Assignment #3

“Slowly blossomed, slowly ripened in Siddhartha the realization, the knowledge, what wisdom actually was, what the goal of his long search was. It was nothing but a readiness of the soul, an ability, a secret art, to think every moment, while living his life, the thought of oneness, to be able to feel and inhale the oneness. Slowly this blossomed in him, was shining back at him from Vasudeva's  old, childlike face: harmony, knowledge of the eternal perfection of the world, smiling, oneness.”

"Siddhartha"

      After being schooled and exposed to different ethnicities.  He has now had his AH HA moment, he is no longer lost as to who he is or what he is. He has searched and found himself through knowledge and understanding. He has accepted himself with all his flaws and imperfections.  He now feels oneness with the world and himself, feeling peace and later tries to rectify mistakes that he has made with people in his past.

      Oneness is to have inner peace, balance and harmony in one’s life, although it is not very easy these days. And as stated in the earlier part of the story that the world is hostile and dangerous, it is, but one still has to live and try to make one’s life less harsh, cold and as comfortable as possible. Also earlier in the story you discussed “Vesica Piscis” or “fish bladder in Latin illustrates the idea of synthesis or unity of opposites by showing two circles intersecting. The circles can be seen as coming together or pulling apart. The unity is illustrated the shaded figure in the middle, this figure, known as the Eureola, also has religious significance.” This is a great example of Siddhartha, at first one person with two inner self having a tug of war, trying to find who he is by having different experiences and exposures from a comfortable upper class life to an ascetic self-denial, to enjoying the sensual aspects of life, so the circle is trying to pull apart, but clearly cannot because one cannot be without the other. Eventually finding himself. The circles become more stable and accepting of each other. This is also wisdom, how to hive harmoniously with ones-self and with others, knowing right from wrong and practicing it, and being accepting of self and others. Everyone goes through these experiences or tug of war on a daily basis but it is how we interpret it and how we learn from it to better ourselves and grow as individuals.

"Barry Murdaco"

Dada Manifesto continued

The pillars of society, George Grosz 1893-1959

http://www.artyfactory.com/art_appreciation/art_movements/dadaism.htm

George Grosz was born in Berlin. He was a prominent member of Dada and the Communist Party of Germany. He was later influenced by expressionism and futurism.  

Grosz’s   paintings are crude, to the point and politically motivated. It tells people what is going on behind closed doors, of people in high office.

       The faces of the characters in the picture are dirty, smoggy, not healthy and puppet-like. Their stance is deceptive politicians or people of the justice system portraying their greed, hate, and deception (there it is nihilism).  A war goes on outside, the city is on fire yet they pay no attention. The painter does not think highly of the characters in the picture, one has feces for brain; the other worms and the next has a urinal on his head. The painter clearly despises the characters. I’m still trying to figure out the meaning of the feather in the man’s hand in the brown suit. Does this mean he has a fetish of some sort? The characters in the picture are not for the people, but for themselves and of destruction.

The Café Terrace at Night, 1886, Vincent Van Gogh

http://www.artyfactory.com/art_appreciation/timelines/modern_art_timeline.htm

Vincent Van Gogh was born In Groot-Zundart. He was trained as an art dealer in Hague and London. He was an apprentice and study under his cousin, the artist Anton Mauve. He was later inspired in 1886 by impressionism. He experimented with oil painting and water colors and commonly used landscapes, scenery and figures to express himself. Van Gogh’s styles of painting, the dark earthy colors of traditional Dutch art and the vibrant hues of impressionism were commonly used. He committed suicide due to depression at the age of thirty seven.  After his death he was considered a renowned impressionist.

      The lines of the buildings are defined; even the cobblestones are intricately detailed and neatly drawn. Of course he loves to use constellations in his paintings. The colors are vibrant but not overwhelming. The scenery is calm, for a midnight walk or visits the local coffee shop. The night-sky is such a dark contrast to the softer colors of the village. This is also how we live in contrast, no matter how difficult or unforeseen we have to make light (or the best) of it. I really enjoy his paintings. All of the paintings contain contrasts of light, dark, good and bad and that is reality. Nihilism exist whether we want it or not. 




References:http://www.artyfactory.com/art_appreciation/art_movements/dadaism.htm

http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Dada_Manifesto_(1916,_Hugo_Ball)--Dadaism, Hugo Ball, "Dada Manifesto"

Dada Manifesto

It will serve to show how articulated language comes into being. I let the vowels fool around. I let the vowels quite simply occur, as a cat meows . . . Words emerge, shoulders of words, legs, arms, hands of words. Au, oi, uh. One shouldn't let too many words out. A line of poetry is a chance to get rid of all the filth that clings to this accursed language, as if put there by stockbrokers' hands, hands worn smooth by coins. I want the word where it ends and begins. Dada is the heart of words.

            This passage implies that as a poet the words flow freely from his mouth, pouring out of his body but then he pauses, stops himself. Could it be because he may offend someone and veer from the belief of Dadaism? For him poetry is liberating, freeing the soul. He wants dada because it is his beginning and end, it is the life force. Dada gives him permission, the right to express himself. But Dadaism seems to limit and almost castrate freedom of expression. The sentence about stockbrokers hands, hands worn smooth by coins, implies that the Government/rules limit the speaker, so even though he thinks he is speaking freely, it is not really so. The speaker does not want to be constrained or bogged down by the utilitarian and rule bound nature of the language. When he says “I want the word where it ends and begins. Dada is the heart of words,” he shows a desire to penetrate to the essence of the objects of his poetry.

            But what about the freedom to express yourself because you are a citizen of a free country where everyone is equal and can freely express themselves without being persecuted by the government , no matter what your beliefs are.

            Many immigrants come here from another country to have a better life. And the freedom is much more liberating. It is difficult when you are restricted, for some, to vote is like climbing a mountain filled with traps. Many enjoy the freedom here without any form of persecution and being treated fairly. I enjoy being an American, in a land of the free.

Reference: http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Dada_Manifesto_(1916,_Hugo_Ball)--Dadaism, Hugo Ball, "Dada Manifesto"

Picture

(c.1916-1922)

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RAOUL HAUSMANN (1886-1971)
'Tatlin at Home', 1920 (collag

           

          

 http://www.artyfactory.com/art_appreciation/timelines/modern_art_timeline_part_2.html

  Raul Hausmann was born in Vienna  Austria-Hungary, July 12 1886 and died February 1, 1941 in France. He was an author, poet and photographer. He was a key figure in the Dada era. After his marriage to Elfride Schaeffea and birth of his child, he started producing expressionist painting and became a staff writer. He had many friends in high places. He is part of a group responsible for the creation of the Dada club. Hausmann presented manifesto of a machine called the Optophone, capable of converting audio and visual signals interchangeable, the device was later patented in England in 1935.

            The picture is clear, contains, many defined lines it is an informative picture based on reality or what is going on in the world at present. Also the picture imply metaphorically.  The man in the forefront of the picture is the big thinker when it comes to machinery- so he is the one ruling taking over. Is the man also a partial cyborg, if you look closely at the eye it looks like a machine. The room implies that the country is in one room. The map gives the sense of the world being far, away or a war tactic room with possible war looming ahead. Health is placed on a shelf collecting dust. There is another man in the picture and he looks middle class because he is wearing a suit. He is worrying about and facing the fact that there is no money, so no food. The shadows are neat and contained. The wall has a veil. And the picture looks like a blinder with satellites looking back at the man.

Reference: Raoul Hausman: Kamerafotografien, 1927-1987 andreas schirmer-mosel c,1979

German Society

      Germany is a beautiful country, very picturesque and old-fashioned in their traditions but also a very advanced and contemporary society.
       According to the world fact-book, Germany is the third richest country in the world with a population of over eighty one million people. It is a society rich in the arts and culture. highly beneficial to its citizenry.
       The male population  in Germany is higher between the age of 0-54 years, while the female population is higher at ages 55 and older than men. The birth rate seems pretty low due to the negative feedback for women and their careers. the unemployment rate seems low compared to other countries. Literacy seems high in Germany, their higher education system cost is the lowest in the world according to the International Business times, but seems more available to the well off.

    According to Friedrich Nietzsche, "God is dead." On one level nihilism does have some strong arguments such as why are we here and for what reason? Who do we really answer to? Is there really a higher power and why is it we as humans don't also have that power to use as we see fit? Why is there poverty, hunger and death, just to name a few. Yet on another level, nihilism itself seems absolutely hopeless, a bottomless abyss with no clarity or direction. Where are faith, belief and hope for the sake of love as human beings? According to court systems, facts are what conclude a case, obviously in this day and age no one can really see god or prove his existence with absolute clarity or profound proof. But does something not exist because it cannot seen with the naked eye? Belief in God has been based on faith and love in one's religion and most often how one was raised during their childhood.
    I was raised by Caribbean grandparents, old-fashioned people with strong religious beliefs and faith that they practiced daily in the home. We lived in a small tight knit community with strong family and religious values. These values held our community together, guiding all of our thoughts and actions. They were the foundation upon which all of us built our sense of self. I have passed on these beliefs and values to my children. I can see God in the legacy of my family. It lives in the sense of order, loyalty and direction that we have cultivated for centuries.
    God is alive in all of us because we love, we hope, have faith and we live. Humans, from infancy, have an intrinsic curiosity and as we grow older the questions surrounding our existence and our purpose multiply.



Reference: Friedrich Nietzsche, The Portable Nietzsche, translated by Walter Kaufman