Module 12

1. Explain why you selected each of the TWO videos you choose from the selection listed above. The two films that I selected were “ The Power of Art:Rothko” and “ Andy Warhol: Images of an Image.” The reason I selected the Rothko film was because I was really intrigued from what I read about him in the textbook. I chose to watch the Warhol film, because I knew about his history with The Velvet Underground, and I wanted to learn more about him.

2. For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned.

The Rothko video described the tortured soul that was Rothko. He spent decades trying to perfect a form of art which would convey the deepest of human emotion. Rothko wanted to give his paintings the same emotional force as the old masters (Rembrandt, and Turner). Rothko is considered one of the greatest American artists of all time.

The Andy Warhol was the complete opposite of Rothko’s. Rothko despised the idea of making art for decorative purposes for the wealthy. This is why his four seasons painting was meant to convey uncomfortable feelings, because he wanted to ruin the appetite of the patrons. Warhol was the complete opposite of Rothko. Warhol’s painting to easy to create, because they were mostly done on silk screen. Warhol wanted to produce products more than art.

2. How do the videos relate to the readings in the text?

The videos relate to the text because they illustrate the transition from modernism to post modernism. The text helps to put the context of these artists into the history of art and its culture. Chapter 23 helped to describe how art has changed, since Warhol and Rothko’s contributions.

3. What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to understanding of the readings and art concepts?

I really enjoyed Rothko’s film. I appreciate the level of consideration and emotion he put into his paintings; however, I did not like Warhol’s video much. I found Warhol to be too much of a commercial artists, concerned more with making money  than trying to push the boundries of art.