Tuesday, January 28, 2020

Henri Matisse: Artwork Styles

Henri Matisse: Artwork Styles The world is a mural on which we all paint. A revolutionary paints this world with wide strokes and paying no attention to those who try to restrict him. Using different colours, different styles, but still respecting the past behind them, a revolutionary makes an impact on the overall picture. Henri Matisse not only literally painted, but splashed water colour all over the art world. Matisse was a revolutionary with bright new ideas, inventions, and comprehension for the past. As a revolutionary, his ideas still flow through art. His beginning with colour made a path for all to come. Henri Matisse introduced his new ideas to the art world at the turn of the century. At the time art was slowly becoming Modern. The new age of modernism, was based on the simple view of objects, letting them become the art; rather than the artist making art out of them. Painters began to look at the objects in different ways and paint in different styles. Matisse became a forerunner in revolutionizing modern art. Matisse led a group of artists including Manguin, Braque, and Derain, all having similar views on art. (Henri Matisse 337) This new group introduced Fauvism into the art world. Fauvism was one of the first modern movements. The Fauvist group started to view objects as shapes and dissolving the boundaries lines created (Arnason, Fauvism). From 1905 to 1910, Fauvism took the art world by storm. A fauvist looked at objects with brilliant colour, using common manufactured paint. (Matisse, Portrait of Madame Matisse) This was shocking to the publics view of art, which was the ide a that a great painting took years to produce and many details. This movement had been completely pushed by Henri Matisses new concepts of colour, the idea of colour being organic, solid, and brilliant. (Greenberg) He once said When I put a green, it is not grass. When I put a blue, it is not the sky. Meaning that colour could be anywhere, not just the places where it is most present. (Spurling 102) In 1908 Matisse started an art school in Paris. (Spurling 98) There he taught his students to draw with innocence, referring to how children first learn to draw. Drawing with innocence meant drawing what you saw the first time you look at something. This was revolutionary to the world because Matisse had found a way to communicate art in the purest of ways. Even with all these new ideas flowing from his hand onto his paintings, Matisee never doubted tradition. Clement Greenberg wrote in his essay on Matisse, The superior artist is the one and knows how to be influenced. Matisse certainly knew how, especially when, as in the 1920s, he reached back into the past, to Chardin, Manet, and Cezanne. Matisse used the masters before him to influence his art. He took styles from the past and redefined them in the context of his own world. In Cezannes Les joueurs de carte, the colour is in fragments all over the picture, The objects remain organic and the overall theme isnt clouded. This picture is influential in Matisses work, example The Window. The use of colour, theme, and shape are all entwined with each other in both paintings. A succesful revolutionary refines what has passed and uses it to his own advantage. Matisse uses legends to push his ideas to the front. His traditional twists and new ideas were not his only ways to change the art world, his certain sense of appliquà © was just as influential. Matisses constant style of applying paint was highly influential on art. What was novel was his sense of touch. That touch, Matisses way of putting paint to canvas, revolutionized art. His brush laid on and stroked the varying thinness of paint so that the white ground breathed as well as showed through. But even when he laid his paint on evenly or more densely, or when he used a palette knife the paint surface would still manage to breathe. (Greenberg) The paint surface, even when the picture as a whole failed, would maintain its liveness. That touch was a great step forward in art and not only for Matisse himself, but for other, younger painters, particularly American ones. He opened up the paintings to a modern and refreshing view Matisses ideas grew into the simplicity and detachment that aids modern art today. Two of Matisses is strongest paintings have the respective subjects: a window, table, two chairs and a bowl of flowers (Matisse, The Window); a marble-topped table in the open with a few small objects on it (Matisse, The Rose Marble Table). These pictures were painted during the darkest days of the First World War. These paintings supplement the idea of Matisse being a revolutionary because his detachment from society during a time where society was so important. Matisse just painted, ignoring the presence of humans during the war. (Greenberg) Most artists were filled with emotion and expressing it on canvas for the world, while Matisse just shrunk into the seclusion of his mind and painted what he saw. In fact, Matisse always painted what he saw, never what he felt. He detached himself from society as well as his painting subjects. Detachment is what modernism thrives on, because to be simple and a mi nimalist, you must not over express your emotions. As a forebearer of Modern Art, he set the standards for detachment. Along with his paintings understanding of life philosophically, they understood the most basic shapes with his paper cutouts. Matisse invented new forms of art. Gouche Decoupee was his most famous invention in visual media (Suiff). Gouche Decuopee is paper cutouts painted with Gouche (opaque watercolour). His HYPERLINK http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Nudes o Blue Nudes Blue Nudes series feature prime examples of this technique he called painting with scissors; they demonstrate Matisss ability to bring colour and geometry to a new medium of simplicity. (Matisse, Blue Nude II). These inventions in expressing ideas in different ways than just painting compliment Matisses status as a revolutionary, showing that new forms express new ideas. A revolutionarys ideas on the world will surpass their death. Robert Hughes a well known art critic wrote an article about a show of Matisses work at a museum post-mortem. He was not an abstract artist but a painter of bodies and space. Sixty years has done little to blunt the impact of the flat out chromatic intensity of Henri Matisses work. (Hughes 171) This shows that Matisses works are still being shown today and that his ideas are thriving behind the glass of the various museums they sit in. A critic whom tears apart canvas with his teeth can still relate to Matisse years after he painted. Modern art today is based on the simplicity that Matisse introduced in the early 1900s. You can see this in Marc Chagalls painting, I The Village. The flat use of colour is reminiscent of Matisse as well as the simplicity of the organic objects within the painting. Everything your eyes touch that is said to be Modern Art is influenced by Matisse, whether the artist knows it or not. Matisse simplified life and defined Modern art within the context of innocence. Matisse sparked ideas of many artists; Picasso was heavily influenced by Matisses concept of colour and carried it over into his Cubist movement (Hughes 170). Picasso remained emotional through his art, where as Matisse was a stoic. Picassos pictures tend to close in on themselves, no ma tter what, Matisses to open out, no matter what. Matisses many works of art are still being shown at world class museums, such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York and the Museum of Modern Art, New York. Henri Matisse brought on Modern art through his ability to move a brush on canvas. The way he dictated his style, revolutionized art forever. His simple objects, brilliant colours, and social detachment were things not seen before in a famous painter. Throughout his life from Fauvism to the wars to his paper collages, he never failed to communicate with his artwork. A dialogue that is still present past his death. A successful revolutionary keeps affecting the world generation after generation. Matisse affects the world as painters see and create everyday, forever going back the conquistador of colour and shape.

Monday, January 20, 2020

The Transformation of Edna Pontellier in The Awakening Essay -- Kate C

â€Å"She wanted something to happen- something, anything: she did not know what† (Chopin). In Kate Chopin’s novel, The Awakening, the reader is introduced to Edna Pontellier, a passionate, rebellious woman. Throughout the novel, it becomes apparent how unsettled Edna feels about her life. The reader can identify this by her thoughts, desires, and actions, which are highly inappropriate for an affluent woman of the time. In the novel, Edna has an awakening and finds the courage to make the changes she sees necessary. Kate Chopin is able to make quality connections in order to symbolize her innermost desires. Chopin does this by providing references to the sea, and the birds, and then using them to foreshadow Edna’s end of life decision. The sea is typically used in order to express strength, life/ death, and calmness. In The Awakening, Kate Chopin uses the sea as a way to communicate Edna’s strength and empowerment. Two references that examine this idea are made available: one for the transformation of her body and one for the transformation of her mind. Edna’s learn-to-swim experience transforms her body during her awakening. Overcoming her fears and learning to swim is a significant experience because it shows how she is able to gain control over her body: â€Å"The voice of the sea speaks to the soul† (Chopin). This is a powerful statement due to the fact that it represents how Edna undergoes a dramatic change in character. She goes from listening and acting upon the influences of society, to following her own mind and innermost desires. These both play a large part in understanding Edna’s personal transformation from a quiet and fearful girl to an empowered and independent woman. Across many forms of art, birds ... ...el progresses, an awakening can be observed. This awakening greatly transforms Edna’s body and mind. Kate Chopin makes this evident by her use of references to the sea, the birds, and the foreshadowing of Edna’s end of life decision. These quality connections show the suffering, empowerment, and innermost desires of Edna throughout the novel, The Awakening. Works Cited Chopin, Kate. The Awakening. New York: Herbert S. Stone and Co., 1899. Print. Garrett Brown, Kimberly. â€Å"Dropping Hints and the Power of Foreshadowing in Kate Chopin’s â€Å"The Awakening.† Blogs Goddard. The Pitkin Review. Spring 2010. Web. 20 March 2015. Mascarenhas, Cheryl. â€Å"Bird Symbolism and Their Meaning.† Buzzle. South University. 13 Feb. 2012. Web. 20 March 2015. Shmoop Editorial Team. "Birds in The Awakening." Shmoop. Shmoop University, Inc., 11 Nov. 2008. Web. 20 March 2015.

Sunday, January 12, 2020

Personal and professional development Essay

Self managed training is a when an individual plans, executes and evaluates his or her own learning. The learner is in control of when learning can happen, the duration and the learning experience or outcome. It is important to always review and adapt your training plan. It is unproductive to remain rigid with the plan, and allowing adaptations will improve its applicability and suitability to individual needs. On the job training is another way to self manage training as it allows the individual to apply what they have learnt to real life experience and develop their skill set by actively taking on tasks and duties within their role. This allows the individual to understand their skill set and realize any deficiencies which can be rectified through on the job learning. Learning such as this is lifelong and it is only by exposure to new tasks that the person can develop. This can be applied whilst working. Again a plan can help to keep you on track and provides a reminder of the objectives you have set. Self managed training allows individuals to learn at their own pace while managing their time constraints and work duties. It gives control back to students in deciding how they take on the learning, how much they learn and the content they learn. This, in turn, can make happier and therefore more successful students as they will be able to apply a concentrated effort to the tasks at hand rather than spread themselves thin in meeting deadlines, learning courses that don’t interest them and balancing work at the same time. 1. 2: Proposing ways in which lifelong learning in personal and professional contexts can be encouraged. There are no formal institutions instead it’s an on-going process where one learns from day-to-day interactions with different people, by observing the world around us and imbibe them to form a definite ‘knowledge’ of what has been experienced by the individual (Herminia, 2003). Lifelong learning in a professional context can be encouraged by providing incentives such as monetary rewards and career development. These are well suited to the most ambitious employees who thrive on challenge and have a deep rooted interest in self development. This has the benefit of companies retaining their employees, as developing their skill set will result in a diverse work force that can tackle many problems. Employees that feel invaluable to their company will thrive and perform better knowing they are a vital part of the workforce. In a personal context, it is important to appeal to the individual based on their personality, their life experiences and their future ambitions. The realization of personal development and its applicability to their future goals will enable them to realize their potential and motivate them to continuously learn and develop. 1. 3: Evaluating the benefits of self-managed learning to the individual and organisation In self managed learning the individual is solely responsible for their own learning and time management. In order to see if this method is effective for the individual, a comparative analysis can be undertaken where any change in work output has occurred after successful completion of the course. An improvement in performance would suggest the training was well received. A further promotion would be a strong indicator of how effective the overall process was. Another indicator is if upon successful completion of a course, if the individual has volunteered for further courses as it shows they have been encouraged to accomplish more and the style of learning was well suited to them. For the employer, if self managed learning has proved to be successful through a visible improvement in employees work output then it is evidenced that it has been useful. It is also beneficial in that the organization does not need to invest more time, effort or money towards the process of self development for individuals thereby saving extra costs for the company but simultaneously consistently improving their work force and making them more efficient. Through the method of self managed learning operational costs can be brought down by not having to spend more money on arranging workshops and further courses internally. By improving their workforce through self managed learning they can utilize employees within the organization to carry out more specialized duties instead of outsourcing to external employees. The progression path can be monitored through arranging regular reviews and collating information on work performance, this information can be stored on a database to compare in reviews and track progress. This is also useful to highlight any changes to be made to further improve. It has also been corroborated that self-managed learning benefits the individual and well the organisation (Murphy-Latta, 2008). TASK 2 2. 1: Evaluating one’s own current skills and competencies against professional standards and organisational standards During the meeting with the training manager of United Utilities I discussed methods to evaluate competencies skills against standards both professional and organizational. The employee review each month with the manager can be compared with the organizational standards to check for areas of improvement and whether employee is reaching targets. The competencies within professional standards can then be used to identify the current skills that the individual has achieved and what more he/she need to do to reach a professional standard. A log or journal of the individuals owns learning and performance can be an ideal way to record progress. Thus, one’s own current skills and competencies do contribute to set a definite professional standards and organizational standards (Bandura, 1997). 2. 2: Identifying own developmental needs and the activities required to meet them In order to identify own development needs it is helpful if a record of learning is kept. Individuals can use a diary or log to do this and can look back at this to reflect and decide on a way forward. This is an opportunity to self reflect, analyse and highlight weaknesses. The individual when put through self-managed learning process he or she would be well aware about their own positive as well as negative sides (Jasper, 2006). A review or a meeting with your manager is a good way to seek advice on areas of concern that may need to be developed. The professional and organizational standards must always be referred to in order to compare and form an idea about the skills that need to be enhanced. The skills or competencies that are highlighted as weak can then be focused on to improve. The training manager can be informed of these issues and suggest the relevant training/course which is beneficial for those issues. 2. 3: Identifying development opportunities to meet current and future defined needs A regular review with managers and trainers is the best way forward as this gives the individual an opportunity to identify which activities are proving to be difficult. It is also a chance for the individual to voice their concerns and request additional training that they feel will be beneficial. Employees can be proactive and request to be placed onto a course that they feel will be beneficial. An employee could devise a business plan to show to the manager how the course will benefit the employee and how it will achieve development needs. The objective and goals should be outlined in the plan and a time frame given to achieve those goals including any reasonable steps that should be taken to achieving said goals. 2. 4: Devising a personal and professional development plan based on identified needs Once development needs have been identified and established, a plan should be implemented to tackle those issues. The plan must include both the personal and professional development as the success in one will inevitably lead to success in the other. The plan must specify objectives that reflect the individual’s needs and how the objectives can be achieved alongside a reasonable timescale. Each objective may have an associated set of steps or actions which will enable the objective to be met in a timely manner. The development needs or gaps in knowledge are normally a priority objective before further development can ensue. A chat with your manager, colleagues or other professionals may ascertain any gaps in knowledge or issues to improve on. The plan should allow for some flexibility upon periodic progress reviews. TASK 3 3. 1: The process and activities required to implement the development plan The process required to implement the development plan occurs after identifying the development needs and once the plan has been arranged. In this case the BT PLC Group human resources manager will need to identify the course that is relevant for employees and will need to assess the workforce and establish what percentage of the workforce can attend training. The company has to remain operational therefore it is important to work out a schedule for employees to attend training/courses without sacrificing current company strategy. The next phase is to make arrangements regarding the actual training program, where the course will be held, for how long and enlisting our services as a training provider. A timetable has to be arranged, fees established and enrolment conducted. 3. 2: Undertaking and document development activities as planned Development activities can be documented by having a record of activities that are derived from the development plan needs that were established. After each training session a form or list can be issued to evaluate what the learner has achieved. This can then be compared to the actual objectives to tick off targets that have been met. This method can also highlight anyone who is struggling to meet targets, which gives the trainer a chance to create other ways to fulfil those goals by making adjustments to their learning plans and varying methods of delivery of the course. The person in charge of the individual’s development prepares a suitable method of recording progress made through adhering to the plan. The documents then get cross-checked by the superior in the administration and approval for the changes is secured from the ultimate authority. At every point in implementing the development program, any progress, accomplishment or changes of the tasks is signed by senior authorities in charge to confirm it has been approved. 3. 3: Critically reflecting on own learning against original aims and objectives set in the developmental plan The learner can critically reflect on own learning by reviewing after each training session what they have learnt or achieved. This can be either done individually or discussed with the trainer. Where there were areas that learners struggled on, those issues can be discussed and an alteration within the action plan will focus the learner. Testing learners is another way to establish what they have been successful in and what they haven’t. An overall score can be given to realize any further areas of development. Learning progress must be compared to the original aims and objectives that were suggested in the development plan. A comparison can be made with the actual learning and the objectives, so as to view where there are any gaps remaining if any. 3. 4 How to update reflect critically on own learning against original aims and objectives set in the development plan Based on the review and evaluation of own learning it is then important to adjust the development plan specifying those areas that still need to be concentrated on. The adjusted plan of action will specify how this can be achieved and set a realistic time frame. The development plan must be reviewed again once this further change of action has been addressed to see how much improvement has been made. The process of planning and reviewing is a lifelong learning tool that will enable the learner to gain knowledge about their own capabilities and to develop a sense of self awareness. TASK 4 4. 1: Selecting work based solution on various situational problems The presentation that I will conduct with employees of Hounslow Council as requested by their Human resources manager is regarding work based solutions on various situational problems. In the presentation I will hand out a document with a quiz in order to interact with the audience. There will be ten questions each giving a scenario with an example of a work based problem. There will be four options listed for the learners to choose from. The learners will need to answer each question keeping in mind the best possible solution. A prize will be offered to the person with the most points out of ten. An example of a one of the questions is if an employee has a voluntary dinner conference at a graduate bureau but then an emergency meeting is arranged for the employee with the manager. Four possible answers are given and the learner must select one. Once the papers are marked, a discussion can occur between learners attending the workshop regarding the answers. Learners gain knowledge on handling work based problems in a relaxed and interactive way. 4. 2: The various communication methods available for being effective at workplace and various situations to use it There are many methods of communication in the workplace with the increasing influence of technology and its usefulness. The different methods are firstly, written communication which can be paper based that can be stored in files for later references and also in digital format such as e-mails and fax (Murphy-Latta, 2008). Written communication is mostly used by the companies to communicate in the workplace. If there is a crisis such as documents stored on the computer deleted in error then written documents can be used as testimonials. Secondly, it is oral communication, either face to face or over the telephone and now with latest technology Skype is an alternative. Oral communication is mostly used in the stock exchanges where everyone is within the audible reach (Susan, 2002). Meetings can provide an opportunity to communicate face to face and can be an effective method to liaise with colleagues and provide the ideal environment for collaborative endeavours. Speaking over the telephone can be a hindrance depending on the quality of the phone line, also relying on people actually answering the phone. However, telephone conferences are a good method of briefing employees, which can save companies time and money. Thirdly, latest technology such as emails, internal memos, fax and intranet sites are effective as it is an instant method to communicate information within the company as it is quick, easy and cost effective. 4. 3: The various factors of time management and strategies Time management is one of the most important elements of successful work and being recognized as an efficient employee. There are various factors on which time management depends such as individual characteristics of the employees, balance in one’s work life, and the influence of the organisation on the individual, the usage of the latest technology that saves time and adds to the accuracy (Golding and Gray, 2006). In order to efficiently manage time employees should plan tasks according to the priority. Employees must be aware of the risk of distraction and wasting time in conducting tasks which will inevitably affect productivity. This eventuality will in turn affect revenue of the company and the employee job security. The strategy to manage time is to plan ahead in all tasks, keeping a checklist of tasks to do and updating this as tasks are being completed. Prioritise the most important or relevant jobs to do, also allocating sufficient time is vital to enable the task to be performed correctly.

Saturday, January 4, 2020

The Differences Between The American And American Culture

Culture, according to the textbook, is defined as learned behavior; a way of life for one group of people living in a single, related, and independent community. Some major elements of culture include language, religion, values and attitudes, manners and customs, material elements, aesthetics, education, and social institutions. Language is the basis of interaction and communication among people. The two primary types of language are verbal and nonverbal communication. Religion is a very important cultural aspect when it comes to learning and understanding a new culture. Values are basic beliefs or philosophies of things that most people in a society consider to be true. For instance, American Jews, like their countrymen, place a high value on freedom and autonomy. But Jewish life is based on values like authority, community, and eternity. Thus, American Jews sometimes find some odd differences between the American society values and the Jewish values in which they live. Culture incl udes some main characteristics which are culture is learned, shared, based on symbols, integrated, and dynamic. For example, a child born in China but was brought to America after birth may not develop traits characteristics of Chinese. He may learn behavior pattern characteristics of American children, including language. Jewish Culture We chose Jewish culture as our new cultural experience. The largest Jewish communities in the world locate in Israel and the United States. There are varietyShow MoreRelatedDifferences Between American Culture And Indian Culture1167 Words   |  5 PagesCulture is the characteristics and knowledge of a particular group of people, defined by everything from language, religion, cuisine, social habits, music and arts. The cultures around the world are very different and very much the alike at the same time. On the other hand, some similarities also lie between two nations. 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