Module 10: Video Review

1. Explain why you selected each of the TWO videos you choose from the selection listed above.

I selected the first video, Buddhism, because I have always been fascinated in that type of religion/culture. I wrote a research paper based solely on Buddhism in high school because I thought it was just amazing. I chose the second video, African Art, because that one seemed interesting. African artwork always has something to it that interests me and I hope that it shows me all types of African art. 

2. For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned.

Buddhism: 

India

Meditation- causes you to see the world differently

The Middle Way

Basic message of love for Buddhism 

Deaths could be seen as golden age

Daughter of village chief, offers rice pudding on the north gate

South gate has wheel of love that was worshiped  

Built with two square posts with lions 

Carved reliefs 

Ivory carvers

The Summit 

African Art:

Humans are represented in ancient rock art

Hunting-gathering lifestyle persisted the artwork

Start of agriculture led to a great civilization along the Nile

Perceptual - based on artist observation of visual reality, European tradition

Conceptual - flows from artist's imagination, expresses interior set of ideas, most African Art

Power of symbolism is more important than resemblance of real life things 

All African Art played a role in daily life or rituals 

3. How do the videos relate to the readings in the text?

They relate to the text because it talks about religions and cultures using art to portray their work. There is a whole section on arts in India and Buddhism with art. There are many images of Buddhists and their temple. Also, for arts of Africa, there is an entire chapter based on it. African art is very important because I feel like it is something studied in a lot of courses like art, history, anthropology etc... There are many pieces shown in the text. It's all just so different on the art that was/is created here in America. I like to see how different places around the world and cultures interpret art. 

4. What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to understanding of the readings and art concepts?

I definitely liked the African Art video more than the Buddhism one. Although the African Art video was shorter, I felt like it was more understandable. The Buddhism video had a lot of hard terms to try and identify through the speaker's voice. I like the selection I chose for the videos. They were simple and to the point.