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The raft of the medusa contrast
The raft of the medusa contrast
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Choose one narrative work (any medium) and discuss the storytelling techniques employed by the artist and how effective these were in communicating the narrative
Narrative art is the term given to artworks that conveys a story. In narrative art, “the artist chooses how to portray the story, represent the space, and how to shape time within the artwork.” There are different types of narrative arts such as monoscenic narrative, simultaneous narrative, continuous narrative, to name a few. A monoscenic narrative artwork refers to an entire narrative is represented with only one single scene. Raft of medusa is a very good example of a monoscenic narrative painting.
Figure1: The Raft of the Medusa, Théodore Géricault, 1818-1819, oil on canvas, 491 cm × 716 cm
To give a brief background of Raft of medusa, the French Romantic painter and lithographer Théodore Géricault did this painting in 1816. Théodore Géricault was one of the pioneers of the French Romantic movement. The narrative of the Raft of Medusa is about the incident of the French frigate Medusa that ran aground off the coast of Mauritania. Only 147 passengers and crew had managed to get on a lifeboat that later on led them to 13 days of terrible hardship. Among the 147, only 15 have luckily survived from that incident and those who managed to survive had been through starvation, dehydration and were forced to practice cannibalism. “The painting asks profound questions about the nature of survival, barbarism, and the miracle of human resilience in the face of the awesome and unforgiving power of nature, as well as the inner-struggle for meaning and purpose we all face.”
In this painting, different layers of narrative can be seen. Therefore, there is a need for us to dist...
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...1741529/the-painter-s-secret-geometry-a-study-of-composition.
3.Lopes, Dominic M. Sight and Sensibility: Evaluating Pictures. England: Oxford University Press, 2005. Questia. Accessed March 15, 2014. http://www.questia.com/library/110185044/sight-and-sensibility-evaluating-pictures.
Online Periodicals
1.Dehejia, Vidya. “On Modes of Visual Narration in Early Buddhist Art.” The Art Bulletin, Vol. 72, No. 3 (Sep, 1990), pp. 374–392
2.Christiansen, Rupert. The Victorian Visitors: Culture Shock in Nineteenth-Century Britain". New York Times, June 3, 2001. Retrieved on January 04, 2008.
Online Documents
1.Glover, Michael. "Great Works: The Raft of the Medusa 1819 (491x716 cm), Théodore Géricault." February 4, 2011. http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/art/great-works/great-works-the-raft-of-the-medusa-1819-491x716-cm-th233odore-g233ricault-2203558.html.
Medusa contains life-saving information for women that is sometimes needed in order to survive (Culpepper, p. 23). Culpepper then goes on to write about her own experience of “Experiencing [Her] Gorgon Self” when she was attacked in her home. Instead of allowing the attack to occur, the Gorgon within her took over with rage and fury to shove the man back outside (p. 23). After the attack, Culpepper knew that something else had embodied her during this moment. As she looks in the mirror, she knows what she sees: the Medusa!
A narrative is specified to amuse, to attract, and grasp a reader’s attention. The types of narratives are fictitious, real or unification or both. However, they may consist of folk tale stories, mysteries, science fiction; romances, horror stories, adventure stories, fables, myths and legends, historical narratives, ballads, slice of life, and personal experience (“Narrative,” 2008). Therefore, narrative text has five shared elements. These are setting, characters, plot, theme, and vocabulary (“Narrative and Informational Text,” 2008). Narrative literature is originally written to communicate a story. Therefore, narrative literature that is written in an excellent way will have conflicts and can discuss shared aspects of human occurrence.
Buzard, James, Linda K. Hughes. "The Victorian Nation and its Others" and "1870." A Companion to Victorian Literature and Culture. Ed. Herbert F. Tucker. Malden: Blackwell Publishers, 1999. 35-50, 438-455.
Done by men of a different social class with different backgrounds, ideals, and motivations, produced under different conditions for a different audience, painting could not help but change in fundamental and farreaching ways. (Cahill 4)
Some of the characteristics of Modernism are: a desire to break conventions and established traditions, reject history, experiment, remove relativity, remove any literal meaning, and create an identity that is fluid. The rejection of history sought to provide a narrative that could be completely up for interpretation. Any literal meaning no longer existed nor was it easily given; essence became synonymous. Narrative was transformed. Epic stories, like “Hills Like White Elephants”, could occur in the sequence of a day. Stories became pushed by a flow of thoughts. The narrative became skeptical of linear plots, preferring to function in fragments. These fragments often led to open unresolved inconclusive endings. This echoes in the short story’s format. The short story functions in fragmented dialogue. Focusing on subjectivity rather than objectivity. Creating characters with unfixed, mixed views to challenge readers.
Jefferis, Phil. "'Raft of the Medusa' - Theodore Gericault (1819)." Thompson Dunn. Thompson Dunn, May 2005. Web. Mar. 2014. http://www.thompsondunn.co.uk/newsletter2/page16.html
Mitchell, W.J.T. "Showing Seeing: A Critique of Visual Culture." The Visual Culture Reader. Ed. Nicholas Mirzoeff. London: Routledge, 2002. 95. Print.
...individual human being, worthy of our own unique individual response” (Weschler, p. 21). As we look at these paintings it is easy for us to connect to the subject matter, they all pertain to ethics. The contemplation of life and death, picking the right path for our highest and best good, forgiveness and taking pride in what you are doing. Each day we are faced with moral dilemmas and for the most part people choose to be good and do the best they can. These four paintings allow us to see the intersubjectivity in others as well as in ourselves.
A successful descriptive narrative displays the necessary information for a reader to explain or develop speculations within the material. Narrating the text of a story, told through one or more narrators, allows the audience to connect with the feelings of the narrator. A description includes imagery for the audience’s recognition. Furthermore, descriptive narratives have a purpose and are there for a reason. “Shooting an Elephant” and “The Lottery” are both descriptive narratives. Descriptive narratives show a clearer understanding of the passage; therefore, the stronger text is “Shooting an Elephant” because of its detail and the plot’s conflict.
This artwork remains relevant today with the depiction of a Roman love story and the architecture. The structural work that went into this sculpture is inspiring because I feel that even with modern technology, knowledge can be gained from how this piece was constructed and designed. The story this artwork tells, of Cupid rescuing Psyche, despite insatiable curiosity, can also be inspiring.
In resolution, I must admit that upon first glance, I was not a fan of The Raft of the Medusa. My taste for art resides in the vibrancy of colors, which Gericault’s painting lacks. Upon further research on the history and the meaning of the painting, I have grown to appreciate the work of art. This painting as a perfect example of why knowing the story before you judge is of great importance. Had I not researched what the story and meaning behind the painting was, I would have continued to dismiss it and not get the opportunity to truly appreciate the effort and time that Gericault invested in
Narrative criticism serves to help us make meaning out of our daily human experience and how different elements of our experience are connected. It is a means by which we comprehend how we impose order on our experiences and actions by giving them narrative form. Narratives help us interpret and construct our reality and “establish coherence for ourselves” (Foss 307). It is “both a way of knowing about and a way of participating in the social world” (Foss 307).
Describe the painting. What is the story, or narrative the scene presented? Explain what you see in the artwork (do not interpret).
Storytelling is an interaction between two or more individuals speaking on an event using words, images, sounds, dramatization, props, etc. Stories or narratives are shared for the purpose of education, entertainment, cultural preservation, or teaching lessons. Narratives aren 't just interesting because of the story being told but how the story is being told. Narratives have many features that not only group them together but differentiate them as well. The person who is narrating the story is also given insight to when listening to, reading, or watching a
The title, An Allegorical Scene of History Unfolding orientates the work in historical context and emphasises that the work has a...