Le Pieta

What is the Context?

In the Renaissance Era churches across the world was commissioning artists to create works of art. At the time Italy prospered. Passionate people gathered to learn about art, science, and religion. Michelangelo was twenty years old. The young artist was just starting out by doing small pieces of art. A cardinal, Jean de Billheres, called on to the artist to create a sculpture of Mary holding Jesus. Italy had some works of the scene but most displays of the Pieta were formed in Germany and France. The piece was not a big deal, it was only for a side chapel in Old St. Peter’s Basilica. However, the artist used it as a stepping stone to become an epoch for his generation of artists.

The scene was one of Mary’s seven sorrows. Mary held Jesus after He was crucified on the cross. This scene is one of the most traumatic incidents of the Gospels. Different artists who displayed this scene crafted Mary as an older woman. Michelangelo portrayed her as a young mother because of the Virgin’s incorruptibility. He also drew inspiration from his mother’s face. His mother died when he was just a young boy. Michelangelo used the commission to display a raw and immaculate version of the Pieta in only two years.

Why is it beautiful?

The young Michelangelo took the opportunity to create a meager sculpture and turned it into on his most incredible masterpiece. The perfect block of Carrara marble was crafted into the Pieta. Sculpting is hard in general. But sculpting marble is to sculptures as tradititional french croissants to baked goods. Michelangelo crafts marble into pieces that are breathtaking. The Pieta is immense and that overwhelms the viewer. The overwhelming size is the beginning of the beauty of the Pieta. A song can make the listener relate and feel the lyrics because of the voice easily. However, a sculptor has a tougher to make the viewer become attached to the piece of the art. Michelangelo is able to draw the viewer in which shows his talent.

The despair shown on Mary’s face makes the reader feel sad themselves. The limp body of Jesus does not just feel sad for Him but also for Mary who lost her son. The Pieta is beautiful because of how much you feel from a block of marble a few hundred years old.  Michelangelo carved marble into a mother weeping while holding her dead, tortured son.  The viewer watches Mary in utter despair. Michelangelo showed his technique and ability to create an emotional masterpiece.

What is the artist communicating?

The Pieta depicts the natural love of a mother, pain, and the despair when all hope has been given up. The block of marble shows the love the of Jesus’s mother. Mary holds His limp body after she witnesses his torture and merciless death.  Mary and Jesus are both adults. However Mary is shown as a much larger body. Two reasons for this: to sustain the weight of Jesus and to show the motherly care of her little baby boy.  Mary has robes flowing around her. The robes make her seem awesome. Mary’s face shows despair. The despair after one realizes there are no other options. Mary gazes down not even at Jesus but just down at his body. The Pieta reminds the viewer as if she is weeping for her son. Mary’s hand is stretched out, as if to ask “why?”. The viewer feels Mary’s pain.  Jesus’s pain is also felt as well. His limp near naked body frightens the viewer. Mary looks strong but Jesus appears weak. He is smaller than Mary but He looks malnourished even. Without knowing the artist's intention a person understands the man has suffered a tremendous amount. Michelangelo is able to communicate pain, despair, and love without saying one word.

Come as You Are

What is the Context?

Come as You Are was written shortly after Seattle’s  AIDS campaign was published. The campaign encouraged heroin addicts to soak needles in bleach to avoid spreading HIV and AIDS. Instead of curing AIDS or helping the infected the government at the time decided it was too late to help the addicts.  The order to soak their needles was offensive because it was perceived that they were not treatable. The government was seen as giving up on a whole group of people. Cobain lived in Aberdeen, Washington but moved to Seattle. Cobain and Nirvana crew were heroin addicts. At the time individuality of Grunge was flourishing. Grunge was an outcry from people that ‘self’ was deteriorating. Nirvana was the effect of feeling as if they were being smashed into one box. Come as You Are is an example of Nirvana’s contrasting songs. Quite verses with loud choruses or the other way around. They drew inspiration from The Pixies for that.

Nirvana is seen as one of the most influential rock bands of all time. Kurt Cobain himself was called the voice of a generation. Cobain’s lyrics  related to Generation X as a whole and had immense commercial success. Their first album produced was Nevermind featuring Come as You Are and Smells Like Teen Spirit. This album was the flagship of the spokesmen, Nirvana.

Why is it beautiful?

Kurt Cobain and Nirvana was the epoch of rock music. Everything changed after them. There was good reason for the influence. Nirvana wrote lyrics that people fifty years from now will be able to listen and relate to. Come as You Are is a clear example of Cobain’s writing ability. The mellow verse is eerie but the loud chorus rejuvenates the audience. The contrast messes with the audience’s emotions. People searching for their self are lost until they find art that expresses what they are feeling. Come as You Are does that.

At the time of conception AIDS patients were being boxed and classified as being dirty. Come as You Are spins a stereotypical degrading campaign against HIV into an acceptance speech. The contrasting tones and lyrics present an acceptance for all.  The bridge relates to all those who feel attacked especially the HIV/AIDs. “No, I don’t have a gun” is repeated four times to create an almost pleading effect to leave them alone. People who feel threatened grasp easily to that idea.

Nirvana has transcended time to become not just voice of Generation X but Generation Y as well. the beauty of timeless themes and lyrics is something few writers are capable of doing.

What is the artist communicating?

Nirvana communicates the themes of human nature, acceptance, and individuality. Human nature is recurring theme in this song. Memoria is Latin for memory. Memoria is repeated as the hook many times. It is human nature to make mistakes so memoria is the reminding of the past. The first verse has dual meanings with dual meanings. One meaning is related to human nature. People change as they grow. Friends can turn into enemies and vice versa. The importance of changing is present in this song to point out how human’s change. “As a trend, as a friend:” means that friends do change just like trends.

Acceptance and individuality are two different themes that relate in the song Come as You Are. The dual meanings of the first verse are different but the other meaning is preaching acceptance of individuality. “Come as you are, as you were” states acceptance to everyone's differences. The meaning is to embrace all as your friend, as whatever they are even if they were an enemy. The song condemns the HIV campaign in the verse: “Come doused in mud, soaked in bleach, As I want you to be, As a trend, as a friend, As an old”. The other meaning of the last two lnes of verse refers to the Seattle government’s view of junkies and AIDS/HIV patients. The government saw them as trends not worth taking care of. Kurt Cobain described the song as “about people, and what they’re expected to act like”

Built by the Greatest Engineers of the Greatest Empire at the Greatest Time

What is the Artist Communicating?

The emperor Hadrian created the most awesome of Rome’s building to communicate three themes. The Pantheon communicates that Rome is supreme, honor for the gods, and inclusive. The word when broken down means all religion or gods. The Parthenon is confused with the Pantheon but the first is only dedicated Athena. The Pantheon differs again because it is a closed temple. Altars were built for every Olympic God. The oculus at the top of God was used for building purposes but also to let the gods in. The gods would be able to see everything happening the temple. These features honor the gods.

The Pantheon is a symbol of Rome’s dominance and fall. The Pantheon is an awe-inspiring feature of Rome but after it was built Rome declined. Hadrian gathered the best architects  and engineers of the time to produce the Pantheon. Many researchers believe that the engineers wanted to build the portico higher. However, leaders supposedly pressured Hadrian to complete it so it only went to the height today. The Pantheon was built at the height and nothing was seen like it before or after. The dominance of the building shows Rome’s dominance. 

Another theme shown by Hadrian was inclusive. Rome’s conquerors were ruthless in their wars but after conquering they shared Roman culture but let the citizens share their own identity. This inclusion was a prominent belief in Rome. The Pantheon was no exception. The round dome symbolizes a place for all to worship. Pan means all even. The Parthenon has pilgrims pray outside of the altars but the Pantheon opens its doors for all those who want to pray.

Why is it Beautiful?

The Pantheon is building meant for gods and seems to have been built by the gods. Michelangelo is quoted on the design “Angelic and not human design.”  The Pantheon has stumped archeologists and architects for centuries. The Pantheon displays Rome’s organization and mental prowess. The temple has suffered from major cracks in the dome but still functions unimpaired. The building was built without reinforced steel rods which have become a requirement of all buildings. The building has withstood centuries of decay and erosion without the basic modern technology we hold essential. The building is a work of art! The design is similar to many other temples but the magnitude is far greater. The awesome magnitude astounds onlookers to this day.

The carving on the outside is a tip of the hat to different ancient designs. The columns on the portico, the front of the building, are carved similar to Tuscan, Doric, and Corinthian. The Romans combined those styles as decorations  as a symbol of Pan or all. These features add to the symbolism of the inclusive theme of the building.

The inside of the building is an example of Roman drama. Different types of light drop into the Rotunda to show beautiful images.

What is the Context?

Before the Pantheon was built there was a building for Marcus Agrippa. So when Hadrian funded the project and potentially the architect carved “dedicated to Agrippa”.  The building was also built with the main entrance facing the north to conform to Roman religion. Technology was a huge factor for engineers ability to build the temple.

Concrete and brick was largely used. However, it is unenforced concrete which is not used at all today for the lack of stability. Romans discovered concrete could be manipulated.  At the foundation is heavy brick and concrete but as it rises the concrete becomes lighter until the oculus when it is air. The combination of different sands to the concrete would slow the drying process. The ability to create lighter concrete was made possible by combining volcanic rock and concrete because the rock is porous.

Arches have been revolutionary for architecture. The arches disperse weight. The dome is made out of arches turning 180 degrees into the circle of the dome.  Arches can be seen inside and outside of the Pantheon. Arches on the wall redistributed the weight to the foundation. Another way to lighten the load was the honeycomb wall design. The builders made voids which produced the honeycomb design. Arches, unenforced concrete, and the Roman’s genius provided Hadrian the ability to produce Rome’s greatest building.

E.T.

What is the Context of the Film?

Steven Spielberg is one of the greatest directors in history. Spielberg's work has been proven to change social views. Spielberg's Close Encounters  was his first movie about aliens. However, it was not his last when E.T.  continued changing mind sets of aliens. E.T. premiered the 11th of June 1982. The movie grossed $792.9 million with a budget of $10 million. Spielberg produced, and directed this masterpiece. At the time of creating the film Science Fiction was booming. The image of aliens was fiercely negative. Spielberg set out to replace that mindset. Close Encounters of the Third Kind and E.T. Extra Terrestrial was  sparked by a question “what if aliens were good?” Long before this question Extraterrestrials were villainous.

The evil aliens were flying back to their home galaxies while friendly and social aliens started to land on Earth in the form of Star Wars, Star Trek, and Spielberg's work. Area 51 and Roswell incidents initially brought Aliens as a believable idea for Americans.  These events led to the creation of Spielberg's Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Close Encounters is the adult version of E.T. E.T.’s poster tries to adhere to kids with “His adventure on Earth”.  

Steven Spielberg draws a lot of the film from his own life.  Michael serves as the early Steven as he mocks his siblings but soons becomes the protector as his father leaves them. After his parent’s divorce Steven filled the void with an imaginary alien companion. The companion was a brother he never had and a father he lost.

Why is it Beautiful?

Every screenplay has the potential of being a hit. However, the difference between a hit and a masterpiece is the director and the music. The score by John Williams not only creates the edge of the film but entrances you to the point of loving a creature that does not speak. The music of a film has that ability. Dumbo is a prime example. Dumbo does not say one word but has become a Disney legend due to the animation and music. The first sight of the featherless bipeds are seen in a group. While the group is gathering plants outside of the spaceship E.T. is walking farther out. The music is eerie but slowly builds to lighter and happier music with violins, clarinets, and the tipping point a triangle as the alien looks over the city’s lights. That moment makes the viewer relate to the wrinkled alien. Immediately after you grow to like E.T. the tone of the music changes to suspenseful music with brass horns dominating the sound.  At this point humans arrive and appear as villains here to capture the foreigners. The viewer hears squealing and uncomfortable screams mixed with groans of E.T. and his family hurry to the spaceship but E.T. does not make it. John William’s score does not just add to the feature it makes the film a masterpiece of emotions.  

The score makes E.T. a beautiful film but director’s work makes it a masterpiece. The film was created to be relatable to kids and for adults to relive their childhood. The movie was filmed at a low camera angle. This effect made humans daunting and overlooking Elliott, the main character. E.T. was made the size of Elliott as well. Instead of a large alien E.T. was a small waddling orphan. Elliott's background was a big impact on relating to his story. Elliot was always mocked by his older brother’s friends and his father left him and his mother. The scoring and direction of the film makes E.T. a beautiful American classic.

What is the artist communicating?

Steven Spielberg communicated three themes: religion, coming of age, and friendship.

E.T.’s trailer describes the movie as the story of the arrival, search, and departure of E.T. Many critics relate this to Jesus Christ’s nativity story. E.T. and company arrived in a forest with no one around and was immediately searched for by predators. The creature’s family immediately flee to safety but accidently leave E.T. behind. Jesus was born in a dusty barn and was searched for to be killed. Mary and Joseph flee with Jesus to Egypt. The movie poster reflects clearly of Michaelangelo's Creation of Adam. E.T.’s finger is stretched out and touches Elliott’s finger. Another correlation is the death and resurrection of Jesus. E.T is crucified by the military by being researched on. E.T. relinquishes his connection to Elliott even though he will die because he wants Elliott to live. This is similar to Jesus dying on the cross to have salvation for people. E.T. is resurrected from Elliott’s love and care similar to God’s love for people and Jesus.  

Coming of age and friendship go hand in hand as themes in E.T. The movie was made with kids in mind. E.T. goes through the phases a newborn has when growing up. E.T. is scared of the new members of the family, he learns to talk, and eat. The movie is filmed at the low angle to put the movie as a child’s perspective. Many of the adult’s faces, specifically men, are not shown.  The pair grows up together. Elliott transcends from being mocked to being the leader of the group. Friendship is a huge factor in the film. Elliott begins his relationship with E.T. as a pet. It grows to be equal counterparts. The two grow a connection. Elliott and E.T. are separated for the first time. E.T. drinks a beer which makes Elliott intoxicated. While E.T. watches television he learns English. Elliott replicates the themes and scenes of the shows E.T. watches.  The pair grows a connection so they feel each other’s feelings. The pair become unlikely friends which drives the theme home.

The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell

What is the context?

Russell drew from the events and art around her to create the Sparrow Series.  The ideas presented in the book are ideas that leave you thinking long after the last page is turned. Russell draws inspiration to enlighten readers through her own experiences. Mary Doria Russell wrote this novel in the 1990s. The book is a science fiction masterpiece. The Cold War just ended when Russell wrote The Sparrow. Science Fiction around the time was a hugely popular genre. Battlestar Galactica and Star Wars premiered 12 years before Russell started the book. The Cold War brought a significant cause of science fiction. The United States and Russia were competitively building a space program to go to the moon. These actions spurred the science fiction revolution.

The matriarch of the trip, Anne, is a doctor who studied anthropology in college as well. Anne also shows Russell’s humor more than any other character. Russell was a paleo-anthropologist. Anne’s relationship with her husband, George, mirrors Russell’s own marriage.

The largest way Mary Doria Russell draws from her life is the theme of linguistics. Russell draws from the anthropology background she has to study three types of people. Russell studies humans, Runa, and Janata. Language is a huge factor in the novel. Sandoz is a professional linguist for the Jesuits. The plot is formed through Sandoz traveling and meeting people through his job. Once the group arrive on the foreign planet and meet the Runa  Emilio quickly goes to work to learn the language. Language is among the differences between the three species. Russell used something she studied in the past to construct the backbone of the novel.

What is the artist communicating and how?

The Sparrow, written by Mary Doria Russell, invites you to question God and His path for creation. The novel’s plot surrounds a group of Jesuit Priests and their companions while they go to a foreign planet, Rakkhat. The main character and only survivor of the voyage suffers tremendously. Emilio Sandoz is mutilated, raped, and lead to believe his God hates him.  The priest begins the journey finally experiencing God for the first time throughout his priesthood. Sandoz is enlightened in the beginning of the trip then slowly begins to question God until Sandoz believes God is making sick jokes on creation. On the trip everyone dies except Sandoz.  The first death brings the most questions about God. Alan Price dies from seemingly nothing. The doctor, Anne, can not determine the cause. The Priest in charge, D.W., becomes agitated from this because he believes there has to be a reason. However, it seems that there is no cause. The Priests become troubled from this and the rest of the crew too. The entire journey was spurred by the belief that God wanted them to come to this planet but why would He just kill one of the members? These questions continue to build as Russell elaborates the theme of God’s impact on creation.

A second theme is the debate of celibacy with Priests. On the trip celibacy is brought up in a conversation with Jimmy and Fr. Sandoz. Jimmy struggles with celibacy even though he is not a priest and asks jokingly how Emilio and the other priests do it. Emilio divulges that Marc loves women and has broken the vow. Emilio speaks about the personal vow taken to become focused to carry out God’s work. The irony of a Priest who loves women is not lost on the reader or Jimmy. Emilio questions his vow he made as a boy or the woman he wants as a man. Emilio falls in love with Sofia with constant hesitation from both of them. Emilio decides to not act but when Jimmy marries Sofia Sandoz wonders if he made the right choice. Emilio becomes a sex slave to the aliens of the planet. When Sandoz recovers on Earth he says “It’s either there is no God or God is hilarious, making a priest a prostitute."  

The third theme is language. Linguistics is a central part of the plot. The study of language moved Emilio Sandoz region to region meeting Sofia, D.W., the Edwards, and Jimmy. The three species known on Rakkhat are the Janata, Runa, and the humans. Language is a huge barrier for the humans but Emilio works hard and learns the Runa’s language. Through studying the language with one of the Runa he develops a close bond with her. Language is a vessel for Sandoz to develop sincere relationships with everyone around him. Language also contributed to his trauma because once Sandoz came home he mixed up his which language anyone was speaking. 

Why do you find it beautiful?

The first chapter of The Sparrow entrances the reader. The plot is a mixture of the Da Vinci Code and Star Wars. The point of a great science fiction novel is to entertain and make you think. The Sparrow does exactly that, M.D.R. creates a unique book that makes reader repeatedly stop reading and think in the middle of the chapter. After thinking, the reader finishes the book. astonished.

Russell wrote the novel in two perspectives. The first shown was in Rome. Sandoz was in his mutilated state. Russell spoiled the ending. The Jesuits tried to learn what happened on the foreign planet. The reader learns that a priest was found in a brothel, everyone dies, and the once popular Jesuits were plagued by bad press of a murderous prostitute priest. These initial revelations shock the reader. In a world where shocking the consumer is harder than ever before The Sparrow completely shreds the reader’s shock. The reader is astonished and amazed by the beautiful and horrifying story of Fr. Emilio Sandoz S.J.  

The relationships developed in the novel are artfully created. A beautiful quote is said about Anne and D.W. by Emilio Sandoz: “The father of my soul and the mother of my heart is dead.” This quote explains the sincere and intense relationship the members had with each other. Sandoz valued Anne and D.W. more than anyone in his life. The members of the trip loved each other. Jimmy and Sofia decided to get married and have a child. That choice was spurred by need for companionship but the two valued each other immensely. Mary Doria Russell constructed a masterpiece of Science Fiction and Catholicism that formed The Sparrow.

Europe After the Rain

What is the Context?

Max Ernst was born in Bhrul, Germany. He was living in France when World War I broke out. He was drafted. He fought on both the Eastern and Western fronts as a map charter. As World War II erupted Ernst was labeled as an enemy alien. He was sent to a detainment camp. Ernst's friends freed him. However once the Gestapo came to France Ernst was hunted and labeled a degenerate artist. During his painting of Europe After the Rain he escaped from the Gestapo to New York with the help of Peggy Guggenheim. Ernst had extremely negative views on the war. He was quoted "On the first of August 1914 M.E. died. He was resurrected on the eleventh of November 1918." Ernst means that his spirit died the day he was drafted. Once the war ended he resurrected. 

Max Ernst demonstrates many of  his well-known techniques. He uses juxtaposition by showing a figure with a spear and helmet in a field of death and destruction. The warrior like figure is strong but stands among ash. Ernst is known for using birds and humans intertwined.  The left figure is a man with a bird head standing with a woman. He also uses collage frequently throughout his work. He used Victorian illustrations from books and pasted them into his work. The woman is a classic Victorian era woman. Max Ernst also used a process called decalcomania. The process was an early image transfer. Ernst used the process for his collage work.

Early decalcomania was a process in which an artist applied painted glass. After, the artist slowly pulled it off. The basic idea is similar to when you pull tape off paper and writing comes off with it. Ernst used this method on canvas for this piece. The process creates a hallucinatory picture which causes the different sectors of colors. 

What is the artist communicating?

Max Ernst attempts to portray the feeling of emotional desolation through his piece.The piece itself is segregated through the different colors. The sky is the only color that is throughout the picture.  Ernst also shows vivid figures in all of the sections of the piece. He depicts a nude woman on what looks like an abandoned carousel. A rotting bull’s head lays under the carousel. He has a woman and bird headed man looking over the destruction. I take it as they are looking over the destruction in despair. The two may be looking at the despair or looking at it as they caused it. In the fight for control they are left alone with nothing to control.

Ernst’s background and feelings toward war is blatant. Ernst tried to show war’s destruction. He used decalcomania to create a melancholy feel. The dark tones are equally important as the figures in the piece. Tones create devastation in the mood. As you gaze upon the varying images you not only see the destruction but feel it.  Ernst meant all these symbols to depict that war will eventually destroy us. The title also is a symbol. The ‘rain’ is not just weather but a symbol for war’s gunfire and violence.

Why is it beautiful?

This piece is beautiful because of the different complex attributes. I agree with Europe After the Rain’s message with war and desolation. Ernst uses complex methods of decalcomania to make his masterpiece. He also depicts futuristic desolation that makes you contemplate life. This piece is not only a good piece of art but a beautiful piece of art.

Ernst’s use of colors to show an eerie mood to the work is highly technical. He also uses a calm, beautiful sky as a background behind all the isolation. Ernst shows technique and creativity with decalcomania. He took time to paint intricate pictures on glass then plaster it to the canvas. This process is time consuming but Ernst makes it worth it. The figures do not stay on the page but make you think after gazing upon the piece of art. The pair of figures standing atop of the ash is very interpretive. Are they the last survivors and alone or are they the warriors who won the battle but end up isolated? All these ideas prove not only that Max Ernst created is a piece of art but a phenomenal piece of art.