Art. What comes to your mind upon reading this word? Art is a theme that resonates among all of us and within our lives. It's a culture's heartbeat, it's definition and expression. Yet many define it as a seemingly aesthetic or shallow work, nothing beyond a cursory surface. Yet art is the quality and expression of principles, emotions, realms, of what is beautiful and appealing, beyond ordinary significance. Throughout class- most clearly recognized through Beat by Beat we explored and analyzed the significance and meaning behind the art of writing, opening our mind to the wonders and intelligence behind the ink on paper. I recognized through this concept of true art the meaning behind other pieces of art- exploring the painting Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh.
Through the class's reading and discussion of Beat by Beat we perceived the purpose and brilliance behind techniques and writing styles. We were able to recognize the "beat" and "rhythm" of writing, the significance behind word choice, and the meaning behind so many different styles. Thus, I decided to explore the different realms of art (i.e. music, paintings, drawings, etc.) and decided upon discovering the meaning behind the art of the impressionist era.
I decided upon the impressionist era, because of the "impressions" that the art left or would seek to create, impression is defined as an effectual consequence or response, something that one would have to diverge themselves within exactly like one envelopes themselves within the art of writing.
The painting I decided to analyze was Starry Night by Van Gogh, now upon research and interpretation I discovered many deeper apprehensions of the masterpiece. For one, the painting was created to represent the warmth and geniality of Van Gogh himself, for he admired the night sky as his own. He also painted this piece at a time when he was in sickness diagnosed with the time's "epilepsy", he used this painting to escape from his misery and illness and envelope himself once more in the work of art. Also, because of his affliction he wasn't able to go on his own and observe his subject as he once had, meaning that he used mental imagery to paint this piece allowing for greater interpretation and his representation. His passion for the night is seen through the darkness, where the sky comes upon the town- interpreted as the greatness of the sky. Many experts also speculate that Van Gogh was illustrating the "Via Lactea", a recent scientific discovery of his time. Also the configuration of the painting- the spirals of white and yellow and the bright vertical lines are "soft" to the painting. It illustrates a supplication for hope out of darkness along with the stars and mellow window light of the town.
Now without a deeper look into the painting, it's ostensibly a crude, undefined picture of the night. But further look into it we recognize it's true meaning and the nature of it's art, just as we do throughout the reading of excellent writing.
I am thoroughly impressed Mr. Yanger. I believe that you could not have used a better painting to represent your comparison. When I see this painting I notice the Blackness of that fire-like structure on the right and think sad, gloomy. But just as Hosseini uses tremendous sadness to emphasize the happy moments of this story, the black on the side only makes the colors and softness of the night stick out more. This painting could possibly fall victim to the kind of dislike of which people give to modern art for it's simplicity but we know that this painting is much more than simple. I've never totally appreciated modern art, and i believe it is because it breaks my rules of good art, just as Hosseini often breaks the rules of "good writing". Like modern artists, Khaled Hosseini uses his own methods of portraying an idea and it is important that we forget our previous ideas about rules and look at what the underlying message being told is.
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