Video Review Week 8

I selected each of the videos, Matisse and Picasso, Abstract Expressionism and Pop: Art of the 50's and 60's, Uncertainty: Modernity and Art, and Expressionism, because they were topics they stood out to me while doing the readings. Matisse and Picasso as well as Pop art of the 50's and 60's were topics that I also used in other assignments for the course so I thought it would be interesting to learn more about those topics. Some of the videos are similar topics which seemed like a better idea to choose than watching four unrelated videos.

In the Matisse and Picasso video some of the key concepts were that Matisse traveled the world and often took very little with him in search of artistic inspirations. Matisse struggled to find his latest paintings a great deal of the time. Picasso, in contrast, did not travel much. He spent much time in his studio and drew inspiration from what was around him. His name, however, traveled far and wide.

Abstract Expressionism and Pop: Art of the 50's and 60's, we learn that emotions were meant to be expressed through abstract use of colors in the paintings. The video teaches us how to look at abstract art, by looking up close at all the small details and then taking a step back to understand the full meaning of the work. The key ideas focus on describing the different abstract and pop artists of the time and each of their key works. It also goes over the transformation of Abstract Expressionism to Pop Art with Andy Warhol.

Uncertainty: Modernity and Art focuses on how modern life evolved out of old ideas, similar to how modern art evolved out of older art styles and ideas. The key concept is how uncertain modern life can be. It talks about how more modern art changes with modern life through different styles such as Abtract Expressionism and then Pop Art.

The video, Expressionism, defines the style of Expressionism and its use of colors and how this style changed from the formal use of color of Fauvism. The color use in paintings are meant to express a certain emotion. There is often some kind of facial expression or action taking place. The emotional response is meant to be part of the viewers experience.

Each of these four videos relate very closely with the readings from the text. They covered topics from the readings and went into much more detail. They focused on the evolution of styles from one to another and how the artists worked to include these styles in their paintings and other works. It also goes into detail on some of the works that were seen in the text.

The videos really add much more knowledge to the fundamental lesson we've had from the readings. I really like that they focus on single ideas and really take what we've already learned to a new level.