ART 100 Cuyamaca College Art Reflection Essay

Overview

In his influential book, Ways of Seeing, John Berger states:

“Today we see the art of the past as nobody saw it before. We actually perceive it in a different way….The invention of the camera changed the way people saw. The visible came to mean something different to them.”

During the last century, photography has had a profound effect on the creation, perception and interpretation of works of art. Painters, including Chuck Close and David Hockney, often use photography in creative ways in their work.

We often take linear perspective for granted, but it’s not the only way to construct space in a two-dimensional image.

Your Assignment

In this writing assignment, you will submit a 600-750 word (approximately one page) short analysis (aka “tiny” paper), in which you examine and discuss the photographic “joiners” of contemporary artist David Hockney. This format requires you to condense your ideas and focus only on those that are directly relevant to the topic.

Step One: Watch these Videos

Watch this short video Pearblossom Highway, about the creation of this photographic montage, or “Joiner”, by contemporary artist David Hockney. 

Watch this video in which David Hockney demonstrates and explains how and why he makes joiners.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGtraVb_0vY

Step Two: Write your Reflection

In 600 to 750 words, reflect on the reasoning behind Hockney’s approach to making joiners and how they change our experience of seeing. As you reflect, select one of the joiner images (below) and compare it with The School of Athens (also below). Be sure to include direct references to specific areas of the image you select and discuss.

Address the following issues and support your ideas with careful observations of the images:

How is the execution of a joiner is similar to or different from the way a painter makes a painting using brush and paints?

How is perspective in a joiner very different from that in a traditional painting, such as The School of Athens, by Raphael, below?

How does this approach impact the way a viewer experiences time in the image?

Examples of Joiners

Click this link to find joiner images.