Visual Art
Vincent van Gogh was a 19th-century Dutch Post-Impressionist painter. The titles that have been given to each of his three paintings are Bedroom in Arles (French: La Chambre a Arles; Dutch: Slaapkamer te Arles). The Bedroom in Arles is the painting that has been chosen for this particular paper (Dorn, 1990).

The Bedroom (French: La Chambre a coucher) was the simple title that was given by Van Gogh to his own composition. He has described three versions in the letters that have been written by him. With the help of the pictures on the right wall, these three versions can easily be differentiated (Dorn, 1990).

Van Gogh's Yellow House bedroom at 2, Place Lamartine in Arles, Bouches-du-hone, France has been shown in the painting. The door to the left in the painting opened into a guestroom that Van Gogh always had readied for Gauguin. The door to the right in the…...

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References

Dorn, R. (1990). Decoration: Vincent van Goghs Werkreihe fur das Gelbe Haus in Arles. Georg Olms Verlag, Hildesheim, Zurich & New York.

Jan Hulsker, J. (1996). The New Complete Van Gogh: Paintings, Drawings, Sketches; Meulenhoff, p. 367.

Pickvance, R. (1984). Van Gogh in Arles (Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, p. 191.

Vincent gallery. (2012). The Paintings: Vincent's Bedroom in Arles. Accessed on March 12, 2012 from  http://www.vggallery.com/painting/p_0482.htm

Art
In Titian's "Venus of Urbino," a nude woman reclines provocatively on a day bed, her shoulder propped up on pillows, her eyes staring directly ahead. A controversial painting because of its overtly sensual imagery, "Venus of Urbino" is inarguably stunning. The whiteness of the pillows and sheets contrasts sharply with the densely dark background behind them. Even the landscape outside of the window in the background displays a darkened sky, probably just after dusk. Symbolically, the darkness corresponds to Venus' sexuality, whereas the whiteness of her bedding adds visual and symbolic counterpoint. The white in Venus' sheets is proudly displayed in the foreground and therefore immediately noticeable. Their color is again reflected in the background, most noticeably in the dress of the kneeling woman. The repetition of colors adds a visual balance to what would otherwise be an overly dark and dramatic composition. Furthermore, the fact that the kneeling woman,…...

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Works Cited

'Titian's 'Venus of Urbino.'" SUNY Oneonta. Online at <  http://employees.oneonta.edu/farberas/arth/arth213/Titian_Venus_urbino.html >.

Titian. "Venus of Urbino." Painting reproduced online at <  http://www.abm-enterprises.net/urbinovenus.htm >.

Monet's painting "Garden at Sainte-Adresse" depicts a seaside scene in France, in which two couples enjoy a leisurely afternoon in the sun. According to the description offered by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the couple in the foreground is Monet's own father Adolphe and to his left, Monet's Aunt Madame Lecadre. The woman standing by the sea wall is apparently Monet's cousin Jeanne-Marguerite Lecadre, but the man beside her remains unidentified. All four figures cover their heads: the woman use parasols to shield themselves from the sun. Undoubtedly the setting is summertime. Monet's characteristic colors and soft yet assertive brushstrokes add to the warm feeling that envelops the "Garden at Sainte-Adresse," implying the artist's positive state of mind at the time of the composition. The rough seas in the background add contrast to the remarkably civilized scene in the foreground, perhaps suggesting Monet's awareness of the contrasts between leisurely civilized…...

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Works Cited

'Garden at Sainte-Adresse." Metropolitan Museum of Art. Online at <  http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/ho/10/euwf/hod_67.241.htm >.

Monet, Claude. "Garden at Sainte-Adresse." 1867 Oil painting.

Art of classical antiquity, in the ancient cultures of Greece and ome, has been much revered, admired, and imitated. In fact, the arts of ancient Greece and ome can be considered the first self-conscious and cohesive art movements in Europe. Style, form, execution, and media were standardized and honed to the point where aesthetic ideals were created and sustained over time. The art of classical antiquity in Greece and ome reverberated throughout history, impacting the art of subsequent eras in Europe. In fact, there can be no absolute "neoclassical" era in art history because of the way neoclassicism evolved throughout the centuries since the fall of the oman Empire. The arts of the enaissance borrowed heavily from classical antiquity, as can be seen in enaissance icons such as Michelangelo's David. Some suggest that medieval art pays homage to classical antiquity, even if the quotations from classical Greek and ome are…...

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References

Castelijn, D. (2012). The Influence of Classical Antiquity on the Renaissance. Oxford Department for Continuing Education. Retrieved online:  http://www.conted.ox.ac.uk/courses/details.php?id=V350-130#pagetop 

"Classical Antiquity in the Middle Ages," (n.d.). The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Retrieved online:  http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/anti/hd_anti.htm 

"Greek Art," (n.d.). Retrieved online:  http://www.ancient-greece.org/art.html 

"Jacques-Louis David," (n.d.). Retrieved online:  http://www.jacqueslouisdavid.org/

Visual Imagery and Qualitative Dimensions of Life & Consciousness in Visual Art
Throughout history all cultures have produced works of art. The impulse to create as a means of personal expression and to stimulate the imagination of viewers is universal and perpetual. In their various manifestations, the arts play an important role in defining culture by presenting intelligent viewpoints of our present state of being, and by serving as a record of our past. The visual arts are a repository of those qualitative dimensions of life, which enhance our consciousness through the use of visual imagery.

The most exquisite expression of the self is through art, be it literature, history theatre, painting, sculptor and so on. From the wondrous Egyptian pyramids to the majestic statue of liberty, from eloquent Greek writer Homer - who produced masterpieces like the Odyssey - to 20th century literati like Palestinian journalist Edward Said - who so…...

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Works Cited

1) A short history of English literature: Pages124 & 125. Sylvan Barnet

2) History of English literature: Pages123 & 127. Legouis & Cazamain

3) An Introduction to Fiction, Drama and Poetry: Pages 355 to 361. Kennedy Gioia

Art and the Humanities -

Art
Futurism brashly and boldly embraced new technology, celebrating even the bellicose. In Marinetti's "Manifesto of Futurism," he states, "We will glorify war -- the world's only hygiene -- militarism, patriotism, the destructive gesture of freedom-bringers, beautiful ideas worth dying for, and scorn for women," (p. 148). This peculiar statement reveals the nature of futurism as it was manifest at early twentieth century. Futurism was all embracing, rejecting nothing based on immorality because futurism shunned morality. For this reason, Futurism emerged as a staunchly progressive and open-minded genre in the visual arts. The movement not just embraced new technology but celebrated it. Even the uglier side of technology, such as heavy industries and the pollution they create, was something futurists admired and incorporated into their visual art schema. Within the futurist framework, it is certainly possible to imagine works of art that represent something genuinely new.

One reason it is possible to…...

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References

Boccioni, Umberto. "Futurist Painting: Technical Manifesto."

Marinette, Filippo Tommaso. "The Foundation and Manifesto of Futurism."

Art and Architecture
Architecture and Art

In a recent visit to Chicago, I observed the Chicago Picasso which was a gift to the city by the famed artist Pablo Picasso. Located in the downtown Chicago loop, the monument stands 58 feet tall, weighs 162 tons and is constructed of Cor-Ten (corrosive tensile) steel. Pablo Picasso gave this massive work of art to the city of Chicago, even though he'd never been to the city, and never went during his lifetime. The unpaid work was based on a 42-inch-tall version Pablo crafted. It was later executed by U.S. Steel Corporation ("Chicago Sculptures," 2011).

It is reported that Pablo Picasso never named his creation nor gave an explanation as to what it represents. The 3-D piece of art looks different from every angle. People have stated that it resembles a baboon; mainly because of the close-set eyes and flaring nostrils. Also, the copper maquette of…...

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References

Chicago Sculptures. (2011). Professional Safety, 56(4), 64.

Cunningham, B. (2011, June 5). City in Bloom. New York Times. p. 4.

The Warhol Bubble. (2012). Wilson Quarterly, 36(1), 72-73.

Windy City Windfall. (1966). Time, 88(13), 83.

Art
Please take a close look at two paintings of storms: Watteau's the Storm

painting comparison

Watteau's the Storm and Delacroix's the Sea of Galilee

The two paintings in question refer to different time periods in art history and more importantly, to different views about art and life. These views are also reflected in the style and the technique of the two paintings. Art is often a reflection of the times in which it is created. The social values and perceptions as well as the dominant religious and philosophical ideas of the time tend to be represented in art during a certain period. The following two paintings will be compared and contrasted in terms of their unique qualities, as well as in terms of the way they reflect the era and the dominant ethos of the time period in which they were created.

Comparison of Two Paintings

The development in art from Neoclassicism to the omantic…...

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References

Introduction to the Romantic Era in English Poetry. Retrieved from  http://records.viu.ca/~johnstoi/introser/romantic.htm 

Neoclassicism. Retrieved from  http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/neoc_1/hd_neoc_1.htm 

Romanticism in Art. Retrieved from http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/history-of-

art/romanticism.htm

The concept of color value may be better illustrated by impressionist artists like Renoir. In "The Skiff," Renoir depicts a boat on a placid pond using different shades, or values, of blue:

http://smphoto.files.wordpress.com/2007/09/renoir-the-skiff.jpg

Capitalizing on color value in this case adds considerable depth and nuance to the painting, as well as texture.

Texture: Texture is most obvious in three-dimensional and especially in multimedia artwork. Sculptor Giacometti molded metal, preserving its naturally bumpy texture as in the following depiction of a man walking:

http://www.bc.edu/bc_org/avp/cas/fnart/art/20th/sculpture/giacometti01.jpg

One of the distinguishing features of Giacometti's work is his use of texture. Instead of smoothing the metal to create a more realistic sculpture, the artist lets the texture become an essential defining element of the artwork. Multimedia artist Louise Nevelson sometimes carved niches into wood, thereby achieving the same type of textural experience:

http://www.cyberpathway.com/art/lane/nevel1.jpg

In fact, the Nevelson piece also illustrates the visual function of Pattern. The wooden cells are each the same…...

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Here, the discus thrower is using the space around his body. The sense of motion is palpable, even though the image is wholly static it seems as if the discus thrower is moving through space. In two-dimensional art, space is created using visual illusions. The following panel of Hieronymous Bosch's "Garden of Earthly Delights" depicts some figures in the foreground and some in the background extending toward the horizon:

 http://www.follydiddledah.com/images/hieronymus_bosch.jpg 

The result is the sense of depth and space, which are not actually present on the canvas.

Art: Romanticism
Not immediately recognized for his contribution to the visual art world, William Blake is perhaps better known for his poetry. However, the Englishman received formal training in drawing and was officially apprenticed to an engraver in London in the late eighteenth century. Blake's interest in metaphysics is apparent in all his productions, especially in allegorical pieces based on the Old Testament like his "Nebuchadnezzar," (completed in 1795). Blake's color print, finished in pen and watercolor, is a typical example of the artist's chosen media; he rejected oil paints. Like all art classified as Romantic, "Nebuchadnezzar" is intensely individualistic and introspective. Blake's preoccupation with symbolism and esoterica is apparent in the subject matter as well as its execution. Drawing upon the Biblical allegory of a headstrong king who dreams (and later realizes) that his mind degenerates into that of a beast, Blake visually interprets the book of Daniel. "Nebuchadnezzar," an…...

Laid on its side, auschenberg's "Bed" contains the same visual and tangible objects as a real bed. "Bed" seems like more than a representation of a bed; it could just as well be one especially given the use of actual bedding.
The expansion of the visual plane and the reworking of the canvas paralleled expansions of consciousness. Those transformations in consciousness and their impact on the art world were a result of historical and social change. During the 1950s when auschenberg worked, technology was growing in its relevance to the global economy. Advancements in science included quantum mechanics and theoretical physics. Medical marvels abounded. Culture was becoming less homogenous as the spread of ideas flowed across borders. Human sexuality and sexual freedom were also growing more liberated. Gender roles were changing and so were global political norms. Within the exciting environment of the 20th century arose conceptual transformations in the…...

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References

Rauschenberg, R. (1955). "Bed."

Steinberg, L. "Other Criteria." Oxford University Press, 1972.

The artworks prevalent during the early Middle Ages in many ways stand between these two extremes. The art of this period was one that was both religiously inclined but also celebrated the human form and human nature that was to become so prominent in the enaissance. In many ways much of early Medieval art was similar to the abstract and decorative art that we find in Islamic examples. An example that has been chosen to represent this early period of European art is the Gerona Bible Master from Bologna, Italy,

Figure 3.

(Source: http://www.artlex.com/ArtLex/m/middleages.html)

This decorative example displays intricate artwork that emphasizes and enhances the Biblical context. The text or lyrics on the page refers to hymnal and religious phrases of praise, such as "Let us rejoice" (Art: Middle Ages). Note the way that the decorative images add depth to the aesthetics of the script and the manuscript as a whole.

Another good example…...

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References

Art and architecture of the Early Middle Ages. Retrieved from  http://www.artandpopularculture.com/Middle_Ages 

Art: Middle Ages. Retrieved from http://www.artlex.com/ArtLex/m/middleages.html

Middle Ages. Retrieved from  http://www.answers.com/topic/middle-ages 

Roman art. Retrieved from   Siddiqui E.http://www.artchive.com/artchive/R/roman.html 

Art
Great Art proponents

Art is not something new that started recently. Art work has been in existence for a very long time and there are various artists who have brought an influence in this field. When looking at art in the 1960s we can see that there are various art movements as well as cultural histories which are associated with this period.

Andy Warhol was a very influential pop artist in the 1960s. He took product logos and their labels from a commercial context and displayed them as a form of art. He also went ahead to make sculptures that were identical to Brillo boxes and Campbell's soup cans. Through his work we can see that pop art posed as a challenge to traditional art through equating imagery that was mass produced in advertising with existing fine arts. This was attracted by graphical directness of advertising and consumer packing which was simple.…...

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References psychedelicadventures.com. (2010).The Psychedelic [in] Society:

A Brief Cultural History of Tripping. Retrieved July 4, 2013 from  http://www.psychedelicadventures.com/BriefHistory.htm 

Chappell, M. (2006). Art in the 1960s. Retrieved July 4, 2013 from http://artsconnected.org/collection/118487/art-in-the-1960s?print=true#%281%29

Sarasota Visual Art. (2012). William Pachner: Works from the 1960s. Retrieved July 4, 2013 from  http://sarasotavisualart.com/2012/02/william-pachner-works-from-the-1960s/

Not surprisingly, Caspar David riedrich's "Morning Mist in the Mountains" from 1808 is a markedly different work of art. His approach is definitely more realistic, and any symbolism in the painting is found strictly in the eye of the beholder. There is also no overt use of line in this painting, but rather the entire image is softened and blurred by the mists covering the mountain. The mountain, too, is seen from a much closer perspective, which actually serves to make it less dominating and forthright as its boundaries cannot be seen -- the mountain forms the entire background, rather than being the most prominent feature of it. In addition, the Western use of perspective and foreshortening is definitely visible in this painting whereas it is decidedly lacking in Kuan's landscape. The most prominent formal aspect of riedrich's "Morning Mist in the Mountains" is the contrast between the trees and…...

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Fan Kuan's "Travelers among the Mountains and Streams," painted sometime in the early eleventh century CE, is a classic example of a Chinese landscape. The title is somewhat ironic, as the travelers that are the supposed subject of the painting are incredibly overshadowed by the mountains themselves. There is an extreme use of vertical line in the painting, with the mountain appearing as a pillar of rock that takes up most of the painting. Near the mountain's base, the horizontal lines of the mist layer and the path beneath both serve to break up the painting to some degree, but the overall effect is the dominance of nature over the rather insignificant and seemingly futile efforts of mankind. Kuan's use of shadow is used to create the illusion of three-dimensionality, but the lack of color and the regularity of the lines make the painting more symbolic and representational than it is realistic.

Not surprisingly, Caspar David Friedrich's "Morning Mist in the Mountains" from 1808 is a markedly different work of art. His approach is definitely more realistic, and any symbolism in the painting is found strictly in the eye of the beholder. There is also no overt use of line in this painting, but rather the entire image is softened and blurred by the mists covering the mountain. The mountain, too, is seen from a much closer perspective, which actually serves to make it less dominating and forthright as its boundaries cannot be seen -- the mountain forms the entire background, rather than being the most prominent feature of it. In addition, the Western use of perspective and foreshortening is definitely visible in this painting whereas it is decidedly lacking in Kuan's landscape. The most prominent formal aspect of Friedrich's "Morning Mist in the Mountains" is the contrast between the trees and the mist that enshrouds them; these trees represent the only dark valued objects and are also the only parts of the painting that make use of definite lines, making them stand out quite prominently among the white mists and the blurred swathe of mountain and air the fills the painting.

Despite the differences in these two paintings, however, there are also some notable similarities. Though there are no human figures in Friedrich's paintings, the sheer scope of nature depicted could be see as a comment on human insignificance. Kuan's "Travelers among the Mountains and Streams" is much more explicit in delivering this message, but it can be seen in both paintings. Likewise, the verticality is much more subdued in Friedrich's painting, but it is interesting to note that both landscapes place their emphasis on vertical line, rather than on the horizontal of the horizon.

Eisenstein also mentions the "higher nervous activity" that accompanies perception of motion pictures (p. 225). The physical impact of visual imagery is poignant, according to Eisentstein. Motion pictures are visceral.
Interestingly, Deleuze mentions the ability of film to create what the author calls "false continuity," (p. 207). As Deleuze notes, "It is not quite right to say that the cinematographic image is in the present," and therefore it should not be "confused with what it represents," (p. 207). In painting and other static forms of visual art, symbols are not as easily confused with what they represent because of the added dimension of motion. Whereas Eisenstein is concerned with relationships of dominance and subordination, Deleuze focuses on relationships between past, present, and future. Eisenstein uses montage to illustrate his ideas about how the brain interprets a moving canvas of images, and Deleuze discusses film in a more general sense. Yet…...

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References

Deleuze, Gilles. "Thought and Cinema: The Time-Image"

Eisenstein, Sergei. "On Montage and the Filmic Fourth Dimension."

I. Introduction
A. Definition of the Human Condition
B. Importance of Studying the Human Condition
C. Thesis Statement: Exploring key aspects of the human condition and their significance in shaping human existence.

II. Historical Perspectives on the Human Condition
A. Ancient Philosophical Views (e.g., Aristotle, Plato)
B. Medieval and Renaissance Perspectives (e.g., Thomas Aquinas, Machiavelli)
C. Enlightenment Thinkers (e.g., Rousseau, Hobbes)

III. Psychological Dimensions of the Human Condition
A. Human Emotions and Behavior
B. Cognitive Processes and Perceptions
C. Impact of Social and Environmental Factors

IV. Existential and Philosophical Views
A. Existentialism: Meaning and Purpose
B. Absurdity and Anxiety in Human Existence
C.....

Literary Analysis

Hamlet's Tragic Flaw: An Exploration of Indecisiveness and Self-Doubt
The Role of Ambition in Macbeth: A Study in Power and Corruption
The Tragic Heroine in King Lear: A Comparison of Cordelia and Goneril
Romeo and Juliet as a Tragedy of Fate or Free Will
The Meaning of Love in Twelfth Night: A Romantic Comedy with a Twist

Character Analysis

The Complexity of Hamlet: Madness, Melancholy, and the Search for Truth
Macbeth: A Tragic Hero or a Villain?
Ophelia in Hamlet: A Study of Fragility and Female Agency
The Character of Falstaff in Henry IV and Henry V: Humor, Loyalty,....

1. The rise and fall of the Russian Empire
2. The impact of Peter the Great on Russian history
3. The role of the Russian Revolution in shaping modern Russia
4. The Soviet Union under Stalin's rule
5. The Cold War and its effects on Russia
6. The fall of the Soviet Union and the transition to a market economy
7. The role of Russia in World War II
8. The cultural and artistic history of Russia, including literature, music, and visual arts
9. Gender roles and women's rights in Russian history
10. The legacy of Tsarist Russia in modern-day Russia
11. The impact of the Mongol invasions on Russia's....

Understanding the Concept of Narrative

A narrative is a form of storytelling that unfolds a sequence of events or experiences over time. It typically involves characters, a setting, a conflict, and a resolution. Narratives can be fictional or nonfictional, and they can be expressed through various mediums such as literature, film, music, and visual arts.

Approaching Narrative Essay Topics

When developing essay topics centered around narratives, consider the following aspects:

Personal Narratives: Explore personal experiences, anecdotes, or stories that have shaped your life or perspectives.
Literary Narratives: Analyze narratives in literary works, examining character development, plot structure, and themes.
Historical Narratives: Examine historical....