Landscape And The Sublime.

1. Define the Enlightenment, including its context (time and place).

The enlightenment was the new concept of ideas about life in general - man, society, etc. it challenged the original concepts of the world view, being dominated by christians. These ideas that were new to the world changed/brought change to many forms of art and such. It started around the 17th century, but we still in a way live in it as there is still a world view of thought based on the idea of the enlightment itself.

2. Define the concept of the Sublime.

The Sublime existed for two main reasons, as a "picturesque setting for some more important, human drama, and as a topography, or a quasi-scientific reconstruction of the land masses of a particular area". In order to be educated artistically, you would have to be able to walk before you could run. So if you wanted to paint, you would need to be able to draw first. The sublime was a concept that basically said that instead of being told to do by churches, you were told by government what was considered more important in terms of status and wealth, and what was not. It was an era in time in which a Hiearchy known as "The Salons" dictated which subjects were considered more important and most wealthy, for example history and religious subjects topped the list, while still life painting - something very challenging and difficult to produce  was left near the bottom of the list.


3. Explain how the concept of the Sublime came out of Enlightenment thought.

The Enlightenment developed a clearer world view of the arts and subjects taught. The concept of the Sublime was formed out of the Enlightenment by Higher-Ups making an order in which the subjects and arts were classified in a list of importance. The new world view of these subjects etc were placed in an order of importance and wealth, therefore leaving people in a position which basically told them that if you wanted to do well in life, you would have to study the subjects that were at the top of the list of importance, a new world-view of subjects and arts depicted this. All in all, the Sublime is a quality of greatness, whether it be i art, mathmatics, knowledge, etc.

4. Discuss the subject matter, and aesthetic (look) of Misrach's work to identify the Sublime in his work. Include some quotes from art critics and other writers who have written about his work

He has taken these photo's in a way that gives the viewer a feeling of being directly above the subject matter, as if we are looking at these people from a birds-eye view. I did some research and discovered that why he does this has something to do with the 9/11 tragity, he was "influenced" by images of people falling from the towers. So he may be trying to show us what the people in those towers saw the outside/ground like; looking out of the building and seeing paradise waiting for them at the bottom, as horrible as that sounds. 

 "In this body of work he uses a gorgeous, slowly shifting color palette gleaned from changes in depth and tide; abstract patterns of waves and rippling water, and beaches both empty and cluttered. Throughout the series, Misrach carefully balances the minutiae of human gesture against the massive scale of the sea. In some images, a lone figure floats in a liquid field of brilliant turquoise--or in others, lies beached and partially buried. The details in the images are frequently ambiguous. Are the figures relaxed or drained of life?"

In his works, in terms of sublime, he is editing his photos to produce as much brilliant colours and detail as possible to produce magnificent photography. Sublime, after all, is a quality of greatness; Misrach uses this to the furthest extent and it brings out the beauty in his photography. "As Misrach says, the work is "suffused with a sense of the sublime, but it also begins to expose our vulnerability and fragility as human beings.""

5. Add 2 new images of his work to your blog.

See bottom of this post.

6. Describe how does Misrach's photography makes you feel. How does it appeal to your imagination?

Misrach's photography feature very bright and happy colours, they give the feeling that there is no such thing as problems or stress or emotional issues. It gives me this idea of paradise, not having any worries or anything to consider an issue; just myself and the environment that surrounds me which would be anything but if i was in the subject matters situation. There is alot of space in these works which give this feeling of being alone in a big open area, which could be very peaceful, yet very spooky at the same time.

7. Identify some other artists or designers that work with ideas around the Sublime, from the Enlightenment era as well as contemporary artists.

Nicolas Poussin was a artist from the Enlightenment era.  His work featured such things as clarity, logic, and order, and favors line over color. His work serves as an alternative to the dominant "Baroque" style of the 17th century.  

8. Add a Sublime image of your choice to your blog, which can be Art or just a Sublime photograph.
9. Reference your sources (books and websites).

'Wanderer in the mists' (1818) Caspar David Friedrich

'Untitled #2" (2002) Richard Misrach

 'Untitled # 394-03' (2003) Richard Misrach

Richard Misrach Untitled 1132-04 [Flippers], 2004 

Battleground Point #1 (1999) Richard Misrach 

http://www.pdnphotooftheday.com/2010/01/3367

http://www.nga.gov/exhibitions/2008/misrach/

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1386787.Richard_Misrach