Abstract
This paper presents a critique and commentary of the painting, "American Gothic", by Grant Wood. Created in 1930, "American Gothic" captured the public imagination and shifted the attention of American painting from the cosmopolitan to the rural. The writer includes a number of journalistic and artistic impressions of the painting and shows what a great impact this painting had on America and the art world.

From the Paper
"Wood himself, in a letter to Mrs. Sudduth, described his vision of American Gothic as small town, self-righteous folks, with a significant relationship to the false Gothic house and its ecclesiastical window: "Incidentally, I did not intend this painting as a satire. I endeavored to paint these people as they existed for me in the life I knew. It seems to me that they are basically solid and good people. But I don't feel that one gets at this fact better by denying their faults and fanaticism.""

Tags:farm, couple, rural, impression, iowa

Abstract
This paper focuses on Max Ernst's painting of 1940-1942, "Europe after the Rain", which expresses surrealism's frequent appeals to the primordial, shamanism, and a strong critique of modernist positivism. Ernst painted this work at at a time when no one could predict the outcome of WWII, and seems to pronounce that whatever occurred, European civilization would be reduced to a primeval, rough state, vestiges here and there to remind of a civilization bent on self-destruction in not one but two world wars.

From the Paper
"Surrealism has been noted for its spiritual and political, as well as artistic expression, for an appeal to the unconscious, and to symbolism liberated from conventional form. As part of Modernism, it promoted alternative, critical, versions of civilization and the societies in which we live. In the mid-1930s, Max Ernst described in Beyond Painting that Surrealism was a form, all its own, which required particular mental processes. In childhood, Ernst showed a powerful imagination and interest in its powers, and these took centre stage in a career that developed in the aftermath of World War I."

Tags:maxernst, europe, surrealism

Abstract
This paper reviews and provides a personal critique of the design principles used by Grant Wood in his piece "The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere." The author writes the paper in four chapters, each of which focus on a different principle and observation, as follows:
Design Description
Elements and Principles Used
Interpreting the Design and its Meaning
Evaluating the Design - What Works and What could be Improved?

From the Paper
"Upon first glance, most viewers would see the church that lies in the main focal area of the painting. A linear stark-white steeple, shooting out against the bulbous earthy greens and shadowy brown-grays is striking in this well thought-out and designed paining of Paul Revere's famous ride. From the tiny tip of white jutting out amidst the deep black of night, the viewer's eye is drawn by the use of light and line from the top of the steeple down - down to the simple rectangular shapes of the steeple base; down to the rectangular shape of the building; down to the rectangular door; and then, by surprise, down to the true focus of this paining, Paul Revere himself. He is represented by a wild splat of black on a horse possessed."

Tags:art, design, grant, midnight, paul, principle, revere, ride, theory, wood

Abstract
This paper offers two distinct critiques of Puritan literature. The first critique examines a letter by John Smith to one of his investors, who was complaining about a lack of return on his investment in the New World. The letter is compared with a similar one by Christopher Columbus to the Queen of Spain. The second critique highlights the nature of domestic relationships in a Puritan community in a poem by Anne Bradstreet.

Tags:puritan, literature, critiques

Abstract
In this article, the writer presents reviews of five concerts that took place in Kansas City in recent months.

From the Paper
"Mena the guest conductor was clearly instrumental in selecting the program which opened with the Arriega Overture to Los Esclavos. In the first half of the program South African pianist Anton Nel played the Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto Number in a style that was cool but not excessively romantic Nel provided a brief encore with the Scribin Etude for the Left Hand ..."

Tags:Kansas City, concert reviews

Abstract
The paper examines the painting "Bakery-Counter" by Wayne Thiebaud.

From the Paper
"The painting "Bakery-Counter" by Wayne Thiebaud is a five by six foot oil on canvas portraying an old fashioned bakery case. The bakery case is white and set against a light blue background. Inside the bakery case there are assorted pies and baked goods and an elegant wedding cake sits atop the counter. The composition makes use of several formal elements. The artist creates balance by separating the bakery case into two halves and the only vertical line in the painting..."

Tags:Wayne thiebaud, bakery counter, case, laguna, art review

Abstract
This paper consists of two three-page book critiques on two different subjects. The first paper examines children in biracial families in the work "Communication, Race and Family: Exploring Communication in Black White and Biracial Families" by editors Rhunette C. Diggs and Thomas J. Sochaand. The second part of the paper examines the reporting of child abuse in the book "Protecting Children from Child Sexual Abuse."

From the Paper
"In their book 'Communication, Race and Family: Exploring Communication in Black,White and Biracial Families" editors Rhunette C. Diggs and Thomas J. Socha discuss the effects of interracial marriage on children since the landmark case of Loving v State of Virginia overturned laws forbidding interracial marriage as unconstitutional. Traditionally interracial marriages have been discouraged on the basis that the innocent products of these marriages-biracial or multiracial children-would suffer alienation from both the black and white communities."

Tags:children, book, critique, child sexual abuse, biracial families, race

Abstract
This paper includes critical reviews of two films--"Lord of the Flies" and "Independence Day"--tying them in with a variety of philosophers in international studies, from Woodrow Wilson to Machiavelli, Thucydides, and Hobbes, plus several more.

From the Paper
""Lord of the Flies", a film made from William Golding's book by the same name, has been rightly called a fable. There is no sense of exactly how the boys got to the island, with no adults accompanying them on their flight, no idea of time or era and a rapid descent from the facade of civilized Christian life to atavistic pagan living. Although obviously this fast a change would not happen in real life, "Lord of the Flies"..."

Tags:Lord of the Flies, Independence Day, critical film review, liberalism, Machiavelli, Thucydides, Hobbes, Morgenthau, Woodrow Wilson

Abstract
In this article, the writer discusses that the "Joan of Arc", painted by the French artist Jules Bastien-Lepage, during the Impressionist era in 1879, reflects the artist's belief that art should depict nature's truth. The writer points out that Bastien Lepage's views, which made very specific and clear observations about existence and life, made his work both distinctive and unique. This essay critiques Jules Bastien-Lepage's 'Joan of Arc' through analyzing the painting's composition, which included line, form, balance, repetition, and focal point. Some discussion is then given to the artist's use of color and texture, while reflecting on the suggestion of space. Finally, the paper concludes with a personal consideration of this 19th century masterpiece.

Outline:
Introduction
Joan of Arc - A Mystic Euphoric
Conclusion

From the Paper
"When first viewing this picture, it would that Jules Bastien-Lepage created a realistic scene: A beautiful stone cottage, so typical of those throughout the French countryside, which is surrounded by a delightful working garden filled with fruit, vegetables, and flowers. Towards the left side of the painting, stands an old, gnarled apple tree, while to its right, stands a young peasant girl. Behind her, however, and just in front of the cottage, hovers the supernatural presence of three spiritual beings. Their transparent bodies almost blending with the cottage walls and the garden, they stare down at the young Joan of Arc, who, it would appear, is listening to something."

Tags:Impressionist, texture, cottage, peasant, girl

Abstract
This paper will give an art critique for "The Crucifixion" by Master of Saint Veronica, and "The Virgin and Child with Angels" by Master of Guillebert de Mets. By showing the cultural and political ramifications for each work, we can see how the Church held great wealth to create such highly developed artistic works.