleys, sleeping under the cupboard, and hand-me-downs he immediately accepts Hagrid’s offer to go to the Wizarding School. He catches the Hogwarts express at the oddly numbered platform 9 ¾ and his journey begins.
Aboard the train packed with returning students and nervous first years, Harry finds companionship in fellow first years Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley. With these friends by his side, Harry begins his adventure at Hogwarts. There he discovers his extraordinary talents and finds comfort and acceptance in his new home and family.


Harry's Journey:
Harry Potter is the main character/hero in this film. He is introduced in the "muggle" or non-magical people world. He receives his call to adventure by Hagrid, one of his mentors. He does not refuse this call nor does he hesitate. He crosses into the special world via the Hogwarts Express where his journey begins. He encounters his tests in trying to gain acceptance by his peers and mentors. His allies are his closest friends Hagrid, Hermione, and Ron. He has numerous enemies, but the main enemy he will face constantly throughout his life is Lord Voldemort,the one who is responsible for the death of his parents and the scar on his forehead. Along his journey in this particular movie, Voldemort is partially in disquise as Professor Quirrell. At first, Harry doesn't know this and throughout the movie accuses another professor of trying to cause him harm when he is really trying to protect him. Harry and his friends find out about a secret stone that is used to make the Elixir of Life. This elixir can revive an almost expended life or sustain life for long periods of time. They realize that the stone is hidden in the school and set out to find it. Along the way they endure various tasks that each of them specialize in. They finally make it to the end and only Harry can enter. Harry soon discovers who is after the stone, Lord Voldemort. He has been sharing a body with Professor Quirrell, who has been the one endangering Harry's life throughout the year. After a long arguement and near death experience, Harry ends up with the stone in his pocket. He wakes up in the medical wing of the school where Headmaster Dumbledore explains alot of the mysterious events that took place. He informs Harry that the stone has been destroyed and that unfortunately Harry must return to the "muggle" world during the summer.

Comments:
I think that this movie follows the Twelve Steps really well. It has a great storyline and great characters. Each of the steps can be easily identified and also the Seven Archetypes can be as well.

Vocabulary Game

Art Vocabulary (For Fine Arts Class) Finding similarities and drawing connections Study of the nature of beauty Pictorial materials to illustrate a subject Belief in one God Departing from representational accuracy Sculpture is this type of art Belief in human character and achievements Combines tradtional and unconventional This Fun Quiz created by Angela at BlogQuiz.Net

Car Videos at Car-Videos.Biz

Note: If this doesn't work right for some reason, leave a comment!!!

Create a Work of Art

Materials:
8.5 x 11 sheet of blank paper
Crayola markers & Colored Pencils
#2 Bic Mechanical Pencil

This drawing reflects the up and down side of me. The colorful background made me feel more cheerful since I was incredibly sick. Okay, heres how the mini pictures came about: The "half of a face" picture came by accident. I was trying to draw a self portrait of a picture that I had in my bag and after it was finished, I didn't like it. So, I proceeded to erase it and saw that half of it actually looked good, so I kept it. And, it actually ended up reflecting how I felt. Having pneumonia for a week, pushing the start of 2, makes a person feel drained and only half "in-tune" with the world. So, I'm really glad that it actually came out that way. The "super star" was supposed to be more than it actually is. I meant to draw a shower head with water falling over everything so that it would be "I'm a super star in the shower", because I sing in there and its a ruckus. The little guy in the middle is one of my favorite cartoon characters. (One of the only ones I can actually draw) His name is Gir and he's on the cartoon Invader Zim on Cartoon Network. I was watching this cartoon while I was laying in bed, so I thought he'd be cute to put in the picture. Then of course, there's my name. The Wong-Baker Faces pain rating chart (the one you see in your doctors office) made me think of the next little picture. I was looking at it and was trying to figure out which numbers would be depressed and could decide between 7-8 and 9-10 so, I drew this little guy on a sticky note and put it on the chart in the middle of the numbers. The nurses thought it was cute. I was feeling a little depressed because there for a day or two, I wasn't getting any better. The number 13 with the bomb is my favorite of Adam's 8 tattoos. It's on the inside of his right leg. I couldn't make it exact, but I gave it a go. I don't think it turned out half bad. The background is just a series of lines in a type of criss-crossing pattern then I colored them. This picture isn't anything spectacular, but I done the best with what I had and what little bit of artistic ability. I hope that someone finds it enjoyable.

Thanks,
- Angela