Week 15 Video Reviews

1.    For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned.

Greenberg/Criticism - In this video I learned that were a ton of issues surrounding the new or modernist style of painting.

Greenberg/Pollock – I learned that Pollock was a big drinker. I learned that Greenberg thought he was overrated and “full of shit”. Although he chastised Pollock, he respected him and thought that he could have really been something if he lived a little longer.

Italian Renaissance– I learned that Artists didn’t just know how to create art, but rather they learned from all the artists before them and how they perfected their art. They learned by studying their elders.

The Critics– This video was amazing. It showed how critics are actually like artists.   They have their own style, their own rituals, and their own specialties.

Colonial - I didn’t really know anything about the 1900 World’s Fair, so this piece was most definitely interesting. It was odd to me to learn how everything depicted in the fair, was to promote the strength of the French etc.

Pollock – I think what I learned here is that any 2 people can have completely different views of the exact same work of art or exhibit. It is interpretation more than understanding that drives a critic’s view point.

2.    How do the videos relate to the readings in the text?

Greenberg/Criticism - This video relates to the book in that shows how Greenberg loved Matisse and his contributions to the Fauve Revolution.

Greenberg/Pollock - This video related to the readings as it re-emphasizes the fact that as times changed and modernizations were implemented in Art, people were chastised and cast aside because their styles didn’t jell well with the current styles. We just read about this last week.

Italian Renaissance – This video relates to the readings in that we read about the Renaissance and the rebirth of art in previous chapters.

The Critics – This relates to the readings because it shows how individuality related to critics is the same as the individuality of artists. They have their own ways of doing things to create their endpoint.

Colonial – I think this relates to the readings in the book because it reemphasizes how Western influence on Europe changed the way art and history were depicted.

Pollock - This relates to this week’s work because it shows us that  2 people can have completely different views of the exact same work of art or exhibit. It is interpretation more than understanding that drives a critic’s view point. Since we will be critiquing each other’s exhibits this week, it has merit.

I didn’t particularly care for any of the videos that much. They are all starting to get quite a bit lengthy. The Greenberg video was especially hard to follow. Greenberg sounded drunk during the interview and was extremely difficult to understand.