Artwork is something that can be very small and easy to understand, but it can also be complex while at the same time open up a world of beauty. John Berger and Walter Benjamin are two theorists that have their own particular thought on how art can affect the minds of the observers. Berger focuses on how each particular experience of an art piece can have a different impact on an individual. Benjamin has his own theory; one part that really caught my attention was when he stated, “War is beautiful.” Both theorists have very interesting thoughts and ideas that help shape those of people that have studied their works. A person can establish their own ideas and put them together and explain how a particular instance; therefore, shaping how one can interpret and connect with their everyday surroundings and life.
Taking the Time to Analyze
There are many pieces of art that are present in the community that I live in. There is one art piece in particular that stands out from the rest. This work of art is pretty well known in the community that I live in due to the editing that has been done to it. People are constantly driving by it and it has been there for quite a long time. It has often even been given touch ups due to the wear and tear the sun puts on it, causing the paint to fade away. I often drive by and think nothing of it; sometimes I will eat tacos at the taco shop across the street and just stare at it. It is kind of nice to enjoy your food and enjoy a nice piece of artwork. They really complement each other, it is tough to say whether the tacos make the painting better or the painting makes the tacos better. However, I never really took the time to really examine the mural and establish what it really means to me until the other day. I saw it and thought it resembled the community and how there are many working class families. It has a man and a woman that represent all the men and women in the area, it also has corn which symbolizes an every day use for food common amongst the Hispanic community. One of the main ingredients of the taco shop across the street is the tortilla, which is made of corn. Above the man’s head is a puzzle, which seems to have pieces from different groups of people that symbolize the diversity of the area. Not only is the area full of Hispanics but also it has recently seen a change of cultures. The area is becoming more diverse with the arrival of different ethnic groups. With their arrival new ideas and new perspectives arise. The first time I ever laid eyes on the mural I did not really understand the message that was being sent out. One of the many was because I was young and had not established what it meant to have a deeper understanding of how to portray artwork. Another reason was because much of the paint on the mural was faded and made it very difficult to see minor details that would later serve to be very important. The way I see it is that the first time you may encounter something may not always be the most glorious. Often times we tend to regard our first experience of something to be the greater because we have encountered something like it before. Well in this particular case it was something that made you not notice how beautiful a particular image can be. It can really impact an individual and cause him or her to stop and think.
Violence Can Be a Thing of Beauty
This area is one that has people from all over whether they are White, African American, Latino, or Asian. Everyone is usually accepted and welcomed without harm. In years previous that was not the case, the area was known for a lot of violence that would sometimes result in death. That has cleared up in recent years and the area has now become a popular destination for those searching for a new home. It has even established the title of “Hipster Alley” because of all the people that have moved in. In the mural you can see warriors on opposite ends of the puzzle. That symbolizes that even though that there is peace, when it comes down to protecting ones own faith or people they are not afraid to battle. That was something that was more apparent in the 90’s when gang wars were at its peak. Unfortunately, the differences that were very minor meant that battle had to take place. Symbols became gang marks and even innocent people were victim to gain violence. Sadly, that has affected my family in me in a negative way. However, the art piece shows acceptance and forgiveness to all, as shown by the man with open arms. When Benjamin said, “ War is beautiful,” I paused to think about it. He is correct war can be beautiful it has many colors involved and you can see the different faces and masks that people put on. You can see how society can be at the lowest point and kill human beings for ideas that they stand for a believe are right and just. But what I really take out of it is how it opens our eyes to see the after affects and how it brings people together. Yes, war is violent and gruesome, but it does something for people that everyday life cannot do. It brings people together and makes you appreciate the beautiful gift of life. That piece alone is something that is the most beautiful thing that anyone can experience. From birth in a hospital to the last breathes of a dying soldier on the battlefield it shows how beautiful the simplest things can be and how we must not take them for granted.
The Moment of Clarity
Something that caught my attention was the baby in the hands of what seems to be the mother. Different ideas crossed my mind about this particular part. It has a glow and beam similar to the sun, I was not sure if that meant that the child was a boy. It also has what seems to be numbers on the inside, which resemble a clock symbolizing that we are only on the earth for a certain period of time. One thought that came across my mind was the one that brought the meaning of a circle into my head. To me a circle is never ending and cannot be broken. That would then mean that it is never ending and that life could mean that it is eternal. Then it would maybe tie into religion and in the mural there is a bright white cross on the top in the puzzle. Also, a few blocks up the street there is a Catholic Church. That really made me think how crazy it is that one painting could have so many different meanings and raise questions that one must ask the artist to figure out. I tried my best to relate to that particular part. I have been raised in the area and thought maybe I can be that baby. Life is in a circle that why they call it the circle of life. Now that I am older I am able to realize that maybe my circle has came down to this particular mural. I was blessed to have a loving mother and stepfather that have given me the world. My mother brought me into the world to be the best human being I can be. She sent me to the private school up the street, which had religious ties. That picture was one that said that I am going to be connected to my faith and because of that it has shaped the way that I view life. My puzzle is being put together as my life progresses and the pieces are not all the same. As my life goes on I get different pieces that shape the person I am. There were so many names on the painting on the bottom left that I could not figure out if it was dedicated to them or if it was a collaboration of different artists working on one mural. That is one thing I wish to figure out so that I can get more ideas from the mural and clear up the ones that I do not understand.The day I went to visit the mural it was overcast and gloomy which I believe could have a major effect on the way one perceives the artwork. I tried not to let that affect me so that I can be positive about the artwork because even though it is not the best painting it has this sense that makes it beautiful in its own way. That where the aura ties in it is just unique and has this something about it that drags you in but you cannot get a grasp of what is grabbing you. For me it put me in a place that had me try and relate the mural to my life. It made me feel thankful for the gift of life and the wonderful parents I have that support me. It also made me proud of my culture and how that has affected me growing up. Sometimes we tend to overlook things and take them for granted. Its good to pay attention to them, you can find beauty in the simplest things. We often overlook that and something that can maybe benefit us and brighten our days is never used because we never took the time to actually look for a few moments. Make use of every moment and sometimes you can find things that can be quite interesting.
Overall, it is about connecting what is being given to you. It is like a puzzle, you have all the pieces and they fit in many different ways it is just how you choose to put those pieces together. Berger and Benjamin put their pieces together and that is how they can across their own ideas. War is indeed beautiful if you look at it in a different perspective instead of just looking at the negativities. Also, when experiencing something for the first time it may not be the one that has a special impact on you it depends on when you go and what is surrounding you. It matters how one understands it and the moment that is beneficial making you learn from different experiences.
There are many pieces of art that are present in the community that I live in. There is one art piece in particular that stands out from the rest. This work of art is pretty well known in the community that I live in due to the editing that has been done to it. People are constantly driving by it and it has been there for quite a long time. It has often even been given touch ups due to the wear and tear the sun puts on it, causing the paint to fade away. I often drive by and think nothing of it; sometimes I will eat tacos at the taco shop across the street and just stare at it. It is kind of nice to enjoy your food and enjoy a nice piece of artwork. They really complement each other, it is tough to say whether the tacos make the painting better or the painting makes the tacos better. However, I never really took the time to really examine the mural and establish what it really means to me until the other day. I saw it and thought it resembled the community and how there are many working class families. It has a man and a woman that represent all the men and women in the area, it also has corn which symbolizes an every day use for food common amongst the Hispanic community. One of the main ingredients of the taco shop across the street is the tortilla, which is made of corn. Above the man’s head is a puzzle, which seems to have pieces from different groups of people that symbolize the diversity of the area. Not only is the area full of Hispanics but also it has recently seen a change of cultures. The area is becoming more diverse with the arrival of different ethnic groups. With their arrival new ideas and new perspectives arise. The first time I ever laid eyes on the mural I did not really understand the message that was being sent out. One of the many was because I was young and had not established what it meant to have a deeper understanding of how to portray artwork. Another reason was because much of the paint on the mural was faded and made it very difficult to see minor details that would later serve to be very important. The way I see it is that the first time you may encounter something may not always be the most glorious. Often times we tend to regard our first experience of something to be the greater because we have encountered something like it before. Well in this particular case it was something that made you not notice how beautiful a particular image can be. It can really impact an individual and cause him or her to stop and think.
Violence Can Be a Thing of Beauty
This area is one that has people from all over whether they are White, African American, Latino, or Asian. Everyone is usually accepted and welcomed without harm. In years previous that was not the case, the area was known for a lot of violence that would sometimes result in death. That has cleared up in recent years and the area has now become a popular destination for those searching for a new home. It has even established the title of “Hipster Alley” because of all the people that have moved in. In the mural you can see warriors on opposite ends of the puzzle. That symbolizes that even though that there is peace, when it comes down to protecting ones own faith or people they are not afraid to battle. That was something that was more apparent in the 90’s when gang wars were at its peak. Unfortunately, the differences that were very minor meant that battle had to take place. Symbols became gang marks and even innocent people were victim to gain violence. Sadly, that has affected my family in me in a negative way. However, the art piece shows acceptance and forgiveness to all, as shown by the man with open arms. When Benjamin said, “ War is beautiful,” I paused to think about it. He is correct war can be beautiful it has many colors involved and you can see the different faces and masks that people put on. You can see how society can be at the lowest point and kill human beings for ideas that they stand for a believe are right and just. But what I really take out of it is how it opens our eyes to see the after affects and how it brings people together. Yes, war is violent and gruesome, but it does something for people that everyday life cannot do. It brings people together and makes you appreciate the beautiful gift of life. That piece alone is something that is the most beautiful thing that anyone can experience. From birth in a hospital to the last breathes of a dying soldier on the battlefield it shows how beautiful the simplest things can be and how we must not take them for granted.
The Moment of Clarity
Something that caught my attention was the baby in the hands of what seems to be the mother. Different ideas crossed my mind about this particular part. It has a glow and beam similar to the sun, I was not sure if that meant that the child was a boy. It also has what seems to be numbers on the inside, which resemble a clock symbolizing that we are only on the earth for a certain period of time. One thought that came across my mind was the one that brought the meaning of a circle into my head. To me a circle is never ending and cannot be broken. That would then mean that it is never ending and that life could mean that it is eternal. Then it would maybe tie into religion and in the mural there is a bright white cross on the top in the puzzle. Also, a few blocks up the street there is a Catholic Church. That really made me think how crazy it is that one painting could have so many different meanings and raise questions that one must ask the artist to figure out. I tried my best to relate to that particular part. I have been raised in the area and thought maybe I can be that baby. Life is in a circle that why they call it the circle of life. Now that I am older I am able to realize that maybe my circle has came down to this particular mural. I was blessed to have a loving mother and stepfather that have given me the world. My mother brought me into the world to be the best human being I can be. She sent me to the private school up the street, which had religious ties. That picture was one that said that I am going to be connected to my faith and because of that it has shaped the way that I view life. My puzzle is being put together as my life progresses and the pieces are not all the same. As my life goes on I get different pieces that shape the person I am. There were so many names on the painting on the bottom left that I could not figure out if it was dedicated to them or if it was a collaboration of different artists working on one mural. That is one thing I wish to figure out so that I can get more ideas from the mural and clear up the ones that I do not understand.The day I went to visit the mural it was overcast and gloomy which I believe could have a major effect on the way one perceives the artwork. I tried not to let that affect me so that I can be positive about the artwork because even though it is not the best painting it has this sense that makes it beautiful in its own way. That where the aura ties in it is just unique and has this something about it that drags you in but you cannot get a grasp of what is grabbing you. For me it put me in a place that had me try and relate the mural to my life. It made me feel thankful for the gift of life and the wonderful parents I have that support me. It also made me proud of my culture and how that has affected me growing up. Sometimes we tend to overlook things and take them for granted. Its good to pay attention to them, you can find beauty in the simplest things. We often overlook that and something that can maybe benefit us and brighten our days is never used because we never took the time to actually look for a few moments. Make use of every moment and sometimes you can find things that can be quite interesting.
Overall, it is about connecting what is being given to you. It is like a puzzle, you have all the pieces and they fit in many different ways it is just how you choose to put those pieces together. Berger and Benjamin put their pieces together and that is how they can across their own ideas. War is indeed beautiful if you look at it in a different perspective instead of just looking at the negativities. Also, when experiencing something for the first time it may not be the one that has a special impact on you it depends on when you go and what is surrounding you. It matters how one understands it and the moment that is beneficial making you learn from different experiences.
Albert Miramontes attends Cal State Northridge. He stays active by participating in sports that he loves. When he has free time he usually tends to spend it with family and friends.