Hybrid Art

Hybrid art seems to be the way of this day and age.  It is exactly as it says, a hybrid, because it is combining materials such as paints, clay, or metals with photography or digital media.  It is bringing forth this new art form where you can have a still image, yet use the digital media for a moving one as well.  The possibilities are truly endless with this.  You can use light or technology as a way of seeing music!  It is just incredible and is really taking us to expand art in new ways, we probably didn't think was possible.  I feel it really helps intensify these mixed emotions from each of the subjects.  If you go to this link @ the bottom of the page there are some images of hybrid art! : http://schools.walkerart.org/arttoday/index.wac?id=2361

Stem Vs. Steam

This goes back to my post about the lack of interest in the humanities.  I don't believe that it is the children's fault for not pursuing humanities...it is with the parents, school, and government.  Schools really have to be pushing STEM now.  STEM is a teaching method based on pushing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.  I don't understand how the arts would never have been considered or as to why they didn't seem to be of any importance.  This is just showing how people higher up are really changing how our children learn and what about.  The method of pushing STEAM instead of STEM makes so much more sense to allow the children to really have a wider variety of lessons and subjects to base their intelligence off of.  Everyone is different and some people really excel in the arts so deprive a child of that doesn't make sense to me.  & it truly should lie with the parents in the end that they are trying to introduce and teach their child as many subjects as possible.  Teaching can never be left just to the school; it is just not sufficient enough to teach a child all they need to know in life.

Flash mobs

Flash mobs are just another way to express ones self through dance, but does the unexpected aspect of it make it any greater than if one were to be going to a ballet knowingly getting ready to see a performance?  I feel like it would definitely bring a whole different feel to it.  You aren't ready for it, it just starts happening around you and can really draw you in.  It seemed like it was just supposed to be a positive event to help lift the moods of people in their everyday lives.  It has now been banned in some places and some places work to keep them from following through.  They are able to use an excuse as the event didn't have a permit for taking place in a public area or the endangerment of people.  I can understand that having a sudden rush of people to a place could be a safety hazard, but it is not meant to be violent.  I have never read anything about a flash mob turning ugly and people getting trampled on or any form of injury occurring from it.  Another bad outcome of flash mobs is that people have taken it to actually be something bad.  They are doing robberies as a "flash mob" or other crimes so the word "flash mob" has taken on a negative vibe, but those crimes are nothing to do with what art is supposed to be taking place with flash mob in reality.  It is upsetting to see such a creative and positive idea being taken and having people try to turn it into such an ugly thing.  I have such respect for people who do them because it does take a lot of organization and keeping it hidden and having people not come in just a flood, but trickling a few here and there.  It is truly just a magnificent thing to watch unfold in front of your eyes.

http://youtu.be/bQLCZOG202k

http://www.essential-humanities.net/western-art/painting/modern/

Dumbing down of language

I know that more and more homework is being giving to younger kids, but why not keep the high standard of language.  If a child doesn't know a word then they should be asking what it means rather than having us simplify the words so a younger child can understand it and do the same lesson.  If we expect them to do that work, it should truly be the same.  With social media & texting these days, it seems to be that many people are dumbing down their language.  The fact that time can't be spent spelling out a whole word like "U r 2 cool.  Ttyl." I just don't understand the laziness.  What really gets me is when they're all spelt wrong using "gon" instead of going to or, my goodness, the worst is "their there they're" & "your you're"!  Come on people!  If you don't know which is correct ask or look it up yourself!  It is absurd that someone would not know the difference and when/how to use one!  I wish we could go back to having people read Shakespeare!  This form of language is just so beautiful and inspiring!  To even have schools push for this status of writing i feel like would be seen as insane, but really...why not?  It is such a high standard of writing, wouldn't you want that?  The laziness and just the low quality of language today is just really mind blowing and very sad.  We should be striving for the highest quality for our children.

Lack of interest in humanities

I have seen this A LOT through high school and college, where kids don't care to actually read the books and choose to just watch a film, or even worse just going to spark notes or shmoop to avoid doing any work at all.  You can read about events taking place in history through a different point of view.  Usually a book would be assigned in a class because it held some form of significant stance in our history.  You can learn so many things from stories and really have them expand your mind.  The other issue with watching the film is that more than likely they will leave parts out of the film or even change certain situations, so if you are more visual and feel the film would help you...why not read the book and then watch the film to really help you compare the differences between the two & it would just help remember what all took place.  The lack of interest in humanities has gotten way out of hand!  The percentage of people that end up pursuing a career in the humanities has now dropped half its amount and is under 10%! That truly just blows my mind that so many people aren't willing to learn about all the varieties of art, music, books, etc in the past to really help us evolve for the future.
If you'd like to read the article that got me started on this: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-diana-e-sheets/the-crisis-in-the-humanit_b_3588171.html

Social Media & Art

There is a graffiti artist nicknamed Banksy and he is known to go out to public places, create artwork on sides of buildings, take a picture, and then put it up on social media for others to try to find it since he'll only leave it up for a short time before covering it back up with paint.  This has really blown up to where people are hurrying to find this artwork so they can say that they found it and had seen his artwork in person.  A lot of his artwork can be political and humorous, which makes it even stronger in connecting with people.  The amazing thing with what he is doing, is that by covering it up its there and then its gone so you have to see it with your own eyes in that short time to be able to really appreciate that drawing for all its worth.  Another point is that he does have pieces he has made on canvas....he put them at a random booth in New York Central Park and had them selling for $60.  These paintings have sold at about $600,000 and up!  Both of these points are showing that he just wants the art appreciated.  It isn't about the materialism and paying thousands for a painting.  He wants everyone to be able to have art and to just admire it, is all art truly should be.  It should just be about connecting people with a feeling through art. This is a fresh new way to look at art to appreciate it in the here and now, rather than as an investment.  If you'd like to see some of banksy's work here is a link: http://banksy.co.uk
http://instagram.com/banksyny

Stories/Poems & Deeper Meanings?

Whenever you have an english class it always seems like you have to dissect poems or stories to analyze the true meaning behind each and every line, but was there REALLY a deeper meaning behind every word?  What if they were just writing a story?  I almost wonder did some artsy fartsy person just come and read something and blow it wayyy out of proportion.  It doesn't always have to be about this person has mother issues, some sort of sexual desire, etc...like couldn't have the artist just been making what they thought sounded like a really good story and these stories really aren't loaded with all this symbolism? Just a thought.

Music

Music can bring people of all different backgrounds and ethnicities together.  Theres so many different genres now that the choices are unlimited.  After time, certain music can become popular again.  When i was in high school it seemed like all the 80's music was popular again.  This allows people of different generations to connect, so as a kid I was able to connect with my parents through the music of their high school days.  Music not only brings people of different ages together, but languages and cultures as well.  Just because you may not understand the words to a song, does not mean that you wouldn't enjoy the song...there is so much more to music with the rhythm and beat.  An example could be an african chant, where you might not know the exact words, but with everyone singing together and the beat of the drum, it can lift your mood and be something you truly enjoy! So really music is a universal language that brings people together.

Youth programs for Humanities

Michelle Obama had given awards out to 12 after-school/out of school humanity programs for youth, & each award was for $10,000 dollars!  It is so incredible to see such an importance placed on the humanities! This can really help them be able to strengthen the core of their craft, whether it is with music, theater, or art.  I feel it is really important for children to be able to explore all of these options.  I know in school I wasn't eager to do band or do a play, but you will never know if you are good at it or enjoy it until you do it!  Now, having the ability to read music/play an instrument has opened many opportunities later in life.  Even though i won't pursue a career in music, it has deepened my appreciation and love of all music. I truly believe these programs will play such a beneficial role in the children's lives. If you'd like to read the article its here: http://www.nahyp.org/pressrelease/2014-national-arts-and-humanities-youth-program-awards-finalists-announced/

Pop Art & Mood

I have had this exact Andy Warhol Marilyn Monroe poster for quite a few years now, and never really knew the significance behind it.  Andy Warhol is such a famous name when talking about pop art.  The bright and bold colors definitely stood out! A lot of pop art reminds me of almost cartoon-like images, but i guess that's just because of how abstract artists were being to try to get a certain mood across. With this Marilyn Monroe image in particular, the colors are just in your face and and really makes her larger than life, which i feel was really helping show her personality with the colors.  It can so easily be changed for many different things; pink is so girly which could be related to her being such a va-va-voom woman, or if it were red it may be seen as the jealousy women may have had for her, or even blues which may represent her depression.  There are so many variations of an image with color, which can really help the picture connect with people on a multitude of levels.  It can be from a simple appreciation of art to a raw, emotional connection.