Angelica G 03/17/2020 at 5:05pm on “Allegory of the cave”

-I really like your example of how reality can completely be altered by the things people choose to show us on social media. Very similar to how the men in the cave can only see shadows as reality. I also agree that we are heavily influenced into purchasing things to make us feel just as beautiful as the people advertising certain products. We don’t see beyond the post itself so we definitely don’t know one hundred percent of the truth behind it. This is pretty much how our entire society is! Not just with instagram, but with movies, radio ads, even in real life we see beautiful people wearing expensive brands and it makes us want the same things. Such a great call out! Do you personally feel like we purposely attempt to live in a false reality? Or is this type of thing more subconscious? Maybe we do it because its what we learn from the people around us like our friends.

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Jacob D 03/17/2020 5:19pm “Art: What Is It? Can It Infect Things? Let’s Ask A Christian Anarchist From 19th Century Russia!“

Interesting opinions Jacob! You’re unquestionably correct in saying that Tolstoy’s argument is incomplete. I actually wrote something similar in my blog in response to this reading. I align with your argument that although his test of true art can be useful, it is not universal. Not all art has to have a direct purpose, or intention. Some people make art just to gauge what reactions will come of it. And as you said, even if a work of art has an unintended counter reaction, it does not devalue the piece its self because art is always subjective! One piece of art can create a strong nostalgic emotion for one individual, but rage from another. Not everyone will have the same response, and even if there is no response, there is still art.

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Valentina D 03/17/2020 6:31pm “Fallacies”

Slippery slope: nice choice! It is pretty unfortunate that there are STILL communist countries in this day and age (not just in Asia). But to get the point across, this was a good one. Just because North Korea is still communist, it doesn’t prove at all that any other Asian country will follow. Slippery slope indeed. 

Ad Hominem: EXACTLY. This one is all too common. Although getting your information from a credible source is important, lots of people use an ad hominem as a defense/deflect mechanism to avoid the truth. The comments about Gretta Thunberg are so incredibly rude, I can’t even believe people would use those as a premise to discount the facts she shares. 

False Dichotomy: funny one for sure! Reminds me of some really arrogant people I know who assume everyone likes them no matter what the level is. They just have no room for another choice. Either you like them, or you love them. Those people suit the very definition of Fake Dichotomy.

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Michael Hilmaleo 03/29/2020 7:27pm “My Art”

I LOVE your example! I think a lot of the time people forget that fashion is art. It takes time to create, and takes a vision! And like you said, not all art needs to have a particular point, it can be a simple fact to impress. “Impressed” I agree is a strong enough emotion to stand on its own as the intention. “Art doesn’t have to please everyone, but maybe just you” Im so happy that you said that! Because I too disagree that in order for something to be art that it HAS to convey a universal emotion. Not everyone is going to look at these dresses and like them. But for the select people who do, i’m sure they would also consider your examples art!

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Evelin 03/29/2020 7:58pm “Tolstoy Art Presentation”

What an interesting selection for this topic! You chose a rather upfront example of art versus what I chose to be a short film. Yours is great because it is technically a literal piece of art: a painting. However, the infectiousness and sincerity of it is still debatable for your audience. To me, someone who is not of Mexican descent and does not have extensive knowledge of the Mexican revolution, the piece does not resonate with me on an emotional level. Perhaps if you did include some more background of the piece and what significance it has that would make people connect to it, I and maybe others would see it differently! With the limited view I do have of this piece, I can appreciate the craftsmanship and talent that goes into paintings, especially this one. I would like to ask, what does this piece mean to you?

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Arin W 03/29/2020 8:15pm “Saturn Devouring His Son”

Well….. definitely a startling painting. But not one that is completely unpalatable for me. By just looking at the painting there is a clear feeling: horror. But then I wonder “Is the father afraid?” the big question is obviously why? Before watching the video, I can see how closing this piece of art may fit into some characteristics of Tolstoy’s definition of art, but I think due to the fact that the intention of the artist is not clear it would fail his test of art. I did very much enjoy the video that accompanied the photo, it did a great job at including the background/history. This makes for a very interesting topic! I wish you did include some of your own thoughts and feelings on the piece!

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Arin W 05/05/2020 6:28pm “Momentum”

You know what, I really like what you bring up in your first point. That something I learned in a Psychology class and ironically forgot about! You can definitely come up with alternate endings/details of a memory wether it is intentional or not. The mind can literally play tricks on you… I also appreciate your deep connection to the plot of Leonard fabricating the character John G and believing he killed his wife all based on a name he wrote on the photos. He could indeed even be making up stories as he’s reading the small phrases on his photos because they are only short sentences if that.

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