My Personal Explorationss...

Philosophy of Art: From the Beginning to the End

Art.

It is completely subjective, but yet we have a whole world of people who study and analyze it. There are so many variations, but people/scholars still try to classify it. Through this class, we are taught to distinguish pure taste with art criteria, and it is the most interesting journey.

Ahhh, the Saatchi Gallery. 
I have never even heard of this place before Professor Manley took us, and yet it has a very dear spot in my heart. Some of the most disturbing, controversial, yet beautiful pieces I have ever seen. 

I tend to choose pieces that have an emotional attachment to me, or are visually pleasing to my eyes. This piece really touched me, because it's how I feel sometimes. A drone of many other similar persons, and completely hollow and empty on the inside.

I love the openness of all the rooms in the Saatchi Gallery. Really allowed us to zoom in on the pieces.

The fluffy clouds to Tate Modern were so pretty!One of the best days in London that I could remember.

Tate Modern! Another one of my top favorites. I actually really enjoyed the black and highlighter yellow walls that act as a transition from one theme to another.

National Gallery. I wasn't a fan of classic art, but I actually enjoyed this exhibition simply for the aesthetics of it all. Each room was done in a very classy way, where I felt like I was in a Duke's manor, staring at his collection of artworks. I started to realize that although it was not my original cup of tea, I can appreciate it for the amount of time and effort it takes to create such a masterpiece.

Turner/Rothko Exhibit. I loved this room! How the colors, depending on what the background is, completely changes the feel of each canvas. Amazing!

Food Aesthetics at TAS. Good food paid for by class? Already my earbuds were perking up. I always wanted to be a food critic, and this was fun to choose a different medium to discuss art and taste.

Romeo and Juliet. Although I didn't enjoy it, I liked being able to watch a Shakespearan play the way it was originally done! Again, going along with theme that although I do not prefer the play, I can appreciate it for what it is.

The theatre setting was so pretty!

Art is all relative, but we can appreciate it through its line, tone, expressiveness, space, etc... like Rosenberg's Criteria of Excellence. Art is a criticism of life and society, although we may not like the same things...we can still recognize the worth of it.

Geocaching: From Start to End

I never could have imagined that I would be experiencing London's nooks and crannies in a class. Dr. Manley's Geocaching class has been such an amazing adventure crawling through trees and uncovering London's history and puzzles.

A quick Geocaching Glance through Time...

Our first geocache ever at the John Snow Pub! I really had no idea what we were doing besides having the slightest knowledge that it was sort of like a scavenger hunt. And so it begins...

A part of the Catastrophe series. Monument! I hate exercise so the climb up was not appealing, but it was great to be able to see this on the very first week we were here. It's amazing how I was so lost as to where we were at this stage, and now everytime I see Monument on the tube, I know exactly what's off the exit.

Doing this part of the Catastrophe cache by myself, I was so scared that I was going to get caught! I felt like Sherlock Holmes on the search for some clues. The roads leading here were unpaved as well, and it was like a ghost town. I definitely would not have wanted to look in this area without geocaching.

I also really enjoyed exploring Regent's Park for the last cache in the Catastrophe series. If it wasn't for geocaching, I would not have taken the time out to see this gorgeous park! I hate physical exercise though, so this was the longest journey in life!

Tower of London! One of the best parts about geocaching is that I was able to explore major attractions while in class. The internship program students have to waste their own spare time to do this, while I can explore new things in the meantime. Much more time efficient :).

Greenwich. I love explaining to everyone in the internship program and at home about the history of the Prime Meridian. I learned to read a GPS here, and the Observatory is definitely not where it is 0 degrees longitude!

Roamin' the Roman Wall! This was one of the highlights as well. It was quite a puzzle to fill in the remains of the Roman Wall. It's crazy how Londoners have built around the remaining parts of the Wall. New against the very old, I love it.

The flowers are so gorgeous in London! I saw this patch next to the Roman Wall. The levels of different flowers of the same color within the same garden bed is very unique, I've never seen it anywhere else.

I really enjoyed this secluded pond area next to the Roman Wall Walk. If I ever needed a place to contemplate, I would definitely come here.

Regent's Canal geocache was one of my favorite geocaches that we did. I had no idea that London had a Little Venice, and I long to take my significant other to the restaurant on the Canal. It's a shame that the Boat House restaurant is so exclusive and expensive.

I was pretty excited to be able to find this secluded entrance for one of the Regent's Canal caches. We would have definitely passed by it without thinking much of it. 

My first time at Camden Market, and it's all because of geocaching! I knew I was going to come here soon, but I would have never thought that it used to be a horse hospital.

My first time doing a cache without any collaboration any from my classmates. Sherlock Holmes 3. Without a GPS and internet, I blindly stumbled upon Temple Church. When I got there, I couldn't find the plaque for the life of me, so I had to go home and come back another day. There were 3 last names that could have been the answer, so I had to input in all possible combos into geocaching.com. This was a tough one, especially since I forgot how to read roman numerals (it was in the thousands!)

A great way to end our geocaching class: Abbey Rd! I have been wanting to go here before I leave, and I loved how my prayers were answered with geocaching! It combined everything that geocaching has to offer: a wonderful place of interest, and a delicious history to boot. 

Master-Pupil Evaluation

Which one is a Picasso?

The answer must be the one on the left. 

Rosenberg's Criteria of Excellence:

Line and Tone: Minimalism is key here. The sketch on the left has lines that are precise, each one performing a task to enlarge the bigger picture. The sketch on the left has alot of unecessary lines that can easily be erased without feeling like a piece of the sketch is missing. The lines are drawn in so deeply on the right, like a child who cannot grasp the pen masterfully and must hold it forcefully so to not lose hold of it. The sketch on the right is drawn daintily with grace and elegance, as a woman with child should be perceived.

Form: There is a difference of contrast in the left sketch to show what should the viewer zoom in on. It is obvious what is in the foreground and what is in the background, whereas the sketch on the right it takes a couple seconds to zoom in one the figure of the woman. There are so many dark lines surrounding the sketch that it is hard to see. The female form is also drawn more grotesque in the second sketch, like the woman is ready for prostitution. The sketch on the left draws it much more artistically and beautifully, where a woman is symbolized as more of a flower and a nuturer than the one on the right.

Space: The background shows that the woman is lying in a meadow, tending to her child, in a very matriarchal mood, whereas the second sketch shows the woman laying on some not romantic sheets.

Expressiveness: The woman on the left's body is much more natural than the one on the right. The one on the right looks like an amateur because the shoulder lies straight but it is meant to be leaning naturaly. The body feels very stiff and awkward. It is unsure of what emotion she is trying convey. Her face looks mean and harsh, while the one on the left is a gentle mother. 

Picasso's sketch must be the one on the left.

Rostropovich vs. Yo-Yo-Ma

Ludwig Von Beethoven's Cello Sonata No. 4 

Rostropovich and Yo-Yo-Ma each interpreted Beethoven's piece with grace. I felt that Rostropovich's Cello Sonata was more captivating because the piano and the cello played off each other. It was like the cello was a man, and the piano was a woman. He tries to romance her in the beginning, creeping up to her like a delicate flower, and romancing her as much as possible. He then gets the girl, but there is confrontation about. They get angry, make up, and fight all over again. It is the classic love story, of happiness and conflict, working together harmoniously. The cello stated its prominence, and the piano accompanied it.

In Yo-Yo-Ma's interpretation, the piano was the main focal point. I did not get the same storyline from his recording. Piano and cello played harmoniously together, with a light and airy balance between the two. Reading on wikipedia, it stated that Beethoven wrote this piece in his time of hardship, as his deafness became more prevalent. This conflict in him brought him to write No. 4. I did not feel the conflict Yo-Yo-Ma's interpretation. It was played much slower, without as much fervor. This piece would be something nice to listen to after a nice dinner and in time for coffee, but not emotional enough for a soundtrack. There was a story behind the Rostropovich's piece, and I enjoyed the emotional attachment to it instead of Yo-Yo-Ma's interpretation. 

Romeo and Juliet Review

Romeo and Juliet is undoubtedly the most popular play where Shakespeare is concerned. Watching it the way that Shakespeare meant for it to be shown, in the Shakespeare Globe, was supposed to be a very enlightening experience where we can go back in time to the Victorian era. Unfortunately, I did not enjoy this play as much as I thought I would. I remembered reading and analyzing the play in my English AP class back in high school, and this was not how I pictured it to be. Considering that this rendition was in the Shakespeare Globe, I thought that it would be more fitting for Romeo and Juliet to resemble close to how Shakespeare would have wanted it done. I felt it was unorthodox to have both Romeo and Tybalt played by Black actors. I am not racist in the least, but when the rest of the Capulet and Montague family are completely white, this makes the storyline less believable. When we first saw the beginning scenes of the play, I was trying to guess who was which character, and I thought that since Juliet was played by such a young actress, that the actor who played Benvolio would be better suited for the role of Romeo. In Romeo's defense, he played the role passionately and with vigor, but I honestly thought he was an understudy throughout the remainder of the play.

My biggest criticism of the play was that it was played much too lightly for the arena that it was shown. I enjoy variations of Romeo and Juliet, but I felt that this may have been better suited for an Off-Broadway play, not in the Shakespeare Globe. The sexual conotations were much too vulgar for a place where parents bring their little children to experience the original magic of one of the greatest playwrights of the English language. I would not feel comfortable bringing my children to this, nor expect it from this kind of arena. I also did not understand the costuming of Romeo's character. I felt that his cream costume when he was in "exile" was confusing, when his earlier maroon costume (for when he went to the Capulet Ball) was not as extravagant. It doesn't make sense to be wearing more embellished clothing in that time. I do, however, understand that he must wear the maroon to symbolize he is a Montague, but perhaps the costume designer could have chosen a different fabric or cut.

There still were many parts that I did enjoy. I loved the stage: it was interesting to see how little props can carry the scenes throughout the entire play. I have only seen Romeo and Juliet in movies, where there was more money spent on the background. Like when Shakespeare must have directed it, little props and great actors are what make the play vivid to the audience. I was easily entranced by the play, even without the expensive props. I thought that Juliet was believable because women in her time were married off much earlier to much older men. Although this was not how I pictured watching Romeo and Juliet in Shakespeare's Globe, it was still a memorable experience that I will never soon forget.

Bloomsbury Group Project

http://www.panoramio.com/map/?user=3201043#lt=51.397287&ln=0.0312445&z=7

I tried using Panoramio, but I found that using Google Maps was easier.  

Here's the link to my Panoramio. 

I thought my Google Maps one 

(with all of the Bloomsbury Group addresses I can find, by year) 

was easier to interpret. I put pictures in there as well.

 I

View Bloomsbury Group in a larger map

List of Bloomsbury Group (From Tate.org.uk)

1. Helen Anrep

2. Clive Bell

1920-1922: resides in 50 Gordon Square w/ wife Vanessa

3. Vanessa Bell (Stephen)

1904-1907: moves into 46 Gordon Square w/ her 3 siblings (including Virginia Woolf)

1907-1922: stays at 46 Gordon Square w/ husband Clive while Virginia and siblings move out.

1920-1922: resides in 50 Gordon Square w/ husband Clive

4. Quentin Bell

5. Frederick and Jesse Etchells

6. Roger Fry

1913-1919: Roger Fry’s Omega Studios at 33 Fitzroy Square

7. Angelica Garnet

8. David "Bunny" Garnet

9. Duncan Grant

1907-1911: his studio at 22 Fitzroy Square during this time

1907-1911: resides at 26 Fitzroy Square w/ John Maynard Keynes

10. Mary Hutchinson

11. John Maynard Keynes

12. Lytton Strachey

1909-1924: resides in 51 Gordon Square

13. James Strachey

1919-1956: resides in 41 Gordon Square

14. Leonard Woolf

1911-1912: moves to 38 Brunswick Square and lives in the same building as Virginia Woolf and her brother Aiden, and Duncan Grant.

1912: marries Virginia Woolf

1924-1939: home w/ wife Virginia at 52 Tavistock Square

1939-1940: moves to 37 Mecklenburgh Square to escape the bombing, but the home is bombed year of.

15. Virginia Woolf (Stephen)

1939-1940: moves to 37 Mecklenburgh Square to escape the bombing, but the home is bombed year of.

1904-1907: moves into 46 Gordon Square w/ her 3 siblings (including Vanessa Bell)

1907-1911: Virginia and brother Aiden’s reside in 29 Fitzroy Square while Vanessa was married.

1911-1912: moves to 38 Brunswick Square and lives in the same building as brother Adrian, Leonard Woolf, and Duncan Grant.

1912: married Leonard Woolf

1924-1939: home w/ husband Leonard Woolf at 52 Tavistock Square

1939-1940: moves to 37 Mecklenburgh Square to escape the bombing, but the home is bombed year of.

The Bloomsbury Group consisted of many brilliant literary individuals who all seem to have a common bond of some sort. Many met at the Cambridge University while studying, and later lived together. They shared not only a common bond of literature, but also relations with each other. Their sexual explorations are represented in their respected arts, and it was fun to see how close of a proximity they were all to each other. Like a college fraternity or sorority, they fraternized with each other, and made history along with it.

 Citations:

Tate.co.uk

The Word Travels 

Virginia Woolf and friends Walking Tour

British Museum + Poetry Interpretation

1. The British Museum's Architecture
The reconstruction of the Great Court in the British Museum feels like a lovely medley of two of the greatest countries' architectural feats: the glass pyramid at the Louvre in Paris, and Roman columns from Italy. The equilateral triangle has always represented the strongest shape in architecture, reinforced on all sides perfectly, and as the holy trinity in mythology. Foster's choice of creating the glass ceiling provides both a symbolic and beautiful escape from the sometimes overwhelmingly powerful artefacts and artworks at the British Museum, allowing visitors to look to the skies and beyond for a nice little breather. The centerpiece of the Great Court, with its sprawling majestic staircases, leads up to what I would have thought to be used as the most prestigious exhibition, ends up being only a restaurant terrace. I was sadly disappointed. There is so much intricacy in the Great Court: from the curled detail of the top of the Roman columns on all 4 archways, to the Roman lettering of Queen Elizabeth's name on the centerpiece... I enjoyed it all. Combining French and Italian architecture, Foster brings together the true symbolism of the British Museum and perhaps London in itself: the Museum and the City is a melting pot of all the great works and cultures of our time, as one look into the British Museum, we can see how diverse (from all of the overseas conquering, I'm sure) the country has truly become...

2. Vita Sackville-West's "And so it ends..."
One poem that truly caught my eye in class was Sackville-West's vividly emotional poem on the end of relationships. Doing the Bloomsbury Group Project, I learned that Vita Sackville-West had romantic interests with both female and male counterparts, and I wonder who this poem was about. Perhaps Virginia Woolf? The poem flows like a song, and I can imagine a contemporary artist making a musical rendition with these words.

Your meeting touch upon the string
That still was vibrant, still could sing

This phrase can be vividly pictured in my brain. I see a person being touched by his or her lover, and still remembering the feeling like it was yesterday.

Would slash me with a naked knife
And gently tell me not to bleed

This phrase feels like it was taken right out of a modern day Emo Acoustic music genre band, like Good Charlotte or Blink 182.

The Bloomsbury Group's sexual discovery of each other seems to be epitomized in this poem by Sackville-West, as they were married and had different partners, and I can imagine Sackville-West's emotional confusion and distrought with it all in "As it ends..."