{"content":{"sharePage":{"page":0,"digests":[{"id":"10931225","dateCreated":"1239079739","smartDate":"Apr 6, 2009","userCreated":{"username":"msvpark","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/msvpark","imageUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/pic\/1202793136\/msvpark-lg.jpg"},"monitored":false,"locked":false,"links":{"self":"https:\/\/room503juniors.wikispaces.com\/share\/view\/10931225"},"dateDigested":1532765209,"startDate":null,"sharedType":"discussion","title":"Two Germanys","description":"In one brief paragraph, describe your impressions of the Two Germanys exhibit (second floor, BCAM). Feel free to also respond to your colleagues' responses.","replyPages":[{"page":0,"digests":[{"id":"11066125","body":"Walking into Two Germanys exhibit, I found it easy to distinguish the art of East Germany from that of West Germany. I could instantly see that West German art flourished after the war thanks to free expression, while East German art languished under Communism, churning out only Socialist Realism. The artwork of the West used much a wide range of colors, and embodied much happier themes than that of the East. The Eastern artists favored the use of somber colors such as white, black, gray, while displaying dark and gloomy subjects. Having taken German for three years, it is easy to understand the reason for such differences. The Berlin Wall split the country apart, separating loved ones from one another, and cast a dark shadow over Germany. The \u201cArt of Two Germanys\u201d reveals the varied roles that conventional art, new media, new art forms, pop culture, and contemporary art exhibitions played in not only the establishment of the art, but also the country itself.","dateCreated":"1239581482","smartDate":"Apr 12, 2009","userCreated":{"username":"6christiew","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/6christiew","imageUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/pic\/1239318407\/6christiew-lg.jpg"}},{"id":"11068333","body":"I found the two germanys exhibit to be crammed compared to the third floor, with far more art works within far less space( or possibly just far too many artworks). The chocolate lions sculpture had me spinning for minutes trying to find the source of that smell( I wonder how they keep the smell from dissipating over time). The picture with the swastika sign burned and carved into the wall didn't seem to have a purpose, in that to have the sign in either democratic controlled west or soviet controlled east would have only caused more suffer once there was liberation. I found the pictures of the two babies to be the weirdest because it was called yellow and brown babies and it was an exhibited about germany not asian and black people.","dateCreated":"1239588717","smartDate":"Apr 12, 2009","userCreated":{"username":"6casparc","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/6casparc","imageUrl":"https:\/\/ssl.wikicdn.com\/i\/user_none_lg.jpg"}},{"id":"11069165","body":"The Art of Two Germanys exhibition opened my eyes to the reality of both sides during different periods of time. It was nice to see the Western liberal democracy of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Eastern communist dictatorship of the German Democratic Republic side by side throughout the exhibition. The photographs made it evident that East Germany was going through a more difficult time than West Germany was. East Germany was disastrous, while the West was gradually developing with hope. The most fascinating section would definitely be the room with the chocolate smell. I enjoyed viewing the works in 3D form rather than in photographs.","dateCreated":"1239592247","smartDate":"Apr 12, 2009","userCreated":{"username":"5CeciliaC","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/5CeciliaC","imageUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/pic\/1222730670\/5CeciliaC-lg.jpg"}},{"id":"11069901","body":"My group and I were really amazed to see the art on the second floor. Before we read the art descriptions, we would always try to predict which side of Germany it came from. Most of the time we predicted the correct side but a few were hard to decipher. The content and color hints away which side it is from. Some of the art were dark and gloomy; some of the art were bright and sunny. The exhibit allowed me to see the great influence the situation has caused on the people of Germany. I think it is important to fully understand the historical aftermath of World War II to really understand what the artist is experiencing.","dateCreated":"1239595563","smartDate":"Apr 12, 2009","userCreated":{"username":"6KimberlyL","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/6KimberlyL","imageUrl":"https:\/\/ssl.wikicdn.com\/i\/user_none_lg.jpg"}},{"id":"11070491","body":"The Two Germanys exihibit was definitely the most touching. When I walked into the room with all the shoes and gloves, I knew I was witnessing history. To be so close to the same gloves and shoes that belonged to Jews that were murdered by Nazis touched me emotionally. I knew that Nazis burned the Jews to death, but after seeing the shoes and gloves, I realized that the Jews had to suffer to death.","dateCreated":"1239599331","smartDate":"Apr 12, 2009","userCreated":{"username":"5TimothyH","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/5TimothyH","imageUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/pic\/1222743282\/5TimothyH-lg.jpg"}},{"id":"11070567","body":"I thought that the Two Germany exhibit was probably the most interesting in the whole museum, my group spent the most time in that floor trying to absorb all of the diversity displayed in the east and west side. The differences were easy to notice, the east was obviously more depressing and the artworks depicted a sense of oppression and dictatorship. The paintings looked mournful with its pale and dark colors. The west side of the exhibit had a more brighter sense in its paintings and was more expressive in its colors. There were more brighter tones and lightness to the artwork making it look more hopeful.","dateCreated":"1239599831","smartDate":"Apr 12, 2009","userCreated":{"username":"6michellec","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/6michellec","imageUrl":"https:\/\/ssl.wikicdn.com\/i\/user_none_lg.jpg"}},{"id":"11070581","body":"As I entered the Two Germanys exhibit, I was unaware of what I would find. In history class, I recently learned about the cruelty that the Jews were forced to face. The exhibition opened up a wider scope as to what it was really like during World War ll. The pain, the sadness, the fear. Like other students, it was easier for me to understand the hardships of minority groups through pictures and expressions shown in each painting. On the other hand, some paintings showed optimism and hope. Despite the dark colors used in the first room, the second room was filled with a wide range of bright colors, expressing that the grief was over, that possibly, life goes on, and at that point the darkness that once hovered over people can be long forgotten.","dateCreated":"1239599952","smartDate":"Apr 12, 2009","userCreated":{"username":"5StephanieL","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/5StephanieL","imageUrl":"https:\/\/ssl.wikicdn.com\/i\/user_none_lg.jpg"}},{"id":"11070685","body":"Before visiting the Art of Two Germanys exhibit, it never occurred to me that physical and societal barriers between East and West Germany might translate into artistic ones. As everyone else has said, it wasn't difficult to see which nation each artist hailed from. Those from East Germany typically had a darker, more somber undertone, and those from West Germany had a lighter, slightly happier one. I noticed that this collection was housed in a different environment from the contemporary exhibit on the third floor. Art of Two Germanys pieces were kept in smaller and darker enclosed rooms while the contemporary American art was kept in a vast, well-lit space. I agree with Tim--I felt a stronger connection with this exhibit than I did with the giant balloon poodle.","dateCreated":"1239601118","smartDate":"Apr 12, 2009","userCreated":{"username":"5AliceW","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/5AliceW","imageUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/pic\/1223872308\/5AliceW-lg.jpg"}},{"id":"11070855","body":"Being fond of German history and the country itself, I gave attention to most of the art from the Two Germanys exhibit. To be quite honest, I could not remember a thing about the art from the Western side, but I would expect it to suggest a less "deep" feeling than the Eastern art. From the Soviet side of the country, all I could see was bland and mysterious pieces. I remember quite distinctly the queer sausage made by pages of the Holy Bible, and the stench of old chocolate figures that filled the room. The room with the shoes and gloves of the Jews was very surprising, as I did not expect such historical objects to be available for viewing in the flesh. In the end, I must agree with my esteemed colleagues about being touched emotionally.","dateCreated":"1239602958","smartDate":"Apr 12, 2009","userCreated":{"username":"5JackN","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/5JackN","imageUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/pic\/1223354587\/5JackN-lg.jpg"}},{"id":"11071081","body":"Pieces of metal hung overhead by the chocolate rabbits. Shoes, lining all the floors. A brick wall.
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\nEast, West, still confusing. Then again, it's art.
\n
\nReading these comments, the overarching theme asserts the artwork of East and West Germany appears disparate. Our own experiences and personal knowledge construct instant typecasts. Land of Freedom West Germany has happy art, Eastern Bloc Fascist-choked-U.S.S.R.-controlled-dismal Germany contains pieces like "The Expulsion from Paradise." Freedom and Fascism, peace and turmoil, West and East, night and day, or so it appeared.
\n
\nInitially, that's what one would expect, walking down the aisles. But, the preconceptions fall back. East Germany is not the only sufferer. West showcases immense war guilt, on a canvas focusing on a bowl helmet, a soldier stung to death by ants. The East Germany exhibit facetiously contains a house of sticks, connected to potatoes. And then the chocolate rabbits.
\n
\nBoth remain awkward and confusing to me. The artwork in each address different topics, surely, as represented by the opposition to rules in the lightness of East German canvases and the poignant memory of war for the West, but the same driving inspiration compels artists of both regions towards tangible expression. That is the beauty of art, understood or not, in the grips of tyranny or the clasp of freedom, the beauty of limitless potential in the human soul regardless of the surroundings.
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\nYeah, the paintings are different, stark, contrasted. I choose to appreciate something I understand: the undeniable connection of one human to another.","dateCreated":"1239604954","smartDate":"Apr 12, 2009","userCreated":{"username":"5RandyS","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/5RandyS","imageUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/pic\/1222309920\/5RandyS-lg.jpg"}},{"id":"11071089","body":"To be honest, I didn't remember much about the history of Germany as I walked into the exhibit, so when I was looking at the artwork I didn't really pay attention to Joyce and Addie when they would say "East" or "West" every couple of minutes. The artwork and objects on display were definitely very interesting and eye-opening and I could sense the emotions and conflict in them, but after reading many of the responses from my colleagues, I wish I could go back and revisit the exhibit now that I know more about the tragic history behind it.","dateCreated":"1239604964","smartDate":"Apr 12, 2009","userCreated":{"username":"5EliseL","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/5EliseL","imageUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/pic\/1228178913\/5EliseL-lg.jpg"}},{"id":"11071621","body":"I visited the Two Germanys exhibit near the end, and to be honest, I couldn't really recall the exhibit until I reread some of my fellow colleague's paragraphs. Like many of my colleagues have said, East Germany's artwork consisted of a darker mood, while West Germany's artwork had a happier, brighter mood.","dateCreated":"1239614131","smartDate":"Apr 13, 2009","userCreated":{"username":"5JessilynC","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/5JessilynC","imageUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/pic\/1222749494\/5JessilynC-lg.jpg"}}],"more":20}]},{"id":"10931211","dateCreated":"1239079679","smartDate":"Apr 6, 2009","userCreated":{"username":"msvpark","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/msvpark","imageUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/pic\/1202793136\/msvpark-lg.jpg"},"monitored":false,"locked":false,"links":{"self":"https:\/\/room503juniors.wikispaces.com\/share\/view\/10931211"},"dateDigested":1532765210,"startDate":null,"sharedType":"discussion","title":"Adaptives","description":"In one brief paragraph, describe your experience with Franz West's Adaptives.","replyPages":[{"page":0,"digests":[{"id":"11053623","body":"Franz West's work "Passst\u00fccke" was originally translated to mean "fitting pieces" rather than "adaptives." I believe that "fitting pieces," albeit not as euphonious, is the more relevant of the two. The art was not random shapes of white plaster. The art was not even attempting to fit them to various parts of your body. The art was the notion that West presented with the crazed sculptures: artists are not of a higher breed than their audience; art does not have to be overblown and purely high-class.","dateCreated":"1239492876","smartDate":"Apr 11, 2009","userCreated":{"username":"6JJB","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/6JJB","imageUrl":"https:\/\/ssl.wikicdn.com\/i\/user_none_lg.jpg"}},{"id":"11064817","body":"As I walked into the Franz West exhibition, I observed a variety of paintings and sculptures. When I saw the adaptives I was immediately fascinated, finding it bizarre that a museum such as the LACMA would allow its guests the privilege of touching the work. But I soon understood that West\u2019s Adaptives would lose its originial intent, had it not been tangible. West calls these sculptures \u201cPassst\u00fccke\u201d\u2014originally translated as \u201cfitting pieces\u201d (passende St\u00fccke) but now referred to as \u201cadaptives.\u201d West's touch-me sculptures permit people to interpret and adapt to the works of art however they like. Although holding steel rods with plaster and viewing shower caps on molded hat racks was slightly strange, it opened my eyes to a new and revolutionized form of art. Franz West gives his pieces oddly practical functions, introducing \u201cpoor materials\u201d into his work. Inviting visitors to participate in or even wear his sculptures, West encourages us to explore our involvement in contemporary art and its presentation.","dateCreated":"1239577457","smartDate":"Apr 12, 2009","userCreated":{"username":"6christiew","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/6christiew","imageUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/pic\/1239318407\/6christiew-lg.jpg"}},{"id":"11068469","body":"I define art as something that was intentionally created by a human.This is where art begins to escape the definite boundaries of my definition because he allows others to participate and manipulate the paper mache models in effect creating art themselves, but his intent is like saying i want someone to do something and that is art. I admit that these adaptives a nice break from just looking at art and having the guars yell at you saying GTFO. However, this type of artwork must be strenuous for the guards because when are they to tell the patrons to stop because with this kind of art breaking the paper mache would still be interacting with it.","dateCreated":"1239589352","smartDate":"Apr 12, 2009","userCreated":{"username":"6casparc","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/6casparc","imageUrl":"https:\/\/ssl.wikicdn.com\/i\/user_none_lg.jpg"}},{"id":"11068993","body":"Entering the Franz West exhibition, there were various sculptures made with paper mache. Rather than just viewing, the adaptives allowed us to widen our imagination as to what their uses were. The rods with different moldings on each end were rather difficult to interpret at first, but my group eventually got the grasp of the activity. We began make a variety of assumptions as to what each rod's purpose was as we stood in front of the mirror. Overall, the adaptives mainly let our imaginations adapt to the piece of artwork.","dateCreated":"1239591494","smartDate":"Apr 12, 2009","userCreated":{"username":"5CeciliaC","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/5CeciliaC","imageUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/pic\/1222730670\/5CeciliaC-lg.jpg"}},{"id":"11069789","body":"I think the adaptive proves that everyone has a different interpretation towards art. At first, a group of us looked at the objects and thought, \u201cwhat in the world are we supposed to do with this?!\u201d Then we began to play around with the adaptive. After we walked out of the adaptive cabinet, we saw the television playing other people\u2019s interpretations of the use of the adaptive. It was interesting to see that everyone had a different view. Because the majority of the time spent at the museum we were not allowed to touch the art, we knew this exhibit was special. It is a different form of art that we do not see very often. Most of the time, art is appreciated by seeing it. Franz West\u2019s art was appreciated by interacting with it.","dateCreated":"1239595088","smartDate":"Apr 12, 2009","userCreated":{"username":"6KimberlyL","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/6KimberlyL","imageUrl":"https:\/\/ssl.wikicdn.com\/i\/user_none_lg.jpg"}},{"id":"11070433","body":"When I first saw the adaptives, I had no idea what they were. I spent my whole time in the room trying to figure out the purpose for it. I didn't know we were actually allowed to touch it, or even pick them up and walk into the "closet" with it. It surprised me that we were even allowed to touch the adaptives, because before I came into the room, I got yelled at by security for touching the black sculpture next to the stairs. I thought the adaptives would serve a purpose similar to 3-D glasses, but they were simply just paper. I concluded that the adaptives were there so one can feel or be part of Franz West's art.","dateCreated":"1239598797","smartDate":"Apr 12, 2009","userCreated":{"username":"5TimothyH","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/5TimothyH","imageUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/pic\/1222743282\/5TimothyH-lg.jpg"}},{"id":"11070643","body":"As I first walked toward Franz West's adaptives, I was confused when I found out that we were suppose to take one of the adaptives and take it into the cabinet. As I took the adaptive I was a little afraid that one of the guards would stop me, but I saw other groups taking so I knew it would be okay. I found it strange when I went into the cabinet to see only but a mirror and myself staring back while holding one of the adaptives. I thought it was silly and did not make the connection at first, but when I put the adaptive back and saw the television screen I realized that the artist wanted us to participate in his artwork and form our own opinion of his work as we were able to hold it.","dateCreated":"1239600495","smartDate":"Apr 12, 2009","userCreated":{"username":"6michellec","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/6michellec","imageUrl":"https:\/\/ssl.wikicdn.com\/i\/user_none_lg.jpg"}},{"id":"11070645","body":"I can only imagine what was going through Franz West's head when he decided to call his creation a work of art. I was confused as i entered the room filled with odd objects made of paper mache. I gazed back at the mirror and I too, was a part of West's artwork. I soon discovered that to fully understand West's creation, I would simply have to use my imagination. I entered the small room with newspaper clippings plastered all over the wall, and observed the objects on the metal rod. What was West thinking when he decided to call these objects a masterpiece? Perhaps it is easiest understood that everything in the world can be called a magnificent work of art when used with imagination.","dateCreated":"1239600509","smartDate":"Apr 12, 2009","userCreated":{"username":"5StephanieL","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/5StephanieL","imageUrl":"https:\/\/ssl.wikicdn.com\/i\/user_none_lg.jpg"}},{"id":"11070755","body":"There was only one thought that came into mind as I entered Franz West's brainchild: Am I in a museum or what? With this being my first time of a touch experience, I was confused by everything around me. As I walked past random people into the mirror room, I thought, "Man, I look like a total idiot with this gigantic marshmallow in my hand." Also, these hands-on tools only made me neglect the question of why in the world West would make such pieces. There is no telling what West was thinking, but I am positive he wanted the general public to enjoy and be entertained by art.","dateCreated":"1239601569","smartDate":"Apr 12, 2009","userCreated":{"username":"5JackN","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/5JackN","imageUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/pic\/1223354587\/5JackN-lg.jpg"}},{"id":"11070951","body":"When I first saw the small room, I was just intrigued by the newspapers lining the walls. I took a glance at the sign, but I figured it must have been some deep, profound metaphor and didn't think it actually meant "Pick up one of these weird, heavy-looking white things on a rod and go inside" so I just walked in empty-handed. I was fascinated that there were even newspapers about K-pop and K-dramas on the walls, so I called my friends over to come look. When they came, they took one of the adaptives and walked in. I felt silly taking one too, so I just watched them try it first. We walked in, looked at ourselves in the mirror, and walked out. When we noticed the woman in the video doing all sorts of weird things with the adaptives, it was funny and weird so we laughed. Oddly enough though, I kind of wanted to go back in and try doing it just for the sake of it.","dateCreated":"1239603728","smartDate":"Apr 12, 2009","userCreated":{"username":"5EliseL","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/5EliseL","imageUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/pic\/1228178913\/5EliseL-lg.jpg"}},{"id":"11071085","body":"Oops, thought we turned it in on Monday. Kudos to Wayne!
\n
\n"To build a house you start from the roof."
\n
\nHow odd, but then again, so are adaptives. Researching them later, Franz West carefully related the spatial and the physical. Furniture became art
\n
\nI don't understand.
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\nIn the exhibit, a block stands between two chairs. Four gargantuan heads gape endlessly. A mangled glob of clay stands on a pedestal. The site offers a hands on experience, to "experience" the adaptives. There was a mirror. How clever.
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\nRather, I believe West addresses the interaction of social norms with the counter-norm. A lamp is a block, a baseball bat a white-wrapped stick. The faces appear disjointed with one nose hanging, an eyelid drooping, another erect. And, in the mirror, we interact with these adaptives. Our minds instantly warp these adapt-ives to our own spatial\/mental perceptions. Sure, some paper-m\u00e2ch\u00e9 remains crude, but our own process of examination and visceral understanding create the art.
\n
\nOr maybe not. I did say my mind can't comprehend the pieces. :\/","dateCreated":"1239604958","smartDate":"Apr 12, 2009","userCreated":{"username":"5RandyS","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/5RandyS","imageUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/pic\/1222309920\/5RandyS-lg.jpg"}},{"id":"11071353","body":"Walking into Franz West's exhibit, I was unsure of what to expect. I didn't take the time to watch the video and I simply took the "adaptives" and brought it into the newspaper-lined room. To me, the point of West's adaptives were simply to show that everyone has the ability to be an artist. It's up one's own perspective.
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\nAs for Wayne, Harrison, Vicky and I, we each play different sports--golf, basketball, golf, and volleyball, respectively. Through our eyes, we saw the adaptive as a ball that is relevant to our sport. Like Eric said, West was simply trying to show his audience that they could "adapt" to his artwork, to interpret it in their own ways.","dateCreated":"1239609644","smartDate":"Apr 13, 2009","userCreated":{"username":"5JessilynC","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/5JessilynC","imageUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/pic\/1222749494\/5JessilynC-lg.jpg"}}],"more":17}]}],"more":false},"comments":[]},"http":{"code":200,"status":"OK"},"redirectUrl":null,"javascript":null,"notices":{"warning":[],"error":[],"info":[],"success":[]}}