Artist

Can Andy Warhol Be an Artist?

          There is an argument that whether we should acknowledge the commercial or public arts as pure fine arts. To tell the truth, I would say it is not accord with reason to accept Andy Warhol’s ‘Orange Marilyn Print’ as an untainted pure art. It is not so anymore surprising that a variety of popular paintings such as Vincent van Gogh’s ‘The Starry Night’ are commonly stood at the luxury hotel’s main lobby. Almost, actually all of those pieces were given a birth from a mass reproductive mechanism, which are now abundantly utilized. As Benjamin argues in his article, the modern art stands for the destruction of the aura. (Benjamin) That is to say, the art is surrounded with its unique quality that cannot be duplicated or emulated. There is another theorist who had come up with different approach about this mechanism. Theodor Adorno argues that the classic art with the aura (Adorno) holds more priceless value than the commercial or public paintings. For both of these ideas, my claim is slightly lean toward Adorno’s idea. That being said, people should perceive that pure uniqueness within arts should be sustained and I partially agree with that photography and camera ruined the artistry itself.      

             As compared to the past, people are now living in the highly developed era in terms of technology. We can easily take a snapshot in the presence of magnificent Angkor Wat temple in the Cambodia or ancient Greek sculpture with a small digital camera. This hi-tech opportunity leads people to exploit an artistic picture as their Windows background. I am not trying to be pessimistic regarding this vast technological glory, rather I have been anxious that as process is getting easier and easier for approaching to the value of arts, it would be directing toward the collapse of art, unless people reasonably comprehend the value of art, which are the exquisiteness and the exclusiveness. Nowadays, Andy Warhol’s paintings have been dealing at the art auction with very high prices. That is why the majority of contemporary artists are pretty much enthusiastic about earning more profits by selling their invaluable works. Some people would criticize that the mass reproduction offers the opportunity to experience valuable art without difficulty, so that it is ultimately excellent resultingly. People feel different sentiment while staring at genuine Mona Lisa and duplicated one. What makes this feeling differ? Adorno says it comes from the aura. (Adorno)

             Another feature of the modern mass culture is that it is subordinated by the capitalism and then the works of art are transformed to the cultural industry. This eventually leads to the standardization of the art, also called the mass reproduction. Even if it looks like innovative bits and pieces are coming up, things turn out as same particle. Documentary about Che Guevara is good example showing how the mass reproductive mechanism is contributing to the world. (Lopez) His portrait represents the revolutionary icon and people can see his image everywhere. People wear his t-shirt, but some of them do not know who this guy is. Che was a great leader who led Cuban Revolution successfully. However, I suddenly come up with idea that his achievements is out of sight because of commercial reproduction of his photograph. There is another example revealing negative effects of mass reproduction. The progress of video equipments system mostly guided Fascist and Nazis to abuse the technological magnificence. They edited propaganda films dexterously to persevere their interests. So, this politicization of art well represents Adorno’s thought.      

             In conclusion, I believe mass reproduction of artistic value influences people negatively. Primarily, it hurts the unique value of art itself. As I stated above, the advance of high technology allow people to experience a visit to a museum with a personal laptop. I believe this will not be able to touch deeply, that is people cannot experience the aura with largely reproduced Che’s portrait t-shirt. Also, untainted art cannot be constant, as long as capitalism is involved. Profit influences the artist nowadays, and it is ruining the true value of their potential masterpieces. I do not think Andy Warhol is an exclusive artist in a broad sense that he takes advantage of his value on earning money.     

 Work Cited

Adorno and Horkheimer. “The Culture Industry: Enlightenment as Mass Deception”. Book

Benjamin, Walter. "The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction." (2005) Web. 25 Jan. 2012.

Lopez, Loise, dir. "Chevolution." Dir. Trisha Ziff. Web. 25 Jan 2012.

movie review!

Two Plus Two Equals What?

            “Freedom is freedom to say two plus two equals four” (Radford). The movie, “1984” is based upon the book 1984 by George Orwell. I recognize him since I had read his book ‘Animal Farm’ when I was in high school. After watching the movie, I made a conclusion that Gorge Orwell tried to portray the current society (probably nearby future society in the fiction) concerns of communism or totalitarianism in very horrible and scary way and tried to criticize the oppression of the regime. The movie’s background is the artificial country based upon totalitarianism. The powerful fake authority named as ‘Big Brother’ keep building its influence throughout national assembly, in which infuse people to believe unconsciously. In general, it can be described as truly shady atmosphere movie that every factor in it seems like very grey color for me.

The major character, Winston Smith writes in his diary about the freedom. This is the critical concept of this movie. Freedom has been reiterated in human’s modern chronology. People had fought against authoritarian power to earn freedom. Billions of them did not afraid of death, if they could make their freedom true. 1984 as a literary adaption tries to illustrate how it was hard to breath for people when the freedom is limited under control. Later on this movie, he cannot even say what is two plus two. The power pressures people to manipulate the logical thinking rather let them consider only for the ‘big brother’. Also, they are kept 24/7 under various ways of guards. This reveals the current society, in which we are always under big brother’s eye wherever we go, whatever we do. For example, today, almost every public place has a CCTV camera. If government wants to know where we are, what are we doing, or when was it, they can easily access to our privacy. My friend’s mom was visiting United States, and when she was entering, she saw the computer monitor screen that she just walked by. There were some pictures that show some places she went, last time she was visiting United States. Through developing technology, I think privacy will reveal more and more.      

             The leaders called ‘Big Brothers’ control everything happening in the Oceania, which is the artificial country build up by the author. Winston Smith is one of members of the lower class according to the hierarchy in Oceania. His job is editing the newspaper with ‘New Speak’ as party wants to make. The Big brothers even make new dictionary called ‘New Speak’ and language. This is aimed for blocking people’s heretical thinking. Actually, similar event happen in Korea. When Japan was taking over Korea, they force Koreans to change their name, and speak Japanese. I believe that speaking and thinking is connected. If Korean continuously speaks Korean language, they will eager to get their country back more and more. Language has an important role of build up people’s own thinking and mind.

             . Based on these facts in the movie, it is so similar with the current society, in which media is controllable by certain authority. Today, lots of incidents are concealed and many people do not know the truth about those mysterious incidents. For example, few months ago, a secret document has released to the public. It is the mystery behind the story about the death of the popular President of the United States, John F. Kennedy. Until now, his assassination files have been categorized as top secret and remained unveil to us. The document says that the CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) is behind his death and it was manipulated for almost half century. Everyone has been shocked and this observable fact shows the importance of media and power that was in behind. The reason for media’s critical importance is many people know the truth thanks to media. It is the most powerful way to spread information, so first and foremost it should be circumspect and honest. Secondly, the power that controls the media is so influential. They know the importance of radio and television that majority of public watch and think almost every day. There would be more events going on which are hidden to the public. It is barely easy to recognize what is right and what is wrong as common citizen.

            Like the Big brothers, today, there is some power tries to control the media secretly. In the movie, using the media, Big brothers controls the people by manipulating the information. One of the scenes, the telescreen tells the people that distribution of chocolate is decreased to two in the morning news. In the afternoon, telescreen says it is increased to four again then people shout for joy and thank to Big brothers. This controlling the people seems a lot like communist government in Eastern Germany before the fall of Berlin Wall. The propaganda has been used in a variety of ways to take the nations under powerful control. This time also they used the media.

             The nation of Oceania has an assembly and indoctrinated by the party that they should love the country. They watch videos and shout for the country. Indoctrinating is very scared, because it blocks the developing thoughts and could change everything. When Winston is tortured, they destroy the consciousness completely and make him do not know what the truth is. Eventually, Winston accuse Julia whom he loved and had same thoughts and tell them to torture her. Winston says that proletariat is the only hope for toppling the government system. To make stronger and keep this system (dictatorship) or break the system and start a revolution, proletariats like Winston have the key to make some changes to their society. I liked Winston’s thought of this scene, because if people who similar ideas like Winston have gathered and plan what they can change, there would be a revolution in Oceania.

The people, in the movie, because they are indoctrinated by the party, do not know what is right and what is wrong. Maybe, some people know, but to keep their lives, they act like they do not know anything. ‘Ignorance is bliss’, as the proverb says, Big brothers force people to not to know. In addition, they eliminate some words that would bring thoughts that oppose against the party. The party enlightens the people with the unreasonable concepts such as ‘Ignorance is Strength’, ‘Freedom is Slavery’, and ‘War is Peace’. When Thomas More established the reformative fiction ‘Utopia’ in 14^th century, people were engaged with idealistic thought that is positively imagined. However, George Orwell throws the contract model that is titled as ‘Dystopia’, which is described as the opposite concept of the Utopia. It is the artificial world that is extremely negative dim under totalitarian control. George Orwell established this well-organized dystopian story. And the film creates another thought from saying ‘Who controls the past controls the future who controls the present controls the past’. This sentence has the meaning of the doublethink. They edited documents and reports for making the system look like a perfect system ruling over a perfect society, so nobody would have a doubt about the party. Even though, Winston was working to make perfect party, he had a suspicion that something is not right. I think the job made him to resist against the party. It is so ironic that Winston himself is doing conceal the truth and editing newspaper with lying. I believe that this is the strongest point of this movie that Winston is also doing wrong thing. Does he acknowledge that he is doing wrong? When he starts to think about it the thought police sold him a diary to continue his thought. Even the place, that Winston had met Julia, is offered by the police. I think the thought police give Winston to power to grow his thought. Maybe Big brothers could manipulate thoughts or mind.

             In this society, Oceania, pleasure or enjoyment is not accepted, because it is thought crime. It means they do not have freedom. Everyone is under Big brother’s surveillance by telescreen. However, Winston bought a notebook and started to write a diary with his thought on the party which is also a thought crime. He knows he should not think about the freedom, but he writes what he thinks about the freedom and the real world. One day, he meets Julia who shares the same thoughts and suspicions with Winston. They met secretly and share their thought and love. However, they are caught by thought police and tortured. When he was tortured, the man asks Winston how many fingers he has Lie becomes truth and it becomes lie again. He thinks that everything such as existence of Goldstein wars, and etc. can be a lie, but also the truth. It repeats continuously. In the café, he met Julia again and talk about they sold each other to the party, because they could not overcome the pain of torture. Winston still believes that two plus two is four, but cannot write it.

              Winston knows what truth and freedom are. Before the movie ends, he says ‘I love you’. He could be love for the party, himself, or others. It does not matter that what his love for, what matters is still have emotions of love in his mind. I think it means the hope that would change the system of the world that he lives.

             In conclusion, the movie, 1948 brought me lots of thoughts. I recommend this movie, because it would bring many thoughts such as value of freedom, truth and lie, and influential power that could manipulate all of us. This movie made me think deeply about what is truth and lie and some concepts of the movie reflect the current society George Orwell wrote this book 1940s. I think he looked forward for future very well. I cannot imagine living like Winston. I think it is so miserable and sad life. These days, some people say there is power that controls the world. Just normal people like me would not know the truth forever. Fortunately, almost every country has freedom to say two plus two equals four. Because everyone has freedom, maybe we do not know how freedom is precious and valuable. Also, I was so happy that I can choose what I want to do and say

Work Cited

Radford, Michael, dir. 1984. Film

mark Twain response

Point of Editing

History is the treasure from our ancestors and the most important guide to plan our future. Journalism is the representative trace of our history. Mark Twain is very famous writer in 19th century that worked in various fields. He also worked as an editor of journals and newspapers. His two short stories ‘How I Edited An Agriculture Paper Once’ And ‘Journalism In Tennessee’ show the situation of editing journals and newspapers in 19^th century. He portrayed that the journalism of the 19^th century was biased and violent and criticized that papers should be interest to all the classes. In addition, editing gives feedback to writers without missing point.

In short story, Journalism in Tennessee, Mark Twain wrote “You see that yourself. Vigorous writing is calculated to elevate the public, no doubt, but then I do not like to attract so much attention as it calls forth”. (Twain, 6) In the journalism office Twain felt that Tennessee’s editor has the “spirit” which is some type of Tennessee style of writing. In the story, he mentioned about Tennessee writing that “The southern heart is too impulsive; Southern hospitality is too lavish with the stranger. The paragraphs which I have written to-day, and into whose cold sentences your masterly hand has infused the fervent spirit of Tennessean journalism, will wake up another hungry, too, and want somebody for breakfast. Tennessean journalism is too stirring for me”. (Twain, 7) When he was working in the office of Tennessee, he could not understand the spirit and the other editors could not acknowledge of Twain’s writing.

 Newspapers and journals would be different from now in 19th century of Tennessee. Today, some news channels are biased and unfair. However, by Mark Twain’s short story, the journalism of his time was even violent. Twain thought that editing plays important role for the journalism, that would support the writing content, but it should leave the point of the writing.

To edit someone’s writing, especially, for the specialty writing, editor should have some knowledge of it. That is, professional editors should take the responsibility of knowing at least the general information to suggest outline of writing to the authors. Editing is a solid process, which needs to bind certain contents together. In his short story, ‘How I edited An Agriculture Paper Once’, Twain describe that most powerful editing is edit oneself. He wrote “Who edit the agriculture papers, who fail he poetry line, yellow covered novel line, sensation-drama line, city editor line, and finally fall back on agriculture as a temporary reprieve from the poor-house”. (Twain, 6) In his short story, he criticized that editor is just a helpful source to the writers. This represents the circumstances when the editors should give some sort of main point to writers. However, as Twain says on his writing, the best editor is writer himself. This means that the person who writes can explain and easily find out what other words or phrases would suit effectively.   

In conclusion, editing can be a rigid job to make it greater and fancier. The writers normally follow the bottom-line of editors. That is why the editors need certain professional (at least common sense) knowledge on the concerns they are writing about. As Twain stated in his writing, if writer himself starts to edit his writing throughout his own writing, it would be much easier to convince readers and more perfect writing, since it is actually helpful for the content of the writing. Mark Twain portrayed 19th century’s journalism is biased, because of his work in Tennessee. He was hard to adopt Tennessee’s writing spirit and thought that it is wrong. I believe that Mark Twain wanted to describe the editing point and his opinion of the editing through his short stories.