JOURNAL ENTRY #16: Short Paper 3

  Devendran 1

Ivana Devendran

Student #: 999719265

Professor Sarah Kleeb, TA Sarah Robinson[SR1] 

Key Questions in Humanities

Due date: March 16^th, 2013

David Harper’s Fascination with Remembering

In David R. Harper’s art exhibit Entre le chien et le loup, on view at the Doris McCarthy Gallery located at the University of Toronto Scarborough, feature pieces displaying taxidermy-based sculptures, embroidered prints and ceramics. The talented artist has mastered all of these complex art mediums among his other accomplishments, which is impressive due to his young age. The unusual French title of the exhibit is translated as “enter [SR2] the dog and the wolf” expresses the specific time of day just before night. The reference to the dog and the wolf is that at this time, a dog and a wolf could not even be told apart because of the great darkness. This title is ambiguous as it also suggests themes of uncertainty and the unknown. David Harper introduces the concept of liminality, which is the in-between and seeing things from a different perspective.

The intention of Harper was to make you question what you’re viewing through memorializing and remembering, and this is represented through his artwork. There is a lot of care and craftsmanship that went into creating these pieces, and with the gallery as a whole, there is symbolic meaning that differentiates between memories and the present[SR3] .

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            Theme is integral in these pieces because they all have unique qualities from the materials that are used to make them, as well as the meanings behind them. Theme [SR4] is attributed in not only the title of Harper’s gallery but also in the titles of the works which all behold their own respective meanings and significances. According to Glyn Davis in The Ideology of the Visual “If an artist decides to devote time to the production of an image, then surely he or she must desire to make a statement with that picture” (Davis 5).

This statement relates to David Harper’s work since he exudes great effort and skill to produce his works. He shows a great amount of craftsmanship in his art as he takes on painstakingly difficult tasks in the processes of creating his pieces[SR5] . The thematic elements that are presented in the pieces are intentional of the artist as he is establishing what is considered as the unknown and the in-between, as well as memorializing and the idea of memories representing remembrance. For example through one of his pieces in the gallery called To Remind, or to Warn, there are two taxidermy-style wolf sculptures: one in black surrounded by black roses and a snake and the other in white and surrounded by white urns. The theme being conveyed when viewing the wolves is clear[SR6]  as they are representing a memorial with the urns, which are used to hold the ashes of a deceased individual, and the black roses as flowers are usually placed over the dead. Harper was specific as to placing the white urns around the white wolf because the color white is associated as a symbol of purity and innocence. The choice of utilizing the colors of black and white were also intentional as with the theme the artist was trying to convey.

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These particular colors suggest symbolic meaning of uncertainty within them, and depict a sense of realism in how they are representing the remembrance of the dead.

In Harper’s piece called I Tried, and I Tried, and I Tried, the evident theme is glorification and celebration. This work consists of a reproduction of the famous painting called Napoleon crossing the Alps by Jacques-Louis David, which displays the celebration after Napoleon and his army successfully cross the Alps. This painting depicts Napoleon posing on top of a white stallion as if riding it in mid-air. The white stallion can be representative of something significant which makes sense as this piece is supposed to be in remembrance of that special day for [SR7] Napoleon. In David Harper’s reproduction of the piece he has taken Napoleon’s stallion as the main statement symbol of the piece, and made it seem like it is out of order. This is due to the black to white gradient in the horse, which has been embroidered with cotton floss, and makes the horse almost seem like it is gradually disappearing.[SR8]  The gradient in the horse makes you feel like the piece is missing something. It is as if the horse is not entirely there and Harper once again uses the black and white colors to express this uncertainty of things not being in the “right” manner.

            Another work in the gallery is called A Fear Of Unknown Origins (II), which consists of a variety of cheap children’s animal masks that have been cast into ceramic molds. Harper has turned something of cheap value into something more valuable. The ceramic animal masks have been painted in a gradient of light to dark blue, which shows how David Harper utilizes gradients to express different moods.[SR9] 

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 The masks are randomly assorted and arranged in stacks on the wall displaying the light to dark blue color pattern, almost mimicking totem poles. The light blue masks on the left side like the color white seem to emulate a more innocent feeling, while the dark blue masks on the right side like the color black seem to symbolize some type of evil. The blue color could also be linked to the time of day like day or night. Another reference of the piece is that it reminds you of animal heads that are mounted onto wooden plaques and hung in the homes of rich men as trophies. The theme behind this piece is identity because it is unknown to you of who or what is on the other side of the mask, which goes back to the unknown and uncertainty themes. The memorial-like arrangements of the masks give them a sense of life and presence.

The theme or message that is being conveyed by the gallery as a whole is liminality as it is the true major theme.[SR10]  This concept refers to the in-between, the unknown and the dangerous. Harper’s works range in scale from sculptures to embroidered prints and in order to portray these themes, Harper takes different mediums that are uncommon to construct them. Emotions are evoked through the pieces in their colors, textures and intricate details. The titles given to the pieces present their own individual stories that can be drawn from a historical background or an emotional one.  My impressions of David Harper’s gallery at first glance seemed to be a bit disarrayed as questions swarmed me in [SR11] regards to comprehending what I was viewing. David Harper should be commended for mastering his acquired skills in embroidery work and ceramic-making, and his talents are truly evident in his work. [SR12] 

                                                                                                              

                       

Dear Ivana,

Some great ideas in here but you need to definitely focus more. There were some great things that could have been further unpacked here. As it was the paper still lacks focus and organization. The conclusion seems at odds with the rest of the paper.

GRADE: 68%                                                                         Devendran 5

Works Cited

Peck, Erin. " Art." Humanities. University of Toronto Scarborough. Doris McCarthy Gallery, Toronto. 7 Mar. 2013. Class lecture.

Davis, Glyn. "The Ideology of the Visual." Exploring Visual Culture N/A (2005): 5. Print.

 

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[SR1]Not my name!

 [SR2]No—it means “Between the dog and the wolf”

 [SR3]Could be phrased as a more provocative thesis statement: “The major theme of mediating between a present reality and memories of the past is explored throughout the exhibition.”

 [SR4]What do you mean by “Theme” here? Unclear.

 [SR5]Give specific examples here—embroidery, taxidermy, ceramic production etc…

 [SR6]Really? What “Clear” theme Is conveyed then? Death? I can think of many others too so watch out for over-generalizing language.

 [SR7]What special day? Perhaps better stated as “a specfic event”

 [SR8]Good description.

 [SR9]Ok—how is this paragraph or decription related to your thesis?

 [SR10]Could/should cite Erin Peck on this if you heard this from her.

 [SR11]confusing

 [SR12]is skill and proficiency really the main message you want to communicate about his work? 

Feedback: Out of all of my papers, this has been my highest grade so there has been some improvement. I have to work on clearly specifying arguments and unpacking quotations thoroughly. Another thing to work on is making sure that points made are somehow always relating back to my thesis statement. 

JOURNAL ENTRY #15: Journal "Writing" in HUMA01

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Writing journals in this Key Questions in Humanities class has been a good experience so far as they have given me a sense of reflection building and have served as a guide for collecting my thoughts. Writing my journals in a blogging style is something completely new for me, as I have never had a blog before and I'm not the most tech-savvy individual. Each lecture topic was assigned different journal assignments that involved various write-ups such paragraph and sentence building exercises, discussion question responses and reviews. I would have never though I would be writing journals in university as I have done in elementary school, but this was on another level of journal-writing. In my high school and in my earlier academic life, I wasn't adequately taught sentence structure and essay writing so my writing itself isn't at that university-level yet. I am someone who loves the arts has been exposed to a lot of art forms throughout my life, and so it is easy for me to express creative ideas. The real challenge for me was taking these creative ideas and specifically and critically placing them into written form. The journal-writing aspect of the course has given me a newfound motivation in creating my own blog for writing whatever I please. I am also now willing to approach the resources available in the university to help me with my writing. The fact that the course is "writing-intensive" has allowed me to approach writing papers and improving my writing skills overall. The topics in HUMA01 have been quite interesting and have inspired many though-provoking ideas and concepts that I would never have looked at.

JOURNAL ENTRY #14: Short Paper #2

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Ivana Devendran

Student #: 999719265[SR1] 

Professor Sarah Kleeb

Key Questions in Humanities, Tutorial #4

Date Assignment Due: Thursday, February 7^th, 2013

The Culture Industry’s Role through Advertising [SR2] 

            The theory of culture industry as a part of the early critical theory by Theodor Adorno and Max Horkheimer is about how dominating powers control large masses of consumers through power[SR3] . This theory is displayed heavily especially in the present age where mainly everything is technology-driven. Advertising’s role is creating a culture of consumption[SR4] . Consumers have always depended on the role of advertising in order to satisfy their wants, in making decisions of what they want to purchase. The choice of viewing these advertisements are solely of the consumer’s and can be controlled, despite its constant exposure on us everyday. Advertisements ultimately reshape the society where consumers live in and are constantly bombarded with ads everywhere from television to billboards. [SR5] 

            The culture industry consists of mass marketing and media and technology. The producers of products know what consumers like and want, and utilize advertising strategically to lure them. Due to the publicizing of products, it grabs the attention of consumers. If products weren’t promoted in such a way than it would not be effective in creating sales and getting itself out there[SR6] . This frequent promotion can be seen as brainwashing or manipulation, but consumers have the willpower to not give into these promotions. Within the culture industry there is much influence from individuals especially celebrities or authority figures, because people want to be able to have that “celebrity status”. “Out of the norm” consumers exist because not everybody fits the ideal customer image. There are few consumers in the market that will follow the big trends partially because the majority of them are buying a product.[SR7] 

With the culture industry there is a possibility that it just a series of misrepresentations that are a deception for the public. Once a product comes out with an advertisement, consumers don’t really put much thought into its function. They just go along with the ad’s statements.[SR8]  They communicate and evoke messages to masses of people and as they tune in, majority of them tend to follow. They make an impact by creating awareness, depending on the type of product being advertised. Promoting a product requires using appropriate values such as humor, fashion, or street credibility.  These values provide the consumer with a certain mindset because they want to possess a particular value and do so by getting a hold of the product through its persuasive advertising. Consumers don’t have to want to be charmed into buying because consumers have the choice. They can choose what path they want to follow. Society is aware of what is appearance and reality when it comes to advertising and it is a part of their culture despite if they agree with it or not.  While the purpose of advertising is to help generate trends in a society, it is also the cause of the breaking of norms that have been a part of a society. [SR9] 

Technology has also taken a hold on the culture industry when it comes to how much people depend on it to live their lives. It has made a great impact on the culture industry especially in its advancements and improvements; consumers feel the need to keep up with this rapid change.  Mass-produced products are promoted through advertising in order for consumption by masses of people. In addition technology provides all the people within society equality rather than a form of hierarchy, which puts everyone on a scale. A fusion of culture and economy is emerging, and this is known as the culture industry over masses of people.[SR10]  The role of advertising drives society under the control of dominant powers. If consumption has made a positive impact on the consumer, then they are satisfied. Thus it has the power to alter the perceptions of reality of consumers when it comes to their values and assumptions for better or for worse.

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Works Cited

Porter, Kelsey. Horkheimer and Adorno’s Culture Industry: Loss of Genuine Dialogue             and Variation Due to Media and Mass Marketing, 2009. PDF file.

Adorno, Theodor. Culture industry reconsidered, 1991. PDF file.

DEAR IVANA,

Thanks for your interesting paper. For this to be a stronger academic paper you need to cite sources and give far more specifics. Much of the paper felt too general and vague and it was unclear whether you were presenting your own ideas or those of other people. To make a clear and clean argument using other sources is a skill, and the next paper should more directly quote and cite from the sources you are discussing.

GRADE: 58%

Best,

Sarah

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 [SR1]Don’t need this here, but should have included your TA’s name. Please see the instructions.

 [SR2]Title ok, but could be more interesting or say more about what the paper will be about.

 [SR3]Powers with power? Repetitive word choice.

 [SR4]Advertising creates consumption or promotes it?

 [SR5]Intro lacks a clear thesis.

 [SR6]Ok, but do you really think the ads actually create the desire? Would people not want things if they didn’t see ads? I am not so sure…

 [SR7]Meaning of this sentence not clear.

 [SR8]These are all very general and unsupported statements. To make this paper stronger you need to be integrating citations and quotations of your sources by now.

 [SR9]Unclear—what norms do you mean?

 [SR10]Unclear—is this what Adorno means by the term or is this what you think it means? This paper needs citations and specifics.

 Feedback: I felt that after the first essay I realized that what I did previously wasn't going to cut it. I felt that in my second essay it was much better in terms of explaining my arguments, although it still was too general and not specific enough. I was also lacking in how to properly cite ideas into my paper in order for it to be more effective.

JOURNAL ENTRY #13: Short Essay #1

Feedback: As this was my first formal essay for the class, I wasn't sure of how my paper would get graded. When learning to write and adding elements of critical and analytical thinking, this was a true challenge for me. In high school I admit that I wasn't exactly taught how to compose a proper essay. So I did not think that essays for university would be any easier for me. The topic of technology and its future in our society wasn't something I hadn't really considered until reading the articles and writing the paper. I know now that I should take my opinions and ideas and really explain the reasoning behind them. I need to state my thesis clearly and have good connecting topic sentences so there is a sense of fluidity in my arguments.

JOURNAL ENTRY #12: DMG Visit- Entre le chien et le loup by David R. HarperCompleted notes

First Impressions:

- Beforehand I had looked into David Harper’s biography and got a bit of insight into his work

- the pieces that were on showcase were very eye-catching and had filled my mind with so many questions

      - Animals were the main focus and the materials that were used to construct them

- The usage of gradients especially the black, white and blue used to represent the in-between and seeing things in a different perspective; Liminality (in-between)

Introduction of visit by DMG staff:
- advised everyone to look at the works and try make connections and take in what they were seeing at first glance upon entering the gallery

Works of Art:

(1) Name- "To Remind, or to Warn"
      Date- 2012
      Medium- Ceramic, polyurethane, felt, paper, cast, acrylic, plastic, enamel, epoxy, pigment, flocking, cow hide, sheep hide, wood
Notes:
- consisted of a white and black wolf raised on two separate platforms
White Wolf: - mounted on a white rock with a taller ceramic foundation than the black wolf sculpture
                     - white fur with furry long tail pointing downwards
                     - comes off as more timid
                     - is surrounded by white urns that hold ashes to symbolize memorializing and                remembering

Black Wolf: - its mouth is in an open position as if howling
                     - it is surrounded by black roses covered in this black plastic so they stay eternal and never wilt
                     -  there is also a grey snake that could possibly represent truth, knowledge or even evil
                     -  seems more aggressive and exudes fear

- symbolic meaning behind black and white
- wolves are well above the ground; assume a high position on authority
- "Alpha" wolf > authority figures
- ceramic bases are lined with felt; individually made ceramic blocks to form the base
- shows the dedication that the artist puts into his craft
- took 2 days to construct the piece
-  deliberate lighting to cast shadows to make piece seem to surround the viewers
- there's a sense of realism

(2) Name- "I Tried, I Tried, I Tried"
      Date- 2012
      Medium- Giclee Print on canvas, cotton embroidery floss
Notes:
- the title relates to history and that the artist created 3 portraits
- printed painting on canvas and meticulously stitched embroidered horse (6 million stitches)
- a reproduction of Napoleon crossing the Alps
- the embroidered horse starts with a black head, rest of body into a grey gradient
- almost makes the horse looks like it is disappering
- stallion connected to glorification and celebration
- Gradient is important to the artist


(3) Name- "A Fear of Unknown Origins (II)"
      Date- 2012
      Medium- Vitreous china, cobalt mason stain, glaze
Notes:
- masks depicting animal faces; are a child's size of mask
- look like dollar store masks painted in a gradient of light blue to dark blue
- question is what is behind the mask; something cheap to something valuable
- animal masks worn as a tradition in some cultures
- resemblance to mounted deer heads as trophies in rich men's homes
- random assortment of animals
- masking hides identity and what is behind the mask may be the unknown
- stacked in a row like totem pole animal heads
- memorial of animal masks give life and presence
- blue color- reference to sky: day and night



Commentary/ Post-impressions:

- Taxidermy ceramic, video projection, ceramic

- The works held a lot of symbolic meaning and could be mad reference to

- In regards to the materials there was a lot of care and craftsmanship that went into using them to create these pieces: gradient embroidery stitching, ceramics, and other textiles

- When first seeing the pieces I did not realize the meaning behind them and found that they were a bit hard to grasp

- With the aid of the gallery attendant Erin Peck I was able to 

- Mastered 3 difficult skills: taxidermy, embroidery, ceramic-making

JOURNAL ENTRY #11: DMG Visit Blank Note-TakingTemplate

First Impressions:


Introduction of visit by DMG staff:


Works of Art:

(1) Name-
      Date-
      Medium-
Notes:


(2) Name-
      Date-
      Medium-
Notes:


(3) Name-
      Date-
      Medium-
Notes:


(4) Name-
      Date-
      Medium-
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Commentary/ Post-impressions:



Extra general notes:

JOURNAL ENTRY #10: THE POWER OF IMAGE RESPONSE QUESTIONS TO "REEL BAD ARABS"

1.) Aladdin is an animated film aimed primarily at children. Do you agree that we should take the images and representations of a film like this seriously? Why or why not?
I feel that although it is a Disney movie it isn't all that innocent,  and does heavily portray images that are stereotypical towards Arabs. When really analyzing movies like such, we should take into consideration that movies are separate from reality. It doesn't necessarily need to be taken seriously unless it reaches to a point where it's evidently gone too far. An example of this can be shown in Aladdin with its subliminal racism within the portrayals of the characters and their actions.

3.) What images come to your mind when you think of Arab men, women and children?
Are those images different after having seen this film? Why or why not?
When I think of Arabs I do imagine men with beards in robes and there's a link with violence. Arab women and children seem to be helpless, innocent and taken advantage. The reason for these visuals in my mind is due to how much the media such as Hollywood and the news has engrained these stereotypical images and representations. After watching the documentary it opened my eyes to how much Arabs are falsely portrayed and the images I previously changed after having seen this film.

8.) Do you think films have the power to influence how we see the world? Why or why not?
Yes I do think that that films have the power to influence how we see the world. Preferably if they are true to reality, and also if they influence us positively and not lead us to believe evidently false judgements based on stereotypes.

JOURNAL ENTRY #9: National Anthem paragraph

My selection was the Chinese national anthem, and my chosen image is a red piece of cloth. Red symbolizes the flag of China and is a common color. Within the text, there are words concerning war and violence like flesh and blood. I can visualize armies of soldiers wearing a piece of cloth around the heads and in the flags they are holding while marching past the Great Wall of China. The red cloth can also be associated with fire which could also be held by the soldiers. The text of this particular anthem create great visual picture and include emphasis on words like "arise" and "march on" and seems to portray "fighter".

JOURNAL ENTRY #8: Semiotic Analysis of People magazine ad

       
When interpreting this magazine cover as a sign, the nature of celebrities and celebrity status is also highlighted. It displays a celebrity gay couple with their new baby. The headline is titled "Elton's Baby" and he is the one holding it in the ad, which seems to show that he is the "mother" in their relationship, and David Furnish is the "father" beside them both. In reality they are both fathers, and they share the fatherhood so there isn't necessarily a "mother" in the relationship. This questions masculinity because as Elton John is holding the baby, he comes off as less masculine. It almost seems as if if readers don't want to look at the exclusive interview and photos of the gay couple and baby, they can resort to "16 pages of hot photos" mainly regarding women. If people were to see this magazine in a local store, they would most likely not want to get it just because it's a gay couple with a baby. But there are countless magazines of nearly naked men women on covers and they seem to be circulating around more. I think just the fact that Elton John has a husband affects his celebrity status greatly and the majority of people just judge him. In addition, there is only one common race especially when associated to celebrities. Ultimately this magazine cover would be portrayed as controversial.

JOURNAL ENTRY #7: Dolce & Gabbana argumentative paragraph

 
In describing the advertisement, it depicts four sweaty men and one woman. Three of the men are surrounding the fourth man hovering over the woman is pressed to the ground while the lower half of her body is thrusted towards his. The background consists of a blue sky with clouds and it appears to look like some rape fantasy-like place with the women portraying some type of sex goddess, while the four men are sex gods waiting in line for their turn to seduce this “goddess”. The woman seems to enjoy it because the expression on her face seems satisfied. There is a lot of sex appeal displayed and a lot of skin shown they are all either half naked, or have their shirts open and exposing their upper body. The ad works because all five models look the same in appearance. The same types of minimal clothing, the same shade of skin color, are all glistening in oil and seem like sex symbol figures. The various components all work together to create a cohesive advertisement with the branding, the placement of the models and the colors of the background. With the branding, the logo is cleverly placed lower on the ad right around the woman’s crotch area. The placement of the models is positioned in a way so that they surround the couple posed on the ground. The models are all tanned with the same shade in skin and are wearing dark colors in clothing. The water matches, while the bright blue sky and clouds contrast with the dark in the background.

            This advertisement is clearly over sexual and inappropriate especially if it were posted on a public billboard towards the public. I feel that the idea behind this particular ad was intentional with its sexual content and everything is placed cohesively. The company was clearly attempting to make a bold statement. The company also may have taken into consideration the kind of consumer that would purchase their products, and so based on this; they have models mimicking the type of consumer. Their target market may be geared towards young adults that are willing to spend for high fashion and want to look “sexy”. Unbelievably “sex sells” and so it just encourages youth to give in to the luring of the advertisement.