Museum Vist! :)

Saturday, May 23rd- I went to the Cantor Arts Center at Standford. (it's FREE) & i must say, it was a wonderful experience...I highly recommend it :)
2nd time I've been there (1st in January) but it's not all the same art pieces, they revamp it!
went pretty crazy w/ the camera so it's a pretty long photographic entry. Hope you like it =]

door entrance
Greek Ionic order column! Doric order columns are the ones we see at the Washington D.C. White House. Classic , clean, & streamlined yes, but quite boring. My favorite would have to be Corithian...it's the most intricate & dramatic.

Venus statue...about life size, not too big nor too small.
Contrast to most Renaissance paintings, Greek statues usually portrayed males in the nude while the female are clothed. reminds me of comics I used to read- Blondie

Japanese print! Ironic that the blonde guy is dressed in a Japanese kimono while the guy w/ black hair is dressed in a western business suit attire. S2 cherry blossoms

Rodin statue I found in a Rodin book @ the bookstore
not viewable in this museum (i believe it's in Paris, Musee d' Orsay?) but I found this to be so beautiful & romantic. He's kissing her tummy :) This reminds me of both The Hand from Adams Family & a scene from Harry Potter when he enters a magic store & ends up wrestling to get his own hand out of the hand-statue's like gripsuch a great black & whtie photograph backdrop for Rodin's miniature black statues African art!

there were a lot of masks. Some might view these pieces as Barbaric, others view them as art. Reminds me a bit of Cultural Anthropology class
I S2 this piece! It has such history & life to it. A bit like a scrapbook/journal with a story to it reminiscening through the past generations. The artist could possibly be inspired by his/her own family heritage. Reminds me of history documentaries.

I thought the black room (4got what it was called) was beautiful & striking. The black butterflies above added an ethereal feel to the very glam/posh all around seating. This would be a great for a funeral or gothic wedding. Or change the colors (pink/orange monarchs/vivid blue butterflies, white seating) & it would be gorgeous for a wedding! or any kind of fete. (party in french) the golden frame is a great contrast to the baby blues & black of the art piece. the warm/cool tones have a good balance


There was a Passage about the Gates of Paradise in our txtbk (golden doors w/ black framing) but Rodin is more famous for the Gates of Hell. There is a black version right outside the museum framed by Adam & Eve statues. Below is a photograph of a white version (I know! looks real & 3D but it's really a flat surface) which I thinnkk is in Paris.






I found this to be uber interesting. It relates to our class. The artists would take a new twist on classic Greek mythology pieces just by naming their own piece after the same name. But the actual subject matter could be interpreted soo differntly (espescially if given a differnt title)

Picasso! S2 his brushstrokes & this piece. It's a dreamy, thoughtful piece where you escape reality into this frenetic, surreal, light-spirited world.


I S2ed these drawing pieces! (3 total) I think the artist was highly influenced by the use of photography. All the lighting & reflections. You can kind of tell we are in the cafe (if that's the location) for the words are read backwards. We are on the inside looking out through the glass windows. It has a symmetry to it & is kind of surreal. It has a glamourous 1930's? vibe kind of like the board game Clue. There's a fashionalble Coco Chanel touch & a dark, mysterious aura that emnates from the drawing.
& finally the Gates of Hell.
It was a great semester guys! hope you enjoyed this blog & art history class, I defintely did. :)
Learned a lot & hope to continue learning more. Now when there's an art reference to a piece from our txtbk, i'll know a lil something something about it :) pretttyy awesomee

blog #8: 19th Century Art in Europe & the United States

assignment 9: pgs. 1009-1038

Phantom of the Opera scene

Grand Staircase, The Opera -Charles Garnier in Paris (1861-1874) pg. 1013-1014 The idea of two staircases meeting in the middle & intertwining into one is so grand & luxurious! & quite metaphorical. (also there's the main point of functionality so one wouldn't have to walk all the way around to get to their destinatin)

You see this kind of elaborate architecture in numerous movies (Beauty & the Beast, Marie Antoniette, Princess Diaries, Phantom of the Opera, Harry Potter, Cinderella Rogers & Hamerstein version? & of course many more.- espescially in films portraying classial music, Amadeus?) Operas have this so their Opera singers' voices can echo through the halls.

Just to make fashion even more glamourous, over-the-top, & stunning, Vogue will throw festive parties in locations w/ grand staircases- all the more better to make an entrance of course! Victoria's Secret's Holiday commercial advertisement had their well-known supermodels run about in a very lipstick shade of rouge bra & over-the-top poofy, airy skirt passing around a small gift box, of course w/ the label V.S.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4482WHCdJDw

Rich, decadent architecture doesn't really correlate w/ lingerie, but adding art- w/ the baroque style ornamented door passageways & black gated staircases makes lingerie seem all the more glamourous. When it comes down to it, the actual items aren't so very different from any other lingerie set found in a different store. But buyers will associate baroque style doorcases, elegant, dramatic staircases, a grand castle, & most importantly the oh-so gorgeous supermodels w/ V.S.'s items thanks to this commercial

This works for music videos too. Which producers should incorporate... they are immortializing art of the past into the future & into our exposure of the world.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIqcg_2AgBQ

S2s! Gwen Stefani includes amazing fashion, architecture, dance & music in this video- all which I lovve :)

Architecture w/ all it's grandness, strong, detailed lines are a huge contrast to her flowy, sheer, white dress & vunerability. It makes her seem even smaller & more lost. It's ethereal! The rose petals swirling about add deep romance.

& then the director switches it up & shows shots of her clad in a black turtle-neck, hair in an up-do & major black eyeliner. Verryy hardcore Rock 'n Roll!

"Degas arranged his own visual choreography. The Rehearsal on Stage is not a factual record of something seen but a careful contrivance, intended to delight the eye.....His work shows two important influences: The angular viewpoint in this and many other works shows his knowledge of Japanese prints, & the seemingly arbitrary cropping of figures shows the influence of photography which he practiced." pg. 1033

I love this piece for it has a sense of light, airy gracefulness yet there's a dramatic tension to it. (effects of the black & grayish colors-which also ground the airyness) You feel like you're there watching the ballerinas from backstage (thanks to it's peculiar angling) & by the positions of the ballerinas & choreographer & the soft brushstrokes, you can almost hear the high-tempo classical music. There's a frenetic energy going on

This semester I had taken ballet & because of this, I have a newfound appriciation for the art form. I have always appriciated the dance but didn't know too much about it...I loved the visual aspect of it but didn't pay too much attention to the actual physicality.
Hopefully, by taking ballet I turned out to be more graceful & elegant. When performing the dance moves, I feel this way- which God knows I'm not, I'm such a klutz. Throughout the day, w/ our busy lives (of mostly sitting- at a desk, table to eat, sofa watching tv) we forget that our bodies can actually be swift & light on air. I hope to continue ballet, improve posture & become somewhat coordinated...someday

blog #7: art & society- its influences in advertisement & teenage culture

http://www.nicks.com.au/Index.aspx?link_id=76.984
The Excerpt about the Legacy of Fragonard was very interesting to think about. Mostly since this light-hearted, frivolous painting has A LOT to do with the whole party-going, sex-infused beer advertisements of today.
The Rococo painting above "shows us that French upper class in the late 18th century was frivolous & carefree, and had a playful regard for sexuality and relationships."
The patron of Fragonard's work (an unknown "gentle"man) had asked the artist to paint his mistress on a swing with himself in the scene, "in a position where he could look up the woman's skirt." goshhh unknown patron of Fragonard...you are one dirrttyy guy.
knowing this... i take into consideration of always wearing jeans whenever upon a swing. (heehee it sorta rhymes)

& like French Rococo paintings of the late 18th century, beer advertisements, (as well as Ax cologne, Gillete shaving razors, & even hair dye) of today try catching our attention (or guys' at least) w/ what else?... Sex. or at least the idea of sex. (like this Skyy Vodka advertisement which I have seen in Instyle magazine)
but it's not always sex that sells...Homer Simpson speaks veryy true. A lot of ppl turn to beer as a short-term solution to life's problems. Or a way of simply escaping.
(note to ppl who can relate: escapism through movies work- sometimes not always... or just go crazzy w/ a person who acts impulsively withOUT being under the influence)

How else does art (in terms of advertisement) influence teenager culture? Just look at Abercombie and Hollister. You know...the distinctive stores that you can smell their cologne from miles away. Both clothing brands sell like crazyy & it's not even the actual clothing they are selling. As well as many other stores (Express, Victoria's Secret PacSun, American Eagle...) it's the 'ideal LIfestyle' that grabs the attention of consumers. which is essentially how their businesses are in such high demand.
Abercombie & Hollister should be SOO thankful for their uber hot models & talented photographers...for their ads are the ultimate reason teenagers like them. It is as if, when in the store looking down on their clothes, a shirt will say: "Oh you know you want me. If you purchase me, soon you'll be running off, frolicking in fields of wheatgrass playing rugby with toned, shirtless guys. oh & I have an adorable moose logo." (which is essentially mostly what you're paying for!-Abercombie) "You'll get piggy back rides from guys on the beach! & have an oh-so-cute red eagle logo! Come on...buy me. You know you want to. " (Hollister)
but really, when one wears the HCO or Abercombie logo, it speaks: "I'm so unoriginal, a follower of trends & am paying wayy too much for this simple tank." well, it doesn't really...just in my blunt opinion it does
The power of a muscular shirtless guy. Example of how eye-candy can be effective in promoting business. Still doesn't motivate me to buy their products though. -it's SOOO ridicously expensive! HAHa we totally covered the hot girl. =P
People are constantly looking for a way to escape this boring reality of what most of the time is life...& seeing how attractive/'perfect' Alessandro, Adrianna, Marissa, or Gisele look, how desirable they are, & how much fun they are having in photos of V.S. catalouges, girls associate all that sexiness with V.S. products.
We as humans, are vunerable in drinking our problems/reality away, indulging ourselves in food, going party-hoping, or pouring ourselves in fictional lifestyles. (full of impossible drama & always-looking-good characters- whether it's books like Twilight, TV shows like Gossip Girl or the OC, or for some guys...they can satisfy their inner bad-boy rebel with a large dose of thriller-killer action-packed scenes-- shows like 24 or Prison BReak)
(not that I myself do this... i don't drink, go party-hoping, or watch that much TV..& haven't read any Twilight series. But i do drown myself in music, zone out to movies...& always lovve a good desert.)

what makes these clothing brands soo successful? It is the fantasy advertisements! Art plays a HUGE role in selling what they are selling. Consumers of a certain culture, of course, are much more tempted in buying a shirt that's Roxy, Volcom, or Vans (w/ all the notions of surfer/skaterboard cool) than purchasing a shirt that, though may look similar, is a no-name brander. Which is completely understandable, it's a way of associating yourself into a particular group that helps identify who you are & what you're about. So other Vans-loving ppl will see you in your decked out outfit & be like: oooo

Tying in the 18th century Rococo art piece by Fragonard, The Swing...
art, -whether it's in terms of paintings, advertisements, or even music, movies or greeting cards... has an underlying message that grabs our attention by appealing to our desires.
The Swing, though not an advertisment, appeals in a Romantic, frivolous, carefree way. There's the love aspect, the dreaminess of the brushstrokes, the clouds, the trees...it makes me want to visit that veryy place & go on the swing myself. But unlike the girl dressed scantidly in the lucious, pink gown...I'll be wearing either shorts or jeans..thank you very much. :)

blog #6: Flanders & Netherlandish Baroque- & the magic of movies

assignment 6: pgs. 772-792
Throughout these pages of Flanders & Netherlandish Baroque, 2 art pieces (both oil on canvas) have stood out to me the most.
The Portuguese Synagogue, Amsterdam painted by Emanuel De Witte (pg. 790)
& The Jewish Cemetery painted by Jacob van Ruisdael. (pg. 791)

These both evoke a surrealism to me...with a bit of magic & subtle mystery to it.
Never having traveled outside America or anywhere like these two locations displayed in the paintings...I reference the two to movies!
Portuguese Synaugogue, Amsterdam. Thanks to art, I can sorta identify some architectural terms. The columns are in ionic order. It is evident by the sheep-horn-like top. & the circle window is called an oculus. I Lovve the arched windows & chandeliers. They make the synagogue more comforting.
"De Witte's shift of the viewpoint slightly to one side has created an interesting spatial composition, and strong contrasts of light & shade add dramatic movement to the simple interior. The caped figure in the foreground and the dogs provide a sense of scale for the architecture and add human interest."

When I saw this painting, many things have came to my mind. Though the painting is of a synagogue, the architecture of the location reminded me of train stations. & not just any train station... but grand old fashioned ones. :) The girl draped in the sky blue cape reminds me of any young girl in the olden days in London.
Ex: The Secret Garden. (movie i saw when i was young...based on a children's book)
I remember the very reserved & solemn character Mary had been wearing a formal coat in a similar fashion with a beigeish colored hat.
a lil bit of Anne of Green Gables came to mind too. except her train station was outdoors. But she did have on a straw hat & dressed in a countryish- doll-like vintage dress.

& of course, couldn't help but think of Harry Potter. :) Yes Harry Potter is just full of art references!
The whole magical scenes where Harry & Ron's family would visit the train station and run through a brick wall to enter the station w/ 3/4ths or something.
wow...all 3 are movies I saw based on books that I have never read.

But the verry 1st thing I thought of when I saw the painting was...a breathtaking photo that I have seen in one of my architecture books. I love the idea of light shinning through skyscraper high windows! When I 1st saw this photograph, I couldn't help but gasp. I was in complete awe of it's beauty. I just stared at it for a while & imagined what it would be like to be there...standing under the light beaming down.
In my very old apartment (SOO tinny-lived there in middle school & b4) I used to have a screen door along with the actual enter door. during the summertime, the house door would always be open & we'd use the screen door to let in fresh air & sunlight. the sun would shine through the open space & I would just lay on the carpet under the angled rectangle of sunlight. It was the 'warm spot'.
Thanks to Emanual De Witte's painting & the connection to the photograph, I actually started researching the building. New York's Grand Central Station!
famous iconic photo. Can't say I'm a big fan of Marilyn Monroe, haven't really seen her films. but she has some pretty damn good quotes. One of my uber favorites: couldn't have said it better. So very true
i Lovve the photograph. Want one like it someday. :)

famous four-faceted clock! Luckily, I have been to New York before. It was amazing! (except for the fact that I was with my relatives who treated my sisters and me like little kids w/ no choice or say in any matter) Driving by Times Square at night- I was like a kid at a candy shop, wide eyed, twinkling eyes, subtly smiling & in a surreal awe. but i have yet been to the Grand Central Station. i will...someday. maybe w/ my sisters again. It'll be a nostalgic trip in a sense. & we'll take turns taking pictures like Marilyn Monroe's! :)

http://www.nyc-architecture.com/MID/MID031.htm

The Jewish Cemetery, Jacob van Ruisdael
"His (Ruisdael) Jewish Cemetery is a thought-provoking view of silent tombs, crumbling ruins, and stormy landscape, with a rainbow set against dark, scudding clouds. Ruisdael was greatly concerned with spritual meanings of landscape, which he expressed in his choice of such such environmental factors as time of day, weather, the appearance of the sky, or the abstract patterning of the sun and shade....The meloncholy mood is mitigated by the rainbow, a traditional symbol of renewal and hope."
When I saw this painting, with its erie, gloomy spookiness, it reminded of movie landscapes. Yup...Harry Potter is one of them. =P Of course.
Not exactly Hogwart's castle, but some haunted mansion up in the mountains in the more later, darker movie series.
But also Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho. The Adam's Family...horror movies in general. The Others.
possibly Frankenstein, Lord of the Rings maybe? & I'm sure a lot more. Let me know if u can think of any.
It's amazing what movie/theatre set designers can create. We often overlook their talent, but just that short second or minute or so of seeing the various locations really do give a sense of place to the scene. andd also it's pretty much our exposure to the world!
Not everyone can or do travel much. some places only exist in our imagination
With movies... it's a window to the many possibilities of both reality & the what ifs.

blog #5: ch. 22 Baroque Art & fairytales

Aurora by Guido Reni

Ceiling of the Garden House, Palazzo Rospigliosi-Palavacini, Rome 1613-14, Fresco

"The composition itself, however, is Baroque classicism at its most lyrical. Framed by self-emanating golden light, Apollo, escorted by Cupid and the Season, drives the sun chariot. Ahead, the flying figure of Aurora, goddes of the dawn, leads Apollo's horses at a sharp diagonal over a dramatic Venetian sky. ..... But the graceful figures, the harmonious rhythms of gesture and drapery, and the intense color are Reni's own, demonstrating his close study of models and his skillful combination of the real and ideal." pg. 761
My blog doesn't show the goddess Aurora (who is on the upper right hand side), but if you click on the picture, it will enlarge and reveal her.
When I first saw this painting, I thought the colors were so dreamy! The way the sunglow bursts out from the clouds, adding to a warm halo backdrop. To me, it evokes a sense of surreal magic and ethereal airyness. The movement, of the characters themselves and the flow of their clothing (with the evident gushes of wind) is both grounded yet elegant and light. -which I think the art of dance gets across- like Ballet..so glad I'm taking beg. ballet this semester :)

Reading the passage, although the chariot is not clearly visible, it reminded me of the song: Chariot by Gavin Degraw

& if you've never heard the song, or just want to hear it again: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoweszD2BkE
Hearing the song after it came out, I thought: Why a chariot? But it's probably metaphorical...the chariot could represent a girl possibly?? Or it could go back to Plato's way of thinking. The whole rational & emotional brain. Control. How emotions can be like horses, implulsive and wild, while rationality/reason is the driver..the one in charge of the reins.

Also after pondering on this painting a little, it made me think wayyy back to my childhood... where fairies, fairytales and all that make-believe have roamed through my mind as they did to most little girls growing up reading children books and having the magical-happily-ever-after kingdom, stereotypical girl stories SOOO reinforced in my mind. (I think I shall change that with my future daughter...haha)

Growing up, being an older sister with an overactive imagination, & sharing a room with my younger sister who used to always ask me to tell her a bedtime story, I used to make up my own stories... usually tying in a fairy, a princess, or sometimes even an alien (not the lil green figures, but normal humans who actually were born from a different planet)

I know! I might have watched a little bit too much TV or movies as a child.

I guess I got carried away, for I was a bit like Wendy in Peter Pan going on about Neverland.

This place, that my older sister and I have made up, was called Fairyland.

& you could only visit this other world...at night. You'd be sleeping & these fairies would come and knock on your window. One fairy would then take out her/his hand & escort you onto the Chariot! you could ride in the back if you wish, or even upon the Unicorns & take lead. I would always want to ride upon an unicorn.

& we would drift off into the clouds into some magical land far off into the sky

yeahh...i had quite the imagination as a little girl... not soo much anymore

I can see various influences to where I might have gotten the whole "Fairyland" from...

Peter Pan, Twelve Dancing Princesses (children's storybook w/ gorgeous, decadent illustrations..depending on the version) didn't know about it back then..but another reference to Harry Potter (the whole flying aspect & a person knocking on your window) & probably any animated film that included fairies or unicorns

(the alien part of influences...E.T., Sailor Moon, & possibly this one Disney channel movie where the step sister is an alien...something about bubbles & a hair dryer)
With all my entries about Disney princess, fairies, & unicorns, one must think I'm this dreamy, naive girl, with my head always up in lala land. But I'm nott! =P

Although I'll admit I can be quite the sunshine, optimistic girl.... I take the world for what it is, & not how I wish it to be. (well maybe sometimes...rarely. I'll defend my optimistic view on life) i just happen to relate these myth-like themes to art history often.

I think I get enough reality checks every now & then. (often times, MORE than enough)

hope this entry was somewhat nostalgic...& made you, with your inner kindered spirit revealed, reflect upon your own childhood & imaginative scenarios :)

xox Diana Nguyen

blog #4: ch.20, 16th century art in Italy

The Last Supper by Tintoretto aka Jacopo Robusti, (1592-94) Oil on canvas pg. 701
was painted for the choir of the Church of San Giogio Maggiore. (building designed by Palladio) Two kinds of light were used, one real (the oil lamp) and one supernatural (the aura around Jesus)
When I first saw this, I though it looked so mysterious, dark.. erie..even secretive. The play between light and dark is so intense and dramatic, the characters seem to glow from within. The angle in which the viewer is looking is a very odd and unique one, making this painting stand out even more from the common, stable horizontal line paintings we so often see.
"Instead of Leonardo's closed and logical space, with massive figures reacting in individual ways to Jesus's statement, Tintoretto's view is from a corner, with the vanishing point on a high horizon line at the far right side. The table, coffered ceiling, and inlaid floor all seem to plunge dramatically into the distance."
But the thing that really stands out to me the most are the angels swirling out from the flame and smoke. It made me wonder what the significance of the angels were. Who were they? What are they doing there? What was Tintoretto's belief in angels/spirits?
Again...Harry Potter has come to my mind. :)
yes, Harry Potter is awesome & I make many references to him, but i'm actually not a HUGE fan, I haven't even read any of the book series, so.. i had to look up who the ghosts really were.
In Harry Potter, though not angels, there are ghosts floating about the vast dining room of Hogwarts castle.. also consisting of long, narrow tables. These transparent ghosts were once wizards and even conversate with the wizard students. The famous one we often see in the HP movies is Nearly Headless Nick, a former Gryffindor.
This painting made me think of ghosts/angels/spirits in general. On the topic of friendly ghosts, I thought of Mulan! & an awesome character she is..totally defies the whole disney princess stereotype & uses her intelligence to save China. Far below is a clip from the movie that shows Mulan's ancestor ghosts in a humorous way. The clip portrays the 'ancestor ghost' belief pretty well, espescially with the incense sticks. In many Asian cultures, past ancestors are a form of the supernatural. They are prayed upon for help, guidance, and protection, like how Christians may pray to God.
It made me reflect upon my own ancestors. In Vietnamese culture, grandparents are honored and very highly respected. I've never met any of mine for they all passed way before I was born. But each year on their death anniversary, (all different days-so there would be 4 total each year) my mom would cook certain meals, lay the food in a particular layout upon the table and light incense candles.
Now that my mom is in Texas, and my uncle (dad's older brother) has moved to Milpitas, we would go there for my paternal grandparents' death anniversary. The food is meant to be sacrificed for them, but I don't see how it's exactly 'sacrificed', I think of it as simply an offering. We would then take turns praying to the grandparent, wishing them peace & hope for health, wealth..that kind of thing. Then we would eat.
This ritual would sometimes be held just between the nuclear family or..if possible, between the larger family. It's a tradition to have the oldest sibling hold the death anniversary dinner at his/her place. So if I end up living near my older sister in the future, she would be the host. This ritual generally is a way to honor our ancestor spirits. Anyone could be of any religion and still practice it, it doesn't matter if one is Christian or Buddhist or even athiest, or their beliefs of heaven or reincarnation.
My mom is Christian, which makes me quite curious..her parents were Buddhist. Where are they now? Not heaven, not angels, but not exactly ghosts..spirits.
Some families are even hardcore honorers! A spiritual corner would be reserved in their house with vases and photo frames of their past ancestors placed upon a high shelf. & I'm so glad we don't have that, for honestly..I might be a little weirded out..and it's a small apartment anyhow.
In my Cultural Anthropology class, we learned about the Dobe-Ju Hoansi & Yanomamo tribes, with veryy different beliefs on ghosts and the reasons for sicknesses & death.
Without the technologies and vast knowledge of medical affairs, the Dobe-Ju Hoansi believed death was caused by past ancestors saying "I miss you" and inviting them to come join them. The Yanomamo on the other hand, believed their opposing, neighboring tribe has sent spells/curses to their tribe.
All cultures have different beliefs upon ghosts/spirits. Some people don't even believe in ghosts. But there are enough people in this world, past and present who do believe, to have ever created such a frenzy over this supernatural mystery. Tv shows, movies, Halloween, and even people suspecting ghosts in their room at night, have all been influenced..by this simple thought of lingering souls in the afterlife.
Saltcellar of King Francis I of France
made of gold and enamal, is basically a salt & pepper shaker from the 16th century. Ornamental, decadent, and intricate, it sharply contrasts with today's many salt & pepper shakers.

I just found these soo adorable I had to post them. i saw these at a tiny shop once & if cheaper, totally would have gotten one. Eskimo kiss with the nose- too cute, devil & angel, and princess kissing her frog prince. :) They are magnetic!

& yes..I know, this music video may not have anything to do with Ch. 20, but it's too great to pass out on. =P 98 derees & Stevie Wonder! the reflection song is also really lovely, both christina ag. & movie version
Hope you enjoyed this entry! :)
xox diana nguyen*

blog #3: Ch. 19 Renaissance Art in the 15th century Italy

Throughout Chapter 19, I tried relating to each of the works of art, but couldn't. Many were architecture pieces or had a religious story behind it. In terms of visual aspects though, strangely.. Disney princesses had often come to my mind!

1) ~Annuciation North Corridor--pg. 639-- reminds me of Cinderella, how the fairy godmother, like a needed angel (Gabriel), had come to Cinderella (Mary) when she was all by herself in complete distraught
2) ~Camera Picta--pg. 646-- Beauty & the Beast! there was stunning architecture, espescially the celings w/ the elegant chandeliers & angelic cherubs playing around in the clouds, displayed in the movie during the oh-so romantic scene
3) ~& last but not least... Birth of Venus--pg. 651-- can you guess it? the Little Mermaid! Ariel- my favorite disney princess. How she comes out of a shell...& pretty much is nude like Venus herself
4) & though not a disney princess, Donatello's "David" statue reminds me of Peter Pan. To me it evokes a sense of rebellion & youthful boyhoodness. He fearlessly defeated Goliath as Peter Pan's naive, bold approach to fighting Captain Hook. & the hat has a similarity as well.

But in a more detailed & personal sense, the Primavera or Spring, circa 1482, by Sandro Botticelli (pg. 650) stood out to me. "Botticelli was exposed to a philosophy of beauty & produced secular paintings of mythological (mythology- i find very interesting) subjects inspired by ancient works & by contemporary Neoplatonic thought, including Primavera"

This I find to be a very beautiful & fairytale-like magical tempera painting on wood. It evokes a sense of mystery since it takes place in a dark forest.. yet the airyness of the dresses, the lightness of the way the subjects carry themselves, the colors of the flowers, and their brightness contrast to the darkness leaving a well balanced harmonious play of light & dark/ good & bad

"The theme suggests love & fertility in marriage & provides in the image of Venus a model of the ideal women. Venus is silhouetted & framed by an arching view through the trees."
Adding to the theme of marriage & love, this image reminded me of weddings!
I have been to a lot of weddings in my lifetime (19 years)...I think a lot of Vietnamese families do...& though most of the weddings i've been to are not NEARLY as romantic & beautiful as this image provokes, they still provide the same basics: the gorgeously dressed bride, flower girl, petals on the ground, the arching & centering of the bride...

Flora- the Roman goddess of flowers & fertility (on the right side, in a flower printed dress) represents the flower girl
the cupid- very associated w/ Valentine's day & love.. (Venus's son) represents overall love, the feeling weddings evoke in general
& just the whole mise en scene (term used in film- meaning composition of the image) has a whimsical, playful, romantic feel (except for Zephyr- the greenish wind god on the very right- which could represent creppy guys today chasing after girls who run away from them)

The Three graces on the left of Euphrosyne, Aglaia, and Thaleia, represent joy, beauty & festivity. There are also certain qualities/characteristics in the 21st century that people often say emulates the 'ideal' girl. It still might be joy, beauty & festivity to some perspectives, or polite, humble, and multiple talent to others. It varies depending on culture, generation & person. In Vietnamese culture, there are four: behavior (the way you carry yourself), how you speak, gracefullness, and cooking and cleaning ability.
This is actually, i think, seen as the "standard" of ideal girl qualities. If I ask my dad, cousin or aunt who were all raised in Vietnam, they know about these...we don't have that in America. thankfully
I don't really follow them, I'm a complete klutz! i guess I do help around the house, can sortaish cook and am polite, but I don't believe anyone should have to conform themselves to other's views on what is the epitome of 'perfect'.
Everyone should have a different, and more importantly.. their own, idea of what is 'ideal'. My vision of what's seen as 'ideal', not a reflection upon myself..though i wish it was.. are: a vivid, intruiging uniqueness, multiple talents (including ability to sing & play an instrument), athlecticism (in @ least one sport), an insightful & intellectual voice, and the ability to kick guys' butts in any arena that guys are superior in! (even if it's video games)

on a different note. the Three Graces dancing in sheer, translucent 'dresses' also remind me of my 2 sisters & me! Mostly by the fact that there's three of them. I'm the middle daughter & we're all 2 years apart (haha my dad wanted boys & got THREE girls instead)
And though, my sisters & I would never dress like that (like our dad would ever let! or that we ever would) or dance like that (it's the 21st century..that would be pretty interesting)...there's a special bond & magic between any sisterhood! (blood related or not) The symbolism of 3 girls have been repeated throughout time & used worldwide.. bringing to the mind different things depending on how one associates them with