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

Art can be practiced for its own sake, separate from society, by seeing the beautiful world despite the world's dark issues. It is practicing art as a form of personal expression. In this way, it gives people hope that there is life outside of these social issues.

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

According to Lopez, it is detrimental to believe that art is a form of escape because it loses its power to look at societal issues. It breaks its ability to transform, critique, and confront society. To Lopez, making art for your own such as in the pursuit of beauty, form, or personal expression is an act of using art as an "escapism." He argues that it is self-indulgent and it isolates art from its essential role in addressing social issues.

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

It is important to address the "problems of (the artist's) time" because it is the medium through which the harsh realities of life such as sufferings and injustices can be revealed and challenged. When art is used in this way, it becomes a powerful tool for social transformation. Instead of using art for merely one's sake, it can address contemporary issues and it has the potential to call out, educate, mobilize, and inspire the viewers or readers.

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

What he meant when he said that writers and artists should be "teachers of men" is that they should recognize that writing or creating art is beyond creating for aesthetically pleasing works or for their own's sake. What Lopez meant by "teachers" is that writers and artists should use art to educate, enlighten, and invoke. Through this, art is used to help elevate public consciousness about social issues, which then, contribute to social progress.

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

Emancipatory is the highest form of art because it transcends aesthetic pleasure. It confronts social realities which challenge the viewers to face the uncomfortable truths about our society. Through this, art is a catalyst for change, serving a higher function.

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MODULE 3.2: Write a reflection on a popular foreign series 

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MODULE 3.2: Write a reflection on a popular foreign series 

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For this activity, I chose my favorite animated series namely, Arcane. Just a short background for this series:

In Arcane, the characters are in a divided universe where the oppressed, impoverished undercity of Zaun stands in sharp contrast to the wealthy, high-tech city of Piltover.  Economic inequality, corruption, and exploitation are explored in the series which shows how the privileged take advantage of chances and resources at the expense of the weak. Wealth against poverty is the dichotomy that highlights the human cost of systematic injustice and reflects societal divisions in our actual world.

Moving on, my favorite episode from the series is Episode 4 of Season 1, titled, "Happy Progress Day." In this episode, the dominant ideology is the celebration of progress, change, order, and improvement of technology. The episode's narrative underpins Piltover's image as a "beacon of civilization." The celebration in the episode advances the notion that progress is both inevitable and natural. This ideology, which is closely tied to the interests of the elite, serves to legitimize the existing social classes that we have.

So, how does the dominant ideology being presented? The episode revolves around a public celebration that, at first glance, seems to bring Piltover's residents together in a shared vision of progress, hence, "Happy Progress Day." In relation to Althusserian's article, the episode is comparable to Ideological State Apparatuses (ISA), which are institutions and practices such as the media, education, and public rituals that produce and uphold the dominant ideology. The purpose of the celebration is to "hail" the citizens, encouraging them to perceive themselves as members of a civilized and progressive society. Although the celebration conveys a sense of progress and unity, it also hides the exploitation and inequality that exist, most notably, the sharp contrast with Zaun, the undercity. This is similar to Althusser's argument that ideology works by normalizing the social order; in this case, the prevailing ideology obscures structural issues.

Rewatching the episode, made me realize that in the episode, the celebration of Progress Day not only commemorates technological advances but also suggests that upholding this goal is morally required if you're a citizen of Piltover. Piltover's residents are urged to think that prosperity comes directly from following the suggested path for progress. This ideology is essential to maintaining social order because it dissuades serious inquiry into the true costs of progress by portraying the ruling elite as the "guardians of progress." In this lens, I saw how the episode really portray the ruling class in our society.

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MODULE 3.3:  Read the poem “Letter to Pedro, US Citizen, Also Called Pete” by Rene Estrella Amper

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MODULE 3.3:  Read the poem “Letter to Pedro, US Citizen, Also Called Pete” by Rene Estrella Amper

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In my own understanding, the poem shows the old ways of life and the new changes brought by modernization. The poem tells how familiar places and also traditions are now gone. It was replaced by roads, bridges, and modern buildings. Additionally, the poem highlights the gap between the rich and the poor, where these modern improvements only appear to help the wealthy people while the poor suffer.

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For my self-portrait, I initially used cartoon-style or doodle art. I used this art style because I often use it when I want to draw; personally, it speaks more of who I am. I am childlike at heart, I like cartoons, I like animations, and I am fond of playing video games. That's why for my self-portrait, I kind of incorporate surrealism where my head was open and it spewed a lot of elements and things. These things represent who I am. I am a music lover and a guitarist, hence there's a guitar, music notes, and headphones. I am very studious and I like being in the STEM field, hence, the papers, calculator, and mathematical symbols. I drew a stethoscope and medicine because they symbolize my ambition to be a doctor someday. And I also drew my favorite characters from different media, and I also drew my favorite foods, which are milk and sweets! These are the things that I love and the interests that I have. It defines who I am because without these, I can't call myself "me."

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There are laws that we can objectively look into in order to determine if your artwork is entirely yours or not. In the case of copyright, if you completely copied or even modified the artist's artwork without credits and permission, you are practicing copyright infringement. Therefore, your artwork is not yours, and it is punishable by the law. However, we also have a policy called "Public Domain." Public Domain refers to works that are not protected by copyright laws. This means that you can use or modify the artwork without the need for the original artist's permission. In my case, my artwork is entirely mine, even though I modified Edvard Munch's artwork because The Scream is considered as public domain.

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Here's my profile link to access the other modules:

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Here's my profile link to access the other modules: