1. Explain why you selected each of the TWO videos you choose from the selection listed above.
2. For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned.
3. How do the videos relate to the readings in the text?
4. What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to understanding of the readings and art concepts?
The Drawings of Michelangelo
Honestly there was no special reason why I chose this video over the others. It was just the first one on the list. Looking forward that's probably all it's going to be, there's nothing special to why I choose these videos. It's just pure instinct, no thought process involved. If there is some special reason for I choose a video I shall inform you. This video discusses the works of Michelangelo, and how his pieces seem to be superior than normal drawings, having more lifelike qualities than life itself. It reminded me of that one greek bronze statue, the name of which escapes me at the moment. But the qualities were so lifelike but yet there were physically impossible which is kind of what Michelangelo has done. A lot of artists try to replicate what he's done, and they are just are unable to do it. My professor that I had for sculpture class, Kenneth Payne, told us he came to the conclusion that Michelangelo was not human, just by observing his work. That his work had a lifelike quality that no human could possibly achieve. Now while I would like to believe that there is some paranormal phenomenon going on here with Michelangelo, I highly doubt there is anything truely remarkable about him. I think Michelangelo was just a remarkably gifted artist, and nothing more. I think people are giving him way too much credit. I feel like he is famous for the sake of being famous. That's not to say he's not one of the most talented artist out there. He truly is. Having accomplished what he was able to accomplish: the Sistine Chapel, the Statue of David. I think he was a really gifted artist, but that's all. His mind was far beyond his time, and I feel like that's all there is to it. I did really like the segment where they showed the Sistine Chapel and the hand of God right before he ignited the spark.
Leonardo da Vinci: The Mind of the Renaissance
Again there was no special reason for I chose this video, it just happened to be the next one down on the list. I found this video to be really interesting though. It was about the life of Leonardo da Vinci. The more I watched this video the more it kind of reminded me of the show on ABC Family Kyle XY, and how the main character was pretty much like how Leonardo was. He had the mind of super computer more or less, great artistic talent. Much of this was attributed to his extended period of time within the womb, which allowed his mind to develop more, in turn granting him these extrodinary gifts. Not saying that is what made Leonardo the way he was, due to an extended period of time within his mother's womb, but it's a possibility. Anyways I just liked to draw the comparison because it is fascinating the way an everyman like Leonardo was able to accomplish so much. Notebooks upon notebooks of research all in the name of science. I didn't realize before that he had actaully disected people. In secret no less. It kind of gave a rather dark tone to the video. Also the way the voice over talked about how he could reproduce any painting, no matter how good the artist was. I feel like that is something Leonardo could do if he put his mind to it. I have an easier time believing that there is something paranormal to Leonardo than there is to Michelangelo. It's kind of hard to believe that a man of his stature was able to be "outdone" in a sense by Michelangelo. I mean the man is great and all but compared to Leonardo, I feel like there's not much competition. I think I find Leonardo more interesting not because of what he has done for the art world but what he has done for the world in general, i.e. science and mechanics. Where as Michelangelo never really was a scientist as far as my knowledge goes, but Leonardo had notebooks upon notebooks devoted to the subject, and that was just one aspect of him. Also a footnote, Leonardo was able to master polyphasic sleeping which is where you sleep in short increments throughout the day, instead of monophasic sleeping where you do your sleep in one long period, which is what most of us do. I think these videos definitely added more depth on the artist than the textbook did.
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