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“ Art is the product of creative human activity in which materials are shaped or selected to convey an idea, emotion or visually interesting form” (Encarta Encyclopedia)

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I’ve been a fan of Jackson Wang since 2017, and as an artist he always had an intended meaning with his works. Just recently, he released new music after more than a year of “finding himself” (source: instagram captions), and in his new releases, he demonstrated the chosen definition.  He conveyed the idea that as a performer, he will always be expected to perform for the pleasure of the audience. However, once he showed signs of asking for help, instead of being concerned, the audience took it as another part of the show and left without providing help. Implying that no matter what happens, a performer is always expected to perform. In his case, he had to give himself time to remember just who he was. Which is reflected in the music video of him having an identity crisis, while still performing for his audience.

https://youtu.be/f2ILvf-JKBY?si=4ggMmtCSuIGSOMY7

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If art is defined as representation, does it take into account other art forms like instrumental music or the so-called abstract art, like the painting below by Kandisky.

Yes, art is not limited to one medium. Art can be anything that the artist wants to use that they think represents what they truly want to create. Art has no limitations, whether with regards to the medium used or the sort of art created. Art is freeing - it encompasses everything that an artist can think of creating. However, only defining art as representation can be limiting in a way that it may restrict how one can treat and view art. It can lead to the loss of the deeper and underlying meaning that an art can contain.

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Art as “expression.” Among the key concepts, this is likely the well-known dimension of art. You hear people say, “I paint (or dress) this way to express myself.” How does ‘expression’ relate to the artistic process, in general, or the artist, in particular? How does this compare with art as representation?

Personally, as someone who also sees  art as “expression”, I see it as a way of putting into art the things that cannot be put into words and action. Art can be used as an outlet, no matter the medium of choice. It depends on how the artist wants to express themselves. Art as expression can be compared to art as representation in the way that they are interlinked.

From my understanding,  without expression, there is no representation. Art as expression is the process of doing, while art as representation is the final output. An artist uses art to represent what they want to express to their audience. That is why they are interlinked.

However, once again, merely thinking that art as expression solely means expressing personal feelings isn’t always the case and can be limiting when it comes to the definition of expression as a whole. Art as expression does not solely mean the art of expressing personal feelings, but can also mean the expression of other things. Like an artist’s opinion, stand, and thoughts on various things.

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"The arts are the key to those parts of us that reason and logic alone cannot reach" 

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From what I interpreted in the video, art is just as important to the lives of science students as it can provide an array of ideas that logic and reason alone cannot fully encapsulate. Learning the arts open the mind to more possibilities. Art crafts the vision, science makes it possible. They go hand-in-hand to create a world that is fit for everything. Just like how in architecture, when designing a space or structure, one must keep in mind to make it beautiful but at the same time possible.

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Inspired by the story of Odysseus and Penelope

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Visualization of Carlos Angeles’s “Landscape II” after great pain

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Visualization of Carlos Angeles’s “Landscape II” after great pain

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Abbey with Oak Trees, Caspar David Friedrich

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If this painting were an emotion, what title would you give it? What aspect of the painting can suggest “lightening” in the artist?

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If this painting were an emotion, what title would you give it? What aspect of the painting can suggest “lightening” in the artist?

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I would title this piece "Yearning" - a yearning for a brighter tomorrow after the death of yesterday.

The lighter hues coming from the upper right corner of the painting is the one suggesting the artist's lightening. Incorporating lighter hues to emphasize the darker elements that comprise of the majority of the painting.

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The self portrait is a mix of realism, surrealism , expressionism. At first I wanted to achieve a realistic self portrait. However, I wanted my portrait to portray what I usually feel like when viewing my reflection - a mixture of colors and features that I feel like make me stand out in a way that makes me not like the ordinary. Not in the sense of extraordinariness, but in the sense of not feeling like I fit in. Which is why I implemented bright and contrasting colors, which is connected to a flesh-like color, as if despite feeling out of place, somewhere deep inside I’m still rooted in the same likeness  as everyone around me.

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How can art be practiced for its own sake, separate from society?

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How can art be practiced for its own sake, separate from society?

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By using it for your own personal intentions, your own thoughts and motives on what art is really for you without thinking about what other people view how art should be treated as. This can be in using art to escape, to relax, etc. Art can be anything, and by doing anything you want with art is how you use it for its own sake.

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Why is it detrimental to believe that art is a form of escape?

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Why is it detrimental to believe that art is a form of escape?

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Based on Lopez’s essay, I guess it would be because art should not merely focus on oneself, but be aware of what the world is like for the majority. The use of art as an escape can be beneficial for the person who chooses to use it in that way, but merely using it as just that takes away its power to be something more - a voice of freedom guised as something a lot of the people consume on a daily basis. It's detrimental to use something as powerful as art to only serve the sole purpose of personal agenda.

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 Why is it important for art to address the “problems of [the artist’s] time”?

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 Why is it important for art to address the “problems of [the artist’s] time”?

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It plays a part in history. Art is known to be timeless, having current problems be portrayed in a medium that never loses its impact on the people can help in retaining history. Having people from the future what the times were like during the times the artwork they are looking at is created.

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What does Lopez mean when he said that writers and artists should be “teachers of men”?

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What does Lopez mean when he said that writers and artists should be “teachers of men”?

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He means this as a way for art to not only be a source of beauty and awe, but as something that teaches the people of societal issues and moral obligations. Lopez believes that art’s purpose is not solely for an artists’ personal interests, but for the audiences’ light to the darkness of what are the current happenings around the world. Art should be educational and informative, as it is beautiful and aesthetic.

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Why does Lopez think that the highest form of art is emancipatory?

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Why does Lopez think that the highest form of art is emancipatory?

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Lopez thinks this because he believes that art should be informative. There is nothing more freeing than knowing. By thinking that the highest form of art is emancipatory, he is living up to his ideals that art should be informative and educational.

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"Letter to Pedro, US Citizen, Also Called Pete"

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"Letter to Pedro, US Citizen, Also Called Pete"

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The poem highlights post colonialism and social realism. Written like a letter to an old friend. The poem highlights past experiences to connect to the current happenings in the writer's life. Wherein we can see the after effects of colonialism - the war. Also incorporating the personal lives of other people in their story, showing a difference and incorporating the ideas of the difference in social classes.

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I don’t remember an exact episode, but one of my favorite series is Anne with an E. A netflix series, and it centres around an orphan girl named Anne who is shown as the most open-minded one in all of Avonlea. Each episode depicts different issues and problems of everyday life, much more frequent during the time the series was set, but still prevalent in today’s day and age. From racism to feminism, and even to the subjects of abuse and other societal issues, Anne with an E tackles it while still keeping the persona of the main character intact. By watching it again with a more critical lens, I also saw that some ideologies were not blatantly put out there but are implied. Kind of like how everything in real life is not easily shown, some remain hidden and lurking.  I guess that's why it is my favorite. Apart from the cinematography, script-writing, soundtrack, and even the storyline. How it tackles different societal issues and ideologies give it more depth that makes it even better to watch.

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Based on Walter Benjamin’s ideas, can you consider the end-product of your project art? In what ways? 

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Based on Walter Benjamin’s ideas, can you consider the end-product of your project art? In what ways? 

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Yes, the majority of the original pieces' features remain the same. However, because of the altered portions that overall changes how the whole artwork looks like, the meaning or how the artwork is perceived by audiences can change. Repurposed art is still art, but this time it strays away from its original meaning - depending on the end product and how the audience perceives it.

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How do the concepts of “originality” and piracy affect the way we receive works of art?

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How do the concepts of “originality” and piracy affect the way we receive works of art?

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Originality helps make an artwork authentic and raw - making it more unique and special. While piracy affects its value and representation. Unoriginal works of art give a different meaning, piracy devalues.