module 10 blog review

African Art

          The very first line of the film is "Art is a part of daily life." I feel that art is able to stay more alive in the African culture because a lot of what they use are made by hand and not machines. It brings a personal touch to the things they use everyday. Also its a huge part of their religious structure and art brings vitality to the rituals. The most successful of all the african artifacts to last over the years were found in the drier areas of the country. Ancient bush paintings depict animals and humans and are thought to represent good luck. As African Art infilitrated the Western world, it was lost upon them what the art actually meant. Its much more than just decorative masks to hang on a wall. It has deep roots in African culture. I like how this film defined the difference between conceptual art and perceptual art and thats where the disconnect lies in European culture understanding African Art. Western art had a tendency to be more perceptual, capturing the things around them. Cinceotual art comes from within the artist. It is more about symbolism than actuality.



The Great Wave

       Hokusai’s The Great Wave is considered to be the best known image of all of  Japanese art and its prints were sold for the equivalent of a double bowl of noodles!! It's likelihood is printed on mugs and folders and clothes and tattoos. This allows for an over 170 year old image to remain relevant in Japanese culture today. It is only 15 inches by 10 inches and yet its presence is one hundred times that much. It was when Hokusai was under great physical, mental and financial distress that THE GREAT WAVE came about. His grandson had left him destitute in his old age and he had to find away out of his newly found poverty. Its amazing to know that out of the most dire of circumstances the most amazing things can come about.  I think this is the most important aspect. I feel that Hokusai's wave was in direct reflection of his life. He was faced with this huge monument of negative things happening, like a wave coming at him, and he had to find a way to survive. I think the wave represents life.