Final Project and Final Blog

My finals will be over tomorrow, starting with our Art of Representation project presentation at 10:30am and ending at 9:30pm with Intermediate Microeconomics. I can't believe this year is ending and summer is upon us. I am meeting with my group now and we are going over last minute details and preparing for our presentation tomorrow morning. Lori and I will be discussing the art side while Alden and Jessy will be focusing more on Philosophy. Lori and I will be talking a little less than the other two because most of our work was behind the scenes and has been a process over the last few weeks, while Alden and Jessy will be more philosophy based and talk more in front of the group. I have attached the images we will be using that combines and contrasts nature with man-made structures using both photographs and drawings using PhotoshopCS5. We are about to practice together and time it and make sure we are within in the time frame. This has been a wonderful year and an inspiring class.

Project Process

With being one week away from the Final Project deadline, it is crunch time. As a group, we have met a few times outside of class in order to get a solidified idea. We have thrown out so many ideas that I am still a little confused on our final vision. We have discussed capturing the epistemic and ontic. Of course the ontic can never be captured, but by doing our best to idealize what is really there compared to our perceptions. Jessy and I are the photographers of the group, Lori is the drawer and Alden is the designated philosopher. Alden insists that we focus on the art first and the philosophy will follow, but I believe we need to choose a quote in order to have a starting point, but it is a never ending battle. We've also discussed combining the idea of multiple worlds into the images with Lori's photoshop skills. My goal for today is to have a concrete idea to run with and take the photos needed. This weekend, once the majority of finals are completed, we should have more time to devote to our project and make our ideas and visions a reality.

Group Ideas

On Tuesday in class we met with our Visual Project groups for the first time. I am working with Alden, Jessy and Lori. We all discussed our strengths and weaknesses. As a group we are very well rounded and have different and similar passions that will be a great contribution to our final project. Jessy and I can take pictures, Lori is an amazing drawer and user of Photoshop and Alden can make music. We all have different creative outlooks. We discussed different quotes that caught our eye and our vision for a final project. Our final quotes were:
1. "the fact that there are many different world-versions is hardly debatable" but the question then becomes "in what sense are there... many worlds?" (Goodman, p. 4)
2. "conception without perception is merely empty, perception without conception is blind (totally inoperable)" (Goodman, p. 6)
3. Nietzsche states that "the development of art is bound to the duality of the Apollonian and the Dionysian" [Consider] these two artistic tendencies, and... why [as] Nietzsche claims they form a 'duality' to which art is bound (Nietzsche, p. 111)
4. "Speaking is like making ripples in a pool of water, and a face is like the wall that sends the ripples back. If we speak forcefully, we send waves out toward the other face, and in a moment we can expect to feel the response." (Nietzsche, p. 167)
The next step we must do if finalize a quote we want to use and move on from there. We discussed putting quotes together and showing different worlds in another quote. This will be a challenging project, but one that I look forward to.

The Visual Project Brainstorm

Before meeting as a group, I wanted to come prepared with my own ideas to bring to the table. The quote that stood out to me is from Elkins. He says "speaking is like making ripples in a pool of water, and a face is like the wall that sends the ripples back. If we speak forcefully, we send waves out toward the other face, and in a moment we can expect to feel the response" (167). The first visual image that came to mind is a photo of someone cannonball jumping into a pool. Another could be two people talking and one with a speech bubble saying "I'm getting married" or another drastic phrase demonstrating "speak forcefully," with the other responding with an over-the-top facial reaction. We could also create 3-D googly eyes in order to "feel the response." My final idea is a collage of strong faces responding to a drastic statement. I hope I can contribute my fair share to the group and can be an asset to the team.

Bondsman

The master and slave analogy we discussed in class was a very interesting topic. The master is the one in control while the slave serves others to make it and survive. The master's focused on what's not present and immediate, he/she acts like a selfish child and has the gimme mindset. While the servant provides what the master wants and desires. The master's independent and the servant's dependent. In a series of unfortunate events, the master loses his fortune and servants. The master must become completely dependent on the world and the servant. In the meantime, the servant has already learned efficiently through his role and becomes active in life. He/she is engaging in the world and making things happen. The independence and dependence roles have switched.

Self-consciousness vs the Other

Self-consciousness only exists when acknowledged. Second ambiguity becomes the action of one self-consciousness with double significance, creating its own actions and the action of the Other. Both are independent. This reminds me of the movie, Inception, when Ellen Page is told she is in control of her own dreams and the self defense and consciousness within herself starts to attack the Other. The figments of her imagination start to turn on the real her. Each seeks the death of the other. The Other and self cannot be held without contradiction. They are also entangled and endanger the death of the other. We can never get outside of the circle, like we can never reach the ontic. We are trying to free ourselves from the Other and they are doing the same. We must absorb the Other.

The Birth of Tragedy: Art as a Struggle

Nietzsche discusses the opposition between Dionysian, the god associated with intoxication, and Apollonian, the god of reason and stability. Dionysian is the music pulsing through your veins, while Apollonian is the visual arts. Apollonian makes us believe that the world is a stable environment, but this "is all just a veil of comforting illusion" (88). The only common factor between Dionysian and Apollonian in the principle of art and "the development of art is bound to the duality of the Apollonian and the Dionysian" (111).
The two separate art-worlds are dream and intoxication. In the dream world, each individual is the master artist and has full control and structure. Dreams are experienced with delight and joyful urgency. Apollo always has a solemn and pleased look and gives a calming appearance. Dionysian, or intoxication, can be created through the influence of a narcotic potion or the approach of spring. Barriers between people collapse and everyone experiences freedom. Everyone starts to feel like a god and becomes the art.

Matter of Fit

Goodman writes "truth of statements and rightness of descriptions, representations, exemplifications, expressions- of design, drawing, diction, rhythm- is primarily a matter of fit (138)." We are all searching for truth in our own worlds. Truth depends on context and we can never be 100% sure of anything. A statement can be more accepting if it is credible and tested, but it is never true. A statement can also become false the same exact way. Two statements can be contradicting and be accepted or rejected, depending on our context. We are trying to reach right conclusions. Permanent acceptability must be put through a sufficient condition of rightness. A picture represents truth, but the truth can never be extrapolated from the image. Rightness differs in the arts and the sciences. The closest we can come to finding the truth is joining in a general consensus.

Fill in the Gaps

There is more to what meets the eye. Not every observation is obvious. Goodman discusses the concept of two flashing shapes. As the observer, we are not aware of the object moving until the second flash occurs. This causes us to move backwards and see the scenario in reverse. He then goes even further and analyzes colors. Some objects don't even change color until the last second. This theory can go even further and be demonstrated in movies or flip books. Our mind fills in the gaps, even if they are miniscule seconds of time. To go from one scene to another causes us to unconsciously make up for the missing difference. In order to create new worlds, we must take from previous worlds and reconstruct and deduct. We can find something new in the gaps that are created.

Formation of a Face

I believe that Elkin's definition of a face and Goodman's definition of identity go hand-in-hand. A face is just an organization of entities, such as the eyes, nose and mouth. Without emotion, an inanimate object can resemble and represent a face. The position doesn't matter, as long as it has all the entities. It depends on the frame of reference and focuses on an individual's perspective.
When we smile, is it really happiness or only representing happiness? If we smile frequently, will it take away from the original meaning and emotion that a smile brings? The joy of a smile can be from within or part of a daily routine. We can smile for comfort and manipulate others within through emotion. It is up to our own discernment whether a smile is genuine or not and to determine what formation the face makes.

When is Art?

Style is saying the same thing in two different ways, it is the opposite of a synonym. An example from the book could be between the sample of swatch or the giant cupcake. When an object has more than one meaning it becomes confusing. In the example, which properties are exemplified depends on context. Style is what is exemplified. The difference between style and subject are the way we say things and what we are talking about. What we find is not dependent on what we seek. Expression is a big part of style, but is not limited by feelings. "Art without symbols is restricted to art without subject (58)" and properties that do not symbolize are considered 'pure' art. Symbols are external to the picture. Goodman's purpose is to free style from former constraints.

Norton Museum of Art

Cocktail Culture

Face the Truth

Berger explains that "seeing comes before words (7)" and our perception is never mutual. Individual beliefs or experiences can be considered a conceptual scheme. We rely on what we know to make our own conceptual scheme. We see things from within and are not objective. Individual truths make up our cultural context. Finding truth is a compromise and we don't need to come to an absolute truth, but we just need to open our minds. Goodman also believes that truth cannot be defined. Goodman states that "a version is taken to be true when it offends no unyielding beliefs and none of its own precepts (17)."
James Elkins' "The Object Stares Back" discusses what's in a face. It is difficult to recall a face or even imagine one being described in a book. A face represents mystery. In scary movies, the villain usually hides their face. The girl from "The Ring," is more mysterious and terrifying because her face is hidden behind her long black hair. Another point discussed is when talking to a friend, you expect facial reactions. I enjoy Elkins' analogy where "speaking is like making ripples in a pool of water, and a face is like the wall that sends the ripples back (167)." Faces can also be seen in inanimate objects. Once you see a face in something else, it is captivating and never the same again. Faces are incomplete and a work in progress. They reflect a part of the soul. A face creates images from the mind.

What's in a Name?

Words bring identity. Language brings a community together and allows for one another to communicate. Davidson argues that intranslatability is not possible with complete failure because both parties need to know that they are not talking about one common object. In order for you to know they're different, you have to know they're not the same.  Language communicates ideas and even an attempt to communicate shows partial success. Davidson rejects conceptual relativism.
 Language gives an object meaning, but what's in a name? It amazes me that once we see an object, a word connects and brings it to life. Our own beliefs and experiences are affected by what we see. Berger says that "we never look at just one thing; we are always looking at the relation between things and ourselves (9)."
Art surrounds us the same way that language surrounds us. Images tell a story that words can never describe and portray. Sometimes gender roles and society's consumerism distorts natural beauty. Men are dependent on power and women must continually watch themselves. Berger believes that "men act and women appear (47)." Men desire women like an object. Men's sexual desire for women can be seen in images, oil paintings and publicity. Sex sells. As readers, we are active agents living in a passive world. Publicity persuades us of a transformation into a glamorous lifestyle. Berger states that "publicity is effective precisely because it feeds upon the real (132)." We want to be envious of ourselves, so we buy into this fake happiness. Women and publicity have similarities because "to be able to buy is the same thing as being sexually desirable (144)."

Blog 1: Representation in a Conceptual Scheme

In order to appreciate "Art of Representation," we must first break down our sentence into parts that we can understand in our language, according to Davidson. In class we discussed the definition of representation and what it means in our language. Answers that first came to mind were how one experiences, an indication, an interpretation, or an individual. Representation has a purpose of conveyance, simplifying ideas, increasing accessibility, and showing identity. In our present language, this is what representation means to our class. According to the article by Davidson, language and representation have a vast amount in common.
Without a reference point or framework, the word "representation" can also become incommensurable. Through different perspectives, the word "representation" has different meanings. Although they may all be similar definitions and in the same language, they all vary. Representation to one person could be a sign and to another could be a political statement. Without a framework and comparison, nothing can be taken as fact.
Davidson's example of Plutonian and Saturnian language miscommunication reminds me of the game Telephone as a child. The phrase usually started out simple and told to one person, and by the time the chain of whispers hit the last person, a new phrase evolved. Some sentences are not translatable and should be kept in their native language. The truth is relative to a conceptual scheme. Language can evolve and new theories can become obsolete. Art was used as a practical application, but changed when museums were born and when people became concerned about being aesthetically pleasing to others.