Module 11: Video Reviews

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

I selected the videos ‘The Mystical North: Spanish Art from the 19^th Century to Present’ and ‘Dada and Surrealism’, because they seemed the most interesting. I also wanted to know more about Spanish Art, and was curious about Surrealism concepts.

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

Video 1: ‘The Mystical North: Spanish Art from the 19^th Century to Present

·         Goya is known as one of the fathers of modern art. He developed a dark, grotesque style after he was contracted a very serious illness that left him deaf

·         Goya painted a collection of paintings known as the black paintings. They were black in color and full of despair, death and dark themes. After these paintings were created, he lost his sight, and died.

·         In the start of the 20^th century, Antoni Gaudi, an architect, was the first great artist to emerge in Spain since Goya. Gaudi was the opposite of Goya. He created bright, beautiful mosaics that were inspired by God and Catholic past, and inspired future art.  

·         Picasso was inspired by time he spent in Spain, and his sexual experiences there.

·         Cubism was the coldest part of Picasso’s work, and was also largely inspired by the Catholic past. The faces he painted often resembled African Masks.

·         Spanish artists typically looked elsewhere for spiritual nourishment. Surrealism explored the mythic world, the mind, and dreams.

·         Dali visions were sharp, absurd and morbid. He claimed his museum was the world’s largest surrealist object, when really it is like a giant museum arcade. Dali gave us the language of dreams, and self-exploration. Dali made a painting of a civil war in 1936 that ended up being a prediction of a Civil War in Spain.

·         Picasso created Guernica, once again being drawn back to the religious past of Spain.

·         After the Civil War ended and the leader Franca died, art changed. Architecture was believed to hold the future for Spanish art in the beginning of the 21^st century.

Video 2: ‘Dada and Surrealism’

·         Schwitters began including elements of collage into his works in 1918. At the end of the World War, Dada was seen everywhere, but Schwitter did not believe that the technique was for him. He attempted to oppose the Dadaists with his works, although he is seen as one now. He founded a magazine Merz, as a way to display his works, eventually leading to all kinds of different elements being shown.

·         Hannah Hoch created art that was colorful, chaotic and scandalous, and was one of the last Dada artists. She created art with a focus on politics.

·         Grosz gained several enemies by creating his art, as he focused on subject matter like the dehumanization of the modern city or the methods of entrepreneurs or the schemes of politicians.

·         Joan Miro recreated a 17^th century painting as a parody. He played an important part of 20^th century surrealism painting with an emphasis on sheer visual poetry in his paintings.

·         Dali was a master of psychological suspense and studied the dream interpretations of Freud and patient records. He saw his pictures as allegories of psychoanalyses.

·         Man Ray was one of the Dadaists, but joined the Surrealists in Paris. He never wanted to paint anything realistic or descriptive. He was more interested in the idea of the painting than the actual painting itself.

3. How do the videos relate to the readings in the text?

The videos relate to the readings in the text by highlighting similar concepts and themes. The section in Chapter 21 regarding Dada and Surrealism focuses on a few artists and their famous works of art that are also mentioned in the video. The video discussed other artists not mentioned in this section, and broke down a work of art into complete detail. Chapter 21 focuses on the modern world of art from 1800-1945, and the first video showed how art had changed over this time period. For example, many artists were influenced artistically by Spain during this time, even if they were from a different country.

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

I enjoyed that the videos discussed topics presented in the text in more detail. For example, the second video about Dada and Surrealism had separate segments that spent time talking about one specific painting in great detail. The narrator discussed the work of art and certain principles and elements the artist used to indicate an idea. I found this break down of concepts helpful, as it is easier than reading about it, and I think it will help me interpret art in the future.