Image & Text

Damaris, Hannah, and Darrick have developed a prompt that will introduce you to a new style. Engage with them to learn about the multi-faceted manifestations of Art Nouveau at the turn of the 20th century. Due to the lack of time we have left in the semester, many art styles that occurred alongside the ones we’ve been learning about have sadly been neglected. One of these styles—Art Nouveau—flourished with Post-Impressionism and was particularly popular and influential at the turn of the 20th century.  Art Nouveau (French for “new art“) was a direct reaction against academic art, and represented a radical departure from tradition. Art Nouveau favored references to nature, with whipping vines and curvilinear lines. Predominant colors included muted olive tones, pastel pinks, and periwinkles; images of nature and animals were frequently depicted ( Art Nouveau--Overview ). Art Nouveau artists were skeptical of industrialization and valued the fine craftsmanship required for handma...

This week Noemi and Vanessa invite us to consider the legacy and applicability of some of the central ideas of the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche.  The questions they ask are challenging.  Give it your best shot! Friedrich Nietzsche introduced many different and new philosophical themes in the 19th century, and he could be said to be one of the most influential modern philosophers. Ideas in his works outline different concepts that dealt with one’s individuality, morality, and religious beliefs. Nihilism is a term specifically associated with Nietzsche because of his belief in perspectivism (see Dr. Cleworth's In Brief). Nihilism, similar to pessimism, in the most extreme way, rejected religious and moral values which ultimately leads people and societies to adopt positions where life itself becomes meaningless. Some of Nietzsche's books which we would like you to consider this week are The Antichrist and Will To Power. Keep in consideration that some of his other works to...

For this week’s blog, Lizzy and Yasmine invite you to consider the importance of art museums and the role they play in our perception of the art they present. In class, we had an opportunity to visit the Phoenix Art Museum and witness what it has to offer. Drs. Hall and Cleworth invited us to join them on a ‘tour’ of the museum, where a few of us walked around the galleries and identified what appealed to us the most. The word “museum” originates from Greece, specifically the nine Muses (goddesses of inspiration), but also referring to the Museion of Alexandria, essentially a university library that housed manuscripts. Traditional art museums, as we know them today, originated in 18th and 19th-century Europe. For instance, the Louvre in Paris officially became a museum after the Revolution in 1793. Hence, museums have a rich history. The overarching purpose of art museums, throughout history and currently, is to collect, preserve, interpret and present works to visitors, and encourag...

This week, Jaycee and Nohely invite us to explore the rich sonic landscape of Romantic music. During this week we were introduced to the Romantic period, a pivotal moment where rebellion against the status quo was idealized and encouraged. This was more of a movement toward thoughts and feeling, in which greatly affected how one perceived the world. Expression of emotions became popular and was sought after in works of poetry, art, music, etc. Romanticism inspired musicians to be original, innovative, and passionate. The integration of poetry, orchestra, and vocals, lead to the popularization of operas, and composers like Giuseppe Verdi,  Richard Wagner, and Carl Maria von Weber were well received and successful. Instruments like the piano became beloved by the people. This was most likely so, because of how one was able to finesse and play with its ability to create a range of tones, complicated yet pleasing, that were not common in those times. One Romantic era piece of music...

Aryana and Kyle are guest bloggers and moderators for this week, and they are eager to dialogue with you about the role and impact of Art Criticism. In class, Drs. Hall and Cleworth referenced the beginning of Art Criticism at the French Salon during the 18 th century.   It is not surprising that Art Criticism began to flourish during the Enlightenment, as this intellectual and philosophical movement prompted many new ideas, including a shift in how art was viewed by the public and artists alike.   The Salon was an extension of the Royal Academy, which, since its inception under Louis XIV, had developed to set the standards for art not only in France but throughout Europe.   The Academy adhered to classical training, where art was taught according to a set of established rules.   During the 18 th century, these standards began to be challenged (i.e., the “battle” between the Poussinistes and the Rubénistes ) and the stylistic monopoly established by the Ac...

Ashlynne and Ethan are our moderators for this coming week's blog, and they have crafted an engaging topic around Voltaire, satire, and the limits of free speech.  Please offer them the best of your thoughts! This week we are reading sections from Voltaire’s Candide . This work was very controversial at the time of publication because of the themes it discussed. Candide brims with political and religious satire and is often viewed objectionably. An example of religious satire that caused people to object is Voltaire’s portrayal of clergymen, indulging in fleshly desires such as prostitution, as opposed to their assumed celibacy. The Catholic Church and the French government took offense to this kind of satire and had the book banned. They added it to their list known as the Librorum Prohibitorum that contained books they considered heretical. Similarly, there have been modern satirical pieces that have evoked the same kind of reaction in America. In one case, a Maryland high s...