The Sartorialist (Blog Entry 5)

Considering I’m not much of a blogger I had to ask around to see which blogs are good to follow.  Many of my friends gave an excuse similar to mine: not enough time.  While I do come across some that I like once and awhile, I don’t have any that I follow on a regular basis.  My girlfriend on the other hand, who by the way is originally from New York (which I find relevant), always makes time for one blog that she claims is a must read. 

The Sartorialist is a blog created by Scott Schuman, a photographer turned blogger who is based out of Manhattan.  The basic premise behind his blog is to capture a spontaneous photograph of a random person in the street who is, in his words, “well put together.”  Some of his work takes place in NY, but also in many places around the world such as Madrid, Paris, and Milan.  The people he uses as subjects are from all walks of life.  They may be artists, designers, models, musicians, or actors.  Or they may be unemployed.  He simply looks to find something interesting in how a person represents themselves and how he can capture that in a heightened reality.  Sometimes the people know that they are being photographed and sometimes he photographs them first before approaching them.  He explains that a person is very photogenic once they have been flattered or slightly embarrassed by a request to have their picture taken.  He enjoys interacting with strangers and getting their approval to be the subject of his spontaneous photo shoot. Here are some examples of his work…

I think that the purpose of this blog is mostly for people following fashion trends to find inspiration and get ideas.  For that purpose, this blog is very effective.  It provides content in chronological order so people involved in the fashion world have a virtual timeline of certain fashion trends and respective seasons.  Scott also provides such information as if the photo was taken from the street (which it often is) or from a fashion show in which case the designer is also mentioned.  I think the layout and design of the blog are brilliant and I did enjoy scrolling through some of the pictures.  I can’t say that I plan to follow the blog but it may be useful to those who want to keep up with trends or get some new ideas every once in a while.

 

It never stops (Blog Entry 4)

Click to see post: Hyperbole and a Half: This is Why I’ll Never be an Adult

I am chose to write about Allie Brosh’s post titled This Is Why I’ll Never Be an Adult.  The basic premise is how she attempts to make changes to her daily routine to try and be more responsible and get more things done.  She usually starts out very determined and driven to really accomplish more things throughout the day such as emailing, going to the bank, cleaning the house, grocery shopping, and laundry.  She admits that this enthusiasm of hers only lasts a day or so and then she begins to deviate from her plan.  Her motivation decreases when she starts to feel satisfied with what she has accomplished.  Soon enough she ends up dismissing her routine as the final illustration shows her on her computer typing into the early hours of the morning.

The reason I chose to write about this blog post is because I found the series of illustrations quite comical.  These images, along with the narrative, are humorous because of the truth behind the story and how relatable it can be to just about anyone.  I’m sure we’ve all experienced something similar to this.

I think that this work could stand alone as a comic strip without the context of the narrative.  However, I think that the narrative provides more value to the story.  I find that it’s the narrative that really makes this work a piece of art whereas the illustrations make up a picture book.

I think that this piece is very effective with its message.  I especially like it because it describes a situation that most people experience but many never would think to talk about.  When reading this post it would be hard not to tap in to self deprecation as you realize how irrational you may be at times.  My favorite part of the post was when she described how her guilt from her ignored responsibilities only perpetuated her procrastination – so true.

Layers of Destruction (Blog Post 3)

When I attended Art Basel at the Miami Beach Convention Center I had the chance to see a lot of amazing work by both well-known artists and rising newcomers.  This piece by Jagganath Panda, called the spheres of existence, was particularly eye-catching.  While it may not look like much as a digital file, this piece of work extends 78” x 98” on canvas made of acrylic, fabric, and gold foil.  The bold imagery coupled with the intense perspective made the piece really stand out.  It almost looks as if there had been an explosion at the focal point, and all the images are bursting out across the canvas in every direction.  I especially like how the artist did not try and contain the images with a panorama of some kind.  The ideas are expanding to no foreseeable end.

In my attempt to make sense of the imagery and the visual layout, I would argue that there are a few themes to this painting: ecology and overdevelopment.  There is a rich contrast between the natural elements and the artificially designed elements.  The bird feathers used to create the wheel of destruction, the oversized scorpion tail, and the stark tree branches all represent nature.  Layered between these images are cars embellished with gold foil, towering glass buildings, and drainage pipes excreting waste.  Based on this subject matter and the way in which these images overlap in a sort of chaotic collage, I would argue that this piece has something to do with the destruction of the environment brought on by human development.  The buildings and cars and factory waste all symbolize a devastating explosion of destruction and the leafless branches and the whirlwind of bird feathers symbolize the loss and aftermath of the destruction to the environment.  The domineering scorpion tail parallels the danger of rapid economic development, but in natural form.  The use of color is consistent in defining these images.  Gold and yellow are used only on the cars and buildings and sure enough as the epicenter of all the mayhem.  Whereas, black or grey, typically referring to death, is used to depict the natural images of the environment. 

I found this piece to be very meaningful to me because it reminds me of what kind of impact I have on the environment.  Reminders, such as these, make us more aware of our personal consumption and waste.  They also ignite debate on how developing countries such as China and India (where Jagganath Panda originates) can avoid industrializing with little or no regard for our environment.

The Latecomer (Blog Post 1)

Hey everyone!  It looks like I’m last to join the class but very excited to be here!  My name is Eric and I am originally from Centennial, CO.  I studied 4 years in Boulder and now I am living and working in Miami, FL.  I am finishing up a business degree through Leeds and I have this class and two others to finish up this summer to graduate.  I live on Miami Beach and work here at one of the new hotels.  I also do some design work on the side as a graphic designer and brand consultant.  I enjoy what I do because it allows me some creative freedom; however, my true aspiration has always been to make a living as an artist.  As you can imagine, this is something much easier said than done.  I will always produce art whether it becomes a career for me or just remains a hobby.  I plan to enjoy my time here in Miami for a little while longer and then make a move to either LA or NY, depending on which MFA program I hopefully get into.

Much like Caitlin and Chanel, I am taking this course despite having already fulfilled my upper division requirement.

Fine art has always been interesting to me.  I think of it as something that gives a lot of meaning to life.  Although the art world can be unforgiving or even manipulated by collectors and dealers, I still see its importance for humanity.  As far as rhetoric, I think of it as a particular art form itself. This is an art of discourse that is expressed through words.  Visual art on the other hand avoids such definition.  The combination of the two seems to contradict one other and I am very intrigued to learn of their relation.  I think that the visual arts may not always be able to be explained through rhetoric because the visual medium was the artist’s preference to convey his/her message.  Regardless, I believe that visual art is best done when it evokes emotion from the beholder, therefore, after reading the quote “Good writing is supposed to evoke sensation in the reader – not the fact that it is raining, but the feeling of being rained upon.”
 ~ E. L. Doctorow, I now feel that the art of rhetoric and visual art may have more in common than I had first thought.

 

I look forward to this semester (aka one month cram session) and I wish everyone the best of luck!

Enduring the Storm (Blog Post 2)

As I scrolled through the images I paused at this one for a moment, then I smiled.  That may sound unusual considering this family is obviously experiencing some degree of tragedy as their village floods in Kurigram, Bangladesh.  Here, a mother shields her two boys from the heavy rains as the father prepares his lines.  This photograph is so powerful because it captures a moment in time where so much can be said of their facial expressions, as reactions to their circumstance.  For me, this image explained a few nuances of life and for that reason I smiled.

When looking at the mother it is obvious that she is a very strong figure.  Physically, she exudes resilience and tenacity.  Her defined arms and hands grip the umbrella as she braces for the wind.  We can see her wince as she continues to endure the storm.  She embodies a certain strength, stability, and toughness that defines her as the anchor, or backbone in the family dynamic.  Contrastingly, the young boy we see on the right also exemplifies strength, but in an entirely different way.  By the look on his face, he seems to be calm and collected.  Confident in the safety of his family, he looks out as if patiently waiting for the rain to stop so that he and his brother will be able to play again.  His stoic disposition is most likely due to the security he feels in having his mother and father protect him and his brother from the storm.  This fearlessness we see in his eyes is only characteristic of a child.  We have all experienced this carefree attitude as children, where not even a devastating flood such as this would make us worry.  Once, we had been invincible too, just like him.

This photo is so powerful because it captures a split second that on its own offers a little more meaning to life.  It takes a tragic event and completely flips the depredation into an innocent nostalgia.  The juxtaposition of the mother’s strength to the boy’s is unmistakable, even through the veil of rain.