Film Critique

Jaimee Stevenson

Professor Bomboy

Humanities 101

6 May 2014

Film Critique

Pulp Fiction is a film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino, who has an extremely grungy, action-based style that he implements in his films. Pulp Fiction tells a story out of sequence while still successfully portraying an order of events that manages to begin and end the film within the same scene. This film was created primarily for entertainment, however Tarantino undoubtedly inserted his artistic style in the film, not to make a statement, but to present himself as a writer, director, and actor. Tarantino is known for making cameos in his films, usually as small roles only acting in one or two scenes. The plot of this film shows the lives of two hit men, a gangster and his wife, a boxer, and a bandit couple whose stories intertwine with redemption and violence.

The film begins with the bandit couple who have decided to make a diner their target for robbery. This scene depicts crime right from the beginning of the movie, representing the whole theme of the film. Viewers are lead to believe that this couple will continue to appear throughout the film, possibly as primary characters; however, the scene ends on a cliffhanger and these particular characters are not seen again until the very last scene in the film.

The two mob-men are introduced next, and the plotline at this point in the film is confusing and undetermined. Viewers are uncertain about the direction of the film, and there is no background told about the mob-men and no known reason for their actions at this point. Additionally, it is unknown what the mob-men’s intentions are or what they are trying to accomplish. Considering all of the unknowns, Tarantino captures his audience’s attention using humor, established actors, and clever script. The conversation between the mob-men, played by Samuel L. Jackson and John Travolta, remains quick-witted and cunning throughout the film.

Next, viewers are introduced to drug use and the gangster’s wife, who has been mentioned but never seen until this point. This scene builds on what was shown in the previous scene and the sequence of the film begins to unfold. The chronological sequence ends with the following scene in which it is unknown of the time and relevance to the previous scenes and characters. Tarantino maintains his audience’s attention using action and brilliant dialogue. At this point in the film the all of the primary characters have been introduced and their designations are better understood.

The remainder of the film depicts a series of crime scenes and immensely indulging script. Tarantino makes an appearance as a highly contrasting character given the nature of the film, and perhaps this is his intention as a director to stand out in the film. Although the film remains out of sequence, the chronological order is understood; however, the history of the characters are unknown. Each scene portrays a day out of the character’s life in which a major event has occurred or it holds meaning to the character. It is unknown as to how the characters have gotten where they are and where they will end up; this film shows transitional periods in the character’s lives.

The film concludes in the same diner scene in which it started. The bandit couple are again seen and although their lives do not interfere with the mobsters, their stories connect at this point for a climactic ending. The epilogue is again out of sequence from the rest of the film, but it is known that this scene chronologically occurs previous from other scenes, despite being the epilogue.

Tarantino ingeniously created a film that is out of sequence, yet loops from beginning to end. Each scene in the film builds upon the previous scene despite the lack of chronological order. Pulp Fiction is captivating and brilliantly thought-out by the director and actors. All of the actors communicated their characters flawlessly and forcefully to create a highly entertaining film. The film is enhanced by the accurate portrayal of the time-period through the costumes, music, scenery, and language. Pulp Fiction is a fun, invigorating, and inadvertently comical film that should not be missed out on.

Painting Critique

Jaimee Stevenson

Professor Bomboy

Humanities 101

15 April 2014

Renaissance Painting Critique

            Titan, a famous artist from the renaissance era, is well-known for his compelling paintings and narrative scenes. Bacchus and Ariadne, one of Titan’s more well-known paintings, tells a story that is emphasized by using the elements of art and principals of design. This painting successfully tells the story of Ariadne being deserted on an island and being rescued by Bacchus, who is immediately smitten for her. Feminism is adequately portrayed in this piece and is a preeminent standpoint when considering this work of art.

            The elements of art are subtle yet important to the overall dimension of the painting. The lines and shapes that Titan used add to the intensity of the piece, for example, the shapes of the clouds and the trees. This simple element adds so much more to the painting rather than merely human figures. Form and space are evident when looking at the bodies and seeing that they are taking action rather than standing idle. Both of these elements add to the three-dimensional aspect of the painting, giving the piece action and life. The color of the sky and the foliage add to the value of the piece. The different hues that are used in the background aid in the emphasis of the characters and their motions.

            Balance within the piece is a principle of design that makes the painting unique and advanced for the time period. The asymmetrical balance of the figures taking action is more complex and involves careful placement of the characters by the artist. The principle of rhythm is intended to create a sense of movement throughout the piece. In this particular example, a progressive rhythm is depicted through the sequence of steps and movements that the subjects are making. Most of the characters in this painting are facing the same direction which forms unity and repetition in light of the principles of design.

            The elements of art and principles of design enhance the painting and emphasize the story that is illustrated. The left side of the painting behind Ariadne are colors of blue and white which can represent loneliness as well as purity, which is symbolic of the Greek goddess deserted on the island. The right side of the painting is darker more neutral tones, and is also much less vivid. The figures on the right side are less prominent then Bacchus and Ariadne, who are the focal point of the painting with the use of space, proportion, and color.

            Ariadne, the Goddess of labyrinths (mythography.org), has been abandoned on an island by her past lover, Theseus, who can be seen sailing away in the background. Bacchus, the God of wine (pantheon.org), has discovered her on shore and is immediately taken by her, and leaps out of his chariot to protect her. He may be protecting her from the cheetahs pulling the chariot, or perhaps he is protecting her from being harmed from his rambunctious followers. An additional myth is that he is saving her from being stranded, heartbroken, and left to die. It is said that Bacchus raised her to heaven and turned her into a constellation, which is represented by the stars in the upper left-hand corner. (nationalgallery.org) Ariadne is depicted in a stance of fear and hesitance, possibly caused by the astonishment of the God that has appeared before her. Another likely explanation for her stance could be a bewildered reaction from being forsaken on an island. Ariadne’s right arm is outstretched towards the ship that carries Theseus, and her left arm is behind her back in a protective pose.

            Titan accurately painted a narrative picture that tells the story of Bacchus and Ariadne. Bacchus’s followers cause some confusion, however. It is seen that some followers are women, some followers are male, and some followers are animals. Furthermore, one of his followers appears to be a child. With no visible explanation of this, viewers are left to wonder, where was Bacchus going and where was he coming from? The history behind Ariadne being abandoned is viewable in the painting by the ship in the far left and her belongings on the ground near her feet. The narrative behind Bacchus is unknown and remains a mystery. Perhaps this is what Titan intended when creating this painting, though. Unknowing of the history to how Bacchus found her, the viewers see the painting from Ariadne’s perspective of the inexplicable God emerging from the unforeseen.

            Feminism is extremely impactful when taking a critical standpoint of the painting Bacchus and Ariadne. The mythical story of this piece revolves around feminism. During the 1500’s, women held a place in society that was more to be seen and less to be heard. It was unthought-of for a woman to abandon a man, the situation was nearly always vice-versa. A man could easily neglect a woman and strand her on an island, whereas it was difficult for a woman to do the same. Women did not have the resources that men had, in this case, a boat. For a woman to ask for a ship to abandon her lover could not happen. The woman would be bombarded with questions pertaining why she required the ship and that women have no place on boats. On the other hand, for a man to demand a ship would have been quite standard and few questions would be asked. Also when considering feminism, the thought of a man rescuing a woman is well-known and has been used as a plotline for thousands of years. Only in most recent times have women begun to rescue men in plotlines, and even so, it is not seen nearly as much.

            Bacchus and Ariadne is an elegant work of art from Titus that has been respected and admired by mythologists for generations. There are many theories involving the happenings of the painting. Titus mastered the elements of art and principles of design in a tasteful manner resulting in an effective narrative that can be debated and requires creative thought-processes.  

Works Cited

"Bacchus and Ariadne." Titian. N.p., Feb. 2007. Web. 16 Apr. 2014.   

            <http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/titian-bacchus-and-ariadne>.

Lindemans, Micha F. "Bacchus." Bacchus. N.p., Mar. 1997. Web. 16 Apr. 2014.

            <http://www.pantheon.org/articles/b/bacchus.html>.

"Ariadne in Greek Mythology." Mythography RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Apr. 2014.

<http://www.mythography.com/myth/welcome-to-mythography/greek-heroes/greek-heroes-1/ariadne/>.

Non-Western Critique

 

Jaimee Stevenson

Professor Bomboy

Humanities 101

30 March 2014

Non-Western Art Critique

Beads have been used in Africa to create artwork for centuries, but in the past two decades a new form of art using beads has emerged in South Africa. A community of women founded in 1999 called Ubuhle developed a new take on a traditional South African art form (Smithsonian, web). The traditional beadwork was referred to as ndwango and consisted of a fabric panel coated in colored glass beads that was to be worn on the body. What the Ubuhle women have developed is a textile of colorful beads that are tediously crafted to portray scenery or scenarios and are hung on the wall like a painting. The authenticity of the artworks are portrayed in the scenes that can be viewed on the textiles. The Ubuhle women came together during a time of poverty in South Africa in search for financial independence for them and their children. Beading has become a symbol of hope for these women. It can take up to ten months to complete one canvas, representing the struggles of their everyday lives (Smithsonian, web).

The piece of art titled, “Cherry Tree” by Zandile Ntobela represents hope and new beginnings. The elements of color and texture are the most alluring elements and perhaps the most noticeable to viewers of this piece. The coloring in this artwork accentuates the cherries on the trees, seeing as they are the only features that are outlined in white. They are more noticeable than features that are outlined in darker shades. The use of blues and greens in the piece are striking and blend together while still maintaining contrast to the pink and purple hues. While the texture is apparent because of the use of beads, it is seen that materials other than paint were used in the making of it. The black lines that create the trunks of the trees stand out more than the colored lines around the shrubbery. Because most of the lines in this piece are rounded, the straight lines tend to catch the viewer’s eye since they are divergent in color and shape. The black lines of the trunks also tie into the value of the piece. Seeing as they are the darkest shade in the piece, they bring out the vibrant colors and, most noticeably, the white around the cherries. The form of this work of art is noticed in the curved shapes of the textured surface being used to tie the colors together. There is no shading being utilized, giving the piece a very two-dimensional look (arthistory, web).

Contrast is a large component in this creation when considering the principles of design. Without the contrasting colors, shapes, and textures, this piece would be lifeless. The contrast in colors is illustrated throughout the entire artwork and depicts the struggle for new beginnings that the artist experienced. There is a large emphasis on the texture of this piece and all of the South African beaded artworks. The gritty texture provided by the use of beads is what makes them unique and cultural. One can only imagine how much dedication it must take to individually place each tiny bead in just the right position until it is finished. The rhythm of the artwork is best described as enlightening and radiant. It is enlightening because of the cherry trees and, if looked at closely, there is a small moon to the right of the uppermost cherry blossom. The piece is radiant because of the use vastly different and contrasting colors. When taking into account the rhythm, there is a nostalgic vibe from the artist that is brought out by all of the blue hues. Looking at the proportion, the cherry trees are obviously the largest single feature throughout the piece and are considerably larger than the moon in the background. The shrubs surrounding the trees vary in size and color and give the cherry trees their large proportion. There is repetition in colors, textures, and shapes, and without it, the piece would be too overwhelming with its many different styles. Zandile Ntobela used just the right amount of repetition so that the piece remains vivid and brilliant without being too intense (cornell, web).

When I look at this piece I see a beautiful and compelling work of art with evident cultural flare. “Cherry Tree” is meant to be hung as a decoration to be viewed and admired, and this goal was certainly achieved by the artist. Knowing the background of these beaded textiles, I see passion in the artworks, and even if the history of the piece is unknown, it is obvious that it takes a great amount of passion to create these beautiful designs.

The Ubuhle women have created a new form of art that is inspiring and is a new element of history for South African artwork. The background of the beaded textiles regards admirable women who take their fate into their own hands by creating engaging pieces of art that include examples from the elements of art and principles of design in an elegant manner.

Works Cited

Gan, Vicky. "History, Travel, Arts, Science, People, Places | Smithsonian." History, Travel, Arts, Science, People, Places | Smithsonian. N.p., 15 Jan. 2013. Web. 30 Mar. 2014.

Esaak, Shelley. "What Are the Elements of Art?" About.com Art History. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Mar. 2014.

"Principles of Design." Principles of Design. Charlotte Jirousek, 1995. Web. 30 Mar. 2014

Classical Architecture Critique

Jaimee Stevenson

Professor Robert Bomboy

Humanities 101

18 February 2014

Classical Architecture Critique

         The building that I have chosen for my classical architecture critique is the Warehime-Myers Mansion located in Hanover, Pennsylvania. The building was originally built in 1911 to be the residence of Clinton N. Myers, one of the owners of the Hanover Shoe Company. Since then, it has been purchased by William Warehime and been donated to the Hanover Area Historical Society (HAHS, web).

This historic piece of architecture represents an Ionic order style of build. The columns are very tall and slightly narrower than what you would see in a Doric order or Corinthian order style column. What really stands out as being an Ionic order, though, is the style of capital being used here. The capital sits right on top of each column, and for this order the capitals are examples of volutes, or scrolls. I find this to be the most ornamental style of capital and the most pleasant to look at. The swirls above the columns give the building a delicate yet structured look. The bases of these columns are thicker and taller then what one would see in a standard Ionic style. The larger bases give the building a very sturdy appearance and shows off the marble finish nicely.

            In an Ionic style column, there are three foundations that make up the entablature. The entablature is what lays on top of the capitals, and what makes up the roof above the columns. The architrave is the solid platform that lays directly above the swirls, and we can see that this building has modern lights built into it. The frieze is the platform that sits above the architrave which, in this example, shows off the marble that the front of the building is made of. However, in ancient Greek architecture, the frieze would often have designs or pictures engraved into the stone. Lastly, the cornice is the ledge directly above the frieze that supports the roof. The cornice is less structural and more decorative to give the building dimension. (Fiero, 123)

            One of the reasons the Ionic order was chosen for this building is because of the building material used, in this case, marble. The Doric order could have been used, however, the Ionic order portrays a fancier look and finish. The Corinthian order is perhaps the fanciest of the orders and may have been difficult to carve into the marble. Another reason for using the Ionic order is because of the height of the building. The Ionic columns are known for being tall and slender and are best fitted for the mansion (Fiero, 124).

            In today’s society, the mansion conveys a historical message which is the reason the mansion has not been remodeled or torn down. In the time that the mansion was built, the city of Hanover was still being established and was considerably smaller. The original owner of the mansion was a wealthy and corporate individual who owned one of Hanover’s largest companies at the time. His residence was built to represent his stand in society and was meant to look superior and high-standard.  

            The mansion is located directly in the heart of Hanover, and is meant to be seen and admired by locals. My perception of the mansion is that it is an astonishingly beautiful work of architecture. The use of an old-style classical order is not common on modern homes, so seeing a residency with the use of a Classical Greek order would lead me to believe that this is the home of someone important who made a mark in history, in this case the history of my hometown.

            Greek styles are not the only styles that can be seen on the mansion. Roman architecture styles enhance the building’s Greek order columns. The front door of the mansion is based off of a Roman style of build. Rather than using the post and lintel style doorway, the Romans were one of the first to portray the style of arched doorways and vaulted structures. The arched doorway gives the mansion a more contrasted appearance and reflects the Greek style pillars nicely. The two bottom windows are also arched, another example of Roman architectural style that compliments the arched doorway. (Fiero, 153)

            Andrea Palladio designed a piece of architecture named “La Rotonda,” which has many similarities when compared to the Warehime-Myers Mansion. Perhaps the most evident similarity between these two buildings is the use of the Ionic order. Instead of a dome shaped roof, apparent on La Rotonda, the mansion has a large window on the roof that is similar in appearance. Also on the roof of La Rotonda can be seen two vent-like figures. The mansion has two windows similar in shape and in the same location as the vents, which leads me to believe the windows are a modernized accent of what used to be vents. It is evident that La Rotonda is very similar in style to the Warehime-Myers mansion and could have very likely been used as an inspiration for this historic foundation. (La Rotonda, web)

            The Warehime-Myers Mansion is an accurate example of what an Ionic order column looks like, and is accented with Roman features such as the arched doorway. The Builders of the mansion were inspired by similar works of art such as La Rotonda, and many other elegant pieces of architecture. Buildings that utilize ancient styles such as Greek styles or Roman styles are designed to portray superiority and stability. Classical orders can be seen on other buildings of importance such as banks and courthouses, however, there are much fewer residencies that depict the ancient styles. For this reason, the Warehime-Myers Mansion is a delicacy and will remain a part of Hanover’s history that will typify the ancient Greek and Roman cultures.

Works Cited

"Home Page for Hanover Area Historical Society." Home Page for Hanover Area Historical Society. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Feb. 2014.

"LA ROTONDA." La Rotonda. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Feb. 2014.

"Historic Landmarks Commission." Historic Landmarks Commission. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Feb.

            2014.

Fiero, Gloria K. "Chapter Five." The Humanistic Tradition. Boston: McGraw Hill, 2006. 122-25.

            Print.

Fiero, Gloria K. "Chapter Six." The Humanistic Tradition. Boston: McGraw Hill, 2006. 152-54.

            Print.