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An original piece of self-portrait of mava

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"Art is expression; it is not intention or talent." (Bernedetto Croce)

Mava, the creative persona of Rio, agrees with the definition that art is expression, more than it is intention or talent. It's not merely a lackluster execution or performance of an artist's abilities and skills, but it is an attempt to convey how you feel. In other words, Art is a manifestation of a message you ought for the world to be aware and appreciate. In the case of mava's self-portrait, it is a product of his contemplations navigating through an abrupt change of environment in college. He wanted to express a self, filled with doubts and dilemmas as he lives on to fulfill his aspirations as a student and as an artist. Perhaps without expression, what would only remain on a canvas is a piece devoid of meaning and value. In the least, that is how mava thinks.

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Concept 1: 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 Kandinsky

Art as representation is typically thought of as art containing visually recognizable subject matter that is known to those view it. However, it should not necessarily mean that it does not take into account other art forms such as instrumental music or abstract. Representation at its core is within the actions and expression of an artist towards their art. May it be visually recognizable or not, representation comes from the intrinsic meaning behind it. And it accommodates all that is bestowed upon by an attempt to express by an artist.

Concept 2: 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?

It demonstrates relation to the artistic process in which it aids in the formation and development of a message through an Art. Expression guides in communicating this message by which is fueled by an artist's thoughts, ideas, feeling, etc. In short, the artist is central in this process. Similar to art as representation, it also bears the expression of an artist but reflects a subject matter or a muse as its center point.

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Why indeed should the arts matter even to science students?

Science is a broad field catered to study and examine knowledge about the known physical world. And as its basis, science students are taught to engage with their environment according to the principles laid out by science. However, as this suggests, it inevitably disregards many important values and characters needed in order to coexist and share an understanding with others in a society. And this would only be possible with the incorporation of arts and humanities as subject matters to be appreciated and understood. These fields matter because it allows an individual to relate and be immersed to issues and people outside of strict principles governed by science thereby allowing for more understanding of the current trends and how it should be answered and solved.

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It is said that this was the last painting of Van Gogh before he committed suicide. Was it an actual scene? Does it matter? Why or why not?

The most obvious answer we could give into whether Van Gogh's last painting was an actual scene or not is we could never know. And as to whether it matters or not, I believe it does not. This is simply because it allows for more discussion and a peak into the final moments of the artist. The painting above may be a scene or some landscape he wished to reminisce before leaving. It could have been a moment he wanted to experience again. Or better yet, the painting might as well be a depiction of how he saw the current situation of the environment or the time he was in, marking an era he had lived and come to knew. It is in these interpretations that I believe makes setting no boundaries, such as contemplating on whether it was an actual scene or not, in giving meaning and experiencing an artwork that bestows great value to a work of an artist, especially given a tragic/meaningful end background such as that of Van Gogh.

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Salvador P. Lopez's Essay "Literature and Society"

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Salvador P. Lopez's Essay "Literature and Society"

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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 if it's made to serve as a form of expression. This includes creating pieces meant to depict one’s own thoughts and manifesting these in the form of art. These are meant to be appreciated and are valued for the meaning they give to themselves.

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

It takes away the value and effort poured into art by artists. Essential qualities such as being aware of the current happenings in the artists’ environment and applying them into their art are possibly neglected. This results to different forms of art given with stereotypes as being detached from the everyday life.

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

For it to be appreciated and useful for the people of the same time experiencing the art. This essentially puts art into context and relevance. This also encourages other artists into action and create in connection to the current trends and issues.

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

This could possibly mean that artists have a huge part in terms of imparting knowledge to the people of the current time. That is, artists are not merely limited to aesthetics. They go beyond this and are capable of transforming people into critical and thinking citizens.

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

Because this enables individuals to be involved and participate to the society. He values the act of engagement and connecting with others. Hence, it would not be surprising for his perception to lean towards art that unites and bestows critical awareness of the current time.

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Art as an Ideological Apparatus, Art as a Political Discourse

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Art as an Ideological Apparatus, Art as a Political Discourse

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Write a reflection on a popular foreign series (Korean, American, Japanese, European) you have already seen. Choose your favorite episode and write your response to it. Identify the dominant ideology in the episode and how it is promoted. Include in the reflection how rewatching the episode with a critical lens affects your response to it.

Alice in borderland is a Japanese series set in a world of mind-bending game of life and death where individuals are forced to make hard decisions even at the cost of others. My favorite episode would definitely be episode 3 in season 1 of the series. It was an episode where the main character and his friends played a game in which they were designated the roles of sheep and wolf. In that game, only one player can possibly survive by gaining the role of a wolf and this role is obtained by making eye contact with someone who has that role given to them by specialized helmets. Throughout the episode, the dominant ideology that run with it was that one’s life was the most important thing that an individual prioritizes given a life and death situation. This was demonstrated with how the characters immediately turned against each other upon realizing the nature of the game. It was only at the later part of the episode that, the some of the characters had a change of heart on how they wanted to play the game and who they chose to save. Nevertheless, the same immediate response with my aforementioned answer would occur for a person only watching the episode for the first time. I believe that rewatching the episode would serve me the fact that even with how the characters acted, it was also an immediate flight or fight response innate for to an individual. Moreover, it would allow room to have that kind of mentality due to the nature of the world they were in and the quantity of similar games they will be playing as they advance through the next stages.

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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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What ideologies do you see the poem as having and/or is addressing?

The poem addresses the ideologies of bad governance and having people at power. Even though the poem started with the catch phrase that there has not been a change to the hometown after Pete left, the author still proceeded to discuss information negating this line, hinting many changes that occurred. Perhaps in order for the line to be true it meant that, the town was still as bad and struggling as it used to back when the personas were younger. The very reason for this was the people at power managing the place and the unchanged status quo dominating the location. This was demonstrated throughout the poem as the author explicitly creatively enumerated problems prevalent in the town.

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I perceive art as mainly an outlet of my thoughts and emotions. Because of this, I see it as something that should not be well thought of or technical when practiced, rather each stroke should be treated as it is, the strokes and lines stand for themselves as a result of our complex existence and thinking. And as shown in my self-portrait, it may not accurately depict how I look in real life, but it is a reflection of who I am in the present. Although I cannot clearly state a style where my self-portrait belongs, it is mainly centered and is comprised of harsh lines, utilizing hatching and cross hatching as techniques for applying shadows. In addition, the utilization of the red color was simply an artistic choice due to preference in color. However, it kind of goes well with depicting my present state as it, in a way, represent anger, pain, and struggle. Moreover, as it stands, my intention as an artist behind my artworks has been to feel and experience emotions. It may seem confusing but, the reason for why I appreciate and admire drawing spontaneously is that you don’t get to predict whether your artwork will turn out good or bad. In this uncertainty, I find it amusing finding myself frustrated whenever my art turns out the way I did not want it to and happy whenever it turns out good and feels just right. I live by this notion and hope to carry this in my future as an artist.

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1. Yes, based on Walter Benjamin’s ideas, this digitally altered photo can still be considered art, but its aura is diminished due to its reproducibility. While the original artwork held a unique presence in time and space, this digital version shifts focus from authenticity to accessibility and reinterpretation. With this, it becomes art not through originality, but through creative transformation.

2. Originality shapes our perception of art as something rare, authentic, and tied to the artist’s unique vision, giving it creative and emotional value. Piracy challenges this by making art widely accessible, often stripping it of context and the aura that comes with exclusivity. As a result, we begin to value reinterpretation and reach over uniqueness, shifting the meaning and significance of what we consider “art.”