And, on the fascinating topic of different artistic styles, have you any particular favourites? The book sounds very interesting, by the way.
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And, on the fascinating topic of different artistic styles, have you any particular favourites? The book sounds very interesting, by the way.
Thanks SS. Interestingly enough, I first read a passage from this book while taking practice tests for the MCAT (med school admissions test). I found reading about different styles of art pretty interesting, so I looked up the bibliography of one of the passages and voila, this was the book the passage was taken from.
As for favorites styles, I see it two ways: one as a viewer, and one as an artist (if I was an artist). As for viewing, I feel like post-impressionism or fauvism styles stand out to me. The former is interesting because it was a soft revolt from Impressionism, which in turn was a revolt from the previous style. But, based on my views (admittedly a small number) of post-impressionist art work, they do still retain some technical features from Impressionist paintings, they just seem more "tidied up". I like Fauvism as a viewer as well because their use of bright colors really sticks out, and I think that this dynamic can be seen when I buy a computer monitor or TV. Bright colors have always stuck out, and most people like them.
If I were an artist, however, my favorite style of painting to practice myself would definitely be Impressionism. To me, art is more than just technicality of brush strokes, or color dynamics (or notes on a musical instrument) and a lot about emotion+feeling. Impressionists, from what I recall, disregarded academics of the time, and used a short brush style stroke to capture momentary effects. Doing that by hand, I think is really cool and ingenious for the time. This also gave the paintings a style of focusing on big picture and visual effects rather than detail. I think some people have said that impressionist paintings were like a new way of seeing, and that really interests me as someone who tries to view science as an art form as well.
Lovely thoughtful answer.
At school, art (and art history) was one of a considerable number of subjects (one of those after hours/after school subjects but I still took the state exam in it) I studied, and years later, teaching history at university I ended up having to share the teaching of the standard first year undergrad course in European history which covered the Renaissance, Reformation and Counter-Reformation.
These weren't my own personal areas of interest, but I am very grateful for having had the privilege of teaching them for seven years. Whatever about my students, I learned an awful lot, not least about art and the history of art.
Personally, I love art which deals with the mundane, and which captures light on canvas. Therefore, probably not surprisingly, I love the Flemish and Low Countries art of the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries, (plus the bleaker Spanish styled stuff from the same era) and, of course, the Impressionists.
Whenever I am in Paris, I try to spend at least an afternoon in the Museé d'Orsay, which is home to a stunning exhibition of Impressionist art.
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Wow thats interesting, I guess I never thought that some of my professors teach things they may not be 100% fully invested in. Do you see more downsides or upsides to that?
I have been to 2 art exhibits but unfortunately I was pretty young, and at the time I didn't really care much about them. Now, I'm dying just to visit some type of art exhibit. In San Francisco, the Museum of Modern Art is closed until early 2016, so hopefully that will re-open soon, but even my hometown of Detroit has the great Detroit Institute of Arts and when I'm home I will try to visit.
Of course, I don't think any of these can beat Paris, and I've always wanted to visit. You are right, I too love art that deals with the mundane. I think the 21st century equivalent of that is macro pictures of simple objects. Capturing that dynamic with a brush however takes a lot of technical skill, which is most impressive. In that sense, it takes skill to also give the viewer the visceral feeling of something ordinary (such as a pot of flowers); the same feeling I'm sure the artist feels while painting. I can see that type of technique being prevalent in paintings of the French country side when the sun is in the perfect position to cast different hues of light on grass or buildings etc. Having that same feeling for that pot of flowers example I think is much harder (but still possible of course).
This from Amazon.
#1 International Bestseller New from the internationally bestselling thriller writer Glenn Cooper, whose books have sold more then 6 million copies worldwide, comes The Devil Will Come. The stars move still, time runs, the clock will strike, The Devil will come, and Faustus must be damned. These enigmatic lines from Christopher Marlowe’s play Doctor Faustus may hold the key to a shocking, centuries-old truth in the thrilling new novel by internationally best-selling author Glenn Cooper. Elisabetta Celestino, a brilliant young archaeologist at work in Rome’s ancient catacombs, has discovered a unique pattern of astrological symbols on an underground wall. She feels sure that evidence of a previously unknown pre-Christian sect lies in an adjacent chamber where the untombed skeletons bear a strange anomaly, and is devastated when the Vatican refuses to support her excavation project. Ten years later, a cave-in damages the vault, and a shocking discovery is made. Following a violent and traumatic event, Elisabetta has left has left archaeology behind for the serenity of prayer and teaching, but the yo
I'm not sure that I phrased that properly, or entirely fairly: My own area of interest (and eventual expertise) was nineteenth and twentieth century European history (and politics). However, there was always a demand within the Faculty for people to teach some of the First Year courses, as numbers of students were always so high, and, so I was asked to teach some of the First Year stuff in addition to my own areas of expertise - which were usually electives - and which I usually taught Third Year and Fourth Year students, and occasionally, Second Years.
In truth, it meant that you got out of your own academic comfort zone, which is no bad thing, and engaged to a far greater extent with the student body than if you simply met the kids who would take your own courses.
Then, there is the actual experience of teaching. Some academics who are superb researchers and area specialists, whose expertise in their field is unparalleled simply cannot hack it in a classroom, especially a classroom full of a few hundred freshmen, rather then the sort of enthusiasts you might hope to encounter later in their academic studies when they had developed an interest in their studies. I could, which is probably one of the reasons I ended up teaching the freshmen as well as my own courses at a more advanced level.
Well, I love the sort of art that deals with, portrays and addresses the mundane; I take the view that anyone can venerate glory, pomp and spectacle, - they tend to look fabulous anyway, and it often repays artists to ostentatiously applaud the efforts of the rich and powerful - whereas to salute the ordinary, to respect the mundane, to acknowledge with fond precision but with the bitter sweet insight of integrity the sometimes grubby fabric of the everyday, takes something akin to liking - and perhaps reluctant respect - for your fellow human beings.
This is my summer of all things Egypt. Some memoirs, some histories, some novels and some of those revisited (Durrell, for instance). But I’m trying to ensure I don’t end up with just Eurocentric viewpoints and I’m still rounding up my list, which as usual will end up looking like I think summer lasts until November.
However, at this moment, after reading some recent posts here, I’m thinking I should have made it a summer of art history!
I’m so fascinated by how artists capture what they see in certain light that I can end up loving just certain little aspects of a work that in its entirety I don’t particularly care for. Most works of Vermeer that I’ve ever seen photos of though, I like for all that’s in them. Still, I could look all day at just the folds of the red table covering in the foreground of “Girl Reading a Letter at an Open Window.”
During school I only bumped into “art” through tangential references to its history while taking other courses. In hindsight I’d have done better to have added a formal class in art history, but then I don’t know what I could have jettisoned to make room for it.
Anyway now I should at least buy the art world’s equivalent of Grout’s "History of Opera" or something, to fill in some of the blanks. I am ignorant enough not even to be able to pick out a good overview without doing some homework. So you all should suggest away if you have some ideas for me.
I like Caillebotte’s work with watery surfaces. His “L’Yerres, effet de pluie” is wonderful. Rain falling into a slow-moving river! You almost expect a fish to jump out of it. I also like how he managed to show the textures of things, like the marble-topped table in “Yellow Roses in a Vase”. Whenever I see a photo of that, I always laugh and figure it took him too long to get the thing done or he forgot to put water in the vase, the flowers are so far gone. It’s stunning that he thought to paint something in that state, and his eye for it was perfect. But I love that table.
The Martian by Andy Weir and holy wow the book was AAAAAAAAHMAZING!!!!
IF YOU HAVEN'T READ IT, DO IT. YOU ARE IN FOR QUITE A TRIP!
IF YOU HAVEN'T READ IT, DO IT. YOU ARE IN FOR QUITE A TRIP!
Just got done reading the first two chapters of "Go Set A Watchman" by Harper Lee. It has been good thus far, and has the same kind of cadence and feel to it that "To Kill A Mockbird" has.
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I'm rereading 'Mockingbird', then will tackle 'Go Set A Watchman'. Understand there are surprises in it.
I'm getting Go Set a Watchman as well but it hasn't arrived. Ordered a limited signed copy by Harper Lee from Waterstones. CAN. NOT. WAIT!
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The signed copy actually is by Samantha Shannon the Author of The Bone Season and it arrives tomorrow but I've gotta wait another week for Go Set a Watchman to arrive and no. That one isn't signed by Ms Lee sadly, but I'm excited to get my second signed copy from Samantha Shannon nevertheless.
I'm such a blonde, you can tell the blonde grows in. lol Maycomb awaits! It's been too long already.
Also Waterstones has the hardcovers for 50% just in case you want to grab a copy while you can.
In the meantime I'll borrow it from Amazon to my kindle. I'm too excited to wait.
https://www.waterstones.com/book/go-set-a-watchman/harper-lee/9781785150289
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I have read that there are surprises as well, although I have been careful not to read anything specific about the book contents.
If the hype for this book is as strong as reported, Lee will have outdone herself once again.
Like I said be prepared for some stunning revelations!
BTW You may know this, but will post for everyone. Truman Capote lived next door to Harper Lee when they were kids, and was a figure in her first book.
yeah, looking forward to go set a watchman . i've read there are a few surprises.
Reading through user reviews for Go Set a Watchman on Amazon. Was surprised with this one.
http://www.amazon.com/review/R9XUSXZZFVM5X/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm?ie=UTF8&ASIN=0062409859
(There are no spoilers since the review is not about the content).
http://www.amazon.com/review/R9XUSXZZFVM5X/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm?ie=UTF8&ASIN=0062409859
(There are no spoilers since the review is not about the content).
Reading through user reviews for Go Set a Watchman on Amazon. Was surprised with this one.
http://www.amazon.com/review/R9XUSXZZFVM5X/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm?ie=UTF8&ASIN=0062409859
(There are no spoilers since the review is not about the content).
I guess I shouldn't be surprised that someone raged about deckle edging....but still...
Perhaps he reads ebooks more than physical books and isn't aware of deckle edge book printing and that it's an intentional design. I personally like how it looks and feels.
Indeed, the reviewer suggested they may have considered themself a 'collector' in which case I would have expected familiarity with a deckle edge.
Oh well....
Agreed. Here is a good review of the book for others interested
http://m.xkcd.com/1536/
But seriously, it was really good.
Agreed. Here is a good review of the book for others interested
http://m.xkcd.com/1536/
But seriously, it was really good.
It was so good, I nagged my mother in law to read it while we were in KS last week. She said it wasn't her type of books, she likes the sexy kind of crap books from harlequin which I hate very much btw. Needless to say, we left on Thursday 9th in time for my chemo treatment back home, that's CO.
Went to get one of my infusions on Friday and I came home to this email
I'm finally reading 'To Kill a Mockingbird.' I've been told that every high school student reads it, so why hadn't I?--it was published in 1960, which answers that question. I picked a very good time to read the book, as every newspaper or magazine I pick up has an article about it or the new book which I will read next. I am thoroughly enjoying Mockingbird. Though I didn't grow up in the South, the antics of Scout, her brother and friend Dill remind me of my childhood. Incidentally, I was very interested to learn that Truman Capote grew up in the same town with Harper Lee and was her inspiration for Dill. They remained friends and she helped him when he was writing 'In Cold Blood.'
I'm a little surprised at the somewhat carping tone taken by some of the reviews.
However, before I read 'Go Set A Watchman', - and it is on my to read list - I'll take a fresh look at 'To Kill A Mockingbird' as it is a number of years since I have read it properly.