Entry #11: Video Review

1. Explain why you selected each of the TWO videos you choose from the selection listed above.

Futurism: The Art/Life Revolution: I selected this video because I love advancement and I saw futurism in the title so I assume there will be a lot of new techniques and advancements in the movement. I also wanted to see this particular movement and how certain things possibly came to be. 

Dada and Surrealism: I selected this video because I heard about this in a previous art class and I wanted to learn much more about it to refresh my memory. I believe it was something that intrigued me in the past and I wanted to confirm it.

2. For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned.

Futurism: The Art/Life Revolution: Colors in the surroundings reflected the emotions of the characters. This was shown mostly in Boccioni's paintings. He knew how to combine extreme colors with non-figurative art. Cinema gave a unique way to summarize paintings, architecture, sculpture, music, and words in freedom on film. Movements like Cubo futurism and rayonism originated in Russia. These artists liked to define themselves as Russian or men of the future. 

Dada and Surrealism: Kurt Schwitters first started using materials such as lids from old tin cans, torn cardboard, scraps of newspaper, and bits of string in his artwork. He assembled these elements to put together a much greater design. The Merz structure was both like a cubist painting and like Gothic architecture. The magazine called naturally Merz was used to promote modern art and to show the comradeship among artists. Schwitters has been described as the most materialistic artist of his generation due to him incorporating objects and patterns into his work. Artist, Salvador Dali explored the darkest regions of the human subconscious which was pretty cool.

2. How do the videos relate to the readings?

The videos relate to the readings because like the video, the readings give an overview. The videos were much longer and time-consuming and the readings were brief. For example, in Dada and Surrealism, the video was about an hour and change. It gave lots of background information, however, the reading defined what surrealism was and kept everything short and simple. The reading also showed us some pictures and described those pictures. The readings were descriptive and the video helped build on that description.

3. What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to understanding of the readings and art concepts?

Both films were quite long, however, I liked the visuals. I am a visual person and I liked how things were depicted and shown in the video it made it less boring. The second video I watched ( The Dada and Surrealism) was also informative but very monotone and boring. The films added depth to my understanding by showing me how art advanced over time. Looking at the different movements showed me how many people came together to create things that they found meaningful at the time and which still remains meaningful and looked at.