Mood

When an artist creates a piece of art they may obviously be in a particular mood and this piece of artwork can depict that emotion. However if an observer were to go look at it when they were happy, sad or angry would this play into how they view the piece of art? I feel as though it would somewhat because our emotions sometimes cloud our thoughts and judgments. If someone were to go look at the same piece of art feeling one emotion one day and then go and look at the same piece feeling a different emotion another day I think they would view the piece from two different viewpoints. Do you agree with the idea the mood and emotion effect one's perception of art?

Generalizations

In class the other day we spoke of how much Freud used generalizations and was harsh towards women. While this is a statement that I do agree with. In today's society we have to take a step back and ask ourselves if any of us have ever not made a general assumption about someone. About someone's race, religion or anything else that may have shaped them into the person that stands before you. Because that person is who makes the art, not the generalizations. People often talk about a world where everything is equal and everybody is treated equally, do you think that this is the world we live in right now? And if not do you think that we will ever be successful at accomplishing that?

Presentation

I went to a restaurant the other day and the presentation of the food before me was beautiful, some may have considered it almost too beautiful to eat. But well I wouldn't go that far because I obviously wanted to enjoy the food presented in front of me as well. But it was spectacular looking, the garnishes, the layout was just so, the proportions. Can food be considered art? Where is the limit of what can and can't be considered art?

Communication

According to Tolstoy art is used as a form of communication. Considering the amount of emotion put behind a work of art this would make sense. However going back to our longstanding discussion of nature and art, does this mean that nature communicates something to us? A sunset is beautiful to me so therefore I think that is an expression of some form of art, or what about a vase of flowers they were intentionally placed that way and some consider it art. Is nature what Tolstoy had in mind when he spoke of art?

Beauty

When someone looks at a work of art and says that is "Beautiful". That phrase I believe is and always will be in the eye of the beholder. Because one person can look at something, going back to the blank canvas, and they can say that is beautiful art. Where as another person may look at it and simply its nothing it needs color. Everyone has a different interpretation of what is beautiful and therefore what should be considered art. Do you personally believe that beauty in the eye of the beholder? Or do you think that it is something more than this?

Utopia

People often speak of perfect society, or utopia, and what it would be like. In a society with no problems, nothing to make people sad or angry. All of this sounds good on paper but is very unrealistic. Our emotions and the experiences behind those emotions shape us into the people that we are. If we lived in a Utopian Society it would be like pressing the easy button. Life and the art around us would become boring it would all seem like we are just going through the motions. With all of this said and although I personally wouldn't want to live in a Utopian Society, would you? Do you think that there are any hidden benefits to living that way?

Emotions

Today in class we touched on the subject of how emotions can be related to art, some in a positive way and some in a negative way. The colors of a painting can show if the artist was angry or sad. However the person observing it may not feel the same way, for they may look at a painting that was intended to be bright and cheerful and it could make them sad. Everyone's interpretation of something is different, this isn't necessarily a bad thing though it gives different perspectives. But it just means that we may not always be looking at something with the same "emotion" as the artist had intended. Have you ever looked at something and you thought it carried one particular emotion, but then when you go back and look at it you realize something different about it?

Art

There are so many different subjects that can fall into the category of art. Then with this comes the subcategory for many of these. Photography is one of the more interesting of the list. Everything with photography is about capturing that one particular moment and doing so just right, and in order to do so the photographer has to be ready and quick. For if they don't capture it then it may never happen again for them to photograph it. Once a picture is taken then the image can also be distorted different ways into various colors. A photograph is truly art and the photographer the artist. Do you think that even candid pictures or family pictures can be viewed as art?