Negotiation

AAD final reflection

Tong Si

The way that I learned in the class to interpret the art is use the terms of the elements and principles of design. It is the way that I used to understand the meaning of the artwork. For example: line; shape, size, texture, color and value. Shape is a self-contained defined area of geometric or organic form. Usually in one painting, it is common to see the artist use some geometric like triangle, circle or rectangle etc. to be one component of painting. When we learned the Chris Ofili’s painting in the class, we can find out he draw the size of character’s head or noses are significant different in order to show some special meaning to the viewers. The texture also used frequently in the art work. When we watch the commercial in television or the advertising in newspaper, we always can see some words are emphasized to illustrate what they want the viewers get. The color is one of the significant element of design used by the artists. When I see the painting in the first time, I would notice the color of the image and try to interpret the meaning of the art work depends on color used. Like I would consider the image which consists of black and white as a repression emotion. The last thing of the element of design is value of the art. As we all known, a painting can express ideas and emotions in ways that arguments, graphs, charts. If you interpret one artwork by your own knowledge and experience without valuing it, you probably will miss the core of the art.

While compare to the interpretation samples in Chapter 7, which can be either same or different from my interpretation in class. I learned some new thing about interpretation is ask some questions which related to the painting when we see that in the first time. For example: to interpret Edward Hopper’s paintings, students are encouraged to ask questions about things artist showed in the art work. “questions are to take the form of who, what, when, where, where, why? The questions themselves, without answers, already reveal much about the paintings and interpret of Hopper in making them”. (Page 163, Terry Barrett). The chapter illustrates different people’s different interpretations about the “Cape Cod Evening” by Edward Hopper. Some people think the man and woman in the painting are husband and wife. But other people think they are just sister and brother. The ways that they used to interpret the art is asking questions about the painting and use the answer to do imagination for interpretation. They also use some color judgements even they made mistakes on colors. “one might assume that the blue trees are a metaphorical interpretation of twilight. That could be a mistake. Hopper painted them a conventional green, but the yellow he used in the mixture has faded”. (P164, Terry Barrett). The Chapter also show some media interpretation examples. For instance, the interpretation about dance videotape called “Rain” which performed by its choreographer, Bebe Miller. Candace Feck obtained address the grass and its implications. She thinks the grass can be considered as a “thirsty stranger in a dry land”. Also, Jeannine Potter see the grass as a particularly American symbol of class. She interprets the grass as race identity and explicit shows in her essay: “I know what the grass means for me. It presents a lifestyle labeled The American Dream to my parent’s generation. It was not accessible to everyone. Here was the land, the earth, the green, mocking her in her barren black-floored world. It shone there in the light, present but unreachable. She is a woman, a black woman on the outside with the path of paradise so close she could dip an occasional foot in the damp earth, but far enough away that unfamiliarity prevents her from feeling at home there. House, home, husband and children all encircled by a white picket fence is out of reach”. (P177, Terry Barrett). She considers the African race of what the videotape “Rain” implicit reveals, since Bebe Miller’s skin color is black. It is similar to my interpretation in previously media project. I wrote an interpretation about one immigrant sample about Simpson’s Family. The cartoon character’s skin color is red which is distinctly different from other character in Simpsons. In coincidence, that episode illustrates story about Simpsons try best to help their India immigrant friend stay in America. The concept that they used to interpret the art is in correspond to the terms of elements design in art. Also, Jeannine Potter interpret “Rain” by Miller’s movements and gestures, “I saw abuse, pain and turmoil, but Miller’s character was not a victim. There was a joy in this battle that left me feeling there was not possibilities for defeat. Each time she sat legs to gather back straight. I knew I had found my heroine. Her hair hardly mussed, her dress barely wrinkled, she sat toe-painted-proud with roots reaching down through the earth”. (Page 177, Terry Barrett).