Abstract This paper talks about some of the art produced in Benin and Sierra Leone and why so much of the more ancient art of that region no longer remains. The paper then describes art from Benin that is approximately 500 years old and more recent artwork from Sierra Leone made in the 19th century. The naturalistic heads and bodies of the Ife tribes of Benin and the Nowo masks from Sierra Leone are described, and the materials and techniques used are explained as well. Images of both types of art are included with the paper.
From the Paper "Art from Benin, located in the rainforests of Nigeria on the coastal plain west of the Niger River, first came to the Western world in 1897, when members of a British expedition took out thousands of objects as war plunder after the English conquest. Through government and private sales, Benin sculptures were soon found on the shelves and displays of museums and personal collections in England, Europe and America (Ben-Amos, 9). The art of Benin is unique in Africa, due to its unusual makeup of cast brass and carved ivory. Much of artwork from this country acts as a heritage to the Royal Kingdom of Benin, one of the greatest times in the continent's history (Ezra, 2)."
Tags: copper, tada, figure, sculpture, pourings, obas, softwood, ceremonial, adulthood
Abstract This paper provides a brief biographical sketch of the life of Toulouse-Lautrec and then discusses and analyzes some of his art. The paper describes some of the influences on Toulouse-Lautrec's art, the uniqueness of his techniques and style, and the period when he was at the height of his career.
From the Paper "Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec was born in Albi, France on November 24, 1864 to an aristocratic family. After breaking both his legs in separate accidents, it was discovered he had an inherited bone disease, and his legs never grew to their full potential. He enjoyed art, and in 1885, he began to exhibit and published his own work. Toulouse-Lautrec's work was exhibited throughout Paris and included exhibitions at the Salon des Independents in Paris and Les XX in Brussels, Belgium. At the age of 36, he died of alcoholism and syphilis on Sept. 9, 1901."
Abstract This paper examines how Constructivism, an artistic and architectural movement, arose in Russia after the Revolution of 1917 and how the Revolution set the stage for one of the most remarkable transformations of artistic theory in the history of art. It looks at how the Constructivists strove to produce bold work in painting, sculpture, photography, and architecture through the use of new media and how they abandoned traditional media and embraced influences from the progressive and technologically advanced industrial society after the Revolution. Although there are many artists who have contributed a significant amount to the movement, it focuses on those made by Rodchenko, Malevich and Popova.
From the Paper "The reforms of Alexander II brought the emancipation of the serfs and opened the way for industrial development. However, emancipation imposed harsh economic conditions on the lower class and did not satisfy their need for farmland. Industrialization concentrated people in urban centers, where the exploited working class was a receptive audience for radical ideas. By 1903, Russia was divided into several political groups. The autocracy was upheld by the landed nobility and the higher clergy; the capitalists desired a constitutional monarchy; the liberal bourgeoisie made up the bulk of the group that later became the Constitutional Democratic party; lower and middle class were incorporated into the Socialist Revolutionary party; and the workers, influenced by Marxism, were represented in the Bolshevik and Menshevik factions of the Social Democratic Labor party."
Abstract This paper describes the theme in the book, "A River Runs through It", about art and its importance in our lives and the way the author, Norman Maclean, combines the sport of fly-fishing with this theme as a way of explaining what art means and how it differs from mere competence.
From the Paper "Norman's father who was a Presbyterian minister believed that art was "one" way man could clearly understand God and His creation. He advocated creativity because for Norman's father, art was the channel man used to communicate with God and to become a part of His wide universe. In short, it was not competence but mastery of art that helped man establish a direct link with the wider world around him and Art was man's way of showing appreciation for God's universe. This is the reason why Norman's father tells him to create stories because he knows that this is one art form that will bring his son closer to God and nature."
Abstract This paper explains how Wright was a highly innovative influence on modern architecture. It examines how his designs were influenced by current day events as well as by his travels to Europe and Japan. In particular, it describes the Robie House, Prairie style homes, Taliesin, Imperial Hotel, Hollyhock House, Fallingwater, Marin County Civic Center, and Guggenheim Museum.
From the Paper "In 1911, Wright moved to Wisconsin and built a home for himself and his mistress that he named Taliesin. In the architectural design for Taliesin, Wright included concepts from organic architecture. Organic architecture is a type of architecture that promotes harmony between man and nature through design. Organic architectural designs integrate the building and its furnishings into its surroundings. Wright accomplished this at Taliesin by constructing the chimneys and stone piers out of a local limestone which was laid by stonemasons in the house in a way that reflected the outcroppings of Wisconsin's landscape. Wright also used sand from the Wisconsin River in the house's stucco walls to bring to mind the river's sandbars."
Abstract This paper describes the work of 16th century Italian artist and architect Filippo Brunelleschi and how the innovation and brilliance of his work prepared the Florentine art community for Leonardo da Vinci's reception. The paper focuses specifically on the design and construction of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and how this structure emphasizes most explicitly Brunelleschi's collaboration between science, technology and art. The paper further discusses Brunelleschi's spirit of rivalry and competition that was characteristic of his career and his reputation and the lasting impact these qualities had on the Florentine art community.
From the Paper "The inscription on his simple, marble tomb slab reads, "here lies the body of the great ingenious man Filippo Brunelleschi of Florence." Though laid under the south aisle of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, the epitaph makes no explicit reference to Brunelleschi's role as its architect. Perhaps the Florentines thought that such information belonged elsewhere, or that it would be obvious to the millions of tourists who stream into the cathedral each year. More likely, the Florentines recognized Brunelleschi as a man who transcended simple vocational categorization, a man who could not be pinned down by a title like "architect" or even "artist," because his work was so manifold."
Abstract This paper examines the Japanese influence on the art of Vincent van Gogh. It discusses the elements of Japanese art which attracted him and why. The author explores specific works produced by van Gogh that illustrate the Japanese influence.
From the Paper "Dutch artist, Vincent van Gogh, produced his world-renowned art in just a ten-year period. His influence on the century's art is considerable but the formative influences on his own art are also greatly significant in terms of his development as an artist, Van Gogh ..."
Abstract This paper explains the explication of Braque's "Violin and Candlestick", with reference to the Cubist movement in art. It explores the painting's schematic structure and color range. The author briefly discusses the style of Cubism.
From the Paper "Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque are said to have begun developing the art form known as cubism. Therefore by the time Braques painted Violin and Candlestick in the movement was well underway. Certainly this developed style ..."
Tags: braque, georges, cubism, violin and candlestick, art, history
Abstract This paper considers the role of graphic design in Web design. It focuses on the difference between the two and discusses how graphic design can enhance the image of the Web site. The author explores the role of graphic design in Web design.
From the Paper "The World Wide Web has become an integral part of many organizations and groups as diverse as Coca-Cola the United States government and high school students have sites that bring their messages to the ..."
Abstract This paper examines why the cultural, social and artistic elements of the Renaissance spread across Europe. It explores the emergence of the Renaissance as a rediscovery of the learning and art of the classical world. The author expands on the humanism of the Renaissance.
From the Paper "The Renaissance was a period of rapid artistic and cultural development that celebrated the capacity and worth of each individual and returned the learning and beliefs of the classical world to a central position in European life. Given that much of the ..."
Abstract This is a case study of Kodak, examining its entry into the digital imaging business and the company's major change in strategy. The paper looks at how successful it has been and factors for its success.
From the Paper "Kodak yielded to changes in demand that threatened to make its signature products outdated. The company made a strategic decision to move away from traditional film and toward digital products. The company characterized this decision as a historic shift and this decision was not without its critics. Many people wondered if Kodak could compete effectively with companies including Hewlett-Packard Canon and Epson who were firmly entrenched in the market niches that Kodak was interested in moving into. Kodak announced that it ..."
Abstract This paper presents a classical argument that the current policy towards arts education is harming the arts discipline. Specifically, this paper argues that by stressing the usefulness of an arts education, policy makers and educators who are trying to get more funding are actually marginalizing and undermining the arts by making the arts into a supportive skill set rather than a discipline in its own right.
From the Paper "In today's education system, the arts are often either minimized as unimportant or are translated into a "useful" discipline on par with the sciences in order to justify continued spending on arts courses. This places educators in a difficult position. Either they must make claims that the arts are utilitarian or risk facing program cutbacks or even shut-downs of arts programs. Although policy makers and educators can gain funding in the short term by depicting arts education as practical and useful, and although there can be little doubt that the arts do have useful applications, this approach tends to marginalize and harm arts education in the long run by making the arts into an auxiliary solution rather than a valuable discipline in its own right."
Abstract This paper discusses Michael Jackson's personal life. Providing details on his birth, childhood and style of parenting. The paper explores the lifelong psychological consequences of his mother's submission to Jackson's father and his disciplined upbringing.
From the Paper "Michael Jackson was born August 29, 1958, in the steel mill town of Gary, Indiana. As a child he was strictly controlled by his father and sheltered from the outside world by his mother, who was a Jehovah's Witness. Jackson's father's ill-tempered, disciplinarian style of child raising would have lifelong psychological consequences, as would his mother's gentle nature and submission to her husband. Jackson demonstrated a talent for music and dance as a child, and only a year after his father organized a family musical group around Jackson's three older brothers, he joined the act "and quickly established himself as a dynamic stage performer." He became a global pop star in the nineteen-eighties, but his career began to decline when the media began to focus on his increasingly bizarre eccentricities. "He was often ..."
From the Paper " The term of a Schone Madonna means a beautiful Madonna; which I think gave justice to the lovely sculpture from Salzburg, Austria. Like many Schone Madonnas she had the common S-curve figure and her stance. The Madonna's stance made her seem as if she was in the midst of rocking her baby ? The Christ Child to sleep. Though her body parts were heavily hid through the long draping garments; her position made it that she was standing with one leg straight while the other leg bent at the knee. "
From the Paper "When you hear about a place or worship what is the first thing that comes to your mind? A church with a cross on the steeple? A booming organ with music that makes you feel as if you walked in ? The Phantom of The Opera? musical? A balcony with young children singing in a choir? Enormous door that represent both the Old Testament and The New Testament with images of holy people from Noah and The Ark, Abraham and Sarah, The Jesse Tree, King David, Jonah and The Virgin? In my case, that was what I thought about. I viewed all the churches and cathedrals in their splendor and beauty. I was fascinated by the architectual style that each magnificent religious building possessed. Two of the churches that seemed to have their own personality were The Church of St. Thomas and Saint Peter's Church. "
Tags: art, catholic, church, churches, city, greek, judaism, ny, of, peter, roman, russian, st, thomas
