Reading Journal Entry 5

How Norman Rockwell Captured the Inner Life of a Nation

James Parker questions and investigates how innocent was Norman Rockwell’s representation of America. Parker uses this questioning as a method to suggest that it wasn’t so uninvolved. That Rockwell’s work even though intended for newspaper and advertisement is yet more complicated and symbolic of a nation. Hence bringing Parker to the conclusion and statement that even though not intended but created art. Rockwell projected his skill of discovery and meaning into his work. Leaving us an archive of Americana behind. There is no doubt that Rockwell read between the lines and saw our future. We look all around and we can see Rockwell’s art imitate life.
My decision to read this article is plain and simple. It’s Norman Rockwell, his work is as American as apple pie and baseball. The facts that Parker did state I already knew but it is all common knowledge. But I really enjoyed it regardless because of the topic and Parker’s approach to writing.
I really liked how the writer, Parker used questions to make his statements, argument. That was an interesting way to argue his point. Plus Rockwell’s work is as Patriotic as the country it’s signifying.

Reading Journal Entry 4

This article reads to me as a homage to the Legend Jack Kirby for his body of work in the comic book industry. It does mention other comic book creator’s but those that were influenced by Kirby.
I didn’t know that Jack Kirby’s revision of many beloved Marvel Superhero’s saved them. Kirby worked with Stan Lee to refurbish many of Lee’s hero’s. But eventually Kirby left the reviving of hero’s to pursue his own creations. Kirby also fought for his and essentially other comic book creators the right to own your own creations.
John Hodgman wrote this exceptionally well. He starts off like a comic book referring to the beginning of a new place called Wild Area. Which was the precise moment that Superman discovered this in 1970; introduced by Kirby. I really enjoyed how he goes into detail of different storylines of Kirby’s and their inhabitant’s. Hodgman writes with action and intrigue like in comics it’s very precise and so smart.

As the title states this article is about the controversial nature of Sally Mann’s photography. Mann’s photography is complex in my opinion but for some see it as child pornography. Woodward the interviewer and author runs down her background, education, personal life, and her career. When he gets into specifics about publications denying her work. Woodward possessing critical thinking and inquiring about her authenticity. But he never takes sides on the issue, if her work is tasteless and provocative. Mann stages pictures with her children being her subjects. There’s usually nudity the reason being the whole taboo of her art.
Last semester I was introduced to Sally Mann’s artwork. I didn’t know how I really felt by these series of pictures. By looking at them I know someone will have a problem with them. I didn’t know she uses old film camera’s. Her gear is ancient in today’s standards. I admired reading that about her work and it also explains how her photos look so vintage.
Richard Woodard writes easy to read and understand. I really noticed that for every negative piece of information he countered it with positive. I want the facts not your opinion on the matter so that was translated well.

This half hour video starts off with her daughter, Doon Arbus speaking about her mother’s photography. She describes her mother’s approach to prohibiting. There’s a few excerpts of other people speaking about Arbus’s craft. It sounds like the narrator is Doon but I’m not sure if it is or Diane. Arbus photographed mainly freaks. She believed it wasn’t so much about composition but the subject matter. Which is very intriguing to me because I’ve been taught the opposite. Doon also mentions how it seemed to her that her mother was secretive. She clarifies that the secret isn’t the technique but her experiences during her process of working. Arbus worked from awkwardness which she meant she would have to arrange herself. She didn’t like staging pictures which most portrait photographer’s do.
This short video based on Diane Arbus was very interesting to me. She has always been an enigma to me. And watching this short documentary didn’t really enlighten me but make me wonder more. I find myself all kinds of questions about her approach. Even though it doesn’t answer many questions still the inquisitive feeling I get ignites something in me to go out and photograph.
I really loved the narrative from Diane Arbus’s point of view. It was very effective to have her word’s narrating her own documentary even though she isn’t with us. Diane Arbus commit suicide in 1971.

The article talks about the influence of internet and technology for China’s artist’s. He describes the computer as a new tool for present artisan’s. How digital art is a little controversial. The author emphasizes he is not against it but for it. Boqiao speaks about different venues that digital art has shown itself. He also speaks of a few art schools in China.
I found it interesting that he talk’s about electronic games or interactive games in the 80’s to be a source for many artist’s. Changing China’s art from oppressive into uninhibited.
Boqiao writes well but I wished he had explored how it had transformed the artwork by giving examples. I don’t care about listing to all these festival’s and such. It makes it sound more like an announcement. If he had been precise and indicated how China’s art had changed it would clarify a lot more for me.