Observational Sketch

An elderly person

A person who seems sad
A small child
A person with mysterious clothing
A person with interesting clothing

Documentary Questions

Sean Hemingway

1) Write a character sketch of Elizabeth Barret, Hobart Ison, and Hugh O’Connor from the film; describe who they are and what agenda/motivations they have.

Elizabeth Barret: Native Kentuckian who heard about the Hobart Ison case when she was a little girl. She was not from the same impoverished area Hobart was from. Instead she lived outside the area Ison was from and lived in a much wealthier area. Being in a community around Hobart’s, she defended Hobart; assuming that Hugh O’Connor had done something wrong to get shot. When she got older, she went to film school in Appalachia, and her interest in the Ison case grew, and she wanted to find out exactly what happened, from both sides of the story. Her motives were to find out exactly what happened and how everyone in both parties felt about what happened. Although she had her own biases from her childhood, her agenda was strictly to find out exactly what happened, and understand how the communities involved felt about the situation.

Hobart Ison: Native Kentuckian who shot O’Connor. He was a proud landowner who felt that O’Connor was trespassing on his property. It seemed that his motives were only to protect his land and his community under any circumstance, by any means necessary. He had seen a lot of journalists, reporters, and politicians in the area and he, along with a portion of the community, felt like the outsiders who were coming into their community were trying to make fun of the people in that area.

Hugh O’Connor: Canadian filmmaker who went to Kentucky to show the impoverished areas of America. His purpose was to show America from all stretches of life, and most importantly, show although America had a reputation of having “streets paved with gold”, in fact America had its own problems just like every other country. During a filming, he was shot and killed by Hobart Ison; a member of the impoverished community O’Connor was filming. O’Connor’s only agenda seemed only to be the documentation of American life.

2) What different communities are represented in this documentary? How are each represented?

There are three different communities shown in the movie. The first community is the wealthy Kentuckians who did not want to be associated with the poor communities in Kentucky. They were portrayed as if they were ignoring the problem because they were scared it the poor areas would make them look bad. The second community was the filmmakers who were with O’Connor when he was shot. It seemed like they were portrayed as nice people, who only wanted to help express the pain of the poor in the coal towns. When it comes to the shooting, they were made out to seem like they just encountered the wrong person and the wrong time. The third community was the Kentuckians of the coal towns. They were made out to be proud people. There was no set mentality that was shown because all sides were viewed, but they were shown to love the land they lied on, and not matter the situation, they wanted to defend it.

3) As amateur ethnographers what are your responsibilities to your subjects?

My responsibilities are to keep an open mind, and they try as hard as I can to be fair, and look past my biases and ask questions.

4) Think of the community you will be studying, then answer the question; who should tell their story? How might the story change, depending on who tells it?

I feel like the community I am interviewing should tell the story, and it is my job to ask questions to get them to think more about their community and give an in depth analysis of their lives and story. Along with that, it is my job to do the broader historical research to let people know why the community might be the way it is today.

5) Compare “Stranger with a Camera” with the audio documentary “Ghetto Life 101”.

Both documentaries seemed to have people close to the communities in focus doing the documentaries. They were focused on giving people an understanding of communities that outsiders (in general) would not understand, and thus avoid.

Study #1

Wati's Study
Stephanie's Study

Shannon's Study
Otha's Study
Molly's Study
Jawanza's Study


Jack's Study

Danielle's Study

Charmaine's Study
Casey's Study



Brittany's Study
Aby's Study

Chris' Study

Pictograph 1944 By Adolph Gottlieb

In the painting it looks like a bunch of different objects. But the object that stood out was a pair of eyes. When I saw the eyes it seemed like the eyes are what saw all of these objects. which relates to the self portrait a little bit. The eyes are looking at the surroundings and that is what the eyes see, and since the objects are a bit distorted that is how the eyes sees it. So basically to me it seems like what the objet sees they judge, just like people are judged everyday be people. i think that the reason this piece of art stood out to me is mainly because of how everything was drawn. The eyes remind me of someone who is judgmental about everything, because they have kind of like a sly look to them as if the person is talking about someone. Another reason is because I like the way everything was laid out in the painting. It had sort of a organized but unorganized look to it. I also like it because to me it shows what another person sees.

Defense of Northern VA Local Metal Scene

Sean Hemingway

New Millennium Studies

Chet

February 8, 2010

In Defense of Virginia’s Local Music Scene

Although it is “off the radar” to patrons of music outside of the state, Virginia has a very developed and wonderful music scene, that is very unique compared to the local music scene in Chicago. There is one musical genre that I will be talking about in particular, and that is metal music. In Chicago, there seems to be a problem giving local metal bands little, to no exposure in a competitive music circuit.

Currently in Chicago, there are quite a few talented music bands that would be considered to be on a “local” level of popularity. Of course there are some bands in the area, as in any genre or area that are not talented, or are just plain bad. Part of the problem that I see, is that there is that local metal bands really don’t get the time of day in Chicago, and even a lot bands who have a vast international popularity in the metal scene do not come to Chicago, and skip over it. Historically, Chicago is a blues town, and there is a vested interest in Jazz among a majority of the blues audience in the area. Also, there is a significant R&B and Hip-Hop community, along with a popularity of House music, and other electronic genres. In the Chicago area, and in the City itself, there is a lot of promotion for local the genres above, but not for metal. This is not to say that there is no one promoting the music, but it is much more limited and restrained than in Virginia.

An example of this: Through research and time to observe show listings, and going to metal shows in the area, there are very few venues that support the genre. A lot of the local metal bands play at bars or clubs that have little reputation in the area. Along with that, there are no medium sized venues (to my knowledge or I have seen through my experience) that house popular metal bands and local metal bands together on the same stage. This is not to say that there are not places that display local metal talent, but there are no steps that are taken or incentives to draw large crowds to the local metal shows.

There is a venue in Northern Virginia called Jaxx Nightclub. It is a local hot stop for metal bands, and they have a reputation of showing not only local musicians, but also touring bands, and internationally famous bands there. Instantly by looking at the list of bands that have played there, one who is familiar with the genre that has never been to Jaxx might assume the venue is huge, but in reality, it is not a massive venue. It is actually located in a strip mall. When I first showed up there, this surprised me, but when I got inside I realized they had a really good thing going. On top of this, they always up local bands on the same stage as the touring bands. Even the biggest tours will start a little earlier than normal so local talent can have a chance to play on the same stage about an hour before the big bands start playing. Along with that, the majority of venues in the area are all 21 and over shows, giving young musicians a very difficult obstacle to get into shows and play themselves. At Jaxx however, they have a system so that allows all ages in the show, even though they serve alcohol. A black “x” on the back of each hand warns bartenders not to serve minors alcohol, and it is as easy as that.

I am not trying to say Chicago has no respect for metal musicians, and that they are being oppressed and they never see any spotlight, but what I am saying is that there are some very good metal musicians, and I feel that the local venues in Northern Virginia do a very good job, especially Jaxx Nightclub, does an excellent job promoting local metal bands better than almost every other local music scene I have had experience with.

Three art works

I chose this steal painting Two Sisters (On the Terrace), 1881 by Pierre-Auguste Renoir because it relates to self AS I can reflect with this painting. My mother used to take a picture of me and my sister when we were together. We always dressed up and had fun with costumes like these girls. She was always the tall one where I was the short one. I always was at my sister’s knee when she was sitting. I always wanted to be near my sister in a picture. When I was a child I always lived near beautiful areas of the country. My mother always wanted to take a picture everywhere we went.

This picture to the community would be looked as two sisters having a good time, posing for a family painting. I see beauty and innocence. It was back in the day of horse and carriage.

This painting Woman Descending the Staircase, 1965 by Gerhard Richter makes me feel like I’m that beautiful woman running down the staircase. I really like how this painter made a glow to the picture. I can picture myself just like that woman free and happy. That’s me during the Grammy's coming down the stairs. I like the colors in this painting the colors make it stand out in some way.

This painting Young Mother, 1888 by Mary Cassatt reflects to me when i was a child my mother always held me and kissed my cheek. I love how the mother shows love to her daughter. I wish I knew my mother more when I was younger. When I was a child I always had my hands in my mouth always wanted to be on my mother’s lap.

When the community looks at this painting they probably see how much the mother loves her child. They would see how the mother is kissing her child’s face and holding her so tight. I hope some of the viewers at least had an experience like this with their mother. The mother has her eyes closed so it’s more meaningful. Its very important as a young child to have a connection with their mothers

Art Institute

The first painting I thought was interesting was a painting by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo. It was called "Rinaldo and Armida in her garden". It showed Rinaldo gazing into Armida eyes with his shield and sword cast aside, he forgotall about his mission to liberate Jerusalem. She looked into her magic mirror as Carlo and Ubaldo (Rinaldo's fellow warriors) look upon them from beyond the garden's gate. I think the artist reflect self and other in this painting because Rinaldo ignores himself and his true desires to free Jerusalem and let the other which is Armida to influence him to do the oppisite. He wasn't strong enough to resist her and that's how real life is the people you are around and exposed to side track you into doing other things that wasn't in your plans. The artist did an incredible job with this painting and I honestly enjoyed it.



The second painting that I thought had a message that was worth writing about was by Giovanni Battista Piazzetta. It was intitled "The beggar boy (The young pilgrim)", it was a little boy in ragged clothes holding a loaf of bread and a rosary. I chose this painting because I figured it related to self and other because the boy was poor and had to beg to get by, he might have thought that it wasn't so bad being poor since he was young. But other's might have viewed him as disgusting or worthless and it's just different how you think of yourself from how ohters do. Although the painting has also been thought to be the artist's son dressed in a pilgrim costume posing for the painting but if someone didnt know that info they might have said horrible things about the boy for not having much.



The last painting I looked at was by John Philip Simpson and it was called "The captive Slave" it was of a black man with shackles around his wrists and ankles. The slave trade was the inspiration behind this incredible painting. Because it ws a controversial and politiacl issue the man in the painting decided to pose as a symbol of wanting freedom. This conflicted with self because the artist and the man posing in the painting put themselves on the line and took a risk of being caught and killed. This expressed how strong they were and how they would of done anything for their freedom. Other is expressed here also being the slave owner or other angry anti black organizations. Even though they are methaphoric and intangable they still represent the other half or the story.

art

The first piece that caught my eye was Edgar Degas’ the tub. Edgar Degas was a French artist who lived from 1834 to 1917 and this bronze statue was molded in 1889 then finally cast in-between 1919 and 1921. What drew me in was the water in the tub. It just seemed like a very difficult thing to translate into bronze. When I think of baths I think of relaxing by yourself and just having some alone time. This is contrasted with the fact that we the viewers (or others) are not supposed to be there viewing this intimate bath. We get a candid look at what she looks like when there’s no one around. If I were to walk in on her taking a bath, no matter what our relationship is, it would change her demeanor and body language. That is what I think this piece is all about, a candid view of a woman enjoying a nice bath.

I found it so fascinating that in-between all these pictures of old, fat, ugly, rich people Edouard Manet ( a French painter born 1832 died 1883) would have not one but two paintings of beggars. What drew me in was the out stretched hand. This is a situation we have all encountered before, some one asking for change. The other depicted in the painting is the person he’s trying to pan handle or us in the audience. Society doesn’t consider the homeless as people so we avert our eyes and turn up our ipods. So in some ways the beggar himself doesn’t have a self. Most likely the change he gets goes to self medicate himself and since alcohol is a depressant more than likely he doesn’t consider himself a person either. As I read more about the artist it described that Manet had done a whole string of pictures of beggars and debuted them at the same time and called them the ‘Philosopher’ series. I like how just by looking at one painting you could get led to others and a whole story unfolds. The piece is so radical it makes you want to learn more.

I decided to choose one piece of art that I already knew by one of my favorite artists, Venus de Milo by Salvador Dali. I wanted to do this to experience what it's like to see a piece of art you're familiar with in person. The piece is a sculpture of the greek goddess Venus with drawers and pom-poms. I like this piece because it's a familiar statue but then you look at it again and see Dali's 'improvements'. I like Dali because like him I consider my art and self to be post-modern. Post-modern being weird for the sake of weird. When I saw Venus in person it was bigger than I imagined and I was struck at how much attention to detail there was in this plaster sculpture. It looked like a 3/4 replica a little smaller than an average woman (I believe the original was larger than a female) and it reminded me of the mannequins my mother and sister had around the house when I was growing up (they're both artists and fans of Dali) and I could totally see Venus in my room now filled with socks, tools and guitar strings. I like that you can use the art and I had a very hard time not touching it and opening the drawers although I

3 anaylses of art

Molly Strom
2-21-09




A painting from 1881 by Pierre-Auguste Renoir titled “Two Sisters on the Terrace” brings out part of self. From the moment I saw this picture I had a flash back of one of my childhood memories. A replica of this painting use to hand on the wall of my living room. When I look at the painting, I see my older sister and myself playing in the same living room where the painting once hung. I was the younger sister that mocked her every move and went everywhere she did. This piece of art deals with self because it allows me to have a personal relationship to the painting. My concept of this piece is similar to what Renoir was visioning, but it allowed me to make it more personal. Even the girls in the paintings are not related it allows me to have a connection with the painting.

Since the two girls in the painting are not related it made me feel that a painting can make two strangers connect and appreciate one another. After knowing that the girls were not related, it changed the way I felt Renoir wanted people as a whole to look at it. I feel Renoir is trying to make a statement to the other, the community, to not just walk past one another in life. People should make an effort to more intellectual with one another. We should be grateful to have so many people to build relationships with and to grow with. Renoir wants us to learn from one another and build the idea of a sisterly or brotherly relationship from unknown individuals.




As I glare at the painting “Women at her toilette” by Berthe Morisot, I made a connection between the other and the art. The woman in the painting is beautifying herself, glancing in the mirror. She gently touches her up-do. Since this painting was drawn in 1875, I believe the “other” is depicted by beauty and class. During that time period, women of a high social class needed to look a specific way. They would spend hours getting ready for any occasion. This is what women’s lives we like during that time. Morisot is saying that women were expected, or pressured, to look a specific way, and I believe that idea is still seen in today’s society. Women are put under this pressure (the mirror) to have certain qualities even if some women are not born with them. Everywhere people go there is pressure, like there are mirrors, reminding women what their roles are in society, and even today women’s goals are to be appealing as possible. I have felt this way when meeting people for the first time. I am acknowledged more by men when I look more “presentable.”

For the self portion, the foggy, open background allows me to create my personal “self” about getting ready for a large performance. This woman is full of grace and beauty as she prepares herself for an evening out. I feel the same when I am preparing for a performance trying calmly to make the finishing touches when deep down I am shaken. I look in the mirror to perfect as much as possible. I believe the self in this portrait is saying to me to look beyond my imperfections. Since the painting is so fragile and pure, I believe Morisot wants me to look at myself, my natural beauty in the same way. I am who I am and that is final. I also believe the reason the background is smeared and unclear is because in a way it also represents the other in that those opinions should not matter. I should be able to feel beautiful no matter what.



The final painting I examined “The girl by the Window” made in 1893 by Edvard Munch, gave me the impression that others, the community, see this girl searching for something. The girl glances below to a lightened window where she is curiously observing another, hoping she will get a response. Her body half hiding behind the curtain also shows of her shy, curiosity to find someone or something. As a whole, everyone wants something or someone reliable for those times of need. This separates the individual because everyone has different aspects and characteristics they are looking for in his or her search. That is why I believe the artist left the view out of the window with no specific objects or people because it is left for the individual to fill in.

Like the idea of the other, I see the self as a dream, which people do at night similar to the setting of the painting. I dream to achieve goals, and for happiness. Stars, seen at night, are what people wish upon to make dreams come true. I experience a lot of visions during dark, personal, quiet moments so that is why I think Munch made the scene at night. In this situation, self merges with other because both are want, hope, and wish for something that may not happen. Both also cannot be hidden behind emotion or cause because these wants and needs will not occur without desire to fulfill them. Munch does not have the girl star up towards the sky wishing on a shooting star because it is not reality. Dreams happen at the places we are closest to as she looks downward closer to the earth.

Aby's analysis.... oh boy!!

Aby Gutierrez

3 art work analysis

Claude Monet

Arrival of the Normandy train

1877

Arrival of the Normandy train by Claude Monet is an excellent piece of artwork. It is an oil painting that was created in 1877. Monet used cool and neutral colors to depict a train arriving in a station hence the name “Arrival of the Normandy Train.” What really grabs me about this painting though, is the way the colors blend together. The cool colors give the painting a clam feeling, which relaxes the viewer’s eyes. The picture also shows a group of people waiting for the trains’ arrival. This means the train was important and a lot of people probably depended on it. This train may have brought peoples relatives in or out, or it could have taken people to and from work, or it could have also carried goods that the town needed. Whatever the reason, I think that Claude realizes the importance of the train. I also believe that he uses cool color because of the suddleness of it. Monet might realize something that many people take for granted, and I think he captures that very well in this picture. I really like this painting because I believe some of the most important things in life are small and suddle but we still take them for granted sometimes.

Barnett Newman

Title N/A

1905-1970

Barnett Newman is a very well known American abstract artist. His work is very well done and really grabbed me. One of his pieces that really caught my eye in the art institute was a painting. The painting consisted of a background that was different shades of teal, with 3 strips making there way through the canvas. One strip was brown, one orange, and another white which all stood out nicely against the teal. Since the painting is abstract it can be taken many different ways. But I think the colors actually set the tone. There's a little bit of everything in this picture. The base is a cool color, brown and white are neutral, and orange is a warm color. The cool and neutral colors make the painting really easy on the eyes and the orange really sticks out. But what I really like the most about the painting is its simplicity. The painting is basic. There is not a certain skill or reason that made this art what it was, it was just simple and seemed very basic, but that was my favorite part. I think I liked this painting because it could relate to all the simple people. And although it didn’t look like much, it was my favorite piece in the institute.

Judith Turner

Framing the Modern

Year N/A

Framing the modern is a display of multiple photos taken by Judith Turner of buildings and architecture. The element of the pictures that drew me in was my interest architecture. Before coming to Columbia I was an Ironworker so I like to try and figure out how things are made. As I started to look deeper into the pictures I started to let my mind wander and tired to find the meaning of these photos. All of the pictures were printed in black and white. And most of them were of key supports of buildings. This made me think that maybe the artist was trying to portray strength. By putting the pictures in black and white turner took these everyday objects and put them in what seemed to be a whole different setting. She made the structure real, and showed a side of them that people don’t usually see. I believe that she captures the raw strength of the structures, and show the true strength of them with out even saying one word.