Cinema as an Art

         I agree with this thought to a degree, but I believe there are many directors out there who feel their work is an art and those who watch it think the same. The only thing that would lead me to agree with this point is that many movies hire actors who are well known to attract viewers, but are not necessarily the perfect person to play the role. Directors take advantage of well-known names because they think this will increase the box office sales, and in some cases it will. I do think that movies exhibit an artistic quality though in terms of the shooting, as in where, how and why they film the way they do. This could be the angle a director uses, or how often they switch scenes. It is tough to say which opinion is correct, because people go to the show to be entertained, so there really isn’t anything wrong with the director aiming for entertainment opposed to a work of art. However, I think the story behind the film is dependent on how the director chooses to approach it.

 

"Shutter Island"

         To watch a film that challenges you and keeps you guessing is an art form in itself. The script, the characters, the plot, each of these things must work together to create a dynamic storyline that will challenge the viewers. I think that the last movie I watched that really challenged me was “Shutter Island.” This movie lead me to believe that the main character, played by Leonardo Dicaprio, was a police officer who was trying to solve a murder in an insane asylum. While in the end, it turned out that he was crazy all along and everything he did was fictional and occurred only in his own mind. Even after seeing the entire movie through, I was still left confused and I found it interesting that people understood the movie differently. Some believe that he was really crazy, and others believe that the workers made him believe that he was crazy. I couldn’t tell you who's solution was correct, but the movie was so in depth and created so carefully that one would have to pay extremely close attention to the minor details in order to fully understand the overall concept of the movie.

       

In the movie, “Shutter Island,” there were a lot of strange occurrences in the film that would lead the viewer to believe he was crazy, but he seemed so calm and collected that one would question it. It was almost as if he had a split personality that I had a hard time distinguishing between. There were also a number of flashbacks that only further complicated the story. It was definitely a psychological thriller, but it may have been too hard to follow in the end.

Image Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shutter_Island_%28film%29

http://www.examiner.com/article/current-picture-shows-martin-scorsese-    s-shutter-island

 

Styles of Calligraphy

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Classic Calligraphy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEo4xRfYbPg

     This form of calligraphy is how one would imagine calligraphy appears in general. It has a timeless feel and flow to the way the letters connect. It looks elegant and sophisticated, like the type of writing one would expect to see on a wedding invitation. The writing in this video is very delicate, which I am attracted to. The line work varies as the pen is tilted on a slight angle. I particularly like the ascenders and descenders in this form of writing because of how soft they are. The tops of letters really catch my eye, for instance, the loop of the K and the L. What makes this writing so eye-catching is how much precision goes into writing this way, not many people take the time to write this way anymore and that is why calligraphy is becoming more appreciated. As we learned in our history of media course last semester, when something becomes obsolete, it becomes a form of art.

Modern Calligraphy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=Q8lJWGnhyP4

     Modern calligraphy is different from classic calligraphy because there are really no rules when it comes to writing modern calligraphy. You simply chose a font or style you wish to recreate in a modern way and experiment. There were also many different tools used in this video opposed to the single calligraphy pen in the first video. The writing in this video was much more unrefined, yet were just as intricate the classic calligraphy, if not more so. For example, the S he created was very dramatic in the way that it almost became a symbol, and was no longer just a letter. In some of his letters, he also used double strokes, to give depth to the letters so they weren’t just lines on a page, which I thought was unique.

     After watching both videos and examining the two writing styles, I think that I like the first form of writing more so than the second. I think I am attracted to this writing because of its structure and certainty. It has a timeless feel to the style that everyone can appreciate. I do like the modern writing for its variations and twist on the classic font, but I am a person who likes old fashioned, simple things. It’s interesting to see the different styles of calligraphy because before this class, I thought there was only one way to do it. 

Sources:

http://www.flickriver.com/photos/thingsarebetterwithaparrott/tags/calligraphy/

http://www.etsy.com/listing/100580739/wedding-calligraphy-bride-and-groom-logo

Architecture

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           The Canadian Art Gallery of Alberta can be found in the core of the province in downtown Edmonton.  This building was designed by Randall Stout Architects and opened to the public in January of 2010. It is constructed of zinc, high performance glazing and stainless steel, providing it with the durability to withstand the northern climate of Canada. This gallery is strong, as is our country and guarded for what has yet to come. This building seems to have almost an armored look to it, as though it were ready for war. Not only is the inside of this building an appreciation of art, but one of the interesting things about this building is that the materials used give the building a reflective quality, taking in it’s surroundings; intriguing visitors to take a closer look at this unusually shaped structure.

The Art Gallery of Alberta

            The unique exterior of the art gallery is something everyone can appreciate. This reflects on our society in the way that Canada is accepting of social dynamics and of the people who live here. It brings a variety of people together because a love of art is something shared throughout all countries of the world, and being around people who are different than ourselves is when we learn the most.

            The inside of the gallery consists of neural tones as to not distract visitors from artwork itself. It is a four-story building with a rising vertical staircase to take visitors through the amazing art experience this gallery has to offer. It is home to various exhibitions and therefore the artwork is always changing and welcoming new pieces that will enhance the gallery. The ever-changing state of this gallery also reflects on Canada as a culture because the country is always looking for new ways to enhance the living experience for those born in this country as well as those who have immigrated to Canada. This country is very welcoming and supportive in terms of diversity and cultures, as is the Gallery of Alberta. 

Sources:
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http://www.e-architect.co.uk/canada/art_gallery_alberta.htm