Week Ten - Video Reviews

Explain why you selected each of the FOUR videos you choose from the selection listed above.
The four videos that I chose were African Art: Legacy of Oppression, African Art, Buddhism, and Hinduism. I chose these because when I looked at the list of videos, these really stood out to me. I found them very interesting. I thought since I found the African art so interesting in our text, I wanted to know more about it and learn the deeper meaning of it; therefore I chose both of the African Art videos and it really caught my eye more and made me appreciate African art so much more rather than just reading the text. Buddhism and Hinduism I also found to be interesting as well. I learned about these two religions in the past and they have always stood out to me; therefore same as the African Art I wanted to know a deeper meaning and know more depth about these religions so I picked these movies. I feel like that there is only so much that the textbook will tell the reader about a topic, I feel that the video gives more depth and a better understanding to things.


For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned.
AFRICAN ART: LEGACY OF OPPRESSION
Belgium Tervuren Museum contains the world’s largest collection of Central African art, which consists of approximately 250,000 pieces. This boasts the world’s largest collection of Central African art. The extensive range of art styles is attributed to the Congo’s more than 250 different cultures. African art influences the early masters of the twentieth century. The shocking expressions and body positions leads to abstract art. African art glorifies motherhood, cheifhood and the ordinary. The African masks with contorted features frighten enemies. Half the Congo’s population was wiped out during Belgium King Leopold’s colonization and slave labor conquest.  The Belgiums bring Africana rt to Belgium, considered “curiosities of a primitive people”. The Africans were brutalized by Leopold’s army and put on display at his Tervuren Museum. Paul Solman discusses the power and the true price of this collection with art historian Ramona Austin and the journalist/author Adam Hochschild.

AFRICAN ART
In the villages of the sub-Saharan Africa where traditions are still strong, art is an integral part of their daily life. This video examines the symbolism, aesthetics, and functionality of African art through the vast region’s sculpture, masks, architecture, ornaments, clothing, and utensils. Aesthetics sense is shown in dress, hair, styles, and forms of ornamentation, rituals, and performance art. The oldest existing African art is found in drier regions. Ancient bush paintings represent animals and humans; these stylized pictures may be a wish of luck in the hunt. Egyptian and Sharan art and architecture show influence of agriculture Bronze castings of Nigeria date from the 15^th century. A royal residence in South Easter Africa shows a symbolic art and architectural styles of the 14^th century. There is such great diversity of African art. These artists repeat traditional designs, adding their own refinements. African religious beliefs are explored through rituals—a spiritual form of performance art—and funerary statuary. Supernatural powers are controlled through art objects. Masks are highly stylized and embellished. Costumers are designed to be used by fire light. Modern African Art is created for the mass market. The Prehistoric rock art is also presented, and the conceptual nature of African art is stressed.

BUDDHISM
The Buddhist fact and legend is intertwined in Bodh Gaya, India. The key to this teaching is “tanha”, which is the extinguishing of all desires and all things that feed the ego. Buddhism split into two groups: “hinayana” and “mahanyana”. During and after the Golden Age of Buddha, the Buddhist art and architecture flowered across India. Sanchi is a center of Buddhist art and architecture. In these ornate carvings of the Great Stupa, Buddha disappears into symbolism and is represented only by the Bodhi Tree. Along this is a walkway there every step is a discovery of the Buddhist art and architecture. In the central highlands of Java, lotus-shaped Borobudur stands as the largest Buddhism shine in the world. At the top, stands a monument of 432 carved Buddhas. Borobudur is uncovered in 1815. He was buried by the volcanic debris and vegetation. In Carmel, New York, the Chuang Yen Monastery is a complex of the buildings that were dedicated to Buddhism. In the walls there are Buddhist statues in the style of the Tang dynasty and the largest Buddha statue in the Western Hemisphere. A religion that began by repudiating rituals, questions, prayer and the idea of a personal god, ends up embracing all of these. In India, Buddhism and Hinduism share commonalities. Religious monuments are considered truly “Heaven on Earth”.

HINDUISM
This video lets the viewer know the insight into the practice of Hinduism through the architecture and the art of India. This video goes through Varanasi to Mamallapuram and Khajuraho. Varanasi is the holiest city in India. In this city the River Ganges is the symbol of life, death, and rebirth. On this river, a priest performs “aarti”, which is a ceremony to honor Brahma/God. Gods and Goddesses in Hinduism function in a way similar to Christian saints by providing access to Brahma/God. The Hindu architecture is lush with decorative sculptures of many of their gods. Cremation in Varanasi on the Ganges is an assurance of the direct access to heaven. In Mamallapuram, India, the Mother Ganges turns to stone. This becomes a holy and high decorated place. It is carved within boulders; the caves are highly decorated with the epic and the ordinary, the fantastic and the familiar. This is a lavish piece. It is decorated beautifully. The Shore Temple is a treasure house of Hindu art and architecture. The Kandariya Mahadev Temple, which was built in the ninth century by the Chandella rules, stands in Khajuraho, India. The panels which are lavishly decorated are covered in erotic images. The Pilgrims pay a homage to the lingam/pyhallus for it life=giving, creative forces. The Great breath is a source of all life for Indus in Brahma. Hinduism teaches that there are many ways to Brahma/God and these ways are symbolized by many gods. Hinduism carries within it a deep sense of spiritual in the ordinary and the everyday life.


How do the videos relate to the readings in the text?
The videos relate to the readings in the text by adding more depth to the text. There is only so much that a reader can get out of reading a textbook, I feel as if there is more depth and understanding with the videos. It gives the viewer a better understanding rather than just reading. I feel as if a person can retain the information better from a video because it is a visual.


What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to understanding of the readings and art concepts?
I prefer to watch the films rather than to read the text. Like how I kept saying, it gives me a better understanding and more depth to a topic rather than just reading a text book. I am a visual person; therefore I feel as if visuals have more of an effect on me and makes me remember things a lot better instead of just words on a piece of paper with nothing behind it. The films make you see what really went on and give you an actual picture instead of reading a textbook and you are trying to envision something.