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Jennifer PlaceHi everyone,
My name is Jen Place. I teach visual arts to K-8 students in Connecticut. I simply enjoy learning and am hoping to use elements from this course for a semester long elective next year.
Jennifer PlaceI visited many different gardens while in China and here in the Northeast. At first glance, the Zen gardens seem somewhat stark in comparison to other types. While reading about them I found it very interesting that a land feature in the distance was intentionally a part of the garden. I often instruct my art students to look into the distance to give their eyes a 'break' when working closely with detail. I would like to learn more about the intention and meaning of these distant features.
I also find the manipulation of plants and the environment to be in contrast to other values. Chinese gardens were often filled with workers who worked diligently to painstakingly manicure each and every little detail in the parks and gardens. At times there were far more workers than visitors. In some ways it was a bit unsettling. On the other hand, I it was lovely to see so many people caring for the parks and gardens.
Jennifer PlaceSInce reading this chapter, a section has stayed with me. "They genuinely embrace the sentient materiality of wood... this explains the Japanese resistance to nails, so as not to hurt wood ... as well as their willful acceptance to timber's decay through natural processes." (p. 38).
Jennifer PlaceYes, I did too. I am also wondering if there were infuences from other cultures, directly or indirectly.
While there, I spent quite a bit of time looking up and taking photos of these structures. I wish our tour leader had been knowledgeable about architecture!
Jennifer PlaceI am very interested in learning more about possible influences on the architecture of China and Japan. DId other cultures influence the pagoda or the temple? For example, did I hear correctly that the curved roof might have been influenced by islands in the Pacific? Or are they simply similar?
Jennifer PlaceHello everyone! I teach visual arts, theatre, and language arts in a K-8 magnet school. I too love to travel and was disappointed when my trip to Africa was cancelled. I have chaperoned high school arts students to China and have been to Spain and Morocco in recent years. I enjoy learning new things in general, but have been fascinated with the architecture of China since my last visit. I am looking forward to the seminar and to meeting everyone.
Jennifer PlaceHi Professor Dube!
I am probably looking right at it but I can't locate Lecture #5!
Jen
Jennifer PlaceThis was my first seminar at USC and I am very grateful to have had this opportunity to learn from such a distinguished group of professors and with such an amazing group of teachers. I found the range of topics to be remarkably diverse, especially for the short amount of time we were together. Each lecture contained valuable and interesting information that can be utilized in many different grade levels. I am using the information on contemporary Chinese art to develop a unit for my students that travel to China, visiting the 798 art zone. Although it is is always interesting to visit any art museum or gallery, I want the high school students to have a better understanding of the contemporary artists, how art has changed in China and why it is amazing that the new art zones even exist. WIth this understanding, I believe their visit to the 798 Art Zone will be more interesting and meaningful.
Aspects of the lecture on Kabuki theatre will be incorporated into my after-school theatre group and in my sixth grade art class as a component of the arts of China unit. Grade 6 art lessons will also benefit from many of the other lectures such as postcards and films. I believe my students will thoroughly enjoy learning about Asian film and K-pop. I am already sharing the K-pop information with my colleagues in the music department. We have begun talking about a collaborative unit.
Clearly, all of the information presented during this seminar will enrich my classroom teaching and therefore my students' understanding of the visual arts of East Asia. I am very grateful that the seminar has enriched my own understandings of how the visual arts have grown and changed in East Asia. Much of this information was quite surprising! It is this knowledge that has helped me better understand the culture of China. I will continue to participate in on-line offerings, wishing that I was closer so as to attend other offerings at USC!
Jennifer PlaceThis was by far the most intriguing lecture to me. I appreciated the way Professor Coats connected each section of material, creating a timelinethat helped me understand past and present arts of Japan. His presentation on ukiyo-e gave me a new and much more comprehensive understanding of that art form.
Jennifer PlaceMidori,
You make many good suggestions! I am also thinking that the "Lazy Pig" film would be a good addition to our propaganda poster unit that accompanies a social studies unit on World War II. I also agree that the use of mixed media within a unit makes it more engaging for most students. Thanks to Professor Kim for sharing this with us!
Jennifer PlaceWow! Unfortunately, when we traveled with a high school group this past April, it was closed. Did your friend eventually get in? I hope we have a different experience this spring because the kids were quite disappointed.
Jennifer PlaceKim, I also found this lecture to be intriguing. So much power in such a tiny little document. I found myself thinking about the difference between today's American postcards and the examples presented in the lecture. The Japanese postcard artwork was beautiful and displayed the highest quality and representation of artist elements and principles. It was a pleasure to view them.
Jennifer PlaceI also found this information to be interesting. Color can have a very strong influence on us, consciously or subconsciously, I woud like to dig into this in more depth with or without my students!
Jennifer PlaceThis was a fascinating lecture in so many respects. I have always understood the importance of film and have participated in a few film classes. I did not, however, have the slightest notion about the importance of film in North Korea or the extent to which North Korea's leader was involved in film. It is a natural fit to use film for propaganda - so many people can be reached. I was surprised to learn that film had been used to "educate" small children and that soviet advisors had also heavily influenced North Korean film.
Jennifer PlaceI am in the front center (not sure how that happened!!!) wearing a white shirt and jeans skirt. This was such a great cultural center. However, I was Soooooo disappointed that the art exhibit had just closed! It was very cool to learn about Korean writing! I loved the exhibits downstairs such as the clothing and every day objects. Out guide was very knowledgeable and interesting to listen to. I could have easily spent much more time there! As always, I wish my students could explore this museum!
