TMA 112 - Section 2: Hey!

I think it would be safe to say I consider myself to be quite the “homo significan.” In evaluating any piece of work, whether it be visual or textual, the first thing I search out is its story, or message. Every piece of art has a story to tell, and a misinterpretation of this message can ruin our entire perception of it. I find at times that some of my favorite pieces of work are the ones with the most possible interpretations. Nighthawks by Edward Hooper has long been one of my favorite pieces of art because anyone could write their own narrative to go along with it. We form these narratives out the way in which the artist has presented their subject. Does the artist love his subject? Is he condemning or condoning? In much of Jack Vettriano’s work it is evident that he is not totally supportive of his subjects’ lifestyles by his use of dark harsh colors in portraying their world. In determining the artist’s relationship with his subject we answer to ourselves the big “why” question. Why even make it in the first place? What is the work’s purpose? Everything that a poet does in writing his poem is important to its theme. Even the simple layout of the poem on paper can say much about what he is trying to convey. This applies to any medium of art. In painting we must ask why the artist used a certain material, and why the made it the size that they did? In general, it seems obvious that the more we know about a work of art, and art in general, the greater we will be able to understand and appreciate it. Our knowledge of the many techniques used by artists will help us to understand just what it is they are trying to say.