Artsy fartsy

Previously to this week, I had an elementary school opinion on art, I learned one point perspective, and how to use a straight edge, and yada yada yada, but I had never really been exposed to very much art. Now after seeing the art of the Renaissance era, I definitely have a greater opinion for the profession. People might say art is an easy job but there's no way you can tell me Michelangelo had an easy time painting the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel? That was just insane! The paintings were absolutely beautiful and he did while laying on his back! Talk about arm cramps! Some other works that I thought were absolutely amazing were Da Vinci's "Last Supper" and Michelangelo's "David". Da Vinci's depiction of the Last Supper is one of the most famous paintings of all time and as a Christian it is important for multiple reasons to me. As Dr. Tucker pointed out, it isn't realistically arranged to as they would've been seated but the thought and theme of the pointing is very powerful; there is a traitor amongst them. All of us, of course know that it is Judas from reading the bible, but Jesus' disciples do not know. Da Vinci really hit this one out of the ball park, its a shame that the painting is always flaking and losing quality. The sculpture of David, I have to say is much better than the other one we saw on Wednesday that had depicted him as a girly Florentine boy. I'm sure King David would've appreciated Michelangelo's masculine, classical version much better!

Who knew painting was so complex?

My love for art began in Kindergarten when I won a coloring contest and it ended once I realized that coloring inside some black lines isn't really that great a feat. Alberti's "On Painting" definitely had me rethinking my perspectives on art and painting specifically. I remember doing one point perspectives in art class and I never understand the deeper meaning behind it. I thought of it just as a way for Mrs. Burke to bother me with another mundane art project. However now after reading Alberti's view on humans and nature, it is a really beautiful concept. Also the triangle theory we talked about in class, that our eyes naturally shift to view things in triangles, seemed absured at first, but then kind of made sense once we viewed some art in the power point. I would like to learn more about Alberti's views, maybe see some of his paintings.

Sorry for the rush today, busy, busy, busy day!!

So a chair isn't a chair?

After today's lecture, I find myself looking around the room, pointing at objects, and finding less value in them. We learned about Plato's thoughts on the being and the becoming and all I have to say to Mr. Plato is you need to find a hobby, dude! Okay I probably wouldn't say that, I'd probably say something along the lines of, "So what is the true, ideal brownie earthquake blizzard in that perfect alternate universe?". I'd love to get to chow on that!

While Plato's ideas were riveting, I was excited to whip out Petrarch's writings and start reading away. I was sadly disappointed, however. While his mountain story, was inspiring, I couldn't help but be annoyed with how much he loved himself. He reminds me of my older brother, and that's how I envisioned this story, from the point of view of the younger brother. I can just see myself trying to tell my brother to follow me because I know the better way to get to the top, and him arrogantly not listening. So typical. Regardless, the self searching at the top of the mountain got me thinking, maybe a trek up to "C Hill" would do me some good.

As for the second Petrarch piece, I couldn't follow it. Anyone else have thoughts on that one??

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Steph Burger <3

Tumors the Size of Apples..Yum?

I just read Boccaccio's Introduction to "The Decameron" and I have to say that I was disgusted and intrigued at the same time. As a fan of history, I found the author's depiction of the epidemic in Florence, Italy riveting. At first it seemed to me to just be a short historical commentary on the disease and it's affects on the city, but as I read further I felt the author was screaming at questions of morality. Multiple times it almost seems like Boccaccio is saying that the people of Florence deserved the Plague. As the naive person I am, I would like to say that God would not inflict this sort of pain on people, but Boccaccio has a point, as Ephesians 5:1-7 put it in the Bible:

"Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

3 But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. 4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. 5 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not become partners with them"

It's a little harsh but scripturally it's accurate. So say you are a non-religious person, which is 100% okay (freedom of religion, go America!) Boccaccio also has you covered. In the third paragraph of the reading he makes a jab at the physicians and medical practices in general, saying they were either unqualified or there was no cure out there. From every angle it seems Florence was just S.O.L!! I personally, as a Christian and a believer in the natural order of things, think that every epidemic, natural disaster, etc are a mixture of divinity and science, and while we can piece together the who's, what's, when's, and where's of almost any catastrophe, we can't answer the the biggest question, why.