Topic 5; Telling Stories (Narrative) Reading.

Reading:    "What Is Comics Poetry: An Essay By Alexander Rothman, Editor-In-Chief of INK BRICK"

From the option of artists that we had to choose from, I chose an image by Marion Fayolle.

After looking at all the other images on the site, this one seemed like a form of table of context for the rest of her images.The images of these characters are shown in other comics. I liked that this image had many characters but doing their own thing, like they have their own story, but are in the same room. The art style also caught my eye, it is like a simple style of human anatomy and proportion. The intriguing part is how this image and all of her others do not use text, it is able to tell the story only through the images.

Reading: Rhinoceros; Photographing the Past during the Present

Questions and Answers

Identify Terms

1) Identify: Cree (tribe) *

Cree is a Native photographer, who has taken images o the Crow tribe as a Crow insider. Cree reminds us of the important topics hidden behind an image.

2) Identify: Crow (tribe) *

The tribe that adopted Cree and allowed him to document their culture. The Crow Reservation was a hub of activ-

ity for outsiders, non-Native researchers, ethnologists, anthropologists, and artists alike o.iho so.rght to learn more about the traditions and cultures of the Crow that they feared would soon be lost to acculturation. 

3) Identify: Gerald McMaster *

Notes that enforcing this sudden transition was ask- ing the impossible: "lt had taken centuries for Europeans to develop in this direction, but Native peoples were expected to change overnight."

4) Identify: Vine Deloria, Jr. *

Standing Rock Sioux scholar, who suggests that Curtis's images are like a movie rather than a historical event.

5) Identify: George P. Horse Capture *

A Gros Venture native who states that "Real Indians are extremely grateful to see what their ancestors looked like or what they did". Curtis has photographed George's great grandfather.

6) Identify: Lucy Lippard *

Explained the things Cutis would do to gain criticism. Curtis altered the image and brought props for the tribes.

7) Identify: Jaune Quick-to-See Smith *

A Flathead-Cree-Shoshone who explains that the natives can not identify with the image of these Government surveyors, priests, tourists, and white photographers.

8) Define: patronage *

1.  The financial support or business provided to a store, hotel, or the like, by customers, clients, or paying guests.

2.  The position, encouragement, influence, or support of a patron, as toward an artist, institution, etc.

ANALYSIS

1) The text compares the work of Edward S. Curtis and Richard Throssel; how many photographs of Native peoples did each photographer take and what was the basic underlying goal of each photographer? *

Curtis documented more than eighty Native tribes during a thirty-year span from the position of an outsider, he portrays  Native people as un- touched by white society: before encroachment, acculturation, and reservations. 

Richard Throssel took more than one thousand images of the Crow tribe, he reminds us of the im- portance today of looking at the social conditions, the politics, the funding, and the motives that hide behind the images.

2) How do you think the two photographers' different methods of distributing their work affected their level of individual success? Do you think there are any other factors that affected the success of each? *

Throssel, began photographing the Crow by 1904, taking advantage of his unique posi- tion. As a Native person and as an adopted member of the Crow, Throssel gained access to

events, people, and ceremonies of the Crow and other tribes that others would not have been granted permission to attend, let alone photograph. Curtis staged scenes, routinely retouched and faked night skies, storm clouds, and other dramatic iighting effects, With the help of the tribes, he sometimes re-created ceremonies he also carried wigs, "primitive" clothes and other out-of-date trappings.

3) Patronage often plays an important role in shaping the work of an artist. Do you think there is a distinction between an artist's patrons and their audience? More specifically, what was the relationship between patron and audience for both Curtis and Throssel? *

I believe there is a distinction, the artist's audience will be pleased of what the artist makes while the patrons push for something more specific from the artist. For Throssel, people enjoyed his images but because he knew that the white tourists and the people who purchased his images would not purchase more realistic images, he sold images in the "Curtis mold." Sane goes for Curtis, he'd alter the image if it meant he would receive more money from a specific crowd.

4) Both Curtis and Throssel staged, or otherwise intentionally shaped, the content of some of their photographs; identify two ways that each photographer did this, and explain why they did so. *

Curtis staged scenes, routinely retouched and faked night skies, storm clouds, and other dramatic lighting effects, he also had the natives re-create ceremonies in "primitive" clothing. Curtis had a large paying audience. 

Throssel's series of thirty-nine photographs, Western Classics from the Land of the Indian, focus upon a nostalgic look at Crow life. Throssel was well aware that a non-Native audience sought out these types of images, and he provided a set of images that followed Curtis's mold: dramatic images of a "vanishing" culture, retouched photographs, and scenes that ignored reservation life and signs of industrialization.

5) Before the Rhinoceros presentation and this reading, had you considered photography to be a trustworthy documentary medium? Why or why not? What about documentary films (documentaries)? *

Before all this I believed that photography was trustworthy, I thought that a photo is how we would see it with our eyes. It's what happened before the picture was taken that is important. I am a person who really enjoys animal documentaries and I would be very disappointed to find out if some of that information was false just to please an audience.

6) In the last reading response, many of you seemed to question the trustworthiness of various media sources. Had you previously extended this distrust to social media platforms used almost exclusively for the sharing of images? *

There are a lot of people on social media who only do it for attention so I wouldn't doubt that, if I see something news worthy or that catches my attention I tend to research it further than to believe the primary source.

7) The text lists several ways different tribes reacted to the presence of photographers, or to photography itself. Please describe one, then consider: 1) what stereotypes you may have heard regarding Native peoples and photography, and 2) your own relationship to photography. How comfortable are you with being photographed, and why? What does your comfort level say about your role or status in society, if anything? *

Many Native tribes and individuals resisted the camera, some individuals, such as the Oglala Lakota warrior CrazyHorse, refused to allow his photograph to be taken; many others believed that the camera was a "shadow catcher" and was to be avoided at all costs.

1) I've never heard of any stereotypes that has to do with natives and photos so this is the first.

2) I personally dislike being photographed, I do not like how I look and I have to be in a photo than I do some kind of a silly face.

8) What did you learn from this text that was most intriguing to you? What was most appalling? *

I thought it was interesting how photography back then had such a big influence on people. What was appalling to me were these staged scenes and re-creations.

9) The title of this chapter is "Photographing the Past during the Present"; now that you've read the chapter, please analyze the title--is it truly possible to photograph the past during the present? If so, how? If not, why not? *

It is possible, we have the technology to alter the look of the photo and we could stage a scene we would need  models that look similar to the people of the specific time you are trying to take and just give them the props from that time, movies do it when it comes to old western films or ancient rome films.

Commentary

Now that you've watched the two videos, select one to discuss: in what way does the artist's work address the legacy of Curtis' images? What does the artist's work do to present authentic, contemporary Native American culture? How does the artist's use of photography draw upon the medium's unique qualities in the creation of their work? *

Wendy Red Star is a member of the Crow tribe, she got some of Curtis' images of crow men and she cut the men out only leaving the background. The men's photos have been commercialized and she wanted to give them back their power. This artists focused a lot on their traditional clothing and the color of their clothing. She asked Crow women to send her photos of them in their traditional wear and Wendy would then post it up on a map. Wendy then go photos that Curtis had of Crow women and children in their traditional clothing and she edited so that people (guests) could add back the color.

Sketchbook: Creature/Other Using Sources from the Text.

         This assignment was based off of our reading which was 'The First Lisbon or Durer Rhinoceros of 1515'. The context of this reading is that since there was no technology back then to take pictures or record, artists had to draw the figure either by looking at it or going off on someones description.
We then got a sketchbook assignment that was just like the Dürer's Rhino, there were four texts; two were creatures/animals and the other two were of some humanoid tribe. Since I prefer to draw animals than people I picked the creature, I actually did both creatures because I wanted to.
         As I am reading the first text I instantly knew it was a Hippo, the facts were right there; it was a large mammal, it was pinkish and brown, and that it used its nostrils to close while underwater. But since the challenge was to not look at reference of the real animal, then I drew strictly off of the description same goes to the other creature. The second creature was a type of sea slug (more specifically a sea hare) because of its foot membrane and feelers. 

Reading: The First Lisbon or Durer Rhinoceros of 1515

Comparing woodcuts - Albrecht Dürer & Hans Burgkmair.

I believe that both Hans' Burgkmair and Albrecht's Dürer woodcuts were very well done and they are quite similar to each other, but I prefer Dürer's woodcut more. The rhino made by Dürer has more detail and it is not as dark as Burgkmair's so it is easier to see. The armor element gives it an enjoyable fantasy feel and it seems very illustrative to me which is a style I enjoy.

Rhino depiction that I found amusing.

The rhino depiction by Francesco Granacci, detail from Joseph and His Brethren in Egypt, oil on wood, c.1517 (Uffizi Florence) I found to be the most amusing. This depiction is very different from the others and its anatomical form is unrealistic but I enjoy it because of its sort of fantasy and illustrative look.

Reading Response: Contemporary Art Museum Raleigh: Ornament and Pattern.

Patterns affect us humans; neurological, philosophical, and cultural.  Neuropsychologist Oliver Sacks speculates that optical migraine hallucinations—frequently patterned like oriental carpets—offer a window on the dynamics of our nerve cells. As a kid and even to this day, I would stare at any random or even symmetrical pattern and I would see different shapes and forms that were not intended. This would remind me of the Rorschach tests. I believe it to be neurological because its as if my brain wants to make something of it. We are complex beings, we like to find meaning in things. And when artists and designers use ornament to translate their perceptions into artifacts or places, that ornament becomes an extension of their worlds; as the philosopher Gianni Vattimo suggests, an extension into other possible worlds. Pattern even relate to culture and language because they tell stories. They need to be read/ studied, whether carved on the walls of the Alhambra in Spain or stitched into the pattern of an American quilt, traditional ornament was meant to engage the mind through the eye. 

Patterns and ornaments of design change over the years just like other types of art. Handcrafted decorations were too expensive so using machines in mass production was able to reduce to cost. The  issue of the machines is that the  ornaments they are making were now being recognized as poor taste or lower class. With ornament losing the caché of exclusivity and social refinement, new signs of prestige were needed to announce ‘good’ taste and wealth. They would arrive in the form (and forms) of modernism. The term "Postmodern" begins to make sense if you understand what "Modernism" refers to. In this case, "Modernism" usually refers to Neo-Classical, Enlightenment assumptions concerning the role reason, or rationality, or scientific reasoning. Postmodernism basically challenges those basic assumptions. So modernism is that new should replace the traditional.I believe we are in a modernism art age. I believe this because there are a lot of people that are taking the arts to a technological level, instead of the traditional paper and pencil.

Response to: "Ornament and the Sources of Design in the Decorative Arts." By. Ivins, William M.

Design is what comes up with the idea while craftsmanship is what creates it. Design and Craftsmanship can relate to an analogy of musicians and composers because the composers are who create the music struggle to play the tunes while the musicians play the tunes but struggle to design their own music. As time went by the craftsmen would have time to study the designed object before it was claimed or sent out but soon began mass reproduction. Because of mass reproduction, the designed objects were sent out and immediately absorbed by residences and were not available to study by the craftsman. This is a problem, because now the craftsman have no information of how to craft the design. This causes an issue for the craftsmen who now have nothing to study off of, But thanks to people like Hepplewhite, Chippendale, and Sheraton there are now published pattern books. By collecting and studying art we gain a proper understanding  of the functional growth and development of ornament but also as a source of inspiration for new design.

The museum have a wide collection of art and this allows anyone to come and visit and study it up close.The museum is home to resources that artists are not normally exposed to. When artists visit art museums they can draw inspiration from pieces they've never seen before. At a museum the artist also has the opportunity to take down other artists names and then return home to study them more in-depth later. The internet is much different than the museum, unlike the museum the internet is not limited to resources it can offer. The internet allows you to search a wide variety of resources such as other artworks, biographies, and written articles about the artist or piece. The museum and internet can both offer similar information/resources but the museum offered an 'up close' experience that you can not achieve with the internet. The idea that Ivins is trying to get across is that we share ideas of creation. Ivins also expresses how  it is important to collect and study artwork  to gain a knowledge and understanding of how they were designed and created. With this understanding the artist will be able to gain inspiration and apply this onto a new work of art.

Response to: “The White Bird” by John Berger & "‘Jerry Saltz on the Outsider Art Fair - and Why There’s No Such Thing As ‘Outsider’ Art ." by Jerry Saltz.

"The White Bird":

John Berger brings up the point of aesthetic and how that affects us in its own way. Humans do focus a lot on what is beautiful instead of what is unappealing. Similar to the difference of life and death. When John Berger writes about the wooden white bird it opens the idea to philosophies. The white bird is a tradition that was passed down creating some sort of waterfall affecting of creating an image of nature.

Humans see the beauty of life and nature of what comes before and after death. John Berger states “art imitates a creation, sometimes to propose an alternative world, sometimes simply to amplify, to confirm, to make social the brief hope offered by nature.” Many artists do take inspiration from the living, from nature and many times alter it in their own way. We incorporate our emotions to the art. Aesthetics go along with our emotions.

"‘Jerry Saltz on the Outsider Art Fair - and Why There’s No Such Thing As ‘Outsider’ Art ."

     Categorizing outsider art apart from mainstream art is not okay, just because they are self taught or they didn't go into an art institution. I believe that all art is considered art they may have their differences but you still can’t look down on it just because its self taught or because that artist did not attend an art school. 

I agree with Jerry that outsider art should also be placed in museums. Art is a way to express yourself so all art will be different and never the same but they all also have their own different emotions to them. The art community should be accepting of the different artist and art that is out there before it is too late.

WARP First Post

Labels Help You Organize

All blog posts must be labeled with two keywords, which blogger calls Labels. When faculty visits your blog for evaluation purposes, we will use the labels to quickly find your work. If you do not use the keywords properly, we will not be able to find your work. Proper set-up and maintenance of your blog falls under the Research and Participation part of your grade which counts for 30% of the overall semester grade. 

Topical Keywords

The first set of keywords correspond to the module we are working in. We will refer to these as topical keywords since they correspond to the topic we are exploring over the two-week periods. Your first group of posts will be labeled under Topic: Creative Impulse since this is the first topic (Topic #1). Here are the topical keywords you will use through out the semester:

Topic: Creative Impulse

Topic: Pattern and Ornament

Topic: Rhinoceros

Topic: Narrative

Topic: Landscape

Topic: Zine

Categorical Keywords

The second set of keywords will organize your posts according to kind. Here are the Keywords you will use for Labels:

Exercises - tag for posts documenting all assigned exercises. The first one will be the paper folding exercise from the first class. 

Readings - tag for posts containing your two paragraph responses to the assigned readings. The first ones will be for "The White Bird" and the Jerry Saltz article from Vulture.com. 

Small Works - tag for posts documenting all assigned small works. The first blog post labeled Small Works will contain images and accompanying descriptions of the three small works you complete for the Creative Impulse Module (Topic #1). 

In-Depth Projects - tag for posts documenting all assigned In-Depth projects. The first blog post labeled In-Depth Projects will contain images (or video if appropriate) and accompanying descriptions of the more robust work you produce in response to the Creative Impulse Module (Topic #1).

Outside Visits - tag for posts containing your two paragraph responses to all required visits outside of the classroom. These include visits we do together as a class [during class time] or individually outside of class time. 

Please be sure to use both a topical and categorical keyword when labeling your posts.

Next Steps

1. After copying and pasting this text into your first blog post, create your labels from the keywords we listed above. In the Edit post window you will find an area titles Labels where you can add your own custom labels to your blog. This is where you will add the keywords we listed above. Please be sure to add all keywords to the Labels window for this first blog post. 

The easiest way to do this is by copying and pasting the following text into the Labels window for this blog post:

Topic: Creative Impulse, Topic: Pattern and Ornament, Topic: Rhinoceros, Topic: Narrative, Topic: Landscape, Topic: Zine, Exercises, Readings, Small Works, In-Depth Projects, Outside Visits

Here's a screen shot of what that looks like, and where to find Labels when editing a post

.