I laughed when I saw the author of the New York Times article describe the outside line as “TSA style” because when I went to Paris this summer and saw the Louvre, that’s exactly what it looked like. I didn’t go inside because I wanted nothing to do with that enormous line and I had other things I wanted to see, however recalling that moment makes me agree with the author of the NYT article. If 80% of that line was just there to see the Mona Lisa, then that was really sad. Museums are meant to show more than one thing and if everyone’s flocking around only one painting it’s going to get extremely annoying. Of course people are leaving there unsatisfied; it’s like going shopping on Black Friday but all you’re getting is a not so good picture of an image that’s not much bigger than a letter sized sheet of paper. I think it’s necessary for the Louvre to put the Mona Lisa somewhere else. While I do understand it’s importance in art history, I don’t think its right for the art to monopolize the attention of visitors when there are so many other grand works of art in the same building. If people are going there out of obligation as opposed to understanding and appreciation, then you’ve missed the point of the art in general.
Tag: homework
Jeron Ryan Homework #4: Is It Time To Remove The Mona Lisa?
After reading the article in the New York Times proposing to remove the Mona Lisa, I believe that the author makes some great points as to why it should be removed. The Mona Lisa causes a lot of congestion in the Louvre and tourists typically go to see the Mona Lisa just so that they can take selfies next to it and say that they saw it. Now there is nothing wrong with this, but there is more to art than just going to a museum to take selfies next to a painting. This gets in the way of the individuals who are truly into art and would like to appreciate all that the museum has to offer. I feel that the Mona Lisa should be moved to a separate location that would clear up space for the other exhibits in the museum. Also separate tickets should be sold to see the Mona Lisa along with those sold to see the rest of the museum. The drawback to removing the Mona Lisa altogether is that the painting is generating a lot of revenue for the through tickets and merchandise.
HW4: Is it time to take down the Mona Lisa?
I do believe that it is time to take down the Mona Lisa. According to the New York Times article, 80% of the 10 million visitors to the Musee du Louvre only go to see the Mona Lisa and end up disappointed. People now feel obligated to go see the Mona Lisa, which simply shouldn’t be the case when it is only one piece out of da Vinci’s entire life’s work. In a museum full of iconic art pieces like the Venus de Milo, the crowding is not only a security hazard but frankly, insulting. The size of the crowds that form to see the Mona Lisa has caused the painting to be moved several times, placed behind a several-inch thick glass box, security lines and cause the museum to close down; as iconic as the piece is, in both pop culture and art history, the measures taken to keep the piece on display simply aren’t worth it. It should be retired indefinitely, so that the Musee du Louvre can finally breathe.
Garnet Garcia – HW3: What’s On Your Thanksgiving Plate?
This was the first time I made brownies for Thanksgiving!! It was really fun and my little sisters helped. My father made sweet plantain and bacon-wrapped filet mignon. Apparently, he made this for his dad’s 50th birthday back in the 70s or 80s and this was his first time making the dish since, so that was really special to me.
HW3: What’s on your Thanksgiving Plate?
My family almost always has Thanksgiving at my Grandmothers house, and I get there earlier than everyone else to help cook. This year we had stuffing, roast turkey, split peas, callaloo, roasted carrots and brussel sprouts, baked salmon and my grandmothers famous macaroni pie.
Olando Alexis-Hw#3: What’s on Your Thanksgiving Plate
This is what is on my thanksgiving plate. It features BBQ chicken, stuffings, turkey, candies yams, lasagna, Mac and cheese, and good seasoning.
Daisy Xia: HW3: What’s On Your Thanksgiving Plate?
HW3: What’s On Your Thanksgiving Plate?
Happy Thanksgiving! This homework assignment is a fun one, and adapted from my history of photography class. Share with classmates an image of something you’re eating/cooking over the holiday week. Since we just covered Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper, you may want to look at parodies of this famous painting, including this photograph by David LaChapelle. Sometimes parodies evoke anger, including a fashion ad campaign that parodied Leonardo’s painting and was banned in Milan. More recently, The Daily News used a Last Supper parody for The Last Whopper cover to criticize President Trump.
Don’t forget for this assignment, you just need to post an image of something you’re having for Thanksgiving and a short line describing it! Please only check the category #studentHW
The DUE DATE is Monday December 2, by midnight.
For those of you interested in exploring food photography and how some foodies are turning their social media into profit, look here.
HW4: Is It Time to Take Down the Mona Lisa?
For the last homework of the semester, please read this recent article in the New York Times about the overcrowding situation in the Louvre Museum, where Leonardo da Vinci’s painting of the Mona Lisa is stored. The photos show people waiting in lines and crowds in front of the painting. Do you think it’s time to put the Mona Lisa in storage? Or perhaps move it to its own space outside of the museum?
Read the NYT article here: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/06/arts/design/mona-lisa-louvre-overcrowding.html
Write a short 100-word post on your views about the article and your opinion of Leonardo’s painting. Please only check the category #studentHW.
This homework is due on the LAST DAY of class, Monday, December 16th midnight, the same day as the FINAL EXAM.
HW#2 : How Would You Rebuild A Gothic Church?
There was an immediate backlash against many of the ideas proposed for the Notre-Dame rebuild, especially with a modern touch and/or style. I, for one, think this is a great opportunity to link the past to the present. It is not rare in our history for structures to be damaged and have to be rebuilt which prompts someone to bring in the styles of the time. Some of the most interesting architecture in the world is a combination of multiple cultures and times coming together over the need to fix the damaged parts. There are certain designs that I would never stand for, such as Vizum Atelier’s “Lightweight Crown” which is a not only a hideous mismatch but just looks like a gaudy, glorified satellite tower that stretches up way too far, however I believe it is possible to implement certain aesthetics of the Gothic times and integrate them with modern technology and values. Take Vincent Callebaut’s “Biomimetic Forest”; with a few tweaks in the structural frame, the design could reflect a more harmonious reflection of the existing and well known architectural aesthetics while remaining a beautiful greenhouse exhibition. Even if the forest itself is seen as a distraction (which is understandable as a concern), I believe a touch of modernism would be an excellent addition, instead of holding on too tightly to the past when there’s still so much of it left in the remaining church. I do believe this harmony can be achieved with careful consideration and empathy towards the French people who see the cathedral as a symbol and want to respect the past.
