Philosophy of Art

It was interesting and fun to take a philosophy of art class during this quarter. In such a city like London, great pieces of art are abundant. I liked many of the pieces of art that we have seen in London. My aesthetic of art has been mostly leaning toward classic works but during my trip here and visiting the modern museums I have had a greater appreciation of modern art. In my previous art classes we were taught how to evaluate and analysis art, but in this class I was given a chance to express how I feel and if I like or dislike a certain piece.

Geocache!!!!

Over this past quarter I have learned what and how to Geocache. This class has been a great learning experience while also being exciting and fun. I enjoyed that when geocaching we were able to visit some interesting and different areas of London. For example would be the John Snow pub, I would have never gone to this pub knowing how it held a historical significance. By doing the Disaster, Plague, and Cholera series I have learned a great deal more about London history with the plague and fire. Some geocaches were a bit more difficult to find, especially the physical cache that are hidden at the end of the series. In Barnes most of the caches were physically hidden and one for certain gave me much trouble finding. The cache first off was hidden under a fallen tree but it was also buried. Over all I enjoyed this Geocache class and I am certain I will be doing more caches in the future.

Which is the Master?

In class we were given both these sketches to see which one was the master. The sketch on the left has a much more expression in the face. It is due to the combination of the eyes, eyebrows, and mouth showing greater detail of expression. Shading done in the left sketch makes the picture have much more depth and dimension; it makes the girl appear more real. The highlights used for lighting on the girls face on the left are much better used then the sketching on the right. One is better able to define where the light source is appearing from. The sketching on the left the girl’s face is better defined and completed giving the girl a better shape as a whole. On the right the girl's left side of her face is, to me, left unfinished and is in need of more shading and detail. Overall I chose the picture on the left to be the more superior and master of the two.

Yo-Yo Ma compared with Rostropovich Version

In class we listen to two different versions of Beethoven's pieces, first version is Yo-Yo Ma and the second version is Rostropovich. In the beginning part of the Yo-Yo Ma piece the cello and piano over lap a bit. It’s a slow and sweet part but it builds ever so slightly. The first time I had heard the piece the long pause before the abrupt and aggressive part of the piece had startled me. In this piece to me it seems that the piano had a much bigger and important part and over powers the cello.

Second piece, Rostropovich, the beginning the cello and piano have more of a conversation going back and forth that doesn’t overlap as much like the other version. The pause in this one was not as abrupt and harsh as in the Yo-Yo Ma, it was a shorter pause. The second half of this piece also does not feel as harsh and aggressive. To me it feels like the cello is being played in front of the piano and in the center of the piece. The piano was not protruded as dark as in the previous piece. Over all I enjoyed this piece better it had a more settle and sweeter tone throughout the whole piece where I felt the Yo-Yo Ma piece was more aggressive and flexed with its tone.

Romeo and Juliet

On Tuesday night we attend the Globe’s Romeo and Juliet play. The play was more happy then what I expected out of a Romeo and Juliet play. This was my first time watching a Romeo and Juliet all the way through, so have nothing solid to compare with. At the end of the play I was not expecting in a Romeo and Juliet play for everyone to come back alive and dance. The acting in the play was a more up-beat mood then expected. Romeo and Juliet acted out for us at the Globe was a romance, tragedy and comedy when I assumed it would be more of a dark and tragic play. I believe that if I had sat down I may have been able to enjoy the play more, but as it was I stood for three hours and had ache feet and legs from crouching so that people could see behind me.

British Museum

The Great Court room is the beginning to my journey in the British Museum. It’s not a bad way to start the museum it gave me a sense of welcome. The court room has a large and beautiful window ceiling that allows large amounts of light into the spacious room. I enjoy the design of diamonds the window makes. With the room being made of white stone makes the room even lighter. The stair case gives the feeling that the room is made for royalty, gives an elegant touch to room. The entry ways into different sections of the library have columns and similar features as buildings in Roman times.

“Battle of the Lapiths and Centaurs” I had seen these pieces earlier on a previous trip to the British Museum. At that time I did not understand the story behind them. Now knowing the story I understand the statues and why they are fighting. In each setting it goes back and forth on who is winning, the centaurs or the Lapiths. Although the sculptures are damaged and missing some non-attached pieces the sequence is a great piece of work. The detail in each setting is exquisite; it’s as if you can see the movement in the figures. No two plates are the same, each have a unique moment of the battle.

Bloomsbury Group

Here is the site of my pictures taken at the site of Maynard Keynes and also at Lytton Strachey
http://www.panoramio.com/map/?user=3204142#lt=51.524101&ln=-0.1300095&z=0

This is a list of the unique group of Bloomsbury artist, poets and thinkers:

Helen Anrep

Clive Bell
Grew up at Cleeve House in Wiltshire
moves to 50 Gordon Square with wife Venessa

Julian Bell

Quentin Bell

Frederick and Jesse Etchells

E.M. Foster
9 Arlington Park Mansions, Turnham Green Terrace, W4

Roger Fry
born in 1866 in Highgate, London

Angelica Garnett

David 'Bunny' Garnett
1916 farmhouse Charleston Farmhouse. Firle, East Sussex.
Garrick's Villa, Hampton Court Road, Richmond-upon-Thames


Duncan Grant
1909 moved to 21 Fitzroy Square
1916 farmhouse Charleston Farmhouse. Firle, East Sussex.

Mary Hutchinson

Maynard Keynes
46 Gordon Square, WC1

Wyndham Lewis

Vanessa Stephen (Later Bell)
Born 1879 lived in Hyde Park Gate
1904 moved to 46 Gordon Square, Bloomsbury.
1916 farmhouse Charleston Farmhouse. Firle, East Sussex.

Lytton Strachey
51 Gordon Square, WC1

Leonard Woolf
29 Fitzroy Square, W1

Virginia Woolf
25 January 1882 to May 1904 at 22 Hyde Park Gate, W8
January 1905 to March 1907 at 46 Gordon Square, WC1
April 1907 to November 1911 at 29 Fitzroy Square, W1
20 November 1911 to 29 October 1912 at 38 Brunswick Square, WC1
30 October 1912 to September 1913 at 13 Clifford’s Inn, between Chancery Lane, WC2, and Fetter Lane, EC4
16 October 1914 to 25 March 1915 at 17 The Green, Richmond upon Thames, Surrey
15 March 1924 to August 1939 at 52 Tavistock Square, WC1
13 October 1939 to 27 August 1940 at 37 Mecklenburgh Square, WC1