Sean Quimby, who will be teaching a new class next semester of American Fear, has analysed the concept of fear in America. For children, fear is things like the boogeyman and monsters. As people become older they develop phobias of things like spiders, heights, ect. Phobias are an irrational fear of a specific object, activity, or situation that lead the person to avoid it at all costs. Phobias cause the person to have a persisting essence of isolation. They are loan figures in their own mind. The study of fear is centuries old. Charles Darwin, in his book Expression of Emotion: Man and Animals believes the emotion of fear is innate and is something that is not learned. In The Culture of Fear, the author Glassner accuses the media for creating fear in people. They stereotype and emphasize things such as black men, road rage, teen mothers, and pornography which are many topic which people fear.
Through these works and many others, Quimby hypothesised that Americans have a dogged invasion fantasy and we believe in a gradual emergence of a therapeutic future. Evidence of this existed throughout Americas history. A prime example of our invasion fear is the famous alien invasion broadcast by Orson Welles. He had thousands of citizen convinced that it was a real alien invasion and in turn they feared for their lives. As a result of our fears, we are encouraged to talk to help us overcome them. Many years ago, people were encouraged to talk about their fears even though it was slightly looked down upon for man to have phobias. Nevertheless, people were always encouraged to talk as a means of therapy.
Quimby's hypothesis about American fear seems to be right on cue. The fear of envasion has been evident since the birth of America when Columbus set foot on this land in 1842. White settlers who practically stole the Native American's land fear that they would retaliate in return. Whites tried to put them in reservations to prevent them from invading their new land. Later on in American history, the South had a strong hold on the slave to keep them from revolting. They would use those who stepped out of line as an example for other slaves by whipping and hanging them. And now every American fears another terrorist attack. After we were invaded at the World Trade Centers on September 11, 2001, we fear another devastating penetration on the country by terrorist. Americans have always believed in a therapeutic future. Now at days we have professionals who specialize in fear therapy. There are psychological specialist in the area of fear and phobias to help us alleviate our fear problems through the means of talking.
Friday, September 28, 2007
Friday, September 7, 2007
Binh Danh Exibit
The theme of justice is heavily prevalent in Binh Danh's exhibit; his works give honor and justice to the men who died in Vietnam. The exhibit helps us to justify and accept the way in which so many men died during Vietnam. It gives a creative explanation of what happened to all the men's bodies which were left in the battle fields and the jungle. Through Binh Danh's unique combination of photographs and nature, a story is told about each soldier whose faint ghost is imprinted into the foliage. There is an strong essence of dignity within the faces of each man. The grass and leaves represent the grave where the men's bodies rest. There bodies are not lost, but have a home in the landscape.
Danh's exhibit can also be viewed as a reflection of our current war. Men and women will die during our war with Iraq and many bodies may be left behind to rest in the landscape just like many during Vietnam. Casualties are inevitable, but it is our job to remember and give justice to those lost. Binh Danh does so in a creative way.
Sontage views photograph as much more real then a painting. They are "a trace, something directly stenciled off the real" (350). Danh's use of photograph makes the people in his work more real. It gives you a higher connection with the men lost in Vietnam. Although you may not have a name or know them personally, they have a face which is a way to connect you with their spirit. "But what photography supplies is not only a record of the past but a new way of dealing with the present" (358). Danh's art not only connects us with the past Vietnam war, but also the current war with Iraq. We will lose people in Iraq war and some bodies may not be recovered, but we must strive to remember them. We will remember then in the same way which we remember lost men from Vietnam.
Danh's exhibit can also be viewed as a reflection of our current war. Men and women will die during our war with Iraq and many bodies may be left behind to rest in the landscape just like many during Vietnam. Casualties are inevitable, but it is our job to remember and give justice to those lost. Binh Danh does so in a creative way.
Sontage views photograph as much more real then a painting. They are "a trace, something directly stenciled off the real" (350). Danh's use of photograph makes the people in his work more real. It gives you a higher connection with the men lost in Vietnam. Although you may not have a name or know them personally, they have a face which is a way to connect you with their spirit. "But what photography supplies is not only a record of the past but a new way of dealing with the present" (358). Danh's art not only connects us with the past Vietnam war, but also the current war with Iraq. We will lose people in Iraq war and some bodies may not be recovered, but we must strive to remember them. We will remember then in the same way which we remember lost men from Vietnam.
Monday, September 3, 2007
"Art Was A Proper Name" by Thierry de Duve
Art is an expression of oneself that does not have to follow any template and is the product of one's experiences that evoke emotions in others.
Although my experiences with art have been limited, my time in the Sistine Chapel will stay in my mind forever. During the summer of 2006, I traveled to Italy and visited Vatican City. There was countless pieces of art leading into the Sistine Chapel but none as magnificent. The room was breathtaking. Not only was its size monumental, but the detail of ever inch was extraordinary. Some might think that a piece of art work that enormous would have considerable less detail than a painting of average size - one that fits though, lets say, a doorway. I could have spent hours examining the room but, unfortunately, I had a relatively short time, of about an hour, to spend in the room. The Chapel was overwhelming; the painting contained endless beauty and uniqueness. Michelangelo's intention was to obviously convey events of the Bible. He illustrates the Last Judgement, nine stories from the Book of Genesis, prophets, and much more. He was very successful because religious enthusiast and non-religious people come far and wide to see and appreciate his works. Whether or not you have a sufficient understanding of religion, you can appreciate the painting.
De Duve basically stated that art has no one real definition. Art holds a different meaning for different people. One does not have to be an art expert or critic to believe one object or another to be art. "You need no theory of art to love art" (31). Everyone's experiences cause them to react individually to various pieces of art. "You can only love within the limits of your social determination and of the cultural opportunities that are objectively available to you" (31). As long as a piece evokes some type of an emotion in you, it can be considered art.
Although my experiences with art have been limited, my time in the Sistine Chapel will stay in my mind forever. During the summer of 2006, I traveled to Italy and visited Vatican City. There was countless pieces of art leading into the Sistine Chapel but none as magnificent. The room was breathtaking. Not only was its size monumental, but the detail of ever inch was extraordinary. Some might think that a piece of art work that enormous would have considerable less detail than a painting of average size - one that fits though, lets say, a doorway. I could have spent hours examining the room but, unfortunately, I had a relatively short time, of about an hour, to spend in the room. The Chapel was overwhelming; the painting contained endless beauty and uniqueness. Michelangelo's intention was to obviously convey events of the Bible. He illustrates the Last Judgement, nine stories from the Book of Genesis, prophets, and much more. He was very successful because religious enthusiast and non-religious people come far and wide to see and appreciate his works. Whether or not you have a sufficient understanding of religion, you can appreciate the painting.
De Duve basically stated that art has no one real definition. Art holds a different meaning for different people. One does not have to be an art expert or critic to believe one object or another to be art. "You need no theory of art to love art" (31). Everyone's experiences cause them to react individually to various pieces of art. "You can only love within the limits of your social determination and of the cultural opportunities that are objectively available to you" (31). As long as a piece evokes some type of an emotion in you, it can be considered art.
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